“Not tonight.” He told them, and they backed off just as fast.
“C…Crown. My man. How are you?” The manager stuttered, his voice tight as he approached.
Calvin had seen Crown Knight plenty of times over the years, but that didn’t make it easier. Crown had that look abouthim…quiet, heavy. The kind that made grown men terrified without him having to say a word.
Crown cut his eyes at him and just stared, thinking he was full of shit, too. He wanted to cut that smirk right off his fucking face.
“Can I get you anyth—”
“Rell. That’s who you can get.” Crown interrupted.
“Um, I…I’m sorry. He’s not here. Y—you just missed him.”
Crown’s eyes narrowed slightly. “When niggas start stuttering, that usually means they’re lying about something. And I don’t like liars. You feel me, Calvin?”
Calvin swallowed hard as he watched Crown pull his gun from his waistline, clearly not giving a fuck about the customers inside.
“Yes, sir. I understand.” He quickly pulled himself together, hoping to regain some semblance of normalcy.
“Where the fuck is Rell?”
“I’m not exactly sure. He only said he had to make a run and would be back. I can let him know that you stopped by once he arrives.”
“Nah, call that niggaright now.”Crown made clear.
“Alright. Let me go grab my phone from the back, and I’ll call him for you.”
Calvin stepped away nervously, and as he did, Crown nodded for Danger and Smoky to break apart and check the area further. They moved quickly, sweeping both the inside and outside, their pace far quicker than Calvin’s. When he returned, Danger leaned in and whispered something in Crown’s ear that sent him spiraling further. His trigger finger twitched as Calvin approached, ready to spin another web of lies.
“Okay, I got him on the phone. Turns out, I misunderstood him. He actually won’t be here anytime soon due to a family emergency. How about—”
The sudden gunshot not only cut Calvin off but also scared customers, halting all conversation and movement. But Crown didn’t give a fuck. Muthafuckas knew from history not to utter a word about what they had seen. Snitchin’ on a Knight was a death sentence.
Swallowing hard, Calvin lifted his shaking hands in surrender as Crown’s gun shifted from the air, now aimed directly at the center of his forehead.
“That’s funny, ‘cause my bro tells me his wife’s whip is parked out back, and I know she ain’t present, which means two things. He’s here and hiding, and you covering for him. Take me to him or I’ma send the next bullet straight through yo’ muthafuckin’ head.”
Calvin didn’t argue. He couldn’t. “Th-this way,” he stammered, already turning.
Crown followed closely, his gun still drawn. Danger and Smoky were right behind him. They moved upstairs, navigating a narrow hallway and passing a couple of closed doors until Calvin stopped at the last one.
“This is his office.” He said as he opened the door. However, to his surprise, Rell was not where he had been just minutes ago. The room was empty.
Crown's eyes swept across it quickly. A desk, a couple of chairs, and a safe sat in the corner, but no Rell. Frustration tightened Crown’s jaw as he pressed the gun deeper into the back of Calvin's head.
“He was just in here, I pro—” a car engine roaring to life outside cut Calvin off.
Danger snapped his head toward the window, peeking through the blinds. “Back lot.” He said.
Smoky didn’t hesitate; he turned on his boots and headed out fast.
Crown walked over to the window, pulling the blinds just enough to look through. He saw headlights and movement. Just as Rell was pulling out of the driveway, a single shot rang out, hitting one of his back tires. The sound was quickly followed by the sharp screech of rubber as he lost control of the car. Impatiently, Crown watched as the pearl white Benz crashed into a fence, and Smoky rushed to it, dragging Rell out.
Soon after, heavy footsteps echoed down the hall, and Smoky burst in, breathing steadily. He gripped the back of Rell’s shirt and shoved him forward.
“Running?” Crown asked, disappointment etched across his face.
Rell wiped the sweat from his forehead, shaking his head. “No, Crown. I was just—”
