26. An Awesome Start to the Day
Chapter twenty-six
An Awesome Start to the Day
Monique
“Why am I wearing blue?” I held out my hands. “Are you serious right now?”
Marcy sneered. “Yes. Who put blue on you?”
“Let me go.” I pointed behind him. “And please help me tell Banks to put the gun down.”
Marcy let go, but didn’t move. Instead, he crossed his arms, blocking my way to Banks and Duck. “I don’t think you understand the gravity of the situation, Moni. We can’t just put the guns down and walk away, and you of all people cannot simply wear blue.”
“Duck and the rest of these guys are my friends.” I tried to step around Marcy, but he blocked me again. “There is no reason to have guns out like this. Can you all let me explain?”
Marcy leaned his head to the side. “Friends?”
“Yes. They helped me with something.”
“What?”
My bottom lip quivered. “Marcy, move and let me talk to Banks.”
Duck snickered behind him. “Marcy?! I like that.”
A red tint of rage covered Marcy’s face. He continued to face me. “If you ever call me that, Duck, I will do more than pluck your feathers!”
“But Marcy is so pretty.” Duck snickered. “It goes with your pretty little locks.”
A couple of Lei’s men chuckled.
I widened my eyes. “Duck, stop.”
Was he forgetting that he had a damn gun right in his face?
Marcy spoke through clenched teeth, “Moni, I need to know how you got involved with the Four Aces?”
I blinked. “The four who?”
He gestured to all the men in blue. “The Four Aces.”
Umm. . .
“Where is Chanel’s dead body?” Marcelo frowned. “Have you seen it?”
“Excuse me?” I stepped back in horror. “Why would I have seen her dead body?”
“Lei stole it from the funeral home.”
I gasped. “No.”
Marcy nodded. “Yes.”
“No.” I shook my head. “I’m telling you that can’t be—”
“Lei has her body somewhere.”
Dear God. Please say that isn’t true.
Banks yelled out, “And why was Leo squatting in your apartment last night?!”
Duck’s voice grew shaky. “What did you say?”
Several of the men in blue exchanged glances.
I let out a long breath. “I will explain everything as soon as you let me go over to Banks and he puts the gun down.”
Scowling, Marcy stepped to the side.
Shivering, I rushed to them. “Banks, please. You’re scaring me.”
Banks kept his gun’s tip on Duck’s cheek. “I’m not putting this down, unless I put a bullet in this smart mouth’s head.”
Duck curved his lips into a huge smile. “You think you’re brave enough to pull the trigger.”
“Duck, you’ve seen my work in the streets. Don’t get cute.”
“Me being cute? No.” Duck winked at Banks. “Only cutey in this lobby is Marcy.”
I could feel the tension in the air, getting heavier and heavier. My hands shook, not ready to see more blood and violence.
“B-banks.” My heart raced faster with each passing second. Scared as hell, I stepped forward and placed my shaking hand on Banks’ arm. “P-please. Put the gun down.”
He didn’t turn my way. “How did you link up with the Four Aces?”
“They kind of saved me from a situation.”
“What situation?”
“These two guys—Dutch and Snow—was trying to make me, Jo, and the girls be hookers for them to pay off daddy’s debt and—”
“What?!” Banks’s eyes flashed with all-encompassing rage. The gun shook against Duck’s face. “Why didn’t you call me?!”
I trembled. “Because I didn’t know you were Mr. Put-A-Gun-In-Someone’s Face, and I didn’t want to get you involved—”
The line of Bank’s jaw twitched. “That’s why the girls are at my house?”
“Yes, but the whole situation is done now, and I can explain it all if you just put the gun down and go outside to talk about this with me.” I moved my hand and stepped back.
“Good old Duck. You got off lucky, bitch.” Banks moved the gun away from Duck’s cheek.
All the tension in my body washed away.
Thank God.
But, in the split second that Banks’ gun began to lower, Duck was already in motion. His hand, swift as a striking snake, connected with the gun, and sent the weapon skittering across the polished marble floor.
A high-pitched shriek tore from my throat.
Everybody stood there in utter shock.
The gun’s clatter echoed eerily in the quiet.
Then, Duck’s heated growl filled the space next. “Don’t you ever point a gun in my face!”
“Oh no. No.” I shook my head, knowing my cousin’s temper and not wanting Banks to let it out. “Wait a minute, Duck. Everything is good now.”
Ignoring me, Duck lunged forward, arm extending in an attempt to seize Banks.
Banks, however, was ready. His body twisted in a lightning-fast motion, dodging Duck’s grasp as his fist drove hard into Duck’s midsection.
Shit!
I gasped as Duck reeled backward. Surprise etched sharp lines onto his face. But the man was relentless, shaking off the hit as if it were nothing more than an annoying fly.
Men in blue began to move forward.
Those in green pointed guns their way.
“Okay. Okay.” I waved my hands. “Now everyone is good. You all are even. Let’s sit down so I can explain everything—”
“Marcelo, take Moni to the car!” Banks pulled out a pocket knife and flipped it open. The blade gleamed in the lobby’s lightning.
“Wait. Put that up, Banks.” I hurried back, putting more space between me and them. “And I’m not going anywhere.”
“She sure isn’t.” Duck got in a fighting stance. “Come on, Banks. We can dance, and then I will twirl around with Marcy next.”
“I’m done with you.” Banks tried to stab Duck.
I shrieked again.
Duck sidestepped with fluid grace, his fist flying to Bank’s face. The sickening crunch of bone meeting bone echoed throughout the lobby.
But my cousin had a strong jaw.
He merely shook his head, clearing the stars from his vision, and retaliated with a hard punch to Duck’s gut.
I winced at the sound of air leaving Duck’s lungs.
“Enough!” I yelled and stumbled back. “Stop it, both of you!”
Totally fucked up, Duck grabbed his own chest with one hand and wheezed.
Banks chose that moment to barrel Duck with punches to the gut.
Oh man.
Everyone in green roared and cheered.
Sadness hit me. “No! Stop!”
Banks landed his signature jab to Duck’s jaw—the move that always made a man soar into the air and land flat on his back, passed out and ready to go to the hospital.
Fuck.
I wanted to close my eyes but couldn’t.
Yet, instead of collapsing to the ground, Duck took the jab, contorted his body in mid-fall like some superhuman, and pivoted on his hands to deliver a lightning-fast kick to Banks’s head.
I screamed in horror.
Blood spilled from Banks’s nose as he stumbled back. A tooth fell from his open mouth, slipped down the front of his chest, and dropped to the ground.
And that was it.
Pure chaos occurred on both sides like a dam breaking. Everyone in blue charged toward all wearing green.
My heart hammered in my chest. Panic and adrenaline surging through me. On instinct alone, I ran back and found a wall, knowing I had to get the fuck out of there.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
It was a war zone.
Grunts and shouts.
Flesh meeting flesh.
Blood splattering.
Gun shots sounding.
Men collided with one another, bodies entwining in a furious dance. Swift, brutal kicks were met with deft, unforgiving punches.
Everywhere I looked, there was turmoil.
I spotted Marcy beating the shit out of three men in blue.
Even my guards were brawling.
What the hell? Can we not all talk this out?
Surely, this wasn’t all about me. Something else had occurred between Lei’s people and Banks’s men.
The world spun around me in a dizzying swirl of blues and greens. It was like watching a terrifying choreographed dance, each movement fluid and purposeful. However, it was a dance of violence and vengeance, of obviously deep-rooted animosities and some sort of fight for dominance.
This is about some gangster shit.
Glass tables that had previously hosted bouquets of fresh flowers were overturned. Some of the elegant velvet sofas were now turned over too.
Four Aces. Rowe Street Mob. What the fuck have I stumbled into?
I spotted some hotel employees. High-pitched screams ripped from one woman. Other uniformed figures dashed for cover. Many hid behind the reception desk, while most scampered towards the exit.
I’m getting out of here, before I accidentally get shot or punched.
I stayed by the wall, lowered to the ground, and began to crawl toward the exit.
Lei also said something about a Diamond Syndicate. I will need to ask him more.
Sirens sounded off in the distance.
My breath hitched in my throat. Sweat broke out on my forehead. Focused, I rushed with crawling away, not even sure where the hell I would go, just that I needed to get the fuck out of there.
Somehow, I made it to the exit, jumped to my feet, bumped into some of the hotel guests, and rushed out of the exit with them.
Holy fuck.
The hotel guests and I stumbled away.
Sunlight hit me.
I put hands over my eyes and blinked.
Now what? Do I wait for those fools to stop fighting? Or do I just. . .go to this Mount Utopia myself?
I gazed back at the hotel.
But what if they kill each other?
A cold shiver sliced through me.
No. No. Enough has happened. God would only give me one death a week. They will be just fine.
The sounds of sirens grew louder, and the adrenaline in my veins made me feel like I was running on high voltage.
I hurried to the front of the hotel with others who were just as confused and unsure of what to do. Every few steps, I kept glancing back to see if anybody I knew rushed out of the exit after me.
Come on, guys. Knock this shit off!
Not paying attention to where I was going and continuing to check behind me, I collided hard into something solid.
What the fuck?!
My breath hitched.
I turned around, looked up, and found myself face-to-face with a towering, yet familiar figure.
Then, I swallowed. “Song. . .what are you doing here?”
The giant man, clad in a blue robe, simply nodded. His impassive gaze bore into mine. His deep voice was calm and steady amidst the chaos. “I know my son well.”
I stepped back.
Other monks surrounded me.
Where the hell did they come from?
“As soon as I saw Rowe Street Mob enter the hotel, I knew there would be trouble.” Song shook his head. “Duck despises Rowe Street Mob. Anytime he can punch one of them, he seizes the opportunity.”
“But do you think Duck and everyone else will be okay? I’m scared someone will die or—”
“No one will die. It would trigger war in Paradise. Even through their anger, they are smart enough to hold back in some ways.” Song gazed at the hotel. “However. . .many will have some broken bones. And my son. . .”
“What?”
Song frowned. “My son, Duck will be in trouble with Lei.”
“Because he fought Rowe Street Mob?”
“No.” Song shook his head. “Because he lost you .”
“He didn’t lose me. I’m right here.”
“But you will not be here for long.” Song gestured to a large blue Cadillac parked further across the street. “Let us go.”
I tensed. “I don’t want to.”
“You need to go to Mount Utopia. We will take you.”
I tried to see who was in the Cadillac. “Is. . .Leo in there?”
Two of the monks chuckled.
Song frowned. “Leo has better things to do than babysitting you. He must train to fight against his son.”
“That makes sense.”
Song sighed. “Unfortunately for me, babysitting you has become my duty from now on.”
“Oh.” I shivered. “You know. You don’t have to babysit me. I can get a ride. In fact, I could just pull out my phone and grab an Uber. It would be simple—”
“This way.” Song headed off in the direction of the Cadillac.
Shit.
I swallowed, rushed after him, and got to his side. “So. . .you’re taking me to Mount Utopia?”
“I am.”
“And Leo is staying at my apartment still?”
“No. Once your sister came by, we were forced to find a new location.” Song smiled at me. “However, we all enjoyed your Aretha Franklin albums.”
“That was my mother’s collection.”
“Well, Leo made sure to be careful with all of the records.”
We got closer to the Cadillac, and I caught Tupac’s lyrics emanating from the car.
This must be that dude Jo was talking about.
Still trembling, I approached the vehicle, the full impact of what just happened in the lobby sank in, and my knees felt weak.
Yet, I kept on moving.
Song opened the door. “After you, Monique.”
I climbed inside.
The monk in the driver’s seat bobbed his head to Tupac’s Hail Mary .
Alright. This day is going to be just as crazy as yesterday.
Song got into the Cadillac, sat next to me, and shut the door.
I looked out the window, wondering if everyone would make it okay.
And. . .did Marcy ask me if Lei had Chanel’s dead body? Or did I imagine that?