Alex’s voice buzzes through Gutta’s phone. “Anyhow deh bwoy deh make
me buck him, lone shot him a get.” I stay quiet, rolling my spliff smooth while listening.
“Who dat?” Gutta ask him.
“Nuh the bwoy Weneil, eh bwoy diss me, mi affi kill him,” Alex insists. A taxi pulls up nearby, dropping off a schoolgirl. She glances my way, smiling as she slips inside the gate.
“Black shirt,”she calls out. I’m at Johns Rd, minutes away from my mother’s place. I exhale smoke, watching her fade into the yard, then take the phone.
“Who him link wid?” I ask.
“Weneil from the Mob Gang.”Hmm.We and Mob nah war, but one spark here could ignite one. We done inna shit with the Golf Gang and the feds dem a pree mi.
“Yow, mi o’ deal wid it,” I tell Alex.
“Alright, mi Don,” he’s less tense. I slide off the wall, climb in my car, and open my MacBook, paying bills for my mother, Jet’s mother, then my house bills. I send money to my siblings and Zara’s account. Once I’m done, I close the laptop and rejoin the crew outside. Hennessy in my hand, they vibe to Kartel andTeejay’sPressure, teasing Rick who’s missing his singing part. Laughter breaks loose, until the gate creaks again. The girl from before walks out, cheeks flushed.
“Black shirt,” she smiles, eyes shy but bold. “A Nathan yuh name?” She fans my smoke, acting like I should know her.
“Why yuh wah know man name?”—a woman slaps a boy nearby.
She shrugs it off, “Mi see yuh dung yer before.”
I play it cool.“Anuh me yuh see.” She sits beside me, asks about some friend named Ava. I don’t remember, then she claims she’s seventeen with grown friends. I nod, uninterested. Names fade when they don’t matter. I call Gutta over. “Mi wah link the youth weh Alex a talk bout, time fi check before mi head back.”
“Mi a fawud,” he says, always ready. Loyalty runs deep, but trust is thin—Juaqína was like that once. Had to cut her loose before she tek man pointe. We dap the others and step off.
ZARA
I stare at the screen, watching Riverdale but not really watching. My mind’s a mess. I just want peace, but peace feel foreign lately. “Yuh know seh Veronica father nuh like Archie,” Sash says from the floor, legs crossed, eyes locked on the TV.
“Mi hate Archie lakka poison,” Gavin adds, lounging on the opposite sofa.
“Mi wouldn’t be surprised if him try kill him,” Sash laughs, but it fades in the background. Zahir nudges my leg and I strokehis curls. He presses his cheek against me. I kiss his wrist, barely present.
“How yuh so silent?” Sash asks. Gavin answers for me.
“She a go through it with her man.”
“Mi alright,” I lie.
“Lie that,” he mutters, like he’s reading my spirit. “She soon good, man.”
“Yeah,” Sash agrees, but her eyes don’t believe me. Zahir coos, arms up. I lift him, pull my breast out. He latches, playing with his hair while feeding. I stare at him like he’s the only thing that calms me.
“My businesses ready now,” I say, tone flat.
Gavin sits up. “Wah yuh mean businesses?”
“Yeah, wah yuh mean?” Sash echoes.
“I have it in different branches.” Instant chaos. Screams, laughs, pure joy. It don’t settle for five whole minutes.
“Girl yaw go rich rich now enuh!” Sash hollers.
“You have workers?” Gavin asks, hype.
“That’s why mi bring it up. Mi did wah know if unuh want work the Kingston branch?” Screams again. I smile. They’re proud of me.
