“You can stay here for the night and get yourself together. Text Ethic and let him know you’re staying with one of your homegirl’s tonight,” Messiah said.

She did as she was told, as she followed Messiah inside.

The house was beautiful. Modern and new. It barely looked lived-in at all.

“There’s a guest bedroom upstairs. There are fresh towels in the bathroom,” he said. “I’ll be back.”

He turned to leave, but Morgan grabbed his hand, turning him back toward her.

She shook her head. “Stay,” she mouthed the words, as she signed. “Please, stay.”

Morgan could see the blaze in his eyes. She knew where he was headed. She was aware of his reputation; and though she was flattered that he would react on her behalf, she just wanted him there with her.

Messiah exhaled, as if it pained him to oblige her. He was the type of nigga who scratched an itch immediately. If he let it linger, it would drive him crazy. He had never learned to tether his aggression. His temper was so hot that once it was ignited, nothing would stop him from exploding. He had a vengeful spirit. Disrespect begot disrespect. He lived by a code that was so G it was hard for others to keep up; and when they slipped, he punished them. He had been waiting for an excuse to lay Lucas down for years, anyway. This beef had been cooking for a long time. Morgan was just the needle that broke the hustler’s back.

He was as cold-blooded as they came; but for some reason, the sight of Morgan in front of him, trembling, as large droplets of emotion clung to her long eyelashes, moved him.

“Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere,” he said. “Come on.”

He led her to the bathroom where he turned on the shower. “Everything you need is under the sink,” he offered.

He pointed, and she nodded. When she turned, he noticed blood on the back of her dress. It was like gasoline to his fury.

He dug his phone out of his jacket pocket.

Meet me in an hour and a half. You know where.

He sent the text to Isa, but he was sure his man was already anticipating the play. There was no way Messiah wasn’t going to see Lucas tonight. He would make sure Morgan was straight, but as soon as she closed her eyes, he had every intention of committing murder tonight.

He gave her privacy and left the room, going into his master bedroom to retrieve something she could sleep in. He didn’t entertain women in his home. He didn’t trust anyone enough to reveal where he closed his eyes. A bitch will get you murked even quicker than these lame-ass niggas, nowadays, he thought. He rifled through his clothes, knowing that there was nothing feminine to find. A t-shirt and hoop shorts will have to do.