Chapter 12
My phone going off woke me out of my sleep.
I grabbed my watch from the nightstand, looking at the time that read three in the morning.
I tossed it back on the luxury table and grabbed my phone to see who the fuck was calling at this ungodly hour.
When I saw Law’s name come across my screen, I woke up fully and answered his call.
“Law. What’s good wit’ you?”
“Come downstairs,” were his only words before he disconnected the call.
I ran my hand down my face and cleared my throat.
If he was pulling up on me at this hour, I just knew some bullshit had gone down.
I grabbed my T-shirt from the chair and slipped it on before sliding my feet into my slides.
I located my room key and phone and slipped out of the heavy door.
I was tempted to check on Jela, but I was sure she and Chunks were asleep.
I took the elevator down to the lobby, already seeing two big, bulky niggas securing the entrance.
I was sure there were more outside, knowing how Law moved.
My eyes scanned the lobby to see him sitting inside the dining area.
I headed in his direction, and he stood to greet me.
We slapped palms and hugged before we departed and took seats across from each other.
“It’s good to see you, Law.”
He chuckled lightly. “I don’t know if I believe that. Yo’ ass been here for almost a week and ain’t checked on yo’ people.”
“Man… shits been crazy since I touched down. You already know I was gon’ get right back.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t come to have small talk, G,” he said, leaning forward and placing his elbows on the table. “Yo’ brother… I’m going to need you to talk to his hotheaded ass—that’s if he’s still alive to talk to you.”
I frowned deeply, and my chest grew tight. “What you mean, Law?” My jawbone flexed as I tried not to knock my best friend the fuck out. I refused to believe he killed my brother.
“One of his lil’ goons came on my territory, selling that bullshit… and to a minor at that. One of my people beat his lil’ ass, took his work, and told him if they came back over in our area, there would be no more leniencies.
“Like the hothead Dame is, his ass came on the block, trying to spray it up. My shooters are trained to go. I have cameras installed with heat sensors to stop any potential threat. He came five cars deep, but only three made it off the block.”
“Fuck, Law,” I grumbled, placing my head in my hands.
This was fucked up. I told Damien time and time again to stop with the bullshit. He had thriving businesses, a degree in business management, and a degree in sociology. Why the fuck he had to continue to fuck his life up was beyond me.
I leaned back in my chair and stared at Law. I couldn’t be mad at him for protecting his territory, but I’m sure he knew Dame was going to retaliate. He should have come to me. “You should have told me, Laurent.”
“It was too late. I didn’t even know about the lil’ homie coming on the block, doing that shit until after yo’ brother was pulling up.”
My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I hurriedly pulled it out and saw Dame’s number.
I answered, “D. Where the fuck are you?”
“I’m chillin’, but you can let ya lil’ bitch-ass friend know that his ass is mine!”
“Where are you?” I repeated.
“I’m at home.”
“Stay ya ass right there. Don’t you fuckin’ move.”
“My nigga, I’m grown as fuck. You can't son me, motherfucka!”
“Let me get there and you ain’t there.”
He disconnected the call, and my chest relaxed, knowing that he wasn’t one of the people who got hit. “I’ll handle him,” I told Law.
He stared at me for a minute before he stood.
“You’re my brother, Tru, and I respect you, but I’m telling you…
I’m not going to keep putting up with his disrespect.
My moms was a victim to that shit he’s pushing.
While I’m trying to keep as many people as I can away from that shit, he’s pushing it in areas that are off limits.
Enforcing my hand is not the route to go, and we both know…
sooner or later, his operation will be eliminated.
I’m trying my damnedest not to include him in that elimination.
Get a handle on his ass, or ya moms putting on that black dress will be out of my control. ”
He walked away, and I closed my eyes, trying to reel in my emotions.
Law and I had been best friends since high school.
We beat up bullies, smashed all the fine females, and even got into the drug business together until his moms died.
We both chose to get out after that, and while I went headfirst into building houses, he used his sorrow to fight against the drugs that polluted the streets of Detroit and Muskegon.
Law was a loyal friend; he was the one to tell me that Melody was hanging out with Dame a little too much.
I ignored it because I didn’t want to believe my brother would betray me like that, but he did.
Dame used to do a lot of mischievous shit while we were growing up that I ignored as I tried to steer him in the right direction.
Bottom line: the nigga was hardheaded as fuck.
I stood from the table and headed back upstairs.
I swear, I was tempted to call Saleem and tell him that I would take the job in California instead.
When I saw the opportunity to come back home, I took it because I missed my people.
Now, I wish I had never come back here. All this fucking drama, and it was stemming from the one nigga I loved the most.
When I made it up to my floor, I walked down to Jela’s door and knocked lightly.
I waited for about two minutes before her head poked out from the door.
Her tight eyes squinted even more from the light blaring in through the hallway.
I didn’t know how anyone could look so beautiful even at this early hour, but she did.
“What’s wrong?” I could hear a slight panic in her voice.
“I have to go take care of something. I just wanted to let you know, just in case you woke up and tried to find me. I shouldn’t be too long though.”
“What happened? Is everything okay?”
“It will be. Just use the hotel’s phone to call me if you need me, and don’t open the door for anyone. I’ll be back shortly.”
She hesitated to speak for a moment before she nodded. “Okay.”
“A’ight. See you soon.”
I kissed her forehead, then headed back to my room to get dressed to go check my stupid-ass brother.
When I pulled into his driveway, I could see another car parked there, but I didn’t give a fuck who he had in there with him. I got out of my truck and headed up to the door. I pushed the doorbell repeatedly before his best friend, Shooter, opened the door.
“What up, Truce? Long time no see.”
I didn’t even acknowledge him as I pushed past him into the house. Dame was sitting in his recliner with his legs crossed at the ankles and a glass of dark liquid in his palm. Two other niggas were sitting on the couch in front of him and turned to look at me.
“Y’all niggas can bounce. I need to speak to my brother in private,” I told them. No one seemed to move, and a menacing chuckle left my mouth. “Dame, tell ya boys I’m not the one they want to fuck with right now.”
Damien’s eyes left mine, and he nodded for them to give us privacy.
They stood, and the one I knew as Romeo ice-grilled me while he walked by.
I took my fist and sent it flying into his face.
His head reared back, and I could already see his eye swelling when he bounced back up.
Recovering, he pulled his gun, placing it to my forehead.
A sinister smirk crossed my face, and I grabbed the nose of it, pressing it further into my forehead.
“Yo!” I heard Dame yell.
“Do it, lil’ bitch.” I sneered. “You pulled it, so now you gotta pull the fuckin’ trigger.” He bit his bottom lip and curled his finger around the trigger. “Yeah, do it, you fuckin’ coward. Don’t hesitate!”
His body was shoved out of the way as Dame came into view. “Get the fuck out! You done lost ya fucking mind, Ro.”
“I ain’t about to let his big ass hit me and get away wit’ it!”
“Then you shoot a fair one! Don’t pull no fuckin’ gun on my brother, bitch! Get the fuck out! And ya ass is suspended until further notice. Fuck wrong wit’ you!”
He put his gun away and stormed out of the house. The other nigga followed, but Shooter lingered behind. “You good, D?”
“He’s good, nigga. Bye!” I roared.
Dame nodded. “I’m good, man. I’ll call you.”
Shooter shook his head and chuckled as he left the house.
As soon as the door closed, I sent another fist flying into Dame’s midsection. He curled over, coughing, then stood upright, getting into his fighting stance. I pulled the hoodie from over my head and tossed it to the side.
“We ain’t kids no more, Tru. You ain’t about to be hitting me like I won’t fuck you up.”
“I’m not just going to hit you, I’m about to beat yo’ ass then tell you why I did it,” I told him, throwing two quick jabs, making him stumble into the wall.
He recouped quickly and started throwing wild hits, only catching me one time.
I laughed and side-stepped the incoming punches.
Grabbing him, I tossed his ass into the wall and started giving him body shots.
He tried to swing and hit me in the face, but I blocked his fist, hitting him twice in the face with my right fist. His body crumbled to the floor, and I stood over him, proceeding to beat his ass.
When I saw that he wasn’t fighting me back, I backed off.
I shouldn’t have stopped because I’m sure he never did when he was beating on Jela.
He spat blood onto the floor as he looked up at me. “Satisfied?” he asked.
“I don’t know what the fuck you going through, but I’m telling you now, leave the Renegades alone, nigga.”
He stood up. “Fuck them! Fuck Law, and fuck you too, Tru. That motherfucka don’t own this fuckin’ city. He can’t tell me where the fuck I can handle my business at!”