by Styles, T.
“I can’t believe one nigga causin’ all these problems!” Jarvis said, frustrated as he took his right hand and placed it on top of his head. It seemed a little inappropriate to disgust business over his sister’s dead body but that was the nature of the man. “But that’s what it sounds like.” Jarvis mind raced. Who the fuck is this nigga? Jarvis looked back at Kenosha who appeared calm despite being slightly nervous. Then he looked at Prangsta and said, “Kill ‘em both.”
Prangsta grabbed the man and he and Spikes were both on their way down the stairs when the stranger said to Jarvis, “Can I ask you a question before I die?”
“No fuck that shit!” Prangsta yelled pushing him toward the basement.
“Hold up…I never deny a dead man his final wish,” Jarvis interrupted. Prangsta turned the man around so that he could look Jarvis in his eyes. His son could be heard weeping at his fate was soon to come. “What you wanna know?”
“Did you kill your sister on purpose?”
It was silent as Jarvis took a few moments before answering his question. Prangsta and Spikes gave one another befuddled looks.
After a few minutes of silence Jarvis said, “What you think?”
After his response Prangsta and Spikes took both men downstairs and killed them. Jarvis grabbed his nephew and walked out the door with Kenosha.
Monday, 9:15 pm
****
Who need a job when ya got a rich nigga?
-Kenosha
Drivin’ through the streets of Brooklyn changed what I originally thought. That all projects was the same. There was something about Marcy Projects that pulled my breath. The big red buildings appeared larger than life under the night sky and people seemed to be possessed by its power.
“Gimme a sec, Kay,” Jarvis said without waiting on my response.
He grabbed his nephew’s hand and they exited the May Bach. The child looked about ten years old. Jarvis appeared unnerved that he’d just killed his mother, and that his nephew was still physically and mentally shaken. Once outside the car, he stooped down and gave the little dude orders I couldn’t hear. What could he possibly have wanted from a child at a time like this? When Jarvis walked back to the car, without his nephew, I figured I’d get my answer. But where was his nephew going?
“You aight?” He asked.
I nodded yes as I watched his nephew disappear within the darkness of the buildings. Although he asked me a question, I could tell he cared less about my reply. And then I remembered. He was Jarvis. Kill him now and put this all behind you. I thought as I stared at the back of his head while he looked out of the window. My mind went into overdrive until Jarvis turned away from the window and looked me in my eyes.
“You know I fucks wit’ you right?”
“I guess…uh…why you say that?”
“I just do.” Silence. “I can tell from the gate you not a stranger to this shit. Right?” He sat back in the seat and appeared to be reading me. I didn’t answer. I didn’t know what to say. “I’m serious. Any other bitch woulda been complainin’ or askin’ to go home. You different. Why you different, Kay?”
“I’m no different than any other girl,” I lied.
“Who the fuck are you?” he asked flatly. His demeanor went from cold to hot. “The shit you witnessed tonight shoulda had you vexed. Am I gonna have to kill you? Did somebody send you to get to me?” Why would he suddenly ask me who was I? Could he hear my thoughts? Before I could give him a response he chuckled loudly. “I’m just fuckin’ wit’ you,” he boasted. “You should’ve seen the look on your face, though! You probably thinkin’ “This nigga crazy as shit”.
I was. But…I gave no response.
“Trust me,” he continued. “I can spot a snake. And if you were out to get me, you would’ve been dead a long time ago.” His statement sounded like a promise. “And there’s no need in me tellin’ you not to disgust what you saw tonight with anyone. You already know the consequences that could carry.”
“It was none of my business.” I told him. He smiled. I didn’t.
His nephew was on his way back when Prangsta pulled up in a white Ford pick-up truck and got inside the May Bach. Before chatting with Prangsta, his nephew got in and handed him a wad of money. He looked sad.
“That’s all he had. He said D9 got the rest.” His nephew muttered.
Jarvis looked frustrated.
“Good job, lil man,” He rubbed his head. “And don’t worry ‘bout that shit back at your crib. You gon’ be good now. I’ma take care of you. Believe that.”
A tear fell from the child’s eye.
While they talked, Prangsta stared. I could tell he was trying to figure me out and I wanted him not to waste his ugly time. The driver suddenly pulled off.
“Everything taken care of,” Prangsta looked at me one last time. He was talking to Jarvis.
“Good. Don’t tell nobody the details of tonight, especially Kyope.”
Prangsta nodded.
“So boss…what’s up wit Lil’ Brian? Why he go into Marcy?”
“To get my money,” he snickered. “They may want my life but they not gonna fuck wit’ a kid.”
I’m not gonna lie, puttin’ the kid into harm’s way rubbed me wrong.
We made a few stops and Jarvis did other shit that amazed me. Apparently he was looking for someone who owed him money. And when he couldn’t find him, he found the person’s mother instead.
“There his mother go,” Prangsta said pointing at a woman wrestlin’ wit’ two grocery bags in her hands. She had just gotten off the public bus. “Maybe she can tell us where he at.”
Jarvis instructed the driver to pull over as he hopped out the car. I remained seated wit’ a perfect view from the inside. The woman was startled at first when she heard someone call out to her, but smiled having seen Jarvis’ face. She must’ve trusted him. But like a woman who knows her rapist, her expression immediately changed to terror.
Without warning he back handed the elderly woman to the ground and her blue knit hat flew off exposing her long beautiful gray hair. Then he choked her in the middle of the yard with witnesses watching.
“Where your son, bitch?!” he yelled, manhandling her.
“I…don’t know where he is! What’s wrong?”
“Then where is that fuckin’ nephew of yours?!” He continued, maintaining the hold.
“Please…you’re hurting me,” she said softly. Her voice was growing faint.
I looked at the driver who shook his head in disgust and then focused back on Jarvis. His nephew who had seen enough horror for the day lie quietly in the back seat.
“Well you make sure you tell both of them this. If they don’t have my money by tomorrow night, I’ma come back here and beat your ass everyday ‘til my debt is paid. You hear me?” He smacked her again. Blood escaped her cut lips. “You betta make sure you tell em! Every fuckin’ day!”
He released his hold and rummaged through her pockets. He smiled when he found a little cash. Afterwards he grabbed two pieces of fruit from the bag. A few of the neighborhood dealers looked at him with hate but not one of them helped her out.
“What? Ya’ll want some of me too?” he asked with his arms raised. The yard fell silent. “I said do anyone of you mothafuckas want it wit’ me?!” He pointed to himself. Silence. “I run New York and everybody in it! Nobody fucks wit’ me or my money!”
Prangsta stayed by his side while he ranted and raved. And when Jarvis was done, he said something to Prangsta and he came back to get the kid. Together, they walked off.
Once back inside the car Jarvis’ face was still distorted until he closed the door and looked at me. He must’ve told Prangsta to roll and take his nephew with him.
“Take me back to my crib,” he told the driver before looking at me. “Hungry?”
I nodded yes.
“Doby, take us to Manhattan instead. My lady hungry back here.” He handed me one of the two apples he’d taken from the old woman. “You my lady righ
t?” he asked stroking my leg harder. His question was odd and childlike but I had become aware of his weaknesses. Women.
“I don’t know…what you gonna do to convince me to be your lady? I mean, you hardly even know me.”
“All you need to know is this…I run New York and everybody in it. And if you by my side, you can have whateva you want. Can you handle that?”
“I can handle it.”
“You gonna be happy you said that,” he winked. “You gonna spend the rest of your life with me.” The rest of my life? I thought. Why not ours? Everything in me told me I should leave, and cut him off but I couldn’t. He was a total stranger who committed enough crimes in front of me today to get him life. He wasn’t stable. He wasn’t normal. Yet I found him interesting and couldn’t leave.
“We’ll see,” I told him. “We’ll see.”
And when I looked away from him to glance through my window, I saw that same car that had been sitting outside of the hotel earlier wit’ the same man inside. I was so nervous my stomach began to churn. I looked away. Looked back. And he was gone.
Who was he?!
Monday, 9:33 pm
****
Just cuz my actions are slow don’t mean I ain’t quick.
-Kelsi
When Kyope and his crew got in, I took a deep breath and sat back into the old wooden chair. The two loud mouth niggas on my left were drowned out. And the music which at first kept me company, I could no longer hear. I was enveloped in silence. Unconsciously…I grabbed the glass which held the remnants of my drink and slid it back and forth on the table. I had to do somethin’. Because what I really wanted to do was wrap my hands ‘round Kyope’s throat. But everything in time. My time.
I couldn’t believe after all the months of plannin’, shit was finally gettin’ ready to pop off. The club was jumpin’ as usual. Niggas removed they rings and acted like they was single just to get a better lap dance from the baddest stripper’s in New York. Big Kuntry’s, The Baddest blared from the speakers as the dancers did what they did best. Seduce. I had my mind on one thing. Murder.
The only thing ‘bout my plan was if Kyope really knew my mother outside of her being just Jarvis’s girl, he’d recognize me. Even with the shades I never took off. From what she told me, Jarvis and Kyope were always together. Outside of bein’ a little older, my features were the exact same. I did allow time to grow a beard which is one of the reasons why I didn’t approach him right away. My only flaw was the tattoo I had on my arm. I got it after my moms died. It read, Kelsi AKA K-Man loves you Ma. RIP. K-Man was the nickname she gave me which I use to hate. What I wouldn’t give to hear her say it now.
As always, Kyope’s crew was loud. I counted four of them. Kyope ain’t say much, but his squad was on some other shit. I sat quietly in the table next to them. I could hear every word they said…clearly.
“I’m ’bout to tell you what happened again cuz I know you don’t believe me,” Prangsta said, after they all took they seats. He had on a heavy red jacket even though the weather outside ain’t call for all that shit. I’m pretty sure he was concealin’ a weapon. “I went to this club a few months back and these two bitches asked me over to the bar. So I goes ova and we get to drinkin’…and they start talkin’ ‘bout all the shit they wanna do to me. You shoulda heard em’!”
“Hold up,” Spikes, another one of Kyope’s crew members interrupted. He rubbed his chin and looked up at the ceilin’ briefly. “Did they start stroking your dick at the bar and offer to take you to the bathroom to fuck?” he questioned Prangsta.
“Yeah,” Prangsta nodded, excitedly. “How you know? I told you this story already?” They all looked at each other and exchanged dialogue with they eyes. Once again he was swag jackin’.
“Nigga you ain’t tell me that story. I told you that story! Always stealin’ other niggas lives cuz ya own shit too borin’.” They all laughed while Prangsta did his best to conceal his embarrassment.
I learned from my surveillance that Prangsta was the muscle but also a liar. He would tell stories other people told him like he actually lived it. The thing about it was, he really believed half of the shit he said. The nigga is pathetic. But outta all of ‘em, he was the one I had to worry ‘bout. Not cuz he was vicious but cuz he acted on impulse.
“That shit ain’t happen to you! It happened to me!” Prangsta responded.
“Nigga, stop lyin,” Kyope laughed. “If it wasn’t you, it wasn’t you.”
“I’m serious, man! That shit did happen to me! Straight up!” Prangsta put his right hand on his heart and placed the other hand in the air like he was bein’ sworn in or some shit. They all busted out in laughter and his hands fell to his lap in defeat.
“Put ya dumb ass hand down! Ain’t no need in talkin’ ‘bout it no more. You takin’ lives! Simple as that,” Spikes sat back in his seat and folded his arms.
They all laughed harder.
Spikes and Prangsta stayed goin’ at it. Like brothers. Tall with deep dark skin, Spikes reminded me of Stringer Bell from the show, The Wire. From what I could gather, Kyope trusted him more cuz on more than one occasion, he and Kyope would leave the others to talk privately.
“Ya’ll laughin’,” Spikes continued. “But this nigga be really believin’ half the shit he tell us.” The laughter softened and Kyope focused on Spikes.
“You laughin’, Spikes, but how come none of us have ever seen you wit’ no certified bitch? You act like you don’t fuck wit’ pussy, I ain’t even sure if that story Prangsta tried to jack was really your story.” They all cosigned and waited for his answer.
“You don’t see me wit’ none cuz ain’t no certified bitches out here, slim. So when and if you do see me wit’ one, best believe she’ll be under lock and key,” Spikes said as the waitress came over bringin’ they usual drinks.
“You sure that’s it?” Kyope questioned. “Cuz I can’t have not botty-boy on my team.”
“Whateva, man. Just cuz I ain’t trippin’ off females don’t mean I don’t love pussy. I probably get more pussy than all you mothafuckas put togetha! I just don’t brag on mine all the time.”
I was still listenin’ ‘til “O” walked up to me. She was wearin’ a red lace bodysuit and every curve of her body was revealed.
“What time you want me to do it, Aven?” Orgasmic asked, runnin’ her tongue over her lips. She sat on me, pretendin’ to give me a lap dance so that our conversation wouldn’t look suspicious.
Wit’ the thickness of her ass in my lap, I whispered, “Do it now.”
Her head turned slightly so she could see me. The smell of weed and perfume lingered in the air next to her. She must’ve smoked the dro I gave her earlier so she could relax. I was happy cause this bitch tried to bail out on me three times since our agreement. After I told her how much it would mean to me, she agreed to go through with it. Her eyes told me she hoped afterwards, I’d be wit her.
“Aven…don’t worry, I’m not gonna let you down,” she said softly windin’ her hips in my lap harder.
I told her my name was Aven. It was sure for Avenge.
“I ain’t worried. I know you got me on this. But I’ma need you to do it in the next five minutes,” I told her as she started windin’ like she was puttin’ in work for real. “You remember what you ‘sposed to do, right?”
“Yep. Cuz after this, I’m goin’ back to Atlanta. Ain’t nothin’ here for me no way but trouble. Just make sure you give me my money.”
I knew O wasn’t doin’ this for the two thousand dollars I promised her after it was done. She was doin’ it for me. I don’t know what brought her up from Atlanta, cuz I never asked, but I knew strippin’ wasn’t in her blood. I neva asked too many questions ‘bout her past cuz I ain’t want her askin’ me shit ’bout mine.
“Okay…let me get ready.” She eased off me just before I got hard. I slid her a $20 bill to make the fake lap dance appear legit. “I gotta smoke again,” she said before she disappeared into the thickness of th
e club. When she was gone, I focused back on my target. Kyope had just gotten off a call and appeared vexed. I listened closer to what he was sayin’.
“Where, Jarvis at?” Kyope questioned his men, placin’ his phone back on his hip. “A lot of shit been happenin’ in the past few months and I’m sick of excuses.”
“He wit’ that bad ass bitch I was tellin’ you ‘bout earlier. He ain’t comin’ out tonight, Kyope. You know wit’ that shit that just happened wit’ his sister.” Prangsta told him. Kyope sipped on his drink and I could tell he was tryin’ to calm down.
“You want anotha one?” The waitress asked, Kyope. He said no and then she asked Crane.
Crane was also muscle but he had a flaw. He was deaf. When I asked O how it happened, she said she didn’t know much about him. Just that he was shot in one ear and the bullet went out the other. Although he was deaf, he could read lips. He was nicknamed Crane cuz he always wore a navy blue one piece uniform and a navy blue hat. The work uniform came from Crane Construction company, the place he use to work before he got wit’ Kyope.
When Crane nodded that he wanted the usual, E & J Brandy on ice, O seductively walked over to the table. I sat up straight to get a better view wit’out starin’ too hard. And when I did, I saw Crane lookin’ at me. We made eye contact a few times in the past and I never understood why. He always seemed to be focused on me. Like he was studyin’ me or somethin’. Sometimes I thought he was on to me. And other times I charged it to bein’ ‘noid.
Anyway, O walked out like a superstar. Her body was unreal. I neva saw a waist so small that led to an ass so phat. She reminded me of my ex-girl Keisha and that jive fucked me up. She was obviously more loose than usual. She must’ve added a drink wit’ her smoke. Shiiiiittttt…whateva she needed to do to make it work, I was wit’. And she had her victims captivated. Everyone but Spikes.
