Lost.

6.

BRYSON.

I just stepped outta Von nem flat a few hours ago and now a nigga bored. I usually always got somethin' to do but today a weak ass day. I know we sittin around, waitin' for dem niggas Dexter slide wit to pull up doe.

"These niggas late. I'm fina say fuck it and go back to da crib." Von said, lookin' at his phone.

"There dey go right there." I nodded towards the security footage dat was sittin' in front of us. I got up and opened the door.

"Wus good. Dis my nigga A." Dexter introduced us as soon as he stepped past da threshold. Respect.

"Von and my dawg B. Listen doe. We got some important shit to chat about. You niggas can sit anywhere, we might fuck around and be here for a minute." Von said, leading them to a room I had built in the basement of the warehouse we were in.

"Word spread fast bout India, in case y'all wonderin why y'all here." I said. August looked at Dexter and they both shook their heads.

I'ma be quick wit it, it wasn't no reason to beat around the bush when we on a tight schedule. I had all the information I needed them to know and so did Von.

"Everybody thinkin it was them niggas from Trey's but it wasn't. It was some busta dat go by Ale and he run by himself, for the most part. Basically he got eight niggas working for him right now. I had my young nigga pull up everything he could find on anybody dat associate wit 'em." Von explained as I passed everybody in the room a packet.

"How long y'all been lookin into dis shit?" Dexter asked, flippin' through the pages.

"Since a few days ago. Aye, look. Y'all can take dis information and run wit it, or we can work some shit out and ride out as one." I added.

"What you niggas wanna help for? What y'all want out of dis?" Dexter asked.

This nigga and his questions boy. I expected this nigga Dexter to have a few questions because dis his blood and everybody know he don't trust shit, but damn. Every time a nigga stop talkin, he got a new question.

"I been tryna get in good wit you niggas for a lil minute. Not 'een on no goofy shit, y'all just where da cheese at right now. On top of dat, my goon know dat nigga Sonnie from around the way." Von said as I nodded.

"Aight, fasho. After dis, ima get time to run shit by my hot-headed ass brother just to see what he thinkin and then we on go. Probably hook you niggas up with a couple cool spots to show my gratitude and shit." Dexter said, draggin' his hand down his face.

"Fasho. Now dat that's out the way—India. We know she been gettin' relocated damn near everyday but from da looks of things, they been in the same spot for a minute. I'on know what this nigga on but if we gone do somethin it gotta be within the next few days." Von explained.

"How you know all this shit? Y'all been followin da story for a few days and we been followin shit since the day it happened." August finally spoke up.

"Dat's what I'm on." Dexter said, standin' up.

"We might just know all the right niggas. Y'all got y'all connects, we got ours. Shit, we damn near is our own connect. We find shit out ourselves half da time. I truthfully said, jumpin into the conversation again.

Since day one, me and Von been our own eyes and ears. We might get a little help every now and then but half the time, we do shit ourselves. That's just how we operated round dese ways.

Dexter and August stood by the door, talkin shit over for a minute before August spoke. I looked over at my nigga Von, noddin my head.

"Aight. It's a go." Dexter said.

"We ridin in a few or what?" August asked, still standin' by da door. I shook my head.

——
KIM.

I rang my brother's doorbell as I rolled my eyes. This nigga is literally never home. I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and dialed his number.

"Where you at?" I asked.

"I'm pullin up to the crib, why, wus' good wit it?" Von asked me as he parked his car in front of his house.

I ended the call as him and Bryson got out of the car and approached me.

"You always wit my brother. Find you some business, ugly." I playfully pushed Bry.

"Fuck up." He responded as we all walked into the house.

"Where y'all just come from?" I asked.

"Handlin' some business." My brother said. I frowned.

"Don't tell me you leavin' again. You just got back."

I barely see Von because he's always out handling business in a whole different state. I hated the life he grew up living with a passion but I guess I understand. There's money to be made.

Still, I wouldn't be a sister if I didn't at least try to talk him out of leaving the streets alone. Nothing good will come from this lifestyle and we both know it.

"Kim, don't hop on bullshit on dis beautiful day." My brother warned me.

"I'm just sayin. You know how shit be." I said, shrugging as I grabbed a yogurt out of his refrigerator. I hopped on the counter and pulled the lid off of the yogurt container.

"I'm here right now, ain't I?" Von stopped in his tracks to look at me.

I rolled my eyes at his choice of words. That's just another way of him confirming that he is about to leave the state again.

"Tighten up, lovelies." Bryson said, walking into the kitchen.

"Whatever," I said as I walked into the living room and sat on the couch. My phone went off. I looked at it, seeing Meq's name flash across my screen.

"Hello?" I asked.

"What you doin? I miss yo lil ass." Meq said into the phone.

"I miss you more, baby. I'm at my brother's flat. You ok?" I asked.

"I'm straight. A nigga missed yo voice, dat's all." Meq said as I felt a smile forming on my face.

"I'ma be on my way in ten minutes. You hungry?" I asked, checking the time.

"You offerin' to feed me?" He asked. I playfully rolled my eyes and let out a chuckle.

"You so nasty." I said as Meq joined in on the laughing.

"Yeah, I'm a lil hungry doe." He finally said as the laughter died down.

"Alright. I'ma be on my way after I go to the grocery store."

"Fasho, baby." I could almost picture him nodding his head as he said that.

I stood up off of the couch and walked back into the kitchen, where Von and Bryson were sitting down talking.

"I'm headin' out." I said to my brother.

"Aight. Come here for a minute." Von responded as I walked over to where he was sitting.

"Hm?" I hummed, not bothering to open my mouth to speak to him. I wouldn't even look at him.

If it's one thing I learned from growing up in the hood is the streets don't love nobody. I've seen blood turn on blood over little shit. I didn't want that life for my brother.

I wish he'd find a regular 9-5 like everybody else, shit. It's like he doesn't understand when I try to talk to him though. That, or he just doesn't give a flying fuck.

"What's wrong wit you, Kimberly?" He asked me.

"Nothing. I need to head out doe." I lied.

"You know ain't shit gone happen to me, right? I'm good. I love you, now gone head handle ya business. I'ma see you a lil later, sis." Von said as he stood up to hug me.

I don't know why men be so hardheaded. Women aren't always right, but we be knowing what's best for them. We peep shit from afar, we get gut feelings—we know when something's not right.

All I can do at this point is pray that my brother remains safe and that God shields him from any harm.