by Kia
“Baby, you ready to go?” a random guy asked me. I didn’t know him, but he winked at me. It finally hit me that he was trying to save me from the lame ass nigga that had my hand.
“Hey, bae. Where you been?” I asked, looking him up and down. He was caramel with hazel eyes and a low cut fade, and stood just at six feet. Not too bad.
“Looking for you.” He extended his hand to me and the lame nigga finally got the picture and walked away.
“Milo. What’s your name?” I asked as I pulled his hand and led him to the bar.
“Bishop. Nice to meet you, Milo.”
Chapter Nine
Neiman
The next day…
“Nyssa, please wake up. I need you,” I cried as I grabbed her hand.
This was still so surreal to me. I expected her to pull through quickly because she seemed fine before she passed out. Hell, before she saw that she was shot, she was okay. I’m still tryna figure out how this happened.
“Long time no see,” Percy said as he walked through the door. He looked rough. No haircut. No shave. No nice clothes. Dirty shoes. He just looked lost. I kinda felt bad for him.
I heard the only reason he was out was because he owed Bleek money and had to get it back or he would die. But that was none of my business.
I wondered if he knew that PJ wasn’t his son. Never would I ask, but I did wonder if he knew. That was some big news.
“How are you?” I asked as I got up and gave him a hug. I braced myself because he looked like he stunk. But to my surprise, he smelled like he was fresh out of the shower.
“Mane, I’m fucked up right now,” he said as we pulled away from each other. “She don’t even look the same,” he said, staring down at Nyssa..
“I know.”
“Mane, why Bishop do this? I’m hearing he the one that robbed me and tried to get that nigga to kill me. Then he turned around and shot my girl?”
“If I knew, I would tell you,” I lied. It wasn’t my place to tell him anything.
“I don’t know what I’ma do. Only reason I’m out is ’cause that nigga Bleek got my charges dropped so I could get his money or dope back. But I’m all fucked up,” he said, sitting in the chair across from me and putting his nappy head down.
“Look out, lil bro… do what you gotta do. Feel me?” I said.
“Easier said than done. How I’m spose to move like that with my heart gone? He got PJ too. Shit, I coulda stayed locked up if this is what I was going to come home to.”
“Well, you out now. So make it move how it move, lil’ bro. My sister is counting on you,” I said as I stood up to give him and Neiman some alone time
“Where you going?” he asked.
“To check on Nel. He down the hall.”
“Yeah? I’ma come with you so I can speak real quick.”
“Cool,” I said as we walked a few doors down to Nel’s room.
When Nel saw Percy, his face lit up. Once again, Chakira was right there. “Damn, they let you out?” Nel asked as Percy walked over to clasp hands with him.
“Mane, that nigga Bleek came to get me out so I could get that money back that I owe him. Know he wasn’t bouta let me slide like that.”
“Nigga sho is happy to see you, boy,” Nel said.
“Hey, Percy,” Chakira said, looking over at me to let me know that Percy knew who she was. He tried to act like he didn’t hear her at first until she said it again. “Hey, Percy!”
“What’s up, girl?” he said to her, looking at me from the side of his eyes. Little did he know, I gave not one fuck about them knowing each other. Fuck Nel. Fuck Chakira. And the way I was feeling, fuck Percy
“I’m out,” I said as I turned to walk away.
“Neiman,” Nel said as I put one foot out the door.
“What?”
“I love you,” he said with pleading eyes. I rolled my eyes and walked outside to get some fresh air.
“Fuck this shit,” I whispered to myself as I started to cry. My emotions were all over the place. He claimed to love me, but not too much if Chakira was still in the picture.
Speak of the devil.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?” Chakira asked as she walked behind me and tapped me on the shoulder.
Stepping back, I gave her a vicious look.
“What?” I asked.
“I just feel like it’s real petty for us not to get along.”
“Bitch, are you serious?”
“Yes, I am. With all due respect, you ain’t shit to me. And I ain’t shit to you. This nigga was playing all three of us,” she said, lighting up a cigarette. “I hope you mad at his other bitch like you are at me.”
“I haven’t met her.”
“Me neither. Nel said she won’t even bring his kid to see him.”
“I don’t blame her,” I said.
“Me neither, but she can at least let the kid come. The kid ain’t ask to be here.”
“Well, I really don’t give a fuck about none of that shit.”
“You still love him?” she asked.
“Do you?” I asked her.
“Now that he’s paralyzed, I don’t know. They say real love never fades, but it’s been fading ever since I found out about you and the other lady.” She took a puff of her cancer stick.
“I guess not.”
“So who was that guy that you came with the other day? It pissed Nel off.”
“That was my man, and good.”
“Yeah, he was yelling about that shit all day. It’s obvious he still loves you.”
“I’m sorry, but why are we talking?” I asked. Hell, listening to her vent about Nel was not it today.
“Honestly, I can’t do this.”
“Do what?” I asked.
“I can’t be here for Nel, me and my child.”
“So you backing out?”
“Not like that. But I’m not sure how long I can stick it out. He’s not even that good of a man to go through all this shit.” She stepped on her cigarette and fixed her shirt.
“Do what you gotta do,” is all I said. My mind was somewhere else. Glory hadn’t called me all day.
“Maybe one day we can put all of this behind us,” she said.
“It’s already behind me. I have a man, and Nel ain’t worth me being mad and putting stress on my life.”
“Good.”
The minute she walked away, I called Glory. He didn’t answer, so I called back. He finally answered.
“What’s up, love?” he asked.
“Where are you?”
“Miami, you know that.”
“Why haven’t you called?”
“Don’t start that weird shit.”
“What weird shit?”
“Acting crazy. I’m at the homie crib right now. The one Malina and Divine met.”
“Huh? How they meet ya homie way out there?” I asked.
“So you didn’t know?”
“Know what?”
“Nothing.”
“C’mon, stop playing.”
“Divine and Malina handled some business not long ago for me, so I sent them to Miami and they met the homies.”
“What business?” I asked. Divine was making trips across the states and shit now?
“Ask them. But I’ma call you back.”
After he hung up in my face, I called Divine. She answered, sounding like she was driving. “Divine?”
“What, Neiman?”
“We need to talk.”
“About what?”
“So you and Malina making trips for Glory and shit?” I asked.
“Bitch, if you thinking somebody want him, you sleep. It was on some money shit.”
“Whatever, hoe,” I hissed.
“Bitch, is that why you called me?”
“Yeah. Even if it was on some money shit, why you ain’t put me on?” I asked.
“Because a bitch don’t owe you shit, hoe! I don’t have to put you on shit if I don’t wanna! You so far u
p Glory’s ass anyway! You ain’t tryna get no money!” Divine yelled.
“Hang up on that hoe,” I heard Malina yell in the background.
The next thing I heard was a click.
I looked at the phone and shook my head. I get it now. Everyone thought I was a sucka for love and shit. Well, it was time to prove them wrong. All of them. Shit, I want some money too. That’s more important.
Chapter Ten
Divine
“Man, fuck that hoe,” Malina said as we turned onto the long road that would lead us to Chola’s place. Since we didn’t have any work, money or body parts on us, we caught a flight to L.A and then rented a car once we got here.
“She got some fucking nerve to ask me why I didn’t put her on. Hell. ’Cause, bitch, I don’t owe you shit. That’s why,” I said, rolling my eyes as I noticed a car following us. Then it stopped on the side of the road and turned around.
“You saw that too?” Malina asked.
“Hell yeah.”
“Man, I know everything happens for a reason but I need to know how this all ’bout to play out,” Malina said as we pulled into the driveway.
I looked up and saw Chola smiling from the balcony. Her peach colored gown flowed with the wind along with her hair.
“Chola, baby!” I yelled up to her as I got out of the car. She smiled and disappeared so she could come downstairs and open the front door.
“Gay hoes,” Malina whispered under her breath.
I smiled and shook my head. She was just jealous. Anyway, I made sure that both of us were well dressed before we stepped foot in this mansion. We needed to look Godly, just like they were. So we both had on all white cat suits looking like black and beautiful Charlie’s Angels. Both of our hair was flat ironed bone straight. Well… our weave was flat ironed bone straight.
“Well, hello there, ladies,” Chola said as she led us inside. And for the first time, not to the sound proof room.
We went into the dining room that was in the front of the house. Jinx was already at the head of the table, with Johan to his right. Chola went and sat to his left. Malina sat next to Johan, leaving me to sit by Chola. Which was cool.
“My father wants you to know that he’s deeply apologetic about what happened to your cousin and her son,” Johan said, looking at both of us.
It still was funny to me how everyone in this room was black, but from very different backgrounds. Jinx was cinnamon brown like Johan was, but spoke very little English. That’s why his kids spoke for him. Chola was the only light skinned one. I looked up and noticed a picture of her mom and saw why Chola looked so different. Because of her mom.
“Thank you,” I responded.
“As you know, we want to help you, but I just can’t give you any money. We just met, and my father won’t allow it. I tried,” Chola said with a straight face.
“But he’s willing to front you some cocaine and see how you move it,” Johan said.
“What? Cocaine?” Malina asked.
“Well, we don’t have any money that we need laundered, so that’s what we came up with,” Chola snapped. I put my hands on her thigh to tell her to calm down.
“We’ve never moved any drugs,” I said calmly.
“And we’re very aware of this. That’s why we’re starting you out with one brick. You say that you’re moving to Miami, so that’s great. You can do wholesale,” Chola said.
“I don’t get it, Chola. I don’t speak drug talk. Speak English,” I said.
“No problem, baby. Wholesale means you don’t have to break the brick up into pieces and distribute them on the streets yourself. Meaning, there will be no need for you to set up shop or trap houses as y’all call them. Miami has a lot of Haitians who already have cocaine coming off of boats,” Chola said.
“So won’t this be hard for us to wholesale? They already by the water.”
“This is the perfect time because the border control is all over every boat that hits the dock, so work is a bit slow that way. They can get it, but not as fast you ladies can,” Chola explained.
“Well, what about the mileage? That’s about a forty-hour drive, Chola,” I complained.
“I know. But you have to start somewhere. We have three private jets, and depending on how this works out, we will lend you guys one so this will be less painful and dreadful.”
“So how much do we sell the bricks for?” I asked.
“Our shit is pure, and straight from Colombia, so it can go for $50,000 for one brick. It usually goes for a little less money, but bricks are in high demand there, New York, and in Texas because of the drug control, shipping prices and other shit,” Johan said.
“Yes, but let’s not start them off that big right now. They have to learn the game first. Besides, up north isn’t our territory. Raphiel gave it to King. We don’t touch that. Remember?” Chola asked Johan.
“Oh, yes. Sorry.”
“Let’s not get too far ahead. They’re not even established yet. Like I said, we will front you guys a key of cocaine,” she said.
“I thought y’all said a brick at first?” Malina asked.
I shook my head. “Malina, a brick is a key,” I said.
“Okay, let me break it down. One key from Colombia is $900 dollars if you get it straight off the farm. One key is 1,000 grams. One gram is usually fifty to seventy dollars in the U.S. So fifty times 1,000 is $50,000. But as we know, the cheaper the better. So I would prefer you to charge $30,000 for wholesale in Miami, and not $60,000 like everyone else,” Chola said.
“If they go that low, they will make a lot money, but they will be dead before they can bring the profit back,” Johan said.
Jinx agreed.
“That’s why we will send them back with the finest of weapons and lend them some soldiers until they find their own,” Chola said.
“We don’t need soldiers. I have the perfect ones in mind,” I said with Glory on my mind.
“Well enough. Let’s not waste time then. I will give you money for the rental, gas, and a condo in Miami. Don’t let me down,” Chola said.
“Why a condo?” I asked.
“Because most condos have security, and not just anyone can come inside the building. They have to sign in or be on the list, so this is great for business,” Chola said before leaving.
She quickly came back with a bag. Inside was stacks of money and a pearly white brick wrapped in plastic. “We paid $900 for this, so if you can bring back at least $30,000 altogether, you two can keep $15,000. But after that, you only get to keep $10,000,” Chola said.
“What? We only make $10,000 and y’all make $20,000?” Malina asked with her arms crossed.
“Go find a better deal and I will raise it. That’s business, sweetheart. We’re the ones fronting the bricks, so you don’t have to break it down to make money. Besides, once people see how cheap y’all are, you two will be moving close to twenty bricks a day in Miami,” Johan said.
“That’s two hundred long split equally a day,” I said.
“Don’t forget the pay for the shooters, weapons, travel, and you two need to save too for bad times,” Johan said.
“That’s still good money, even if we pay them a lot, and the risk,” Malina said.
Malina and Johan talked as Chola pulled me into the next room.
“Please don’t fuck this up. I had to beg for this after what Bishop pulled,” Chola said, kissing me.
“I won’t.”
“Just be careful, baby. I really want you two to do well. This is even a better deal than Bishop or anyone had. We usually let people keep only $8,000 from one brick. But you have good spirits and I know that money isn’t all you care about. And you’re my girlfriend now.”
This threw me for a loop. Girlfriend? When did this happen? I was happy as fuck.
“Thanks, baby, I won’t let you down. I promise,” I said as she pushed me against the wall and gave me a big and sloppy kiss. We almost had sex until Jinx walked in. He shook his head and walked away.<
br />
“Good. Don’t make me have to kill you,” Chola said, then smiled and walked away too.
Though she was smiling, I knew she was dead serious.
Chapter Eleven
Milo
“Damn, y’all don’t cook no more?” Glory asked as I was bent over the sink, ass naked, washing my hair.
This was nothing new. I walked around naked in front of all of Pinky’s niggas, and she did the same to mine. It was nothing personal. We figured that these niggas done seen both of us strip, so why not? It’s not like I would ever cross that line with her or she would cross that line with me. My ex was the only one who tried that dumb shit, and Pinky wasted no time telling me what he tried to do. That’s why I trusted her.
“Cook ya own shit,” I said as he walked by and slapped me on the ass, making it jiggle.
“Damn, Milo, you went and got some ass shots ’round this bitch?”
“Nah.”
“Oh, you just getting fat.”
“Fuck you.”
“Ha-ha, I’m just tryna see,” he said, going through the fridge.
“Pinky still sleep?” I asked, drying my hair. This was the part I hated about getting weave. My hair-dresser made me wash my own hair before she touched it again. This was because she had so many people.
“Yeah, and I ain’t waking her crazy ass up.”
“Why?”
“I gotta go meet up with somebody, and knowing her… she fuck around and try to follow me.”
“Yep, that’s Pinky.”
“Where that nigga Shyro at?” he asked, pulling a bowl down from the cabinet.
“Ever since you shot at him, I ain’t heard from him. Well, he don’t come to my place no more. Temple told me he was all at the club looking for me and shit.”
“Word? Thought you got a restraining order put against him?”
“I did. The nigga do just enough to where he can’t get caught.”
“Want me to kill him?” Glory asked.
See, to the naked ear, you would think he was joking. But if I told him to do it, Shyro would be dead within thirty minutes.
“Nah, he good,” I said.
I just couldn’t live with that on my conscience. Not when his mom still loved me like her own daughter. I just couldn’t fuck with her son. He was way too possessive for me, and didn’t let me do anything. He had a lot of money, so he took me out the strip club when we first met. But I quickly went back when I found out that I had to do exactly what he wanted me to do if I wanted him to take care of me. And when I went back to the strip club, shit got hectic because he saw that I didn’t need him anymore. Ain’t that how it usually goes?
