Memphis Streets 4: Skeletons

Chapter 33- Le'Shelle

"What the fuck do you mean that she's still alive?" I hiss, clutching this cheap-ass, pre-paid phone while pacing in the bathroom.

"How hard is it to shank a bitch in hold-up?"

"You didn't tell me about her friends," Avonte says. "Our girl in the inside said that there was about a dozen Cartier's in the tank with her that rose up like an army to defend her. Your sister is well-connected."

"Aaagh!" I throw the damn phone against the mirror. It breaks instead of the damn glass.

"FUUUCCCK!"

BAM! BAM! BAM!

"What the hell is going on in there, Shelle?" Snake barks.

Go away! "I'm fine. I'll be out in a minute."

There's a long silence before I hear him turn and walk away from the bathroom's door. Huffing out an angry breath, I brace myself against the sink and then count to ten. I should've known better than to trust somebody else with this shit. After all, look what happened with that scarred-up Cartier's Shanqiua. What the fuck did that shit get me? That dirty-dealing trick is still on my shit list. I look up into the mirror and glare back at my own reflection.

"This shit ain't over. Not by a long shot."

"DIE, BITCH! DIE!" Brielle and those damn knitting needles flash inside my head and my grip on the sink tightens.

Still hot, I turn on the sink and splash cold water over my face. When I exit the bathroom, I'm blotting my face dry with a towel while Snake is opening the front door.

"Everything is a go," Diesel announces, breezing in with five big-shouldered men behind him.

I stop in my tracks and take a moment to appreciate the sheer size and power these men exude by their very presence. Now these are some real soldiers. "Snake, cuz. Let me introduce you to a few of my homies," Diesel says.

"This is Madd, Beast, Bullet, Matrix, and last but not least Chrome." Snake shakes each man's hand as he's introduced to him.

"Yo, man. Y'all c'mon in and have a seat so we can talk some business." Snake turns to me. "Shelle, grab us some beers." I turn with a roll of my eyes.

I resent it when I'm reduced to waiting on him. I should be a part of this business meeting. I'm a boss, not a maid. But I march into the kitchen and return with their beers as fast as I can. "Before we get started, I wanna thank you, cuz, for running interception with Momma Peaches like you did."

"Aww, man. We're family. I was happy to do it."

"Any word on when she's going to be released?" Snake asks.

"Don't know. She looks like she's been through hell, man. I ain't gonna lie. Your momma worked her over good."

Pain twists Snake's face. "I don't know what the fuck that shit was about. Then again, maybe if we'd reached out to her more while she was locked up. Hell, she sent me a birthday card every fucking year . . . and I pitched that shit in the garbage. Whatever demons she was dealing with can't touch her no more."

His thoughts drift for a moment before he realizes his guests are growing uncomfortable. "I guess we all just gonna have to be thankful that it's over."

He downs the rest of his Henney and then pours himself another glass. What the fuck? Diesel studies Snake with open calculation.

"Don't worry about it, cuz. Aunt Peaches is as tough as they come. I'm sure that she'll open up when y'all get a chance to talk one-on-one."

"For sure. For sure." Snake nods, but it's clear to everyone in the room that the shit is fucking with him.

"We're all set for tonight," Diesel says, changing the subject. "Thor called with the time and place for the delivery. With my men here, we now have the organization and the firepower. The way I see it, this should be a quick hit-and-run. You feel me?"

"Humph." Everyone's eyes shift to me.

"What?"

"Shelle, ain't you got something else to do?"

"No." I roll my neck back to Diesel. "If you're going up against Lucifer, there's no such thing as a 'quick hit-and-run.' Trust and believe."

Diesel laughs, but anger flashes in his eyes. "Laugh it up, pretty boy. I'm for real. I'm don't know what kind of bitches you're used to fucking with, but Lucifer is on a whole 'nother level."

Slowly, his smile melts. "Yeah. I've heard plenty of stories about how this she-devil got most of these niggas out here shook. I'm not worried. That bitch ain't never ran across a nigga like me and I haven't ran across a bitch yet that I can't put down."

Our eyes lock, causing my body to wilt beneath an intense heat wave. "Humph. Then you won't mind if I play tag—so that I can see these skills for myself?"

Snake twitches with irritation. "Shelle, you're gonna keep your ass right here."

"Nah. Nah." Diesel leans back in his chair while he finally pops open his beer. "Let her come. Hell, she might learn a few things."

This nigga is really feeling himself. I don't know how this is really going to go down, but I do know that his shit better be on point if he's planning to fuck with Lucifer.

"Fine. Whatever," Snake snaps, eyeballing me like I've done something wrong.

"What?" Instead of answering, Snake grinds his jaw and then cuts his eyes back to his cousin. I better do a better job at hiding my small attraction to Diesel. The last thing I want or need is to fuck up and become another Shariffa.