by Jazmyne
“Man move,” J’vion retorted as he removed the gun from his waistband. J’vion eased the door all the way open. Then he stepped inside with his back against the door as he listened for any movement.
“Do you know if your brother has any animals?” J’vion asked.
“Nah, not that I remember,” Adam replied, following closely.
Adam flipped the light switch on as he and J’vion stood in the doorway. “What’s next?” Adam inquired.
Grab shorty from the car while I make a few phone calls,” J’vion demanded as he dialed on his cell phone. J’vion frowned as he looked around the space. This was his first time in Ace’s home. The last time he was in the area was when he had lost a few of his most loyal homeys as well as his best friend, Meek. Every time he closed his eyes, it played like a never-ending movie. It only caused him to want Ace’s blood that much more.
J’vion made the calls he needed to make. His niggas were en route, more than ready to do damage.
*
Sunshine grimaced in pain as her body crashed onto the hardwood floor beneath her. He stepped over her body as if she were a pile of trash.
“Who is he?” Brenda asked.
“Who the fuck are you?” J’vion asked in return as he stared her up and down. “I don’t have time for formalities,” he said as he walked toward the kitchen. J’vion waved Adam along.
Brenda snatched his arm preventing him from following.
“You trust him?” She asked.
“I don’t trust anyone! But if he’s willing to help solve this problem, I’m down for whatever,” Adam answered as he snatched his arm then turned and walked away. He stopped and faced Brenda again, “You can either continue to ride this wave or consider this your opportunity to walk away,” he said looking into her eyes.
Brenda thought about this being her chance to leave. Conversely, she wanted to stay to the end to see how everything would turn out. She knew it wouldn’t end well for someone; she just didn’t know who. She had come to the conclusion she had already lost. She was simply waiting for the day someone put a bullet in her to seal the deal.
The cocking of a gun drew both Brenda and Adam’s attention. When they looked up, J’vion was standing there holding his gun down to his side.
“I don’t know what you two got going on but the only two options she has is: one, stay and finish this out or two, die,” he said looking from Adam to Brenda. “I don’t know her and I for damn sure don’t trust her. She has already heard and seen too much,” he declared angrily.
Adam stepped in front of Brenda. “Whoa, she has nothing to do with what you and I have going on.
Brenda felt warm inside and was glad Adam had taken up for her. “Adam, I’m gonna ride this one out until the end,” she stated.
“Are you sure?” Adam asked as he turned his attention to Brenda. She nodded her head in the affirmative.
“Yes, I’m sure,” she reassured him.
“Now that we’ve gotten that cleared up, can we get back to the task at hand?” J’vion demanded, walking away. Brenda and Adam followed him into the kitchen where he explained his plan.
“Are you sure this is going to work?” Adam asked once again, feeling unsure about J’vion’s scheme.
“If I wasn’t sure it would be successful, I wouldn’t be doing it,” Adam retorted, getting up when he heard a horn being blown outside.
*
Aaliyah had gotten the girls out of the tub and into bed. The entire time she was dressing them for bed, they asked question after question. Regrettably, she didn’t have an answer to any of them. Aaliyah lay with them until they both fell asleep.
When Aaliyah made it back downstairs, Boy, Jay, and Boog were sitting with Ace.
“What you wanna do?” Jay asked, always down for whatever.
“I wanna shut the city down. I’m talking ‘bout kicking in doors, the whole nine,” Ace snapped. “It’s one thing to come after me but to involve my lady and daughters, not cool.” He finished.
“When you trynna get this shit poppin’?” Jay asked.
“Right now, I’ma show this mothafucka how you come at a nigga’s family.” Ace responded as he got up to pace.
“That isn’t how you move,” Boy said. Boog nodded his head in agreement.
“It’s how I move but from here on out; I’m dropping to this mothafucka’s level,” Ace spat.
Boy and Boog looked at each other. They knew there wasn’t anything they could say to change his mind. He was in beef mode; they understood completely. When your life as well as the lives of your children was put in the line of fire, all or any logical thinking went out the window.
“I guess there isn’t anything else to talk about,” Boy said. “Let’s ride out.” He stated as he rose and headed for the door with Boog, Jay, and Ace right behind him.
“I’m gonna meet you niggas in the car,” Ace told them when he discovered Aaliyah standing there with a sad expression on her face. He realized none of this was easy for her. Yet and still, she remained loyal to him.
“I don’t think going out there tonight is a good idea,” Aaliyah advised. She held her hand up to stop Ace from speaking. “I know you gotta do what you gotta do; just try to make it back to your daughters,” she pleaded. Ace smiled as he kissed her soft lips.
Aaliyah stood at the door and watched until they pulled off before she closed and locked the door then set the alarm. On her way to bed, she said a quick prayer for all four men.
*
The car was quiet as every man sat lost in his own thoughts. The four of them riding around Hampton brought back memories, old but good memories.
“I have this nagging feeling,” Ace said breaking the silence. “Drive to my crib,” he commanded.
“What kind of nagging feeling?” Boog asked.
“Like something isn’t right; I know it doesn’t have anything to do with my girls because we just left them,” Ace replied.
The closer they got to his home, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. He became anxious. “Yo, something is definitely up,” Ace declared. “Take the back road and shut the lights off,” he advised.
As soon as the car came to a complete stop, Ace hopped out and jogged to his backyard. He could hear various voices. He placed his finger over his mouth letting his boys know to be quiet.
“This nigga got us house sitting and shit,” the first man said. From the sound of things, he wasn’t too thrilled to be there.
“I did my homework on this nigga and this isn’t the way you take him out,” the second man stated. Ace could smell the loud in the air and smiled. He knew they wouldn’t be prepared for the ambush he was about to embark on.
“I never understood why he started beefing with this nigga in the first place. He should have got on his team. I heard this nigga Ace is banking major cash and have city officials on his payroll. He’s been out of the game for three years,” the first man avowed. The second man let out a long whistle. “The streets love this dude and have nothing but respect for him. You can’t compete with that on any level.”
“Honestly, I think we’re on the wrong team,” the second man confessed.
“I agree; I came to terms a long time ago that J’vion doesn’t give two fucks about any of us. As long as we do what he wants, when he wants it done,” that’s all he cares about, the first man complained. “What’s the deal with that chick he has tied up in there?” He asked.
“I don’t know. Every time someone asks, all he says is she isn’t our concern,” the second man answered.
“How you wanna handle this?” Jay asked.
“I don’t know what the outcome of this is gon’ be but I’ma need you to be safe and move smart. I heard Ace is slick and moves without sound,” the first man warned.
“You do the same,” the second man replied as he walked away.
“Shit!” Ace mumbled. Deep within, he knew they were referring to Sunshine, which put him in an even more fucked up situation. Ace realized he couldn’t just r
un in letting off shots. He had to play it cool; all their lives depended on it.
“I got this. When I give y’all the signal, be ready to move.” Jay commanded as he tucked his gun away, while heading for the fence separating Ace’s backyard from the alley behind his house.
“Jay!” Ace called out.
“I know, I would never do anything to jeopardize my life or y’all’s, let alone Sunshine,” Jay answered cutting Ace off.
“Shouldn’t we call a few more of our niggas?” Boog questioned.
“The four of us are good enough,” Boy replied.
“Besides what I have in the trunk, we’re all the backup we need,” Jay answered. “I’m gonna flash my lights twice. That’s the queue letting y’all know it’s clear to make a move,” Jay finished as he hopped the gate.
Ace’s backyard was familiar territory. For that reason, Jay didn’t need any light or direction. He knew the property like he knew the streets. He quickly made his way across the yard, unheard and unseen. Without warning, he wrapped his arm around his target’s neck and squeezed while pressing the gun to the back of his head. “Relax and you’ll live to see another day,” Jay whispered in his ear. “All I need is for you to answer a few questions then you can walk away,” he advised. The man nodded his head, indicating he understood and didn’t have a problem cooperating.
“How many people are inside?” Jay asked.
“About ten,” he answered.
“About? I need an accurate count,” Jay demanded.
“Yeah, there’s ten inside and even more out front heavily armed,” he answered.
“The woman you and your partner were talking about earlier, is she injured badly?” Jay continued to question. Again, he nodded his head.
“Badly isn’t the word. They have her tied up in the living lying across the sofa.”
“Thanks, you’ve been very helpful,” Jay said as he snapped his neck. The man died before he knew what was taking place. Jay dragged his body across the yard then laid him under the big oak tree. Next, he flicked his flashlight on and off twice giving his niggas the signal.
*
“Let’s move,” Boy said as he saw Jay flashing the light. Boy, Boog, and Ace hopped the fence then jogged across the yard holding choppas and handguns.
“We have the upper hand. These niggas don’t know we’re here,” Jay declared. “There’s about ten niggas inside. Sunshine is tied up in the living room,” he informed everyone.
“My only concern is getting Sunshine out of harm’s way,” Ace stated.
“We won’t have long. Once the gunplay starts, the niggas posted out front will be in with choppas, AK’s, and shotguns,” Jay told everyone. “We only have one chance at this. Whoever grabs Sunshine, let it be known so we can get out of there,” he finally said.
Everyone nodded their heads in agreement as Boog handed Jay one of the choppas he was holding.
*
“We should just call it a night,” Adam said pacing the kitchen floor.
“He’ll be here,” J’vion assured him.
J’vion knew everyone had become restless. He watched as individuals paced or stood around impatiently waiting for something to pop off. No one knew it was about to go down in a manner they never saw coming.
Brenda paced back and forth as well. She knew this was a bad idea but her opinion no longer mattered. Right now, she felt she should have walked away when she was given the option.
“I don’t care how long it takes for that nigga to show his face, we sit here and wait!” J’vion shouted loud enough for everyone standing around the house to hear. “Have I made myself loud and clear?” He asked. No one uttered a word.
Brenda stopped pacing then looked up to find a shadow standing by the backdoor. She was 100 percent confident it wasn’t one of J’vion’s boys and convinced that whoever it was, was holding a gun. She was paralyzed; she wanted to scream. However, her voice was caught in her throat. Everything started moving in slow motion as she watched the bullet discharge from the gun, fly across the room, and penetrate her chest. The power from the bullet flung her body into the counter behind her. Brenda gasped as she placed her hands over the hole in her chest. She could feel the blood rapidly spilling from her body. “Gun!” She managed to get out as her body slid to the floor.
No sooner than the word left her mouth, additional shots rang out nonstop.
“Oh shit!” J’vion yelled as he dived to the floor.
“Brenda, noooo!” Adam screamed as he ducked for cover. Bullets were continually flying over his head. His heart rate had sped up. Adam had never been in the middle of a gun war. At this instant, he understood why he never wanted to be a part of this lifestyle. “Brenda, please hold on. I’m gonna get you outta here,” Adam begged as he pulled Brenda close to him. She tried to speak but was unable to vocalize anything.
“Don’t talk! Just hold on,” he pleaded.
“Let this shit go and live your life. We played the game and lost,” she managed to get out. “Take it as a lesson learned. You win some and you lose some.” She concluded just as she began to cough up blood.
“I’m sorry,” Adam said as he held her firmly until she took her last breath. Adam was hurt and angered. Life for him had never been good. He thanked God Brenda hadn’t asked him to make a promise, one he wouldn’t have been able to keep. Adam closed Brenda’s eyes as the gunplay continued above his head. Adam could hear an abundance of footsteps, signifying that J’vion’s squad from outside had made it inside and joined the shootout.
As everyone exchanged gunfire, the sparks from the blazing guns lit up the house.
“This is what this mothafucka calls a perfect plan?” Adam thought. “Where the hell is this nigga, anyway?” He mumbled.
*
Ace moved from the kitchen with ease. The darkness gave him an advantage, one he needed. The AK’s and shotguns being used were doing major damage to his home. In spite of this, he really could care less about the condition the house would be left in. His goal was to get Sunshine then get out of there. The smell of death and gunfire hung in the air.
Ace pushed himself off the wall, sliding across the living floor. As he pulled the trigger until it was empty, he dropped the three men standing in there–their bodies fell to the floor.
“We gotta get the fuck outta here!” Ace heard someone yell.
Ace made it to Sunshine to find her balled up in the fatal position and trembling.
“Sunshine,” Ace whispered as he removed the duct tape from her mouth. Sunshine burst into tears. “Shhh, everything is gonna be okay. I’ma get you outta here,” he said as he picked her up from the floor. Holding her in his arms after three long years was surreal. His emotions were high but Ace kept them in check–for now anyway.
Once again, Ace used the darkness to his advantage and followed everyone else out the front door. Everybody ran in different directions. Ace eased Sunshine into the backseat then jumped into the driver’s seat. As he started the car, he called Jay.
“I got her! Get out of there, cops are coming!” Ace shouted into the phone.
“Bruh, you know I’m not leaving until that nigga is dead,” Jay retorted.
“Jay, get the fuck outta there. There’s always another day,” Ace barked into the phone. “Grab Boog and Boy and leave out the backdoor.” Ace demanded, disconnecting the call.
*
“Boog, Boy, we out!” Jay called out as he hung up with Ace. “He has Sunshine. The cops are on their way,” he informed them, heading for the backdoor.
“Let’s go,” Boy stated as they took off out the backdoor then over the gate to their awaiting car.
Adam could finally breathe again. He didn’t know how long he had been holding his breath. At last, the gunfight terminated. He was a nervous wreck. As he tried to stand to his feet, his knees buckled underneath him. He had to grab ahold of the countertop for support.
“J’vion, where the hell are you?!” Adam yelled out. He hadn’t heard anything fro
m him since the shootout began.
J’vion stepped out of the foyer, perspiring as if he had just run a marathon. “This was your flawless plan?” Adam snapped, ready to fight J’vion.
“Listen, we gotta get outta here. Now isn’t a good time to be arguing,” J’vion retorted as if what had just gone down was trivial.
Perplexed, Adam watched as he slipped out the backdoor.
The flashing lights pulling up in front of the house disrupted Adam’s trance. He looked out the window to find officer after officer jumping from their respective cars, heading inside. Taking one last look at Brenda’s lifeless body, Adam took off for the backdoor.