Prosper shrugged as he hit the corner, almost swiping a couple of fiends that loitered in the middle of the street.
“She is mine. She just don’t know it yet. I got her at one of my safe houses right now. I need this shit handled because she’s wrapped up in it now, and I can’t have that.”
Lamar and Prosper had always been able to read each other well, so Prosper knew Lamar could tell how serious he was at the moment.
“Don’t worry, P. I already got word out. There’s a hefty price on Ghost’s head, and anyone in his crew is gettin’ capped on sight, no questions asked. We gonna get this shit together.”
Prosper’s jaw clenched. “Bet, thanks.”
“You know I got you, bro. You should really lay low ’til this shit blows over.”
“And so should you. We equals. If he after me, then he’s definitely after you too.”
Lamar waved him off. “Nigga ain’t crazy.”
Prosper shook his head. He knew his right hand. Lamar didn’t go into hiding for anyone. He had a tendency not to value his life like Prosper did. Between the two of them, Lamar was the hothead. Prosper thought ten steps ahead because he wanted to live a long and beautiful life.
“Just promise you gonna be safe, man. I need you to be good.”
“You know you ain’t got nothin’ to worry ’bout. If it makes you feel any better, I’ll lay my head at a safe house ’til this blows over, but I ain’t hidin’ out there.”
“That’s a deal.” Prosper quickly agreed. Something was better than nothing.
They pulled up to Lamar’s truck, and Lamar hopped out, untucking his gun and carrying it at his side in broad daylight. All Prosper could do was shake his head.
“I got niggas lookin’ for him. I’ll call soon as I hear somethin’.”
Prosper nodded and threw up a peace sign. As soon as Lamar closed his door, Prosper took off.
Anger simmered just underneath his skin. He had hoped his team caught up with Ghost’s old ass before the niggadisappeared. Ghost had his run in the streets for two decades before Prosper and Lamar put all that to an end. Ghost had the most profitable blocks, and they wanted them, so they took them.
Their empire was stronger at that point, so it really wasn’t hard. Ghost needed to retire, anyway, in Prosper’s mind, so he did the nigga a favor. This was how Ghost repaid him? Prosper wasn’t goin’ for that. Now the nigga needed to pay in blood.
His thoughts swarmed him as he drove on autopilot. He was still fully aware of his surroundings though. That afternoon had definitely been a good reminder not to slack in that department. Finally, he parked his car in the suburban grocery store parking lot and made quick work of getting everything he needed to go into hiding. Unfortunately, this wasn’t his first rodeo, and it wouldn’t be his last. He was an expert at this kind of shopping by now.
It didn’t take him long to get back to the safe house. He made quick work of bringing all the bags inside before he went in search of Teonny. The thought of seeing her again made the shitty day somehow seem like the best ever.
“Yo, Peanut. Where you at?”
“Upstairs,” she called back.
His heart warmed as he ascended the stairs. Something about that small interaction felt right to him, like a woman and a man who lived together. He could get used to that. Suddenly, he kind of hoped it took some time to catch up with Ghost so he could get as much time in with Teonny’s fine ass as possible.
He walked down the short hall and poked his head into the master bedroom. There was only one other room in the house. He smiled when he saw her lying on her stomach on the king-sized bed and scrolling through her phone.
“You good in here?”
She rolled over so she faced him before she sat up. She waved her phone in the air. “My mom is freaking out.”
Prosper crossed his legs and leaned onto the door frame. “You told her what happened?”
“No,” she quickly said. “I didn’t think you’d want me to. She just has a sixth sense about things. I live with her and her boyfriend, and I would usually be home by now.”
He moved further into the room and sat on the bed. He looked at her sad face for a second. She looked like she wanted to ask him something, and he found it amusing that she wouldn’t just come out and say it.
“Is there anything you want to ask me?”
She didn’t hesitate at the opening. “Is my mama in danger since I potentially am?”
