Not Your Typical Thug (Book 1)

4

So what's going on with you and Kacy?" Ash asked, braiding back Karmas hair. "And don't lie cause we know"

Karma chuckled "What y'all know?"

"That he's feeling you" Kat said "What you think about him?"

"He's cool. We have a good time together and actually have meaningful conversation"

"And?" Kat added.

"And what? That's about it" Karma shrugged.

Ash laughed and pulled Karma's hair back so they were looking at each other "That boy in love and you talking about some meaningful conversation" she let her head go.

"He isn't in love. Its only been a month since we met" Karma argued.

"Ok, before you came, Kacy never talked to anyone unless it had something to do with business. Now you're here and all can say is Where Karma at?". Kat mocked how he talks "If he isn't in love, he damn sure close"

"Yea sure. Anyway, what time the pool party start?"

"An hour" Ash said. "Done" Karma stood and looked in the mirror "I'll take them out" Ash laughed looking at her facial expression.

"Pray you don't have a daughter" Kat laughed.

**********

Ash pushed open the iron gate and they all entered the backyard. The music could he heard blocks away and the food could attract the neighborhood from the smelly

There was people dancing and in the pool. People Karma have never seen before.

She followed behind Ash and Kat with her towel hanging off her arm "Finally y'all showed" Slim said flipping burgers. "Karma, Kacy looking for you. He inside somewhere"

Karma thanked him and walked inside Morgans house. She talked to Bullet and Morgan on the way and soon bumped into Kacy who was coming out the kitchen with a red cup in his hand.

He smiled when he saw her, showing off his bottom golds "Ya just gettin here?" He asked.

"Yea. I heard you were looking for me. Wassup?"

He shrugged and looked her over "You look good" he smirked "Move the towel fa' me" Kacy tugged at it.

Karma giggled "Stop Kacy. What'd you want with me?"

"Ta' chill. Come out back with me"

Karma followed Kacy outside and to a bench that was surrounded by bushes and flowers. It was off the side by the pool, but was pretty secluded.

Kacy took a seat on the stone bench and Karma sat next to him. "How you been?" Kacy asked taking a sip of the liquor that was in his cup.

"Good I guess. What about you?"

"Better then how I usually would be right about now" he said "You keep me stable Karma" he looked at her "I ain't sayin that s**t ta' scare you away or nun like that. Its just you so calm about everything. You laid back, and I think you rubbin off"

"No" she laughed "You're more laid back. I have yet to see you lose your temper, but I'm glad for that"

"How so?"

"The calm ones always have the worse temper"

Kacy chuckled and sipped his drink "Ya right" Just as he was about to speak again, an argument started by the pool. A man with a red bandana in his back pocket was yelling and cursing at Bullet, who was calmly drinking his drinking.

Karma started to walk closer, but Kacy grabbed her hand "Don't move ma" Kacy pulled his gun from his waistband and held it by his side and watched as everything went down.

The guy with the red bandana in his back pocket ended up leaving and everything was on party mode again.

Kacy put his gun away and sat down, pulling Karma down too "What was that about?" She asked.

"The less you know, the better" he chuckled "Anyway, there's been this question heavy on my mind lately and Ion know how you gon react to it"

Karma smiled "You're scared?" She teased.

"Naw man" he laughed "Just a lil nervous"

"There's no reason to be nervous Kacy. Just ask"

He breathed in deeply and opened his mouth to speak when shots started to fire. Karma immediately got on the ground and Kacy went for his gun and started to shoot at the niggas in red.

Bullet had his back turned towards them so soon as the shots were fired, he was the first hit. Right through the heart.

The guys in red quickly ran off. Kacy helped Karma off the ground and her eyes landed on Bullet who was face down with blood spilling from his body.

"Oh my God" she whispered as tears filled her eyes. She rushed off to his body, and so did Kacy, Slim, Kat, Ash, Morgan, and Dion.

Kat, Ash and Karma dropped to their knees and rolled Bullets body over. The bullet hole was noticeable.

Ash caressed Bullets still warm face as tears fell from her eyes "Bullet, please look at me" she begged.

Karma was pulled away by Dion and Kat was pulled away by Slim. Kacy tried to pull Ash away but she just kept screaming and begging for Bullet to wake up.

But they all knew it was too late.

*******

Kacy sighed and took another long drag of the blunt before closing his eyes and exhaling. Bullets funeral was over, but the pain was still there in everyone. Including Karma.

Karma pushed his room door open and found her way to the single couch he was sitting in. She kneed down in front of him and opened the curtain a little to allow a little light.

"Kacy. You have to eat" she said putting by he plate of food on his lap "Please eat something" He put his blunt out and started eating the fried chicken, piece by piece. "I have to go check on the others ok? I'll be back later tonight"

Karma made sure she closed the room door then locked the front door as she left. Getting in her car, she drove to Kat's house.

Karma took Bullets death hard, but not as hard as everyone else. So since she wasn't as upset, she used her time to check on Kat, Ash, Slim, Morgan, Dion and Kacy. Making sure they ate and showered and slept.

After leaving Kat's house, she went to check on everyone one else. Then she made a quick stop home. "Hey sweetie. How's everyone holding up?" Her mom asked.

Karma leaned against the kitchen counter "Same as before. The funeral was today and everyone was either crying or on the verge of"

"That's horrible. Just give your friends time to heal. You're still checking on them right?" Karma nodded "Good cause they need you right now. I'm assuming you're gonna be gone for awhile so I packed some clothes for you"

"Thanks mom. Tell Joe I said hey and I'll keep you posted" she said grabbing the bags and walking outside to her car. Getting in, Karma sighed loudly and started the car when her phone rang "Hey daddy" she smiled weakly.

"What's wrong sweets? You sound down"

"Things are just crazy right now. My friends are going through a tough time after a death and its kind of taking a toll on me"

"Aw sweetie. Just pace yourself. If you feel you need a break, then take a step back for awhile. You hear me?"

"Yes daddy but I gotta go. We'll meet up soon"

"Alright sweets. Bye"

Karma hung up the phone and pulled out the driveway and made her way back to Kacy's house. Pulling up to his house, the kitchen lights are on and that shocked her.

She set her bags down by the door and walked into the kitchen to see Kacy fixing himself another plate of food. She smiled a little.

She walked behind him and rubbed his back slowly "You feeling better?" She asked looking up at him.

He shrugged and moved away from her to put his food in the microwave "Ion know right now" he said lowly. His eyes met Karmas and he sighed "You stayin the night, right?" He asked.

She nodded "My mom said its cool but I gotta keep in touch."

Kacy nodded as the microwave went off. He took it out and sat at the table and ate. Karma stood behind him, and rubbed his shoulders.

"I 'preciate you Karma" he said "You ain't got ta' do the s**t you doin fa' me or the crew, but you are."

"No problem" she said.

***********

Kacy and Karma sat on the couch, not really watching what was on TV. Karma was facing Kacy, and she was staring at him. Its not like Kacy noticed though. He was zoned out.

"Kacy what's going on inside your head?" She asked "What are you thinking?"

"Them niggas that killed Bullet. They familiar but I don't know from where" Karma crawled closer to him "The red ain't familiar though. Thinkin bout the red, ain't no gang rep red down this way. So they must have been just using red as a decoy or sum s**t. But they faces." Kacy kept thinking and Karma just watched and listened.

"I know I seen them niggas from somewhere but I can't remember where"

"Just relax and don't push it to hard." She said softly. "You've seen them repeatedly?"

"Yea"

"Would the others recognize them?"

Kacy shrugged "Ion know but they should." He said rubbing his hands on his pants. His eyes grew wide "They work for Smokey" he mumbled. He hopped to his feet and grabbed his keys.

"Kacy what's going on?"

" I'm not sure right now but come on"