by Shan
I didn't lose my attraction for her, but I lost my interest. I guess I was going to have to find another way to piss Andre off. I took her little pretty self to school and finally headed to the house after being gone for forty-eight hours.
***
Home Sweet Home. It was good to be in the comforts of my own home after over a year stretch in prison. Even though I hated my living situation, I ain't have nobody looking over my shoulder and telling me what time to go to bed and what time to wake up. Not being able to piss and shit in private was not something a man wanted to go through every day.
I lived with five other dudes; my older twin brothers Tavon and Taron, my cousin Roderick, and my best friends Brandon and Keylan. I know people be thinking if we got all this money and everything why we are all staying in the same house. Well for some reason, my brothers had a guard over me and felt like I needed to be around them so that they could protect me. Although, I didn't need any protection, I just went with the flow. It wasn't gonna last for long though because they weren't trying to move out the hood, but I was ready to bounce.
Brandon, Keylan, and Roderick were adopted by my mama and daddy when they were kids and had been a part of the family ever since. I was the baby of the family, and the way we were raised was to never let a man fall. You do any and everything you could to keep that man on his feet. Leaving them would be like going against the grain. They would look it at like; I would be setting myself up to be killed, and then it would all be on them. At least that’s how they all saw it.
Since I had been in the game, me and my crew were still going strong. We had a few that went to jail including myself, but we haven't lost anyone yet and for that I was thankful and keeping my fingers crossed.
We have been some of the fortunate ones because it’s crews out there that lose members almost every day. I loved my family and did what I had to do to keep everyone eating and safe even though I felt animosity coming from them all about my promotion. I was just hoping that soon we could all come to a solution on this living situation 'cause I don't know how much more of this I could take.
All day, I had Rozalyn on my mind. It was weird how she stayed in my head. I had never thought about a chick like this before. It was something about the way I was feeling made me wanna explore her more.
I wanted to know her from the inside out, but she wasn't having that, so, unfortunately, I had to learn from the outside in. I kind of hated girls that wanted you to work for the pussy. I ain't never had to work for it a day in my life, never really felt like I had to, so this would be interesting in how far I would allow this to go.
I blew smoke in the air and sat up in the bed when I heard gunshots coming from the living room. I snatched my pistol from my pillow and departed from my room to see a regular crack head lying on the floor with his pants soaked in blood.
He cried out in pain and Keylan threatened to shoot him again if he didn't shut up. Keylan was a hot head; the type that shot first and asked questions later. He never thought about what he was doing, and he never questioned whether he was right or wrong. That's why I rolled with him more than anybody. He always knew when a situation was finna get out of hand so I could always count on him.
"What happened?" I asked blowing the chronic in the air. Knowing Keylan he probably shot him because he looked at him the wrong way.
"That nigga asked if he can suck my dick. Ol' gay ass nigga. Who the fuck he thank I am?" Keylan said that shit like I questioned his manhood.
"This ain't no fucking Menace to Society and you ain't no damn O-Dogg; my nigga. You shot this nigga in my granny house bruh?"
I was the youngest of them all, but never stood down to any of them.
"Fuck this nigga man. He just disrespectful!"
"I'm sorry man; please get me to the hospital. I'm hurt my man," the crack head whined as he held his private parts where Keylan had shot him at. He might as well should have killed him. He would be no good to himself or anyone else for that matter.
I looked at Keylan who picked the controller up to the PlayStation and wondered why the hell he wasn't handling the situation.
"Key, get this nigga out of here. What are you doing?" I yelled.
"Let that nigga lay there and think about what the hell he did," Keylan said and got up to kick the crack head in the side causing him to cry for my help.
"Get him out of here Key!" I yelled furiously at Keylan.
He was frustrating me, and I wanted to take out my gun and shoot him in the dick. Tavon and Brandon walked in the house with the same crazy look on their faces that I had when I first saw this dude lying on my granny's living room floor.
"What the hell is wrong with you Tae?" Tavon asked, and I shook my head.
My brother Tavon always pointed the finger at me. He said I was a loose cannon, and I needed to learn to control my temper. So far, I had been having a good day, and I wasn't about to let him mess it up. I hit my blunt and looked at Keylan, who was sitting back down and playing the video game again.
"Stupid ass nigga! You shot this nigga in the house. That's what I be talking about, and daddy saw fit for you to run shit," Tavon said.
He hated me. My own flesh and blood hated to see me doing good, and it hurt that they didn't have my back like I had theirs. I didn't do or say anything. I just walked to my room, grabbed my keys, and Roc-A-Wear hat, and then left the house. Tavon wasn't even worth a response.
I headed out to check the blocks to make sure everybody was where they were supposed to be and doing what they were supposed to be doing. Today was payout. I knew there were going to be some missing faces; those that were short, or didn't have their payout at all would be nowhere to be found.
It was how business worked and was to be expected in the game. The old bosses were letting too many people slide, but that wasn't happening on my watch. If a nigga gotta rob, shoot, kill, and steal to get my money then that's what they better do. I had no problem eliminating each and everybody that aimed to fuck me.
"Everything alright?" I asked as I pulled up to one of the busiest corners in DeKalb where Randy-T, J-Money, and a chick Peaches ran point.
"Tae, I'm a little short," Peaches said with a smile on her face as she walked up to me. She was fine as hell, had thick thighs, slim waist. She was a pretty little yellow bone, and it seemed like she should be doing something else besides selling rocks for cash.
"By how much?" I asked staring at her perky chest. She had a nice set of breast. My mind drifted off , and I pictured myself sucking on her raw nipples while she rode my dick.
"About three-fifty, but…."
I ain't let her finish. Three-fifty usually meant five-fifty, and anything over a hundred short was unacceptable. That meant she had been spending my money. I looked at the brand new Coogi outfit she had on, a fresh pair of J's, and Gucci shades she wore over her eyes and questioned if that’s where the five-hundred and fifty dollar went.
"I'll be back by two. Just make sure you got it then," I told her that with much sincerity in my voice.
I didn't really care how fine she was, and the game didn't care either. I would put a hole in her pretty face just as quick as I would if she was a dude.
"I can give you some head Tae, I mean…."
I cut her off again. Did I look like a trick to her? Head came free to me, and I'm sure her head game wasn't worth five hundred and fifty dollars.
"I'll be back to get my money. Tell Randy-T them to holla at me," I said and drove off, heading to the next block. This was usually a job we let the soldiers do, but today I was doing it. This was the first payout since I been the head honcho, and I wanted to let everybody know that I wasn't playing around.
After three hours of collections, I got me a room and counted up this week's pay. It wasn't good. There was only one-hundred seventy thousand dollars, and we should be at least pulling in one-hundred thousand a day.
I took note of what everybody did; noting who the front runners were and who the weakest links were. It had
to be real hustlers on each corner in order for me to make every dollar that was out there to make. I couldn't personally serve every crack head in the hood so firing everybody wouldn't be the best solution.
I sent a few soldiers out to find the corner boys that decided not to come to work today. I told them to do whatever they had to do, and don't leave without ninety percent of the money owed to me. In order for things to go the way I needed them to, I didn’t have time to play with anybody.
There was money to be made, and I had to get it. Within a couple of months business would be booming better than ever. Within in a year or so I would be a millionaire and my crew would be a millionaires. Not only that, Dmitri would be even richer than he already was. Trust me when I say this.
3: ROZALYN
I started to become very fond of Tae. He had been picking me up for school every morning and taking me out afterwards. I was spoiled. He was actually spending time with me even though he wasn't gaining anything from it. It felt good, and I hoped it didn't stop no time soon. It had been a couple of months since I'd met him, and we saw each other almost every day.
"Thank you for telling me Happy Birthday," Tae said with a mouth full of fish.
Damn I feel bad. Why didn't he tell me before that it was his birthday? I thought to myself.
"Happy Birthday. I'm sorry. I ain't know. Why didn't you tell me?" I said hoping that he could forgive me. I only had twenty-dollars to my name and didn't know what kind of gift I could get him with that.
"You ain't seen any of the fliers going around for my party tonight. You need to make sure you are there," he said.
"I ain't got nothing to wear otherwise you know I would be there," I said.
Tae wiped his hands off with a napkin and went into his pockets. He came back up with a wad of money in his hand and placed it on the table. I suddenly felt offended. Why was he throwing money on the table?
"What's that?"
"Money," he replied, and stuffed his face with more fish.
"Okay, I know what it is. What is it for?"
"Get you something to wear. Get your nails and shit fixed. Your hair did. Whatever. You just don't have a reason to not show up now," he said that like there was nothing wrong with him giving me a stack of money.
"So, what do you think I'm gonna give you some just because you giving me money?"
I had to ask that question. My mama always said ain't nothing in life free; even money came with a price tag on it.
"Why would you ask me something like that? Do I look like I gotta pay for pussy?"
I could see he was pissed, but I couldn't have him expecting anything from me. There was a lot of money sitting in between us, and nobody was that generous for nothing.
"That's foul. Can't believe you," he said as he shook his head.
Now I felt bad 'cause he hadn't asked me for sex at all. He never even tried to get me to do anything.
"I know. I'm sorry. I just don't feel right taking money from you. It's your birthday, and I should be giving you money."
"Just take the money and do what you wanna do with it."
I could tell that I had insulted him. He pushed his plate away and didn't even look my way. I grabbed the money, threw it in my purse, and apologized again. I told him how much I appreciated it, but he wasn't trying to hear it.
"What's up?" That came from behind me.
I turned and looked up to see Andre standing over me. Ever since I started chilling with Tamar, I'd been ignoring him. He started calling and texting me non-stop. He would leave voice messages about how sorry he was for hurting me, and how big of a mistake he made to let me go. He begged me to answer the phone so that we could talk, but I really felt like I didn't have anything to say to him.
"Hey," I said nervously.
I didn't know how he would feel seeing me having lunch with Tamar. His eyes suddenly looked cold. He was noticeably mad, and I could see the veins in his neck throbbing. He had a devious frown on his face, and I could see his gold teeth through the crack of his lips.
"This what it is Roz?" Andre asked.
"Yea nigga this what it is. She ain't with your bitch ass no more. I don't know why the fuck you even over here!" Tae yelled at Andre before I could even give a reply.
"You a hoe bruh! You supposed to be family, and you go up under me and take my girl! You a hater bruh!" Andre was clapping his hands together for each word he spoke. That was in gesture that people used in the street when they were crunk about the subject. It lets everybody know that they were serious about the situation.
"Nigga you ain't got shit I want. Fuck you and your life. I ain't never hated on nan' muthafucka, so get your mind right before you come at me like that. Get the fuck away from this table, mark ass nigga!"
Andre pulled up his pants and looked over at me. I attempted to keep my head down. I didn't want to make eye contact with him. It was hard to look him in the eye 'cause I knew I was wrong.
"You know the only reason you with him is 'cause I slept with Tasha. I figured you must have found somebody when you wasn't taking any of my calls. I never thought it would be own my cousin though"
"Wan Wan, cry baby ass nigga. Baby you ready?" Tae asked as he swallowed the rest of his soda and grabbed his keys.
"Baby?" Andre asked. I was surprised too. Tamar had never called me anything, but my name. "Damn, you sleeping with him Rozalyn?"
"Don't worry about what she doing. Come on Roz!" Tamar got up from the table and so did I.
I wasn't prepared for what happened next. Andre grabbed me by arm to keep me from leaving, and Tamar suddenly punched Andre in the face causing him to stagger a few steps backwards. All I could see was Andre's gold teeth fill with blood. Andre reached in his back pocket and pulled out his .38 that he never left home without.
"Andre, wait a minute! Y’all going too far!" I yelled.
I'd gotten scared. I didn't want these two guys to be fighting over me, and I definitely didn't want Tamar to get killed behind me.
Tamar stepped in Andre's face the same way he did those other guys when they had a gun pointed at his head. Tamar's ass was crazy. I didn't know anybody that didn't run the other way when they saw a gun, but him.
"Shoot me. Pull the trigger nigga!" Tamar bellowed.
Everybody in the café had their eyes on them as if they were watching a scene in an action movie. I stepped in between the two begging them to squash it. I pleaded for Andre to put the gun away and just leave. I wasn't having sex with neither of them, so there was no need for this.
Tamar didn't back down from Andre just as I had expected. He never took his eyes off Andre's eyes. I put my hand on Tamar's chest and told him to walk away, but he didn't budge. Somebody must have called the police 'cause the sirens could be heard from afar.
Andre gave Tamar one last mug and then headed through the café out the backdoor. I exhaled deeply, grabbed my purse, and begged for us to get out of there. I was so happy that nothing happened and prayed that the two of them could overcome this whole ordeal. This shit was all my fault.
Tamar and I left the cafe and headed straight to the mall. He was quiet the whole time while I shopped for something to wear to his party. Finally, he spoke when he asked me why I didn't tell him that Andre had been calling me. I didn't tell him 'cause it wasn't a big deal to me. I had never talked to Andre when he called so to me it never mattered to even bring up.
Tamar wanted to pretend like we were in a relationship when it benefited him. Like earlier when he called me baby. I know that was only for show. Tamar was just like Andre in the aspect that he screwed other girls to make up for what I wasn't doing for him. When I asked him about the other females, he would always say we wasn't together and it wasn't my business. But soon as he heard about me and some other dude he caught an attitude and wouldn't want to talk to me anymore.
After looking around for a while, I found a black and red Juicy Couture short-set and on my way to the counter I picked up some red heels that would match perfectly.
The short set was cute. It was a one-piece that zipped up in the front, and had red glittery designs across the threads and the back.
I could tell by Tae's facial expression that he didn't like it, but I didn't care. Once he saw me tonight he would love it. I always bought something another designer made and changed it up by putting my own spin onto it. One of my dreams was to be a fashion designer. It was plan-A, and in case it didn't work out, plan-B was to be a lawyer.
After we finished shopping, Tamar took me home and told me that he would talk to me later. I started working on my outfit immediately knowing that it would take me a few hours to finish. Once I was done I was more than satisfied.
A couple of hours before Tae's party, I had got another call from Andre that I didn't bother to answer, but I did listen to the voicemail that he decided to leave:
"If I ever see you and that nigga together again, you both dead."
After listening to Andre's threatening message, I hung up and just brushed it off. I understood that he was mad about whom I chose to spend my time with, but he was the one that cheated on me with an enemy, and then broke it off with me. I decided that texting Tamar to let him know what Andre said was best. I didn't want him to get mad at me like he had done earlier. He ended up brushing it off as well and told me to make sure that I wasn't late for his party.
Tonight at the party, Tamar would be introducing me to his family. I'd seen a couple of them around before, but didn't really know who they were. Andre never introduced me to his family, and we were together for three months. Meeting someone's family was special, so I know that I had to mean something to Tamar. That made my heart flutter.
***
My best friend Brian and I headed to the party around ten-thirty. Tamar was having it at an upscale hotel located downtown. I had never seen this many people in one spot in my life besides at a music concert. There were half-naked females all over the place.
I suddenly felt overdressed. So many girls had on mini-dresses and skirts, coochie cutters, bra-tops with boy shorts. It looked like an all exclusive strip club.
