Tension flares between Jordyn and Mega after a heated convo—now trust, loyalty, and survival are all on the line.
After his call with Layton, Mega turned to walk back inside, and Jordyn stood in his way with her arms folded across her chest. She heard the last part of his conversation and was highly offended. Even though she understood him needing to be careful, she would have never thought about setting him up.
“So, you think I’d do you like your last bitch?”
“Is that what I said?”
“That’s what I heard.” She replied almost before he could finish his sentence.
“That’s not what you heard,” Mega frowned and walked past her. “What you heard was my friend being concerned about me and my well being.”
Jordyn didn’t like being the cause of problems in Mega’s life. She hated being a problem in anybody’s life. So, to make life easier for him and cut through some of the danger, she decided it was time for her and her mother to go home.
“Since y’all feel like I’m a threat to you, you can take me and my mama back where you got us from. We’ll figure our shit out at home.”
Those words were like a slap in the face for Mega. He put his life on the line for them, and Jordyn came out of her mouth recklessly over something she misunderstood. It really pissed him off.
“Come here.” He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into the kitchen.
“Let go of me, Mega.”
“Nah! You need to calm down and stop talking to me crazy. Do you know there’s a price on my head because of you?” He was angry but tried to keep his voice low so he didn’t scare her. “Those niggas ain’t looking for you. They ran up in your mom’s shit looking for me. ME. Not you. Fuck you mean?”
Jordyn kept quiet, realizing the situation was more serious than she thought. Polo and Mila had actually taken it to the extent of putting a price on Mega’s head, and to her, that meant one of two things. Mega would either have to go into hiding. Or he would have to kill them both.
“I’m sorry.” Jordyn reached out to touch his hand, but he quickly pulled away.
“You good.”
“Don’t do that, Mega. I said I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped like that. I didn’t know what was going on.”
“It’s cool.” He lit up a blunt and grabbed a juice box from the fridge. “You wanna ride out with me for the day? Take our mind off some of this shit?”
Jordyn was excited to ride out with him anywhere, on any day. But she was worried about her mom. So any thoughts of having fun were put on the back burner once again.
“What about my mom?”
“She’ll be alright,” Mega assured. “Can’t nobody get in here. Nobody even knows where I live. Except Layton and my mom.”
“Where we going?”
“To the shop.” He smiled. “Go get dressed.”
Jordyn was hype. All the new excitement in her life had her on cloud nine. She didn’t want to let herself get too caught up in it, though.
Because she knew at any given moment it could all come to an end. On top of that, she still had her mom to look after.
Pauline seemed to be happier than she’d been in a long time. They were out of the hood, safe, and she had access to all the weed she could dream of. The only question was, how long would it last? They still had bills at home.
Though Jordyn still had her job, and she was lucky enough to have vacation time to use, she didn’t know how things were going to end up when they went back home. And it scared her.
“This is a strong woman right here,” Mega’s mom complimented Pauline. “Strong as an ox. She does need to see a doctor, though. I don’t know how long she’ll last, but as of yet, she’s doing alright.”
“That’s good.” Mega clamped a hand down on Pauline’s shoulder. “That’s real good. Y’all can stay here as long as you need to. I been meaning to tell you that. With everything going on and her being sick... just let me know what y’all need.”
Jordyn felt joy filling the empty spaces in her heart. For so long, it had only been her and her mother, so she forgot how it felt to have someone else care about her. Someone who wasn’t obligated to care but still did.
“Ok.” She smiled and nodded to hide her tears. “Thank you.”
“Well, ladies,” Mega’s mom interrupted. “Let me get out of here. I gotta get back to work. If you need anything from me, Pauline, you have my number. Just call me.”
“Will do.” Pauline reached out and shook her hand. “I thank you so much. You and your son are angels in disguise.”
While Mega walked his mom out to her car, Jordyn sat with Pauline and let her know they would be gone for the day. She feared leaving her alone, but Pauline didn’t seem to mind it at all. Jordyn didn’t know if it was because she was high, or she just felt so comfortable being at Mega’s house that fear was a thing of the past for her.
“You gonna be alright here, Ma?”
“You know I am, baby. Gone out and have fun with your boo.”
“Alright,” Jordyn smiled. “We’ll be back a lil later tonight. If you need me, call me. Mega has snacks, drinks, and whatever you need in the kitchen. Quick meals in the freezer if you don’t feel like cooking anything. Cereal. Whatever.”
Jordyn couldn’t help but smile at the bond Pauline had built so quickly with Mega. It was crazy because Mean Pauline didn’t like anybody. Especially for her daughter. But the minute Mega stepped foot into their tiny living room, it was like her soft side broke free, and there was no turning back.
“I got this for you.” Mega nervously entered the room with a tiny handgun in hand. “You know how to use one of these?”
“What I need a gun for?” Pauline asked, fear striking her mug. “I do know how to use one. But why do I need it?”
“Just in case.” He shrugged. “Can never be too safe.”
Jordyn didn’t contest. Him giving her mom a gun actually put her a little more at ease. She didn’t know how to use one herself, but she knew her mother did. She had overheard the stories Pauline told over the phone when she was a little girl, and from what she heard, mean Pauline didn’t play the radio.
“I’ll bust a cap in somebody’s ass if they try me this time,” Pauline said. “You two don’t worry about me. I’m ready for whoever might come through that door fucking with me.”
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