Childhood Sweethearts PT 5

by Jacob Spears

  Amazing! China thought as she closed her eyes and dozed off to sleep in no time.

  * * *

  When Javier pulled up to Roxy’s soul food restaurant, he pulled in next to a blue Suburban and rolled down his window. The window of the Suburban rolled down at the same time.

  “What the news over here, esé?” Javier asked his M-13 brother, Marco, who was keeping an eye out for China to show up at the restaurant.

  “Like always since we’ve been coming here. The bitch hasn’t shown her face. It’s like she knows we’re watching. Or maybe it’s her watching us, homes,” Marco said, passing a kush blunt to his M-13 brother named Jr. sitting in the passenger seat.

  “I’m sure she’ll show up soon. If not, we just gotta make her come to us, homes. Her sister owns the joint,” Javier informed Marco.

  “That’ll be a piece of cake, esé.”

  “I know. Let’s just give her a couple more days before we act on that suggestion, amigo,” Javier continued.

  “Okay, homie. Just know, we watching this spot with an eagle eye,” Marco said.

  “Good, because that’s what we’re gonna need, Marco. So let’s continue to keep our eyes open,” Javier said as he backed out of the parking space and departed.

  “I can’t wait to meet China,” Marco told Jr.

  “Me neither. I want to see how sideways Chinese pussy really is,” Jr. replied with an evil smirk on his face.

  5

  “JENNY DAVIS, REPORT to visitation,” the CO announced over the PA system.

  “There you go, baby,” Carlisha said to Jenny, who was lying down on her bunk cuddling with her.

  “Yeah, that’s China,” Jenny said as she stripped out of her gym shorts and grabbed her visitation uniform.

  Jenny wore nothing but her white cotton Hanes panties and a gray sports bra, which turned on Carlisha.

  Damn, I have a bad-ass bitch! Carlisha acknowledged as Jenny applied cocoa butter lotion to her flawless, brown lustrous skin.

  “Let me lotion your legs for you, baby.”

  “Okay,” Jenny said as she turned around and squirted lotion into Carlisha’s palms. She then turned back around and let her apply the lotion to her back and inner thighs, all the way down to her ankles.

  Jenny loved the delicate touch of Carlisha caressing her body.

  “I could never get enough of loving your body, baby. If China don’t know, she definitely has a prize in her life,” Carlisha said.

  “I think she knows that, boo,” Jenny said, looking back at Carlisha with her hands clamped on her hips.

  “Damn! I wish we had time. I’ll eat that pussy before you go. What’s up?”

  “No, Carlisha, I have to get going,” Jenny said, moving fast at putting on her nicely creased uniform.

  She knew the look in Carlisha’s eyes meant trouble, and before Carlisha could force her into a quickie, she was getting herself out of the cell. She appreciated Carlisha’s superb sex game, but her number one bitch was waiting to see her. And everyone in the prison knew that China came before any bitch.

  “I’ll take you up on that offer when I come back, baby. See you later,” Jenny said, blowing Carlisha a kiss before she hurried out of the cell.

  When Jenny made it to the visitation room, she immediately spotted China sitting at the table with an assortment of food.

  Damn! She’s already picking up weight? Jenny noticed about her.

  “Hey, baby!” Jenny said as she embraced China and gave her a passionate kiss before sitting down at the table.

  “You’re smelling good. What? Did you shower in cocoa butter before you came?”

  “You know I had to get the next bitch off me. I can’t come up here smelling like no cunt now,” Jenny said.

  “You are so wrong for that one,” China laughed.

  “It’s the truth, boo!”

  “I know. That’s the funny part!” China said, still laughing.

  “What’s up with you? You’re already gaining weight, baby,” Jenny said.

  “I know, and I’m only almost three months,” China purred.

  “Damn! I can only imagine what six months will look like,” Jenny said, biting into a hot chicken sandwich.

  “Yeah, I know.”

  “So, how is Smooth?”

  “I go see him tomorrow. He has something to tell me that he couldn’t tell me over the phone, and it’s running me crazy

  of what it could be!” China explained.

  “Well, stop always expecting the worst, baby. Shit! Maybe he’s ready to sign them papers.”

  “No man will marry me from behind bars, Jenny. Sorry, but it will never happen,” China said as she took a sip from her water bottle.

  “You mean to tell me that you will not marry Smooth if he asks you to do it now?”

  “Exactly what I’ve told you. Hell no! That’s not my dream approach, and I will not settle for it!” China told her.

  “I don’t blame you, baby. A bad bitch like you deserves a king and queen wedding with horses, golden roads, and beautiful white doves flying off into the beautiful sunset,” Jenny stated.

  “Girl, you’re so full of it!” China laughed.

  “For real, baby! Just let me be there. Shit! I only have three more years as of today.”

  “Really? Shit! I thought it was a little more. That’s good. I can’t wait until you come home, Jenny.”

  “Me too, baby!”

  * * *

  The DEA couldn’t hold everyone they had picked up in the sweep two months ago. So those who weren’t facing major drug indictments were able to post bond and be back on the streets, trying to hustle lawyer money to keep them free and put up money to keep them straight in case they had to do a bid in prison for their charges.

  The beef between the M-13s and Smooth’s soldiers was still breaking out. Money had spotted the Lincoln Town Car further down the block before it started creeping. He had put everyone on the block on beat. Money held an all-chrome AK-47, with his finger on the trigger.

  “Yo, Sunny! Duck off! Let me squeeze on these dumbass Mexicans!” Money shouted to his homeboy, Sunny, who was also watching the car creep from the dark confines of an apartment complex.

  “I got ’em in the—”

  Chop! Chop! Chop! Chop!

  Before Sunny could get the words out, he was hit by the assassin who no one saw standing up in the sunroof.

  Money quickly acted and returned fire at the Town Car, which slammed on the gas, coming his way. SUVs came from every direction onto 110th, releasing a deadly fusillade killing anything moving.

  “Damn it, man!” Money shouted, realizing that he was at odds.

  Before he became a dead statistic, Money ran through a pathway that led him to the other street.

  The Mexicans came with strategy, Money thought as he ran and ducked from the shots trying to take him down.

  These Mexicans are not resting! Money reflected as he hid in some bushes.

  He stayed there until the threat was gone and the sirens flared. He couldn’t go back on 110th, or else he would be walking back onto a crime scene.

  Damn it! I need Mall out here with me, and Choppa to come out of his coma, Money thought as he walked to a trap house on 109th and lay low until the heat died.

  It didn’t help that Mall was sitting in the county jail without bail. Mall was looking at some serious federal time and being ratted on by unknown workers as he sat.

  Money was fortunate to dodge major indictments. He was able to bond out from the sweep with the help of his baby mama, Tabby, who constantly reminded him to put up money in case he was ever arrested. Now he was out hustling for a good lawyer and preparing to welcome his first child with Tabby.

  I can’t let these Mexicans kill me out here. I got too much to lose to die in these streets, Money thought as he sat on the sofa in the trap house.

  He needed at least $50,000 real quick to put down on a lawyer who would promise him no time in prison. Then, whatever he gained after that
would go to his seed and baby mama.

  I definitely gotta get on my grind and stay alive, Money considered.

  6

  WHEN CHINA PULLED up to the Martin County Jail, it was just hitting 5:00 p.m., and she knew that was the time Smooth would be coming off lockdown.

  “Perfect timing!” she said as she exited the Benz SUV and walked toward the jail.

  Staring at the many small windows of the jail, China wondered which one was Smooth’s cell and if he could see her walking up to reception. It was her third time visiting him since his incarceration, and these same thoughts would always run through her head.

  Once inside, China approached the receptionist and waited patiently for the receptionist to attend to her. It took every bit of five minutes, and China felt disrespected standing and waiting for the receptionist to come take her name.

  These bitches about to make me stunt up in this bitch! China thought, with a mean look on her face.

  “Sorry, ma’am, may I help you?” the receptionist said over the microphone.

  “Yes, I’m here to visit inmate Donavan Johnson,” China said with an attitude.

  “Give me a moment, please,” the receptionist said as she looked in her computer for Smooth’s location.

  China stood a long minute before the receptionist came back on the mic.

  “Ma’am, booth 27. He will be there shortly.”

  “Thanks!” China replied as she rolled her eyes at the heavy-set black woman and strutted away to the visiting lobby.

  These muthafuckas would make me get Miami on them in this bitch! China thought as she found booth 27, sat down, and waited for Smooth to show.

  When Smooth came through the door and saw China waiting for him, he knew beyond any doubt that his baby was indeed pregnant. It was evident from her weight gain. Her cheeks were getting chubby, and her nose was getting fat, he noticed.

  “Damn, baby! You could have told me that I was looking for a new China. You’re already picking up weight,” Smooth said to her with a smile on his face when he picked up the phone.

  “And yo ass must be stressing or you’re getting your food taken, because you’re losing weight!” China said as she took notice of his decreasing weight, that he wasn’t aware of himself.

  “Never that! I’m eating like a hog, and I’ll kill a nigga trying to take anything from me,” Smooth said.

  “I know you would. So how are you, and has the lawyer come to see you yet?”

  “Nah, that useless muthafucka ain’t come see me in two weeks as of today.”

  “Well, we’ll just get you another lawyer. One from Miami this time. I don’t trust these people up here,” China said.

  “That’ll be nice. Last time I did see him, he wanted me to plea out to twenty-five years, telling me I had no hope for trial,” Smooth informed her.

  “Smooth, twenty-five years? What is he thinking, and why are you just telling me this shit?”

  “Because, China, I don’t need you stressing. It’s not good for the baby,” Smooth replied.

  “You being gone twenty-five years out of our life is supposed to feel better, Smooth?” she asked as tears fell from her eyes like a stream.

  “Baby, I’m not getting twenty-five years. That was only the first offer, which will go down with the right mouthpiece,” Smooth said, making her calm down.

  “Baby, are you preparing to do time?” China asked as she wiped her eyes.

  “Baby, I don’t know how this shit will play out. I was set up, and the only good thing is I know who set me up!” Smooth announced, giving China an impish smile as she caught onto his intentions.

  “Oh really?” China replied, with a smile on her face.

  “Without him, there’s no case, huh?”

  “At least half of it, baby,” Smooth admitted.

  Smooth was still stuck with possession of the one hundred kilos the feds found in the Range Rover stash spot. But with the snitch incapable of testifying, Smooth could shake the probable cause and make the state attorney yield a sweet deal or drop the case.

  “Is he local?” China asked.

  Smooth nodded his head up and down.

  “Yeah, so listen to me careful, China. I need you to locate Rebecca’s brother and have him come see me so I can deal with this nigga,” Smooth told her.

  China was ready to do anything to help Smooth come home to his family.

  “Where the hell do I find him? Does Sue Rabbit know?”

  “No! They never met, something I intentionally did,” Smooth said.

  “Smart, I guess,” China stated.

  “Something like that! But to find him, look up Eric Spencer. He’s an ex-militant.”

  “I know, baby. I got the name. So, I guess this is some good damn news, baby,” China smiled.

  “Yeah, I want to talk to you about something else, China.”

  “Why does it sound like it’s not my cup of tea now?” she said.

  “It may not be, baby. But I need you. Sue Rabbit is my second-in-command, baby.”

  “And?” China said, with sarcasm in her voice.

  “Please hear me out, China. Damn! Let’s not turn this visit into a damn battlefield,” Smooth said while China held a pout on her face.

  “What is it, Smooth?”

  “Like I was saying, Sue Rabbit is my second-in-command. I need you to make a trip and get double quantity.”

  Is this nigga out of his mind? China thought, realizing that Smooth was asking her to venture into the dope game.

  “Smooth, do you realize that we’re about to be a family, or is you just saying fuck that?” China asked with an attitude.

  I knew this shit wasn’t going to be easy, Smooth thought, biting down on his teeth and trying to bridle his anger. “China, all I’m asking is you to help me out. A nigga got niggas that…”

  “Smooth, it’s all about your niggas. Don’t you know that’s what separated us the first time?” she exploded.

  “China, what separated us is your damn stubbornness. I’ve worked hard to build what I have in them streets. I can’t leave my niggas starving because I’m incarcerated. All I’m asking is for you to carry my load, baby, and watch my back. China, come on!”

  “Smooth, I have your back like nobody else. Don’t even go there with me!” China said sternly.

  “Then continue to have my back. If you don’t want to do it, pay for a driver, baby.”

  “You’re still asking me to do something I just don’t want any part of, Smooth! You’re not getting the picture!” she explained.

  “So you’re telling me to just say fuck Sue Rabbit, huh?”

  “Them are your words, Smooth, not mine!”

  “But they’re your actions, China! Who do you think had my back when you were in prison?” he asked.

  “Smooth, you damn near got killed. Where was he at then, huh?”

  “Woman! You’re so damn stubborn!”

  “Fuck you, Smooth! The only stubborn muthafucka I see is you! Why won’t you just leave that shit alone?”

  “I will when I make it home, China. I promise,” Smooth told her sincerely.

  Smooth was serious, and China knew him too well to doubt him. When he said something, then he was a man of his word.

  “Are you sure, Smooth?” she asked.

  “Yes, baby. I’m sure. But until I get there, I’m still in charge of the streets, China, despite your unwillingness to take any part in it. We stepped in this shit together, and I’m not throwing no dirt in your face. I’m just saying I need you to help me continue to stack this paper. I’m giving you my word, China, that when I jump, I’m out of the game. And it’s just gonna be about us, baby—our family. Just please help me out until I can get there and hand everything over to Sue Rabbit,” Smooth begged.

  China looked at Smooth and saw in his eyes that he was serious.

  He’s making a promise to me, China thought. With Smooth operating from jail, at least I don’t have to worry about losing him to a bullet by one of his en
emies.

  “You come home and you’re done, Smooth!” China said, staring him in his eyes.

  “Done!” Smooth agreed.

  “Let me sleep on this, Smooth. I’ll make up my mind and see if I’m gonna do it or not.”

  “That’s fair!” Smooth said, bridling his excitement.

  He knew that if China had to sleep on a decision, her mind was already made. What he didn’t know was that he was putting her and their child in danger.

  * * *

  Stone sat in his cell and couldn’t believe how his workers were giving him up along with Smooth. Stone knew Smooth’s real name well, unlike his workers who he had listened to on a tape just hours before in an integration room giving up Smooth’s street name like it was nothing.

  I can’t believe these soft-ass niggas just turned state on me! Stone thought angrily while pacing in his cell.

  It was midnight, and his cellmate was asleep. His bodyguards and two lieutenants were sure to pay for their infidelity. He had looked out for all of them equally and fairly.

  I gave them niggas anything they asked for. For them to cross me at the end, mon! he reflected.

  He needed to get out, but he had no bail and a lengthy federal indictment. In spite of all the restraints, Stone still had connections to make all his betrayers pay for their disloyalty.

  I just need to get in contact with my man, to handle business without these muthafuckas listening to me conversation, mon, Stone thought as he stood at the cell’s door and stared out into the wing.

  He could hear a couple toilets flushing every few minutes, which indicated that he wasn’t the only one up thinking of a way out of federal housing unit 9, where everyone was looking at thirty to life on major federal charges.

  I gotta get in contact with my boy and let him know that the streets are setting him up, mon, Stone thought to inform Smooth without tipping the feds off to his location and identity.