Page 159 of The Coldest: Stay Dangerous Part 2

“Yo ass learning to drive as soon as possible, Snow. Even if you gotta take the streets everywhere.”

“Har har. I know how to drive. I would just rather be a passenger princess.”

“Yo ass don’t know how to drive, bro. Turk already told me even before yo accident you start hyperventilating soon as you touch a steering wheel.” I peel out the parking lot, cursing myself and fucking Mekhi.

My stomach is all the way past my ass. Mekhi wouldn’t set me up, but Slime and G absolutely would take a chance if it meant getting they so-called pound of flesh.

I fish out my phone and call Asa immediately. He answers on the second ring.

“Hey, Alvarez! How was the wedding?”

“Straight. I need you to watch my six until I make it to the home plate.”

“Ah shit. Birds? Moles? Or roadrunner?”

“Birds and roadrunner, if applicable. Fasho birds, though. I’m getting on the expressway now.”

“Okay. I gotta wake up Bunny, but the birds will be in flight in thirty seconds.”

“Fasho.”

I feel Snow’s eyes burning a hole in the side of my head as I hang up and place my phone in the dashboard.

Yeah. I should have left my lady with the others. But it’s too late now. And she swear she Lady Luney, so it’s time to see how active she can get.

“You still can’t ask questions. And you can’t roll out this car. And before I say anything, Snow. You need to remember that while my track record a lil’ sketchy at worst, I would never intentionally put you in no shit.”

She folds her arms and snorts. We’re past the city limits now, with only the high beams of our car guiding us through the open desert. It’s an eight hour drive from Northupton to Kenton, but I can make it in five and a half with no traffic like tonight. The good news is, Slime and G wouldn’t come themselves, if they do decide to make a move tonight, which my gut is telling me.

The bad news is, Snow can’t fucking drive. I know she can’t handle this gun in the back. And I still got a fucking job to do regardless. Mekhi and I are more cordial since it’s been years of a working relationship between us, but that nigga still won’t give a fuck I didn’t complete a job because of some get back from some shit he already passed judgment on.

Asa’s drones are locating and following us now, but who knows how long it’ll take Ingrid’s little ass to meet us, especially when I’m not slowing down until I get to the city.

“I’m listening.”

I shake my head, revving the gas as I strangle the steering wheel. “Get that case out the backseat and open it. Try not to–damn! Don’t knock me out with it!”

“I’m sorry!” she hisses, settling back in her seat. Her gasp filters through the car as she opens and gawks at the beauty in the case.

“Rico–”

“Load the clip and get that shit ready for me. Then I’ma pull over, and you finna drive. It’s a straight shot, and it ain’t even stick shift.”

“Rico–”

“Snow.” I glance at my woman, who’s white as a fucking ghost, and my heart sinks right along with my stomach. She hasn’t been chewing gum because of her headaches, and shit like this, high stress situations, I told myself I would keep her out of.

I pray I’m just being paranoid. I pray that my gut, something that has never failed me before, fails me now. That I’m just tripping, and it’s residual feelings from the shaky truce Ty-Ty and I said we’d have for Reem’s big day, but he still ignored the family and then dipped out because, apparently, his date was sick.

But good coincidences don’t happen to niggas like me. And I can spend however long putting Snow back together if it means we make it home tonight.

With shaky hands, Snow begins assembling the machine gun. She’s quick and efficient, and even loads one into the chamber.

“Can I ask who the fuck is trying to kill us?” she lowly asks.

“It don’t matter who it is. I’m cutting they ass down even if it’s Nan.”

I pull onto the side of the road, and step out, rounding the car to Snow’s side. When I open the door, she steps out, leaving the monster of a gun on the dashboard.