Concrete jungle
Ten months had passed since Keisha’s arrest, and her sentencing day had finally arrived. In that time, Glitch and Po-Boy had done everything they could to support her, hiring top-notch attorneys, filing appeals, and pushing for bond, but nothing worked. The court saw her as a flight risk, and her evading arrest charge had sealed the deal. The body cam and dashcam footage had made it impossible to argue hercase.
Now, Glitch stood in front of his closet, methodically pulling out a dark suit, Po-Boy doing the same beside him. They dressed in silence, both mentally preparing for what was tocome.
“You ready, bro?” Po-Boy asked, adjusting histie.
Glitch gave a grim nod. “As ready as I’ll everbe.”
They left the house, two more crew members joining them as they drove to the courthouse. When they arrived, they filed into the courtroom, taking seats silently among the otherspectators.
Finally, the door at the back of the room opened, and Keisha was escorted in, shackles on her wrists and ankles. Glitch’s heart sank as he looked at her. She had healed from the wreck, and her hair was neatly braided, but the exhaustion in her eyes was clear. She scanned the room, her gaze landing on Glitch. He gave her a small nod, and she returned it with a faint, sadsmile.
The proceedings began, the judge reading off each charge. Keisha’s expression remained stoic as the list went on. Glitch clenched his fists, barely able to contain his frustration. He felt helpless, like he’d paid the lawyers just to send his sister toprison.
Finally, the judge delivered the sentence: ten years, with eligibility for parole after three on good behavior, part of a plea agreement her lawyers had arranged with theDA.
Keisha turned to the judge, calm but firm. “May I hug my brother, YourHonor?”
The judge looked at her, then glanced at Glitch before nodding. “Make itquick.”
Glitch stood, crossing the courtroom to her. The moment she was within reach, he pulled her into a tight hug. “Keisha…” he whispered, his voice thick withemotion.
Keisha pressed her face against his shoulder, speaking softly into his ear. “I can’t ask you to stay out of trouble, but I can ask you to stay alive. Do that one thing for me,please.”
Glitch swallowed hard, nodding. “I’ll be here when you get out, I promise. I love you,sis.”
“I love you too, Glen,” she replied, pulling back to look him in the eyes. She gave him a small, bittersweet smile before the guards led heraway.
As she disappeared through the door, one of her lawyers placed a hand on Glitch’s shoulder. “We did everything wecould—”
Glitch shook his hand off, his voice a low growl. “I feel like I just paid you to send her toprison.”
Po-Boy stepped forward, gently tugging Glitch’s arm. “Come on, man. Let’s get out ofhere.”
They left the courtroom, the weight of the day pressing down on them both. But as they stepped out into the fresh air, Glitch’s expression hardened. He had a city to claim and an enemy tobury.
Back in her cell, Keisha felt the crushing weight of her new reality. The walls seemed to close in on her, each clang of the prison doors reminding her of the life she’d left behind. She thought about her family, about the good times that now felt so far away. The memories of her parents filled her with sadness, but thinking about their deaths ignited a fire of anger withinher.
The prison routine was unforgiving, but Keisha adapted quickly. She worked in the kitchen, exercised in the yard, and kept to herself as much as possible. But in a place like this, solitude wasrare.
One afternoon, Keisha sat on a bench in the rec yard, watching the other inmates. An older woman with graying hair and hard eyes sat down beside her, squinting ather.
“You’re Ant’s little girl, aren’t you?” the woman asked, her voicegravelly.
Keisha stiffened, looking her over. “Why you wannaknow?”
The woman raised her hands in a mock surrender. “Calm down, little sister. Just makin’ smalltalk.”
Keisha narrowed her eyes. “Nah, you sizing meup.”
The woman blinked in surprise as Keisha stood, her fists clenched. Not wanting to push her luck, the woman backed off, muttering under her breath as she walked away. Keisha sat back down, her gaze drifting across the yard. In here, showing even a hint of weakness was a deathsentence.
Later that day, it was time for mail call. Keisha listened as the guard rattled off names, barely paying attention—until she heard her own. The guard handed her a sl
