“Rashad,” he said, fishing his phone out and quickly typing something into it. “Long time, man. Must’ve been a hard four years.”
Before he could blink, I snatched the phone and launched it across the room. “It’s only hard for soft niggas like you.”
“You liked it so much,” Que spat, “maybe I’ll arrange for you to go back.”
I stepped in close, face to face. “Keep talkin’, asshole.”
Jahsir cut in, fed up. “You’ve already done everything wrong. The minute I tell you to pay up, Red gets a gun pulled on her? That’s a coincidence?”
“It wasn’t me, man, I swear!”
“Lyin’ ass nigga.” I reached for Jahsir’s piece without hesitation and leveled it right at Que’s face. I hadn’t touched a strap since I got out, and I never carried mine with me, but muscle memory didn’t fade. It felt too natural. Too easy. That was the part that scared me.
Que dropped to his knees fast, hands up. His fear hit differently when his back was against the wall.
“I promise, man, it wasn’t me!”
“How’d they know she had access to the vault?” Jahsir asked, coldly.
“How the fuck would I know?!”
“Because you planned it,” I said. “You got as many connections as we do. Don’t act stupid now.”
“I ain’t do that shit! You sure this about the bank, or is it because after you ran, I smashed your bitch?!”
Before I could move,crack, Jahsir’s fist connected hard with Que’s jaw, and he hit the floor like a sack of bricks. Jahsir kicked him in his stomach, then landed his foot on his back.
“You can’t talk shit with your face planted into the floor nigga.” Jahsir growled as I pulled him back. The hate Jahsir had for Que could have cost him his life tonight, and we couldn’t get answers if he was dead.
Que staggered to his feet, blood at the corner of his mouth. He was about to say something slick again when the door burst open and four of Que’s boys walked in, guns drawn, ready on command. Jahsir drew his other gun, pointing it at the other side of Que’s head. Music pounded in the background, muffled by the tension that filled the room.
I kept my eyes locked on Que. “I ain’t droppin’ shit until they drop theirs.”
Jahsir stood right beside me, unfazed. “If we all gotta end with a bullet,” he said calmly, “then fuck it, we bleed.”
The room was still as hell. No one moved. No one breathed. One of Que’s boys shifted, finger twitching on the trigger. They all hesitated as their eyes darted to Que, waiting for a nod. But Que was frozen, as he should be. The blood on his lip and sweat on his forehead called for a true pause. He knew better. He knew what this would turn into. It didn't matter if it was five of them versus the two of us. Jahsir and I always had the upper hand.
“Chill, y’all. We good.” Que grumbled, finally raising his hand. “Stand down.”
We all watched his people lower their weapons slowly, reluctantly, but obediently. One even looked nervous as he stared at Jahsir. Jahsir’s reputation preceded him. Que and his men knew this was not over. And even if they thought it was, Jahsir’s next words reinforced it.
“The only reason youstillbreathing is cuz you're Scarlett’s sperm donor. But make no mistake, if Red ever gives me the green light, I’mma light yo ass up.”
And with that, we left.
My adrenaline was still rushingafter what me and Jahsir just did. But that ass whooping cleared my head immediately. Ihadgone soft. No, scratch that, I let pussy make me soft. Venus was laying up with me every night and plotting on my family. I wanted to know her motives, but truthfully, none of that shit was important. The only thing that mattered now was how I moved forward, which is why I quietly crept in to retrieve my shit. Iwasn’t in the mood for her lies or fake tears. And while I tried to avoid it, she stirred, woke up, and saw me.
“Hey, where have you been?” Venus’s voice sliced through the silence and instantly triggered annoyance from me. “I fell asleep waiting for you. That's been the trend lately.”
Ignoring her, I didn’t look up right away. I was folding a hoodie and had just shoved it into the bottom of my duffel bag. My hands were moving, but not as fast as my thoughts. My mind was on the streets, my money, and my future. A future without her in it. I heard her sighing, making all kinds of noise to gain my attention. The sound of her voice alone made me wanna put hands on her, but I wasn’t that kind of nigga.
“Rashad, where have you been?” she asked, sitting fully up in the bed now.
“Smoking,”
“For the whole day? You could’ve done that here,” she scoffed, now getting out of the bed and turning on the light. That worked for me because I was finally able to see what I was doing. Her energy shifted once she realized I was gathering my things. She folded her arms then asked, “What are you getting ready to do?”
“Damn, Venus. Give me some space. You’ve asking me a million and one questions. It’s too damn late for that.” I retorted as I grabbed my charger out of the wall and shoved it deep into the bag.
