by J-Blunt
“Nigga, you can’t tell me what to do or how to live my life. You don’t know how it feel to lose yo’ sister.”
“Just because Queenie missin’ and it’s fuckin’ witchu don’t mean you can talk to me like that. I’m still yo’ nigga.”
Princess rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. “Whatever, nigga.”
The drive back to the hotel was silent. When he parked the Lambo, Ricco approached with wide eyes. “We gotta get the fuck outta Jacksonville! Them was J-West niggas. The police gon’ be lookin’ for us, too. Did you kill him?”
“Chill, brah. I got this,” Pop said, trying to calm him. “The rental and Lambo in my name. This ain’t gon’ get back to you. Take Tanya home. We gon’ worry ‘bout the rest tomorrow.”
“Pop, I don’t think you heard me, brah. Them was J-West’s niggas! Them niggas deadlier than cancer. You should leave, mane. Right now.”
“Nah, I don’t think you heard me. Go home. Fuck J-West and his niggas. Them pussy-niggas shouldn’ta tried me. Now they know. Take yo’ girl home. I got this.”
Ricco looked like he wanted to say more, but instead gave Pop Somethin’ a sympathetic look, like he knew it would be the last time they saw one another. Then he turned and helped his girl from the Lexus before hopping in their Ford Fusion and driving away.
Inside the hotel room, Pop sat on the bed, fuming with anger. His plans to set up shop seemed doomed before they could start, and he was putting most of the blame on Princess. Her drunkenness caused him to slip, and he had to body a jacker. And not just any jacker, but one of J-West’s niggas, whoever that was. He needed to get rid of the Lambo, but Princess was too drunk to tail him to the storage in the Lexus. He would have to lay low for the night and make the moves after she sobered up.
“Don’t be mad, baby,” Princess said, crawling up behind Pop and hugging him around the neck.
He removed her arms roughly. “Move.”
She wrapped her arms around him again, kissing him on the neck. “I said I’m sorry. I know I fucked up, but we still alive. Don’t be mad.”
He stood aggressively, turning around to glare at her. “Sorry ain’t enough, Princess. This high stakes! Twelve lookin’ for us in Atlanta, and ain’t no tellin’ who else. We gotta be one step ahead of er’body. Queenie missin’ ain’t no coincidence. All this shit connected, and we can’t afford to get drunk and fuck off. That shit can get us in a cell or grave. All our moves gotta be calculated. We gotta stay focused. And if you sad, depressed, and fuck up on pills and liquor, you ain’t gon’ be good to nobody.”
Princess knelt on the bed, head down, shoulders sagging. Even though she was drunk and high, Pop’s words penetrated the fog. Guilt, sadness, and regret flooded her body, bringing on tears. “I’m sorry, baby. I–”
“Stop sayin’ sorry!” Pop exploded. “Fuck that sorry shit. What’s done is done, and bein’ sorry won’t change shit. Do better. That’s it.”
Princess wiped away the tears, squaring up her shoulders. “Okay. I’ma do better. I am. I just feel like a part of me is missin’ without my sister. It feels like I’m goin’ crazy. I don’t know how to handle this.”
Pop could see the uncertainty of Queenie’s whereabouts eating at Princess. Losing her sister was the worst thing that could’ve happened, and it was threatening to undo her. She was using the drugs and alcohol to cope. Self-medicating. But he couldn’t have her fucked up all the time. That could be detrimental to both of them.
“I feel yo’ pain,” he whispered, sitting on the bed and wrapping an arm around her shoulder. “I miss her, too. We gon’ get her back. That’s my word. I need her as bad as you do.”
Princess’ body molded into Pop’s as the murderous duo locked in an embrace. Her tears soaked through his shirt as he held her, and he could feel something stirring within him. Like her pain was being transferred to him. He could feel the connection shared by the sisters, and the pain of the loss threatened to unravel Princess. It was like losing a hand or foot.
Then his own memories of Queenie began to play in his mind. How they met. Her trial by fire. The look on her face when she was lyin’ in the streets, bleeding.
Then his feelings and emotions became jumbled and mixed, confusing him. And in the next moment it all made sense. Everything he’d experienced had connected him to Princess on a deeper level. He needed her just like she needed Queenie. She was his lioness. His loyal ride-or-die bitch. She belonged to him. She was his.
Princess broke the embrace to look at Pop. In his eyes she seen her reflection. Then she remembered when they first connected in Texas. When she first became his bitch. “Namaste,” she whispered.
Pop leaned close until their foreheads were touching. “I see you, too.”
When their lips met, it was nothing like Pop Somethin’ had ever felt. A jolt of electricity moved from his tongue to his brain, down his spinal cord, and through his entire body. Princess moaned as similar sensations moved through her body, tingling every nerve ending.
When they fell on the bed, clothes began flying all over the room. After they were naked, Pop climbed between her legs, his mouth finding hers as his tool slipped into her wetness. Instead of playing sex games, Pop controlled himself, taking his time. His strokes were slow and meaningful. Princess responded in kind, giving Pop everything she had to offer. Every thrust was matched by the other partner as they moved in perfect rhythm, in tune with one another’s bodies.
When Pop rolled onto his back, Princess never missed a beat as she rode him. She felt so connected to him that she could feel every breath he took. She could smell him, taste him, and feel him at the same time. The pleasure was so intense it brought tears to her eyes as the orgasm began building. And since they were in sync, Pop felt everything she did and releasing his seed into her as they came. Passionate kisses were exchanged as they held one another.
“I need you,” Princess whispered in his ear.
“I got you, baby,” Pop breathed.
“I’m serious, Pop. I need you. You the only one that can fill the hole she left.”
Pop thought about what she was saying. The woman he met back in Texas didn’t need anyone. She was strong-willed and independent, but now that Queenie was gone, she was missing a piece. He was the only one who could fill the hole.
She loved him.
“I’m here. I got you.”
The lovers became silent as they thought about what they had just shared. They were linked. Feelings were involved.
“I don’t wanna be yo’ bitch no more, Pop. I wanna be all yours. And I want you to be all mine.”
Chapter 4
The small cry from Yanna cut through Ricco’s restless slumber as the one-year-old lay next to her father, appearing to be sleep. But he knew her whimpers were a sign of more to come.
Next to the toddler was her mother. Tanya lay on he stomach, mouth open in a drunken sleep. Last night she looked like a model. She was fine and sexy, but never dressed up or played on her looks. She was a humble beauty, and he liked that about her. But seeing her flexing in the designer dress was a sight to see. He wished he could spoil her the way Pop and Princess had. It felt nostalgic, rubbing shoulders with the “Who’s Who” of Florida. Visions of life in the fast lane began playing in his mind. Cars, money, women, and jewelry. He wanted it back. He missed the game like a long-lost lover missed their soul mate.
Then he remembered the bullet to the face. The streets brought too many problems. Just like it had last night. He had to run a man over. The fact he injured someone didn’t weight that heavy on his mind. He was more concerned about the repercussions. J-West wasn’t going to let the death and injury of his boys go unpunished. And then there was the police. Somebody had seen something. There was always a witness.
Kicking it with Pop Somethin’ and Princess had proved costly. He just hoped the consequences wouldn’t be too severe.
Another cry from Yanna pulled Ricco from his thoughts. The one-year-old was fully awake and de
manded her father’s attention.
“Hey, baby girl. Why you cryin’?” Ricco asked as he checked her diaper. The mushy pamper confirmed the cause of her cries.
After a wipe and diaper change, Ricco picked up his baby and took her to the kitchen to make a bottle. When he turned on the lights, roaches scattered like niggas on the block being chased by the police. The sight of the pests repulsed him. His daughter and wifey deserved better, but he was an uneducated janitor at a car dealership.
“I’ma get us outta here,” he promised Yanna.
The baby sucked the bottle hungrily, staring up at her father with wide, trusting eyes.
***
“What it do?” Ricco greeted Red Dot after letting him in the apartment.
“Just out here trynna get to it,” the nappy-headed man smiled, showing off his gold grill. “Is Tanya here?”
“Yeah. She in the back. What you want wit’ my girl?”
Red Dot smiled lustfully. “She been hittin’ my line lately. She ready to get out these apartments and boss up wit’ a real nigga. She chose up, cuz.”
Ricco put up his fists and threw a couple jabs. “You trynna die early, young nigga?”
“I’m fuckin’ witchu!” Red Dot laughed. “She hit me last night ‘bout some percs, and I told her I was gon’ come through today. I don’t want yo’ bitch. She bad, but she ain’t thotty enough for me.”
“Don’t be callin’ my girl no bitch, nigga. And what you mean she hit you for some pills?”
“Ask her, nigga. I just want the money.”
“Tanya!”
“What?” she called from the back of the apartment.
“Bring yo’ ass here!”
A few moments later Tanya walked in the living room carrying Yanna on her hip. “What’s wrong? Why you callin’ me like that?”
“Fuck Red Dot talkin’ ‘bout you buyin’ pills?”
She mugged the pill peddler. “Damn, nigga. I told you not to say nothin’.”
Red Dot shrugged nonchalantly. “My bad. I forgot.”
Ricco felt his body grow warm as jealousy filled him. “Fuck y’all keepin’ secrets for?”
“Chill, baby. It ain’t even like that.”
“Kinda shit y’all on? I know you muthafuckas ain’t trynna play me! I swear to God–”
“I told you it ain’t like that. Don’t nobody want yo’ cousin. Ugh!” Tanya said, frowning at Red Dot before turning back to her man. “Can’t neither one of y’all say nothin’.”
“Say nothin’ ‘bout what?” Ricco asked, anxious to know.
Tanya took a breath. “They for my cousin. She don’t want Pop Somethin’ to find out, so I got ‘em for her.”
Ricco gave her a long stare. “I ain’t feelin’ these secrets or you buyin’ dope for her.”
“It ain’t nothin’ but some pills, baby. Relax. All the undercover shit you and Red Dot be doin’, you shouldn’t talk. Where you go last weekend when you wasn’t answerin’ yo’ phone? You wanna start some shit, we can do it.”
Ricco calmed, not wanting to get into his secrets. “Whatever, man. We ain’t finna go there. I told you my phone died. Get the damn pills.”
“I know, nigga,” Tanya smiled before turning to mug Red Dot. “Gimme some percs, snitch.”
“I ain’t no snitch, bird. What you want?”
“Whatever I can get for two-fifty. I’ma go grab the money.”
When Tanya walked away, Red Dot watched her ass jiggle in the stretch pants. “Damn, cuz! You know shawty a gold mine, right? Put her ass in Pole Boulevard and y’all be in a mansion in six months.”
“What I tell you ‘bout lookin’ at my girl ass?” Ricco flexed.
“Get out cho feelins, sucka-ass nigga. Ain’t nothin’ wrong wit’ lookin’. I don’t want yo’ girl. I told you, I like mine heavy on the slutty side.”
“Whatever, nigga. Speakin’ of Pole, did you hear ‘bout what happened last night?”
“Did I? Streets ain’t stopped talkin’ ‘bout that shit. J-West cousin got whacked, and the otha nigga in ICU. That’s what them fuck-niggas get. That jack-shit is some fuck-shit. Niggas ain’t got no grind, so they get on that bullshit. I’m glad them niggas got they issue.”
“I was there,” Ricco said somberly. “I seen that shit.”
Red Dot looked like he took a hit off a crack pipe. “On what? You was at Pole last night? How the fuck you get in? What happened?”
Ricco shook his head like he was trying to erase a bad memory. “We went wit’ Princess and Pop Somethin’. They tried to take his Lambo, and he fucked them niggas up. Nigga was on some action hero, Navy Seal-type shit. I ain’t neva seen a nigga put in work like that. He savage.”
Red Dot’s hand move unconsciously to his throat as he relived being choke-slammed through the table. “Damn. Who the fuck is this nigga? You think he was in the Army?”
“I don’t know. I think he a street nigga, but he a beast. He wanna set up shop in Jacksonville and want me on the team. I think he got a bag, too.”
Red Dot got excited. “When we gettin’ to it? I ready to eat, for real!”
“I ain’t fuckin’ wit’ that nigga. He got niggas and twelve lookin’ for him all over the United States. They on the run from Atlanta. And after last night, I know why. I had to run one of them niggas over.”
Red Dot looked ready to explode. “You trippin’, nigga! Fuck them bitch-ass niggas. And this ain’t Miami. You got the chance for a new start. Bal1 on they ass again. How you go from bein’ That Nigga to bein’ that nigga at a car lot cleanin’ bathrooms? This yo’ shot, nigga. Let’s get to it.”
“Get to what?” Tanya asked, walking into the living room.
“Nothin’,” Ricco said. “Why you creepin’ up like that?”
She handed the money to Red Dot. “I wasn’t. Y’all talkin’ loud. Now, what y’all gettin’ to?”
“Shit. We was talkin’ ‘bout Pole Boulevard.”
Tanya smiled. “I had fun, baby. I was so fucked up that I don’t remember how the night ended. Shit, I don’t even remember comin’ home. I didn’t do nothin’ stupid, did I?”
“Nah. You was good, baby. I kept an eye on you.”
“Good. Princess comin’ over later. I’ma go out wit’ her. They lookin’ for a house, and she want my help.”
***
“You was turnt last night!” Princess laughed. “You was clappin’ ass and grabbin’ titties like you wanted to take one of them bitches home wit’ y’all.”
“I’m surprised I’m able to move around. I was so fucked up that I don’t remember shit.”
Princess swallowed one of the percs and chased it with a shot of Hennessy. “You don’t remember what happened when we was leavin’?”
Tanya took her eyes off the road to look at her cousin. “Don’t tell me I did some stupid shit? I asked Ricco, and he said I was good.”
“You really don’t remember?” Princess asked again.
“Nah. I told you I was fucked up.”
“Some niggas tried to rob us. Pop Somethin’ shot one, and Ricco ran the other one over.”
“Stop playin’,” Tanya laughed. “That ain’t funny.”
“I ain’t playin’. I’m serious. Pop Somethin’ killed a nigga. I think Ricco killed the other one.”
Shock and awe shown on Tanya’s face. “I don’t remember none of that. Where was I at?”
“In the car wit’ Ricco. We was in the parking lot.”
When the reality of it all dawned on Tanya, she panicked. “Oh shit! They really killed people? Who was it?”
“We not sure. Pop mentioned a nigga named J-West.”
Tanya’s eyes popped. “He killed J-West?”
“Nah. They was his niggas. Who is J-West?”
Tanya looked visibly shaken. “Somebody y’all shouldn’ta fucked wit’. Him and his niggas don’t play. Er’body in the city get spooked when they come around. Did they see y’all faces? Do they know who we is?”
“I don’t know
, but we need to find out. Do you know anybody that know them niggas?”
Tanya paused. “Um. Not really.”
Princess noticed the hesitation. “What that mean? Yes or no? Don’t bullshit right now. This shit serious.”
“I do, but I don’t. This bitch I used to know used to fuck one of them niggas. But Ricco don’t want me talkin’ to her.”
“Well, Ricco ain’t here. I need you to find her so we can find this nigga. We need to know if they lookin’ for us.”
“I thought you wanted to go look for a house?”
“The house can wait. We gotta make sure we be alive long enough to pay the rent. Call her.”
“Right now?” Tanya asked.
“Nah, bitch. Yesterday.”
“I don’t got her number. But I can prolly find her on Facebook.”
“Do it. Matter fact, gimme yo’ phone. I’ll do it.”
“When I talk to her, what I’m s’posed to say? I ain’t talked to her in damn near a year.”
Princess thought fast. “Has she seen Yanna?”
Tanya looked spooked. “I don’t want her in this.”
“I don’t think you understand what’s on the line. If J-West and his niggas is who you say they is, we gotta move fast. Time and information is everything. We can’t just sit back and wait for them niggas to decide what they gon’ do to us. That’s how we end up dead, and you won’t have to worry ‘bout puttin’ yo’ daughter in this. I know what I’m doin’. Trust me. Call yo’ friend and tell her you miss her. We can handle the rest later.”
***
Star was the definition of a thotty ho bitch, and calling her that to her face wasn’t disrespectful. In fact, she embraced it, loving her reputation as a money-hungry freak. Standing five-five with curves crazier than a figure eight, the dark-skinned stripper knew how to use what she had to get what she wanted.
“Damn. She is so fuckin’ cute. I can’t believe you waited this long to let me see her. I’m mad at you for this, bitch,” Star said resentfully as she bounced Yanna on her lap.
“Gurl, you know Ricco hate yo’ ass. I gotta live wit’ this nigga, and I was tired of hearin’ y’all talk shit to each other and about each other.”
