Page 6 of Dope Boys: Most Wanted
Another grunt left Javier’s mouth. “Who ordered the raids?”
“Mayor Norman. Operation Street Sweep. Or some shit like that.”
“Why?” Javier posed mid chew.
“Pressure from his highest donor. Apparently, the man’s daughter got caught up with Metro Ross. Government name Darrion Ross Jr. He has the five boroughs on lock with his product. Six of his major stashes have been raided and he’s currently awaiting his trial. If we want Majestic Heights…”
“When you start speakin’ French?”
“If you want Majestic Heights, the mayor is up for grabs. His weakness: beautiful women. Which one are you sending?”
Javier swallowed, sniffed the residual product lingering in his nostrils, and directed, “Arrange the meeting. And wake the lazy bitch up. She needs to earn her fucking keep.”
On beat, KC rose from the table and started his way out of the dining room only to be halted by Javier’s voice. “Bring her down. Even if she has to crawl.”
KC flexed his jaw, almost repulsed by Javier’s vile character. He almost objected the request before remembering what declining meant. Reign was the prime example of the wrath following rejecting Javier. She refused to be used as a sex slave on her birthday and was beaten as if she’d stolen something from him. If anything, Javier was the thief.
KC nodded in acknowledgement and proceeded. Every step towards the room Reign occupied, his steps felt more weighted. Heavy with guilt. Cemented in knowing and doing nothing. He lightly wrapped his knuckles against the door, hoping to hear the mutter of her voice. Instead he heard Camden, the house manager.
She pulled the door open and looked up at KC, somber eyes. Before speaking, she pulled him in and closed the door. “This is the worst beating yet. I snuck the doctor in to tend to her. How could you let this happen?”
KC gritted his jaw at her silent scolding. “What the fuck was I supposed to do?”
“Not be a pussy and stop him. I’ve watched you stop him from beating men who deserved this. She couldn’t open her eyes for two days!” Camden semi-shouted before looking over her shoulder and down the hall into the bedroom to ensure she hadn’t startled Reign. “He drugged her and beat her on her birthday. You don’t see anything wrong with that?”
“You think I like this shit? Huh? Do you know what that nigga will do to us if we buck back?”
Camden scoffed and flailed her arms. “I’m fucked either way and so are you. He owns us. He doesn’t own her. She’s the only one who can get out of here. What are you going to do about it?”
KC’s face twitched with conviction. But his mouth spoke the opposite. “Javi wants her downstairs. Get her there before he comes up here. He’s been coked up for two days and hasn’t come down. I don’t want to make this worse.”
Camden scoffed and waved him off. “It’s worse. We are at worst. Would you like to wait until he kills her like…”
KC gritted. “Don’t.”
“Then do something,” Camden sharply urged before spinning on the balls of her loafer-covered feet. “I’ll help her down. If he touches her, I’m doing something about it. Since you can’t be a fuckin’ man.”
KC’s nostrils flared as he watched her walk away. He felt that in his chest. The weight increasing by the second. He could hear Camden softly speaking to Reign and chose to step outside the room. Rubbing his face vigorously, he tried to cool his being from the scolding. She was right. There was nothing he’d done. But he could do something. It had to be at the right time. First step was getting her out of the house and away from Javier.
The six minutes and forty-five seconds that passed before Reign and Camden moved out of the room seemed like anhour. Reign’s face was swollen, blotched with black, blue, red, and green bruises. He was sure the rest of her body looked like her face. Reign barely looked in his direction, a phoenix. The glimpse he caught fiery and filled with rage.
Trailing the women, he observed Reign’s movements, limited, cautious, painful. Once downstairs, outside under the veranda, Reign stood on the far end from where Javier sat, sure to be out of his reach. Javier looked over her and winced.
“What did you learn?” he posed as if Reign were a child who didn’t pick up her toys and lost a few minutes of screen time.
KC and Camden schooled their faces.
If Reign could skew her expression without further pain, she would.
“You can’t hear too?” Javier grumbled. “Answer me before I open your mouth for you.”
Reign muttered. “Not to defy you.”
“When I tell you to jump, bitch, you better ask me how high,” Javier directed before pointing to the seat. “Sit.”
Reing did. Sure to position herself as broken and dependent.
“You need to clean yourself up and be in Majestic Heights in three days. KC is going with you.”
