The Kiss of Death [Dave East]

04

ANISSA RARELY EVER LEFT THE WAREHOUSE OR her home since Marcus was arrested. Dave could see that. It's not that she didn't want to, it's just that she didn't have time. Her body laid on the couch, her knees curled up and tucked into her chest, her head rested over her arm. Her eyes were shut lightly, soft snores vibrating throughout her body.

In front of her sat a table, with about four bricks of cocaine coated with a black plastic wrap, stacks of money piled ontop of each other. "You need something?" Spades sudden voice made Dave alert. "My bad man. I was just gonna let Anissa know I was out. I ain't mean to bother no body." Dave said, Spades wasn't really listening to him as he wrapped an elastic band around the thick stack of bills. The tall tattooed man could tell that Anissa's right hand wasn't even paying attention to what he was saying.

"She looks harmless when she's asleep." Dave noted, Spades took his eyes off the money in his hands and looked over at Anissa. He took a deep inhale from his blunt, nodding his head. "Yeah. She reminds me of the old her when she's sleeping." Spades offered Dave a puff as he exhaled through his nose. He took it gratefully. "This a lot of money." Dave stated. "Pay day." Spades responded simply.

The bearded man noticed Dave's eyes traveling to the board. Photos of people were stapled up there, along with maps, locations and all sorts. "We're going to move on them. A guy named Russell is in charge of the Pirus." Spades was finally finished with the money counting as he placed the last stack down. "So what? Kill him and the war stops?" He asked, passing Spades the blunt.

"Anissa will scare them into commission. And most likely kill him or someone he loves." Spades shrugged taking a drag from the blunt. "That's..crazy." Dave breathed. "That's war." Spades simply added. "Anissa's ruthless, it's what makes her a greater leader than Marcus." Spades stated. The blunt came down to a roach so Spades dropped it on the fooor, taking it out with his foot. "She is many things. But I don't see ruthless." Spades chuckled at Dave, shaking his head. "You will soon enough." Dave could feel his high gradually building up. "It's getting dark out man, you should probably head down back to yo crib." Spades suggested.

"Yeah You right." Dave rubbed his forehead. "Aight, ima fuck wit you." Spades offered his hand out, Dave nodded in agreement, dapping him up. Spades sat down across from you while Dave moved from the door, the pack of green herbs called out for the right hand mans name.

____

The blunt burned out while it sat snug between Spades lips, his sketch book rested on his knees as he finished a drawing he started a long time ago. It was basic, he was deep in his own thoughts, high and concentrated. But that didn't stop him from noticing Anissa twitch in her sleep. His movements stopped and he focused on her. She flinched again, her eyes darting left and right under her lids.

Spades moved his sketch book aside just as she shot up from the couch, her breathing gone mad. He rushed to her aid, brushing the strands of hair glued to her forehead by her sweat back. "Yo, yo. You good, you good." He reassured her. Anissa took a moment to calm down, catching her breath. "I'm sorry." She sighed, her head in her hands. Evenings like these were often, the night terrors and abrupt wakings happened only shortly after Anissa scared her workers into line. Spades witnessed this only twice. Today marking the third.