Page 51 of Chrome

The race was about to start, and I had to lock in. The noise from the crowd faded into the

background. I had to shut them out. I wasn’t ‘bout to lose my life on this damn curve and risk the chance to raise my seed. I owed that to my woman and my child to be there.

Copper stood at the line with her bullhorn in the air. My hands tightened on the throttle, my body dropping into position. The second that horn blasted, I took off, slicing through the night in full tunnel vision.

The hum of my tires against the cracked-up asphalt was the only sound I cared about. This race was too deadly to be wondering where the fuck Gator’s weird ass was at. I knew where he wasn’t though and that was in front of me. Regardless of where the race took place, I was gon’ show why the fuck this young nigga wasn’t to be fucked with on the road.

He knew that the curve they called Devil’s Den was coming up. That muthafucka was trying to play me like an amateur. The twins had already brought their crazy asses out here and

measured the distance from the line to curve. I was calculated and played that shit safe.

Sure enough, Gator shot pass me, knowing he’d mastered the curve, but I was gon’ use that against him. I knew after that curve came a straight shot, and that was where a nigga thrived. Nothing would be in the way to stop me from tearing that ass up.

I leaned my body and bike to the right, then back to the left, shifting in sync with each sharp turn. My nerves were unstable as fuck. However, my heart began to settle as I came out of it. The curve slowed me down, but a nigga recovery time was immaculate. If a muthafucka thought I was ‘bout to lose this race and my bike, you had another thing coming.

That bitch ass nigga turned around and threw his middle fingers up creating a mistake for himself. Stupid muthafucka took his eyes off the road causing his bike to lose balance a lil’.‘Preciate it.He opened a window for me, and I took it. Soon as he got his shit straight, I was right there by his side wearing a devilish grin.

I shifted gears, seeing the white flag and flashing lights ahead. We were almost at the finish line. I popped a wheelie in the air to gain a few inches, a move that was risky in a race. Gator was too old and stocky to hit that young nigga shit. I laughed ‘cause we both knew soon as my tires hit the rocky road, that was it. I hit that shift one last time and took what the fuck was mine, crossing the line moments later.

I did have to thank that nigga for challenging me, though. This was a hell of a race. Gator’s bike was bad as hell. I was gon’ make that bitch shine with new custom paint. We came to a stop, and I couldn’t maintain my smile. That nigga on the other hand climbed off his bike throwing his helmet to the ground.Sore loser ass bitch.Long as he kept that anger in check, I didn’t give a fuck what he did.

“Don’t be like that, Gator. It’s just a race,” I taunted.

“It’s my bike. I had you. I fuckin’ had you!” he shouted.

“Nigga, you ain’t have shit. I was gon’ always smoke you. You couldn’t beat my daddy so what the fuck makes you think you could handle me. Take yo’ ass back to the Heights and take yo’ crew with you. I’d hate to have my folk line up with yours and we take all y’all shit.” I was popping my shit, and it wasn’t a soul thatcould calm me down right now. I was on a hell of a high from that ride.

“You are your father’s son. I’ll see you again,” he said.

“You won’t,” I threw back grinning from ear to ear.

One of his crew members road down to pick him up and I assumed they were getting the hell on. The twins were already at the finish line ready to collect my winnings. I never lost and it damn sure wasn’t gon’ start today. Lead got on the back of Gator’s bike and road that bitch back to the crowd.

“Nigga, you a fuckin’ monster!” Litty screamed.

“Got to be. I love my bike too much to ever see her fall into the hands of someone else. Let’s go.”

We hit the gas and road back to the crowd. Of course, the screams and congratulatory praises were thrown at me. I was a proud nigga. Whether muthafuckas wanted to admit it or not, I put on for the Lake. I made sure we were known for the good things and not the shit people put on us.

I searched for my woman as soon as I came to a stop. She was the only person I wanted in my face right now. Pushing through the crowd, I finally found her and her crew off to the side. Onyx held my baby’s hand while she kept her head down. She was just as stressed as I was ‘round this bitch.

“Come here, Mama,” I said with open arms.

She made her way to me snaking her arms around my waist. My eyes closed instantly. Peace, that was what she brought in this moment. Knowing I came out that bitch alive was the highly favor a nigga was always granted. No words were needed as the pace of my breathing synced with hers. This woman had no idea what she did for a nigga.

“Congrats on your win bro,” Onyx threw at me.

“’Preciate it, sis. Who drove? You or her?”

“She did. I’ll ride back with Zinc. Here’s her keys,” she said handing them over.

“You sure?”

“Yeah. Take her home. She been stressing since she got here. I’ll call her later on or come see her tomorrow.”

Nodding, I picked Fade up and she wrapped herself around my body. I didn’t mind her being a baby with me. I was her safe space and if clinging on to me was her way of making sure a nigga made it home, I was cool with that. She changed a lot in my life in a matter of months. This was her world, and I was living in it.

My baby was having my baby. I looked forward to her and our child wearing my name. Making them happy and maintaining a safe environment wasn’t an option for me. It was a priority. When the day ended, I wanted her to be under me and stress free. That was a life she deserved. Her bitch ass ex-husband played in her face and made her think she wasn’t good enough to be loved. I had no problem rewiring that heart of hers to make sure it beat for me.

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