Shaun’s eyes bugged out his head. “You serious, Money?”
“Dead ass,” I said. “You’ve been here almost as long as Grizz, and I’m feeling generous today. I’ll up the pay to $500,000. How’s that sound?”
“Hell yeah, I’ll take that shit,” he said, trying to hide his grin.
I turned to Grizz. He looked like he was about to shit himself.
“Come up here,” I said, motioning him forward with two fingers.
I dragged one of the folding chairs and set it in front of me. He was trembling now, stuck in place.
“Bring your ass up here!” I barked. My voice bounced off the old wood walls. That nigga practically jumped out his skin, stumbling forward, eyes wild, searching for an escape route. Jelani shoved him down into the chair and started tying him up with some rope from the ground.
Slim handed me a roll of black gauze. I took my time, unrolling it slowly and methodically, and began wrapping it around my knuckles. I pulled it taut with each loop until the rough material bit into my skin.
By now, the farmhouse was dead silent, except for the faint buzz of cicadas outside. I paused to tear the gauze with my teeth.
“You think I’ve gotten soft, Grizz?” I asked calmly, moving to wrap my left hand.
He was a mess—sweat dripped down his face as he hyperventilated. By the time Jelani finished tying him up, he looked like he was on the verge of passing out—and I hadn’t even touched him yet.
“Money, come on, man,” he said shakily. “I’ve seen what you’ve done to niggas. I don’t want no problems. I was drunk just talking shit.”
“Lani, what you think?” I asked, tearing the gauze again with my teeth.
Jelani sneered, looking at him like he was dog shit on his shoe. “If you gon’ talk shit, say it with your chest. Stand on it like a man.”
Grizz’s head snapped up, his eyes darting between me and Jelani. “Nah, nah, I swear I wasn’t on no disrespectful shit! I just?—”
My fist went across his jaw before he had a chance to finish.
“Just what?” I asked, shaking my hand out. Grizz groaned. “Just you thinking I’m pussy? Just you running your mouth? Just you being a bitch ass nigga?”
I hit him again—jab, then hook.
“Which one is it?”
Another blow.
Everything I’d been holding rushed to the surface—lunch with Jasmine. Marcus hugged up on her, both of them playing in my face.
“Money, please…” Grizz slurred, his head rolling.
“Money, please,” I mocked, yanking his head up. “Nah. I’m soft, right? That’s what you said, Gregory.”
Nobody in the room spoke or moved. They understood a point was being made.
“Speak up, Grizz. The fuck you gotta say now?” I flung his head down.
Grizz let out a gargled noise. “I’m sor?—”
My fist smashed into his face again.
“Fuck your sorry!” I roared, raining blows on him. His soft grunts and the dull smack of knuckles to flesh filled the farmhouse. Blood sprayed across my face, and was getting in my eye. It still wasn’t enough to make me stop.
I blacked out. All I could see was Marcus trying to son me like I wasn’t Cash-fucking-Banks. Like this wasn’t my city.
I kept swinging.
