“I hope you not tired yet, Pretty, I’m gonna be a minute.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Like that
COREY
I SMILED AT my phone when I got the message that my package was waiting on me at the warehouse. I wasn’t one for thrills but I wasn’t going to lie to myself that this shit wasn’t in me. Despite the way some shit had been playing out, I knew I was good. Not in an arrogant way but I knew that the Laws and their minions weren’t going to be the ones to take me out the game. Despite them moving recklessly, the calculated way we operated ensured that we would always have our freedom. They had that one good shot at me and they missed thanks to Pretty P driving like rules didn’t apply to her ass. I might miss the thrill of this shit from time to time, but I would just have to put another baby in my Pretty to satisfy the urge to be wild.
“You seem pleased.”
Priest’s voice had me tucking my phone back in my pocket before we made eye contact. Yacouba talked all this shit about needing to get out of the house but he wasn’t available to join me for this shit. Instead, he sent the extra murderous pastor to monitor this situation.
“Everything is good. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Glad you approve.”
I could only laugh because he had done me a favor to aid in taking down the Laws and it was unconventional to say the least. “I can’t lie when you told me this original plan I doubted you. I figured you’d have more interest in seeing her work than me.”
He huffed and shook his head slightly, his all black attire blending in perfectly with the night. He’d even switched out hisdiamond cross for one that was all black. I was sure it was black gold and now I had to figure out who his jeweler was cause that shit was nice.
“I used to have that lady with me in Sunday school. She can fuck up some knuckles with a ruler. You think I’mma bother her while she’s at work? You know how training goes, I’m sure she ain’t lost a step.”
He shrugged as though the thought of managing one of his people that closely was foreign to him. Having had a glimpse of the training they endured, I could understand why he felt that way.
“Today is going to be a lot more fun than it started.”
His chuckle filled the darkness between the two of us. “Your day started with getting shot at so I could imagine. Your lady okay?”
I nodded thinking back to the way Porsha had been pissed she couldn’t come with me. I insisted she go rest and Mir had a doctor he knew come and check her out to make sure she and the baby weren’t stressed out.
I nodded thinking back to the look on her face when I left. “She’s good. Wanted to come with us but that wasn’t about to happen.”
“I understand the desire for her to see vengeance and yours to ensure she’s good. You’ll find the balance I’m sure. Heads up.”
My head snapped to the entrance of the building and I saw Judge strolling out without a care in the world. It was wild that he and his brother hadn’t tried to run when they didn’t get word that I was dead. I wasn’t sure if they thought running would make them look guilty or what, but staying within arm’s reach of me was the wrong move.
“What’s good, Judge?”
This fool finally looked up from his phone and he couldn’t hide the fear that he was feeling. It was wild how they’dpulled another stunt to get my attention and then were actually surprised when I gave it to them.
“City? What’s up?” He glanced down at his chest, a wise move on his part, before looking around the parking lot. Since he didn’t have a red dot on his chest and Mir was the only one with me, he seemed to gain more confidence.
“What’s up? You tell me. Sending fucking corner boys to do assassins work. I knew you were cheap as fuck but I woulda thought you’d go for quality at least once in your life. I see I was wrong.”
“He probably couldn’t afford the price. I hear he ain’t got too much left in the bank.” Mir was normally the calm one but it was clear he was going to play the role of shit talking wingman tonight.
Judge’s eyes squinted in the darkness as he tried to make out Jahmir’s features. “Hey ain’t you—”
“The preacher man? Yeah. Notice I have no problem telling you who I am. You should probably be scared.” Jahmir only smiled and it was crazy how he was trying to up the fear that Judge was feeling.
Judge looked between the two of us and then scoffed like the advice was unnecessary. “Of who? Corey? That man got on with the right nigga and lucked up on a connect.”
Priest and I looked at each other before he gave me a nod of permission to school this muthafucka.
“You think my shit was luck? I worked hard and made an impression. Some shit that you know nothing about,Jordan. Your mama had y’all out in the suburbs and your cousins in East Atlanta used to clown the fuck outta y’all for how y’all were living. You think the world doesn’t know about you? Y’all can try to hide who you really are but y’all are two niggas with an identity crisis who used their trust funds to start a label. But instead of doing something positive for the community y’all shiton the very people who made you famous. That’s the thing: fuck the fame. Even Ness will tell you that. We hustled to make it: ends meet, money stretch and to give back. A fiend is gone fiend no matter who’s supplying. But the kids who had no way out? We provided what we could. How many lunch balances you paid off? Back to school supplies runs you hosted? Instead of being for the community you became a parasite. Sucking the life out of the people who trusted you. Ole Remmick ‘please let me in’ass bitch.”
“Calling this nigga a vampire is wild.” Mir was chuckling but I hadn’t said anything that wasn’t true.
