CHAPTER THIRTY

Brent, MaKayla, and Donnie, along with Reno and Sal, arrived at the small Adobee apartments on the westside of Jericho, where only four apartments, two up and two downstairs, existed. What they didn’t realize when they were talking to Ashley was that the entire complex was number 1498, not specifically their apartment. But it was only four apartments. It still stood to reason that that particular suite at the Hayton was chosen because of its number and because the perp wanted to draw a connection to Donnie and Ashley.

“Is this where you and Ashley actually lived?” Reno asked as he looked at the rundown area.

“Yes, Uncle Reno,” Donnie said to his older cousin, although he wasn’t technically his uncle. But in their culture, it was a sign of respect. “Everybody’s not bougie like you and Uncle Sal.”

“What bougie? If we’re bougie, your old man’s bougie,” said Sal. “He’s richer than us! And your ass right on our trail, so don’t even try that.”

“But back then I wasn’t hitting a lick with a stick,” Donnie said. “Ash wasn’t either. And Pop’s not gonna just take care of you. You have to work for it in his world.”

“What you mean in his world?” asked Reno. “In everybody’s world. None of my children are sitting around getting trust fund checks either.”

“Which apartment is yours, Donnie?” MaKayla asked. She and Brent were singularly focused.

“The top one to the left,” he said. “Number three.”

“Reno and Sal, you come with me,” Brent ordered. Reno and Sal looked at each other. Then Brent handed MaKayla a gun. “You and Donnie wait here.”

But when he looked back at Donnie, Donnie smiled. “What you looking at me for? I’m Big Daddy’s son. I’m Mick the Tick’s nephew. I keep my own piece.” Then he pulled out his fully loaded Glock.

Brent, Reno and Sal got out of Brent’s Big Ram four-door truck. But as soon as they got out, Reno pulled him back. “Who do you think you are ordering us around?”

“You forgot who we are?” asked Sal.

“I know who your asses are,” Brent responded. He was always a hothead to them, and stubborn just like them. “But this is my wife’s life at stake. My baby brother and kid sister are getting roped into this too. I know who your asses are,” Brent said again, “but I’m in charge of this.” Then he led the charge up the stairs.

Reno and Sal looked at each other again. “Just like his daddy,” Reno said, as they made their way upstairs too.

Brent used the butt of his gun to knock on the door. But he got no answer. “Police, open up,” he said out loud as he knocked again.

Again, no answer.

“Break that fucker down,” Sal said. But Brent was already there. He backed up and kicked the door so hard that it easily flew open.

When the three men went inside, the place was in total darkness. They had to search around for the lights, and that was when Reno found them on the side of the wall.

“Somebody’s been living here,” said Sal. “The lights are on.”

“Donnie said utilities are included in the rent,” said Brent.

And the apartment, though a furnished apartment, didn’t look lived-in at all to them. Until Brent noticed a sheet of paper on the badly-scarred coffee table. He picked it up.

When he saw Boom! written on the note and nothing else, he didn’t hesitate. He frantically grabbed Reno and Sal. “Everybody out!” he yelled. “It’s a bomb!”

Brent, Reno, and Sal ran for their lives out of that apartment and all three jumped over that second-floor railing just as a bomb exploded inside the apartment, tearing that apartment to shreds.

MaKayla and Donnie were shocked when they saw the three men sailing over that railing, especially when they saw the apartment explode right behind them. It was as if they only had had seconds to get out of there alive.

Although Brent and Sal landed on the ground and rolled to safety, Reno slammed down onto the hood of a car, causing the alarm to sound. Nearly broke his back, but he was okay too.

MaKayla and Donnie jumped out of Brent’s truck and joined the three men as they looked at the burning apartment. The rest of the residents had run outside as soon as they heard the explosion, and were standing there staring at the wreckage too. Even with the fire sirens heard in the distance, it was amazing to everyone involved that no one was killed. Especially the three men.

Brent and MaKayla looked at each other. Ashley said it was getting real to her. But it was getting beyond real, surreal , to them.