Page 15

I didn't want to. Lord knows I didn't want to find a single thing funny about the night I'd just had, but the laugh came anyway. It started small before turning into something I couldn't control, half laughter and half sobbing, until I dropped onto the edge of my bed and wiped the tears from underneath my eyes.

“You going to hell,” I managed, shaking my head.

“I'll save you a seat,” she replied without hesitation.

I laughed again, but it faded when I glanced toward my closed bedroom door. Somewhere on the other side of it was the woman who'd given birth to me, the same woman I'd spent years trying to help, defend, and take care of. I loved my mama. Even after everything I'd just walked in on, that hadn't magically disappeared.

But loving her was costing me more than I had left to give.

Ashlynn must've heard the change in my breathing because when she spoke again, the humor was gone from her voice.

“Come with me, Jru. For real,” she said gently. “Leave all that shit there. You don't have to keep living like this.”

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat and looked down at the open duffel bag beside me.

Mama had made her choice.

Montae had damn sure made his.

Maybe it was time I finally made mine.

I shoved the last pair of jeans into my bag and pulled the zipper closed. Then I picked up my phone, wiped the remaining tears from my cheeks, and stood.

“Hurry up,” I told Ashlynn. “My bags packed.”

Chapter 4

Tone had been talking since we pulled away from E's spot, and I let him. Not because anything he said was going to change what happened when we got to the warehouse, but because a man deserved the chance to get his last excuse off his chest.

“Malachi, I'm telling you, I can get the money,” he insisted for what had to be the fifth time, shifting nervously in the passenger seat.

I glanced at him before returning my attention to the road. “When, mothafucka?”

His mouth opened, but nothing came out. He looked toward the windshield, rubbing his palms against his jeans like he was trying to come up with an answer that might save him.

“Exactly,” I muttered, shaking my head.

“Just give me till Friday, bro. I swear I'll have everything straight.”

“Nah.” I adjusted my grip on the steering wheel, already tired of hearing the same bullshit. “Tone, you ain't got our fucking money. E gave you time. I gave you time. It's outta my hands now.”

His face changed when the warehouse came into view. The nervous talking stopped, and he sat up straighter, staring at the building like he was seeing it for the first time. I pulled through the gate, parked near the side entrance, and killed the engine.

Tone didn't move.

Neither did I.

For several seconds, the only sound inside the truck was the air blowing through the vents. I could feel him looking at me, probably searching my face for some sign that I was about to change my mind.

“Malachi,” he finally said, his voice noticeably quieter. “I got kids, man.”

I turned my head and looked at him. “And you had kids when you took our money.”

His jaw clenched, and he looked away.

I wasn't trying to be cold. Facts were facts. Everybody remembered what they had to lose when it was time to pay for the shit they did. Tone had known exactly who he was dealing with, and he'd still decided to play with money that didn't belong to him.

“Get out,” I told him.