Page 82 of Honey's Special Roux

He shook his head. “N-no?—”

“Don’t lie. Stand on the shit you were talking in that video. You said, and I quote,y’all favorite street nigga is stocking shelves. See what happens when you go against family?Ain’t that what he said?”

“Yup.” TK agreed.

“You spoke on my lady, me, and my pops. Are you stupid or dumb?”

Quintin put his hands up. “I was just talking?—”

I slapped him. His head would have turned like a swivel chair if this were a cartoon. I wanted him to feel my anger in every attack I had for him. Bitch ass nigga would think twice about running his mouth. I continued to pistol-whip him—each blow had direct contact with his face.

“You had a lot of shit to say, but you pissing your pants like a pussy.” I pried his mouth open and stuck the tip of my gun in his mouth. He cried.

“Aye, you can wait in the car. I don’t want you tied to whatever happens next. Just in case.” I spoke to TK.

“Real nigga.” TK dapped me up and left the house. I needed someone on lookout anyway.

“I hope in your next life, you learn to keep your mouth shut.” I pulled the trigger, and Quintin’s brains sprayed across the room. The sight was repulsive despite the satisfied smirk on my lips.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

The fine hair on my skin stood at attention as a familiar presence entered the room.Where the hell did he come from?I asked myself as I straightened up. The sight of Chandler sent a wave of nausea through my body. I wanted to throw up and crash out at the same time.

“You’ve got some nerve,” I stated once I’d regained my composure.

“It felt like the right time to return. You’re welcome, by the way. I’m the one who orchestrated all of this. Quintin snitching and you getting out on good behavior,” Chandler explained with a smirk.

“Nigga, this ain’t no fuckin’ movie. I don’t need you to reveal your master plan. You killed my mama, and you gon’ die. Simple as that.” I lifted the gun that still had Quintin’s brain matter all over it and pointed it at Chandler.

Chandler’s cool demeanor shifted into one of panic. “Wait?—”

“Nah. See you in hell, bitch.”

BANG! BANG! BANG!

I pulled the trigger until the clip was empty. I’d continued to stare at Chandler’s bullet hole covered body. This was what I’d dreamed of doing for decades. Chandler didn’t deserve the benefit of the doubt. Chandler didn’t deserve to give an explanation. Chandler deserved to die without a second thought.

I wiped the gun on Quintin’s shirt and walked out of the house. I pulled out my phone and called Merlot.

“What’s up, nephew?” he answered in a happy tone.

“We need to talk,” I stated coolly.

“You know where I be.”

“Cool. I’ll pull up tomorrow. In the meantime, send somebody to yo’ boy Q’s spot.”

I hung up without another word before I climbed into the passenger seat and waited only seconds for TK to pull off.

“You good?” TK asked when we’d gotten far enough from the crime scene.

“Superb.” I sat back and exhaled. All my troubles had been taken care of in a matter of hours. Aliza, Quintin, and Chandler were no longer an issue. Now, my main focus could be becoming the man Honey needed me to be. Growth wasn’t linear. Relapses were normal. It was about what I did in the days to follow that would make the difference, right?

“Mommy, you okay?”Quis asked as he looked me in my eyes. His light brown eyes were a replica of the man who’d pissed me off on more than one occasion.

My lip trembled at the sight of his worried little eyebrows knitted together with concern. I lifted him up into my arms and kissed his cheek. He hugged me tightly, and it took every ounce of strength in my body to hold in the tears.

“I’m okay, stinkabutt.”

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