by Styles, T.
“What you say?” he asked the caller on the phone.
Silence. I desperately tried to ear hustle but whoever he was speaking to spoke loud enough for only Jay to hear.
“I’m on my way but if somethin’ happens to my family, I’ma find out who this is and kill you. That’s a promise!”
“Nigga, you ain’t doin’ shit!” the person yelled on the phone. The voice sounded male and I was sure it wasn’t his sister like he originally thought. “Just get the fuck over here and bring my cash! Or this bitch and her son dies!” I heard that. Clearly. And the grin on my face was wiped clean. Suddenly I began to realize I met my new friend at the wrong time. And all I could think about was…Damn.
Monday, 7:22 pm
****
Real men don’t say they are. It just is.
-Kelsi
Tonight was the night and one of two things was goin’ pop off. Either I’d conquer what I came to conquer, or I’d kill one of ‘em, lay low, then hit the other one later. I played this event out over and over in my head, so I knew it would work. It had to. There wasn’t shit left to do ‘cept execute my plan. My plan was simple. Stop the cash flow they received from their operation. Pitch Jarvis and Kyope against each other, and kill ‘em both…slowly.
Wave’s, a strip club in Harlem was almost packed and I could tell most of the people inside already knew each other. A few dudes moved freely from table to table politicin’, while strippers circled them lookin’ for the most vulnerable and drunk prey. In the background T.I’s, “Watch What You Say To Me”, blasted on the speakers and it put me in the mood for what had to be done.
I got there early so I could sit in my normal spot, a few seats over from the VIP section where Kyope and his crew normally chillled. Jarvis never came to the spot wit’ him. My foot tapped against the grungy floor as I waited for the moment they’d arrive. To waste time, I focused on the baddest strippers in New York as they hopped on poles like monkeys on a tree.
Orgasmic, my partner in crime, and one of the dancers nodded to me acknowledgin’ that she was prepared to help me carry out my plans. Although I ain’t know much about her and she ain’t know much ‘bout me, I knew she was a ride or die chick. She ain’t ask a lot a questions. I sold her a fake dream and purpose and she bought that shit, hook, line and sink. In her mind, I was tryin’ to get put on with Kyope’s drug organization and I needed her to do it. I knew even less about her. But before I appealed to her, I did know she was preparin’ to quit Waves after gettin’ into it wit’ one of her co-strippers. The bad thing about it was, I knew more ‘bout why she got into the altercation than she did.
A month ago I went to Waves. I knew from my research that every Tuesday and Friday, Kyope and his squad would be there. After ‘bout a hour of chillin’ I saw Orgasmic come out the dressin’ room screamin’.
“Jewels, you stole my money, bitch!” Jewels is a tall dark skin stripper who was overprotective of a large green leather purse she carried ‘round like it was a third titty.
“Bitch, I ain’t steal shit! I got my own cash!”
“Then why you steal mine?!”
“If you felt I was a thief, you shoulda got another money collector while your fat ass was bouncin’ ‘round on stage! Cuz everything in my bag,” she said tapping it twice. “I earned. And if you don’t get outta my face I’ma beat your shit in,” she said pointin’ in Orgasmic’s face. Everybody laughed which encouraged Jewels even more. “Sounds to me like you not hot as you thought you was redbone,” Jewels continued. Jewels and her stripper friends continued to laugh and instigate the situation.
“I’m betta than you, you ugly black, bitch!”
“Please! You wish you could get rained on as much as I do when I step on the stage!” Jewels boasted.
“Bitch, I ain’t tryin’ to hear that shit! Ya’ll think just cuz I’m from Atlanta that ya’ll can take advantage of me, but that ain’t goin’ happen! I’ll wreck anybody in here…by…myself! I don’t give a fuck who it is or how many of ya’ll it is!”
“Don’t do this, O,” Jelly, one of the oldest strippers in the club said. She was the only one that O conversed with. And just like O, she couldn’t stand Jewels. They called her Jelly cuz everything on her body shook. Gut included.
“Naw, Jelly…this, bitch got me fucked up!” Orgasmic screamed pushing Jelly out of the way. “And I’m ‘bout to show her how we get down in the ‘A’!”
Orgasmic walked up to her and pushed Jewels back toward the bar. And even though Jewels had about a foot on her 4 foot 9 inch frame, O ain’t care. I had to give O her props ‘til out of the blue Jewel came down on her face with a drink glass from the bar O’s eyes widened as she felt the damage to her face once it slit a little.
“Bitch, you really do got me fucked up!” O screamed.
Wit’out delay O wailed on Jewels. I guess she felt she wasn’t doin’ enough damage, cuz she pulled a stun gun out her purse and tazed that bitch several times in the face and neck. The other ho’s rushed to the scene throwin’ Orgasmic’s small body through the air and on top of some wooden chairs. Jelly tried to stop O from gettin' back up but she was on a mission. Her small frame allowed her to move quickly. They wasn’t time enough for her and she couldn’t be stopped. Part of me wanted her to get away so I could see how lil youngin’ wrecked.
A few niggas watched but ain’t none of them help. I had my reasons for not gettin' out my seat too. I wanted O to be mad enough to do what I needed done. I peeped her long enough to know that stealin’ tips would not be tolerated and off limits.
“I’m ‘bout to kick your ass, bitch!” O screamed.
“Bring it on!” Jewels yelled raisin’ her ashy fists in the air.
Not backin’ down, O kicked off her classic stripper glass heels and ran toward Jewels. Jewels not expectin’ her to get up as quickly as she did, had her back turned as she picked up her bag from the floor. She slept on lil’ shawty and had her guards down. She paid for that mistake too.
Huddled in a group wit’ some other strippers, Jewels laughed ‘bout how she got out on O. They all stuck together and I could tell O wit’ her country accent felt out of place. But my jaw hit the floor when I saw O leap onto Jewels back like a human book bag. Wit’ her fingers in Jewels’ eyes, she pressed into the sockets ‘til blood was drawn. Only when Jewels begged her to stop, did she slide off. And even then she ain’t stop hittin’ her in the back of the neck. The shit was hilarious!
Wit’ bare feet, O pulled on Jewels’ red thong. The niggas was drunk in the background cheerin’ her on. But what I saw next made me choke on my drink. Once O got Jewels thong off, a dick fell from between Jewels legs. The entire club went silent. That would explain why Jewels never removed her thong in the few months I been comin’ to the club. I ain’t think much about it cuz it’s ass was so huge, I let it slide. Now I felt like bringin’ the sun down on this bitch. I would have if I ever beat my dick to her image when I was alone. Luckily for her I didn’t.
“Now niggas know what’s really up wit’ you, bitch,” O said, slappin’ his loose dick against his thigh wit’ her hand. “Ya’ll can have this dirty ass club! I’m outta here.”
Jewels stood silent and embarrassed, later runnin’ in the back wit’ his friends followin’. O gathered her things and exited the club.
That’s when I followed. Walkin’ barefoot on the sidewalk, O rustled to get one shoe on and then the other. Her glass slippers clicked against the sidewalk as she talked to herself.
“Fuck this place! I ain’t dealin’ wit’ this shit no more!” She cried wavin’ her arms. “I ain’t gotta be here! I’m betta than all this shit!”
“Can I talk to you for a moment?” I questioned walkin’ cautiously a few feet behind.
“No!” she responded not even takin’ the time to look at me. “I’m sick of this shit. Get one of them otha bitches to fuck you cuz I don’t get it in like that anyway.”
“Let me take you home!” I told her.
“I
just told you it ain’t that kinda party wit’ me,” she removed a sweater from the large silver beach purse she kept on her shoulder. Still she hadn’t looked my way.
“Hold up, Shawty,” I called out again. This time my voice was more authoritative. “I need to rap to you!”
She turned around saw it was me and smiled. I knew she had been tryin’ to holla at me ever since I showed up at the club…but I brushed her off. It wasn’t ‘bout sex wit’ me even though I would’ve fucked her a long time ago. Shawty was bad as shit. I was on a mission and needed things to be done in my time. And now it was time. She stopped in her tracks and walked toward me. I did the same.
“I saw what happened back there and I’m sorry. That’s fucked up how she or he did you. You aight?”
“I’m good. Them bitches got me fucked up though,” she said loudly as if she wanted them to come out again so she could fight. “I’m from the south and we don’t play that bullshit. It’s cool though,” she shrugged her shoulders tryin’ to be tough, while she tried to get a look at the cut on her face in the store window. “I don’t need that spot no more anyway. I’m just mad cuz she got me for my rent money!”
“I feel you. But since you leavin’ here anyway, might as well make some dough first.” Silence.
“Make some dough wit’ who?”
“Me?”
She laughed and said, “Where your stripper outfit at? In your back pocket?”
“Don’t get smacked, Shawty,” I frowned. I had to put her in her place.
She cleared her throat and said, “Well how you gonna make money wit’ me then? Cuz in case you ain’t noticed, I’m a dancer. And I do ‘aight by myself.”
“For starters…I’ll pay you. There’s more than one way to make cash. You ain’t always gotta dance on stage. I’ll give you more than you was gettin’ paid in there for one night.”
“For doin’ what? I don’t want or need no pimp.”
“I ain’t talkin’ ‘bout trickin’,” I assured her.
“Well what I gotta do and how much you gonna give me?”
“It depends on how much you willin’ to help me. Can we go somewhere and talk privately?” She looked me over tryin’ to detect any sign of me being crazy. She couldn’t see it even though it was there. I smiled and grabbed her hand. She smiled back. “Come on. Just gimme a few minutes of your time baby girl. If you ain’t feelin’ it, you can say no and be on your way. Deal?”
She shook my hand. We stepped off. Together. We went to a small lounge a few blocks down that served food. I told her what I needed and what I was willin’ to pay. She looked scared at first but later agreed.
“Are you sure this’ll work?” She pushed her food aside. Her appetite was lost. “I heard stories from the other strippers ‘bout how dangerous they are.”
“I ain’t gonna let nothin’ happen to you,” I said, lookin’ into her eyes. “Trust me.”
She smiled again and I knew I had her. Finally I would be able to get her to do what I needed. What was fucked up was that some of the money I would pay her wit’ would be her own. I paid Jelly, her so-called friend, to clip her money while she was on stage. Jewels ain’t have nothin’ to do wit’ that shit. So what it may’ve been wrong. I needed this chick’s help. Luckily for me it ain’t cost much.
Monday, 8:15 pm
****
Sometimes havin’ family can make you soft, and I’m as hard as they come.
-Jarvis
The night air was cool as they walked up to Jarvis’s sister’s home. At first he was going to drop Kenosha off but she refused saying she’d rather stay by his side. And because he knew that she was aware that nothing positive would happen if she stayed, that made him like her even more. The small green house in Queens looked peaceful under the night sky, but Jarvis was no fool. There was nothing close to peace inside. Still, he entered using his spare key and Kenosha stayed close on his heels.
The door creaked as Jarvis pushed it open. The television was on low yet he could hear Mary J. Blige’s melodic voice coming from its speakers. Directly across from the door sat his family, bound and gagged. And when he looked at his sister’s face, he saw her tears dried on her face while his nephew sat visibly shaken. The door closed softly behind them as he focused on the strangers standing on each side of the couch.
“You must be the man!” a tall, half burned dark skin man laughed. “When you didn’t come, I was startin’ to believe all that shit they said ‘bout you.”
“And what’s that?” Jarvis asked flatly.
“You know. That you don’t give a fuck ‘bout nobody but yourself!”
Jarvis ignored the comment and fixed his eyes on his sister again and the young man who was standing behind the couch over his nephew. The duct tape was bound tightly around their mouths.
“Did you bring my money?” the older stranger asked, stopping his stare.
Jarvis nodded yes and tossed the navy blue duffle bag he had in the middle of the floor. Kenosha eyed the bag wondering if money was really inside. She’d been with him from the moment he got the call and was pretty sure it wasn’t. She did witness him stuffing the bag with some contents in the back of his trunk, while he spoke on the phone.
“Everything you asked for and deserve is right there,” Jarvis said, coldly, pointing to the bag.
“Deserve huh?”
Jarvis smirked.
“Pick it up and open it,” the burnt man said to his accomplice. The younger man was much shorter with light skin. Having the same eyes, despite their physical differences, it was apparent they were related.
“Okay,” he said hustling from behind the sofa to grab the bag. When the bag was opened, the young man’s mouth dropped in fear when he saw a bag full of newspaper. He lifted the bag from the floor and showed the older man.
“What is it?” He asked, seeing the boy’s expression then snatching the bag.
“Paper?” he mumbled.
“What?”
“It’s paper, dad.” He said grabbing a fistful and showing him.
With rage in his eyes, the man shot Jarvis an evil stare. Kenosha backed up against the front door attempting to get out of the way.
“Do you realize what you just did?”
Jarvis’s sister wept. She knew her brother could be stingy but would’ve never thought he’d take things so far considering their lives were on the line. Jarvis reached behind his back slowly lifting up his shirt. The man was so disturbed at Jarvis’s lack of respect that he hadn’t noticed his small action. But when he did, Jarvis pulled his weapon and aimed. The burnt man placed his arm around his sister’s throat and hoisted her up off the sofa, cutting off most of her air circulation.
“Put the fuckin’ gun down before I kill her!” Kecia clawed at the man’s forearm but it didn’t lessen his grip.
“Who you workin’ for?” Jarvis asked ignoring his threat.
“You ain’t askin’ no fuckin’ questions!” he pointed his finger at himself. “I am!” the man yelled, as sprinkles of spit touched his sister’s nose. He tightened the grip around her throat, causing her face to turn red. “Who you think you fuckin’ wit’?”
“I asked you a question, mothafucka! Who you workin’ for?” He took one step closer to the stranger. “Is it Koni?” He took another step. “Or is it D-9?”
Jarvis had wronged so many, that he wasn’t sure who was after him. And the only reason he picked Koni was because he fucked his wife then got her strung out on cocaine a few years back.
“You shouldn’t fuck so many people outta they money.” The man said hysterically. Jarvis could tell he was trying to pump himself up to put in work. “Now either you get me my money….or I’ma slump your family.”
Jarvis with his hammer still aimed, smiled. Then he pulled the trigger hitting his sister in the middle of her forehead. When he shot her, he aimed the barrel at the stranger. In disbelief, the stranger allowed her limp body to fall on the floor. He took a few steps back from her body, staring in horro
r. When he looked at Jarvis, he had a smile on his face.
“You crazy!” the man exclaimed. “You fuckin’ crazy!”
While he was talking, Prangsta and Spikes came rushing upstairs from the basement. He didn’t know that Kecia had a small door which led from outside in the laundry room. It was obvious he was an amateur. Their abrupt entry startled the stranger causing him to mistakenly drop his weapon. The moment Prangsta and Spikes saw Keicia’s body spread out on the floor they violently grabbed the two from behind.
“You want me to murder his ass?” Prangsta asked, as he wrapped his arm around his throat. Spikes grabbed the younger man. “Let me do it, man!” Kenosha was stunned because she was certain Jarvis killed his sister on purpose.
“Not yet,” he eyed his nephew who was visibly distraught.
Jarvis walked up to the burnt man as Prangsta maintained the grip around his neck.
“I’m gonna ask you again,” he said softly. “Who sent you?” The man was silent at first but then his demeanor changed. It was evident that he was petrified.
“I don’t know his name. He gave me the lick and said he’d meet me for his five percent.” That bothered Jarvis. He hated the idea of someone trying to play him.
“What did he look like?”
“He was tall, dark skin and older. Maybe ‘bout forty. That’s all I know! On my mother! I wasn’t gonna hurt your family, man. I’m just tryin’ to feed my seed. That’s it!”
“Hey, Jarvis…Ice said that the dude who stuck him up looked the same way.”
Jarvis? Kenosha thought. It can’t be! Her mind was on speed as she focused on his features. She could see why Janet got with him.
“You had to use my name, huh?” Jarvis asked disgusted with his lack of ethics.
“Sorry, man. I figured we was gonna hot they asses anyway.” Jarvis shook his head.
“Go ‘head, nigga.”
Prangsta proceeded cautiously and said, “He was talkin’ to some dude who said on his mother, he was gonna keep stickin’ you until he takes back everythin’ you took from him. It may be the same dude who keeps robbin’ our shops.”
