“I just need to holler at someone real quick.” My eyes darted around the shop. There weren’t too many women inside, but enough for someone to recognize me if they were from around town. “I just need to give my girl some money. Blossom Reid.” I nodded toward Blossom, who beamed as she spoke with the stylist at the shampoo bowl. “It will only take a second.”
Eyeing me hesitantly, she failed to respond as I gritted my teeth and hoped she wouldn’t cause a scene at my request. I didn’t want to alert anyone and blow my cover unless I needed to. I wasn’t here to hurt anyone but Blossom, but I wasn’t opposed to doing a round two of what I’d done at Karlie’s rehabilitation center.
“Wait here and let me get her.” She eyed me momentarily before walking off toward Blossom.
Keeping my head low, I walked back toward the entrance, checking the surroundings to make sure nothing was out of order. I watched as people walked by Sara’s car, not even paying it any attention. This was my first time being in the city since I shot up Karlie’s place of business, and I was growing anxious. With each second I stood and waited for Blossom, I began to rethink coming here.
“Excuse me, but Deja said—” I turned at the sound of her voice, causing her eyes to explode and her breathing to hitch. “TJ? Oh my gosh!”
“Shut the hell up.” I hissed through clenched teeth, glancing around to ensure we didn’t cause a scene. “Go get your shit and come with me.” I gripped her wrist, pulling her toward me. “We need to talk.”
Eyes watering, she said nothing as I dragged her toward the door, no longer caring about her going back to get her things. My heart pounded in my chest as I prayed we would make it out of here without incident. I feared someone would recognize me from the news and call the cops before I could even leave.
“Let. Me. The fuck. Go!” She snatched from me right as I pushed the door open. Turning to face her, I watched as she aggressively wiped the tears that fell from her face. “You have some fuckin’ nerve, nigga! Get the fuck away from me, TJ! Why the fuck are you here?”
Saying to hell with the crowd, I took a few short steps in her direction, slamming her into my chest when she was within reach. I could see the fear in her eyes, but she was trying her best to be strong.
“Oh, I guess my bitch-ass cousin has you feeling yourself, huh?” I gripped her wrist, causing her to wince in pain. “You think that nigga is going to save you? You better hope I don’t kill you for fuckin’ him.” The fear in her eyes turned to anger in an instant, and that pissed me off even more. “Oh, so you’re getting mad?” I smirked, scanning her body. She looked good as hell in her knitted jumper, and thicker than I remembered. “Maybe I’ll make him watch me fuck you before I blow his brains out. The pussy’s mine anyway.”
Whap! Whap!
Punching me twice in the face, my head reared back with a snap as I heard the women around us gasp in shock. Slowly, I rubbed the soreness of my jaw and instantly took notice of the blood as it dripped from my lip. Dragging my eyes back to her, I saw a fire I’d never seen before from Blossom.
“I want you to leave here, TJ, and never come near me again!” She shook with rage as she eyed me with disgust.
The receptionist came running back to her desk with her phone in hand, and I knew the police or someone else was on the way.
“I gave you everything! I loved you! You cheated on me, and you lied. You were everything you vowed you never would be, and you know what? I’m not even mad! Thanks to you, I’m finally with a man that loves me, and I’m finally excited aboutwhat the future holds.” She smiled as she placed her hand on her stomach.
This hoe is pregnant!
“I’m getting my happily ever after all because you wanted to be abitchinstead of a grown-ass man.” She eyed me in disgust before giving me her ass to kiss.
Crash! Boom!
“Blossom, get the fuck back here!” I shouted as I began throwing things around in the lobby. The women around us began to scream and scramble as I tossed everything that wasn’t nailed down. “I’m going to kill you, bitch!”
Chest heaving, I pushed the door of the salon open so hard that the glass shattered everywhere. Head jerking from left to right, all I saw was red as I jogged across the street to the Honda to retrieve my rifle. That whore wanted to be happy? She could achieve that in heaven because she for damn sure wasn’t going to birth that nigga’s baby and be a happy family if it wasn’t with me.
“I got something for that bitch!” I barked out, slamming the car door behind me as I slid into the car. Reaching over into the glove compartment, I grabbed the small Glock before getting the rifle. “A nigga was never going to have her. I’ll kill?—”
Flick!
Hearing a lighter flicker from behind me, the smell of marijuana filled the small car. Sweat began to form over my brow as a chill ran down my spine. My breathing slowed as I began to shake all over.
“Hey, cousin…” JJ leaned forward over the middle console, smoking his blunt as if this were a friendly visit. “Long time, no see.” He grinned at me momentarily, blowing smoke into my face before his eyes darkened. “You’ve been busy. How about we go for a little ride? We have a lot of catching up to do.”
“If this isn’t déjàvu, I don’t know what is.” I heard my Uncle Amir say from behind me. “The fuckin’ irony.”
Standing in the middle of the warehouse, I stood silently, already in that mode. My father, uncles, and boy, Marshall, were in attendance for a show today, and I was definitely about to give them one. As I stared at my latest victim with hell and hatred in my heart, I allowed all of his transgressions to replay in my mind. He was going to feel every single issue that he had caused for my family and me, and I hoped he was ready.
“Am I supposed to be scared of you standing there like you’re Michael Myers?” TJ spat out literally, as blood flew from his lips. “Let’s get this shit over with.”
Twirling my machete, the voices of my family began to fade. Rusted beams and leaking pipes surrounded us in my father’s warehouse. The ceilings were so high, your screams would be swallowed before reaching God. The walls were stained with so much history and blood that no amount of scrubbing would clean them.
This is the place where my father killed his brother.
It was the place where I would kill his son.
