â¢XAVIERâ¢
Didn't think that it'd come to this, but shit here we are. I told Ree about the deal, that part wasn't a lie but I didn't tell her everything because I'm still tryna come to terms with it myself and also, I care about what she thinks of me. But not only that I don't want her to worry, and she goes to such extreme lengths to get me out of shit. I don't need her involved in this too.
"Here", Tobias offers a blunt
"Nah"
Tobias. Treyvon's right hand, nothing much else to say. It's sad because he's such a lapdog, the amount of things hes done for Treyvon couldn't compare to the amount of nothing that Treyvon's given him in return, he does all his dirty work.
Then you've got Reggie and Mike, Reg's the same age as me but Mike's a bit older. They both hate Treyvon but are too scared to ever stand up to him, I mention them because as of now they're just standing there.
Von offers Malik a bro hug which he doesn't accept
He lowers his arm down with amusement. "Ight. I probably deserve that one"
My brother just looks at him
"Still upset about the shit I said bout your sister?-
"Can we just get to the point" I say annoyed
He glances at me, "I've told you about that mouth of yours"
"Right and I told you I don't care"
His lip twitches with disgust before he turns back to Malik, "You're lucky I respect you. I would've killed your brother by now"
"And you know that I would've killed you if you did that"
"You mean you would've tried and failed", Von replies amused
Malik doesn't bother entertaining his efforts of annoying him.
"You mentioned something bout a deal"
"Yes"
"Unless it has something to do with the shipment I told you to go handle I don't wanna hear it" Treyvon says with disinterest
"It's for Xavier. He wants out"
"This again"
"Yes, this again"
"Didn't I beat your ass the last time you tried that bullshit?", He questions me
"You didn't beat my ass, you got your boys to jump me-
Now all of a sudden he's all up in my face, see unlike half of the people here I don't just let him talk to me however he wants. I know what he could do to me but still, I don't give a fuck.
His upper lip curls with disgust, "I did you a favour, now I had hoped that you learnt your lesson but it's clear you want me to hurt you. This time I won't be so nice, or better yet more lenient"
I narrow my eyes as he starts walking in circles around me with a smirk, his mood switches so
fast it's insane.
"See now that I know there's a girl you love it makes this shit a whole lot better, maybe I'll take my anger out on her. Shes got a pretty face, and those lips are sexy too, could do with a bit of bruising. Let's see how well she can take my-
I grab him by the shirt as anger takes over me, "Shut the fuck up-
Tobias was more than ready to interfere and put his hands on me but Von told him to stand down as Malik pulled me back.
"Don't bother Tobias cause I wanna be the one to deal with this fool-....What makes you think I'd ever let you quit like that, I own you-
"The only lapdog you've got is Tobias-
"Stop", Malik mutters to me
"Get off me", I say annoyed
"I'm tryna help you, relax-
"You can stop trying cause I don't give a fuck about no deal. Get these fools out of my sight" He dismisses whilst turning away
It was just the group of us in an abandoned alleyway, nobody ever comes here because this is Treyvon's corner and it's also where he lurks around to recruit new people to work for him. Knowing this, people try to avoid the area.
"Do it", I say to my brother
He reaches inside his pocket
"Hurry up"
Malik frowns, "Where the fuck is-....
He doesn't even finish his sentence, already knowing that his efforts were wasted.
Von tilts his head with amusement, "Oh you thought I was just gon let you come talk to me and I wouldn't have anyone check your pockets"
I look towards Reggie knowingly because he's the only one here that is sneaky and can pickpocket well, that's why Von takes him everywhere with him. "You son of a bitch"
He gives me an apologetic look as he hands Treyvon Malik's gun, "I'm sorry-
"Don't be sorry fool"
I kiss my teeth as my arms are suddenly held back by Mike, "You're a God damn pussy"
"Not all of us have brothers to defend us-
"You talk too much", Malik punches him and he goes staggering back against the wall
Treyvon starts laughing like this is all some fucking joke, I swear this nigga is actually tweaking. All I could think about in this moment is how I promised my sister and my girlfriend that I wouldn't leave them, and now it looks like my chances of dying are high. We're outnumbered and there's no where to run
"Mike I told you to learn how to fight", He continues to die of laughter and I look at him with disgust
Mike just clenches his jaw
"Ahhh, you know what I knew I liked you", Treyvon says to my brother once hes finally calmed down
No point in running now, I've seen Von like this. When he starts laughing just know that it's over. I should've just stayed with Ree, things would've been fine. But now I've let her and myself down....
"Fuck!", Malik kicks over the trash can with rage and I just roll my eyes
"Alright alright enough of the tempter tantrum, let's play a game. I'll count to three and then whoever I feel like shooting is gonna get shot. I'll be nice though, one of you gets to live"
This is the same script he always uses with people who owe him a debt and can't pay him back.
"You're full of shit"
He takes it as a compliment and grins "I know. If you get to heaven tell my grandmother I said hi-
"Von that's a bit too much, it doesn't need to
go that far..." Mike intervenes
"Ok, let me think about it for a minute"
I screw him as he pretends to think and Tobias smirks.
I didn't even say bye to them...
"Times up", Von teasingly waves the gun around and Malik stands in front of me
"What are you doing?", I frown
"It's my fault", My brother replies to me
Von touches his heart "How cute, you can't always save him though. Now let's countdown. One, two, three-
A gunshot sounds throughout the alleyway and we both duck, but after a moment we realise that no bullet flew out of the gun. Malik and I frown, so does Tobias and the other guys.
It wasn't until Treyvon's shirt started to turn a crimson red and he suddenly dropped the gun that I realised what was going on.... hes been shot.
"What the-
"Shit" I hear a female whisper, almost with shock at what'd she'd done.
I turn back, immediately recognising that voice
"Amariah", Malik says in a state of shock
She's just frozen, still holding the gun
"Baby....what did you do"
Now her hands trembling, "I saw him about to shoot you and I-... oh my God-
I know her well, this is exactly what I was afraid of. She can't take stuff like this. Mike crouches down beside Treyvon, just observing his current state. He's staring up at him wide eyed.
"Ree, give me the gun" I tell her calmly
Whatever shes done I'm prepared to take responsibility for, but I need her to give me the gun.
Tears are currently pooling her eyes as we speak and she's shaking, I go over to her right away and hug her. "He was gonna hurt you guys", She cries against me
"Hey it's ok, shhhh" I rub her back comfortingly, using my other hand to slowly take the gun away from her and pass it to my brother
I don't know where she got it or how she got here but that's not my current concern right now.
"You didn't tell me your plan-.... I mean how could you just leave and not even-
"I know, I know. I'm sorry" I say softly
"Are you ok?", My girlfriend asks with panic
"I'm fine, but I need to get you out of-
She pulls away from lying on me, intaking a breath as we look at each other and I frown as I tuck a hair behind her ear, "What is it?"
Amariah looks down and I look down with her, I felt my heart drop. There's a tearing at the side of her shirt and in its place there's a knife.
"Zay", She whispers with an alarmed expression
"Shit"
I didn't care about anything but her in that moment, I didn't care if Five-O would come or if Treyvon was still alive. I sat on that floor and lied her on top of me before quickly taking off my hoodie. Malik's eyes widen once he catches sight of what's going, "Son of a bitch, Tobias!"
"He's already running away", Reggie states
That doesn't stop Malik from shooting bullets, all of which end up missing.
"Forget about it!", I snap
Amariah breathes in and out quickly as I wrap my hoodie around the knife wound tightly to lessen the bleeding. "It hurts" She cries in pain
"I'm so sorry", I whisper with panic
It was a hunting knife
"I'm gonna bring the car round", Malik tells me
"Hurry up", I say annoyed
He gives her a soft look after kissing her forehead, "I'll be right back ok?"
"I'm gonna die", Amariah sobs
Reggie looks away, trying not to cry and Malik leaves quickly
I stroke Ree's hair, comforting her reassuringly, "You're not dying my love. I'm gonna fix this, I promise"
She rests a hand on my face, teary eyed. "I just-...
"Shhh, don't talk baby" At this point her blood is all over me
"I love you", Amariah whispers
I shake my head, not accepting it. "Tell me that when I get you out of this"
Mike's face softens, "You guys go, I'm gonna get Von to the hospital"
If that son of a bitch lives and Amariah doesn't? Serious problems.
Pretty soon I see my brother's car pull up, but not only that I also see Jamila's car right behind it and she's leaning against it with her phone to her ear. Once again, I'll ask questions later. All I care about is Amariah right now.
I pick her up and she lets out a sound of pain, I apologise before getting her over to the car.
"Open the door"
Reggie opens it and I get in whilst carrying Ree, "Quickly"
"Get in", Malik tells Reggie
He eventually does so and my brother immediately starts driving. I'm making sure to keep pressure on Amariah's wound, but I can see that she's getting tired.
I keep my head rested against hers for the rest of the drive, regretting ever leaving the house in the first place.
This is all my fault
-
One hour earlier
â¢AMARIAHâ¢
"It's Jamila"
"Oh..... how did you get my number?"
"Xavier gave it to me awhile ago"
"He added it to my phone didn't he", I say knowingly
"I think so"
I am so baffled right now
"So...."
She sighs, "I'm not supposed to be calling you but it feels right to"
"Is something wrong?", I frown
My sisters look over at me
"Yes...and no depending on how things go. Xavier told you he was cutting a deal right"
"Yeah"
"Well they're gonna try but there's a ninety percent chance that it's not gonna work, it never does"
"I don't understand. What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that I think Xavier and Malik are planning to kill Treyvon" She eventually replies
My stomach starts to feel knotted up, "What?"
"I mean it's Malik's plan and hes somehow convinced Zay that this is the only way to go. Please don't be mad that he didn't tell you"
"You and I both know why he didn't, so why did you?"
I'm annoyed, why would he do that? But also I know how much he wants to escape that lifestyle, I just don't know if killing Treyvon is the right answer.
"Because he won't listen to me, I'm hoping that you could maybe talk to him"
"I can't"
"You could try"
"No Jamila you don't get it, the boys left half an hour ago...."
"Shit"
"Do you know where they're going?"
She sighs, "I mean I know the area but not the exact place-
"Maybe we can catch up to them, could you come get me?"
"Yeah ok"
"I'll send the address"
No way would I send her my house address, I don't know her like that. Instead I sent the address from two streets down, I'll just meet her there.
"Alright"
Once the call ends I turn to my sisters, "Cover?"
"Where are you going?"
"I'm just gonna go meet Xavier's friend real quick, but you can't tell Zion cause he's gonna try to stop me"
"I don't know about this", Trinity replies with an unsure look
"Trust me"
"I do", She still looks hesitant though
Thankfully Indiah's still sleeping so I don't have to worry about her, Zi went to join the parents in the dining room.
"We'll say you went to sleep"
Pretty soon I had left the house and gone to meet Jamila, she was driving a Honda accord. Whether I trust her or not, well I guess we're about to see.
I lower my head to the windows level as she pulls up to the curb, "Hey"
"Hi", I reply
Not gonna lie she's pretty, her eyebrows are shaped quite nicely and her aesthetic is cute. She's dressed in a tracksuit and has goddess braids that drop down to her lower back.
"I know this is probably awkward, sorry I didn't know what else to do" She says apologetically
I get in, "It's alright. Nice to finally meet you though"
"Girl and you, trust me you're all he talks about"
I smile a little, "How far are we going?"
"It's like a ten minute drive, I'm hoping that Xavier's having second thoughts"
I notice a polaroid picture through the back of her phone case, it's of her and this Latino girl. The girl was kissing Jamila's neck whilst she was smiling with her eyes closed, they both look beautiful. "She's cute"
She looks away from the road, "Hm? Oh yeah that's my girl, Zola" Jamila smiles as she says this
"Is she half Cuban?"
"Half Mexican"
I nod impressed before looking out the window
"You thought I liked Zay didn't you", Jamila says amused
"No", It kind of came out defensive
She gives me a look
"Ok maybe just a little bit"
"It's ok I get it, I'd have thought the same if I was you. But trust me he's nothing but a friend, he's actually the one who introduced me to her"
Ok so that's been settled then, not gonna lie Jamila is actually really sweet, the ice has finally been broken and now I feel less awkward.
"When did Malik come up with this idea?"
"A while ago but he didn't give Xavier the idea until about two days ago, I didn't even think he'd involve him"
I sigh as I put my phone to my ear, I've already sent a text but Zay hasn't replied. My call goes to voicemail and I'm not one to leave one behind so I just ended it.
The drive didn't even feel that long to be honest but then again Jamila didn't know the exact location, she just told me that he mentioned something about this alleyway they're always at.
I frown as she parks the car, "Wait what are you doing"
"I think we should call one of them again, if not then we wait"
"Wait? I don't think that's a good idea, this could go incredibly wrong" I start to take off my seatbelt
"Woah I know I said we'd try catch up to them but I didn't mean like this, it's too dangerous for you to go looking-
"I can't just sit and wait"
"You're gonna have to, Xavier would kill me for even bringing you here. Look let's just give it a couple minutes"
I sigh as I sit back, "Ok fine"
A few minutes had indeed passed and I was growing more and more agitated, my phone pinged at some point and I thought it was Xavier. Instead it was a message from Trinity, she was just asking if I were ok. I had to reply of course.
Jamila eventually got out the car to go to the convenient store across the street to get us some drinks, big mistake. I'm not in the mood for a stakeout.
To my surprise I found a gun under her seat which raised a lot of questions, I don't even know what I was looking for but I found the gun and my immediate thought was to just take it and go, even though I have no idea how to handle one my instinct said take it.
So that's exactly what I did
*
*NOW*
"Uncle T!", He shouts as soon as we make it through the front door
Indiah jolts awake and my dad frowns as he makes his way into the living room, once he caught sight of me his face dropped and he immediately came over.
"Amariah", He takes me from Xavier and I hold onto his neck as I'm hit with dizziness
"Oh my God", Trinity immediately starts crying
"Toya!", He calls out
"Oh my lord-.... alright everyone move. Quickly, Treyton I need you to keep putting pressure"
I hear a gasp from my mother, "Amariah"
"What the fuck?", Zion widens his eyes
"Where the hell are ya'll coming from?"
"I was-...it's my fault" Malik replies shortly
Everything was becoming distorted and I was only hearing bits and pieces of conversation, my best friend and my sisters sobs, my mom's shouts, Malik being scolded by uncle Darnel, it was too many voices and panicked sounds.
I couldn't focus on anything, I was in too much pain and I was crying and hyperventilating. Daddy was holding onto me and kissing my head, reassuring me that I'm a strong girl. "Oh my God oh my God"
"Deep breaths"
I'm hearing sirens and I'm seeing ambulance lights, how long has it been?
"I don't wanna die", I cry whilst looking up at my dad
"You're gonna be ok princess, I need you to stay awake. Can you do that"
"I'll try"
He's trying not to cry....
"I'm sorry", I sob
He keeps the conversation going, "Sorry? For what?"
I feel my shirt get teared starting from the bottom, "I've been horrible"
He strokes my hair "Listen to me, right now the only focus is getting you medical help. I never hold grudges no matter what happens"
I sniff, "I'm a bad daughter"
"No you are not. You have feelings and you express them, there's nothing wrong with that. When all of this is over just think of all the fun things you'll get to do. We can talk about this another time" He says softly
"Ow!", I let out
"I'm sorry sweetie I've gotta know how deep it is", Aunt Toya replies
"How bad?", Momma asks through tears
"It's deep... T keep up with the pressure"
I don't remember much of what happened after that, it's like time kept passing me by quickly.
"Don't leave me", I plead through my cries whilst being lifted
"I'm gonna be right here baby, I promise"
"Daddy-
More voices
"Code 3!"
I felt a breathing mask, and I saw this bright light as I laid there, so many lights. And then suddenly....
There was nothing