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“What?” I barked out a laugh. “Fell in love? Nah. Nobody is in love. I just…I need her to blow off steam. To take my frustrations out. She’s always so feisty and I love that shit.”
“You love her, King. We’re too old to keep fronting, man. I know we’re in our twenties but at any moment we could be taken out. You really wanna live like that knowing you never told Juju how you feel? Leave her all broken up?”
Pretty Boy’s simple quiet words struck fear into my heart. He was right. The life we led meant a bullet could have our name on it whenever and wherever. The thought of something happening to me or Juju had me shook.
“Nah…I can’t leave her like that,” I said shaking my head. “But what will all the kings think seeing me with the first woman we let in? Then they’ll think that’s what any other woman who joins the kings is for. That shit can’t fly.”
“If other women join the Kings, they better be able to hold their fucking own. If they need to shoot one of these motherfuckers, then so be it. Plus, you know we won’t let that happen on our watch.” Pretty Boy watched the people walking by for a while then said, “I used to be kinda like Sumo when it came to Juju until I got to know her. Now, the Kings wouldn’t feel right without her. I can’t imagine how I’d feel if I was in love with her. Having her one minute then voluntarily giving her up the next. Nothing would feel right. I wish I had someone who matched me the way she matches you, bro.”
“You just put some shit in perspective for me, Pretty Boy. I still can’t wrap my head around being with a girl like Juju. She hates emotions. She doesn’t want a man. I can’t blame her. I don’t want a woman.”
“You wantherthough,” he said, frowning.
“It’s not as easy as it seems. People like us don’t date and fall in love. We fuck.”
“Okay, King. Do what you gotta do,” he laughed. I was about to say something in response when I saw a familiar man walking by with a shopping bag in his hand, talking on the phone. I glanced at Pretty Boy and lifted my eyebrows.
“Him?” He asked.
“Him,” I said with certainty. I recognized him as the guy Juju went on a date with last month. She told me he called her recently wanting to try again. She was considering if he promised to take her shopping first.
She could kill that shit because it wasn’t happening.
Pretty Boy knew what the look I gave him meant. It was time to do what Legion of Kings did best, rob this motherfucker.
Pretty Boy covered me while I walked up on my target from behind. He was about to get into his car when I placed the cold steel of my gun against the back of his neck.
“Give me your motherfucking wallet,” I growled as I pressed close to him so he couldn’t turn around.
“Okay, okay!” He said, shaking. He dug in his pocket and handed me his wallet. I handed it to Pretty Boy and he took out the guy’s ID.
“Jamil Mohammad,” Pretty Boy said, holding the ID between his two fingers.
“You know Jupiter?” I asked close to his ear.
“Y-Yeah. I went on a date with her but…I won’t. I won’t date her anymore,” he stammered.
“You motherfucking right you won’t,” Pretty Boy said, menacingly. “Or we’ll find your house in Santa Monica and run through all your shit.”
“She’s off fucking limits. Don’t call her. Ever,” I said, pushing my gun harder against the base of his skull.
“Okay. I hear you. I’m sorry. Please…don’t hurt me.” Tears collected in his voice and I backed off, shoving him against the car. Pretty Boy handed me his wallet, and I tucked it back in his pocket.
“You’re clear,” Pretty Boy said backing away.
I put my gun away and turned on my heel, headed toward the apartment.
Was it stupid for us to do that on busy-ass Crenshaw?
Fuck yeah.
Did it feel good to do some hood shit with my brother?
Absolutely.
We walked back to the apartment and I felt a little lighter after our talk. Truck handed me a red cup of Hennessey as soon as I hit the door. I took it gladly while looked around the room for Juju.
When I didn’t see her anywhere, I found the lower-level king she’d been talking to before I left. I didn’t waste time with pleasantries. “Where the fuck is Juju?” I demanded, wrapping his shirt around my fist. The party fell silent even though the music still pumped.
