No Loyalty

by De'nesha Diamond

  The bond that Kayden and Aiden shared was inexplicable and deeper than any words could ever explain. Which was probably the main reason why he’d circled the same block three times in a row with his pistol in his lap.

  Kayden leaned forward and squinted his eyes, doing his best to make out the facial features of the man who had just begun hopping down the stairs. It was so dark that he could barely see anything, but even if he couldn’t make out the face, he could tell that walk from anywhere. It was Joe, a local club owner who had been jealous of Aiden for years and had taken it upon himself to begin slandering him publicly.

  He had gone to high school with the twins and had called himself having some sort of underlying beef with Aiden. It was really starting to get on Kayden’s nerves. Aiden might not have cared to address it, but Kayden was a different type of nigga.

  With a quick movement of his hands across his gun, Kayden put a bullet in the chamber and slid out of his truck discreetly. He moved in a hurry toward his target, being sure to catch him on the side of the building and out of plain sight of anybody who happened to pass by.

  An expert at doing hood shit, Kayden had the barrel of the same 9mm gun he’d had since he was a kid pressed against the middle of the Joe’s throat before he’d even seen him coming. Like every other man he’d run up on unexpectedly, Joe’s hand went up in surrender immediately. His eyes were large and held a hint of shock, but more fear than anything.

  “Hey, Kayd—” Kayden pressed his gun further into Joe’s neck.

  “Don’t say my fucking name.”

  Joe’s eyes bucked, but he was unable to say anything due to the fact that he could barely catch his own breath.

  “It ain’t no need in explaining myself, because I’m sure you already know why I’m here.” Kayden gripped the front of Joe’s shirt a little tighter, adding more pressure to his neck. “I’ve heard one too many things yo’ bitch ass has spoken about my brother.” He pulled the gun from Joe’s throat and slapped him hard across the top of his head with it.

  Joe grabbed the top of his head as he fell to the ground, nursing his wound. It was dark, but Kayden could see the blood trickling from the top of Joe’s head into his eyes.

  “Nigga, get your ass up.” Kayden snatched him from the ground. “I ain’t got time to baby your punk ass.” With his gun now pressed to the side of Joe’s head, he went back to what he was there to say. “My brother has too much other shit going on to address you, but guess what, pussy.” Kayden leaned closer to Joe so that their noses were almost touching. “I ain’t that nigga. I will blow your muthafuckin’ head off... you feel me?”

  Joe nodded his head rapidly. “Ye . . . yeah . . . yeah, Kay. I meant, yeah, I understand.”

  “Remember the next time you open your mouth to speak my brother’s name that he’s got me, and I ain’t got shit to lose. You feel me? I will find your ass and dead you on sight. You got it?”

  Joe’s head was moving up and down quickly as blood and tears began to smear all over his face.

  Kayden frowned. “I know your grown ass ain’t crying?”

  Joe sniffed and looked straight doing his best to avoid eye contact.

  “Damn, Joe. I thought with all the shit you talk that you would be the last nigga to bitch up like this,” Kayden taunted. “That was my fault, though. I should have known a nigga named Joe would be a hoe.” Kayden’s laughter sounded throughout the dark pathway. “Joe the hoe.” He laughed again. “From now on that’s your new name.” The broad smile on Kayden’s face drew more tears out of Joe’s eyes, only fueling Kayden’s laughter even more.

  “Man, let me go. You ain’t nothing but pussy, Joe the hoe.” With that, he stepped back and allowed Joe to fall to the ground again.

  Kayden looked him up and down before sticking his gun back into the back of his jeans and taking a few steps backward.

  “Remember what I said. I won’t tell you again. Aiden’s name better not cross your muthafuckin’ mind.”

  He gave Joe one more look before turning to head back to his truck. It was still parked in the middle of the street where he’d left it, untouched as he’d known it would be. The streets knew who he was and how he got down. A nigga would be committing suicide laying a hand on anything that belonged to him without permission. So they made sure to never do it. It would be nothing for Kayden to make an example out of them. Kayden played a lot of games, but his temper could go from zero to one hundred within seconds. Anyone who knew him personally knew this, so they made sure to tread lightly. If they didn’t, he would need Aiden for more reasons than one.

  Once he was back in his driver’s seat and comfortable, Kayden stuffed his gun into his armrest and sped off toward his house. The drive home was at least twenty minutes, so even though Aiden had told him he was headed home to get some sleep, he pulled out his cell phone and called Aiden anyway. He answered on the second ring as he always did when Kayden called. It never failed. Anytime Kayden called, Aiden answered.

  “Everything a’ight?” Aiden answered groggily.

  Kayden chuckled because anytime he called in the wee hours of the morning, Aiden assumed it was because he was in some sort of trouble and needed him to come rescue him.

  “Hell, yeah, everything a’ight, nigga. Wake yo’ ass up.”

  An exact replica of Kayden’s laughter came through the phone. Not only did he and Aiden share the same face, but their voices were identical. The only way that anyone could ever tell them apart would be through fingerprints, personalities, and their clothing. Other than that, they were the same.

  Aiden cleared his throat. “You know I have to check with your ass. You always in some shit.”

  They shared a brief laugh before Aiden took over the conversation again. “Where you coming from this time of night anyway?”

  “You don’t want to know.”

  “I always want to know. What’s good?” Aiden’s tone was sincere.

  “A’ight, so I was at the trap shooting dice about an hour ago and one of my li’l block boys was telling me that he ran into a nigga named Joe. As soon as he told me the name I knew who it was, but anyway, he said the nigga was on some ole bitch shit talking down on you and stuff, so you know I couldn’t let that slide.”

  Aiden released a deep sigh. “Man, Kay, I told you not to worry about that dude, man. I’m not thinking about him. He’s a fucking peasant.”

  Kayden had already known that Aiden was going to say something like that, which was why he had decided to run up on that nigga and then tell him about it after the fact.

  “Yeah, I know you did, but fuck all that. You know me. I couldn’t sit on that shit.”

  “What did you do?” Aiden sounded like a stressed-out parent.

  His reaction was expected and quite comical to Kayden, so before he could tell him what he’d done, he had to laugh first. He was laughing so hard that Aiden had begun to laugh as well.

  “Kay, you think this shit be funny. Your wild ass be having me stressed the fuck out. I’m tired of being your fucking daddy.”

  That only boosted Kayden’s laughter. “Shit, I feel like your damn daddy, too, as much money as I spend on your ass.”

  Neither of their laughter could be suppressed then, but it was always like that. That was the kind of relationship they had. Brothers and best friends. It was a rare occasion for them to be around each other without laughing and joking practically the entire time. They talked about serious stuff and conducted business together as well, but that was rare. For the most part, they were just two young brothers that shared a sibling bond like no other.

  “Man, Kay, I ain’t got time for this shit, nigga. I was knocked out. Tell me what the hell you did to that man.”

  “I ain’t really do shit. I just ruffed his hoe ass up with my pistol. That was it. He’ll shut the fuck up from now on. I put money on that. I’ve let him slide long enough just off the strength of you, but that shit is dead now. He gon’ learn today, gotdamn.” Kayden mocked the famous comedian, maki
ng Aiden laugh again.

  “You got to learn to let stuff go, bruh.”

  Kayden took the exit off the freeway to his house and sped up to catch the light. “No, I don’t. As long as I got you to get me out of shit, I can do what I want.”

  “Spoiled ass . . . but you right. I got you forever, my nigga.”

  “Likewise, bruh. But aye, I’m at the house now and it looks like I’m about to have to go in here and show my ass some more. Jessica got cars all over my damn driveway, which means she got hella bitches up in my spot that I’m finna have to throw out.”

  Aiden snickered. “Well, if they fine, send ’em over here. I got a king-size bed I’d love to share.”

  “Well, scoot over and grab these bitches a pillow, because I’m about to run up in here and clean house.”

  “Man, leave them damn girls alone.”

  Kayden got out of his truck and headed up the driveway. “Hell, nah. Go unlock your front door, because I got some hoes on the way.”

  They shared another brief laugh before ending their call. Kayden stuck his phone in his pocket and snatched his gun out of his waistband. He already knew what he was about to do was childish, but he was a childish-ass nigga, so he did it anyway. Hopefully things didn’t get too out of hand, but knowing him it probably would.

  CHAPTER 2

  Kayden took the stairs two at a time until he reached the front door of his house. It had been a long day and all he wanted to do was take a shower and lie down. He’d been out on the block all night serving. The last thing he felt like doing was being bothered with Jessica and her loud-ass friends.

  The sleep that he had planned to get was much needed, and the only thing that had been on his mind for the past few hours. So, having a house full of people blew his mood instantly. His girlfriend and the mother of his unborn daughter, Jessica was a nursing student and always felt the need to have her friends study at their house.

  Kayden was very supportive of her dreams, so on most nights he tried to ignore it. Tonight wasn’t one of those nights. Kayden made sure that there were no bullets in the chamber before twisting the doorknob and kicking the front door open. With his gun pointed and a frown on his face, he surveyed the room as the women screamed and began scattering.

  “The fuck y’all asses doing up in my shit?” He tried to suppress his laughter as he watched Bronx, Amy, Jessica, and Amelia fall all over one another trying to get away from him.

  Amelia and Amy were huddled in the corner beside the recliner and end table, while Bronx flipped over the arm of the sofa and was sprawled out in the middle of the floor. Jessica was also on the floor from having jumped so hard upon his entry.

  “Kayden! Why you got to be so stupid!” Jessica yelled as she stood from the floor. “You play too damn much. It’s too late for this shit.”

  Kayden could hardly breathe, he was laughing so hard. He’d lowered his gun and was holding his stomach as tears fell from his eyes.

  Jessica’s hands landed all over his back and head as she slapped at him for being so ignorant. “You make me so fucking sick, man, I swear.”

  “Jess, that nigga needs some damn help,” Jessica’s cousin Bronx told her as she took her seat back on the sofa. “Stupid ass.” She rolled her eyes hard.

  Kayden stood back to his full height and pointed his gun at Jessica and Bronx. “Call me stupid one more time, either one of you, and I’ll shoot that damn weave out y’all’s head.” His smile was still in place as he joked with the petrified women.

  “You ain’t gon’ do shit. Put that gun down, crazy-ass boy.” Jessica walked to him and wrapped her arms around his waist.

  “Aye, y’all get up. I ain’t gon’ do nothing to y’all scary asses,” he told Amy and Amelia, who were still crouched down beside the table.

  They were Jessica’s classmates and had only met him in passing, so he wasn’t surprised that they didn’t find any humor in what he’d just done. Bronx, on the other hand, had known him just as long as he’d known Jessica. She knew that Kayden was a jokester and liked to do dumb stuff. Her laughter right then was evidence of that.

  “Y’all get up. That nigga just playing. Forgive him for being a grown-ass kid.” Bronx looked at Amy and Amelia. “He still hasn’t grown all the way up yet.”

  The girls moved slowly from the floor and began gathering their things. Kayden could tell they were still a little leery, so he put his gun back in the waistband of his pants and held his hands up in surrender.

  “My fault, y’all. I was just fucking with y’all,” Kayden said.

  All eyes were on Amy and Amelia as they stuffed their things into their bags, preparing to leave. Jessica immediately began begging them to stay so they could finish studying for their finals. Bronx sat watching them with a smile on her face. It was clear she still thought the whole ordeal was funny.

  “Damn, B, why everybody can’t be like you?” Kayden walked toward Bronx and plopped down on the sofa next to her. “They need to learn how to take a joke.”

  “No, you need to learn that pulling a gun on someone isn’t a joking matter,” Amy spat.

  Kayden and Bronx looked at each other before he sat up on the sofa. He may have been a jokester, but he didn’t tolerate disrespect in any form. He didn’t give a fuck if he had just pulled a gun on the hoe, she was in his house and had better watch her mouth talking to him crazy.

  “Bitch, you better get your shit and hurry your ass up out my spot with that noise.” Kayden spat, clearly angry.

  Bronx grabbed his arm and gave it a light squeeze. “Just chill, Kay. They just don’t know you.”

  Kayden was still irritated as hell, but he heeded to Bronx’s attempt to calm him down. She was right, they didn’t know him, or Amy would have known better than to ever in her life talk so rudely to him.

  “She’s right, Kayden, damn! That shit was out of line.” Jessica caught him off guard with her comment.

  The fuck?

  He turned toward her with a frown on his face. She of all people should have known how he was and should be on his side no matter what. It didn’t matter if she agreed with him or not. She should have kept that shit to herself and vocalized her thoughts later and not in front of company.

  “At least someone has some sense,” Amy mumbled under her breath, but still loud enough to be heard . . . by Kayden.

  Bronx’s hand on his stopped Kayden from pulling his gun back out. He looked at Bronx, ready to go off on her as well for stopping him, but when he looked at her, he couldn’t even do it. She was shaking her head from side to side subtly with a look of genuine concern in her eyes.

  “You’ll mess around and get a charge fooling with these stuck-up bitches,” Bronx said. “Just let it go.”

  “You see this shit?” he asked, referring to Jessica huddled with her friends, agreeing with the things they were saying.

  “Yeah, but you know how Jessica is,” Bronx said, then lowered her voice. “She’s probably just scared they’ll call the police on you or something.” Bronx was practically whispering. “You know she loves you, even if she likes to put on a front for other people.”

  Kayden was breathing hard as he sat staring at Bronx, wanting to believe what she was saying, though it looked very different in that moment.

  “B, she know how I am. She knows damn well I wasn’t gon’ do shit.”

  “She does, but those are still her friends.”

  “Fuck them! I’m her nigga.”

  Amy, who had apparently been listening to their entire conversation, looked over her shoulder as she headed for the door. “She needs to find herself a new one.”

  Kayden hopped up. Bronx was right behind him, grabbing onto his arm at the same time that Jessica stepped in front of Amy, using her body as a shield to push them out of the door. She may not have been checking them for the slick shit they were saying, but she knew just as Bronx did that Kayden was a certified fool.

  “B, take him in the back!” Jessica yelled as she hurried to close the do
or behind her and the other girls.

  “Kay, stop!” Bronx made her way in front of Kayden and pushed him backward.

  Her body was pressed flat against his chest as she used everything she had to push him away from the door. Kayden was mad, but he wasn’t so mad that he didn’t see what was going on. It was hilarious to see how fast Bronx and Jessica moved once they saw how he’d hopped up. They knew he was crazy and would spazz out without thinking twice about it.

  “I know your silly ass ain’t laughing.”

  Kayden looked down at Bronx’s body sprawled against his. She was so tiny compared to him. “Just what in the fuck did you think you were about to stop?” He raised his eyebrows at her. “Little tiny self.”

  “Leave me alone, man. I was just trying to keep your ass from having to call Aiden to come get you out of the county jail tonight.” Bronx laughed but didn’t move.

  Her breasts moved against his stomach as she giggled. Kayden tried not to let his mind wander off in that direction, but he couldn’t help it. She was right up on him, and even if he could make his mind ignore it, his body was probably a lost cause.

  “I was on the phone with him when I pulled up. He told me to send y’all over there.”

  Bronx giggled. “I bet he did. Y’all two are too much for real.”

  “You the one too much. I’m calm now.” He looked down at her. “You can get off my dick.”

  Bronx jumped backward off of him and shook her head, obviously ashamed for getting caught. “I didn’t even realize I was still on you.”

  “Yes, you did. You just wanted to feel on me,” he joked with her. “It’s cool. I won’t tell Jess you want her D.”

  “Oh, my God!” Bronx’s small hands went to cover her face. “You get on my nerves, man.”

  The two of them stood laughing together.

  “I’m just fucking with you, man. Chill out. It ain’t no thing. You know you my li’l baby. We good.”

  Bronx smiled at him before turning and going back to the living room while he headed for his bedroom. He wasn’t even all the way down the hallway yet before he heard the door opening. Kayden turned right back around. When Jessica came in he noticed that the girl, Amy, was gone, but Amelia was still with her.