The moment I heard somebody call the nigga behind me, "Nolan", I forgot where I was and went back to my street days when I used to beat niggas for the hell of it. I actually got a reason to beat this nigga so I'm definitely going in on his ass. That snake ass nigga smiled in my face and talked to me about sports, knowing he fucked my woman.

My mind goes blank as I release all of the anger I've been holding in. My right fist connects with his right eye as my left fist does the same to his left eye. With each hit, I put more power into the next one; hearing bones crack and feeling warm blood covering my knuckles. Nolan groans loudly and tries to get me off him, but I hold him down and start delivering blows to his rib cage. The once loud screams of others fades away and the only thing I hear are my thoughts telling me to end his life. Standing up, I pick him up into my arms and slam him onto the hard floor multiple times. By the time, I snap out of my dark trance, I feel myself being pulled off him and slammed backwards into the wall. Within minutes, I am forced onto the ground, put into handcuffs, and headed to the back of a police car with Milani and everyone else following me outside.

"Wait!! PLEASE! Let me talk to him! He's the father of my child!!" Milani yells as she walks in front of me.

Looking into her eyes, I try to break away from the police which only makes them hold me tighter. "Stop resisting!!" They yell as they hit me in the back of my leg with a baton, making me fall to the ground.

"I-I'm sorry!! I lost control! Call Brandon and tell him what happened. I love you, Milani!" I yell before being picked up and put into the police car.

The ride to the police station is fucking dreadful. I've been in my fair share of police cars, but this one hits different because I know I fucked up. I hope my dumbass decision doesn't cost me my life. When you fucking with cops these days, you never know if you'll make it to the station or back home to your family. They be killing niggas left and right.

When we finally arrive at the station, The officer roughly snatches me out of the car, pissing me the fuck off. Hacking loudly, I spit a glob of mucus and saliva in one of the officer's face. Like clockwork, the officer throws me hardly onto the ground and my chin connects with the concrete which makes me bite my tongue. I spit out blood as one officer kicks me in my face and the other puts his boot into my back like he's stepping on a roach. The two of them spit all over my face, arms, and clothes then pick me up, tightening my cuffs until my wrists are burning and the metal is digging into my skin.

The moment my foot steps inside the station, I am thrown against the wall and patted down for any concealed weapons then walked into a cold room with white, brick walls and white, tiled floors. It almost looks like an asylum. The gloved officer completes a full search on my body then gives me a uniform and walks me out to the front desk where I am asked to sign the inventory log which lists my personal belongings that I came here with.

Next up is the booking process which is my least favorite part. These pigs know everything about me from my previous arrests so I know damn well, we don't have to spend much time doing this shit. The booking officer asks me basic information such as my address, birthdate, etc then fingerprints and photographs me.

After being booked, I am put into a holding cell with three other men. I've encountered quite a few junkies in my life so I know that's what these men are. One of them is petting an invisible cat, one of them is scratching like he has fleas, and the last one is hiding in a corner talking about aliens. Sitting down on a bench, I rest my head in my hands and sigh loudly. I know my information is being taken to the prosecutor's office pending a decision about whether or not any charges should be filed. I just hope the prosecutor finds it in his/her heart to give me a bail because I can't stay in jail, not while Milani is pregnant. She needs me. I guess I should've thought about that before I attacked Nolan. I wonder if he's even alive.

Three hours and two naps later, I am finally able to make a phone call so I quickly sprint out of the cell when the officer opens it. Picking up the phone, I dial our family's lawyer. He's the same lawyer that worked all of my cases when I was a kid. He also kept my pops out of prison plenty of times.

"Hello."

"Hey, it's Drummer. I've gotten myself arrested in Vegas and I really need your help! Is there any way you could get me out of this shit? Name a price and it's yours. I'll do anything to be free."

"Damn it, Jacobs." He says, using my last name. "Why the hell are you in Vegas and what did you do this time?"

"My ex, Milani Ross, is here and I came to get her back. I found out that she fucked another nigga and his ass was at our baby shower so I blacked out and started beating the shit out of him. Blood was everywhere and I slammed him into the floor. I don't know if he's dead or not. I just know somebody called the police and I ended up here."

"I can't make it to Vegas because I'm working a murder case, but don't worry, I'll send one of my colleagues that lives there to help you out. He's not as good as I am, but maybe he can get you out. If you beat that guy like you said you did, It'll take an Annalise Keating type to help you. You said you'd do anything to be free, try not committing crimes. Good luck. You have to start thinking about the consequences before taking action. You're not a kid anymore. You could be facing real time." He says and hangs up.

An officer escorts me back to the cell where I stretch out on the cold, hard, metal bench. I fold my arms underneath my head and stare up into the dirty, dusty ceiling. About thirty minutes later, I hear my name being called and I hop up, ready to go home.

"Slow your roll, buddy. You're not going home, yet. A lawyer is here on the behalf of the person you attacked. She needs to speak with you and since you're pretty dangerous, have a record, and unpredictable, we're gonna cuff your hands and feet." He tells me and I nod my head, allowing the shackles to be placed on me. They cuff my hands first then the metal chain travels down to my feet which are cuffed next.

The officer walks me down a narrow hallway with cells on each side of the walls that houses inmates, dressed in orange jumpsuits. They all look miserable and hopeless. That's the same look I used to have when I stayed in and out of the system.

"Come in and have a seat. We'll be right outside this door to put your ass down if you try anything." The officer tells me as he opens the door for me.

Walking into the room and sitting down, I am immediately taken aback by the beautiful woman dressed in a black suit, white blouse, and red bottom shoes that match her red lipstick. Her brunette hair is pulled back into a slick bun and her light makeup brings out her fair skin and deep blue eyes. The woman pulls a stack of files from her briefcase and starts reading through them as she walks around the room.

"Dallas Jacobs. I see here you've been in and out of the system since you were 15. Petty theft, disorderly conduct, simple assault, public intoxication, vandalism, reckless driving, arson, gun possession, various drug crimes, etc. The list goes on and on." She says as she sits down in front of me.

"Yeah yeah, get to the fucking point. What's your name and what you here for?"

"My name is Penelope Ramirez and I'm here on behalf of Nolan Stevenson, the man who you beat into a pulp. He has multiple, life threatening injuries that you caused. I mean that's exactly what I'd expect from an animal like yourself." She says as she stands up, getting into my face.

I feel myself getting pissed as she calls me an animal. One thing I won't allow is for somebody I don't even know to disrespect me, especially not anyone from a different race. I just feel like she's being racist.

"Awww is the little bitch getting mad? Do something about it then! Show your true colors so everyone can see just how psychotic you are. You're probably a sick pedophile like your uncle Tony. Yeah, I've looked up your family's history."

Getting up from my chair, I use the chain connected to my hand and ankle cuffs as a weapon by wrapping it around her neck; pulling tightly. She tries to use her fingers to pry me off her, but I tighten my grip.

"Who's the bitch now?" I whisper in her ear. "If you want me to let you go, do something about it then!" I say, mimicking her words.

"Oh, so you're going to kill me the same way you tried to kill Nolan? I bet you planned it all out. You had a reason to kill him, huh? What was that reason?"

"HELL YEAH, I AM! Ima make you suffer the same way he did! You damn right I had a reason!! He fucked my baby mama!!" I scream, making the officers rush in.

Moments later, I am throw onto the floor until Penelope tells them to let me go, saying she's fine as she rubs her now sore neck. Before the officers exit the room, they handcuff me to the metal table, making sure I can't escape then let Penelope know that they're right outside the door if she needs them.

"And just like that we have a recorded confession and proof that you're a danger to others." Penelope says as she points at the cameras in the corner of the room.

Sighing loudly, I realize that she pissed me off on purpose and I gave her exactly what she wanted. Apparently, she's just like everybody else in the system. They love to see black men snatched away from their families and thrown behind bars like animals. "What the fuck do you want from me, Lady? Why are you doing this?"

"I'm glad you asked." She says as she sits down in front of me and pulls out a brown envelope, sliding it to me. "I want to make you a deal."

"Nah, I'm straight. I don't fuck with pigs." I say as I slide the envelope back to her, not bothering to open it.

"Dallas, unless you are willing to go to prison for attempted murder and miss out on your child's life, I suggest you take a look in that envelope and make a deal with me."

After hearing her mention me missing my child's life, I immediately agree to making a deal; not caring what it is. Nothing is more important than my son and I'll be damned if I miss his birth when I can do something to avoid it. Opening up the envelope, I study what I see in front of me. It's basically a few photos and a contract saying that I agree to working with Penelope to help her solve a case. I skim the rest of it rather quickly then sign and date it, sliding it back into the envelope.

"Is that all? Can I go home?" I ask as she takes the envelope and slides it into her briefcase.

"Not exactly. The contract you just signed basically says that you'll do whatever it takes to help me get information to put a criminal behind bars. My brother who happens to be a new detective in Chicago has an open investigation on one of your employees. All you have to do is testify because we already have some evidence. Having a testimony from you will push the case over the edge which will help my brother and I. He'll get the credibility he deserves and I'll get a raise. In return for your help, I'll drop Nolan's case, pick up yours, and mask sure you don't get charged with anything. If you decide not to follow through with the contract, I'll show that video of your confession and you'll be in prison before next week. I'm a powerful woman with many connections and you don't want to be on my bad side."

"I'll do it." I shrug, standing up. "But if you ever threaten me again, the next time my arms are around your neck no one will be around to save you."

Penelope explains to me exactly what she needs me to do then says, " A pleasure doing business with you." She also tells the officers to release me then I am given back my belongings and clothes. As soon as I'm outside, I'm faced with a lawyer who I hear is looking for me. I'm assuming he was sent here by my family's lawyer.

Before I can walk over to him, Milani wobbles through the door and wraps her arms around me. "I'm sorry it took so long! I was trying everything and nothing worked, but some lawyer contacted me and told me to come here because you'd be free soon. He said he was a friend of your family."

"It's all good, I'm just happy to see you, baby." I say as I hug her tighter.

"Thanks for waiting to get him released. I got what I needed." Penelope whispers to my lawyer, but not low enough because I heard her.

Grabbing Milani's hand, I walk us over to them and frown. "Two corrupt lawyers working together? Does John know about this?" I ask referring to my family's lawyer.

"No, he doesn't know and it's gonna stay that way because Penelope is very powerful. She can ruin me, you, and John... I'm sure you agreed to Penelope's terms so she's your lawyer now." My lawyer tells me before walking away.

"You played me." I tell Penelope, squeezing Milani's hand to calm myself down.

"That's why you don't fuck with pigs." Penelope smirks and starts walking away, only turning around to say. "I'll be contacting you about your case and our deal. As for now, you're a free man. Stay outta trouble."

"What was that about?" Milani asks as we get into the car.

"She fucking played me so that I'd make a deal with her!! That bitch made it seem like I would be going to prison because she pissed me off until I confessed to what I did to Nolan and had me locked up this long when I could've been released. She purposely made my lawyer wait to get me released!! FUCK!!" I yell, hitting my hands on the dashboard, scaring Milani.

"Drummer, calm down! I'm sure whatever deal you made isn't that bad."

"You don't get it, Milani. It's fucked up. I FUCKED UP!"

Resting my head in my hands, I let out a deep breath.

"Well, help me understand. What exactly did you agree to do??" She says, turning my head so I'll look into her eyes.

"I agreed to testify against Brandon."