“What part of-”
Jimmy plucked his gun up from his lap and fired a single shot in Iman’s head that sent his body to the ground. I pulled my own gun on reflex but he wasn’t even looking at Rob, let alone me. His eyes were focused on Iman’s dead body.
We all remained unmoving and silent for a few before Jimmy cleared his throat and faced forward again.
“Sorry about that.” He forced a smile. “So, where were we?”
“We were talking about war.” Rob didn’t miss a beat.
“And what were you saying about it, Rob?” Jimmy set his gun on the table in front of him.
“Look, we lost some shit in the fire and y’all lost some shit in the fire, but honestly, I’ve got enough shit going on and money to make. I’m not interested in none of your fucking territories and as long as you stay the fuck out of mine, I’m down with squashing it.”
“After you killed two of my men and I killed none of yours? Of course you’d be ready to call it even now.”
“The two men that he keep telling yo’ ass we ain’t kill?” I made a face of disgust. “You should have asked that nigga on the ground about it before you blew his motha’fuckin head off.”
Jimmy’s eyes flicked up to mine. “You want me to believe Iman set my boys up?”
“I don’t give a fuck what you believe and if you want to do this street shit, we can do it, but just be ready for whatever the fuck comes next.”
“Ain’t nobody scared of you.” Jimmy chuckled.
“You don’t have to be scared for shit to go left.”
I didn’t bring up the fact he’d lost several men and a safe house since we were acting like we’d lost a good house too and hadn’t, but I knew the thought was one he had.
“Yeah, alright.” Jimmy exhaled and looked back at my brother. “The next time some wild shit happens on this side, I don’t want to meet up, Rob. I just want you to have your best shooters ready for whatever.”
“That’s cool.” Rob smirked. “But uh, just keep in mind, this little truce or whatever is only good as long as you keep your guys off my territory and out of my family’s shop.”
“The shop is a neutral zone.”
“It feels less neutral when people are getting threatened,” I inserted.
“Alledgedly.” He grinned.
Rob nodded at that. “Alledgedly.”
“I’ll try to keep that in mind.”
Rob stood to his feet.
“We good?”
“As much as we’re going to be.”
“Good enough.” Rob nudged his head toward his vehicle. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”
He didn’t offer Jimmy a goodbye and it was painfully obvious that Jimmy didn’t give a fuck about if he did or didn’t.
Rob’s friend and I let Rob lead and fell in line beside him. He stood outside of it until I was inside then hopped in beside me. He immediately pulled his gun and set it on his lap, his finger on the trigger.
We both checked the mirrors every few minutes for the first fifteen of our drive.
Then, it was like Rob deflated. He sank in his seat and took a few deep breaths once he parked outside of the crib.
“You good?” I looked over at him.
