*Happy Sunday! 💜*

Klein

       "How in the actual hell do you think this is going to work out Klein?" Emptying the cartridge to my gun, I grabbed a new one. Ignoring Ronn with the strength of my heart, I brushed passed him. "Dayton is here Klein, that's all you've been wanting is to see your little brother again, well here he is! Out there waiting for you."

        Grabbing a back pack, I stuffed it with a few things. "Klein!"

     "Ronn, whether you like it or not, the outcome of this can end two ways: the good way, or the bad way. There is no in between, there is no getting around it okay, it is going to happen. And you're going to have to live with it, I could die, I could go to jail for the rest of my life, which is better off just being dead. How do you expect this to be over? I can't be on the run forever, and I don't want to be, I'm fine with the consequences of my actions. Why can't you? I'm a killer Ronn, I steal, I make my money off of crummy drug dealers that sell product to kids. We are bad people! Bad things happen to BAD people you fucking hear me Ronn? Don't stand here trying to bump your head with the others on how to get me help. I don't fucking need it, I'm a grown ass man."

       "Klein, if you just wait this out,-"

"Hey Klein, can we talk for a sec?" Both Ronn and I looked in the direction of the closed door. Flashing Ronn a look of finality, he punched the wall clock with that big mighty fist of his. It shattering on impact he kicked it to the side, like it was nothing.

      "Come in." I instructed, setting the back pack down, and leaning on the dresser behind me.

     Walking in with his eyes of innocence, Dayton smiled. "Whoa am I interrupting something ladies? Need me to leave and give you a second?" Noticing Ronn's anger, and the hulk smashed clock on the ground. He looked me over, confused on why my expression was so calm and collected. Lipping an awkward "Okay", he fully entered the room, and Ronn, shoved into me before giving Dayton a quick hug, and left. "What was that about?"

      Lifting off of the wooden object, I continued shuffling about the room looking for things that I could pack up. "What was what about?" I questioned, Dayton sucked his teeth, and took a chair from behind our grandmother's vanity.

        "Don't you even Klein. You know exactly what I'm talking about, you guys were screaming in here, and Ronn broke Gram's favorite clock. He wouldn't do that if he wasn't mad, I know you both, like the freaking inches of my dick. Stop lying to me alright?"

    Looking at my brother, while I closed the drawers quickly, I turned to face him. His eyes wide of interest, and he was slouched over, glaring completely at me. I laughed a bit, finding a place on the carpet, in front of my brother I took a seat. "What did you get yourself into Klein?" Closing my eyes, and lowering my head down, he pulled me into a hug. "Why do you this to yourself? You get so lost into this shit, and you feel the only way out is by fighting. You're making it worse, so tell me what's going on? Maybe I can help."

       "You're not going to help me with shit Dayton. Why do you and Ronn feel as if I'm needy, you make it seem like I can't handle my own. When I damn well can."

       "Stop being a jackass Klein, I mean c'mon man, what else would you want us to do?"

                  "Let me go through it alone."

"Oh so it's okay for you to take our problems and run with them, but the moment we try to take yours you cling on to them for dear life. What is wrong with you? Why is it always your way or no way? You never hear anyone out, you're the smarter one, you're the toughest one, you can handle anything, and everything? Well guess what Klein, K.C is going to need a father whatever you decide, or just do. I'm not happy with the things you've done Klein, but you're my big brother, you're my blood and I'm going to have your back no matter what. I don't care if you don't want me to, but I'm going to. You're a hard headed, dumbass, and it's going to do more harm to you than good. "

     "Stop lecturing me."

"Then stop being the selfish asshole that you are Klein. And maybe I'll shut up." Slapping me in my face a couple of times, I threw a good solid one straight into his chest. Falling backwards, he shrugged it off, just like I taught him, and charging after me, he pinned me to the ground.

          "Alright fine you win. Get off of me, dammit." I laughed, but Dayton was more than serious, I sighed annoyed, and just collapsed on the ground, relaxed.

            "You act like its a joke, like it doesn't matter. Who's Vindango, where the hell are you meeting him, and why did you tell him he was going to have to kill you?"

        Alarmed, I wrapped my arm around Dayton's neck, and pulled him to my level, alternating his high position to my low, I held him strongly in the 90 degree angle of my elbow. Fighting me with his might I added on more force in my anger. "What the hell do you mean who's Vindango?"

         Punching me in the stomach, I winced but continued to hold him in the headlock. I felt the bruises just piling up like a wad of tissue on my belly, got damn Dayton I argued in my mind. "You know what I'm talking about, quit bitching out, and tell me. You're just like dad! Always avoiding telling the truth."

        "Don't compare me to that son of a bitch Day, why do you always do this shit? You're always sneaking around finding out things you're not supposed to know anything about. And then you confront me about it knowing I'm not going to tell you shit. Cut. It. Out. Dayton!" The salty taste of skin laced my tongue, it was Dayton's hand, pulling down the lower half of my mouth, dragging me to meet his eye level. "Ahh! Fuck you." I attempted to say, but it all came muttered like a baby babbling its thoughts, just not understandable.

  Finally getting me where he wanted, he removed his hand, and planted a fist straight into my chin. Stumbling, I hit face first onto the floor. "You said talk, you bitch. This-," Getting back on my feet I ran towards Dayton, cliffhanging him, and slamming his body into the wall.

       Kneeing me in the stomach, and as I hurled over, he grounded a mean elbow in the center of my spine. On impact my head sprang up, and exactly on que, Dayton elbowed me again, like it was nothing straight into the center of my face. "Is!" Tasting the bitterness of my blood, I licked the tip of my Cupid's bow. "Definitely!" Readying my stance for an uppercut, I smiled. Glad that he was prepared we both charged, Dayton sloppily threw a passive blow, eagerly I took advantage of his mistake. As I took him by the neck and the bottom half of his body, I threw him into the wooden desk.

      Angrily grunting he sprung  back up completely engergized, my brother poured rounds of balled fists, and each one I caught, blocked, and reversed, until I had him completely defenseless. Now having him locked down under my grasp, I held him steady, his back centered with my torso, I rested my arms around his neck. "Not..talking." Both of us panting, I remained with my little brother, attempting to calm him down. I was lucky that he wasn't Ronn, probably would've lasted longer, and ended up much more worse.

         Ronn would've kicked my ass. And I suppose Dayton's minor ass beating was needed, I was more proud of him than anything.

     Laughing I swirled him around, and slapped him in a strong embrace. Throwing another punch into my side he tried to pull away, but I overpowered him. "Stop Klein, I fucking hate you, for always putting our family through your hell. We worry about you, and you don't care, you just do whatever and expect, no not expect you force us to be okay with it. IM NOT OKAY WITH IT, TELL ME!" Dayton gained enough strength to sever my force. There was now a distance between us, and still trying to catch our breaths, he blew heavy, his little overworked chest pumping up and pumping down.

       His eyes, bore of fear. Buckling down I just looked at him, why wasn't he letting this go? "It's been years, this is the first time I've seen you, since dad buried a casket, that I was told that belonged to you. Give me this chance to be your brother again, give me this chance to show you that I'll put everything on the line for you! Like you and Ronn have constantly done for me and Reeko. You're my brother? I'm your brother, stop closing me out."

    Brushing my hand through my hair I stared at him, reflecting my stare mockingly, I sighed tiredly. "Alright fucking hell Day boy. Since you wanna know so badly here ya go. He's an old friend. I have a flash drive that he wants, it holds a lot of important information. It's leverage, if he ever tries anything, I'm on the run, because I'm wanted for murder. Selling, distributing narcotics, and drugs of a mass variety. I sell black market guns, I steal, and I got caught. Alright? They caught me, and like a little bitch I ran, because I needed to sort things out before I turned myself in. That way I'd still have everything, and you guys safe. So that is why I'm here at grams summerhouse. To plan Dayton, for the future, after I go inside, or even if I die in the process. Does this make you feel better? Does this clear that fucking overfilled mind of yours Day? You satisfied, because hell if not, tell me! Do I need to relay, replay, and throw way the hell back these past few years? To make you understand, THAT THERE ISN'T SHIT THAT YOU OR RONN CAN OR WILL DO? THAT WILL IMPACT THE NECESSARY  SOLUTIONS."

        "Be at your side. That's what we can do, but it's obvious you don't want us to. So I won't. I'll let you handle your battles by yourself, since it's what King Klein demands, King Klein will get. I have somewhere to be, I would invite you, but you have the whole state on your ass. Because of the stupid fucking choices you've made, I'll make sure to tell K.C that you love her, since the only place she'll ever see you again is either in a coffin, or through bars. You're a selfish piece of shit Klein. And I can't stand you, it makes me sick to see you still haven't changed, not one bit. You're going to lose everything, and what sucks is you're going to have to blame yourself. You had the chances, you just failed to take them, to make a difference."

       I maintained a straight face, even though his words impaled through my flesh like daggers digging deep within my tissues, and tendons. Paralyzing me of the pain, I held my stance. Pushing me out of the way Dayton snatched the door open, I didn't look towards him."Good bye Dayton."

        "Don't say good bye to me, like you're planning to never see me again you dick. I love you, and I'll see you later, I know it's pointless to say, but be safe Klein, I mean it."

        "I'll see you later Dayton, and I love you too." The door didn't close, I felt my brother's grey eyes linger with worry, and I dropped my head level. "I'm trying to make things right, believe me Dayton." I declared in remorse for my selfishness.

     A voice softened with affectionate sincerity, Dayton responded. "I'll always believe in you Klein. It's never changed, and never will." Hearing his footsteps exit the room I grabbed my things. Ronn, Reeko, MeKe, and Marko, ready and prepared for my orders.

      Dayton waited until I was finished, to leave. Standing at ease like the rest of my team, I felt the unsettled feeling of disappointment. For myself, but this was the only way I could protect them. Wiggling a brow, I looked down, and then back up to their faces. "MeKe, and Marko, you know exactly what we discussed, is it ready?"

        "You already know it." MeKe confirmed with a smile, his hands placed in front of him balled together, I smiled back.

       "Good. MeKe and Marko you do what we talked about earlier. Ronn you stay with Dayton and make sure he's alright, I wish that he'd just cancel this damn thing, and wait it out another time."

       "Because I'm giving back to my community, and they matter to me Klein."

         "It's Dan-,"

"You're dangerous. You're putting yourself in harms way. Practice what you preach satan." Ronn butted in, out of spite, I flashed him a dirty look, while he returned his sass by rolling his eyes, "This isn't up for discussion, go, go go. The rest of you, you have the option of staying loyal, or branching out into the wild like a butterfly. Just as a reminder this situation is going to be temporary, so before you do anything crazy, think about it. Because it will come back, and it will shoot you in the ass, ya got me?"

        "We got you." I stared at the many faces, that would in the near future I'd see again, I had a feeling that the meetings weren't going to end well. But despite this understanding I smiled.

          "Alright get lost." Waiting until the house was completely vacated, Ronn came up to me.

      I got ready for a fight, balling my fists, I squinted at my cousin. "I'm not going to fight you, cut it out Klein. Dayton told me to come talk to you before we left." Ronn gave our surroundings a side glare, he was nervous, but that nervousness was etched with an overpowering fear. Letting down my hands I stood straight, waiting for him to continue.

     "I'm going to assume that whatever you told Reeko, MeKe, and Marko, is going to be passed on to me after everything goes down huh?"

         "I put it all in a letter Ronn. Read it, later tonight when you're in California. Reeko, Meke, and Marko will be there waiting for you. Whatever happens Ronn-," laying a hand on his shoulder I searched for his direct eye contact, but he fought it, by looking around me. "You go meet up with them, I don't give a damn. You make sure everything with Dayton goes by smoothly, you get on that plane, and you go. Do you hear me? I swear to you I'll write you, every chance I get. Just do what I told you, and everything will go to plan accordingly, and I need you to do this. Okay Ronn?"

        Looking lost completely, he finally met his eyes with mine, "Fine."

      Tugging him into a hug he returned the embrace. "Good, I'm going to miss you man, be careful, all of you. I'm gona get going. I'll see you later."

         "Damn right we will." Dayton shot at me, with a smile. I hugged my baby brother once more, holding on a bit more tighter, and a while longer. "Please don't die, alright? I'm not ready for your real funeral."

       "I won't die alright. I might with all your jinxing though."

        "I take it all back, so just don't die. Okay?"

         "Okay. I won't Dayton." I laughed finalizing the now ending conversation. Watching my cousin, and my brother leave, I waited around a bit longer. Pulling out the envelope from my hoodie, I reluctantly placed it on the key holder by the door, and finally leaving I locked up. "Alright now Klein. Let's go get this shit over and done with."

        Taking out a cigarette, I lit the poisonous thing, and inhaled its blackness. The sunlight so damn strong it forced my eyes shut, and slowly poked at them in a amusement to get them to open again, just so they could intake it's blinding beauty.

      I looked at the world around me with much gratitude, because today would be the last day I ever get to see such a wonderful masterpiece of authentic creation. Aesthetically pleasing for my eyes, as it was to my heart and mind, in some way it calmed me, despite me not being worried at all.

       The things that scare those that care about me, never really get to me as much as it gets to them. I guess it was because I couldn't really give two shits about what happened to me. And because of that it frustrated them, but I understood, so that's why I tend not to fight them back, I wanted them to get it all out before they're hit with the reality.

       I hopped the gate from my grams estate, and was on my way. The wind just nagging at me gracefully, I ran, and ran, I knew these streets, I was so used to running from some kind of threat, that it became natural; instead of my mind navigating, it was my body. Swiftly gliding amongst the breeze, and precisely landing on the soles of my sneakers, with a light touch on the pavement. I cut corners, treading mile after mile, my head just spinning and tangling itself in a big thought infested mess.

      Causing me to trip, here and there, as I raced to my fate, willingly, impatiently. I was ready for this story of mine to be finished, it was beginning to become dragged out, long, and pointless. But hey, what can I say? I'm a sucker for that gut wrenching plot twist, and mind blowing ending. The ones that really sink deep into your mind, and your soul, causing you to remain questioning, though the questions stay unanswered.

      I liked to think. To be prepared for almost any outcome for various situations, it's an escape. The best weapon any man could ever wield, is knowledge, that, and of course a gun. But I currently was out of one, as so it is made to seem. Stopping about a few miles away from where Vindango was anxiously awaiting my arrival. I came to a house, slowing down I took a second to catch my breath.

  Rushingly I knocked on the wooden door, "Open up its me." Panting like a dog I swiped the back of my hand over my sweating forehead. I waited.

        "It's open!" Taking it upon myself to go inside, I glared at her.

    "What the hell do you mean it's open?" Rolling her eyes she walked passed me, with an attitude. "Do you know tha--," Cutting me off without a care in the world she continued, walking until she was fully standing in front of me, with her name brand, overly stuffed bags dangling off of her shoulders.

       "It's been more than four hours, more like a week and four days to be exact." Crossing her arms over her chest she pulled the cherry lollipop out of her mouth, giving me a sassy pout.

         "Oh, mm, well it's not like it really matters to you now does it?" Dropping the back pack on the hardwood floor I inched closer to Myranda. She sized me up and down, prepared to lay a couple of slaps, and punches my way. Wrapping a hand around her neck, I kissed her jawbone.

         "How long?" A voice of aggressiveness, yet hidden carefully was a faint voice of worry. I looked her over, she was in her normal; jeans, sneakers, a tight bustier, and her curly red hair slapped in a bun on the top of her head.

    I liked her like that, genuine, un- afraid, daring, and aggressive. Her eyes searched into mine, looking for my sincerity, running a hand on her right cheek, I stared at her artificially colored lavender lips. Dragging her up to my height, I kissed her. Sharp nails dug into my side, as a fierce strong hand pulled me deeper into her. She held onto the moment, fearful as if she were holding onto a cliff, tightly, and mean she kissed me. And as it gradually came to its end she let go reluctantly.

      Why did she love me? She never professed it, but she did, and it always boggled my mind. Because I cared for her, but I didn't love her. And for that simple reason, I ended it. Easing my way out of my mistake I continued the eye contact, innocent and pure of raw emotions Myranda peered into my eyes forcefully. She wasn't the type of female that wore her emotions on her sleeves, but with me she gladly threw them at me like she were pitching a game of softball.

       Repetitively, rough, and unapologetically.

   But I disarmed her, ultimately leaving her vulnerable, and wide open for my emotional abuse. Yet she didn't care about it, because her love for me was so strong. A hopeful mind, paired with a desperate heart always seemed to fail the bearer. As the mind eggs on the heart to continually pursue a being, knowing that the feelings were never there to begin with. Falling in love with me, was like ripping your heart out, setting it in front of a raging lion, and expecting it not to rip it apart gladdened. 

   But she was lover of the pain, I couldn't blame her, sometimes the most excruciating feels like a nice hot shower after a long day. The pain has become a fix, and just like a hookie bent off on drugs, we constantly fiend for that feeling, going mad, stuck in an angry mindset. Just craving, longing for that feeling again, to cause our hearts to freeze, and our tears to piercingly sting, our mind to fool us with its clever trickery.

       Myranda, tugged onto the fabric of the hoodie, pulling me close to her as if she yanked me any closer we'd become one. Caught inside of her beauty, I slammed myself against her body, catching her into a trap of kisses. Unsure of my actions, I questioned myself, but that didn't keep me from continuing.

         The longer I entangled my lips, and my tongue, the more I tried to push myself away. Because I was wrong, for playing with her like this, but was I playing her, or was I just playing me? Maybe I was so stuck on Sasha, at some point and time during my mourning, and the consistent contact with Myranda, I did begin to love her back.

       Fuck that.

            Controlling myself, I backed away. "Definitely not a day." I plainly declared, for a second the sparkle in her eyes dwindled into nothing, like I had sucked every bit of life right out of her. She resembled the old Myranda, the one I met the month after Sasha's death. Nothing more than a lost Cuban girl, forced into selling herself to a drug lord in return of his hospitality.

        She was always high, so high somewhere along the line she lost her entire soul, and that dullness in those irises of hers, was all too familiar. She knew I didn't feel the same, and if I did I wasn't going to admit it, like she wasn't going to either.

       She was on the run just like I was, our shitty pasts were catching up, and quickly, and since it was my fault that she chose to run away from Vindango, I felt responsible. She was going to California with MeKe, Marko, and Ronn. I bought a house there, originally for Sasha and K.C, back when I really was about to turn my life around for good.

        What changed me? Vengeance grief, power, the feeling of guilt, and loneliness consumed me. I had the traits of the younger me, causing me to neglect my priorities, my daughter. I can't fix everything, but as long as I can repair at least a few of those bridges I burned, I'll be able to live with myself.

          In my surprise, I was a bit skeptical of Myrandas safety, there was no way in hell that Vindango didn't spot that she was in Miami. With as much eyes he has scanning the entire city, he was bound to gain some type of insight. And because of this, he kept his distance, the son of a bitch liked to wait for the right moment. Since he's trying to get me out of the picture, right now would be the perfect timing.

          And that was why I made sure that she was packed and ready to go, pulling out the letter I wrote for Ronn, she snatched it still upset and trying to hide it like it was nothing, she squinted up at me, and questioned with a low mumble, her accent just rolling viscously beautiful I listened. "What is it?"

       "A letter." I replied, diving my hands in my pockets, as I stared her over again. She was beautiful, and deserved so much more than me, a life with freedom and happiness.

        I wanted to love her, but it was best for me to let her go. I don't plan to ever see her again after today, so I in took all of her beauty like a blunt, forgetting to exhale afraid of losing the high quickly.

     Peering her green eyes away from the envelope, she motioned to speak but I cut her off giving her, her desired answer. "It's for Ronn, MeKe has the one I wrote for you. And he'll be swinging by to pick you up soon." A car door closing was heard at exactly the ending of my sentence. Looking at my wrist for the time, everything was going accordingly, and seeing that she was going to be okay I picked up my bag, and tossed it over my shoulder.

        Ringing the doorbell obnoxiously, I walked over and slapped the door knob,"Come in you dumbass."

       "Hey! No need for the harsh explicit language Klein! Oh hey Myranda! You ready to go?" Smiling like a maniac, he looked around for something. "Is this all you're bringing? I guess it is true that Cubans pack light. Haha easier for you to run, and swim to get across the boarder."

       "Shut the fuck up, before I shoot you." Myranda promised, because never did she threaten, this I learned the hard way.

      The scar on my stomach, a thick nasty gash from a curved knife she attempted to gut me with, after she found out I was fucking with other bitches. I egged her on, and after the first time she warned me, she whipped the damn thing out, like a cat and it's claws.

      Raising a brow I looked at MeKe, and back to Myranda. Taking a step back, I removed myself out of her aim. "MeKe leave it alone, alright?" I instructed cautiously, but with a mocking laugh, the got damn idiot continued to bark up Myranda's tree.

       "Myranda I'm just saying you got the stereotype, but hey don't get upset, all races have them. I'm Greek I have a bi-," It happned violently, and quickly, cocking the gun, I barely noticed, until the sound ran through me as if I were being possessed.

   She missed, but it was on purpose. "MeKe get her the hell out of here dammit, and give me that!" Holding my left ear, and reaching for the gun, Myranda sloppily tossed it, strutting out of the house like it was nothing. MeKe, stood eyes wide and surprised. Laughing slightly, I emptied the gun, and handed the rack to MeKe."Keep this, and any sharp object away from Myranda, she's murderous. And keep your fucking comments to yourself alright? I don't need any of you getting hurt, I fear for you more than I fear for Myranda. She can take all of you out, trust me it's true. Be careful, and take care of her alright, I care about her."

      MeKe nodded, pulling me into a brotherly hug he smiled, "My good friend I knew by the way your green eyes gleam at the sight, and sound of her. I shall take care of her as I care for Reeko. With much gentleness and courage, fear nothing, and you take care of yourself. You are more worthy of any of me and my brother's kindness, just know. Good bye Klein."

   Grabbing a leftover bag of Myranda's, MeKe flashed a farewell smile, and left. Smiling in sadness, I ran to the back yard, the hole I told Myranda to dig all ready, I dropped my things in it, and began to cover it up neatly. Finished I was back on track, running only a few more miles I reached the destination.

      My fists more heavier than my heart, I was prepared for the best, and for the worst. Catching my eye like gold in the sunlight, Vindango blinded me of his presence, grimacing in my disgust of his being here, I stared death upon him.

          "Ah, there you are Klein, I've been looking all over for you. Are you ready to get down to business?"