by Asia Hill
When he left, I pulled her close. I thought about telling her about Lil Mama but decided to wait to see if she would get a bond. Where the hell was E with that damn lawyer?
Chapter 5
Mia
“JoJo? I’m about to hit the mall. You wanna go?”
“No because Lil Man gon’ wanna come. Just buy me something to wear for Christmas.”
“All right.”
I’ll never understand why she won’t just leave his ass in a ditch somewhere. I mean, really, his scrawny ass ain’t that tough. Oh by the way, I’m Mia—the one and only. I’m 21 years old, and I’ve been on my own for a very long time. My mother was murderer by her boyfriend when I was younger. I was raised with my brothers, J.R. and Boogie. They taught me how to survive on these streets. I was getting so much money I had to move outta the Cabrini Green projects. Those niggas over there started noticing my come up. So it was time to move around. I moved over east and set up shop. I’ve been doing the damn thang without any problems. It’s been a hard few years. My G-ma died, and then Boogie and J.R. were killed. When I lost my brothers, I was ready to give up on the dope game. I loved my brothers. When I needed them, they were always there. I knew it was a matter of time before somebody killed Ramone’s shyster ass. I tried to tell my brothers about him and his ways a long time ago. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my cousin, but Lord knows he wasn’t right. Just because he was a fucked-up person, it doesn’t mean that I was going to let his death go unavenged. If that was a thought, then y’all got me fucked up. I ain’t scared to body a nigga. They don’t call me Murda Mia for nothing. I caught my first body a few years ago. I loved him. Maybe I loved him too much. Maybe for him, my love wasn’t enough. I’ll never know. It was five years ago, and I was on my way to his stash house to drop off that day’s take. I was missing my baby; I hadn’t spoken to him all day. I didn’t trip on him because he stayed busy, but lately he had been different. I had been with that man since we were like six and seven. I’m talking about some grade-school type of love, so I knew him better than he knew himself. I hit him on his phone just to say hi.
“Yo?”
“Yo nothing. What’s good, baby? I miss you. Where you at?”
“Where you at?”
“On my way to the drop spot.”
“For what?”
“Why else would I go to the spot, Tre?”
That question sent my antennas to the roof. He always thought he was slick, but not tonight. I was going to crack this cold case file.
“Tre, you tripping. You want me to just go home so you come get the money and make the drop yourself?”
“Yeah, go home. Meet you there.”
“A’ight, I love you.”
“I know.”click
Yeah that nigga had me fucked up. First off, he always told me to never bring money to where we laid our head. Yeah, something was definitely going on with that nigga. When I pulled up to the stash house, there were two cars in the driveway. His car and one I never saw before.
“This nigga got me fucked all the way up!”
Now Boogie told me to never let a nigga play with my feelings. So if Tre was doing something that he knew he had no business doing, I was popping his ass. I walked up to the side of the house and peeked through the dining room window looking for something out of order. I stood there for several minutes feeling stupid. I felt dumb for not trusting my boo. I walked to the front door and was about to stick the key in when the door came flying open.
“Aw shit, girl, you scared the hell out of me.”
I stood there frozen. The bitch was half-naked with just a tee shirt on.
“Where Tre at?”
“Who are you? One of his workers?”
What? One of his workers? I’m about to kill both of these motha fuckers.
“Yeah, I gotta drop some bread off to him.”
“Aw, okay, girl. He in there ... in the bedroom. You can go in there. I’m about to get some weed outta the car if you wanna blow something.”
“Who are you again?”
“My bad, I’m his girlfriend, Shaya.”
I walked in the crib and headed straight for the bedroom.
“Shay? Hurry up so I can finish wearing that ass out.”
“Oh yeah, Tre?”
The nigga’s eyes grew so big that you would have thought that he had just won the lottery.
“M-M-Mia! What’s good, ma? Why you not at the crib?”
“Really? After all this time, this how you do me.”
I reached in my bag and grabbed my gun that he bought me in case of emergencies. I looked him dead in his eyes, and for the first time I saw something I never thought I’d ever see ... fear! I was really trying to keep my composure.
“You a foul ass nigga.”
I heard footsteps behind me so I turned around to see his bitch Shaya standing there. When she saw the gun, she began pleading her case.
“Please don’t hurt us. My boyfriend has money. You can have whatever you want. Tell her, Tre.”
He dropped his head because he knew that he had just fucked up.
“Shut the fuck up. Mia baby, please!”
“Baby? Why the fuck are you calling...” I had heard enough.pop pop. I shot that bitch in her chest twice. Tre jumped up asshole naked. The thought of me knowing that he was just fucking this bitch enraged me.
“Mia, please don’t. I love you.”
“I’m getting an abortion.”
“You pregnant?”pop pop pop.
I shot and killed the love of my life that night. I don’t even know if the bitch survived. I took all the dope and money he had, which totaled over a million combined and dipped. Back to the present. I wondered what was going through JoJo’s head. She was not built for this murder shit. I’m going to have to keep my eyes on her. Driving to the mall, I had a lot of things on my mind. If what JoJo said was true, then the Eastside Crazy bitches were responsible for killing J.R., Boogie, and Ramone: I was going to personally fuck their worlds up. With JuJu being locked up and Tiki dead, it wasn’t going to be that hard. I mean, really, how hard was it going to be to kill some damn kids?
Damn, the mall was packed. I hated shopping around the holidays. I scanned the lot for a parking spot.Bingo. It was a Red Honda Civic pulling out. While I was patiently waiting for the car to pull out, a Baby Blue Charger with some 22-inch rims came outta nowhere and zoomed into my spot.
“Oh no the fuck that nigga didn’t!
I pulled directly in front of him, blocking him in as I jumped out. I walked to the driver-side door and was about to bang on the window when the door opened. Out came this ole sexy chocolate thang. I had to catch my breath. He was tall, like 6 feet 2 or something like that. His dreads were neat and fresh. He had these dark mysterious eyes that made me melt instantly. Focus bitch. This nigga just stole your parking spot.
“Excuse me; I know damn well you saw me about to park there?”
“I didn’t see you. You want me to move, shawty?”
He was so sexy I was stuck.
“Hello? I said do you want me to move?”
“I mean that would be the right thing to do.” While we were going back and forth, the car next to him was getting ready to back out.
“Hold on, ma, this car ‘bout to move. How ‘bout I hold the spot for you. Go get in your car and come on.”
I couldn’t do shit but smile.
“I mean it’s the least you can do, parking spot thief.”
He laughed and watched me walk back to my car. You know since I knew he was looking, I had to throw that ass in a circle, right? I mean at 5’5 and 155 pounds, I’m slugging over here. I pulled into the spot next to him and got out.
“Thank you for holding it for me. I’m sorry; I didn’t get your name. I’m Mia.”
“My bad. My name is L.J. It was nice meeting you, Mia. You have a nice day.”
“Damn, I can’t get a number on you?”
He smiled so hard I saw the sexiest dimple in his l
eft cheek.
“Yeah ma, it ain’t nothing. Give me your number and I’m gonna call you right now.”
After we exchanged numbers, we then said our goodbyes. I hope he calls me. He was fine as shit. Maybe I can jump on some dick for Christmas. Ho Ho Ho!
Chapter 6
LockJaw
Today the lawyer visited JuJu. He told her the case was weak, but the judge didn’t think so. He denied bond. The lawyer said that he was going to push for a speedy trial. That should get my boo in court in like three months. I didn’t want to bring the New Year in by myself, but it was looking as if I had no choice. I went ahead and put three stacks on her books to hold her over until the trial. She should be a’ight. I hate that shit for her though. And if things couldn’t get any worse, she was being charged as an adult. My boo was facing life in prison without parole. The lawyer told me that the state had a solid witness by the name of Derrick Walker. I’m sure that he and Lil Man are the same person. Without Lil Man, they had no case. I had to find that nigga.ring ring
“Who is this private number calling me?”
“You have a collect call from Ja’ziya Campbell. Press five to accept the call.”
“Hello, what’s good, baby? You good, love?”
“I’m okay. The lawyer said the case was weak without...”
“We ain’t gotta talk about that shit right now. When is your visiting day?”
“Tomorrow.”
“I’m going to come up there and see you, boo.”
“Bay, have you heard from my Auntie, Lil Mama? I’ve been blowing her phone up, but she’s not picking up and that is so not like her. Is everything ok?”
Damn! That shit just hurt my heart. How in the world am I supposed to tell her that her auntie is gone? I don’t want to lie to her, but for now, I’m going to have to.
“She went outta town to handle something for Boo. She must not have no service because she ain’t picking up for us neither.”
“Does she know what’s going on?”
“Of course she knows. How you doing in there? Them hoes ain’t in there fucking with you are they?”
“Naw, I’m good. It’s a few BD chicks in here from South Shore that I’m cool with, so I’m good.”
“Damn, I miss you, ma. I can’t wait ‘til you come home--”
“You have 1 minute remaining.”
“I’m going to call you in the morning Jaw. Come about 8:30.”
“All right, Boo. I love you, and keep your head to the sky.”
That was so hard on me man. I wish I could go up there and get my girl. I needed to get outta the house, so I hopped in the shower and freshened myself to death. I was about to hit the mall and do a little Christmas shopping. After making sure I was the shit in the mirror, I grabbed my keys and hit the streets. I turned on the radio, and then began juking like shit.
They was playing thatPullin’ Up by Meek Mill and the Weekend: “Tell ya man wait inside when I’m pullin’ up.” That shit go so hard. I made it to the mall in no time.
Damn, all these fucking people. I hated shopping. I saw a Honda Civics’ reverse lights turn on so I readied to zoom in there. I peeped this Black Lexus waiting. Man, shawty was about to be outta luck. As soon as the Civic pulled out, I let that Hemi roar. I zoomed right into the parking spot. I tried to hide the smile on my face, when ole girl parked behind me and made her way to my driver’s side door. When I stepped outta the car, she looked mad. She was staring hard as shit. I guess she was admiring a nigga because I had my shit together. I never stepped outta the crib bogus. I guess she finally found her voice.
“Excuse me. I know damn well you saw me about to park there.”
“I didn’t see you, you want me to move, shawty?”
The bitch made me feel famous because she kept on staring at me.
“Hello? I said do you want me to move?”
“I mean that would be the right thing to do.”
That hoe was outta her rabbit ass mind, because I was not moving. I was about to say something when the alarm on the Cadillac beeped next to us.
“Hold on, ma! How ‘bout I hold the spot for you. Go get in your car and come on.”
“I mean it’s the least you can do, parking spot thief.”
I had to laugh at the last comment. I’m naturally an ass man, so when she walked off to go get her car, I had to see what she was working with. She knew I was watching because she was throwing that ass like a quarterback. Down boy. I was a taken man. She pulled in and got back out.
“Thank you for holding it for me. I’m sorry I didn’t get your name. I’m Mia.”
“My bad. My name is L.J. You have a nice day.”
“Damn, I can’t get a number on you?” I laughed at her boldness.
“Yeah ma, it ain’t nothin’. Give me your number and I’ma call you right now.”
After we said our goodbyes, I did my shopping in less than two hours. I grabbed a slice of Sbarro’s pizza and headed back to my car. I was just about to pull off when my phone rang.
“Yo?”
“Jaw?”
“Who dis?”
“Re, why are you answering Poohman’s phone?”
“Damn I must have grabbed his by mistake. He at my crib though.”
“Um, uh, I bet.”
“Call my phone, girl. I bet he answers. A, yo ass crazy.”
“You better know it! Bye.”
Aw shit. I hope ole girl don’t call that phone. I hit the expressway and made my way to my mother’s crib. When I pulled up, I saw a group of niggas outside her building. I reached under my seat and grabbed my pistol, just in case. When I got outta the car, I noticed that two of them niggas was my little brothers, Outlaw and Money Man.
“Money Man? What y’all doing? Come help me get these bags outta the trunk.”
Money Man waved me over.
“Hold on bro. We battling. I’m ‘bout to eat this nigga alive. He said he can rap better than me.”
I walked over to them because I wanted to hear him spit. I looked at him and nodded my head.
“A’ight then, eat his ass up.”
When I tell you that my lil brother devoured that boy. Dude was so salty that he looked like he wanted to cry. I had to intervene before things got out of hand.
“A’ight, come on and help me with y’all gifts.”
When I walked back to the car to grab some bags I turned to see if my lil brothers were behind me. That’s when I saw the dude that Money Man beat in the rap battle go in his coat and pull out a big ass gun.
“MONEY MAN!”
boc boc
It was too late. He hit Money Man in the side. I ran to grab my lil brother off the ground when I saw Outlaw creep up behind the nigga that had just shot Money Man.
“Outlaw, NOOOO!”
He shot the dude in the back and it made a red shower of blood, because everything flew outta his chest. I scooped Money Man up and rushed him to the hospital. So much for getting into the Christmas spirit.
(Boo)
I have lost a lot of people in my life, but planning this girl’s funeral by far was the hardest thing I ever had to do. Heidi has been my rock. She’s the one that has been getting everything together. The only thing left to do was pick out the casket.
“Heidi, can you please do it. I don’t want to.”
“Don’t worry I got you. When are you going to tell JuJu?”
“I can’t right now. That girl gon’ go crazy up in that place. I just can’t do her like that.”
“A’ight, but she needs to know soon.”ring ring
“Boo, hand me my phone please.”
“Hello. WHAT? I’m on the way.”
I looked at Heidi and knew it was bad news. Shit I was scared to ask.
“Let’s go. Money Man just got shot!”
“Please tell me there’s not about to be another funeral.”
“Oh, it is, but we not burying Heidi’s finest!”
The ride to the hospital was quiet. Too q
uiet if you asked me. I knew this lady well. She hadn’t told me everything.
“Money Man, a’ight?”
“Girl, he fine. I’m just worried about Outlaw.”
“Outlaw? What happened to him?”
She just gave me a sideway glance that told me that she had, in fact, not told me everything.
“Spit that shit out.”
“Well, right after Money Man went down, Outlaw came up behind the nigga and shot him.”
I just put my head down.
“We don’t need this shit right now. I mean we still gotta bury Lil Mama, and I pray to God that the lawyer can get JuJu home. Now we have to worry about if somebody saw Lil Rambo shoot that boy.”
Heidi paused for a few seconds.
“Bitch, who the hell is Rambo?” I rolled my eyes at her slow ass.
“Man shut up.”
When we finally got to the hospital, Jaw was waiting for us at the ER entrance.
“What’s up, auntie? He cool. It went straight through his side without touching any organs.”
“What the hell happened?”
“When I pulled up, he was in a heated ass rap battle. I let him do his thang. He embarrassed the shit outta the dude, and I guess the guy got mad. He ain’t waste no time pulling out and shooting him.”
Heidi jumped in.
“Where the hell is Outlaw?”
“I got his lil trigger-happy ass stashed away at my crib. Poohman is keeping him company.”
With all of this drama going on, I still haven’t mustered up the courage to tell JuJu that her damn auntie was dead.
Chapter 7
Lil Man
I’ve been laying low for a few weeks now. That police dude told me that Ju’s trial date was set for March 9. That was less than three months away. I know you might think I’m a sucker for testifying on JuJu at her trial, but y’all gotta understand that the Eastside Crazy hoes declared war when they killed my brother. So now, it was my turn to finish what they started.ring ring
“Hello?”
“You know you a dead ass nigga when I see you, right?”
“Young? What’s good boy? How has life been treating you?”
