Rook walked over, sat beside me and immediately offered me the blunt he had in his hand. I took it from him and took a long draft then handed it back.
“Where you been?” Knight looked me over.
“Out,” I said simply.
He nodded once at that but didn’t press. My brothers knew I liked to keep shit close to my chest and they never tried to push.
“We hear anything about the Cortez brothers?” I asked instead.
“Nah, not yet,” King said. “When he comes up for air, we’ll get him though.”
“And if he thinks what happened to his brother was insane, wait till I get my hands on that nigga,” Rook grumbled.
“Either way, keep y’all ears to the street,” I said simply. “Don’t start feeling untouchable just because we have one brother knocked off the map.”
“We always do,” Knight said simply.
He leaned back in his seat and tossed an arm behind the couch.
“Is that why y’all are out tonight?” I asked. “Y’all trying to lure little brother out?”
“The sooner we get this shit taken care of, the better.” King shrugged.
I nodded. “Alright.”
“Nah,” Knight shook his head and sat up to grab a bottle. “We’re out because we couldn’t have Rook crying ass crying in the house.”
“Fuck out of here,” Rook snickered. “Ain’t nobody worried about that girl.”
“Who mentioned a girl?” Knight looked at King who shrugged.
“Not everybody can just be happily married and shit,” Rook said.
“Nigga, you don’t even want to be married for real,” King pointed out. “You just be saying shit to say it.”
“Just saying shit ‘cause it sound good,” Knight added.
“That’s what I do,” Rook shrugged. “Million dollar mouthpiece.”
“And how’s that working out for you?” King asked seriously.
“Having the time of my motha’fuckin life,” Rook said. “Ask Bishop. He out here enjoying his bachelor freedom too.” Rook hit me on the back.
I pushed him away from me with one hand and he laughed as he climbed to his feet. I watched as the smile on his face vanished for a second. I leaned slightly and tried to follow his gaze.
Fuck.
Sydney was in the crowd and seemingly walking toward us.
“All I know is every Barron for the last traceable generations have been intentionally born so y’all niggas better be using protection,” King said simply.
Rook turned all the way around and we both gave that nigga a look at the same time, one of the rare times we mirrored each other as twins.
“Who the fuck walking around fucking these hoes without condoms?” Rook asked and turned his lip up. “That shit is crazy.”
“Even without babies, diseases are real.” Knight added.
“Damn, nigga. You want me to add a fucking health service class to our family schedule?” Rook checked. “The fuck is this coming from?”
