by Jacob Spears
The pain from the shots was unbearable. As he lay there and his world got dark, all he could think about was Landi telling him to back out of the game.
I wish I would have done it earlier, because now it is too late, Guru thought as his world came to a complete stop.
He could hear nothing nor feel his life any longer. When the Metro-Dade police pulled up to the scene, they found Guru unresponsive.
“Victim is a black male in his twenties. Shot multiple times. Seems to be unresponsive,” the Metro-Dade police officer said into his radio.
“Fifty-four! Paramedics on their way, sir,” dispatch responded.
“Ten-four!”
* * *
“He tried to run, esé! Did you see him?” Miguel shouted to Marco, who was still racing through traffic, trying to find the first I-95 ramp to head back to Fort Lauderdale.
Miguel’s adrenaline was racing one hundred miles per hour after releasing an entire fifty-round clip in the nigga he knew was rocking with Smooth. He had seen Guru numerous times on Smooth’s block, so he knew that the dude was a target. Any man coming from Smooth’s block was a threat to him and his M-13 brothers.
“I just wish that was Smooth’s ass, Miguel.”
“That would mean it would be a cold day in hell, Marco,” Miguel replied logically.
Marco also knew that it was impossible for anyone to catch Smooth.
Shit! Catching China seems to be a pain in the ass for them too, they both thought.
“If we catch these muthafuckas one by one, esé, then we making a muthafucka feel M-13,” Miguel said.
“That’s why I like you, Miguel. You’re a young soldier that knows the art of war,” Marco said as he merged onto I-95 northbound.
“We just gotta keep our eyes open, because she’s out here,” Marco reminded Miguel, who was loading another fifty-round clip into his AK-47, which was still warm from spraying his slipping foe.
It was Miguel who spotted the familiar face walking out of Roxy’s restaurant. All week he had been itching to kill someone, and his opportunity had finally come for him. And like he always did, he cocked back, aimed, and fired. He had no doubt that the dude was out for the count. He wanted to hop out of the Suburban, but his better judgment told him to trust his shot and have faith that he had taken out one of Smooth’s guys. Neither Marco nor Miguel was aware that the man that had been gunned down was an important man who was third in Smooth’s operation. The retaliation heading their way was something that neither would ever expect.
“Good job, Miguel!” Marco said proudly of his brother.
“M-13 homies por vida!” Miguel replied, throwing up their M-13 gang sign with his hand.
* * *
China decided to take care of Stone before she drove over to Miranda’s to pick up Zorro. When she stepped out of the newly painted smoke-grey Benz, the sun licked at her skin. She had left the baby with a hired nanny named Amber for a couple hours while she handed her business.
“Damn! It’s hot as hell out here!” China complained as she walked toward the jail’s entrance.
The black tights hugged her curves lustrously and had the lust-filled eyes of the men hissing at her like a snake.
Get a fucking life! China thought, ignoring them.
When China walked inside, she sighed, since it was much cooler and more comfortable indoors. She searched the lobby and found the money machine with two people, a woman and an old man, standing in line to use it.
I’ll check in first, China decided.
She stepped up to the young receptionist, who immediately got to her.
“May I help you?” the receptionist said into the mic.
Damn! She sounds just like Tracy, China thought.
“Yes, I’m here to visit Stone Bolt.”
The receptionist gave China an ill look that disturbed her.
“What! Do you have a problem or something? If you one of his hoochie mamas, I’m not concerned,” China said to the receptionist before rolling her eyes.
“Whatever, woman! Save that shit for Stone, not me. Anyways, booth 12 is where he will find you,” the receptionist said rudely and then clicked off her mic.
“Bitch, if I ever catch you, I’ma give it to yo’ ass!” China said as she walked over to the money machine where she inserted $1,500, just as Smooth had instructed her to do.
She then walked back to the visitation area and found Stone waiting for her. He seemed surprised to see China, and it took him everything he knew to bridle his instant lust for her.
“What’s up, gal?”
“Listen, I’m only here because Smooth wanted me to drop off some cash and put it on your books. There’s $1,500 on there, so you have money for canteen, which I’m sure that you’re doing good without that.”
“The mon is doing straight, but not on friends’ accountability,” Stone said.
“Damn! That’s fucked up!” China replied.
“Yeah, and these niggas are singing like Beyoncé.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, mon. Detectives want me to hand over Smooth. They know him, but nobody knows his first name,” Stone informed China.
“So muthafuckas saying his name and trying to snitch, huh?” she inquired.
“Too many, and they’re out on the bricks. So you tell Smooth to continue to lay low.”
“He’s fine. Do you know some of these snitching-ass niggas? Where they are?” China asked.
Stone looked at China and saw the cold-blooded look in her eyes. He knew a down bitch when he saw one. He admired her and saw Smooth as a lucky man.
If only she was mine, Stone thought before he spoke.
“A lot of my men have flawed me out. They’re on 12th in Little Haiti, and Smooth’s men are on bond, except for Money. This news came from my connections,” Stone said.
He has no clue that Smooth is incarcerated, China thought.
“Baby gal, move safe out there, and tell my boy that I said what’s up. I’ma take mines like a G is supposed to, mon. Me never give thee police any time of thee day, mon!” Stone informed China.
“Thanks, Stone. We’ll always be here for you,” China said as she stood up. “You just keep your head up, okay?” she added as she put her fist to the glass.
“I will, mon. Thanks,” Stone replied as he put his fist to hers.
“See you later, Stone,” China said as she hung up the phone and walked out of the visitation lobby.
Stone stayed in his seat and watched her lustrous ass sway from side to side.
Damn! That man has a bad bitch. I’d retire the game if I was him, before he ends up looking at a boatload of time, Stone thought before he got up to return to his dorm.
China couldn’t believe how niggas were trying to turn over Smooth.
After all the love he has shown these muthafuckas, they want to try and backstab him! China thought as she got into her Benz.
When she checked her phone, she saw three missed calls and texts from Roxy.
“What does she want?” China said as she called Roxy’s cell phone while pulling out of the jail property.
Roxy picked up on the second ring.
“China!” Roxy shouted in the phone.
“Yeah, what’s up? Why you so damn—”
“Guru just got shot, down the street from the restaurant. Where are you, China? I’m worried,” Roxy expressed.
“I’m leaving the jail. I’m on my way. Is he okay?” China asked.
“No, China! He had no chance!”
“Fuck! Where’s Sue Rabbit?” China inquired.
“He’s here with me. He’s not taking it well, China. I need help. He’s about to go headfirst. I see it all over him.”
“That was his homeboy Roxy. Of course he’s going headfirst. I’m almost there,” China said as she hung up and headed to the restaurant.
As China accelerated through traffic, she called Miranda’s phone.
“Hello,” Miranda answered.
“Miranda. Sorry,
but I’ma be a little late. Something came up. But if you got some place to be, I’ll come get him right away.”
“You’re okay, China. Me and Zorro are having a great time together. I’m taking him for a walk now, so take your time.”
“Thanks, Miranda,” China said before she hung up.
China slowed down when the traffic backed up, and she immediately knew that it was because of the crime scene up ahead.
Damn! How the fuck did Guru get caught slipping? Smooth isn’t going to like this one, China thought as she waited for the traffic to clear up.
Metro-Dade police were directing the traffic and doing their best to make sure the crime scene stayed secured without any wrecks occurring.
I wish Roxy would have been more detailed about where it happened, other than “down the street.” I could have come from the other side, China thought as she slowly moved with the traffic.
It was a whole fifteen minutes before she was able to pass by the crime scene.
“Oh my gosh!” China exclaimed when she saw Guru’s bullet-riddled Lexus SUV and a white shroud laid over his body, which hadn’t been removed from the scene.
Damn it, Guru! China thought, realizing how it could have been Smooth in Guru’s place.
At that moment, China could actually say she was happy to know exactly where Smooth was and grateful to know that he was safe rather than on his way to a body bag.
“Thank you, Lord,” China said as she pulled into Roxy’s parking lot, a place where she had almost lost her own life.
18
WHEN LANDI LEARNED of Guru’s death, it was a bombshell for which she wasn’t prepared. The news came from one of her coworkers, who worked as a policewoman on the road. When she identified the victim as Landi’s boyfriend, she immediately called Landi, who had been waiting for Guru to return from handling some business.
Landi had been growing worried and suspected perhaps another DEA sweep, but not death. She had called out from work to clear her mind. The murder was all over the local news, but Landi still couldn’t believe Guru was gone.
She was sitting in a redneck bar in downtown Miami drinking whiskey, shot after shot. She wanted to get away from the world and feel no more pain.
“Let me get another shot,” Landi demanded.
“Ma’am, you’re too damn crashed for another drink.”
“Look here, fucker! Give me a drink before I make you wish—”
“Look here, lady. Don’t you threaten me! The policy says I don’t have to continue to sell you shit beyond intoxication,” the bartender informed her.
“Fuck your policy, you redneck muthafucka!” Landi said as she reached into her purse and removed her fully loaded .380. “I want my drink, fucker!” She aimed her gun at the muscle-bound man.
People in the vicinity slowly began leaving, not wanting to be caught up in the life-and-death situation.
“Ma’am, you’re ready to lose your life because of a drink?” the bartender said as he walked toward her.
“Don’t come closer! I will shoot!” Landi shouted.
The bartender froze in his tracks, afraid to take another step.
“It looks like you’re in pain, lady. Maybe you’ve lost someone. I don’t know”—the bartender shrugged his shoulders, “but it’s not equal to going and ruining your life, whatever the case may be.”
He knew that out of all the people leaving, someone was calling the police. At least he was praying for someone to have done what he would have done in the same situation.
“He was a good man to me. No one had ever treated me the way he did. And someone killed him today,” Landi said, wiping tears from her face.
The loss of Guru was too much for her. She just wanted to be wherever his mind was, at the moment. No one in the bar understood her pain.
On the television in the bar, Landi saw the news update to Guru’s murder.
“That’s him!” Landi nodded her head toward the television. “He didn’t deserve to die. I was at home waiting on him. I can’t even tell him that he was about to be a father.”
When the bartender looked at the news update, he froze and forgot all about his life being in danger.
“That’s a nigga you’re crying for!”
Boc! Boc! Boc! Boc!
Before the bartender could get out his insult, Landi lost it and pulled the trigger. The slugs hit him in his face and instantly killed him.
“Oh my gosh! What have I done?” Landi exclaimed when she saw the bartender fall to his death.
The entire bar went into a frenzy. Landi turned on her heels and fled the bar, stumbling from being so intoxicated.
“Murderer!” someone shouted.
Landi turned around and fired a shot in the air, causing more frantic behavior to erupt outside. Landi found her Altima and ran toward it.
I gotta get out of here! she thought as she reached for the driver’s door.
“Freeze, lady! Put down the weapon! Metro-Dade police.”
“Nooo!” Landi exclaimed as she turned around and saw three police officers aiming their guns at her.
“Why me, huh?” Landi shouted while holding the gun in her hand.
“Landi!” a police officer called out, immediately recognizing her.
When Landi looked at the young officer with her best blurry vision, she recognized him too. He had a crush on her, but he was always turned down.
Chad! Landi remembered his name. “Yes, Chad. It’s me! What? Am I under arrest?” Landi asked, being sarcastic with him.
“Listen, Landi. Just put down the gun. Come on. You’re one of us. We could talk things out and see what’s going on,” he said, trying his best to be a negotiator and get her to surrender.
“Chad, I loved him. I can’t believe that he’s gone.”
“Landi, put down the weapon now!” a sergeant shouted to her.
Landi shook her head.
Sergeant Barns wasn’t taking any chances. Chad wanted to tell Barns that he could handle Landi, but it was now out of his hands.
“Please, Landi! Don’t get yourself—”
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Before Chad could warn her, Sergeant Barns fired his weapon and hit Landi high in her chest. As her body slid down the car, leaving a blood trail, she blinked her eyes twice and then took her last breath.
It was too much for Chad to see, so he closed his eyes to refrain from exploding on the sergeant.
“Suspect down and unresponsive. No longer a threat to the Metro-Dade Police Department,” Sergeant Barns said over his radio to dispatch.
“Ten-four copy, sergeant,” dispatch replied.
Sergeant Barns looked over at Chad, who was bridling his emotion, which Barns could clearly see. Sergeant Barns put a cigarette in his mouth and then spoke. “Are you going to be alright, son?”
Chad looked at Sergeant Barns and wanted to ask him why he killed her, but he knew that his job would be on the line.
“Yeah, I’m okay,” he simply answered as he walked away to question witnesses.
I know you are, Sergeant Barns said to himself as he lit a cigarette while staring at Landi’s lifeless body.
“Damn shame, girl!” Sergeant Barns said as he blew smoke down at Landi.
* * *
When Meka heard the news about Guru, she couldn’t believe that another person she had known in her life was gone. Guru was someone she’d once had feelings for and had sex with, before she put her focus on Smooth. Smooth never knew, but if he had ever asked, Meka would have told him.
She had no clue when Smooth planned to take out Ham.
Maybe he’s waiting for Ham to see the birth of his crack baby, Meka thought.
Since she had kicked out Ham’s teeth, Meka hadn’t been back to his place. Seeing Tina protect him had grossed her out. She was waiting for Smooth to make his move.
Because the sooner Smooth handles Ham, the sooner he’ll be home, Meka thought as she sat on her sofa and ate her TV dinner.
Come morni
ng, Meka planned to go visit Smooth and see if he was alright after hearing about Guru’s death.
Damn! I hope he’s alright! Meka thought as she turned the television to BET, where she watched a music video with Rihanna and Drake.
“Now that’s a fine-ass nigga!” Meka said, admiring Drake.
She stood up and started dancing to the video.
“Work, work, work!” Meka sang the lyrics out loud, pretending to be dancing for Smooth.
Damn! I can’t wait for his ass to get home. I swear I’ma put this pussy on him like never before, she thought as she watched the singers on the screen.
“Soon, baby! Real soon that nigga Ham will be history, even if I have to do it myself!”
* * *
“You ready for this shit?” China asked Sue Rabbit, who was sitting in the passenger seat of a stolen SUV.
“China, I live for this shit! It’s not ’bout us no more. This shit ’bout Guru!” Sue said as he racked his MAC-10.
“Money, let’s go!” China said to him over her walkie-talkie.
“I’m here,” Money said.
China looked over at Sue Rabbit, and they both pulled ski masks over their faces.
“Let’s go!” China announced as she exited the SUV with two fully loaded Glock .45s in her hands.
She and Sue Rabbit ran into the Mexican restaurant on 37th and began hitting random Mexicans.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Money chopped down the men who escaped, and ran out the front door with his AK-47. The restaurant was another one of Juan’s establishments that Mario was still running. Sue Rabbit and China ran toward the back of the place and found the office door locked. Sue Rabbit took a step back and ran toward the door with his shoulder, causing the wooden door to burst open. As he ducked and fired, China released a fusillade of shots, catching three frightened female cookers with deadly slugs.
“What? You bitches thought this was the hideout, huh?” China shouted.
She looked at Sue Rabbit, who pointed at the oak desk. Sue’s signal to her was to take the opposite side of the desk while he took the other end. When China did, a Mexican sprung to his feet with a sword and swung at her head. She ducked on time and gave the Mexican a kick to his stomach. As he flew backward, Sue Rabbit shot him in the face.
