“That’s right. We’ve been sittin’ on our asses waitin’ for shit to get better. That shit ain’t happening. We got to go out and take ours,” Travis said.

“So, I say again,” Ronnie questioned, “what you got in mind, Tee? You talkin’ about us rollin’?”

“Hell no! You know everybody and his pops tryin’ to sling rocks.”

“Then what you talkin about?” Jackie asked.

“Let’s get outta here,” Travis said as he stood up. Jackie and Ronnie got up and followed Travis toward the door.

“Yo, Tee, there go your boy Freeze,” Ronnie said.

“Where?”

“Over there, at that table in the corner.”

“I need to holla at him real quick. I’ll meet y’all outside.” Travis stepped toward Freeze. “What’s up, Freeze?”

“What’s up, Travis?”

Freeze had been a captain in Mike Black’s organization for years. But with Black gone to the Bahamas and Bobby Ray being semi-retired, Freeze ran the day-to-day operations. He had known Freeze since junior high school, when Travis used to do Freeze’s homework for him. Freeze liked Travis and respected him for what he had accomplished.

“I need to holla at you for a second.”

“Have a seat,” Freeze instructed. Travis sat down. “So, what’s up?”

“I need to get some guns.”

Freeze stared at him. He was little disappointed to know that Travis didn’t make it legit. But at the same time, Freeze saw a valuable opportunity in having somebody like Travis on the team. “What you lookin’ for and how many?”

“Six. Nine millers.”

“I can do that,” Freeze said. “Clean, no serial number.”

“How much?

“What you need them for?”

“How much?” Travis laughed and asked again.

“Look, Travis, I can get you the guns you need, any kind you need and as many as you want. That’s not a problem. I know you got your people waitin’ for you, but answer my question and then listen to what I got to say.”