Kendrick sat at the small kitchen table across from his mom, the silence between them tense. He hadn't told her about the run-in with Mo G or the message he'd gotten from Trenton's crew, but she could sense something was wrong. She always could.
She set her mug down and looked at him with a steady gaze. "You been looking tired, Kendrick. More than usual."
Kendrick took a deep breath, avoiding her eyes. "Just training hard, Ma. Got a lot on my mind."
She reached across the table, her hand gentle on his. "I know you're trying to make something of yourself. And I'm proud of you for that. But the streets don't let go easy. You know that as well as anyone."
He clenched his jaw, feeling the weight of her words. He hadn't wanted to drag his family into this, but he couldn't ignore the reality of his situation. The streets had their hold, and Trenton wasn't going to let him go without a fight.
"I got a shot at State University," he said finally, his voice low. "A real chance to get out, Ma."
Her eyes softened, pride shining through the worry. "Then you take that chance. And you be careful. People around here… they get jealous. And jealousy can turn deadly."
Kendrick nodded, the warning settling heavily on his mind. He wanted so badly to make her proud, to give her a life free of the constant worry and fear. But he also knew that Trenton and his crew wouldn't make it easy for him.
"Promise me you'll keep your head down, Kendrick," his mom said, her voice filled with a mother's concern. "Promise me you won't do anything foolish."
He forced a smile, squeezing her hand. "I promise, Ma. I'm gonna make it out. For both of us."
But as he left the table and headed to his room, he knew that keeping that promise was going to be harder than he'd ever imagined.