Page 101 of Stay Dangerous

Intricate designs were etched around the whole thing, the bracelet cut into sections, held together by links. On the underside, the18kstamp confirmed my original assessment, accompanied by an inscription I couldn’t make out.

“I prefer yellow gold, but this would begorgeouson you! Let me put it on!” Pilar took the bracelet from me and clasped it on my right wrist.

It was a perfect fit.

My eyes stung as I met Pooh’s gaze. He was the most confusing person I’d ever met. I thought he’d be callous, or perverted, or mean. At the very least, rude.

“Merry Christmas, cariña.” He nodded to me, then took a sip of his drink.

“Let me show you what he got me. The PG stuff at least.” Pilar winked, and pulled me out of the room, giggling.

It was surreal.

A runaway thought tried to form, but I shushed it away.

I couldn’t stay there. Eventually, I’d have to go back to my life.

Better just enjoy the interlude for what it was.

It was another week before Tyree came to take me home. He looked pale and sickly, and was in desperate need of a haircut, but still cracked a joke as we piled into a car I’d never seen.

Pilar was too distraught to see me off, but I gave her my number and promised her we’d stay in touch. Pooh nodded at me, told Tyree he’d text him, and stayed in his roundabout driveway until we cleared the mansion and was back on the road.

“So, what have I missed? Pooh already told me mums the word on where I’ve been.”

“Man,” Tyree sighed, turning down the car radio. “Set, Nut, and Ricky are over the whole Birch, bro. Be lucky you been out the way, because shit been sticky until literally last night.”

“What about Foe Dub?”

Tyree cracked a smile. “You know everything always copacetic with the bros. Check this out.” Tyree rolled up his sleeve and turned his arm to me.

Right there, on his forearm, was a blue rose, big as hell.

“Shut up! Tyree, you’re like twelve! I know your granny went upside your head!” Amazed, I grabbed his arm with both hands to get a better look.

It wasn’t a backyard tattoo that I’d seen on others. The line work was precise, the colors bold on his caramel skin. His sleeve slipped down, so I pushed it back up. Above the rose, was FOE in script.

“I’m fifteen,” he defended, though he was still cheesing. “And my granny don’t know. You see I got on long sleeves! Besides, we all got it. Shit, we earned it, the work we put in. Everybody but Shad.”

I gave him back his arm and sat back in my seat. “Even Fredo and Rico?”

“Nah, they didn’t get ‘em either. But that’s ‘cause they don’t want no tattoos when they go off to the Army or whatever. That don’t mean they not stamped though. All you need to know if shit should be smooth sailing, as long as you stay out them towers.”

“Trust me, I’mnevergoing back,” I assured him.

“Good. Ain’t nothing there for you.”

“How’s Auty?”

Tyree winced, then tried to smile again, but I’d seen it. I’d seen the hesitation.

“I’m not gon’ lie, she been better. I think… I think something happened, Wyn. Rico got shot and–”

“RicoWHAT!?” I screamed, digging my fingernails into the seat and the passenger door.

Tyree cursed under his breath, but it barely registered over my shallow breaths.

Rico. My Rico wasshot.