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I hadn't even met her, really, and I knew that voice meant trouble.
"That's not... that's not Milus," Alli mumbled.
Shane stared at her cousin, disbelief written on her pretty features.
"Alli, you pointed out this car. And you didn't say anything when this n— thisgentlemanfirst came out here. What you mean, this ain't Mini-dick Milus?"
Alli shrugged before laughing nervously. "Well... Milus does have a nice, blue, classic car that looks like this."
"Milus Williams? Girl, that car is a 1969 Mustang. This one is a 1969 Charger. They don't look shit alike!" Ghazi yelled.
Alli flinched and Shane spun back on him. She looked like she wanted to go off, but she took a deep breath and blew it out slowly.
"No need to be rude... sir," she said, the voice she'd used to shriek at Ghazi suddenly gone.
Shorty sounded all calm and cultured as she tried to straighten her dress and hold on to the braids falling from her bun. She looked a hot ass mess, but so did Ghazi. I guess she won.
"I apologize sincerely for the mix-up. Surely, you can understand my need to defend my cousin's honor. Alli and I were on our way home when we stumbled upon your car. This situation is unfortunate. However, I can tell by your appearance and by the care you've lavished on your lovely car that you are more than able to handle this situation from this point. So, my cousin and I will continue on our way."
I had to give it to Shane. She was bold as fuck and talked a good game. Shorty sounded like a whole professor. She really thought they were about to walk out of here like she hadn't wrecked my brother and his car. Ghazi's eyes were trained on her, his gaze intense. I needed some damn popcorn.
"Juvie?" he called our youngest driver, who was lounging against a big, black Escalade.
"What's up?" Juvie responded, straightening up and meeting Ghazi's eyes.
"I'm not driving that car like that. I need a ride. Open that back door, then get in the driver's seat."
"We really appreciate your kindness in letting bygones be bygones," Shane continued breezily as Juvie did what Ghazi asked.
She grabbed Alli's hand and started to move. Ghazi shook his head once, and the security people moved closer, locking the cousins in. The spark that Shane had tried to extinguish was back in her eyes as she stared at my brother.
"Now, listen," she started.
"Nah, you listen," Ghazi cut her off. "Matter of fact..."
I don't know what I expected him to do. Striding forward and snatching Shane off her feet to throw her over his shoulder was not it. She and Alli both screamed as he dumped her in the Escalade and climbed in behind her wriggling, fighting frame.
"Markel, help Alli out," he said, tossing his keys before he slammed the door and directed Juvie to leave.
Alli went into full show-her-ass mode, crying and begging for her cousin. I frowned at her ass. I knew my brother wasn't about to hurt that chick, so the theatrics were annoying. Markel obviously agreed.
"Shut up, girl," he grumbled at Alli, flashing his gun.
She shut up just as her eyes rolled back in her head. Markel caught her and I shook my head. Cussing her little ass out, he bundled her into Ghazi's fucked up car.
"This shit gotta be a skit or something," I mumbled to Targen.
He shrugged. "This yo' crazy ass family. All y'all need help, except my baby Rachel."
"Least I'm kin to 'em. Why you hang around 'em? And I'ma fuck you up bout my mama, nigga."
This argument went all the way back to the first time Targen met my people. He swore Mama was the most beautiful woman in the world.
"That's wifey. Don't worry, son. I'ma be a good step—" His words cut off abruptly as he looked behind me. "Yo, it's not y'all night, I swear," he said.
I turned just in time to see Naaman and Ev approach her car. They acted like they didn't see us out here, hilarious as fuck to me. Only, my "hilarious" usually ended up with someone else not happy at all. I took a step forward, and Targen immediately straightened, ready for whatever I was ready for. A leisurely walk brought me closer to them, anger building even as I kept up a nonchalant conversation with Targen.
"I swear I be doing the most to change my life around, and people still trying to keep me out of heaven."