Dirty DNA (G Street Chronicles Presents)

by BlaQue

  “So, where was NiQue?” Is she ok?” I said, reaching for my cell phone from where I had left it from Neko’s earlier call.

  “She wasn’t there. She left back out after we came in from Pop’s funeral. She said she couldn’t take anymore and needed to go out to think.

  “So, where were you when all of this was happening?” I quizzed.

  I had left out the house to get some green and when I came back to the joint, cops were all over the fucking place. With all the shit going on with Pop there was no way I could have the Feds ask me shit.”

  I sat down next to Neko feeling guilty. I had been sitting in my hotel room, while my brother and best friend were exposed to some shit that no doubt had something to do with me again. I was sexing my best friend’s catch of the month, and she lost her brother. That nigga had taken care of NiQue since she was five; when their mother just left them for bad.

  “So, I guess you haven’t seen or talked to her then huh?”

  My temples were starting to throb. I reached for the grinder on the table.

  Neko shook his head from side to side. “Naw, I ain’t talk to her. I called her phone, but she ain’t answer. I started to leave her a message but that would have been fucked up to leave a message like that on her voicemail. I sent her a text letting her know she needed to get home and hit me up once she got there.” There was silence and then Neko let loose.

  “You gonna be real with me and tell me what the fuck is really going on? It ain’t been nothing but death and destruction following us! I mean have you ever stopped to think about any of this shit or are you up here in this room moonlighting? Who knew where to go? Who would have access to Pops and Oscar like that? Who the fuck knew NiQue’s peoples like that?” I didn’t know how I hadn’t seen it before. It had to be someone on the inside.

  No one knew where the funeral was to be held. No one knew where NiQue’s brother stayed but people on the inside. Someone close to me was doing some unforgivable shit. NiQue loved her brother more than anyone could imagine. They were all each other had. She was going to be devastated when she got the news. I split the blunt I had intended to roll and emptied the guts into the waste basket. I finally spoke on it. “It has to be someone who knows us all.” I said, replacing the tobacco with some Chocolate Tie I had sent from California. Just as a pre-caution, I lit an incense and put the J in the air for Daddy and NiQue’s brother.

  The more I inhaled, the clearer shit seemed. I passed the Dutch to Neko. If you would have told me a week ago I would been smoking some Kush with my brother, I would have laughed at you. I guess there was some shit going on in his own world that he was running from too. He was inhaling the potent weed with no problems, so I knew it wasn’t his first time smoking Kush.

  There was silence again. I hated when it got silent like that. It felt like a void that needed to be filled. I started to drift into my high. One by one the people closest to me were having their lives torn apart. At first I thought it was because of Papi. I took care all of the loose ends with him so I know it wasn’t him, unless some bitch was out for revenge and knew we were fucking around. Damn though, NiQue and her brother had nothing to do with that.

  Someone was dismantling everything my father built and I had the misfortune of finding out who and why before they came for me and my brother. I knew that shit was bound to happen soon. They already tried once. What was going to stop them from trying again? I was too wired to fall right to sleep and Neko didn’t seem like himself at all. We smoked and drank the rest of the bottle of Remy until the sun came up.

  Chapter 22

  The Stadium Nightclub

  Queens Chapel Road

  NE Washington, DC

  I had finally drifted off to sleep when I awoke to Neko shaking me. Once I was able to focus on him and what he was trying to say. I sat upright on the love seat where I had fallen asleep. Neko was handing me his cell phone and I could read on his face that it wasn’t a good call. I looked at the screen on the phone and recognized NiQue’s number. Before I could get the phone to my ear I could hear her sobbing on the other end of the receiver.

  “Hello.” I whispered groggily into the phone.

  “YaYa they got him.” She cried, barely audible.

  “Where are you? I am getting up and getting dressed right now.”

  She told me she had just left the police department and wanted to know where she could meet me to talk. I didn’t know who was following her or would hurt either me or my brother. I couldn’t have her come to the hotel and lead niggas right to me. I told her to meet me at the Jaspers in Largo. Between her sobs and sniffles, she agreed to meet me in an hour as she hung up.

  Neko took the phone from my hands and retrieved the duffle bag he came in with the night before. He sat the bag on the coffee table which was positioned between the couch and love seat where we had been resting. He began pulling items out of the bag and pulled out a nine millimeter glock and sat it on the table. He gave me a menacing look when he saw me glaring at him.

  “I’ll be ready in a few minutes. You know you need to get ready to leave, so don’t slow poke around.”

  I couldn’t believe he was still talking to me like he was pissed at me. I started to tell him he better watch who he was barking on, but before I could even get my mouth open to tell him he better check himself, he looked at me square in the eyes. The look he gave me, made me shiver. If looks could kill, my brother would have murdered me. He walked off into the bedroom and I heard the bathroom door close and the shower come alive. I guess that was his way of saying he was riding out with me to meet NiQue. Once Neko was done showering and changing, I had already picked out a pair of Seven jeans and a casual blouse. I didn’t want to wear anything too flashy or that would draw any un-necessary attention to me. I bathed quickly, got dressed, and headed to the front area of the room. Neko had already let Epps know we needed to leave. I felt like my brother had stepped into Daddy’s shoes and had taken charge. I was relieved that he had taken the reigns, but he seemed cold and sinister towards me and I wasn’t feeling it. Before he could walk into the hallway, I grabbed his arm.

  “I’m sorry Neko. I was supposed to protect you and take care of you; not put you in harm’s way.”

  “I know YaYa.” He said dryly and walked out past me into the hall and towards the elevators.

  I could feel my blood beginning to boil because he wasn’t going to keep treating me like this shit was all my fault. I know he was feeling a certain kind of way about Daddy, but he had to know I wasn’t feeling real good about any of this either. I couldn’t handle him treating me so cold. We exited the hotel and drove in silence. It wasn’t a long ride because it was a rainy Saturday afternoon which kept most of the travelers indoors. We arrived at Jaspers and met NiQue at the curb as she was heading inside. She had on a pair of Jackie O shades even though it was rainy and cloudy out. That meant she had been crying, high, or both. We were seated and ordered drinks and appetizers. I wasn’t very hungry, but I ordered something anyway. I couldn’t just sit and wait for NiQue to say something. I had to know what happened.

  “So, what do the Feds think happened?” I asked trying to break the ice.

  The waitress walked back to our tables carrying our Mimosas and sat them in front of us. NiQue waited until she had walked off before she started to speak.

  “They think it’s just another body dropping in the hood. They don’t care. Trinidad Avenue got niggas dying daily. They don’t give a fuck about one more.” Her voice was weak.

  She stirred her drink with her straw nervously.

  “He was all I had.” She continued.

  “We understand.” I said thinking about my father.

  “At least you have each other.” NiQue shot at me with hostility in her voice.

  The waitress came back with the appetizers, momentarily breaking up the tension.

  I knew that NiQue was taking shots at me, but under the circumstances I was willing to take it. She did just lose her brother. I
understood her pain. She had the right to lash out. She just needed time to wrap her mind around what had happened. I just didn’t want her thinking it was my fault. Even though deep down inside, I had the sinking feeling it was my fault. I knew the whole mess had something to do with what was going on with me and my family. The waitress placed the appetizers on the table and took our orders for the main course. Once we had ordered and the waitress had finished making eyes with Neko, I focused my attention on NiQue again. She was pushing the celery around the plate that came with her buffalo wings.

  “What did any of this shit have to do with me and my brother YaYa?”

  I had just about enough of being questioned by everyone; the police, Neko, Dread and now NiQue. What made it so bad is that I had no fucking answers and they were all expecting me to have some type of explanation or game plan. I had nothing but frustration building. My anger, and my sorrow for all the lives I had impacted with this shit, was almost unreal. I wanted someone to make it all stop. Just hit rewind on the hands of time and take me back to before all the madness started.

  I snapped out of my thoughts and looked NiQue and Neko in their eyes. With the disappointed look they both gave me, I made up my mind that I wasn’t going to just let people think I was losing my grip. I had to remain calm and try to focus on getting out of this shit alive.

  “I am trying to figure out who did it and I may have an idea.” I lied.

  I stared at the last two people on earth who loved me and told a big fucking lie. There was no turning back know, they were counting on me to finish this shit. How the fuck could I finish it if I couldn’t even figure out who amongst us hated me that much to cause the chaos.

  “You will have to stay with me in the hotel so we can be together. I will arrange to get you both rooms.”

  NiQue’s eyes became cold and calculating. “So, what are we going to do, just post up in a hotel while you pretend you know what is going on?” She snapped.

  I was stunned with her hostility. I had done nothing but try and protect them. I just wanted to keep them close to me so no harm would come to either of them.

  “No!” I stuttered.

  “I just thought it would be better if we stuck together because obviously whoever is after us knows we are vulnerable apart. Plus, we would have Epps and his men there to protect us.”

  “Face it YaYa, you have been too busy in that nigga Dread’s face to even try and figure out who is killing everyone we love!” NiQue was pissed. She didn’t care who was looking at her.

  It was all coming out now. She wasn’t upset about what was going on with people trying to kill us, she was pissed about me and Dread.

  “Look NiQue, I know you are hurting just like the rest of us, but Dread has nothing to do with this! I think you should keep your voice down before people get suspicious.” I said looking around nervously. It was too late; people were already looking in our direction.

  “Oh, shut the fuck up! “She yelled at me. Pushing away from the table and standing up, peering down at me. Her eyes were like daggers.

  “You know what your problem is YaSheema? You are a spoiled little bitch that tries to use that over-worked pussy to get whatever you want. Well do me…no, do “us” a favor and use that rotten twat of yours to find out who killed my brother! You know you actually are a manipulative bitch. I thought when you let me fuck you it was because you actually loved me. You only did that shit to please yourself. You never thought twice about how I felt about you.”

  NiQue’s outburst had the entire restaurant watching our every move. I couldn’t sit there taking her verbal attack any longer. Before I knew what had come over me I had jumped up and lunged at NiQue. I smacked her so hard my hand stung from the impact. Neko jumped up and got in between us before NiQue could retaliate.

  “Have both of you lost your fucking minds in here?”

  He grabbed me firmly by my arm and pulled me to the door of the restaurant. I was screaming and hollering for him to let me go the entire way. There was no way she was going to put my business in the streets like that and get away with it. I was through playing with her. I knew she was going through her own hurt and pain, but she had crossed the line with her bullshit. The last thing I heard my best friend say as Neko pulled me out of the doors was the most hurtful shit anyone could ever say to me and it let me know my friendship with her was over.

  “I hope the niggas who are gunning for your ass find you and bury you with your scum bag of a father, and that whore of a mother of yours bitch!” She spewed.

  It took everything in me not to break free from Neko and whoop her ass in the middle of the dining area where she stood holding her bruised face. I looked at all the patrons who had just come to Jaspers to have their lunch, but who were looking at us in horror; and shot NiQue one last glance before storming out the doors. She had the nerve to have a smirk plastered across her face. She looked extremely satisfied with what she had done. As soon as we got in the car, Neko’s cell phone began to ring. He answered it before the first ring was finished.

  “What kind of shit was that you were trying to pull in front of all of those people he started to yell into the phone? Do you understand that we are in the middle of a war with God only knows who, and the police are just dying to bag one of our asses, and you go and pull some stupid shit like this.”

  I knew Neko was talking to NiQue. I, on the other hand, was behind the steering wheel wishing I could just back over that bitch with my car. She was supposed to be like my family and the shit she exposed was not even forgivable.

  “Look NiQue, I want you to get some clothes and go check into a hotel somewhere. Once you get there call me and let me know where you are. I will be there as soon as I get YaYa back to the hotel safely. You two are tripping, making a scene in front of all of those people, and both of you bitches got some explaining to do.” He hung up the phone and just looked at me like I was crazy.

  “Why are you still sitting here like that shit didn’t just happen? Drive the fuck off before those people call the fucking cops.” He said sternly.

  I did as my brother said and backed out of the parking space and pulled off. I felt uneasy. I knew he wanted to ask me about what she had said about us fucking and about our mother. I could barely compose myself enough to drive, let alone answer any questions about my bitch of a mother and her disappearance, and me and NiQue sleeping together. I drove all the way to the hotel in silence. I didn’t even notice that we had company the entire ride back to the hotel. I was sizzling on the inside. I pulled in front of the hotel and hopped out. Just as the valet was coming to park the car, Neko took the keys from my hands and got in the driver’s seat.

  “Where are you going? I asked. I really didn’t need to ask because I already knew the answer to that question. He was going to question NiQue about all the shit she said today and I couldn’t let him find out anymore.

  I started to sob. “Don’t leave me!” I cried out. “I can’t be alone. Too much has happened to us and I cannot handle this shit on my own.”

  It felt good to tell the truth. I had finally let down my guard a little bit and told Neko just enough to try and make him stay and not get the rest of the story from NiQue. His eyes softened from seeing me cry. I had put up a front so long that he could see that I was scared, tired, and confused because I was crying. He gave the keys to the valet and escorted me to the doors of the hotel.

  We walked through the lobby to the front desk and got another room just below mine. We registered him under another name because the police were looking for him to question him about the shit with my father, and other niggas might be looking for him to get to me. My mind was racing a million miles a minute. I was trying to think of how I could avoid explaining all of the shit NiQue had said at lunch. Neko was all I had left in the world, and I needed him to remain on my side. I didn’t know how he would look at me if he really found out that what NiQue said was all true. We rode the elevators up to my floor and we walked pass Epps.

 
; I gave him a nod and he nodded back, letting me know that everything was safe. I used my keycard to enter through the doors and I could tell that housekeeping had been in to clean the room. The room was neat and looked as though no one had stayed there. I dropped my belongings on the coffee table and flopped on the couch, kicking off my shoes. I ran my bare feet through the plush rug. Neko made his way to the bar and poured himself a drink. He made his way back across the room and sat in the recliner across from the sofa where I was seated. I knew it was now or never because the moment had come to give him some type of explanation for what NiQue had exposed. I wasn’t going to volunteer any info if I wasn’t asked.

  Neko took a sip from his glass and sat it down on the table. He watched me while I tried not to look him in the eyes in fear that he would be able to tell that I was holding so much back from him. I could tell he was not going to force me to speak, but he was definitely going to sit there and wait for me to say something. He didn’t care how long it took either. He had already made up his mind that I was going to stop bullshitting him. It was like playing a game of chess. It was a true test of wits. I wasn’t trying to make a move and lose the game, and he was going to wait me out move for move. A few more silent tense moments passed before he finally spoke.

  “So how long are we going to sit here trying to get around the shit she said?”

  My eyes met his, and I started to tell him it all from the day I took my Mother’s life in my bedroom for disrespecting us and trying to separate us. I wanted to tell him that I had watched Papi die and that I thought the reason we were targets was because of it. I wanted to get it all off of my chest. I wanted to tell him that I had made two huge mistakes, one by sleeping with NiQue and two by falling in love with Dread. I wanted to tell him that Corinne, Daddy, and NiQue’s brother Sean, were all dead because of something I was twisted up in. None of that came out though.