The Face That Launched A Thousand Bullets (The Cartel Publications Presents)

by Styles, T.

  “FUCK!” He screamed,

  They could tell from his reactions that he was going to be a handful.

  “Get out and talk to him.” Felecia told Tiara. “Cause that nigga looked pissed.”

  “I can’t…I can’t.” Tiara was in tears.

  She saw her whole life flash before her eyes and her relationship with her father out the window. He was the only person consistent in her life and now she ruined it. What if he sent her away for being disobedient like her mother promised to over and over again when she was little. She was an emotional wreck.

  “Well, somebody betta go talk to this fool.” Felecia offered.

  “If you got so much mouth why don’t you talk to him?!” For the first time all day Yolanda let her ass have it.

  “It ain’t nothin’ but a thing.”

  Felecia strutted out of the car as if she wasn’t petrified.

  I’ll just flirt with this nigga and all debts will be paid. She thought.

  “We are so sorry about your car.” She said approaching him running her hands down her body. “My friend’s a new driver and she…”

  “Bitch, I don’t want to hear that bullshit! Ya assess betta pitch in and come up with enough cash to get my shit fixed!”

  He was so angry the lines in his forehead looked like roads on a map. Felecia was terrified after seeing the look in his eyes. Offering him some pussy wasn’t going to cut it…he wanted to be paid in cash, not licks or pumps or fucks.

  “I see…let me get the person driving cause it wasn’t me.” Felecia hurried back to the car trying to get out of his path. “Tiara you gonna have to talk to him.” She said once she was inside safe. “Cause if that nigga not tryin’ to fuck me, he don’t want shit but his money! Believe dat!”

  Tiara had never been more frightened in all her life. Had she listened to her father and not the freak bitch in her car, this would’ve never happened. And now not only would she have to tell him about the damage done to her car, she’d also have to tell him about the damage done to the stranger’s.

  Slowly and insecurely she stepped out of the car. Her beautiful golden hair laying against the old style blouse could not take away from her beauty. Even while looking homely, she looked better than any woman he’d ever seen before. And then he remembered, he saw her before.

  “Hi…uh…I’m the driver and I’m so sorry for what I’ve done to your car. I’ll pay you back everything I owe. I promise.”

  He was stuck. And it wasn’t just her looks that had him in a zone, he could tell the moment she opened her mouth that she was untouched by the cold Bmore streets.

  “What’s ya name?”

  “Tiara…Tiara Cartier.”

  “Well, Tiara…I’m Crayland Bailor, but my friends call me Cray.”

  He gave her his government name. He was really feeling her.

  “Cray?” she repeated. A light smile spread across his face and suddenly he didn’t seem so mean. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  She extended her hand out to his and saw the watch he was rocking loaded in diamonds. She couldn’t help but wonder what type of girls he was into. Tiara knew that he’d never be interested in someone like her because like Felecia said, she was way to slow.

  “So how about we do this…give me ya info, and I’ll call you tomorrow. No need in worryin’ about the damage right now.”

  “No!” she yelled putting her hands out in front of her. “I mean…you can’t call because my father is going to flip.”

  “You live with your pops?”

  “Yeah…just me and him.”

  A look came over his face and Tiara was trying to figure out what it meant. In Bmore it was rare that a father took care of his child alone.

  “You wasn’t ‘spose to be drivin’ huh?”

  She shook her head no.

  “How bout we do this then, let me call my mans right quick and this will all be taken care of.”

  Tiara let him excuse his self but wondered what he had in mind as he talked on his cellphone, a few feet away from her. She looked back at her car once. Felecia and Yolanda had their hands raised like, what’s goin’ on? She shrugged her shoulders. She was as clueless as they were. But as long as he wasn’t concerned about the damage to his car, for right now, she didn’t care.

  “This what we gon do. My man runs an auto body shop out his crib. He gon get two of his tow trucks to come out here and hall both of our cars to his shop.”

  “But…I can’t be without my car.”

  “Listen…don’t worry…I got you.” He extended his hands in front of him for her to slow her roll. “Where were ya’ll goin’ tonight?”

  “To Hammerjacks.”

  “Fuck Hammerjacks…I got a limo on the way to scoop us up. We gon kick it at The Red Maple and get some drinks.”

  “But I’m only seventeen.”

  “You old enough when you wit me.” He winked. “By the time we leave, he’ll have your car repaired enough to hide the marks. Then tomorrow I’ll have him do a betta job on it before your pops even wakes up.”

  “I don’t understand. What about your car?”

  “I got that shit. Ain’t nobody trippin’ off no car. For real I might buy anotha one.”

  The way he brushed off the damage to his ride turned her on. Not so much that he could afford to fix it and hers too, but because he seemed to let things roll off his back. His power and strength turned her on, and it had been the first time a man had done that too her.

  They waited fifteen more minutes talking and laughing outside the car while her friends looked on in disbelief. When they saw the two tow trucks followed by a black Lincoln Navigator stretch limo pull around the corner, their mouths dropped. A white chauffeur hopped out of the limo and walked toward Tiara’s car opening the door for her friends.

  “Ladies…this way please.”

  Without hesitation Felecia’s freak whore ass and Yolanda jumped into the limo. The chauffer was preparing to let Tiara in too when Cray stopped him.

  “I got it from here main man.”

  The limo driver knew the deal and walked to the driver side of the car while Cray escorted her inside. Tiara blushed at the attention she was getting from him.

  Once she was inside, Cray slid in the row seat in front of Tiara, Felecia and Yolanda. They stared at him in awe. He was young, black and rich and they were loving it. Tiara was gushing over his swagger, and was eager to see what the night would bring.

  Suddenly, she was happy she defied her father.

  Crayland Bailor

  Baltimore City

  My Shawty

  The Red Maple was jumping when Cray walked in with Tiara and her friends. The cherry wood floors and dark furniture added to the ambiance. Cray and his boys had rented out the entire club and all you saw was a bunch of thugs with money.

  “Where you been?” Jinx asked approaching Cray the moment he hit the door. He looked just like Pharrell from the Neptunes. “I was bout to come lookin’ for yo ass.”

  Jinx was his man and a future part of his starting line up. Cray never forgot how he gave him his props years ago when he stood up to Melody. The story on Theodore “Jinx” Carter is this…he spent most of his life inside of jail than he did out. Despite his bad luck at always getting caught, thus resulting in the name Jinx, his aiming and firing skills were impeccable. With everything working out the way that it was, he’d already gave him a secure position as his muscle. Plus Jinx reminded him of himself.

  “I got into an accident kinda. Blunt got my shit now”

  “Well I know that nigga heated cause he been talkin’ bout comin’ to this joint all night.”

  “He still comin’ through…he just puttin’ the cars in his lot.”

  “Yo!!! Who is that?” Jinx asked eyeballing the hell out of Tiara.

  “Naw, yo.” Cray put his hand in front of him even though he didn’t have the authority to do so. “I got that.”

  “Oh…that’s you?” Jinx asked for confirmation. Cray never
claimed a female so this was unusual.

  “Naw…but they my folks.”

  “I heard that…well your table’s over there. We got the Hennessy on ice and niggas is gettin’ twisted!”

  As Tiara and her friends moved through the club, Cray caught all eyes on Tiara. Even though she looked like a church girl, he knew they all were thinking the same thing, with a little financial backing, she could be one of the baddest, if not the baddest bitch in Bmore. Hands down.

  Once they made it too the sofas Cray was trying to think of a way to get them off his couch so he could be alone with Tiara, and then Jason walked up.

  “Yo, Jay…won’t you make sure my peoples is good.” He pointed at Felecia and Yolanda standing around looking stupid. With all that shit Felecia talked, now she was amongst men, and didn’t know how to handle herself. “Get em whateva they want.”

  When they laid eyes on Jason, Cray knew things would work as usual. He was always good with the ladies.

  “Not a problem.” Jason smiled letting him know he’d provide ample blockage. “You ladies wanna come wit me?” he extended his hands and Felecia jumped up so fast to get at him, she almost put Yolanda’s eyes out.

  “And later I’ma need to holla at you about somethin’ serious.” Cray yelled over the music.

  “Aight.”

  When they were alone Cray fought with what to say. Any other time he’d be telling a bitch to meet him out back to suck his dick but this was different. He felt Tiara’s innocence and he wanted to preserve it.

  “So…you live around here?” He started off slow and wrapped his arm around the back of the couch so that it was behind her.

  He already knew she did.

  He’d seen her before.

  “Yeah…in Reisterstown with my father. He’s like my best friend.” She fiddled with her skirt unable to look into his eyes.

  While they sat on the sofa, Cray couldn’t help but notice other niggas were still breaking their necks to get a good look at her. Her beauty was crucial.

  “Sounds like you really close to your father. That’s love.”

  “He’s all I got. You close to yours?”

  It bothered Cray that the mere thought of him brought up hate, pain and disgust. The last time he heard about his father they said he was so skinny, he couldn’t be recognized and his mother had fallen off the face of the earth.

  “Naw…I don’t know my dad.” He said switching the subject. “So look…what you do for fun besides knock into people’s cars?”

  She threw her head back in heavy laughter revealing her extra white teeth. Thinking she must’ve looked stupid, she tried to conceal her smile.

  “Don’t do that…” his voice serious and seductive.

  “Do what?”

  “Cover your smile. I like it.”

  She blushed and threw her hands into her lap.

  “You got a man? Cause I know somebody has to claim you.”

  “No…I’m too busy working on trying to get into college. My dad says the streets will always be here so I need to focus right now. He’s smart like that.”

  “Word?”

  “Yeah…he’s the best. I just love him so much.”

  The way she used words was funny to him. She acted like a church girl. And the more she mentioned her father, for some reason, the angrier Cray became. The love she had for her father was as visible as a brick wall standing between them. He would have to put in work on top of work if he wanted to get through to her.

  “I heard that…well you got to get out sometimes. I mean, all work and no play makes you mad.”

  “No, I’m fine. I just hang with my friends.”

  “You real close to them?”

  “Kinda.”

  “Cause I’ve heard about Felecia. You gotta watch who you role with.”

  “I know.”

  “So even if I want to take you out you wont’ let me? Even after you banged up my ride?” He laughed although deathly serious.

  “I can’t mess with hustlers.”

  “How you know I’m a hustler?”

  “You not?” her eyes lit up and she hoped he would tell her he was in real estate like her father. Because just being in his presence made her feel stronger.

  “I mean…I know a lot of cats that get down like that but not me. My grandmother left me a little money when she died and I been ridin’ on that for the longest.”

  He was lying to this female and he couldn’t believe it. All he knew was that he had to have her. A woman as beautiful as her who was also untouched was uncommon.

  “I’m sorry to hear about your loss.”

  “I’m fine. We weren’t’ even that close.”

  “Can I get you guys something to drink?” a black young waiter asked approaching them. His eyes were fixated onto Tiara.

  “We good.” Cray said shooting daggers even though the waiter couldn’t see him from all the staring at her.

  “Okay…let me get some of this out your way.” He picked up some glasses left at the table from when Jason and the crew sat there. As he picked them up, one of them fell to Tiara’s feet because he wasn’t watching what he was doing. Her beauty captivated him.

  “My, man…you doin’ extra and I’m five minutes from breakin’ ya shit. Now bounce.”

  Hearing the seriousness in Cray’s voice the young inexperienced waiter picked up the glasses and hurried out of their way.

  “Sorry about that.” He said hoping he didn’t scare her off.

  “That’s okay.” She hunched her shoulders and dropped them by their sides.

  “I’m happy that you don’t sell drugs.” She jumped right back on the topic. “Something about my father and hustlers rubs him the wrong way.”

  That nigga use to deal. He thought.

  He was positive that Kavon being in real estate and his hatred toward the game proved he was once involved. Smug mothafucka turns his back on the entire industry. He was really starting to despise him. But the more he talked to her, the more he understood what needed to be done. Her father was her strength and he had to break the chain. But coming at her full force would only push her away. He had to play the backfield, and bring her to him.

  “Look, I see you a nice girl and I respect that. How bout me and you just be friends.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah…I can’t have friends?” he took his arm and gripped it around her shoulders pulling her toward him.

  When he made her smile he released his hold.

  “I am capable you know.”

  “I’m sure a guy like you can get any girl you want.”

  “I can…the thing is…I don’t want, every one I see.”

  What he didn’t know was the way he said those words sent shivers through her spine.

  “I’m patient…above all. Feel me?”

  “Yes.” She nodded slowly.

  “So for now…let’s enjoy our time together.

  Nyzon Peate

  Fort Washington, Maryland

  Get Money, New Money

  The weather was perfect for the cook-out. The sun was shining and a perfect breeze comforted the guests. There were so many people in the backyard that it was hard to move. Yet people were dancing to the music, and having a good time amongst family and friends. Jackie prepared hot dogs, hamburgers, grilled chicken, potato salad, and coleslaw. She was proud to introduce Nyzon to his family and he felt the same. The only thing that bothered him was the constant questions everyone had. They all wanted to know where he’d been and who he’d been with. But until he sorted things out, he wasn’t prepared to answer.

  “Ask Cooks.” Lazarick said after listening to him going into business with Cray. “Cuz I wouldn’t fuck wit it.”

  “Why you even bringin’ it up?” Royala questioned with her hat tilted to the side, face still pretty like a girl’s should be. “The man has made his decision.”

  “Shut yo bitch ass up! Ask him Ny.”

  “Nigga, fuck you!” She said throwing out a quee
n of hearts.

  Telling his cousin about what he was about to be involved in was too much right now. He wanted to do it in a private setting.

  “What’s up, youngin?” Cooks asked as he took a bite of the barbeque ribs on his plate, threw out a deuce of spades, and grabbed his book. His dreads pulled neatly away from his face.

  “It’s like this…I might be doin’ biz wit somebody I don’t know that well. But for real, I’m runnin’ out of options.”

  “Out of options huh?” Cooks asked looking into his eyes. “There’s always options.”

  “I know. But I’m bout to put work in wit this dude from Bmore.” Nyzon sipped on his Sprite looking through his cards for the right choice.

  “Is there anything about this Bmore nigga you trust?”

  Nyzon laughed. He couldn’t say he trusted anything about Cray outside of his hustle spirit. And Nyzon was more interested in getting back at Melody than anything else. Even though he met Melody years ago through this girl that was originally from Baltimore, Melody never respected him. Back then Melody was looking for someone to transport his product from New York to D.C., and she recommended Nyzon cause he was eager to be put on, his record was clean and he’d been doing it ever since.