“Weh yuh did a go do… hurt mi mother?” His chest heaves. I don’t wait for an answer. I pull the trigger, and his marrow splashes out over his dashboard, even his his windscreen.
“Dead bwoy,” Gutta taunts, pulling out their money and phones.
“A it dat. Mek wi move.”
We slide back in the car and speed off. Once we’re out of that vicinity and get to our next stop, Gutta parks, and we get rid of everything. I move to the side, raise the gun, and put a bullet through the phones before dumping them. I don’t enjoy killing people, but there’s a darkness in me that makes it easy if you push me. My mind runs on Zara. Jah. Mi nah hide this from har. Mi a try change annd stop the secretive, lying thing.
I don’t go home. Not yet. I need to clear my head or cloud it.
I can’t face her yet. I need to get high first.
We crash at Gutta’s house since it’s the closest. We smoke for a while, the more I drag the spliff, I zoned out. They’re still talking. I’m not. By the time the sun starts creeping through the curtains, it’s almost 6 a.m.
Anna walks into the living room, yawning, tugging her shirt down when she sees us. She freezes. “Watch yah? Morning…” she laughs. “A how long unuh deh yer?”
They answer. I don’t. I’m staring out the window, weed burning low between my fingers. My mind’s too loud for a conversation.
“Couple hours now,” Gutta says, his voice flat.
She keeps talking. I don’t listen. Not until I hear my name.
“Nick’s not in the mood,” Juaqína cuts in with a tired laugh.
And she’s right. I’m not. I feel heavy. Hollow. Like I left pieces of myself back there, still holding the gun.
ZARA
I don’t know how people do this. Seriously.
How does anyone sit in a house like this, for more than a day, and not go insane? It hasn’t even been a full twenty-four hours and I already feel like I’m losing my mind. I’m not built for this kind of stillness. I’ve spent most of my days in a classroom, doing something, anything. So now, sitting here in this house,doing nothing, just… existing? It feels foreign. Like I’m living in someone else’s skin.
And it boring too!My subconscious adds.
Usually, I’d be up early, getting dressed, packing my bag, rushing out for school or heading to my practicum.
Now? Just like that… all that just gone so. Nah lie, mi miss it bad.
This morning, I woke up early after crashing at 1 a.m. I showered, made breakfast, now I’m watching TV. And that’s it.
I can’t do this, just sitting around.Ugh!
I decide to go outside for fresh air. The moment I step out, the dog starts barking. Again. I’m not running today. As I get closer, I see he’s a German Shepherd—huge, muscles rippling under his shiny coat. So big I swear he could snap his chain and tear down his kennel.
I keep my distance, eyes locked on him. He stops barking, but now his lips curl in a low growl. I step back, heart racing. Then my back presses into something solid and warm.
Nickoi.
Before I can think, his rough hands slide up my arms, slow, his fingertips warm, curling around my elbows like he’s anchoring me in place. His face dips into the crook of my neck, breath warm and steady against my skin. I can’t help the soft smile that spreads across my lips.
“Morning,Mr. Jacobs,”I whisper, heat blooming across my cheeks and neck. My eyes drift down to his hands, thick veins standing out against his smooth skin, the way his fingers flex with quiet strength. He brushes his lips along my ear, sending a shiver straight between my thighs.
A low chuckle rumbles in his throat before he whispers, “How was it sleeping without me Mami?” His voice is rough, deep, like velvet mixed with danger. He always looks, andsounds angry, with lust dancing in his eyes, and fire in his touch.Me… did affi breed.
“U-um…” My throat tightens, voice barely a whisper. “It was horrible sleeping without you.”
He pulls me around, so I’m facing him. His eyes are heavy with exhaustion, but he still manages a small smile. Then his expression hardens, his features sharp. “Yuh wah know wah me do?”
I know that tone. He killed someone. His uncle.
