Page 24

Brice

“ W hat’s the deal?” I said as I answered the phone. It was Steph. He called as soon as he knew I’d end my shift.

“Jourdan and Tay’s ass are up to some shit,” I took in a deep breath and sighed it out heavily.

“What in the hell is going on now?”

“Meet me at the spot in thirty.”

“Alright,” I said, hanging up. I looked down at my watch and saw I only had a few minutes. I logged back in and scanned the charts, ensuring all my notes were ready for the next shift. Once satisfied, I logged out and headed towards the locker room.

This was the second time since Tay had been living with me that I wasn’t going directly home. The first thing that came to mind was how we were both still lying to each other. I knew why I was doing it, but why in the hell was she?

Fucking trust issues .

I knew I would have to call her at some point, but first I needed to shower.

I walked into the locker room and scanned around.

There wasn’t anyone in here, and just like earlier, I locked the door.

I didn’t have to worry about Ivy; her shift ended shortly after Tay left.

I grabbed my bag from the locker and carried it inside the small adjoining bathroom.

As a precaution, I also locked that door.

If someone walked in on me this time, I wasn’t sure if I would still have the same restraint, because I was teetering on the edge.

I adjusted the shower’s temperature, undressed, and tucked my work clothes into a sani-bag.

Once the temperature was right, I adjusted the spray so that it would hit my neck and cascade down my back.

It was a temporary fix to ease the stress coursing through my mind.

I kept telling myself that it was all good and that they knew what they were doing, because they did.

However, I had PTSD from Tay getting shot and all the shit Jourdan had put me through the last two years.

I thought it was bad with Jourdan, but the both of them together had a nigga about to pull his hair out.

I got back on task before I could work myself up any further.

I gave myself two thorough washes and a rinse before drying.

My mocha Jordans, black Essentials sweat shorts, and a wood-colored Essentials oversized tee were inside my bag.

After throwing on deodorant and lotion, I dressed and headed out.

I walked past the nurses’ station and all the cat calls, only throwing a head nod.

Once inside the Tahoe, I let Nipsey Hussle’s Victory Lap bump through the speakers.

I backed out of the spot and headed towards midtown.

When Steph said, “the spot,” I knew he was talking about Three.

Three was Demitri’s upscale cigar bar and lounge.

It was where we all went to wind down. When I stopped at the light, I zeroed in on the car that was two cars behind me.

It had also left the hospital parking lot when I did.

I took two more turns that would lead me nowhere near the lounge, and the car I was sure was tailing me did the same.

Those last two turns were confirmation. I’d taken us to a part of downtown that wasn’t heavily populated.

It was the warehouse district and the same place where Tayla had gotten shot.

I took out my encrypted phone and texted Rock before I made a move.

I’m about to need cleanup.

Rock

***

Just dropped the location. Get the cameras.

Rock

Done

After Rock confirmed that he’d cut all the cameras, I dipped into the first dark alleyway I saw.

I quickly reached under the seat for my Glock, loaded the chamber, and then jumped out of the truck.

I rushed to the edge of the building and stood waiting for the car to pass.

As it slowly crept, I stepped out behind it, aimed my gun, and let off two shots.

The rear glass shattered with their impact, piercing the driver and the passenger.

The car slowed until it banked off the curb and came to a stop .

I stood in the middle of the street, waiting to see if I’d taken them out or just hit them. The passenger door opened, and a Beretta ARX 160 fired straight at me, letting off multiple rounds.

Shit!

I took off in a full sprint, running and ducking beside a work van parked on the opposite side of the street as the bullets followed me until I took cover.

Heaving deep breaths, I listened to see if he would shoot anymore, but he’d lost me.

After a moment, I heard the man’s hard-bottom shoes hit the pavement.

I peeked around the van to see him loading another magazine into the clip.

Dumb motherfucker.

I whistled to get his attention, and when he looked, I fired three shots, one to the head and two to the chest. As his body hit the street, I aimed my gun and placed my finger on the trigger as I began a slow walk towards the car.

I wasn’t taking any chances. As I suspected, I’d hit the driver in the back of the head.

Both men had olive-toned skin and slick black hair.

I looked down at his right arm and saw the tattoo I didn’t want to see.

I quickly stood and walked over to the other man, and there it was again, the same tattoo.

Fuck!

Just then, I heard a vehicle approaching. I didn’t need to turn to know it was Rock’s Ford Raptor, because the heavy growl of the engine was indistinguishable.

“You good?” he asked as he walked up.

“Yeah, man.”

“What’s up with these two?”

“Fucking Italian Mafia. ”

“Shit!” he said as he ran his hand across his face.

“Remember when I told you that they were up to some shit?” he asked, and I nodded.

“The Lioness and the Lynx decided to go across the city and have lunch at the Panini Grille today. Now, what’s the problem with that, you ask? Well, let me tell you. It’s one of the fronts for the damn Italian Mafia,” Steph said.

“On my dead homies, be fucking for real Steph.”

“Oh, I’m very fucking for real.” He spoke.

I’d suspected that something was up when she left the hospital so abruptly.

Tay was always with a turn-up, but she walked away.

I briefly thought that maybe she had changed.

Briefly, who was I kidding? Tayla and Jourdan together were a hardheaded, stubborn deadly ass combination.

“What in the hell were they doing there?”

“Honestly, I think it was a fucking accident. I can’t be sure without asking them, but I’m too pissed right now,” Steph said. I put my hand to the back of my head and began to pace.

“There’s no way the Italian Mafia knows who we are, right?”

“Nah, not a chance,” he said, shaking his head.

“Nina! I’ve known Nina Nine my whole life, and this is right up her alley.

She’s trying to take us off the board because that dead nigga told her to.

The Washington name will always be a threat to her.

Don’t you have that facial recognition shit.

I was trying to wait this out, but she needs to be found expeditiously. ”

“Ok, T.I., but even more so if she knows who we are. We don’t know what Julius told her, and he knew. When I get home, I’ll start the search. Tomorrow, we move,” Steph said.

“Fuck! I yelled out into the street. I finally stopped pacing and took a deep breath.”

“Steph I’m tired of this shit. This life, this looking over my shoulder, all of it.

Especially losing the people I love. I will be wealthy until I die, and my children will be wealthy until they die.

I can’t lose y’all not like this and I’m not trying to die in this fucked up game.

I’m about to go on a fucking rampage. I want everyone who has ever even thought about bringing harm to my family in the fucking ground. ”

“Then we’re about to fuck shit up then because I’ve been thinking the same.

When all this shit went down with Julius, the first thing I thought was that I was too old for this shit.

I’m definitely not trying to be like his old ass still running around trying to chase the crown.

These young niggas can have it. But I promise you, we gone leave a reminder of why we are not to be fucked with.

I’ve been working on our exit because I want my life to be quiet.

I already spoke with Brody and P. I was waiting for you to say when. ”

“When!”

“Then we’re out. Let’s get this shit done,” he said with finality, dapping me up. My encrypted phone buzzed in my pocket. I looked down to read the message.

“The cleanup crew will be here in five.”

“Word. You still trying to hit up Three?”

“Hell yeah, I need a drink,” I said .

“Let’s roll then.”

The atmosphere in Three was chill. The typical easy-listening music was replaced by mellow neo-soul R&B tonight.

Drinks were being passed out, and the smell of leather, wood, and cigar spices filled the air.

Steph and I sat in the Haven brothers’ private booth with D and Demi, waiting for Ren to show.

I’d already taken down one drink and was working on another.

“What’s up with y’all two?” Devin asked. He was doing what he always did when trying to gauge the situation.

“We’re straight, why you ask?”

“Because you two motherfuckers look stressed as hell that’s why,” Demi interjected.

“Facts!” D said, using his index finger to justify his point.

“Also, you’re on your second drink and your lightweight ass doesn’t drink,” Devin said after. I waved my hand.

“If it ain’t ‘The Game’, then it’s women!” Demi said.

“That part!” I spoke. Before we could delve into that statement, Ren appeared at the table.

“Ahhh here he go, ol’ singing ass nigga,” Demi said as Ren leaned in dapping each of us up before he took a seat and started on his drink that was already on the table.

“Brice, ask this nigga about how to handle women that stress you out. His ass had been married to my sister for two seconds and was already on his knees begging like Jodeci. Baby, I’m begging, baby, I’m begging, begging baby oooooo yeah,” Demi said, singing off-key. The table erupted in laughter.

“Fuck you Demi, I just got here and your ass starting already.”

“How’s Vonn doing? I ain’t seen her in a minute,” I asked.

“She’s good. Ready to drop that baby. You know how the Haven brothers do. We keep ‘em barefoot and pregnant,” Ren said.

“Barefoot and pregnant y’all sound like some damn neanderthals,” I said and laughed as I tossed back drink number three.

“Nigga y’all act like I’m tying her ass up. That’s what Demi’s nasty ass be doing. Vonn is a very willing participant. I’m a lover boy, and if she wants this loving, that’s what she’s going to get.” Ren said.

“Ohhhh shots fired,” D said.

“Nah, yeah, because if I ask Shorty to tell me where she wants it and she says in or if I tell her to let me out and she doesn’t move, pregnant it is!” Steph said, shrugging his shoulders.

“Now that’s what the fuck really be happening,” D said and dapped Steph up. We all let out another round of laughs.

“That might be happening tonight for you, Brice. Got damn they badder than a motherfucker. I know you be palming that perfect ass head. Neck all sexy and long like a beautiful giraffe. Umph, Umph, Umph!”

“Why. Are. You. Like. This,” Ren said to Demi, accentuating every word.

” I slightly turned and looked over my shoulder to see Tay and JoJo walking in, looking like a man’s wildest dreams. They both wore two little black dresses that managed to be classy yet inappropriate at the same time.

At least to me. Tay’s body made everything look that way.

They were sending a message letting us both know that we had them fucked up.

“Shit!” I said aloud, turning around and slouching down into the booth.

“Ooohhh Shit! Y’all didn’t tell them where you were, did you?” D said and laughed.

“Baby, I’m begging, baby, I’m begging begging baby,” Demi sang again, causing the three of them to laugh, but Steph and I remained quiet.

That made them laugh even harder. I stuck up my middle finger, picked up my drink, and downed the rest. Steph and I exchanged a knowing look.

It was a look that said we couldn’t let the two of them stay in here with their asses nearly hanging out.

If they did, the two Mafia men wouldn’t be the only ones we put down tonight.

Steph and I stood simultaneously with them all, laughing at our expense.

“Damn, you good?” Ren asked because I swayed a little.

“Yeah, I’m straight. We’ll get at y’all later,” I slurred as we leaned down to dap them up, then headed to our women. They spotted us before we reached them. They didn’t say a word when we grabbed them by the elbows and ushered them back through the doors they just came from.