by Asia Hill
I started cracking up. If she couldn’t do shit else, she could fight.
“The girl that actually did the stabbing, her name is Marquisha Brown. She said something about her cousin wanting her to stab Ju.”
“Oh yeah? Where she from?”
“I believe she from the Greens. As a matter of fact, she’s some kin to the Harris’ and the Cole’s.”
“Thank you, baby. When you coming home?”
“It’s gon’ be a minute. I’m charged with a body. I’ma fight this shit though.”
“Just hold ya head up. I’m ‘bout to hit your books. What’s your info?”
After getting all of her info, I hopped in my car and went to hit up Western Union. After I sent her a few stacks, I called Lil Mama.
“Whatchu want, hoe?”
“I gotcha hoe! Where you at?”
“At the honeycomb hideout.”
“Why you all the way out there?”
“Bitch, I’m chilling. JuJu at my crib resting. You should go check on her.”
That hoe thinks she slick. She got somebody out there in Hammond with her.
“I will do just that. Who you got out there? B? Redman?”
“Damn, nu-nu. My boo, Cee.”
“I don’t know him.”
“Sure don’t.”
“Alrighty then. I’m ‘bout to go check on my goddaughter, since you outside being a THOT.”
“Yo dog ass mammie.”
Chapter 7
JuJu
I had been out of the hospital for two weeks and still no Jaw. I missed him, but I didn’t want him to see me like this. I got my stitches out, but my neck was ugly as shit. The only people that I let come see me were my besties. I noticed some hostility between Re and Dirty. I had seen enough.
“What the fuck wrong with ya’ll?”
Dirty pulled on her blunt before she spoke.
“That bitch right there is disrespectful.”
I tried not to laugh when she pointed at Re.
“You better get your hand out of my face before I break that mother fucka.”
“Bitch please. You don’t scare me; and just to let you know, you don’t scare JoJo either. Leave that damn girl alone.”
At that moment, the room became really quiet. It was so quiet you could have heard a rat piss on cotton. I looked at Re and then back at Dirty. There was a storm brewing in my auntie’s living room. Re smiled at Dirty. It was a ‘bitch, you lucky you my friend’ smile.
“E, you can’t save that bald-headed bitch. When I want her, I’ma go get that ass.”
I was confused.
“Ya’ll, what does JoJo have to do with anything?”
“Tell her E!”
I looked at E and waited for an explanation.
“Okay, let’s play catch-up. Lil Man was causing so much havoc around here that I got in touch with the one person that I knew could find him. She started feeding me all type of information on him. She wasn’t lying, because everything she said he was going to do he did. She even set him up for me.”
“So what happened then?”
“After me and Re shot up JoJo’s sister’s crib trying to get him, she couldn’t go back there.”
“So where she at?”
“She’s been staying with me.”
I didn’t know how to respond to that one.
“I mean E, ain’t this girl the enemy?”
“Yeah and no. Let’s be real for a minute. We’ve done some fucked up shit. She’s connected to our situation because we killed her brothers and her cousin. Not that I’m sorry for it, I’m just stating facts. She may have been plotting on me; but when shit got real, she changed her mind. All that girl wanna do is move away and raise her baby.”
“Baby? Who got her pregnant?”
“Lil Man.”
“Eeew, she gave that lil’ dirty-ass nigga some pussy?”
“Yeah, and now all she trying to is get out of town and raise her baby.”
I looked at Re.
“So Re, what’s the problem on your end?”
“The bitch gots to go! Point blank and period. She was in cahoots with Lil Man and that’s unforgivable. I don’t give a fuck about how she came into the picture.”
I could see there was no changing her mind, but I still had to try.
“But Re, she’s pregnant.”
“With Lil Man’s baby. He killed Tiki. I’ma kill that bastard-ass baby.”
I could see that E was getting mad.
“Re, we ain’t no monsters. Haven’t enough people died? After Lil Man killed Tiki, he started a war. Yeah, he gotta go . . . and that bitch, Mia. Let that girl live. We need to get back on our shit. Money ain’t no problem. This shit has gone too far. Let’s finish school and try to live a somewhat normal life.”
“Ain’t shit gon’ be normal without Tiki.”
“Okay, we can get Lil Man and Mia, but after that no more, Re.”
I looked at Re.
“I agree. My lil’ jail experience was not pleasant. If we keep doing all this killing, we gon’ end up in jail forever.”
“E, you better keep that hoe as far away from me as you can.”
I needed to keep a close eye on that damn girl.
Chapter 8
Lil Man
I was going through it big time. That bitch, JoJo, ran off with my baby. I didn’t know that I could want something so bad other than bloodshed. I just wanted to get revenge for Pancho. In the process of it all, I lost damn near my whole family. I just want my baby. I wasn’t trying to go to jail for killing nobody; but if anybody got in my way while I was on this mission to find that no good-ass bitch, JoJo, I was going to murk they asses. I’ve been trying to lay low but my pockets are suffering. I was tired of asking that bitch Mia for shit. The bitch think’s I’m stupid. I know she’s tryin’ to play nice with me because she knows I’m a killer. I may be young, but you can’t manipulate a manipulator. I’ll play her little game until I find JoJo. After I find her, I’ma take my baby and kill that hoe. Me and my cousin KeeKee plan on moving down south with some family. His mother put him out because she said that it was all his fault that Baby Dro and BayBay got killed. I was so deep in, though, that I never heard that girl come in until she was in my face.
“What you thinking about?”
“Finding your sister.”
“Oh, well you know Valentine’s Day is in a couple of days?”
“And?”
“Me and Jaw are going to spend it together.”
I know I’m crazy, but this bitch was truly certified!
“And just how are you going to accomplish that? Ju’s out of jail. He ain’t thinking about you.”
I liked fucking with her. I could tell I hit a nerve. She rolled her eyes and smacked her lips.
“Any fucking way, he’s not thinking about that lil’ girl. Trust me, I put that good-good on him. I got this.”
More like no-no. That goofy ass bitch gon’ get herself killed. I hoped so. One less mess that I had to make. I was getting bored sitting in this damn house. I think I had a way to find JoJo.
“Mia, can’t I find JoJo through her cell phone?”
“Only if her GPS is on. Go on the computer and check. Type in ‘find my phone.’”
It was a longshot but I typed it in. Not even two minutes later, it popped up.
“Damn, that hoe’s around the corner from my old house.”
“Whose crib she at?”
I zoomed in on the phone’s image and my blood began boiling. She had to be with Dirty E. I’ma kill ‘em both.
(JoJo)
I felt good going to my first real doctor’s appointment. I wanted to make sure everything was all right. This was going to be a very stressful time for me if I didn’t get out of the area, but where would I go? I didn’t have no money. I couldn’t rent my own apartment. My birthday was in March. I was turning 15, but I was still too young to do anything. Calling my nothing-ass sister was out of the question. There was a pro
gram that I could get in when I had three months left. Well, that was in three months. What the fuck was I going to do ‘til then? I couldn’t stay with E. It was too stressful having to watch my back in my own place. I know she meant well, but that fucking friend of hers was gonna end up dead fucking with me. I was on my way out of the doctor’s office when I heard somebody call my name. I was so happy to turn around and see a familiar face.
“Damn, cousin, it’s been like forever since I’ve seen your face. Where you been?”
“Trying to stay alive. What the hell are you doing in Chicago? I thought you were living in Gary.”
“I’m back and forth. You know my dad died?”
“Oh my goodness, I didn’t know that. I’m so sorry. I loved Uncle T like he was my own father. I’m kind of out here on my own. I lost Boogie, Jr., and Ramone.”
“Why are you out here alone?”
“It’s a long story, Spooky. I’m just trying to have my baby and get out of Chicago.”
“Baby? Who the fuck got you pregnant?”
“This crazy-ass nigga named Lil Man. I’m trying to get away from him.”
“Where’s Mia?”
“Fuck that snake-ass hoe!”
“Enough said! Well, look, Auntie Cee is coming to get me and take me shopping tomorrow. You can come with us. I’m sure she’ll be happy to see you.”
After exchanging numbers, I went to the bus stop. I had a big ass family. This could be my chance to move. I could go to Gary with my Auntie Cee. I was ready for a new start.
Chapter 9
Lil Mama
“After you finish cooking, clean up your mess.”
“Come on, auntie, I ain’t no kid. I know how to clean up.”
“Not to get all in your business, but when are you going to call Jaw?”
“Excuse my French, but fuck him. He shouldn’t have done me like that.”
“But Ju, that boy loves you. I know you might not wanna hear it. He fucked up. Forgive him and move on.”
“I’ma think about it.”
My phone started ringing.
“We are not finished with this conversation, lil’ girl!”
It was Boo.
“What up, sis?”
“I found out why JuJu was stabbed.”
“Why?”
“Her lil’ friend Jade told me that some hoe name Marquisha Brown did it.”
“Well, who the hell is that?”
“The cousin of the bitch that Jaw had cheated with.”
“Aw hell naw! Here I was just taking up for him, and he’s the reason that my niece almost lost her life?”
“Hey hoe, go easy on my nephew. Trust me, he’s under enough stress.”
“I’m not in this. Once Ju finds out, she’s going to blow her top.”
“Don’t tell her. Let Jaw do it.”
I felt her presence behind me. Sure enough, I turned around to see my nosey-ass niece standing behind me. Shit!
“It’s too late for that.”
“Damn, she was listening, wasn’t she?”
“You know she was. Let me call you back.”
“So I got stabbed because of Jaw?”
“I think you should just talk to him.”
“Okay.”
She walked off. I sat there and thought about the whole situation. Damn, shit was about to get real bad for him. I just prayed that Ju didn’t do shit to him. I would hate to have to fall out with Boo over this shit.
(Front door slams)
“Ju?”
I looked out of the front window to see my niece jumping in her car and peeling off. Shit! I ran to grab my phone to call Jaw.
(Jaw)
I needed to see my girl. She wasn’t answering my calls and she ain’t even bothered to come home yet. Valentine’s Day was in days. I just wanted to make things right.
(Ring Ring)
I checked the caller I.D. before I answered it – it was Lil Mama. What the fuck did she want?
“Yo, Lil Mama, what up?”
“Where you at?”
“At the crib. Why?”
“Um, you might wanna get up out of there.”
“Why?”
When she told me that Ju knew that Mia was behind her stabbing, I was fucked!
“Fuck! Man I’ma – What the fuck?”
I ran to the window just as she busted out my windshield. She had already got my driver’s side window.
“What’s wrong?”
“Yo fucking niece is outside busting my car windows. Aye, Ju, you better quit. Girl, I’m not playing.”
“Don’t open that door. I’m on my way!”
I threw on my Timbs and rat down the stairs two at a time.
“Ja’ziya, what the fuck is wrong with you? Quit doing that to my car.”
“Fuck you and this car. You had that bitch in this car didn’t you?”
I knew better than to answer that.
“Come inside, baby. It’s cold. Let’s go talk about it. Come on, the police are probably on the way.”
“Fuck the police. I got stabbed because you couldn’t keep your dick in your pants. You’s a stupid mothafucker. All you had to do was leave me alone.”
That shit ate me alive. She had tears and snot running down her face. Damn, I felt like shit.
“Look at my fucking neck!”
She pulled her scarf off and I almost cried. That bitch fucked up my baby’s neck. I walked closer to her and held my arms out.
“Come on, baby, let me talk to you.”
She dropped the bat and walked past me, heading for the house.
“You lucky I’m cold?”
I didn’t want her to know that I was desperate. I needed her to forgive me. When I made it upstairs, she had her suitcase out packing her shit.
“You ain’t shit. I would have never did you like that. I hope her pussy was worth it.”
“Man, Ju, I know I fucked up. I’m admitting that. I was wrong. But on my momma, you might as well quit packing. You not going nowhere.”
After I snatched her suitcase away from her, I grabbed her. She seemed to calm down some.
“I know I hurt you. Let me make it right.”
I saw the look of exhaustion on her face, so I took full advantage of the situation. I took off her coat and sat her down on the bed. I took off her boots and sat next to her. She didn’t say anything. All she did was cry. That broke my heart.
“Let me make it up to you.”
“How are you going to do that? You broke my heart.”
“I have no excuse for what I did, but I’m not letting what she did to you slide. Please just let me handle this.”
“I told her all about my plan, and with a few kisses, I got her to agree to it.
“Let me call Lil Mama and tell her you good.”
“Hello, Jaw? You still alive?”
“Alright now, y’all behave.”
I held her all night in my arms. The plan was set in motion. Valentine’s Day was going to be the last day that bitch, Mia, walked the face of this earth.
Chapter 10
Carmen
“Niecy pooh, where you at?”
“Over here at Money Man’s crib.”
“You ready to go shopping?”
“Yeah, auntie. Guess who I ran into?”
“Who?”
“JoJo.”
“Are you serious? Where’d you see her at?”
“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you when you get here. Can she go with us?”
“Yeah. I’m on my way.”
My damn niece was so spoiled. I didn’t mind though. I hadn’t seen JoJo since she was five years old. Her mother’s boyfriend threw her off of the project building, killing her. Her grandma was left to pick up the slack. Mia could have done a better job. I wondered why she failed to mention that JoJo was even over this way. She cops from me once a month. I’ma fuck Mia’s ass up. Family comes first.
(Two hours later)
I was almost in tears as I looked
at my very pregnant niece, JoJo. My poor baby. I wish I would have stepped in a long time ago. I told her to tell me the whole story and no matter what, don’t lie. After she got finished, I was furious. I had no idea that Boogie, Jr. and Ramone had even died. Mia’s ass was foul.
“Auntie Cee, I just wanna finish school and raise my baby. Mia has lost her mind. Please don’t even tell her that you saw me. She is on a mission to self-destruction.
“Let me handle Mia. You wanna come to Gary and stay with me?”
“Can I think about it? I got a few things that I need to get in order.”
“Hurry up. I don’t want you out here in these streets.”
“I got Spooky’s crazy butt on speed dial. I’m good.”
After taking my nieces shopping, I dropped them off because I had moves to make. I was definitely gonna handle Mia’s ass the next time she came to cop something from me. What type of sister was she?
(Ring Ring)
“Hey sexy, you ready for me?”
“Yes I am. Where you at, boo?”
“I just dropped my nieces off. Where you at?”
“Home.”
“Yo niece still there?”
“Naw, she at her boyfriend’s?”
“I’m on my way.”
“You know it’s Valentine’s Day tomorrow?”
“I know. I got you something.”
(Mia)
I had a small bag packed. I was ready for my date with my man. I got this wild night planned to the tee. First, we’re going to have an enjoyable dinner overlooking the city’s skyline. After that, we got a nice suite at the Hyatt downtown. I made it my business to rent the presidential suite on the top floor. I was hoping we can end the night by fucking ‘til the sun rises. Let me call him and see where he is. I was ready to get shit popping.
“What up?”
“Hey baby, where are we meeting at?”
“I was trying to come chill at your crib for a minute.”
Should I let him know where I stay? I could knock him out and tie his ass up in the basement and keep him there forever. That was starting to sound like a better plan.
“We could do that. Just pick me up some Patron.”
“What’s yo address?”
“4231 South Princeton.”
