Kross stood before the onyx black 2024 Mercedes Maybach, debating on whether the flashy car was worth him blowing a few racks on it. Since getting out of prison, he wanted to keep a low profile, but he knew seven years ago he would’ve made the purchase without a second. He always kept the nicest whips and rolled through the streets of Miami in nothing leased. Everything was paid for and in his name.
“Fuck it. Just drop the bread and cop it, fam!” Los encouraged him as he rubbed his hands together eagerly.
He could see the apprehension on Kross’ face. Although he would never admit it, he knew the only reason he was holding out on buying the car was because he felt guilty for making such a huge purchase without having Cassie around to enjoy it as well.
“Man, I don’t know. Rolling around in a Maybach right now probably ain’t the brightest idea.” He shook his head.
Los smacked his lips loudly. “Nigga, fuck that. You did seven years. You deserve this. Plus, you ain’t got no whip, so you better leave out of here with something ‘cause I can’t be driving you around all day without gas money,” he scoffed jokingly.
“Los, you pushing a Tesla.”
“Same shit. You be taking up all my battery with all this back and forth,” Los said, evoking laughter out of Kross. “You ain’t have to give the Range up.”
“Man, yes, I did. It wasn’t mine, and I wasn’t ‘bout to be riding around in it like it was when I don’t fuck with Ezekiel no more.”
“It was a coming home gift, K.”
Kross shook his head, disagreeing with his homie. “Nah, it was a handout I ain’t need. I can buy my own whip.”
Los let out a deep sigh before shrugging his broad shoulders. “Whatever you say, man.”
He was out of town when the blowout between Ezekiel and Kross unfolded at the trap. He knew better than to pick sides when it came to family drama because blood always managed to make shit right when things were all said and done, and he didn’t want to get caught up in bullshit. What he did was hear both brothers out and tell them their brotherhood was better than that. Them niggas came out the same womb. Wasn’t nothing worth severing ties with family in Los’ opinion.
Kross took another walk around the luxury vehicle, assessing whether it was worth the asking price of $175,000. “Fuck it,” he carelessly shrugged, agreeing to purchase the vehicle. “My lady would’ve wanted me to do it big if she was here.”
“Hell yeah!” Los exclaimed with heavy claps. “Cassie loved to do a little humble flex and shit on motherfuckas!”
Kross chuckled as he thought back to his lady. As much as she claimed that she would be fine without all the extra shit his money could buy, once she got accustomed to the lifestyle he provided her, she made it into her own. She was a money-making boss, and it reflected through the way she carried and spoiled herself.
“I gotta do it big one time for my lady,” Kross said as he flagged the car salesman over.
The salesman trudged back over to Los and Kross eagerly. The smiles on the men’s faces had him confident that he was gonna land a hefty commission. “I’m trying to leave off the lot with this.” Kross tapped the hood of the Maybach with a smirk.
“Excellent choice, Mr. Hunter. I can lead you inside to speak with my finance rep.”
Kross shook his head, prompting the salesman’s brows to bump together. “That won’t be necessary. I’m paying cash,” he asserted as he lifted the Goyard backpack he had stuffed with stacks of money.
The man’s eyes widened in shock since he didn’t expect Kross to foot the bill for the luxury car without setting up a payment plan. He pre-judged him and thought looking at the Maybach was a waste of time, but he was wrong as hell.
After a couple of hours of handling all the legalities and paperwork for the vehicle, Kross was granted the keys.
“You back in action now!” Los clapped as he marveled at the newly purchased vehicle. “These fuck niggas not ready!”
Kross chuckled as he nodded, agreeing with his homie. “Copped this shit with the old money. I ain’t even have to touch the money my lady stacked up for me.”
Los was all for Kross hyping himself up. The nigga had been getting kicked while he was down since he was set free. He deserved to flex a little.
“Nigga, I’m trying to be like you when I grow up,” Los cackled as they met for their signature handshake.
During times like these, Kross was grateful to have homies like Los and Noonie who didn’t mind helping him put the pieces of his life back together. He was dealing with the loss of Cassie, the unknown with Aniyis and was still terribly institutionalized. Having a support system through his homies was a blessing. Hethanked Los for sticking it out with him all day during the car purchasing process before they got into their individual cars.
As he sank into the plush leather of his seats, he extended his gratitude to God. The engine came to life before he pulled off the lot. He didn’t have much planned now that getting a car was checked off on his schedule, so he opted to drive to the condo to stash the rest of the money he had left in his Goyard backpack. Now that he knew there was a target on his crew, he wasn’t about to let none of these Zone 7 niggas have one up on him and think he was an easy lick.
As he drove, he decided to shoot a call over to his mother. Raq wanted to do better with being a support system for Aniyis, so after a ton of convincing, she was able to get Kross to agree to let her stay overnight with Aniyis. He figured it was probably best to allow his mother to step up for her grandson. Lately, it had just been him and Amoura rotating, so Raq stepping in gave him and Amoura a well-deserved break from the hospital before they lost their fucking minds.
“Yes, Kross?” his mother answered the phone, agitation evident in her tone since this was the third phone call he made since he left.
“How he’s doing, Raq? Any changes?”
