by Natavia
“This is my club, lil’ niggas,” Zas said.
Dez started laughing. “Nigga, we know who you are and we don’t give a fuck. Now, Tassana get your ass out of here,” Dez said to me. I grabbed Kanae’s hand ready to leave because I had a feeling Osari was behind this but I could’ve been wrong. Zas pulled me back.
“Stay your ass here,” Zas demanded.
“I just wanted to shake my ass tonight,” Kanae said.
“What ass, shorty?” someone called out. Zas lifted up his shirt showing them that he was strapped. Dez started laughing then nodded his head.
“We are leaving,” Dez said signaling for his crew to leave out. I had a feeling it was just the beginning of the drama that was going to come.
“That nigga must really love you,” Zas stated, pulling me back to our section. I didn’t have a good time because Osari was heavily on my mind.
“What’s the matter?” Kanae asked me.
“Something isn’t right,” I said to her. Zas pulled me into him.
“When you are with me, that’s all you need to worry about,” he said kissing my face. Zas didn’t let me out of his sight for the rest of the night. When the club let out, I hurriedly walked to my truck. Zas was right on my heels. “Slow down, shorty. Damn, let me get a hug or something,” he said. I unlocked the door for Kanae so she could get in.
“What’s up? It’s getting late,” I said to him.
“Let me take you shopping tomorrow,” he said.
“My closet is pretty full, but thanks,” I said ready to get inside of my truck. Zas grabbed me, pulling me into a hug.
“I don’t care what we do tomorrow, I just want some of your time,” he said caressing my face.
“I don’t have to pick my son up till tomorrow evening, so maybe we can do something earlier,” I said to him. He leaned forward then kissed my lips. “Okay, cool, wear some tight pants for me so I can be in la-la land when I walk behind you,” he said making me giggle. I playfully hit him in the chest.
“You are too fresh,” I said then he licked his lips.
“I wish you’d stop playing games with me, I been chasing you for months now,” Zas said.
“I didn’t tell you to, besides I thought that was a thrill for niggas like you?” I asked him.
“I like that,” he said nodding his head.
“Goodnight, Zas,” I said getting into my truck. He told me he would call me in twenty-five minutes before I pulled off. I ended up crashing at Kanae’s spot because I was too tired to drive back home.
When I woke up at Kanae’s, I headed home to get ready for my day with Zas. I called Mrs. Bernie to check up on O.J. When she answered the phone I heard his babbles. “Hey, Mrs. Bernie, I’m just checking up on my baby,” I said to her.
“He is fine. I missed this little fellow. He keeps me on my toes. I’ll be happy when Kanae has some babies,” she laughed. Mrs. Bernie reminded me of Osari’s mother. I missed his mother too. Her cell-phone was disconnected also. Osari made sure he left without a trace. Mrs. Bernie told me that she would keep O.J. for another day and she wanted me to enjoy myself. I was thankful for her. I wished my mother was like Kanae’s and Osari’s mothers. My mother was all about her husband and nothing else mattered to her. She didn’t even hesitate when she shot me. I was pregnant with her grandchild and not once did she care. In her mind I killed her husband. I was never abused but our household was dysfunctional and empty. There wasn’t any parental love when I was growing up, only rules. No happy family dinners, no laughing moments, just emotionless moments were all I could remember.
After I got dressed in a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and a jean vest, I did my make-up. I wore a pair of tennis shoes and my diamond earring and bracelet set Osari bought for me. I missed him so much, and this was mental torture. He completely cut me off because he thinks I deserve better when in reality I don’t want better. I just want Osari, flaws and all, because I loved him that much. His love wasn’t perfect but he was perfect for me. Zas is a nice person but he was just something to do. I already explained to him I wasn’t looking for another man.
I locked up my home and headed back out to meet up with Zas. My cell-phone rang. “Hello,” I answered.
“What’s up, shorty?” Dez asked me.
“What do you want?” I asked him.
“I’m just checking on you and O.J. to make sure y’all are straight,” he answered.
“I wish you’d stop checking up on me and tell me where the hell Osari is,” I spat.
“I can’t tell you something I don’t know, but do y’all need anything?” Dez asked me.
“Yeah, we do. We need Osari to bring his ass home. This nigga must have forgot that he has a damn son he hasn’t seen in three months. O.J. is crawling now and he is missing out on everything,” I vented.
“You got to stay away from that nigga you been kicking it with,” Dez said.
“How about you tell my son’s father to call me and tell me that himself,” I said hanging up on Dez.
I met Zas at a soul food restaurant. I couldn’t enjoy my meal because I felt like I was being watched.
“What’s the matter, shorty?” Zas asked me.
“Nothing, I had too much to drink last night I think,” I answered playing with my sweet potato.
“My club has been shut down temporarily,” Zas stated. I was wondering why he seemed a bit quiet but I thought it was because of me.
“What happened?” I asked him.
“That guy Armory was killed outside of it after you left. No one saw a thing. I even looked at my cameras and still nothing. He was an old friend of mine. I want to know how to break the news to his wife,” Zas stated.
“Wife?” I asked him.
“Yeah, he is married with four kids. He comes down to Maryland to do his business then goes back home,” Zas stated. I shook my head because you would’ve never known Armory was married.
“Maybe he was into illegal business,” I said.
“Could be. Last night was my first time seeing him and Quron in years. But Quron and I never really got along. I was more cool with Armory,” Zas said.
“I’m sorry for you loss,” I said chewing my food. I had a gut feeling Dez and Lee was the reason behind that. Armory must have pissed one of them off. Zas and I made small talk but both our minds were on other things.
Dez
“Yo, I can’t believe you merked that nigga,” Lee said to me as we was riding through the hood.
“I told that nigga the next time I caught up to him, it was a rap. That nigga started popping up at Shimmy’s job and shit,” I fussed.
“For what?” Lee asked.
“He wanted to lure her in so she could make drug runs to New York for him,” I answered.
“How do you know?” Lee asked.
“Because he got tired of trying to sweet talk her and just flat out asked Shimmy if she was trying to make some real money. She refused to do it so he started popping up on her, bugging her. He wanted my shorty to be a mule for his bitch ass,” I said. My cell-phone rang. “Yoooo,” I answered.
“What’s good, lil’ nigga?” Osari asked.
“Yo, I’m tired of calling your rude-ass baby mama up for you,” I told him.
“What was she talking about? Did you hear my son in the background?” Osari asked.
“Naw, nigga, I heard a nigga in the background,” I said. Lee punched me on the arm. “Yo, why the fuck is you lying to that man?” Lee asked me.
“Muthafucka’, touch me again. You about to give me flashbacks of you fucking my mama. This nigga needs to go home to his shorty, that’s why I’m telling him this shit,” I spat. Lee shook his head at me then rolled up his blunt.
“Naw, on the real, last night I ran into your girl at the club. She was with that nigga she stepped out on you with. I told her to leave but he bossed up. That nigga started showing us he was strapped and I didn’t want to merk that nigga in a club full of people. Plus, he owned the club, so I knew his securi
ty was tight,” I said to Osari.
“She still fucking with that nigga, huh?” Osari asked with venom in his voice.
“I guess so, he was flexing on us over her,” I told him.
“Good looking out. How is everything on that end? Are y’all straight?” Osari asked. Osari still had things on lock in Annapolis, though he was living in Virginia. I respected his grind because he pulled that off and had Tasira thinking shop was closed down in Virginia. Osari was still secretly getting money from Virginia after he left from there too. He had loyal niggas in Virginia that were moving his weight for him.
“For a while,” I said letting him know Lee and I didn’t need to re-up yet.
“Did Tassana look happy with the nigga?” Osari asked me.
“Naw, shorty just killing time with him, that’s all. I can take care of that if you want me to,” I said to Osari. Osari laughed.
“That right there is personal,” he stated.
After I hung up with him, Lee and I chilled on the block. It was nice outside and all of the neighborhood hoodrats were out. My mother walked up the street with her tight pants on and her long weave. Lee turned the other way. “Don’t act shy now, nigga. Y’all was in love remember?” I asked him.
“Whatever, nigga,” Lee answered. He and Ivanka was still split up but I think they were cordial with each other.
My mother walked over to me. I reached down in my pocket, pulling out a few bills. “Before you even ask,” I said to her. She took the money then grilled Lee.
“Can’t speak?” My mother asked him.
“What’s up?” Lee asked dryly.
“Don’t act like that, nigga, before I embarrass your black ass out here. Now, when is that lil’ prissy bitch having the baby? I owe that bitch an ass whipping,” my mother said.
“You still haven’t calm down yet?” I asked her.
“Don’t start with me, where is my grandbaby at?” she asked. For the past month she has been coming around Rayshawn. I guess what I said to her a while back got to her. My mother even watches him for me sometimes. She was trying and that’s all that mattered.
“He is with his mother,” I said.
“I thought the court denied her visitation until she proved she was fit to be a mother,” my mother fussed.
“I’m talking about Shimmy. Rayshawn thinks that’s his mother,” I replied. Since I was still in high school, Nana ended up getting custody of Rayshawn. I didn’t trip about that because it was better than him being with Kiwanna. Kiwanna ended up getting all of her kids taken away from her. She called me crying and blaming me, but I hung up on her. My son was in a better place and that’s all that mattered to me. After Lee and I kicked it in the hood, I headed home. When I walked into the house, I heard a loud bang. It was coming from the hall where Speedy’s room was at. I hope this nigga didn’t fall and can’t get back up, I thought to myself.
Speedy’s door was cracked open and I heard noises like he was in pain, I hurriedly rushed to his room. “Yo, Speedy are—” I stopped in my tracks. Speedy was on the floor standing up on his nubs fucking some broad from the back, her ass by his neck.
“Yes, give it to me, daddy,” the familiar voice moaned.
“Keosha?” I asked laughing. She turned around then pushed Speedy off of her. Speedy’s body flew into a hamper. The hamper tipped over on Speedy and he ended up getting stuck. I hurriedly exited the room. That was the funniest shit I had seen. Keosha ran behind me half-naked, pulling on me.
“Dez, I’m sorry,” she told me.
“Shorty, I don’t care about that. Go on ahead and finish.” I laughed. Shimmy came into the house holding Rayshawn. She saw me standing in the hallway with a half-naked Keosha. Keosha still had her arm on me. “What the fuck is going on?” Shimmy asked with fire in her eyes “What do you think?” Keosha’S crazy ass responded. Shimmy went into the living room putting Rayshawn in his playpen.
“Don’t listen to this bitch,” I said to Shimmy. Shimmy went into the kitchen and came back out with a butcher knife. Keosha hid behind me. I pushed Keosha away from me. Shimmy started swinging the butcher knife.
“BITCH!” Keosha hollered when Shimmy cut her arm. I grabbed Shimmy to get the knife away from her. The knife went into my arm. This crazy bitch stabbed me and was trying to stab me again. Speedy was yelling for help while all of the commotion went on. He was stuck in the hamper. Keosha clocked Shimmy upside the head, causing Shimmy to drop the knife. Shimmy jumped on Keosha with her fist slamming into Keosha’s face. I tried to pull Shimmy off but I only had one good arm. “Chill the fuck out. My grandmother is on her way home from bingo,” I warned them. Shimmy took one of Nana’s precious figurines off the table and banged Keosha’s head with it.
Out the corner of my eye, I saw Speedy hopping into the living room ass-naked. He charged into the fight, clocking Shimmy upside her head. “Get off my pussy,” Speedy hollered. I kicked Speedy so hard, he flew across the room. This lil’ nigga hopped up and charged into me. That lil’ nigga was fast. He started biting my knees. I picked him up and he was light as a feather. Speedy was trying to punch me but I carried his body to the door. I opened up the door then tossed him outside butterball naked. I hurriedly rushed back to Shimmy. I pulled her off of Keosha.
“Nana is on her way home!” I yelled at her. Keosha got up, running towards the door, but ran into the wall instead. The blows Keosha took from Shimmy had her dizzy. Shimmy was trying to charge into Keosha again but I caught her. Keosha ran next door to her parents’ house with just a bra on. Blood dripped from my arm on the carpet.
“Yo, I swear you are a crazy-ass broad. You didn’t even let me explain,” I said to Shimmy. Speedy came into the house naked and out of breath. He had to climb a lot of steps.
“Nigga, I ought to kill your ass,” I said to him.
“Fuck you. You are just mad Keosha always wanted me. I’m more man than you,” Speedy said.
“Wait a minute. Speedy was fucking Keosha?” Shimmy asked.
“What you think, shorty? Why would I bring that bitch here knowing you live here?” I asked her. Her mood softened.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t think Speedy had a dick. It didn’t register to me that it would be Speedy and I didn’t think Keosha would be that desperate,” Shimmy said.
“Wait a minute you, little bitch, what does that mean?” Speedy asked.
“Disrespect my woman one more time and watch what I do to you. Now, I’m trying my hardest not to hurt you because Nana would be disappointed,” I warned him. Speedy dragged himself to his room, mumbling under his breath. I walked in the kitchen and Shimmy walked behind me.
“Let me see your arm,” she said to me. I rolled up my sleeve. I had a deep gash in my arm that was sitting wide open.
“Baby, I’m so sorry,” Shimmy said, grabbing a kitchen towel ad wrapping it around my arm to stop the bleeding. When Nana came home and noticed the blood on the floor and her living room a mess, she cursed us all out. I drove myself to the hospital while Shimmy and Speedy straightened up the house. I needed to get fifteen stitches in my arm, my trigger arm at that. I had to lay low because if something popped off, a nigga was doomed.
For the next couple of days, Shimmy was trying to talk to me but I wasn’t really in the mood. My arm was messed up and the pain pills they had me on put me in the mood. I was mellowing her out and only tended to Rayshawn.
“Do you want me to leave?” Shimmy asked me.
“Shut the fuck up. Damn, stop talking all the time. If I don’t want to be bothered then that’s what it is,” I said to her.
“You don’t have to yell at me,” she said.
“Yo, I’m yelling at you because you don’t understand me when I don’t. I know how to open up my mouth when I want to talk. You stabbed me and was going to do it again. You fucked me up with this one,” I said to her.
There was a knock on the back door, Shimmy went to open it. Kyree walked into our crib and that pissed me off even more. “Nice place you two h
ave here, very roomy and it looks just like an apartment,” she said.
“Thanks for the compliment but now you can leave and take Shimmy with you,” I said to Kyree.
“What is wrong with him?” Kyree asked Shimmy. Shimmy shrugged her shoulders like she didn’t know.
“Her crazy ass stabbed me,” I said.
“What did you do to her?” Kyree asked me. I went to my bedroom then shut the door. I was pissed because I pretty much was limited to things. I wrote with my right hand and when I tried to use it, the pain was unbearable. The butcher knife went into my arm almost coming through it, that’s how deep it was. I should’ve dumped her but I couldn’t find it in my heart to do it. I just cursed her out when I felt like it instead. Shimmy and Kyree were laughing and smoking weed. I opened the door. “Rayshawn will be home shortly,” I told Shimmy.
“Would you calm down, I just called her before we started smoking. They won’t be home for another few hours, the smell will be gone,” Shimmy said. Kyree was braiding Shimmy’s hair and rolling her eyes at me.
