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“Shut the fuck up.” After he gave me his sizes, I stood up and walked up the stairs. Locking the door, I walked to my car and jumped inside. Going into my bank app, I logged in to make sure it wasn’t a trick. When I saw it in my balance, I sighed in relief. Shid, maybe I could borrow the seventy five thousand from his ass since he had money to pass out. I laughed at my own joke. I was just playing, but I was about to see if the Lord provided an opportunity. I went through my phone trying to see what he had done, but I couldn’t find shit. It was no apps downloaded or open. No text messages. Nothing.

Seeing I wasn’t gone figure it out, I headed to get some pizza since they were closer. There was no way I was going back to the spot I went to last time. After I grabbed that, I headed to Ross. He only needed a few things. His ass was a hostage, and hopefully he wouldn’t be after today. I grabbed him a couple pairs of briefs, t- shirts, and shorts. The basement might get cold, so I was about to grab him a couple of joggers as well when my phone rang. Seeing it was Peanut, I answered immediately. After going through all the prompts, I waited for him to come on the line.

“Hey.” He sounded like shit.

“Hey, bae. How you holding up in there?” I knew that was a dumb question, but I didn’t know what else to say.

“You already know. What’s going on with that thing?” Hearing him say that let me know they were still fucking with him. I felt so useless, but I didn’t want to tell him his ass was in trouble.

“I’m still working on it.”

“You said that yesterday, Bubbles. I have court in two days, and they said I won’t be there if they don’t have that.”

“I know, Peanut. The shit is complicated, but I promise, I’m working on it.”

“Just remember the only reason it’s me and not you is because I love you. Don’t do this shit to me. I don’t deserve it.” I felt bad, but I was trying to decipher if that was a threat.

“You think I don’t know that? I didn’t expect Juanita to take it, but my plan looks promising. You know I got you. I always do.”

“I know. I’m going to call later. They bringing in our lunch.” He hung up without saying bye. He had every right to be mad, but it was literally nothing I could do. Grabbing my phone, I dialed Anton’s boss. He didn’t answer, so I grabbed the stuff I had and went to the register. Once I paid and got back in my car, I tried again. Still no answer. You gotta be fucking kidding me. He was just demanding proof of life, but now he was MIA. I called one last time before tossing my phone on the seat. I couldn’t stop the tears from falling this time.

I had no idea what Peanut was going through in there, but his voice told me it was all bad. Even though it hurt hearing it, he was right. He could have told them at any time I was the one driving. Hell, he could have told the niggas where to find me or Juanita. He was staying solid and allowing his life to be put on the line for me, and I couldn’t deliver for him. I cried the entire way to the lake house. When I pulled up, I got myself together before going inside. Unlocking the door, I walked down the stairs. Sitting everything on the table, I grabbed my phone again. My chest tightened after I dialed the number again and it went to voicemail.

“You good?” Anton interrupted my mental breakdown.

“Yeah.” I lied. Standing up, I got ready to head out.

“Come here, Stink.” For some reason when he said the nickname this time, it felt like safety instead of a cat call. Not knowing what else to do, I walked toward him and sat down. “What’s wrong?” He used his hand to lift my chin and make me look at him. For some reason, that caused the floodgates to open. He watched me but didn’t say anything. No longer wanting to hold it in, I spoke.

“Peanut got court in two days.”

“What does that mean for you?”

“It means, I didn’t come up with the money, and your boss apparently doesn’t care if he gets you back. The guys in jail said they would kill him before they let him walk up out of there. It’s all my fault and I can’t fix it.”

“Peanut a grown ass man. Him going to jail is not on you. Don’t do that shit to yourself.” He was only saying that because he didn’t know the full story.

“It is my fault. Peanut don’t be wanting to do any of it. The licks is all me. He wanted to work a job, but getting money that way was all I knew. Shit worked out for us, until it didn’t. When we went to the trap, we were supposed to just be watching. I jumped out and robbed the big nigga, and he started shooting at us, making me crash. Right into the fucking police.” He looked shocked, but he didn’t say anything. “The slow ass nigga ran the opposite way and they caught him. The big guy was chasing us, so he saw Peanut get caught. Now they threatening him if I don’t come up with the money.”

“Why didn’t you just give the money back?”

“Because my mama stole it.” I could feel his body shaking, so I knew he was laughing. I knew that sounded crazy, but it was the truth.

“Damn! When you couldn’t get the bread, you went back to the trap and took me.”

“Yeah.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Yeah, I done told you all my dirt anyway.”

“Why not get a job? I mean it won’t help you get the money they asking for, but it can stop you from putting yourself in these kinds of predicaments. Why would you wanna hit licks instead? Hell, how did you even start doing that shit?”

“Nigga, you said one question.”

“My bad.”

“I’ve been doing them for as long as I can remember. Me and Taffy been doing the shit for a long time. It was nobody but us for real, so we had to take care of ourselves. Then we got good at it, but I’m not gone lie though. The excitement from the rush played a part in it too, but I’m tired. The licks getting crazier, stuff never seems to go right. Yeah, it pays the bills, but damn, can a hoe get a break? It seems like I’m always chasing something, hiding from somebody, or running to get away.” Anton pulled me to him and laid my head on his chest. “I don’t even know what ahead looks like anymore. When I got the money from the trap, I thought I could finally breathe.”