' 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗗 𝗠𝗘 𝗦𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗜𝗡 ' › D. SWING

27.

Nasir.

It had been at least a day or so since I had last seen Rhonda. Most people would give up and get tired of lookin' but me? Nah, I enjoyed to hunt. I wasn't tryna' draw attention to myself by roamin' the streets so of course I had Lonnie and Earl out doin' the searchin' for me. Suge was still lookin' for Kim and I was sure I would be the first person he'd approach to find her. Don't get me wrong, I fear no man but Suge reminded me of myself. And when it comes to a nigga like me, it was hard to know what I was gonna' do. Shit, sometimes I catch myself off guard which is why I'm not even tryna' get involved in the whole situation with him and Kim, even though I kinda' included myself by helpin' her rob DeVante's punk ass. I just knew that regardless of what might happen, I'm doin' whatever to keep myself alive. I worked too hard to build up my street cred to go out like a bitch.

Messin' around with Rhonda's ass was originally just a favor for Kim so I could keep her from goin' back to DeVante but along the way I had somehow caught feelings for her, and that's somethin' that doesn't happen too often. Now that she's broken up with me for him, I don't even think I would say it's me comin' after because of heartbreak, but it was more-so about the amount of disrespect I felt. I had talked this broad up to all my homeboys for her to turn around and talk to the same mothafucka' I had just robbed? On top of that, it was her ex. Nah, I couldn't let her off that easy, and I didn't plan to.

Where is the fuck was she at? They had to have founded her by now.

***

Suge.

"Pull up on 'em", I demanded to Ace as he drove the black van around the corner, trailin' behind Lonnie and Earl. We had been trailin' them for fifteen minutes now and there was still no sign of Nasir. I was becomin' impatient, sure that he was hidin' from me but that wasn't gon' last too much longer. His friends were a lot weaker than he was and I knew they'd crack under pressure, well, at least Lonnie would. Earl might have to be tortured a bit, but I didn't mind it. I had all night.

Easin' closer to the sidewalk, Drew quickly pulled open the slidin' door while James and Neil jumped out first to grab the guys, Drew gettin' out shortly after to help tie their hands and feet with ropes and tape their mouths before they were dragged and thrown into the van then climbin' back inside along with James and Neil. Once Ace had sped off, I leaned back against the metal interior of the van, lookin' down at them as their eyes scanned their surroundings in a panic finally landin' on me. They began to squirm and scoot across the floors of the van, more frantic than before which made me chuckle. It pleased me knowin' that I could put so much fear into men who claimed to be 'thugs' and 'about that life'. The niggas in New York were pathetic—soft as hell.

"Take the tape off", I said and Drew obeyed with no hesitation, Lonnie and Earl immediately beginnin' to talk in loud volumes at the same time. "Shut the fuck up!", I yelled, much louder than both of them combined and they got quiet, exchangin' glances with each other. "Now, where is Nasir?", I inquired, claspin' my hands together as I waited for an answer but neither of them spoke up. Givin' Drew a quick nod, he got up from his seat, the front of his combat boot puncturin' the center of Earl's abdomen and he groaned out in pain, his eyes squeezed shut as Lonnie watched in fear.

"Wait, wait, wait! Suge, come on now. You know we got nothin' but respect for you—", he started to say but his sentence was cut short once Neil struck him in the jaw.

I shook my head as he began to cry. The ugly face he was makin' made me want to tell Neil to hit him again. "Stop all that damn snifflin'", I said, my annoyance at an all time high. I was on the verge of beatin' these niggas asses myself. "I'm really tryna' take it easy on you two, you know? I know you wanna' be loyal to ya' friend but clearly he don't give a fuck about you if he's willin' to let you get shot at his expense. All you gotta' do is tell me where he is."

"I ain't tellin' you shit", Earl spoke through his gritted teeth.

I shrugged my shoulders nonchalantly before Ace swerved sharply to the right causing Earl to roll across the floor the van at a rapid pace, his face hitting against the metal edge of the seat. He groaned in agony as Jamal and Neil grabbed him by him arms and holding him down while Drew took jabs at him.

I wasn't sure how long it would take him to crack but I'm positive it wouldn't take long to get Nasir's location. Lonnie would tell me if Earl wouldn't.

Let the clock begin.

***

Rhonda.

I watched as Donald and Al sat at the round dining table, talking amongst each other while loading up their pistols. They were speaking only loud enough for the other to hear. I grew frustrated and had given up on trying to make out what they were saying as turned my attention to a shaken Mary who was hugging herself while she stared at the television, probably not even watching it. I thought about reaching over to comfort her but restrained myself, knowing she might jump or scream. She was in more fear than me and I was the one being targeted. I sighed heavily, leaning back against the cushions of the couch and thinking about all that has happened in the past few years. I went from church girl to the hood's most wanted. This was all beginning to make me feel like I had made a mistake by leaving Charolette. Had I stayed, I wouldn't have even met Nasir's sorry ass.

I hadn't even realized that Donald had made his way over to me, now squatting down in front of me until he placed his hands onto my knees, "Baby." I blinked a few times, focusing my gaze on him as I snapped out of my thoughts. "It's gon' be aight. You hear me?", he said softly while gently caressing my upper thighs then maneuvering his hands back down to my knees. I nodded my head, my face remaining blank and he frowned a bit, lifting his hands so that they cradled my face, "I'm not gonna' let nobody hurt you. You know that, right?" I nodded my head once again, this time with tears welding up in my eyes as I kept my focus on him. He sighed, leaning forward and easing his long inked arms around my small frame, holding me close as his lips press against my temple before he spoke in my ear as he chin rested against my shoulder, "Nothing's gonna' happen to you. You mean so much to me, Rho. More than I've shown you. God is always lookin' out for you and will never allow anything to happen without a plan. You taught me that, remember?" I nodded my head, my eyes closed while I hugged him tight, tears falling down my cheeks. "Nasir's gonna' get his, I promise you that." He paused, leaning back some so that he could make eye contact with me, "You wanna' pray?"

I gave him a small smile, speaking timidly, "Yeah."

He grinned and nodded his head, taking my hands into his own and bowing his head. I did the same.

One thing I can say is that regardless of how much wrong Donald may have done, he's never lost his relationship with God. He was the most religious out of all of us and believed that prayer could work miracles in any situation. His faith in a positive outcome is what helped calm my nerves as we prayed together, hand in hand. I was sure that everything was going work out for the greater good.