Prologue

started his robbing career at the age of nineteen. He had held up seventeen convenient stores but had been convicted of only two of them. He’d served a mandatory eight years before being released at the age of twenty-six. After getting out of prison, he decided that convenient stores wasn’t the way to go. Drug dealers were. They were easy prey, and they weren’t likely to go to the police for fear of being exposed.

J-Black was a small guy. He was about five nine in height and chiseled from his penitentiary stay. He had a long scar on his neck from a stabbing that had happened in the pen during a fight.

He and Twin met at Burger King to discuss the plans for a robbery over Whoppers and fries. “So who the fuck is this nigga?” J-Black asked.

“Fatboy, and he live on the lake.”
“What lake?”
“Norman ... Lake Norman.”
“So the nigga got serious paper, huh?” J-Black said as he put

“Yeah, the nigga got it like that. I mean, he’s getting bricks. You know what I mean?”
J-Black squinted his eyes. “So what the fuck do you want out of the deal?”
“I just want you to split everything with me for putting you up on the lick.”
J-Black looked at Twin’s Rolex—white gold with a diamond bezel. “Don’t look like you doing too bad yourself.”
“I’m doing okay.”
“Can I see that watch?”
Twin thought about it for a moment.
“Nigga, why you hesitating? Let me see the watch.”
“I’m not hesitating; I’m just thinking.” Twin sipped his drink then took a bite of his Whopper. Then he took the watch off and passed it to J-Black.
“This is a real nice watch. Let me wear it; I’ll give it back in a couple of weeks.”
“No. Give me my watch back.” Twin said as he reached for the watch.
But J-Black had put the watch on his wrist. “Nigga, you gonna trip about a petty- ass watch and I’m about to get this nigga for bricks.”
“Naw, I ain’t tripping. Just make sure I get half.”
“Okay, the nigga lives on the lake. Where?”
“The Peninsula.”
“The Peninsula? How the fuck did he get his ass up there and those crackers ain’t called the police on his dope-dealing ass yet?”
Twin shrugged. “I don’t know, but the best way to get him is to follow him home.”
“From where?”
“My house. I’m supposed to meet him in the morning. When he’s on his way, I’ll let you know.”
J-Black finished his Whopper in two bites. He left wearing Twin’s watch.