Page 63 of Love U Down II

I hung up, exhaled, and dialed Zamir.

“Hello?”

“My mama just beat up yo’ mama and my brother just smacked up your brother. So what’s up? You got issues? We need to fight?”

“Nah. That doesn’t have anything to do with me.” Zamir exhaled. “We’re no contact.”

“Good. Then I need you to stay on payroll. I’ve got an artist getting hemmed up. You practice criminal law. Collect him and I’ll have a check when I meet you for the handoff.”

“Alright. Send me his name and I’ll get on it.”

“Thanks.”

I hung up, drove Rome to his car, and headed straight toward the jail.

By the time I got there through traffic, Zamir was already standing in front of the building with Shade beside him.

“What’s up?” I dapped him and Shade up.

“Thanks for showing up,” Shade offered.

“That’s your first strike,” I said and turned toward Zamir. “What do I owe you?”

“I’ll send you an invoice. I like a paper trail.”

“Send it to Chandler.”

“Alright.”

“And uh, reach out to your sister. She had lunch with your mom and it didn’t go well.”

“Of course it didn’t.” Zamir scoffed and shook his head. “I’ll call her.”

“Thanks.” I hit Shade on the back. “Let’s go. We’re going for a ride.”

“Alright.”

We hopped in my car and I grabbed a pre-rolled blunt from my middle console and took a long drag.

“What were you fighting for?”

“It was stupid ass shit with the gang. That’s it, man. It wasn’t even that serious.”

“And you’re willing to throw your life away over some shit that ain’t that serious?”

“You’re the last person who should be telling me about fighting when you’re still getting into fights to this day.”

“The shit I fight over, I'm willing to lose my career, freedom, and life behind.” I took another hit of my blunt. “Are you? Or are you just fighting to prove you can?”

“Look, I appreciate this little cute reaching out to the youth ass shit you’re trying to do but––”

“If you know how I get down, watch yo’ tone when you talk to me,” I said simply. “I told you when I gave you this opportunity that you had three get out of jail free cards and you just wasted one. If you want to throw your life and career away, cool, but don’t bring your bullshit to anything associated with Trill Loyalty. Because if you bring bullshit to my front door, I’m gon’ take care of it how I see fit. That’s your one warning.”

“I hear you.”

I nodded and took another hit then glanced at him.

“So did you win?”