Justify My Thug

by Wahida Clark

  ONI

  “Steele or Stone, if my son has one strand of hair on his head harmed, I’ma”—Big Mike had snatched the phone from out of my hand. No sooner than Faheem had stormed out, we got the call from the camp who burst into my house and snatched up my son.

  “Steele, if there’s a problem we bring it to the table and discuss it. I don’t even know what all of this is about. But I do know, you wouldn’t like it if I burst into your home and pulled some bullshit like that. This shit is unnecessary. Let’s meet, give me my nephew and then we can handle this shit like real niggas.”

  “Put him on speakerphone, Mike.” I needed to hear the entire conversation. “Tell him I need to hear my son’s voice. Let me talk to him, I need to know he’s alright.” My brother waved me off and turned his back to me. Soon after the call was disconnected.

  He turned to us and said, “They want what belongs to them and they gave us forty-eight hours.”

  JAZ

  I was sitting there in shock at what Faheem had just shared with me. Now he was on the phone talking to Oni. Here I was thinking that this bitch was running a legitimate business and here they were moving weight and robbing the drug dealers that came through their hotels.

  Faheem hung up the phone looking stressed as hell. I felt sorry for him. Here he had just came into his son’s life and now this. It hadn’t even been a good couple of months.

  Faheem hung up the phone and said, “I have to make a run. I’ll be right back.” He reached behind his waist and pulled out his Nine. “Take this. And if some muthafuckas come banging on the door, you shoot first and let God sort it out later.” He put the Nine in my hand and headed for the door. When he came downstairs, he headed straight for the front door and I was right on his heels.

  “Did she say who the people were?”

  “No, only that they were the people who took my son.”

  “So what about the police? No one is going to call them?”

  “I haven’t figured it out yet, Jaz. It’s going to be hard to call the police and say my son was kidnapped because his momma stole money and drugs from the dealer. Like I said, let me clear my head and then I’ll know if I’m going to call my people or just handle the shit myself. Now lock me out.”

  I did. I stood there with my back against the door, looking stupid. I felt like I was on a movie set. This shit seemed so surreal.

  FAHEEM

  I left Jaz at the house, drove around for about an hour to clear my head and then headed back over to Oni’s. I was like, damn, just when I thought I was out, I get pulled back in. Hell, I probably will end up having to relocate. I had already made up my mind to do what I had to do with or without these niggas. We was talking about my son. I had sworn to myself, if something happened to him, his mother was going to pay.

  Oni let me in the house and as soon as she shut the door, she started that crying bullshit. “Pull yourself together. Crying ain’t going to do shit to get my son back. You should of thought about that when you made your moves.”

  “I know that, but I can’t help it.” Since she saw that she wasn’t getting any sympathy from me she turned around and I followed her into the kitchen.

  Her three brothers and nephew were sitting at the kitchen table as if they was actually coming up with a plan.

  “Look, I’m here to get as much info from y’all as possible. I just want to get my son back. I need to know who these niggas are and where they set up at. But I was also wondering since y’all dealt with them before, will they accept what y’all took back and call it a day? Or will they want war?”

  “Man fuck them niggas!” her nephew spat.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you? They got my son and you talking about fuck them?” I yelled.

  “I didn’t mean it like that. Shit, that’s our nephew and we want him back too. I was just saying, don’t let them dictate what moves we make. I am a cop. I can make some things happen.”

  I cocked my head to the side. Did this nigga just say out of his mouth that he’s a cop? He picked up on my reaction.

  “My auntie didn’t tell you I was the law?” He looked over at Oni.

  “Nah, she didn’t. But since you are supposed to have some connections then simply give these people what they want, get my son back and let’s call it a day.”

  “We can’t. We talking about five hundred thirty thou and it was 100 kilos. We can’t,” Oni said. “The kilos have been sold and the money divided amongst us. I put all my share into some rental properties. It would take me months to liquidate.”

  “Can’t? Can’t? Bitch, we talkin’ about my son.” I banged my fist on the table. “I don’t give a fuck! Somebody better start diggin’ some money up, right the fuck now.” You could have heard a pin drop if it wasn’t for me breathing all hard. I needed these bama muthafuckas to see and understand that I was ready to take it out of their asses. “Let me ask y’all a question. Do you think it matters to this nigga about the keys? Can we just pay him for the 100 keys or is he on some bullshit saying he wants the drugs back and not the money?”

  “Faheem, wait. Listen. We do have a plan,” Oni said. She paused waiting to see if I was going to say something.

  “Impress me, shit. Something y’all muthafuckas have yet to do. Speak.”

  “We was talking about it before you got here. The cat Steele is a youngin’ on the come-up, but we can get him out the way. We need you. I need you to set everything up. All you have to do is listen and my brothers will tell you everything you have to do,” Oni said.

  I couldn’t believe this bitch. She spittin’ this bullshit plan to me as if this ain’t her son too. What mother would put their own flesh and blood on the table. I see why I chose Jaz over her. I should have made the bitch choke to death on my dick.

  After she finished flapping her gums about this bullshit that they want me to do, I looked around at these crazy muthafuckas as if they had just sprouted ten heads. Here they were ready to take a chance with my son’s life as they used him as a pawn. I was livid and they saw that.

  “Our plan, it will work. I know this dude, Faheem,” Damon said. Just hear me out and I’ll tell you why we have to do it like this. And I’ll tell you why it will work.”

  JAZ

  Someone kept calling the house phone and hanging up. I got my baby up, we went into the garage and jumped into the car and headed over to Oni’s.

  When I pulled up, I saw all of the cars in the driveway so I called Faheem. “Baby, I’m outside. Someone kept calling and hanging up so I didn’t want to be there by myself. It could be nothing but I wasn’t taking any chances.”

  “I’ll be right there.”

  As soon as he came to the car I asked him, “Is everything alright? Who does all of those cars belong to?”

  “Her brothers. I told you the whole damn family is involved in this bullshit.” Faheem grabbed my hand and led me into the kitchen.

  “This is my wife. She said somebody kept calling the house and hanging up. Oni, you think these niggas been following you?”

  “I don’t think so. If they have, I’ve underestimated them,” the bitch had the nerve to say. I swear I wanted to spit in her face.

  “Daddy, can I go and play with Faheem?” Lil’ Jaz asked me. Everybody got quiet.

  “Your brother is sleeping over at a friend’s. I’ll take you into the living room. You want to watch TV or play a video game?” Oni quickly said, obviously doing what she did best … lie and deceive. I did not want this shiesty ass bitch touching my child, but since Faheem was in war mode I gave her Lil’ Jaz.

  Faheem pulled a chair out for me and I sat down at the roundtable. I looked around at who was in the crowded room. When I focused on the brotha sitting in the corner, I did a double take. It was the detective who planted that shit in my car. The next thing you know I was up on my feet.

  “You bitch!” I balled my fist and punched the shit out of Oni. The glass of liquid she had just put to her lips hit the floor, shattering.

&n
bsp; Everybody was up and over to where we were in a flash. Her brother started to grab me but Faheem looked at him then said, “Don’t get fucked up.” Then he turned his attention to me, grabbing me by my neck.

  “Jaz, now is not the time for this bullshit. What the fuck is wrong with you?”

  I couldn’t even speak. “Get my daughter, Faheem. Now. And as long as you fuckin’ with this bitch, you will not have any contact with me or Kaeerah. Go get my daughter!” I screamed. I was about to go postal in that bitch as I shoved Faheem off of me.

  “Jaz, what is—”

  I cut him off. “I told you this skank ass ho was behind this shit. Hell, she probably set this whole kidnapping thing up, Faheem. I told you she ain’t shit! Just go get me my daughter.”

  “What the fuck are you talking about?”

  I pointed at the detective. “That’s the nigga who planted the crank in my car and arrested me. So fuck you, fuck her and fuck all of y’all crazy muthafuckas. And fuck it, I’ll get my own daughter, so I can get away from all of y’all sick fucks!” I was heated. I stormed to the living room and snatched my daughter off the couch. The poor thing didn’t know what was going on. “That bitch got you blinded. Let me get outta her before I catch a case for real. And Faheem, you know I will. I won’t give a fuck about going to prison.”

  “Hold up Jaz,” Faheem jumped in front of me, trying to block me from leaving. The phone started ringing and his attention was briefly diverted so I used that moment to push him out of the way. I was outta there and rushing to the car. As me and my daughter got in I could hear Faheem going off on Oni and her trying to explain but I didn’t give a fuck. But I did hope that they get their son back because not her, not Faheem will ever see my child again. It was officially over.

  ONI

  Shit just hit the fan for real. I was busted. Faheem stormed out after Jaz, while all three of my brothers were staring at me.

  “Oni, don’t tell me you did that shit. And you got Ronnie here to help you? You didn’t even check with us before you pulled some stupid shit like that. And why? ‘Cause you want that nigga back? That is so stupid.” Big Mike was obviously disgusted with me.

  “You was supposed to call a sit down before you made a move like that, Oni. You know the rules,” Damon spat.

  Mike looked at his son. “And you? You gonna jeopardize your whole career over some bullshit baby mama drama? You should of have sense enough to come to me before you even moved on this bullshit.”

  “Pops, my career is already on the line. I fucks with y’all remember?”

  “Son, listen to me. I can keep you apart from this. But anything outside of this, that’s on you.”

  “Now we got to deal with two crises,” Wali said and he smacked the back of Ronnie’s head.

  SEVENTEEN

  TASHA

  I just saw Rick. My heart was pounding faster than roaches scurrying away from the kitchen light. I saw King Rick. It was him in the flesh. He was here in the city. He was alive. Alive and well. And what was spooking me even more was that the chick he was with reminded me of Kyra. Kyron was buggin’ because he swore up and down that it was somebody I used to fuck with.

  “Kyron, you heard what he said. He wanted to know what you were doing with his boy’s wife.”

  “That’s what he said?”

  “Yes, that’s what he said.” He picked up that I was getting a little disturbed by his questions so he changed the subject.

  “So, the nigga is a cop?”

  “Yeah. He lived right down the street from us and he was a detective, a dirty one. But he loved him some Trae.” I smiled as a few old memories ran through my mind. Kyron gave me a dirty look so I snapped out of it and kept on going. “I believe they did some things together, I just don’t know to what extent. Him and my girl Kyra started messing around when Marvin started back getting high. We think Marvin is the one who deaded him … well, we thought he was dead. Trae even went to his funeral, which was obviously a staged one. That’s why I’m trippin’. We hadn’t seen him since. The nigga was supposed to be dead.” I had to call Trae.

  “Well, the muthafucka was out of line.”

  “And what would you have been pulling a gun out in a crowded restaurant?” I asked Kyron.

  “Vindicated.”

  TRAE

  I corrupted my mission and got my niece back to California safe and sound. The boys were still in Florida, so I had to call my Aunt Marva over to ask her to house sit and keep an eye on her for me. I wanted to surprise everybody, so I told my aunt not to tell anyone that she was here. I quickly got her settled and was out. I needed to get back to New York to go pick up my sons and to bring Tasha back home.

  When I arrived in New York and had yet to catch Kendrick or Kyron, which only pissed me off more, I was forced to resort to some of my old tactics.

  I set my plan in motion and then picked up my sons and headed back to Cali to drop them off, only to turn around and head back to New York. Yeah, lately I had become a flying muthafucka. Our private plane had become my new apartment. I’d been on and off that muthafucka for almost a week straight. I was showering, sleeping, the whole nine yards. When I arrived back into the city, I went to my apartment and set the trap.

  TASHA

  We had just come back from getting a whole pizza from Famous Ray’s. Its delicious aroma smelled up the car and my stomach was growling. I couldn’t wait anymore. I opened the box and tore off a slice.

  “Shorty, we about to go inside,” Kyron said as he looked at me as if he couldn’t believe that I was eating pizza in his ride.

  Obviously this was his first time being around a hungry, spoiled, pregnant woman so I went easy on him. “I know, but my stomach is growling. Can’t you hear it? And plus there’s nothing like hot pizza right out the box.” I looked at him as I took a big bite of my slice of pizza with extra cheese. The oil from the cheese was dripping down my chin but I didn’t care. He turned the car off and we sat there. Me with my pizza and Kyron had rolled himself a blunt. We was sitting there chillin’.

  The evening was crisp and clear. When we finished Kyron opened the door and was getting ready to get out, when out of nowhere this nigga comes and pulls the door back and then slammed it on Kyron’s leg. “Fuck!” Kyron yelled out. It happened so fast, neither of us saw it coming.

  “Get out muthafucka,” the dude barked, holding the door with one hand and a .357 in the other. His partner appeared from the shadows holding a double barrel in Kyron’s face.

  I didn’t know what to do. I knew that Kyron had a hammer, but before he could get to it the guy snatched him out the car so fast, patted him down and took it.

  “Just let my Shorty go and we can do this.”

  “Nigga, that ain’t your shorty,” the dude with the burner said.

  “Get out the car, Tasha,” Kyron told me right before the dude punched him in the face.

  I threw the pizza box down and went to open the door when another dude snatched it open, scaring the shit out of me. “Hold up. You are going to have to come with me.” I looked over at Kyron and they had him on the ground whupping his ass. People walking past looked but kept it moving.

  “Come on, get the fuck out,” Dude glared at me.

  I looked at dude closely and he looked to be my height and from the way he was cut up, the nigga lived in the gym or just got out of the pen. When he licked his lips, that’s when I really got shook. But I promised myself that I was not going out without a fight. I got out of the car and yelled, “Somebody call the police. I don’t know this guy! Help me! Help!”

  He grabbed my arm and snatched my Louie. “Shut the fuck up!”

  “If you want the bag, keep it. There is money there and you can have it all.”

  “Do I look like I came out here to rob you? Now look, I’m supposed to bring you back in one piece but if you don’t cooperate, just like ya boy over there, you gonna get fucked up, too.”

  A limo pulled up and dude shoved me towards it. The back door
flew open and I was pushed inside. When the door shut, I was sandwiched between two more fresh outta prison looking niggas. I turned back to look for Kyron but they were gone.

  “You can stop shaking, we are not here to hurt you,” the dude who was already in the limo said. I didn’t even realize that I was shaking like a leaf.

  “Then where are you taking me?” No one said a word. “What are they going to do to him?” The new guy smiled. His partner made a call and simply said, “We got her and we are on our way.”

  After we got into Jersey, I soon noticed several signs saying Teterboro Airport. Teterboro is a small airport for many private jet holders. That’s when it all clicked … Trae. Then I thought about Kyron. My stomach knotted up and my hands started sweating. They probably killed his ass. The limo pulled up to the third hangar. For real, I didn’t want to get out of the car. As a matter of fact I had made up my mind that I wasn’t going to get out and if I could, I would make a run for it.

  Both of my escorts got out. The quiet one closed his door. The other one said, “This is your stop, Mrs. Macklin.” So this lame knew my name all along. I kindly sat glued to the seat. “Yo, this is your stop. You need to get out.”

  I still didn’t move.

  “Deuce, she ain’t gettin’ out,” he yelled to his partner.

  The other door flew open. “Mrs. Macklin, just so you know, we have specific instructions to drag you off if necessary. So what’s it going to be?”

  I crossed my legs and sat back into the seat, making my stance obvious. “Tell my husband if he wants me, to come and get me. Why does he have to get y’all to do all of his dirty work?”

  Deuce closed his door and came around to where his partner was. His partner grabbed my ankles and yanked me towards him. I swung at his face. Somebody gripped my arms. “Get the fuck off of me. Let me go!” I screamed.

  The quiet one pulled a gun on me and said, “Dead or alive makes me no difference.”

  The look in his eyes said Tasha get the fuck out. I slid to the door and made my exit.