Page 76 of Dope Boys: Most Wanted
Reign laughed nervously. “I don’t think he’s in check.”
“What’s up, Auntie?” Markus’ voice flowed into the space. “Y’all not harassing her too bad.”
“I’m not harassing her,” Aunt Lucille said, looking up at him. “How you get her?”
Reign laughed nervously. “I haven’t always been like this.”
“Oh no, baby,” Aunt Lucille corrected. “You’ve always been just like that. You’re just coming into your power. You don’t even know what kind of power you hold, do you?”
Reign swayed her head no. “Never even knew I had any.”
Aunt Lucille smiled softly at her. “Baby, when you realize who you are, no one is going to be able to stop you.”
Markus sat by his aunt with a piece of chicken in his hand.
Aunt Lucille turned to him. “You couldn’t wait for dinner?”
“If your sons are going to pop up, I wanted to eat before they made me lose my appetite,” Markus quipped, earning him a look. “My bad. How are you?”
“I’m fine. I just want to know how you managed to get this gem?” Lucille accepted the kiss on her cheek.
“She told me no, would barely say two words to me, and then when she did start talking to me, she cussed me out every chance she got. Had to have her,” Markus spoke proudly.
“You treat her right. You need that softness she carries.”
“I know,” Markus said, looking up at Reign. “I need her more than she knows.”
The front door opened, and Brantley and Angel roamed in.
“So y’all weren’t going to tell us you were having a little family dinner?” Brantley asked.
Reign looked at him, finding the evil in his smirk. The mere presence of it made her fall into the background as Markus stood.
“That’s ‘cause you wasn’t invited nigga,” Markus spoke. “I already told you how this shit is going to go.”
“You ain’t say nothing but bullshit,” Brantley spoke, closing the space between him and Markus.
Nia hopped up, moving her aunt out of the way because she knew what was happening next. The bull and the hunter were going to fight, and it was long overdue. Markus should’ve knocked the wind out of his sails when the offense happened instead of extending grace.
“You want yo ass beat in front of your mama, aight,” Markus grunted. “Let’s go nigga.”
Brantley swung only for Markus to dodge it and return the hit. Markus grabbed Brantley by the collar and carried him out of the house onto the sidewalk. Brantley landed one hit, but he’d never been a match for Markus. Especially not with his mind clear.
The two fought until Aunt G stepped out on the stoop and bellowed. “Ay! Get y’all asses in the gotdamn house before I drag you back in this muhfucka.”
Markus held on to Brantley a little while longer before letting him go. “Get your bitch ass off me.”
“You the bitch nigga,” Brantley huffed as Markus stood up. “Take yo ass in that house like auntie said.”
Markus glared at Brantley. “You want me to beat your ass up the steps?”
Brantley stomped up the steps, wiping his face with the back of his hand.
“All four of y’all in the fuckin’ family room. Stressin’ your momma out like this,” Aunt G fussed, shoving each of them toward the family room.
Nia took Reign’s hand. “Come, let’s eat, they’re going to be in there all night.”
“They do that often?” Reign asked.
