Page 10 of Cove City: Vol. I

“Why you want to join them niggas so bad but stay talking about them. Nigga that’s wild.”

I didn’t understand my cousin, shit wasn’t adding up. To be honest I didn’t give a fuck about a Zoo nigga. I just wanted my Shorty, but the one she’s fucking with crossed the line when he pulled his gun out on me.

Quinton sucked his teeth, “Man, a nigga just trying to get paid. I heard those niggas stay getting paper. All I need to do is sit back, play my part, and wait for Chevy to show me what I need, then it’s up. Before you know it, those niggas are out and I’m in. Soho, king of the Zoo,” he explained.

I laughed at his delusional ass. “Yeah, ok. Listen, I’m about to head out. I’ll be there in a minute. Don’t start no shit either,” I told him.

“Come on, Mayne, you know me.”

“Yeah, ok.”

I ended the call with Quinton. I knew my cousin. Somehow, he’d always found ways to get us into shit that was hard to get out of. I’d stop fucking with him since the last little issue he got me into. I had to catch a body, but not by my account. Bishop hated Quinton, but at the end of it all the nigga was my blood,and I couldn’t leave him hanging. Leek didn’t fuck with him to much so all he had was me.

I slid my phone back in my pocket. When I turned to head back to the table to tell my mom I was out, to my surprise, she was standing right there. The look on her face told me she was irritated. I glance down at her, giving her the smile I knew she loved so much. She threw her hand up, “No! I don’t see you often and now you’re about to run the streets with Quinton. That boy will get you in all kinds of trouble, Pookie. I can’t lose another son.”

I sighed loudly. “Stop calling me that. I’m a grown man. I know how to handle myself. Besides, you know he doesn’t have anybody. Your sister out there basin and shit. He only has us. Well, me because you turned your back on him and I’m not Leek.”

The look of disappointment filled her eyes and the shit hurt. However, she knew what I said was true. I’ve always been a soldier, loyal to those I fucked with, and I wasn’t giving up on my cousin. My mother didn’t say a word to me as she returned to the table. I stood there for a second before turning and walking out the door. If this was another chance to talk to Sasha, I would take it.

***

As my cousin said, I’d pulled up to the block behind the shop. The back road was an industrial street on the other side of the Cove. It was where police weren’t called, and a plethora of bandos sat. I’m sure at one point the area had life, but drugs took over, and it changed everything. I knew the Cove like the back of my hand, but never thought to come here at night. The streets were filled with people, bikes, and cars. My eyes lit up at the scene. I strolled up the block, watching everyone. I eased my way through the crowd, looking for Quinton.

A familiar female’s voice captured me. “P! What the hell you doing here?”

I glanced over to see Symphony. “Sup, girl. How you know about this shit?”

She shrugged. “I be around. I would have invited you, but you know you and Bop are too good for this. Besides who doesn’t love some fine ass biker niggas, ow!Wooo!” she cheered along with everyone else.

Symphony was lying. Sasha invited her. My eyes scanned the crowd to see if I could spot her. That’s when the lights emerged from the other end. This would be the first time since knowing Sasha that I would actually see her race. Although I wasn’t a groupie ass nigga inside, I was smiling. The line of bikes pulled up. They began removing their helmets. One nigga after the next. Thenheremoved his helmet, and I got angry. Sasha then removed hers, leaned to the side, and kissed his ass. I felt Symphony’s hand grab mine. I shot her a look.

Don’t.she mouthed.

I bit into my lip because the urge to rush his ass was consuming me. They all huddled up and one nigga stood on the outside and began circling them. His voice roared with power.

“One muhfuckin chance to show me what you got. I didn’t leave my wife to come here for bullshit.”Clap!“I don’t give a fuck about all these muhfuckas watching. This is about Zoo!”Clap!“Y’all niggas say you can ride, then show a nigga!”

Symphony jumped up and down. “You better talk your shit!Ooo,he’s fine!” she cooed.

Quinton and his crew lined up to race. Sasha stood back with the other niggas. The guy who had been talking stepped to her and said something in her ear. When he glanced up, his eyes landed on mine. The stare was intense. I nodded slowly because the heat he was giving off, he was on killer time. He tapped Zeus’s shoulder and pointed. When Zeus saw me, a sinistersmile eased on his face, and he winked. His body leaned back as he howled like a wild animal. Sasha then leaned back, howling along with him. The shit was so in sync. The nigga had my bitch on lock. I began pushing my way through the crowd to get close to her. The tug at my shirt slowed me down. “Pierrenoo,” Symphony whined. “Maybe she’s happy. Chill.”

Suddenly, a girl stood in front of all the bikes and waved an orange flag, and Quinton and his crew took off. It was only a few seconds before Sasha and the other guys took off behind them. Only one was left behind and that was the nigga that gave the instructions. I quickly rushed to the front of the crowd. My eyes lit up as I watched Sash do her thing on the bike. Baby was really riding that muhfucka. She leaned low, hitting the corner, disappearing into the night. I wanted to rush to my car to follow her, just to watch.

It took about ten minutes for the lights to come back on the block. The bikes zoomed by one after the next. I saw Sash’s bike coming up doing a wheelie while she stood on the seat. I found myself smiling. “Get that shit Sash,” I mumbled between my teeth.

Once they were all done. The main nigga surveyed them as he nodded. “My boys beat all you hoe niggas. Hell, even Freckles smoked y’all ass.”

Freckles? They gave her a nickname and shit.I saw Quinton step to him. “Chevy, with all due respect, I—”

Chevy held his hand out, stopping Quinton from moving any further. “Nigga, due my fuckin ass. You’re the main one, Chompers. You the nigga with all the mouth but the slowest one out this hoe. So, what the fuck do you got to say to me?”

Before Quinton could say anything else, I moved quick, “Yo nigga ease up on him. I don’t know who you are and really don’t give a fuck.”

Chevy flicked at his nose as he slowly walked up to me. His face frowned as his eyes flickered. He pointed at me, “This yo bottom bitch?” he asked now pointing at Quinton.

“Nah, Chev, he wants the smoke with me,” Zeus stepped up.

“Shoot his bitch ass Zu!” another nigga with dreads called out.

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