glancing over to his right and spotting a police cruiser parked in the lot of a strip mall. Adrenaline rushed through Kiam's veins like a live current of electricity. When the car pulled out and got behind him he saw that they were two hillbilly looking cops in the vehicle. He knew that if they pulled him over they weren't going to just write him a ticket and keep it moving, Jakes like them always wanted to search your shit. What they would find in his vehicle would open up a floodgate of trouble for Kiam, trouble that would bring his rise to the top to an unceremonious halt. His hand went to the Nine that he had sat on the counsel between the seats; the gun had mad bodies on it and he was about add two more to it if they flashed their lights. Going back to prison wasn't even an option. Court gets held in the muhfuckin' streets, he instantly decided. That was the code of every real nigga that had ever done a bid. Fake niggas talked it, trill niggas walked it. In a minute the Jakes were going to have the misfortune of pulling over the wrong muthafucka at the wrong time. Kiam scanned the area for the quickest escape route after he opened up on po po. Within minutes the helicopter would fly in and every available patrol car would flood the area where he had left two of their brethren leaking in the snow. He would have to abandon the truck, snatch a bitch up and make them drive him away from there. To think that after all the blood he had spilled since coming home, his downfall would be something as trivial as running a red light! Kiam felt a pang in his heart as the realization of how this would drastically change the lives of Faydrah and their unborn. A picture of her flashed in his mind intensifying the ache in his heart. He had promised her before walking out of the door that everything would be alright. Guilt leaped up in his chest but his gangsta forced it back down. “ It is what the fuck it is,” Kiam said aloud as he slid the Nine over onto his lap and stared in the rearview mirror waiting for the flashing lights. Nothing but head shots. He clicked off the safety latch and slid his finger inside the trigger guard. “Eyez, I love you baby,” he whispered as if she was in the seat next to him. “Take care of my seed.” As the words left his mouth the police cruiser turned off and went about their business. Kiam relaxed his grip on his gun but the anxiety he felt remained strong. Where in the fuck was Lissha? Shit like this threw a nigga off his square. JuJu and Isaiah was standing outside with their whistles tucked underneath heavy winter jackets when Kiam pulled up to the condo. As soon as he brought the truck to a complete stop JuJu hopped in front and his cousin climbed in the back. “What's up, Boss? Let's go make the city tremble,” said JuJu. “ Muhfuckin' right,” intoned Isaiah bringing out his fo-fo and checking the clip. “ Where's Isaac?” asked Kiam. “ I sent him to stand guard at your house,” JuJu informed him. Kiam nodded his head and pulled out his cellphone to try Lissha again but her phone just rang until he was sent to voicemail. Kiam sighed. “Yo shorty, call me as soon as you get this message and let me know you're good,” he said with a heavy undertone of trepidation. Next Kiam called Treebie but got the same results. Fuck everybody at? Muthafuckaz need to be on call 24/7 . The crease in his forehead spread across both brows. He hung up without leaving a message. With a look of frustration written across his face he turned to JuJu. “Youngin we gotta tighten up the ship. We're becoming too lax and I don't like that shit. I wanna know where everybody is at all times, no exceptions,” he spewed. JuJu nodded his understanding. Kiam put both hands on the steering wheel and stared out of the window at the snowfall wondering where in the fuck Lissha could be. If she was lying somewhere dead he would never forgive himself for letting Big Zo down. If she was somewhere all in