Page 42 of Body Language
12
Kendrix
The second she told me to drive, I didn’t ask questions. I just grabbed the keys and we were gone. But when she directed me towardGun Hill?
Man. I tightened my grip on the wheel, staring out the windshield as the scenery got rougher. Streetlights busted. Graffiti covering brick walls. Kids still outside, even though it was late, posted up like they ain’t had a bedtime in years.
Why the fuck Niv, of all women, needed to be over there? I didn’t know, but I wasn’t about to ask yet.
I kept one hand on the wheel, the other resting close enough to reach the Glock tucked under my seat if shit popped off. I had a couple more in the truck too. Old habits. My pops always said:Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
“Park there,” she said, pointing to a busted-ass spot in front of a building that looked like it was one cough away from collapsing.
I pulled in, cut the engine. She hopped out fast, like she’d done this walk a hundred times. I slid out right behind her, shutting the door.
That’s when I saw a woman, thin and jittery, face marked by every bad decision life ever handed her, standing toe-to-toe with a dude. She was yelling, shoving at his chest like she didn’t give a fuck. He was gripping her wrists, jaw tight.
“If you don’t stop pushing me,” he barked, “Ima beat yo ass, I swear to God.”
My jaw flexed. Niv didn’t even hesitate. She stormed right up like she’d been born for that shit.
“Touch her,” she snapped, “and you gone be laid out on this concrete before you blink, nigga.”
The whole block went, “Ooooh!” like somebody just threw gas on a fire.
“Girl, shut up,” some lady on the steps hollered. “You always acting like you better than everybody ‘round here.”
Niv spun around so fast. “Bitch, don’t get dropped in them fake-ass Uggs! If I was better, I wouldn’t even be out here breathing the same broke air as you.”
Another dude chimed in, “Man, y’all too loud. It’s kids out here.”
She cut him down without blinking. “Then take your ass inside and parent them, since you clearly not doing it now.”
I tried not to laugh.
The man threw his hands up. “Man, I ain’t even on that with her. She said she was gone have my money for them rocks, but she didn’t. So I took my shit and I’m tryna leave.”
The woman whipped around, eyes glassy but her mouth sharp. “He a lying-ass nigga. I might not know much, but I know how to count, motherfucker!”
“Ma!” she snapped.
I froze.Ma?My head turned so fast I almost gave myself whiplash. The jittery, loud, strung-out woman throwing her whole life into the street… was her mama? I looked from the woman back to Niv. Same fire in their eyes. Same don’t-back-down stance. Only difference was Niv wore it polished and controlled.
Her mama whipped toward her. “Don’t you ‘Ma’ me like you the boss!”
“You damn right I am!” Niv shot back, eyes blazing. “‘Cause you sure as hell ain’t acting like one! Go the fuck upstairs!”
Everyone around yelled “Damn!”
That’s when the flashing lights hit the block. Two cops stepped out, hands on belts, scanning the mess. “What’s going on here?”
Before anybody else could speak, Niv stepped up, calm.. “It’s a misunderstanding. It’s handled.”
Her mama, loud as ever, pointed at the dealer. “Ain’t no misunderstanding! I want my fix! He tryna play me!”
The cops froze, eyes wide. And that’s when I knew I had to step in.
I moved forward, dropping my voice low so only she could hear. “Come with me,” I told her mama. “I got something for you.”
