__________
“Thank you Tre … thank you … thank you … thank you,” Brianna said aloud to the many photos still hanging through-out the home they had once shared. Four weeks ago she didn’t know how she was gonna make it. Tre’s family had damn near stripped her home of everything but their bedroom set. She didn’t even have a television to watch. Once again she took a deep breath, sighed and gave thanks to her long lost love, as she stared at over eighty thousand dollars strolled out all over her bed. After Tre’s death Brianna was left only a few options. She could’ve laid in that townhouse and starved to death or went back home to her mother and continued to take the abuse of an unforgiving step- father. She chose neither. After all the pain and suffering she went through during her loss, Brianna felt as if everybody had turned their backs on her and Tre and gave them their asses to kiss; especially his materialistic family. Not to mention his so-called boys.
She knew she had to take all the knowledge Tre had schooled her with about the dope game, and everything else she learned along the way. She had been soaking up the gritty ways of the streets like an overly eager adolescent still in grade school, and now it was time for graduation.
Buzz … Buzz … Buzz … Tre’s cell phone vibrated steadily against Brianna’s mid-section startling her from her temporary daydream. Checking the number display, she saw that it was Tre’s best friend “Havok” calling again. Havok, whose real name was Hakeem, grew up in the same neighborhood as Tre. They had been inseparable as teenagers, going to war together against other neighborhood gangs. It seemed as if nothing could come between them. That was until Petey pulled Tre in under his wing. Petey’s big brother bond with Tre slowly drove an invisible wedge between him and Havok’s friendship. Havok despised Petey. Never once did he offer to let Havok tag along with him and Tre. Making matters worse was the fact that he was fucking his favorite auntie. Havok’s aunt, Dez, short for Deserae was like a second mother to him. She was beautiful by anyone’s standards. She had been voted Prom Queen in high school and predicted as one who would most likely succeed in life. “Dez” had it all, beauty, brains and most of all she carried herself with elegance and style. Even though she had witnessed several of her classmates and friends suffer through broken marriages, abortions and fall victim of the streets, Dez had dreams; dreams of making it out of the projects. But as fate would have it, her dreams fell on the shoulders of an up and coming trap-star with nothing more than a hustler’s mentality.
“Yes,” Brianna said answering Tre’s phone:
“Wassup Bri … How you feeling today? …”
“I’m cool, Hakeem,” Brianna answered calling him by his government name.
“Yo, you don’t sound cool,” he said.
“We’ll how do you expect me to feel? My man ain’t never coming back …” Brianna said, her voice breaking up. She continued, “Damn Hakeem I know this shit may sound crazy to you but, I can still feel Tre’s presence in this house.”
Hakeem could hear Brianna’s voice starting to break-up again over the phone so he quickly changed the subject.
“Look Bri … I’m almost done here so get dressed alight.”
“Done where, and get dressed for what Hakeem?” she asked. “I’m at the car wash on Betty’s Ford,” he answered.
Bri sat quietly for a moment thinking to herself … Betty’s Ford Road Carwash … She remembered her and Tre had stopped through there the same day they were robbed. The car wash was an all night hang out spot for all types of criminals. Every drug-dealer in the city got their cars detailed by the dope fiends who hung out there 24/7.
“Brianna … Brianna … Whassup, are you still there?” Hakeem yelled into the phone.
“Yeah … yes I’m still here Hakeem,” Brianna answered. Her mind cloudy and confused.
“Get dressed,” he told her once again.
“Alright, give me an hour.” Brianna told him before ending their call.
After closing her phone, Brianna headed towards her laundry room. She struggled to pull the dryer away from the wall and lifted a small portion of the floor revealing a large safe. She quickly opened it and tossed the eighty thousand dollars inside then locked it, pushing the heavy dryer back in its place.
Brianna showered and got dressed, then flopped down on the new lamb skin sofa she’d brought a few days ago, along with a 61” plasma flat screen TV. Her trips back and forth to Atlanta had given her very little time to enjoy any of the new items she’d purchased. But that was only a fraction of Brianna’s problem. Her biggest problem was no longer money or any of the materialistic things. No, Brianna Campbell’s biggest problem was the empty void that was left in her life after Tre’s death. She stared back and forth at all the pictures throughout their home. Whether with her or his boys, Tre always displayed his trademark smile which seemed to go perfect with his short fade.
Brianna reached for a picture of Tre sitting in front of her on the small table. It was a photo of him and his best friend Hakeem at the club. Tre and Hakeem did everything together like they were identical twin brothers. Sitting there holding Tre’s picture, Brianna found herself sobbing again.
“Baby how am I going to make it without you?” she mumbled out loud. “I wish you were here Tre, I …”
Ding Dong … Ding Dong … Ding Dong … Brianna’s sobs were interrupted by the sound of the door-bell.
She sighed heavily remembering that Hakeem was on the way over. Brianna pulled herself together and wiped away the tears as best she could then prepared to answer the door.
After making sure that it was indeed Hakeem she opened the door. To her surprise Hakeem was holding a life size teddy bear in one arm and a dozen red roses in the other.
Brianna stared at the teddy-bear and roses which, once again, brought back bitter-sweet memories of Tre. When she’d moved in with him Brianna told Tre all about her troubled childhood. As a little girl all she wanted for Christmas and birthdays was a teddy-bear and a close knit family to share her dreams with. Since her stepfather wouldn’t allow her mother to spend a dime on her, she’d never gotten any of those things. It had taken her days before she was able to talk Tre out of killing her stepfather. One day Brianna returned home from a hair appointment and found their home flooded with all types of teddy Bears and flowers.
“They’re for you,” Hakeem said, interrupting Brianna’s thoughts.
“Oh … AAh … I can’t accept that Hakeem I …” “Come on Brianna it’s nothing,” he said cutting her off. “Besides, Tre told me how much you liked ‘em,” he continued while handing her the fluffy white teddy-bear.
Brianna hesitated a moment longer before finally accepting the gifts.
“Thank you Hakeem, they’re beautiful,” Brianna said rubbing the soft fur on the teddy-bears ears.
“Are you ready to bounce,” he asked.
“Yeah. Just give me a minute to put these flowers in some water,” she answered.
Five minutes later, they prepared to leave.
“So where are we going Hakeem?” Brianna asked.
“I thought we would just grab something to eat,” he answered.
Hakeem opened the passenger door to the two door platinum Masarati coupe. Brianna remembered the day he brought the car by the house to show it to Tre. She remembered hearing the heated argument about his new purchase.
“Damn my nigga I told you about buying this all eyes on me shit. You just putting a bull’s eye on your back for the Feds and the stick up kids!”
“Man fuck that! I’m going to live my life, this shit can all end tomorrow. Jail or death don’t mean shit to me, as long as mother fuckers remember my name!” Hakeem had responded.
“Well don’t bring that hot shit by my house, you do what you do over your way! And how you going to be asking a nigga to throw you some doe for your case and you out here buying new shit?”
“Nigga one thang don’t have nothing to do with the other, I just need to borrow that little bit of bread to give to my lawyer. He alr
eady told me that for $80,000.00 he can have all charges dropped. Then I will give you back your little money!” Hakeem screamed back.
“Look bro you know I got love for you like family. So I’m going to keep it 100 with you. I had my attorney look into your case and he told me it’s no way you walk away without doing some time. That lawyer of yours is just trying to beat you for your money and he using you not wanting to go to jail to do it.”
“Man fuck that! And fuck your attorney! If you don’t want to let me hold the money just say that!
“Bro you know it’s not like that” Tre had a concern look on his face. “Look my nigga I will give you half of it and you come up with the rest, that’s the best I can do!” Tre extended his hand out to Hakeem. Hakeem grabbed it and they went into a man hug, touching chest.
Aight Tre that’s whats up, I guess I just got to figure out how to get the other part.
“Nigga sell this car! Or one of your cars or some of that jewelry” Tre said while trying not to laugh. His smile made Hakeem break out into one also.
“Aight my nigga let me get out of here, you see Bri sitting in the car and we got dinner reservations. Shit holla at me tomorrow.”
“Are you okay Bri?” Hakeem asked interrupting her thought.
“Oh … AAh … I’m okay,” she replied.
Several minutes later, they pulled up at Brianna’s favorite restaurant, Flemings, located in downtown Charlotte’s EpiCenter. After throwing the keys to the valet, she and Hakeem were seated in the restaurant.
“So Bri, I just wanted to let you know that Tre was my nigga. And when I find out who did this to you… these niggas going to die a slow death. I also know he wouldn’t want you sitting around doing nothing with the rest of the life you been blessed with. So what are your plans?”
In truth Brianna had not thought about the rest of her life. She was only concerned with the here and now. She took a small piece of the lamb chops she had ordered into her mouth.
“You know Hakeem, I have not thought about it. But I’m sure I will figure something out.”
“I’m sure you will Bri, my nigga always said how smart you were, so I know you will be ok. I just want to let you know if you need anything. Don’t hesitate to call me.”
“Thanks Hakeem, I appreciate everything you have done. I could have never planned out Tre’s funeral. Are you sure I don’t owe you anything? I know it wasn’t cheap.”
“Stop it girl, one thing you got to remember about me, is that money ain’t thang. I spend it like it comes… fast! Plus like I told you that was my nigga!”
Chapter 5
A Trap-Star is Born
The Westin Hotel hadn’t changed much since the last time Brianna had been there. A year ago she and Tre had celebrated New Years in one of the large suites overlooking the city.
“Damn,” she mumbled to herself as she approached the registers desk.
“May I help you,” asked a heavyset lady sitting behind the counter.
“Carlos Garcia’s room please,” Brianna answered.
“AAh … Mr. Garcia,’” the lady repeated with a sudden smile.
“Miss Campbell I assume.”
“Yes,” Brianna said flashing her own smile.
“Right this way Miss Campbell, Mr. Garcia is expecting you.”
Brianna followed the woman into what looked to be an empty dining area. At least she thought it was empty until a middle aged man who seemed to have appeared from out of nowhere approach her. The lady who’d escorted her to him.
“Miss Campbell,” the man said in a heavily accented deep voice, which seemed to vibrate throughout the entire dining area.
Brianna shyly nodded her.
“May I?” he asked reaching for her hand.
She said yes with a nod of her head.
The man gently caressed Brianna’s hand before kissing it softly.
“Greetings Miss Campbell, my boss is expecting you.”
After leading her to a nearby table, the gentleman prepared to leave.
Brianna took notice of the man as she took a seat at the table. He had a nasty looking scar, which began just below the left temple and ended just above his juggler vein.
“Carlos will be with you momentarily,” the man said interrupting her thoughts.
“Thank you,” Brianna said before he turned and silently walked away.
She sat quietly alone in the dining area, which was a little top quiet for her taste.
Her mind suddenly drifting back two days ago to when she’d received the call that had added more confusion to her already complicated life.
After showering, Brianna had just snuggled underneath the covers in her bedroom. It had been a long day. The clock read 4:00a.m. Returning from a long trip to Atlanta, all Brianna could imagine during the ride was lying in her bed sleeping for the next 24 hours. Jason had bought the last four kilos she had left from Tre’s stash. After her third drop off with him, Brianna finally told him about Tre’s death. For the first time since his murder Brianna saw someone besides herself show some type of visible emotion. Jason was heartbroken. He told Brianna that before her first trip he knew something was wrong. He had figured Tre had probably gotten arrested and was being held on some type of large bond, and that Brianna, being a true “hustler’s wife,” was out getting the paper up to get her man out of jail. Sadly, that wasn’t the case.
“Yes,” Brianna said in a groggy voice answering Tre’s cell phone.
“Greetings Brianna, I hate to bother you at such an hour but I …”
“Who the hell is this,” Brianna asked with an attitude.
“I’m a very good friend of Treshawn.”
“A friend.”
“Yes, I’m a friend,” he repeated again.
“If you’re a friend of Treshawn’s Mr. … AAh … what is your name anyway?” Brianna asked.
“Carlos … Carlos Garcia,” he answered.
“Well Carlos,” she blurted out loudly. “What the hell do you want at this time of morning?
My apologies it is day time in my country, me and Tre were, how do say um.., business partners.”
Business partners. It didn’t take long for Brianna to process a Spanish accent, different time zone, and business partner. This had to be Tre’s connect!
“Can we meet?” he asked her directly.
“Do I have a choice or is that an order?” she countered.
“We always have a choice, but I think it would be in your best interest to at least hear me out. I will be in your city in two days and we can talk more in-depth!”
“AAh Brianna I see you made it,” a well-dressed Hispanic man said walking ever so gently up to her table.
“Carlos Garcia,” he said.
“Brianna Campbell,” she responded.
“So Mr. Garcia how do yo …”
“Please Brianna, call me Carlos,” he said interrupting her.
“Okay, Mr. Carlos how can I help you?”
He paused a moment, his mind filtering the question he’d been asked.
“First let me say Tre was like a son to me, and to hear of his death was truly heart breaking. However business is business and there are some matters to clear up.”
Brianna began to get nervous. She never thought about having to answer for the money or the drugs. This was the other side of the game she was not aware of.
“There is a matter of half a million dollars that is due to me. Now let me say that I am well aware of your recent transaction on Tre’s behalf in Atlanta. And I have no problem with you continuing to handle that situation. However, debts must be covered. It’s just business.”
Brianna began to speak with a slight quiver in her voice. “I don’t have a half a million I don’t even have half of that half a million. I’ve only made about $250,000.00.”
Carlos began to crack a smile “Brianna I am not an unreasonable or impassionate man. I understand that bills had to be paid. What I propose now is a payment plan where we both can continue to do b
usiness and prosper. All you need to do is continue to make your trips and I will make sure you have all the product you need. With the rate you been working thus far, it won’t take long to cover that small debt.
By the look on Carlos’ face, there was not an option in this matter, rather an instruction. The truth was, Brianna didn’t have anything else going on in her life. The trips to see Jason had been easy enough, she thought. Plus she was making enough money to keep up the life style she had become so accustomed to.
Over dinner, Carlos informed her when and where the product would arrive, and where to send his payments to. If she followed all his instruction there would be no problems. And just like Tre had done, she would be well taken care of.
Chapter 6
“A Star Is Born”
On the way home from the meeting, Brianna scrolled through her phone list. She needed someone to talk to; someone that she could trust to share her experience with Carlos with. Tre had always been the one person in her life she could talk to about anything. Her eyes became glossy with tears, as they always did these days when Tre crossed her mind. She blinked them away; this was no time to be weak. She knew that the only way she would be successful at taking over Tre’s work would be to maintain her composure and always appear strong.
Her finger scrolled its way to Hakeem’s number. She hesitated. Insecurities flooded her mind. Maybe the only reason Hakeem had kept her company was as a last favor to Tre. She figured that he probably didn’t really want anything to do with her long term. Brianna pressed the end button on her phone and threw it on the passenger seat of her car. Press forward. Stay strong. Hold your head up high. You can do this alone. She repeated theses things herself over and over again as she headed towards home.
Brianna stepped off the elevator to her new condo. Walking in a room where the love of her life had been murdered, and where she’d been left for dead had only heightened the emotional roller coaster she’d been on since Tre’s death. She liked this new place equip with floor to ceiling windows, hardwood floors, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and a view that could kill. Plus, there was a 24-hour front desk concierge that offered the extra layer of security that she needed. There was a mirror directly in front of the elevator doors. Brianna looked herself and smiled with pride. She was, after all, more than her stepfather ever said she would be. As she turned the corner, she noticed a male figure standing in the front of her place with his ear cuffing the door. She started to panic almost immediately. Brianna slowly backed away towards the elevator. She pressed the down button rapidly. The numbers lit up while the elevator slowly made it’s way back to her. As the elevator paused on a lower floor, Brianna heard footsteps. She kicked herself for wanting to be on the top floor. She bowed her head and allowed her hair to cover her face.
Trapstar Double book (Parts 1 & 2 Boxed Set) Page 4
