Here we go again, Cartier thought. Monya on this fairest-of-them-all shit again. She's always telling tales about how some dude is crying over her bony ass, begging her to be his chick, or dissing some chick for her. Please, bitch, can the Cartel see this shit just once?
Cartier didn't feed into Monya's ego. She excused herself and went in the room with her mother. She knew if she stayed, her thoughts would become verbal, and she didn't want to crush Monya's spirit or her own spirit before their dates.
Wise came to pick up Monya ten minutes prior to Ryan picking up Cartier. Cartier watched as Monya and Wise drove off. One part of her wanted Monya to lock it down with Wise, while the other part wanted Wise to shit on her and crush her huge ego. Although Cartier loved Monya like a sister, there was still a competitive streak for both of them and it seemed their interest in men was bringing that to the forefront.
Monya relaxed as the car glided over the pavement. She felt more like she was riding on a magic carpet than in a vehicle.
"Where we going?" she asked as they headed down Atlantic Avenue toward the FDR.
"I was thinking that we go to eat at Benihana's. Would you like that?"
Monya looked into his dreamy eyes and got lost. She really wanted to be his girl.
"Yeah, that's cool."
"You ever been there?"
"Of course," she lied. She really didn't know why she lied, but Wise was her first adult boyfriend. She didn't want him thinking she wasn't used to shit. Truth be told, all her other boyfriends didn't have money to take her to a nice restaurant, didn't have a vehicle, or didn't have any style. She'd gone out to dinner before, but Red Lobster was the closest she'd gotten to upscale.
"I love their food," she lied again.
"I mean, it's a'ight," Wise commented. "I would have taken you to Mr. Chow's, but I couldn't get a reservation." Now it was his turn to lie. In the matter of women, Wise was a practical guy. He wasn't about to drop $300 for a good time that didn't include him getting pussy later. She's lucky I brought her ass to Benihana's. He knew her full resume and knew she had an ulterior motive, just like he did.
"Well, we can go there next time?" Monya asked joyfully.
"No doubt," he paused. Shit better be tight and tasty to get that kinda money out of me. He knew it was best to change the subject. "You looking really sexy tonight. What's the name of those shoes you got on?"
"Thank you." She smiled. "These are Jimmy Choos."
"Word? How much those joints cost?"
Monya got excited. Was he going to take her shopping? Perhaps she didn't miss out on anything with Cartier bagging Ryan. She possibly had the moneymaker sitting next to her.
"I paid four hundred for these"
"You bought those?" Wise asked with surprise in his voice.
"What do you mean did I buy these?" Monya questioned with shock on her face. "They ain't free."
"You paid cash out of your wallet for those shoes?" Wise still had doubt in his voice.
Monya didn't knowwhat he was trying to say. She wondered ifhe thought that some other dude bought her shoes and he was getting jealous. She didn't know how to handle the situation and wished Cartier was there to help her. She decided to calm the situation and show him her independence.
"Of course I bought them myself. Ain't no nigga give me the money for these."
Wise hated the way she spoke. She had such a pretty face, but her speech told a different story. The women he usually dated were well-spoken and educated. Monya was the typical Brooklyn broad-ghetto as hell.
"Get the fuck outta here," Wise said laughingly. "You trying to rock a nigga to sleep with that bullshit."
Now Monya was truly confused. If Wise had a point, she wished that he would get to it.
"So how did I get them?" she asked.
"Don't you be boosting?" he retorted.
That mere word, boosting, sent waves of embarrassment down her spine.
Then she remembered she and the Cartel had a reputation that preceded them. She wasn't down for games and saw no point in lying.
"I mean, hell yeah, we be getting that paper, but your question was about my shoes and I bought these."
"So it ain't that easy boosting shoes?"
"It depends on the store and the salesperson. Sometimes, they get caught slipping. Other times, they're not having it."
"So when you gonna get me some shit?"
Monya sunk even lower in her seat. She couldn't believe that this nigga just tried to play her. Disappointment immediately set in, but she wanted to rise above the feeling.
"Well, if you were my man and if I was still boosting, then maybe I would."
"Oh, now all of a sudden you stopped boosting?" Wise's voice was laced with sarcasm and Monya wasn't feeling him at all. She resented that he put her on the spot and didn't like the interrogation.
"It's none of your business when I stopped or if I stopped," Monya snapped back. She was too cute to be under such pressure. This nigga can bounce for all I care. There'll be another one rolling through soon. "I don't know what the fuck you thought, but you got me mixed up."
"Do I?"
Monya hated the sarcasm in his every comment. "Truly you do," she said with equal sarcasm.
For the rest of the ride, they sat in uncomfortable silence. When they pulled up to park on the side block, Monya decided to make small talk.
"I'm so hungry right now. What about you?"
"That's the reason we're going to eat, right? Because we're hungry?" the sarcasm continued to drip in his every comment. Not waiting for a reply he stated, "Watch my car door when you open it."
Monya could sense his mood had shifted and she didn't want it to be a dull night. Not one to stay in a funk, she hoped she could put a smile on his face before the night ended.
Cartier and Ryan hit it off from the start. When he pulled up to her apartment building, he actually got out of the car and opened her car door. Cartier was impressed. She'd never experienced such chivalry. Most of the boys she grew up with couldn't spell or ever heard the word chivalry. That one act had already placed Ryan above the guys she had dated before.
"When I saw you I was mesmerized," Ryan stated on the ride to the restaurant. "I was like, 'I gotta get to know shorty.' "
"I didn't even know you were checking for me. I thought you were checking for my homegirl"
"Which one? The skinny, Indian-looking chick?"
"Yeah, her. But she's not Indian, she's black."
"Yeah, yeah, I know who you talking about. But nah, I didn't even see shorty. All I saw was you. You were wearing the hell out of those jeans."
Cartier giggled and was totally consumed by Ryan's compliments. She couldn't remember the last time she'd blushed. "When you stepped to me I was thinking how sexy you were. I knew you weren't from Brooklyn"
"What gave me away?"
"Your blowout," Cartier said with a smile.
Ryan looked at himself in his rearview mirror and then profiled to see each angle. He knew he was eye candy and few women, if any, could resist his charms. "Yeah, most girls think this is a good look"
"Most girls? How many do you got?" Cartier asked, with a half-hearted smile.
"I don't got none at the moment, but I see one that I definitely want."
"Oh really?" Cartier said coyly.
"Umm hummm. And she's sexy as hell. And she has the perfect lips ... can you kiss?"
Cartier waited until they stopped at a red light, then leaned over and kissed his soft lips. His tongue game was perfect. He was a man who knew how to kiss. The kiss wasn't too wet, and he teased her with just enough tongue. He wasn't one of those brothas who forced his tongue down your throat. Cartier felt all tingly inside as she pulled back and relaxed into her seat.
Ryan's dick immediately got hard as he put his hand over it and adjusted his boxers. "Damn, ma, you see that shit?"
How can I miss it? Was what she wanted to say. His dick was bulging through his loose-fitting jeans and she was impressed. Inst
ead of speaking, she just giggled.
"You got a nigga all hard just from your kiss. I see you dangerous and I gotta watch out for you."
She wanted to say something about that too, but once again, she just played it off.
Cartier liked the chemistry between her and Ryan. Both had expressed in the car how nice it would be to get fucked up on wine or hard liquor at the restaurant.
"Cartier," a voice called. Cartier searched the crowded tables and her face lit up when she saw Monya. She was waving her hands wildly in the air and gesturing for them to come over.
Cartier looked to Ryan. "That's my best friend, Monya. Can we sit with them?"
"It's all good," Ryan said as he addressed the waiter. "Can we sit at that table?" pointing to the table next to Wise and Monya.
Wise and Ryan gave each other a head nod, while simultaneously closely examining each other's bling. They were both iced out with platinum watches and rings, and dressed neatly.
"I can't believe we both ended up at the same restaurant," Cartier exclaimed. She took off her mink jacket and both men's eyes quickly darted toward her big ass.
This moment didn't go unnoticed by Monya. A shot of jealousy surged through her body. She was tired of Cartier showing off her body. Why don't the bitch just sign up for a strip club and jump on a pole?
Cartier enjoyed the moment. She stood for several seconds, letting Ryan, Wise, and others in the restaurant get an eyeful before finally retiring to her seat. She knew how to play the game.
"I know... what a shock to see you," Cartier began. "Hi Wise." Wise gave her a head nod in return. Cartier could clearly see he was in a sour mood. "Wise, this is Ryan. Ryan, Wise."
Both men exchanged nods again.
Ryan leaned over and whispered in Cartier's ear, "Damn, you're trying to give a nigga a heart attack tonight in that outfit." He then put his hand on Cartier's thigh and squeezed.
Monya watched with envy as the two lovebirds cuddled throughout dinner. It was noticeable to Wise. They didn't talk to each other throughout dinner. When it was time to pay the check, Wise got his revenge. He dropped fifty dollars for his half of the check and left Monya hanging.
"Oh, it's like that?" Monya asked in disbelief.
Wise pulled up, adjusted his sagging jeans, and replied, "You already know what it is," and walked off. Monya eyes popped open like saucers, with a look of surprise plastered on her face.
"What the fuck is going on?" Cartier asked.
"That motherfucker is bugging," Monya replied, getting hyped.
Ryan quelled the situation by paying for the check in full. He had his own bad ways, but he wasn't petty over nickel and dime shit. It was boyish and childish to disrespect a female, especially in public. He wasn't a chump like that. Regardless of the situation, he would have manned up and paid the check. There were other ways to get payback, if payback was truly needed. If not, he would have just left the bitch alone. Wise was a petty brotha and petty brothas didn't get or deserve respect.
On the ride home the two women wouldn't stop clowning Wise.
"I can't wait to get on the horn and tell everybody what the fuck he did." Monya glared.
"He's a crab-ass nigga!" Cartier added.
"He gonna get his. Don't let me see him when I'm with One-Eighty or those other niggas from the Stuy. They will seriously beat his Queens ass down!"
"I know that's right. In fact, we don't need to get no one to beat his ass, we can do that shit ourselves," Cartier retorted and Monya knew she was dead serious.
When Ryan pulled up in front of Monya's building, he wasn't ready for Cartier to leave. He squeezed her hand and gave her a look. Cartier knew exactly what that look meant.
"Monya, I'll see you tomorrow," Cartier said.
"What? You not coming with me?" Monya asked weakly.
"I said I'll see you tomorrow. That means don't wait up, bitch."
Monya smiled and got out of the car, but inside she was steaming. She knew Cartier was about to get some dick, the dick that was supposed to be hers. The dick she had dreamed about and wanted for months on end.
Slutty bitch, was her lasting thought.
ver the next couple of days, Cartier and Ryan were inseparable. When she wasn't overseeing drug deals, or hanging out with the Cartel, she and Ryan were developing a serious relationship.
Their relationship didn't sit well with Monya and Jason. As a distraction, Monya had fucked through the borough. Some joked she was the neighborhood ho now.
Jason, on the other hand, was stunned. Cartier was the love of his life and it hurt him to see Cartier with Ryan.
"Yo, I should just knock that nigga off," Jason said.
"You can't kill him," Monya replied, thinking that this wasn't a part of the plan.
"And why not? I can post up out here and wait on that silly motherfucker to pull up for Cartier and push his wig back." Jason was so angry his nose flared as he spoke about murdering a man he didn't even know.
"Because that's stupid, that's why. She ain't worth taking a life over."
"She's worth that to me," Jason replied stubbornly. Jason was in love with the only girl he ever had eyes for-Cartier. Since grade school, she had been his future. She was the girl, and now the woman he always wanted. Watching Cartier with another man hurt. He couldn't take seeing Ryan and his luxurious ride while he still drove a used Pathfinder, or watching him spoil Cartier with gifts and money while she wouldn't give Jason the time of day. Jason didn't think of himself as a jealous guy, but he had never dealt with someone having something or someone he wanted. He was jealous of this mysterious uptown dude who had stolen the love of his life, the woman who had his heart.
He and Monya sat in his jeep, sipping on a small bottle of Hennessy, commiserating. It was a pity party for two. Monya didn't like seeing Cartier happy, but she couldn't explain why. She wanted Jason to step up his game and pull Cartier. She didn't want Cartier and Ryan falling more in love, and Ryan buying a car for Cartier. As bad as the Cartel needed a whip, she didn't want it to be Cartier who provided it by way of Ryan.
"Why don't you ever tell her how you feel?" Monya asked.
"What the fuck you think I've been doing? Cartier knows exactly how I feel."
"Well, obviously, what you've been doing ain't enough. There's no way this outsider should have been able to swoop down and bag her." Monya knew what she was doing. She knew what buttons to push. And she needed Jason to be pushed.
Jason's anger was increasing. He felt like a chump, a loser who couldn't even pull the girl he dreamed about. But what he couldn't understand was why Monya cared so much.
"Monya, you and I ain't never been cool. Why the fuck you care if I get with Cartier? What's in it for you?"
Monya didn't expect the question, but she had confidence on her side. She thought she was smarter than Jason and could easily manipulate him. "This really ain't even about you-"
"That's exactly what I mean. If this ain't about me, then what's it about?" Jason snapped back.
"It's about my best friend," Monya tried explaining. "This guy is no good for her and I hate to see her making a big mistake."
"Then why don't you tell her?"
"I did," Monya lied. "She just won't listen to me"
"Then let's go back to plan A and let me push back this nigga's wig!"
Monya thought about it for a second before coming to her senses. She couldn't believe she'd actually entertained the thought of having an innocent man murdered. Quickly, she snapped back to reality. There wasn't any way she could have blood on her hands. That was just bad karma. Plus, she still had feelings for Ryan, and the last thing she wanted was for him to die. And worse, she didn't want to be a part of such a death.
Monya was aggravated. She looked at the pitiful look in Jason's eyes and listened to the yearning in his voice, and for the life of her, she couldn't understand why he liked Cartier so much. What in the hell did these men see that she didn't see? On a scale of one to ten, Cartier was a struggling
four. And three out of those four points were for her body. Why can't anyone else see this?
"Calm the fuck down," Monya snapped. "You ready to do a bid over Cartier? I don't know what the fuck is so special that motherfuckers are losing their minds over her."
"Let's keep this gangsta. Ain't nobody losing their mind," Jason said. "I'm just saying that I have more to offer than that lame, permed-hair faggot."
"Whatever."
Monya was disgusted and felt that they weren't getting anywhere. She decided to carry her ass back upstairs. Tomorrow was another day.
he anger brewing inside the young black male was palpable. He told those hard-headed little bitches not to sell shit on his corner, and they defied him. He couldn't fucking believe it. He sat inside the front seat of his black Yukon watching as Bam did a hand-to-hand transaction to Shirelle, one of the local fiends.
Each time she served a customer, Donnie rationalized that they were taking food out of his daughter's mouth and money out of his pocket. As the car sat idling, a million thoughts flowed through his mind. But one thought remained constant: to bust a cap in the young bitch's ass.
Donnie took another long, steady pull from his blunt, ignoring the repeated calls his phone kept registering. He was in his world, contemplating doing the deed of a dealer and protecting his turf.As the purple haze permeated the confined space in the car, he began coughing, trying desperately to control his breathing. He was beyond fucked up. He reached inside his glove compartment and pulled out a small bottle of Hennessy to lubricate his dry, pasty mouth. The strong cognac burned his throat as he took a large swig of the dark liquid. His body felt warm as the alcohol traveled through his body. He loved this feeling.
Normally this would have been a job for one of his boys, one of the peons who worked for him. But tonight was about a statement, a statement he wanted the hood to hear loud and clear-that these young bitches and anyone like them would never punk him in front of his peoples. This was man business, and he was the man delivering the message tonight.
When the incessant ringing of his telephone blared again, he decided to pick up. It was his baby's momma, Pebbles. There was no reason for him to ignore her call when he wasn't out fucking some other chick.
Cartier Cartel Page 6
