Mud Brothers Part 1 Written By Dollazho

Chapter 1 - Empire Babies

Rainwater slid down the cracked sidewalks of Benton Harbor while old school Chevys and loud Chargers crawled down Empire Avenue like the whole city had nowhere to be. Music blasted from every direction. Somebody was arguing near the alley by BJ's. Somebody else was laughing too hard. Sirens echoed somewhere far off toward Pavone.

Regular Harbor night.

Baby Dollaz pushed through the side door of CVS with a black Nike backpack hanging off one shoulder. Red hoodie. Chrome Hearts jeans. Buffs sitting low on his face. He looked both ways before pulling a vape from his pocket.

Inside the backpack were three sealed pint bottles and enough pills to get half the city high for a weekend.

He smirked to himself.

Easy money.

"Nigga, you finally off?" a voice yelled from across the street.

Baby Dollaz looked up to see Zyron leaning against a black Charger on chrome rims outside BJ's. Fresh black Nike Tech. Cartier watch shining under the streetlight. His waves still fresh from the barbershop.

Next to him stood Zeus, taller than both of them, built like every football coach's dream. Grey hoodie. College duffel bag thrown over one shoulder. Calm look on his face like he didn't belong in Benton Harbor no more.

But he always came back.

Baby Dollaz crossed the street grinning.

"What up, Mud Brothers?" he laughed, dapping both of them up.

Zyron looked at the backpack.

"You hit today?"

Baby Dollaz smirked. "Man what you think?"

Zeus shook his head already laughing. "One day you gone get caught doing dumb shit."

"I ain't getting caught doing nothing," Baby Dollaz replied. "These old white folks at CVS barely know how to work the register."

Zyron laughed loud as hell.

"That nigga think he untouchable."

Baby Dollaz opened the backpack just enough for them to see the bottles.

Zeus immediately zipped it back shut.

"You flashing too much already," he muttered, scanning the street.

That was the difference between them.

Baby Dollaz loved attention.

Zyron loved respect.

Zeus noticed danger before everybody else did.

A group of girls walked out BJ's carrying chips, woods, and pop. One of them instantly smiled seeing Zeus.

"There go Mr. College," she teased.

Zeus rolled his eyes while Zyron burst out laughing.

"You still got hoes from high school on you," Zyron said.

"Man shut up."

Baby Dollaz looked toward the corner where older dudes stood outside talking under the liquor store lights. Everybody in Benton Harbor watched everything. News traveled faster than Facebook in the Harbor.

Who got money.
Who got shot.
Who got arrested.
Who cheating.
Who snitching.

Nothing stayed secret long.

A police cruiser rolled slowly down Empire.

Conversation stopped for half a second.

The officers stared.