The whispers start up again.
Shit. “This is some good ass tea,” I whisper. It’s like watching All My Children on a cliffhanger Friday.
“What?” Python twists toward King Isaac. “How the fuck . . . you and my mother?”
King Isaac nods. “And Mason here isn’t lying about your aunt Peaches,” he adds and looks up to his men. “Bring him in here.”
The Gangster Disciples part and a man is escorted down the center of the club. Even Cleo Blackmon is here.
“Everyone knows Pastor Hayes from the Power of Prayer Baptist Church?” King Isaac asks.
“Humph. A pastor,” I mumble, wondering what’s happening next.
“Pastor Hayes here wasn’t always a man of the church. Once upon a time, he was a foot soldier for me back in the day. We called him Ruff Dog.”
A few snickers go up.
“Ol’ Ruff Dog brought me something mighty interesting tonight.” Isaac reaches into his leather jacket and pulls out a disc.
“What’s that?” I whisper, swept up in the moment.
“This,” Isaac says as if hearing my question, “is a recording of what went on at the Power of Prayer Church the morning Peaches was killed. It shows that Peaches’ longtime frenemy and neighbor, Josephine Holmes, shot her that day in the sanctuary.”
More whispering ensues.
Python looks confused. “What? But I saw—”
“Mason and another woman arrived minutes later. It looked like they were helping her when you and Diesel showed up.”
Silence.
Nobody knows what to say or do after that revelation, my ass included.
“But Josie’s bullet isn’t what killed my wife. The bullet that killed her came from the very person she never trusted. Your cousin, Diesel Carver.”
“Oh shit!” A hand wraps around my mouth. Startled, I attempt to scream, but that option is taken from me when Beast snatches me.
“Shhh. We have to get you out of here,” Beast hisses.
“Where the fuck is Diesel Carver?” King Isaac thunders, looking around the crowd. “Bring me that muthafucka. I want his fucking head on a goddamn platter.”
“This is bullshit!” Diesel shouts before firing his weapon. He aims his weapon and fires.
Python lunges in front of a confused Fat Ace. The bullet hits Python squarely in the chest. He careens backward into Mason.
Chaos breaks out and more bullets rip through the crowd.
Beast, Bullet, Diesel, and I reach a wall and to my surprise the muthafucka swings open and we rush into a secret room. Diesel takes the rear. Madd and Matrix are nowhere in sight. “Move! Move! Move!”
Seconds later, the room leads us to another door that dumps us outside. We scramble to Diesel’s Mercedes and take off with gunshots and police sirens sounding off in the background.
69
Cleo
Python has been hit. The Gangster Disciples go for their weapons and the Vice Lords respond in kind. King Isaac stands tall while bullets fly all around him. “Somebody stop that muthafucka!”
I’m in shock. These things always happen faster than anyone’s mind can comprehend them. Pastor Hayes pushes forward, shouting for me to help him render aid. It’s a weird scene, with Python lying against Fat Ace’s large body, struggling to breathe.
“We need a doctor,” King Isaac shouts, dropping next to the two men. “Terrell, hang in there.”
Mason is confused. “Why the hell did you do that, man? Are you crazy or something?”
Bullets zing around us.
Python stares up at Fat Ace. “It . . . it . . . was all my fault.”
“What was all your fault?” Mason asks.
Pastor Hayes jumps in. “I need something to help stop the blood.” He looks around. “Try to stay calm, Terrell.”
“Mason!” Profit fights through the warring crowd. “Are you hit?”
Fat Ace shakes his head but remains focused on Python. “Help me understand. Why did you take the bullet?”
“I’m sorry. I . . . put you in that oven. Not Alice. It was me.”
“What?” Fat Ace’s expression hardens.
Python coughs up blood but is determined to get out what he has to say. “I panicked because I dropped you . . . I didn’t mean to hurt . . . it was all my fault. You slipped. I panicked.”
“Terrell, please. Don’t talk,” Isaac says.
Pastor Hayes takes off his jacket and adds pressure to the wound. “We’ve got to get him to a hospital.”
The two Vice Lords look at each other. It’s a strange situation. Are they going to help a sworn enemy?
“We also got to get these knuckleheads to stop shooting,” King Isaac adds.
Python grabs Mason’s arms and pleads, “I destroyed so many lives. I should have been a better big brother to you. I should have . . . I should have . . .” He licks his lips while sweat breaks out across his forehead. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Fat Ace caves. “It’s okay, man. Save your breath. It’s all good.”
“Yeah?” Hope lights within Python’s eyes, but then he coughs up more blood. “I wish . . . I wish mom and aunt Peaches was here to see this.” When he smiles his teeth are covered in blood.
He’s not going to make it.
Fat Ace gives his long lost brother a smile. “I’m sure that they are looking down on us right now.”
Python’s smile grows as he clutches Fat Ace’s hand.
My vision swims as the scene plays out. The shooting behind me fades. The club doors burst open and a swarm of police pour into the scene.
“Freeze! Police!”
The chaos grows as soldiers from both color lines scramble. I turn my head for less than thirty seconds and when I glance back down, Python is dead.
70
Hydeya
Club Diesel
It’s hard to make heads or tails of what has taken place here. A good number of gang members from both the Vice Lords and the Gangster Disciples managed to take off through the back of the club, but we also captured a fair number of them, too. However, I was not prepared for the bloody scene surrounding a deceased Terrell Carver.
“Are you okay, Dad?” I ask, touching Isaac’s shoulder.
“Dad?” Mason looks up.
I nod. “I’ve been trying to tell you.”
Profit shakes his head. “I can’t keep up with this shit.”
Pastor Hayes mumbles a prayer over Python and then closes his eyes. “I pray that he finds peace.”
Mason shakes his head. “He saved my life after damn near beating me to death. I don’t get it.”
“Your brother has always had a soft spot for you,” Isaac fills in. “All the years that you were gone tore him up inside. I had no idea the extent to which he blamed himself. A lot of us blamed ourselves. The Carvers looked for you for so long . . . I can’t believe that you’re really that kid—that you’re my kid.”
“Let’s hold off on the family reunion,” Mason says. “I’m . . . I’m going to need more time to process all of this.”
Isaac nods. “I understand.”
We exchange awkward looks before Mason adds, “I’m not saying that we can’t eventually get there. I’m saying that I need time.”
Isaac tries to suppress a smile, but fails. “Absolutely.”
I sigh. “Well, I hate to break all of this up, but . . . Dad, I’m going to have to ask you to assume the position.”
“What? You’re arresting me again?”
“Afraid so.”
71
Nefertiti
Beast rockets our asses across Memphis at a breakneck speed. Everyone’s adrenaline is at overdose levels, but none of us know what the fuck to say. I attempt to work out what all this means.
“I should’ve killed that muthafucka when I had the chance,” Diesel scolds himself. “If I’d put him down before Python got there, none of this would be happening.”
“There still would have been the surveillance tape,” I
remind him and then turn in my seat. “Really? You killed your own aunt?”
Diesel rolls his eyes. “It was a snap decision. She wanted to get those two lost brothers back together, and I was trying to save my investments.”
“And how did that work out?”
“It would have worked out fine if King Isaac’s ass was still behind bars. Ever since his release I’ve been scrambling around plugging one hole after another on a sinking ship.”
No shit. “Are you calling up reinforcements?”
“Fuck no. I can’t go up against both Vice Lords and Gangster Disciples. King Isaac will come after me with everything that he’s got for killing Aunt Peaches and trying to kill his son. His son? The fuck?”
“Yeah. I wasn’t prepared for that curveball either.”
We whip into Diesel’s estate and then file out as fast as we can.
“Grab the essentials and meet back down here in fifteen minutes,” Diesel orders before heading to the safe in his study.
I race up the staircase to the master bedroom.The second I walk through the door, I am stunned shitless to see Solomon, Diesel’s beloved Doberman pinscher, slaughtered in the center of the California king-size bed.
Screaming, I backpedal out of the bedroom.
Bullet and Beast appear out of nowhere to see what’s going on.
“The fuck?” Beast asks.
“Who would do something like this?” I ask, shaking my head.
Pow!
We jump.
“Boss?” Beast shouts, leading the charge back down the staircase. We hit the brakes when we reach the study, and throw up our hands. Six Gangster Disciples stand there with their blue flags tied over their mouths. On the floor lies Diesel, the side of his face blown open.
“Diesel!” I race forward, but get snatched back by Bullet. “Noo.”
“Muthafucka raped my sister,” one man hisses before kicking the side of Diesel’s head. He raises his weapon toward us. “I bet y’all muthafuckas had something to do with it, too,” he shouts.
Beast opens his mouth to say something, but is immediately silenced when the man fires off his weapon.
Pow!
Beast drops to the floor.
Bullet releases me and runs.
Pow!
Warm blood splatters all over me. This isn’t happening. This isn’t happening.
“What about you?” the leader asks. “Are you in on this shit?”
Fuck. I can’t get my mouth to work.
“Who are you? Are you involved in this shit?”
I shake my head with no hope that the lie will save my life.
“Who are you?” he demands.
“Ne . . . Nefertiti,” I answer, swallowing.
He tugs his flag away so that I can see his whole face. His resemblance to Cleo Blackmon is striking. “What is your relationship to Diesel Carver?”
I hesitate.
“I asked you a fucking question!” He aims at me.
Unable to think, I confess, “I’m . . . I’m his wife.”
The man lifts a brow. “Wife? I didn’t know this nigga was married.” He looks to his guys. “Did y’all know this shit?”
Everyone shakes their head.
“Did you know that you were married to a fuckin’ rapist? How do you feel about that shit?” He closes in, his gun pointed at my head.
I sob and shake like a leaf. He’s going to kill me. He’s going to kill me. I close my eyes and wait for the bullet.
It never comes.
I peel open my eyes to stare Diesel’s killer in the face.
“You didn’t see shit, did you?” he asks.
I shake my head.
“Good. Get your ass out of here before I change my mind.”
I spin away and run for my life. Luckily, Beast left the keys in the ignition of the Mercedes. I peel out at top speed and don’t let up until Memphis is in my rearview mirror.
Dreams
72
Hydeya
Six months later
“Six Memphis Police Officers Arrested on Corruption Charges”
This morning’s headline in the Commercial Appeal put a huge smile on my face. Finally, the department is racking up a lot of wins. Of course, some in the department aren’t seeing it that way. I am. The city’s gang violence has drastically come down in the wake of Mason and Isaac forging a truce between the Gangster Disciples and the Vice Lords. Many don’t believe that the truce will last, but I’m betting that it will.
Things aren’t looking too good for Mayor Wharton. Internal Affairs took over my investigation into our department. They didn’t find enough evidence to back Officer Hendrix’s claim that the mayor was involved in the illegal arms dealing, but the accusation is enough to have him down twenty points in the polls a week out from Election Day.
My profile has improved. Mostly because of the recovery of wanted felon Terrell Carver’s body and the Vice Lords and Gangster Disciples truce. Exposing the police corruption within weeks of going on maternity leave is a nice feather in my hat and has the national news media burning up my phone line.
I move from my kitchen to the living room and spot Chief Brown on the news, taking as much credit as she can for my work. Given the crestfallen looks from the mayor, I gather their secret love affair is over.
Right now, I need to get the house ready. My mother is coming tomorrow. She’s staying for a time to help me prepare for the baby. She’s also been on my case about quitting the force. Before, that sort of talk would’ve been out of the question. But as my pregnancy progresses, I think about retiring more every day. My job was on the road to destroying my marriage. I don’t want it to come between me and my child. I have a lot of options. I’ll take my time weighing each one. But it’s good to have a stronger relationship with Isaac. I was able to convince the district attorney not to charge him in the Club Diesel shooting, since I was the reason that he went down there. A few of his flunkies took the hit, but that’s street life.
Mason and Profit were also not charged with anything. Mason, in this case, was the kidnap victim after all. So once his foot and knee were reasonably patched up, he was free to return to Willow’s bedside, albeit with a cane, where she still lies in a coma. I don’t have too much hope that she’ll pull through this. The doctors are telling Mason and Lucille almost every day that there’s nothing else that they can do for her. A decision on whether to pull the plug will have to be made soon.
73
Mack
Ruby Cove
“Ta’Shara is moving to Houston,” I tell Profit when he answers his door. Once again, I’m breaking my own rules about staying out of muthafuckas personal business. I can’t help it. These two lovebirds haven’t figured out how much they belong together.
Profit blinks for a few seconds. “What?”
“You heard me.” I shove him aside and Romil and I storm into the house. The place is a pigsty. It looks as if he has permanently moved into the living room. While the rest of Ruby Cove adjusts to this new truce with the Gangster Disciples, not too many people have seen Profit in daylight. I perform a small spin around the room, careful not to touch anything. “This is so sad.”
“Mack, why are you here?” he asks, exasperated.
“I told you. Ta’Shara is moving to Houston to be with her other fake grandma. She got her GED and now she’s heading west. So what are you going to do about it?” I settle my hands on my hips.
Profit tosses up his hands. “What the hell can I do about it? She doesn’t want to have anything to do with me. I’m tired of begging her to take me back. Enough is enough. If she wants to go, then she can go. I don’t care.”
Nobody in this house believes that.
“Profit, I know that you’re hurt, but this may be your last chance. You got to ask yourself, is Ta’Shara rejecting you or is she rejecting our lifestyle? C’mon, you knew from the jump that she didn’t belong on Ruby Cove. She’s smart and talented and she actually has dreams about being a doctor.
How does that fit in over here?”
“So you’re making her argument?”
Romil sighs. “What means more to you—Ta’Shara or the Vice Lords? That’s the question that she’s waiting for you to answer. She can’t live in your world. Can you live in hers?”
74
Ta’Shara
Memphis International Airport
Today is the big day. I’m leaving Memphis. I can hardly believe it. I fluctuate from being happy to being sad almost every five minutes, but I’m determined to see this through. I need a new start. It’s too difficult to move forward when everywhere I look, my old life and old ghosts haunt me. I’m determined to prove that Reggie and Tracee were right to believe in me. Their attempts to give me a better life will not be in vain.
LeShelle still haunts me, but less today than six months ago. I’m not sorry for killing her. If given the chance, I know that she would’ve done the same to me. It’s sad that our relationship descended the way that it did. Once upon a time, we loved each other, protected each other. The streets changed all of that.
Reggie Senior and Mary took my decision to live with Olivia pretty hard, but deep down I know that they understand why. The compromise: They agreed to visit Houston every year for Christmas.
Overhead, I hear an attendant announce that my flight has been delayed. The waiting passengers at the gate grunt and groan as I whip out my cell and text Olivia the update.
With more time on my hands, I shift the wheelchair toward the large window overlooking the planes and runways. It’s always amazing to watch things so big and heavy take off and land. Before long, I’m playing a game of guessing where each plane is either going to or arriving from. Then I think about taking all those dream trips that Profit and I will never share.
“I hate flying.”
I tense. Profit. When he doesn’t say anything else, I wonder if my mind is playing tricks on me. I turn my chair around.
He smiles. “Surprise.”
For a long moment, I can’t get my mouth to work or get my heart rate to slow down. “What are you doing here?”
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