Page 104 of Stay Dangerous

I was paralyzed.

Tyree slowly got up, wiping blood off his face with his collar. His face was so twisted up as his eyes bounced around the scene, him lingering behind me for a long moment.

“Fuck you, bitch!” He hissed, pushing Rico as hard as he could. He stumbled, his finger pulling the trigger as he tried to regain balance.

I cried out upon hearing the gunshot. My ears were on fire, ringing taking over my hearing as I cupped them and stretched on my back.

I hoped I never heard another gunshot again, or ever be on the receiving end of one coming from him.

I stumbled to my feet, inching away from all of them and into my house, where I should have ran to in the first place. It was obvious that I was right in that Auty was done with me, and I didn’t blame her. Not one bit.

It only made sense that the others were done with me, too.

When I finally crossed the threshold, I turned to close the door. The lawn was cleared; Tyree’s car burned rubber to peel off, while Fredo drug Rico into Turk’s house.

I tried to close the door on Auty, but she sped up, and pushed me further inside before slamming the door shut.

“The hell is going on–”

We both turned at the sound of Dad’s voice and all three of us froze.

Mom walked out behind him, her face scrunching up at the sight of me.

“Pregnant, Wynter? Really?”

That seemed to break Dad out of his spell, but my attention whirled to Auty.

“I can’t believe you told!” I screeched.

“She didn’t have to. I found the doctor’s papers in your room. Is that where you were? Off galavanting with yourbaby’s daddy?”

Auty stomped around me to her room, slamming and locking the door.

Dad rushed over to me, pulling me into a tight hug.

I kept my hands at my sides, and watched Mom glare at me from over Dad’s shoulder.

“We were so worried. About you and your sister–”

“Speak for yourself, Aaron. I won’t have you fast ass girls up inmyhouse–”

I cut her off with a laugh I couldn’t stop.

The clothes I was in didn’t fit because they were Pilar’s. My hair was in its natural state, since she’d spent the night before taking out my matted weave and trying to deep condition my hair. My ears had barely stopped ringing. And I was sure after that morning, I’d really be as alone as I felt.

And yet, the most ridiculous thing, had to have been Mom trying to be a mother.

I twisted out of Dad’s arms and snarled at her. “You’re a fucking joke, Amani. If anything, this ismyhouse.”

“Now, Wyn–”

“Oh, fuck you, too,” I groaned. Shock flashed on Dad’s face before I began to walk toward my room.

“You’re both ridiculous,” I muttered.

“Watch your tone,” Mom tried, but I bristled.

I heard the slap before I felt it, but I still had the reflex to grip her shoulders and push her into the wall.