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the trigger, unloading a booming round in the direction of the security guard.

      Low pulled the revolver from his waistband, and fired at another security guard getting off the elevator. Shards of glass were flying everywhere. Pellets and glass fragments got in the guard’s face, blinding his vision as he tried to run. He dropped his handgun, collapsing to the lobby’s floor, screaming in horror.

      “Freeze!” Another security guard shouted.

      He came around the corner running full speed from an emergency exit. His Beretta was clutched tightly, and aimed in Rob’s direction. Low rose from the passenger seat of the drop-top, letting off three shots from his.44. The first two shots missed, but the third bullet dropped the guard.

      Rob cocked his pump-action shotgun again, and took a few steps toward the screaming guard. He aimed with deadly thoughts. One more shot, and this fucker was silenced for good. The sound of sirens in the distance was closing in fast. Turning quickly, Rob made a dash for Lonnie’s car.

      “We gotta get the fuck up outta here!” Low exclaimed.

      Rob jumped into the driver’s seat, and quickly started the car. Tires screeching, Rob shifted into reverse, and burned rubber coming out the parking space.

      “Watch out!” Low shouted.

      Low’s sudden warning caused Rob to make a desperate attempt to turn the cars steering wheel away from Lonnie Dawson’s body, but it was directly in their driving path, and he couldn’t avoid the inevitable. The car sped over Lonnie’s legs, snapping both her shinbones in half, and crushing every bone from her knees down.

      Rob quickly zoomed out the condo’s basement parking lot, floored the gas pedal, and made a getaway.

      CHAPTER

      3

      LELA

      4:40 a.m.

      The late night sky over the city of Miami was fading. Rob was burning tires on I-95, speeding toward the city of Fort Lauderdale. In the past hour and a half, Low lost so much blood he was beginning to fall in and out of consciousness. His blood pressure was flowing at a dangerously low level. His words were slurred, and barely audible as he tried to communicate with Rob.

      “I’m going Rob. I don’t think I’m a make, man,” Low muttered.

      His head rested against the car’s side door panel while his eyes were shut. Occasionally, moans escaped Low’s parched lips. Glancing at his injured crime partner, Rob inhaled deeply, and let out a frustrated sigh. He returned his focus back on the road.

      “Just hold on my nigga. We almost at Lela’s,” Rob urged.

      Only ten exits away from his destination, Rob wanted Low to hang on just a little longer. A public hospital wasn’t an option, and would only lead to a jail sentence. Rob’s thoughts were going fast while he sped up I-95 toward his old neighborhood. His young partner’s life was on the line, and there was only one person Rob knew could help him.

      Downshifting speed, Rob exited the highway. Entering the city limits of Fort Lauderdale, he approached a turning red light, and prepared to take a right turn toward the beaches. Rob pushed a button on the car’s electronic dash console retracting the roof, and made sure all the cars windows were shut. He made a right turn on Sunrise Boulevard continuing to the beaches. Rob finally arrived at Lela’s veterinarian clinic.

      The building was located on two and a half acres of privately owned land in the exclusive community of Sunrise Shores. Directly behind the animal hospital sat a five thousand square foot, seven and a half bedroom Creole-styled luxury penthouse. This was where Lela Shabazz, owner and head veterinarian of the animal hospital, and her daughter, Asani Lovely Shabazz resided.

      Rob gazed in contempt at the multimillion-dollar home. It was a long two years now since Rob pulled out of this long, stone-floored driveway. He left the privileged lifestyle, and home of the only family that ever really cared about him, returning to the ghetto streets of Dade-County, Miami. Eventually, Rob reunited with his childhood best friend, Milow. Together they returned to fast-living and committing crimes. Maybe Rob should’ve forgiven Lovely, and continued his privileged life of attending the best private schools in South Florida. Lovely attended the best schools. Rob would’ve also. He even received an acceptance letter into a prestigious college, leading to a sure shot at the good life. Lovely’s action was just too much to forgive.

      The decision to leave Fort Lauderdale, and move back home with his Aunt in Miami was a sudden change. He knew he was leaving a promising future behind, but he left with his pride, and dignity. That was more important to Rob than being a fool. Pushing all thoughts aside of what could have been, Rob came to a screeching halt in front of the massive penthouse. He hurriedly exited the car, raced around to the passenger side, and pulled out the bleeding unconscious Low.

      He carried the body up a stairwell. The alarm went off while he frantically rang the doorbell. Holding onto Low’s body Rob felt tears welling in his eyes. Low wasn’t breathing, and with every critical moment that passed, Low’s life was slipping away.

      Opening the front door, Lovely peered out onto her porch. She was immediately shocked with disbelief. Lovely jumped back.

      “Oh my God!” Lovely exclaimed when she locked eyes with Rob.

      She stared at him as if she was looking at a ghost. Since he left Lovely was totally unaware of Rob’s whereabouts.

      “Love, I need help,” Rob said with tears in his eyes.

      Hearing the commotion from the master bedroom, Lela made her way to the top of the stairwell that led directly to the front entrance. She saw Rob clutching Low’s bloodied body, and immediately rushed downstairs to assist.

      “Oh my God! Lovely, please get my surgical kit, dear,” Lela exclaimed, making her way over to Rob, and helping him carry Low’s body inside. Then she continued. “How long ago did this happen?”

      Dropping to her knees next to Low, Lela immediately began undressing his bloody body.

      “I’ve got to pinpoint his wounds. Rob, how long ago did this happen?” Lela asked.

      “Um… Ah… About an hour or so…” Rob said in a solemn tone.

      Lovely hurriedly retuned with the surgical kit. She handed the large clear box to her mother. Her wide eyes were filled with shock, Lovely just stood looking on. She appeared intrigued by the sight of Low’s bloodstained body. She probably had never seen so much blood in her life. The amount of blood coming from his wound made it seem that Low wasn’t going to make it.

      “I don’t understand you young brothers these days,” Lela said with disdain.

      She was just about finished cutting the rest of Low’s clothing from his body. After pinpointing Low’s single bullet wound, Lela realized that the slug went straight through. She immediately started looking for an exit wound. Blood was simultaneously leaking from two wounds. Once she found the exit wound, Lela applied pressure with a piece of large gauze. Lela securely taped around the bandage, she began to stitch up the front end of Lows’ bullet wound.

      “Young brothers just falling right into the white man’s trap,” Lela said with a frown. Then she glanced in Rob’s direction, and continued. “Well at least you’re breathing young brother. Cause unfortunately, this young soldier might not make it.”

        

      Back to life, back to reality, back to life, back to reality,

      Back to life, back to reality, back to the here and now yeah...

      Show me how…decide what you want from me,

      Tell me maybe I could be there for you.

      However do you want me…however do you

      need me.

      How however do you want me…however do you need me…

      The music of Soul II Soul played through the AMI Rowe model 1100 jukebox speakers

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