I put the wood down. “I snapped that nigga’s neck off the strength of that, Wyn.”
“I know.”
“Look at me, Wyn. Why the fuck–”
“BecauseI knew you’d do that,” she snaps. When she turns her head towards me, her eyes are glassy. “I knew you’d kill him, and I wanted him dead. Can we drop it?”
Her eyes are pleading me to do what she asks, and I’m stumped. Corey was an older nigga from BB, who hated on us because we had more motion. He was cooler with the old niggas before Set took over, but didn’t cause any problems or even want to be in charge. He was still a hater all the same, but still a BB, and I caught major flack for snapping his neck like that in front of everyone.
I know that’s partly why they watch me, to this day. When they asked me why I did it, all I said was there’s a reaction for every action, and lit my blunt.
“Wyn, that nigga was innocent–”
She barks out laughter. “Corey was far from innocent, Shad, trust me. A quick death was merciful… let’s just say your friends didn’t exactly get everyone when they cleaned house the first time, but you took care of it. You take care of everyone but yourself, Shad, and it’s a gift and a curse… have you been taking care of yourself? You can’t go on like this.”
I know she’s trying to deflect, but I still I sigh and lean back. “To be honest Wyn, the only thing that’ll make me feel better is being with my sister again… Take the day to work on some shit, and send whatever you get done to me. I’ll get up with you later this week.”
I stand and lean over to hug her before dipping out. I don’t need to be falling out around her fragile ass having a seizure, and thinking about Raya is a sure way to do that, so I just head to the Center early. I tell our groupchat, and they all decide to comeearly, too, so I’m only waiting a few minutes downstairs before I hear them niggas coming down.
“Y’all planned this shit? Left me hanging,” I say with my arms outstretched.
Nut waves me off and comes dap me up. “Shutcho crybaby ass up. Niggas all pulled up the same time. Reem and Ty was prolly together though, you know they Thelma and Louise.”
“Niggas jelly?” Ty smirks.
“Niggas been around Van lame ass too long, talking ‘bout some jelly. She gave you the pussy yet or you still deep in the friend zone?” Nut cackles as Turk smirks.
Only Set and Reem are stoic, both looking at me. I clear my throat and wait for everyone to settle down. We all take a seat at the conference table down here. It’s always two empty seats, one for Fredo and one for Sean.
“Wassup, Shad?” Reem asks, giving me the floor.
I drum my fingertips on the table. Not too long ago, Turk found out one of his girlfriends, Patience, knew Cochise and kept it from us. It really ain’t have shit to do with us foreal, but because I was beefed out with Cochise and no one really knew why, he thought he could handle it on his own until he had facts.
Shit went to hell in a handbasket, quickly, and things really only just started settling down with all of us.
I get why he played it close to the chest. Patience was tightlipped, and our bros, Nut and Set specifically, have no tolerance for even perceived disloyalty. That should works when everything is black and white, but things are becoming more and more gray, and now is the time for a little finessing, something neither of them are particularly good at.
However, the info I have is directly connected to more than one of us. Nut, being the oldest, and Set, being our de facto leader, are always gonna wanna take point. Sometimes they’ll let Turk or Reem lead, but this is my domain, and it’s on me. Ijust don’t know if they’ll be down. To everyone at this table, I’ll always be Baby Set, no matter how many faces I shoot off.
Fuck it.
“Sincere’s the one who shot Set and Cochise.”
I can’t let them get a word in, especially because I know none of them fuck with him and only was semi cordial off the strength of me and Sean, so I continue. “The person driving him was–”
The door opens and we all turn to see none other than YT walking in like she’s on a runway. She’s dressed in a Pucci jumpsuit and sky high heels again, and when she takes a seat at the table, she takes out a baby wipe and cleans dried blood out from under her nails.
“I’m sorry I’m late. Reemie Pooh, your move.” She glances at Reem beside her, who’s jaw clicks, before giving her attention to me. She grabs a gun from out of her oversized purse and gestures with it for me to continue.
“You got balls the size of the Pacific Ocean coming up in here like that,” Nut mutters, but she doesn’t pay him any mind. I wouldn’t even think she heard him if it weren’t for her hand on her gun squeezing for a second.
“YT was the one driving.”
Everyone’s pointing their pieces at her now, but she has hers aimed right at Reem’s head, since she’s sitting next to him. Her loud cackle is the only thing that can be heard, not the least bit worried.
“Oh, come on! You can ask Reemie Pooh, I don’t miss. Now can we put the guns away? I promise I don’t have much to hide.”
“Shad, the fuck is going on?” Set rasps.
