Redesign time

It's been a while since posting the last chapter of The Hard Way. Been busy looking for an editor to check my story before self-publishing.

Man, it's a process!

First, I want to redesign this spot. I threw it up just to get my story out there. I didn't care how it looked. I couldn't be more wrong. Folks are visual. They like to look at things that are pleasing, not half assed.

I threw this up half asses, and I don't want that to reflect me. I want it to look pleasing, yet simple. I'll definitely work on it in the days ahead

Back to the editing. Finding an editor can be time consuming, but I'm sure all would-be writers go through this process if their self-pubbing.

Cover, check. Guerilla marketing, working on it. Helping other writers more than myself, about 5 checks.

It's a long process, but very much worth it. It's a learning experience that I know I have to do, since this will be my bread and butter. Hey, gotta write to eat, right?

Peace.

All Money Ain't Good Money - Episode 10

Damon never wanted this life for Lamar. Watching him with a gun in hand, just saving his live, pisses him off. Deep down, he feels he failed. Both him and Elyssa, his mother.

“What's this lil mu'fucka doing? Tryin' ta prove his manhood by killin' his fam?” Duval laughs at them while shakingly standing up. Wilda is holding a nub that was her hand. She's too in shock and pain to do anything else.

Elyssa walks over to Lamar, taking the gun from his young hands. “It didn't have to come to this, Duval.”

“Didn't it?” Duval finally stands up, holding his shoulder and leaning against the wall. Battered and bruised, he still has fight left in him. “You came back without finishing the job. I'd say that's a breach of contract, miss.” Duval looks at a confused Damon. “Judging by my nephew, you didn't tell him he was the final payment."

Elyssa points the gun at Duval, who turns away. “My son missed, I won't. I told you, we're even. I did work for nine years for your ass, that's more than enough.”

“Nephew”, Duval says, still looking away. “Your boo here was supposed to kill you as final payment. All transgressions and debts paid in full. She'd get a clean slate.” Duval spits a bloody wad on the floor, then glares at Damon. “You just up and left my organization. You found out you were gonna be a daddy and you left to take care of this damn trick.” He looks at Elyssa, and like the jackal he is drops a bomb. “ I was fucking her at the same time you were. Oh yeah, she had to start paying for that loan somehow. Funny, how that lil nigga in front of you was born from your so-called dick. Ever get a paternity test?”

Damon says nothing. He looks at Elyssa, who's face is stone and glaring at Damon. Lamar's face says it all. Betrayal, shock, sadness. He pulls away from Elyssa and goes to Damon. For years, he's had some idea this could be true, that Lamar may not be his. Right now, he doesn't care. He just wants to get his son away safe and from the shit this town brings.

“You haven't said anything I haven't thought of before, Uncle. I'm leaving with my fam. Leave us the fuck alone. Come after us, I'm killing you and everyone you care for.” Damon pulls Lamar with him, then pulls Elyssa by the arm to come with him. She felt him hesitate, and she can't blame him. Too much truth has been said tonight, and if he left her behind, she wouldn't blame him. On the way out, Damon sees the bag of money that Duval told him to take earlier, and sees another bag of money next to it. A gray duffel bag.

Elyssa tries to hold Lamar's hand. At first, he hesitates, then takes it. Damon grabs the duffel bag and they're out the door. 

Finally some goddamn peace, thinks Duval. He stands up fully and feels his ribs move, and that's all right with him. It's been a long time since someone took a fight to him, and he still wants more. Especially when he hears his newly remodeled 1972 Gran Torino start up in his garage and peel out. Aches and pain prevent Duval from running to the door. It's more like a painful trot. He kicks Wilda out of his way, cussing and screaming the whole way. All he can do is watch his prized car haul ass down the driveway, then the road. He can't help but laugh.

“This round's yours, nephew.” Duval laughs despite the pain to his ribs. “Truth's out now. I still broke your family up, nigga.” Duval laughs loud and painfully. It's worth it. He knows this is his victory.

*

The ride is quiet as Damon takes Old Route 66 going west . El sits in the passenger seat looking out the window, Lamar is behind the driver seat, staring out the window. Damon's head throbs at the evening's events. So much happened in so little time. He keeps checking the rearview mirror to see if anyone is following. Nothing. Just the elks migrating on the roadsides, forcing him to drive the limit.

“I'm sorry.” El breaks the silence. “Yes, you were final payment. You were supposed to be my clear slate. Even though I sold all those drugs...”, she hesitates saying the next part as she glances back at Lamar, who's looking at her. “I killed people who he put hits on in his funky little grab at power. I did lots of things so he'd back off you and Lamar.” El tries to hold Damon's free hand, but doesn't hold back. Instead, he grabs the gun in the seat between them.

“He's mine, I know this”, Damon finally responds. El tenses, knowing it would come to this. “You knew the truth the whole time. Even if he's not mine, I love him and won't see him get hurt any more.” He looks at Lamar in the rearview mirror and grins at him. His little man, who he sacrificed so much for, and would slap the devil to protect him, smiles back. “You put us all at risk and you knew it. You couldn't come clean from the beginning and look at us now.” Damon's voice is still even, but they can hear the anger building.

“You agreed to this! Don't you even try to put all this shit on me”, she replies. “You take care of Lamar while I go repay the debt I owed Duval. When you called me to watch Lamar tonight, I did it to see him again. I love him and you. I'm the one who broke my deal! I never intended to follow through!” El looks at the gun in his hand. “My plan was to get Duval after I came home. Plain and simple. I didn't care what happened to me, as long as his ass was got. So...”, she taps the gun, “if you're mad, I can't blame you. Just make it quick.” She turns and looks out the window, not saying another word.

Damon quickly pulls over to the side of the road, avoiding the elk. He stares out the window then looks over at Elyssa, who's looking at him. His hand trembles with anger. He loves her, always has, and right now, he's not sure what to do. To kill her, or not to. Kiss her or sock her. Kick her out the car and make her walk, or just keep driving to see what happens.

“Daddy?”

Lamar's calming voice settles his dad down. “What son?”

“No more, please.”

Lamar reaches and puts a small hand on his dad's big shoulder. Damon stares at Elyssa, who's staring at Lamar. Damon puts the car in park...and yells. Lamar jumps back and covers his ears in fright, Elyssa looks at Damon and tears rolls down her cheeks. He punches the steering wheel for a few seconds, letting his anger out.

Then silence. Scary, motionless silence. 

Damon turns off the car and takes the keys from the ignition, steps out the car and goes to the trunk, popping it open. El and Lamar both turn and look at the opened trunk while Damon fusses back there for a minute. He closes the trunk, bringing something back with him; a large bag that he puts on the driver seat.

“Some things don't change”, El comments. She opens the bag and grabs 2 waters, handing one to Lamar. “Survival bag”, she tell her son. “Duval believes in having these in all his cars just in case he has to make a run for in. They have water, several changes of clothes, and snacks.” She pulls out a bag of beef jerky for him, and he starts to devour it.

Damon grabs a bottled water, pulls off his shirt and slowly pours the water on himself, rubbing the blood and grime off him. He air dries for a few minutes, breathes deep of the cool night air, then puts on a clean shirt from the bag.

Elyssa rolls down the window to breathe some fresh air, herself. As she looks up, a shooting star burns across the sky. She smiles and closes her eyes. At this point, she feels they have nothing else to lose. 

I wish we could go somewhere and start completely new. Go somewhere that's foreign to us, no one knows us, couldn't care about us. Just me and the boys. 

She looks at Damon, still standing outside, and knowing it's gonna take a long time to get things right with him again. She looks at Lamar, who's tearing up the jerky and his water. He looks up and smiles at her. She smiles back.

Damon hurries back in the car, starting the engine and peeling out.

“What's wrong? Someone coming?” she looks out the back window, but sees no headlights.

“We're going somewhere far away”, he replies with a devilish grin. “No one'll know us, definitely won't care about us. We'll blend right in, and it'll just be us.”

Elyssa looks back outside, winking at the now gone shooting star. A few miles down the road he pulls into a gas station to refuel, for them to use the bathroom, whatever needs to be done for the long drive ahead.


     Portland, Oregan 
     3 months later 

Rainy days never bothered Elyssa. After combing the southern states for Duval for years doing business, she's used to it. She prefers this over the snow, which by her guesstimate, that's what it's doing in Grande now. Her boys have gotten used to it already, especially Damon, since it was his idea to come here. Plus the coffee shops aren't bad, but she still prefers Starbucks, which is in walking distance from their house.

Their house. It still sounds weird her thinking it. But with three million dollars in drug money, you can buy anything cheap in Oregon. And with the right connections, new identities and lives. She called in several contacts from the old days, contacts she was still cool with. She paid them handsomely for new lives and they delivered. Lamar is back in school, her and Damon made investments that they live on.

Life is finally good for them. Life is safe. She could never do this back in Grande—sitting outside a coffee shop under a canopy, sipping on a straight black while enjoying the scenery. She puts her coffee down, and a pair of lips meets hers from behind. She knows the fullness, the somewhat forceful kiss of her man, and she's happy. He stops and sits next to her.

“You didn't have to stop.”

“Gotta save some sugar for later.” Damon looks around and smiles. “And ya gotta love the scenery. All of it.” He winks at her. Elyssa feels like a schoolgirl again on her first crush, topped with love. She takes his hand in hers and kisses it.

“Bet I can make you love something more.”

“Doubt it. Can't nothing make me love my babies more.”

She smiles and moves to stand in front of him. She grabs his hand again and places it on her stomach, rubbing it for him. Damon stares for a bit, mouth wide open.

“Well, say something”, Elyssa giggles.

Damon looks up at her, smiles, and says something that Elyssa can't believe she heard at first. Now it's her turn to stand still with her mouth open.

“Well, say something”, he laughs and stands up.

“I...I'm sorry. Repeat that again? You just asked me something that I've been waiting to hear since we met.”   

He rubs her belly while looking in her eyes. “Will...you...marry...me?”

“Yes” is her quick reply and she kisses him fiercely. Passerbys look and laugh, knowing what was just asked. They've seen it before. Some whistle, some congratulate.

Damon and Elyssa? They just keep kissing.

Full Moon Hunt

He walked in the bar.

She was already sitting, alone.

He approached.

She smiled.

He offered drinks.

She gladly accepted.

He commented on her honey-coated complexion, short black hair, the Japanese Cherry Blossom perfume clinging seductively from her, playing with his senses.

She liked his dark skin, scruffy chin hair, his rugged build, the gold hue in his green eyes when the bar lights hit them just right.

They talked and laughed and danced.

He stole a kiss.

 

She stole one back.

They continued to steal kisses even as they left the bar and stole kisses down the street to her hotel room.

They ripped each others clothes off and started fucking like animals. Raw and natural, fun and nasty.

She flipped him on the bottom and rode him. 

He loved it.

 

She pulled a knife from under the pillow and put it to his throat.

Now he's hating it.

“Well fuck, never expected to have my night end like this.” 

“Well sugar, it's all business. Part of the job, actually.”

 

“The job, huh? I'm guessing hunter, maybe.”

“You guess right. Nice dick, by the way.”

“You're still on it.” He grinds on her from the bottom.

She bites her bottom lips, not letting go of the knife. “I know. Feels good. Thought I'd give you a good fuck before you take a perma nap.”

“Fuck me to sleep, that's a new one” he chuckles. “How about one more round, then we'll see where it goes from there.”

She smiles, still holding the knife to his neck. The hunter starts to grind on him again.

Minutes later, they're fucking like animals, raw and natural. Thirty minutes later, the wolf flips her on bottom, thrusting and growling like the wolf he is.

The hunter throws the knife to the ground. He stops and looks curiously. She slaps the shit out of him.

“You asshole.” She kisses him and the fun continues.

*

An hour has past, and the hunter still hasn't killed the wolf. She's sliced his ass up pretty good with her knife, and he's clawed her up nicely. Both are bleeding, both are smiling.

“Ready to give up?”

“Ready to die?”

“Better have tried, baby. Pussy was good, though. If yours came in a can...?

She kicks him in the face. “Ohhh you fucken ass! My pussy's too good for a goddamn can!”

He slaps her hard. “Bitch please! That's straight up can status!”

She tackles him into the already wrecked furniture. He's laughing and having a good time while she's getting pissed. She starts wailing on his face, and he still laughs. After a minute of hitting...

“Know what?”

“Who fucking cares!”

“You should. Here's your knife.”

He stabs the knife deep in her leg, the hunter screaming in pain. He throws her off, and grabs his clothes, still laughing. He winks at her as he dresses.

“That eye is mine the next time I see you, asshole.”

“See you around, sweets.” He exits out the door, leaving her beaten and alone in miserable thoughts.

I got too into it, she sighs in her head. That bod, those moves. Fuck, I always do this.

She crawls to her bag, grabs her cellphone, makes a call, and tosses the cell on the floor. The pain's getting worse, but the others will take care of it. They always do.

Minutes later a fellow hunter arrives, but he's holding something behind him.

“Hey”, saying through clinched teeth.

“Hey yourself. Thinks this belongs to you.” He tosses the head of her wolf at her feet. She looks a the head, silently.

“Go ahead and say it.”

“Bitch you fucked up. Again. Gettin' tired of cleanin' up your shit.” He kneels down by her wounded leg, roughly extracts the knife, and placing both hands on the wound, he silently says a prayer in Spanish. The wound starts healing, but she still feels like a fuck up.

“Thank you. Owing you is becoming a habit.”

“You always know how you can repay me.” He half smiles.

She looks at him then at the bed.

She smiles.

All Money Ain't Good Money - Episode 9

Damon

 

     10 minutes ago

Elyssa, the badass Alpha Angel, stood on her own feet after the fight, pushing Jackie's dead ass body off her like so much garbage, which that bitch was. She paid the price for an attempted double-cross; her life. I patched El's leg up with a first aid kit we kept in the house and tried to make it as clean as I could. Lamar held her hand the whole time I dug a few shots out from her leg. She didn't scream.

      5 minutes ago

El and Lamar drive south with no direction as I take the motorcycle to duval's crib. I told her to drive until the gas ran out and I'd follow as soon as I could. She knew this fight was personal to me, and she knew she had to get our son as far away as she could.

I gave my boy a hug and kiss. My whole reason for living these past nine years. I'll make sure after tonight, he'll never have to go thru this bullshit again.

Elyssa? Can't help but be mad at her a bit for all of this. It's the past, but if she would've just came to me first with her troubles, opened up to me a little more, we could've handled this together. Fuck yeah my marriage to that other bitch was an attempt for me to move on, get a real life for our kid, do something. Guess I failed at that. 

     Now

I drive to the nigga's house, stomp through the front door, and know one to greet me. Now that's a huge fucken surprise. I'd have thought he'd have a bunch of his boys running interference like some movie thug. Duval's voice blaring over the intercom isn't a surprise.

“Bring yo ass to the living room, nigga. I got a fresh bag of tricks just for ya, nigga!”

Ain't gotta tell me twice.

I make my way to Duval's living room. He's waiting for me and dressed for a fight: jeans, boots, tank top, his hands wrapped. None of that's gonna help. He smiles that shitty cheshire grin, and I'm gonna enjoy knocking that shit off his face.

“What it do, nephew. Always told you a ho makes you weak. Can't make a ho a housewife, you know that rule.” He points to the couch. “El knows how to work a nigga on that couch, let me tell ya. All latinas know how to bounce those hips and ass.” He mocks me as he makes humping motions in the air, and I lose it.

I rush him like a defensive tackle, ramming him into the wall and headbutting him in the face. Blood pours out his nose and I smash an elbow to his nose. Tough bastard takes it. He turns the fight around by kneeing me in the jimmy, and it's my turn to drop.

“Family feud, just the way I like it, babyboy!” He kicks me in my side. I feel something move that pisses my body off big time. Pain shoots through my side.“Damn mutts in the fam always got on my fuckin' nerves. Didn't know if I should've said nigga, spic, peck, or trog to you lil muthafuckas!”

He kicks me some more in the same spot, making my body disagree with each kick. He yanks me up by my shirt. It hurts to stand. “Been waiting for you to come back. Knew you'd always need one more thing from me, so I took something from you.”

He socks me in the face, still hanging on to my shirt.

“I took your girl.”

He does it again.

“I took your dignity!”

And again.

“I took your wife, nigga!”

I laugh at that one.

“You can have the fat fuck.” I spit in his face and he socks me again, this time letting me go and I fall on my knees. Duval kneels beside me. It's his turn to laugh.

“Check it, nephew.” He grabs my chin and points it in the direction of the patio. Standing in the doorway is Wilda, wearing a tight black dress and tons lighter. She's posing like some porn star, but to me, she'll always be that piece of shit who didn't try. She walks to us, squats in front of me, and pokes her finger on my forehead.

“Mmm. Love a man on his knees. Don't know about the man part, far as your sorry ass is concerned.” She slaps me, and I laugh some more. That pisses her off and she slaps me again. Pushing Duval's hand from my face, she grabs me by the chin and comes face to face with me. “Sick fuck, I forgot you like the rough shit. Is it that funny, baby?”

“Not as funny as this.” I headbutt her on her nose, causing blood to explode everywhere and she falls back. I swing an elbow on Duval's chin, stunning him. I pick him up by the shirt and knee him in the nuts. Pay back.

I turn to Wilda and push her down with my shoe as she tries to get back up. Years of anger boil over as I look at her. She looks at me, the anger in my eyes making her tremble. I see Duval slowly getting up from the corner of my eye and I kick him in the side several times so he stays down. Wilda jumps on my back, screaming and cursing and slapping me on the head. I flip her over my shoulder and slam the fuck out of her on the floor. I mount her, death-gripping her throat.

“You're right. I'm a hella sick fuck! Tired of tramps like you and Duval fuckin' wit my life while I'm trying to do good!” I spit in her face and whisper in her ear: “This is how sick fucks do work.”

I unload bombs on her sorry ass for 10 seconds. Every hit draws blood and crunches and memories: of “my kid”; of me wasting my time for two and a half years on a lazy fuckless bitch; her hurtful words as she waddled out the door after Christmas.

I wipe my bloody hands on her dress before standing and turning back to Duval, who's staggered back to his feet. Nigga swings a wild haymaker and misses. My front kick doesn't, slamming him into the wall. We talk as I grip his throat.

“We're done, without question. You tried to keep me in something I didn't want a part of anymore. Just wanted some help from fam, get mine, and I'm done. This shit is your fault. Now you have beef with your Phoenix crew. They'll be blood, and I won't be around for it. Too bad. I'd like to see who's left standing.” Duval glares, is silent, and pissed off. “After today, leave me the fuck alone. My family, me, my son, Elyssa. We have this talk again, I'm bringing this whole operation down. You taught me well, and you know I'll do it.”

“That I did, nephew,” he chuckles between painful coughs. “That I did. Now get the fuck outta her before you piss me off and I forget we're blood.” Shit, from everything that's happened, I'd say we forgot. I'm walking out the door when I see a dufflebag full of cash sitting in the middle of the floor. I pick it up and toss it at his feet.

“That's yours, mutt. You earned it.” He kicks the bag back at me and lands by my feet.

“Nope. Remember that crucial lesson? All money ain't good money. Wipe your ass with it for all I care.”

He laughs at me as I walk off. A gun goes off, my left leg goes numb, and fucken wicked pain shoots through my body. Goddamit! I drop to my right leg from big time pain, turning on it to see Wilda—beaten and bloody--pointing a gun at my face. This is the last bitch I was hoping who'd end my life.

Another shot. Fingers, blood, the gun, and a very high scream fly from Wilda.

Another shot. A bullet rips through Duval's left shoulder and he hollers like a bitch.

I look slowly in the direction of the shooter, thinking it's the police and I'm fucked. It's something better. My alpha angel.

Elyssa.

But the surprise comes from me seeing who's holding the smoking gun.

Lamar.

All Money Ain't Good Money-Episode 8

Damon

“Stay back, son.” I put a hand on his shoulder, letting Lamar know to stay by me and away from what's about to happen.

“But dad, Elyssa--”

“--is handlin' business. This is something damn personal, so let it go. There's a lot riding on this.”

Lamar pushes my hand off his shoulder, and I almost forget he's my son. Almost. “She's hurt! This ain't a fair fight!” His eyes blaze with fire. He wants to get in there and help his momma, to be a part of the action. He's had enough for one night.

“Enough! She's doing this the best way she knows how. Chill and watch.”

Lamar hangs his head in defeat. He turns to watch the rumble that's about to start. He stands next to me, fists balled up by his sides.

Elyssa throws a right punch, connecting with Jackie's left eye. Her head snaps back, but comes back smiling. Jackie answers with a left front kick to the gut, doubling Elyssa over. El doesn't make a sound.

Jackie tries to follow up with with a right roundhouse kick to the head, but it's a feint. Elyssa dodges to the left, the kick throwing Jackie off balance. El throws a right roundhouse of her own to Jackie's thigh, connecting hard and making her buckle to one knee. The kick also hurts El's leg, who got shot earlier in the evening. She shakes her leg, looking at Lamar. El  throws him a wink; he cracks a smile and his grip tightens on my hand.

Jackie bounces back up and attacks El with her full kickboxing skills. Combos of punches and kicks are thrown, some connecting, some missing, some setting things up for more punishment. But for every attack, El counters with her own bombs. All that goes out the door when Elyssa connects with a big haymaker to Jackie's eye, and she counters with a left hook to El's eye. Both women pause, holding their faces.

They growl like dogs at each other, and hell breaks loose.

Finesse is exchanged for raw brawling. They grab hold of each others hair and swing, each punch lands on the others face, sounding like they're clapping hands, each punch getting harder. They scream, kick at each other, throw knees, and take each other to the ground. El's on top smashing Jackie with hammerfists, while Jackie swings and just tries to hit.

Jackie flips Elyssa on her back when she pulls her in close by the hair and bites her cheek. That's when places are exchanged, and Jackie reigns hammerfists on Elyssa. But El's more the street brawler, trapping Jackie's punching arm and thumbing her in the eye. Jackie lets go of Elyssa hair, and applies an armbar on her. It's in deep, even when Jackie tries to roll up and counter the hold by trying to grab her own hand to loosen it, El takes her right back down.

Snap, Jackie's elbow twists in the other direction. Her scream is music to my ears.

Pop, there goes Jackie's shoulder as it dislocates in a direction that it's not meant to go.

Still hanging on to her arm, El rolls Jackie to her stomach and gets her in a rear naked choke, squeezing the fuck out of Jackie's neck, fighting for air, her eyes bulging out at us.

“Gimme a name, ya fucken piece of shit whore! Who drop a name on my family?!”

Jackie's still trying to fight off Elyssa's hold, not caving in to the torture of lack of air. Elyssa eases off the hold a bit and Jackie takes a ragged breath of air. Lamar and I strain our ears in their direction, thinking she said something.

“A name, bitch. Give it up.”

“Mutha...fuck you...”

Elyssa sinks the hold in again, but this time, she scissors her legs around Jackie's waist and squeeze the living hell out of her. She's trying her best to claw Elyssa's face but keeps falling short. She's tries to hit Elyssa's shins to make her let go, and even socks her on the right leg where she was shot; El doesn't let go. She knows what's riding on this, and I know she's doing this for us, the same way I protected her years ago. This is her “thank you” to me.

Suddenly, Jackie can't take anymore. She's tapping Elyssa's leg, and she loosens up.

“Ready to talk? I can do this all fucken night...”

Jackie talks between gasps for air. “...Wilda...came...to Duval...said Damon wanted to...take over his terr...territory...told us about the...separation...and gave...us...the address...”

My stomach hardens and I wanna throw up. That no good fat fuck helped set us up and put all of us in jeopardy. Most of all, I helped do it. I didn't have to go to my uncle to help me out, but I got desperate. I saw no other choice. Joke's on me.

Elyssa squeezes her legs, making Jackie groan in pain. “Where is she? I know that two-ton bitch is still in Grande somewhere. Talk!” Elyssa squeezes her legs again, this time harder, and this time—judging the way Jackie's eyes widened—she broke a rib or two. She coughs up blood and almost chokes on it.

“She's with Duval at his crib!” shouting matter-of-factly. Satisfied, Elyssa loosens her legs, but maintains the hold.

“Time to go, baby. My turn to dish out an ass-kicking or two.”

“Fuck all ya'll!” Jackie starts laughing, either from pain, or she's about to drop her final bomb. “He's killing all ya'll. He's saving the little punk for last. Gonna make sure he watches both of you die...maybe sell his ass to some dirty old bastards who like little boys.” Lamar's trembling, burying his face in my side.

It's a good thing he did. 

The lioness in Elyssa roars back to life and clamps down on Jackie like an anaconda squeezing it's prey. Jackie makes a gurgling sound, her hands and feet quiver.

Seconds later, Elyssa twists and there goes Jackie's neck. As well as her life.

All Money Ain't Good Money-Episode 7

The house is quiet. Too quiet. Lamar peeks an eye open to see Elyssa standing and pointing her gun at something.

There's a whisper in the air.

Then a blast.

All is quiet again. Elyssa doesn't make a sound as the shot grazes her leg and blood splatters the wall behind her. Lamar gasps loudly and slams his eyes shut, wishing he didn't see that. A strong grip on his arm pulling him up makes him swing in desperation, almost connecting with Elyssa. She rushes him into the wall and holds him tight.

“Lamar, it's okay! C'mon baby, momma's fine.”

Her heart drops as she realizes what came from her mouth. Elyssa's a statue, afraid of looking her son in the eyes at the moment. Lamar stops struggling, a statue himself. What's worse, he doesn't know if he wants to hug or slap her at the moment. Elyssa snaps out of her “oh shit” moment.

“Let's go. No time to waste. We have to meet Damon.”

“Okay.”

Lamar holds her hand and smiles. Elyssa grabs her jacket as they leave, quickly putting it on, grabbing Lamar's hand again as she guides them carefully to the back door, stepping over the dead body...and both hear the sound of approaching sirens. She runs with him up the small incline which is the backyard that leads to a cu-de-sac, where Elyssa parked her motorcycle: a Ninja 250r Blue. As she mounts up and Lamar takes the rear seat, her mind on Plan A, she enjoys the indescribable feeling of her son's arms around her waist, his head resting on her back. She's happy, but will be happier once they reach the safehouse.

Elyssa reaches into her pocket and pulls out a Bluetooth earpiece. Placing it in her ear, she starts the bike and drives down the street as several cop cars drive past them. She says a name in the earpiece:

“Damon.” The phone rings twice, a familiar voice answers.

“Tell me everything's okay,” Damon's deep voice states more than questions.

“Everything's okay. We're headed to the safehouse now.” Elyssa pauses, her heart racing, taking a deep inhale-exhale. “Lamar knows.”

The line is quiet. The motorcycle engine breaks the silence. 

“It was a matter of time. I don't blame you.”

“You should, since it was my fault he found out.”

“Still don't blame you. It was either you or me that was gonna slip eventually.”

“Not to change the subject, but we were attacked. I was grazed on the right thigh by a shotgun. I'll fix it up when we get to safety.”

Silence again for a moment. “We're fixing this. Tonight. My uncle's leaving us the fuck alone. Then we're outta here for good.”

“Dynamic Duo together again, huh?”

“Wouldn't have it any other way.” Another pause from Damon. “Sorry for all this, El. Wasn't exactly the way I wanted a family reunion.”

“Damon, I love you. We've given each other something we've been missing from our lives, and that's real love. Now's our chance to start fresh and make a better life for Lamar. Not saying you haven't done a good job, you really gave it a go, but the fat bitch? C'mon, were you that damn desperate?”

They laugh for a minute, with Lamar chiming in. “Really, what was he thinking? Would she have been able to protect me like this? Heck no! The Pillsbury Doughboy wouldn't touch that!”

Elyssa laughs, as does Damon, when she tells him what Lamar said. “Well, Dee, if you starved me from sex like that, that'd give this bitch motivation for revenge, big time. Hell, I'd get payback just to see you suffer!”

It's then that Elyssa realizes the attack on the house, how they knew how to hit it, when to hit it, that someone told Duval's crew how to attack the house.

“What's up, El. You got quiet.

“That bitch gave you up.”

“What bitch?”

“You're fat ass bitch of a wife. She gave you up. I bet it was her who told Duval all kinds of bullshit that's making all this go bad now.”

“Wouldn't doubt it. I'd be no fuckin' surprise for me. And speaking of surprises, I got one for you when we meet up in a few.”

Elyssa beams. “Better be a good one.”

“Damn right it is.”

Damon hangs up. Elyssa's leg is bothering her. The shot must've been more damaging that originally thought. Ten minutes after hanging up with Damon, the safehouse in Baderville come into view, and a wave of peace settles over her. Both her and Damon kept this place just in case of trouble like this. Damon had been out the game for a minute, Elyssa still in it. Both agreed to keep this house on the down low from everyone in case they needed to disappear for a while. Now was the time.

*

Lamar literally jumps off the bike and run to Damon before Elyssa stops it. Lamar jumps in his dad's arms, hugging tightly and crying on his shoulder. Elyssa lets them have their moment...until she sees Jackie step out of the car, nose and eye swollen. Glaring at Elyssa as she steps around the car and leans against the driver door, Elyssa gets off her bike and steps to Jackie.

“You fucked up. Damon doesn't hit females for no reason.”

“Trick, it's been handled. I don't need--”

“She set me up” Damon cuts in. He tells Elyssa the whole story: the drop off, the chase, the wrecks, the killings. “Still doesn't explain who else besides Duval set this up, but after our talk on the phone, I'm guessing who else is behind this, but I need conformation before we get her.”

Elyssa stands face to face with Jackie. “Well?”

“Ya'll just gotta kill me. I ain't giving up shit, I ain't no snitch.”

“No, but you're smart, and you're a survivor.” Elyssa gives Jackie an evil grin. “You hate me, I hate you. No secret there. I'm getting a name from you, no matter what. So here's the deal...”

Elyssa steps away from Jackie, taking off her jacket, unclips the holster from her belt, takes off her shoes and boot knife. She tosses the goods by her bike and stands a few feet from Jackie, loosening her shoulders like a fighter and pointing to her leg. “You're starting with a handicap. I've been shot in the leg by a 12-gauge and it's starting to hurt bad the same way it hurts looking at your face.”

“Fuck you, cunt!” Jackie raises off the car, but doesn't advance on Elyssa.

“Fuck with me, let's see how far you get!” Elyssa raises her arm, showing Jackie to come get some. “Once and for all. You win, you leave here no problems and we'll wait for Duval to come here to do his worse.”

Jackie slowly nods, now interested. “You win?”

“You give us the name of who else is behind this shit, and you'll still get to live. But you don't tell anyone where we're at. Deal?”

Jackie confidently looks Elyssa in the eyes as she takes off her jacket, boots, and earrings, tossing everything at her feet. She flips Elyssa off.

“Gonna enjoy hearing about the crew killing all your asses. Especially the brat.”

Elyssa says nothing to Jackie, but continues the evil smile. She has no intention of letting Jackie live.