Page 203 of The Ninth

I rubbed my forehead just remembering the stressful situation as they all chuckled lightly. Devyn stood from the stool, stepping closer to us.

“They wouldn’t be half fucking with us if they knew for sure. I bet that nigga woke up and told them it was us, but they don’t have the camcorder for proof!”

“Why wouldn’t they just take his word?!” Kenzie asked.

Tati looked at me. I nodded, “Because of K3. K3 not the type of nigga you want smoke with. The only reason they haven’t pressed that issue is because they wanna be sure first before K3 is brought in.”

I rubbed my clammy hands on my romper. Instead of looking to them, I avoided their gaze at all costs. Not a single one looked confident or brave. I felt the headache coming back on.

“Y’all...I can’t bring yet another thing to K3. We was in that house naked. I showed my pussy on the camcorder. I’m a fiancé! I....I can’t let him down yet again. He doesn’t deserve it.”

“Duke would lose his mind...” Devyn whispered.

Tati sat down next to me, “Dean already excused the strip club. A private party? Naked? Niggas got lined up? Who the fuck would trust me?!”

“Y’all, I’m on video getting my pussy ate!” Kenzie stressed.

I shook my head, “As bad as I don’t want to tell K3...I also do not want to get that camcorder! I’m sorry! It’s too dangerous!”

“It’s not that dangerous. I said the nigga live with his granny! I can get Poncho to help us. It’s just...we’re all in such good spaces in our lives. If we get that camcorder, they’ll never be able to prove it was us. We can shake it off with our men and tell them they got the wrong bitches. Move on and be happy!” Tati yelled.

I folded my arms, “Or we get killed in the process!”

“I just checked Pink’s socials,” Kenzie said, locking her phone. “They’re all deleted. So is the cousin who has the camcorder and made that video.”

My stomach dropped. I looked at their faces. Fear. Desperation. We went from having a choice to no choice. It’s clear they already chose. Even without having the video proof, the nigga who woke up from the coma’s word was becoming enough. Time has passed, and nigga’s aren’t just going to fold after Kenan died. It seems even Pink was hip. There were fathers, sons, brothers in that room. It’s us or them now. I’ll do anything to protect my sisters and their happiness. If the camcorder is our last ditch effort for peace, then so be it.

“We have to do this soon,” I said, admitting defeat. They sighed with relief.

Tati agreed, “We can go tomorrow night.”

“What will we do with Duke and K3?” Devyn asked.

“Bitch, you’re pregnant! You’re not coming with us!” Kenzie yelled.

“What? I can’t just leave y’all to do this! It’s because of me we did it in the first place!”

“Who cares! You’re not coming, shorty.”

Tati and I nodded our heads.

“Listen. I love y’all. Although I’m scared as fuck, I’d do anything for any of you. We got ourselves into this shit and we gonna get ourselves out. Kenzie, bring your blick. We’ll think of a backup plan in case shit goes left. We’re not depending solely on Poncho. You hear me?”

I looked deep into Kenzie’s eyes before she winked. Tati nodded hesitantly.

“Nobody’s gonna have us like we have us,” Kenzie agreed. “We can only count on each other to make it home. I love you bitches.”

“I love y’all,” we all responded.

They continued to talk as my phone buzzed. I looked down, seeing it was Kenzo. Fuck. I thought I at least had thirty more minutes.

“Alright. The Boogeyman woke up. We out. We’ll hop on a call tonight or early in the morning, yeah? Give me a hug!”

The four of us leaped forward, hugging each other tightly. My anxiety had me imagining the pain of losing each of them. Never do I want to live in a world without them. I pray God watches over us.

Revelations

My leg bounced as I looked at the clock. It’s been over twenty-four hours since our meet up at The Ninth. So much has happened during that time.