by Saundra
“Baby, I can’t believe it, either.”
Her heartless statements were hurtful. We were supposed to be friends; instead this bitch was acting as if she was possessed. What was going on? Why would Leslie want to conspire with Lonzo to rob Hood? Why befriend me?
“I don’t understand, Leslie. Why? Why are you doing this?” At this point nothing she said would really matter. I just wanted answers for confirmation.
“Is that what you want me to answer for you?”
“Aye, shut the fuck up! You don’t have to say shit,” Lonzo barked.
I looked in the direction that his angry voice came from. I hadn’t even noticed that he was in the room when I entered. He was tied to an abandoned refrigerator. He had so much rope and cord tied to his shirtless, bruised body that it was sitting deep in his wounded flesh. When he spoke up, there was nothing but pain in his voice and facial expressions, but he still had the nerve to try to talk shit.
“Nigga, don’t tell me to shut up,” Leslie shouted at Lonzo, and spit flew out of her mouth. I could tell that he wanted to respond to her but his pain was unbearable.
“Right, nigga, silence,” Hood said right before he took his nine-millimeter and smashed it into Lonzo’s jaw.
I could hear his jaw cracking like ice. It really sucked to be him. I watched his head slump over to his left shoulder as he fell unconscious from the pressure of the steel. Leslie sat and watched Lonzo take his beating with no emotion. The sight of her was making me feel some type of way. Talk about fake-ass bitches, she had proven herself worthy of the title.
“I been bringing you around family, in my house, and all the time you scheming with this nickel-and-dime-ass dude.”
Hood had made Lonzo who he was. He had no real street cred before that. I mean he had killed some niggas for Hood and settled a few scores, but he was still a no one in the game where it counted. He had schemed his way next to Hood, making him believe he was who he needed by his side. Yeah, he had put in some loyal work, and with Hood being in a crunch for a right-hand man, he gave Lonzo a chance when really he should have given it to C-Lo, who had been with him forever. But C-Lo was young, wild, and crazy like O-Dog from Menace II Society. He just didn’t give a fuck, so Hood had to keep him leveled.
“Bitch, I had to do something . . .” Leslie barked, shaking her head like she needed validation. “But it was never about you.”
Those words surprised me. Confusion was all over my face. She focused her eyes on Hood, and for the first time I saw the hate in them. Leslie hated my husband and I never had any idea. How could I have missed that? She had played the game well.
“You came back from New York alive and . . . Rob didn’t.”
Her eyes burned a hole in Hood. Snot and tears ran down her face. She sniffed before going on. “Rob was all my son and I had. I begged him not to go with you. I tried so hard to get him to walk away from the dope life, your crew. What you call the Height Squad.” She spat accusingly. “But noooo . . .” She shook her head from left to right. “He had to have your back, and look what that got him.”
Now it all made sense. Her words surprised Hood. He never knew that she blamed him for Rob’s death. Not once did she show any indication that she was bitter with him.
“You think that shit was my fault?” Hood hit himself in the chest with the flat part of his left hand. “Trick, what do you know? What you think you know? Rob was my nigga. I would have died for him. How about you?” He challenged her. “You really believe I took him to New York to be killed. Nah, the shit just happened. It’s a price you pay in this game. That goes for me or anybody else in this life.”
Hood turned to Lonzo, who was now conscious but from the look of things, still groggy. “And you, you two-timing-ass nigga.” He pointed his gun at him. “You should know that, but you gone let a bitch trick you into stealing from me for revenge. Revenge that wasn’t even yours, especially not for the price you gotta pay. Not so smart, brah.”
“Man, fuck you,” Lonzo managed to get out. His face showed his agonizing pain. He needed to be put out of his misery. I’m sure he even prayed for it.
“Nah, cuz you got fucked.”
Lonzo’s eyes bucked open at Hood’s words. He tried to lift his head but couldn’t. Hood pumped two into his chest and watched him slump over. For the first time, Leslie seemed shocked as she watched Lonzo suck in his last breath. I was sure this was her first time seeing anyone killed, but other than that brief moment of shock, she seemed to take it well.
I was in my own feelings while I watched the whole thing. I knew how Hood felt. When Leslie was grieving, I was there for her. Hell, Hood had been there for her, too. He had given her ungrateful ass a million dollars in cold cash to help her and Li’l Rob out. She had not only shitted on my husband, she shitted on me.
“I was down for you. I sympathized with you. I was your friend and you played me like a record. And that shit hurts.”
“I didn’t do shit to you that you won’t get over. You have your husband and while you both live happily ever after, Li’l Rob and I suffer. Besides, Hood has plenty of money. This little shit won’t put a dent in his big-ass pocket.”
I know she didn’t think that I was mad about some money. Clearly, this bitch was not from the streets, because if she were, she would’ve known better.
“Bitch, don’t be stupid!” I yelled.
Her dumb words were getting next to me in ways that she did not want them to. For her to even still be talking to me, she had been given a pass, but she was so naïve it was ridiculous. It was time that I set her straight.
“Loyalty is priceless and betrayal gone cost you.”
Leslie laughed when she heard my words. She still didn’t get it. This was a game to her. “Mya . . . you are so full of shit, so fucking superficial. I can see straight through you. I always could. Look at what you did to your own so-called best friend, Rochelle. As for me, what are you going to do? Kill me?” She chuckled.
“No, I’m not going to kill you. I wouldn’t do that. But he is.” I nodded in Hood’s direction and turned my back on Leslie as I said calmly, “Leslie, here is a lesson in loyalty. Hood, load that bitch up.”
I walked away.
“Mya,” Leslie screamed my name. Her scream was immediately followed by two gunshots. I didn’t have to turn back. I knew that Leslie was no more. And it was all because of her stupid decisions. Like so many others, Leslie had played with fire and got burned. Now Li’l Rob had to grow up without his mother. I know it sounded selfish, but in the game, you pay your consequences regardless of your current situation.
Four days after the killing of Leslie and Lonzo, Leslie’s mom filed a missing persons report. Leslie’s cousin Cynthia, who had been living with her, called my phone the day after the killing asking if I had spoken with her. She said that Leslie had not come home the night before and that her cell phone was going straight to voicemail. Of course, I told her that I not seen or spoken with Leslie in a few days. Cynthia was really worried because Leslie would never not call or come home to check on Li’l Rob. So she decided to call Leslie’s mom, who had moved to Texas with her younger sister.
Leslie’s mom caught the first flight out to Detroit to find out what was going on. The police department said they couldn’t do anything because Leslie was an adult. But that changed when her car was found abandoned behind a gas station on the Southside. Now her face was flashing across the television screen as a missing woman. Hood and I sat watching the nightly news just to hear the story.
Hood’s eyes left the television and landed on me. I could tell that he was thinking the same thing that I was. This whole situation was crazy and did not have to happen. Leslie should have used her mind and not her heart. It had done nothing to help her, it only harmed her.
“Man, I’m still fucked up about your girl’s betrayal.” Hood referred to Leslie. “I mean Lonzo, that’s another matter. The nigga was born a snake and would probably do anything for a come-up. I’m sure he we
lcomed her proposition. But your girl?” He shook his head in disappointment.
“Well, they both should have known better.”
“That’s a fact,” Hood agreed.
I could tell that he had more on his mind. It bothered him that Leslie accused him of being responsible for Rob’s death.
“Rob was my nigga when it came to the job. He was loyal in every way it takes to make it in the streets. I respected him for that. That’s how we became cool beyond the work. On the trip to New York he told me that he was about to walk away from the game. And you know why? For Leslie. He wanted to make her happy. He said he was tired of them breaking up because every time she moved out, she took Li’l Rob with her and he wanted them to be a family. Rob said that right before the trip, she had gotten mad and left again, but she came back and begged him not to make the trip. The only reason he had come was to have my back and tell me about his plans. When he got out, he was going to buy more houses and rent them out just like the ones he already had. But he knew the risk, ain’t no promises in this game.”
My heart ached for Hood. He had a look on his face that said he needed to convince me. There was no need, though. I had his back and I knew his heart.
“Babe, you don’t have to think about that no more. It was not your fault and what is done is done. There is not one thing you could have done that would have changed anything.”
“No doubt. That’s my point. Some people just don’t understand what the game is all about. The rules are easy and clear-cut. Emotions can never be involved, unless you want to be fooled or dead.”
I loved the way he summed it up. He didn’t leave nothing out. I understood the game. That’s why I wanted Hood out.
“I guess you can say that Leslie broke all the rules, then. She should have never crossed us. I mean what did she think would happen? Did she really think she could get away with what they had done? Was she that fuckin’ stupid?”
I felt some type of way just thinking about it. Hood stared at the television. I’m sure he was thinking about what I had just said. Neither one of us would never fully understand Leslie’s betrayal. Her actions were motivated by emotions that she could not control. It was because of those actions that her family and son would now suffer from her absence. I guess part of it was my fault. I should have never let her in my circle so easily. Nevertheless, I would never regret what had to be done to correct her actions. The only regret I had was that Li’l Rob would not have his mother around to see him grow up.
Chapter 33
“Hey.” I answered Hood’s call as I sat at a red light down the street from the salon. I was on my way in and my first appointment for the day was Ma. She had called and said she needed her hair done. I always jumped at the chance to hook her wig up.
“Look, I got to fly out to Miami ASAP to handle some business. I’ll be back in a couple days.”
I was worried, as usual. Miami? Those D boys down there were no joke: they be killing for five bucks. I did not want my husband out there.
“Hood, you know I don’t want you go. And why all of a sudden? You know I hate that shit even more. Last minute setups,” I whined.
“Babe, I promise it’s legit. Everything’s cool. Me and C-Lo gone make this run and be back before you know it. Don’t sweat it. Our flight leaves in an hour, so I got to get in gear.”
“All right, be careful. Hit me as soon as you touch down and if someone even so much as look, you betta bust a cap in their dome.”
I meant every word. I didn’t want him taking any chances. All I cared about was him coming back to me.
“I gotcha, babe.”
Ending the call, I felt distant and unsafe. I would not be satisfied until he returned. But for now I could not do anything about it, so I decided to go about my day as normal. I stashed my worry away. It would do me no good here in Detroit.
To my surprise, Ma was early. “It’s about time you showed up.” She smiled.
“Ma, you tried it.” I returned her smile. “Don’t be trying to say I’m late.”
“Girl, now you know you ain’t never been good with time. But I still love you,” she joked. “No, I’m just early because I woke up this morning and made your dad breakfast. So instead of lying back down, I just decided to go ahead get dressed and head over here.”
To hear her say she made Dad breakfast warmed my heart. I loved knowing that they were happy.
“Speaking of Dad and breakfast, how are things since you have been back at home with him? I mean, I know I hardly hear from you anymore.” I grinned.
“Everything has been good. He is doing a lot better. He is home more often, so now we have time to go out to dinner and catch a movie. Oh, we even go on long walks in the park and feed the birds. Things we used enjoy doing long before our lives went haywire. I had missed those simple things so much.”
“Awww, Ma, you gone make me cry. I am so happy for you. I can see the smile on your face is coming from deep within. That is true love. You and Dad have something special. There are not a lot of long-lasting relationships anymore like in the olden days. You and Dad symbolize that they do still exist. I want that for me and Hood.”
“And you will have it. Hood is a good man with values. He didn’t just marry you because you were beautiful. He married you for love and I promise you that love lasts.”
“So where is Dad now?”
“He went to see his PO today. They are making him attend some class. I think it’s just something they use to make them pass time.”
“Okay. I just want him to comply with that PO because he seems like an asshole,” I commented from my own judgment.
“Yeah, that’s what I been telling your father to make sure he goes. Oh, and another thing, he has been receiving these strange calls.” Ma raised her eyebrow in curiosity.
“Strange calls? From who?” I wondered.
“I mean his cell rings and when he answers it, he claims that it is the wrong number or it’s a hang-up.”
“Well, what makes you think they are strange?”
“I don’t know. Well, for one, the number is always private, and just the look he has on his face when he answers.”
“Hmmm.” I pondered over what she had said.
“You know, Mya, I could just be overreacting. I just thought that they were strange, but he says everything is cool, that his cell number just sucks and he might get it changed. But you know me. I like to worry.” She shrugged it off.
I could indeed verify that she was a worrier, but at the same time, I didn’t want to blow it off. Maybe I would pull him aside and talk to him about it.
“Other than that, everything is cool.” Ma finished up what she was saying. “On another good note, he just booked us a flight and in a couple of weeks we are going to Hawaii.”
“He did?” I was surprised. “Wait what about his PO? He will need to get approval to leave the state.”
“Already taken care of. He said once the travel agent got all the paperwork together, he took all that down to his PO and he approved it.”
“Okay, now that’s what’s up, Dad on top with his stuff.” He was pulling out the stops to get his lady back.
“Yes.” Ma grinned from ear to ear. She was ecstatic. “I told you he was stepping up his game.”
“I see. Go Dad!” I chanted. “Oh, and we have got to go shopping, and I don’t want to hear no excuses. You have to be fly every day.”
“Mya, don’t start! I’m not spending hours in one store. Now maybe we can pick up a few things, but that’s it.”
She agreed, but made sure to set her ground rules. This was one lady who despised shopping. Don’t get me wrong, she loved nice things, she just did not have patience to look for them. So she sent Monica and me out to shop for her instead, but this time I was making her come along.
“Ma, you have to have a bikini.”
“Girl, I am not putting on a bikini and shame the devil.”
“Ma, don’t play. Your body is still banging. You wear
in’ a bikini.”
Those were my ground rules. I had to admit, we had good genes. Ma was in her forties and her body was still tight and firm. Her weight was still the same 120 she weighed ten years ago. The lady didn’t even go to the gym and she still had a six-pack. But she did eat pretty healthy and being a nurse kept her active. She was proof that you did not have to be a celebrity to be forty and fabulous. Dad was going to have to fight off men in Hawaii with a stick.
“We’ll see how it goes when we go shopping,” she agreed.
“Cool, I will call Monica up and let her know when, so she can come along.”
“Speaking of your sister, I’m meeting her for lunch today. I planned to tell her then.”
“That works.”
“You know, I’m still worried about her. Do you know I almost had to beg her to go to lunch with me? I think that damn boy is over there holding her hostage or something.”
I had the same concern. He was always answering her phone and that annoyed the hell out of me. I had made up my mind, though, the next time he tried to blow me off, I would be heading straight to their crib. But for now, I just wanted to ease Ma’s mind because I didn’t want her to worry.
“Don’t worry about it. I personally went by Ripple Turn and had a heart-to-heart with Rich. I made sure he understands in no uncertain terms that he is not to be putting his hands on Monica.”
“Well, I hope he listens, because the next time I will be telling your dad about it. I can’t continue to hide my concerns about this.”
“I know, Ma. I can promise you if it happens again, shit gone get crazy for his ass. He’s a punk anyway. He ain’t ready for my wrath, or Hood’s, for that matter. I been holding it back from him also because I know how it would go down. He would catch a bullet, simple as that. Monica acts like she so in love with him until it turns my stomach.”
“I been trying to figure this mess out. I can’t believe that she would put up with this. There was never any violence in our household. Your dad didn’t ever beat me or talk to me crazy. So why she thinks this mess is okay is a complete mystery to me.”
