by India
“Me and you, or all of us.” I said referring to Chloe.
“All of us. Sam should be right behind me, he is outside parking his bike in the driveway.”
We looked at each other, then followed Mario into the office. Just as I took a seat in one of the recliners, Sam walked in and closed the door behind him. The office was sound-proof and had a metal detector inside the door jam. This was the only room in our house that Mario would ever talk business in. I watched my husband pace back and forth in his red Dickie pants, wife beater exposing his tattoos, and red Detroit hat with a huge grin on his face. Even though he was smiling, a small part of me was nervous.
“What baby.” I asked, growing impatient.
“We’re going to Miami!” He exclaimed.
“What?”
“I got some business to handle so we are taking a trip down to Miami.” He repeated and then proceeded to provide us with all of the details.
After hearing the basics, I must admit that I was leery at first. Nonetheless, I soon shook it off because my husband knows what he’s doing and I trust him.
“So how exactly are we going to get all that shit back here?” Sam asked out loud, as I was silently wondering the same thing.
“Me and Gucci was talking. We think the best way is to get an eighteen wheeler truck and load it up with boxes of baby formula. I’m talkin’ baby logos on the side of the truck and all. Hell, we can put decals all over the truck so that it looks real legit ya’ feel me.” I heard the excitement in his voice but I was still asking myself, Did he say him and Gucci?
“Who’s driving the truck though? Those eighteen wheelers are some big muthafuckas.” Sam exclaimed.
“Probably me. I have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) that I’ve been keeping up just in case; I‘m glad I did. We got two weeks to get the truck back. I was thinking we should head down there in a few days just to get the shit in order. We can party and vacation the first few days, then come back and deliver that package. Once it’s been delivered, I’m retiring my nigga and the throne is all yours.” He said dapping Sam. Hearing that he was retiring in two weeks instead of next year totally changed my mood from pissed to pleased in a matter of seconds. Hell, after he retires we could leave Detroit and Gucci behind. So for that, I was down with the plan. I also decided not to question him about why she knew about it before me.
“Ewww girl, I’m going to pack.” Chloe jumped up, grabbed her purse, hugged me and ran from the room with excitement. Sam pumped his fist in the air, jumped up and down a few times, thanked Rio again, then leaned down to hug me. While we were in the embrace, I told him to make things right with Chloe. Being in his new position, he would need a down ass chick by his side.
“Yes ma’am Nikki, I’m ‘bout to fix it right now!” He grabbed his helmet and went to catch up with his girl.
I looked at my husband and gave him a big smile. “What you smiling for baby?” He asked.
“Because you’re about to retire and I never-ever thought this day would come. I’ve been waiting on you to get out of the game from the beginning; back when you were only making a few hundred here and there.” I laughed at the thought of where we’d come from. Sitting down on the floor next to my recliner, he began to rub my feet.
“Nikki we have been through some shit for real girl but look at us, we made it!”
I played with his curly ponytail and reminisced about the time he went to jail for six months, and the time he got shot. The doctors didn’t think he was going to make it, but my boo is a soldier and he proved everybody wrong. I also remember the day that I was abducted at gunpoint from the apartment complex that we lived in at the time. Rio had just made a major deal with the top guy on the street, a guy named Chino, and we were living it up; shopping sprees, jewelry, and cars. Some members of Chino’s organization were pissed that Chino chose to upgrade Rio and not one of them, so they planned an attack on us.
One night just as I got out of the car, a masked gunman placed a nine-millimeter hand gun to my head. He took my cell phone out of my hand and told me to get inside the trunk of his car. I was scared shitless to say the least, but I did as I was told. Moments later, like a bat out of hell, we flew out into the night. Seemingly, about an hour and a half later they opened up the trunk and took me into what looked like a shed. It was so dark that I couldn’t make out anything familiar.
“Tie her mouth and hands up then blindfold that bitch.” The taller of the two men said; the shorter guy did as he was instructed. I cried because I knew that my life was over and I would never see Mario again. I listened as the men walked in and out of the shed as if they were waiting on something.
“Damn girl, where in the fuck is yo’ man at? I called his bitch ass ‘bout two hours ago?” One of the men said aloud.
“Please don’t kill me, if you want money, I can get that for you.” I begged for my life although they probably couldn’t make out what I was trying to say with the gag in my mouth. That’s when I heard the phone ring.
“’Bout damn time, I was ‘bout to pop her cuz.” The guy said.
“Nigga who the fuck is this?” Mario snapped. The man must’ve had him on speaker phone because I could him as clear as day.
“It’s the nigga that got a nine to yo’ bitch’s dome, so the question is…what you gone do about it?”
“What the fuck!” Mario said while registering what ole boy had just told him. “Nikkita are you okay baby?” He yelled, panic evident in his voice.
“She a little tied up at the moment, but listen closely ‘cause I ain’t repeating myself. I need you to drop off fifty stacks inside of the dumpster behind the Church’s Chicken off of Jefferson and...”
As he continued, I had become somewhat pissed because this asshole was about to kill my black ass for a measly fifty grand. Shit, I had that much in my personal safe at home for petty cash.
“Do you know who you’re fuckin’ wit’?” Mario asked.
“I do know who I’m fucking wit’ but you don’t! I’m the crazy nigga with the gun. So don’t keep testing my gangsta with these dumb-ass questions.” The man yelled. “Aye, watch that broad. I’m ‘bout to take this call outside.”
I prayed silently the entire time that the man was gone. That somehow, I would make it out alive.
“What did he say?” The other guy asked as the head guy returned.
“He said that he’ll be there in fifteen minutes, so I’ma go over there and post up. Once he make the drop, and the money is in my possession, I’ll hit you up and tell you where to meet me.”
“Well what about her?”
“Put two in that bitch’s head! Somebody will find her or smell her dead body eventually but we’ll be long gone.” he laughed.
I cried out again at the sound of that. I also began to pray again, this time I recited the Lord’s prayer and asked that he forgive me for my sins. I heard the door slam; then everything went quiet. Seemingly, twenty-five or so minutes later, the door opened and I heard the voice of the shorter man say, “Listen lil’ mama, I’m gonna shoot off two rounds. I don’t want you to come out until ten minutes after you hear my car pull off okay.” He said and I vigorously nodded my head. Then he removed my blind fold and untied my mouth and hands. “Listen sweetie, you’re on Belle Island in a storage shelter. When you come out, turn left, and that will point you in the direction of the bridge alright.” He looked back with an apologetic expression and vanished into the night air.
A few weeks later we got word on who it was. Let’s just say neither of those guys made it, not even the one that had saved my life, because Mario wasn’t having it.
The sound of the door-bell snapped me back into reality. I collected my thoughts and stored them deep in my memory bank. Getting up from my chair, I kissed my husbands forehead; then added, “Thank God this will soon be over and we can live like simple folk!”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Tonya
“Please take a seat at that table and he will be in sh
ortly.” A prison guard instructed me. I sat there in my apple bottom dress waiting patiently for my man. It was visiting day and I couldn’t wait to lay eyes on my Roscoe. While I waited, I looked around the room and took note of all the ladies that came out to show their men some love. Most of them were accompanied by children, some of them were scantily dressed and a few of them were old; looking as if they were the ones behind bars. I snapped my head toward a corner where some young girl was screaming and making a commotion, causing guards to rush over there. “Fuck you Tony, I been the one holding it down for you and that’s how you do me?” She spat.
“Man, Brandy go head on wit’ that bullshit, you know better than to come at me like that!” The guy that I assumed was Tony snapped back. Just as the girl was being pulled away kicking and screaming, Roscoe walked up in his grey jumpsuit.
“What’s up ma?”
Damn my baby was gorgeous, even in prison attire he still made my pussy wet!
“What’s up baby, you looking good” I said with a smile.
“You do too ma for real.” He grabbed his dick and I squirmed in my seat.
“How you holding up baby? When do you get out?” I flooded him with questions.
“I’m one hundred, you know this ain’t nothing to a real nigga. How are my kids, I miss they ass’s like crazy. I should be getting out in about three months, so it’ll be no time before I’m back up in that pussy baby…it’s still mine right?” He said in a demanding tone.
“Of course it’s yours and it always has been! The kids are cool, just working my last nerve.” I didn’t mention that my mom had them because that would really piss him off as well as mess up our visit. I wasn’t trying to do either of the two so I just sat there looking pretty.
“So what’s going on with Mario and them?” He asked. You know me, I got right down to the nitty gritty and went right into my exaggerated story.
“Baby, they ain’t gave me nothing! No money, no support, and no visits just to see how me and the kids are doing…nothing! Plus the word on the street is that Mario set you up with those undercovers!”
Roscoe rubbed his goatee while looking straight at me and I didn’t even blink.
“Well I guess I’ma have to put some heat to that nigga to get what’s mine then.”
“Baby, can you believe that they had a big party last week to celebrate the success they had this year, and I didn’t even get a got damned invitation.” I damn near shouted because I was pissed. To me, that was a real low blow.
“Straight up Tee, dat’ shit ain’t right and please believe I’ma handle that shit. Keep your ears open and report back to me on what you hear; no matter how small it is. I’m ‘bout to develop a plan to catch that pretty boy slippin.” Roscoe frowned.
The guard announced that visiting time was over. We said our goodbyes and I headed for the door laughing all the way to my car because I knew victory was closer than I thought it was.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Mina
I lay in the bed and pretended to be asleep while Tre’ felt all over me. I wished he would just lose the urge or get a phone call or something. My prayers were answered when his cell phone vibrated on the nightstand. I peeked through one eye as he fumbled with his phone, then scrambled to his feet. “Hey Mario what’s up…un huh…ok fo’ sho’ I’m on my way.” He hung up the phone, went into the closet, got dressed, grabbed his keys, and hurried down the steps. I sat up as soon as I heard his truck leave the driveway and grabbed my new book, Dope, Death and Deception by India. I continued to read from where I’d left off earlier.
It was something about a good book that always made me lose track of time. Without Tre’ around, I was so relaxed and in the zone that I hadn’t even realized it was going on two hours later. I was almost finished with the book when I was interrupted by the house phone ringing. “Hello.” I asked as I looked at the caller I.D. trying to figure out who was calling at four o’clock in the morning.
“Hey Mina, sorry to wake you but we have a problem, have you seen Tre’?” Sam asked in an irritated tone. Closing the book, I stood up with knots in my stomach.
“Um, no what happened? All I know is that he got a call from Mario then he left. He’s been gone for at least two hours now.” I started to pace back and forth.
“Well he was supposed to make a pick-up, drop it off, get the cash, then meet me. I just called around and he is nowhere to be found. He made the pick-up but never made the drop. He got us on the line here and I’m wondering if everything is okay.” Sam admitted.
Oh my god, he did it again. I thought as tears began to fall. I knew then and there that we were dead but spoke calmly. “As soon as he get here, I’ll make sure that he calls you, okay.”
“Yeah aiight!” He yelled and hung up. I immediately called Tre’ but he didn’t answer. After the fifth call, I texted him: What the fuck happened? Call me!
Twenty minutes had past and there was still no word on Tre’. Feeling alone and knowing the only one that was going to save me was me. I went downstairs and sat by the door with my .22 waiting on someone to bust it down because of his dumb-ass mistake. I should’ve just gotten in the car and drove away from here, but where would I go? I hadn’t spoken to my family in years and I really didn’t have any money so I wouldn’t get far. I rocked back and forth; jumping every time I heard a sound from outside. I must’ve dosed off. The sun shining in my face as well as the sounds of chirping birds woke me up. I looked up at the clock on my cable box; it read 8:15 a.m. “What the hell.” I picked up the phone and called Tre’ several more times. I still didn’t get an answer. I was about to try again but the phone rang. I answered it instantly. “Tre’?” There was a pause, then Mario coldly replied.
“I don’t mean no disrespect Mina but where in the fuck is your husband with my shit!”
“Mario, I don’t know what to say but he ain’t been home all night and I’m worried.” I said, because I honestly was scared that he might be hurt or something.
“For your sake, he better be hurt, because if he ain’t then he gone be a lot worse when I find him.” he barked.
“Please Mario. Please give me a minute to find him; I’m sure whatever he did can be sorted out.” I pleaded.
“Look, I’m going out-of-town later tonight but when I get back, I want my shit or my muthafuckin’ money!” he demanded.
“Just out of curiosity, how much was the package worth?” I couldn’t believe I had just asked that question, but I had to know what I was dealing with. I held my breath waiting for the amount.
“Twenty thousand dollars.” He answered. Then the phone went dead, signaling to me that Mario had hung up. I began to cry again because I damn sure didn’t have that kind of money.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Nikki
“If I don’t get my shit, that nigga and his wife is dead!” Rio slammed his cell phone down, then sat on the edge of the bed causing me to jump up.
“What happened?”
“My nigga Rob got knocked by the hook last night. We needed a package to be picked up from his spot then dropped off over at Tiger’s spot where he would get the cash and meet up with Sam. We put that nigga Tre’ on tonight, in place of Rob. Now that nigga done went missing and my gut is telling me that I got played! My fuckin heart told me that I shouldn’t let that nigga in my circle but we was low on man power. Besides, a few niggas in the hood vouched for him; saying he was that nigga in Ohio. Man, shit!” He punched the bed, barely missing my foot.
“Baby calm down, we gone get it back! What did his wife say?”
“She ain’t heard from him, talking ‘bout he might be hurt. I ain’t hearing that because ain’t nobody in Detroit stupid enough to fuck wit’ my shit. So I know for a fact that he wasn’t robbed or no shit like that.” he insisted.
I got up from the bed and sat beside him. He was so mad that he was shaking his leg rapidly. “Rio what if he had a car accident or something. His wife knows her husband and she’s probably wor
ried out of her mind.” I said, thinking of Mina because I’d been in her shoes a few times waiting for Rio to come home for days.
“That nigga was ridin’ with twenty thousand dollars worth of heroin Nikki. If he had an accident, they would’ve found that shit in the car. You can bet some shit like that would’ve been all over the news by now.”
He had a point, so I decided to drop the issue because the more we talked about it, the more pissed off he would get, and I wasn’t in the mood for one of his bitch fits. I kissed his cheek then walked into the bathroom to brush my teeth and take a shower. I would’ve told Rio to join me for some top of the morning sex, but I knew he was not in the mood.
I dressed in a yellow sun dress with gold accessories and my new coach sandals. I heard Junior crying, so I headed across the hall into his room. I smiled to see that Rio had already picked him up and was rocking him back and forth. “Stop crying daddy’s lil man.” Rio said then made the shhh sound.
“Aww, you guys look too cute. Well don’t let me interrupt your father-son time.” I kissed both of them on the forehead and told Rio I would be back. He nodded, and I headed out the door.
I pulled my Range Rover up to the front of Chloe’s building. She came right out, waving and smiling. “What up doe?” I spoke.
“Girl, I’m too geeked about the trip. I can’t wait. Shit, I’m already finished packing!” She exclaimed as she snapped her seatbelt.
“So why are we going to the mall?” I quizzed because she was the one that called me last night begging me to go shopping with her.
“A girl can never have too many things for Miami and we will be there for two weeks. Girl please.” She waived me off like I was the rookie and she was schooling me.
“Well darling, you can shop all you want here in Detroit. A real boss, like me, will do all of my shopping when I get there. I want to pop tags on everything, all the way down to my panties.” We both laughed at my joke as I merged unto the Southfield freeway.
