Shootout

(29) Pier

2 weeks later

     "AHHHHGHGGGHHHH!!!!!" I screamed from the top of my lungs.

     "Baby." Bryson said, rolling over to me and rubbing my arm to comfort me, placing a kiss on my shoulder. "It's just another nightmare mama... just go back to sleep."

I turn over, resting my head on his chest and start bawling my eyes out as he holds me, wrapping me in his arms.

Ever since the shooting I've been having constant nightmares every night about King. I regret killing him. I keep having flashbacks in my dreams and I feel like someone is coming to find us to seek revenge.

I never in a million years thought that one day I would kill someone.

We moved to Atlanta because Bryson has a cousin who lives out here, and he has connections to who can get him started in making money the same way he was making money back in Memphis. Bryson keeps telling me that we're safe and no ones gonna find us but for some reason I feel like I still have to keep my guard up.

As for school, I enrolled in online school and I'm still studying education to become a teacher. It honestly isn't that bad. I have plenty of time to make time for Carmelo.

"Shhhh, it's okay mama." Bryson said, rubbing my back as I'm crying.

"Bryson, I killed a man." I sniffled, continuing to cry.

"I know baby." He said lowly.

     "I don't feel safe anywhere i go." I sniffled.

     "You always gon be safe when you got me baby. You hea me?"

      "But Bry-"

      "I said do you hea me?" He asked again more sternly.

I quickly nodded my head.

     "Ain naan nigga finna touch you. If any nigga even look at you the wrong way then I'm smokin' they ass. You hea me Penelope?"

     "Yes." I mumbled.

     "So stop worryin'. As long as you got me you good, so that means you always gon be good cus you always gon have me."

     "But I feel so guilty. I literally killed a man! I feel like I deserve anything bad that happens to me."

     "Penelope it's normal to feel that way. When I caught my first body I was goin' through the same thing you goin' through. You'll get over it eventually."

His eyes were starting to get low, meaning he's tired. He could barely keep his eyes open and I feel bad because I been waking him up with these nightmares every night since the shooting.

"What time is it?" I asked.

"Four in the Mornin'" He said, slowly starting to doze off back to sleep.

"Fuck." I muffled.

"Just turn over baby and try to go back to sleep. I'm here."

Instead of turning over, I stayed cooped up on his naked chest. His body was so warm and made me feel safe. I always feel safe around him, despite the crazy things he does.

I wrap my leg over his leg as he pulls my body closer to his. I place a peck on his lips before letting myself drift back to sleep and hope I won't have anymore nightmares.

8:00am

"Carmelo wake up." I said, shaking Carmelo gently to wake him. "School starts in a hour."