“If you on some political mission, bitch it’s too late. The nigga is not here yet. If they didn’t like you from way back, they ain’t gon’ start liking you now. Just chill out one place,” Kim said. She gazed across the almost empty room and saw other relatives and friends of Ernesto coming in. Kim heard champagne bottles popping.
“Let’s go check out Mannie and his friend Carlos. You know I kind a like his boy Carlos. But he too skinny,” Kim said. They slowly made their way.
“It’s gonna get crowded,” Tina said as she air kissed Mannie and his compadres.
“Hey Tina. Como estas?” Mannie asked.
“Bien, bien. How’re you doing Mannie? You remember my girl Kim, right.”
“No question. She’s still fine. You know the fellas, Carlos and Geo.”
“Hi, Carlos.” Kim smiled. They both waved at Geo.
“That nigga gonna be real surprise when he get here,” Mannie said.
“I thought Nesto was coming with you?” Pricilla asked Tina.
“Oh really?” Tina answered. She looked over to see Kim cuddling up to Carlos. Bitch, she thought. Kimberly nodded then raised the champagne glass to her head. The night felt better and her guards went down. Tina turned around surveyed the place. She saw the balloons, yellow with black letters. Littering the room through the ceiling ‘Welcome Home’ they all read. White tablecloth covered a table that held a huge diploma shaped cake. There were bottles and a huge white envelope. Tina smiled outward at Ernesto’s relatives. The crowd continued to swell. Tina glanced around the room, she saw gums flapping.
Her contemplation was suddenly cut off.
“Everyone shush. He’s coming in.”
The lights were dimmed and all held their collective breath. A pang of urgency surged through Tina’s body and her heart was beating violently against her chest. Ernesto staggered in.
“What the fuck is up? Nobody here but Nesto.” His voice was loud in the hushed quiet.
Tina felt her legs go rubbery when she heard him speak.
“This where Geo told me to meet him.”
The lights came on and Ernesto De La Rosa’s handsome mug rapidly transformed into smiling cheeks. The crowd screamed and descended on him. Ernesto was overcome by the respect shown by his family and friends. He hugged and kissed everyone. In the midst of the excitement, Kimberly appeared from nowhere. Tina found herself crushed by the excited crowd of well-wishers gathered around Nesto. She tried but couldn’t get to him before another relative or friend did. She stood and waited for him to approach. She wound up next to Kimberly.
“Where were you?”
“Outside. Why, bitch?”
“Ain’t nothing, bitch. I thought you left or sump’n,” Tina sniffed at Kimberly. “Saved me any?”
“Yes, slut,” Kimberly said. “You know my head-game ain’t free, girl,” Kimberly said. They laughed then hi-fived. “Your baby daddy is whoa!”
“What you trying to say Kim?”
“That nigga is diesel, brawl-lick. Hmm,” Kim smiled.
“He does look good. He got taller, I think.” They both admired.
“Is that your stomach growling?” Kimberly asked.
“Yes, let’s go get that drink and smoke some o’ that ‘dro.”
The girls walked away as the meet-and-greet love fest continued.
“What’s the deal, Tina? I mean, first you were hot to come here. And now that you’re here and your baby daddy’s running around shaking hands and squeezing ass, you gonna act like you shy, girl,” Kim said.
“I don’t feel right. You know me, I can’t chase no man and that’s what that nigga want me to do. He seen me waiting. Yet he made a beeline to his so-called friends. They’re more important to him,” Kim stared at Tina.
“You wanna go outside and smoke some o’ this shit. It’s ‘dro. It’s the bomb, girl.”
“Nah, I’m gonna stick around and see what happens.” Tina was making eyes at Nesto. This was lost on Kim.
“All right, please yourself. I’m a get my partying on with Carlos,” Kim danced away with her dance partner, Lil’ Long in tow. A few songs later Tina and Nesto joined them.
“Funny how a little jealousy can bring out our best moves, huh. Didn’t know you had it in ya,” Kim said.
“Come on, you know I’m straight up Latina, girl,” Tina said.
“You got to show me that move. The one where your leg just kick out like this,” Kim said. Her attempt brought her into contact with Ernesto. “Hey, who’s that?” Kim asked.
“Hey Kim. What’s good, ma?” Ernesto greeted Kim with a hug and a kiss.
“Hi, Nesto.”
“Damn Kim, you’ve been working out? You looking good.”
“Yeah, a lil’ sump’n, sump’n, you know when I gets a chance to? Not trying to overdo it or nothing?”
“It’s working. Got my man Lil’ Long sweating.”
Kim turned to see the seductive stare of Lil’ Long. Ernesto winked and drifted off with Tina.
Ernesto and Tina were alone for the first time all night. He reached over and kissed her full on her lips. She touched his face and giggled like a schoolgirl on her first date.
“It’s so good to see you, baby it feels so good to hold you. Those pictures you sent didn’t do any justice. You’ve gotten so, so big,” Tina said.
“It’s good to see you too, Tina.”
“And you’re, you know, ah so muscular.” Tina took a breath and exhaled. “You got braw-lick and thick.” She licked her lips and winked.
Ernesto’s cheeks reddened and his smile appeared to be pasted on. Tina had known Ernesto since grade school. His eyes sparkled. Ernesto pulled her close and kissed her full lips hard. She held on floating in his arms allowing Ernesto to take charge. He twirled her round and round, across the floor.
“Wanna come back to my place after this, Nesto?” Tina snuggled next to him, batting her eyes.
Stares followed as Ernesto and Tina made their way through the crowd toward the exit. Ernesto kissed her long and hard in the parking lot. The others joined them and paired off into cars,
Tina pulled him into Mannie’s car and shoved an E in her mouth.
“What’s that?”
Nesto opened his mouth and she stuffed one his mouth. BMW’s peeled out and it wasn’t long after that Nesto was overwhelmed by the warm sensation of the drug.
Long after reaching the outskirts of the club, he still felt as if he was floating. Tina watched him sitting in a daze, licked her lips and smile at the possibilites.
By the time Ernesto and Tina walked inside the party was crunked. He spotted Lil’ Long slouched in a corner, sniffing coke while rolling a blunt. The feared street warrior stood and received Ernesto with a hug.
“Oh, shit, oh shit. What we got here? A baller?” Ernesto shouted. “How’re you feeling, daddy? You looking to get crazy powdered up in here.”
“Yeah, yeah, you know a nigga has stay wid da blow and da chronic, dogs.”
“Feel you,” Ernesto said as he jabbed at Lil’ Long’s stomach.
“Easy, big fella. You know I took couple of rounds to da ribs, nah mean? I can’t too hardly fucking breath as it is.” Ernesto sat down and listened to the story of Lil’ Long’s wounds.
“There’s still a contract out on me. Somebody want me and my man dead, you know wha’ I’m sayin’?” Lil’ Long guzzled.
Sipping champagne and inhaling second hand weed fumes, Nesto knew the words from Lil’ Long’s mouth held no real meaning but bore a common theme. They were just stories from the streets where there were no winners or losers, just survivors.
“What goes around comes back. Nah mean?” They raised their champagne glass in a toast.
“Salu,” Ernesto said and sipped. “You should let Nesto know what he can do to help, homey. You know I’m armed with the Russian connect.”
“I got something coming up real soon. I’m gonna call you. You’re gonna be surprised by the amount of cheddar you’re gonna make in
one job,” Ernesto said.
“Why are you lookin’ out?” Lil’ Long asked.
“One hand washes the other,” Ernesto said raising his glass. Lil’ Long joined him.
Their friendly chatter was interrupted by the deejay’s voice. Some club-goers cheered loudly. Both Ernesto and Lil’ Long turned as they heard the announcement that Coco was in the house.
“She be puttin’ it down right here!” The deejay shouted.
“It’s a good muthafuckin’ thing I came. That’s that rap bitches I’ve been dying to see.” Lil’ Long screamed and walked away. Ernesto stared toward the lit stage where Josephine was singing.
I only have one life and I’m gonna live it…
Don’t know man woman or child gonna tell me how to do it…
Coco came trudging to the center of the stage. She was hopping and spitting her rhymes.
Ain’t no nigga around me gon play me and make me a clown...
Nah not gonna have never gonna run up on you with fo-fo... real ghetto girls throw your hands up like you dont give a fuck...”
“This bitch buggin’ on stage or what? Nah I ain’t having that! Oh no-you a crow-crow. Bitch soo fucking hood, that she’s wick-wick-wack.” Pricilla stood and shouted.
“Get off the stage bitch and take your man-stealing, no-dancing back-up singer with you!” Pricilla screamed.
She shared hi-fives with Tina and Kim. They relished in having found a common enemy. Tonight, haters were the minority. The single males hooted and hollered for more as Josephine sang demurely and delivered her verse while Coco brazenly trudged onstage. Fans cheered and enjoyed the show.
The combustible combination of Coco’s rapping backed by Josephine’s singing, mixed in with sizzling dance moves had club-goers hopping out of control. The club was rocking when Pricilla stood up in arms, heckling.
All of a sudden the lights went out and pop… pop… pop… gunshots blazed, lighting up the stage. Revelers applauded and danced believing the deafening blasts to be a part of the act. Even as security rushed on stage, the club-heads were still partying. The lights came back on and a loud scream was heard.
“Oh my God… oh my God! Someone call a doctor. Pricilla has been shot!”
It was then that club-goers realized this was not a part of the act. They began scrambling everywhere as more gunshots were fired. Members of the club security rushed to where the shots were fired from, but the shooter easily evaded them and escaped using a side door.
By the time the police arrived on scene, the place looked as if a tornado had visited. Minutes later, the whole place was sealed and crawling with investigators.
“Tell me just how did this go down, Miss Coco?” Detective Kowalski demanded grabbing Coco and whisking her from the others in the club.
“Too bad we’re gonna have to shut you down from performing Coco. It seems like people gets killed every time you go doing your thing. Is that some kind of coincidence or what?”
“Y’all acting like I’m the one who pulled the trigger. The only thing I was doing was my thing, performing.”
“Seems like there are other people out there who doesn’t like your performance.” The detective said and Coco stared as the paramedics rolled Pricilla’s lifeless body out of the club. Nesto and the others somberly brought up the rear.
“How many more people have to die before you cooperate with us? Coco, you know who is responsible for all this killing. Come clean,” the detective said shoving a card at Coco.
Deedee and Josephine surrounded Coco as the bodyguards looked on.
FORTY
It was an overcast day. PO Ward’s trained eyes searched for any acts suspicious to the ordinary. He sat in the department car with the air conditioner on eating a Gyro. He unraveled the soft-shell and removed the onions. He took another bite, then sipped his cola.
After finishing the food, he swallowed an antacid and burped. He lit a cigarette. He slipped Ray Ban’s easily over his eyes.
P.O. Ward had arrived early and drove the entire perimeter, before settling for a spot where, by skillful utilization of his front and rearview mirrors, he could see in all directions. He checked his service weapon and replaced it in the holster. Then he felt for the gun strapped to his ankle.
Every dunk or spectacular lay-up etched that player into the collective conscience of the street-ball hall of fame. The crowd roared after each dramatic play. Fans bet their dollars on players with names like, Shane the dribbling machine and Hot-Sauce and I-B-Right-back.
Street-ballers blessed with immense skills, each player lived up to their own billing. A pass zipped to an open Shane-the-dribbling-machine. The player guarding him left tantalized by his part dance, part dribble. With ballet-like precision, he made another spectacular dunk that sent a buzzing through the crowd.
The game went by but in the back of his mind Ward kept track of the cars coming and going. He saw young guys with Benz and Bentleys. They were festive in baggy, blue jeans and RocaWear gears along with white Tees, throwing down hundred dollar bills in bets of wanton proportions on the outcome of each game.
Ward watched with disdain present on his overworked mug. He checked his cell phone, no calls. That Michael Long must be on colored folk’ time, flashed across his mind. He shook the thought by watching the non-stop frenzy of the basketball game as it happened. He waited patiently clicking stills of who-is-who from the high-powered lens of his camera. Before long the applause, shrieks and loud screams that accompanied each sensational play captured his attention.
While Ward became engrossed in the game, Lil’ Long crept up alongside of the lawman’s car. The crowd was joyous. He got in and immediately pulled out his guns.
“In order for me to remain immortal a-a-all w-we-weak m-m-muthafuckas must di-di-die,” Lil’ Long said.
Pandemonium broke loose. At that same moment Lil’ Long squeezed both triggers.
Loud cheering basketball fans filled the summer night’s air and drowned any other sound in the immediate vicinity.
FORTY-ONE
That evening the girls sat in a Mercedes stretch outside the funeral home. They were all dressed in black. A distraught Coco glanced at the crowd drawn to the burial site. Miss Katie would now be laid to rest.
“I don’t think that I can bear the sight of someone being put into a hole in the ground,” Josephine said and lit a cigarette.
“I’ll go with you Coco,” Deedee said. Both girls walked to the funeral in progress. Josephine cooled her heels in the car.
“I don’t like funerals,” Josephine said hugging herself. “Driver, can you turn up the music, please?”
The cigarette appeared to wilt as she nervously sucked on it. She stared out the window as Coco and Deedee disappeared from view.
“I don’t know if I can sing, I can’t hold my breath,” Coco said walking with Deedee. They entered the crowded lobby of the church. She knew she had to participate in the last rites on behalf of Miss Katie.
“You have to try,” Deedee said.
There were no dry eyes in the place when Coco’s vocals thrilled the crowd and then led the way in a soulful rendition of Amazing Grace.
Outside the church, while walking to stretch her legs, Josephine saw a car pulled to a stop. For some unknown reason, her heartbeat increased. From her angle, she couldn’t see the driver but immediately recognized the passenger. Josephine raced back to the parked Benz.
“I think I’ve seen him,” she said trying to catch her breath.
“All right young lady, get some air and tell me what you’re trying to say.”
“I saw him. We gotta warn Coco and Dee. He’s here.”
“Who’s here? Eric?”
“Oh, no I’m talking about him right there,” Josephine said pointing to the lurking Lil’ Long. The driver cranked the engine and headed in the direction of the burial site.
The grief stricken teens walked hand in hand from the burial site heading back to the waiting Mercedes. The loud honking caught th
e attention of both girls. Coco and Deedee were caught by surprise. They were unaware that Lil’ long had been lurking, but hit the ground when they heard him chanting.
“…all muthafucking bitches must die! Die bitches!”
The Mercedes screeched forward blocking the side-ways aim he had on the girls.
“Oh… fu-fuck y-o-you b-i-bitch-ass!” Lil’ Long screamed, rolling out the way of the oncoming car. He recovered, got to his knees and fired his guns at the speeding car.
“Deedee, come on! Get in! Get in quickly!” the bodyguard yelled as the car came to a screeching stop next to where Coco and Deedee crouched. The car momentarily blocked Lil’ Long’s line of fire. The girls jumped in while the guard fired at Lil’ Long, distracting him.
“Fuck! These bitches shooting at me!” The street warrior yelled. He ran and hid behind a headstone. His actions provided enough time for the Mercedes to roar off.
Lil’ Long got several shots off before the car went swerving wildly and flew down the road. Bullets went flying by. One tore into the chest of the bodyguard. He slumped as other rounds crashed into his carcass, wide enough to protect the girls.
Lil’ Long ran back to his car.
“Follow those bitches!” he furiously screamed. Shocked onlookers quickly jumped to their feet and dialed rapidly on their cell phones.
The Mercedes raced from the cemetery with great haste. A massive explosion distracted motorists, causing cars to skid out of control. The girls watched as traffic conditions became hazardous. The driver held on and steered the car clear of any pile-ups or car wreckages.
“What the hell was that?” Josephine asked.
“I don’t know, yo. It sounded like some type of explosion. Like a car blew up,” Coco said looking around.
“Duck down I think someone is trying to kill us,” the driver shouted. Bullets pierced him.
The car came to a rest in the far right lane of the highway. The girls saw another car reverse to align next to theirs. Lil’ Long’s head came sticking up through the sunroof. With guns drawn, he took aim.
“In order for me to be immortal all y’all weak muthafucking bitches will have to die…” Lil’ Long screamed while spraying.
Ghetto Girls 3 Page 12
