Sound started creeping back in.
Faint.
Muffled.
Like I was underwater.
One ear.
Just one.
I saw my uncle run to me, frantic, but alive.
I sucked in a breath, pulling my phone out with shaky hands.
I called my security and told them to get to me fast.
Next, I dialed Ares, and he picked up quickly.
“Bro.” I didn’t waste time. “They tried to blow me up.”
Silence.
Cold silence.
“They blew up my whip in front of Uncle Wells’ store,” I added. “Somebody wants me dead.”
His voice came in low.
Dangerous.
“Well, now we want them dead. You good, though?”
“I can’t hear out one ear,” I said. “But I’m good.”
I looked back at the flames.
At what was supposed to be me.
Gone.
I swallowed. “I’m glad E and my baby are out there.”
“They are fine. Don’t worry about them right now. I’m about to make some calls. You get to somewhere safe. I’ll be out there.”
I hung up and stood there in the smoke while my uncle asked a million questions I had no answers to.
I knew one thing for sure, though?—
This was an assassination attempt.
Sirens came before the smoke even settled.
Red and blue lights cut through the haze, reflecting off burnt metal and shattered glass.
I was still standing there when the police pulled up.
“Sir! Sir—are you injured?” A cop was in my face now.
