Dope Boys and the Women that Love 'Em

by Tiece

  He stood there contemplating his plans for that evening. He wanted to take her out, shower her with a few gifts, possibly even propose, but things had started looking grim since his brother hadn’t made it back from out of town yet. He desperately wanted back in the game and his brother was going to put him on. He figured that would be the only way that he could continue to support his woman and his home. Luckily, he had survived an entire year off of by chance bets and timely wins from gambling, but that was just as big a problem as selling or using drugs. He was addicted to it and didn’t have enough funds to support it.

  His first afternoon home from prison was the day it all started. He’d been chilling with a couple of his buddies from around the way and got in on a house game of cards. Just by coincidently being in the right place at the right time, he sat in for an old head that had to step away due to some crazy emergency. In less than an hour he had made over two thousand dollars and in another hour he had more than doubled it. Since then he’d been on it.

  “Babe, this food smells good,” Chloe said as she entered the kitchen. Lance smiled while staring at her curvaceous body. She had on a turquoise Michael Kors drape neck fitted knit top and a fitted pair of AG stretch jeans with a few of the threads showing on the thigh area. To round off her comfortable for classy look she wore a matching pair of turquoise Red Bottom pumps which extended her height causing her thick hips to look a tad slimmer.

  “Your hair looks good like that,” he said.

  “Thanks,” she responded also loving her caramel colored hair that had graceful curls which complimented her classic bob and blunt bangs. She sat down at the dining table and began eating a slice of turkey bacon. “Last night was wonderful.” She added with a smile on her face.

  “I’m glad you enjoyed it.” He said thinking about the passionate love he’d made to her. “I had lots of fun myself.”

  She blushed as she sipped on the orange juice. “You know I’m getting out for a little while this morning.”

  “Yeah, you mentioned that you were going to visit your mom.” He responded.

  “She has us scheduled for a two hour spa treatment, but I don’t know how much more relaxed I can get after that nice bath I just took.”

  “Just think of it as mother daughter time. You know how y’all love each other’s company.” He pointed out, thinking that Chloe and her mom acted more like sisters than anything else. She was Chloe’s best friend and that was sometimes a headache for him, because she didn’t like him. She felt like he was a little rough around the edges and wouldn’t be able to stay out of jail for a long period of time. It was funny because the only thing that stirred up trouble in their relationship was the input or advice that Chloe’s mom would give her about leaving him.

  “You aren’t hungry?” She asked while eating her eggs that she’d mixed with her grits.

  He grinned. “Technically, I’ve already eaten.” She laughed at his joke. “But, I’m not even hungry. I’m just preparing myself for some running around today.”

  “Why is that?” She asked already feeling like it had something to do with it being her birthday.

  “Maybe I have a few surprises in store,” he said hoping that by chance, as it always happened, that things would fall through for him and he’d be able to show her a good time for her birthday. “I’m going to slip on some clothes. I’ll be right back.” He said leaving her to eat the rest of her food peacefully.

  Chloe finished off her breakfast and put the plate in the dishwasher as Lance returned from down the hallway coolly dressed in a Lacoste v-neck t-shirt and a faded pair of Levi blue jeans. He always had a stylishly preppy way of dressing that seemed plain as hell, but very sexy on a nigga fine as him.

  “You look good babe. I see you put on the shoes I bought you,” she said, admiring the blue and white plaid Sperry sneakers on his feet. She stood on her tip-toes to kiss the 6’3 inch, handsome man on the lips. She held her wrist up looking at the time on her Fendi “B Fendi” diamond marker watch. “I gotta run now or mama’s gonna be tripping because I’m late.”

  “Okay babe,” Lance responded. “I’ll be leaving shortly myself. I need to stop by my brother’s house and see if they’ve made it back.”

  “Have you spoken to him, yet?” Chloe asked as she grabbed her leather, turquoise Dooney and Bourke bag.

  “I haven’t personally spoken with him, but he messaged me last night and said that they’ll be back this morning.”

  “Well that’s good. I was beginning to worry about them.” She said.

  “I told you there was no need for that. They probably got to Miami and decided to take a lil vacation while they were down there. You know my brother is always on some spur of the moment shit.”

  “Yeah you’re right,” she said thinking that Russell had Tammy and their girls spoiled rotten. They stayed out of town flossing on lavish shopping sprees or vacations.

  Lance walked Chloe to the door. He stood in the doorway and watched her nice thick ass sway from side to side as she hurriedly got inside of her white 2012 Nissan Maxima. He closed the front door shut and sat down to think of a game plan while grabbing the remote and turning on the TV.

  “What’s this?” He said as the TV screen displayed; Your services have been temporarily interrupted. Please call customer care to resolve this issue.

  “Damn,” he whispered as the message reminded him that he hadn’t paid the bill due to the numerous losses he’d taken at the card table as of lately. His lucky streak seemed to be at an all time low. He knew that his promise was already made to God that he’d stay clear and free of cocaine, whether selling or using, in hopes that his prison time would’ve been cut short; and even though that prayer was answered he felt he had no choice but to go back on his word to save his relationship with his girl.

  It was definitely imperative that Russell front him some work so he could get his grind back on in the streets. He already knew that if Chloe found out that he was starting to slip on things he supposedly had under control she’d more than likely take her mother’s advice and put him out. He sat there as a queasy feeling came over him. He couldn’t fathom the thought or life without her. Not wanting to waste anymore time, he quickly reached for his phone, dialing his brother’s cell phone number in hopes for some good news.

  Chapter 3

  Russell stared out the window at the country scenery as they traveled on US-25 North heading towards Millen, GA. He had been sick ever since the robbery took place. He blamed himself for it even happening and didn’t know how in the hell he would be able to continue to face Tammy once they were back home.

  As Malcolm drove calmly, he looked over at him. “You a’ight man? You hadn’t said a word since we left Savannah.”

  “Nah man, I ain’t a’ight.” He disappointedly said. “I couldn’t even ride the rest of the way home with my wife. I know she needs me to be with her right now, but I can’t face her yet. I’m the reason why we’re in this shit.”

  Malcolm shook his head. “Shit happens, man. I take fault in this as well, because I could’ve easily kept my black ass at home. Me nor my lady would’ve been a part of this shit.”

  Russell dropped his head. “I know man, I know.”

  “I feel just as bad about this shit happening as you do though, because I also could’ve talked you out of going. I knew it wasn’t wise to meet up with a new connect that offered deals like that.”

  “Tammy had warned me too.” Russell responded, shaking his head. “Sad thing about it is that I knew it too, but I just chose to overlook it hoping for the better. Plus man, my money was starting to look funny; especially with business being a lil slow during the cold months.”

  Malcolm nodded, agreeing. “I feel you, and one thing about it, you tried to wait on your connect. You’d been laying low for the past four months.” He grinned. ”Hell, I gotta give it to you; I didn’t think that you’d sit back that long with nothing going on.”

  “Shit, sitting ‘round waiting on Travis
muthafuckin’ ass. This nigga got fucked up over four months ago then tell me right after to chill out for about a month to give him some time to bounce back, but when a month goes by the nigga still ain’t straight.” Malcolm shook his head knowing that he never had a problem with his connect, because she always kept him with work.

  Russell continued as Malcolm listened. “Then he talkin’ bout give him another month. Man, its two more months later! What the fuck?” He bawled out of frustration.

  “Calm down man. It could’ve happened to any of us.” Malcolm said. He and Russell had been best friends since elementary school so he knew he was sitting on edge and about to lose it. “Look, your connect was fucked up and he couldn’t provide you with the work you needed to keep your money turning. And I know how important that is with the bills we pay, along with the expensive taste of our ladies..”

  “Tell me about it,” Russell commented.

  “I can’t blame you for wanting to hook up with a new connect. The guy seemed legit. You didn’t think that he would set you up like that. I mean, the man invited you to his home just so that y’all could feel each other out. You and your family spent time with him and his family.”

  “And that was just last weekend, man.” He responded thinking about the weekend prior when he took his family on a mini getaway to Miami. It was supposed to be solely for business purposes only, but allowing their families to meet one another on an all day shopping spree was just what they needed to calm the spirits and seal the deals. “I was blindsided by this one. I thought he was a standup guy. You know, with his wife and kids shopping with my wife and kids. I just knew that this was potentially going to be a great business transaction. Plus, the man was giving away kilos for eighteen a block. Hell, I was paying Travis twenty-two a block.”

  Malcolm grinned. “Which is the reason why I’m sitting here looking just as sick as you are.”

  “Hush man,” Russell commented with a grin.

  “For real man,” Malcolm responded. “I was only being greedy, because you know that I’m straight with my connect. She makes sure that I don’t want for nothing. I can’t think of a time in the past ten years that I was just straight out of work.”

  Russell cut in. “I’ve always wished I could have a connect like yours. She lives in Atlanta and can tell you more business about what’s going on in the streets of Augusta better than we can. She has a guaranteed connect who is gonna always take care of her, which in turn means that you’re gonna always be taken care of as well.”

  Malcolm thought about it for a moment. “I guess,” he said. “But I tried to put you down with her before you even started doing your own thang. At first you were working at SRP and didn’t wanna get in the game back when I started.”

  “For what, man?” Russell questioned. “I was making a legit living for at least four years bringing home good money. It was only when I got permanently laid off that I realized I had to do something to continue the comfortable lifestyle my wife and I were living.”

  “And even then I asked you to get in with me.” Malcolm reminded him.

  “Yeah, but bro we’d already discussed back in our middle school days of watching Scarface that if we ever got in the drug game we would never mix business. Most friendships don’t last when doing drug transactions like that together.”

  Malcolm nodded, agreeing. “I know man,” he said always remembering their pact. “But I just wanted to see you keep up your fly boy status.”

  Russell smugly chuckled. “That wasn’t an option, bro. But not long after, I found my own connect anyway.”

  “One that worked out for six years,” Malcolm added. “And to think about it, Lance hooked that up from a guy that he met while serving time in the county.”

  “He did that,” Russell admitted knowing that Lance wasn’t always the most trustworthy nigga in the world, but he would look out for him if he needed him.

  “I ain’t gonna lie though, no matter what y’all go through that nigga is gonna always have your back. He wouldn’t hook you up with someone who wasn’t legit.”

  Russell nodded. “You’re right,” he said then glimpsed down at his vibrating phone. “Speaking of the devil.”

  “That’s him?” Malcolm asked.

  “Yeah he don’ called me a few times already.”

  “Why don’t you answer it? You know he’s probably worried.”

  “You’re right.” Russell agreed and answered his phone. “What up Bro.”

  “Aye der’ kid. Where are you at man? A nigga been a lil worried about ya.” Lance said as a feeling of relief came over him to hear his brother’s voice and know that he was well.

  “I’m about forty-five minutes away,” Russell said. “But we’re okay.”

  “Cool, cool,” Lance said. “Glad to hear that.”

  “You didn’t get my message?” Russell questioned.

  “Yeah, I got it, but something just didn’t feel right. I mean, you weren’t answering when I called. I know mama said that she had spoken to you, but all I got was a text message. You had me sweating a lil bit bro.”

  Russell smiled, because he knew his brother was being sincere. “Sorry ‘bout that man. I shoulda answered.”

  “Well don’t worry about it now since I know that you’re alright, but I need to see you when you touchdown. Like ASAP,” he said feeling the heat from the unpaid bills to it being his old lady’s birthday.

  “Meet me at my house in an hour. I should be home by then.” Russell said.

  “Cool, cool,” Lance responded. “I’ll see you then.”

  “A’ight,” Russell responded and ended the call. He looked over at Malcolm and regretfully shook his head. “He’s ready for me to put him back on the streets, but I can’t even do it right now.”

  Malcolm raised a concern eyebrow. “Maybe things happen for a reason. I mean, are you even sure that you could trust him with that shit and he not fall prey to it again?”

  Russell thought about it. “I’m not gonna say what he won’t do, but he’s looking good. He got his weight up and he’s been clean for over two years.”

  “That’s true,” Malcolm chimed in.

  “I even tried him when he first got out and asked him if he wanted me to put him on and he turned me down. Apparently, the winning streaks from gambling had him on a different high and he didn’t need to sell drugs.”

  “Why does he want in now? I thought he was still on top of his game.” Malcolm responded.

  “I think he’s trying to balance things out now. At first, he maintained by winning large sums of money back to back, but at the same time he took on a lot of responsibility. We all know that if you’re spending money on bills, new furniture, and keeping your woman happy that it ain’t gonna last long if you’re not turning it. Lance can have the best of luck at times, but when it’s a bad night he’s continually spending more money trying to change his luck.”

  Malcolm grinned. “And we all know what happens when that luck doesn’t change. A nigga leave the game looking just as sick as we are right now.” He joked.

  Russell laughed. “Go ‘head on with that man.”

  They rode in silence for a moment then Malcolm glanced over at Russell. “Aye man, how much money did you really have in that bag they took?”

  Russell shook his head. “Man, you don’t wanna know.”

  Malcolm frowned. “You didn’t take your whole stash did you?” Russell was quiet. “Come on man, I know damn well you didn’t take all your money.”

  “Let that shit go, man.” Russell regretfully said.

  Malcolm raised an eyebrow. “Well, they got thirty-six from me. I did have seventy-two all together, but I removed thirty-thirty six just in case something wasn’t right. I mean, you know I was just being greedy anyway.”

  “Well I was being greedy too. Maybe a lil too greedy,” Russell responded. “I was only supposed to have taken thirty-six thousand myself, but I took everything.”

  “What’s everything?” Malcolm quickly
asked.

  “Seventy-two grand,” he whispered.

  “Did you just say seventy-two thousand, Russ? What the fuck were you thinking about?”

  “A quick come-up,” he admitted. “The only thing left is the twelve grand in Tammy’s personal bank account. Everything else I have is tied up in our Lawn Care business.”

  “Damn, man.” Malcolm said. Even with the money that he took it still wasn’t all the money he had. He wasn’t a fool and learned from the best. He just figured that his homeboy would have better sense than that, but then again, shit happens.

  Chapter 4

  Russell stepped inside his house and dropped the travel bags and luggage on the floor. He was still frustrated that his trip didn’t go as planned. What made matters worse was that he was now home and had to face his wife. He walked down the hallway dreading each step the closer he got.

  He felt the immediate tension upon entering the master bedroom. He glimpsed over at Tammy as she sat on the edge of their king sized sleigh bed. Her foot was shaking rapidly from side to side. She was upset and he knew it. For that matter, he knew why.

  “Babe,” he said already pacing at the foot of the bed. “I don’t even know where to start.” He scratched his head, clearing his throat. Tammy didn’t say a word as she stared at him. She didn’t know whether to feel hurt or angry so she reared back on the pillows propped against the headboard and folded her arms. Her neck rolled slowly from one side to the other.

  Her disgusted stare at him made him feel worse as she sat there with a mean pout. He knew that he had to think about his choice of words carefully before he came at her. “Well, um.” He said dropping his head. It was always hard for him to explain his case when facing Tammy. Her beauty alone did something to him, but the way she’d stare at him with her juicy lips curled up on one end and a raised eyebrow that said she wasn’t having it, really took the cake. He glimpsed back at her then looked away quickly. She had that look and it expressed that she wasn’t in the mood for his shit.