“I understand.”
Nothing else was said as we made the thirty-minute drive to the warehouse where I noticed a few whips at the dock. Before I could ask, my father was informing me.
“The clean-up crew, your brother, that boy Cane, and Mook.”
Nodding, I waited until the vehicle came to a complete stop before slowly exiting. Without haste, I made my way up the dock and through the side door. Laike was waiting in the front for me, massaging his fist as he stood to greet me. I pointed at his swollen fingers as I squinted in his direction. He tossed both his hands in the air, shrugging as he warned me about what I was walking into.
“I couldn’t help myself.”
Deciding against chastising him and respecting his stance in protecting my family, I pushed through the door and entered the large, empty space where Dewayne sat in a chair. As I approached, I called out to him, needing his full attention. Recalling the days that I’d laid niggas flat on their backs, I removed my shirt from my body, refusing to stain it with his blood.
“Aye, pussy.”
His head lifted as he searched for my voice. Evidence of Laike’s presence was left on his face. His right eye was swollen and there was a gash in his lip that leaked profusely.
“Stand up,” I instructed, knowing that the two bullets I’d put in him had gone straight in and out, leaving little to no damage. He was able to stand and he was able to walk.
“Man, listen,” he begged. “Listen.”
“Stand the fuck up!” I barked a second time.
His feet shuffled as he rose, slowly.
“Listen, man. Ever?—”
WHAM!With enough force to do damage but not knock his lights out, I cocked back and landed the first blow. His head jerked as his body shifted, making it hard to maintain his balance.
“Keep her name out your fucking mouth,” I warned. “Now, beat my ass like you did hers. Show me how tough you really are, nigga. Beat my ass, nigga.”
Pride forced his fists in the air as he joined a losing battle. I paced myself. Though I was ready to rock this nigga to sleep, I wanted him to feel the same pain as Ever and Essence. He’d put his hands on them both, so dying wasn’t optional tonight. However, I wasn’t in a rush to end his world. Not until he felt some degree of the pain he’d caused in mine.
“Luca, kill this nigga,” Laike suggested. “Shoot him in the center of his fucking forehead.”
Ignoring him, I struck again.
WHAM.
And, again.
WHAM.
And, again.
WHAM.
Images of Ever’s bruised skin flashed before my eyes.
WHAM.
The painful kisses she suffered through made my nostrils widened as the next blow was thrown.
WHAM.
I moved to his ribs, hearing them crack upon impact.
WHAM.
I followed up, wanting to crush his shit until his lungs and oxygen levels suffered.
