She reaches across the space between us and opens the glove box, pulling out a black sheisty and a knife.
I stare at them, then at her.
And then I burst out laughing. Ain’t shit funny, really, but I guess all the tension and anxiety I was holding had to come out some kinda way.
“Raya, Raya, Raya. What am I gonna do with you?” I lean across the console and press my lips against hers. Warm softness overtakes my senses, making me pull away before I get too excited. “You were gonna stab him?”
“No,” she says like she’s offended. “Just scare him straight.”
“And what if he overpowered you?” I say. “You didn’t think this all the way through, huh?”
“I was mad.”
“I know.” I tap the tip of her nose with my index finger. “You know I can’t let you do this, right?”
She opens her mouth to protest, then her eyes dart to the left. “Wait, there he is.”
I turn my head to see a tall, light skinned man walking out of the club with a woman. They’re touching. Laughing. He walks her to a car and kisses her.
Raya nods. “There it is. That’s my proof. That’s not Aniya’s mother.”
“And you still ain’t doin’ it," I insist. "It’s too dangerous.”
“So what should I do, then?”
I know she’s challenging me. For her, it’s not a question of if, it’s a question ofhow. I could take her home right now and she’d find a way to be right back at it tomorrow.
So there’s really only one thing to do here. She knows it, and I know it.
We follow him into his apartment complex. When he gets out of the car, I pull the mask on, step out, and close the distance between us in seconds.
Sisco isn’t very observant. My gun finds the back of his head before he even notices I’m there.
“Don’t move.”
He freezes. I push him against his car and plant my feet, ready to square up if I need to. Then he starts shaking, and I realize he ain’t about shit.
“You got a wife at home, don’t you?” I grit. “And you out here acting like you don’t. That ends tonight.”
“I—I—“
“Shut the fuck up.” My voice cracks like a whip. “You think nobody sees you out here moving foul? You think you slick, huh?”
“I’m sorry, man.”
“You damn sure are.” I press the gun harder against his head. “I’m watching you, Sisco. Keep your shit clean or I’m coming right back.”
“I hear you,” he says, voice trembling. "Are you with Navaeh's brother?"
“Don't worry about it. So you gonna go home and be a family man?”
“Yes!”
“You swear?”
“I swear on my mama’s life, my kid’s life, my life. I’m done.”
I rack a round into the chamber.
