And Then I Die (Urban Novel)

Chapter Four. The Hookup

Justus Spencer

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I was taught that once people lose their respect for you, you lose your power. You can't lead an army when you can't even lead yourself.

I'd betrayed one of my brothers for the other one and still felt like I was unsure of if it was the right thing to do. Could no longer show my face during family holidays, I knew Zay would retaliate in some way and our mother would be on his side.

We'd stopped at a waffle house to eat and think. Gianni had made everyone ditch their phones and beepers, going back home wasn't an option and yet even though we were in this position my brother ate his all-star special like it was going out of style.

The more I looked at my breakfast, the more I realized Seleah may have had the right idea to skip breakfast. She remained outside in the car and hadn't spoken two words since we left the lounge the night before.

"She hasn't ate anything since we arrived in Texas. I'm worried" Jen said almost as if she was in my head.

"She's grown and she'll eat if she's hungry" I muttered. Gianni glanced over out the window where we could see Seleah just sitting silently staring straight ahead.

His chewing slowed down a little bit and when she happened to look over at us, he motioned for her to come inside. 

"What are we gonna do with her? She don't know shit about drugs, we gotta drop her off somewhere" I said while finally picking my sandwich up to bite it.

"She can't go back home, it's not safe for her or her mom. Zay will find her and have Carlos or Tripp kill her" Jen whispered as the waffle house door opened.

Seleah walked in slowly and came over to the booth. Gianni and Jen sat on one side and I sat on the other. Everyone looked at me waiting for me to slide over and when I didn't Gianni looked at Jen and nodded towards my side of the table.

I watched her stand up and push me over to the other side before sitting down next to me. Seleah hesitated before she sat down next to Gianni but remained quiet.

"That hunger headache you got right now is probably whooping your ass right now, isn't it?" Gianni questioned.

"I don't have an apatite" Seleah said quietly. Her voice sounded hoarse like she was thirsty as hell.

Gianni looked at my drink and I quickly picked it up before he could offer it to her ass. Jen slid out of the booth to go get her some water.

"Drink this" Gianni ordered sliding his orange juice over to her. he removed his straw and tossed an unopened one over to her.

I watched her hesitate before opening her straw and sticking it in her juice. She took a few sips before drinking that shit down like she hadn't drunken anything in days.

"So what are we gonna do? Can't go back to Cali, what now?" I questioned. Gianni went back to eating without a care in the world.

Everything we had built with Zay was gone. We had no home to go back to, I really don't think he thought any of this through.