Gideon chuckled, which caused a few VK members to laugh as well. Pup’s real name was Victor, but he earned the nickname because he kept things light and childlike around the crew. As tough as he tried to act, he was still a kid at heart, just barely sixteen. He gave off Chihuahua vibes more than anything, and Gideon appreciated him for it. He wanted to keep the kid young and bright eyed for as long as possible, even though he hung around some of The Bay’s toughest niggas and most vicious killers.
“Yeah, that Juke. As y’all know, he got knocked a few months back. I just got word that the nigga responsible might be tied to some personal shit to me. That same nigga is after Glimmer, and ain’t nothin’ gon’ touch her. Y’all got that?”
After another round of murmurs and head nods, Rome asked, “Who the nigga we got beef wit’?”
Gideon smirked in appreciation. The Vicious Kings were just like that. If one had beef, they all had beef.
“Trick,” Haze replied. “Y’all heard of him?”
“Who hasn’t?” Pup exclaimed. “He’s slangin’ dope all throughout The Bay.”
“That’s a fact,” Deuce said. He was a light-skinned nigga with more tattoos than Lil Wayne, and he stayed in the gym. His muscles flexed and bulged with the slightest movement. His girl, Ivy, loved it because she stayed hanging off his massive arm. She stood next to him now, proudly tucked beside him with her long brown waves and caramel-colored skin. “He a major player in the game right now. I heard he had somethin’ to do with the eradication of Juke’s empire.”
Haze nodded slowly. “Me and G ’bout to go get some more insight on the situation. I need at least five niggas in rotation to stay here at all times, to make sure we don’t get hit. I don’t think anyone will be so stupid, but we ain’t takin’ no chances.
“Glimmer, Deja, and Kyomi are upstairs. Glimmer can’t leave at all. If my sister and cousin want to leave, they need to have someone wit’ them at all times, and you need to call me with any move they make. Clear?”
Everyone agreed, and Haze dismissed them before turning to Gideon. “You sure you wanna do this, G?”
The proposal.
It was all he thought about over the past twelve hours. When he made the suggestion that Glimmer marry him, everyone looked at him like he’d just barked like a dog or something. When he broke it down for them, everyone had to agree that it was a good idea, even Glimmer.
It was law in the streets that wives were off-limits. Children too. Women, if unmarried, were still off-limits, but they didn’t have as much protection as a wife did. Glimmer marrying one of the most powerful niggas in Desmore Bay would secure her safety. It would guarantee it. Nobody could touch her. Not evenTrick. It would solve that problem, at least, while they tried to figure everything else out.
Gideon didn’t even have to think about Haze’s question at all. He genuinely did want to move forward with his plan. His instincts, which had never led him astray before, told him this was the right call.
Something primal took over within him, and he wanted nothing more than to protect Glimmer. She was in distress, and he had a way to fix it. If Gideon was anything, he was a damn fixer.
“I’m sure.”
Haze looked at his best friend a moment longer before he nodded and moved toward the front doors of the compound. “Aight then, let’s go.”
Gideon followed behind Haze, and with each step, it sunk in that he was about to go see a man about marrying his damn daughter.
Juke’s eyes grew wide when he stepped into the private room and noticed Haze and Gideon sitting at the metal table.
His steps slowed as the CO uncuffed him and closed the heavy metal door. The entire time, his gaze never left the two men in front of him.
“Good to see you, OG.” Haze finally spoke after they sized each other up for a few seconds.
“Lil Henry, what you doin’ here?” Juke’s voice sounded haggard, as if he had aged a decade since getting locked up six months ago. He looked like he had aged ten years as well. Hislow-cut hair and beard were peppered with gray, and the bags under his eyes told a story all of their own.
“Come sit down, man. We ain’t here on no beef type shit,” Haze said as he nodded toward the empty metal chair.
Juke walked slowly toward the chair, adjusting the tan jumpsuit he wore before he sat down. “What you doin’ here, then, youngin? This ain’t no place for you. Ya pops would have my head if he knew you was here checkin’ up on me. You know the rules. Once a nigga goes in, keep his books straight, but that’s a wrap on seein’ ’em.” He glanced at Gideon. “You too, G. You know same rules apply to you. Always have.” Juke clapped Gideon on the back and gave him a soft smile.
While it was true Gideon hadn’t seen much of Glimmer growing up because she was always with the moms and the girls, Gideon spent a great deal of time with Juke. There had always been a mutual respect between them and a ton of love.
Gideon gave Juke his award-winning smile. He hoped it helped to melt some of the tension in the room. Gideon always got a bit restless when there was too much tension.
“Funny you should mention my pops,” Haze said. He leaned forward and pressed his forearms into the cool metal table. “Ain’t seen you since his funeral.”
Juke hung his head. “Yeah, it’s been a long time.”
“Almost twenty years.” Haze agreed. His tone wasn’t cold, but he was straightforward and factual. There wasn’t no babysitting feelings happening on his watch.
Juke looked up with his jaw clenched. He nodded slowly. “You look good. Done grown up. Hear you doin’ real well for yourself too.”
