Dio picked up the cup and handed it to him, “Nigga, because it’s gang. Now, drink this shit or get out.”
Scooter laughed. “What, you trying to catch the fade again? Dio, when will you get it, that mouth be moving but those hands—”
“St-st-Stop!”Peanut shouted.
I placed my hand on Peanut’s chest, “It’s cool. They straight, let them niggas hash it out. We’re getting over all that shit today.”
Dio flicked his nose. “Ok, Scoot-yeezy. Keep talking. You should be trying to find an image with yo’ corny ass. You’re the rapper, right? Where is the mixtape? Where’s the hustle?”
Scooter said nothing more, instead, guzzling down the Zoo juice and focusing his attention back on his girl. Everyone’s cup was empty after about five minutes. Piggy and I walked back over toward the couch and sat down.
I wanted to give her all my attention, but I also needed to keep an eye on Scooter and Dio. Shit seemed calm now, but I didn’t know how long that was going to last.
CHEVY
I had a few days to get shit straight with the Prestige and the food drive before Zoomas. I wanted all affairs to be in order because, for once, I didn’t want shit to disturb the Zoo’s special day. It hadn’t been one event where nothing had happened, and now that my kids were around, the last thing I needed to do was send someone to the pearly gates.
I stood outside waiting for Bishop to arrive so we could finalize what we needed, not only for the block party but the complex as well. This was the first winter I encountered, and the shit was whooping my ass. After waiting for what seemed like hours, the nigga finally showed up. He got out of the car and came over toward me and dapped me up. “You good, my nigga?” I asked.
The look on Bishop’s face said something was wrong. He hiked the breast of his thick coat closed, “That nigga Naheem is lurking these fucking streets,” he gritted.
“I thought y’all laid that nigga down?”
His jaw clenched, “Shit, me too. I know he and Clark are up to something.”
I cracked my neck from the sound of Clark’s name. He was already a dead man walking. I had given him some grace because I was stepping into being a changed man. The more his name was brought up, or I had to interact with him, the more death was knocking at his door. However, right now, he wasn’t my worry, but rather Fiona and Bobbie, because whatever they had going on with Beans was affecting how he was acting toward the crew.
I promised Z I would behave myself, but the way Beans was moving made it hard for me to keep my promise. After being at the Laureaux home, I understood a lot. Beans had a dark childhood that left him angry and cold. I tried to be understanding, but he took my silence for weakness, which I couldn’t allow. As each day passed and his so-called family hadn’t shared what was going on behind closed doors, I knew it was time for me to be the one to do it.
“How much do you know about what goes on in Lexington Heights?”
“Shit, a little here and a little there, why?”
“Some bike niggas from that way. I want at them,” I told him.
“Give me their names and I got you.”
As Bishop and I headed toward the building, he stopped me. “I need this shit to work, Chevy, the whole community shit. Naheem and Clark don’t see things as we do. I never got the chance to tell you, but I appreciate you teaming up with me to help my city.”
I scoffed. “I don’t do that soft shit, but giving back is always the best start. Look, I promised my wife that I wouldn’t step in and get my hands dirty for other people, but if you need helpwith Naheem’s ass, I’m in. Don’t worry about Clark, that nigga’s clock is ticking.”
We both laughed. I opened the building’s door when something felt off. As soon as I looked back, I saw someone lean from a car, aiming their gun, “Oh shit!”
Bloaw! Bloaw! Bloaw!
Bishop and I dropped. I pulled my gun from my waist, lifted, and shot back.
Bloaw! Bloaw! Bloaw!
The sound of Bishop’s forty Cal exploded in my ear. The way the bullets went flying, you would have thought we were in the wild, wild west. Suddenly, Bishop dropped.“Fuck!”he shouted.
My head turned for a split second to look at him when I felt a sizzle hit my shoulder. “Shit!”
I ran into the street and emptied my clip. The car’s tires screeched as it hit the corner. When I glanced at my arm, the blood was flowing like a fucking river. I glanced back at Bishop, who was lying on the ground. “Fuck, shit!”
There was too much blood leaking from me. I began to feel dizzy, and suddenly everything went dark.
Seeing Kareem lifted a weight off my shoulder. To know that he was ok made me happy. The way those people dragged him out broke my heart, and I couldn’t ask him why. Once he and Dio stopped going back and forth, I pulled him toward the hall. “Why didn’t you call me? I was fucking looking for you,” I told him.
