Last Bitch Standing Read Free Page A

first stop, in a few more minutes."
    "First stop?" I asked confused, since I only knew
about one."
    "Yeah, I gotta go get us some artillery. We can't be
running up in places wit' no sort of backup. Baby girl,
you of all people know how niggas be gettin' down in the
streets. We can't take no chances."
    "You know, I feel you on that. It's just that you didn't
mention nothing, so I figured you didn't think we needed
it. Are you skeptical about the dude we're supposed to
meet with? I hope this tip is legitimate."
    "Anytime a motherfucker is giving up info, I'm
skeptical, so that's why we need to be prepared for
anything. The shit is supposed to be legit, but it's hard to
call it at this point. Supposedly this cat got information
on Devon's whereabouts. And since he was the nigga
working with Maya, I'm sure he's been in touch with her."
    "No doubt, and I can't wait to take Devon's sheisty
ass out. I gotta special bullet for him."
    "Hold up! We need Devon to lead us to Maya, then
we can talk about that bullet you got with his name on it."
    "No worries, I'ma make sure we got no more use
for him before I lullaby that ass."
    "Stay right here, I'll be back in two seconds," Nico
said, pulling up to some store. "I'ma run in real quick and
get our shit. These my people around here, so you'll be
straight. But if anything seems suspicious, blow the horn.
There's always that one knucklehead that might try you,"

    Nico grinned.
    "I'm good."
    As Nico ran up in the small corner store, I began
thinking about the great pleasure I would take in shutting
Devon the fuck down. When I first laid eyes on him, I
knew he wasn't shit, but I slipped up and didn't follow
my initial gut instincts. And what a costly mistake that
was. The whole time he had partnered up with Maya
to take me down. Every time I reflected back on what
went down, I got more pissed with myself for not paying
attention to key signs.
    The biggest one was when Devon killed Vernika
during my fight with her. He claimed he was trying to
protect me, but in reality, he was protecting himself. She
could have blown his cover, and he wasn't taking any
chances. I remember how angry I was when she died,
because it literally led to a dead end, but it was also what
made me soften up to Devon because my dumb ass
thought he had my back. Yeah, Devon definitely had to
catch hell for tricking me up.
    Just like Nico said, within a few seconds he was
back. "Night, we good now, let's go," he said, closing the
driver's door.
    "Damn, they must've had that shit already bagged
up for you."
    "Pretty much. I hit `em up at the airport, letting
him know I was on the way. Here, this yours," he said,
handing me my weapon of choice-a nine millimeter
with a silencer already attached.

    "Cool! I feel better already."
    About ten minutes later, Nico pulled up to a brick
building on an eerily quiet street. "We're here."
    "Damn, ain't nobody out today," I commented.
    "Mostly elderly people live on this block. They're
probably all inside." I followed Nico as we walked up
the stairs, and he rang the doorbell. After several seconds
passed, he rang the doorbell again and knocked on the
door.
    "Is the dude expecting you?"
    "So I thought."
    "Have you spoken to him?"
    "Nope, he ain't got no phone."
    "Not even a cell? How old is this dude?"
    "I don't know, but he was told we were coming. Oh,
that might be him right there," Nico said, looking over
my shoulder. I turned around and noticed a man getting
out of a dollar cab. He gave the driver some money and
started walking in our direction.
    "What up? You must be Nico."
    "Yeah, and you must be Curtis."
    "Yep. I hope you ain't been waiting long. I got held
up over at my) ob. I'm on parole, and I can't fuck around
and miss work or they'll toss me back in jail. I'm sure you
understand."
    "No doubt."
    "Cool. Well, let's go inside." The dude nodded his
head at me as he brushed past me to open the door.
    When we got inside, he led us