Page 84 of Smoke

We disconnected the call, and I shot him the address of the shop. Heading back into Romi’s room, I quickly got dressed and headed back out. After grabbing her keys so I could let myself back in, I left the house and headed in the direction of the beauty bar. The drive only took about ten minutes. I drove past first to make sure nobody was outside before I backed into the darkest part of the parking lot.

A tap on the window caused me to look over and see Steel and our cousin Jakobi. After retrieving my gun from the center console and screwing on the silencer, I got out of the car. I slapped hands with my brother and cousin.

“I appreciate y’all coming,” I said.

Steel nodded. “Baby daddy?”

“Baby daddy. Jae said it’s him, two other niggas, and a female inside.”

“I’ve got the cleanup crew on the way,” Jakobi said.

“Good. I just want him and the girl, especially if it’s the bitch I think it is.”

“I got my shit,” Steel said, patting the bag on his back.

They nodded in agreement. We headed for the back door, guns drawn. I checked the door, finding it unlocked. Slowly, I twisted the knob and pulled it open. Quietly, we entered the building. I’d had Jaeda pull the blueprints so I’d be familiar with the layout when the time came. We made our way down the hall to the basement door. Again, I slowly twisted the knob and pulled it open.

Voices could be heard at the bottom of the stairs. With the layout being the way it was, we could sneak down without being seen. It was a matter of being heard. Slowly, we descended the concrete steps. Peeping around the corner, I saw Patrick standing at a table, counting money, while the other two men sorted baggies of cocaine. That bitch Laurel sat in the corner, scrolling on her phone.

I knew a snake ass ho when I saw one. It was gonna break Romi’s heart to know she’d been crossed by yet another someone she trusted. It didn’t matter though. I was going to get justice for her. Justice began with me sending a bullet through the back of one of the unknown men’s heads. He fell against the table before falling to the floor.

Laurel screamed and ran to hide, while Patrick and the other man fumbled for their guns. By the time they got them, Steel had given the other man a headshot while Jakobi shot the gun out of Patrick’s hand.

“Get that bitch,” I said, motioning to Laurel as I approached Patrick with my gun drawn.

He held his hand, muttering curses from the pain.

“You know me, my nigga?” I asked.

“The fuck do you want?”

“You.”

“Please don’t shoot me!” Laurel begged, as Jakobi had her hemmed up. “I’m sorry. I just?—”

“Bitch, shut the fuck up!” I snapped. “You ungrateful ass hos make my nuts itch. How long have you been fucking with this nigga?”

She was quiet until I pointed the gun at her. “A few months!”

“Triflin’ slut.”

“Look, if this is about the drugs, just take it,” Patrick said.

I laughed. “This pussy ass nigga thinks this is over some fucking drugs. Nah, see. You touched something that now belongs to me, and I don’t play about a nigga touching what’s mine. Bitch, the drugs are the least of your problems with me, personally. I do have a few people who want to speak with you about that, however.”

“What do you want! I can pay?—”

I shot him in the other hand.

“I don’t want your fucking money, nigga. I will take what you have on you, however. You see, my girl just hadyourbaby, and she’s gonna need some compensation for that. This will make a great push present for her.”

“My baby—Romi?”

“You got it, my nigga. That’s mine. I’m gonna enjoy raising your daughter too. Got my baby in the NICU fighting for hermuthafuckin life. And you, you stupid bitch,” I said to Laurel. “Romi trusted you, and you out here fucking her trifling ass baby daddy. You hos love fucking ain’t shit ass niggas. Your life is gone off principles alone.”

Before she could blink, I gave her a headshot as well. Jakobi let her body drop to the floor.

“Muthafucka, you could have warned me,” he complained.

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