by Saundra
Just as I attempted to raise the glass to my lips, the doorbell rang. Stuffing the carton back into the fridge, I cradled my glass in my hand as I made my way to the door. Doug stood in the doorway, cradling his expensive briefcase as if he was an heir to a kingdom.
“That was quick,” I commented.
“My Porsche can take me anywhere in the city at top speed,” he bragged. Doug was a rich middle-aged white man with more white than black in his hair, who made a fortune off drug dealers like DaVon. In return, he made them feel untouchable. And in most cases they were. Doug was connected, and if you could be cleared of any charges in the city of LA, Doug could make it happen for you. But I called him “thug passion” because he was a jack of all trades: Not only did he practice criminal law, he dabbled in family law as well. Not to mention he owned two pawn shops and two chicken restaurants where he had the nerve to sell soul food. Like I said, he was a jack of all trades.
“Let’s have a seat in the den.” I led the way.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been out here. I forgot how nice this place is.” He made small talk, but I was not really interested.
“Can I get you something to drink?” I offered just as common courtesy, but I was really ready to get this over with.
“No thanks. I just finished some Starbucks. Now I’m all wired up. I really shouldn’t have anything else.”
Since I got that over I jumped right in. “So what brings you all the way out here?” I cut to the chase.
Doug took it upon himself to have a seat before I offered him one. Wasting no time, he popped his briefcase open. “Well, I wanted to go over DaVon’s will. You are the beneficiary.”
“What will?” I was surprised to hear he had a will. “He never told me anything about a will. Especially that he had one with me on it.”
“Well, he didn’t until recently. He came into the office and had me draw it up. He left your name on everything. The house, vehicles, even keys to several safe deposit boxes throughout the city.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Are you sure? I mean why . . . why would he leave all that to me?” I knew DaVon loved me, but to leave me everything he owned was shocking to say the least.
“I’m certain, Precious. Your name is on all the paperwork.” Doug looked at the document and handed it over to me.
I read my name in the document over and over again. I looked up at Doug. “Doug, DaVon and I had only been together for a short while, barely a year.”
“All I can say is that when he did this, he was of sound mind and body. He made it clear to me that he loved you and that one day you would be his wife. And he wanted to provide for you in the event something were to happen to him. Thus, all this legal paperwork.”
The tears followed at the sound of the words loved and wife. Now we would never have any of that. Both of us were cheated out of our God-given right to be happy. My heart was breaking all over again. “Thanks, Doug.” I was ready to end the visit. I needed to be alone.
“Alright, I’ll leave you to process all of this. But you call me if you need anything. We can sit down next week and finalize the documents to officially put everything in your name.”
“Sure,” was all I managed to say.
Doug shut his briefcase and stood. “I’m sorry about your loss. DaVon was a really good guy. And I mean that.”
I nodded my head and gripped the documents. I knew he was being sincere, but there was nothing more for me to say.
“I’ll let myself out.”
I felt drained all over again. With the documents still in my hand, I stretched out on the couch and fought back tears. The doorbell rang and I was tempted to scream Go the fuck away. I knew it could only be Doug. I sat up briefly and looked around to see what he could have possibly left. Nothing caught my eye. The doorbell chimed again. Pushing myself to my feet, I answered the door.
“We need to talk,” Clip said, his tone matter-of-fact.
Chapter 26
It took a few days, but I finally decided to visit the banks so that I could take a look inside those safe deposit boxes that Doug had talked about. My mouth fell to the floor each time I opened one. By the time I reached the last one, I was nervous and exhausted. I had opened in total ten overstuffed safe deposit boxes. I couldn’t be sure because I had never in my life and probably never would be able to count that much money. I knew that DaVon had money, but I really didn’t have any idea how much. But it was safe to say there was a bit over seven million in total in his safe deposit boxes.
By the time I pulled out of the parking lot of the last bank, my heart was racing. I had to turn up the air in the car to keep from sweating. I just could not believe it. There was no way I had access to that much cash, and it was now all mine. I wasn’t sure if it was a good thing or bad, because I viewed it as blood money. But I tried not to think that way because I knew it was money DaVon had worked hard for. Hell, sacrificed his life for. I needed to get my thoughts together so I headed over to DaVon’s house, which I now owned.
As soon as I got into the house, I made the bar my destination. A drink would calm my fast-beating heart and control my nervousness. Nonetheless, no sooner had I sat down at the bar and filled my glass than the doorbell rang. The unwanted interruptions I kept getting from the doorbell were really starting to get on my last nerve. In my previous frustration, I had considered having it removed. Deciding to have a sip of my drink first, I considered not answering the door as the brown liquid penetrated my throat. I mean, if I didn’t answer, what could the person on the other side do? With the lingering question easing my mind, I took yet another swallow of my drink. The second ring forced me to my feet.
“Hey,” Keisha said first. I glared from her to Quincy, who was standing patiently behind her.
“What’s up, Precious?” Quincy threw in.
“Come in.” I invited them in without question. For some reason, seeing them made me feel different. I actually didn’t mind the fact that they had just popped up. Which surprised me, seeing as though just a few short seconds earlier, I had craved nothing more than to be alone.
“I know y’all want a drink, so I will not ask.” I led the way to the den.
“You already know what it is,” Keisha sang. She was a drinking fool and never once would she turn down a drink. And if you didn’t offer her one, she would help herself to it.
“Pour me up a shot of that Hennessy,” Quincy added.
“I’ll take the Heeney too,” Keisha cosigned.
“I guess that makes three of us. That’s what I was drinking before you arrived.” I grabbed the bottle and poured up two glasses. “What y’all doing all the way out here?”
I caught Quincy’s eyes going to Keisha, then to me. “Aye, straight up, you already know. DaVon was like a brother to me, which makes you my sister, no doubt. I’m just concerned about you . . . want to be sure you straight.” He reached for the glass that I extended to him.
“Yep,” Keisha kicked in. “You been cooped up in this house; I call, you don’t answer, and you not reaching out . . . we just been worried about you.” Concern controlled her facial expression.
I knew exactly what they were talking about. I had been shut in, but I needed my time alone, to regroup, think clearly. “I’m good. I needed a little time to myself though.” I hoped the words were convincing.
“I can understand that. I been waiting to talk to you but . . . these streets don’t change, you know. DaVon gone, but this shit out here still alive and well . . . it’s beast mode out here.” He shook his head at me. “Things have to keep going or everything falls. DaVon got money out here in these streets, mad money. I gotta step up though . . . in order to do that, I have to take over.”
Every word out of his mouth rang true. I glared at him because I understood the message behind his speech. I just did not expect it. Keisha eyed me briefly, then looked at Quincy.
“I worked for DaVon a long time, so I know mostly everything about the entire op
eration, but I need to get into his office, he got some information in there that I need.”
I almost spit my drink out at his boldness. Quincy was DaVon’s guy; he had worked for him and watched his back. There was no disputing that. But what made him think that I would allow him into DaVon’s office? I understood that he was trying to help, but not this way. I could not allow it. Besides, I had my own plans, and although they were not confirmed, I was sure it was what I wanted, or least what had to be done.
“Quincy, I appreciate that you’re willing to step into DaVon’s place. I’m sure he would be grateful for your loyalty. . . but it won’t be necessary . . . I’m taking over,” I announced. Quincy’s head seemed to drop, but he was still looking straight at me. Suddenly he started laughing. His laughter faded as he realized I was not joking.
“Wait, you being serious?” Keisha burst out laughing.
I just looked at them both. I didn’t know if I should be insulted, or not take them seriously. But I had to admit, who would have thought I would be saying anything close to the fact that I was going to tackle being a queenpin. But even when I worked as a cashier at the dry cleaners, I was not to be laughed at.
My face was rock solid and I gave it to them straight. “DaVon and I were in love. True love. And as you both know, we spent a lot of time together as a couple. In that time, we made it all count, especially DaVon . . . he taught me the game. Everything.” I wanted to be clear. “Even introduced me to the connect.” I could tell Quincy was trying to keep a calm look on his face, but I could see that the wind was knocked out of him. And my words had been the blow.
Keisha’s mouth was wide-open. “Ohhh . . . I didn’t know that.”
“DaVon was my man. I was his right hand. That makes me his queen.” As far as I was concerned, nothing else needed to be said.
“Aye, I had no idea. And with you having ties to the connect, that only makes things better. But my face is known in the streets. I have that connection, and it would be better if I did it. I know all the crews and got the muscle to pull it off.”
Maybe he hadn’t heard me right or wasn’t clear about what I had just said, but I wasn’t in the mood to repeat myself. So I decide not to. “Don’t worry, all that’s covered. Now Clip will be my right hand. And he’s going to bring Mob on board. I hope you’ll be down with us. Your position will remain the same.” The day Clip had stopped by unannounced and requested we talk, he revealed that he had known that DaVon had showed me the game, and that I had been personally introduced to the connect. DaVon always told Clip everything, so I was not surprised. Quincy, on the other hand, DaVon would not disclose this to information to him.
“No doubt. You know I got you. All I want to do is keep the streets working. Or all hell will break loose. And we don’t need that,” he stressed. I was glad to hear he was down. DaVon would want his guys to stick together.
“And you know I’m here too if you need me,” Keisha stepped in to assure me.
“Thank you.” Without much else to say, we all polished off what was left in our glasses and they left. Afterwards, I felt really good. I was glad that everything had gone well. With each second that ticked by, I faced the realization that I had actually stepped up. My mind hadn’t been made up until I had opened my mouth. The day Clip had come by, he had assured me DaVon needed me and that he had my back. He made me understand everything Penelope had been saying to me all along. Then, suddenly, it was like a time bomb went off in my head; it all made sense and there was no turning back. It was time to put my first play into action. I picked up my phone.
She answered on the second ring. I greeted her, full of certainty. “Hey, Penelope.”
Chapter 27
It was unimaginable, but I dived right into DaVon’s life as far as the business was concerned. I didn’t even give it a second thought. My first order of business to set things off was to head to Miami. So after ending that call to Penelope, when she calmly revealed to me that she had been expecting to hear from me, I boarded a plane. I didn’t know how long I would be gone, but I was sure it would only be a couple weeks at the most. Turns out things were deep, so my short stay had turned into an entire month. But honestly, being away from LA had not been a bad idea. While there, I was able to control my grieving a little better than before. It was still hard, but somewhat manageable. And hanging out with Penelope was helping out a lot; everyday with her was a lesson.
“So what are we doing here?” I asked Penelope as the driver pulled into the parking lot of a rusty green building and came to a complete stop.
“Business as always.” She glared out the window through her Tom Ford sunglasses. “It shouldn’t take long. I’ll wheel and deal a bit of this and that. You down?”
“Of course.” I wasted no time replying. Penelope always intrigued me. I was a kid waiting on my next cartoon episode. I couldn’t wait to see what she had in store. The driver stepped out of the car. Two big bodyguards who worked for Penelope approached.
Dressed in an all-white pantsuit drenched in about a hundred thousand dollars in diamonds, Penelope looked like she was about to attend a Grammy party. Inside, another dude showed us to the back of the beat-up building. The building was so run-down, I was curious as to what we might find in the back.
“P.” The guy standing at the door greeted Penelope. He lightly tapped on it and I could hear what sounded like a huge bolt unlock. The door opened and she passed her sunglasses to the guy who opened the door for her. A dark-skinned dude with dreads sat at an iron picnic table. Penelope crisscrossed her hands behind her back.
“Scrap. It’s been a long time.” Penelope greeted him as if they were old friends.
“Well, that ain’t my fault.” Animosity was clear in the dude’s voice.
Penelope giggled. And something about it sent a chill up my spine. “Small talk, huh. That’s what you got me out here for?” She looked him dead in the eyes.
“I’on got you out here for shit. Try yo’ fuck niggas on the block that you employee. Fuck Pablo at?”
Penelope brought her forefinger to her mouth, indicating for him to shut up. “Nigga, I think you know better than to question me. This conversation has one ending. Product and dollars. You and them gorilla taco-eating motherfuckers you call a crew think I’m to be tested.”
“No, you a fucking disrespectful-ass bitch. You had three of my men killed last week alone. That dope was payback from a robbery, but you didn’t think to ask. Just sent out orders. And it was you who made the call, I know that for a fact.”
“You fuckin’ pussies, I swear. Only thing you think about is money and cars. Nigga, this the game, not hide n’ go seek for yo’ kiddy pleasure. It’s takes a bitch like me to prove that.” Penelope turned around and the guy that had let us in handed her a gun.
“So you gone shoot me, you fuckin’ puta.”
“That’s what happens to niggas who try to fuck me. Miami is my house.” Penelope was calm. “Stop stepping into thinkin’ you can fuck me wit’ no condom, cause this will happen every time.” She pointed the gun. I could literally hear the bullet as it left the chamber and landed right between the dude’s eyes. His brains spilled out the back and splattered in every empty space imaginable. I was stunned. I knew Penelope had her man’s back. But I had no idea she put in work. And she didn’t even break a sweat. Reaching for her sunglasses, she slid them on and we exited.
I didn’t ask no questions; none were needed. I focused on getting my businesses handled. Pablo and Penelope had been great putting some things together for me, and we kept the LA streets rocking. Shipments were good and no problems had come up. I left Clip in charge while I was away and he made sure everyone was supplied in a timely manner. And Quincy confirmed that all blocks were locked and on point. So product was successfully moving on the streets and money was coming in at a steady flow and no one was coming up short. Clip made sure of that. With my new lifestyle, I made sure to keep the piece that DaVon had given me close. It still felt strange packing
a gun with me everywhere I went. But I understood one thing very well: I was important. And I wouldn’t hesitate to blow off anyone’s ass who dared threaten to step to me like that.
My plane had just landed. It was my first day back in LA. The feel of the airport was welcoming because no matter how you enjoyed being out of town there was never any feeling that could describe coming back home to LA. After gathering my luggage from baggage claim, I headed outside to catch a shuttle to long-term parking where I had left my truck.
“I’m so glad you finally back.” Maria greeted me at the front door with a hug. While I was away, she had stayed at the house. “I was beginning to worry that you may never come back.” She reached for my Louis Vuitton suitcase.
“There was no chance of that.” I smiled. Maria now cleaned my dad’s house a few days a week as well as the upkeep of DaVon’s crib. I really appreciated having her around; she was caring and did a wonderful job. “Besides, LA is rooted too deep in my blood. I love it here.” I looked around the house. I could almost feel DaVon’s presence.
“I see Florida gave you a little tan. You must have spent too much time in that heat. I have a cousin out there I went to visit over fifteen years ago, and I came back with a beautiful tan.” Maria chuckled. “But my skin dried out and started to peel like an orange. I promised myself if I ever went back I’d use the sunscreen that my cousin begged me to.”
“It is hot there, but I tried to stay out of the sun as much as possible. But I love the beauty.” I shut the door behind me as I dragged in my last piece of luggage.
“I made mini-wrap turkey sandwiches with cream cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes, and some fresh strawberry lemonade full of strawberries. I knew you would be hungry when you arrived.”
And she was right, I was starving. I hadn’t eaten nothing since the night before, besides some coffee on the plane. “Thanks, Maria.”
