Page 120 of The Ninth

The car whipped up, stopping just a few feet past us. Tati jumped in, me, Cassie, and then Kenzie. Holding onto each other, none of us responded to the Spanish woman when she said hi. We just held each other, all praying to see the inside of Cassie’s apartment.

I stared intensely through the windshield as she floated through the streets. My mind thought of each and every time I knew we shouldn’t have gone. The few times today I doubted what we were doing. I made a promise to myself. Promising that from now on, I’ll listen to my gut. I won’t give anyone or any situation the benefit of the doubt. Just please get me home, Lord.

Kenan’s face as we went back into the bathroom floated into my mind. I always praised moving and meeting the most nicest, funniest, and caring people. I never took the time to go over the cons. Think on the people who were not so funny. That did things that weren’t so nice at all. How did we find ourselves roped into a trafficking ring?

The skyscrapers I’ve become so familiar with came into view. I didn’t feel as if I made it to Cassie’s. I felt like I made it home. Relief and happiness washed over me as we passed Duke’s shop with the lights off. I could almost picture myself walking down the sidewalk and back to the apartment. Once we pulled into the roundabout, I let out the first sigh of relief since before we even left the apartment.

“Thank you,” Kenzie said to the driver as she threw the door open.

We all slid out, quickly heading to the front. Security stood at the door, opening it for us. The handsome Black man was smiling until he seen the desperation on us. Locking the doors back, he quietly followed us to the elevators and even inside. The lights were causing me to squint my eyes.

From my peripheral, I could see him scanning us, obviously taking in that we were caught up into some shit. I watched as he stood up straighter, chest poked out more. His shift just got a lot more interesting.

He took the key from Cassie, unlocking the door and opening it for us. Tears rushed down my face as I crossed the threshold. Cassie stopped, looking back at him,

“No one can come up. No one. I don’t care who got clearance. No one.”

“You have my word,” he nodded.

She was locking the door before it could even shut. We all ran into the living room, collapsing onto the floor. I finally got to let out the sobs I’ve been holding in all night. The girls just laid there as my cries filled the room. In this moment, I didn’t care what they thought.

We made it out alive.

“Wait, Tati! What the fuck is that?” Cassie asked.

Kenzie and I sat up, looking over at Tati. I didn’t even notice the smaller sized duffle bag she was carrying. I tried to think back if I could remember her running with it, but I couldn’t.

We all stared at her silently as she sat up, unzipping it. She turned it upside down. All of our mouths dropped open.

Stacks and stacks of money fell from the bag. Each of the stacks were filled with nothing but blue faces. Condoms fell to the floor too. This had to be the duffle bag Kenan showed to Cassie. Tati must’ve seen it in the basement as we left. Everything went wrong...but we completed the mission.

Cassie snickered, hurrying and covering her mouth. The four of us busted out laughing, hopping up and hugging each other. Grabbing the stacks, we broke the bands, throwing money all around us. No words were said. Just laughter, dancing, and ass smacking.

Shits not okay. There was still a heaviness in the air. We knew it wasn’t over. But for now, we made it out. We made it out alive and paid. Can’t say the same for them.

****

“WAKE THE FUCK UP!”

I jumped up so quickly that Cassie and I bumped heads. Grabbing my forehead, I looked towards the room door at Tatianna. She still had on night clothes from when we went to sleep.

We stayed up for forever talking about how crazy the night was. We ended up getting food, taking showers, and just loving on each other. None of us really discussed the dark part of the night. Just the few light areas. We fell asleep way after the sun rose.

I checked the time on my phone, 4pm. And two missed calls from Duke.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?!” Kenzie groaned at the bottom of the bed.

“It’s everywhere,” Tati panted exactly as she did last night. “The shooting is everywhere. Kenan is dead. Only one of the niggas made it to the hospital and he’s in a coma. All the niggas that ran in are dead. And...”

We all sat up straighter, looking at her. She let out a shaky breath,

“We left the camcorder.”

The three of us jumped out of bed, “WHAT?!”

Tati pressed play on a video, flipping it towards us. It was on a spam Instagram page and the guy driving had his face covered.

Him: I’m telling you, folks. My nigga Kee texted me telling me shit didn’t feel right. That was my fucking cousin, bitch! We flew to the house and when we got there, bodies was everywhere, on foenem grave. G, blood was just matted into the carpet and all over the hardwood. I don’t know what the fuck them niggas had going on and I don’t know why them niggas ran in on our homies. But on granny, one thing I do know is a bitch or some bitches was there. We got there before the police, goofy ass, thot ass BITCHES!