Page 52 of For the Love of City

COREY

I SMILED AT my phone when I got the message that my package was waiting on me at the warehouse.

I wasn’t one for thrills but I wasn’t going to lie to myself that this shit wasn’t in me.

Despite the way some shit had been playing out, I knew I was good.

Not in an arrogant way but I knew that the Laws and their minions weren’t going to be the ones to take me out the game.

Despite them moving recklessly, the calculated way we operated ensured that we would always have our freedom.

They had that one good shot at me and they missed thanks to Pretty P driving like rules didn’t apply to her ass.

I might miss the thrill of this shit from time to time, but I would just have to put another baby in my Pretty to satisfy the urge to be wild.

“You seem pleased.”

Priest’s voice had me tucking my phone back in my pocket before we made eye contact. Yacouba talked all this shit about needing to get out of the house but he wasn’t available to join me for this shit. Instead, he sent the extra murderous pastor to monitor this situation.

“Everything is good. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Glad you approve.”

I could only laugh because he had done me a favor to aid in taking down the Laws and it was unconventional to say the least. “I can’t lie when you told me this original plan I doubted you. I figured you’d have more interest in seeing her work than me.”

He huffed and shook his head slightly, his all black attire blending in perfectly with the night. He’d even switched out his diamond cross for one that was all black. I was sure it was black gold and now I had to figure out who his jeweler was cause that shit was nice.

“I used to have that lady with me in Sunday school. She can fuck up some knuckles with a ruler. You think I’mma bother her while she’s at work? You know how training goes, I’m sure she ain’t lost a step.”

He shrugged as though the thought of managing one of his people that closely was foreign to him. Having had a glimpse of the training they endured, I could understand why he felt that way.

“Today is going to be a lot more fun than it started.”

His chuckle filled the darkness between the two of us. “Your day started with getting shot at so I could imagine. Your lady okay?”

I nodded thinking back to the way Porsha had been pissed she couldn’t come with me. I insisted she go rest and Mir had a doctor he knew come and check her out to make sure she and the baby weren’t stressed out.

I nodded thinking back to the look on her face when I left. “She’s good. Wanted to come with us but that wasn’t about to happen.”

“I understand the desire for her to see vengeance and yours to ensure she’s good. You’ll find the balance I’m sure. Heads up.”

My head snapped to the entrance of the building and I saw Judge strolling out without a care in the world.

It was wild that he and his brother hadn’t tried to run when they didn’t get word that I was dead.

I wasn’t sure if they thought running would make them look guilty or what, but staying within arm’s reach of me was the wrong move.

“What’s good, Judge?”

This fool finally looked up from his phone and he couldn’t hide the fear that he was feeling. It was wild how they’d pulled another stunt to get my attention and then were actually surprised when I gave it to them.

“City? What’s up?” He glanced down at his chest, a wise move on his part, before looking around the parking lot. Since he didn’t have a red dot on his chest and Mir was the only one with me, he seemed to gain more confidence.

“What’s up? You tell me. Sending fucking corner boys to do assassins work. I knew you were cheap as fuck but I woulda thought you’d go for quality at least once in your life. I see I was wrong.”

“He probably couldn’t afford the price. I hear he ain’t got too much left in the bank.” Mir was normally the calm one but it was clear he was going to play the role of shit talking wingman tonight.

Judge’s eyes squinted in the darkness as he tried to make out Jahmir’s features. “Hey ain’t you—”

“The preacher man? Yeah. Notice I have no problem telling you who I am. You should probably be scared.” Jahmir only smiled and it was crazy how he was trying to up the fear that Judge was feeling.

Judge looked between the two of us and then scoffed like the advice was unnecessary. “Of who? Corey? That man got on with the right nigga and lucked up on a connect.”

Priest and I looked at each other before he gave me a nod of permission to school this muthafucka.

“You think my shit was luck? I worked hard and made an impression. Some shit that you know nothing about, Jordan . Your mama had y’all out in the suburbs and your cousins in East Atlanta used to clown the fuck outta y’all for how y’all were living.

You think the world doesn’t know about you?

Y’all can try to hide who you really are but y’all are two niggas with an identity crisis who used their trust funds to start a label.

But instead of doing something positive for the community y’all shit on the very people who made you famous.

That’s the thing: fuck the fame. Even Ness will tell you that.

We hustled to make it: ends meet, money stretch and to give back.

A fiend is gone fiend no matter who’s supplying.

But the kids who had no way out? We provided what we could.

How many lunch balances you paid off? Back to school supplies runs you hosted?

Instead of being for the community you became a parasite.

Sucking the life out of the people who trusted you.

Ole Remmick ‘ please let me in’ ass bitch. ”

“Calling this nigga a vampire is wild.” Mir was chuckling but I hadn’t said anything that wasn’t true.

“He worse than a colonizer. He understands what’s at stake and he still decides that his desires are greater than the collective’s.

I did my shit, still do it but I make sure the restitution I pay attempts to balance out the harm I’ve caused.

This nigga and his bitch ass brother are just here to extract from the culture without paying dues or giving back. Shit like that disgusts me.”

I spit out my disgust and it landed on his shoes. I dared his ass to say or do something about the disrespect.

That struck a nerve and Jordan’s face frowned up angrily. “There you go being Saint City again.”

My chuckle was as dark as the night sky as I sized him up.

“And that’s what bothers you ain’t it? Cause you play at being a hood nigga but have no idea what that shit really means.

It ain’t fucking up the next man and stepping on his neck to get yours.

You only ruthless with a nigga that crosses you, but the people who you break bread with?

You look out. Instead, you and your stupid ass brother shorted everyone but L and look at where it got you. ”

“You doing all this talking, what you brought this nigga here to help you take me out?”

“Help me? You think you’re that much of an issue?”

I threw my head back and laughed and Jahmir was doing the same thing.

I knew he wasn’t out here alone. I’d bet all the money I got in the bank that Smoke’s ass was somewhere ready to take this nigga out if he went after his boss.

Add to Mir’s two newly found and equally deadly cousins and I wasn’t bothered about this nigga trying to sneak me.

I wiped the tear from my eye because his words caused one of those good cleansing belly laughs.

“One on one no guns. You can’t see me.” I threw down the challenge and waited on him to accept it.

He kept looking at Jahmir and I needed to goad him further.

“You think that spare tire you keep on you means you can fight? Nigga, one-on-one right now. I’ll let you get the first lick. ”

“And this nigga not on no jumping shit?” Judge pointed at Jahmir like that was the only way I could defeat him.

Jahmir shook his head unbothered as he leaned against the truck. “I’m just here to watch you get your ass beat. You never fight a nigga who gives you first lick. Not unless you know you can put him out with just one. You ain’t built like that, my boy.”

“Says who? The preacher man?” Judge was trying to hype himself up by putting his phone in his pocket and sliding his chain inside his shirt.

“Nah, says the demon inside the preacher man who knows what you about to step into. But go ahead big fella, rush your demise if you want.” Jahmir’s voice was light and dark at the same time which I was used to. But Judge wasn’t and his body stilled as he watched Jahmir just smile back at him.

“He ain’t the one you need to worry about, Judge. Let’s get this done so you can go and see your brother.” I had come prepared for what needed to be done so there was no jewelry and no phone to be put up. Judge nodded his head like he knew he was ready to get down to business.

The stance he took was laughable. Both arms guarding his face like he’d taken some type of professional boxing courses in college.

The way that Jordan was going out was bad.

Street Law should’ve been named Talented Tenth or the Representative Class because that’s who these niggas thought they were.

The Black people who thought that their success alone was going to pull our people up into the high regard of white society.

The descendants of whom were running around in red hats with that dumb ass slogan when ain’t shit about this country ever been great.

We had to fight and claw for everything and even when we got it; they tried fucking with it.

But Jordan couldn’t see that. He’d swear that since he was a success that everyone else could be, even as he was handicapped and shortchanged by the same people he tried to impress.

He swung wildly thinking I wasn’t going to pay attention and I was angry that he was wasting the opportunity I was giving him on some weak shit. I moved out of the way and beckoned him to come closer because I wanted to use my fists in the worst way before my gun ended their blood line.

He came at me again, and I was happy to go after him full force.

I could’ve aimed for his jaw but I didn’t want to.

I needed him to be lucid enough to feel the slow inflicting of pain that I wanted to give him.

I went for his ribs, hitting just beneath the last one to target his kidneys.

He tried to shake it off but I heard the quick intake of breath and the grunt he couldn’t silence.

I still refused to hit him in the jaw instead punching him in his throat which sent him gasping for air leaving his entire front exposed.

My fists made quick work of tagging his face and stomach and within seconds, he was on the ground in the fetal position, begging me to stop hitting him.

“Nah, my skinny ass wasn’t gone do shit right, Jordan?

Thought you were still big bad Judge with an army behind you.

Dumb ass sitting here getting fucked up before you die when you could’ve gotten a bullet to the head like a man.

You wanna talk all that shit? Now I gotta make sure your mama can’t have an open casket. ”

“Mir, you rubbing off on this nigga now? Got him out here playing with his prey. Thought you would’ve told him to be merciful and shit.”

I didn’t know when Jahmir had called Yacouba and I didn’t give a fuck. I was too busy stomping on Judge’s head and kicking him in the stomach to care.

“I would have until he opened his mouth. He showed mercy would’ve been wasted on him so we went with our first mind.”

“Yeah, okay Priest. Aye, City, your toys are ready when you are. See y’all when you get here.” Yacouba disconnected the call and his words had me halting my assault on Judge.

I looked down at my shirt hating that he’d gotten his blood on it. I couldn’t see it, I just knew it was there and it pissed me off.

“I’m almost glad that you didn’t want to heed my warnings when I told you to leave me and my people the fuck alone.

You always thought that you couldn’t be dealt with.

That me being gone and Lyric taking a step back from Travis meant we weren’t still watching over her.

That she wasn’t still protected. Baby sis played the long game and took everything from y’all you coveted.

No respect, no artists, no money and no clout.

The white folks ain’t even fucking with you and shitty rappers are going to your talent searches just cause.

Damn shame y’all couldn’t do right, but everybody ain’t built for this shit. ”

I was done talking and lifted my foot and brought it down on Jordan’s head, knocking him out.

“He dead?”

I sucked my teeth irritated that he was questioning my ability to keep this nigga alive. “I ain’t even stomp that hard.”

“You could’ve fooled me. But come on, I’m ready to see the rest of this show.” Jahmir sat up from where he’d been leaned against the grill and walked toward Judge’s body that was laid out on the ground.

“Thought you’d want to hurry home.”

He stopped next to me and shook his head as he looked down at Judge.

“Ny ain’t about to have my ass sleeping in the pool house again.

She said I needed a night out and I needed to handle whatever needed to be done.

One thing I don’t do is ignore good council from my wife.

The Laws were attempting to harm an affiliate.

Someone we consider a friend. That’s not anything to be taken lightly.

So I’m out here using the resources available to me in order to prove that our word is our bond. ”

I held out my hand in gratitude, and he took it. “‘Preciate it.”

“It’s what we do. Now, help me lift this muthafucka up so we can get him in the trunk. This is just the first round of the night.”