Page 80 of Honey's Special Roux

I merged onto the highway. We caught up on each other’s lives for a few minutes. As I exited, I wanted to see what they were on for the day. “What y’all up to?” I asked.

“Me and the kids gon’ hit up the park later for a birthday party,” Mouse answered.

“We really parents and shit. That’s insane.” I shook my head.

TK was quiet for a long moment before he spoke. “Yo, Marq?”

“Yeah?”

“You see that video Quintin posted on social media?” TK asked.

“Nah. I ain’t following none of them niggas. Why?”

TK sighed. “He’s bragging about being the reason you sat them years.”

My grip on the steering wheel tightened. “Man, you swear?”

“I’ll send you the video now.”

“Let me pull over and watch this shit.”

I pulled into a nearby gas station. My leg twitched as I opened up the message with the link to the video. Quintin looked older, but he was still a nappy head ass kid like I remembered him to be.

“Y’all favorite street nigga is stocking shelves. See what happens when you go against family?” Quintin took a pull from his blunt and showed off his gun. “A nigga like me makes sure no witnesses are left behind. He should have spent more time learning the game than following behind that bitch. Now he a bum ass nigga while I’m fucking models every night. His own daddy ain’t even wanna be in his life. How does it feel to know this young nigga took everything you love. I might circle back and fuck yo’ bitch too.”

The video ended.

“Marq? You there?” Mouse asked.

“I ain’t gon’ ask y’all if y’all down to ride, but I need a favor. Find me the nigga location so I can handle that shit.”

“Marq, you sure you want to?—”

“I don’t need no fuckin’ warning. Niggas think they can disrespect me and I’m gon’ let that shit slide?” I shook my head.

“Nigga, you fresh out, and you’re only free because of overpopulation in the system. Your name slipped through the cracks. You get caught up in some more shit and that’s your ass for life.” Mouse sounded stressed, but I didn’t give a fuck.

“Cool. TK, you down to ride?”

“I ain’t gon’ ride, but I know where him and his homies stay. I’ll send you the lo when I find it.”

“Cool. You mind if I swing by really quick?” I asked TK.

“Nah. Pull up. The door unlocked.”

“You’re seeing red, but you gon’ be really pissed when Honey leave your ass for good.” Mouse was always the one to have some sense. Unfortunately, I wasn’t on the type of time to receive the help he was offering.

“Y’all be safe. I got some shit to handle.”

I put TK’s address into my GPS and headed toward his spot. He was only forty-five minutes from the gas station I parked at.

Blood was on my mind. I wanted to make an example out of him, especially since he admitted to being the one who snitched on me. Did mothafuckas get clout from being certified snitches these days? Weird flex, but okay. People died for less back in the day.

* * *

“Thank you for helping me out,” I began as I inhaled from the blunt. Once the smoke had filled my lungs, I exhaled. “I’ll be glad when I beat Quintin ass and finally put that animosity I have for that sperm donor of mine behind me.”

“You think Quintin knows something about your pops?” TK asked as he took a pull from his own blunt.

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