| 𝔒𝔲𝔯 𝔥𝔦𝔤𝔥 |

25

》Rayner Johnson

"Wassup baby, you okay? Whatchu doin?" I ask Del as I held the phone up to ma ear while driving to Hez's warehouse. Jaylen sat in the front while Kaiden was in the back playing a video game. I been driving fa a good 40 minutes and had 10 minutes left.

"Eating Chick-fil-A ma pops got me. He's oddly being nice and it's weird..." he says making me raise a brow. Not even surprised he eatin tho.

"Probably tryna make up fa shit he did. You talk to him?"

"No..."

"We'll talk ta him, sitting around the house hating eachother ain't gone help yall relationship. And maybe try talking to yo mom too. She deserves to know what's goin on. Shi have a family meeting or sum, dats what ma family do and it kinda helps...aside from the fades we be chillin."

I hear Del sigh then loud smacking making me distance the phone from ma ear and scrunch ma face, "I'll try. But we too alike so he gotta smart mouth. Imma just be prepared to fight."

"Stop thinking about fighting everything and just talk. But aside from dat how you doin?" I ask turning into the dirt road leading into the forest.

"I'm fine Ray, I miss you hella though. When you coming back?" I smirk at his response. "Ion know but we almost there now. Hopefully I can see you tonight if we finish here on time but we also gotta sell to make up fa lost money so I don't know.... I miss you too tho, you ready ta see me?" I bite ma lip thinking about the promise we made back on the car.

"Yeahhh, I always wanna see you. Be safe okay? I'm serious, I don't know what I would do if I lost you..." his voice cracks.

"Delvin, dying ain't even in ma character. Stop thinking like that, real shit. Have some faith in me." I drive through the darkness with only ma headlights as support.

"Okay... it's not that ion got faith in you, I'm just worried boutchu."

"Who at the house wit you right now?"

"Ma pops, ma mom went ta work not too long ago. Why?" He asks.

"Nun, just make sure you know who at the door before opening it please." The ware house comes into view and we all look at eachother.

"Ray why would I need ta do that? What's going on? I mean I'm listening but why?"

"I'll tell you later but in the meantime stay inside yo house until I call back okay?" I turn the headlights off and park far enough away from the warehouse so they can't spot us.

"Mhmk..." he responds making me frown.

"People become non verbal when they don't really wanna do sum. Use words pa."

"I understand." He says softly making me smile. "Good, nd don't be upset wit me either cuz I'm lookin out for you."

"I'm not upset wit you, I just can't wait fa you ta get back...I love you." When those words fell outta his mouth ma stomach twisted in all kinds of directions and that shit felt...good.

"I love you too..." I smile and sadly hung up. I wish I coulda stayed on the phone with him fa a little longer but time was runnin.

I let out a breath I ain't know I was holding and grab the duffel bag with our guns, ski masks and other weapons, "alright let's make this quick." We exit the car.

.......................

Based on the layout TJ sent us this place was big underground. Might not look it from the outside to not draw any attention but it was big underneath. I could give 0 fucks how we enter this building cuz regardless we winning.