Page 117 of Love U Down II

“Yes, sir.” I forwarded the message to him as he pulled out and he tapped away at his phone for a little before ringing echoed throughout the truck.

Dashawn answered after four rings. “What’s up?”

“You still in the studio?”

“Yeah. What’s up?”

“I’m about to run into some shit. Come out.”

“Yeah. A’ight. Send me the address and I’m on my way.”

Drix hung up without saying bye and I shifted in my seat.

He threw on music, grabbed a preroll from his middle console, and drove with one hand while he lit up. He smoked as he drove and I checked my phone every two minutes to make sure if Genie texted or called me I’d see it immediately.

Somewhere between being Drix’s stand-in with the label and she and I setting up for the fundraiser, we had become closer.

I genuinely liked Genie. She was a little rough around the edges, but she was nice, funny, eager to work, and loved music. The thought that someone was taking her for granted and potentially hurting her and her child made me sick to my stomach.

When we got to the apartment building, Drix hit the lights on his truck and pulled in behind Dashawn’s car.

“Call Genie and tell her to come outside.” Drix pushed his door open and I rushed to her contact and called.

I really started to worry about her after the third call.

“Berlin, she’s not answering.”

“So what’s the move? You want me to kick the door in?”

“I’m not saying you necessarily have to kick the door in but I am saying I’m worried about her.”

“Apartment number eleven?” he verified.

I looked at the text she’d sent to make sure before nodding.

“Yeah.”

“A’ight.”

We looked at Dashawn’s car where three of his four doors had been thrown open. Dashawn, Alan, and Shade climbed out and walked over.

“What’s up?”

“What’s up?”

Drix dapped them.

“Who we running up on?” Dashawn asked.

“Genie’s nigga apparently.” Drix yawned and stretched.

“A’ight. Let’s do it.”

He nodded and checked his gun before nudging his head toward the building.

“When we walk, you stay right behind me and in front of them,” he instructed. “When that door goes down, you slideback. Alan is gon’ stay at the door with you while we grab your girl. We’ll be in and out. Easy.”

“Okay.” I nodded.