“Nigga, everything! We built this shit—”
“I built this shit, bitch! We weren’t moving work near the weight I push now, and you know it! Yo ass is mad at the fact, I did it without you. That I took off running when you thought I would slow down or be stagnant. I did what I was supposed to do with my money, and you held on to yours like the scary, hoe ass nigga you are. Scared money never made no money!
“You don’t deserve shit but whatever you have. The money you worked for. This ain’t no career with disability or unemployment, pussy ass nigga! If you out of the field, then you’re out of the funds. Am I seeing any money from that tattoo parlor or skin care salon your wife don’t know is yours?”
“For the fuck what?”
“My goddamn point! I didn’t put in on that, and you didn’t put in on this. All you did was bow out on me, but you did me a favor. I learned to protect myself ‘cause you would’ve had me inthe dirt like Kennedy’s brother with how you switched up with no warning.”
Relic rolled his tongue across his teeth, mashing a foot on the gas harder to get to their destination swifter before anger pushed him to expose more details he shouldn’t. He saw their argument coming a mile aways since Los always desired what he had. It had been that way since they were kids. His cousin didn’t like seeing him soar above him on any level, but that had never been a problem when they’d carried and lifted each other wherever they’d gone. When Los bowed out, he’d chosen to stay below Relic, and Relic refused to apologize for a decision his cousin had made.
Los emitted a laugh, rubbing a hand down his mouth because Relic was on one. His cousin didn’t get how it felt to almost die while having shit to lose. Nubia and his kids were his world, and the streets didn’t matter above them, ever. That was some shit Relic couldn’t comprehend when he’d cared about himself more than anyone all his life.
“All I’m saying is that I would’ve thought about you. If you had a baby on the way, and a girl and kids at home, I would’ve run that by you, nigga,” Los explained, hoping his cousin understood his frustration. “When we started in the game, we had the same goal. This was survival for us, Relic.”
“A way of goddamn life,” Relic finished their mantra. He took his eyes off the road to aim at his cousin and said, “Don’t forget that part. Somewhere along the way, dealing wasn’t your way of life anymore. You chose your wife and kids, Los. A simple life. Regular shit because you’d rather that than have Nubia bury you. I ain’t judging, but I chose to keep hustling becausethatwas life or death for me.
“While you were home with your goddamn wife and kids, I was alone, carrying this shit on my back. And what do I have to show for it besides a son who don’t know me, brothers who’vemade families of their own, and a fucking ungrateful ass cousin in my ear like he ain’t got it all while I don’t have shit. I have nothing to show for this besides a prison sentence looming over my head and a family that’s about to reap the benefits of the seeds I sowed while I rot in a fucking cell.”
“What?” Los frowned as Relic refocused on the road. “Nah, don’t do that dumb ass, mute shit. What the fuck do you mean, a prison sentence is over your head?”
“I meant what I said. You made your choices, I made mine, and now we both have to deal with them. Ain’t shit else to talk about.”
For the first time since they’d gotten in the semi, Los shut the fuck up like Relic preferred, although the random glances were felt, and the heavy sighs heard. He peeked in his folk’s direction after Los dropped his head and looked up as if he were making the prayers Relic was too prideful to send out—the requests he knew wouldn’t get answered from the man above because the dirt he’d done warranted a first-class trip to hell. Either on earth or in the dirt, but if Relic judged by the constant grievances in his life, he’d go with both. It wasn’t until he was pulling into the parking lot of the trucking company, lining the semi cab up with the row of freight trucks, that he decided to hear Los out.
“Say what you need to say and get that shit out, but I don’t want pity or crying like a pussy.”
“How the fuck you expect me to have a comeback for that, nigga?!” Los shouted before they fell into laughter. “I feel like you cheated, holding that shit in the tuck to make me look like a fuck nigga for bitching ‘bout some money. I ain’t got a sob story to compete with that. Shit, I’d have to lie on one of my kids and say they’re sick or something. I can’t put that in the air.”
“Exactly, I win. Pull yo panties out of your ass, so we can line shit up. Nothing stops while I’m gone. If the Feds don’t seizethe businesses, the ladies will keep everything running for those, which is why I put them there.”
“The label is gon’ be shut down for sure,” Los said as Relic killed the engine and grabbed the empty duffels.
“It ain’t stopping shit. The team is still going to work, do shows, and the whole nine. The good part about being indicted is that it’s more exposure for them.”
“Fasho. So, what do you need from me?”
Relic hopped out of the semi once he noticed the boss heading toward them, and Los did the same. Relic made sure to lock the truck as they walked while he explained to Los his directions.
“All you have to do is pay my attorney fees, since we know they’ll freeze my accounts, and pay any other large fees that might come up for my brothers. Especially about Shabu’s wedding.”
“Heard, but I hope you weren’t dumb enough to put your money into a bank account,” Los said. Relic snorted a scoff.
“A million, but it’s for a paper trail they can follow. If it was nothing there, that’d be even more suspicious. Mr. Newman!” he cupped a hand around his mouth to shout, changing the subject before Los became too curious about private matters he’d tell on his time.
The man who’d been secretly working with Relic for years strolled up with a tip of his hat and a beaming smile that had nothing to do with seeing Relic.
“This is the last one, right?” Mr. Newman got straight to the point, making Relic chuckle.
“Last one. You won’t see me for a while after this, if at all. This is my cousin, Los. If you need anything, reach out to him, and he’ll make it happen for you. His number is in my paperwork.”
Mr. Newman sized Los up before frowning. “I don’t know this boy! You want me to trust some stranger with my business? It took me years to trust you.”
“You trusted my money.”
“Yea, ‘cause I’m old enough to know money talks and bullshit walks,” he quipped pointing at their feet. “Tell his ass don’t bring no shit over here, Relic.”
“He won’t, I promise. My cousin hasn’t been into that life for a minute. He owns two businesses, and runs them on the frontline, unlike me. He knows his shit.”
