“So, I’m supposed to let her get away with attacking me? My eye is swollen, DuRio. She needs to pay.”
Rio understood her sentiments but he didn’t deal with the police at all. Nothing about getting Cali arrested seemed plausible to him. Yes, she had attacked Rozalin and no, it wasn’t right. However, she should've known that going behind Cali’s back would lead to some kind of altercation.
“Look, I don't fuck with the law. I also don't deal with people who fuck with the police. I know you got fucked up, and I’m sorry that happened, but Cali will make your life hell if you get her arrested.”
He could only imagine the shit show that would transpire if Cali had to go to jail behind him. He was certain Douglas would get involved and cause a bigger issue.
“You're unbelievable, you know that? It’s not fair that I have to walk around like this when you're untouched. I don't owe that bitch shit. We both pursued each other.”
“Nah, we didn’t,” Rio disagreed. “You step to me, remember?”
“But you didn’t stop yourself from indulging. She should've taken her issues up with you. I don't owe her any loyalty.”
“And neither do I,” he argued, not feeling confident in his statement.
Truthfully, Rio couldn’t shake Cali’s words from the parking lot. They were filled with so much venom that Rio felt as if he had been bitten. He was so unsettled while traveling back in his reverie, trying to see where he had gone wrong.
Noble walked in with Zayd, Wilde, and Nuke behind him. All chatter ceased as he made his way to the head of the table.
“I gotta go. I’ll call you once I’m done.”
“DuRio, wait—”
He ended the call and stood. Noble pulled at the hairs on his chin while in deep thought. Everyone waited on bated breath, wondering what his first words would be.
“One of our own was killed tonight,” he began. “Somebody murked Van at the park, and I need to know who did it.”
Rio watched Noble, trying to search for any signs of deception.
“I heard it might be those Saint City Boys,” one person said.
Noble sucked his teeth. “What would be the motive?”
The guy shrugged. “Shit, I don't know. Those niggas had been talking shit for a while so maybe they made a move.”
“Man,” Wilde drawled. “Those niggas know what’s up. They ain't stupid.”
“No, this was personal,” Noble stated. “They wanted to send a message, and I need that mothafucka found. Go sweep the streets and bring that nigga to me. I don't even want y’all eating or sleeping until I have who did this shit. You got it?”
Everyone nodded.
“Everybody can go except the lieutenants. Go ‘head,” he dismissed them.
The room became a chatter box as everyone filed out of the door. Rio took a seat at the table, observing the stress on Noble’s features.
“Now that those niggas are gone… did you do it?” he asked.
Noble immediately grimaced. “Fuck no.”
“I ain't gon’ lie, when I heard Jovanis had got murked, I thought it was you too, bro,” Wilde admitted.
“See,” Rio chimed in, “I ain't the only one that feel that way. Did you forget the argument y’all had the last time we met? You basically said you would lay his ass down for good.”
Noble sat back in his seat, dragging his hands down his face. “Listen, I know what I said but y’all can’t put this body on me. I ain't do it.”
“You being real with us?” Rio asked once more.
Noble cut his eyes at him. “You think I would put my lady in harm’s way by murking that man in front of her? I ain't cut like that.”
