by Jontu'
“Man, at least my nigga trying. Most niggas would have been said, ‘Fuck you.’” Gio smirked.
“The babies are knocked out so you might as well let Baby Tone stay another night,” China said as she came and sat on the couch, reaching for the bottle and a shot glass.
“It’s good, China. I was already going to leave him. I got to take care of something anyway.” I stood up and grabbed my things. I kissed China on the cheek and then leaned over and did the same to Gio.
“I will drop Baby Tone off at daycare in the morning so that you don’t have to come all the way over here before class,” China said.
“Thanks, you guys are the best.” I walked out the door, locking it behind me. I hopped into my Acura and peeled off.
Once I got to the house, I pulled my car into the driveway and stepped out, looking around to see if anything was out of place. It was a little after 9 p.m. and I had some studying to do before I could go to bed. As soon as I got in the house, I locked my doors and set my alarm. I couldn’t lie. I was highly paranoid and I didn’t know how to shake it. I went into my room and turned on my laptop. I opened up the home security system and then logged into my school portal so I could check my assignments. I grabbed a pack of cookies and got to work.
After about two hours of work, I was done and put away my things. As I was rolling a blunt, I noticed some movement on my outside cameras. I took a closer look and Chris was standing in my driveway walking around my car. I watched as he pulled something out of his pocket and keyed my car from bumper to bumper. I went into my closet and opened my safe, grabbing my .380. I made sure it was loaded and grabbed my phone, calling B.
“Hello,” he said, answering on the third ring.
“Aye, B, stay on the phone with me. This nigga Chris outside and just keyed my car. I just grabbed my gun and this nigga might die if he make the wrong move so just stay on the phone,” I said and placed the phone in my bra as I turned on my porch lights and stepped out on the porch.
“You a real bitch ass nigga to come over here keying my car, you know that?” I said as I kept my gun hidden behind my right thigh.
Chris looked up and smirked. This nigga was gone and I just didn’t see how I ever fucked with a nigga like him. “What’s up, baby?” he slurred as he took a step towards me.
I lifted my gun. “Nah, playa, don’t come this way. It ain’t good. You need to get out of here before you need the coroner to give you a ride.”
He laughed and it was pissing me off. “How you gonna shoot me and you couldn’t even shoot the nigga that killed your baby daddy and sister? Bitch, please. You hardly a killer,” Chris said as he comfortably leaned against my car like I didn’t have a gun aimed at his head.
“Bitch, get the fuck off my property. I ain’t going to even let you head play me with that bullshit you talking. Just cut and stay the fuck away from me before I get a restraining order on your retarded ass,” I said.
Chris stood up and raised his hands in surrender. “Aight, bitch. You got that but since you played with my heart, don’t be mad when I play with yours,” Chris said as he tapped the trunk of my car and then turned around and blew me a kiss. I watched as he walked down the street, hopped in his car and pulled off, burning rubber as he left off my block.
I grabbed the phone out my bra and took it off speakerphone. “Hello?” I said.
“Yeah, I’m here. That nigga crazy, blood. You should have aired that nigga just for being a retard,” B said.
I laughed. “Yeah, and then go to jail because he didn’t put his hands on me or nothing. Seriously, though. He’s a lunatic and something has to be done. I ain’t no scary bitch but he gives me an uneasy feeling, B.” I walked back in the house and locked back up as I went upstairs and packed an overnight bag. “Aye, I’m coming over, so unlock the door,” I said.
“Aight, see you in a sec.”
I hung up the phone and grabbed everything I would need and headed back downstairs before leaving back out.
Chapter 16
The next morning I went to my classes and I was glad that it was my last day for the week. I was dead ass tired and I just wanted to go home and spend time with my son. He hadn’t been home in a few days and I was missing him like crazy. China had sent me a text earlier saying that he seemed to be coming down with a cold, so I planned on staying in the house this weekend so that I could get him back to perfect health. I had plans to stop by the hood before I went home so that I could make sure everything was straight because I wouldn’t be there for the next few days. I had called Lexis and told her to meet me there around three. My classes flew by and I was glad. School was fairly easy but sometimes I felt burnt out so I always welcomed the weekend with open arms.
All day I had been getting retarded ass texts from Chris and I didn’t even know how he had gotten my new number. I swear fucking with him, I was changing my number every couple of weeks because he would somehow get a hold of it and I would get tired of getting messages and blocking calls. As I was walking out of my last class for the day, I looked at my phone screen and rolled my eyes. I had yet another text from Chris and I was tired of trying to read through these psycho ass texts.
Chris: Since you want to play childish games bitch, we will see how you like my childish games. Lol
These messages had been all day since about four this morning. I was glad that I had spent the night at B’s house last night because I was sure I wouldn’t have gotten any sleep at home. I would have been way too paranoid to close my eyes. I didn’t even respond to the text, I walked straight to my car and climbed inside.
As soon as I started up my truck, I noticed there was a rose sitting on my windshield. I smiled as I thought about Q. He was so corny but it was actually kind of cute. I decided that today I would give him a call and see what was up with him. I had been playing hard for a minute but he was slowly breaking me down. I got out of the car and grabbed the rose from my windshield along with the card that was with it. Once I got back into my car, I placed both on the passenger seat, put on my seatbelt and pulled out of the parking lot.
As I was hopping on the freeway, my phone started to ring. I grabbed it out of the cup holder and synced it to my car Bluetooth before I answered it. I wasn’t trying to get a ticket.
“What’s up, Lo?” I asked.
“Hey, nothing. I got a photo shoot out your way early in the morning and was wondering if I could possibly spend the night at your house tonight?”
I thought for a second. Lo stayed in the City so I knew she would be battling traffic and would have to get up super early to get out here. “Oh yeah, that’s fine. I have a few things to do so you can either meet me in the hood or you can meet me at the house, I should be there by seven,” I said, raising the phone to look at an incoming text from Lex, “Hold on, Lo, I’m about to add Lexis to the call.”
I merged the calls from the touch screen on my dashboard. “Hey bitch, where you at?” I asked Lexis.
“Just pulled up to the block. Waiting on you,” she said. I could hear her fumbling with something and cussing under breath.
“Cool, Lo is on the phone, too. She spending the night at my house tonight but I’m on the freeway now. I’m like fifteen minutes away,” I said.
“Hey, Lo. Well it’s a sleepover then because I’m staying over, too!” Lex said.
“Hey, Lex! Bitch, turn up!”
They exchanged greetings and then we made small talk as I told them about last night’s incident and the text messages from earlier. I pulled up to the block and told Lo I would see her when she got to my house later.
I hopped out the car and hit the niggas standing on the block with a head nod as I made my way into the apartment that was set up as our trap house for the time being. There were six apartments over a twelve block radius that we used to trap out of. We only kept three in motion at the same time and they switched up once a month. Today, I walked in the trap and saw Greg and Timmy engaged in a game of 2K, yelling and shit as usual.
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br /> “Why y’all bumming on the couch instead of out making money?” I said as I tossed a pack of Phillies into Tae’s lap as he was breaking down hella weed while sitting at the card table that was set up in the dining room area.
Everybody spoke and pulled up a chair and sat down as Lexis walked from the back. “Aight, y’all. So you know I’m not going to be through here this weekend whatsoever. If there is an issue with the re-up, hit Greg or Tamia. Baby sick so I’m on mommy duty,” I said as I looked at everybody in the room.
“It’s all good, big sis. We on point. You know the west side crew making they move on them City niggas tonight, right?” Tommy said and I nodded my head.
The P.G. niggas that Izz got into it with a few months back had been causing a little static lately and I had given them the green light to make a move. the niggas were trying to punk them and I wasn’t about to make them kick back and take the disrespect any longer so we got the drop on the niggas and we were about to take out the head and take their bread at the same time. After we hit, they would be too weak to retaliate and it would be a dead situation. I trusted Jamiya’s crew to handle it by themselves so I didn’t need to even send over any extra reinforcements.
We sat and smoked as we talked about new money opportunities. We still had the line on the sliders but we hadn’t really been fucking around so we decided to assemble a brand new crew to make runs with. I was tired of using these bitches that had kids to go home to and were scared to make money. They were liabilities because when they got caught, the first thing they started screaming was they got kids. Nah, we needed hoes that just wanted money and merchandise so they could look cute and flex on the Gram.
I was sending Greg down to Arizona to get at Andrei next week so we could put that play in motion. After discussing the money, I moved on to a heavier issue. It was time to make a move on the Richmond niggas and Tay’s bitch ass had been spotted one too many times. I had let him get comfortable in thinking that he could do as he pleased but I was tired of hearing his name come up. Some of my young niggas had been just waiting for the green light but I had told them to hold off because I wanted dude to get nice and cozy. Now that the nigga was snug, it was time for him to get fitted for a casket. The streets were on fire right now, Oakland hadn’t had a break on killings and neither had Richmond and as much as I hated adding to the body count, this was one thing I wasn’t letting go.
After everything had been discussed, I made sure that everybody was going to be on their job so that when I hit the block next week, there would be no slacking and we could handle our shit and get back to the money. Lex and I hopped in my whip and rode through all of our blocks, watching everything to make sure that it was running smoothly. Once I’d made my rounds and checked in with all the top guys, Lex and I dipped out.
I hopped on the freeway and headed towards Baby Tone’s daycare. It was a quarter to six so I was making good time. I turned up the radio and bobbed my head as I tried to think of some fun things that we could do in the house this weekend. Baby Tone loved when Lexis was over because she always played hella rough with him and I swear he was like a baby sumo wrestler. I couldn’t wait to get my baby and spend some time. I had been so busy that I hadn’t been able to enjoy some alone time with him in days.
Lexis turned the radio down as she picked up the rose that was sitting on the seat. “Okay, bitch. Who we got sending us flowers and shit?”
I laughed at her ass because I swear I couldn’t have nothing on my own. “Girl, Q ass. He been doing all kinds of little shit to get my attention,” I said, trying not to smile after mentioning his name.
Lexis opened the card. “Umm, no, bitch. I don’t think this is from Q. this shit is weird, but it’s definitely not from Q,” she said.
I snatched the card out of her hand and read it while trying to keep my eyes on the road.
I figured you might need this after today. You shouldn’t play with love, but just remember the games began with you. I’m definitely the better player.
I shook my head because I didn’t know what to think of the card and Lex was right. It was definitely not from Q. My only thought was that it was from Chris because his text messages had been sounding similar all day.
Lexis stared at me but I never responded.
Chapter 17
I pulled up to the daycare and Lex and I both got out of the car.
“Don’t be trying to hog my baby either. You know he gonna come running to me first,” Lexis said and I laughed.
“Bitch, please. He don’t none of you hoes come before me. I’m mama.”
We both laughed as we stepped in the doors. I looked around at the few kids that were sitting on the mat playing with toys and waiting for their parents but I didn’t see Baby Tone. I figured he must have been getting his diaper changed or something, so I walked over to the back of the class where Haleena, the owner of the daycare, was wiping down tables and cleaning up. She looked up and frowned when she saw me coming her way. I looked at my watch and it was five minutes to six so I didn’t know what her problem was.
I walked up to her and grabbed some graham crackers off the table. I knew Haleena from Uncle Ken’s club. She used to be a dancer there so that she could finish school and start her own childcare. “What’s up, Haleena? Where’s my baby at?” I asked and she frowned up again.
“Hey, Jaeda. What you mean, where is he? I called you like three times earlier today to tell you that he was sick and needed to get picked up and you changed your number. I guess but his dad came around 4 and picked him up. He didn’t tell you?” she said, looking at me like I was crazy.
I shook my head. My heart started beating fast as hell. “What the fuck you mean his dad, Haleena? Antonio’s father is not alive. Who the fuck came and picked up my baby?” I yelled.
Lexis heard me yelling and came running back towards us. “What’s wrong, Jae. Where’s Baby Tone?” she asked.
“I am so sorry, Jaeda, but I couldn’t get a hold of you and Gio wasn’t answering either, I just assumed that you sent Chris because he came not long after I called you.”
I shook my head and stormed out of the facility. I was pissed at myself because I had definitely forgotten to update my number with her after I had changed it the other day.
I was calling Chris’ phone back to back to back and he wasn’t answering. I didn’t know where he was or why he would come and pick up my son but I was about to go crazy. Chris had no kind of relationship with my child in the 8 months that we were together so why he wanted to play these childish games, I didn’t know. I started my car as tears dropped rapidly from my eyes.
“Calm down, Jae. You got to keep cool so we can find out where they are,” Lexis said as she sat on the phone with China and told her what was going on. I got a notification on my phone it was an incoming text from Chris.
I waited for the picture to download and I immediately went from 0-100. This nigga had my baby and was in my fucking house. My son looked distraught and his face was covered in tears and sweat. How he got in my house was beyond me. I opened the home security app on my phone and saw that my front door had been opened and my alarm had been deactivated about an hour ago. I was so pissed that I had left my phone in the car when we were on the block because then I would have gotten the notifications as soon as it happened. I showed Lex my phone and I pulled off from the daycare and hopped on the freeway pushing 100 all the way to my house. If Highway Patrol got on me, there would be no stopping until I got to my son.
Once I pulled up to my house, I didn’t even stop to turn off the car. Lexis and I both jumped out of the car and ran into the house. I looked around and Chris had torn my living room up. His bitch ass had sliced up my couch and broken my coffee tables. There were picture frames broken up all over the floor.
I ran upstairs and I could hear noises coming from my son’s room. Lexis and I both bust into the room and found Chris standing over my son’s crib saying the Lord’s Prayer. I ran up to him and pushed him away from my
son. “Get the fuck out of my house! Why the fuck are you messing with me? You a whole ass hoe for this bullshit!” I yelled while pushing him and punching him in his chest.
Chris just stood there laughing like a maniac while blocking my blows.
“Jaeda!” Lexis yelled and I turned towards her. “Something’s wrong, he’s barely breathing! What the fuck did you do to him?” Lexis yelled.
I ran to her and grabbed my son from her arms. His breathing was shallow and his face and body were discolored and he wasn’t responsive. I dropped to my knees and started talking to my son. “Antonio, it’s mommy. Wake up, baby. Baby, wake up!” I cried.
The harder I cried, the louder Chris laughed. I could hear Lexis talking to Chris but the room started spinning and I felt my son take one final breath. I screamed from the bottom of my soul. This nigga had done something to my child. This crazy ass nigga had killed my baby boy. I stood up and turned around.
Pop. Pop. Pop.
I watched as Chris’ body fell back and blood started seeping into the carpet beneath him. Lexis was holding a gun with tears rolling down her cheeks. I dropped to my knees and sobbed uncontrollably.
I could hear sirens getting close but I couldn’t move. I didn’t know where Lexis was in the house but all I could do was hold my son and rock him. I tried to perform CPR on him but nothing was working.
There was a loud crash downstairs and I just lay across my son as footsteps rushed towards me. “Ma’am! Ma’am! What happened here?”
