The Demise by Ashley & JaQuavis Page A

thrived on power, on money, on prestige. What he wouldn’t give to be a regular Joe at that moment. Regular Joes didn’t usually bury their kids. They lived a comfortable, routine day-to-day life without even realizing how lucky they were. Carter’s kingpin lifestyle had brought him riches, but the things he had lost in that pursuit were priceless. This was a blow he would never recover from. The sound of an approaching vehicle caused everyone to turn their heads in its direction. It was a private service. No one knew they were there. Not even Leena’s parents had accepted their invitation to attend. They had written her off long ago, when she had chosen that lifestyle.
    â€œFuck is she doing here?” Monroe asked as he saw Miamor roll down the passenger window.
    â€œMoney,” Breeze whispered. “Please. Not today.”
    *   *   *
    Miamor wasn’t ready for this. “I can’t breathe,” she whispered as her chest tightened. She sat in the passenger seat of Fly Boogie’s F-150 as she watched the small ceremony take place in the middle of the cemetery. It was intimate, only family attended, but still she felt unwelcome. She was on the outside looking in. Her guilt had ostracized her. “You can go, Fly,” she whispered as she reached for the door handle.
    â€œI ain’t going anywhere. I’ll be right here,” he replied as he watched her exit the vehicle.
    She walked across the grass, closing the distance between her and the people she had once called family. She halted a few yards away. Pictures of the children had been enlarged and framed. Leena’s casket was the only one present. Tears accumulated in Miamor’s eyes. Breeze was the first one to react. She watched as Breeze knelt down to whisper in Carter’s ear. He looked up at her and when their eyes met, she knew … it was true. Their prince was gone. Monroe could no longer contain his anger as he stormed over to her.
    â€œGive me one reason why I shouldn’t put a bullet between your eyes,” Monroe said as he snatched Miamor by her neck, flinging her against an oak tree as if she were weightless.
    She wasn’t afraid to die. She didn’t even flinch as she stared at Monroe. “Shoot me, Money. Just do it,” she whispered to him. She was broken. Nothing he could do to her could be worse than what she already felt.
    â€œMoney!” Carter barked, but there wasn’t much he could do. He sat confined by the wheelchair. He would never move the same way again, let alone run to her rescue. “Monroe!” he called.
    Zyir walked up behind Monroe. “This won’t solve anything, bro,” he said.
    â€œThat’s my life in that box over there!” Monroe shouted as he pressed his gun point-blank against Miamor’s head. “My wife! And now my son is dead because of you.… He was a little boy and he was taken from me because of you.” She could practically see fire dancing in his eyes, he was so heated. She didn’t blame him and she would deserve her fate if he chose to pull the trigger. She would have if she were the one holding the gun.
    â€œShe knows, Money,” Zyir stated, his tone mellow. The last thing he wanted to do was incite Monroe. “We all know. We don’t need more bloodshed. We all feel this hurt.”
    Monroe pulled back the hammer of his gun and gripped the trigger. He wanted so bad to end her. Staring into her eyes, he saw nothing. It was as if she were gone.
    Mentally she had been depleted; emotionally she was damaged for life. It was as if she were already dead. Guilt had pushed her to the point of no return. Someone had to be held accountable for this. The lives of their babies had been taken. Her dear friend Leena had been taken. She deserved to die at the hands of Monroe. She silently wished that he would just pull the trigger, because death would be easier than carrying the grief of