Page 2 of For the Love of City

I kept my eyes straight looking just over King’s shoulder so he thought nothing was wrong. He was moving around the kitchen and hadn’t bothered to reach for the money bag in my hand. My pride was irritated because I really hated that this nigga felt like he had me trained enough to do this shit.

“We good King. Making it as always.” Trav’s voice was steady but I was watching King’s every move.

“Them niggas I got you training ain’t giving you no problems is it?” He looked up as he poured Hypnotiq into a glass of Hennessy that was on the countertop. The look was expectant, like a manager waiting on a report from a subordinate.

My abs flexed under my white tee because he was really about to make me snap. “Nah, no problems.” I had to speak up because I was never one to just be silent. But damn, it killed me to not speak on what I needed to.

Trav leaned on the back of one of the leather and wood barstools casually and I had to wonder what he was on. “Speaking of, we expanding territory or sumn’? I know you got us showing these boys the ropes but where they gone work?”

My nigga.

King sniffed like the question irritated him as he swirled the liquor in his glass. “I’m saying having somebody on standby in case y’all asses ever want to take a break. Go on vacation or retire or some shit. This game ain’t something you can do forever, feel me.”

He smiled and I wondered if it had always been that greasy. Something about it felt off. And I wasn’t sure if it was because of what I knew or if the haze of gratitude for being able to survive and have a seat at his table had finally lifted.

“Damn, I was hoping you was finna say we was getting a promotion.” Travis rubbed his chin thoughtfully and he had about two minutes before I took over this conversation.

“No hard feelings but y’all ain’t but a spot beneath me. And I ain’t getting away from this money no time soon.”

Trav glanced at me, and I knew that was the green light. Chuckling, I pulled my gun and Travis did the same. “Funny how plans change and shit.”

“The fuck that mean? Y’all pulling out guns and shit on me now? Me?!” The glass had fallen from his hand and landed on the counter and I knew he was on the verge of panicking.

“Heard you been talking, King.”

King’s puffy lips curled up into a sneer as he looked at me like he hated me. “What you mean?”

“A friend who has a vested interest in what you’re doing. A friend of theirs is telling them that you’re putting them at risk.”

I wasn’t sure how Xavier knew the connect that King was using, but this man said their reach was long. Clearly if they had flipped agents in the government they had pull. Having them owe us a favor for doing this was going to come in handy.

“So if I was, what that got to do with you?” King went to fold his arms but my gun stilled all motion.

“Nothing except you using our names as the fall guys for you bullshit.” All the friendliness was out of Travis’ voice as he moved closer to King’s side.

I knew he was ensuring weapons weren’t nearby but I knew King never kept a gun on him.

It was most likely in his den where he was watching the Sports News waiting for us.

“So them niggas sent you to do their dirty work? How is that the game?”

“You talking about the game but you out here being a bitch. Throwing us under the bus like this is our shit.”

“Y’all niggas got too big feel me? Saying that y’all running blocks and your name blowing up everywhere.

Big T and City like y’all them niggas. Ain’t nobody talking about King like this ain’t my shit.

Y’all wanna be big time, this the price.

” He was big mad, spit flying like he really resented that we made his business successful.

“Funny thing about people. They automatically follow a leader. It’s clear you haven’t been one in a minute.

We know your business better than you. Your blocks better than you.

The bitches who cook the shit for the niggas serving.

You wanted to run Atlanta but as soon as you got the chance you sat your ass down and coasted letting us become the face of the shit you had going on.

We appreciate that shit, though. Because when it comes to taking shit over, ain’t nobody gonna think twice about us stepping in. ”

“Take over? You think niggas gone follow you?” He had the nerve to laugh at Travis’ words like something was funny but little did he realize how much of his organization he didn’t know.

I squeezed the grip of my gun my trigger finger ready to get some much needed exercise. I’d laid down plenty of niggas for the sake of the man before me. To protect his blocks and his brand. Damn shame I would have to add him to the list of bodies.

“They already do. That’s why you had us in the positions that you did.”

Seeing that neither of us looked bothered by his words I could see him mentally try to search for a way to distract us or get us off our game.

“Y’all gotta understand. When shit gets rough you would be looking for a way out too.” His hands went out but both of us aimed at him, halting his movements. “Y’all really gone do me like this? After all I’ve done for you? Y’all do the same if y’all were in my shoes.”

“Nah, one thing I know about my boy and he knows about me, we’d take that shit on the chin if we got jammed up. The last thing we would do is sell one another out to save ourselves. It don’t work like that with us.”

King shot Trav a look that said he didn’t believe a word he was saying. “You say that shit now but it’s different when shit gets real.”

“Sounds like a copout cause you can’t handle the shit that you’ve done.

You slipped up. Got to pillow talking to the wrong bitch and she ran with what she knew.

The first thing you taught us was never tell your business to somebody that ain’t involved.

But you out here trying to get clout and being flashy and you bout to die for it.

” I was no longer interested in his words because he wasn’t saying shit that made sense.

I should’ve known from jump that would be the case because nothing he said was logical.

“You can’t kill me. You think they not looking out for me? That they not gone have questions and immediately come to y’all?”

“They might. But it’s gone look like you left willingly.

Skipped town to avoid your responsibilities.

We switched shit up recently remember? You were smart enough to put the blame on us and then make all the changes.

You counted on us being too loyal to turn on you and you were right.

Our word actually means something to us.

Just like when we vowed we’d murder anyone who ever crossed us.

Damn shame you were the nigga who chose to be the one we had to make an example of. ”

Travis was grinning as he spoke, because this was just the cost of doing business in his head. And he ain’t really fuck wit’ King too tough but was loyal by default.

“Y’all niggas ain’t got it in you to lay me down. I been too fucking good to the both of you. When your mamas ain’t give a shit who looked out?”

He was slapping his chest and grandstanding as his voice echoed through the near empty kitchen. The walls were this odd butter yellow color that everyone seemed to paint their shit but it would soon be covered in blood splatter and brain matter.

“And you’ve been more than paid back for it.”

“You saw two boys that needed something but instead of offering help you offered us a way that ultimately only served you. Nigga, we made you who you were. Two boys that got in the game after you running your shit better than you ever could. And that’s what’s really fucking wit’ you.

The fact that you know you ain’t ever gone be that nigga the way you are in your head.

And it kills you to see the way we’ve long surpassed your ass. ”

That was all I had left to say. One last jab at the nigga who thought he was something he wasn’t.

We’d already been here for ten minutes and despite the time they’d given us, I wanted to be efficient.

I was ready to get the fuck out and step into the role I’d already been playing but actually getting paid for the work I was doing.

“Y’all think y’all so fucking bad, do sumn’ then.” King puffed out his chest and tried to wipe the fear that was etched into his features off his face. It was useless because he was going to be as much of a coward in death as he was in life.

We didn’t speak another word just stood tall and both emptied our guns into him.