Moses
My right hand, Smoody, and I were riding through the city making runs. Smoody was driving. I was in the passenger seat, staring out the window. My stomach was in knots. Every time I blinked, I saw Kahlani being driven away in that police car. My woman—my rider—was in jail because of me.
Smoody must’ve noticed that I was still sick about it. “Bro, you gotta stop blaming yourself.”
“I can’t stop thinking about her. She shouldn’t even be in there right now.”
He nodded with his eyes still on the road. “Real ones like her don’t exist no more. She’s solid, for real. Ain’t too many women takin’ a charge for their man these days.”
“Yeah, and that’s exactly why I gotta get her the best lawyer money can buy. I owe her that. She can not do time because of this.”
“Then we get that money up,” he replied without hesitation. “Ain’t nothin’ to it.”
I sighed, staring at the passing lights. “Only problem is I still owe Carlos for the work I lost. I can’t even make moves ‘til I clear that up.”
Smoody smirked and leaned back. “Man, we can handle that nigga if you want to. Just say the word.”
I chuckled, even though I knew he meant that. “See, that’s your problem. You so trigger happy.”
He grinned. “I’m just sayin’, bro. That wasn’t your fault. You don’t owe that man nothing but smoke.”
“Nah,” I responded, shaking my head. “Carlos is like family. I ain’t about to off family over no money. I’mma talk to him and work something out.”
Smoody laughed, shaking his head. “You too loyal. Way too loyal.”
“Maybe,” I admitted. “But that’s how I was raised.”
He went quiet for a second, then said, “Still don’t make sense, though. You out here trying to make things right with everybody, but Rah? That nigga don’t never return the favor. When’s the last time he came through for you?”
I stayed quiet, staring out the windshield.
“Exactly,” Smoody pressed. “Rah always using you. Always talkin’ that boss shit, but he don’t move nothing on his own.
Nigga don’t even know how to hustle. He just leans on you to make him look like he got motion.
” He looked at me for a response, but, out of loyalty, I kept quiet.
Smoody smirked, “You know I’m telling the truth. You just too loyal to say it.”
He wasn’t lying. I hated to admit it, but I’d been thinking the same thing for a while now.
Rah talked like a king but moved like a pawn.
Every time he got into some shit, I was the one cleaning it up.
Every time he needed money, I was the one moving weight or bussing my ass in the studio.
Every time he needed backup, I was there.
And now my woman was sitting in a cell because of me, and indirectly, because of him.
I leaned back in the seat, running a frustrated hand over my face. “Yeah,” I muttered under my breath. “I’m starting to see it too.”
Smoody nodded with his eyes still on the road and wearing a crooked smile on his face. “You a real nigga. You thorough, but you gotta stop being loyal to the wrong people.”