Page 88 of Dope Boys: Most Wanted
He groaned, unable to remain angry about it. “I’m not going to lie that shit had me fuckin’ tight.”
“Markus, I know. I’ve been consumed by it. So much has happened since you’ve been gone. I should have told you.”
His attention spiked. “What happened?”
“I stabbed some guy in the salon. Some nigga Kay-Dee knew. I’m assuming he was there to hurt me.”
Before she could get the next part of her sentence out, Markus erupted. “How the fuck a nigga even get that fuckin’ close to you? Where was Fuego and Bullet! Gahdamn it!”
Reign jumped back at the eruption. “They handled it! They shot him and took him out.”
“If that nigga was close enough to you to inhale your scent, it wasn’t fuckin’ handled soon enough. How did he even get in the salon?” Markus turned, yanked the bedroom door open, and whisked out of the room. Reign was on his heels. “Nia!”
“Markus, let me finish talking to you,” Reign huffed, taking off behind him.
“Nia!” Markus roared again. “When the fuck were you goin’ to say something?”
Nia and Svyn stopped whatever conversation they were having to find Markus bulldozing down the stairs.
“What are you screaming for?” Nia huffed.
“Who was that nigga Reign stabbed in the salon?” Markus pressed, making Svyn pop up and look at Reign.
“You stabbed a nigga?” he had an amused smirk on his face.
She nodded subtly.
“I know this ain’t the time, but your nigga owes me some bread. He said you weren’t ‘bout that life. Said yo’ little ass wouldn’t bust a grape. You look like a baby gangsta to me. I might make you my apprentice. I can’t be the only nigga about torture around this bitch,” Svyn muttered. “You got that shit in you, don’t you?”
“Not the time,” Reign muttered, seeing the fumes coming off of Markus.
“Svyn, please.” Nia turned to Markus and shrugged as if it were just another day and another body. “It was G. The nigga needed to go anyway. I hand-”
“G!” Markus growled. “Tell me…”
“The nigga is dead and floating in the river,” Nia scoffed. “Why are you barking and growling and shit? You told me to handle shit if it popped off. Shit popped off, and I handled shit. Well, ya girl handled it, got his ass right in the neck. He deservedit. I heard him talking all that shit about trim and getting a taster before sending her back to The Port. Reign did what needed to be done.”
“Needed to be done? Y’all don’t fuckin’ get it!” Markus erupted again. His core rattled with the thought of losing, not just his position but Reign. “The biggest play of my fucking life is riding on my ability to keep this shit locked in. B and Angel are walking time bombs. I can’t have this shit falling out too.”
“Markus,” Reign softly spoke from behind him. His shoulders squared.
“Reign don’t,” he warned. “Don’t.”
“You’re spinnin’,” she softly replied.
Nia was readying herself to respond, but once she heard Reign’s softness, she knew that this was a moment he needed to have solely with her. That was her power. When no one else could get through to Markus, his lady could. She wasn’t going to interfere in a moment they needed to come back center. “We should go, Svyn.”
“I’ll touch base with you in the morning, Money,” Svyn said, patting his shoulder on his way out of the house. “Good job, Reign.”
Reign waited for them to be alone to continue. “This isn’t the time to unravel, Markus.”
“Stop callin’ me that Reign,” he huffed.
She moved into his view. “Emilliano. Look at me.”
His eyes darted to her. “This shit is getting too much. Every time I step out of this house away from you, it’s niggas trying to snipe me. I’m fuckin’ fallin’ for a stranger. ‘Cause I don’t know who you are.”
“First of all, watch your tone. Second, I think it’s fair to saywefell into something without knowing the particulars. And for the sake of my mistrust and withholding, I’ll tell you who I am. Ifthat’s going to soothe what I did to your armor. I’ll tell you every detail if that’s what it takes.”
