Read Online Philadelphia by Treasure Hernandez - Free Book Online Page B

talk about this anymore. It’s over. I’m fine. Drop it.” There was anger in her voice.
    Walter got the hint. He was disappointed that she didn’t report the attack, but he was going to try not to push her any further. He told himself to drop it for now while they were eating, but someone was going to pay for hurting his Billie.
    But when the waiter came over, and Billie ordered the grilled chicken breast, Walter couldn’t help himself from snorting.
    â€œExcuse me,” said Billie. “Do you have something to say about my order?”
    â€œNo. I mean, if you want to go ahead and order the chicken, then you’re going to order the chicken. Nothing’s gonna stop you, even though everyone knows you come here for the burgers.”
    â€œWell, I don’t want a burger. I have been ordering my food for some time now, Walter, and I think I know how to handle myself.”
    â€œBy all means, don’t let me interrupt.”
    â€œFine,” said Billie through gritted teeth. “I won’t.”
    Walter grinned at the waiter. “ I, of course, will have a burger. I know the proper protocol for things, and I know that when you come here, you order a burger.”
    Billie gave him a cool stare. “Real men eat chicken.”
    â€œExcuse me?”
    The waiter just stood there, utterly confused. When the two patrons in front of him stopped bickering, and just stared daggers at each other, he rushed off to put their orders in, afraid to stick around any longer.
    Most of the meal was silent after that, but for the clinking of silverware. When they were almost finished eating, Billie decided to try conversation again.
    â€œHow’s your new partner?” she asked.
    â€œHuh?” Walter wasn’t listening. His mind had wandered from the attack Billie had just dealt him to the attack Billie had endured. He was fuming inside and couldn’t shake it. “Oh, yeah, um, he’s good.”
    â€œSo? When do I meet him?”
    â€œLook, Billie, I gotta go. Really busy at work right now.” Walter was so heated about her attack he couldn’t sit there any longer. He was going crazy on the inside thinking about Billie getting jumped. He put cash on the table for their meal, gave her a kiss, and bolted out the door.
    Walter got into his car and headed directly to the corner of Cushing Hill and South Street. The corner was a notorious spot for young hoodlums and gang-bangers. The Cushing Hill Gang had been running that corner since the seventies. In recent years they had begun working with Phareed, and their drug operation had multiplied.
    Walter drove down Cushing Hill ready to take out his aggressions on the young corner boys. When he was in sight of South Street he stepped on the gas and sped right up onto the curb. Everyone on the corner started scattering in all directions.
    Walter jumped out of the car and began chasing the nearest kid around the corner onto South Street. The chubby little boy was already struggling to run, holding his baggy jeans up with one hand and shooting panicked looks over his shoulder, and he hadn’t even made it half a block when Walter easily caught up with him. Walter grabbed his shoulders and tossed him up against the wall. Before the boy knew what was happening, he was handcuffed with his face smashed against a brick wall.
    â€œYou like to beat up women?” Walter smashed the boy’s face even harder into the wall.
    â€œThe fuck you talkin’ about? Get the fuck off me!” He spoke out of the side of his mouth that was not getting flattened by the wall.
    â€œYou know exactly what I’m talking about, you little fucker.” Walter began patting him down.
    â€œNigga, leave me alone. I didn’t do shit.”
    â€œOh, no? Well, I know that someone on this corner jumped a woman, so now you gonna pay unless you tell me who did it.”
    â€œI don’t know what the fuck you talking about,