Page 38 of Maceo

“Well, not fun. But it’s exciting for me, even in the face of danger. What would I have to do to join the organization?”

“It’s not an open application kind of thing, baby. This is strictly professionals and family. And before you start your shit, youarefamily. But our family has had extensive training for the shit we do. That shit started when we were kids. We were born and bred for this shit, Shar. It ain’t fun or exciting. What you do when you’re with me ain’t shit compared to the things I’ve seen and done. It’s some real fucked up people in this world, baby. You won’t be the same after taking a life. Ask Salima.”

My brother told me all about the nightmares his wife still had every now and then. There were still things she didn’t talk about regarding the three days she was held captive. Deuce tried everything to get it out of her. He went as far as asking Jaeda to hack her therapist’s computer so he could read the notes. That was where my sister drew the line.

Of course, he was pissed. Deuce was used to getting his way and having access to whatever he wanted and needed. While his heart was in the right place, he just had to accept that her kidnapping was some shit she had to process on her own first. I never wanted Shar to experience that. That was why she drove the van. She stayed in the cut until we needed her, and that was it.

“Look,” I said, leaning over the couch. “We’re only doing a few more of these side missions, then I’m out, and so are you. We’re gonna get married, and I’m gonna pump you full of babies. We can travel. You can spend what you want and do what you want, but that will be our life. You cool with that?”

She smiled as she cupped my face. “I’m cool with that. Just remember you said that when I blow a bag.”

I chuckled. “Have I ever given you a spending limit?”

“No, and don’t start now.”

“I got something for you while I’m away.”

Her eyes twinkled with excitement. “What is it?”

I pulled out my phone and went to my music. I scrolled until I found the perfect song for her. When the sounds of Glorilla and Moneybagg Yo’s “All Dere” came through the speaker, she grinned. I pulled a blunt and fat wad of hundreds out of my pocket as I rounded the couch.

“Come shake that ass for me, mama,” I said as I sat down.

She laughed as she stood to her feet. I lit my blunt and inhaled the potent substance as she started shaking her ass to the beat while I tossed the hundreds at her. I was sure some people would call that shit disrespectful, but Shar and I always had fun together. She loved to dance, and I loved to spend my money on her. I was a proud trick, and I knew that after the music stopped, I was getting a hell of a treat.

In additionto my brothers and Mia, we had about fifteen other family members with us for this mission. Jaeda was in the van working on the technical shit and surveying from above with her drone. This one was a sensitive rescue. Perry Daniels, daughter of a high-profile client, had been recruited to a cult about ten years ago. She’d recently gotten in contact with her father and stated she wanted to come home. Apparently, she’d just given birth to a baby girl. After enduring being beaten, raped, ganged, and damn near left for dead, she’d had enough and wanted out.

Jaeda had come through with the information on the cult leader while we were on the plane.

Brother Thaddeus Sage, formally known as Michael Blackwood, was a forty-five-year-old man, portraying himself as the second coming of Christ. He’d managed to convince a hundred men and women, some with families, to follow him. Joining his following meant turning over all money and property to him in exchange for his salvation. Jaeda had sent over videos of him and his preaching and teachings, and I had to laugh at the shit. It wasn’t a funny situation, but it was clear the nigga was acting. I guess we all believed in something, though.

We’d studied the layout of the compound in detail before we arrived. Perry had given clear directions as to where she and her daughter would be. The compound sat on a few acres of land in the middle of the fucking woods. I could have sworn I heard a mountain lion as we trekked through the foliage after parking the cars about a mile back. Because my father thought of everything, he’d arranged a cleanup crew for any casualties and transportation just in case more people wanted to leave too.

We just had to get past the armed guards. According to her, there were at least thirty of them standing watch at all times. They were the only ones allowed out after a certain time, and they were willing to die to protect Brother Thaddeus. That was fine with us. If they wanted to meet their maker, that was on them.

“I count about five of them niggas at the front gate,” Smoke said. “All of them are armed with AK-47s.”

Deuce nodded. “A’ight. Jae, you got the lights?”

“Almost. Just one… more… second…”

Literally, a few seconds passed, and the compound went black. We could hear the voices of the guards trying to figure out what the hell was going on.

Deuce gave the command. “Move in.”

Equipped with night vision goggles, we emerged from the woods with guns drawn. The men at the gates never saw us coming. One by one, the bodies dropped to the ground, as my siblings and I took them out. As we opened the gate, we could see people moving around with flashlights and whispering to each other. They, too, were equipped with the same AKs as the first set.

“It’s about fifteen of them headed y’all’s way,” Jaeda said in our ear. “Hold on, I got them.”

The next thing we knew, bullets went flying from the drone, and bodies dropped everywhere.

“That’s my fucking sister,” Smoke said.

No doubt he was the one that installed that feature for her.

Steel chuckled. “Show off.”

“Just say thank you,” Jaeda said with a giggle.

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