Chapter 11 Bentley #2
My threat was made with a simple hand around her throat squeezing tighter and tighter as I spoke my peace.
I was respectful until I felt disrespected.
The only reason why I hadn’t turned this prison into Atkins territory for real was because I knew my time getting up out this bitch was coming. However, if that wasn’t the case…
“I’m not trying to Bentley, but this is my job and you’re starting to make it hard for me to do,” she stated looking up at me with pleading eyes.
“That sound like a personal problem to me. Do like I ask, and you won’t have no issues. Plain and simple.”
“It’s not that simple, and I really wish you’d stop acting like it is. Look, I ain’t in the mood to go back and forth. Are we fuckin’ or not?”
“Bending over ain’t never required conversation,” I said turning her around to face the wall.
Sierra was gon’ do like I told her each and every time ‘cause the pay was good and so was the dick. She got blessed in more ways than one. I understood wanting to be taken seriously but that wasn’t what the fuck I was here for.
A nigga wasn’t even supposed to be here in the first fuckin’ place.
The least she could do was make my temporary stay an easy one.
Walking into the library, I snatched up the iPad assigned to me and headed for the lounge.
I couldn’t lie, that chit chat shit with the angels was becoming my favorite pastime.
The devices weren’t restricted, so I had a grand old time scrolling through social media.
All I had was social media to keep me entertained in this muthafucka.
Taking a seat on the sofa, I kicked my feet up and pulled up TikTok. If I was on the other side of the wall, things of such wouldn’t get a second thought. My only concern was my business and the three beautiful ladies that brought me peace.
Aunt Daisy was a nigga backbone through and through.
Sarabi and Nyla been by a nigga side since they were cubs.
Them was dangerous and territorial lioness now.
They paraded around the property freely and Daisy hated that shit.
She ain’t have shit to worry ‘bout though.
They loved her ass. Plus, they looked at me as the head of the pack.
Daisy was safe as long as they were there.
It had been over a year since I last saw them.
However, there was no doubt in my mind they shared the same feelings. They were missed.
My foot was tapped lightly causing me to look up from the screen. Seeing that it was Old Skool, I went back to scrolling. He sat on the sofa adjacent to the one I was on. He was coming with conversation. He always did.
“Youngblood, you gon’ lose privileges if you ain’t chatting with yo’ angel. I keep telling yo’ ass that,” he stated like I ain’t hear what the hell Sister Andy said the first day I joined.
“She annoying and I ain’t with that shit today,” I said waving him off.
Laughing, he sat back and kicked his feet up next to mine.
Shit, the way I saw it, I was the smart one to use the program to do something other than bullshit with niggas all day.
That shit right there was starting to work my nerves for real.
I ain’t never in my life had so many niggas in my goddamn face before now.
That uncomfortable feeling still ain’t left and I gave this life a year of my time already.
“What’s wrong with the angel man?” he asked still tickled by my annoyance.
“The bitch boring for number one. Two, the bitch ain’t got no tricks to pull out her ass. I get it ain’t nothing but virtual conversation but damn bitch where’s the enthusiasm. I’d rather read a book for entertainment,” I vented.
“Then unlink and find a new angel. You gon’ fuck around and get kicked out the program. You ‘sposed to chat at least once a day. You don’t know how to make friends, huh?” he jested.
I delivered a look that told him to shut the fuck up talking to me. He was the only one I gave conversation in this muthafucka for real. He was acknowledged as an uncle in my eyes. Rocking and rolling with my pops, he earned that.
Leaning forward, he snatched the device out my hand and went to tapping on the screen. When he got to tapping a lil’ too much for my liking, I snatched it back. “Don’t be doing all that bullshit on my shit Old Skool.”
“Too late. You got a new angel. Enjoy youngblood,” he said removing himself from the sitting area. He walked away with a hearty laugh fading. Apparently, my boredom was comical to him.
Looking down at the screen, I realized he connected me with an angel named Patience. Her name alone grasped my attention. Words meant everything to a nigga. They were all we had to express ourselves with. Patience was either something she already mastered or was seeking. I was intrigued.
Patience: Transparent moment, I’m tired of the fake meet and greet ‘hi, nice to meet you’ bullshit. You can save the entire speech of not doing what they said you did also. Jump in and we’ll go from there.
Reading her response caused a nigga to smile genuinely for the first time in a year. She came rough, raw, and real. She was different from the first boring ass bitch they tried setting me up with.
Me: Why patience?
Patience: It’s something I’m asking for during these conversations. It’s also something I need to practice. Your username is clever. I like it.
That same goofy ass smile was still present. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it but shawty was charismatic as hell. Sitting up, I wrote back with interest.
Me: ‘Preciate it. Being from the era that I’m from, I’m gon’ rep Nintendo hard.
Patience: You ain’t fuckin’ with me on Donkey Kong, so you ain’t really talking ‘bout nothing love.
“You fuckin’ with me, right OG?” I questioned looking up to the ceiling briefly. Women didn’t really keep my attention for longer than a few minutes and smiling was damn sho out the picture.
Me: Nah love. I think you underestimating me already. My nickname as a kid was Banana Slamma. You got to know I ain’t on no bullshit when it comes to DK.
Patience: I hear you. Besides DK, who else did you get down with?
Me: You trying to make me show my age. Mario of course, but also Zelda. Resident Evil had me in a chokehold too lowkey.
Patience: Oh, Resident Evil was my shit! Okay, Bentendo. I see you got taste. That’s a good way to start off. I was irritated by this entire thing, as well as skeptical… and hopeful in a way. I guess.
From the way she spoke, I could tell she wasn’t up in age. If anything, she was creeping in her thirties. Being born in the 90’s hit different. We had a lot of shit other generations didn’t so the fact that she could carry a conversation without force said a lot. My interest in her was growing.
Me: Why? Scared to run into a psycho, rapist, murderer? All of the above?
Patience: That’s exactly what I’m afraid of. After all, this is a chat with angel and inmate.
Me: Good thing this is FED and not state if you know what I mean.
Patience: I do. However, the skepticism is still there.
State and federal prison were two different ball games. Women were my soft spot. The woman behind the screen as Patience had every reason to be hesitant with me.
Females talked a lot of shit but held in a lot of emotions at the same time.
I never had a thought of disrespecting them or harming them.
I mean, I’ll erase a hoe quick when it comes to business, but a nigga ain’t out here doing them any kind of way just because.
My mama was loved by my father. Even though I ain’t get to see it, everybody else did. I had nothing but respect for females.
Her saying she was afraid let me know she’d dealt with some issues already.
Life was gon’ deal you a shitty hand every time.
It was up to you to make something of it.
I made a mental note of her fear and made sure to keep things as friendly as possible.
I applauded her for being real though. She was talking to a stranger after all.
Me: Two out of the three. I don’t take what’s not offered. That’s for niggas that ain’t never had shit. Desperation ain’t never been a part of my character.
Patience: Men are greedy, entitled, and prideful. That’s all that needs to be said. Moving on… what’s a color that floods your closet?
I noticed within seconds that she’d formed her own opinion ‘bout niggas. When it came to women, they required a lil’ more convincing than men. However, this wasn’t shit but conversation. I wasn’t looking for shawty with a flashlight once I got up out this bitch.
Me: Black. I can’t seem to stay away from it. It’s mysterious, and I’m a nigga that like to play the shadows. It fits me. Never liked being in the spotlight.
Patience: Shadows, huh? Why so secretive? What are you hiding?
Me: … Me. I don’t like others knowing my next move. It bothers me when muthafuckas learn you without permission.
Patience: Or does it bother you that folk don’t fall for your bullshit? I’d feel the same way too if I was doing God knows what and someone managed to slip in my sealed tight world and cause chaos. I’m just saying .
Patience was assuming without knowing shit ‘bout me and that had me smiling from ear to ear. I loved when muthafuckas came up with nonsense and ran with it. There was no such bullshit in my world that made nigga act a fool. Enzo was the first and damn sho was gon’ be the last to ever step out of line.
The only thing that was keeping me from showing him something was his disappearance.