Love/Fate by Tracy Brown Page A

a conversation in a relaxed atmosphere, Born was in fact watching the arrival of his enemy. Looking in the mirror he could see Jamari and Wizz approaching the shop as they climbed out of Jamari’s car.
    Born sighed, wondering if it was coincidence, or if it was just his own rotten luck that he kept running into this dude. He answered the question that had been posed to him, as Jamari and Wizz entered the barbershop. He wasn’t facing the doorway, and Slim’s chair was in the back. But still, Born’s presence was obvious. “Sometimes beef starts out because niggas wanna test you,” Born explained. “And then niggas do or say something that crosses the line. Once that happens, you got a problem, because a man has to always defend his honor. Unless he’s a coward, and he has no honor. But a real man is gonna step up and call a nigga out. And when that happens, you got beef.”
    Jamari and Wizz listened, still thinking that Born didn’t know they were there. “Wassup, everybody?” Jamari said, expecting Born to look up in surprise at the sound of his voice. But Born didn’t move, nor did he respond, as the other patrons greeted Jamari and Wizz.
    The guy in the red shirt, who was getting his hair cut by Kevin, spoke once again on the topic of the rap war. “Niggas is dying, you know what I’m sayin’? Once bodies start droppin’, I think it qualifies as beef.”
    Jamari nodded in agreement, although he was coming in on the tail end of the conversation. He sat in one of the folding chairs, and said, “Beef ain’t always bodies droppin’ and bullets flyin’. Some beef simmers slowly.” His tone was suggestive, and Born met his gaze in the mirror’s reflection. Born knew there was a hidden message in what Jamari had said. Jamari grinned at Born. “Yo, what up, my nigga. I ain’t even see you sitting there,” Jamari lied. “How’s everything, man?”
    Born ignored the greeting and the question and stared at Jamari through the mirror. By now, all conversation had ceased, and this exchange was the focus of everyone present. Only the music drifting from the stereo’s speakers filled the void of silence.
    But Jamari was determined to spark a conversation with his old friend. “Yo, did you ever make back that money you lost with Chuck?” Jamari was grinning, antagonistically. He had heard about how Born had beaten Chuck within an inch of his life when Jada had been the one stealing from him all along. “You know he’s working with me and Wizz, now?”
    Born didn’t flinch. He stared back into Jamari’s cold eyes, as Slim removed the cape from Born’s neck. “Nah, I didn’t know that,” he replied. Born wanted to kill Jamari at that very moment, but there were too many witnesses present. “He’s working for you and Wizz now. What’s that supposed to be, like a step up or somethin’? You and Wizz ain’t gettin’ no money. It’s like I always told my nigga Chuck, if you hang around with nine broke niggas, you’re bound to be the tenth one. He’ll see what I meant.”
    Jamari stared at Born like he wanted to say something. But he uttered not a word. Wizz stood up, and glared at Born. “Yo, what the fuck is on your mind, Born? You walk around here like you’re Superman, or some shit. You ain’t no fuckin’ body! You can bleed just like everybody else.”
    Slim stepped between the men, as Born stood up. “Don’t bring this bullshit in my shop, Wizz. Word is bond.”
    Born turned to leave, grabbing his hoodie on the way out. “Nah, don’t worry about it, Slim. I’m leaving.” He looked at Jamari and Wizz, and smiled. “Y’all niggas can’t handle the truth.” He had his ratchet with him, and he felt the steel press against his rib cage. He smiled at them provocatively, hoping that