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

by Styles, T.

  “Tiara!” he said waking her out of her trance.

  “Yes.”

  “Did you hear me?”

  Tiara was hurt and embarrassed. He didn’t bother telling her who the woman was. Instead he bossed her around like she was a child.

  “Yes. I heard you.”

  “Good and stop being rude.” He said softly, looking at the TV. “Give my friend Dimples a kiss.”

  “Wh…what?” she stuttered.

  “I said give her a kiss, on the lips.”

  “I’m not going to do that, Cray!” she cried. This was too much for her.

  “Do you want me to get up?” he threatened.

  She shook her head no.

  “Than give her a fuckin’ kiss.”

  Dimples thinking it was funny giggled as she puckered up and Tiara did as she was told. Her stomach turned when their lips touched. She stepped away and wiped her tears.

  “And before you go to school, bring me two glasses and the Belvy. Me and my new friend are thirsty.”

  On the way to school…same day

  As promised Nyzon was parked right at the corner waiting for Tiara. She knew he was there before she saw his face because his music was blaring. But today she didn’t feel like entertaining anybody. Cray hurt her more than she’d ever been hurt in her life. But she knew if he left her, she would be homeless and alone. She was nowhere near finishing school and couldn’t provide for herself. Now she finally understood why her father wanted her to get an education. She finally understood why he wanted her to be self sufficient. How she wished she could hear his voice now.

  Not in the mood to talk, Tiara rushed past Nyzon’s car to dip inside the building unnoticed. But Nyzon had been waiting on her, so he saw her crying.

  “Tiara…what’s wrong?” he jumped out of his ride and blocked her way.

  “I don’t want to talk! Just leave me alone please!”

  “I’m not gonna leave you alone.” He rested his hands on her shoulders and it comforted her. She felt safe around him. Again, he reminded her of somebody, but who?

  “Now what’s goin’ on?” He continued. “Are you hurt?”

  “It’s my boyfriend!” she started wiping her face with the back of her hand. “He got some bitch in our house and is totally disrespecting me.”

  She decided not to tell him about the kiss.

  “Did you knock her ass out?”

  “No…I didn’t want to embarrass him.”

  “Hold up, a chick is in your house and you didn’t want to embarrass him?”

  “No. He takes care of me and I don’t want to seem ungrateful. But he could care less about me. I’m such a fool!”

  Nyzon was interested but he wasn’t Dr. Phil either. He didn’t know what to say because truthfully he’d been dogging his share of girls all his life. So who was he to talk?

  “Let me get you something to eat. Or better yet, get some drinks. And we can talk about everything you want.”

  Tiara’s shoulders dropped and she considered going with him. After all, Cray had company so why couldn’t she? Why not give him a taste of his own medicine?

  And when Nyzon felt he was breaking her down he said, “Belvy on the rocks will do the trick. You won’t think about his bitch ass for the rest of the night. I promise.”

  And than she looked at him. Belvy was what he was drinking with another woman, in their home. Her stomach flipped. He had said one thing too many.

  “I can’t do this.” she cried running into school. “I just can’t.”

  After Class

  Tiara had been thinking about the stranger all day. His kindness despite how rude she was made her respect him. A lot. She couldn’t help but wonder how things would’ve been if she would’ve jumped into his Hummer. She wouldn’t have to wonder for long.

  When she came outside, she heard music and smiled brightly when his truck came into view. She strolled up to it and looked through the passenger side window.

  “What are you doing here?” she smiled trying to hide her pleasure.

  “I figured I’d speed the next day up till today. So you gonna stop playin’ games and roll wit me?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Okay how about this. I’ma ask you three questions. If you answer yes to all of them you have to go with me okay?”

  She nodded yes.

  “Is the one who hurt you from Baltimore?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you lonely?”

  “Yes.”

  “Were you thinking about me before I showed up?”

  She smiled.

  He opened the door.

  “Get inside. It’s safe in here.”

  She looked around to be sure nobody saw her. And suddenly not caring anymore, she jumped in. What did she have to lose?

  “What’s your name?” she said as she fell into the butter leather seats. “Shelton.”

  The Kings of 295

  The House Strip Club

  The Kings of 295 occupied the entire right side of the Penthouse strip club in DC. They had huge stacks of money on the table and the peeled it off based on the shawty who was doing her thing the best. Management tried everything in their power to get the girls to remain focused on all the customers in the club, but it was next to impossible. The Kings were throwing money everywhere. Two strippers had already gotten into a fight trying to get the King’s attention.

  “So you know we can’t find the nigga Charms right?” Cray asked as he smoked a black and mild and watched a stripper with the body of a Goddess work the floor. “We searched high and low for yo and can’t find him nowhere. And he still on our blocks.”

  “This nigga gettin’ on my last fuckin’ nerves.” Nyzon said sipping his Hennessy.

  “Exactly. He see we ain’t backin’ down but yo don’t give a fuck. He ready to die for them blocks.”

  The rest of the crew sat around them as they enjoyed the view. They’d spent so much time together that it was no longer about DC versus Bmore. It was about loyalty and money.

  “He may be willing to die but I know he got a weak spot. We all do.”

  “Not me,” Cray offered. “Ain’t nothin’ weak about me.”

  “Let’s hope no one will ever prove it.”

  “I got an idea though. I’ma send a message this time that he won’t forget. I might need some fire from the DC fam if things get out of hand but I’ma let you know.”

  “Cool. So you still havin’ that joint for your cousin who’s gettin’ off lock?”

  “Yeah…And I’ma be killin’ they asses when I come through the spot.”

  “Me too. I’ma show you Bmore niggas how DC do it.”

  “Yeah whateva, man. You just betta not fake. I know you been keepin’ time with some broad ‘round my way.” Cray laughed. “But it’s gonna be mad pussy there that night so you got to get up wit her lada.”

  “Oh I’ma be there. And for real I neva thought about gettin’ wit no Bmore chick before now. Shawty fire! The only thing is, she fuckin’ wit some nigga and they live together. But if she don’t give a fuck, I don’t either.”

  “Aw shit now these DC niggas gonna start migrating’ up north tryin’ to get at our bitches.”

  Nyzon laughed.

  “Don’t get scared nigga. I’ma leave some for you.”

  “I’m just fuckin’ around. Whoever the nigga is must not be takin’ care of business if she sniffin’ behind yo ass.”

  “I said the same thing. She don’t seem to be worried, so why should I?”

  “His loss. A nigga couldn’t pull my bitch if he wanted to. She so green she think I’m God.” Cray laughed. “That’s how you got to treat these females.”

  Nyzon nodded in agreement. “You right about that. And what he don’t know won’t hurt him.”

  Cray laughed before saying, “True dat! Anyway, she ain’t as cold as my girl.” He threw three hundred dollar bills on the dance floor. “Trust.”

  “I wouldn’t know cause you don’t bring y
our girl out. I been at your crib how many times and I still haven’t seen her?”

  “I know. She in college and shit so she be busy. But she’ll be at the party.”

  “You mean we finally get to meet the queen of Bmore?” Nyzon joked.

  “Finally.”

  They were just getting into convo when a dude walked quickly in Royala’s direction with what looked like a gun in his hand. Nyzon’s eyes zoomed toward her and saw that she was so enveloped into the dancers, that she didn’t see him coming.

  Right before Nyzon could pull out his piece, dude sent a bullet spiraling in Royala’s direction. Cray and Nyzon realizing what was going on, went for their heat but they were too late. All accept Jinx. Jinx hit him in the arm once and Cooks popped him in the shoulders. When he fell they walked up on him and fired more bullets into his body.

  It was pure pandemonium as bystanders fought to get out of the club, safely. One of the strippers got so scared she fell off the pole and flat on her ass.

  Royala’s eyes were too sizes too big when she saw her life flash before her eyes. They quickly noticed it was the same dude at the club the other night. The only difference was, he wasn’t running his mouth anymore. His mouth and eyes were shut.

  The drama, although unnecessary, drew them even closer together.

  Monesha and Gabriella

  Feelin’ Used

  Gabriella sat in a tub full of cold water crying her eyes out. No matter what she did, she couldn’t make Monesha love her. She was dead set on getting back with Nyzon despite their family ties. All she wanted was to make her happy, and take care of her. But Monesha wasn’t having it.

  When she heard four knocks at the door, she wiped her face with a cold washcloth and said, “Come in.”

  Monesha came strutting in the bathroom dressed to go out as she busied herself with her makeup in the mirror. She was clueless that Gabriella had spent two hours crying in a tub full of cold water nor did she care.

  “Gab, can you do me a favor?”

  “What’s up?”

  “Nyzon coming by to drop some money off and to pick up Ryan.”

  “And?”

  “I want you to get the money for me and get Ryan dressed.”

  She said touching up her blush. Ever since she had the baby, her body filled out so her sex appeal was off the chain.

  “And don’t let him short change me either. It should be three thousand.”

  “A’ight.”

  She looked up at her hoping she’d say something else like, ‘And when I get back we’ll work on us.’ But it never happened.

  “Where are you going?”

  “Gab, please! We already been through this. Don’t try to clock this pussy cause you can’t. Now are you gonna do it or not?”

  “You know I will.”

  Figuring Gabriella could be trouble she sat on the edge of the tub and looked down at her.

  “Do this for me, and I’ll eat your pussy so good tonight, you’ll have to call off of work for weeks.”

  The thought turned her on but she’d said that before and sometimes, she wouldn’t have sex with her. And if she did, it didn’t feel as sensual as she promised.

  She even followed up with a kiss.

  “Okay. I will.”

  Monesha hopped up like her work was done.

  “ I’m just trying to figure out when you gonna tell Ny the truth.”

  “Don’t worry about what the fuck I tell Ny. Just do what I ask and I’ll talk to you later.”

  When she left out the bathroom door she sat alone with Envy, Hurt, and Pain as her accomplices. They told her things she knew she shouldn’t listen to, but what else could she do? Monesha had been playing games with her heart for years. So she left her no other choice than to get mad and get even.

  Later

  Nyzon sat in the living room waiting for his son to come out. It disgusted him that Monesha had plasma TV’s in every room in her apartment courtesy of him. Not to mention all of her furniture was expensive and shipped from out of the country.

  He waited five minutes for Gabriella to get Ryan dressed so he could take him. And every time he looked at Gabriella, he felt like knocking her out because he never got over that it was her that set him up. At the same time, had it not been for her, he would’ve never known his family.

  When Nyzon saw Ryan he smiled. He didn’t say anything but he was making plans to get him away from Monesha’s money hungry ass. He just had to tell Cooks the deal first.

  “I thought you wasn’t comin’.” She said handing him the baby. “Monesha said you shoulda been here over an hour ago.”

  While she was talking, he peeped his gear and noticed he wasn’t wearing shit he brought him.

  “Where’s the clothes I got for him?”

  “You got to ask Monesha that shit!”

  “I ain’t got to ask her nothin’! You the one who got him dressed. Look at this bummy shit ya’ll got my son in.”

  “Nyzon, don’t come at me with no shit! All I did was put the clothes on him she set out. If you got a problem take it up wit Monesha.”

  “Both of ya’ll some bum, bitches!”

  Nyzon was so angry he forgot his kid was in his arms.

  “I’m a bitch?!” Gabriella pointed at herself and through her hands on her hips.

  “You heard what the fuck I said, cunt! Ya’ll up in here snackin’ on each other’s pussies and got my kid out here fucked up! I’m sick of this shit!”

  “You’s a dumb ass, nigga.”

  “Fuck is you talkin’ about?”

  “You’re so stupid, you don’t even know when you’re getting played.” She laughed and rested on her back foot.

  “Played? Fuck you talkin’ bout?”

  Gabriella smiled a little although she really didn’t want to put Monesha out there. She knew the moment she opened her mouth, it would be really over between them. It was obvious after all this time that she still couldn’t see past Nyzon.

  “Your little boy’s cute ain’t he?”

  “What you trying to say, Gab?”

  “I’m just sayin’, it’s a shame for him to be as cute as he is that he ain’t yours.”

  “What you just say?”

  “He ain’t yours, Ny!” She let out a sigh. “Monesha been runnin’ game on you ever since she found out you liked me. She got pregnant just to trap you, but he ain’t even your baby.”

  Nyzon’s nose stung a little as he listened to the coldhearted truth. He looked at the baby in his arms carefully. His eyes. His little nose and even his lips. Nothing about him said he was his son.

  “Gabriella, if you’re playin’ wit me, you’re as good as dead. I put that on everything.”

  “Ny, I’m not playin’. He’s not your baby. Look at him! Look at him good! The proof is there.”

  She went from gangster to crybaby in seconds. Tears streamed down her face as she told it all and Nyzon rubbed the sides of his head to ease the headache.

  “There’s more Nyzon.”

  He looked up at her evilly.

  “She’s not your blood cousin. Your aunt Jackie married her father after Monesha was born. She was gonna tell you until you told her if she wasn’t related to you, it still wouldn’t make a difference. And that ya’ll couldn’t be together.”

  “She’s not my cousin?”

  “No.”

  “You lyin’!”

  “I’m not! She decided to blackmail you instead. She never knew her mother and that’s why your aunt still looks out for her even though she divorced her father.”

  Nyzon thought about when he was in the kitchen and his aunt said Monesha was like a daughter to her. And Monesha said, I am your daughter.

  Part of him was relieved they weren’t related until he thought about the game she ran on him by pushing a baby on him.

  “Well who’s the father?” he asked looking at the baby who played with a rattle in his hands.

  “Lazarick.” She said softly. “Ryan is Lazarick’s baby.”


  Monesha

  Royal Bitch

  Monesha was walking to her car in a mall parking lot when Nyzon jumped out and grabbed her by the neck pushing her face into a random car.

  “Bitch, I should murder your ass right now!”

  “What’s wrong, Nyzon?” she asked terrified he’d kill her. “What did I do?”

  “Fuck that shit! I need to know right now if that baby’s mine.” His grip was aggressive and firm.

  “Yes. He’s yours. Why would you ask me that?”

  He gripped her neck tighter and pushed her body up against the car harder. If he squeeze a little more, he’d crack her vertebrae.

  “I’ma ask you again. Is that kid mine? If I think you’re lyin’ to me, I’ma kill you. I ain’t got shit to lose.”

  Silence.

  “No. He’s not yours.”

  Nyzon’s breaths were heavy. At first he didn’t want the kid but now that he was here, he wanted him in his life.

  “And are you my cousin?”

  “No, Nyzon,” she sobbed. “No I’m not related to you! I’m sorry I lied. I love you so much that I was willing to do whatever I had to, to keep you.”

  “Shit!” he yelled hitting the body of the car, inches away from her face with a closed fist. “Fuck you put me through all of this for?”

  Monesha rubbed her neck and looked at him with pleading eyes.

  “Because you denied me. I loved you, Nyzon and I still do.” She said walking up to him.