“Like what?” Butta responded dryly.

“You were just going to take everything and not say a word.”

“It’s a lot going on outside right now. I’m moving things around till stuff blow over. I left some money in your top drawer. Enough to pay ya bills for a year and then some.”

Nichelle shook her head with a slight giggle then told him, “You must think I’m a fool. The real reason you taking that money up outta here is ’cause ya girl don’t want you around me. You betta remember who been down with you. That’s how dudes do, though—get a whiff of some new young pussy and forget about the bitch that’s been ridin’ with ’em.”

“Not for nothin’, my girl don’t even know you exist. Plus right now, I’m not trying to even hear that bullshit you kicking.” Butta walked past her, heading toward the door.

“So you just gon’ disrespect me and not acknowledge what I’m saying to you. That’s okay, ’cause niggas like you always get it the same way they give it.”

Butta spun around, “Are you threatening me?”

Smirking at him, she folded her arms across her chest. “Take it how you want it.”

Dropping the bags, Butta moved toward her and grabbed her face with one hand. He squeezed her cheeks tightly between his thumb and fingers. “You must be really feelin’ ya’self coming at me like that, ’cause you know I don’t hit bitches. Before you get too comfortable with that notion, you betta know I got somebody to handle my light work.” Butta shoved her away by her face.

The thrust caused her to lose her balance and fall to the floor. As Butta picked up the bags, she yelled behind him, “What you gonna do, go get ya girl?”

Ignoring her, Butta left the apartment and went downstairs. When he got down there, Mannie’s truck was doubleparked in front of the building. Butta made his way out, “Open the tailgate,” he said, pointing toward the rear of the truck. The darkly tinted window rolled halfway down, and a shiny chrome pistol pointed out. There was no time to break and run before the first bullet hit the right side of his abdomen. Butta crumpled forward when the next bullet hit right below his collarbone and came out his back, shattering the door behind him. Three more bullets hit his midsection before he fell face-first onto the concrete.

Trenton hopped out of Mannie’s truck and into a white rental Toyota Camry that pulled ahead of him. When the Camry pulled away, as if on cue, Nichelle stepped through the completely shattered door. Pieces of glass crackled beneath her shoes as she moved with caution to avoid falling.

Nichelle politely stepped over Butta’s body and grabbed the duffel bags. She struggled with one because the strap was stuck beneath his body. After a hard snatch she retrieved the bag. The weight of the money made the bags tough to carry, so she had to cradle one and drag the other to her car, where she tossed them in the trunk. She never bothered to call 911 and slid into her burgundy Lexus 430. Nichelle gave Butta one last look and smiled, then drove away.