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His jaw tightened.

“They told me either I helped them or they were gonna make sure I went down right beside you. Ma was already fucked up. I was young. What the fuck you wanted me to do? Throw my whole life away because you decided you didn't give a fuck about yours?”

“You were my brother.”

“And I was supposed to go to prison for you because of that?”

“You were supposed to shut the fuck up.”

I laughed.

There wasn't shit funny about it.

“Easy for you to say. You always thought everybody was supposed to bleed behind whatever the fuck you decided to do.”

“So you gave them me.”

“I gave them enough to get myself out that fucking room.”

“Seven years.”

“I didn't give you seven fucking years.”

“You helped them take seven years from me.”

I looked at him.

I wasn't about to stand there and pretend I hadn't done it.

I did.

Would I make the same decision today?

I didn't fucking know.

But back then?

I was young.

Scared.

And when them detectives put two choices in front of me⁠—

my brother or myself⁠—

I chose myself.

15

SAMANTHA & LEVIN

SAMANTHA

“Mommy, I want some juice!” Zion yelled from downstairs.

“Boy, go get the juice out the fridge!” I yelled back from my bedroom.

“I can’t find it!”