5
Jason
It didn’t matter who told Kannon to stay checked in at the hospital, he wasn’t missing Kendall’s funeral for nothing in the world. He’d been shot three times, but his heart hurt more than anything over losing his little girl. Jason understood better than anyone the decision Kannon had made to keep himself out of Kendall’s life. He saw what selling and doing drugs could do to a family. Hell, his own mother sold him for crack when he was ten years old.
Back in the day, Jason was bitter over that shit. He swore he’d never forgive his mother for it, but truthfully, he knew it was all in God’s plan now. Had his mother not sold him to Carlos and Kingston, he never would have learned the game from Carlos and gotten a family, a brother, through Kingston. Jason still remembered that moment clear as day.
After his mother traded him, Carlos took him to Kingston and Tracy. The whole time he drove, he kept grumbling about not knowing what the fuck to do with a kid. As Carlos and Kingston discussed what they would do with Jason, he played Mortal Kombat with Kannon. They clicked instantly. It hadn’t been Carlos’ intention to raise Jason or no shit like that, but if his mother was willing to give him up, he knew Jason was better off without her.
Kingston convinced Carlos not to take Jason to Child Protective Services, offering to raise him as his own son instead, and the rest is history.
“You sure you wanna do this?” Jason checked, not bothering to look over at Kannon. It would hurt too much. Neither were in a position to drive, so they’d gotten a town car for the afternoon. As long as Kannon was hurting, Jason was hurting, too.
“I ain’t got no choice,” Kannon almost whispered. Though he had on dark sunglasses, Jason had seen his dark, puffy eyes already.
“You prepared for what can potentially pop off?”
Kannon’s head bobbed once. “I just wanna say…” His voice cracked. “Just wanna say goodbye to my daughter.” When he inhaled a deep, shaky breath and wiped away tears, Jason closed his eyes. After squeezing Kannon’s shoulder, Jason put his gun at his waist and opened his door. He was ready for whatever, even at a funeral, and wouldn’t let no motherfucker come at his brother while he was weak and grieving.
Squeezing the bridge of his nose, Jason checked his surroundings before walking over to Kannon’s side of the car. Now, they were heavily guarded, so it wasn’t long before several big-bodied men walked over to and surrounded them. Jason opened the door, waiting patiently for Kannon to step out.
When he did, Jason asked, “You good?” as he looked his friend over.
His normally clean-cut face was covered with stubble. His lips were dry and chapped, proof that he hadn’t been eating or drinking. His hair had grown out a little more than normal and looked unkempt. Kannon hadn’t even bothered to go home and change into a suit, opting instead to put on a black t-shirt and jeans that Jason had brought him so he wouldn’t have to put on the bloody clothes he’d been taken to the hospital in.
Kannon nodded, head hung as he slightly limped away from the car. The back of his thigh had been grazed, he’d been hit in the arm, back side, and stomach. Only three bullets had done damage, but thankfully, none of it was life-altering or threatening.
“Hell no!” All heads turned in the direction of the voice screaming, and Jason’s head rolled as he saw Carmen’s mother, Naomi, storming out of the church. “You will not step foot in my granddaughter’s funeral!”
Carmen was right behind her. “The police will be here soon, Kannon. They felt like you would stop by. I want peace for my baby today, not war between you and my family. Please leave.”
Waiting to follow Kannon’s lead, Jason waited for him to speak. His voice was low and defeated when he said, “I’m not leaving until I see her.”
“You need to leave now. The police are on their way.”
“I’m not leaving until I see her,” he repeated, clutching his stomach absently.
“You don’t deserve to see her,” Naomi argued before spitting at his feet. “You’re the reason my grandbaby is gone!”
“She’s the reason your grandbaby is gone,” Kannon roared, using the arm that wasn’t in a sling to point at Carmen. “I told her what would happen, but she didn’t fucking listen,” he yelled with so much passion, spit flung from his mouth. “Now my baby girl is gone, and I just got her!”
All the pain he was trying to hold back began to release. Before his body could crumble, Jason was grabbing him and leading him back to the car. The sound of sirens far off could be heard, and as much as Jason didn’t want to, he told Kannon, “We gotta go, brotha.”
“I’m not leaving until I say goodbye,” Kannon countered, body stiffening as Jason tried to shove him into the car.
“We can say goodbye our own way in our own time. We gotta go, Kannon.”
Kannon’s face twisted as he took his shades off. “Y’all can go. I’m staying here.”
Usually the one to buck the system, Jason knew he had to be Kannon’s mind while his heart was suffering.
“You know I’m not leaving you here by yourself. We probably got a good minute head start before they are on us. Now, I’m willing to go to prison, but is that where you want to heal and grieve for baby girl right now?”
As Jason saw the blue lights flashing out of the corner of his eye, he sent their men back to their cars with one swift motion of his hand.
“Get in the car, Kannon. Let me take you to Ma.”
Kannon’s body weakened with hesitance as he got in the car. Jogging over to his side, Jason got in quickly and told the driver where to take them. As soon as they were on the street, their guards got in front of and behind the car, making sure that they were protected not only from enemies but the police, too.
Jason waited until they merged onto the interstate to say, “We gon’ handle that. I promise.”
Kannon didn’t acknowledge his statement as he looked out of the window. It broke Jason’s heart to see his friend like this, but he vowed to do whatever it took to make this right…
6
Makayla
Makayla was surprised to find out that she’d not only gotten a bond but that it had been paid and she was going to be released. She hadn’t given the prosecutor any information about Jason, Kannon, or their organization, so she had no idea what had changed. At this point, she didn’t care. She just wanted to get home so she could see her man and be there for her friend. It hurt her heart to hear about what happened to Kendall and she not be there to comfort Kannon. There was no way this was not eating him up inside on several different levels.
Once she headed out, Makayla pulled her phone out to call Jason and see who was going to be picking her up. She was so happy to be out of there that she didn’t even wait around to find out. Makayla started walking down the street, figuring she’d at least grab some fries and an ice cream cone from McDonald’s while she waited for her ride. Plus, her battery had died, so she’d need time to charge it anyway.
Before she made it to the light at the end of the block, a dark gray car was pulling up next to her.