Page 16 of Nobody Praying for Me

She tossed her braids over her shoulder and folded her arms over her chest. “Who are you?” When she spotted Sissy, she smirked. “Aw, did you run home and tell on me, cry baby?”

Sissy was about to defend herself, but I held up a hand to stop her. “Go get your mama before I put my hands on you for real. You’re already skating on thin ice with me, little girl, and I’m trying to keep in mind that you’re a child. Don’t say shit else to my sister. I’m only talking to adults.”

“I don’t have to do shit,” her little smart ass snapped, trying to be funny.

I chuckled with a slow nod before I hauled off and slapped the fuck out of her. Everybody was in shock, including her. “Ain’t shit funny now huh? Go get your mama like I said. I’m not going to say it again, because I really want to put hands on you for what you said to my sister. I’m trying to be nice and spare you ’cause I’m a grown-ass woman, but if you keep talking crazy, I’m gon’ take it there. I’m not one of your little friends, boo.”

She raced toward the apartment with tears in her eyes. I backed up and turned to Oasis. “Here. Record this for me.” She eyed me suspiciously but took the phone out of my hand. “I want you to show this video to every little ho who tries to play with you in the future. I’m knocking everybody’s head off about you.”

I heard elevated voices coming down the steps and got excited. A big, fat, and sloppy ho appeared, popping her shit. There was a cigarette hanging from her black lips, and I just knew her breath stunk. “Who put their fucking hands on my daughter?” she asked.

Bop! I stole off on her before she could even finish getting the words out. The cigarette fell to the ground, completely forgotten about. “I did, bitch. That one is for raising a little bitch with no manners.” Boop, bop! “That one is for that little bitch wishing death on my sister.” Thump! Thump! Thump! The last few hits dropped her on the concrete, and I felt no remorse as I upper cut her all in her shit. I lifted my foot and stomped on her face twice because my anger was building instead of subsiding.

Turning to Tiffany, I pointed and said, “If you ever say anything to Sissy again, I’m going to beat your mama’s ass again and again. I can keep going for real, so don’t bring it out of me.” She stood there, shaking in her boots. “No. Don’t get all tight lipped now. You was just poppin’ it, weren’t you?”

“Who fighting my mama?” I heard someone ask. I smiled widely when I spun around and saw it was Cinnamon from the club.

“Oh, yeah. I need that. Come on and take this ass whooping for your mama and sister,” I said, getting excited. When she saw her mama bloody on the ground, she rushed me, but I was ready. My fist caught her right in the chin, and I kept swinging, straight dog-walking her ass. She never stood a chance against me. “Call the police, Ma!” she yelled out in need of saving.

“I don’t give a fuck, ho. Call them, but just know they can’t save you.” I continued to pummel her face without remorse. I’d wanted to beat her ass for a long time, and this felt like divine timing.

I felt a strong arm around my waist that snatched me into the air. I started going crazy. “Get the fuck off me! I ain’t done!”

“Yes, the fuck you are. Get your little ass in the car.” I realized it was Kalm’s voice and knew I was in trouble before he even sat me in the driver’s seat of my car, and I saw his glare.

He pointed at me then just shook his head disappointedly. “I’m going to deal with your pretty ass later. Get in, Sissy, and I’ma follow y’all back to the house.”

He slammed my car door shut, ensuring I wouldn’t hop back out and finish what I started. I glanced over at Oasis, “Are you okay?”

She nodded with tears in her eyes. “Is this what it’s like to have a big sister?”

I burst out laughing as I started up the car, finally feeling my anger begin to subside as my heart rate slowed. “Yes, it is. I will always have your back, Oasis. What that girl said wasn’t right, and if you have any more problems out of her, let me know, and I’ll come knock their heads between the washer and dryer again. I really don’t give a fuck.”

Sissy caught me off guard when she reached across the car and hugged me around the waist. “Thank you,” she whispered.

I patted her head and smiled. “I got you, pretty girl. Always.” As we pulled off, I glanced in my rearview mirror to see Kalm trailing me in his truck. “You got that on video, right?”

She nodded happily. “Yep! I ain’t never seen Tiff scared before.”

“That’s because she thought she was a bully until she ran into a bigger bully. Next time someone fucks with you, show them that video, and tell them that’s what I’m going to do to them and their people if they don’t leave you alone.”

She giggled, and I could tell she was no longer hurt by their words. “You are crazy, just like my brother, but I love that for me. Kalm has definitely met his match in you.”

11

KALM ALEXANDER SAVAGE

Whipping my truck into the driveway behind Charisma’s Lexus, I watched her hop out with Sissy and go switching in the house, eating ice cream like she hadn’t just waged war on Tiffany and her people. “Fucking crazy-ass girl,” I mumbled to myself before shutting off my engine. I had intentionally blocked her in, just in case she decided she wanted to double back later and cause more hell.

I should’ve known she wasn’t over the situation, but talking to Kaos had distracted me. In my mind, she would listen to what I said because, while on the phone, I was already plotting on how to handle it. But I finally understood that Charisma was not one of my siblings who took my word as law. She had her own mind and was as loose of a cannon as my ass.

I only figured out what she was up to because something told me to check her room. When I saw her wig flung on the dresser and those damn black block walkers were gone, I knew immediately what type of timing she was on. I knew where Tiffany lived because I’d given her rides home before when she came over to hang out with my sister. By the time I got there, the girl had already dog-walked everyone she felt was responsible.

On one hand, I was upset with her because things could’ve gone left before I arrived. Yet at the same time, my heart softened, knowing she was willing to go so hard for my sister. I saw their bond strengthen day by day, but now I understood that Charisma wasn’t only trying to protect my sister from cancer but from the world. I could only respect her for it.

Walking into the house, I went straight to her bedroom. She was undressing, so I slammed the door shut behind me. She glanced over her shoulder with a scowl. “What?” she bucked in a sharp tone.

“Your ass don’t fucking listen. That’s what,” I retorted. “I told you to let me handle it, Charisma.”