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“I’m sorry.”

“Me too.” Grabbing my gun, I lit his ass up like it was the fourth of July. I didn’t stop until the clip was empty. Walking over to his desk, I grabbed a piece of paper and a pen.

DEBT 0.00

PAID IN FULL

Looking back at the headstones, I took another swig. I didn’t remember much after I killed my uncle. I just knew I somehow ended up back at Key’s spot. I told him everything. What my uncle did for a living, what he had me doing, what I found out in those files, and what I had just done. I don’t know why I trusted that nigga, but I felt fucked up. Maybe after killing my uncle, I realized I had nobody, and I just needed to get it all out. That nigga never repeated a word of it. Not then, not ever. We been rocking ever since.

“Anton.” I turned so fast, I dropped my bottle. My hand was around that hoe’s throat before my mind could register I moved.

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

“I was worried about you,” she said between gasps.

“I told you, not today!” I tightened my grip with each word. I couldn’t believe this ditzy bitch followed me out here. To the one place nobody knew about. I didn’t take my eyes off her as I tried to pull every breath from her body. For a split second, my eyes shifted. Seeing the hole for the grave the funeral was just at, I dragged her toward it. Crystal was fighting hard, but she didn’t know I was saving her. It was either this or her ass was about to die. As soon as I got to the edge, I tossed her ass inside. Staggering off, I made my way toward my truck ignoring her screams. The Don had finally caught up with me, and a nigga could barely hold himself up. My truck was close yet seemed so far away. Noticing somebody was leaning against it, I shook my head. Key. When I approached him, he nodded his head toward the direction I had just walked.

“Did you really have to throw that girl in there?” A laugh came out before I could stop it. It was the first one I had all day.

“Fuck her!” Grabbing him, I pulled him into an embrace. I didn’t say shit, and he didn’t either. Nothing needed to be said until I let go.

“Yeah, your ass drunk. I know your car can drive you home, but I don’t trust that shit. I got you.”

“You always do,” I slurred as he carried me over to his passenger side.

Simone “Bubbles” Stanton

“You have a collect call from-…”

“Peanut.” I hurried through the prompts to accept it. He tried to call me yesterday, but since he didn’t have any money on his account, it wouldn’t let us talk. It took me half the day to figure the shit out. They had that more difficult than it needed to be. I’m glad we were finally able to talk. I’ve been worried about him ever since he got arrested.

“Heyyyy,” I said trying to sound upbeat.

“What’s up?”

“Are you okay? Baby, I’m so sorry. You know I didn’t mean for any of that shit to happen.” I wasn’t about to say too much since we were on a recorded line.

“I know.”

“I put some money on your books. I can put some more on there if that’s not enough. Just let me know. I’m not sure how all this jail shit work.” Peanut laughed at that. He knew I always said if my nigga went to jail, I was moving on the minute the police tapped the car and said sit tight. Since this was my fault, I had to stick around.

“You don’t have to do all that. Hopefully, I’m not in here long enough to need it.” I was able to relax a little hearing him say that.

“I looked up your court date, so I’ll be there.”

“I know you will, baby.”

“How are things going in there?” I really wanted to ask him is your ass secure and still intact?

“Naw, I’m not.” Hearing that made me sit up. I know this nigga ain’t gave up the booty in two days.

“What’s going on?”

“That thing you took; they want it back.” That’s the last thing I expected him to say.

“Who in there know about that?”

“They got people in here pressing me about it. They saw me get booked, so they sent word. I pray you ain’t used it yet.” He sounded unsure and scared of my response.