Page 159 of Rah

But they just stood out there talking under the glow of the headlights like they were at a kickback.

PRIEST

“Backup’s twenty minutes out,” Larkin told me. “Dispatch bought the story.”

“You sure?” I pressed.

“Positive,” Mills replied. “We told them the inmate slipped his ankle chain and got aggressive. We told them we stopped to restrain him. Once they roll up and see him, we’ll say he lunged at us.”

“And that’s gonna hold up?”

Larkin smirked. “You’d be surprised how easy it is to justify a use of force when the suspect’s already a convicted murderer. We’ll be fine.”

Mills added, “The paperwork writes itself if you use the right words.”

I looked between the two of them, and I knew they weren’t new to this. Both had the look of men who’d learned the system inside out and figured out where to bend it.

I’d met them through a friend in County, an old CO who used to smuggle in drugs and burner phones. When I told himwhat I needed, he’d made a few calls and introduced me to the ones who handled transport.

Money talked, and I’d made them an offer they couldn’t refuse.

I nodded toward the van. “Bring him out.”

They moved without hesitation and swung the doors open. The sound of chains and boots hit the quiet night as they dragged Rah out, looking pissed and confused.

“Uncuff him,” I told them.

Larkin and Mills looked at me like I was joking.

Mills asked, “You sure about that?”

“Yeah, wanna let him die withsomedignity. Least give him that.”

They hesitated, but they did what I said. The clank of metal echoed against the emptiness around us. Rah straightened, flexing his wrists with his eyes locked on me.

I thought he’d run. I almost wanted him to. But he didn’t. He just stood there, breathing hard, staring me down like he still had something to prove. I had to admit I respected it.

I taunted him, “You did a good job at pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes, but they’re starting to see the type of nigga you really are. Elijah asked me last week if he could start calling me daddy. Essence told me I’ve already been around more than you ever were. And Solae tells me every night that she’s never been loved like this. It’s like you never existed, Rah. So, you might as well die.”

He didn’t blink or say a word. He just stood there, scowling.

I nodded toward Miils. He reached into his waistband and handed me his gun. As soon as Rah saw that, he lunged at me, but I quickly fired three shots into his abdomen.

He fell backward, eyes wide and chest heaving, likehe couldn’t catch the air he needed. I calmly stood over him. He tried to say something, but his lips just moved soundlessly.

I looked down at him and shook my head. “I wish my baby could see this.”

Then I fired two more rounds into his head.

He died instantly. I walked back to my car, and then Larkin and Mills followed. I opened the passenger door and grabbed the black backpack sitting on the seat.

I handed it to Larkin, telling him, “Good looking.”

He took it from me with wide greedy eyes, but they nodded without a word.

I slid behind the wheel, started the engine, and drove off into the quiet.

KAHLANI