Page 58 of A Major Love

They lifted the hems of their shirts to show me they were prepared. We’d grown up adjacent to the streets and didn’t engage in illegal activities to survive, but we were close to many who did and gained a wealth of knowledge and some street credibility.

As my bodyguard, Jrue always packed heat for him and Brax in his luggage and checked his bag. As a team, we decided that, because of who I was and what I stood to lose, I would carry only if absolutely necessary.

“Let’s go and get this shit over with. Hopefully, we can leave here without catching a body,” Brax said.

“Wait,” Dynastie said as she opened the back passenger door. “I want to hear what’s going on. Give me your phone.”

Confused, I handed her my phone and watched as she called herself. She answered her phone, put it on mute, then placed it in my hand.

“Be careful.”

I nodded, and we headed toward the building. When we arrived at the side door, I entered the code Dynastie had given me. The stairs leading to the second floor were in the middle of the hallway, so we headed that way.

“Give me the key,” Jrue said.

“Nah. I got it.”

“Give me the key, Major,” he demanded.

Technically, he was my bodyguard, but I didn’t need him to actually protect me. Jrue was a few inches taller and about twenty pounds heavier than I was, and he came in handy when I needed to get through large crowds. Other than that, he was a prop.

I gave him the key just before we made it to the door to Dynastie’s condo. He gave me a warning look to calm my ass down before unlocking the door and slowly pushing it open. It was dark inside, but I could sense someone's presence.

Jrue flipped on the light switch near the door, and because of the open concept floor plan, we could see the damage in the kitchen and living room, and it was quite alarming.

“Major, I’ve been waiting for you,” I heard a deep male voice say.

I tried to step in front of Jrue, but he put his big body in front of me as Brax held me back.

“Why the fuck are you waiting for me?”

“Because I knew you wouldn’t let Dynastie come alone, and you’re who I wanted to see.”

Jrue, Brax, and I stood in the doorway wearing confused expressions. The voice was several feet away and to the left, but it didn’t sound familiar at all.

“If you wanted to see me, there were better ways to go about it,” I shouted.

“Nah, this way is much better. Come in, and we can get reacquainted.”

“Reacquainted? Nigga, I don’t know you,” I shouted.

Jrue gave me a look and tossed his head back, telling me to get behind Brax. I didn’t want to, but I did. With me bringing up the rear, we entered the condo.

The further into the space we went, the more destruction I saw. When a tall, lean figure appeared from the corner, Jrue and Brax drew their guns and aimed in his direction.

“I should’ve known you’d have your minions with you,” Jordan said.

“Brax, go pat him down. Jrue, go check the other rooms,” I said.

I watched as Brax checked to see if Jordan had a weapon, studying him to see if he looked familiar. He clearly knew more about me than I did about him, which made me wonder what Dynastie may have told him about me.

“He’s clean,” Brax announced.

“He’s here alone, but those other rooms are fucked up,” Jrue said.

They returned to their positions on either side of me, resting their weapons at their sides. Jordan looked very calm for someone who’d just had two guns pointed at him, which was enough to let me know he wasn’t wrapped too tight. He folded his arms over his chest, and the smug expression he wore made me want to pretend like he was my next opponent.

“You don’t know me now, but we used to be good friends. I’ve been waiting a long time for this little reunion. Longer than Dynastie. It took a lot of patience, but I knew we’d cross paths again, even if I had to force it.”