Bak! Bak! Bak!
Bac! Bac! Bac!
Ten
Three Brooklyn men were murdered, but two got away, including Junior. The cops flooded the park, with homicide detectives probing everywhere, searching for evidence, and looking for any information on the shooter or shooters involved. The men involved in the deadly shooting were dangerous, so no one was talking. They didn’t want to be labeled as a snitch and catch any heat.
Kip and his crew had no remorse about the dead men; their only concern was how sloppy and carelessly it had gone down.
“Fuckin’ Devon! Man, how can he be so fuckin’ stupid! How could he shoot the nigga in public like that, and with Kid still in the park?” Kip hollered in his living room to Papa John. He was also upset that two men had gotten away, including Uncle Junior, who would surely be seeking retribution for his nephew’s murder.
“You know he don’t give a fuck,” Papa John said.
“I know. It’s what I love about him but what I also hate. He needs to start fuckin’ thinkin’ and stop being so fuckin’ stupid and sloppy.” Kip clapped his hands together repeatedly in a frenzy.
“Fuck those Brooklyn niggas anyway,” Papa John said. “I’m glad they’re dead.”
They could still hear the police sirens screaming through the night in Harlem, the after-effects of a triple homicide. Papa John took comfort on the couch and was about to ready a blunt to be smoked.
Kip went into his brother’s room where Kid and Eshon were conversing. She remained by his side the entire time. “Y’all good?” he asked them.
“Yeah, we okay,” Kid answered.
“And you?” He looked at Eshon.
“I’ll live,” she said nonchalantly.
Eshon and Kip locked eyes. Even after his rudeness earlier, she was still there for him and his family.
“I bought you some Chinese food. You hungry?” he asked Kid.
“Nah, not really.”
“Look, I’m sorry about today. Shit just got out of hand, ya know? That nigga had no right disrespecting you like that.”
“It wasn’t about me. It was about you, Kip. You could have just walked away and let it be,” Kid griped.
“Seriously? Walk away after that nigga accuses you of being a cheater and threatening your life? Fuck that nigga!”
“I don’t care about someone calling me a cheater because I know I’m not. And what if something was to happen to you, huh? Then what? You all I got, Kip. I have no one else in my life. And if anything was to ever happen to you, then where would I be? What is gonna happen to me?” He just wanted Kip to be extra-extra careful when he was in the streets.
“I’m not going anywhere, Kid. I’m gonna always be around to help and support you.”
“I hope so.”
Eshon stood up. “It’s getting late. I need to go.” She walked toward the hallway.
Kip suddenly grabbed her forearm and stopped her. He looked at her compassionately and said, “Thanks for today.”
She managed to smile. “I’m always going to be there, Kip.”
Her heart fluttered with nervousness and excitement. Once again, his touch made her body flutter. She exhaled. Would he kiss her this time? What did he want? She knew what she wanted.
“I’ll call you,” he said.
“Do that.” She continue
d to smile, but she felt her heart weakening more and more. She left the room.