“We ain’t exactly on the same page these days.” I declared nonchalantly. “Our agendas aren’t aligning.”
“Well, sounds like you are in a position to make a change,” Dex offered. “Seems a little bit too easy considering how long y’all been locked in.”
“You know what they say, gotta watch the ones closest to you. And I’ll need a little time on this one. I got a few things I need to get across before I just snub him out.” I recited, bobbing my head.
Dex squinted, still a bit unsure.
“Be on standby.” He rounded his whip and I watched him until he was tucked away inside.
He cut a U-turn and disappeared down the road going back to the main highway. I did high speed numbers on my way to meet up with Frequency. Arriving outside of the compound, I parked in the shadows along with his truck and climbed out, checking the scene. I scanned my hand on the entry panel and let myself inside the cave. Frequency was seated at the head of the table, an ashtray and blunt in front of him, smoke dancing around the room.
“We got a fucking problem.” I announced, pausing opposite him at the long, rectangle table.
“More than one.” He chimed in, just as his phone went off.
I could feel it in the air, shit was getting real around here. I was used to things going off the course, but this wasn’t that. Shit was spiraling, and I didn’t like feeling out of control, not knowing what fucking monster was about to leap out of the darkness next. Maybe Free was right, about getting out, leaving this lifestyle behind. I damn sure had never thought about it before, but after spending all this quality time with Chevy andmy kids lately, it was something to consider. Glancing at the screen to his phone, Frequency frowned a little but went to pick it up, placing it on speaker.
“Yo.”
“Friday night. Baldwin Hills, eight pm.” A strong, steady voice came over his phone, and he brought his eyes to mine.
Arrow.He hung up quickly and Free set his phone on the table. He didn’t respond, he only stared off. He was thinking, I knew what that look meant. Murder gleamed in his eyes much like they did in mine. I was tired of playing with mothafuckas. We left from under Arrow’s wing a long time ago, yet he was still lingering there in everything that we did. He was like a dark fucking cloud that was always there, watching, and waiting to bring a storm down on anybody when they least expected it.
“Harbor is pregnant.” Frequency announced.
Not gon’ lie, that shit left me on stuck. It was the last thing I expected to hear in the midst of everything. Lowering myself into a chair, I sat forward, arms resting on the table and my hands clasped together. Swiping my hand down my short, neatly trimmed beard, my eyes fell on the ceiling.
“Ahhh. I’m not high enough for this shit.” I blew out a deep breath.
Shaking my head and lowering it, I laughed to myself and gradually reclined in the chair.
“The fuck is so funny?” Frequency demanded.
“You. This. The whole fucking situation. I mean… what the fuck you gon’ tell this kid? I assume she’s keeping it.”
“All this kid is going to know is that he or she is loved and provided for.” He argued.
“That’s good. Let’s hope you never have to explain this shit to anybody. Shit sounds too fucking ill, even for you.” I aimed a finger at him.
“My point is, I have people to protect. So do you. This ain’t some amateur we fucking with. This is the mothafucka that taught us everything we fucking know about this shit. This needs to be handled with some finesse. That’s how Arrow works. I need you to be on point and ready. Go scout the area he wants us to meet him in, check for any security breaches, sniper setups and all that. We need to think just like him in this scenario.”
“What if we brought someone else in on this one?” I suggested.
“Someone like who? Arrow got his hand in the pocket of just about every nigga we know.”
“What about Salem?” I referred to another cat that I had crossed paths with over the years.
He was more freelance now, going where the money was without having to commit to an agency, something like what Free and I did.
“He’s skilled, and off Arrow’s radar.”
“Call him up, see if he’s available this week.” He slid his chair away from the table and stationed himself on both feet. “Stay on all ten. We both know how unpredictable this mothafucka is.” He was on his way to the door, and there was something I needed to get off my chest.
“Free.” I stopped him on his way, and he whirled around so that he could look at me.
“It ain’t my place to tell you who to be with.”
“You right, it ain’t.” He agreed, a glare of impatience filling in his facial features.
