Page 148 of Heavy Is The Crown

“You know why you here, right?” Malik’s voice was smooth, calm. But there was something underneath it. Something that let you know this wasn’t really a conversation. This was a directive.

Rico smirked slightly, sliding into the seat across from them. “Nah, but I’m guessing you ‘bout to tell me.”

Malik nodded, still spinning his ring. “You a smart nigga. So, tell me…what we do with smart niggas who don’t know when to chill?”

Rico’s cocky smile barely faltered. “We remind ‘em.”

Malik finally stopped spinning the ring, resting his hands on the table. “Exactly.”

He leaned forward slightly. “K9 gave Kenyatta a Ghost Pass.”

The words landed heavy. Rico felt Karma’s eyes on him now, watching, waiting. But he didn’t react. Didn’t shift in his seat. Didn’t let them see that shit bothered him.

“That’s funny,” he muttered, tapping his fingers on the table. “Didn’t know we was handing those out to niggas who still owe.”

Malik chuckled, shaking his head. “You ain’t gotta like it, Rico. But that’s the play.”

“You mean that’s his play,” Rico corrected.

Malik raised a brow. “You questioning K9 now?”

Rico leaned back, exhaling through his nose. “Nah, I’m just sayin’…You don’t think it’s funny…K9 the same nigga that handed Kenyatta over to the feds. Now he giving him protection?”

“Funny don’t matter,” Malik said easily. “K9’s word is law. And their word is…fall back.”

The air between them shifted.

Rico heard the words, but he didn’t like the way they landed. Didn’t like the way Malik looked at him, like he was checking to see if he was going to be a problem. Didn’t like the way Karma barely blinked, like she was already prepared to handle him if it came to that.

He sat there for a moment, letting the words settle. Then, he nodded once.

“A’ight.”

Malik tilted his head slightly. “That’s it?”

Rico smirked, but there was no real amusement behind it. “You said what you said.”

Malik studied him for a long second before nodding. “Good. Then enjoy the rest of your day.”

Just like that. Dismissed.

Rico pushed back from the table slowly, standing up with the same casual ease he had walked in with. But inside he was heated.

K9 gave Kenyatta a Ghost Pass.

For what? For why? And more importantly, for how long?

Rico licked his teeth, weighing his next words carefully.

“A’ight, cool. But I got a question.” He folded his arms, looking between Malik and Karma. “If K9 got so much to say ‘bout how I move, why don’t he say that shit to me in person?”

The question made the tension shift, stretching tight between them.

Malik exhaled slow. “You know that ain’t how it work.”

Rico rolled his neck, stepping back slightly. “I don’t know shit. Far as I’m concerned, I been putting money in the Bay longer than half these new niggas, and I ain’t never seen the man once.”

Karma finally spoke, her voice smooth and unbothered. “And you won’t.”

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