Page 27

“But you know why he was late, though.” There it was. Key thought because Bubbles was the reason, that somehow gave Fats a pass.

“He doesn’t know I know why. Everybody else don’t know either. All they know is I gave Fats a date and he missed it. Then the nigga paid it when he could. If I let that slide, now it’s out there that I take late payments.”

“So the money don’t matter?”

“The money been handled.” I shook the bag for emphasis. “This is about the date. If Fats gets a pass, the next nigga gone think he can get one too. Then the next. Bottom line is this: Fats said he was paying me, and he didn’t. I can’t know something they don’t know I know and start changing how I move.”

“I get it. To the trap we go.” Going out the same way we came in, we jumped in my truck and headed toward the city. Once we got there, I parked a block down. There was a lot of traffic going on outside the house, so I sat there and watched for a while. Getting inside unnoticed would be difficult, but not impossible. Being held captive created a timing problem, so I knew I had to get this shit done while I could. Reaching in my console, I grabbed my gloves and put them on before doing the same with my mask. Even though my gun was on my waist, I grabbed my hunting knife. It was broad daylight, and I didn’t want to go firing off a gun in the middle of a trap house. That could turn into a shootout and make things messier.

“You need me to come in with you?” Key never volunteered to do this part of my job. I never needed him to. We both understood our strengths and stuck to them. This time was different though, and he knew that.

“Naw, I’m straight,” I said before climbing out.

“If it looks like things getting out of control, I’m coming in.”

“I always got shit under control. See you in a minute.” Going around to the alley, I made my way down the block, making sure to stay close to the garages. Once I got to his, I did the same thing I did the night I got caught by Bubbles. Hoping it wasn’t a repeat with somebody else feeling grabby, I eased in the gate. Climbing the back porch steps, I listened to make sure no one was in the kitchen. Easing the door open, I made my way inside.

I could hear noise throughout the house, and I hoped it worked in my favor. Moving down the hall silently, I watched my surroundings closely. There were two rooms, one on each side. Both had the doors open with people inside. The room to my left had a nigga in there bagging up facing the door. The room on the right was where Fats sat with his back to me. My immediate danger was the nigga bagging up, so I watched him. He got up from the table and went further into the room, so I knew that was my moment. I had no idea how long he would be gone, but I couldn’t wait to see. Moving in behind Fats, my hand clamped over his mouth as I sliced his throat with my other. His body began jerking, so I tightened my grip. Glancing over my shoulder, I made sure the other nigga hadn’t returned.

Fats was reaching as if he was trying to grab something, but it was too far out of his grasp. Raising his head, he looked at me with his eyes wide. That’s what I had been waiting on. Recognition. Not him recognizing me, but him staring into my eyes and knew he was staring at death. I leaned close enough for him to hear me while making sure nobody else did.

“It’s tax time, nigga!” I said, taking the blade through his throat once again. This time, deeper. I held onto him until his body was dead weight. Once he took his last breath, I let him go and reached in my pocket. Grabbing the receipt, I laid it next to him before easing back to the door.

DEBT 0.00

PAID IN FULL

Making sure the coast was clear, I walked into the hall. I could hear a toilet flushing before making my way to the kitchen and back out the door. The nigga bagging up had taken the wrong time to go relieve himself. By the time they would figure out what had happened, I would be long gone. Walking through the alley, I got back to my truck unseen. Climbing inside, I removed my mask before driving off.

“Everything handled?” I looked at him as if I had just asked the question.

“You already know it.”

“Say less. Where to now?” I knew I needed to get back, but I had to make a stop first.

“Check and see where Bubbles at.” Key did what I asked before showing me it still said she was on Hamlin. “Good, I need to make a quick stop.” I drove to Three Stooges on Kostner and I parked. Key’s head snapped up as he looked at me in shock.

“This mufucka just killed a nigga, and now wanna stop and get snacks before going back into captivity.”

“I need some shit.”

“Yeah, some professional help. I’m starting to think you crazier than she is.” Laughing, I grabbed a few of the bills out of the bag, climbed out and went inside. I got a bunch of snacks, water, liquor, and a few other items I could get that wouldn’t go bad. When I got back in the truck, Key looked inside the bags.

“You got liquor too?”

“Yeah, nigga. Being out there in them woods don’t sit right in my spirit.”

“What the fuck kind of kidnapping is this?”

“A long one if she keeps negotiating the way she is.”

“If you don’t take your dumb ass home. You more bothered about being hungry than kidnapped. I ain’t never seen no shit like this.”

“I can fix hungry.”

“You can fix the other shit too. You choosing to stay.” We laughed as I drove off toward the lake house. I turned on my music because I was tired of hearing Key bitch about what I had chosen to do. When I finally pulled up, I had him check her location again. Her scary ass was still in the same spot. Getting out, we walked inside as if we lived here.

“Grab some cups.”