I pulled off slow at first, trying to get my eyes right. Every damn bump in the road sent a fresh shot through my jaw.
I gripped the steering wheel so tight my knuckles were hurting. Blood was still sliding down my lip and dropping onto my pants.
I tasted metal every time I swallowed.
The city didn’t stop for me, niggas were telling on me and not defending me, that was pissing me off, and then I remembered that I wasn’t in my city.
I wiped my nose with the back of my hand. That shit hurt like a bitch.
“FUCK!” I yelled out. I knew that shit was broken.
My phone kept ringing in my pocket, but I didn’t even worry about it, not like my niggas was gonna come down and help fight my battle.
I don’t even remember the full drive, just pieces. Stoplights, blurry turns. My head leaning against the window for a second to steady myself before I forced it back up.
Every time I blinked, I saw that nigga walking up on me in a silk shirt. I could still feel his rings on the side of my face.
That nigga meant what he talked about. He had the city under lock, and they had their eyes on me.
That shit pissed me off even more.
I pulled into the motel parking lot fast, tires screeching a lil’ before I slammed the car in park. My chest was rising hard while I sat there, face throbbing, jaw aching.
I looked into the rearview mirror and instantly got pissed all over again.
That nigga beat my ass.
I punched the steering wheel hard as fuck.
The horn blasted loud through the parking lot, making a few people turn and look. I reached for my Glock under the seat then stared at it for a second, realizing what I was doing—I was fucking up…moving sloppy.
I leaned back against the seat and closed my eyes, trying to get my shit together before I crashed for real.
But every time I closed my eyes, I kept seeing Islah.
Her smile.
Her laugh.
The way she looked at that nigga in those damn pictures.
Just the way he stepping behind her, I can tell that he loved her for real.
That made me hate him more.
I grabbed the bottle sittin’ in my cup holder and took another pull before finally getting out of the car.
The second my feet hit the pavement, pain shot through my ribs.
“That nigga caught me clean…” I muttered low.
I kept my head low while I walked across the street and up the stairs to my room. As soon as I got inside the room, I locked the door behind me and stumbled to the bathroom.
The bright light fucked me up instantly. Making me lift my head slow, looking into the mirror.
I looked the way I felt.
Fucked up, crooked nose, dried-up blood all over my face. That nigga’s rings left cuts all over my face.
