No Mercy Read Online Free PDF Page A

happened.
    “Hold up a minute Nigel,” I say, reinforcing the comb to maintain the clean part between the last two braids. “Boughetto is calling.”
    “What the hell kind of name is that?” Nigel asks, not recognizing my nickname for Nellie.”
    “It’s a combination of bougie and ghetto.”
    “Oh, that’s only one chick I know,” he says, smiling. “Tell Nellie I said what’s up.”
    “Traitors Anonymous. Please state your betrayal,” I say, unapologetically.
    "And you're the one preaching to me about turning the other cheek," says Nigel, quoting a very popular Bible passage.
    I playfully tap him in the head and await Nellie's response.
    “Jayd, I didn’t know who else to call. I need your help.” Nellie’s voice is shattered, almost childlike. She’s scaring me.
                  “Nellie, what’s wrong?” I ask, glancing at the wall clock. It's almost midnight.
                  “Can you come and get me? I can’t talk about it over the phone.” What the hell? Before I can tell her off once more she surprises me by doing something I’ve never heard her do.
                  “Jayd, please,” Nellie begs as she breaks down in tears. "I’ve got no one else to turn to."
                  "I'll be right there," I say, picking up the dry erasable marker on the white board attached to the side of the kitchen cabinet. "Where are you?"
                  Nigel turns his head in concern.
                  "I'm in the parking lot next to the Crenshaw Christian Center's dome. Jayd, please hurry. I don’t feel safe out here by myself."
                  "What was that all about?" Nigel asks as I hang up my cell.
                  "Nellie needs us to come and get her. I say us because my mom’s car isn’t working right now. You mind giving me a ride?”
                  "I wouldn't have to give you a ride if you’d call your boy back,” Nigel says, taking his keys from the dining room table. “You know Rah will hook you up."
                  "No thank you," I say, grabbing my purse off the coat rack next to the front door and following Nigel out of the apartment. “My days of calling on Rah are over.”
                  "It's funny how holy people can dish out plenty of advice but never take it."
                  “Holy people? Really Nigel?" I say, making myself comfortable in the passenger’s side of Nigel's classic green Impala. “I know of a lot of people who would disagree using that adjective to describe me."
                  “You’re holier than most people I know."
                  Speaking in holy, I have a sneaky suspicion that Nellie's midnight marauding has something to do with David, her born-again boyfriend. I guess we won't know the truth until we arrive at the scene of the crime.
     
                  When Nigel and I reach Nellie, she’s disoriented and unusually quiet.
                  “Something’s not right,” Nigel says, whispering as if Nellie can’t hear us talk because she’s sitting in the back seat.
                  “You can say that again,” I say without bothering to lower my voice. “Nellie, what happened? And where’s David?”
                  “Oh, nothing. We just had a fight, that’s all.”
                  “What the hell kind of fight did you two have that would cause him to leave you alone on the south side this late at night?" Nigel asks, visibly pissed.
                  "I needed to freshen up after the revival. I must've been gone longer than I thought," Nellie says, combing through her long weave with her freshly manicured fingernails. "David says I’m too vain as it is."
                  I know Nellie’s not telling us the whole story, but that does explain why she's not wearing a jacket on chilly night like this. I