URBAN: What A Thug Wants

by Shantel Johnson

  Reese pulled up to the house with his music blasting. King damn near jumped at the bass coming off that car. It was a good thing Godzilla wasn’t home or he would beat the shit out of both of them. He heard his mama shouting from downstairs.

  “Kenan! Kenan! Get the fuck down here and tell that boy to turn down his music! I mean it…I swear I don’t know what the fuck is wrong with you all!”

  “Yeah ma,” He answered, rushing down the stairs. “I’m going to be out for a minute.”

  “Out where? See…” she said heading for the door. “This is the same shit you did to get your ass locked up and now you doing it again. Well you best believe I will not be bailing you out of anything!”

  “Damn ma, I ain’t doing anything. Just hanging out.” King kissed his mom on the cheek and proceeded out the door.

  Truth is he couldn’t wait to get out that house. Every day was the same, complain, complain, complain, and even though she had good intentions it was just so much of her he could take. Even Lance, her fiancé seem to stay away from home more often. This was the main reason he had to get some money so he could move the hell on.

  He could see Reese bobbing his head in unison to whatever monster beat shit he was playing.

  “Man,” King said, opening the door, “Cut that shit down!”

  “What? What?,” Reese replied.

  That’s when King leaned over and turned down the sound. “Bruh, my mom is freaking out. Please don’t ever show up here with the music that loud.”

  “Alright Bruh! My apologies. You ready to make some money?”

  ***

  Reese set up this meet to buy some drugs from one of Marco’s old connects. King was down with it, despite the promises he had already made to his mom and Mook. But on the real, he had to get this money.

  It was after 7, not quite dark yet and the meet was at 8. It was pretty simple, they bring the money, and the others bring the drugs, no drama, but shit didn’t work out that way.

  Sitting on Riverside drive, listening to music, Reese got the call that his connects were on the way. They sat for another 20 minutes before they got the call that they had arrived at the destination point. King checked his stash again. 5 hundred dollars. 5 hundred dollars could buy a nice amount of weed, a small stash of Meth and some Heroin. He had never dealt with Meth and Heroin, but Reese said it was what everyone wanted and sold pretty quickly. Back in the day, all he sold was weed, coke and crack. Most of his clients only dealt with weed and coke; crack was regulated to the hood and wasn’t too much hood in Gwinnett.

  “Man, when these motherfuckers gonna get here? It’s well after 8 and I’m hungry like a motherfucker,” King said, popping two more mints in his mouth.

  “They coming bruh!, Reese said. “They want to make that money…that’s for sure.”

  King settled down. He wasn’t used to being not in control of the situation. This time he let Reese take lead and although he trusted his boy, he also felt some kind of way. It was almost like déjà vu. Him and Bokine, the SA’s. He wasn’t about to let Reese fuck up his new chance on life.

  “These niggas legit Reese?” King asked. “Cuz, I really don’t need any bullshit! You feel me?”

  “Yeah King, Chill Bruh, they coming and we got plans over plans. Plan A, Plan B and C. I come prepared.”

  King started to feel some kind of way. What the fuck did that mean? All he knew about was a Plan A. He started to ask Reese about Plan B when a car drove up.

  “That’s them,” Reese said. “You stay in the car and let me check it out.”

  King did as he was told, but still the hairs on the back rose…signaling to him that something wasn’t right.

  When Reese exited the car, King checked his phone. Not one call from Carmen, Bae or Mook. He kind of felt alone out there. Reese was cool an all, but Reese could flip out in a second, he wanted some backup.

  Reese returned to the car with a smug grin on his face. “They got what we need and we got what they want.” He swung his long dreads to the side, then swept them all up into a ponytail he wore high on his head. “Let’s go.”

  King grabbed the bag with the money and began to exit the car. He could see two people in the car that drove up. A black Dodge Charger. He had always loved that car. In fact once he got stable, he was gonna make that his very first purchase.

  “Yo, Reese, you ready?”

  The two dudes in the car got out and circled the car to where King was standing. Reese fell back behind him and King didn’t know why. He thought he would be up front to retrieve the drugs once he presented the money. No pleasantries were expressed, King showed them the money and they showed the drugs. It was the usual. But then Reese pulled his gun and within seconds shot both of them dudes, grabbed the drugs while hollering, “King, let’s go!”

  He hollered King’s fucking name during a robbery. That was all King could think of. Shit moved fast, but this motherfucker called out his name. Shit wasn’t looking good.

  ***

  “Fuck Reese! Don’t you know I can catch another case. What the fuck was you thinking calling out my name?”

  “Man, ain’t nothing to worry about”, Reese said counting the money. “Them motherfuckers’ dead and dead men don’t tell. Shit! You check this out? We made out good!”

  This was too much like what had happened before and yet this time he could be, would be more in control of the situation. He already knew Reese was a hothead, and most times talked too damn much. He had to find a way to put a muzzle on Reese without having to kill him.

  ***

  Bae answered the door wearing a sexy, black mini dress that clung to everything. King already knew his eyes betrayed him before they even spoke.

  “Hey, you made it.” She said smiling and pulling him into a hug.

  Every time he saw her was better than the last. He was even having a hard time concentrating on Carmen and that was definitely outside of ordinary.

  “Yeah, hey I got this.” King said handing her a bottle Hennessy. “Still his favorite drink?”

  “Yes, of course. Well, come on in. Mook isn’t here yet, but some of his friends are. Did you have a hard time finding the place?” She asked while walking through her place.

  “No,” King responded, taking in the scenery before him.

  “Hey fool!” Big Cissy called out from the kitchen. “I want to know why I only get to see you at parties and nowhere else.”

  King laughed. “Awe come on Cissy, I’ve been working you know, trying to get my shit together. We gonna hang out soon.

  And all of sudden she dropped a bomb on him. “Well, I here you and Reese been hanging out!”

  King’s smile turned into a frown, because he knew that this nigga did not tell Big Cissy about what went down with the SA’s. He was fuming inside, thinking, this motherfucker going to get us both killed or at the least locked up.

  King interrupted. “Hey Bae, where’s your bathroom?”

  In the bathroom he tried calling up Reese. He wanted to get to him before he got to the party and started running his mouth. But he got no answer. Then he received an incoming call from Carmen.

  “Hey Babe!”

  “Papi, how are you? You haven’t called me in a week. What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing baby, I’ve been working a lot, trying to get into school, shit like that.’

  “You still sending me my ticket. I want to come see you Papi.”

  “Yeah, yeah…I’m working on that…for sure.”

  “Well, can you send me a little money, so I can get my nails done baby. Mommy want to be looking real good for you?”

  “Oh, yeah sure. I’ll put it in the mail tomorrow. So you alright?”

  “Yes, hey baby I got to go now. I’ll check in with you tomorrow.” She hung up.

  King leaned against the bathroom door with so many different thoughts running through his mind. The Reese shit, Carmen’s constant begging and then there was Bae. That last thought brought a smile to his face.

 
There was a knock at the door.

  “Hey, you alright in there?” Bae asked.

  “Yeah,” King said, opening the door. He was nervous, more nervous than he had ever been before, but he went for it. Pulling Bae into a warm embrace. She was soft to touch and smelled so damn good that it had his head swirling. He thought she would resist but instead she leaned in hugging him back, then gently closed the door behind her. He traced his finger around her face, over her nose and mouth then easing it down the front of her dress. He eased his hands inside the cups of her bra, then squeezed her nipples gently, one by one. Bae squirmed at his touch and she began moving slowly against him, grinding. King grabbed her ass pulling her even closer, cupping it and squeezing. He lightly kissed her neck, behind her ear, her nose, her forehead and then paused before gently kissing her lips. He could tell that Bae wanted more and he liked that.

  “Ummm,” Bae responded. “I wasn’t expecting that…but I liked it.”

  King liked it even more. The party went on and the two of them became indiscriminately closer. Anytime they found themselves alone, was time to kiss, fondle and hug and every bathroom break became a make out session. King walked around on eggshells, especially around Mook, but then again around Reese, hoping he wouldn’t be spilling another secret. All in all he had a good time and left there with a new dream, one that consisted of more time with Bae.

  Chapter 3

  “What does the count say?” Jose asked circling the small naked crew in his apartment. The table was filled with cocaine and several women weighing and bagging while others counted money across the way.

  “It’s short,” Maria responded.

  “Again! What the fuck is going on? Who keeps clipping off my money?” Jose pulled out his gun and waved it around the room. “I ain’t playing with you motherfuckers, who is it?”

  No one moved. No one spoke.

  “First my boys get jacked and killed and now this. I am sick of this shit and I swear,” he said, waving the gun again, pointing it slowly at everyone. “One more time and somebody in here dies.”

  “Why can’t you go after the ones who robbed you? Why you always treating us like your enemies? “ Maria asked. She knew she was stepping way out of bounds with Jose but she was tired of being threatened after spending hours in that sweat house.

  Jose grabbed Maria by the neck, holding the gun to her head. “Oh you got questions bitch! You think you running things around here?”

  “No, but my brother is, and I plan to tell him everything?” She said jerking away.

  Jose took a step back. “Get the fuck back to work!” He screamed. “I’m gonna go get us something cold to drink and everything better be counted and packaged when I return.”

  Jose took everything Maria said to heart. Enrique was her brother and although incarcerated this was and still is his operation. The one thing he didn’t want Enrique to know was number one about the jacking and number two about the consistently missing money. He thought he already knew who was skimming. It was Maria’s sneaky ass, because she was the only one who will feel confident enough to do it, without fear. Ain’t nobody gonna do anything to Enrique’s sister except Enrique.

  He lit a cigarette, trying to figure out how he would break the news to Enrique when his cell phone rang. It was Enrique. Fuck!

  “What up Esse? How you doing?”

  “Man, everything is everything. How’s my money?”

  “All good,” Jose lied. “We got this!”

  “So tell me blood, who is King?”

  “King, I don’t know a King?”

  “Yeah you do. He ran with Marco back in the day. He was the one they got for killing my cousin and I hear he back on the streets and robbing again. You better let this be the last time I find out some shit about my operation and I didn’t hear it first from you. Last time Jose, or I will fuck you up. Find King and if he don’t tell you where my money is…you know what you got to do.”

  ***

  Bae woke up with one thing on her mind and that was King. She turned over in her bed, grabbing her pillow and pulling it closer underneath her. Although she had known King for most of her life, she never thought she would be thinking of him in this way or that he could make her feel the way she was feeling. Just the thought of him had her squeezing her legs together. The brother was hot!

  But damn, she thought. She couldn’t be getting all willy-nilly over this man…not now. But then again, she could have a little fun. Years ago he was quite the catch, a smart dresser, intelligent, fine as hell, and every woman’s dream man. Power was sexy and years ago he had the power, along with Marco. But she was young then and to him just Mook’s little sister, she had never admitted to anyone how she had a crush on him. She laughed, thinking about what he would say to that. Well, she was enjoying their little flirtation and when he kissed her she felt all kind of butterflies in her stomach. Just the thought of it made her squirm in her bed. Damn, she thought, I got to find a way to get him back over here.

  Bae reached for her phone and dialed Kings number. It rang three times and just when she was about to give up he answered.

  “Hello, Bae?”

  “Hey, yeah, it’s me. Im not bothering you am I?” She asked.

  “No, no, I was just about to get up. My shift doesn’t start until 2, so I was just being lazy. So what’s up? What do I owe the honor of this call?”

  “Well, first off I want say I really enjoyed you at the party and secondly I need your help.”

  “Yeah, whatever you need, I’ll be right over!”

  ***

  Watching King on that ladder was doing something to Bae. She was feeling horny as hell. Seeing his tall, muscled frame above her had her imagining the most naughty things she would do to him. He even had the nerve to wear cologne.

  “So,” he said. “When was the last time you had these changed?

  “Don’t know, well not since I’ve been here. Thanks again for your help. I could have called Mook over but I call him for everything.”

  “No problem, all done” He said, climbing down from the ladder.

  Bae was just thinking there was something really sexy about a man, doing man’s work. Even though King was not at the level of success she would normally expect of any man trying to talk to her. She has seen his potential and she knew he was a good man.

  “Hey,” She said. “I got some iced tea. You want some?”

  “Hell yeah! I’m hotter than a motherfucker!”

  She handed him a cold glass and he nearly gulped it all down. “Umm, that’s good, sweet…just like you.”

  Without hesitation he pulled her into him close, placing the glass down on the counter. Their chemistry was unmeasurable as she seemed to sink into his chest. He whispered into her ear. “You are sweet?”

  Bae could hardly respond with any comprehensive answer.

  “You alright?” He asked.

  Bae nodded, afraid to say more or else spill her guts.

  “This feels good. Feels right. Who would ever think that we could be like this? Bae I know this sounds crazy and I might have to eat my words or at worst suffer a serious beat down by Mook, but I have wanted you since the first day I saw you. There has not been one waking moment that you weren’t on my mind.”

  “Wow!” She said.

  “You surprised?”

  “Yes, I am. But I like it.”

  “Well then baby girl…I’m going to give you lots of surprises because the one thing I love is seeing that beautiful dimpled smile. That’s something I want to see every day. I mean, if that’s okay with you.” He said gently lifting her mouth to his, kissing her.

  ”King, it’s better than okay.”

  King picked her up like a baby and carried her to the bedroom. He took his time, pressing her against the wall, removing her clothing piece by piece. They were like thunder and lightning exploding all over the place. It had been a long time but yes it was like riding a bicycle. She made it that easy. He took his time removing her clothes from
her body. Examining every single area, licking and kissing every mole and crevasse. He could tell she was excited by how wet she was. He was excited too, but planned to take his time on each and every area.

  Sucking her pussy juices, bringing her to tears. He wanted to take her then but waited, letting her catch her breath before climbing on top of her, slightly caressing her nipples with his tongue, biting and nibbling like he had an extra piece of cornbread. Her body curved and angled into him. She wanted him just as bad. When it seemed she couldn’t take anymore, King gave her what she wanted…not once, not twice, but three more times.

  Bae woke up to King’s heavy breathing beside her, noticing just how peaceful he looked while sleeping. She ran her fingers along his chin, stroking his goatee gently. He was one beautiful man. His skin was the perfect blend of cocoa and cream and he fucked her just like she wanted. She really wanted to keep him, but that would take more than some good fucking.

  ***

  It was just like old times for King and Mook, hanging out at Dugan’s on Ponce. The crowd was a lot thinner than King had remembered but those chicken wings were still the best. The jukebox was going full blast which brought back a lot of memories for King.