Page 5 of Free to Fall

His face shifted, jaw tight. “Bro, I took care of you when you ain’t have shit. Don’t forget who was bringin’ food home when Mama died. Who kept you out them streets. Who sat down for that charge.”

“And who kept yo’ books full for seven years?” I snapped. “Who made sure you had shoes, soap, Ramen, whatever the fuck you needed while you was locked up? Don’t act like I ain’t been lookin’ out.”

“This the one time I’m askin’ you for somethin’ real,” he growled. “I got a plan, Nas. This shit could change everything.”

“And I said no, nigga!” My voice echoed off the concrete walls. “Don’t ever ask me to fuck up my career like that. You wildin’.”

We stood there, heavy silence stretching between us.

He finally stepped back toward the door, eyes still locked on mine. “I’ll be in the city for a minute. I know you. You gon’ think about it. You always think about it.” He opened the door but turned before stepping out. “Just remember, these mutha fuckas out here love you now, but they ain’t gon’ do shit for you when you fall. I’m the only one who ever really had yo’ back.”

Then he dipped. Just like that. And I stood there wonderin’ if this fight was still about a title…or about proving I wasn’t the lil’ nigga from The Grove no more. He may have been older, but long gone were the days where I feared him. That shit was done.

Creed’s mancave was damn near therapy at this point. Dark walls, dope art, black leather couch you could sink into and forget the world, and four TVs mounted side by side, so he never had to pick between a game and a movie. Low lights. Bar in the corner stocked with everything top shelf.

I sat with a glass of Hennessey in one hand and a storm sitting in my chest. Creed was posted across from me, twist sponge in one hand, his hair half-done, like he was distracted halfway through and said fuck it. He wore a fitted tee and sweatpants, legs stretched out like a man who knew peace. Me? I was the opposite.

“You ever feel like no matter how far you get, your past still tryna grab your ankles and drag you back?” I muttered, staring into my glass.

Creed looked up from his phone. “You talkin’ bout Nate?”

I gave him a nod. “That nigga showed up at my door the other day, smilin’ like shit sweet.”

“What he want?”

“A fuckin’ favor,” I said with a bitter laugh. “Told me I should throw my fight against Sadiq. Bet on the loss, flip the money. Said I still get paid regardless.”

Creed blinked once. “He deadass said that?”

“Like he ain’t lost his damn mind.”

Creed let out a low whistle and shook his head. “Nate always been bold, but that’s next level.”

“He told me I owe him,” I said, my jaw tightening. “For takin’ care of me after Ma Dukes died and for that charge he sat down for.”

“You don’t owe that man your whole fuckin’ future though.”

“That’s what I told him,” I muttered. “I held him down the whole time he was locked up. Made sure he had what he needed. But now he out, he tryna drag me into some dumb shit like I ain’t spent the last ten years buildin’ somethin’ real.”

Creed nodded slowly, the silence stretching between us. “You right to shut that down, bro. You too close to the top. One fight away from the belt. He throwin’ shadows over everything you worked for.”

I sat back, shoulders still tense. “Reg said my head ain’t in it. Almost kicked me out the gym.”

“Why? That situation stressin’ you that bad?”

My lips pressed together. Then I exhaled slow. “It ain’t just Nate.”

Creed gave me a look. One brow raised. “Then what is it?”

I hesitated. This was the part I hadn’t told nobody. And when I said nobody, I meant absolutely nobody knew. Not Serenity, not Averi, not Brodie, not even Creed, and he was my day one. But it was eating at me now, and I didn’t want to keep carrying the weight alone.

I leaned forward, rested my forearms on my knees. “You remember after y’all wedding... the reception, the after party?”

Creed nodded. “Yeah. Beautiful night. What about it?”

I dragged a hand down my face, then looked up. “That was the first time me and Egypt ever… crossed the line.”

His eyes widened. “Wait—what?”

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