Jah came in and locked the door. He nodded a greeting to Elaine, who just finger waved. He walked into the living room and took a seat on one of the dining room chairs. His face was grim, but his eyes said that something was on his mind.

“Okay, spill it,” Spooky said, noticing the look on Jah’s face.

“I’m in a bad way right now, my nigga,” Jah admitted. “I got some shit on my plate and I really ain’t sure how I wanna handle it.”

“Holla at ya boy,” Spooky said, putting the joystick down.

Jah glanced toward the kitchen. “It’s kinda personal.”

Spooky nodded in understanding. “Elaine!”

“What, nigga?” she snapped, coming out of the kitchen with his drink in her hand.

“Watch ya mouth,” he warned. “Go in the back and occupy yourself while me and my man talk.” He held his hand out for the cup.

She thrust the cup in his hand so roughly that Pepsi splashed on his tank top. “Spooky, don’t be in here trying to talk to me like your name is Ron O’Neil because this nigga Jah is here. I’d hate to have to fuck you up.”

“You ain’t gonna do shit but go back there and wash your hot-ass little box, so I can hit you wit’ this pipe.” He slapped her playfully on the ass.

“I’ll wash my snatch when you wash your dick,” she said, heading toward the bedroom. “Cheesy-dick li’l nigga!” she called over her shoulder.

“Y’all two are off the chain.” Jah laughed.

“Yeah, that’s my boo, but I can’t fuck with that bitch,” Spooky said. “So what’s on your noodle, my dude? I know you didn’t come down to the mouth of madness to shoot the breeze. Tell me whose throat it is so we can make moves,” Spooky said, cutting to the chase.

“Yo, it’s about Yoshi.” Jah went on to tell Spooky what had happened to Yoshi several nights prior. Though it still pained him to talk about the whole ordeal, being able to talk about it made the load easier to carry. When he was done with his story, all Spooky could do was shake his head.

“That’s some punk shit. I got sisters, so I know how I’d react if it happened to one of them. This shit needs to be handled.”

Jah nodded. “I know it, my dude, and I’m gonna take care of that. I just came by here to let you know what was popping and to snatch that vest, then I’m gone.”

“You ain’t going nowhere without me,” Spooky told him.