Page 3 of Terrez and Shalene (D-Ville Projects #4)

The two of us were silent as we walked across the street toward the truck.

There was so much I wanted to say, but I’d mind my business for now.

If shit got too deep and I felt like us or the team were in a situation, I’d let Little run his own shit.

I personally wouldn’t have left Chaos’ ass breathing.

Right as we made it to the truck, Big Lou came walking down the street with a Red Bull in his hand.

Big Lou had been working this house since I took over.

When I let him know I was handing this house over to Little, he said he was cool staying here, as long as the money was still right.

Big Lou was one of the few people I knew I could trust. My trust for him was one of the reasons I was happy he didn’t mind working for Little.

This was no longer my shit, but I still wanted some reassurance that shit was good.

“Yo, Lou. Come holla at me real quick.”

Turning his gaze to me, Lou headed for the back seat after I gave him the nod of approval.

“Lou, tell me what’s up. Chaos just told me he shut everything down until I got here. How all them niggas was in the house but you?”

“Cus that nigga ain’t my damn daddy, Little. I been doing this shit longer than his ass has been in charge. The only reason his ass even called you was because I told him to. Chaos is a calculated nigga, but I think he’s playing for the wrong team.”

My brows lifted at Lou’s statement. Partly because my intuition was spot on, but also because I needed to know if the nigga needed to be put to rest. When Little pulled off, the three of us grew silent until we were off the block.

“Don’t talk in code, Lou. Tell me what’s happening or what you suspect,” Little said as he kept his focus on the dusk filled streets.

“I’m gon’ keep a buck with you. Up until today it’s only been little shit that’s caught my eye.

But since the shit is so small, I take mental note of it and push it to the back of my brain.

Everybody in the truck knows that paranoia and overthinking comes with this street shit.

I ain’t got no proof, but I think Chaos trying to get down with them Bedford niggas. ”

The Bedford Boys were another popular gang in Diamond Falls.

Since I’d been down with DP, I’d never had a problem with them.

My focus was always on my money. None of them niggas crossed me whenever they saw me in mutual territory and vice versa.

One of my main reasons for turning my nose up was because they were known to be into that trafficking shit.

I didn’t fuck with that at all, and it was disgusting to say the least. Selling drugs probably wasn’t any better, but it was definitely the better of the two evils.

People bought drugs of their own free will, which was the opposite of being trafficked.

“That’s one hell of an accusation to make, but keep talking,” Little stated.

“Aight. So, one day a few weeks ago, Chaos said he had an important call to take and he stepped outside. Shit was running smoothly so it was whatever. Simba had happened to be walking to the house from his post and he told me he saw a green flag in that nigga’s back pocket.

I didn’t see it for myself, so I kept that information between me and Simba.

Another time, the count came up short about two hundred dollars.

When I asked Chaos about it, he ain’t do shit but take some money out his back pocket and that was it.

“He didn’t ask no questions or make any of them niggas answer to him about the money being short.

That shit didn’t sit right with me. Then today, when Coop made the delivery, he didn’t make them stay until the product was accounted for.

Anybody with a trained eye could see that shit was off by half a brick. ”

“That’s exactly how much was missing,” Little spoke up.

“So, this what we gon’ do…keep business running as usual, and since Simba is observing, I’m gon’ have him watching that nigga from a far. Since Simba is a block boy, he’s the last person Chaos will suspect has eyes on him. Simba also comes off as a rookie, but I see that shit ain’t true.”

“Hell naw. He might be one of the newer corner boys, but he don’t have that rookie mentality.

I’ll let him know what’s up though. All I know is, I ain’t had to up my pole since I been workin’ under you, Terrez.

I’m tryna keep it that way. I make my money and take it home for my lady to spend.

Shit been peaceful, and that’s how I like it. ”

As Little headed back toward the block, he and Lou spoke more about how shit would go down until there was some concrete evidence that Chaos was an opp.

We all knew he was, but moving sloppy would get us nowhere.

Chaos could simply be a pawn in someone else’s game of chess.

If we took him out too soon, we wouldn’t be able to get to the real threat.

By the time we dropped Lou off, it was completely dark out.

I was a night owl and this was when I felt most alive.

Moving through the darkness and staying undetectable was something I embraced.

When most of the world was asleep, I was out here making money moves and making sure the empire I’d built was intact.

When Little came to me about taking over the house, I wanted to share with him how I’d been thinking about stepping away for good.

I’d made plenty of money and wouldn’t be hurting for shit.

For the past year, I’d been looking into opening my own businesses and looking into real estate.

I trusted Little with my life, but I didn’t want to speak too soon and have him looking forward to getting my other houses if he couldn’t handle one.

I was hoping he handled this situation to my liking so we could have that conversation.

I had a feeling I’d be going out with a bang, but I was prepared for whatever.

“Aight, bruh. I’m about to call Chris and see why the fuck my shit was short. I know you’ll probably be hitting the block soon, so I’ll fuck with you tomorrow,” Little said as he stepped off the elevator and onto his floor.

Most of DP lived here in the Meadow View Apartments.

Amongst us were regular tenants, but I liked that I knew the majority of the people who resided in my building.

Although the two apartment buildings were renamed to Meadow View, everyone still referred to them as the D-Ville Projects.

I’d admit the city did their shit when they updated the area to be more appealing.

The apartments were nice and spacious as hell and all the appliances were updated.

It looked nothing like it did when I was over here as a youngin.

“Aight. Call me if you need help though. I’m about to put something on my stomach before I go check the rest of my spots. I’m assuming everything is good since I ain’t got no calls, but you know how shit go.”

“Aight bet. From the cradle to the casket, man.”

“From the cradle to the casket,” I repeated before the doors of the elevator closed.

When the elevator ascended, my thoughts started to run a mile a minute.

This shit with Chaos had me in my head and a nigga hated mysteries.

Part of me was hoping Chaos was just being a snake ass nigga.

On the other hand, I wasn’t sure if some shit was brewing and if it was intended for me or Little.

I halfway knew it was for Little since this shit hadn’t gone down until we switched up camp.

I was hoping Little was really on his shit with this.

I didn’t like being in the dark and Little was my brother.

Blood couldn’t make us any closer and I didn’t want to imagine life without my brother.

Stepping off the elevator, I walked toward my unit but stopped in my tracks at the faint sounds of sniffles.

When I turned, I saw a woman locking the door to another unit down the hall.

We made eye contact the moment she was done.

Even with her eyes being red and puffy, she was beautiful.

She was on the thicker side but not sloppy at all.

She was rocking a head full of jet-black curls that reminded me of how my mother wore her hair.

Normally, I minded my business, but something about this woman had my gaze stuck on her.

I got my fair share of pussy when I needed it, but it had been a while since I needed that type of release.

“You good, Miss Lady? It’s late and it looks like you’re heading out. Let me walk you to your car,” I offered.

For the most part, the area was pretty safe, but it was late and dark. Niggas did weird shit every day, especially when it came to women.

“No thank you. My dad is waiting for me in the lobby.”

I nodded once I recalled the older man standing not too far from the entrance.

I knew he didn’t look familiar, but neither did she.

The unit she was coming out of had been empty for about a month now, so I knew she was a new tenant.

In the morning, I’d be making it my business to at least get her name.

I wasn’t sure what for though. I had a lot going on, and from the tears still streaming down her pretty face, I knew she was dealing with some shit as well.

“Cool. You have a good night, now.”

“You too,” she responded with a forced smile.

Finally, I made it into my apartment and decided I needed another blunt. Between making this construction shit come to pass and making sure my spots were good, I had my night’s work cut out for me. It would be a long night, but slow feet don’t eat.