Page 10 of Malachi

“The same pussy that’s gon’ be there when you get back,” he reminded me.

“That’s not the point. Besides. Peace, that shit is here, too.”

“I feel you on that.”

“But, contrary to popular belief, and by popular, I mean all you niggas, I’ll be outside tonight. The wife is forcing me out, so I guess I’ll catch up with you then, nigga.”

“You… coming out? For what?”

“Milo’s shit. He said he’d already talked to you about the shit because he thought I wouldn’t.”

“And you didn’t, until now.”

“Well,” I tittered with a shrug. “You already knew, so it doesn’t matter. He told me you’re sliding through tonight.”

“And I was, but some shit just came up. I need to shoot out of town tonight to holler at them people.”

“Still in negotiations?”

“Yes, man, and they’re up my ass. I’m a gray strand away from finding another route, bro. I’d fuck with your people but you keeping secrets and shit.”

“You found that one, you’ll find another.”

Hank was well on his way to doing great things. Our visions didn’t align. He’d been my righthand and best friend since we were jits. But, he’d finally convinced himself that it was time to spread his wings and look into beginning his own empire. This was an idea I’d planted in his head six years ago that he was finally acting on. I couldn’t be prouder.

“You’re right, but I have a feeling these cats will pull through.”

“Me, too. But, I’m pissed you’re sending me out with these niggas alone. They’re unpredictable and unruly. They know no boundaries and have no reservations when it comes to breaking a fucking law.”

“Especially that knotty head one.”

“And his cousins.”

It was Lawe, Milo, and Makai we spoke of. Together, they were hell. I felt like their chaperone everywhere we went together. It was as comical as it was exhausting. I was forced to watch their back and mine, too. If we weren’t an army ourselves, I’d hire one to protect us whenever we hit the scene, but I knew that there was no one who could protect us the way we could protect ourselves.

Our senses were sharper. Our guns were bigger. Our aims were perfect. Our fists were vicious. Our reflexes were quicker. Our vision was clearer. There was no better team in Berkeley more vicious than the Dominos and I’d bet my last dime on it.

“I’ma let you get back to the fam while I enjoy these streets. I’ll call you in the morning to see how this shit played out. Tell Aussie Uncle Hank bringing back something special. It’s about time I iced that wrist out.”

“She’s six months.”

“You think I give a damn?”

“She’ll outgrow it by the time she’s a year old.”

“It’ll be vintage by then, anyway, and time to upgrade.”

“You might have a point there.”

“I know I do. One love.”

“One love.”

Anna resurfaced in my head. Sometimes, I wondered if she ever truly left or waited for moments when I managed to put other thoughts aside to regain my attention. The land that she’d gone on and on about throughout the morning led me to power on my computer screen and take a look at the shared notes we both had access to.

Any time there was something she wanted me to take a look at, she’d pin it at the top of our boards. Just as I’d imagined, there was a note that she’d recently opened and began filling with links and numbers and prices. One by one, I clicked them all until I got to the very last one which was starred.

It was the most expensive piece of property on the thread, but from the notes she’d taken beneath it, I could tell it was her favorite. Though I clicked the link, anyway, I didn’t have to in order to know it was the one I’d be purchasing. Anna was thinking a few years, but I was thinking more like her birthday in a month.

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