Family Over Everything by Paige Green

four men, dressed in expensive designer suits, walked down the street, commanding attention. Arriving on Looney’s porch, Loyal quickly knocked on the door.
    â€œWho is it?” Looney asked as he walked toward the door.
    They remained quiet as they waited for Looney to answer the door.
    Peering into the peephole, Looney almost urinated on himself when he saw Jewels and his crew.
    What the fuck they want? he thought. Turning to Joker, he said, “Yo, it’s Jewels and his little posse!”
    â€œJewels? Fuck that nigga want?” Joker asked as he started to tremble.
    â€œI don’t fucking know! Get your shit together!”
    About a minute later, Looney nervously opened the door and flashed a fake smile. Jewels walked into Looney’s apartment with the other three quickly following behind him.
    â€œWhat’s up, Jewels? What can I help you with, player?” Looney asked, closing the front door.
    Jewels glanced around Looney’s place in disgust. The smell of marijuana, sex, and rotten food assaulted their noses as they walked into the kitchen and took a seat with Looney and Joker following after them. Placing his hands onto the table and folding them, Jewels instructed Looney to take a seat across from them.
    â€œNow, Looney, I’m going to ask you a few questions. I onlywant honest answers and there won’t be any problems, understand?”
    Nodding, Looney shifted in his seat as Jewels stared a hole through him.
    â€œYou heard about me being robbed and a few of my workers getting killed, right?” Jewels asked, staring Looney directly in his eyes.
    â€œYeah, I heard.”
    â€œWell, one of my workers found this gun in my stash house,” he said before glancing at Loyal.
    Loyal reached into his pocket and pulled out a glove. Putting it on, he reached into the briefcase and pulled out the gold-plated .9mm with the “L” carved into the handle.
    Looney’s hands began to shake as sweat trickled down his forehead. “I can explain!”
    â€œWell, get to fucking explaining!” Wise said impatiently.
    Looney understood that he would lose a lot of respect in the hood for snitching, but his life depended on it. The gun was clearly one that he’d sold because he carved “L” into all of them.
    â€œOh shit, that’s the gun I sold to young, crazy-ass Day’onne and his friend, Menace!” he yelled, his eyes growing as big as golf balls.
    â€œDay’onne? Who’s that?” Loyal asked.
    Jewels knew exactly who young Day’onne was. In fact, he’d known Day’onne since he was in diapers.
    â€œAre you lying to me?” Jewels asked calmly yet coldly.
    â€œNo, I remember him and his friend came in here like a week ago. Remember, Joker?” Looney asked, glancing at Joker.
    â€œYeah, I remember that shit. I was high as hell and young blood looked like he was about to kill me after I threw a couple jokes at him.” Joker laughed.
    Taking a second to soak up all the information he’d learned, Jewels finally nodded his head as he scratched his chin.
    â€œAlright, I believe you for now. I’m going to look into this. But best believe if you lying, I’m coming back for you. And believe me, you don’t want that to happen,” he calmly said before standing to his feet.
    He walked out of Looney’s place, trying to gather his thoughts. Getting back into his Escalade, with Respect, he remained quiet the remainder of the ride back to the club.
    â€œAre you going to tell us who this young dude is?” Respect asked as they walked back into Jewels’ office.
    Reaching into a nearby cabinet and removing a bottle of Vodka from it, he quietly poured himself a small shot. He took a seat in his chair, with his shot glass still in his hand, and finally asked, “Remember Relisha that used to dance here back in the day?”
    Squinting his eyes and tapping his hands against his temple, Respect