Page 224 of The Ninth

We made eye contact, so he knew what it was. He knew I didn’t give a fuck about the stakes. I watched as his tense jaw loosened in awe. As soon as I heard the engine rev closer, I upped again, letting the bullets fly.

Joy filled my chest watching a big ass .40cal tear through his thigh. I knew I hit the vein by how the blood squirt out as he fell to the ground. Before I could run and stand over him, the officer came to a stop, jumping out and blasting his shit.

I had no choice but to leave the bitch where I dropped him. Standing over him will get me killed fasho. Even though she’s worth dying over, I can’t let Cassie be a single parent. I’ma always choose her.

With that being said, I broke a quick left, flying through the trees and cuts. If I can’t get him now? I’ll get him another day.

He lost Cassandra. I’m not losing her too.

****

I slid from under someone’s back porch, pushing my way towards the entrance of the ward. My feet were loud on the concrete since most people were up front or hiding in they shit. The cold metal of the gun dug into my hip as I tucked it, hurrying my ass up out of there. Twelve was everywhere nigga and I mean everywhere. Police, sheriffs, ambulances, fire trucks, the news and the fucking coroner. This shit looked like a horror film.

My shiesty been off, locs and face exposed. My hands were shoved deep into my pockets as I tried my best to blend in the chaos, making my way back to Man-Man. As I cut through the police and EMTs, my feet came to a stop.

I stood two feet behind Juan, and about six feet to the right. Some nigga was on the phone in front of him, but I could tell he was on go. Juan was laid all prissy on the stretcher, lucky that shit didn’t kill him. For a smooth thirty seconds, I debated taking his fucking life in front of all these people.

But...Cassandra.

I pushed past, brushing shoulders with a nigga that looked familiar.

Even with my back turned, I could feel him looking at me. To confirm my suspicions, I decided to look back. Sure enough, the goofahh nigga was staring right at me along with his shorty. Zay. I knew right then I wasn’t sleeping tonight. He’ll be in Chicago by the time I am. And I’ll be ready.

The Ninth

Duke’s POV

“Can you be still or do we need to tie you up, folks?”

“Uh, I’m coo, woadie.”

“WHAT YOU CALL ME?!”

“Chill!” I chuckled.

As soon as we got back in the city, K3 ran home before we broke into The Ninth. It was dawn at this point. I slept some of the way while K3 slept the rest. This bitch Micah slept the entire way. Nigga went and dropped like twelve bodies and laid in the backseat sleep like a baby.

Anyways, once the alarm went off, the nigga Liv and her security guard Timbo popped up. We took them and told her to call her cousin. K3 has a strong suspicion he and that nigga Zay will be showing up.

“He better answer or we gon start cutting fingers off...” Micah shrugged.

“Nahhhh, man! My shit already stubby as hell, I ca—okay,” she dialed his ass again as K3 shook his head.

My mind drifted off as Micah told K3 how his lil friends said them niggas was wreaking havoc in the city. That shit was funny and useless for several reasons. One reason being we be everywhere. We don’t claim a specific street or neighborhood. The second, it was mostly Juan’s niggas getting whacked and even some of Kenan’s which was the best situation for K3. And lastly, nobody we loved was out there. They all in Puerta Plata.

I still admired how fast them niggas got they get back.

Meanwhile, I focused my thoughts on Devyn. Since we’ve made it official, this is the longest we’ve gone without talking. A piece of me was still worried about our last night in Chicago before we left. I was way too hard on her and I haven’t gotten any real alone time with her to make up for that. She’ll say it’s okay, but it’s not. I wouldn’t want anyone else to be on her like that, so I shouldn’t be.

“Here he is!” Liv smiled, answering the phone.

Liv: Yo, Ben—

Ben: Aye, watcho big head ass want, pussy?

Liv: Nigga, where the fuck you at?!

Ben: That’s what I called to ask you. Were you able to find where them niggas be?