Free RedBone 2 by T. Styles

consideration,” Killa responded, ignoring Audio. “It just seems funny that can’t nobody catch this Eleanor bitch.”
    “Well, get out there with me and help her,” Slade said. “Instead all you want to do is play video games”—he looked at Killa—“while this nigga too busy surfing the Internet for his credit score.” He paused. “Farah not in charge of this bitch, and he’s not her brother. We are.”
    “Man, how much longer are you gonna take up for that slut? She’s a fucking snake.” Killa laughed in his face. “And as far as her not knowing about Knox, leave me alone in a room with her. I’ll have her singing like a baby.”
    Audio saw a brown rock-like thing fly past Killa’s face and land on his nose. Slade’s blow was accurate and blood splattered everywhere . . . on the white sheets, floor, and even walls. He was about to go for another punch, until Della covered his hand with hers. “You got that one over on your brother, but you won’t have another.”
    Slade dropped his hand and placed his hands over his face. He finally realized what just happened. Farah got into his mind and twisted things around. In the end, he chose her over his brothers, and it wouldn’t happen again. “I’m sorry about that shit, man. I really am.”
    Killa held his bloody mouth. “Whatever, nigga.”
    “This is breaking my heart,” Della interrupted. “My boys are fighting each other, while my youngest son is in the hospital bed.” She looked at all of them. “Have we forgotten that just three weeks ago, he was fighting for his life?”
    Audio’s eyebrows rose. “I been here for three weeks?”
    “Yes, son. And you almost ain’t make it, but with God’s blessing, you have a doctor who gives a fuck,” Della told him honestly. “It’s about family now, and I don’t need y’all fighting. I got one son back, and I’m still working on the other. Now we gonna find out where Knox is, and I think the way we do that is by taking over Platinum Lofts and staying in Washington, DC.” She focused on her oldest son. “Slade, whether you like it or not, Judge and Grant are en route and they bringing a lot of your cousins with them, too. I suggest you stay out of their way and let ’em do their work.”
    “We all can’t stay at Markee’s,” Major said.
    “I spoke to Vivian, the property manager at Platinum Lofts,” Della continued. “We were able to rent a few apartments for a good price on a temporary basis. I guess because with all the missing people lately, folks are breaking their leases. I want us stationed at that building, and I want everybody to keep an eye on Farah Cotton at all times. Now ,I know you love the girl, and I’m not trying to get in the way of that. I just want you to understand that if she knows something she isn’t telling us, we intend on finding out. When I first came in town, she had something in her hands when I walked into the hallway. Something she was trying to hide from me. I want to find out what that thing was.”
    There were so many emotions floating around that Audio felt selfish for wanting to ask his next question. But if he didn’t, he would worry. “So, what happened to Chloe?” He looked at his mother. “Is she okay?”
    The expressions on their faces changed immediately. Truthfully she was hoping that he didn’t care about the girl so much. Now she could tell by looking into his eyes that she was wrong. Yet another Cotton woman had gotten her hands on one of her sons. “Chloe didn’t make it, son.” Della walked up to him. “And I’m so sorry I had to be the one to tell you that.”
    Audio’s eyes widened, and he had to tell himself to breathe. “How is . . . how is her family?”
    “From what I’ve seen, not too good.”

Chapter 7
    Farah
    “If you leave me, a lot of people will die.”
     
     
    The sheets wrapped Farah’s body like a mummy. She felt comforted this way. Stiff. Motionless. She could smell something meaty cooking in the