Childhood Friend

After keeping a low profile for the remainder of the previous day, Arslan found himself stationed by the corner store following the end of his shift, anticipating Ryder's arrival, who had been conspicuously absent from work that day.

As Arslan waited, he began to feel the effects of his newfound Street Smarts skill, which granted him insights into the individuals passing by. Each person was labeled with a distinctive marker above their heads, indicating their affiliation – from ordinary civilians marked with [Civ] to law enforcement officers tagged as [Cops], and even gang members denoted as [Gangster].

Grateful for this valuable information, Arslan recognized the advantage this skill offered, not only in discerning the identities of those around him but also in pinpointing the locations of illicit activities. With a glance, he could spot the spots where narcotics were peddled, along with the individuals responsible for them. His attention was drawn to Marco's turf, observing the two figures loitering in the area with a newfound clarity.

Marco and Tony who were standing there were shooing away customers who came looking to get high, but unfortunately for them, there was nothing to buy as Arslan raided their stash before the cops came and took the rest.

A grin lingered on Arslan's face until he heard his name called by Ryder, who had finally made his appearance, accompanied by two unfamiliar faces.

"Hey, what's good?" Ryder greeted Arslan with a friendly dap.

"Just chilling," Arslan responded before turning his attention to the newcomers. "Were these the guys keeping you occupied today?" he inquired, a hint of curiosity in his tone.

"You know I had to look around after yesterday" Ryder said before he started introducing a short guy who looked in the start of his twenties who bore the remnants of a streetwise demeanor. "This is Ricky, he used to hang with Jay and his people, before they got locked up" Ryder said before he went and started introducing the other guy, he looked older than the rest of them and more like a bodybuilder as he was more muscular and taller than everyone around, "And this right here is my cousin, Nate, he came straight from LA a few weeks ago, and ready to put on some work."

Arslan assessed Nate and Ricky with a discerning eye before giving them a nod of approval, indicating his acceptance. "So, Ryder filled you in on the gig?" he inquired, receiving simultaneous nods from the two men, prompting him to elaborate further. "Alright, for now, let's keep things low-key. I need you two to gear up and be prepared," Arslan directed, passing a wad of cash to the perplexed duo, who seemed puzzled by the additional payment since Ryder had already compensated them.

"I'm all set, got paid already," Nate stated confidently, assuming Arslan was unaware of their prior transaction. On the other hand, Ricky revealed his concealed firearm, asserting, "I've got my own piece, no worries."

Arslan clarified the situation, addressing Nate, "Ryder's payment covers this week's work. And that gun you're toting, Ricky, it's not clean. We need to steer clear of unnecessary trouble." With a keen eye, he noticed the questionable state of Ricky's weapon.

Acknowledging Arslan's instructions, the two men accepted the money offered and departed, leaving Arslan and Ryder standing alone.

"Are you sure they're reliable?" Arslan asked, seeking reassurance from Ryder, who affirmed their credibility with a nod.

"Yeah, solid dudes. No need to sweat it," Ryder replied confidently, casting a glance at Marco, who appeared visibly anxious, attempting to safeguard his dwindling merchandise, much to Ryder's amusement.

Chuckling at Marco's predicament, Ryder quipped, "Look at him, standing there with a dick in hand. When do we make our move on them?" Ryder inquired eagerly, eager to seize the opportunity to claim the territory and establish their own operations.

"Tomorrow!" Arslan declared, catching Ryder off guard with his decisiveness, contrary to his usual cautious approach. "We just need one more man added to the team, and we're good to go," Arslan added, outlining his plan.

Concerned about finding another trustworthy recruit, Ryder voiced his doubts, "Do you have someone in mind? Those two were the only ones I felt good about."

With a confident grin, Arslan began to walk, tapping away on his phone as he made a call. "I've got the perfect candidate in mind to fill that spot," he assured Ryder, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

===============

After strolling through the neighborhood for approximately five minutes, Arslan and Ryder found themselves seated on a bench at the park, indulging in a smoke of the good shit they had taken from Marco's stash house.

Their wait was brief, interrupted by the arrival of the individual they had been anticipating. A familiar voice greeted them from behind, exclaiming, "Hey big heads, what's the word?" The playful sound of a girl's voice accompanied a playful slap on the back of Ryder's head as she positioned herself in front of the two, her smile instantly lighting up the scene.

Sofia sauntered up to Arslan and Ryder in her signature style, rocking short hair, with her tattoos peeking out from under her sleeves. Her playful and confident energy was complimented by the short jeans she wore, adding a touch to her alluring appearance. With a mischievous glint in her eyes, Sofia exuded a magnetic charm that hinted at a rebellious spirit.

Arslan greeted her, passing the blunt to Ryder, who absentmindedly scratched his head, his gaze fixed on Sofia, their childhood friend.

Ryder's curiosity got the best of him as he inquired, "Is this the one you've been telling me about?" He took another drag before Sofia swiftly snatched the blunt from him, her expression shifting to one of irritation.

"What's with that attitude, you fucking goof?" Sofia retorted, taking a drag before turning to Arslan. "And what's he talking about?" she asked, seeking clarification from Arslan.

"Well let's say we are planning on starting to push some weight, and we are short on men, are you interested in something like that ?" Arslan propositioned Sofia, who returned the blunt before bursting into laughter.

"You're suggesting I become a drug dealer?" Sofia quipped, before she went and settled herself between the two men on the bench.

Arslan, aware of Sofia's less than legal dealings in the neighborhood as she was known to do shady stuff with some shady people, retorted, "You're not a saint so quit the act. I've heard about you and what you have been doing."

"Snatching from a corner store and scamming some people isn't quite the same as pushing drugs," Sofia defended herself, as Arslan passed the blunt to Ryder.

"You'll be only in charge of looking out for cops or anyone trying to rob us, so you're gonna be safe most of the time" Arslan explained to Sofia, who reclined on the bench while stretching her arms behind the two, gazing up at the sky.

Ryder chimed in, passing the blunt to her, "Come on, Sofi, it'll be just like old times in middle school. You're the only one we can trust, even if you are kinda of a dirty thief," he teased, eliciting a smile from Sofia as she exhaled a puff of smoke into the air.

"Fuck you!" Sofia retorted playfully to Ryder before straightening up. "How much am I getting paid?" she inquired promptly, catching Arslan off guard with her directness. With a smirk, Arslan handed her a stack of cash, causing her eyes to widen in surprise.

"This much? Per week?" Sofia confirmed with disbelief, receiving a confirming nod from Arslan. Quietly contemplating the money in her hands, Sofia began to connect the dots before posing her next question, "So, you two were the ones who hit Marco's stash?"

Ryder couldn't help but grin at the mention of their daring feat becoming neighborhood gossip, while Arslan simply nodded in acknowledgment.

"You crazy motherfuckers, They say there's like four people dead, and the cops are looking around for the ones who did it," Sofia exclaimed, her voice tinged with a mix of shock and concern as she delivered the unsettling news of the casualties and police involvement. Arslan and Ryder exchanged a sobering glance, the weight of the situation evident in their expressions as the gravity of the consequences sank in.

"You need to get rid of the guns, clothes, and anything else tied to that job. If you get caught with that, it's game over for yall," Sofia urged, prompting the two to rise slowly and begin to walk away, intent on following her advice.

"Where are you going? What about the details for the operation?" Sofia called after them, but Arslan reassured her, "Don't worry about it, wait for my call." With that, they quickened their pace, determined to dispose of any incriminating evidence from the job they did yesterday.

As Arslan and Ryder were on their way to dispose of the incriminating evidence, a sudden interruption halted their movements. A sleek black SUV screeched to a stop in front of them, causing them to pause, their guard up as they assessed the unexpected arrival.

Their apprehension turned to confusion as James, the imposing debt collector responsible for Arslan's financial obligations, stepped out of the vehicle. Arslan's brow furrowed in puzzlement, knowing it was not yet time for his next payment.

"Hey, young lion, it's been a minute," James greeted Arslan, a hint of formality in his tone, which added to the mystery of his unannounced visit.

Arslan, unsure of the purpose behind James's sudden appearance, responded cautiously, "I still have days until the next payment."

James's next words only deepened the enigma. "I know, kid, but this is about something else," he explained cryptically, gesturing towards the back of the SUV.

"Get in kid, We need to talk" a deep voice of a middle aged man appeared from inside the suv that Arslan recognised, making him lower his guard before he silently got into the suv as the door closed behind him.

James walked back to his seat and closed the door behind before the suv steered away from there leaving ryder standing there alone.