" Oh baby, a triple!"
Picking up the large strewn about notes on the cardboard, I met scheming eyes that spoke of nothing but trouble and that told me one thing; it was time to go.
" Hey motherland boy, borrow me a dollar will you. I used it all in that toss."
" Me to"
" I need five."
I smiled at the wannabe thugs and the other deadbeats straightening up and staring at me as it was clear what would happen next. " Of course my man." I said, shuffling through the bills for as long as I can. This was why you never went gambling in the hood without a plan.
" We got cops!"
At that moment, I ran for the door, hoping Andre was following. Making it to the hunk of metal rough hands called a car, I was happy to see that he was on my tail the entire time. He tried and failed to slide over his hood like a fuckin movie.
Too bad his car wasn't slick enough for it so he just got stuck halfway, needing to roll the rest. " Don't." was all he said as he got in and started the car to which I raised my hands in defeat, a shit eating grin on.
" Excellent job. They should start calling you the boy who cried wolf."
Andre snorted, started the piece of junk and gunned it. " You're gonna get us killed one day."
" Who the hell told you to join me?" I asked, counting the gains.
" That greenery you're holding of course. "
" I thought you were in this to protect me Andre baby~" I placed a hand on his shoulder which he violently shrugged off.
" You know what, I would be better off if I found you in a ditch."
I cackled, going back to counting the money, breaking off Andre's share and leaving it in his in the cubby in the middle. " Good hall today. You may be able to replace this driving hazard soon enough."
" Don't talk about Rusty like that. He's gotten us out of more shit than your mother wiped out of your ass."
I raise my hands in surrender once more, my gaze going out and locking onto a street sign. " Oh, cool, turn right. We're near this new chicken place I know. Got the best chicken you'll ever have. Trust."
" Well well well."
I raised an amused eyebrow. " Oh, I'm sorry. Is the guy who dunked watermelon in a watermelon flavoured protein powder talking shit."
" Fuck, It was one time."
"I know it wasn't. You swore that shit was good. "
" You know what. That shit was good and I'll stand by it. What about you, Mr I wanna try deep fried watermelon you self hating ass black."
" What? I've seen people deep fry alot of shit. Whats wrong with wanting to see deep fried watermelon."
A conversation about who was blacker later, we arrived at the spot.
" Are you sure we're here? This place look like a crackhouse."
" Nah buddy boy. Trust."
Walking up to the door saying no one was allowed, I easily pushed the door open, Andre warily walking in behind me.
" Ay, is that a rat?!" Andre damn near shouted.
" Nah, that's Tom. He's a chill guy."
" Wait, so its domesticated or something?"
I just shrugged " Hello! Anyone home?"
A minute or so later, a child walked out of the back, paper and pen in hand. " What do you want?" he said dryly, clearly done with the day.
" Give me two sixteen pieces."
I got a nod and he went back into the, well back.
" Are you sure about this?"
" Of course man. Don't you know? The more run down the place, the better the food. Hell, it even gets extra points since a child came to take my order. These are telltale signs, my man." I clapped his shoulder to reassure him, but I only got an unimpressed look in return.
" Oh yeah, heads up. I got a tip that a bad debtor is heading here." I announced as soon as I head a few voices from outside.
" Could've told me earlier so I could get my running shoes."
Just as Andre said that, the door opened and there our target was, walking in with two other friends. When he laid eyes on us, his face went pale then he booked it.
We ran after the fucker, Andre easily catching up to him and tackling the guy. After a few punches, Andre got him up and into a full nelson.
" Hoooooweeeee! Look's like we caught a big one here."
I did a little jig where I stood before punching the fucker right in his big ass nose, causing blood to start leaking. " You thought you could slip me, huh Markus. Just cause you left my part of town don't mean you ain't gonna get your ass got."
I punched him a few times in his gut before I grabbed his crusty hair. " Guess what. There's no escaping me mother fucker. Everyone knows; no one, and I mean no one messes with Darius Kingston's money."
" I'm sorry…I was…I was just-"
" About to skip town. About to run away with my fuckin money huh. I know. You make me sick. Your brother vouched for you and you made a liar out of him and a fool out of me."
I Sparta kicked the liar in the balls causing a the loudest cry of pain I ever heard. " Your voice annoys me. "
I grabbed his jaw so I could land a clean punch to it. I saw the fucker go dizzy so I decided to stop for now. I went through his pockets and found him carrying a roll of cash.
I laughed.
I laughed at the audacity of this man. Tucking away the money, I pulled out my pocket knife and pricked the lairs neck with it. " You know what I do to thieves and liars. I make sure they learn not to fuck with me or my money. "
I ran the blade gently across his neck, not enough to kill of course before I put my knife away. "I would chop those grubby little fingers of yours but your brother's been a great help to my growing enterprise so I'll let you off the hook with a good beating and maybe break a bone or two."
Putting on some gloves, I began wail on the guy. I took Andre's keys so I could go back and get my bat. I passed by the lairs friends who merely watched the scene unfold. They sent me a nod, knowing interfering in shit that wasn't theirs only spelt disaster.
Getting my bat, I walked back to the lair, and with a swing, a snap reverberated followed by a blood curdling scream. " Oh relax. I only broke an arm."
Nodding at Andre, my friend let go of the guy who dropped to the floor like a sack of potatoes. " I want the rest of my money and I want it by yesterday."
With that, we walked back to the dodgy house for our food. " Man, setting people straight sure does make a man hungry huh."
Andre just snorted as a response as we entered the building.
We waited for around three minutes until who had to be the boy's older sister came back with the food. Handing her the money, I opened the styrofoam container, took out a wing and bit into it.
And my god was it good.
A groan of pleasure left my lips. I took a moment to enjoy the flavour before I finally turned to Andre and saw him…saw him crying. I burst out laughing at the sight. " No fuckin way!"
I nearly dropped my wings with how weak I became with laughter. " Bro, I know it's good but aint no way you crying."
He couldn't even answer me, just turning away as he took another bite. I had to record the moment. Taking out my phone, I made sure to catch his reaction even as I continued laughing.
Andre just shoved a hand into the camera before wiping his tears and heading to the car. " Bro setting us back twenty years with this one."
I followed him all the way to the car before I finally laid off and began enjoying my food to the fullest. We sat in silence for a while till we both finished our meals. " Aint gonna lie, that shit was good."
" Just good?"
He rolled his eyes but a smirk formed on his greasy lips. " Okay, it was really good."
I snorted. Best I was gonna get from this tsundere. Andre suddenly looked contemplative before turning to look at me.
" Bro… I need your help. You know the party tonight?"
" No." I answered simply.
" Well, there's a party tonight and you know who's gonna be there.'
" Xi Jinping."
" What? No. Sofia "
" No no no no no n-"
" Come oooooon man. You know I wanna hook up with her. Just tonight. Keep Garlock the destroyer busy and I'll do my work."
" Fuck no and nothing is gonna change this fact. Just being seen with the whale will ruin my reputation."
Andre sighed before reaching into his glovebox and taking out a bundle of cash and mixed it with today's hall before offering it to me.
" You know, if Black flag taught me anything, it's how to go harpooning."
" Heeeeeeey Darius~"
Oh god. Why did I agree to this? " Hi Maria."
The fridge of a girl waddled up to me, giving me a hug I needed to allow this time. I turned to see the bastard chatting up Sofia, Couldn't just go for any other pretty girl around you bastard. If his money wasn't so green, I wouldn't be subjected to this shit.
" I haven't seen you in a while. I've missed you."
Yeah, cause I've been avoiding your huge ass. God, why is it that girls like you are chasing me, not the good ones?" Yeah, guess we've been missing each other. I have been a bit busy too."
" Well, I'm glad I came to this lame party. I never expected you to be here."
" Yeah, well I like to stay connected every once in a while. "
" WHERE THE FUCK IS KINGSTON!"
" Oh shit." Turning to the noise, I saw the group I swindled earlier today standing near the door. I unfortunately met the eyes of one of them and I knew shit hit the fan. " Uh, Andre."
" Yeah, book it."
We immediately ran deeper into the house, hoping there was another exit. Luckily there was in the kitchen. I heard shouts and things hitting the floor as we pushed through the crowd and out the back.
There was a car frame in the corner of the backyard and I decided to do something stupid. "Andre, parkour."
" What?"
I ran for the car, running on it and jumping over the fence over to the next backyard.
" The fuck man!" Andre shouted. He looked back, seeing the group exit the house and run for him.
" Come on man. Your ass is grass if you don't man up and parkour."
Andre sighed before running toward then up the car, jumping over the fence. Seeing he was following, I ran to the front of the house and into the street, Andre on my tail. These motherfuckers were persistent as when I turned to look back, three were still on us.
" Hey Andre, think we can take on three dudes?"
" Uh, maybe but it may give the rest enough time to catch up."
We continued to run for a while. Where the hell we were going, only god knew but we managed to lose them once we entered the shadiest looking neighbourhood I had seen yet.
" Fuck." Andre breathed out, huffing and puffing like a steam train but I was no better.
" Well, at least we lost em."
" Look at what we got here."
" Ah, fuck." I groaned, turning to see a different group of well mannered gentlemen approaching us.
" Hey Andre, I hope you're rested cause I think we need to gun it now." I whispered, my eyes looking around for an escape.
" What? No. Just give up and hand whatever we got." he whisper shouted at me.
"Never. I just got this phone and these are my favourite kicks."
I didnt wait for his reply, instantly running as soon as they neared, footsteps right behind me informing me that Andre had kept up. However, the ringing of gunshots reverberated around and a cry of pain told me that Andre got shot.
Turning, I saw the guy on his knees. " MY LEG, FUCK MY LEG!"
I ran up to him and helped him up, the guy leaning on me as we continued hopping away." Spongebob ahh scream." I couldn't help but say.
" You fucker. I got shot cause you didn't want to lose your crusty ass sneakers and that's all you got to say." he gritted out, his grip as hard as iron. I swear he was holding me painfully tight as a way to get back at me.
" Don't worry man. Ill get us out of here and I'll make sure you'll get that pity six with Sofia in no time man."
Despite it all, Andre chuckled as he tried his best to limp as fast as possible. " You bette you asshole."
A few more shots rang out and Andre jolted before slumping. " Hey Andre."
I shook him. " Andre, were you shot?"
Nothing.
" Andre, buddy. If you don't answer Ill assume you…you want me to you a bro kiss."
Nothing.
" I shook him harder. " Bro...fuck you better not be fuckin dead or…or Ill, like, fuck Sofia for you."
Nothing. I shook him harder, dropping him onto the pavement as I went to check where he might have gotten shot. I pressed my head against his chest and felt nothing. " Bro, this isn't funny anymore."
I felt for a pulse.
Nothing.
" How does it feel being on the other end now, Kingston."
I froze, my head slowly turning to that familiar voice.
Markus.
Not just Markus but a few other debtors. Seeing all of them, I knew this wasn't a coincidence.
I could only smile before standing up and facing them. " I don't know….I don't know why I gave any of you a shred of empathy. As soon as all of you tried shitz I should have just murdered your asses. Well, guess what…"
I knew today was the day.
" I wanna ask you all one question. How long do you think it'll take you to come meet me in hell cause that day will be sooner than you think, you good for nothing, rat fucking, mother whoring inbred masochistic fucks."
In one swift motion, my hand went for the last resort holstered on my lower back and pulled it out, gunning down two motherfuckers before I was riddled with holes.
Dropping to the ground, only one thought prevailed.
" Damn, I'm really craving that chicken right now."