Always

45.

Spencer James

Spencer opened his eyes and turned his body in a swift motion. His eyes sent straight daggers at Lonzo as he held Spencer's second gun in the air.

"The fuck are you doin'?!" Spencer questioned in anger. He swiftly tucked his gun into the back of his waistband as he approached Lonzo.

"Stoppin' yo dumbass from doin' stupid shit!" Lonzo removed his hand from the air. "I get it...you angry right now. But what you were about to do won't make shit better!" he stepped closer to Spencer.

"What I was about to do?" Spencer chuckled. "You can shoot in the air as much as you'd like, Zo. This shit is still gon' get handled" he turned back towards E, aiming the gun in his direction.

"I can't let you make the same mistake twice" Lonzo said and Spencer furrowed his eyebrows. "June 26th, 2016" he stated and Spencer's heart race increased.

*flashback*

"You know what to do" the man said as he pulled up a few feet away from the home.

"What you talkin' bout? You said you'd take care of it for me!" Spencer whispered-yelled. His eyes widened as he watched the man pull out a gun from the glove compartment.

"Them niggas killed yo moms! You claim the set, right?" the man asked a fourteen year old teenager. Spencer's breath hitched as he quickly nodded. "Then handle that shit!" the man gave Spencer the gun along with a mask.

For a brief moment, Spencer stared at the gun in his hands. Though he contemplated his next move, images of his mother's lifeless body occupied his thoughts. His jaw clenched as he felt overwhelmed by the recollection. Within seconds, Spencer hopped out of the vehicle, tucking the piece in his jacket. He tossed the mask to the side as he approached the two men standing on the porch.

"Aye!" Spencer called out, standing a few feet away from the men.

"Who are you?" one of the men questioned.

"Your worst nightmare" Spencer's anger seared through him as he let off multiple rounds of ammunition.

*flashback over*

"I saw what happened that night..." Lonzo began. "A friend and I were tryna make it home from a party in time to avoid getting our asses whooped. You was sittin' in the car with Big Homie" he continued and Spencer avoided his eye contact.

"I don't know what you're talkin' about" Spencer shrugged his shoulders.

"On that walk back home, my friend and I saw the whole ordeal. From the back and forth between you and BH. To the moment you hopped out of the whip and walked up them steps" Lonzo continued. "We swore not to speak on it...because we ultimately knew the odds were against us" he told him.

"Lonzo-"

"The Spencer I've heard about in recent months was a lot different than what I saw that night. He was all about helping the community and wanting to make a difference. He wanted to put the people in our hood in place of business and in position to succeed. He had a heart...he cared" Lonzo cut him off.

"I'm still-"

"The nerve of you to call yourself an asset to the hood all while participating in the perpetual violence that's done horrible damage to the men in our community" Lonzo interrupted him again. "You're worse than the white man...worse than the sellout. You're a despicable piece of shit" he scolded.

"Now wait-"

"Shut the fuck up" Lonzo said through gritted teeth. "I've spent about an hour with you. This is our first real interaction and I can visibly see the anger built inside of you. The same anger you showin' right now is what I saw that night you did what you did. You have a right to feel upset about the shit you've endured...but it's time to heal, my nigga!" his voice slightly raised.