Arell Enjoys his Day
It had been two hours since they left the hospital. Arell had already put the word out, offering fifteen thousand for anyone who could provide Lil Reese's location. The streets were buzzing with the news and now everyone in the trenches was now hunting for Reese and his crew, hoping to cash in on the bounty.
Arell's phone buzzed. It was Sahbabii.
"Got sumn for you," Sahbabii said without preamble. "Reese and his homeboys holed up in an apartment building near that park I told you bout . Word is, they've been there for a while."
"Good looks," Arell replied, ending the call. He turned to Geoffrey. "It's confirmed. Reese is hiding out in that apartment building."
Geoffrey nodded, his expression grim. "Alright. We move in when it gets darker. We can't risk any witnesses or getting caught on camera."
Arell looked out the window, the park slowly emptying as the day turned into night. His thoughts were consumed with Kenny, lying in a hospital bed, fighting for his life. The rage simmered just below the surface, ready to explode.
<>
Lil Reese leaned back in the worn-out couch of the cramped apartment, a smug grin spreading across his face. The room was thick with the haze of smoke and the stench of sweat. Ten of his boys crowded the space, each one armed and ready, their weapons casually resting on laps or propped against the walls.
"Man, you shoulda seen that fool Kenny," one of Reese's boys, Darius, said, his voice filled with glee. "He was runnin' like a scared lil' bitch. We got him good."
Reese chuckled, taking a long drag from his blunt. "Yeah, that boy ain't gon' make it. He's done for."
They laughed and nodded in agreement, passing blunts and bottles of liquor around. The air was filled with the sound of their voices, each one trying to outdo the other with bravado and boasts.
"That nigga Arell gotta be next," another one, Killa, said, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "We gonna roll up on him, catch him slippin'."
Reese shook his head, his expression turning serious. "Arell ain't stupid, though. He moves smart. Ain't never seen him posted up in public by himself or drop no lows. Nigga stays low-key."
"Yeah, man, I been thinkin' 'bout that," Killa replied, rubbing his chin. "We can't just roll up on his apartment neither. Too many police round that area. They probably got mad guns up in there too."
Reese nodded, considering the situation. "We gotta be strategic 'bout this. We gotta find a way to draw him out."
The conversation shifted as they strategized, their words blending with the background noise of the city outside. The apartment was a rundown spot in a sketchy part of town, perfect for laying low. The walls were covered in peeling paint, and the furniture looked like it had seen better days. But for now, it was their safe haven.
Reese's eyes scanned the room, taking in his crew. Each one of them was armed to the teeth, ready for whatever came next. They were all seasoned street soldiers, used to the chaos and violence that came with their lifestyle.
"Ay, Cdai," Reese called out, turning to one of his closest friends. "We need to keep our heads on a swivel. Can't let our guard down for a second."
Cdai nodded. "You already know, Reese. We got this. Ain't nobody gonna catch us slippin'."
The group continued to talk, their voices low and serious. They discussed their next moves, how they would track Arell, and what they would do once they found him. Each plan was more ruthless than the last, their determination to eliminate Arell growing with every passing minute.
But as the night wore on, their conversation began to shift. The tension in the room eased slightly as they started to relax, the adrenaline from the earlier attack wearing off.
"Ay, we should get some bitches over here," one of the guys, Trey, suggested, a grin spreading across his face. "Ain't no point in stressin' all night. We gotta unwind a lil'."
The others laughed and nodded in agreement, their mood lightening.
"Bet," Cdai said, standing up. "I'll go grab some condoms and make a few calls. We gonna turn this place up tonight."
"Yeah, make sure you bring enough for everybody," Rico added, his grin widening. "Ain't nobody getting left out."
Cdai nodded, grabbing his gun and tucking it into his waistband. He motioned for a couple of the others to follow him. "Y'all come with me. We ain't goin' out there unprotected."
Reese watched as Cdai and the others left the apartment, the door closing behind them with a click. He leaned back in his seat, taking another drag from his blunt.
<>
Cdai, accompanied by two others, Tato and Jax, moved cautiously down the dimly lit hallway of the apartment building. They kept their hands close to their weapons, eyes darting around for any sign of trouble. The building was quiet, the only sounds being the faint hum of distant traffic and the occasional drip of water from a leaky pipe.
"Man, I hate this building," Tato muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Always feels like someone's watchin'."
Jax nodded in agreement, his grip tightening on his gun. "Yeah, but it's better than being out in the open. Least we got walls around us here."
Cdai led the way, his footsteps silent on the worn carpet. They reached the stairwell and began their descent, the stairs creaking under their weight. They moved quickly, not wanting to linger any longer than necessary.
As they stepped out into the cool night air, Cdai took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the area. The street was mostly deserted, a few cars passing by occasionally.
"Cam, you're our marksman. Stay back and cover us from a distance if anything goes down," Geoffrey instructed, his voice low and calm. Cam nodded, his expression stoic.
Arell peered through the windshield, his eyes narrowing as he spotted three figures stepping out of a building. "That's Cdai and Tato," he said, his voice filled with quiet fury. "Don't recognize the other one."
They watched as Cdai and his crew made their way toward a nearby convenience store. Arell's grip tightened on his gun. The rage he felt for what they had done to Kenny was barely contained.
"We should shoot it up now," Jamal suggested, his voice filled with barely restrained anger.
Geoffrey shook his head. "Too risky. They could get cover, and you know they've got guns. We need to be smart about this."
Arell nodded in agreement. "We'll wait until they're at the cashier."
The minutes dragged on, each second feeling like an eternity as they watched the trio enter the store. The bell above the door tinkled, a seemingly innocent sound that signaled the beginning of the end for Cdai and his crew.
Inside the store, Cdai, Tato, and Jax browsed the aisles, picking out snacks and drinks. The fluorescent lights cast a harsh glow, and the hum of the refrigerators was the only background noise.
"Ay, you think Kenny's gonna make it?" Jax asked, his tone mocking.
Cdai snorted. "Hell no. We lit him up good. Ain't no way he's walking away from that."
Tato laughed, grabbing a bag of chips. "Man, fuck Arell and all them niggas he be with."
They continued to talk, their voices low.
The store was a typical corner shop, with narrow aisles crammed with merchandise. The shelves were stocked with everything from canned goods to candy bars, and the faint smell of stale coffee hung in the air. Cdai and his crew moved methodically, picking up items and tossing them into a basket.
"Yo, grab some of those honey buns," Tato said, pointing to a shelf. "I ain't had one of those in a minute."
Cdai chuckled, reaching for the pastries. "You and your damn sweet tooth. Bet you gonna need to see the dentist soon."
Jax joined in the banter, grabbing a couple of energy drinks. "Man, we should throw a party after this."
"Yeah, we should," Cdai agreed, his eyes flicking to the door. "But not in Atlanta, shit already hot down here."
The three of them continued to gather supplies, their conversation drifting from one topic to another. They laughed and joked, the tension from earlier seemingly forgotten. But outside, Arell and his crew were watching and waiting, their focus unwavering.
Geoffrey glanced at Arell, his expression serious. "We need to stay calm and focused. This has to go down perfectly. No mistakes."
Arell nodded, his jaw clenched. "I know. I just want to get this over with."
Tariq and Jamal were quiet, their eyes fixed on the store. The anticipation was building, each second feeling like an hour as they waited for the right moment.
Inside the store, Cdai and his crew moved towards the cashier, their baskets full. The clerk, a bored-looking teenager, glanced up from his magazine and began ringing up their items.
"Y'all havin' a party or something?" the clerk asked, scanning the snacks and drinks.
"Something like that," Cdai replied with a smirk. "Just stockin' up for the night."
The clerk nodded, uninterested. He continued to scan the items, the beep of the register the only sound in the otherwise silent store. Cdai, Tato, and Jax grabbed their bags and walked out, the bell tinkling above them.
As they stepped out into the night air, Cdai took a moment to observe his surroundings. Nothing seemed out of place. Just a few cars passing by and the usual hum of the city at night. A slow-moving, old car a few vehicles down caught his eye, but he dismissed it.
The three of them started crossing the street, their conversation shifting to more mundane topics. The night was cool and quiet, with only the occasional distant sound of traffic and city life. As they reached the crosswalk, the world seemed to slow down. Cdai's instincts told him something was off, but he couldn't pinpoint what it was.
"Yo, you think Arell's gonna make a move?" Tato asked, glancing around as they walked.
"Maybe," Cdai replied, still scanning the area. "But he moves smart. Ain't never seen him out in the open like us."
"Yeah, but we got eyes everywhere," Jax added. "If he tries anything, we'll know."
Just as they were about to step off the curb and cross the street, the quiet night shattered. A series of loud pops echoed through the air, followed by the unmistakable sound of gunfire. The sudden eruption of violence caught them completely off guard.
Bullets tore through the night, the rapid-fire shots coming from AR-15s. Cdai felt the impact of several bullets hitting his chest, the force knocking him to the ground. He struggled to breathe, his vision blurring as he tried to make sense of what was happening.
Tato and Jax scrambled, trying to find cover behind parked cars. The hail of bullets was relentless, each one tearing through the air with deadly precision. Tato was hit multiple times, his body jerking with each impact before collapsing, clutching at his wounds. Jax tried to return fire, but he was quickly overwhelmed, a bullet finding its mark and sending him sprawling onto the pavement.
Cdai lay on the ground, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. The pain was excruciating, and he could barely move. His vision blurred, and he could feel himself slipping into unconsciousness. Through the haze, he saw a figure approaching, walking with deliberate steps.
Cdai tried to focus, but his vision was fading fast. The last thing he saw was a man's face hidden behind the mask, but despite that he could recognise those eyes anywhere, Arell's cold, unforgiving eyes. Arell didn't say anything, but Cdai could hear his own heartbeat pounding in his ears.
Arell raised his gun, the barrel pointed directly at Cdai's head. "Fuck you, nigga," he muttered, his voice filled with rage and finality.
The gunshot rang out, echoing through the night. Cdai's world went dark, the last thing he heard being Arell's voice.
The chaos of the ambush faded, leaving only silence in its wake. Arell stood over Cdai's lifeless body for a moment, breathing heavily. The anger and adrenaline still surged through his veins, but there was a grim satisfaction in knowing that Kenny had been avenged.
Geoffrey called out, snapping Arell back to reality. "Let's go! We need to get out of here!"
Arell nodded, turning away from Cdai's body and running back to the car. They piled in, Geoffrey at the wheel, and the old vehicle roared to life. Tires screeched as they sped away, the sound of sirens growing fainter as they disappeared into the night.
As they drove, the silence in the car was heavy. Arell stared out the window, his mind racing with thoughts of what had just happened. Geoffrey glanced over at him, concern etched on his face.
"Arell, you good?" Geoffrey asked, his voice breaking the silence.
Arell didn't respond immediately. He was lost in his thoughts, the image of Cdai's lifeless body burned into his mind. Finally, he nodded. "Yeah, I'm good. Let's just get out of here."