"Ayo" A voice said from afar.

"...Goddamn fuck this nigga the thug version of sleeping beauty?"

"Nigga!... wake yo ass UP!"

I abruptly opened my eyes, inhaling as much oxygen as I could through my nostrils. Bright ass lights beamed into my eyes causing me to scrunch my face up. The first thing I noticed was colorful balloons touching the ceiling.

"Peanut?" I said somewhat to myself in confusion, looking around. I swore up and down I heard his voice in my right ear.

I lifted my head, only to feel an ounce of a headache but that I didn't stop me from seeing Gina's big head and body rested by my side. We were in one of Chris's houses that was up on the mountain.

The only reason why I remembered was because I got my dick sucked and the girl that did it threw up on it in this same exact room when Chris threw a bangin' ass house party.

I cursed at Chris in my head. I can't tell Gina that type of shit.

She snored softly, fidgeting here and there. It soon came to a stop once I caressed the side of her face. The pain I kept feeling wouldnt stop annoying me when I did what I did to calm her down. But it didn't stop me from continuing.

My baby was probably having a nightmare-

hold the fuck up!

what happened at the mall?

"Man Oh man..." Chris said in a chair far away sitting in the dark while the rest of the room was shown with sunlight.

"I got some shit to tell you" He said shaking his head, staring at Gina. I scrunched my eyebrows together.

"Your girl is innocent for now but on Peanut, I don't trust the bitc-"

"Watch that bitch word when you talking about my girl, Chris" I said slowly but stern enough to let him know I don't play that shit ,slightly cutting my eyes at him. I glanced once more at Gina as she slept.

"I'm just saying, the change she went through seems like she was already that type of person. It just took a couple events to let it come out, again" Chris lifted his arm to take another inhale of his blunt.

"So whatchu tryn say? my chick a op thats been planning to set us up since day one?" I knew my face expression said it all.

I ain believe that shit. Gina's been nothing but good to me, never asked for shit. She had plenty of times to set me up while I was sleep or not home.

The damn girl had a spare key to my house.

"She handled all your sales and errands while you been in a coma. Your profit is in a safe" Chris grunted while getting up.

"You fucked up two weeks ago Kay" He said with sympathy washing over him. "What happened?" I rubbed my eyes and shook my head.

"Gina told us that ya'll ran into the niggas that killed-...." Chris coughed then paused while looking down. "And that Demarcus hinted out that him and his goons want Gina.. you lost it, you killed Demarcus and 2 of his goons man... even bystanders got hit man" His voice got lower and lower but I heard enough.

Loud and clear.

Looking at Gina, I observed her body for any type of bandage or injuries. She was fine.

I sighed as I dropped my head back into the pillow.

I knew Chris didn't leave but the silence in the room made it seem like it was just me and Gina.

"I heard Peanut before I woke up".

I stretched my eyes quickly over to see his reaction. He tensed up at the door way, clenching his fists. Chris leaned whole body onto the frame of the door, releasing a tired sigh.

"I miss that nigga yo..."

I watched him intently, feeling Gina move gave me notion that she was bout to wake up.

"And Kayden?" Chris said, making me look back up to him.

"Why hasn't her mother called the police on us yet?"

Chris mustve heard her begin to wake up as he lifted himself from the door frame and walked out.

"Hey baby!" Gina squealed as soon as she laid eyes on me. I felt my heart tug from her sudden excitement and my mind erase Chris and I's conversation . She plopped her body on top of me, wrapped her arms around my neck, and began placing kisses all over my face. I ignored the sharp pains all over my body from her impact, not wanting her to stop giving me affection.

"Tell me what happened babe" I said as soon as she kissed my forehead. Gina's face expression softened up and became saddened as if the memory haunted her.

"Tell me when you're ready okay?" I said rubbing her cheek with my thumb. She nodded her head,keeping her eyes locked onto my lips. "I made all these sales baby!" Gina smiled ear to ear, her eyes were seeking confirmation that I was proud of her.

"I'm proud of you" I said softly smiling, honestly proud that she handled something like that. Gina hung around me too much to know how I moved. Niggas knew not to take advantage of her because of me. Her smile stayed the same but her eyes gave me reason that she was in her own world.

"What's on your mind?"

"What happened at the mall..." She whispered making her smile go away in a sudden. "I felt as though, I was about to lose you" Gina leaned her forehead onto mine.

A tear slipped out of her eye lid and I swear on everything I love I felt like shit that I caused her to become sad.

"Aye babygirl... You won't ever lose me. I promise you." I grasped the back of her head and smuged my lip onto her forehead.

"You blacked out Kayden. It was a different you I never met before. I pleaded for you to not do it.. I-..I begged, tugged your shirt but it was as if I wasn't there. I watched you stand there and open fire without even moving a muscle. Even when they shot back... you didn't flinch" She whispered.

I never was the type to stand in an open area while shooting. Common sense wouldve urged me to hide behind a trash bin or pole. I didn't have any.

"I'm sorry I became that person infront of you, but I had to protect you" I sighed.

"You don't have to protect me from anything. I'm okay Kayden".

I narrowed my eyes at her as if she was completely lost. "Did you not witness people die? didnt I kill a nigga at your front door? I have to protect you at all costs yo!"

I felt anger rise through my blood streams as tears blurred my vision. "IT'S MY FAULT YOU'RE INVOLVED, IF I WOULD'VE JUST LET YOU WALK PAST WITHOUT A WORD, YOU WOULD BE IN YOUR HOME, SAFE" I breathed heavily, feeling those hot tears slip onto my cheeks.

I gotta push this chick away man. Before shit get bad and I lose everything including her.

"We're done, Gina" I said lowly. I felt as though I was making the right decision.

"Done this conversation?" She said in a confusing tone, scrunching her face up. I lifted myself up for her to get off of me.

Gina slid off the bed and stood on the other side facing my back. I hunched over with my elbows on my knees. "Done as in us" I said weakily, never wanting to hear those words come out of my mouth.

"Are.. you serious?" Gina's voice broke at the last word, making my eyes feel the need to water.

"Yes Gina, I'll order niggas to come watch you, even move you and your momma out that building and make sure no one bothers you" I smiled to myself weakily, feeling another tear drop.

"I would never leave you like th-"

"IM NOT LEAVING YOU FOR ANOTHER BITCH ,GINA" I roared, turning around abruptly.

She stepped back with her eyes blood shot red,tears staining her cheeks.

"I'm leaving you for a good reason okay? You're not safe with me. I wont allow you to be with me If I can't control myself or my trigger finger"I couldnt stand to look at her so I kept my eyes on the sheets of the bed.

Silence swallowed us whole and I never looked up at Gina to know she left. I only heard her sniffle and breath uncontrollably, then she slammed the front door shut.

"You made the right choice Kayden" A voice belonging to Chris's echoed from the bottom of the steps. I got up from my bed, made my way to the top of the stairs and stared down at Chris.

"It's what Peanut wanted" He said, giving me an apologetic look.

"It's what Peanut said to me before I woke up"

Let her go.

____________________

"Romel Anthony Jr. Aka, Peanut" I said to my 1 month old son in my arms. I never felt so scared of dropping something so fragile in my life. He only wiggled around,grabbed my hand, and slept ever since I laid eyes on him.

Calmest baby ever.

"Let me hold my nephew nigga" Chris sucked his teeth,reaching towards Romel. "Damn bitch ,here!" I said annoyed that I just got to hold my own baby and he wanted to be quick up on it right behind me.

"He look like his punk ass daddy, yes he do; yes he do" Chris cooed to my baby, earning a pluck to his neck. He swooped down and away from me, holding Romel closer to him.

"I can't wait to tell my Godson that you're a bully" He huffed, rocking him side to side.

"Nigga,where yo baby?"

He rolled his eyes and glared at me. "Her nut ass momma keepin her from me cause she bitter" He said in a low tone. Kimberly gave birth a month after Gina and I broke up. I would be lying if I said I been maintaining without her.

I didn't feel like myself without her. I missed her laughter and corny jokes ... that smile.

I swiped right multiple times on my phone in my photo album, looking at all the photos she or I took of us. We were so Us. I felt like myself after Peanut died when Gina was around. I couldnt believe I let her go but it was for the best.

Chris nudged my shoulder that somewhat hurt. "What nigga?" I growled looking up at him. He bounced himself up and down with the baby on chest.

"Go feed us daddy" He said nodding towards Romel. My mood lightened up as I watched him take care of my kid. Chris loved babies more than he loved Peanut and I.

Chuckling while getting up to go make his bottle, Chris baby'd my baby as if Romel could see the fool he was making out of himself just to make him laugh. I began recording on my phone as the scene took place in the living room.

Chris glanced at me and continued baby talking to Romel while putting his middle finger up to me and my phone.

The video stopped and an incoming call surfaced onto the screen.

"yo?" I said as soon as I answered the phone.

"K-..Kuh-..Kayden?!" a spooked feminine voice I knew too well said in my ear.

"Wassup? whats wrong?" I said trying to sound nonchalant the first word but hearing how she said my name made my body hair rise. "I-..i.. need you right now please" she said sounding as if she was trembling.

"Where are you?" I said glancing at Chris as he paid me no mind and fed Romel with intent care.

Gina stumbled over her words as she told me where she was. Learning the address made me feel ten times worse.

She was somewhere Gina wasn't suppose to be.