“She’s pregnant, nigga,” I spat in disgust. “The fuck kind of shit you on?”
“It ain’t my kid,” he replied with a shrug. “I’m just getting what’s owed to me. She was offered up as payment.”
“Not happening,” I said, shaking my head. “Tell Grant his payment was declined and you’re going to need something else.”
“It’s her or his wife,” Charlie said, and it took everything in me not to kill his ass. He must’ve known he hit a nerve because he smirked. “That’s the deal, Shelly or Yale will have to take on his debt. I ain’t sampled Yale yet, but I ain’t got a problem doing just that.”
“You like your life, Charlie?” I asked, then laughed humorlessly. “Because if you don’t, that’s cool with me.”
“I love this shit,” he answered. “Which is why I know you ain’t gonna pull that trigger again because you love yours too. If me or my nephew over there ends up dead by your hands, then my people are going after your entire bloodline.”
“Oh yeah?” I questioned him, and he nodded in response. I took my gun from under his chin and turned it on his nephew. “Let’s find out.” I shot his nephew in the chest twice, then turned my attention back to Charlie. “You want the name and number of a good funeral home?”
“Nigga!” Charlie bucked, but he wasn’t getting out of my grip. I hit him in the middle of the forehead two times, and he dropped to the ground.
I turned back to see Shelly watching me. She was scared as fuck, but I didn’t give a damn. I was on a mission, and eventhough I didn’t like having to kill women, I would if it meant keeping Yale safe. I stepped over Charlie’s body and approached Shelly.
“Now back to you,” I said as I retook my seat. “Tell me why the fuck Grant set up Yale back in the day.” Shelly’s attention was on the bodies on the ground, not on me. I snapped a few times in her face to get her attention. “Shelly, I asked you a question.”
“What?” She blinked a few times, then looked at me. “What did you say?”
“Why did Grant set up Yale to take the fall for that wreck?”
“I don’t know,” she said, shaking her head.
“Nah, you and I know you do because you said that shit at the hotel. You’ve been around, playing your part, doing your shit because you love that nigga. You fucking said that you helped, so get to talking.” I rested my elbows on the table and gave her my full attention. I didn’t give a fuck about the bodies on the ground or the employees that were hiding in the back. The few people who were in here ran as soon as the first shot was fired, and this was the hood, they knew not to snitch. Killing the Franklins wasn’t part of my game plan, but I learned early to never walk into a situation unprepared. If someone did get a hair up their ass and wanted to call 9-1-1, I already had the connect on standby; nothing would move past her. And if by chance it did, the police that would show up would be my people. My bases were covered. “You weren’t just lying up with that nigga all these years, and he never told you anything.”
“I don’t know shit!”
“Yes. The. Fuck. You. Do.” I tapped the barrel of my gun against the table and shook my head. “Talk or I’m going to call a friend who will call a cousin who will show the fuck out. I don’t believe in touching women, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be touched.”
“You think Grant told me shit?” she laughed. “That nigga went upside my head, fucked on me, and lied to his wife about me.”
“You’re the bitch he trusts, not loves,” I said, nodding. “Which means you know more than you think. Start fucking talking.”
“I don’t-”
“Alright, fine,” I said, nodding. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” I took my phone from my pocket, swiped the screen, pulled up Cross’s contact information, called her, and put it on speakerphone.
“Hello,” she answered.
“Can you call Psalms and ask her if she wants to stop playing in her dirt for a little while and collect a body?” I said, watching Shelly. At first, I wanted to have Corinthians pay her a little visit, but if Shelly knew who the Franklins were, then there was no doubt in my mind that she knew of or had at least heard of Corinthians, and I was trying to keep her out of this as much as I could.
“You want me to call Psalms and ask her to stop playing in her dirt?” Cross laughed. “Have you lost your damn mind? Nobody calls Psalms and asks her that. You’d be better off calling Xoey and asking her to come out and play.”
“She’s at work,” I replied and kissed my teeth. “And I need ruthless, not outright crazy.”
“Which is why I suggested Xoey instead of Psalms,” she said. “It’s a reason no one calls her for shit like that.”
“Which is why I need her,” I said, watching Shelly. “Shelly won’t talk, and I need answers.”
“Fine,” she sighed. “Give me a few.” Cross hung up, and I sat there watching Shelly.
“You have until this phone rings again to tell me what I want to know, or I’ll answer it, and the person who will be on the other side isn’t going to give a damn about you being pregnant or thefact that you have kids. She’s going to kill you and take pleasure in it.”
“And if I tell you what you want, I’m dead anyway,” she laughed and shook her head. “I would rather take my chances with that phone ringing.
“I’ll protect you,” I said, nodding. “Grant won’t be able to touch you if you tell me what I need to know. I’ll get you and your kids out of here.”
