***** VON POV*****
Von twiddled his thumbs as he sat in his jail cell. He was irritated as shit having to sit in jail while waiting for A'Marionn to get there. That nigga move slower than molasses, Von thought to himself. Ain't no way he was going to be sitting in some jail waiting on a decision from a judge, who more than likely wanted to hang his ass too.
Von wasn't going to lie. He couldn't wait to lay into A'Marionn about his latest trials. He felt some type of way about the entire deal. What the fuck I look like giving my drugs and money up to the police and turning myself in? Von replayed the conversation he had with A'Marionn over and over in his mind. Shit wasn't adding up. He understood that he was the hothead, but blood was thicker than water. At least it was in his neck of the woods.
******A'Marionn POV******
Junior walked up to the car fumbling about his pants. "This man can't even keep his pants up without holding them. They don't make belts anymore, my nigga?" Carter said to himself but made sure both A'Marionn and Junior heard his remarks. He wasn't gon' even play wit' the nigga. One false move, one move even, Carter already had pop 'im in his mind, with or without the go-ahead from A'Marionn.
"What's up, nigga? You ready?" Carter sat up to greet Junior, whistling with his teeth and looking as if he had just got a strong whiff of some bad pussy. Carter placed his semiautomatic on his lap. He was getting aggravated at the time it took Junior to respond.
"You ready, nigga?" Junior responded with his forehead slightly creased. Carter gripped the base of his gun and bit his lip hard.
Flaring his nose, he simply turned his gaze to locate A'Marionn's attention in his rearview mirror. Carter was definitely looking for the go-ahead to kill Junior right in front of his mom's tilt.
"Man, y'all cut that shit out. We got shit to take care of," A'Marionn said briskly. He could already hear the drama unfolding between the two of them. "Let's just roll. My mind is on this money, man." A'Marionn sped down the road and took the back streets to the alley and warehouse where he was scheduled to meet with Frankie.
It took A'Marionn a little over twenty minutes to reach Frankie's little hideout, and he couldn't wait to get Junior and Carter out of the backseat of his car. They were both unstable. He was breaking code by asking Carter and Junior in, but he needed the manpower. A'Marionn worried they might conspire to take him out as well.
He pulled into his usual parking space, then jumped out, leaving the two men behind as they took their time getting out of the car. A'Marionn walked like a man with a plan. He wore a straight face as he entered the building, buttoning his blazer.
"Frankieeeee, what's up, bro? We retro? What time the plane leave? I got my two goons with me," A'Marionn ranted, looking around. He realized he didn't hear any footsteps follow his nor did he hear a respectable hello.
Carter was standing close behind, quiet and observing his surroundings. "All we need is our itinerary," A'Marionn continued. "What's the plan?" He stood with his hands folded in front of him awaiting his instructions.
Junior was fidgeting around with his gun. One of Frankie's boys noticed right away. The observant one leaned in close to Frankie to give him the news of a possible undercover mission.
Frankie nodded and directed his attention back to A'Marionn and lowered his eyes.
"You ready or what?" Carter jumped in. He was eyeing all three of the men. He was gripping his Magnum so tight, his knuckles were beginning to turn white.
"Excuse me?" Frankie asked. "Are you talking to me? Boys, did this young man just speak out of turn to me? A'Marionn?"
Frankie stood, blinking at Carter, wondering if his courage was liquor filled. "Well, are you? Are you speaking to me?" Frankie looked puzzled as he drew his gun on Carter.
Carter stood his ground looking ready to put a bullet in Frankie's scalp. Frankie stared him down for a few seconds before succumbing to his own laughter. "I see you wit' the shit. Just know I am too." Frankie winked.
A'Marionn put his hand up to warrant a stop to the madness. "Look, bro, we here to do business. I'm about my money, not who dick is bigga. Carter, fall back. Frankie, let me know what the deal is."
Junior just stood there with his hands visibly shaking. "A'Marionn, what's up wit' ya boy?" Frankie pointed out. "I think we need to talk." Frankie gestured that A'Marionn follow him to a secluded area of the building.
"Stay right here," A'Marionn instructed Carter and Junior.
Frankie started in almost immediately. "I don't trust your boy. He's way too fidgety. We have to get through customs. You think he's going to be able to get the drugs and money through without giving us up? Seriously, this shit is not a game. My ass is on the line just as much as yours is. You think I don't have someone to answer to? Don't we all?"
Frankie looked concerned as he swayed back and forth, watching A'Marionn's reaction to his theatrics.
A'Marionn looked confused and tired of the hesitation. He was beginning to think that Frankie was playing with his mind and money. He was ready for the bread to roll in.
A'Marionn had plans. Once he got done with this round, he would lie low for a while. This run to the Philippines would set him straight for at least a year. He wasn't greedy. He just wanted enough loot to live comfortably. The thought of going back to school crossed his mind frequently. Continuing his degree in engineering from his time of service in the marines seemed feasible.
A'Marionn was drifting a bit in his thoughts. He was ready to jump out of the game just as fast as he'd jumped in. The thought of D'Kiyah crossed his mind more than he would've liked to admit as well. He wasn't one for falling for the mistress. He didn't know much about D'Kiyah and her background.
He just knew she seemed solid and had his best interest at heart. The things she said about Von were true. He was unstable, but he couldn't just turn his back on him either.
Frankie jumped into A'Marionn's train of thought in an attempt to get his head back into the game. "Look, I don't know what's up with your boy, but we need to get that shit under control before we move forward." Frankie waited for a response.
"Agreed," A'Marionn said, angry that he was even put in such a situation. He couldn't believe how Junior was acting. It made him look bad. Carter was a keeper, provided his mouth could be tamed. However, it was evident that Junior was either up to no good or scary as shit. Either way, he had to be dealt with immediately.