Way of Life

1

Nautica
"Where's my money?" I circled the man as he was tied to the chair. He had tears streaming down his face and smelled horrific from the lack of a place to use the restroom. I ripped the duct tape off and he hissed.
"I need 2 weeks."
"Did I need 2 weeks to give you my damn coke?!"
"I- I-"
"You what? Huh? You thought you could just be on good terms?"
"I nee-"
"And I need my muthafuckin' money bitch!" We all took in the silence before I made up my mind.
"See, I ain't gone kill you cause you ain't gone get my money that way. You got 2 weeks to bring me my damn money or yo little family of neckbones will pay." I gritted. He let out a sigh of relief as they covered his head up then threw him in the back of the van, taking his pissy ass back to where he came from.

I quickly left the room knowing that if I stayed any longer my stomach would die. Walking into my office, I sat down and relaxed while rolling a blunt. "Talk to me."
"I need a 50." My usual customer called.
"Ight."I lit the blunt before fixing up his package. He stumbled in my door still high off his last fix.
"Yo, come down from that one and you'll get this one." I held the package hostage as he was skitzing on the floor.

"Gim-gimme this damn package." He reached for it but I rolled back.
"Play wit it. You fam but you know I'll take yo ass out." I held the gun to his abdomen and he froze.
"Baby, you- you aint gotta do that." He looked down at me as sweat slid down his face.

"Sit down dad." I pushed him with the gun, into the chair.
"Here." I threw him a water bottle and he took a sip. I know that this was my dad and I was putting damn near all my family's lives in jeopardy, but I can't save them. They want it, I give it. Just like they have a hustle, so do I.

"How's mom?"
"Same." He jittered from withdrawal. He handed me the money and I threw him the sack. He smiled and left out before I locked my shit down and went to my house.

I walked into the smell of cinnamon and sat the McDonald's bag down. Even though I could cook, I didn't feel like it. I ate my spicy chicken sandwich and fries before taking a shower. I enjoyed living alone case I could walk around naked without the consent of anyone else. I curled up into bed and turned on Life before scrolling on Instagram and looking on snapchat. I finished the movie before going down to do laundry and threw on my robe, going to feed my dogs.

"Hey babies!" I said in a little baby voice as I walked with the Old Yeller bag. I poured the food and let them off the chains and they attacked the food. I shook my head as I walked into the house and heard a noise. I reached on top of the refrigerator for a gun. All gone.

"You're smart." I chuckled as the light cut out and I felt a presence behind me. The masculine arms dangled over my shoulders as he kissed my temple.
"Good Afternoon Deven." I smiled before slipping out of his grip and going up the stairs, dropping my robe, and crawled into bed.

Deven was my little boo thang if that's what you want to call it. We weren't a couple and we have never had sex. We just enjoyed each others company seeing that he was more of a cubicle, business office man as I was you know, a "trap queen".
"You need to chill that drug shit out. You're too beautiful for that violence and shit."
"It's not just 'drug shit' Dev, it's a Way of Life.