by Askari
The plot to take down Grip was finally coming together. If he was still holding court in the same warehouse that Easy remembered, then the war would end in one of two ways. Both Sonny and the Block Boys would win and take over the streets of Philly as Mook had envisioned, or they would die in the process.
As they sat around the living room loading their guns, Sonny’s iPhone vibrated on the coffee table.
Vrrrrrm! Vrrrrrm!
“Yo,” he answered.
“Boo, I just left the hospital and ya man ain’t lookin’ too good,” Daphney said, while driving up Broad Street.
“Whatchu mean he ain’t lookin’ too good?”
“Well, it ain’t that bad,” she assured him. “The doctor told me that he’s gonna make it, but they did have to remove a part of his intestines. The doctor also told me that one of the bullets shattered his hip.”
Sonny didn’t respond. The thought of his man lying in the hospital all shot the fuck up rubbed him the wrong way.
“Boo, are you still there?”
He sighed, “Yeah, I’m here. I’m just thinkin’ about my boy.” His phone beeped to alert him that he had another incoming call. He looked at the LCD screen and saw the caller was his mother. “Hey, yo, Daph, my mom’s on the other line. Let me see what she wants, and I’ma hit you right back.”
When he clicked over and heard the hysterical cries of his mother, his heart dropped into is stomach. “Mom, what’s wrong? Are you okay?"
“Sonny, its Riri!” She screamed through the phone.
“Riri what?”
“Somebody ran her over with a car!”
“What? Yo, where are you at?”
“We’re on our way to the hospital!” Annie continued to cry. “I've got her in the back of my van! And she's not lookin' good at all!”
“A’ight, I’m on my way!” He disconnected the call, and then ran toward the front door. “Come on y’all! It’s Riri! We gotta get to the hospital!”
*****
Twenty Minutes Later...
They barged into the emergency room and found Annie sitting by the receptionist’s desk. Her face was puffy, her eyes were red and her body was trembling.
Sonny ran over and knelt down beside her. “Mom, where’s Riri? Is she a’ight? Is the baby a’ight?”
“No!” Annie cried. “They tried to kill her!”
“They tried to kill her?” Sonny scrunched up his face. “I thought you said she got hit by a car?”
Annie nodded her head up and down. “She did, but after they hit her, they backed up and ran her over again! Her body was trapped under the car until it turned the corner!”
Sonny went ape shit! He knew that was Grip’s work, and the thought of his enemy hitting him so close to home drove him crazy. He stormed into the back of the emergency room, screaming her name. “Riri, I’m here boo! Where are you at?” He went from station to station pulling back the privacy curtains hoping to find her. The doctors, nurses, and patients were bewildered at the sight of him. “Boo, I’m here now! Where are you at?” He cried.
The fat woman at the receptionist’s desk paged security. “Security to the emergency room! We have an issue down here and we need assistance! I repeat security to the emergency room!”
A white, middle aged doctor approached him, attempting to calm him down. “Excuse me, sir. Is everything okay?”
“Doc, my wife’s in here and her name’s Riana Smalls! Take me to her!” Sonny demanded, gripping the doctor by his shirt.
“Sir, just calm down and I’ll find out what’s going on,” the doctor nervously replied. “Just calm down.”
“Naw, fuck that!” Sonny retorted, and then wrapped his left hand around the doctor’s neck. “Y’all mu’fuckas better stop playin’, and take me to my mu’fuckin’ wife!”
The doctor was scared to death. He frantically looked around for help, and was relieved to see Dr. Lindsay quickly approaching. “Hey, what the heck is going on here, Dr. Murray?” Dr. Lindsay asked with his face full of concern.
“Can you please tell this guy what’s going on with his wife before he snaps my neck?" Dr. Murray pleaded.
Sonny looked at the middle aged black man and said, “Her name’s Riana Smalls, and one of y’all mu’fuckas better take me to her!” He continued his rant.
Aw shit, this guy is gonna flip the hell out when I tell him about his wife, Dr. Lindsay thought to himself. He took a deep breath and chose his next words carefully. “Sir, your wife was ran over by a car. Both of her legs and arms were severely broken and she suffered from massive head trauma.”
“But is she okay?” he asked, releasing his grip from Dr. Murray's neck. “And the baby, is the baby okay?”
Dr. Lindsay took a deep breath. “Sir, I don't know how to tell you this, but your wife didn’t make it. She was pronounced dead about ten minutes ago.”
Sonny broke down crying and dropped to his knees. He cursed himself for not being there for her when she needed him the most, and the pain and guilt he felt was immeasurable. Naw, she can’t be dead. This nigga’s lyin’. He thought to himself. He refused to believe his first love was no longer alive. He jumped to his feet and demanded to be taken to her.
“I wish I could help you, but I’m not authorized to do so,” Dr. Lindsay explained. “Her body’s downstairs in the morgue, but because this is a murder investigation, the medical examiner and the police are the only ones authorized to see her at this time. I’m sorry.”
“Naw, fuck all dat!” Sonny snapped and grabbed him by his arm. “Pussy, you gonna take me to see her!” He yanked him toward the elevator down the hall, but when he resisted Sonny hit him with a short right hook. His limp body crumbled to the tiled floor, and Dr. Murray took off running in the opposite direction.
Four Philadelphia Police officers and two security guards burst through the double doors that seperated the back of the emergency room from the waiting area, and ran toward him.
“He’s right there!” Doctor Murray shouted from down the hallway. “He’s friggin’ crazy!”
“Get on the ground!” The first officer shouted, while running toward him. Sonny squared up and as soon as the officer came within striking distance, he threw a barrage of punches that folded him like an envelope.
The remaining three officers wrestled him to the tiled floor and placed him in handcuffs. As they led him through the waiting area and outside toward a waiting squad car, he caught a glimpse of Annie. “Mom, they killed her!” He sobbed. “They killed Riri!”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
An Hour Later...
At Police Headquarters...
Sonny was sitting in an interrogation room with his right arm handcuffed to a steel table. Warm tears ran down the sides of his face and it felt as if his heart had been ripped from his chest. “Damn ma, why you fuckin’ leave me? I know you was mad at a nigga and all dat, but damn! You wasn’t ever supposed to leave me Ri, not like this!” He cried out.
The brown wooden door creaked open and a middle aged black man entered the small room with a brown folder tucked under his right arm. He walked over to the table were Sonny was seated and took a seat across from him.
“Sontino, my name is Detective Ronald Sullivan, and I’m from East Detectives. I was informed by my supervisor that you’ve invoked your Fifth Amendment right to remain silent and that you’re waiting to speak to your attorney. However, the things that I need to speak to you about have nothing to do with your pending charges, and therefore you will not be subjected to self incrimination.”
Sonny wiped away his tears and ice-grilled him. “Well, if whatchu wanna talk to me about has nothin’ to do wit’ my charges, then why you fuckin’ wit’ me?”
“Let’s just say that I was hoping you could give me some information on your estranged grandfather, Gervin Moreno. We both know he’s the one responsible for the murder of your girlfriend and unborn child.”
“What?” Sonny snapped. “Give you some information. Who the fuck I look like,
Nicky Barnes?”
Enraged by Sonny’s outburst, Detective Sullivan hopped up from his seat, reached across the table, and grabbed him by his shirt. “Listen, you little fuck. I’m just about fed up with your drug dealing ass. You really think this is a friggin’ joke. Well, you mark my words, when this shit is over, and you realize that you’re never gonna see the streets again, your stupid ass is gonna wish you cooperated.”
Sonny looked at him and burst out laughing. “Yeah, nigga, suck my dick.”
*****
Across the hall, just a few feet away from his own office, Detective Smith was sitting in another interrogation room. Despite the pain that he felt from the flesh wound to his leg, a huge smile was plastered on his face. He knew the tricks of the trade, and being the snake that he was, he knew just how to slither his way out of trouble.
When Agent Long entered the small room, he got right down to business. “Alright Smitty, I just finished talking to the Attorney General, and against his better judgment, he’s willing to grant you immunity from prosecution.”
“Oh, yeah,” Smitty nodded his head up and down. “What’s the catch?”
“Where gonna need you to tell us everything you know about Gervin Moreno, and The Moreno Crime Family.”
Detective Smith continued smiling and rubbed the stubble on his chin. “Oh, yeah! Where do you want me to start?”
*****
Later That Night...
After posting a $30,000 bond, Sonny was back at his house and the only thing on his mind was murder. “Pops, did you check out the warehouse like I asked you?”
“Yeah,” Easy nodded his head. “When I left the hospital, I went down to Delaware Ave., and when I rode pass the warehouse I saw his Escalade parked out front. He’s got a gate surrounding the building, and two big ass Doberman Pinschers were patrolling the perimeter.”
Sonny cracked his knuckles. “A’ight, as soon as the sun goes down, we runnin’ up in that mu’fucka, and we killin’ everything.”
When Easy looked at his son and saw the pain and frustration in his eyes, he realized how much he truly loved him. He made a vow to himself that he would do anything to protect him.
“Yo, we gotta murder these niggas, son,” Breeze stated, while strapping on a bulletproof vest.
Sonny looked at him and nodded his head. “Did y’all figure out a way to get pass the gate and into the building?”
“Yeah,” Zaire responded. “I got us some hand grenades.”
“Hand grenades?" Sonny asked. “How the fuck did you pull that off?”
Zaire smiled. “You remember the bul Benny Blanko from Franklin and Berks?”
“Yeah, you talking ‘bout Shakill. That’s my mu'fuckin’ ol’ head. He used to fuck wit’ Mook back in the day.”
“Well, you remember when his spot got raided back in ‘03, and the cops found all them rocket launchers and hand grenades?”
“Yeah, I remember,” Sonny shot back.
“A’ight, well let’s just say that Shakill wasn’t the only nigga that was on deck.”
*****
Later That Night...
The cold February weather sent chills down their spines as they climbed out of Sonny’s Escalade and scoped out the scene. “Sonny, are you ready?” Easy asked.
Silence.
When they approached the gate that surrounded the building, they were immediately greeted by the barking and growling of the two Doberman Pinschers.
“Breeze,” Sonny looked at his cousin. “Shut ‘em the fuck up!”
Breeze raised his 9mm and screwed a silencer to the barrel. He aimed the pistol at the dogs and fired.
Beaw! Beaw! Beaw! Beaw!
After a few seconds of body spasms, both dogs were laid out with a puddle of blood surrounding their heads. Easy reached inside of his jacket pocket and pulled out a bottle of sulfuric acid. After twisting off the top, he poured the liquid over the deadbolt lock that secured the gate. As the acid sizzled and burned through the steel, breaking down its components, Breeze aimed the 9mm and fired.
Beaw! Beaw! Beaw!
The lock cracked down the middle and fell to the ground. Sonny kicked the gate open, and one by one they crept toward the warehouse with assault rifles clutched in their hands. Aside from Grip’s money green Escalade, the parking lot was deserted. They noticed a door on the side of the building, and approached it cautiously. Easy checked the doorknob, and astonishingly discovered that it was left unlocked. He cracked it open, and then motioned for Zaire to come closer. Behind him, Sonny and Breeze were looking back and forth, looking for any signs of a sneak attack. Easy held his index fingers to his lips, signaling for them to remain quiet.
“Zaire,” he spoke just above a whisper. “Hand me one of those grenades.”
Zaire removed the book bag he was wearing, reached inside, and carefully removed the pineapple. He handed it to Easy, and then took a step back. Easy pressed his thumb on the spoon, and then extracted the pin.
“Listen, I need y’all to take cover behind that truck,” He nodded toward the Escalade. “‘cause this shit is about to get hectic.”
In unison, they nodded their heads and did as he suggested. Easy waited a few seconds, then in one swift motion he lifted his thumb from the spoon. He tossed the grenade inside of the warehouse, and then ran to take cover behind the SUV. Approximately ten seconds later, the grenade exploded.
KaBoom!
A blast of fire shot from the door and a cloud of smoke seeped into the parking lot. Hoping to catch Grip and his cohorts off guard, they stormed inside of the building with their guns blazing.
Brrrroc! Brrrroc! Brrrroc! Brrrroc!
Almost immediately, Easy noticed that nobody was shooting back so he yelled for everybody to stop shooting. Their ears were ringing, and the smokefilled atmosphere was burning their eyes and lungs. Sonny was enraged, and the realization that nobody was in the warehouse drove him over the edge.
“Y’all mu’fukas wanted to go to war, so let’s get it! He shouted at the top of his lungs, and then let off a barrage of gunfire.
Brrrroc!
“Y’all niggas gon’ kill my girl and my baby on some fuck shit, and now y’all wanna hide! Naw, fuck that!”
Brrrroc!
“Grip, don’t hide now pussy! You wanted me right! Well, now you got me mu’fucka!”
Brrrroc! Brrrroc! Brrrroc! Brrrroc!
“Sontino, calm down!” Easy shouted, but the look that Sonny gave him was a clear indicator that if he got in his way he could get it too. “Baby boy,” he continued in a softer tone. “I know you’re feelin’ fucked up and frustrated, but them niggas ain’t here!”
Sonny broke down crying and trembling with rage. “Naw, pops, them niggas is here! I can feel it!” He shot back. “So you can talk until ya face turn blue ‘cause we ain’t leavin’ this mu’fuckin’ warehouse until we find ‘em!”
Easy shook his head in defeat. “A’ight, Sonny, if it’ll make you feel better, you and me can search the second floor and Breeze and Zaire can search down here.” He looked at Breeze and Zaire. “Search everything, and if y’all find something, let off a few rounds to let us know.” They nodded their heads, and then began searching.
Sonny and Easy cautiously crept to the second floor, and after searching just about everything they came up empty handed. There was, however, a door at the end of the hallway that they hadn’t searched. Slowly, they crept toward it with their weapons aimed and ready to fire. Sonny used the barrel of his AK-47 to open the door, and when he realized that the office was empty his frustration grew immensely. As he looked around the office, he noticed that a single sheet of paper was lying on what appeared to be Grip’s desk. He picked it up and saw that it was a letter from Grip, addressed to him.
Sontino,
By the time you find this letter, I’ll be out of the country so don’t bother looking for me. When I heard the news about your fiancé and unborn child I knew that you would come here. I need you to know that I did not sanct
ion that hit! I gave all of my men specific orders to keep you in one piece. Trust me, if I wanted you dead, you would have been buried and forgotten. Throughout our minor misunderstanding, I’ve known your every move. Do you remember the two Cuban women that you and Rasheed took to the Marriott Hotel? Maria and Michelle? Well, unbeknownst to you, I call them Murder and Malice, and they are the head enforcers of my family. I knew all about Riana and her mother Mary. They live in a little town called Crestmont, and it’s right next to the Willow Grove Mall. I also knew about the woman that you kept on the side. Her name’s Daphney Rines, and her father is an old friend of mine. I even knew about your house in Cheltenham. I drive pass it every day.
The only reason that I didn’t take your life is because you’re my grandson. The biggest mistake that I’ve ever made was not being there for your grandmother when she was pregnant with your father. I was young and arrogant just like you! I let my pride trump my judgment, and as a result I lost the only women that I’ve ever loved. Not only did I miss the opportunity to be a father to my only son, I miss the opportunity to be grandfather to you, my grandson. When I first saw you at that restaurant, I immediately recognized you. However, it wasn’t until the day that I spoke to you on Fairhill Street that I realized your true potential. It was then, that I decided that I wanted yon to be the heir to my throne. Not just because you’re my grandson, but because of the fire that I saw in your eyes. It was the same exact fire that burned in mines over fifty years ago when I was forced to start my own family. The Moreno Family.
Now, for the last time, will you please take your rightful place as the boss of this family, and allow me to retire as a wealthy old man? As a token of my love, the two assholes responsible for what happened to Riana and my great grandson are tied up in the basement awaiting your final judgment. You’ll also find a briefcase down there, and inside I left you $2,500,000. I know that it can’t replace Riana and the baby, but like I said it’s a token of my love!
