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We all stood there facing off with NTR. To see Nessa standing here on some boss shit triggered me.
Chevy came around and cut his eyes at me before putting them back on Nessa.
“I don’t know which one of you niggas,” he paused as he looked Nessa up and down.
“Was the cause of my nigga’s downfall, but tonight we’re not leaving until we find out. ”
Six came from behind his sister. “We ain’t do shit to his ass. We simply wanted to race. The nigga owes money, and we wanted him to pay.”
Chevy sucked his teeth while I pointed at Six, “How much does he owe you?”
Chevy cut his eyes at me again. To me, he was moving too slow. I had shit I needed to address with Piggy, so I was trying to get this over with. Chevy leaned in toward my ear. “Ok, King, you lead the race,” he whispered.
My face sat in confusion as I looked at him. He raised his brow and backed away. Foe came next to me and shook his head, “I hope you don’t lose this muhfucka.”
That’s when someone else came from the building, an older guy. “He owes thirty bands, and they want every fucking dime.”
“Nigga, who the fuck are you?” Streets asked.
He slowly came around, and that’s when I noticed it was the nigga from the old folks’ club that Chev had put the paws on. He pointed at us, “The name is Mister. So y’all are the Zoo, huh, looks—”
Chevy came around so fast I almost didn’t see him. He scoffed, “Watch what the fuck you say, nigga. Yeah, we’re the muhfuckin’ Zoo, what’s up?”
The guy smiled. “Oh, you think cause you got a few licks off over that pretty ass piece of pussy I’m supposed to be scared?”
“Pussy yo old ass was praying to taste. Nigga, that’s my wife, and before I embarrass your ass in front of your peoples, I suggest you learn quick. I am the one to send my choppa down your throat and fill your ass up with hot muhfucka led.”
Another nigga came from around Mister, “Nah, Pops, we got this,” he said to him.
Mister’s eyes lowered on Chev as if he were ready to challenge him. Then he shot him a quick smile. “I heard about you. June Calloway and you,” he pointed at me, “Braylen Laureaux. Tell yo’ momma I said hi,” he winked at me.
Nessa came around and stood between them.
“Let’s race. Two miles and back, if we win, you give our thirty grand times two.
If y’all win,” she paused as she came toward me, almost close enough to kiss.
“We’ll back off. We didn’t do any fucking thing to your friend, I can promise you. After this, nothing more.”
Nessa’s eyes didn’t flinch. I knew she was telling the truth, and that had now made me wonder if what Chevy said was true.
The hit was meant for someone else. The only demonic person I knew who could be capable of something like that was Fiona.
I flicked my nose. “Let’s do it,” I said and walked off.
“Aye, Piggy, if I win, you’re going to let me take you out?” Papi chuckled.
I stopped in my tracks and spun toward him.
Dio rushed over to me, “Nah, nigga, chill. Let’s do this the right way.
Normally, I would tell you to beat his ass, but this is a group thing, not a solo dolo mission.
I will take the lead. You, Peanut, and Monfua take the middle.
Sash,” he pointed at her. “You take the tail. I know you got skills, and if I need you to speed up, I know you’re going to light that muhfucka up. ”
Chevy looked at me and grinned before he winked. “And that’s why he’s the fucking Prince. Y’all know what to do. Samara!” he yelled.
She came running over nervously. He gave her the orange rag. “Since you want to be a part of the team, you will call the race. Here,” he told her.
Chevy backed up as his eyes stayed on Mister while we all lined up. Samara came over toward Dio. “Baby, what am I supposed to do?” she asked him before he slid his helmet on.
“All you got to do is hold that muhfucka up, and when you and only you feel ready, you toss it down. That’s when I’ll do all the work, welcome to the jungle, love,” he finished as he had now flipped his visor down.
She slowly nodded and walked ahead of the bikes standing between us and NTR. I turned to glance at Piggy, who stood there anxiously. Papi’s ass was mine. “I want that nigga’s head,” I said in the helmet.
“Yeah, we know. You got all the mouth, so put your money where your mouth is. If you fuck this up, my nigga Chevy’s going to have your ass. Remember, you're not the leader, you’re a part of a team,” Dio said.
“Yeah, a team you said you wanted to be a part of. Beans, please,” Sasha started. “We’ll talk after.”
Samara’s hand went up as she stared at Dio. I turned and glanced at the OGs who stood there watching us. “Don’t fuck it up!” Diamond shouted.
“Throw that shit down, Mars,” Dio muttered.
Just as he said it, her hand went down, and we took off. The wind smacked my helmet as I picked up speed. Monfua crossed in front of me as one of the NTR niggas zoomed past him. “I’m taking the right,” I said to them.
“I see one coming up on me in my mirror. Stutter Man, cut that nigga off!” Dio shouted.
“This bitch is trying to hit me,” Sash came in.
“Swerve Sash, now!” I told her.
I saw Sash’s bike lean low, only inches from the ground as we hit the corner, but Nessa was on her ass. “She’s trying to hit my tire. Fuck this, fucking bitch,” Sasha gritted.
I glanced down in my mirror and saw Sasha speed up as her bike swiveled and hit Nessa’s tire. Nessa’s bike shook as she veered off. “One down, four to go,” Monfua laughed.
Papi’s bike came alongside mine. He lifted his visor and looked at me. The nigga held up his middle finger as he sped off. “I’m on his ass!” I snapped.
I sped up past Peanut until I was right behind Papi.
I moved quickly to get on his side. We were approaching another corner, and I sped up sharply, turning my bike, building smoke, and letting my front tire do all the work as the back went up and then down.
Papi tried doing a sharp lean to avoid the smoke when suddenly gunshots went off.
“What the fuck was that!” Monfua shouted.
“This nigga shooting at me, so I shot his bitch ass tires out,” Dio said.
I tried speeding up to Dio, with Peanut alongside me. Dio and Six were now side by side while one of the other NTR niggas was stuck on the side of the curb. We were now headed back. “Let’s wrap this shit up,” Dio said.
He sped up and did a clean ass wheely. “I-I- suh-see ya-ya—”
“You! Come on, Stutter Man, you are fucking up the moment,” Dio cut him off as he sped on the sidewalk.
There were three of them left, and all of us were still hanging on.
The closer we got to the finish line, Dio, Peanut, me, and the three niggas from NTR rode in a horizontal line, each one of us inches in front of the other.
I lifted my visor, turning toward Papi, “Fuck you, nigga, it’s Zoo! ” I shouted as I took off.
“Yeeaaah!” Dio shouted. “Yo ass better hit that finish line too.”
My meter started to go up fifty, sixty, seventy.
I spun my bike into a donut before finishing off the race, zooming past Samara and the OGs.
I turned around and hit my brakes, sending smoke flying in the air.
As everyone came in, I saw Morgan, Alyse, and Samara cheering, the OGs clapping, except Chevy, while Piggy leaned against the car with a smirk on her face.
I couldn’t deny that it felt good to have her here while I raced. I knew it was her first time seeing me in action, and for the first time ever, I felt like someone was proud of me. As we all came together to celebrate, Chevy walked over to Mister, “Pay up, old nigga.”
Mister nodded slowly as he snapped his finger, and one of his guys went inside the building. It was something about his ass that seemed off, but I let Chev handle it. I turned to walk toward Piggy when Papi walked over, said something to her, and slowly backed away.
“Nigga, game over, bring your ass!” One of his niggas said to him.
Papi smirked as he passed me. “Fuck you, bitch nigga,” I snarled.
“Nah, it’s fuck you! Poodie, dinner on you,” Papi said as he continued to walk off.
In that moment, something in me clicked. I grabbed my gun from behind, cocked it back, and started shooting towards Papi.
Bloaw! Bloaw! Bloaw!
Zu rushed over and snatched the gun out of my hands. “Fuck wrong with you. You’re trying to cause more smoke.”
I shrugged. “Fuck it.”
I moved past Zu as I rushed up behind Papi. I drew my fists back and swung at his ass. His body dropped to the ground. “Talk yo’ shit now nigga. Fuck you say to her, huh?!” I barked.
His crew came rushing over, but not before Chevy pulled me back. “You’re a hardheaded ass nigga! It’s a time and a fucking place,” he gritted.
I yanked away from him. “Get the fuck off me! I’m not some pussy ass nigga, and if he does the shit again, I promise I won’t miss.”
I knew I had probably started something bigger, but in my mind, it was the right thing to do.
Shit, honestly, Chevy could figure it out since his job was being the fucking hero.
When I got over toward Paige, she just stared at me like I was crazy.
Only moments ago, she seemed proud, and now that I had blessed Papi with my fists, she was back on her bullshit.
I went to lean in to kiss her, and she turned her head.
Scooter tapped me on the shoulder. “Let me holla at you for a minute,” he said.
As I walked off with him, Chevy came over to me. “Meet me at the fucking Zoo tonight,” he finished as he walked off.
A feeling came over me, saying that Beans would be here a little longer, and Braylen would have to be put on pause.