by Jahquel J
Epiphany and Mezzie walked in from the back and walked up the stairs while Tiffany sat on the man’s lap with her tongue down his throat. Moses and Reshawn followed behind shaking their heads. Lace sat in the car looking out. Epiphany pulled her gun out and shot the lock on the door, then she turned the handle. In the room, the other man sat with his back turned with headphones on, counting money.
“This nigga has got to be stupid,” Epiphany said. She ran behind him and slapped him the head with her gun.
“Nigga, put all that money back in the bag. And I might let you live to tell ya’ punk ass boss,” Epiphany ordered.
“Bitch, I know you don’ lost ya’ mind coming in here by ya’ self,” The man barked.
“Nah, she cool. She got her brothers with her. Put the money in the bag.” Reshawn hit him in the head again. The man turned around and looked at Reshawn.
“Eddie,” Reshawn called.
“Yeah, nigga. When you came back in town?”
“Enough of the small talk. Bag that shit up so we can get the fuck out of here,” Moses interrupted, still holding his gun at Eddie’s head.
Epiphany and Mezzie ran down the stairs with bags in their hands and looked into the living room. Tiffany had killed both men and she and Kea were waiting at the front door to grab bags. Epiphany tossed a bag to Tiffany and continued out the door. Moses and Reshawn stayed behind them with Eddie following. Epiphany stopped short and waited for Eddie to run by her. She took the back of her gun and hit him in the head causing him to be knocked out unconscious.
*
Tone sat across the street from his Crown Heights trap waiting for Mezzie and Tiffany. Tyrisha sat holding her pee for the longest with an attitude.
“Tone, they not coming, face it.” Just as the words left Tyrisha mouth, Tone’s phone rang.
“Talk,” he answered.
“The B&B just got hit. We at a loss of six hundred thousand,” the man answered and hung up. Tone punched the steering wheel and threw a fit.
“How the fuck are they doing this!” He yelled.
*
Lace entered the bedroom to Kim sitting up in bed watching TV Land. He pecked her lips and sat down beside her. Kim turned the TV off and focused her attention to Lace. She knew something was wrong. Usually he would be on her kissing her and telling her he missed her.
“Everything okay, Sy?” Kim rubbed his cold hands.
“Are you down with me?” Lace look into Kim’s eyes.
“Always…why?”
“Before you crack your mouth to lie, I know all about you and Tone’s plan. I ain’t tripping since you still here. I need to know that you can still hold it down for me,” Lace spoke real slowly. Kim thought it was trick question. She was just thinking about the same thing and now the topic fell right in her lap. What to do? Give it to Tone or hold down her man?
“Baby. I got you, I just want you to know when the smoke clears I will be here.”
“Girl, stop quoting songs and give me a kiss.” Lace kissed Kim’s lips for a minute too long. He knew once he went to that place he wouldn’t be kissing them for a while.
“I love you, Sylvester.”
“I Love you, Kimbree.
Chapter Fifteen
Mystic Lounge, Staten Island
Promise sat down in the VIP at Mystic Lounge. MS13 crew members were known to hang out there. Promise made sure she bought out the bar and tipped graciously to draw attention to her section. Just like a bug to a light, three Mexican well-dressed men approached the table with a bottle of tequila in their hands.
“Never seen you around this way before, you from around here?” The first one spoke, Promise kept her eyes trained on Alomar.
“No, I’m trying testing the waters,” Promise spoke low so the men had to crouch down to hear her.
“Well, what you think?” Alomar looked at her.
“I’m not sure. It’s kind of dead in here and it’s Saturday,” Promise spoke up sipping her Jack Daniels.
“Let me and my friends join you and we will show you a good time,” The third man said.
“I guess it will be okay.” Promise scooted over in the booth so the two men could join her. Alomar pulled up a chair.
Before she knew it, the club was closing and they all enjoyed each other’s company. Promise managed to get close to Alomar and his crew. He admired her beauty and bluntness. Alomar tried to convince her to come back to the house but she declined. Their gang had a track record of raping woman and as much as she wanted to be cool with him, she wouldn’t put herself in danger. Alomar held the door open to the Bentley and Promise got in. She thanked the men for a good time and exchanged numbers. Promise agreed to let Alomar take her out the following afternoon for drinks.
*
Lace had stopped taking his medicine for three straight days. He still kept some of his sanity but Kim knew something was different. Half the time he was spaced out and mumbling junk while the other half of the time he acted like regular.
Tonight, they were at his house in Brooklyn. Kim suggested they stay there until he was back on his meds. She didn’t want the girls seeing him like that. She had the house under lock and key while Lace was gone. On this particular night Kim had to listen to Lace rant about the government being crooked and how he was going to change it once he became mayor. Kim agreed with everything he said and said an occasional “You right babe.”
Once Lace left out to meet with Moses, Kim called Moses to let him know to expect Lace. After her call she threw her phone on the bed and got comfortable under the bed’s covers. There was a soft knock at the door; Kim peeked out the upstairs curtains to see Tyrisha standing on the stairs. Kim didn’t know why she would be at Lace’s house. Kim knew who Tyrisha was but Tyrisha didn’t know what Kim looked like. Kim swung the door open catching Tyrisha by surprise. She looked at the door number and then back at Kim.
“Is Lace here?” She looked behind Kim, who closed the door and stepped outside.
“No, he isn’t. May I ask who you are?” Kim looked Tyrisha up and down. What did she have that kept Tone with her all them years?
“Oh, I’m his ex-girlfriend. I’m sure he mentioned me,” Tyrisha said sure of herself.
“Nope, not even once. I’ll let him know you came by.” Kim stepped back in the house and lightly closed the door. She made a mental note to ask Lace about the situation. Tyrisha stood around for a few minutes before she got back in her BMW and pulled off.
*
Lace walked into the house on the dead end block located in Brownsville, Brooklyn. Charles let Lace in and secured the door behind him. Moses and Reshawn were sitting at the table with drinks and a card game going. Lace screwed his face up and sat down.
“I know I didn’t come here to play cards.” Lace sat down. Moses nodded his head and told them to follow him downstairs. When everyone got downstairs Moses had three boys tied up in plastic chairs, they couldn’t had been no younger than eighteen.
“I know these ain’t the niggas who did it. They fucking wanksters,” Lace spit.
A couple days ago, Moses’ new trap in the Bronx was raided. Over twenty of his men were arrested and a half a million in drugs were seized. The only good news out of the whole situation was the trap wasn’t linked to anyone. And the money they had been saving wasn’t touched. The drugs were replaceable, but it was the principal. Don’t come for me unless we sent for you.
“I had my man Victor contact a buddy of his in the police department and he gave us when and where the tip came from. He also gave us the recording. These dumb asses called from a Safe Link government phone linked to their mama. Looked their mama name up and up pops her three knuckle heads. Had Tiff strike a conversation to hear their voice and this one right here was our culprit.” Moses mushed the older boy in the face.
“Alright, I know I haven’t see these fuck boys around, so who they working with?” Lace pulled a machete out his coat. Moses looked confused.
“Nigga, you always carry sh
it like that in your jacket?” Reshawn had to ask.
“You don’t want to know, bro,” Moses answered. The old Lace was a loose cannon. Although he was bugged out calling aliens, the nigga still put the fear of God into niggas in the street. The same niggas who laced his shit years ago was dead.
“Who you work for, fuck boy?” Lace asked in a Jamaican accent. It only came out when he was enraged. He ripped the bandana off their mouth.
“I’m not telling you man. You gonna kill us, anyway,” The youngest of the boys spoke. Lace admired his heart.
“Jamal, just tell him. We being loyal to a nigga that set us up. If we die at least we know he will get his too,” The oldest yelped in pain, the wire ties were digging in his skin.
“This woman and man pulled up on us and offered us a thousand dollars apiece to make a quick call. You looked up my mama; I know you saw her track record. Criminal. We don’t have no damn money or place to live we did what we had to do,” The middle one spoke, he buffed his chest up.
He wasn’t scared. He would welcome death with open arms. His life wasn’t worth shit so death had to be better. Midway through the middle boy yawning, Lace took the machete and chopped the whole top half of his head off. The blood splattered everywhere; Lace wiped it off his face and licked his finger.
“It’s nothing more I hate more is a man who cries hard life. I came here with my father from Jamaica when I was six years old. My father didn’t have anything and neither did we. We slept on trains and alleys until he was able afford a studio apartment in Brooklyn. I hung with the wrong crowd and you know what they did? Laced my weed because I fucked his sister. I lost my damn mind and I can’t function without my damn medicine. The only reason he had his head chopped off is because some of the medicine is still running thru my veins. If it wasn’t all three of you would have had each other’s dick in y’all mouths,” Lace spat.
Moses looked away, he felt bad for what was done to Lace. Back in the day Lace was a cool kid. He stayed to his self and hung with his cousin.
“Now we want our money or drugs back!” Lace yelled wildly swinging the machete around, Moses and Reshawn stood off in the staircase while the two boys ducked which caused one of them to fall out his chair.
“Who was this woman and man?” Lace calmly asked like he didn’t just spazz a couple seconds ago.
“I know the dude name is Tone. I seen him around the way. The female I never seen her before but she looks like Kelly Rowland with a fatter ass,” The younger one replied. Lace knew the female was Tyrisha. Lace helped the boy up off the floor and slapped him with his brass knuckles splitting his lips.
“This nigga is a lunatic,” Reshawn whispered.
“I know but he is loyal, makes money and is someone you don’t want on your bad side,” Moses warned.
“We don’t have no million dollars. We have about a thousand left for the hotel we were staying in, and you can have it.”
“Don’t insult me. What are your names and ages?”
“Jamal and Kilo. I'm nineteen and he’s fifteen,” Jamal answered, he was the oldest.
“You both are working for me; you will be working for a long time to pay back a million.” Lace slapped the hell out the youngest. He was young so he decided to save the brass knuckles. Lace motioned for Charles to get them cleaned up and bring them to the mansion.
“Th-that’s the man who was with them. He was driving and he told them the address to the house the cops raided.” The young one tried to jump up and down. Charles looked like he could have shit himself. Moses shook his head, mad he trusted the fat fuck. Charles tried to keep his cool, Moses knew if you didn’t do something you wouldn’t have anything to worry about.
“Man, he is lying. I was driving that day but I didn’t give them the address,” Charles half lied.
“Charles, besides myself, you, Reshawn and Lace are the only ones who know about the safe house. Tone wouldn’t know about this unless you told him. You know I hate a liar,” Moses addressed Charles. Nobody saw Lace swing the machete and chop Charles left leg off. Charles toppled over and hit the ground screaming as his nub squirted out blood.
“You fuck nigga, when I saw your fat ass I knew you were trouble. Untie those niggas and bring them to the mansion, please, Rah.”
“Have the crew come clean this up,” Moses instructed.
Reshawn untied the boys; each boy said a silent prayer for their brother and followed Reshawn. Lace went upstairs and got a frying pan. He put it on the lit stove and sat at the table with Moses while listening to Charles scream.
“Lace, I am embarrassed. I didn’t know my man would betray me like that.”
“Moses you took a lost just like I did. You helped tracking down who was responsible. I want to keep this nigga alive though,” Lace stated before he got up. He took the frying pan downstairs, held Charles nub and placed the scolding hot bottom of the pan on the bleeding nub. Charles screamed so loud and he passed out shortly after for the pain. Moses shivered; he would hate to be on Lace’s bad side. However he wasn’t a pussy either.
Chapter Sixteen
Promise walked into the Drunken Money in Staten Island as Alomar was sitting at the bar speaking to Big Ang like they were good friends. Promise smiled because she loved Big Ang. Alomar introduced the two and she excused herself to help the men at the other side of the bar.
“How are you?” Promise kissed his cheek.
“How have you been, sexy?” Alomar licked his lips. Promise had on a pair of jeans that looked painted on. She stood between Alomar’s legs as she spoke to him; her Japanese Blossom scent caressed his nose.
“I’m doing okay but I could be better,” She circled her finger around Alomar’s glass.
“What can I do to make it better?”
“I have an enemy who I just can’t seem to shake. She has been hurting my family and I’m sure you don’t tolerate disloyalty as well.” Promise now twirled her hair in her fingers.
“Who is she? I’ll handle her myself. I don’t need anyone hurting my future esposa.”
“Tyrisha.” Promise looked into his brown eyes as the name rolled off her tongue.
“How do you know Tyrisha? And what has she done that has disrespected your family?”
“Do you really know Tyrisha? I’m sure you didn’t know she has a child with my brother and she was engaged to him. Or that she is sleeping with her ex Tone behind your back. Not only is she disrespecting my family, she’s disrespecting you,” Promise said. Alomar looked at Promise for a minute before he spoke.
“My love, I don’t take being lied to well. So if you’re lying I won’t have a problem killing you.” Alomar lifted her chin with just enough firmness so she knew he wasn’t playing and soft enough to know he cared.
“I have proof to back up what I’m saying. I got to go but all I have to say is duck.” Promise kissed both his cheeks and turned to leave.
“Think about being my lil mami, would you?”
“I already thought about it.” Promise smirked and exited the bar.
*
Tiffany and Mezzie sat across the street busting open another can of Pringles. Moses had them sitting on Tyrisha’s house. He needed to be sure where she was at all times. Tyrisha had just skipped in the house with shopping bags. Alomar wasn’t too far behind her. The two watched a figure appear in the bay window. It was the middle of the day and the sun was out bright. The car they were sitting in had dark tints and blended in with the strip of parked cars. Tyrisha let a little dog in the yard and checked her mail while the dog did his business. She scooped the Yorkie up and went back inside the house.
An hour later a Cadillac escalade pulled into her driveway and Tone emerged with another man dressed in black slacks. He knocked and Tyrisha looked worried, she stepped outside and closed the door behind her. Tiffany rolled her window down and aimed her pistol out the window. She didn’t want to kill them plus Lace informed her just to shake them up. Charles told them every move Tone made. Mezzie started
the quiet engine and Tiffany let off a whole round. Tyrisha and Tone ducked while the man fired back. Mezzie pressed down on the gas and sped off toward the bridge which was two minutes away.
*
Alomar heard the gunshots but didn’t bother to get up. No one was stupid enough to shoot him and he knew who it was. He was saving all his rest to get Tyrisha to Promise by tonight. Tyrisha bust in the house screaming, Alomar couldn’t care less. She ran in her bedroom and returned with a gun. Alomar knew the cops would be showing up soon so he jumped in his Range Rover and pulled off. Tyrisha stood looking confused. Tone had also left and didn’t offer to take her and now Alomar.
Alomar’s cellphone rang and he answered on the first ring
“Hola.”
“Were you hurt?” Promise voiced boomed through his truck.
“Nah, you worried about papi?” Alomar laughed.
“Shut up. I see you’re okay. Bring her to me tonight,” Promise hung up and Alomar was turned on. He went to his apartment in Port Richmond to take a bath and quick nap. He would call and butter Tyrisha up later.
Later that night outside of Tyrisha’s house ….
Alomar sat and waited for Tyrisha. He had called and smoothed things over, claiming he had a family emergency. She believed it and cried on the phone to him telling him she was tired of living like that. Alomar didn’t feel anything for her. She wanted her cake and she wanted to eat it, too.
Tyrisha came out the house and locked the door; she’d had the window replaced, also. She was dressed in a white sheer dress and leather jacket with matching boots. Alomar chuckled to himself. She was dressing up for her own funeral. Money was money and as his crew would tell him it was MOB: Money over bitches. Especially a bitch that wasn’t honest about herself.
“Hey, babe. Where are we going I could use a drink for the day I had.” Tyrisha settled in the seat and buckled her seat belt. Alomar was going to take her for drinks and slip her ecstasy.
“Drinks it is, I know I can imagine how you’re feeling.” Al rubbed her legs. Tyrisha placed her hand over his.
