Page 22 of A Kingpin's Weakness
“Then they need to do a better job,” Southside chimed in.
Josh muttered under his breath, “Been what? Three days? You can’t even take a Plan B after three days.”
Everyone paused. “…Nigga what?” Rich asked, looking at him sideways. We all cracked up for a moment, tension easing slightly.
Then Southside brought it right back. “I’m hearing it was an inside job, Ronnie.”
Ronnie’s face tightened. “Where you hear that bullshit? My people loyal.”
“Maybe to you,” Southside said. “But not that Jit laying in the hospital bed.”
Ronnie turned to me now. “Seth, get your people. I been in this game long enough to not be disrespected. I’m the reason you eating the way you are.”
I took a step forward. “Don’t ever get it twisted. I’m the reason I’m where I am.”
Rich nodded, stepping in. “Everybody knows that story, Ronnie. What you want? A gold star?”
Southside added, “If Big Seth was here, you wouldn’t have had to lift a finger.”
Rich’s voice was low now, serious. “Let’s talk about how many bodies he dropped for you. That’s the only reason you in the position you in now. So if we start checking balances, let’s really talk about who owes who.”
Rich was my right hand since the sandbox. Never folded, never flinched. S3’s godfather, my business partner, my brother in everything. And right now? He was ready for war.
Ronnie glared. “Get your lapdog, Seth.”
“Lapdog?” I echoed, raising a brow.
Before I could say another word, Rich had Ronnie pinned to a pole, gun shoved straight in his mouth.
“Make my night,” he growled.
Mike started to move toward them.“And I dare you to fucking move,” I said, my pistol now aimed at the side of his head.
"You gonna end him?" I asked Rich, my tone calm but firm.
"Say the word," Rich said, eyes locked on Ronnie, "and his brains’ll be all over this warehouse."
"And I’ll hand-deliver his body to his mama’s house," I said. "But if you not about to end that nigga, put the pistol down and go jump in some pussy. You need to relax."
Rich smirked. "Says the nigga who don’t got no in-house pussy."
Then crack! He knocked Ronnie clean out, one hit to the jaw. Ronnie dropped like dead weight. Rich strolled back to his seat like nothing happened.
"Don’t mean I don’t get none on the regular," I muttered, shaking my head. I looked down at Ronnie. "Get your operation under control so the rest of us can get back to regular programming."
"This nigga think he bigger than the program," Rich said, cutting his eyes at him.
I faced the crew, made it clear."Stay loyal. Keep your eyes open. And we gonna keep eating. Meeting adjourned.”
It was late. Long-ass day. All I wanted to do was hit the shower, roll up, and kick back in bed with some old documentaries playing in the background and let my brain chill for once.
One by one, everybody started dapping each other up, heading out the warehouse. Mike bent down and helped Ronnie off the floor slow, like he was still trying to hold on to what was left of his pride. From the look he gave Rich, I could already tell this shit wasn’t over.
And I just hoped dude knew what lane to stay in. Rich? Rich was off-limits. Untouchable. Yeah, Ronnie might’ve been tight with my pops back in the day, but Rich? That’s my brother. Ten toes down since the sandbox. Ain’t no negotiating that. I’d end any nigga over him. Simple as that.
“How was dinner?” Rich asked, fake casual, like he wasn’t fishing for something.
I looked at him sideways. “Nigga, move with that shit. Fuck you mean how was dinner? Same way it is every Sunday.”
