Page 156 of The Ninth

I rushed through the house, going to the backyard and getting my phone and keys from the couch. As soon as I looked down, there were twenty missed calls from Cassie. I rushed to the door, kissing Duke before making my way out. He was acting weird and I didn’t want to have another talk. Not after that. My speed slowed down as I started to approach the BMW.

Bullet holes riddled the entire car. The tires were flat. Windows busted out. Doors shredded. He had to use a silencer, because there’s no way we didn’t hear any of that. Duke chuckled, tapping my hip.

“Hold on, baby.”

He jogged into the house, leaving me standing there with my mouth dropped opened. A few people were pretending to sweep their grass, looking at the damage. Duke’s garage came open as soon as I started to become embarrassed. The brand new Lexus backing up made me smack my forehead.

“I can’t believe I’m stuck with these two crazy ass niggas...”

After maneuvering through the cars, he stopped in front of me. I could tell he was trying his best not to crack the fuck up in my face. He pushed me inside, leaning his head in the door.

“I got this for you like a week ago but got caught up and then I thought a nigga already bought you a car but something told me it was your cousin’s evil doing and now I guess it wa—MORAL OF THE STORY, here you go. Drive safe. Don’t let your cousin get y’all fucked up.”

He kissed me roughly on the lips before shutting the door, jogging back inside of the garage. The dash where the Apple CarPlay was said Hello, Devyn. I shook my head, throwing my new car into reverse and leaving as quickly as I came.

****

“Oh, Cassie....” I sung as I dropped to my knees by the couch.

She was curled into a ball, crying loudly while holding onto K4 for dear life. I took him out of her arms before pulling her down into mine. It’s the closest or most physical affection we’ve ever given each other. It reminded me of the hug she gave me when I made it out of that house. Right or wrong, my heart broke for my cousin.

“I made a mistake...” she cried. “But I love him too much, Devyn. I couldn’t lie to my baby. Not anymore.”

“I know.”

We held each other as she broke into pieces in my arms.

Evil Twin, Evil Twin.

Duke’s POV

“I’ve wanted you for so long, Duke...”

I tried to shake the thought of Devyn out of my mind as I locked the house back up. A nigga didn’t wanna let shorty walk out of here, foe. Especially after the conversation we were having. Especially after officially give ourselves to each other. But I knew Cassie needed her and I care about Cassie. I also knew exactly what my blood was on.

Coming back into the theater, I tried not to laugh. Ain’t shit funny. But this nigga so gone off Cass. It’s always just a lil funny to see a thug ass nigga down bad over a small ass girl. I turned the music down, sitting in one of the seats beside him. He tried to hand me the backwood, but I pushed his hand away.

“Nah, gang. You don’t know where my mouth been.”

“You fucking disgusting. And you need to stop seeing Domino’s; we off them cousins. The whole bloodline.”

I threw my head back, cracking up at his goofy ass. Even though he was still cracking jokes, he looked crushed. I’ve never seen him look this hurt. Well, the only other time was at an early visitation. Nigga fell apart watching Cassandra break down in my arms behind glass.

“So, she told you.”

“Yup.”

“I can’t believe you wasn’t going to bring it up.”

“I tried to be a thug about it. No mistake that woman can make could convince me she doesn’t love me and want only me. I was buckled and clearly fucked up myself. It seemed she was just using a nigga for dick, that was it. My worst fears were that it was multiple niggas, someone I knew, or just one nigga that she fucked with heavy.”

“Why the one nigga scare you?”

“Who wants they wife in love with someone else, G? Fucking and sending him home because your nigga is buckled, yeah whatever. He gon die, but whatever. I just know shorty was riding with him. Kissing him. Sleeping in a bed with him. Confiding in him. Did we get into arguments and she run to him? That shit hurt worse than any nut she let go with him. Nigga got to see or caught a glimpse of the woman only I’ve ever gotten to know. Folks, I was her first everything besides kiss. I never thought she would give herself to someone else like she did me.”

“She tell you details?”

“No. Just she didn’t love him. She didn’t give a fuck about him. He knew about the strip club. That fuck nigga knew about me. I asked if he loved her, the girl didn’t answer. Simp ass nigga.”