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“What you thinking about?” she asked as I pulled out a knot of cash and peeled a couple back to place into the small fob.

“You.” I kept it short. I took in her diamond shaped face loving the way her curly natural lashes looked without her glasses on. I downed the rest of my drink, I wasn’t broke, but I wasn’t rich and wasting food and juice still wasn’t an option for me. I knew what it felt like to not even have anything or nothing at all.

We left out the restaurant and I opened Jocelyn’s door like the gentleman I tried to always be with her. Before she got into the car, I pulled her close to me. She placed her hand on my stomach and rubbed my round belly. That shit right there had me blushing and looking away from her.

“I can’t wait to cuddle with you all night long.” She tilted her head up and puckered her lips. This shit still felt too good to be true with this girl. She was just too damn good looking for a nigga like me. I bent down a little and aligned my lips with hers. I pecked her three times then just stared into her eyes.

“I hope you don’t break a nigga’s heart Jocelyn. I don’t know how I’d react to that shit.” I grabbed a handful of ass watching her blush and turn red in the cheeks.

“I hope you don’t break mine either Soulful Hurtz. I know that dope boys got a lot of hoes.” I put my nose in the crook of her neck enjoying the smell that came from her body.

“I ain’t ya average dope boy, as long as I got you, I ain’t worried bout no other bitch. I won me a trophy.” I didn’t know if it was corny as hell but soon as we got in the car, I connected my phone to the Bluetooth and played Future ft Kanye, “Trophy”. We vibed on the freeway with my hand holding hers as I controlled the steering wheel with one hand navigating to my house. I was so ready to get her to the hotel that I almost was about to say fuck going home.

I was a clean nigga and had to wash my ass every night so getting a change of clothes was a must. We pulled up to the projects, I parked close to the curb then helped Jocelyn out. The hood was jumping at seven p.m., it was the weekend, so shit was gon’ be popping all night.

“I ain’t gon’ be long.” I let Jocelyn know as I stuck my key in my door and let us in. I didn’t mind her coming into the house, I rearranged some shit in the living room and had it looking way better. I opened the door and frowned when I didn’t smell a home cooked meal. Luv sat on the new sectional couch that I had just bought watching the new fifty-inch TV that I got from Walmart.

“Luv, what I tell yo’ lil ass bout watching Love and Hip Hop? It ain’t for kids, put some other shit on.” She smacked her lips then looked past me and smiled brightly at Jocelyn. She got up and hugged her as I surveyed the front of the house.

“Where Passion?” I asked Luv, Passion always ran into the living room from our room to greet me and tell me about her day.

“She went with momma to McDonald’s, momma said she don’t feel like cooking. We ate ice cream and hot Cheetos; they should be back in a minute.” She flopped her little frail self back on the couch and flipped through the channels. I watched Jocelyn take a seat next to Luv on the couch. The both of them started talking, while I debated with myself. A part of me wanted to go back outside and hop in my whip to go find my mom and Passion. I didn’t really like them walking around the projects. McDonald’s was a ten-minute walk from the house. I shrugged it off thinking that it was good for my moms and Passion to spend some alone time.

“How long they been gone?” I yelled over my shoulder, opening the door to my room.

“I don’t know but they should be coming back.” Luv yelled back. I opened the top drawer to my dresser and dug out a fresh pair of boxers along with a white beater. I went to the closet and got a fresh outfit for the next day. I planned on taking Jocelyn out to the Court Cafe in the morning. Tomorrow was a slow day since it was Sunday. I wanted all of us including my momma to go to the Pier and play games and walk the beach.

Soon as I bent down to pick up my Nike backpack, I heard a loud boom. My heart immediately started to speed, I wanted to panic but I went right into protection mode. Throwing my backpack on the ground I heard muffled voices. I couldn’t really make the voices out, but I could hear Jocelyn telling them that she didn’t have any money. Frowning at her words, I snatched my gun from the top of the closet. I practically tip toed towards my room door.

Right now, I could hear the intruders fucking up the front of the house. They didn’t come to harm anybody because I didn’t hear them popping off at Jocelyn and Luv.

Hearing their footsteps come down the hallway, I pumped myself up. I was killing somebody today. I ain’t have no drugs or no major cash here at this house no more. These project niggas probably thought I had money now since I was pushing a car. They thought they were bout to catch me slipping but that wasn’t fenna be the case here tonight. Queen gave me my own personal stash spot since we had more dope to move.

No longer able to waste any more time for the sake of my sister and Jocelyn’s safety I popped out in the hallway shooting first watching two bodies drop. I delivered a head shot to the first tall body that was bulky. The second person turned their back in the middle of me shooting them, they collapsed hard onto the carpet.

“F.Y.F mutha fuccas.” I moved towards them and kicked their guns away from their hands. Snatching the ski mask off the first nigga, I squatted down stunned as fuck.

“I knew this nigga was moving foul.” I shook my head. Hawking up spit, it landed on his face. The second body caught my attention, it was the voice that stalled me.

“Murk’um.” She simpered and struggled with turning over.

“Jah take my sister and go to your house!” I yelled; Luv was probably traumatized enough from them busting up in here.

“You fat muthafucka!” Her voice sounded like she was gargling mouthwash. Coughing up blood, I moved towards her and turned her over, removing the ski mask.

“What the fuck you on Clapback?” I felt betrayed and confused as fuck. Her eyes were starting to roll back as her body convulsed. Panic surged through me. I never had problems with Clapback, I always thought she was weird for fucking on Murk’um but didn’t judge her for that shit. It wasn’t my place to insert myself in nobody’s business if it didn’t concern my money.

“Fuck!” I stood up and fished for my phone in my pockets. I dialed Queen because I truly didn’t know what to do. She answered on the second ring and said nothing as usual.

“Queen, I killed Murk’um and umm your sister Clapback, I shot in the back or somewhere I don’t really know man! Fuck! Her body convulsing and it ain’t looking too good. They broke into my apartment with ski mask on, I don’t know what this shit about Queen and I don’t know what to do.”

“You must be drunk.” She chuckled nervously. “I’m gon’ send someone to check on you, take your medicine, and go lay down. Rest Teddy, stop talking so crazy.” She hung up leaving me standing there confused as fuck. I sat down on my couch; I didn’t even bother to look at the bodies in the hallway. It felt like I was stuck in a bad dream. Shit just went left fast as fuck. My nerves were rattled bad, if I killed Queen’s sister then I didn’t know where that would leave us. Queen changed my life; I just didn’t know what to make of all of this at this very moment.

After sitting there for fifteen minutes, I heard cars pulling up. I still didn’t move, I just stayed seated wondering what the fuck my fate was gone be. I didn’t feel defeated, so I kept my chin up. I was protecting my girl and little sister. I didn’t know what the fuck Murk’um and Clapback was on. Queen taught me to always shoot first and ask questions later.

A crew of five men in all black with gloves and masks walked in first. They said nothing and walked right towards the hallway. After a couple of seconds three more men walked in, two of them had menacing scowls on their faces. The one in the front didn’t look bothered at all, he held a flamethrower in his right hand. In his left hand was a thick Cuban cigar. He looked like he was a mixed nigga. Something about him was dark, his eyes looked icy as fuck.

“I’m Inferno, Queens husband. While my men work, I’ll take a seat and explain somethings to you.” One of his men followed him to the couch, the other nigga walked to where the men were working, one picked up Murk’um’s body.