Page 57 of Gang of Roses: Rebel

“Because you know Rain, nigga. You know how she is when it comes to Rose.”

“That don’t give her the right to shoot up my car.”

“I ain’t say it did.”

“Then what are you saying?”

Crow crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m saying you had to know this wasn’t gonna end well. Out of all the women in the city, you chose one of Rose’s closest friends. You really thought Rebel was gonna smile and be happy about that shit?”

Nico’s jaw tightened. “Rebel don’t control who I date.”

“No, she don’t. But you know damn well that woman has been carrying Rose’s death on her back for years. Half the time she still acts like Rose gone walk through a door and cuss everybody out.”

“That ain’t my problem.”

“The hell it ain’t. The moment you started messing with Julie, you made it everybody’s problem.”

Nico threw his hands up in frustration. “So what? I’m supposed to be alone forever because Rebel can’t move on?”

I stared at him for a long moment before answering.

“No. But you should’ve expected a reaction. Maybe not this crazy-ass reaction, but a reaction nonetheless.”

“Naw, she gonna pay. I promise you that.”

“No, she ain’t.”

Nico’s eyes narrowed. “Who gonna stop me?”

“Me, nigga.”

He stared at me for a second before letting out a harsh laugh. “You serious right now? You telling me you coming at me over this dyke?”

“Nah. I’m telling you I ain’t about to let you turn my shop into a damn battlefield because you’re emotional.”

“Emotional?” he snapped. “That bitch shot at my car.”

“And your ass still standing here talking to me, ain’t you?”

“The fuck that’s supposed to mean?”

“It means what Rebel did was stupid as hell, but you running around talking about payback ain’t gonna solve shit. And besides, if she wanted you dead, we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now.”

Nico shook his head. “You always got a soft spot for her.”

That statement irritated the hell out of me.

“This ain’t got shit to do with a soft spot.”

“Looks like it from where I’m standing.”

“No, what it looks like is you trying to drag everybody into some bullshit because your feelings hurt.”

“My feelings hurt?” he barked.

“Yeah, nigga. Your feelings hurt.”

“You see all this shit outside? The police, the questions, my customers getting scared off? I’m already dealing with enough. The last thing I’m gonna do is let you go after Rebel and bring even more heat to my doorstep.”