Mecca watched her leave, but he was confident that she would soon be back. The game was getting old for him, and at that moment, all he wanted was to leave his old life behind so that he could start anew with Leena. She was slowly becoming his only priority-and even Estes could not keep him away from her.
Emilio Estes sat behind the dark tint of the Lincoln truck and held his great grandson in his arms as he watched Leena leave Mecca’s building. Disappointment filled him as he kissed Monroe Jr.’s chubby cheeks. “I can’t let your mother make this mistake,” Estes said, more to himself than to the baby in his arms. “I told him to stay away.”
He shook his head in disgust as he thought of how he would have to press the button on Mecca. He was a liability. As long as he was around, Leena would be drawn to him, and Estes was not giving her up, especially to his crooked grandson. Mecca was a ticking time bomb, and before he could explode again, Estes would kill him. This time, there would be no mercy. Mecca had to go.
Chapter Fourteen
“I stay strapped.”
– Murder
Murder had been patiently waiting to see Mecca again. Murder had staked out Monroe’s grave all Sunday morning, hoping to see Mecca there again, just as he had done one week before.
This nigga is bound to show up here sometime, he thought as he sat back. He thought about what the Murder Mamas had said about him taking a different approach in killing the remaining leaders of The Cartel. He knew that to do it, he would have to get in close with them so he could kill Zyir, Mecca, and Carter with ease. He didn’t have the luxury of just killing one of them and being satisfied. In Miamor’s honor, all of them had to go.
He looked across the cemetery and saw a tinted truck and knew that Robyn and Aries were waiting inside, strapped. He had a plan, and if everything went as expected, he would be in a better position by the end of the day.
Just as expected, Mecca’s car rolled up slowly and parked. Mecca stepped out of the car, scanned the area, and checked his surroundings. Once he felt comfortable, he closed the door and headed toward Monroe’s grave.
Murder hopped out of his car also and tried to look as casual as he could as he headed to the grave. Murder patted his hip to make sure his.40 caliber pistol was in place.
Mecca was on the path to the tombstone and didn’t notice Murder walking a couple of feet behind him. Murder looked across the site and nodded, knowing the girls were watching closely and waiting for his signal to go through with the plan and get it popping.
On cue, tires began to screech and the sounds of gunfire erupted. The Murder Mamas had on ski masks, and Robyn had an assault rifle. She was hanging out of the window. Aries drove by while shooting her own handgun out of the window.
Murder quickly dove on Mecca, knocking him out of the way as he was taken by total surprise. Murder began to fire back, but he aimed high purposely, so he wouldn’t hit Robyn and Aries.
The whole scenario was planned to a tee. It was done and over within fifteen seconds, but those fifteen seconds were instrumental in Murder’s plans.
Mecca was taken off guard, and he had left his guns in the car, not thinking anything would pop off at a cemetery. He breathed hard as he saw Murder send bullets at the tinted car that was speeding out of the cemetery. Murder ran after the car, firing bullet after bullet until his clip was empty, showing Mecca that he wasn’t scared.
“You good?” Murder asked as he looked back at Mecca, who was still on the ground.
“Yeah, I’m good,” Mecca said as his heart beat rapidly. “Damn!” Mecca yelled as he thought about how his life had almost ended. “You saved my ass,” Mecca added.
“Don’t trip. I saw that shit coming from a mile away. I’m just glad that I had my strap on me. You must have an enemy somewhere, huh?” Murder said as he extended his hand to help Mecca up.
“Yeah, something like that. Thanks, fam,” Mecca said as he stood up and dusted off his pants.
“Don’t mention it,” Murder said as he walked toward the tombstone as if the conversation was over.
“Yo, hold up,” Mecca said as he followed Murder. “That was some real shit. What, you a cop or something?” Mecca asked, wondering why he would just be carrying a gun on him.
“Hell nah. I hate cops,” Murder answered as he put his gun inside his holster. “I stay strapped, that’s all.”
“Yo, I’m Mecca,” Mecca said as he extended his hand for a shake.
“I’m Leon, but my people call me Murder.”
“Okay, Murder. Nice to meet you. Let me bless you for doing what you did.” Mecca said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a stack full of money.
“Nah, I’m good. You keep that. I just acted on impulse. It was nothing,” Murder said.
“Well, at least let me buy you a drink,” Mecca asked with a small smirk. He liked Murder’s style and quick thinking. He knew that he could always use a live nigga around him. Murder impressed him just that quick.
“No doubt,” Murder responded, accepting the invitation. Mecca had just fallen right into Murder’s trap, and although Murder had a stone cold expression on his face, on the inside he was smiling, because he knew that the countdown to the end of The Cartel had just begun.
“And that’s how I ended up in Miami,” Murder said, just finishing a made-up story to Mecca. He told Mecca that he came from Atlanta searching for a coke connect, and had only been in town for a couple of months. Murder also told him that his father moved to Florida and had recently passed, which was something Mecca could relate to. Needless to say, they hit it off quickly.
Murder took a shot of Patrón and slammed the glass on the table. Mecca signaled the waiter to bring them another shot as they sat in the rear of a low-key bar that Mecca frequented. Murder’s trigger finger was itching, and he wanted so badly to pull of his.40 and blow Mecca’s head clean off, but he knew that he couldn’t show his card this early in the game. Murder’s hand began to sweat and he gritted his teeth, all while keeping on a smile in front of his enemy.
How can I be having a drink with the coward that killed my baby? Miamor was my mu’fuckin’ heart. I should blow his head off right now, Murder thought as he casually slipped his hand down to his waist where his gun rested, locked and loaded. He quickly snapped back and thought about the bigger picture, and that was taking them all out.
“You say you looking for a coke connect, right?” Mecca said as he leaned in closer to Murder so that no one could overhear him.
“Yeah, that shit in Atlanta is so stepped on, and when we do get a good batch in, they taxing up the ass,” Murder said.
“How about…” Mecca started, but stopped when the waitress came and set the two shots of Patrón on the table. He continued when she left. “How about I show you how to make some real money?” Mecca said as he leaned back and took the shot with no chaser.
“How can I do that?” Murder asked as he sat back looking very interested, knowing that Mecca was playing into his little trap.
“I saw the way you reacted out there today. I need a nigga like that on my team. You feel me?”
“I’m listening,” Murder stated.
“I want you to be my enforcer, my bodyguard for a couple of months. I will also plug you in on some bricks when you go back to Atlanta. Unstepped on, raw,” Mecca offered.
“Word?” Murder asked as he took his shot and looked Mecca in the eyes.
“Word!” Mecca said as he extended his hand, waiting for Murder to seal the deal.
Murder shook Mecca’s hand, and thoughts of Miamor’s horrific murder scene popped in his head. Murder’s trigger finger began to itch again, and he gritted his teeth, feeling disgusted that he was shaking his own enemy’s hand. Nevertheless, Murder stayed calm and didn’t show his cards so soon. He knew that in due time, he would get his revenge in a major way.