𝑾𝑰𝑪𝑲𝑬𝑫 𝓖𝓪𝓶𝓮𝓼

BLACK EMP/SOULED OUT.

Sept 11. Monday, 5pm.

"Are you sure that's safe?" Lisa asks, adjusting my puffer like a worried mother.

"I'll be fine, I promise." I give a smile even though I myself am actually feeling quite uneasy about this. I get a random call asking to meet at an undefined location. She claimed they were certified.

"Okay. . ." she says in a low voice. I pulled her into a reassuring hug before shoving my phone and keys in my pocket and headed out the door. I drove to what seemed like the middle of nowhere, an all black car sat waiting on me. This definitely felt like a set up, until a guy in a suit hopped out and opened the door for me. Slowly I approached the car. There was so much tint on the windows I couldn't see in and I know for a fact I could barely see out. As I got in he spoke in codes of conduct. "Any weapons you may have are prohibited beyond this point, anything on you that I can hold for you?" I shook my head in response.

In the vehicle it was just him and I. He pressed on the black piece of equipment hanging from his ears. "Code Safe." He pulled off and began driving, it seemed like there was a bunch of nothing that went on for miles. Until we made our way to this tall black building I would've thought we were going in circles. The entirety of the ride he didn't speak a word to me, only letting me out and notifying me that he'd be showing me the way. There was a redhead lady at the front who spoke French to me. "Bonjour," she smiled. I flashed her one in return just before we turned the corner.

I was sat down in a room with nothing but a desk, the walls were dark, and the floors were the same, only glossed over. A dark skinned woman with locs and a crystal pendant came in plopping a manilla folder down. "Abel Tesfaye, am I right?" the same raspy voice from the phone echoed around the room.

"Yeah, that's me," I confirm.

She began sifting through papers and speaking faster than my brain was processing. "I know you used to live in Queens, there was this shoot out and you were said to be the cause. Now I'm not saying you were or not, because that isn't important. Currently you're being held accountable for the death of Michael Makk aka Michael Velora. Talk to me." She overlapped her hands and rested her chin upon them.

The gang members of D.E.A.D end their names with Makk paying respects to some guy. When I used to watch Mass Makk legend says he used to be the leader until he had to do time. "Listen, it wasn't my fault." I kept it short and simple to avoid lying and selling myself out. These people look like they wouldn't hesitate to shoot me, and if consequence was following close behind I don't need tons of it.

"Explain to me what happened."

"At the time I was dealing drugs to get by so I was doing a deal around the same time so you know, two birds one stone I told them to meet me five minutes apart but they ended up running into each other. I was familiar with the D.E.A.D gang, but not the others."

"Right right, anything else you think I should know?"

"Is there anything I should know?" I question in response. I'd like to know why the hell I'm spending my time being interrogated. How could they even know about a scandal in Queens this is Montreal.

She closes the folder, looking up at me through her thick black frames. "You're under investigation." Her clear gloss caused her lips to gream as she grinned. Great. Nothing is seeming to go as planned so far. "I work under the branch of Black Empire, hopefully we don't have to meet again. Elena will show you out."

***

Walking up the steps everything became louder. I'd hate to barge in on whoever it is arguing, especially if it's Jane and Toni with their supposed 'new start.'

"Stop actin' like you don't love me! I'm want to start a family with you. I love you, quit actin' like you don't like me!" And just as I thought it was Toni and Jane.

"Whatever just shut up I'm tired of talking about it!" she yelled back.

I give a warning knock before opening the door in on them staring at me. "Sorry if I interrupted. Just tryna get inside." I throw my hands up trying to lighten the mood, but he just shrugs with a droopy frown that dropped with his shoulders.

"What happened?" He plopped onto a couch with peeling leather.

"Well," I come out of my puffer and toss it on the hook before sitting down next to him. "I'm under investigation. . . just for the incident in Queens. . . I hope." I got tangled in my head wondering if we left traces, thinking over every step. I can't afford to go to jail for life when I haven't even lived it out yet.

~~~

Sept 12, Tuesday 8pm.

In the mist of smoke I was at the round wooden table mixing my vocals for a new project I been working on while Lisa set aside money for paying fines, bills and expenses from the check I cashed. Toni and I never really dealt with no cards or shit like that. Only physical since you couldn't trace it 'cause depositing or receiving big amounts of cash with nothing to your name is hella suspicious. "Here." After Lisa took a drag she handed me the blunt. I took a smooth inhale myself. I couldn't even exhale before Toni came around the corner ready to complain.

"What the hell are you doing?" his eyes darted from the money back to me. Boy one thing about Toni, He had to move in unity. If he didn't know every move I was making he was pissed.

"Getting our shit together."

He tosses out a chair and I instantly know that I'm in for some bs. "Abel you know we ain't getting nothin' til' Ricky comes through with the supply. We basically broke nigga. We need that for food and this house."

"It can't take that long. Plus it really ain't my fault you was young, dumb, broke, and doing too much. You know if we don't pay it back we could be in jail. Then we really ain't gon' have shit. We'll be aight, we always are."

"Whatever, I'm 'bout to head to Scarborough to check on my ma and Stella. I'll see what Ricky got going too."

"Coo. Wanna take your fine money and pay it back on your way?" I hold the envelopes of money out to him. He snatched them and went for the door. "Be safe." I shouted before he left.

I turned to Lisa. "We need another source of income."

***

Lisa and I enter the club, blaring music, the weed has gotten me in a calm daze. A couple girls recognized me from my show and wave, I of course returned the gesture. "Look, I think that was the girl Toni was talking about." Lisa shook my arm for my attention.

I scanned the crowds of people to find a woman who stood out. I could barely make out her face from here, but from what I can make out I'm trying to get at her already. I wanted to make a move, but in order for that I needed to psyche myself up all over again. Just when I got the courage, thoughts of Evelyn deflated it all.

Abel, you've done enough to the girl the least you can do is be loyal till she finds out. If she finds out.

A guy tapped my shoulder throwing me right back into reality. It was the same guy I saw on the motorcycle the other day. "Abel Tesfaye, and I'd like to say. . ." he paused, scanning Lisa's face as if he were searching for her name. That's that look you give when you tapped that, but don't wanna say the wrong bitch's name. "Lauren? Right?" I guess he could tell by my face he was dead wrong. Lauren was Lisa's sister.

"Lisa," she corrected.

"Follow." He waved us behind him. We glanced at each other before deciding it won't do no harm since we ain't got much better to do. He showed us to a room that looked like an office I'd assume to be his. "Mitch by the way." He said as he went behind a desk for a brown suitcase. He popped the locks and cracked it open, he had about as much as we had with our drug money. That's obviously before we bought a house, purchased drugs, and other shit we ain't need. "This is what I make in a night." My mind instantly wanted in on whatever it was, that shit was packed to the brim. It would take us around a month to stack that much.

"You could be making this too and, I'll let you in. This isn't for the weak though."