Addicted 2 Moni(editing before completion for book publishing reason)

War-Ready

Anthony Pov

"Who the fuck lit up my shit?!" I bark, voice echoing off the steel walls of the warehouse. My stare slices through the room, eyeing every single one of these sorry-ass motherfuckers like they owe me money and blood.

"I SAID—WHO THE FUCK SHOT UP MY FUCKIN' SHIT?!" I slam my fist into a table, metal bending under the hit. I got killers on payroll, but half these fools move like they flunked outta street school.

"Boss, we still piecing that shit together," Lenny pipes up, sounding unsure. That old-head been down, but even he look shook. A few other heads nod like bobbleheads, scared to breathe too loud.

Then the back room door creaks open.

Don and Keno step in, dragging a half-dead body between 'em. The room parts like the Red Sea as they drag the bloodied mess into the circle.

"Who's this?" I ask, stepping up, heart ice cold, fists clenched.

"It's Lil Nate," Don says, voice low.

"Yeah, he barely hangin' on. Found him near the far gate when we was clearin' bodies. He the only one who ain't zipped in a bag," Keno adds.

I crouch, grip Nate's chin, lift his busted-ass face. Blood leaking from a gash down his temple. Face swollen to hell. Eyes damn near welded shut.

Damn. They did my youngin' dirty. Nate been runnin' product for me since he was fourteen. Taught that boy the game myself. Watched him grow. Fed him. Armed him. This the thanks? Streets don't love nobody.

"Tone... that you?" Nate wheezes out, voice raspy like gravel in his throat.

"Yeah, it's me, lil' bro. You know who hit us?" I say, real low, but the fury in my tone thick like smoke.

"A... an Asian bitch, man. Came outta nowhere. I lit at that nigga DeWayne, then she popped up swingin', kickin'... like some Karate Kid shit. Then two more mfs jumped in. Bro, she wrecked my ass. I think I'm in love or some shit," he coughs, spitting blood from the corner of his mouth.

A few chuckles break out. I even let out a short one, but then — silence. Respect. My man's dyin'.

I keep hold of his head so he don't see the wreck his body's in. His blood soaks Don's shirt now, steady leaking. Ain't no savin' him.

"Don't cap, Tone," Nate whispers. "How bad is it, man? I'm cold... I'm real cold..."

I feel his body shiver in my grip. His last light flickerin'. I glance at Don and Keno — they know what's up.

"Lay him down," I murmur. They ease him onto the floor.

And I just stare.

This was my soldier. But all I feel is static. Blank. Like I done seen death too many times to feel shit now. Harmony... she the only one that ever touched something real in me. Love, rage, guilt — that whole messy spectrum. But this?

This right here?

This just business.

Nate starts convulsin'. Body twistin' up. Shock settin' in.

I pull my Glock, step over him. Cold as hell.

"Rest easy, lil' homie." I look away, squeeze the trigger.

POP.

Silence. His blood mixes with the dirt on the floor.

I wipe the Glock on my jeans like it's just another Tuesday.

"Somebody tell his people?" I ask, looking around.

"I'll handle it," Lenny mutters, eyes on Nate's body as he walks out back.

"Tell 'em meet us at the ER. And yo, somebody grab the van. Bring it around the back door," Keno calls out. Don nods and they lift what's left of Nate, carryin' him like a fallen flag.

I turn to the crew. "Everybody else, we movin'. Lay low till the dust settles. Few of y'all stay back, clean this bitch spotless. You, you, and you — hold it down," I say, pointing to some rookies. They stiffen like they got promoted to death row.

"And somebody grab that nigga from the basement — and the bitch who was feedin' him too. We takin' them with us. The hoe? Put her to work. And the nigga? He bout to get real familiar with his long lost family in Detroit." I flash a crooked grin.

I got some of his people boxed up at the backup spot.

Y'all probably think I'm runnin'. Like I'm scared of DeWayne and whatever Avengers he ridin' with now.

Nah.

This chess, not checkers. I'm re-uppin'. Reloadin'. Gettin' my crew tight and my plays tighter. And gettin' closer to Harmony.

This ain't over. Not even close.

A nigga like me? I don't fold. I reload.

Yes this is a short chapter. It's a teaser because i'm officially back writing my stories. please be patient. i start college soon and have a job.Please like share and comment