Page 2 of ‘Til I Say When

Two hours later, I was sitting on the steps of the same house that Eric’s body had been delivered to.

It was a spot where we all chilled at. The niggas that sold dope hustled from there.

Some of them fucked bitches there. There were many nights that we played the game, smoked, and drank there.

I didn’t sell drugs. I sold guns and when I didn’t have guns, I had a connect that got me promethazine.

I also stole luxury cars every now and then.

Shit, I had plenty of ways to make money.

A nigga had even cracked a few credit cards.

I was the true definition of a hustler. I didn’t like being too predictable.

If I sold drugs, that was what I’d mostly be known for, and it would be easier for me to get on the police’s radar. At least, that was how I viewed it.

I didn’t want to leave my people, so I got a rideshare to come get Lonna and Misha.

They wanted to stay, but I sent them on their way fast as hell.

Maybe they did want to comfort me, but a part of me believed they just wanted to be nosey.

They had to get the fuck on. This was a family tragedy, and it was messed up.

Everybody was standing around whispering and being nosey.

The bottle of Hennessy that I was gripping by the neck was the only thing keeping me from spazzing on everybody that was out there looking, talking, and recording.

Pierre’s baby mama had to literally pull me away to keep me from snatching a cell phone from a bystander’s hand.

I let everyone within earshot know if I saw anything posted on social media, they were getting their ass beat.

I didn’t give a fuck if it was man, woman, or child.

When my aunt came, I had to walk away and go around the corner.

I couldn’t take it. After she lost her daughter, my aunt Jada tried her best to be okay.

She began going to church twice a week, and when she wasn’t in church, she was watching pastors on television or reading the Bible.

She prayed more than she did anything else, but the gut-wrenching wail that traveled around the corner and into my ears made my knees buckle.

“Fuck!” I hissed.

I went to school with Drew, but I didn’t know him for real.

The last I saw him, he was with some chick named Wonder.

Shorty was bad and with a name like that, she was hard to forget.

I knew Pierre wanted him, but if I saw him first, it would be hard to let him get past me.

Taking a swig of my Hennessey, I cursed again before listening for my aunt’s cries.

When I didn’t hear any, I rounded the corner and sat back on the porch steps.

I ignored everyone around me as I stared at the spot where Eric’s car had been before the police had it towed.

There was still a heavy police presence on the block, and it was pissing me off because I wanted to fire up my blunt.

It wasn’t like they were going to go out of their way to find Eric’s killers anyway.

Sucking my teeth, I twisted the cap off my bottle and took a large swig despite the fact the block was crawling with police.

Most people may have classified me as selfish, but I was ready to do whatever I had to do for Eric – whether that consisted of helping to put him away or making my gun spray.

A red Camry pulled into the spot where Eric’s car had been, and I clenched my teeth together as I waited to see who was going to emerge.

Dark tint prevented me from seeing inside the car.

When Ashanti hopped out, I shook my head and took another swig of cognac.

It was about to be some shit, and if I wasn’t in the mood, I knew Pierre wasn’t in the mood, either.

Ashanti’s eyes were laced with genuine concern, and I knew she really cared about Pierre, but it wasn’t her place to be here. I had just parted my lips to speak when Nina, Pierre’s baby mama, flew out of the house.

“I don’t know why the fuck you’re here, but you have two seconds to leave before I beat your ass up and down this block.” I pushed out a deep sigh. Here it went.

Nina used to be a real sweet girl. The quiet, preppy type.

She was a nurse and used to get straight A’s in high school.

Shorty was a virgin until she was like nineteen.

But, four years with Pierre had turned her all the way out.

She’d been in more fights in the past four years than she ever had in life.

Her parents hated Pierre, and most days, she hated him, too; but, she couldn’t or wouldn’t leave him alone.

“Beat who?” Ashanti stepped up on the curb with hiked brows. “I want to see you do it. Please do it, bitch.” I stood up and stepped in front of Nina, facing Ashanti.

“My aunt just lost her child. Now is not the time.” My tone was low and respectful, but Ashanti had to know I wasn’t playing.

A defeated look infiltrated her eyes. When the door opened, she looked over my shoulder, hope had replaced the disappointment. “Pierre, do you want me to leave?”

“Hell yeah.” His tone was flat and adamant. “Since when do you come through here without calling?”

“Why is she even coming over here at all?” Nina screeched.

Out of respect for Pierre, I was going to let him handle his baby mama, but I directed Ashanti right back to her car.

I didn’t feel sorry for her because she knew what it was.

Pierre and Nina weren’t fully going to leave one another alone until they were good and ready, and I doubted that would be any time soon.

Women had to stop thinking that just because a man stuck dick in them, it meant something.

Ashanti got in her car and peeled off with her tires screeching.

Pierre and Nina made their way back inside but even after the door closed, I could still hear them arguing.

I drowned all the noise out and took another swig. At that point, it felt like I was on a merry go round. But, I wasn’t ready to stop drinking. All I could think was, damn, not my nigga, Eric.