Strangers No More (Its A Vibe #3)

Chapter 1

Seojun 5 Months Ago

Isat on the couch in my living room for a few moments after getting off the phone with my little cousin, Ayzo and booking my flight to Philly.

Taking another sip of the vanilla Crown I was babysitting, I took in a deep breath.

As much as I wanted to down the sweet beverage and enjoy the burn across my chest, I couldn't.

After Ayzo told me everything that had happened since he left, I had to keep my head clear.

Well, clear enough to be prepared for what I knew was coming my way.

To be honest, I had my bags packed from the moment he called and had me freeze Denice’s accounts.

I had a gut feeling that some shit was about to pop off and I needed to be ready.

Stay ready so you don't have to get ready.

"Thanks for the advice, Dad," I huffed out a chuckle as I remembered my dad’s constant reminder.

The motion detector pinged on my phone with an alert that a car had entered on my street.

You heard that right, my street.

I had the entire housing community fully equipped with cameras while the remaining houses were being built.

So far, five of the houses were just about ready to go on the market, not including mine.

Of course, when everything was ready to go, I’d take down the cameras, but while I was living here, alone, the cameras were staying up.

After I lost my chain of massage parlors and group homes, I decided to switch things up.

Not the group homes that you are thinking of, but more like upscale brothel houses.

I still had some money saved and used that to become a buy-and-hold investor.

I built homes from scratch or renovated properties before having my realtors sell them to families in need.

Unlike most of the greedy realtor companies I’ve come across, I made my houses luxurious, yet affordable to low income families.

If they could afford the mortgage without living paycheck to paycheck, they were handed the keys.

I knew what it was like growing up in a crowded apartment because my mother and father couldn’t get into a house due to poor credit.

I remember my dad arguing with the lender that they had the money to pay the mortgage months in advance, but were always denied.

No bank would offer them a loan because of past mistakes they were continuing to pay for.

So, when I started up my business, I made sure to not turn away those in need.

With that said, I wasn’t a dummy about it.

I knew how some muthafuckas would try and take advantage and lie their way through the system.

Too bad for them, I knew all about it.

I could smell bullshit a mile away and didn’t hesitate to kick a fucker out of my office.

I took a long drag from the black and mild I was smoking before putting it out.

I shook my head at the wood tip sitting in between my fingers.

My dumb ass was going to have a nasty ass headache later, but I didn’t want to light up a blunt – trying to quit that habit.

Yeah, yeah, I know, black and mild’s ain’t no better.

Shit, I needed something to prepare me for my journey to Philly and, from the four men hopping out the all-black Escalade across the street, this ass whooping I was about to hand out.

Standing up, I cracked my neck and rolled my shoulders before walking through the kitchen and down to the basement.

I entered the four digit code on the door to reveal my stash of guns.

Tapping my index finger on top of my lips, I clicked my tongue.

“Hmm, which one do I want to use tonight?”

I started to hum Archie Eversole’s “We Ready”

as I examined each of my guns.

I wouldn’t say I was a gun enthusiast, but I had my favorites.

Personally, I liked to go old school and fuck somebody up with my hands, but since I had to be at the airport in a few hours, I didn’t have time to waste.

Picking up my Glock with the extendo, I walked over to the circuit breaker and switched off all the lights.

“What the fuck?”

I heard someone yell out.

"Nigga, shut the fuck up!"

I shook my head and laughed.

Of course, T sent some young boys to try and handle me.

Either he didn't give a fuck that he was about to lose four bodies, or he was dumber than I thought.

How could he figure out where me and Ayzo were hiding, but didn't know how dangerous I was? I mean, my family dominated the Midwest and parts of the east coast.

Everyone knew who the Jaguars were, but then again, I guess he thought I was soft now.

Yeah, everyone that was once a loyal Jaguar abandoned me and is now a Cobra, but that didn't change the fact that I knew how to handle my own.

I walked up the stairs and leaned against the door frame as I watched one of the boys rummage through my refrigerator.

He wore all black and had his ski mask lifted up, exposing his sienna, brown face.

I didn't have a good view, but from his profile, I could tell he was no older than nineteen.

I cocked my head to the side and saw the Cobra tattoo on his neck and frowned.

T definitely sent him.

I contemplated on not killing these idiots in my house.

I didn't like having to take someone's life, especially when they were this young.

"I'm about to tear this shit up!" the intruder murmured.

I tilted my head to the side and realized what the muthafucka was doing. First, he broke into my house, now he was in my shit. There were five things I didn't play about:

God

My family

My money

My trust

My food

I may have been a mere one hundred and eighty pounds, but I had big back energy. I could eat a three course meal with extra rolls and still stop by a shop and get me a triple scoop of double dark chocolate chip ice cream. Don’t judge me!

"So, you just going to break into my house and make yourself a big ass sandwich?" I asked, crossing my arms across my bare chest.

The young dude popped his head up, a slice of peppered turkey hanging out of his mouth. His eyes bulged with the realization of who I was.

"Brody, what the fu–- "

His partner, an older white male in his early twenties, began to question as he came waltzing out of the pantry with a fresh loaf of bread, but stopped in his tracks when he saw me.

My eyes zoomed in on his hand that was freely finger fucking the top four slices of the bread.

To make matters worse, I could see the dirt caked under his nails.

I didn't know this man from Adam but I for damn sure know I ain't hear no water running for him to wash his hands before he started touching on food.

I sent a bullet through his dome, instantly sending him to his permanent sleep.

I smiled and was glad that I picked up the silencer before I left my basement.

No one was around for miles and wouldn't hear the gun shots, but I had two more dumb asses upstairs and I didn't want to alarm them. Yet.

"Like I was saying, you just had to take the last few slices of the turkey? You couldn't have made you a damn ham sandwich?

It’s bad enough your dirty nail ass homie had to touch all over the bread, but you just straight up inconsiderate.

Hell, you could’ve at least left me a few slices." I ranted, feeling anger boil through my veins.

Look, I didn't mind sharing my food, but you had to ask.

This little fuck not only didn't ask, but he was going to take all of it with no hesitation.

Ignoring me, he smirked and shoved the rest of the turkey into his mouth.

“Fuck you and this dry ass turkey.”

He attempted to go for his gun in the back of his waistband, but he wasn't fast enough. I sent two bullets in between his eyes.

“Little rude ass,”

I scoffed, closing the refrigerator door.

T was definitely dumber than I thought. He failed to prep these men about how I operated. Hell, he could’ve just asked one of the ex-Jaguar members about my training. Yes, I was computer savvy and was always dressed in my business formal best, but I was a killer. I spent hours at a time training and fighting with some of the best assassins under my father’s rule. Hell, me and Akeno trained together and had very similar fighting styles. Oh well, not my problem.

“Yo, his ass not here and probably heading to Philly. Let’s go!”

I heard a deep voice bark from upstairs.

“Brody, Drew, y’all hungry asses better not be in that damn kitchen.”

Arching an eyebrow, I stepped over the two bodies bleeding all over my floor and headed towards my living room.

I listened as the two other men began stomping down the stairs, muttering that coming to my house was a waste of time.

I had to agree with him because if they hadn’t brought they ass up into my place, they’d be able to breathe another day.

The first to hit the bottom of the steps was a stocky Hispanic with a bald head and face tattoos.

If I had to guess, I’d say he was in his mid-thirties.

Trailing behind him was a thin Asian who looked very familiar, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on where I’ve seen him before.

He was probably my age with platinum blonde hair that was slicked down his head.

I squinted my eyes and damn near giggled with glee.

Now I knew where I recognized the guy.

The little muthafucka still had the Jaguar tattoo on his neck.

I could tell he was working on getting it covered up with a Cobra, but I guess he ran out of time.

Dash aka John used to flirt his ass off with the girls in my massage parlor.

He had just got into the crew, but his young ass was more interested in pussy than doing his damn job.

I shook my head. Of course, his bitch ass jumped ship.

As soon as the Hispanic dude hit the bottom of the steps, I picked up the lamp from the living room side table and chunked it at his head.

He flew backwards and hit the ground with a thud.

Dash whipped his gun out, but I already had mine aimed at his face.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” I tsked.

“I knew you were here somewhere,”

Dash snarled.

“Your friends didn’t. Sad you lowkey killed them since you ain’t tell them how I operated.”

Dash shrugged his shoulders.

“I wanted to be the one to bring you in. You see, even though majority of us crossed over to the Cobras, the bosses are cautious around us. We still have to prove our loyalty and bringing your ass in was going to secure my spot.”

“Well, aren’t you a go-getter?”

“That’s the one and only thing I liked about your teachings. Take the initiative and get what you want or you’ll never succeed in life.”

I nodded my head and smiled as I started to lower my gun.

“So, you remembered one of my daily affirmations? Too bad you missed the important line after that.”

I watched as he pinched his eyebrows together, his hand slowly rising with his gun gripped tight.

“What was that?”

I tucked the gun into my waist band and placed my hands behind my back. Dash smirked as he pointed the gun at me. Dipping my chin, I huffed out a sigh.

“But never bite the hand that feeds you unless you’re ready to die.”

I yanked the knife out of my back pocket and threw it, connecting with the middle of Dash’s throat.

He dropped the gun and held onto his neck, panic dancing in his eyes.

I maneuvered around my sectional couch and headed towards the stairs.

The Hispanic guy was groaning in pain as he began to wake up from his little cat nap.

I pulled my gun out and placed the barrel at his temple before gripping the trigger, sending him back to sleep.

I continued up the stairs until I was standing in front of Dash.

Thick blood oozed from his lips as he frantically moved his hand around the floor, looking for his gun. I picked it up for him and smiled.

“You know loyalty is on my list and the fact that you and fifty other men turned your backs on the Jaguars is crazy.”

I leaned down close to his ear.

“But you know what? I am going to hunt down and kill each and every one of you before I burn down the Cobras.”

Dash spit blood onto my chest as hatred filled his eyes.

I shook my head and punched him.

His head flew back, causing more blood to spill from his nose.

His blazer slightly opened, displaying his phone.

I snatched it from him and gripped the front of his hair, allowing the face id to unlock his phone.

Going to the camera, I went into video mode and made sure the flashlight was on.

“Any last words? Oh, wait, you can’t really talk right now.

Don’t worry, I’ll speak for you.

I, Dash Lin, thought that I could complete the impossible mission of killing Seojun.

Little did I know, I was meeting my maker today.

Seojun knows all fifty men who betrayed him, and he is coming after us.

One by one – until the streets are drenched in our blood.”

I took Dash’s gun and held it to his forehead before pulling the trigger.

His eyes rolled to the back of his head as his body went limp.

Dark blood splattered onto the camera lens and across the wood floors before I ended the video.

I went to his contacts and clicked on the only name available, Ms.

K and attached the video.

As soon as the message was delivered, my eyes landed on the time.

“Oh, shit. I’m going to miss my flight.”

Throwing the phone at Dash’s head, I jogged up the stairs and straight to my bathroom.

I needed to take a quick shower and then grab my bags before my car arrived in the next hour.

Before I forgot, I snatched up my phone and sent a quick message to the cleaning crew who would have the bodies gone, blood cleaned up, and new flooring installed by the time I reached Philly.

I thought I needed to wait a little longer to take action on my plans, but the fact that the Cobras were coming after me sparked my motion into action.

It took a while, but with Ayzo’s help, I had the list of everyone who fucked me over.

I didn’t know who ran the Cobras, but I was done with hiding and ready to go seeking.