JUNIPER

Chapter XXVI

Chapter 27.1: Ear Full

Gunz was no longer underneath the wings of Chance and he was more then grateful, because now it was time for him to make sure every hood knew his name. He would no longer be a stick up kid, a nickel and dime boy or a corner hogger. He was about to move and break down real weight with the guidance from Bricks and his men. One thing Gunz couldn't live without was his prayer, he prayed to God every night and every morning for him to move up in his ranks and make better for his family and he just knew this was God telling him he was on his way up. The only thing Gunz was focused on was moving Naomi and Coby our of those run down apartments and into a spacious home. It was time for Coby to have his own space, he was a growing young man and the girls were swarming him like flys on shit.
After sending Coby and Naomi off to school, Gunz cleaned his place up from top to bottom as he prepared to meet with Pj, Tone, Carlos and Bricks. Today was the day they'd finally touch down with all the work and Gunz was ready to feed the feigns strategically. After waiting for three hours someone knocked on the door three times slowly. He was hesitant to open the door when he looked through the peephole and seen someone's finger covering it. Gunz pulled his 9mm from his hip and swung the door open, holding Bricks and his men at gunpoint. "Damn.....that's how mu'fuckas greet folks in the south?" Tone said harshly. Gunz scoffed underneath his breath, putting his gun away. "Nah. I just thought y'all was some niggas I had a run in with the other day. My bad." They made their way inside, making themselves comfortable. "You won't have to worry 'bout them lil niggas no more. I got that handled." Bricks assured him. Gunz took a seat on one of his barstools, waiting for them to initiate the conversation. "Aight, so we talking business or what?" Gunz asked. Bricks shook his head no. "So what?......I'm just 'pose to sit tight until you niggas got some work for me?" Carlos and Tone laughed. "Lil nigga just like you use to be Tone. All eager and shit and don't even know what he getting into", Pj spoke. Bricks shot him a look, Gunz was a baby to them. Bricks and his niggas had been in the streets since they knew how to spell money, yeah they graduated high school just to please their parents but they knew the streets were their calling. "First.... I want to see what the hype on you bout", Bricks eased out. "What you mean?" Gunz asked. "I heard you was the hardest shoota out here, that you never miss." Pj smirked because back home his was the hit and never miss too. "Yeah, been that way since I was twelve." "I heard", Bricks answered. "Why you niggas sitting in my shit if we ain't putting in no work?" Gunz was losing patience. Pj sat up in his seat, "lil nigga you ain't ready for the big leagues, you too eager, patience is a virtue and you ain't patient." Gunz waved him off, "Ian hearin' that, I been putting in work since I was twelve. How I ain't ready?" Before the conversation could go any further, Bricks shut it down. "Aye! Kill that shit man. I can't give you no work until I know I can trust you." "Trust me? Nigga bringing me round yo family wasn't enough?" Gunz was on ten, he thought his trust was earned the night Bricks took him around his family. "Bringing you round my family ain't shit to a nigga like me cause I know a lil nigga like you gon' fuck wit'em. I need some solid from you." Gunz let the words sink in, thinking of ways to earn his trust and it clicked. Chance had to go, he didn't owe Chancellor any loyalty, especially after all the bullshit he out Gunz through. Some people were even surprised his was still living. "Look I ain't beggin no nigga to be down and if it was just me then I'll be cool with holdin' off but I got two other mouths to feed and I can't let them starve." Gunz stated sincerely. The four leaned in knowing he was about to drop a bomb. "I been working for Chance since I was bout thirteen, I know the ins and outs to this shit he operating. He ain't solid the nigga been waiting for you to get here, he been saying lil shit bout getting with ya connect then pushing you to the side. He just riding ya back to eat and I don't respect no nigga riding another man back just to eat." Bricks was more than pleased to hear what Gunz had to say. "You giving ya mans up like it ain't nothing", Pj joked. "Nigga never been loyal to me. Like he say 'he loyal to the game & hisself' so it was vice versa for me." Gunz replied to Pj. Gunz took a deep breath and stood to his feet raising his black thermal over his head. His body was a gallery of scars and bullet wounds. The most severest wound was the one closest to his heart. "Damn lil nigga, you suppose to been dead", Tone spoke bluntly. Gunz laughed pulling his shirt back down, "I know that but I can't leave here knowing my sister and brother don't got nobody." Pj was impressed with Gunz survival, but he had to keep the personal beef to a minimum. They put their attention back on Bricks. "So what you gone do bout that?" Pj asked. "Nothing." "Nothing??!!!" They all asked in unison. "We just gon' let this nigga walk round here like he that nigga?" Tone asked appalled. Bricks nodded his head yes, "if he think we dumb to this lil game he playing then let em think that. Y'all already know how I'm coming."