Murderville Page 0,86

situation. “That’s what this is all about?” Nico asked. “Unc’s paper? I wasn’t going to steal it, fam. You got it all wrong. I was trying to make sure the FEDS didn’t take it. After Unc got arrested, I went into the safe. I thought I was looking out. I moved the money so that the FEDS didn’t get to it first,” Nico explained, lying through his teeth.

“Why all the shady shit then, fam? Why didn’t you just say that?” A’shai stated as he kicked Nico’s clothes over to him. “Put your shit back on, duke. You straight slipping out here. If I had been another nigga, you would be slumped.”

“I know cuz . . . I’m tripping. That shit with Baron got me kinda fucked up. You get the head, the body will fall, nah mean?” Nico asked. “I thought we were all next. I’m up in here trying to get my mind off things.” Nico quickly put his clothes back on, and A’shai palmed his own pistol inside the hoodie. His finger was already on the trigger just in case Nico tried to jump stupid.

A’shai shook his head and wrapped one arm around Nico’s shoulder as he patted him sympathetically. He was putting on a naïve show befriending Nico, when he really wanted to splatter his brains all over the floor. Not wanting to create a scene inside of the establishment, A’shai played nice and lured Nico outside, making him think that all was forgiven. “You got to move smarter, fam. You had me worried . . . thinking you had pulled grimy. I go to check the safe, and it’s empty . . . you know how that can look,” A’shai schooled as he led him towards the exit and into the parking lot.

The only light that illuminated the parking lot was the overhead street lamp. Although the lot was full of vehicles, no one loitered outside. No witnesses, A’shai thought, the murderous part of him coming out.

“I need you to take me to that paper. Pops need it for the lawyers,” A’shai stated as he walked behind Nico.

There was no way that Nico was coming up off that money and thoughts of killing A’shai filled his mind.

“Of course. I’ve got it in the trunk,” Nico said. A’shai shook his head in disgust at Nico’s carelessness. He was surprised that his bone-headed antics hadn’t led the police to them a long time ago. A’shai knew niggas that would tie up a bitch and her kid for that type of paper and here Nico was riding around with it in an unsecure trunk.

Sweat formed on Nico’s brow as he hit the alarm and popped the release on his trunk. He reached into the trunk where the bag lay and reached right beside it to grab the chrome .9mm that rested beside it.

“You still keep that nine in your trunk?” A’shai asked letting Nico know that he was two steps ahead of him.

“I..uh..yeah why what’s good?” Nico asked.

“I’mma need that too,” A’shai stated simply. Nico knew that if he tried to come up shooting A’shai would blow his brains off. He had the drop on him and at that moment all Nico could do was concede. He came up out the trunk and handed A’shai the bag of money, then dropped the gun inside.

Nico held out his hand, and A’shai embraced him, pulling him into his chest to show love. “Sleep tight, you bitch ass nigga,” A’shai whispered as he squeezed his trigger.

POP! POP! POP!

Nico’s body crumpled instantly to the concrete and Liberty immediately pulled up beside A’shai. He hopped into the car and she pulled off smoothly, disappearing from sight before anyone even came out the door to witness their departure.

NINETEEN

LIBERTY AND A’SHAI DISCREETLY RUSHED INTO THEIR hotel room, and A’shai tossed the duffel bag full of money on the bed. “Look in there,” he stated.

Liberty unzipped the bag, and her mouth fell open as she looked at all of the street money that it contained. “How much is this?” she asked.

“I don’t know . . . start counting,” he said with a smile.

Liberty dumped the money out on the bed and then tossed two handfuls into the air. It floated down around her and she laughed giddily in disbelief. “I didn’t know you were getting it like this,” she said.

“There’s a lot about me you don’t know,” A’shai replied as he joined her on the bed. “But I’mma teach you. I’mma share everything with you . .