Back in the Hood

by Treasure Hernandez

  “Stupid money comes from stupid people. What you need, Malek, is legitimate and long money. If you’re serious about staying out of the streets, then I’m willing to take a chance on you.”

  Malek clapped loudly and stood up.

  “Don’t get too excited too soon,” Gary told him. “It’s a process involved here, Malek.” Gary stood up with him. “Until I clean all of that drug money you have, you have to stay out of the spotlight. No large purchases, no more expensive trips, nothing. Even the things you’ve already bought may be in jeopardy.”

  “The only big purchases we’ve made is the house and our two whips, both six Series Benzes,” Malek explained. “Nothing too big.” He shrugged his shoulders as if the average Joe Blow could make those types of purchases.

  Gary couldn’t help but laugh at his new friend’s nonchalant attitude. “Those are huge purchases, Malek. But don’t worry. I’ll draw up some paperwork to legitimize those purchases.” He walked over to the liquor cabinet and poured them both a glass of cognac.

  “Don’t worry about it, Malek. I’ll take care of it for you and, more importantly, teach you how to take care of it yourself.” He handed Malek a glass then sat down in one of his twelve plush theater chairs.

  Malek took a seat next to Gary. “Yo, G, you really don’t know how much I appreciate you doing this for me.”

  “No need to thank me. You seem like a man who has put in enough work in his own right to really be able to enjoy life. Besides, your inquiry only confirms what I knew from the moment I ran into you and your lady over at the pier.”

  “Oh yeah?” Malek asked, curious about just how Gary had perceived him. “And what is that?”

  “That you are someone who, like myself, stays hungry to achieve more in life. That you are satisfied with nothing, and therefore strive for everything. It’s that same thing that got me to where I am today.” Gary looked at Malek. “And I was right.”

  “You certainly were.” Malek smiled. This time he was the first to raise his glass for a toast. “To a new partnership.”

  “And a new friendship,” Gary added.

  The next day, Malek accompanied Gary to his office to set up accounts in the islands and to sign paperwork to legitimize the purchase of his cars and home.

  “The accounts are through the Turks and Caicos Banks of the Caribbean. These accounts are set up so that only you and I can access them,” Gary explained. “I cannot access them without you, and vice versa. I have made a deposit already with my own money to match what you said you have saved up. This partnership is contingent on a fifty-fifty split, so our initial investment is equal.”

  Gary nodded toward the statements Malek was looking over. “You can see proof of my deposit from the statement you have right there in your hands.”

  Malek looked over the statement and clearly saw the existing balance. “So how do I get my money to you?”

  “When you arrive back to the States, you can call a friend of mine. Her name is Ashley Wagner, an accountant in Detroit. She can wire your money to the secure account I have set up,” Gary explained. “I’ve already called her and explained everything to her, so she will be expecting you.”

  “Cool,” Malek said with a nod, his blank facial expression masking his disbelief.

  “Something wrong?” Gary asked, eyeballing the papers. “Did you find some type of discrepancy?”

  Malek paused for a minute before he spoke. “No, it’s not that.” He paused once more.

  “Then tell me. What is it?”

  Malek took a deep breath then looked up at Gary. “It all makes sense, but at the same time, it doesn’t. I mean, where I’m from, no way would cats share the wealth. The minute a nigga find out another nigga is seeking his wealth and riches, the last thing he does is bring him on board, because the first thing he does is arrange for his elimination from the game completely.”

  Gary put his hand on Malek’s shoulder. “My friend, that’s the difference between me and the men where you come from. I know that when I call myself helping someone out, in actuality, they are helping me out. We have each put ourselves in a position where one has no more to gain than the other, nor does one have any more to lose than the other. If for some reason our investments fail, then we both lose our money. You get me?”

  “Yeah, but still, why me, some dude you just met and don’t know from Adam? I mean, inviting me into your home was enough. Now you’re inviting me into your finances.”

  “So you’re a skeptic, huh?”

  “No, it’s not that. I’m just keeping it real. Back home, you have to prove yourself to get put on. I’ve done nothing, so I guess I’m just having a hard time understanding why you’d put me on.”

  “Like I told you, when I met you, I just knew there was something about you. You reminded me a lot of myself. My mother always said you know after one conversation whether you can really trust someone. Well, I knew I could trust you, Malek. Now all you have to do is trust me.” Gary held out his hand.

  Malek looked down at it, smiled, and then shook it.

  “So, as I was saying, I am coming back to the States at the end of the month, and when I arrive, we will choose some investments to get you started in. We will invest aggressively because we want to make as much money as we can while we’re young. I invested in Starbucks before it became such a huge brand, and now I’m sitting on piles of money, so we will look for companies that have future earning potential.

  “I know you’ve said that the money is your savings, so if you reach a point where you’ll need to withdraw money from the account, just contact Ashley. She’ll be your personal banker, and will set up the transaction for you without the IRS getting wind of it. It also puts your home and cars in the name of a dummy corporation so that the IRS won’t inquire about the attainment of your home.”

  “Sounds easy enough,” Malek said, papers still in hand. “Let’s make it happen.”

  “Good.” Gary pointed to the paperwork. “All I need you to do is sign here and here.” He pulled out a pen from his shirt pocket and handed it to Malek.

  Malek exhaled then signed. “Thanks, man. You don’t know how much weight this has lifted off my shoulders. I don’t have to worry about having dirty money lying around for the government to take, or worry about someone trying to rob me.”

  “No problem. Just make sure you stay off the corner. Don’t make me regret doing business with you.”

  “Never, fam,” Malek responded.

  “All right then, my friend, let’s go enjoy your last night in the Caribbean.”

  Halleigh had been asleep for about two hours, but Malek just lay in the bed. He couldn’t seem to get any sleep. He looked over at Halleigh and admired her beauty. It was true, what he had heard about the glow of a pregnant woman, because Halleigh looked even more beautiful. Pregnancy truly was becoming to her.

  The couple had partied on the island all night, and Malek was exhausted, but his mind was racing. The endless possibilities of becoming successful the legit way had him excited. Players in the game always talked about giving up the street life and going legit, although few ever really could overpower the allure of the game. Looking at the success of his new friend, Malek knew his chances were much better than most.

  Malek looked around the guest room. This is just what I need, he thought. I can really establish a good future for my child and Halleigh. Coming on this vacation and running into Gary had to be fate, as everything was falling right in line with his and Halleigh’s plan to leave the hood life for the good life.

  Feeling a little bit parched, Malek got up slowly, making sure he didn’t wake Halleigh, who was sleeping so comfortably. He headed downstairs. As he stood in the kitchen getting a drink, he heard voices in the living room. He put the glass down and headed toward the voices.

  Malek crept into the living room, and what he saw blew his mind. A totally naked woman—for some reason, he thought she was Brazilian—was performing oral sex on Marie while they lay on a bearsk
in rug.

  Marie moaned. She was resting on her elbows, her head thrown back and her legs opened wide. Gary was in back of the Brazilian-looking woman, sexing her while she partook of what Marie had to offer.

  Malek was in the doorway, and they didn’t see him. He wanted to leave and not watch, but his eyes couldn’t come off the erotic escapade.

  They all seemed to be on the same page as they sexed each other in perfect harmony. He watched as the perfect, perky breasts of the Brazilian woman swung against Marie’s inner thighs every time Gary gave her a thrust. He then looked at Marie, who now lay flat on her back, massaging her own breasts while getting oral pleasure.

  Malek was in complete shock. He had never seen anything so beautiful. It wasn’t like some nasty porno tape. It all seemed so well rehearsed and orchestrated. It was as if he was in a dream state as he watched.

  Marie sat up and turned around so that the woman could taste her from behind. With her back arched like a cat, she looked under her, in order to witness the woman’s tongue teasing her clit. That’s when she got a glimpse of someone in her peripheral view. She quickly looked toward the entrance and saw Malek standing there. She was startled by his presence, but she didn’t let the others know. She just continued to grind her body against the other woman’s face while looking seductively into Malek’s eyes. It seemed as though Malek’s voyeurism was the icing on Marie’s cake, as it turned her on even more.

  Malek, though intrigued at first, was now totally uncomfortable, knowing that Marie was watching him watching them. He felt like a pervert. He tensed up and started to back away, but that’s when Marie stood up and walked away from the woman, who was moaning and groaning in ecstasy from the treatment Gary was delivering to her.

  Marie made her way over to Malek. Everything in him told him to continue backing away, but he was hypnotized by the vision before him. He looked at the long, slender body and admired the tantalizing view.

  Marie, without saying a word, grabbed Malek’s hand and guided him into the party. When Gary and the woman saw that they had a new participant, they didn’t lose a step.

  Marie dropped down on all fours and grabbed Malek’s already rock-hard tool from the slit in his boxer shorts. Before he could refuse her offer, she’d taken him into her mouth. Malek quickly looked over his shoulder, making sure Halleigh wasn’t coming, then turned his attention back to Marie and watched her go to work on him.

  “Ohh, uhh, ohh,” the Brazilian woman and Gary moaned as they climaxed together.

  Before Malek knew it, the Brazilian woman left her position on all fours in front of Gary and joined in with Marie on the blowjob.

  “Mmm,” Marie moaned. The women were taking turns licking Malek and then each other’s tongues.

  “Oh shit!” Malek had never been more turned on in his life. He rotated his hips to the rhythm of the women’s tongues as they took turns sucking harder and fondling him. He knew it was only a matter of time before he exploded in their mouths.

  It wasn’t long before Malek saw Halleigh’s face. Not in the flesh, but in his mind. Suddenly a wave of guilt overtook him, and he pulled away from the two women, exiting the room the same way he had come. His conscience wouldn’t let him indulge any further. There was only one woman he ever wanted to take him to such a level of ecstasy, and that was Halleigh, the mother of his soon-to-be-born child.

  Malek ran back up the stairs and got in bed with Halleigh, this time waking her.

  “You’re still up, baby?” Halleigh asked as she cuddled under his arm. She could feel his heart beating rapidly. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine. Go back to sleep,” Malek said as he wrapped his arms around her. He couldn’t believe what he’d just witnessed. Even more so, he couldn’t believe what he’d just done. Although he felt guilt, he had to admit it was exciting. Gary was living the high life, and Malek definitely wanted a piece of it. All of it!

  Chapter Ten

  Halleigh and Malek hated to say goodbye to Marie and Gary. They had grown close in a short amount of time, but it was time for them to get back to the real world. Flint awaited them. And although it pained them to just think about landing on the soil that would take them back to that town, they felt better knowing they wouldn’t be there for long. They had their new home to look forward to.

  The couple wished they could pull strings like Gary had and just have someone go to their place, pack up all of their things, and deliver it to their new domain. But that wasn’t realistic. Besides, Malek had a couple of loose ends he needed to mend. So, Halleigh and Malek packed up all their things and prepared to say farewell to their new friends.

  Marie hugged Halleigh tightly and said, “Oh, take care of yourself, sweetheart.” She rubbed Halleigh’s stomach. “And take care of that baby too.”

  “I will,” Halleigh assured her, returning the hug. “I had so much fun. You take care too,” she replied. “Hopefully, once Malek and I get settled and situated after the baby is born, we can return.”

  “That would be great. Perhaps make it an annual thing.”

  “Sounds good to me,” Malek said as he came down the steps with luggage in hand. “That’s if Gary here doesn’t mind.” He looked at Gary, who was standing next to Marie.

  “Of course I don’t mind . . . partner.” Gary winked and shook Malek’s hand. “Farewell, my friend. We’ll be in touch.”

  “Yes, we will.” Malek nodded.

  Gary and Malek shook hands. Their goodbye was less emotional than that of the women. For one, they were men, and two, they knew they would be seeing each other again soon.

  “I’ve arranged a car for you. It’s waiting out front,” Gary told the couple. He and Marie walked them out to the car and bid them one last farewell as the car pulled off.

  Halleigh wasn’t looking forward to the long airplane ride. It was much more exciting heading toward the destination than returning from it. Besides that, she was beat and needed the comfort of a bed. She’d told herself she would sleep during the entire flight. That way, maybe it wouldn’t seem so long; but her discomfort wouldn’t allow her to doze off. To make the time go by, she decided to strike up a conversation with Malek. Finding a subject matter wasn’t difficult, since Gary had said something that piqued her curiosity.

  “What did Gary mean when he referred to you as his partner?” Halleigh said to Malek just as he was about to finally doze off.

  “Huh?”

  “Gary called you partner and then winked,” Halleigh told him. “He even said that he’d be in touch, like you have some business to take care of.”

  Just the thought of the business that he and Gary had to take care of put a smile on Malek’s face. “I was going to wait to tell you, you know, once the money got flipped and everything.”

  Before Malek could say another word, Halleigh snapped. “I knew it. I didn’t want to ask because I really didn’t want to know. But I knew Gary was someone involved in the drug business. And now he’s pulling you back in.” Halleigh slammed her fist against her knee. “And I have no one to blame but myself, insisting we stay there and—”

  “Halleigh.” Malek chuckled, cutting her off.

  “Oh, you think it’s funny, Malek? You think it’s funny that you broke a promise?” Halleigh’s eyes began to water.

  “Baby, listen,” Malek said in a serious tone. “You’ve got it all wrong. Gary doesn’t deal in the drug trade. He earned everything he has the legitimate way. He’s into stocks, investments, and all that good stuff, and—get this—he’s going to put me on. He’s gonna teach me the tricks of the trade so that I can be in his shoes someday, and hopefully soon.”

  Halleigh paused for a minute, staring into Malek’s eyes. “You serious?” she asked, wiping her eyes dry.

  “As a heart attack, baby.” Malek ran his hand down Halleigh’s hair. “I told you that you could trust me, and that I’d always take care of you. Believe that, baby. It’s happening. It’s really happening.”

  Halleigh couldn’t
do anything but smile and picture their new life together as he explained to her the business deal he’d struck with Gary. Although she didn’t quite understand all of the specifics, she was happy to hear it because now she knew for sure that Malek wasn’t going back to the streets. No longer would she doubt her man’s intentions. She could honestly say that for the first time, for real this time, she felt one hundred percent secure in her life and her future with Malek.

  “I’m so proud of you, baby,” she said.

  “To tell you the truth, so am I . . . so am I.”

  Malek and Halleigh entered their home, and although it was nothing like Gary’s, it was theirs and they’d missed it. The two never thought they’d see the day where they would miss anything about Flint, but they did.

  Malek and Halleigh shed all of their clothing. They were too tired to even shower before they passed out in their king-size bed. The two slept through the night and well into the morning before they were interrupted by the buzzing of the clock alarm on Malek’s cell phone.

  “Shut it off,” Halleigh moaned as she put her pillow over her head and returned to sleep.

  Malek reluctantly got up and turned off the alarm. He didn’t want to wake up yet, but he had business to handle that couldn’t wait. He had to put the nail in the coffin that would seal his and Gary’s deal.

  Malek got showered and dressed. Then he packaged all of his money from his safe into two briefcases. He kissed a sleeping Halleigh on the head before whispering, “I’ll be back.”

  Halleigh didn’t respond, but he knew she’d heard him, by the soft moan she released and the shift in her position.

  Malek got into his car and headed for Detroit to meet with Gary’s accountant, who would be his accountant, too, once he hit her with his million and change. As he drove, even though he hadn’t profited a dime yet, for some reason he felt like he’d already accomplished something. He was going legit. He knew Jamaica Joe would have been proud.