Naomi's Savior

Bonus Ch. 3

Trey

I loaded a handgun and placed it in a holder that sat underneath my desk. You could never be too safe, especially in the meeting I was about to have. I thought about choosing a right hand man out of the crew to serve the meeting with me, since I didn't have one in a permanent position. After thinking on it for some time, I decided on the best seller in the business, Dwayne. He was 27 years old, older than most of the guys in our crew. He was with us since he was 20 and now he had two kids to support, so he was serious about selling what he was handed. I knew that Dwayne was the most reliable of the crew, but besides that, I didn't know much about his character. I just hoped that nothing would go down tonight because it wasn't promised that Dwayne would protect me.

I picked up my work phone and dialed Dwayne's number. After one ring, he answered. "Wassup Terror?"

"Dwayne, I need you to do me a favor. Stop by the office as soon as you can." I looked at the clock and it read 6:30PM.

"Aight; I'll be there in ten."

While I waited for Dwayne to arrive, I texted Natalie to see if she was okay. Her and her girlfriends decided to hang out after we went out to eat, and I always had to check up on her to make sure she was good.

Hey, baby. You enjoying your day?

Yeah. I'm heading to the nail salon. What color should I get?

Red. Toes and nails.

Bet.

Dwayne walked through the door with a look of confusion on his face. He had never been called into my office before unless there was a bag of product lying on my desk. Today, my desk was empty as I motioned for him to take a seat in front of me.

"What's up, boss?" Dwayne asked once he got settled in the chair.

"I need you to be my right hand man for tonight. I got an important meeting tonight, and I'm trusting you to be there as extra support in case something goes down."

Dwayne rubbed his beard as if in thought.

"The chance of something going down is slim; these boys are scary. But they're stupid, so I'd never put it past them to try something." I reassured him. I knew he had a family to think about, and I didn't want him feeling worried that this meeting would leave. them without a father figure.

"Who we talking about?" Dwayne asked, as if he was still contemplating on being my right hand man.

"Ace's crew."

Dwayne kissed his teeth. "Oh them niggas? They ain't gonna do shit." Dwayne laughed as if he had been worried for nothing.

"I ain't worried either. Especially not with the plan I have ready for their asses." I said before revealing the entire mission to Dwayne.

~

The time to see Ace flew by, as if I was nervous as to how this meeting would all go down. Shit, I couldn't lie I was. I ain't never heard nobody think about doing the shit that I was about to do, and I didn't know how my street cred would be after all this shit was over. Well, momma ain't raise no bitch, right ?

When I heard the security at the front door shuffling around, I knew it had to be Ace and his crew. My men made sure they were unarmed before allowing them to enter the building.

Within two minutes, Ace and his three henchmen walked into my office. The door remained opened, as Dwayne stood adjacent to the door frame. I figured Ace wouldn't come alone, so I already had four empty chairs on the other side of my desk ready. I motioned for them to sit.

"Aight lets get this over with," Ace slouched in his seat like a high school student who was sent to the principal's office. Childish ass nigga.

"As we all know, my friend's death has never been avenged for..." I started. I still couldn't believe the words that was about to come out of my mouth.

"We don't know nothing 'bout that," one of Ace's henchmen spoke up. It was the same unfamiliar one from the restaurant.

"This was before your time, young blood. Don't make yourself regret the words spilling from your mouth," I said sternly.

Ace gestured to him to keep quiet for the remainder of the meeting. "Why we bringing up something that happened seven years ago?"

My hands, which laid on the arm rests of my chair, balled into fists. "Because ain't nobody from your crew end up dead over it, right?"

Silence fell over the room, and Ace cleared his throat to remove the awkwardness. "So you've arranged this meeting for...?"

I grew angry as I heard Ace's responses. It was making me second guess calling this meeting and just taking the easy route of killing him. I ain't never been a fan of this nigga, especially after what he did to Naomi...and then Ray too?

"Listen, I don't want no more blood shed over stupid shit. Yeah, shit happened in the past, but ain't no reason we should be killing each other and letting this cycle of death continue. My proposition is that you admit your fault in Ray's death and combine crews with me , and no more blood will be shed. If you don't, all hell breaks loose."

"Why the hell would I combine crews with you and work for you ? Yo, this nigga stupid!" Ace stood from out his chair but I motioned for him to stop.

"I'd reconsider this offer before you walk out that door. You're in my office, unarmed. If we don't come to an agreement, you and your entire leadership committee's guts will be all over these walls. Then it definitely won't be hard to recruit your lil corner boys to my team." I smirked before placing both my hands on the table. That signaled for Dwayne to leave the room. Although Dwayne was loyal to my crew, I couldn't have him in this possible crossfire when he had a family to take care of . I'd leave the shooting to the young ones in the front.

Anthony sat back down, obviously growing agitated.

"Now, let's at least settle the first half. We're all in consensus that you killed Ray, correct?"

Ace shrugged. "Yeah, you already knew that though."

"Then you know that you should be a dead man. right now. So, I'd be taking any offer that would leave me alive to see another day with my son if I was you."

Ace's henchmen all stared at Ace, looking like deer in headlights. They knew their fate depended on Ace, and he seemed like he didn't want to budge.

"If I combine crews with you, I'm yo equal. I ain't working for no other nigga. You got me fucked up." Anthony tried to stand his ground.

"Nigga you lucky I'm even giving you this offer. This ain't no damn negotiation. Accept it or leave it." I raised my voice.

Anthony took a while before responding, as if his stubbornness finally seized. He realized that I wasn't budging and all the cards were in my hands.

"I accept."

How y'all feel about Trey's offer? Is he wrong for working with the man who killed his best friend? What would y'all have done in Trey's position? Would y'all have accepted the offer if y'all were Ace?