Page 2 of Ruger

"But you said?—"

"You've done enough, my nigga," I stated, cutting him short. I initially was going to let him handle the situation, but because I felt as if he would only make shit worse, I decided I should be the one to settle this shit before we took it there.

Nino stood with his team of six and crossed his arms, chucking his chin up at me.

"Was it necessary to bring the whole crew?" he asked with a slight smirk on his face.

"One band, one sound, my guy. A word?"

He stared at me for a beat before his eyes went to Grue, then gave a stiff nod and walked off. I followed him inside. He stopped at the entrance, away from prying ears.

"I thought we had an agreement, Nino."

"Yeah, well, that agreement is null and void now since ya mans put mine in the hospital, so fuck him. The only way he's getting her back is if I break his fucking jaw like he broke my cousin's."

"Was it not warranted? Apparently, your cousin sexually harassed his sister, and as any woman would do, she went to someone who she knew would step behind her?—"

"He never touched that little bitch!"

"Easy..." I dragged and chuckled lightly.

"You should probably stay out of this, Ruger. This ain't ya beef."

"But it is. Those are my people. They are the ones who have my back, and I have theirs as well. I agree. Gruesome may have taken things overboard with putting ya mans in the hospital, but I'm sure we can both agree that it could have been worse. You could be planning his funeral right now because we both know Grue has no sense."

"Then that nigga would be lying right next to him along with that pretty little bitch of a sister. It's taking everything in me not to fuck her and kill her." Nino chuckled, and my face grew stoic. I didn't play that disrespecting women shit, and he was clearly trying to take me there.

Today, you are peaceful.

I had to keep telling myself that because I was five seconds from blowing up.

"Let's end this here, Nino. I'll pay for your cousin's medical bill, and you return Grue's sister unharmed."

"I don't think I can do that. I want to break his face like he broke my cousin's."

"You know that's not happening. Before I get stupid, I'm trying to extend you some grace."

"I'm not one of your fucking lap dogs! I don't give a fuck about a truce. Ya mans violated, so either he takes this ass whuppin', or you can. Make your choice, motherfucka!"

"Ya moms still stay over on Mark Twain? What about ya granddaddy? Is he still at the nursing home on Seven Mile and John R.?" Nino's eyes hit me with fire blazing behind them.

I could see his chest rapidly rise and fall as I stood, clutching my right wrist in front of me where my Ruger resided. I was trying to take the easy approach, but obviously, Nino wanted to play Nino Brown, and we all knew how that story ended.

His nostrils flared as he signaled to one of his flunkies. Five minutes later, the flunky brought out Grue's sister with a sackcloth over her face and arms tied behind her back.

"This ain't over, nigga." He sneered as the flunky pushed her into my arms.

She whimpered and tried to push against me. I leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Relax. You're safe." She calmed slightly. Her body was still tense as my eyes hit Nino, who stood by, still seething.

"I'm hoping for your sake, it is."

As I pulled the sackcloth from her head, something shifted. I wasn't easily enamored by women. The ones I've come across were the same — fat ass, cute or fuckable, big breasts, and had gold digger as their résumé. Looking at the one before me, she donned none of that. The innocence behind her terrified eyes made me pause. She was a vision... like an exquisite painting that you couldn't take your eyes off of.

Mona Lisa.

Her eyes penetrated something inside of me that had both of us searching for whatever the fuck this was that had us trapped, but before I could fall completely into her realm, she turned toward Nino, gathered all the spit inside her mouth, and launched it in his face.

"Bitch!" she screamed.

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