"Listen! Hold up!" His eyes skated between Creed and the men who stood by the bathroom. He already knew it didn't look good when Lucky didn't come running out at the sound of an argument.
"W-we can work this out," Whistle stammered. "Let me get Lucky. I'm sure he'll tell you what our plan is."
"Too late." One of them grinned. "Ain't' shit to tell."
Within half a second, all of them lifted their shotguns when Creed rushed toward them. Bullets pierced the air, riddling hisbody. Whistle dashed in the other direction, covering Endea's body.
"Nooooo!" Endea screamed. "What the fuck just happened?"
Creed's body jolted violently as blood spewed from his neck, mouth, and chest. He coughed, choking on his own blood. At the sight of it, Whistle lost it when he whipped out his gun, but it was too late. Before he could get one off, he was met with the same fate as Contessa screamed at the top of her lungs as he fell against the wall, clutching his chest. Blood was splattered all over the walls while people screamed and ran for cover.
"Let's go!" Logan grabbed both Contessa and Endea, shoving them behind the bar as people were trampling over each other. "Please stay here. I just need you to sit tight." He passed his cell to Contessa. "Call 911."
He eased out from behind the bar, his own gun in his hand as he slid against the wall. When he made it to the end that led to the hallway, he took a peek, and the three men had fled.
"Damn, Creed." Logan caught himself, holding onto the wall as he stared at Lucky's son, one he'd watched grow up over the years. He then looked at Whistle, who died trying to save his best friend's son. This was beyond tragic. This was a life sentence of devastation.
Logan did his best not to contaminate the crime scene when he took the bottom of his shirt and pushed the restroom door open.
"What the fuck!" Logan belted at the sight of Lucky's body. It was slumped against the wall, a hole in the middle of his forehead, along with three, maybe four bullet holes to the chest.
He knew Lucky was gone, but he couldn't help himself from checking for a pulse, feeling guilt wash over him. He knew there'd been some trouble with the farm, but not to the point that someone would come after Lucky. He'd heard the nameChoppa but didn't know who or why Lucky would be tied up with him.
"Is that Lucky?" Endea stood with her eyes wide, her hands shaking as she covered her mouth. "It can't be," she whispered. "It wasn't supposed to end this way."
"Endea, I told you to stay with Tessa. You shouldn't be in here."
He heard the sirens, knowing the cops and paramedics were on the way.
"I can't leave him. We were just?—"
Endea's body then collapsed, but Logan caught her before she fell completely onto the floor.
He always stood on the right side of the law, but watching a close friend die did something to him. Starlah had not only lost her mother at the tender age of eight, but now her brother and father, too. If Logan could kill those motherfuckers and not risk being behind bars the rest of his life, he would. That was the least he could do, but as logic would have it, he needed to handle Lucky's affairs, starting with Starlah, his last and only heir.
"Cain, can you stop?"London squealed when he came from behind and kissed her neck. "The kids are on their way, and I need to finish up dinner."
"Kids?"
He smacked his lips. Their children, Cairo and Gianna, were young adults with more money than he and his wife had collectively. From the day she learned she'd conceived, Cain had opened several bank accounts for his children.
Generational wealth was a must, especially after he'd left a life of illegal activities behind once God spared his life. When he was shot, London worked at the hospital and was the one who'd helped nurse him back to good health. He was nineteen, and she'd just started as a certified nursing assistant. Together,they'd taken the money he had and started their trucking company as he put his former life of crime-ridden activities behind him.
"That nigga Swift is as tall and big as I am, and Gia ain't too far behind you."
"That doesn't mean we can fuck anywhere in the house, Cain." She playfully pouted when he spun her around with a lifted brow.
"Says who? Gia is managing the new fleet of vehicles for our rideshare shit, and Swift better have his ass prepared to get on the road. He chose to do that over college, but I'm proud of my boy. He's doing a hell of a job."
"He had a choice, though. Sometimes I feel… I don't know."
She sighed, her heart heavy, as her son walked away from college football to run the family business. He could have easily been the next Heisman Trophy winner had he remained in school. It was shortly after her diagnosis of breast cancer.
"Don't," he warned her. "Swift is the man we raised him to be, Lo. His stepping up allowed me to care for you while he did what the family needed him to do. He knew the business in and out already, especially since he helped me with the business plan over the years."
Since Swift was old enough to sit in his father's office, he'd listened in on calls as he made deals. Swift was naturally attentive, a listener who not only watched body language but also learned how powerful confidence could be, especially when transacting business. It was why he was such a threat on the football field, and now as a family businessman. All he needed was a wife to love and settle down with, if his mother had her way.
"He's something else, isn't he?"
