CHAPTER ONE
A-Town Stomp
CITY
“YOU SURE YOU ready for this?”
I finished checking my gun before looking over at Travis. He’d been my nigga since we met in seventh grade. Both of our mamas were too happy to go run the street so when I saw someone even close to my age I was happy to have a friend. When money got funny it was only natural that we started making plays together. The money came and brought all kinds of shit with it. Bitches, haters, and fame neither of us were truly prepared for. Which is how we got in this situation. Somebody was jealous that folks could appreciate the fact that we were two real niggas making a name for ourselves. They felt intimidated and instead of working harder; they were trying to eliminate the competition. Since I hadn’t come this far to die on some bullshit, it was an us against them mentality. Which is why we were in this cash car getting ready to disturb the peace yet again.
It was dark as fuck outside since it was hours after midnight but the slight light from the gas lamps in the middle of the neighbors’ yard cast a shadow on his sepia colored skin. Trav had no clue who his daddy was since his mama was a ho, but she claimed his ass was Indian. Not sure if she meant native or from India but around the hood he was a nigga like everybody else. He stood about five inches shorter than me and had far more girth. Despite us physically being opposite, this was my brother for life.
“Why you doubting me like this is my first rodeo or sumn’?”
I knew he was focused on insuring that I hadn’t gotten soft. On making sure my head was in the right place because admittedly the information we’d gotten had thrown me for a loop. I’d had to take a few days to actually think about this shit. It was a lot for me to take the word of a man I’d just met versus someone who’d helped me eat. But observing how things were moving cleared the air. Our last meeting a muthafucka wanted to make jokes like my respect was something to play with. Our big bro had tried to take back over responsibilities that he’d already delegated to us. Like he knew our asses weren’t going to be around to do ‘em. When I pushed back, he was trying to have me teach somebody else the game like my position was coming available and I needed to train my replacement.
Muthafucka got way too big for his draws frontin’ like he was still that nigga.
That move was going to earn his ass a body bag.
We spoke to Xavier and his son Yacouba to let them know we’d take care of the situation. They let us know they’d make sure we never got caught. As crazy as it was, my Black ass believed them. Either way, this nigga was finna die tonight. I copped a brand new burner as my last gesture of respect for the nigga Ithoughthe was. And now I was gone respectfully put this shit to work.
“I just know this nigga put us on. You the tender dick nigga running around caring about loyalty and shit. The only person I give a fuck about in this game is you. Respect is one thing but love is a whole other. Can’t another nigga in this world say I got his back but you. So nah, Ion’t feel no kinda way about this. It’s protecting us over this snake nigga. I’mma do what’s necessary to ensure we the last ones standing every time. You saying you won’t?”
“I heard the nigga talking to the FEDs and trying to take my freedom. Ain’t nobody getting my loyalty when they tryingto end my life. And the way he tried to play me when we were having a meeting, yeah, he earned the bullets he ‘bout to eat tonight.”
I double checked the gun before I put it back where it was supposed to go. Travis not saying shit forced me to turn my attention back to him. He was looking at me like his feelings were hurt.
“Well, damn I’m over here saying nice shit and you just talking about yourself. Selfish as fuck,City.”
I mushed the side of his head as he laughed because his ass couldn’t help but joke even on the way to commit a murder. “Fuck outta here,Trigga. Move this shit so we can get gone.”
When we’d agreed to handle this shit, we were given even more fuel for the fire. A tape. And not just a tape but proof of everything that Xavier and Yacouba had said was about to happen. In order to save himself, the very man who beat into us loyalty and the rules of the game had given our names to the police so that we took the fall for his empire. Despite them having taught us the game, I was going to be the one to take him out of it since he’d rather be a snitch than take his time like a fucking man.
“The first rule he taught us his ass out here breaking. Can’t even believe that shit.”
Travis had started the car and was now pulling up into the driveway of a home we frequented. The door went up and we waited to pull inside for the last time.
“All niggas ain’t real niggas. No matter what happens me and you all we got. The shit just proves it.” He reached his fist up and we dapped one another up.
We crept into the garage and I felt the air in the car get more humid. “We made this nigga too much money for him to be acting like this.”
“That’s the problem. We made that nigga too much money. He ain’t had to hustle for shit in a minute. He been living in the lap of luxury and ain’t had to do no heavy lifting. When the fire got hot, he folded. We not built like that but it’s clear all that shit he was saying was just that. Words thatsoundedgood. He ain’t really live by none of it.” He nodded toward the fleet of cars that were in the bays closer to the door we were going to enter.
“Well, his big ass ‘bout to die by it. You ready?”
“Yep. We got the clear. We got a little less than an hour to get this done and get out of here.”
Travis chuckled before putting his gun at the small of his back. “That’s forty-five minutes more than I need but I know your ass likes to talk.”
I smirked because wasn’t no way I was killing this nigga without him knowing I knew he’d lost his honor. “Humor me. Ain’t no second chance to get this shit off my chest.”
He nodded before looking toward the door over my shoulder. “He expecting us?”
I nodded and didn’t bother to recheck my gun before reaching in the back seat for the bag I needed as a decoy. “Yep. Sent the request on the burner. Told him it was money drop so he don’t want anyone to know that he’ll have this bread in his crib.”
We hopped out of the car and made our way to the garage door in silence. The only sounds were our shoes on the poured concrete as we walked by the cars that our hard work paid for. There was a bag of money that we had for him, but he’d never get the chance to spend it. He thought we didn’t know, but he had stashes all over his house and tucked inside this duffle was two more that were empty. We wouldn’t touch any of the shit that would link us back to tonight but that cash was ours. Fuck his gaudy ass jewelry and everything else, but that money? Oh, that was ours. Payment for putting us on the radar of the alphabetboys and a promotion since we were stepping into new positions. He trusted us enough to give us the ins and outs of his security system. We were the only people who knew about this house he’d just had built out in Sandy Springs and gave him tips on where to put his cameras. Too bad they weren’t going to be in before his ass disappeared. He was always too eager to be flashy and didn’t have the patience to secure his shit before he got in here. Now it was going to cost him.
Trav rang the bell before scanning behind us. I was already keeping my eyes out to make sure nobody was around, despite Xavier saying he’d make sure that the area was clear. How one man could do that was beyond me, but anyone who tried to snitch would be collateral damage after tonight. Lucky for us this was the usual time for us to meet up so we knew the neighbors had long since gone to bed. We’d pulled into the garage so the most anyone could tell was that a car had entered and left the residence. Since he hadn’t lived here long, no one would know if that was his usual activity or not. This car would be scrapped and the rest of it in pieces before anyone could think to put a BOLO out on it. Everything else would be in a burn pile before getting tossed in the bottom of Lake Lanier.
