Page 2 of The Prodigy 2: Rise of a Queen

Every step I took had my head pounding like my brain was trying to dig its way out my skull and run to freedom. I managed to clean myself up without getting sick again, but the walk downstairs was hell. Damn near busted my ass.

Nay, Eris, and Joe were in the kitchen eating, something I wouldn’t be doing for a while. I grabbed some Advil out the drawer and a water out the fridge before sitting down at the table.

“Damn.” Eris looked at me curiously. “What the fuck happened to you? You look dusty as fuck.”

“Drank too much.”

That was all they were gonna get. They didn’t know shit about that night. My mama had kept her word about keeping my name completely out of it.

As much as I loved my brothers, I never wanted them to find out what did. I had basically put the shit out my mind, but I always felt ashamed of it. I carried that shit with me every day. Being in Atlanta helped me cope, but deep down, I was still fucked up behind it.

Joe cleared his throat. “Alright. I know who the shooter was. The one who came at you at the barbershop.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah. Remember Shaka? The one Jaz saw arguing with Prez at the shop? The brother of the man you killed?”

“He was the shooter?”

“Nah, it was somebody Prez hired out. Nigga named Rondo. Anyway, apparently Prez and Shaka were arguing that day because Rondo botched it. Second failed hit.” He chuckled. “I guess killing you is hard. And expensive.”

I laughed, even though it hurt. “Good. Fuck nigga. My own blood, man.”

“Don’t take that shit personal,” Nay said. “I mean, we gon’ fuck him up for sure, but don’t feel no kinda way about it. It ain’t on you. His ass just got greedy.”

Joe nodded. “To that end, if y’all are gonna make plans, I can’t be here.”

“Yeah, gone and head out,” I agreed. “’Preciate you, man.”

“No doubt.” Joe stood and gathered up his papers. “I got my ear to the ground. If I hear anything, you’ll be first to know.”

We dapped and he left, leaving me alone with my brothers.

I took that water bottle to the head and drank till I got nauseous. “Aight. How we handling this shit?”

Eris frowned. “He gotta go.” He looked at Nay. “Right?”

I couldn’t help but smile. Eris was so fucking bougie all the time, it almost didn’t sound right coming out his mouth.

Nay nodded his agreement.

“Honestly?” I looked them both in the eye. “I wanna do it myself. I wanna look that bitch nigga in the eye and watch him regret goin’ against blood.”

Nay raised an eyebrow. “Don’t be emotional. Let’s just hire it out. Keep your hands clean.”

It was the smart move, for sure. I already had one body on me. The police hadn’t come around on that, but it was only a matter of time. I needed to stay clean. Nay was right.

But even knowing that, I hesitated. I wanted to pull the trigger so bad, and watch my uncle’s brains paint the wall with chunky spatters. It shouldn't matter who did the deed, cuz dead is dead, but it mattered to me.

Either way, he had to go.

I popped three Advil and polished off my water.

“We can talk about the logistics soon,” I said. “What I need from y’all right now is to get me out this house.”

My brothers exchanged a look.

“You okay?” Nay asked. “Seriously, what’s up with you? You actin’ funny.”

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