“Nigga, how you had the perfect aim and didn’t shoot his ass? How the fuck did you mess that shit up?”
Dough looked at Luco, trying to come up with a reasonable explanation on how he had missed his target. They were inside The Den along with Noble as he sat cooly on the stool. He had said nothing the entire time. Only staring with his coal black eyes.
“Listen, Mal had him but then Bria pushed his arm. She fucked it up.”
“She was there?” Luco bellowed. “What the fuck was she doing there?”
Dough shrugged, wishing he could tell his brother why. He hadn’t been able to get in touch with Bria for weeks. She’d blocked him on every platform, including her phone. When he called her from burner numbers, she never answered. Bria had cut him out of her life and despite her being married, Dough never thought she would dismiss him.
“That shit was reckless, and you know it. You supposed to catch that man coming out of the club, not inside of it, goofy-ass nigga!” Luco ranted.
“Goofy?” Dough stood. “Aye don’t ever play with me like you ain't did no reckless shit. How quickly we forget that you got locked up last summer for murder? We still trying to figure out how you got out.”
Luco jerked his head back. “What the fuck you trying to say?”
“Shit, how did you get murder charges dismissed when the evidence was clear as the fucking day?”
Rushing into Dough’s personal space, Luco’s nostrils flared. “Aye, don't ever come at me like I’m some snitch. I’ll forget we share DNA and put your ass in a cemetery, permanently.”
They were in a face off. Breaths were being exchanged along with furious stares. Dough didn’t appreciate his brother threatening his life, especially when Luco knew how he got down. His self-respect was king. He would never allow anyone, including family, to disrespect him.
“Although this lil’ showdown between you two niggas is slightly entertaining, y’all need to figure out what’s next,” Noble stated.
Luco turned to him. “That’s on his ass. He can figure that shit out on his own.”
Dough was annoyed by his brother’s response. “I don't need you, nigga. I’ll get this shit down one way or another.”
Noble snorted before flicking his nose with his thumb. “I don't give a fuck what you do. Just make sure The Mafia ain't affected.”
“That’s all you fucking care about.” Dough snorted. “The Legacy Mafia need to be behind me, fuck you mean. This nigga violated me and y’all are way too laxed. You supposed to tell everybody to suit the fuck up.”
Noble chuckled. “Suit up for what? ‘Cause you was fucking with another man’s wife and got your ass handed to you? There’s certain shit that I’m not going to combat for and being a side nigga is one of ‘em.”
“You know what, Noble? Fuck you!” Dough declared as a vein throbbed on his forehead. “You really think you above us when you ain't no better.”
“Aye, nigga, chill,” Luco warned.
Noble lifted his hand. “No, let him talk. Go ‘head.”
“Ever since you took over, you been on some funny shit. Tuck let us rock however we wanted but you come in trying to give niggas all these rules and shit like we lil’ ass kids. You making The Mafia look soft because if Tuck was here, this nigga that I’m trying to put down would’ve been a fucking thought by now.”
Silence had become a sudden guest in the room as Noble stared at Dough. He rose from the stool and adjusted his cufflinks. Smoothly, he strolled toward Dough and stood in front of him.
“You good now? You got all that off your chest?”
Dough scoffed but didn’t reply verbally.
“Now that you said what was on your heart, let that be the last time I hear you bitch about me.”
Smirking, he retorted, “Or what’s gonna happen?”
Noble smiled. “Then, I can make an example out of your emotional ass. You know, do some shit like snatch your fucking esophagus from your neck and deliver it to your family the day of your funeral. Nothing too heavy though.”
Dough’s jaw clenched so tightly, his teeth gritted. He had released all of his frustrations regarding Noble, but he wouldn’t dare challenge him since he was still the boss.
“Now get your shit together and put that man down. Oh, and I don't want shit coming back on The Mafia like I said. Are we clear?”
Dough gave a half-hearted nod before Noble walked out the door. Luco shook his head at him, prompting Dough’s irritation to increase.
