We didn’t watch the fire and we were ten minutes into our drive before we called 911 to report it. We’d gotten some information that there was a small spot that belonged to the opposite gang that was usually empty so we headed straight to that one.
Rob and I each grabbed a few gas cans then split up, each of us taking a different side of the house to throw gasoline on.We met at the back and made sure we were happy with how wet everything was.
I stood back while Rob started the fire. We stood there for a while, just making sure the fire had caught and was spreading. Then, we headed back to my spot.
We smoke a joining in silence, then dapped each other up. I tried to get some sleep while we waited patiently for the phone to ring. I wasn’t even tired, but I didn’t want to just sit there obsessively checking my phone every ten minutes and willing time to go faster. It wa also nice knowing my brother and his guys were over in case shit went left. I wasn’t stupid. I knew this was probably the only time I’d get some good sleep. I crossed my arms over my chest and let my head lean backwards on the couch.
I thought about Novi, about how sweet she was and how shell shocked she’d looked dealing with the aftermath of the car getting shot up.
We’d just made things official. She’d just agreed to give up her place back home and move in with me. We’d just committed to trying to start a real life together. I couldn’t believe we’d been shot at. I mean, I could believe it. I’d been doing dumb shit. I’d been raised around it and welcomed it into my shop. The thought of a bullet hitting Novi made me sick to my stomach though.
I cared about her. I more than cared about her. I loved her.
The look on Novi’s face when I’d gotten her out of the car had been enough to make me sick to my stomach. I never wanted to see her look like that again. All I wanted to do was take care of her and as her man, I was doing a bullshit ass job.
The more I thought about it, the more I considered actually selling the shop if that was what it took. My dad had been right. I had the money needed to invest in a different location. My brother would have to move the work he had hidden beneath it,but I was sure I could hold off on actually signing the building over until he got it all taken care of
I was on the brink of sleep and consciousness for what felt like forever before Rob nudged me lightly.
“I’m awake,” I answered immediately.
“Good. We got a meet up with Jimmy.”
“Jimmy?” I repeated.
“I’m confident that ain’t that nigga’s real name, but yeah, their leader goes by Jimmy.”
“Sounds lame”
“Lamest nigga I’ve ever met.”
I chuckled at that.
“You have some backup on standby?”
“I can get four men if we’re leaving the five here for Novi.”
“Make it three here and six with us.”
“I can do that.”
“I want one outside the building, one inside the building and one inside the apartment.”
“Got it.” Rob nodded. “And my guy on the inside, Jr, already verified that he’s been planting seeds of doubt between Jimmy and his second, Iman so we’ve just got to land this shit.”
“I can do that.” I climbed to my feet.
“Good. Let’s go.”
Rob and I had one last quick meeting with his friends, making it clear that we didn’t need them to talk or do anything crazy. We just wanted them to be there and watch our back if shit went left.
I peeked in on Novi and saw that she was still fast asleep. She was laid on her side looking absolutely beautiful where she was. I fought to resist the urge to admire her for longer than I had or kiss her temple and closed the door lightly behind myself.
Rob and I rode in one car while his friends rode in a different one. Even knowing what they were there for, I kept checking themirror as they tailed us. I was paranoid. That shit wasn’t a good way to go into one of these meetings.
I’d only had to sit through a war and treaty meeting between the gangs once and it had been coming off of our uncle’s death so I wasn’t even sure if how I remembered it happening is actually how it happened. All I knew was that Rob and I had each sat on one side of our father while he talked to the same men who’d killed our uncle and mapped out what part of the territory was worth his life. I remembered him saying he could give up a block or two as long as the barber shop stayed his and stayed a neutral zone.
Of course, it hadn’t stayed that way. As soon as he’d given the shop over to me, Rob had seen it as an opportunity to store work inside of it. He figured the best place was the place where shit was neutral.
