(2012) The Real Hoodwives of Detroit

by India

“Why a year or two and not tomorrow?” He sat up looking me square in the face.

  “Dang! Why you want me to leave so soon?” I joked hoping he was too.

  “It ain’t like that Mina.” He smiled. “I’ll be a lil’ down about it, but if you think you have a good opportunity, I think you should go for it. Who knows, maybe when I’ve had enough of the street life. I can come down there and look you up.” He looked at me seriously. Downed his glass of Champagne and stood to go get the bottle.

  “Why wait? You should come too!” I blurted out before I realized it. He grabbed the bottle and came back plopping back down on the couch. It was the longest five minutes of my life as I waited for him to reply. He sat back and looked as if he was seriously considering my proposal.

  Chapter Fifty

  Chloe

  Again, another late night! Sam hadn’t come in until after five a.m. and I was pissed.

  “Where the fuck have you been.” I snapped as he came out of the bathroom shirtless with just his pajama bottoms on.

  “Fuck you mean, I been hustlin’! You know the shit I do in order to keep this big ass roof over your head and designer names across your ass!” He was being sarcastic and it was agitating me.

  “Fuck you nigga.” I spat.

  “You know what Chloe, I ain’t want this shit you wanted this, so fuck you to!” He grabbed a pillow and was about to walk out of the room, but I grabbed his arm.

  “Listen, I’m sorry Sam don’t leave. I just get so frustrated because you’re barely home and when you won’t tell me what you’re doing or where you were all day it just makes me crazy.” I had to fix this situation because my case wasn’t getting anywhere. Sam wasn’t talking. Even when my guys followed him, they always seemed to lose him. He used so many forms of transportation. He never took the same way to and from home. Therefore, I knew he never took the same route to make his runs or meetings with Zion.

  “Chloe you knew what you were getting into. Don’t try to make me feel bad. I don’t know why you trippin’. I’ve never discussed with you the things that I do when it comes to the streets. Sometimes baby, not knowing things are for your own good. The less you know, the better.” He put his pillow back down on the bed and pulled the covers back.

  “Yeah but it never seemed like you was gone that much when you had Mario with you but now things have changed.” I sat back down on my side of the bed.

  “Yeah they have changed. I accepted the position so for better or worse I gotta ride this one out. I got a lot of shit on my mind; the last thing I want to do is come home and argue with my lady.” He turned to face me and I knew I had found a way in.

  “What kind of stuff baby, what’s wrong? You ain’t in trouble are you?” I gave him the concerned face.

  “No baby, nothing like that. I guess it’s just what they say, more money, more problems. I got niggas on my team fucking up. I got other niggas expecting me to be Mario. It’s hard as hell to walk in his shoes. Besides, I think I got a tale on my ass.” At the mention of the police, I tensed-up.

  “Why you think the hook on you?” I tried to calm my shaking hands.

  “Because, some clown-ass detectives follow me around all day and night, but don’t worry they won’t catch your boy slippin’.”

  I felt nauseous. “How do you know it’s the police and not just some random coincidence?”

  “When you grow up in the projects, like I did, you can spot a cop with your eyes closed.” He laughed. “I ain’t really worried. Like I said, they won’t catch me slippin’.” I just hope we don’t have a leak in our foundation though.”

  “A snitch.” I confirmed.

  “Yeah, because it seem like them niggas only show up when I leave for meetings with Zion. Not to mention the fact they know where I live. Nobody know where I lay my head except a small handful of people. This shit is buggin’ me out, trying to figure out who snitchin’ and bringing heat on us.

  I wanted to bust his bubble and tell him that I was narc just to see the wack ass look in his face. Instead I turned over and told him goodnight.

  Chapter Fifty-One

  Tonya

  Life without Roscoe was hard, but it was what it was. Instead of sitting around crying and being miserable, I was getting’ it in. I decided to let my mother have custody of the kids shortly after the funeral to fully move on with my life. To be honest, up until Roscoe died, I thought I wanted to have a lot of kids. Since he’s been gone, I’ve come to the conclusion that the single life was better for me. Hell, me and my new friend, Amber were partying like rock stars and tonight was no different. “Girl where we going tonight.” She walked into my front door wearing a black spandex cat suit, with gold accents, and gold platform boots.

  “We’re headed to Club Amnesia. I heard it’s bumping. Tonight I want to get fucked up and find someone to bring home.” I noticed that she frowned but I paid her no mind. It seems like whenever I mention getting with someone else, she would act or look a certain way. I knew it was because Roscoe was her friend. Hey, life goes on. She also flipped the script when I told her I was leaving the kids at my mom’s for good but they were my kids so she left it alone.

  About three hours later, we were getting it in at the club. All the men were buying us drinks. “Damn slow down you gotta drive us home.” I yelled over the music. Her ass was getting wasted and I was concerned.

  “I’m…good.” She slurred as she took one more shot to the head.

  “Girl this is like your ninth shot. Not to mention those three tequila sunrises you had when we first got here nor the long island that you downed twenty minutes ago.”

  “Damn, is you the po po? Yo’ ass clocking my shit tough.” She rolled her eyes.

  “Naw I ain’t the police, but I’m your friend. As a friend, I want you to know you’re getting sloppy.”

  “I’m a G. So don’t worry about me. I got this.” Her eyes were so glossy. I watched her sway from side-to-side.

  “Let’s go sit down.” I pulled her away from the bar and over to the lounge area.

  “Damn Tonya, normally you the party girl. Now you all uptight ‘cause I’m having all the fun.” She laughed a little too long at her unfunny humor. It was annoying the hell out of me. How can I pull a nigga and babysit her drunk ass at the same time?

  “Oh, I’m having a good time. I just don’t want you to get all sloppy and embarrass me.” I laughed and she flipped me the bird. Just then, Toni Braxton’s song, Seven Nights came on. Amber began to sing along. I laughed at her facial expressions because home girl was really into her performance.

  “Seven hole nights and I’m just about through. I can’t take it, won’t take it, I had about enough of you.” She swayed from side-to-side off rhythm. I was rolling.

  “So I guess that’s your song, huh?”

  “Shit you just don’t know, my mama used to jam to that song on full blast for days at a time when my daddy was out hustlin’. Now it’s become my song.” She smirked. I listened closely because very seldom did she ever talk about her life. Therefore, whenever she did talk, I made sure I didn’t miss a beat.

  “Girl, my man be out in them streets day in and day out. I never see him anymore.” She stared off.

  “Does he handle the east or the west side?” I was trying to see if I knew him.

  “He handles Mario’s old crew.” She looked at me in horror, like she knew she had fucked up the minute she said it. To be honest, she did.

  “Mario? How do you know Mario?” I asked, knowing now that her story was flawed.

  Chapter Fifty-Two

  Chloe

  “Ain’t this a bitch!” I wanted to say after Tonya asked me about Mario.

  “Well the dude that I’m kicking it with was already working for him when we met. I guess he got bumped up or something when Mario retired I guess.” I was stumbling over my words but I continued to ramble on. “I really don’t know too much but we been kickin’ it since I came back in town. It ain’t gone work out ‘cause I think he got
somebody else…do you know him?” I played that shit off giving her the best excuse I could come up with in my inebriated state of mind. She looked at me doubtfully then answered with a sinister look on her face.

  “Yeah his name is Sam. He do got somebody else, her name is Chloe. I met her once at the nail shop with Nikki. I don’t know her personally but I do know that is definitely his main chick. Girl you being played.”

  “Are you serious? I need to leave now! Me and Sam got something to talk about?” I pretended to be disappointed. She stood with me and we headed to the door.

  In the car, I continued to rant and rave while she just sat back and listened. I didn’t know what she was thinking but something was definitely on her mind. I sped to her house; ready to drop her off A.S.A.P. I needed a way to fix this and clear my head. I was blowing my case. I planned to tell Tonya everything so she could help me close this case, but I had to gain her trust. Her ass was sneaky and I feared if I let her in on my plan too soon, she would use it against me. I didn’t want her to find out now and put my work in jeopardy. I had to regroup. I was close to being an epic failure.

  Maybe I should just explain now and put her onboard with this just get it over with…but what if she ain’t down? I fought with myself until we reached her house.

  “Can I come in?” I asked and she nodded. We walked into the living room. We both took seats on the couch. Before I could speak, I was interrupted. “So bitch who the fuck are you?”

  “Well?” I began, but she kept going.

  “See, I may not be book smart but my street knowledge is through the roof!” She removed her shoes, never taking her eyes off me. “I knew that something wasn’t right with you. How you just showed up out of the blue and all. Throwing money my way and shit, but believe this, Tonya can’t be bought.” She reached for the ponytail holder on her table and pulled her hair back. I didn’t know how to read her but I was ready for whatever. “On the ride home, I started putting two and two together. You set this whole thing up didn’t you!” She accused me.

  “Set what up?” I played dumb.

  “Before Roscoe died, he told me he had an insider telling him where the truck was going to be and what time it was supposed to be there. I wondered how he got that info. Now I know it was yo’ ass.” She lit a Newport and took a long drag. “You and Sam sucked up to Mario making him think when he retired he was giving the game to a loyal, trustworthy friend, but this whole time you just wanted what was his.” She blew smoke in my direction.

  “No Tonya, I swear it’s not like that.” I began to explain only to be cut off again. This girl thought she had it figured out but she was way off. Yes, I pushed Sam into this business but not for the reasons that she thought. Hell, I wanted to get more insight on the new case that I was assigned to and unbeknownst to Sam, he was just my way in.

  “You and Sam plotted to kill Mario didn’t you?” Now that accusation had me sober and up out of my seat.

  “What the fuck are you talking about?”

  “You wanted that truck didn’t you! With all the dope in it, who wouldn’t?” She sat back on the couch and gave me a knowing smirk.

  “Bitch I ain’t none of you! You wanted that dope so bad you came down to the Eastern Market yourself.” I pointed back at her. “Yeah, that was your greedy ass with the gun pointed at the truck.” Her mouth dropped. Now it was my turn to smirk.

  “So yo’ ass was there then, huh? Well, I wonder what I could get if I called Mario and told him that you and Sam shot his wife.” She reached for her cell phone. I had to think quick.

  “Here use mine.” I said, tossing my shit straight at her face. Her natural reaction was to reach up and catch it in order to stop it from making contact with her face.

  “What the fuck! I don’t want to use your shit.”

  “Look at what you’re holding.” I could barely contain my laughter. I hadn’t tossed her a cell phone at all. I had tossed her my Beretta. A throw away gun that I purchased off the street.

  “Oh shit!” Was all she could say as she looked down at the gun that now had her finger prints all over it.

  “See, I was just trying to help your stupid ass. All I wanted you to do was testify about certain suspects in my case. I was going to pay you big with all the money that I’ve been stashing from Sam, but no you just had to jump the gun.”

  “What case.” She looked puzzled.

  “The one that I’m building on crime boss Zion.” I pulled my badge from the inside lining of my jacket and placed it on the table. The look on her face was priceless. I always kept a concealed compartment in all of my jackets and purses just in case I needed it. Right now I was so glad that I had it.

  “You’re a fuckin’ cop? I didn’t know that Amber. I’m sorry. I swear I won’t say nothing to nobody. I can get you info on Zion. I have a few girlfriends that have niggas in his circle. Just give me a few days.” She was about to cry as she pleaded her case. No matter what she said or how good it sounded, I’m sure she knew what was about to go down.

  “See Tonya it’s too late. Now the deal is off the table and the game is over.” I stepped back and pulled my government issued gun out of my purse and pointed it at her. “Tonya Carter put down your weapon now! I am an officer of the law. I repeat, please lower your weapon!” I said in a calm tone. She looked confused and stood, dropping the gun to the floor.

  “Please, I have kids, don’t do this.” she begged.

  “Oh now your kids are important, huh?” POP POP two shots to the chest ended Tonya’s life as she fell to the floor. I staged the house to look like she had fired at me first. I grabbed my cell to put the cherry on top. “911 what’s the emergency?” “Undercover officer involved in a shootout. In need of assistance.”

  Chapter Fifty-Three

  Gucci

  I awoke this morning to the smell of breakfast. I smiled because I knew Mario was still here. “Good morning, how did you sleep.” He walked in carrying a tray of bacon, sausage, eggs, grits, and French toast.

  “Wow! All of this for me, what did I do to deserve this?” I sat up in bed sliding the tray up to my protruding belly.

  “Well, it’s sort of a peace offering. I know that I’ve put you through a lot. I just wanted to say that I’m sorry. This morning I woke up and decided that today is the first day of my new life. I’m ready to get Jr. back from my mother and bring him home where he belongs. I’ve come to peace with the fact that Nikki ain’t never coming home. In life, we lose people all the time. Knowing that, never makes it easy. It’s that much harder when the life of the one you love is in your hands.” As he spoke, a tear slipped down my cheek. I had never even thought about it like that. I really felt bad for making him choose.

  “Mario I’m sorry for trippin’ on you. I guess I never saw your side in this. I struggle with the fact that this was never supposed to happen, but trust me, I’m okay if you want to leave. I know that you’ll be a good father but we don’t have to be together. I don’t want you to feel obligated to be with me. No matter what, you’ll always be my best friend and I love you.” I said, because last night I had come to the conclusion that I didn’t want to lose Mario as my friend. If that meant letting him go as my man, then I was prepared. He meant too much to me to lose him over something like this. He didn’t respond. He just got down on the floor with tears in his eyes. I thought he was finally about to breakdown and vent about his emotions, so I moved the tray aside, slid to the side of the bed, and placed my hand on top of his hand.

  “G, I want you to be my wife.” His words stunned me into silence as he pulled the biggest chocolate diamond that I had ever seen out of a black box. “I want my new life to include you as my new first lady. My son as my prince and our daughter as my princess. My family is complete again. I don’t want to let this blessing from God get by me. He is giving me a second chance and I’m going to take it. I’m going down to the hospital tonight. I’m going to send Nikki to Heaven because I want her to finally have peace.

 
Chapter Fifty-Four

  Chloe

  “Got dammit Robin! You’re off this case.” My boss yelled when I called to tell him that Tonya was shot.

  “Sir it was self defense.” I tried to explain.

  “You’ve got a dead witness and barely enough evidence to arrest anybody. I don’t see how we’re building a case against somebody. All of the people that can get you one step closer to him are all doing other things now. For some odd reason, you pulled your brother off the case and I can’t understand why. He was supposed to be your nail in the coffin. Not to mention that your make believe boyfriend is at the top of the food chain and rubbing elbows with our target daily and we still haven’t bagged his ass.” He shook his head in disgust.

  “I told you that I pulled Roscoe because he wasn’t getting any rhythm with them. They had removed him from their circle by the time that he got out. Tonya messed up their relationship. Therefore, he was not offered another position with Mario’s organization. Even if he was, they would’ve never let him anywhere near the head honcho again. He would’ve been made to start at the bottom.” I didn’t want to tell him that my brother got greedy after I let it slip about the drop.

  “Okay, what’s going on with Sam. From the reports Carver and Swift are giving me, he’s sending them on one hell of a goose chase. The only thing your pretty-boy boyfriend is doing on the regular, is visiting someone at the MGM casino hotel.”

  “Well maybe that’s where he’s visiting our target?” I thought I had hit the jackpot. I hadn’t known about this information before, but now I’m sure that’s where he has to be doing business with Zion. The only thing that I have to do now, is set up surveillance at the casino and find out when the next big transaction is so I can catch this bastard red-handed.

  “Unfortunately Robin, the room is registered to Sam himself. We checked it out one night when the room was vacant. It appears to be a woman staying there. So again, we’re back to square one.” He puffed on a Newport while the medical examiner bagged Tonya up.