Another Hood Love

by Jontu'

  I put everything back in the bag, cheesing like a motherfucker as I got up and hugged Laela.

  “Thanks babe, you always know how to treat me and get me right.” She giggled as she kissed my lips.

  “Hey, try the jacket on so I can see how it fits,” she told me before giving me another peck on the lips. I grabbed the jacket and put it on; instinctively, I stuck my hands in the pockets. In my right pocket I pulled an envelope, and inside were 5 VIP tickets to see Rick Ross in concert in Arizona next month; in the left pocket I pulled out another envelope, and inside were two stacks of hundreds; $20,000. I shook my head because my babe really did it big for my big day, and I couldn’t have asked for a better girlfriend. All these other hoes would have given me is some pussy and a headache. I had hit the jackpot with Laela; she was sexy as fuck and matched my fly to a tee, but she was also smart and gangster so her hustle matched mine perfectly.

  After I opened my gift, I watched Tone open his gifts and Jaeda had did her thing for my nigga as well. Big Ken came in and congratulated us on our graduation, and handed both Tone and I a long rectangular box; both came with these fly ass David Yurman Royal cord bracelets with black diamonds. Them shits were like $5,000 and were nice as hell. Man, we were two young fly ass niggas and I couldn’t wait to get to graduation to walk that stage.

  After a toast of champagne and about another 20 minutes, we headed out the house and took off en route to the school for the last time. Once we got to the school, Tone and I kissed the girls and went to meet up with the rest of the graduates before the ceremony began. After listening to director ramble on about what we were supposed to do and where we were all to be seated, like we hadn’t gone over it a million times already, we took our places and marched out in front of all of our family and friends.

  As I walked out, I noticed Gio and his girlfriend China in the crowd, and he wore a huge smile as he gave me a head nod and a simple salute; I returned the gesture. A couple of seats down, I spotted Laela seated with the rest of the squad; she winked and blew me a kiss with her beautiful thick lips. I blew her one right back and then faced forward as we walked to take our places in the front rows beside the stage. As I reached the front, I noticed Ericka and her friend Sky seated in attendance as well; the bitch had the nerve to blow me a kiss. I was pissed because I clearly told this bitch not to come to the graduation. I scowled at her messy ass and took my seat.

  The ceremony went by pretty fast, and it was finally time to walk the stage. My row stood up and took position next to the stairs, and my palms began to sweat, I wasn’t the most religious nigga, but I began to thank God for allowing me to make it this far, and for all of my blessings. As I was closing my prayer, the speaker was calling my name.

  “Jahlil Jones,” she announced.

  I took the steps on to the stage and walked towards her as I heard the crowd clap and cheer for me. I even heard my name being yelled a few times; I was so happy. After I grabbed my diploma, I turned and waved at the crowd and then blew a kiss to my babe. I stepped off the stage and waited for them to call my nigga Tone. Once they called Antonio Taylor, I was out my seat and yelling for my nigga; we had made it past our high school graduation, and that was a big deal for two niggas from the streets of Oakland. We had been accepted to a couple schools and had both received football scholarships. Today we would announce that we were going to attend Cal State Berkeley. We both wanted to remain close to the girls until they graduated so we decided to stay right here in the Bay, and Cal was a great school with a nice football program.

  Once the ceremony had ended, I opened up my gown; I was too wett to be hiding underneath that robe. Tone and I took off in search of the Squad, but I was cut short as I ran into Ericka.

  “Fuck she want?” I said as I rolled my eyes, and Tone snickered.

  “Congrats baby!” Ericka said, and reached to hug me; I hit that bitch with a high five and took a step back.

  “Bruh, the fuck you doing here?” I asked. I clearly told this broad it was bad, and she still brought her retarded ass up here. I shook my head and looked around for Laela before I continued to speak. “Did you go take care of that?” I asked, referring to her taking the Plan B pill. She looked lost for a second until I mugged her ass.

  “Yea Jah damn, why you sweating me? Trust, you made yourself clear this morning,” she said while rolling her neck just as Laela and Jaeda walked up with the rest of the squad. Laela walked to my side and reached up to kiss me as she put her arm in mine; I kissed my babe back and winked as Ericka watched with a mug on her face.

  “Oh hey E, what’s good?” Laela greeted.

  “Sup,” Ericka responded, and turned to walk away.

  “Somebody woke up on the wrong side of bed I see,” Laela said in regards to Ericka’s attitude as we all walked off to our cars. I didn’t respond; I just grabbed my babe’s hand and relished in my moment. We were headed to the City to go eat at The Franciscan crab restaurant, and I was feeling like the man.

  Jaeda

  The guys’ graduation was great and now that it was finally over, and school was out for the summer; we spent more hours out on the block. Since the night that the Squad had hit Mess’ loved ones, we hadn’t heard a peep from him. His crew was light compared to the niggas we had backing us, and I see now that he wanted no problems but either way, it was a green light on that nigga once he came out of hiding. We were on alert still because you could never be too sure about what a person was cooking up. Jah and I hadn’t been able to spend much time together since the last few weeks; the guys had made a few trips out of town, just watching over the girls that we had working on the road. In two weeks we would all be taking a quick trip out of town, and two of the girls that we used to make runs would be along with us. B had a guy that had a line on traveler’s checks and these exclusive bank flats that we really needed. We were bringing in a lot of money out of state, but we wanted to switch up our approach; it was too many niggas out here using the same kind of work, and it was getting hot. We were about to spend twenty bands on just cards alone; we had 5 girls and were copping enough to press up two hundred cards each, and the cards went for twenty dollars a card. The numbers we had from this Russian cat were legit, so the money we would make on the flip would be sweet.

  The greatest part about the money that came out of these runs is that we didn’t have to kick out a percentage to Uncle Ken or anybody above us; we were in charge. There was nobody orchestrating the plays, and B did all the pressing so we didn’t have to pay anybody to press up our work. The girls made $5,000 off each run and whatever unsalable merchandise that they acquired; so far we had no issues, and everything was running smoothly. This trip would be a little of business and pleasure for us all. The whole squad was going, in addition to Ericka and this girl Raj that made the runs. I didn’t too much like the bitch Ericka; it was just something about her I didn’t trust, but she was a go getter and I would leave her be until she got beside herself. She thought I hadn’t peeped the shade she threw at my sister constantly, but I did and she had better stay in her lane, because I wouldn’t be doing any playing with her ass if and when she stepped out of line. I was definitely my sister’s keeper.

  I was rushing across town to make it to the soul food spot before they closed. They had some bomb ass macaroni and cheese and I was trying to catch them so I could meet Tone at his place, so that we could have a little cupcake time before we went out tonight. I had gone to get my hair, nails, and shopping done earlier with Laela. I hadn’t spent much time with my baby, and I was really in need of his presence. I was pushing Tone’s 2010 Acura TL; that boy had more cars than he knew what to do with, but I didn’t mind because it gave me options as well. I liked this car because it was smooth as shit and, his tints were perfect for when I was just trying to chill and not be seen. “

  “He should just let me have this car,” I thought out loud. Shit, Tone was buying a new car every couple of months anyway, and I drove this car more than he did. I loved my car, but
sometimes it was too flashy and those foreign whips were a lot of maintenance. I pulled into the parking lot where the restaurant was located and opened my door; soon as I did, a thick cloud of weed smoke exited right along with me.

  “Damn little mama u smoking that loud huh?” a tall dark-skinned guy said as he was walking up to his black Camaro that was parked next to me. He was dressed in some too baggy jeans with a white tee and some old ass Jordans; basic. “Riding good, smoking good and looking good, how old are you little mama?” he asked.

  “I’m 16 and you look too old for me,” I said as I smiled and kept walking.

  “Shit, age don’t mean shit if your mind frame is mature,” he had the nerve to say. I shook my head as I entered the restaurant to order my food. Niggas nowadays didn’t give a damn about nothing but pussy; they would defy all rules just to have their way, pervert ass niggas.

  Tonight was my cousin Tommy’s 21st birthday party at this strip club in the City called Purple Paradise, and my Uncle let it be known that it was imperative that the Squad be in the building and dressed to the nines. This party was red carpet and sure to be packed to capacity. The way Uncle Ken kept going on and on about the party, you would have thought it was his birthday. I was scrolling through Instagram when I came across a picture that caught my eye. I tilted my phone to the left and the right; shit, I even turned that bitch upside down because I knew good and well my eyes didn’t see what they think they saw. Hell no!! I thought, I screenshot the picture and was about to send it off until the guy behind the counter interrupted my thoughts.

  “Hey pretty lady, what can I get for you today?” he asked with his southern accent. I smiled at his accent because you didn’t hear that southern drawl out this way much.

  “Hello,” I said sweetly. “Can I get two dinner plates to go, one with oxtails and rice, greens, and macaroni and cheese with a side of dressing, and the second turkey wings and rice, black eyed peas, and yams with a side of mac please?” I said, placing my phone in my purse. I was heated by the picture that I had just seen and soon as I got back to my car, I would definitely address the situation.

  “Sure, it’s an extra $2.75 for the third side, is that okay?” he asked.

  “Yes, sure is,” I replied as I continued to the register. Kash Doll’s “Run Me My Money” began playing from my purse. I retrieved my phone and saw that it was Uncle Ken calling me. I’m sure he was just calling to make sure that we had all street business wrapped up before we came out tonight.

  “Hello,” I answered before it rolled over to voicemail.

  “Hey, is everything straight?” he asked.

  “Yeah, I had Rico and Lexis hit up all our blocks and give the workers that will be posted up their instructions already,” I replied as the cashier interrupted my conversation to tell me my total. I pulled out a dope boy knot from my purse and handed her fifty dollars, and told her to keep the change. Since all the lieutenants were going to the party tonight, our blocks would only be lightly covered so we had everybody slightly switch up the way we normally handle things, so that there would be no hiccups. Mess was still in hiding and if he wanted to hit us, tonight would be the perfect night to do so knowing that we would all be away from the hood.

  “Alright, well as long as ya’ll got everything under control then I will see you guys later tonight,” Uncle Ken replied.

  “Sure thing Unc, holla at you later on,” I ended the call before he could say anything else. I said thank you to the cashier and left the restaurant, going to my messages so that I could send the screenshot I had taken earlier.

  I hopped in the driver’s seat and just as I found the contact I was looking, for my phone began to ring. I quickly answered it.

  “Hey bae, I’m on my way as we speak,” I hurriedly spoke into the phone as I backed out of my parking space and pulled off.

  “Okay just checking on you, see you in a second then.” Tone hung up and I did as well. I exited the freeway, pulled into the Valero gas station, and got out to pump my gas; the sun had set about an hour ago, so darkness had just set in. The gas station was pretty quiet for a Friday night, so instead of having one of the knocks pump for me, I had to do it myself.

  As I was placing the gas nozzle back on the pump, I noticed a familiar face, I hurriedly jumped back into the car before I could be spotted and started my ignition. They were pulling out the opposite side of the gas station, so I had to move quickly to not lose them. I reached in my glove box and hit a button that shifted the deck open, and revealed a secret compartment where my gun was located. I checked the chamber to make sure my hammer was loaded as I pulled behind the four door Lexus in front of me; I remained a safe distance as I tailed them. I couldn’t risk trying to call anybody to tell them what was going on and losing the person in front of me. Once they took a right at the next corner I did so as well. It was a dark street and I wasn’t sure if they had somebody that lived over this way, so I pulled over near the end of the block, killed my lights, and watched the car finally park about five cars in front of mine.

  I kept my engine running, and I was glad that the tints were dark enough to where they couldn’t see who was behind the wheel. For a wanted man, I would have thought that this nigga would have been a little more cautious. I watched as the nigga Mess hopped out his whip and walked a few feet away from his car, leaving the door wide open and his music blasting Lil Boosie and Keyshia Cole’s “Black Heaven.” He turned his back to me and angled his body towards a bush to pee. I hopped out my car and left the driver side door ajar, and quietly approached him. Soon as I got behind him, I placed the barrel to the back of his lop sided head.

  “You slippin’ my nigga,” but before he could fully reach for his gun, I pulled the trigger twice and jogged back to my car. I hopped in and backed all the way off the street before turning around and turning my headlights back on. I knew that it wouldn’t be long before the police would be called; the street was quiet and residential, so I know somebody would be calling Oakland PD because of the loud music, and in turn would discover Mess’ body.

  I finally let out a deep breath; it felt like I had been holding it in since I first spotted him at the gas station. It was crazy how I was now so caught up in this life. A few months ago, I didn’t want anything to do with these streets or my uncle’s plan, but since I had been thrown in it everything was coming full force. I had just caught my first body, and I didn’t feel anything but relieved. I was tired of worrying about when Mess was going to strike back; we had killed his daddy and his girlfriend, and wounded his baby mama. He was laying low for a minute but I knew he was planning to strike back full force, and to see him today just proved he probably was going to take advantage of this night to hit. I had been so zoned out thinking about what had just taken place that I didn’t even realize I had pulled up to Tone’s house. I was shaken from my thoughts by the knocking at my window. I unlocked the door and Tone opened it, helping me out of the car.

  “What’s wrong Jae Money, why you looking like that?” he asked as he hugged me around my waist.

  “I just knocked Mess down,” I said barely above a whisper.

  “What! You lying, where? What happened?” Tone grabbed the food out the car and we made our way into the house. Once we had sat down on the couch to eat, I had told him what happened from beginning to end.

  After I was done, he turned on the police scanner application on his phone to see if the incident had been called in yet. After about fifteen minutes, the call was dispatched out saying that an African American man had been found in the 6100 block of Monadnock Way, with bullet wounds and assumed to be DOA. Tone turned the scanner off and kissed my forehead. I checked the time on my phone and figured I could get in an hour nap before it was time to head to the club. I got up and stretched then, flopped right back down on Tone, who was sitting back twirling a blunt in between his fingers. I took the blunt out his hand and grabbed the lighter off the coffee table to light it.

  “My nigga Jae Money a gangsta now,” To
ne laughed.

  “Don’t play Tone, we are not going to keep bringing this up,” I said as I laid back and closed my eyes. Before I knew it, I was knocked out cold.

  Laela

  It’s supposed to be a lot of hard working going on but who the fuck can focus all this twerking going on, someone put a order in for a chicken…

  I was twerking around the room as I was trying to get dressed for Tommy’s party tonight. I was trying to change my mood, but I really wasn’t feeling it. I had a lit blunt between my lips; I hit it hard as I wrapped my hair around the wand curler. I was going for the edgy and sexy look tonight, with big loose curls and dark makeup. I wasn’t in a sweet mood, and I wanted my look to portray my mood. I had this denim romper that I had purchased online, and I had paired it with these red fringe heels and a red Tory Burch T-Lock clutch. My lips were black, and I had the shadowy effect on my eyes with the black eye shadow. I was thinking about everything, trying to numb all the emotions and black out my thoughts with the weed and a bottle of Avion. I was for sure going to be faded before I even reached the club. The shit with the nigga Mess was weighing heavily on my brain because I was tired of looking over my shoulder waiting for his pussy ass to strike.

  It had been almost a month and he was still in hiding. Our blocks were on high alert, and it was definitely a green light on that nigga if he was spotted. I couldn’t wait until we were rid of him for good. Shit, the nigga was messing with my sanity and I was simply over it. On top of that, I don’t know what Jah’s problem had been lately but he had me twisted in a major way. We had been arguing like crazy lately; every time we were together his phone was ringing off the hook, but he would just ignore the call. When I asked him who it is, he either ignored my question altogether or gave me some fake excuse about it being somebody playing on his phone.