Page 70 of A Kingpin's Weakness
I swear, the smell of smoke and death mixed in the air like it belonged there. And all I could do was sit still, heart punching my ribs, wondering how the hell we got here. How they could look so damn calm while I’m drowning in it?
I couldn’t take it no more. Every second I stayed in that warehouse felt like death was creeping closer. I had to get out, and I had to do it without them seeing or hearing me ‘cause if they did, I’d be the next one rotting on that cold-ass floor.
I moved quietly, real quiet. Each step toward that back door felt like it took a lifetime. My heart beat so loud I was scared they’d hear it. I eased the door shut behind me, didn’t even let it click. And once I was outside, I took off across that open field like my life depended on it ‘cause it did. I ran straight to the car we had parked up the road and didn’t look back.
As soon as I got far enough, I hit Noah’s line. Still straight to voicemail. Again. I’d been trying to reach him all damn day. Nothing. That shit was making my skin itch. Noah was my key.My way to bring Seth down, make him bleed like he made us bleed.
Now here I was in a whole different state. Ronnie and Mike both gone. Dead. Ronnie took the warehouse money with him before he got clipped. We told his dumb ass to wait till we knew the deal was solid. He didn’t listen. And now I’m out here in the middle of nowhere with ninety-three dollars in my pocket and a full tank of gas. Not even enough to get home straight. So I figured I’d drive to the next city and grab a train ticket. Get as close to home as I could.
"You’re my firstborn son. Show me you can lead, ‘cause once I take over, you’ll be my right hand."
Ronnie’s voice echoed in my head like he was riding in the passenger seat. I always knew he was my pops. Moms never kept that from me. But we never had that real father-son bond. Wasn’t no catchin' games or "I love yous." Just silence and cash in the mail.
When he showed up at our door after twenty years, I didn’t know whether to hug him or swing on him. Moms didn’t want me nowhere near him. Still hurt from back when she was labeled "fast" for getting pregnant by a married man. Folks judged her. Ronnie never stood up for her, never claimed her or the love she swore they had. And after all that, he came back needing me for a job. And I said yes. Not ‘cause I trusted him, but ‘cause deep down, I wanted to show him I was a man. That I could hold shit down. That I was worth being in his life.
But now he’s gone. Seth took that chance away from me. Took away what little time I had to make it right with my dad. Ronnie’s gone, and all I got left is a few weeks of memories and a hell of a lot of rage.
Seth gon' feel every piece of pain I’m carrying. If it’s the last thing I do, he gon’ feel it. The only difference between me and Ronnie? I got patience. I ain’t moving off impulse. I’m comingfor Seth when he least expected it. It’s gon’ be slow, steady, and surgical. He probably think the war's over now that Ronnie's dead. But that’s where he messed up. That shit just begun. Let’s go loved one, for loved one, Seth.
Ring! Ring!
My cellphone ringing brought me out of my thoughts.
“Nigga,” I said as soon as I picked up. Noah always had a way of calling like he didn’t leave me hangin’ all day.
“My bad, bruh… some shit happened.”
“What shit?” I said, already tired of the excuses.
“Man, nothing serious. My sister just being controlling.”
“You in or not?”
“You already know what the play is.”
“Say less.”
“But I’m not fuckin’ with that nigga Ronnie.”
He ain’t know Ronnie was my pops. Nobody did. Ronnie introduced me to his crew like I was just some new shooter he brought in off the block. That shit stung, no lie. Felt like getting kicked in the chest when he ain’t even acknowledge me as his blood. But now, Now it worked in my favor. Nobody knew who I really was not even Noah. And I planned to keep it that way.
“You still mad over that robbery shit?” I asked.
“Nah. That nigga crossed the line with my sister. She had Seth put us up while Seth figured out his next move.”
“Seth?” My voice sharpened.
“Yeah.”
“Your sister fuck with Seth?”
“I guess they dating now.” His tone was flat, but every word tasted like rust.
“Word. So, Seth big bruh now?” I said, slick testing him.
He didn’t answer right away. Just let the silence sit.
“Where your sis at now?” I asked, casual but curious.
