“And who B&E’d it? I did. And then we got you black butt out of that hospital. What do you owe a nigger who ain’t done nothing for you? Or for no black man. He’s just guardin’ Big Whitey. And then he comes to you, when he ain’t got no game. Man, you don’t know what he’s playin’. But you know one thing: you got this.” Anjean jerked his head at Timmons’s stomach. “Don’t you think you owe it? Get a stash for little Twayne? Man, how you know that if you hand this shit to some other player he ain’t gonna do with it like you should. It’s like this: Keep it in the community. Man, us. Why don’t you ask your lady what she wants?”

Starrell turned toward Timmons. She didn’t say anything.

“Bro’s got a point,” Willie said. “Now I ain’t saying I agree with it. But it’s a point to consider.”

“Fuckin’ damn righteous point,” Anjean said. “And Twayne should consider it fast.” He patted the side of his pants. “Fast.”

“Oh, come on, Anj,” Willie said. He took a step toward his brother.

“Hold up,” Anjean said. He pulled a Glock from his pocket.

“Shit,” Willie said. “Not here.”

“Willie, you know we’re talkin’ dino-dollars. Fuck, man, imagine the load. Not just for me. For all of us. Right, Tamika? Tell’em, bitch.”

She shook her head.

Starrell moved toward Anjean.

“This ain’t the way we’re doing this,” he said.

Anjean pointed the gun at him. “Don’t do it, Twayne.”

“That thing ain’t gonna make any decisions here. No way.” Starrell took another step forward.

“I said don’t.” Anjean extended his arm. The gun was a foot from Starrell’s face.

“No way,” Starrell said. He reached for the gun. He kept his eyes focused on Anjean’s. Anjean returned the stare. His finger hugged the trigger.

A shot sounded. It came from behind Anjean. The bullet shattered a lamp across the room. Anjean spun around to face the spot from where the shot had come. Starrell grabbed Anjean’s gun and pulled hard. Both men fell to the ground. The gun in Anjean’s hand slammed against the wood floor, crushing his knuckles.

“Fuckin’ shit!” Anjean screamed in pain.

“Let go!” Starrell shouted.

Both men looked toward the doorway to the bedroom. Willie and Anjean’s mother was standing in the threshold. She wore a red bathrobe with large fuzzy buttons and purple, plastic slippers. She held a small pistol.

“Stop it, you boys!” she yelled. She waved the gun at them. Her arm was wobbly.

“Momma!” Willie shouted. Timmons jumped out of her chair. Starrell and Anjean stopped fighting to stare at the heavyset sick woman.