Gangster's Gem: The Devious Dance

30

I stood in the middle of the lot, my fists balled up and ready to swing. Nicky was runnin' her mouth while I was in that hospital bed.

"You thought I wouldn't hear about all that shit you was talkin', huh?" I stepped closer, my voice steady but heated. "You thought I'd let that slide? Nah, bitch it's up now."

Nicky rolled her eyes, but I caught the way she took a step back. "Girl, ain't nobody worried 'bout you."

Before she could finish, I swung. My knuckles connected with her face, and the sound was way more satisfying than I'd expected. She stumbled, grabbing at her jaw, but I wasn't done.

"You was talkin' like you was bad, right?!" I yelled, landing another hit. "Say it now! I ain't in no coma!"

Nicky tried to swing back, but I ducked. Her slap hit air, and I drove a punch straight into her stomach, making her double over.

Keon's voice boomed from behind me. "Aight, aight, D, that's enough! C'mon now!"

I turned around, panting, glaring at Keon. "Don't 'that's enough' me! She been runnin' her mouth for weeks, Keon. WEEKS!"

Keon grabbed my arm and pulled me back like I was a misbehaving kid. "Yeah, and I let you get ya lick back, plus you wasn't even awake to hear the shit she said, you relying off my memory cause my kind ass told you! Now, let's GO 'fore the whole block come out here recordin' and yo boyfriend get my ass." He gave me that goofy smirk, like this was all some joke to him.

I brushed myself off and side-eyed him. "You always got somethin' to say, Keon."

He just laughed as we headed to his car. "Man, you wild, Diamond. That's why I fuck with you. But if Janelle or Jamal find out I brought you here, they gon' skin me alive."

I smirked. "Why you even agree to take me?"

He shrugged. "'Cause I'm messy" He winked.

I laughed, leaning back in the seat. "When can I meet lil' Diamond Junior anyway?"

Keon scoffed. "She ain't no junior. Just Diamond."

I raised a brow. "So, when can I meet her?"

Keon looked out the window, mumbling. "Not anytime soon. Me and her mama beefin' right now."

I rolled my eyes. "What y'all beefin' for?"

He threw his hands up. "Man, she asked me to send money I was already gon' send! Like, why you tryna ruin my mood like that? Now I don't even wanna send it."

I shook my head, laughing. "Man, Keon, what the fuck?"

"Aye don't judge me!" he shot back, smirking.

A few hours later

I was loungin' on Malik's couch when he walked in, looking tired but still sharp in all black. He set his keys down and glanced at me. "What you been up to today?"

"Nothin'." I shrugged, scrolling on my phone like I wasn't just fightin' in the neighborhood.

He gave me a look, squinting. "You sure 'bout that?"

I kept my face straight. "Positive."

He sighed and sat next to me. "Aight... you don't know anywhere Layla might be, do you?"

I shook my head, but then something clicked. "Wait, she got a cousin that live out the city. I think she stayed with her once."

Malik leaned forward, his eyes sharp now. "Where?"