Chapter 7
I knocked on Rob’s door five hard times and stared in the peep hole while whoever was on the opposite side of it rummaged around.
I was met with weed smoke and niggas talking loudly.
I recognized the dude that had opened the door and it was obvious that he recognized me too by the way he quickly moved to the side so I could enter.
I dapped up Rob’s friends as I made my way through his crib, maneuvering through them until I found my brother, sitting on his back balcony with a joint in his hands and three other niggas standing around talking to him. He looked back at me and grinned.
“What’s up, Leo?” He dapped me up from where he was sitting.
“What’s up?” I sat on the seat on the opposite side of the doorway.
“Aye,” he address the little group. “Give me and my brother some space to chop it up real quick.” He nudged his head toward the door and the men headed back inside.
Rob and I sat in silence for a little as he smoked.
“How you holding up?” he asked.
“I’m good.”
“You sure?”
“I’m positive.”
“Alright.” He exhaled. “I heard pops ran into you and ole girl. Y’all doing sleep overs and shit now?”
“Something like that.” I leaned back and crossed my arms over my chest. “Why you and pops speaking on my business?”
“He called me to ask about you getting ran up on and one thing led to another.” He shrugged. “He said she looks nice.”
“She is nice.”
“So, you like her for real?”
“Yeah. I’m not going to lie to you. November is my baby. I fuck with her.”
“That’s cool.” Rob nodded. “You deserve to have somebody to love.”
“Nigga, when are you going to find somebody? Preferably somebody that don’t have a husband or a fucking boyfriend already?”
“Never,” Rob deadpanned.”I’m good on that love shit. I saw how it fucked our pops up and I ain’t going down like that.”
“Oh. But you’re telling me how happy you are for me to maybe deal with that shit?” I chuckled. “You ain’t shit.”
“Nah. We’re just real different. She fucked you up in the opposite way.
You thrive in relationships and shit. I can’t even think about committing, That shit freaks me out, but whenever whatever woman you’re dating starts pouring into you, you start fucking healing in real time.
It’s like it replaces all the love she never gave us and the next thing you know you’re obsessed”
“Obsessed?” I repeated.
“Hell yeah. You fall in love in fourty-eight hours then hold on to that shit tooth and nail.”
“You and JV been getting together and talking shit about me behind my back or what?” I joked.
“What?”
“That nigga said something real similiar.”
Rob laughed. “See what I’m saying!” He pointed at me. “I’m telling you. That shit’s real.”
“Whatever nigga.” I chortled.
Rob grinned and we sat in silence for a few moments before I adjusted how I was sitting.
“So, what happened last night when you went to the shop?”
“Nothing really.” Rob shrugged. “I looked at the cameras and saved the footage. I hung out in the spot with all the lights off all night to see if someone would come back or try to vandalize the spot, but nothing happened. I was there till JV came in this morning to open. I have two dudes sitting in the shop though just hanging out in case ome shit pops off but nothing’s changed so far. ”
“Alright.” I locked eyes with Rob. “Aye. You know I don’t need you to babysit me or fight my battles right?”
“And you know I’m gon’ do it anyway, right?” He forced a small laugh. “Look the only reason you’re even getting the heat you’re getting is because of me and what the fuck I have going on anyway.”
“Yeah, alright. I looked out over his balcony. “Pops told me I should just sell and keep it pushing.”
“And? That’s how you feeling?”
“Fuck no.” I scoffed. “I’m not selling shit.” I looked back at Rob. “If they want the shop, they’re going to have to kill me for it.”
“I wish the fuck they would. I’d paint this motha’fucking city red.”
“I’m ready to paint it red regardless,” I admitted.
“I’m on whatever you’re on.”
Rob’s phone started to ring. He pulled it from his pocket and his eyes darted across the screen. He answered immediately.
“What’s up?” He paused. “Yeah. Nah. You’re good. I appreciate that. Text me the address. Alright. Thank you. I owe you one.” He hung up and looked over at me.
A smile slowly crossed his face. I lifted an eyebrow.
“What?”
“We got a hit on one of those dudes that was in the shop.”
I grinned. “And an address?”
“That’s right.”
“Let’s go,” I nudged my head toward the door.
“You sure?”
“Yeah.”
“Shit. Let’s do it.”
Rob and I hopped up and we didn’t have to talk our plan out to know what it was we wanted to do. Rob and I split up. I headed to my whip and grabbed my black sweatshirt from my trunk. Rob picked me up beside my car. He already had the address typed into the GPS and we headed out.
It was a long quiet ride but I felt good. I knew Rob had my back and I had his.
When we got to the address, we saw quickly that it was a small house on the corner of two streets with no cars parked in the driveway or up front.
Rob parked down the street and we jogged quickly to the house. We went around to the back so we wouldn’t look crazy trying to break in through the front. I was better at that sort of thing so I broke the lock open while he kept watch.
Rob went in first. We took our time walking through and mapping the place out before we decided where we wanted to chill.
I opened the fridge, grabbed a bottle of water and collapsed on the couch.
I put the television on. Rob kicked his feet up on the coffee table and we just chilled.
We talked about what our thoughts, hopes and disappointments were for the upcoming football season.
I checked my email. Rob got up after the first hour and popped some popcorn. I found a movie for us to watch.
We were an hour into our second movie when someone pulled into the front yard. We both pulled our guns out but neither of us moved. I made sure my safety was off and a bullet was in the chamber.
When we heard a key go into the lock, Rob stood up and dusted himself. He walked toward the other side of the living room. I turned the television off and aimed at the space beside the door.
As soon as it opened I sat up on the couch while Rob took half a step back, damn near vanishing into the dark corner he was in. We waited in silence while he walked further inside, his phone to his ear.
“Nah. Me and G gon’ come through when we leave here. I just needed to grab that stack for KK.” He walked further inside with who I assumed was G right behind him.
It took me half a second to realize G was the other dude in the shop. Getting a two for one had me ready to smile ear from ear.
G reached for the light switch and hit it.
As soon as it flipped up, Rob and I both sent shots off.
Mine wedged itself into G’s shoulder. He cursed and reached for his piece.
I shot him another two times, in the chest and face.
He fell back against the doorframe and his hand automatically went to his chest.
He was bleeding fast but I didn’t want to risk it so I sent one more shot in his head. Ole dude was already not moving, laid out on the ground beside him.
Rob and I walked over to their bodies. The call was still going but I didn’t bother hanging it up let alone touching it.
I checked their pulses and sat there until G stopped breathing. Then, Rob and I headed out and took a nice slow walk back to his ride so Rob could get back to his little get together and I could get back to my girl.