Chapter 1

December 20th, 2020

6 Years Later ...

Riley...

Man it's been a long six years. Things have changed since we been off the streets. If y'all remember we was charged with possession and selling of cocaine. I remember the night. I was just arriving at Caeser's when the police ambushed me. The cops already knew about the killing of Lamilton. They just wanted to know where the cocaine was and they would drop the murder charge,altogether.

While we were gone, Carlos Venzuela's name had become something legendary. He had become even richer and even more powerful. It would be even harder to touch him now.

As for Lamilton, it didn't end too good for him either. Probably because he suffered a gun shot to the back of the head, Hiro's doing. When Lamilton died, Dark Side split. The west side was known as Black Gate. The east was known as Guttaville. We were from the east so technically we were Guttaville OGs.

"It's your lucky day!" The guard exclaimed, opening my cell. "After six long years, you get to see the world again." I sat up on the bed. I was more excited than a kid on Christmas. As I left, I gave my cell mate one last pound. His name was Mike. I told him to keep his head up, he only had a month left.

My journey was a long one, indeed. Since I was 16, I spent two years in the juvenile detention. So, in a way my is years were a bit easier. Caeser and Hiro had been sent straight to prison since they were 18 when charged. During my time in the juvenile center, I had been in many fights. Dark Side v. The Low End was very prominent in the juvenile center.

When I got to the prison I cut my long dreads off. I adopted the 360 waves look. Caeser and Hiro kept their hairstyles. Hiro's arms were covered with tattoos. Caeser had become even more unstable than ever. He was more likely to fly off the handle and pull the trigger. He now had longer dreads and dark eyes to match his current state.

Woodcrest was still the same city when we left. Many teenagers much like us, were robbing and killing like no tomorrow. We were Dark Side legends, so we expected to have respect when we got back out. But, I was ready to settle down with the right one. And after six years without any female touching me, I was excited to be released. Granddad had died three years back, so I didn't know what I had left in the world. What I did know, is that Carlos is still after us. I'm not surprised he still holds this grudge.

I was escorted to the front of the prison where we were given all our belongings back. Standing in the lobby of the prison was Huey, Caeser, and Hiro. As I walked to the front they grinned at me. "Free at last, free at last, thank god we're free at last" Hiro smirked.

We shook hands with some of the guards, and exited out the front. Huey had went a bought an all white Rolls Royce. The car was breathtaking. When we were younger all we cared about was clothes and shoes. I never thought I would ride in a car like this.

"Daamn you doing it big like this huh?" Caeser asked. "Just a lil something" Huey replied, getting in the front. Hiro and I sat in the back seat. "Damn still got the new car smell, and this white interior is fire!" I shouted. The white was polished and bright.

The back seat had gold plated everything. The back of the two front seats were covered in wood-grain. It had a tv right above our heads, splitting the two front seats. The interior was brilliantly designed.

There was a duffel bag on the back seat floor. "Open it" Huey said, starting the car. I unzipped it and I was shocked. It was full of money. "Man how much is this?" Hiro asked, grabbing some. "Five hundred thousand" Huey replied, pulling out of the prison lot.

"What it's for?" Caeser asked, raising an eyebrow. "Look at y'all niggas, y'all need clothes ASAP" Huey stated. I looked down at my shirt. It read: Woodcrest Correctional Center. Huey was right.

Caeser rubbed his hands. "I heard the new mall got a nigga that work in a gun store that let niggas purchases without a permit" He said. Huey eyes him suspiciously. "Nigga what? You just spent six years in prison and you wanna-" I grabbed Huey's shoulder.

Caeser stared out the window. His eyes were dark. Huey stopped and looked straight. He had forgotten what happened six years ago on that terrifying night.

It was a night of mixed emotions. I had almost lost my life. I had sex with the girl of my dreams, and just when I thought things were going good, it all came crashing down.

-FLASHBACK-

I parked Caeser's car in his driveway. I saw him enter his house from down the street. Just as I exited the car, I was ambushed by police. They pulled on the block four cars deep.

One tackled me to the ground and cuffed me. "Remain silent!" He yelled in my ear. "Man what the fuck I do!?" I asked through gritted teeth. "You've been selling cocaine to an informant" He declared. "Nigga what?" I shouted. He slammed my head into the grass. "You heard me" He snarled.

My head started spinning. How? Who? He picked me up and threw me into the back seat with Hiro. Hiro looked me in my eye. "Damn man, we about to do some time" He whispered. His words echoed through my head. He was right. "Who could be the informant?" I said. "It could be anybody we know" Hiro replied.

Just as the police entered the house we heard Caeser.

"MA!" He shouted.

It startled the both of us. "What the fuck?" Hiro whispered, looking out the window. Caeser came out the house cuffed, tears running down his face. It broke my heart to see him like this.

The ambulance arrived shortly. Caeser sat in the back with us, silent. He had a dark look on his face. "Caeser" I whispered. He didn't move. Complete silence.

What we saw next was disturbing. The paramedics carried his mom's headless body. I was in shock. It had to be Carlos. He was going to get his, if it's the last thing we do ...

-END-

It still hurts to think about that night. It was six years of life we were never going to get back. But one thing that bothered me the most... What happened to Cindy?

Hiro...

We arrived at the new Woodcrest Mall. It was ten times bigger than it was before.
I was in heaven, the mall was fantastic. Girls, girls everywhere. Not to mention Christmas was five days away, so the mall was packed. It was also beautifully decorated.

We entered the mall and were looking to spend, spend, and spend more. We strolled around the mall. Many people looked on in respect. Our names had become somewhat legendary around Woodcrest. Kids were standing in line waiting to talk to Santa.

People saw us as cold blooded. We were the ones to erase Lamilton from the face of the earth. Something that people thought was improbable.

I looked around the corridor. The Versace store was still in tact. I had $100,000 in my pocket and I was ready to spend.

I entered the store and I was surprised to see they expanded the whole store. It had merchandise everywhere. And I was going to buy it all.

After spending forty racks I was ready to hit another store. I stopped in my tracks when I heard someone in the store yell: "It's the owner, she's here!"

I turned and saw a light skinned young woman with long black curls. She looked about my age, with blue eyes. Damn, she owned the store... Wait. I know those blue eyes anywhere. It was her.

"Sasha" I said, walking up. She turned and her eyes lit up. "HIRO" She exclaimed, hugging me. "The six years are finally over, huh?" She said.

"Yeah, it's been a long time" I stated. "You know, I really missed you"

She looked away. I grabbed her by her waist. "Hiro, stop." She demanded. I backed up in confusion. "Why? It isn't like six years ago we weren't like this." I implied.

She sighed. "Hiro I have a boyfriend, my dad wants me to marry him." She said. My heart almost broke in two. The only word I could utter was, "Damn"

"Hiro you'll always have a place in my heart, you took my virginity. I just want to be friends." She whispered. My head dropped. "Alright" I mumbled, and she gave me a hug.

"Thank you for understanding, now I gotta run. See you around." She shouted, walking off.

Damn that six year sentence really threw our chemistry off. I slapped my forehead and walked down the corridor.

Caeser...

"Yo, CEEZ!" Hiro shouted. I turned and he ran up to me. He stopped and looked at the store sign. "Ahh, you fucking with Giuseppe's now, huh?" He asked.

I nodded and showed him the bag. I had bought about five pairs. Plus I had the jewelry to match. "Man y'all ready?" Riley asked, walking up. Hiro nodded and we met up with Huey at the front. "Let's get to my house before the snow storm" Huey stated. We followed him out and were on the road.

Huey had somehow got lost in his thoughts and missed the exit off the highway. It took us about 20 minutes before we arrived at his house.

He lived in a four bedroom, five bathroom town house. He unlocked the door and we were in. The first thing you noticed when you walked in was his big spiral staircase. "Jazmine!" Huey shouted.

She looked over the tall bannister and shrieked. "OH MY GOD!" She shouted, rubbing down the steps. She gave all three of us hugs. "Riley you've grown into a man" She said. Riley held his chin up in triumph.

I ignored all the lovey-dovey stuff and went straight to the bathroom. "Umm I need to rest a little" Hiro mumbled, hopping on the very comfortable couch.

I took a nap for about two hours then I got up. I needed to go out and get a drink. I got dressed in about thirty minutes. I looked down at my rolex. 8:55.

I entered the living room. Huey was sitting on the sofa watching a horror movie. "Yo Huey let me use the car for a minute" I said. He nodded and threw me the keys.

I drove through the snow and I was at the closest bar. I entered and went straight to the counter. "A shot of Patron" I mumbled. The bar tender nodded and grabbed the bottle.

I looked down the long counter and spotted a female police officer. I scooted down next to her. "What's a fine ass woman like you doing buying their own drinks?" I asked. "Wait you shouldn't be drinking at all" I smirked.

She looked me in my eye. "I'm not on shift, asshole" She spat. "Woah, I'm sorry, Ming" I said, reading her tag. "Let me just buy you a drink"

She shook her head and brushed her hair over her ear. Her long black hair was in a pony tail. Damn she was beautiful. We sat silent for a moment. "Well can I get that number?" I asked.

She stared at me and remained silent. Damn, she wasn't cracking. I knew exactly what to do. I grabbed her chin and pulled her face close to mine.

"You're playing hard to get. I like that" I whispered. And I got my result. Her face turned bright crimson as she snatched away from me. "Umm I gotta go" She stuttered, getting up.

"See you around" I said, smirking. But I couldn't take my eyes off her ass. I was going to have some fun with her.

I decided to leave about ten minutes later. As I was walking to the car, a teenager in a black hoodie popped out of the alley way, gun to my face. "I'll be taking that watch, earrings, and that chain" He shouted.

He had the barrel of the gun to my face. But, I no longer feared death. I welcomed it. "Oh yeah?" I smirked. He grew infuriated. His frown turned into a wicked smile and he put the gun closet to my face. I grabbed the nose and he stumbled. He tried yanking it out, but I had a strong grip.

After a hard left hook, I yanked it out his hand and he took off running. He zig zagged and down the street. I locked on to the back of his head and...

Click!

I looked down in awe. The gun wasn't even loaded. These lil niggas these days. I can't believe he had the audacity to try and rob me. Some people just don't learn.