Her parents watched me silently. There was some appreciation in their eyes, but behind it was the same judgment they’d had toward me as Avi and I were growing up. They knew that I was the same type of gangster that they despised.
Her father gave me a sharp nod and then continued to embrace his daughter. Her mother replied with a short, “Thank you,” before giving Avi back her attention.
“I called the fire department,” I heard from a window nearby. Looking around, I saw Miss Bernadine, the neighbor to the left, with her head sticking out the window.
“Thank you,” I told her with a nod.
As her parents continued to comfort Aviana, I watched her with more intensity than I ever had.
Physically, I could see that she was unharmed, but I was still in shambles. Aviana wasn’t just a part of my life; she was my entire world. She was my everything, the very essence of my existence, and the idea of anyone or anything harming her shook me. Thatrealization hit me hard—like a freight train slamming into my chest—knocking the wind right out of me. From the moment we were children, she had been a constant presence that I had taken for granted. But now, having faced the possibility of losing her, I couldn’t imagine a future without her in it. I knew in that moment that I would do anything to protect her, to keep her safe.
But as Damar’s Bronco sped chaotically toward the scene, I was reminded that that wasn’t my job. She didn’t want me to be her protector; she hadn’t since I’d broken her heart.
As she watched him park with curiosity, her mother answered her questioning stare. “I called him as soon as it happened.”
Aviana only nodded as she peeled herself out of her father’s embrace. Damar jumped out of his SUV. The smoke made his broad, towering frame a shadowy approach. He stared at the fire in disbelief as he hurried toward Avi.
Watching him throw his arms around her lit a jealous rage in me that consumed me with a fire so intense, it felt like it was roasting me from the inside out. I despised the way the sight made me feel like I was being torn apart. I felt out of control, which was a feeling I rarely experienced and one that I was determined to quash before it consumed me entirely.
I hated leaving Avi at her parents’ house, but I couldn’t take watching Damar fail at protecting her anymore. The fire department had arrived to put out the blaze a few minutes later. Watching them douse the flames, I knew I had to let Damar handle Avi now. As much as I wanted to be there for her, he was her husband. It was his job to take care of her, not mine.
As I drove through the neighborhood toward the expressway, I noticed Jeremy standing on a street corner with a group of 111 Boyz. They were huddled together, their faces hidden by masks and hoodies, looking ridiculous in the summer heat. I pulled over, the engine rumbling to a stop as I parked by the curb.
I got out of the car and walked up to them. My presence instantly commanded respect. My reputation in this part of town preceded me, and these kids knew better than to fuck with me.
I grabbed Jeremy by the arm and pulled him a few paces away from the group. The others fell silent. Their eyes shifted nervously as they watched us.
“What’s up, Mythic? I do something?” Jeremy asked, acting shifty.
“Did you?” I urged, raising a brow.
“N–Nah.”
“Then why you hanging with niggas that be on bullshit?”
“I…uh…I—”
“Shut the fuck up and listen to me: You gotta make better decisions. Hanging out with these young niggas and running the streets is not gonna get you anywhere good.”
He glanced at me, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, his hoodie pulled low over his face. “Yeah, Mythic, I hear you,” he muttered, but his gaze kept darting away, not really meeting mine.
“You think this is a game, man?” I continued. “Being in the wrong crowd, doing the wrong shit—it’s not just about you. It’s about everyone around you. You think you’re invincible, but being in the wrong place at the wrong time can get you locked up or worse. Innocent people get hurt or killed every day because they’re caught up in stuff they had no business being a part of.”
Jeremy shuffled his feet, his attention clearly wandering. “Yeah, I know. That’s why I don’t be on shit. I just be hanging out.”
I scoffed, stepping closer to him, making sure he felt every word I said. “You just be hanging out, huh? You’re young, and you’re still figuring things out, but listen to me: You can’t afford to mess around with the wrong people. It’s not just about street cred or whatever. It’s about your future, your life. You need to make smarter choices and hang with the right crowd.”
He nodded slowly, but his expression was distant. “I get it, Mythic.”
Yet, I continued to scowl at him.
He chuckled nervously. “I do.”
I could see he was hardly taking it in, probably too wrapped up in his own world to fully grasp what I was saying. But I had to try, for Avi’s sake if nothing else. “Just think about what I’m telling you,” I said, giving his shoulder a final, firm squeeze. “This isn’t just about you now. It’s about how you want your life to turn out. Don’t end up being another young nigga dead or in jail because you was hanging with the wrong people.”
With that, I turned and walked back to my car. I had only done that for Avi. She loved Jeremy like he was her own son. If it had been up to me, I would have let Damar check his own fucking kid.
I’d been on the second floor of Enchant for a few hours, nursing my drink and staring down at the first floor. It was early, and there was just a few people scattered across the bar. I knew it wouldn’t stay this way for long. Tonight was one of Damar’s nights, so the crowd would be packed soon.
