Book Read Free

Thick As Thieves

Page 5

by Mariah James

“Eww, what you so happy for?” Erin asked with her face screwed up.

  “Nonya!” Ryan stuck out her tongue.

  Erin rolled her eyes, “Nonya my ass. Tell me!” She pleaded.

  “I got a hot date.”

  “With who? Deuce?” Erin teased.

  “Shhhh,” Ryan demanded, “Your big ass mouth! Don might hear you.

  “My bad, my bad,” Erin whispered. Ryan rolled her eyes at her sister. Don didn’t know her, and Deuce was talking. If it were up to Ryan, he’d never know. It was no secret how overprotective he was over them. All Don would do was hinder her chances with Deuce, and she was feeling him too much to take that risk.

  “How long are you gonna keep this a secret?” Erin asked.

  “As long as I have too,” Ryan then turned to her sister, “and you better not say anything either.”

  Erin put her hands up in surrender and walked out the room. Ryan’s phone rung, interrupting her last look over in the mirror.

  “Hey, Babe. I’m at the corner.” It was Deuce.

  “Be right there!” Ryan sang. She touched up her lip gloss, threw on her jacket and left.

  “Where is she going?” Don asked Erin. Erin shrugged her shoulders, keeping her head buried in her book. If there was one thing, Erin couldn’t do it was, tell a lie.

  Ryan greeted Deuce with a kiss as she entered his black on black Cadillac Escalade.

  “I can’t wait for the weather to heat up.” Ryan shivered.

  Deuce smiled, “Your ass too busy tryna be cute. Button ya damn coat up.”

  Ryan looked down at her attire embarrassed. She thought she looked cute in her leather coat and Gucci scarf.

  Deuce laughed, “Don’t get soft on me, ma. I’m just fucking with you.”

  “Oh, I was ‘bout to say.” Ryan rolled her neck.

  “You weren’t ‘bout to sat shit.” Deuce laughed.

  “Yeah, whatever! Where we going anyway?”

  “Chill, ma.” Ryan looked at Deuce but didn’t rebut his statement. She just sat back and enjoyed the ride. Deuce was bumping Nipsey Hussle hard, all the way to their location. Although Nipsey wasn’t her cup of tea, she vibed along with him.

  Deuce hopped out the car and opened Ryan’s door. She was flattered. Deuce didn’t strike her as the chivalry type. He was always cool and respective though, every time they talked.

  “What’s this?’ Ryan asked as they entered a dim-lit bar in the heart of downtown.

  “A lounge. Tonight is an open mic event. That’s cool with you?”

  Ryan shrugged her shoulders, “Yeah, I guess. But I’m not old enough to be in here.”

  Deuce laughed, “You good ma.” Ryan took his extended hand and intertwined her fingers with his. As they made their way through the crowd, it seemed as if everyone acknowledged Deuce. He was slapping up dudes, left and right. Females were waving and blowing kisses at him. Some were even shooting gnarly looks at Ryan, making her smile. These older women were trying to intimidate her, not knowing she ate attention up like it was her last supper.

  Deuce and Ryan took their seats in a corner section, isolated from the other patrons. Ryan looked around, soaking in the scenery. The lounge wasn’t well lit, but candles were strategically placed around to fit the atmosphere. There was soft music playing in the background, giving out a neo-soul ambiance.

  “This place is nice. You come here often?” Ryan broke the silence.

  “As much as I can. You into the arts?”

  “You mean like paintings?” Ryan pointed to the paintings that decorated the lounge’s walls.

  “Nah,” Deuce smirked. “Like poetry, music, and painting?”

  “I guess?” Their age difference was starting to show. Deuce didn’t seem to mind, but Ryan felt a little uncomfortable. Deuce was 25 and mature for his age. The way he saw the world was different than most dudes his age. Ryan liked that about him, she wasn’t getting that type of mental stimulation from guys her age. She just hoped she was able to keep him interested.

  “Well, hopefully after tonight you’ll know.” He wrapped his arm around Ryan and kissed her temple. Ryan melted in her seat next to him, basking in his masculinity.

  “And next coming to the stage we have, my man, Deuce. Y’all give him a round of applause.” Ryan damn near choked on her drink when she heard them call his name. He patted her on the back and headed up front.

  “Good evening, everybody,” Deuce spoke into the mic.

  “Good evening!” The crowd answered.

  “I’m in the mood to sing a little Maxwell tonight. Is that alright with y’all?”

  “Go ‘head! Yeah!” They called out.

  Deuce closed his eyes and started singing, This Woman’s Work. His voice was impeccable, calling all the women to stand to their feet, except for Ryan. Ryan was glued to the booth, as she sat in awe listening. His smooth ass had a voice of an angel. His pipes were a mixture of Maxwell’s high pitch and a soulful, John Legend.

  The crowd went crazy as Deuce finished up his set and headed back to Ryan. Even the fellas gave a standing ovation.

  “So, what’d you think?”

  “I wasn’t expecting that.” She admitted.

  “I’m sure you weren’t.”

  “I mean, you don’t look like the type...” Ryan started but was cut short.

  “The type to what, sing? Don’t let this swag fool you, ma. I’m more than what meets the eye.”

  Ryan nodded her head, “You’re right about that.”

  The rest of the night the couple enjoyed the other performers. For the spot to be as low-key as it was, it was packed with talented people. Ryan had no clue the city of Rochester had all these gems. Not to mention, Deuce being one of them. His appearance screamed dope boy, but his intellect said differently.

  Ryan didn’t want their time with each other to conclude. The chemistry they shared was nothing like she felt before. Sooner than she wished, they were back on the road to end their first date.

  “I’m going to drop you off out front. It is too dark for you to be walking alone.” Deuce demanded.

  “Uh, nah. It’s okay. I’ll be good.” Ryan stuttered. The last thing she needed was for Don to see her hopping out of Deuce’s truck. That would sure stir up problems.

  Deuce pulled up to her apartment, letting Ryan know that his request was not up for debate. All the lights were off in the apartment, which meant Erin and Don were most likely asleep. Ryan let out a sigh.

  “You good, ma?” Deuce asked, noticing Ryan’s nervousness.

  “Yeah, I’m good. I had a great time tonight, the last thing I need is to hear Don’s mouth about us. He is super protective of Erin and me.”

  “Hey, he loves y’all.”

  “I love big bro too, but sometimes it's suffocating.”

  “I respect it. You know Don don’t mean any harm.”

  “How do you know Don, again?” Ryan poked around for more information. She wanted to see if his story was the same.

  “We bust moves together.”

  “Moves?” Ryan inquired. Deuce realized he said a little too much, so he tried his best to deflect the conversation.

  “Don’s my boy and if you don’t stop asking questions and get in the house, he gonna come out looking for you!”

  Ryan smirked still thinking about his statement,

  “Yeah, you right. Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight, babe.” Deuce waited for Ryan to get inside before he peeled off into the night.

  Ryan was relieved that Don wasn’t up in the living room watching TV. She was safe from the interrogation, he would surely be ready to give her.

  She crept into her room as quietly as she could, but a light coming from Don’s room stopped her. She couldn’t hear any movement so, she figured he fell asleep with the lights on. That was a bad habit he possessed, and Ma would rip him a new one every time he got caught. Ryan smiled at the memory.

  Just as Ryan was about to enter Don’s room her stride was cut short at what she saw
. Don was awake and so busy focused on his activity that he didn’t notice Ryan’s presence.

  She watched as Don immaculately bagged up a white powdery substance. Once, he was done with one bag, he dropped it into the duffle bag on the floor next to him and proceeded to the next. Ryan fixated on all the money and drugs that were on the table. She could not believe her eyes.

  As quietly as she came, she backed away down the hall to her and Erin’s bedroom. It was all starting to make sense. The late nights and early mornings Don was putting in. The two phones and mysterious phone calls. His damn gold chain, watch and rings. The luxury life he was rebuilding for them all. At the end of the day, she couldn’t be mad at him, he had it honest. She was a little bothered that he didn’t tell them what was up. Just like Ma and Pa tried to shield them from the family“business,” Don was too.

  “We bust moves together.” Ryan replayed in her head. That’s what Deuce meant by moves? These niggas moving work together? I knew all them fancy words and singing was a hoax. This nigga was just another dope boy. Ryan thought to herself.

  March 2017

  “What time you got in last night?” Don asked Ryan when he entered the kitchen. She shrugged her shoulders, still upset about her discovery from last night.

  Don mushed her in the back of her head playfully, but she wasn’t in the mood to play with him.

  “What’s wrong with her?” Don asked Erin as he opened the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water.

  Erin shrugged her shoulders, “I don’t know. Maybe it’s that time of the month.”

  “Oh, hell nah, I don’t wanna hear that. I’m out. I’ll see y’all later.” Don plugged his ears.

  “Where you going?” Erin questioned.

  Don kissed Erin on the cheek, “Work!” he yelled out as he left out.

  “Yeah, sure,” Ryan mumbled under her breath, but not low enough that Erin couldn’t hear her.

  “Ry, what’s with your attitude?”

  Ryan dropped her spoon back into her bowl of cereal and looked at her twin.

  “Don selling drugs.” She stated.

  “What?”

  “You heard me. I told you something wasn’t right. He probably used that money we stole to buy it too.”

  Erin stood in silence, thinking over what her sister had just said. It made perfect sense, Erin just didn’t want to believe it. She knew the streets are what killed her parents and she didn’t want to lose her brother the same way.

  “We said we were going to find out right?”

  “Right.” Erin agreed.

  Ryan stood up from the kitchen table and motioned Erin to follow her. Although hesitant, Erin did just that. She followed Ryan into Don’s room. There was no evidence of what she saw last night. Ryan begins snooping around for any signs of drugs or money. She opened his dresser drawers looking under his clothes. Erin stood in her stance nervously watching her sister.

  “What are you doing?” Erin whispered.

  “Help me look,” Ryan said.

  “For what?”

  Ryan looked up at Erin, “for any fucking thing, E!”

  Erin followed suit knowing exactly what she was looking for, just afraid to find it.

  “I found something!” Ryan shouted, standing up straight with a pistol in her hand. Her eyes were wide as she gazed over the dense, shiny metal she was holding.

  “This thing is pretty!” She smiled.

  “What the fuck y’all doing in my shit?” Don yelled out from the doorway. Ryan’s reflex caused her to point the gun at the sound of the commotion.

  “Ryan! Stop pointing that shit at me!” Don yelled.

  “Sorry.” Ryan lowered the gun and put it back in the box where she found it.

  Disappointment smothered Don’s face as he looked back and forth at his sisters. He was livid, and if you looked close enough, you could see the steam coming from his ears.

  “Don, we were just, uh looking…” Erin tried to lie.

  “Ain’t nothing in here for y’all, so get out!” Don backed up from the middle of the doorway to make way for them to exit his room. Erin proceeded to leave with her head low. Ryan didn’t budge.

  “You too, Ry,” Don exclaimed.

  “Why you lying to us, Donnie?” Ryan asked boldly.

  “Man, Ryan. I don’t have time for this shit.” Don rubbed his hand across his head.

  “Don, what’s going on?” Erin stepped up, backing up her twin.

  Don investigated their eyes, he was defeated, “I’m sorry,” he admitted.

  “You could’ve told us, you know?” Erin continued.

  “It ain’t that simple, yo.” Don walked over to his bed and sat down. He patted next to him for the girls to sit. Erin sat on his right side, but Ryan stood where she was. She leaned up against the dresser and crossed her arms.

  “If you ain’t the female version of Pa.” Don chuckled.

  “Girls, look. Pa has been grooming me since I was ye’ high. Before he was killed, he had a change of heart. He no longer wanted me to follow in his footsteps. Instead, he wanted me to get money legitimately. Pa had dreams of opening some laundry mats and beauty salons to wash the money. I’m sure one of his biggest regrets was not investing the money he made. Pa had too many liabilities and not enough assets. That is why the bastards took everything we had, leaving us with nothing.

  Ma and Pa decided to keep you as far away from the bullshit as possible, and all I was trying to do was keep their wishes. I’m just tryna get enough bread to buy some properties, and I’m out. I’m not tryna make a life out of this. Besides, Grandpa Lenny wouldn’t let me, if I wanted to. He told me it was my job to care for y’all and that’s what I’m tryna do. That bullshit gig I got ain’t gonna do that. I only got it to keep the county off my ass until y’all turn eighteen. You girls deserve the world and everything in it.”

  “Let us help you,” Ryan spoke up.

  “What?” Erin was confused and not up for any more of Ryan’s bright ideas.

  “E, c’mon we are Edwards, this shit is engraved in our souls, sis.”

  “Hell nah!” Don spoke up.

  “Donnie!” Ryan whined.

  “Nah, Ry. I appreciate all your efforts, but the streets ain’t no place for my twins.”

  “We’re Edwards!” Ryan yelled. She couldn’t believe her siblings were acting like a couple bitches. Like, they ain’t come from a family of hustlers.

  “Ryan, I said what I said. And that’s it!” Don yelled.

  Ryan laughed.

  “I mean it, Ryan! Erin!”

  “Don’t call my name, I ain’t got nothing to do with this crazy bitch and her ideas.” Erin lifted her hands up and left the room. She had enough of this conversation. This was not how she expected to spend her Saturday morning.

  Once Don heard the bathroom door close, he started talking again, “Promise me, Ry.”

  “Promise you what?” Ryan’s sass was on a thousand.

  “You won’t get yourself into any bullshit. You’re seventeen years old. Stay innocent, baby girl. I got this. Okay?”

  Ryan didn’t speak.

  “Okay?” He repeated.

  “Okay!” Ryan gave in. Don walked up to her and picked her up.

  Ryan pounded on Don’s back and kicked her feet, trying to wiggle out of his hold.

  “Put me down, Don!” She shouted, trying to remain robust. Don didn’t stop spinning her around until she laughed. Then he threw her on the bed.

  “Now get yo’ funky ass out my room.” He tormented.

  “Oh, whatever.” Ryan mushed his head before walking out. She wasn’t pleased with Don’s request, but she was going to let him do his thing, for now. Deuce was next on her list. It was obvious he was keeping his lifestyle a secret.

  “Well, that went well,” Erin said to Ryan sarcastically.

  “Shut the hell up!”

  “I’m just saying,” Erin raised her hands up, “you think Deuce, in on this too?”

  Ryan looked back a
t the door to make sure Don wasn’t around. She shook her head yeah.

  “You gonna confront him?”

  “Girl, I don’t even know. I don’t want to come off like a bird-brain.”

  “But you are, though.”

  “Fuck you, E.” Ryan laughed. She needed her sister’s humor because this whole situation was started to give her a headache.

  “I’m just playing, but for real. What you gonna do?”

  Ryan shrugged as if to say she didn’t know.

  Erin was shocked, “You feelin’ that nigga like that?”

  Ryan blushed, having a flashback of their first date.

  “Eww!” Erin pretended to gag.

  “Don’t hate.”

  “I’m not.” Erin rolled her eyes at her sister. She could see it all on Ryan’s face, that she was falling for this dude. She just hoped it wouldn’t backfire on her. After all, he was an older dude and good looking. He probably had women eating out the palm of his hands, just as Ryan was.

  “Don’t let that nigga get you caught up!” Erin warned. It was her turn to be the sassy twin.

  “I’m not.” Ryan retorted sticking her tongue out. Not knowing she was making a promise, that she’d probably break.

  April 2017

  Erin bit down on her nails, as she watched Don pace the living room floor. He was on edge since they woke up that morning.

  “What the fuck?” Don hit his palm with a closed fist. Erin jumped at the dominant sound. She had never seen Don be such a spaz, he was usually calm and collected.

  Erin sat in silence, examining her brother. She could see wrinkles forming on his forehead. The tension was also noted by the way his veins stuck out on the side of his face. Don housed hazelnut skin, just like Pa. He was built like Pa, too. He had a tall, lean frame. Even though he had the appetite of an elephant, it was not apparent by just looking at him. A lot of people underestimated Don because of his slender build, but he could show them, much better than he could tell them.

  “I’m ready, E.” Ryan zoomed out of the room ready to get to school. She looked around at her siblings in the living room, not feeling the energy they were giving off.

  “Everything alright?” She wondered.

  “Yeah, yeah. Everything good.” Don waved her off.

 

‹ Prev