B. Murder hated to lose but since me and the nigga was childhood friends, the relationship took some of the sting out of my taunts. “Rusty? Homey, you ain’t beat me since the 8th grade. Come on. Let’s rumble. Double or nothing. I’ll let you get your face back.” I wasn’t finished with his ass just yet.

B. Murder stood up to his full 6’2, handed me five, crisp, one hundred dollar bills and replied, “Later, Brah. We need to meet these cats I told you about.”

“They official?” I questioned as I pocketed the money.

“Do I fuck with anything less?”

This is true, I thought.

B. Murder and I made our way out and rode through the streets of Atlanta. My mind instantly went to that bitch ass nigga, Trae. “Yo, I appreciate you agreein’ to handlin’ that Trae situation for me.” B. Murder shrugged as he drove.

“I remember Trae from back in the day. I ain’t never have a problem with homey, but you family, so you already know how I’ma roll. My loyalty lies with you.”

“Say no more.”

I was pleased to know that sooner or later Trae was going to be dealt with, and maybe even Kaylin. All I was doing now was buying time until I got my hands on the formula I was trying to persuade Kay to give to me.

We pulled into the housing complex on Joseph E. Boone and parked. Everywhere we looked, dudes, females, even little kids were flagging red.

“Those niggas are Bloods?” I asked.

“What you see is what you get.”

These niggas deeper than a muthafucka!

We got out and approached an apartment that appeared to be the headquarters. Everybody was flamed out and showing B. Murder love. The shit was like a hood hollywood movie. Once we made it inside, a skinny, dark-skinned dude with pimples, embraced B. Murder.

“What up, big homie?” Ace greeted.

“The rent my nigguh, you already know. But I want you to meet my man Kendrick.” B. Murder introduced us, then turned to me and added, “This Ace, my lieutenant in the ‘A’. Gresham Boy official.”

I frowned a little, trying to think of where I had heard the name before but I let it go as I gave Ace a dap. “How you, fam?” I greeted.

“You down with big homie, so you already got the key to the city. Good to meet you,” Ace returned.

The three of us sat down and sparked blunts.

“Now tell Ace why will be over distribution here,” B. Murder said to me, ecstactic to be bringing to the table such a boss move that would allow his team to eat.

“Like I told B, what if there was some dope that was twice as addictive as heroine and twice as cheap?”

“Shit, something like that would make us twice as rich,” Ace chuckled.