Page 97 of Stay Dangerous

“I’m glad she was the one to kill that nigga,” I gritted. It was taking everything in me not to rip my IV out, but I was ready to go.

Them niggas was stinking up the Birch, and though muthafuckas was used to the gunshots, we still were running out of time. We couldn’t afford to be laid up.

“What we gonna tell the others? Peanut and Set on they way back.”

As Fredo was speaking, the door opened, and Turk hobbled in, his arm in a cast and sling.

“Tell them I did it,” he said, almost falling onto the end of the bed. He anchored his good arm onto the bed and winced as he cupped his head.

“Auty can’t be nowhere near that shit. They not gonna give a fuck she’s a girl. She took out Kilo, and they gonna want retribution. We say I did it, and we murk every nigga who seen her face–nigga and bitch.”

“You really think Peanut and Set gon’ believe you knocked his head off without cause? Everybody and they mama know the only shit getting you in that modeisAutumn.” I shook my head as pain began to bloom behind my eyes.

“Peanut ain’t fuck with them anyway, and Ty told Reem they was planning on taking y’all out. It’s plausible, Rico.”

Turk lay all the way down, facing the ceiling. Tears flowed freely down the sides of his face. “I’ll never forgive myself for this shit. I can’t have her any more involved than she is.”

My shoulders dropped as I exhaled. “It wasn’t your fault, brodie. And she’s safe now. We got her, for life.”

Turk nodded, before his face crumbled. It felt so wrong, watching him cry like that. A nigga who always had a joke. Always had a smile. His whole body shook, like its actions were foreign.

“Aight,” Fredo said, clearing his throat and wiping his nose again. “So, Turk killed Kilo ‘cause he was tryna kill us, and Pooh. We clean house, and then–”

“And then Set and Peanut take over. We getting the fuck out of here, Fred. I can’t do this shit no more.” I ran my hands through my scalp a few times, hairs sliding through the cuts on my fingers.

“Me neither,” Turk hiccupped. “Moving work, okay. Playing with guns, fasho. But I thought there was a code. Them niggas are sick, and I’on want no parts. My mama would roll in her fuckin’ grave.”

“And each and every nigga responsible gon’ be rolling in the dirt, too. I put that on my life, Turkey. We cleaning house.”

“Soon as we get Haze home,” I agreed, finally ripping the IV out. I was tired, but I was good, and I was ready to get the fuck.

“Go get Haze. Me and Fred finna get us a car.”

Turk nodded and stood up. Fredo got up too, and pulling Turk into his arms in a tight hug.

Fredo was the more social twin, but he didn’t have close friends, not really. He fucked with Peanut because I did, and Peanut fucked with Fredo because he was my brother, but they weren’t close.

I knew that wouldn’t be the case anymore. I knew after that weekend, Fredo claimed Turk and Haze as his own, just like I did.

“It’s gonna be okay,” Fredo murmured. Turk nodded, and left the room.

I pulled the blanket off my arm, and sure enough, it had stopped bleeding.

“Soon as we on the road, we call Peanut and Set and we tell them what’s what.”

“Aight–”

“Hello–oh!”

We both looked up at a pale woman in scrubs. I couldn’t get a read on her. She was pale as fuck, but I could tell she was Black. Maybe…

She looked young, too young to be a doctor, and honestly… too something else. The hairs on my arms stood up when she smiled.

“I’m Dr. Hudson. I was told you needed a car to go back to Kenton. There’s one parked out front. Pain medication has been filled at a pharmacy closer to you, as a precaution, but Miss Shaw does have a cut that needs antibiotics, and I have those for you here.” She held up a white bag that Fredo took.

“Uh, thanks.”

“It’s no problem. Be safe, gentlemen. I’ve grown fond of the stories I hear. Oh! Speaking of… your cute little cousin has been with the authorities all weekend. My son has notified your father, so that someone could be in attendance to pick him up when court is back in session. We’ve made sure he’s unharmed.”