The Fold (The Fourth Book in the Redbone series)

by T. Styles

  She stared at him for a moment and smiled. “You’re right. I’ve…I’ve been out of sorts. Let me go shower and come back to the party later. Maybe we can spend a little time alone then? Just me and you?”

  Bones nodded.

  She left and his eyes remained on her the entire time.

  With her gone, Bones entered the party and approached Farah. “When was the last time you’ve seen Carlton?”

  She shook her head. “It’s Pre-Shikar and you’re asking me about Carlton? Again? When I told you I haven’t seen him?”

  “Mayoni said you were with him last.”

  “Mayoni is a liar.” She paused. “But forget all of that.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his lips once. “Let’s enjoy the scene.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  SLADE

  “My brothers...where are they?”

  Slade pulled up at the rest stop with his brothers fast asleep. He looked over at Killa and nudged his arm. “We here! Get up. Go piss and shit so we can get back on the road.”

  Killa and Audio roused a little out of their sleep. “Damn, you got here quick.” Killa said rubbing his eyes. He looked back at Audio and punched his leg. “Get up, man. You said you had to take a dump earlier so it’s time.”

  “Finally!” Audio clapped his hands, pushed opened the car door and moved into the cool night. The moment the breeze hit his face he felt something was wrong. It was in the air. Across the parking lot, under the cover of the purple sky, he saw headlights on a black Tahoe pointed in their direction.

  The same vehicle that had been following them.

  “Slade,” Audio said under his breath. “Something is…something is up.”

  Slade looked in the direction Audio was staring into when suddenly bullets came crashing into the car. “RUNNNNNNNNN!” Slade yelled.

  He and his brothers went ducking for cover but the bullets came crashing from all angles. Over their heads, around their bodies they flew as the brothers ran inside the rest stop for cover. Hearing the heavy artillery, patrons screamed and grabbed their children trying to get away from the terror that was obviously coming their way.

  Four men were busting shot after shot with one idea in mind, to slay the Baker brothers and honor the orders handed down to them by Mayoni. Although years had passed since they been home with The Fold, they never lost contact with who they were, vamps. All three wanted to be with their family after living down south for years. Now freedom from the southern life would forever be held back if they didn’t take Slade’s head.

  Slade, Audio and Killa, out of breath, hid behind the counter of Pepper’s Chicken inside the rest stop. It had closed for the night and for now it kept them out of sight. “We have to split up,” Slade whispered.

  “Why?” Audio asked with wide eyes. “It’s best if we—”

  “It’s smart so we can shake these dudes. I’m gonna throw them off your tracks.”

  “Come on, man, don’t do this,” Audio pled. “I don’t have a good feeling about this.”

  Slade looked at Killa who placed a firm hand on Audio’s shoulder. “We gotta go, man,” Killa said. “ It’s time.”

  “Wait for me to move first.” Slade said as he leapt from behind the counter. Two gunmen who were across the empty rest stop gave chase. To get them away from his brothers he exited through the door on the left and ran out back. Luckily someone who had been taking out the trash earlier left the door opened allowing Slade to slip in and his brothers to go free.

  Hiding behind tons of flour sitting on a rack, Slade saw one gunman tail him. When they were close, he pushed the rack hard enough to fall on him. With him pinned under the weight, he snatched the weapon from his hand and shot him in the throat.

  And then he waited.

  For the other one.

  Flipping the light switch off he hid for five minutes and saw a shadowy figure enter the doorway.

  “Kevin, are you in here?” The gunman asked, his voice quivering. “Kevin, stop—”

  Using the gun Slade killed him with a single bullet to the gut. With him down he hopped over the body and re-entered the rest stop. He could faintly hear sirens and knew cops were in route but the last thing he wanted was to be caught or questioned by police. But he couldn’t go anywhere without his brothers. The worst of it all was that he was out of bullets.

  “Stop right there!” A stranger yelled.

  When Slade focused he was able to see the last shooter standing in front of a large window, aiming a gun in his direction.

  Slade felt weak.

  Where was Audio and Killa?

  “My brothers…where are they?”

  “It doesn’t matter,” he said through clenched teeth. “Where are my niggas?” As he aimed the gun his hand shivered and Slade felt he would accidently shoot him before doing it on purpose. “You killed them didn’t you?”

  Slade froze. “I…I—”

  “We been watching you for the longest time, nigga. And now it’s about to be over. Two fucking years I been looking at the back of your bald head!” He yelled. “AND I’M SICK OF THIS SHIT!”

  “Man, I didn’t—”

  “Shut the fuck up! Just shut up!”

  Slade nodded. “You got it, man.”

  “You’re gonna—”

  When Slade looked behind the shooter he saw the lights to a Tahoe truck coming full speed ahead. So Slade took one step to the left just as the Tahoe The Fold was driving earlier came crashing into the window, rolling over the shooter in the process. Glass and cement splattered everywhere.

  The window of the driver’s side rolled down and Audio stuck his head out. “You coming, big bruh or nah?”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  FARAH

  “I’m still being watched so I can’t leave the mansion. But I’m gonna send someone who can.”

  Farah’s eyes flew open when the air had been choked from her lungs. In rage, Bones was on top of her, squeezing her throat with as much pressure as a mad man could possess which in his case was a lot. And then, as if a light flipped on in his mind, he released, crawled off the bed and sat on the chair across from where she lay.

  Farah rolled over and coughed.

  “Where is that diary?”

  She continued to hack, trying to pull air back into her lungs.

  “Relax, it wasn’t that hard,” he paused. “Now where is it?”

  “Bones, what’s going on?” She coughed again.

  “I’ve been looking for Carlton for days,” he said skipping the subject. “He was the closest person I had to a brother.” He exhaled. “And now I hear that he’s…that something—”

  “Bones, what are you telling me?”

  “May, she, she basically told me tonight that you killed Carlton.”

  “Bones, we are supposed to be preparing for blood night. Don’t listen to her.” Farah sat up and scooted back against the headboard. The room spinning in her vision. That whore had lied on her and she wished her a slow death. “And if he is gone it wasn’t me.”

  “He was Dr. Weil’s original pick to run things.” He smiled to himself. “He wanted him to handle everything pertaining to The Fold and our business. “ He cleared his throat. “But back then he was about Mayoni too much to give him a break.”

  Farah took a deep breath. “I didn’t hurt him. I got no beef with him now or ever.”

  “Dr. Weil saw something else in me. At least that’s what he said. But I think he felt I was cold, and not caring. But I called it ambition.”

  “Bones, if I could help you, would you take it? With some medicine?”

  “I DON’T NEED NO FUCKING DRUGS! SO STOP ASKING ME!” He yelled. “You’re spoiled, Farah. And I don’t know what I’m gonna do about that.”

  His eyes were wiled with hate and she didn’t feel safe. The longer she stayed around him the worst it got. Now she believed Mia was right to just take her chances and leave. But she knew Bones would find her, along with members of The Fold. Some of which
she’d come to care about.

  No, she had to stick around. For a little longer anyway.

  “Bones, I didn’t kill Carlton.”

  “Who?” He frowned.

  “Carlton…you asked me about him and I’m telling you I didn’t kill him.”

  He rose. “So what, I don’t give a fuck about that nigga anyway.” He skipped the subject again, as if he were bipolar. “If he dead that means he’s weak. And I will live forever.”

  ****

  “Well, what exactly did he say?” Farah asked as she sat on the closed toilet seat and talked to her sister on the phone.

  “He doesn’t want to be involved.”

  She exhaled. “But did you tell him why I needed his help?”

  “I did. And all he told me was that he wasn’t about to get any of the drugs on that list for no amount of money.” She paused. “What are you gonna do with the drugs anyway?”

  “Mia—”

  “Fuck it, don’t tell me.” She paused. “Just know that your white father draws the line at prescription dope fraud when it comes to helping you.”

  “What am I gonna do?” Farah said to herself.

  “You didn’t let me finish.” Mia yelled. “He didn’t want to help but the father who raised you did.”

  Farah frowned. “You talked to daddy in prison?”

  “Yep.”

  “But calls are recorded. That’s dangerous!”

  “I visited him, Farah. I’m not stupid.”

  Farah got up and punched the air happily.

  “He gave me the name of the man you have to meet so what you gonna do now?”

  “I’m still being watched so I can’t leave the mansion. But I’m gonna send someone who can.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  MAYONI

  “Everything so far sounds like a colossal fuck up.”

  Mayoni paced the bar inside the mansion with the phone pressed against her ear. “What are you talking about you missed?” She paused. “And how are all three of them dead but you?”

  “I don’t know…I mean things got out of hand and I ran.” He sighed. “We’d been following them from the moment they left and then when you told us to proceed with the hit, we tried to execute. To be honest I don’t know what else you want me to say. The shit didn’t work.”

  “Fuck!” She said to herself. “So where, how can…” She couldn’t even get her words straight. When she gave the order to kill Slade to get back at Farah, she hadn’t thought about what would happen if they got away. “This is bad. Very bad.”

  “May, can I come home now?” He paused. “I know we fucked up but it’s been two years and I kinda miss being there.”

  “Yes, I guess so.” She rolled her eyes. This dude was useless.

  “Can you send money? Because they stole our truck too.”

  “Stole the truck too?” Her nostrils flared. “How? I mean what the fuck did you do right?” She paused. “Because everything so far sounds like a colossal fuck up.”

  “I’m sorry, May. The guy with the baldhead was smarter than we thought. What else can I say?”

  She sighed deeply. “I’ll send money but when you get here come see me first. I want your come back to be a surprise.” She paused, knowing that the real plan was to murder his ass the moment he stepped on the mansion’s concrete step. “And don’t report that truck stolen. We don’t want the police in our business.”

  “Sure, May.” He said excitedly.

  “Before you go, where do you think they are headed?”

  “We fucked up their car pretty bad before they took ours. So if I had my

  guess I’d say back to Mississippi to regroup. Don’t worry.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  SLADE

  “Stop fucking around. What’s the address man?”

  Slade, Audio and Killa cruised down the street only eighty miles from D.C. Exhausted; Slade took a deep breath before turning to Audio. “Okay man, we almost in D.C. so what’s the address?”

  Audio, who sat in the passenger seat rubbed his eyes. The shoot out took all the energy from him and he needed a quick nap. “Um…it’s…I think it’s…

  “What is it?”

  “Wait, man, I…I’m trying to think.”

  Slade frowned. “You trying to think? Are you serious? Stop fucking around. What’s the address man?”

  “Wait a minute,” he yawned. “I’m trying to remember.”

  “Audio, please tell me we didn’t come all this way only for you not to know where we going.” Killa interjected. “Because that’s the only reason you here remember. You threw up in our face that you had the drop on her house. So give it to us.”

  “Don’t get me wrong, I been to her crib the one time but it’s been a minute.”

  Slade pulled the car over and parked. This could not be happening. “Audio, don’t do this to me.”

  Audio scratched his head. “I…I can’t remember, man. I’m sorry, big bro.”

  “Wait…you’re serious?”

  Silence.

  Wanting to kill Audio, Slade pushed the car door open and leaned against it instead. There was no use in hurting him, although he wanted to. Running his hand down his face he screamed into his palms. First his baby’s mother tried to off his son, then they were robbed on the side of the road, next they were shot at while at a rest stop and now he was learning that all of that, everything, would be for nothing.”

  Killa stepped out the car, walked toward Slade and placed his hand on his shoulder. “Want me to kill him?”

  Slade smiled for a second. “Nah, it ain’t even worth it.”

  Killa nodded and stuffed his hands into his jean pockets. “I know…but what you wanna do?”

  “I gotta let her go, man. It’s like everything is trying to stop me from getting back to shawty. Maybe it’s for the best.”

  “Either that or the universe is trying to make you prove how much you want her.” He pointed at her. “I guess it’s all in how you look at it.”

  Slade shook his head.

  “I got it!” Audio said tapping the steering wheel.

  Slade and Killa turned around and focused on the truck. Looking at Audio through the opened window, they waited for whatever debacle he was about to hit them with.

  “The GPS!” Audio said excitedly.

  “What you talking about?” Slade frowned.

  “They got one in here. Maybe they put their address in the system and stored it.”

  Slade looked at Killa.

  “Nah, they wouldn’t be that stupid,” Killa said. They all stared at one another trying to consider the possibility. “Or would they?” He continued.

  Audio pressed a button and activated the GPS while Slade and Killa waited with baited breath. After a few more presses something happened.

  “Son!” Audio said looking at his brothers with wide eyes. “This shit actually says The Fold. These niggas dumb as fuck!”

  Slade, Killa and Audio cheered happily.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  BONES

  “If you want me to respect you then be honest, bitch.”

  Farah went in and out of each member’s room, with Nicola right behind her holding a bag full of meds that were good enough for a few months. Nicola had met with Mia earlier to secure the medicine and now Farah was distributing it to the members who were willing to use it with Dr. Weil gone.

  As she did her good deed, she didn’t realize Bones was watching her down the hallway from afar. “What is she up to?” Bones asked himself.

  Mayoni walked up behind him. “What you doing?”

  “You lied. Farah would never have killed Carlton.”

  She walked in front of him. “She did! She’s lying and—”

  “Cut the shit!” Bones snapped. “If you want me to respect you then be honest, bitch.”

  “I want more than for you to respect me.” She exhaled.

  “What you talking about?”

  “I chose wrong, Bones. I assumed Carlto
n was as strong as you and he wasn’t. It’s always been you, Bones. Always been about you but there always seemed to be another bitch waiting.”

  His brows lowered. “Did you kill Carlton?”

  “If it puts me closer to you, would you blame me?”

  His dick jumped.

  All he ever wanted was a woman who realized his strength and power. Mayoni wasn’t as sexy as Farah but she recognized a real nigga when she saw one. And for him that meant more these days. “If you want me, prove your loyalty.”

  “Okay…” She took a deep breath. “I will tell you why I killed Carlton.”

  “So you did kill Carlton?”

  She nodded.

  Bones adjusted in place. “I’m listening.”

  “I killed him because he was supposed to kill Slade and didn’t.”

  Bones glared.

  His nostrils flared.

  His temperature rose.

  Suddenly in his warped mind everything made sense. Farah didn’t submit to his will because Slade was still alive. “As I recall, I asked you both to murder him. And you forbade me by leaving that nigga alive? When you knew he was my worst enemy because he wanted my bitch?” He quickly squeezed her throat, limiting her breath. “It was Carlton.”

  “And how do I know I can believe you now?”

  She raised one hand. “Because I cut my wrist so you can drink my blood to your fill. You can either take my life or take me to the hospital when you’re done. Either way, it was an honor to serve you.”

  Bones grabbed her wrist and sucked deeply until Mayoni passed out.

  ****

  BONES

  Swanson was on his way back into the party when Bones approached him, the corners of his mouth still covered with Mayoni’s blood. He grabbed him by the arm and led him a few feet away from the door.