The Kings of National City

Someone Cooler

"You're home!" Chris seemed excited.

"What's going on at 5?" I asked blatantly ignoring Chris.

"Ouch." He sat back on the couch.

"Elmer has a new shipment coming in. He wants us in place for it."

"Meaning I didn't even have to be here." I spat. My job was glorified house-sitting, I stayed home to make sure no one who wasn't supposed to be here came here. It was bitch work because he didn't trust me with anything better to do. Nick got the special treatment and was allowed to do whatever he wanted. Chris was Elmer's right hand. He trusted him the most so he was always with him for the drops, picks, and drive-bys.

"Actually, that is the opposite of your job," Chris said salty. He was probably mad that I didn't acknowledge him when I came in.

"Ugh." I groaned and went straight into my room. Unfortunately, I didn't have a door I could slam otherwise I would have. Our house, technically Elmer's house, was a shit hole. The boys never picked up trash or cleaned. It was just a throwaway location if needed so Elmer didn't put much effort into basic repairs. It sometimes shocked me that it even had running water and electricity. I landed face down in my bed, a mattress on the floor. Elmer had a few other properties under different names. We don't know where he lives full-time though. We don't know a lot about him. Chris knows him the best and even that has a line where it ends.

"You okay? I know it bothers you you-"

"I'm fine. Just tired." I snapped.

"Elmer just knows about your anxiety. He doesn't -"

"Nick, I said I'm fine." I sat up and looked at him. My jaw was stern because I was upset.

"Okay." He held up his hands in surrender and walked through the blanket I hung up for a little privacy. Although my room was falling apart and gross it was my room which was nice. I have shared a room with Nick and Chris all of our childhood and I was over that. My phone started ringing.

"Elmer?" I questioned why he would call me directly.

"Yo, Matty." He sounded very chill. "So here's the thing." This didn't sound like good news. "Tonight is a big night, yeah."

"Yeah." I didn't know if I was supposed to agree so I did.

"Well, Chris has been getting a little hot on the scene lately. I need someone a little cooler. You get what I'm saying?" I had no idea what he was going on about.

"And?" I pressed on for more information.

"These people are bad, bad news. I can't have C in there messing it up. I need you there tonight. Chris is watching the house." I sat up understanding what he was starting to say.

"Do I have to tell him?"

"I'll take care of it." He said and clicked off the phone. Okay, so either Chris was going to be pissed he wasn't allowed to be in the action or he was going to be cool with not going. I on the other hand am trying to shove my anxiety down. I hated being stuck at the house all the time so this is exactly what I've wanted but Elmer's words were ringing in my brain. 'These people are bad, bad news.'

"Matt!" Chris yelled for me. I gulped and went back out to the pathetic living room. "Elmer just text me."

"What did he have to say?" I played stupid.

"He said you are going tonight." His face was unreadable.

"Oh, did he say why?" I didn't want to show enthusiasm in case he was upset.

"Just said I've been working hard and deserve a break so you are up." He smiled and shook my shoulder. "That's great news isn't it?" Now I could react.

"Yeah, I finally get some action." I smiled a little.

"Better get ready to go soon," Nick said heading to his room. I started following him.

"Hey, Matt." I turned around.

"Yeah?"

"Don't bring your phone," Chris told me. I nodded. I found Nick in his room changing. He was putting on all black, which was a given.

"Need something?"

"Just wondering what to expect." I had never done this before.

"We just show up. We'll look like back-up if something goes wrong."

"And if it does?" My heart was racing but I was glad they couldn't tell. I looked calm on the outside.

"Just stick with me." He threw his phone on his bed. I went and got into an all-black outfit. It was kind of cliche but since I've always been on house-sitting duty I didn't want to stick out and look incompetent. I plugged my phone in so it could charge while I was out. I went into the bathroom and looked at the cracked mirror. I was judging myself. I looked the part, now I just had to act it in front of all of Elmer's opposing gangsters and thugs. I sighed heavily feeling the weight of that thought.

"Let's go!" Chris hollered even though he wasn't going with us. "You look great." He dabbed me up. We got into the car but Nick was in the driver's seat. He smoothly peeled out backward. I watched his left hand glide around in circles on the steering wheel as he drove.

"Just stand quiet. Speak when spoken to. Absolutely under no circumstances use anyone's real name." Nick was giving pointers. We pulled up to one of his other houses and parked. I got out and followed Nick inside. Elmer bro-hugged us both.

"Alright everyone is here. Round up." He instructed.

"What do we do?" I whispered.

"Here take this. This one is different." Elmer handed Nick and me a gun.

"Guns?" I whisper yelled to Nick.

"It's just a precaution." Nick was so nonchalant about all of this. I was starting to wonder how often guns were involved.

"This is what Chris and you do?" I knew they weren't out picking daisies but this wasn't exactly what I pictured them doing all these months either.

"Only a few of us carry. It's not as aggressive as you think." Nick wrapped an arm around me and started walking me to a car that wasn't ours.

"Choosing the hot car." Elmer chuckled when Nick opened the door. I slid in first and Nick closed the door behind himself.

"Why not?" I shrugged trying to fit in. Truth be told I had no idea what the hot car meant but it sounded uninviting. Elmer pulled out his phone called someone from one of the other two cars and started giving instructions. After he was off the phone he looked us all over gaining our attention.

"Nick you cover the right. Matty stay with me." I gulped not liking being pulled apart from Nick. I just had to trust that Elmer wouldn't let anything bad happen to me like Nick wouldn't have.