Matthew wondered why now? Why had Galen picked now to come back into his life? He took his mother away from him and he was lucky that Matthew didn’t kill him that night in the alley. He could have beat him to death with his bare hands, but someone thought his sorry ass was worth saving and called the cops. Matthew had lived with his moment of weakness for far too long but tonight he was not going to have any such moment. Tonight would be the night that he finished off what he had started five years ago. His thoughts were interrupted by a woman’s voice behind him.
“Matt? Matthew Perry is that you? What you doing hanging out in that building. Now you do know what goes on around here after dark. You better get on over here and give your auntie some suga.”
Matthew walked quickly over to the only person that helped him five years ago. She was the only person that knew his pain.
“Uh, hey Miss Houston. How are you doing? What are you doing out at this time of night?”
“Chile couldn’t sleep. I feel a little antsy, and whenever I get that feeling, something bad is gonna happen.”
“Well, I wouldn’t worry about it.” He said while walking her towards her building.
“Well, you be careful.” She said as she stepped up on her stoop. Don’t go getting yourself into any trouble down here. You hear me? Let sleeping dogs lie. You go on home now. You hear?” She said as she walked into the door and let it close behind her.
He watched as she continued down the hallway to her first floor apartment. He was lost in thought when the first blow hit him. He felt himself falling forward and before he could regain his composure, something hit the back of his leg that sent him sprawling towards the concrete sidewalk.
He rolled away and grabbed the attacker’s ankle and pulled him down. He heard the body hit the pavement beside him and he had opened his pocket knife before falling. He drove the knife into the person’s leg and they let out a howl that would wake the dead. He felt another swing barely miss his head but he felt the air blow by his ear. He was just about to get up when he felt something hard against the side of his face and heard a pop. The immediate jolt of pain sent Matthew crashing back down to the concrete. He drew his gun and just as he was about to fire, he heard Mrs. Houston’s voice saying she had called the police. He heard the feet scrambling and heard them running away from the alley. He got up and leaned against the dumpster and ducked inside of the abandoned building. The police drove by with the search light pointed down the alleyway.
He walked into his house with a massive headache and a huge lump on the side of his face. He tried to get past Lynette’s door before she woke up but it was too late. She didn’t say a word as she came out of her room, passing him in the hallway. He got to his room and laid back on his bed. His door opened and she walked in with a bag of ice and a disapproving look.
“First of all, it’s none of my business what you went out here and did. All I know is I have only seen that look one other time before. I don’t want to know what happened, all I want to know is, is the other guy still living?” She said while handing him the ice.
“For the time being.” He answered her without looking up.
“What does that mean?” She said with her hands on her wide hips.
“His best bet would be to stay in hiding because if I find him or his contacts.”
Realization hit him and he jumped up and shouted that he needed to check on something while running past Lynette on his way out the door.
He drove to his ex-wife’s house and banged on her door until she snatched it open.
“What!” She said while blocking his path into the house and pulling her robe closed.
“Are you and Tamia ok?”
“Why?”
“Just answer the fucking question.” He shouted as he walked towards the back.
“Nigga, why you here looking busted up. What, you and your new girls ex get into it?” She laughed.
“I can see you are as spiteful as ever.” He said as he turned and looked at her.
“Well, if you can see that, than you can see I’m ok. Tamia is at a friend’s house and I have company. Good night.” she said as she held the door open and watched him walk out of it.
She walked back towards her bedroom with a smile on her face. Galen was still butt naked in her bed, awaiting her return. She dropped her robe and climbed onto her bed. He pulled her down to him and kissed her much rougher than he had before.
“Whoa, why you being so rough?” she asked as she pushed away from him.
“Look, c’mon. You took long enough that I aint even in the mood anymore.”
“Well, then maybe you need to bounce.” She said as she rolled completely away from him.
“Oh hell no, I came here for one thing..”
She cut him off, “well, now I aint in the mood. Get on!” she said with a wave of her hand.
“Bitch! Who do you think you are talking to?” he said as he grabbed her by the hair and snatched her off of the bed.
“Get your damn hands off of me!” she yelled while slapping his hands away.
Before she said another word, she was falling into a heap on the floor with him standing over her.