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“Speak,” I said, looking into Sumo’s eyes. I hated everything I saw in them. I hated the fear, the grief, the pain.
“I fucked up,” Sumo said. His words settled between us all like undetonated grenades. Any one of us could have picked them up and blown the entire room to shrapnel. Him fucking up was an understatement.
“I should have come to you, King. After you put me out, I ain’t have nowhere to go. No money. Nothing. TC was anxious to be down with me and I needed someone to run with.”
“So you kill two of our men and then shoot King and kill Truck?” Pretty Boy’s voice thundered. “Sounds like some treasonous shit to me.”
“I didn’t kill Truck!” Sumo boomed.
“You are the sole reason he’s gone, Sumo. Everything you did set his death in motion. If you can’t own up to that then I should just kill you and get it over with. I’m trying to be benevolent.” I stretched my fingers out then curled them into a fist, trying to use up even an ounce of the energy pulsing through me. It was dark, cold, and unforgiving.
The ticking from the kitchen clock filtered into my ears as I settled down from my outburst. Sumo nodded his head and pulled in a deep breath. Tears made the whites of his eyes shine.
“I can admit that,” he said. “My actions got Truck killed. Let me prove my remorse. I want to be put under observation.”
Now it was Juju’s turn to blow up. She tossed her hands in the air, Truck’s chain jangling softly on her wrist. She had it wrapped around her so many times, it looked like a small stack of gold bracelets with one king of hearts charm. The gold was stunning against her deep skin tone.
“Observation?!” Ju snapped loudly. “I know the fuck you don’t think you’re walking back into Legion of Kings after what you’ve done.” She grabbed Pretty Boy’s gun. It was sitting on the pool table, safety off. With an arm straight as an arrow, she aimed and looked Sumo in his dead eyes. “Tell me why I shouldn’t put a fucking peephole in your forehead, nigga.”
Shit, even I tensed at her words. Her fire. Her determination and fearlessness. Juju was a monster in the best possible way.
“You should put a bullet in my head, Juju.” Sumo rested his forehead against the barrel of the gun and shut his eyes, letting silent tears roll down his full cheeks. “I got my brother killed. There’s no fucking redemption for me if I can’t get back in with the Kings.”
“So now that you know we’re your only way to stay alive, you’re groveling?” Pretty Boy nodded, rubbing his chin. “You’re a fucking bitch for that, Sumo.”
“I know, I know,” He sighed, still resting his head against the barrel of the gun. “Call me every name in the book just…please let me back in. I can prove myself to y'all again.”
“Stand down, Jupiter,” I said quietly. With a reluctant huff, she lowered the weapon and Pretty Boy took it from her, patting the chair beside him. When she sat, he rubbed her shoulder and I saw her lean into him for comfort.
That was the measure of true trust between two brothers. She let her guard down enough to be calmed and he cared enough to deescalate the situation. It touched me to know that my woman and my best friend were tight.
I gripped Juju’s thigh and she rubbed the back of my hand. It was a silent show of strength between the three kings.
“If you want observation, we’ll have to vote on it. We know how to find you.”
“Can you call off your fucking goons, at least?” Sumo asked, looking from me to Juju.
“You know the lower-level kings want your head. Stay off the streets.” I made no promises because he needed to know that it was still on sight when any of the lower-levels saw him out and about.
“No,” Sumo said, shaking his head. “Not the lower-levels. The fucking cops.”
Pretty Boy, Juju, and I all exchanged glances.
“The cops fucked your face up like that?” Jupiter asked, leaning forward and studying his bruised face as if twelve left their signatures.
“Yeah. I was told that I’m lucky they didn’t kill me on behalf of the Legion of Kings.”
“Shit,” Juju and I said in unison.
“We’ll hold a vote and find you,” I told Sumo, standing to my feet.
“Wait, what?” Jupiter spat, pushing to her feet as well. “Are we really going through with this shit? You can’t be fucking serious, King.”
“I’m serious. Now calm the fuck down, Ju.”
“No! You want to let this murderer back into our family?”
“Jupiter!” I boomed, inches from her face. “I said calm the fuck down.” My heart thumped against my throat. I prayed she understood that I had a fucking plan.
