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CHAPTER 1

MCCOY TOLIVER

“Why am I here?” I asked Jamel as soon as I saw him.

He looked at me with a smirk and nodded toward the opposite side of the room. I had to squint my eyes to see the man sitting tied to a chair. His head was down, so I couldn’t make out his face, but I knew whoever it was must’ve been important because there would be no other reason for Jamel to have me here.

“You see that nigga?” Jamel asked with a low laugh. “His name is Prince Holland.”

Jamel walked to Prince, around his chair, and nodded for me to approach him. Even though the room was dark, the closer I got to him, the better my view improved. “He’s one of the founders of DBB.”

“Bitch ass nigga, understand DBB will take you out for this,” Prince said, lifting his head.

I expected to see his face black and blue with cuts, but it was completely unscathed. Prince was cute; he probably had a million and one women vying for his attention, but I could also tell he was dangerous. He was what Jamel pretended to be.

“Earth will kill your ass, and everything attached to your name.”

A look of disgust and annoyance on Jamel’s face was unmistakable. But there was also something else there; it almost looked like fear.

“Nigga, just like I got you, I will get Earth,” Jamel replied with a laugh as he tried to play off his momentary pause.

The six or seven men he had with him laughed while I stood there waiting. I’d never been dragged into anything Jamel did. It wasn’t like I wasn’t aware of his life outside our home because I was. I knew he was a monster. I was just never included in firsthand situations. He grabbed Prince by his long locs and pulled his head back, so he had to look at him.

“The DBB isn’t untouchable, niggas were just too scared to do it.” He smirked down at Prince. “I’m not.”

“Then untie me and let’s see who walks out this bitch,” Prince replied.

I bit my bottom lip to keep from laughing because, even though I didn’t know this man, I had more respect for him than Jamel. He was strong, and even though he was outnumbered and more than likely would die, he wasn’t afraid.

“Nah, nigga,” Jamel denied, then hit Prince in the face two times.

Prince seemed to eat the blows Jamel delivered. I knew firsthand Jamel’s hits packed a punch. I’d been on the receiving end of them one too many times. He let go of Prince’s head, stepped back, and wiped his hand on a towel he pulled from his back pocket. Prince licked over his swollen bottom lip, smirked, and then spit the blood in Jamel’s direction.

“You hit like my little sister.” Prince chuckled. “When she was two.” He wiped his bottom lip against his shoulder. “Step your shit up, little nigga.”

“You think this shit a joke?” Jamel roared as he pulled his gun from his waist. “I’ll kill you right now.”

“Do it,” Prince replied with a shrug. “You snatched me up already. I know how the game goes. I ain’t making it out of here alive.”

“You don’t run shit.” Jamel pushed his gun under Prince’s chin. “I make the decisions.” Moving quickly, he hit Prince in the middle of the head with the butt of his gun. His skin split open, and blood poured from the opening. “You’re alive until I say otherwise.”

“Nah.” Prince laughed. “That ain’t how it works, nigga. It’s somebody above you, the real boss. Get me that nigga because you move like you a low man on the totem pole. Who the fuck is in charge?” He looked at me and smirked. “Is it you, baby? You run this nigga? Are you the bitch in charge? Because I know it ain’t this weak nigga.” I shook my head, knowing if I opened my mouth, Jamel would be on my head before I could close it. “Damn shame. I got more respect for you than I do for him.”

“Stop talkin’ to my bitch,” Jamel said, stepping in front of me so he blocked Prince. He rolled up his sleeves and shook his head. “I have been wanting to beat your ass for a minute now.” Jamel moved to the side so he could see me, and I could see him and Prince. “You better not look away, either. If you do, I’ll do to you everything I do to him, plus more.”

I did what I was told, never taking my eyes off Prince as Jamel hit him. Prince once again took every hit without flinching. His nose bled, and his eyes swelled, but he never took his eyes off me. It was like he was waiting for me to help, but what could I do? I was stuck here, too. Stuck with a man who probably hated me just as much, if not more, than he hated Prince.

“Stop looking at my bitch!” Jamel roared and grabbed Prince’s face. “What did I tell you?” He hit Prince in the face twice. “Stop looking at her.”

“She fine,” Prince replied with a smirk. “I’d rather look at her than your ugly ass.”

“Oh?” Jamel let go of Prince’s face and walked over to me. He grabbed my hair and dragged me to where Prince was tied down. “I’ll kill this bitch without a second thought, just like I plan to kill you. So, look at her face long and hard because it’ll be the last thing you ever see.” He pushed my face into Prince’s, making his blood smear onto me. It was the only time Prince moved. “Nah, bitch, be still!” He pushed me into Prince some more before pulling me back and throwing me on the floor. “Sit on your fuckin’ knees in front of that nigga.”

I didn’t move fast enough, which made Jamel punch me in the face and then kick me in the stomach. I lay on my side in the fetal position. Tears rolled from my eyes, but I didn’t make a sound because I knew that would egg Jamel on more.

Prince’s dark eyes searched mine before he looked up at Jamel. “You a bitch ass nigga for putting your hands on a woman. That must be the only way your dick gets hard.”

“The fuck you worried about my dick for, faggot?” Jamel questioned. He got in Prince’s face and smirked. “That sister you mentioned will know how it tastes before I put a bullet in her head.”

Prince laughed long and hard before shaking his head. “Yeah, keep thinkin’ that shit,” he said once he got himself together. “Nigga, kill me now, or shut the fuck up.”

“Don't worry, I’m gonna kill your ass, then drop your body at Earth’s doorstep,” Jamel said, then left out of the room.

“Ay,” Prince said, making me look up. “Find Earth Carlson and tell him I said to take care of this shit for me. He’s my boy, really my brother. Him and Fire both are.” He let out a small laugh and shook his head. “He’s a good nigga. Find him; he’ll get you out of this shit with Jamel. That nigga gotta die, shorty. I’ono whether you love him or not, but if you don’t, find Earth. Tell him I sent you?—”

The doors to the room were pushed open, and Jamel and his boys walked back in. They beat Prince while Jamel snatched me up from the floor and threw me out of the room. The last thing I heard before the door closed behind me was the sound of a gun being fired.