27

No one spoke and Montel cranked up the radio as I snuggled into Christian in the backseat. He wrapped an arm around me and kissed my forehead. It was an offer of comfort and I took it happily.

I couldn't shake the feeling that our plan would never work out, and we were trickling down a slippery slope of debt. I didn't like this life I was living. I wanted out. My life had changed so drastically in such a short amount of time. My biggest worry used to be passing a test and making sure the house was clean when my mom got home. I was still doing okay in school now, but it could be better, and I was rarely home. I was consumed with trying to simply live, and it was stressful.

I was now a certified drug dealer and not no soft-ass marijuana. No, I now had in my possession real drugs. Drugs that had serious time behind them. I was the unwilling leader of a crime family. I had real enemies who didn't want to fight. Nope, they were shooters, and I was now willing to do the same. I thought back to the events of my life that had led me to where I was now. The fights I had gotten into, even though I had mostly minded my business. Becoming close to the guys and meeting Christian. Pointing a gun at a person for the first time, who had been Christian. I still remembered the rush of power and I hated it now.

Zale getting shot. His blood all over me as he saved my life. My first thought of killing someone. Chasing that car to the gas station. Learning that I had good people behind me with the bus incident. Selling drugs, removing bullets, and planning to get revenge. I had been at war with death for a while now. It was a fight I wasn't willing to lose. I'm too young to die. However, I know there would be more death in my future. If I wanted to live, I would have to get with the program, at least for now. When all the loose ends were finally tied, I would gracefully bow out of this crazy life. I wanted a normal life, and I wanted it with Christian, so he would have to clean up his act a bit. I wanted to break this generation curse we were all tangled in.

When we arrived at the clubhouse, everyone was there. Dale and Todo were arm wrestling at a table in the corner. Reese was there. He was stretched out on the couch with his arms over his eyes. My sister was behind the bar cleaning out glasses. Leo and Joey were playing pool. Everyone stopped what they were doing when we walked in.

I smiled, looking them all, put me at ease. I loved these people, and I didn't want to lose anyone else. We had some work to put in, but together we could get out of this. We would get shit done and be okay. I walked to the pool table and Christian put the duffle bag on the table and opened it, pulling out the wrapped package.

"He gave us more than enough to settle our debt and still make a lot of money," I said as everyone gathered around the pool table.

"How much did this cost?" asked Dale, eyeing the drugs. He knew well that I did not have enough money on me to get a pound of boid.

"It was free," Montel said, leaning a hip against the pool table. "Anna has more pull than we thought."

"No," I said. "My stepdad does. Anybody know how to cut it? I got a crash course, but I'd rather not fuck it up."

"I have sold it from time to time back in the day," Todo said, stepping closer. "I know someone who would buy a lot. He lives on the west side."

"How well do you know him?" Christian asked, and I knew why he was asking. We don't want no bullshit with this deal. Even though this time we didn't pay for it. We couldn't deal with any more enemies.

"I've known him all my life," Todo said. "He's straight. I trust him."

"Okay," I said, nodding my head. "Can you calculate this?"

"Anna," he said, shaking his head. "That's a lot, but from the top of my head, even raw, that's worth about thirty thousand. He blessed the hell out of you."

"Thirty what?" I asked.

"Thousand," Leo said, smiling. "We going to be rich."

"Something is not right," Joey said, smiling. "I wish I had gone to the deal. Nobody gives away that much dope expecting nothing."

"Well I was there," Montel said. "Anna tried to pay him. He said it was to settle a debt he has with Micky. He only ask that we shop with him."

"Well, I'll be damned," Leo said.

"How fast can you move it?" Joey asked Todo.

"I'll need a few days," he answered.

"Cool," I said, "Then Todo will deal with this. Reese, how has your visitor been?"

"So yeah," Reese said, looking around at Leo.

"He got away," Leo said. "Not sure when, but he left a note saying that he will be around. Whatever that means."

"Gone?" I asked, shaking my head. I was real-life pissed and trying to contain my anger.

"Yeah, I'm sorry Anna, but when I was shot I was out of it for a while." Reese was saying.

I knew I couldn't stay mad at him. He had been shot, and truth be told, with everything going on, I had damned near forgotten about the dude.

"It's okay Reese, Things have been crazy," I said smiling. "What about Hawthorne? Did you guys find him yet?" Leo and Dale exchange a look. They had been watching his house and his job since they had found out about him.

"He's ghosted," Dales said, "or something?"

"He hasn't been home in days and he hasn't been to work. He is somewhere else," Leo said. "Maybe he heard we were looking for him."

"Guys, we have to find his crazy ass," I exclaimed. "Start asking around, and Montel check hospitals, jails, and hotels. If he's hiding, he would probably be one of those places." The guys nodded, and I moved on to Christian.

"Have you talked to Corey at all?" I asked.

"Yeah, I talked to him," Christian said, his mouth tight. "He wants his money in three days, not sure if we are going to make that deadline. I told him he would be paid."

"Okay," I blew out a breath. "Joey, any news on Ace?"

"Yeah, I been watching, dude." Joey said in a cool tone. "He has a crew that's with him at all times. They all have guns and they only got to church, a warehouse on Broadway and the strip club. Those are the places we can catch him."

"Church?" Reese asked.

"Yeah," Joey answered, "He even dresses up."

"Religious ass gangster," Todo hissed. "That's some bullshit."

"Either way, we are not shooting up a church to get to that punk," I said.

"I also wouldn't advise his trap house," Joey said. "There are always a lot of people there."

"Then work out a way. We can get him at the club." Christian said, "It's our best chance."

Tod had been unpacking the bag, but he came to a sudden stop and stepped back. "Anna, look at this. Looks like your new best friend left you some gifts."

I peeked in the bag to see artillery. There was a Glock, a revolver, another pistol, a shotgun, and two rifles. Big D had come through big time.