Page 29 of Thick

He raised his hands in the air. “Listen up. We’ve got a change of plans. That dope house we’re headed to has nine teenage girls being held in it. The girls from the news that were kidnapped over the last week or so. We’re going in, taking care of the men who are there, and we’re leaving. That cop standing outside is going to take care of the girls after we’re gone.”

He scanned the group of men, folded his arms over his chest, and let out a long breath. “This wasn’t my plan, fellas. That prick showed out of the blue. I’m just as shocked as you are. I realize this might spook a few of you from wanting to be involved, but I can assure you, this isn’t a set up. That man’s a cop, but he’s not here to cause us any harm. He’s here for those girls, and that’s it.”

“Cop’s a cop,” P-Nut said. “You said it yourself.”

Crip looked at P-Nut. His eyes slowly thinned. “I’m not inviting the son-of-a-bitch to a kegger or the club barbeque, P-Nut. He doesn’t even know where the house is. He only knows that the men we’re after are holding those girls against their will.”

He looked at each of the men. “I’m not going to bullshit any of you fellas. These are the same cocksuckers that kidnapped Cholo and tortured his ass damned near to death. But. These pricks are taking over our neighborhoods, claiming our turf, and turning this city into a drug-infested mess. In ten minutes, I’m heading out in that van.”

He looked at Stretch. “You driving?”

“Always do, don’t I?”

Crip gave a nod. “Appreciate ya.”

“I need five men,” Crip said. “Five who can handle themselves when they’re getting shot at. I’m not going to lie to ya, this is going to get ugly, fellas. Who’s in?”

“I’m going,” Cholo snapped.

“I’m in,” I said.

A few months prior, posing as a drug dealer, Cholo made his way into a dope house that was filled with young girls that had been kidnapped by MS-13’s gang, one of which was his wife. After killing the entire group singlehandedly, he made sure the girls all made it home alive.

In retaliation, they kidnapped him a few weeks later, and tortured him for damned near a week. After pulling his teeth with pliers and smashing his toes with a hammer, he gave them no information about the club, or about their stolen money.

Crip, Pee Bee, and a platoon of retired Navy SEALs rescued him, killing all of the men involved in the process.

If for no other reason, I knew I’d be going to make sure the assholes involved didn’t continue to wreak their havoc on the city I called home.

“You guarantee me this ain’t a set up,” P-Nut asked. “God damned guarantee me? Brother to brother?”

“Without hesitation,” Crip said. “This ain’t a set up.”

“Let’s do it,” Smokey said.

P-Nut blew a cloud of smoke directly into Crips face. “I’m ready as soon as I finish this smoke.”

Crip looked at Pee Bee. Pee Bee returned a cheesy grin. “I’m the Sergeant-at-Arms, Boss. Don’t even have to ask.”

Crip looked at the rest of the group. “Keep van number two here and ready to roll out just in case. We might need to make a run to Tijuana if anyone needs medical attention. We’ll be back in an hour. If we’re not, lock this motherfucker up and go home, fellas.”

* * *

The entire street was pitch black. In neighborhood’s such as this, streetlights were shot out as soon as the lamps were replaced. The night’s only illumination was provided by the half-moon that hung low in the night sky.

Dressed in black tee shirts, and wearing black nylon masks, we looked like a set of ninja sextuplets.

“Sound off if you’re in this, fellas,” Crip said as the van rolled to as stop.

“Lead the way, Boss,” Pee Bee said.

“Ready for round two,” Cholo barked.

Smokey gave a nod. “I’m good to go.”

P-Nut scratched his forearms feverishly. “Let’s get out of this motherfucker, I’m starting to fucking itch. I’m in.”

“Fuck these pricks,” I said. “Let’s do it.”