Page 19 of Dope Boys: Most Wanted
She knew it wasn’t over yet. Javier was going to send his goons to find her and KC wasn’t returning to The Port withouther if he wanted his life. For tonight, she would pray she was safe enough to plan her next steps. The goal was freedom. Little did Reign know, she was at the cusp of her forever.
With weighted steps,Markus roamed through the dimly-lit lounge Luciano held office in. Svyn stayed where he’d always been; to the left of Markus. There was never a time he couldn’t spot or hear Svyn nearby.
He didn’t know the darkness he was unlocking through his misjudgment of the character of those around him but he understood that Svyn was his protection and always had been. Itwas an unspoken agreement between the men. Markus met Svyn shortly after he and Nia moved into Lucielle’s. That was before the block was bought back and cleaned up by Markus’ dirty money from the streets. Back then it was called hustler’s row. The only neutral point was Lucielle’s. Mainly because she didn’t play when it came to her house. You weren’t going to fight, cuss or hustle in front or on her stoop. If you were hungry she fed you, needed love, she nurtured. Svyn was one of those kids that needed both. He was at their spot more than his own house. Sure Brantly and Angel were his cousins – but Svyn was his brother and blood couldn’t make them closer.
“Be cool, Money,” Svyn urged. “You know that nigga is about to be on some bullshit.”
“Yeah,” Markus grumbled. “I can sense that shit. Havin’ us leave our heat at the door had me ready to set this bitch off.”
Svyn snickered before they were stopped at another wall of security.
“This nigga thinks he’s Gambino,” Svyn muttered.
“Lucky Luciano impersonator. Ain’t no other niggas to aspire to?”
“Frank Lucas turned fed just like the rest of them,” Svyn replied.
Markus let a glimmer of amusement appear on his face. Straightening up, he looked at the handful of Luciano’s head men and posed, “Y’all gon’ feel how heavy my dick is or move out my way?”
“Let’s see if you still talkin’ that bullshit after Luciano finishes with you,” the large man with the high voice spoke.
“Man, hurry the fuck up with this,” Markus spoke. “If I wanted to shoot this bitch up, it would’ve been done.”
“Stop fucking around, PJ and let the nigga in. We got shit to handle.” Luciano’s voice came out in a low rumble and could be heard over the music playing throughout the lounge.
PJ stepped back and slightly kissed his teeth when Markus gave him a cut of the eye as he strolled pass. Inside the private room, Luciano and his right-hand-man, Metro. Luciano motioned for Markus and Svyn to take a seat before sparking a blunt.
“I could have,” Luciano started, holding the smoke in his mouth before releasing. “We made an agreement about women and children.”
“We did.”
“But there’s a dead kid on my block and your number one nigga is responsible. Him and your dumb ass cousin.”
“He ain’t my number one no more. I’ll handle my cousin.”
“The only way I see you handling them niggas is to put a bullet between their fuckin’ eyes. A life for a life. There’s a mother grievin’. For what?”
Markus rubbed his sweaty palms on his black sweats and leaned forward. “I’m sorry about that. I’ll cover the funeral and whatever else but what’s more bloodshed going to solve?”
“So fuck the fact you trying to move on my territories. Your cousin was out on my block fighting over pussy. You know what it takes to be a leader? To sit in this spot?”
“Regulating. That’s what the fuck I’ve been doing. I didn’t come here to have some Kumbaya moment with you. I came to tell you I’ll handle my people, you handle yours.”
“As opposed to?”
“I wipe all your blocks, take your product and your workers. It’s up to you. You already know this goes against my M.O. I’m trying to be respectful about an innocent life lost.”
Luciano knew without a question the way Markus dropped bodies, he wasn’t opposed to a war. He’d gone to plenty and came out on the other end. Even while talking about putting his men down, Luciano knew that if Markus’ back was against the wall, he would take anyone out who stood in his way. It was onlya matter of time before Markus decided he wanted it all and took Luciano out of the game forever.
“I could kill your ass right now.”
“You could, that’s the power of free will. But you got fuckin’ sense and you know that if my body drops, yours does too. So tell me what the fuck you want so I can be about my way.”
“Take care of the family. Stay off my blocks.”
“I’m taking your blocks. I’ll start with two. I hope you can survive that,” Markus stated, standing up.
“Not if I take you out first, nigga.”
