Confident

Shots Fired, Secrets Unfolded

I locked my phone and slide it into my back pocket, deciding last minute to toss my purse in Lay’s trunk. I wasn’t about to be in a packed house trying to keep track of a bag.

As soon as we stepped inside, the stench hit us-ass, sweat, weed, liquor, and the lingering funk of people who clearly skipped a shower before showing up.

“That’s so nasty. You knew you was going out-wash your ass first!” I muttered, wrinkling my nose as my eyes scanned the crowd.

Pooter and Zay were posted up in the corner, cooling like always. I tapped Lay and nodded towards them. She grabbed my hand, and we weaved through the bodies, sidestepping girls dancing and drink duded moving sloppy.

As always, my eyes stayed moving, taking in everything. The people. The exits. The energy. Something about the night wasn’t right. Then, I spotted Roscoe coming in, deep as hell with about ten corner boys trailing behind him, including Marshal.

He walked straight up to me and pulled me into a uh like he ain’t just roll in here with a whole army.

Pooter and Zay immediately twisted their face up, side-eyeing the hell out of us.

“Wassup, Lay? Ain’t seen you in a minute.” Roscoe said, licking his lips as he glanced her way.

Lay barely reacted, just raised a brow and folded her arms.

I leaned in close, keeping my voice low. “Y’all know each other?”

He chuckled, speaking loud enough for me to hear. “Yeah, I’ll tell you later. Lil momma mouth game cold.”

I shot him a look, but bride I could say anything, he stepped back and have a head nod to pooter and Zay, who still weren’t feeling him.

“Aye Mina, who’s your friend?” Zay finally broke the silence.

I opened my mouth, then hesitated. Not even on no sneaky s**t-but also, kinda on some sneaky s**t, I kept my business life and my regular life separate for a reason.

“Bones.” Roscoe cut in before I could decide how to introduce him. His eyes flicked around the party before he grabbed my wrist and pulled me aside.

“No drinking tonight. Not a sip, not a swallow.” He said, voice firm. “Don’t get distracted. Stay with me”

I pulled my wrist back. “I wasn’t gonna drink anyway. And don’t forget-I’m your boss, not the other way around. Don’t make me have to show you who I am.” My voice dropped, my patience thinning. “Keep that s**t professional.”

His lips twitched like he was trying not to smirk. “My bad, boss. Just looking out.” He stood up straighter, falling back in line as we rejoined the group.

Pooper wasted no time trying to be messy. “Mina, why you ain’t text me back?”

I sighed. I hated a petty-ass nigga. “I was the last one to text. And I *dont* do double texting.” I shrugged, glancing around again.

Zay peeped my energy, nudging my shoulder. “Mina, you good? You makin’ me paranoid, all this looking around you doing.”

I exhaled through my nose. “I’m straight.”

And just like that-shots rang out.

The packed house exploded into chaos, screams tearing through the music as people ducked and ran.

I moved fast, sprinting to the side of the kitchen where Bones tossed me my pistol. My fingers curled around the grip, and I turned, scanning the room for shooters. Sharp shooter, that’s what they called me. But I didn’t aim to kill-I aimed to cripple.

Throats. Spines. Knees. Chest. It was always the athletes, the ones with real futures, that wanted to play thug. Fine. You wanna play? I’ll make sure you never run again. Never pick up a ball. Be a leader, not a follower.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted movement-someone on the floor, cowering near the kitchen island. I knew her, always happy around the neighborhood, a junky.

Without thinking, I grabbed her arm and hauled her up, my other hand still gripped my gun. I pulled her with me, making sure to watch my front and back, covering her as I led us out.

“How you get here?” I asked, scanning the street.

“I drove-I’m parked over there.” She pointed, voice shaky.

I jogged her over to her car, yanked the passenger door open, and helped her inside, my mind flickered for Lay for a half a second, but I already knew-Bones wasn’t letting anything happen to her.

As I pulled onto the road, her breathing turned into a gasping sobs.

“My baby” she cried. “My baby, please, please-I have a baby!”

I glanced at her stomach.

Flat. She wasn’t pregnant.

Then I say it-blood.

“Shit..” I whipped the car around and speed towards Jackson Memorial, running red lights, stop signs, not giving a damn,

When I pulled up, I threw the car in park, yanked the door open, and tried to help her out.

She screamed, jerking away, “No, no,no! Don’t touch me! I’m **bleeding**! I’m **infected**!”

I froze.

**What the f**k?!**

I stepped back as a nurse and a stretcher came running out. As they lifted her, she grabbed my wrist with weak fingers, eyes desperate.

“Please” she chocked out. “In my car-the GPS. Click home. Go get my baby. He has my baby.”

The words hit different.

I ran a hand down my face as they rolled her through the double doors, still sobbing, still reaching out for me.

** What the f**k did I get myself into?** should’ve left her on the floor.

I turned and walked straight to the front desk, “Where do I do bloodwork?”

The receptionist blinked, then nodded. “Just have a seat. A nurse will be right with you.”

I went to the bathroom and scrubbed my hands until my skin felt raw. When I came back out, a nurse took me to the back, drew blood, gave me a shot, and made me drink some clear liquid. I barely registered any of it.

Before leaving, I made sure to tell them “If she wakes up, have her call me.”

The nurse hesitated, then nodded.

Walking back to the car, I clicked “Home” on the GPS. The map loaded. I didn’t know what the hell I was about to walk into, but one thing was clear—this baby wasn’t safe.

First thing I did was call Bones. “Hey y’all good?”

“Ya we was just checking around again for you. Where are you?” He quickly responded as he threw his feet on the brakes, tires scrubbing against the gravel.

“I got myself into some s**t twin. Come a couple houses down and bring EVERYBODY. Not them folks in the corner our folks.” I responded shaking my head as I followed the GPS.

“Man, Mina. I’m on my way.” He hung up the phone letting me know he’d beat me there.

Bones pulled up beside me a few minutes later. “Which house?”

I pointed. “The pink one.”

We rolled up slow. I sent three people around back, two stayed posted with us.

I walked up, covered the peephole, and knocked.

A deep raspy voice growled from the other side.

“Who the f**k is it?”