WESTSIDE

4. the open road

I wiped the tears I had in my eyes while panting fanatically.  I sighed looking over at Rodrick who was laying on the dark brown floor.  He sat there with a hurt expression on his face while still holding his stomach. His hazel eyes finally meeting mine. I quickly looked away from him. 

He winced before he spoke. "Thank you." He said to me then silence fell over the two of us once again.  "No need to thank me." I said in all honesty.  I knew exactly what I had to do.  An ambulance wasn't an option.  Those led to cops and cops led to unnecessary charges against everyone involved.  Rihmeek told me already about Rodrick and how he served some time also.  So I protect those who I know my folks consider family.

Rodrick suddenly started to grunt and I heard a lot of shuffling going on next to me.  I looked over and saw him standing to his feet with his blood stained shirt and pants.  "Woah," I said standing to my feet quickly, "where are you going?" He glanced at me then began walking away slowly.  "Bathroom." Was all he said before disappearing down the hall. 

I waited a couple of seconds after hearing the bathroom door close softly.  I got up feeling a little dizzy from the events that just occurred.  I  know i shouldn't feel sick to my stomach when the man who was shot in front of tons of people is walking around like he didn't just die.  I reached the guest bathroom after regaining my strength mentally and physically and listened closely to the movements on the other side of the door.  "Rodrick? You good in there?" I asked hoping he was just regrouping from the horrific events that just happened in his best friend's living room.

He didn't respond so I took it upon myself to enter the bathroom unbeknownst of what awaited me on the other side.  The white door swung open revealing a hazel eyes Rodrick who didn't have on a shirt showing off his muscular arms and abs that were invisible in his outfit earlier.  I quickly glanced over his body, liking what I saw and made eye contact with him once my eyes stopped wondering. 

He smirked and slightly chuckled to himself before continuing to patch his wound up.  I wasn't surprised one bit.  When you're living in the fast lane and life you have to learn to do things yourself without relying on the police and proper medical assistance.  "Like what you see?" He said focusing on his self in the body length mirror. The nerve of this nigga.  "Um no sir," I said sitting on the edge of the tub, "Im just making sure you're okay.  Don't push your luck."  He laughed once again wincing in the process before going under the sink and retrieving a huge square gauge and tape along with a black shirt.  

Im not even going to ask why he would even know that supplies is under there. "Okay." Was all he said before placing the absorbent material on his abdomen and applying the tape around the edges.  I watched his every movement surprised he could still be up and moving after being shot.  He slipped the black tee shirt over his head and proceeded to leave out the spacious bathroom. 

I've never been shot before and don't want it to happen anytime soon. Of course I've shot at people and actually shot them before because of Cordell.  But thank God it was never me on the receiving end.  Speaking of Cordell, he probably heard about this and where the hell is Christian.  He's supposed to be here in all the action.  I know he's young as fuck but his ass really is with all the bullshit and then some. 

I exited the bathroom walking down the hallway seeing Rodrick look at his phone with a confused expression.  I approached him stepping over the red cups, spilled alcohol and blood.  "What the fuck man." He said before slamming his phone on the wooden table. I looked at him not understanding what the problem was.  I picked up his phone and a state of complete shock came over my whole body.  I froze.  Not knowing what to do or say. 

There was Rihmeek tied up, bloody and bruised in some random location.  "Im going to fucking kill every last one of them and they family." Rodrick stated pacing back and forth with anger and hatred filling his eyes.  I don't know what Meek has got himself into but I know me and Rodrick would soon have to finish it ourselves.  There was a message attached to the photo from the random number.

I read the message out loud not believing what was happening.  "Yall better come get your bitch ass friend before we off him. I WANT MY MUTHAFUCKING MONEY RODDY! Bring me my 500 g's and we gucci." I sighed out loud feeling myself becoming angry.  Where the hell am I going to get 500,000 dollars from. I know Rodrick doesn't have it so were fucked.

"What the hell are we going to do?" I said sitting the phone down.  I turned around seeing Rodrick downing a bottle of liquor and loading up a black duffel bag.  " 'IM' finna go and get his ass back." He said emphasizing im. "No, Im going.  The hell you mean."  I said searching around for my keys.  Rodrick stormed out the house after picking his phone seeing the random number text a couple of vague words.  The message read "Las Vegas, Nevada."

Now what the fuck is that supposed to mean. "So they want us to meet them all the way in Las Vegas?" I said not understanding.  The hell you kidnap or actually man-nap someone and take them 4 hours away.  "I guess so." He said unlocking his car and pulling the door open.  "Rodrick, get out im driving." I said waltzing over to the driver side. 

He turned his head to me, looking at me like I had several heads.  "Jhene you done lost your mind." I tilted my head at him sticking my tattooed arm out waiting for him to drop his Tesla model X keys into my hand.  He better hand me these fucking keys before I slap his ass back into death.  "We can sit here all night," I said shifting my weight to my dominate leg, "give me the damn keys."

He huffed before smacking the keys in my hand and glaring at me hardly walking to the passenger side. I smiled at him, glad I got my way once again.  He slammed the door hard causing the whole car to shake.  I looked at him and shook my head.  A damn shame.  Hes gonna fuck his own car up trying to be mad.  "Calm down chief." I said before pushing the break and shifting the gear to drive.  Rodrick mugged me and pulled a pre-rolled blunt from his glove compartment and lit it.

I pulled off zooming down the street, preparing myself for all of the bullshit that awaited us. I stopped at a red light and Rodrick decided to speak his mind.  "Aye watch your fucking mouth when you talking to me."  I side eyed him before turning my whole body towards him.  "Who you talking to?" I questioned not understanding who's father he thought he was.  "Im not finna play with you."

I accelerated the car and kept glancing over at him.  "Watch the damn road and not me." He said blowing smoke out after inhaling the addictive drug into his lungs.  I laughed at him gripping the steering wheel and propping my other arm up on the console.  "Keep on you gon' see." He said turning the radio up and cracking his window down. 

This trip with his crazy ass really might be the death of me.