by Saundra
When I arrived at Big Nick’s building, he had already notified all necessary building personnel of my arrival. After I checked in at the front desk, a butler took me all the way up to the twelfth floor just as I remembered from the last visit.
Big Nick opened the door up with a glass of Cognac in his hand and I could tell he was already in there, too. I smiled. “I see you gettin’ it in.”
“Baby girl, you know I gotta stay tipsy. You wanna take a shot,” he offered.
“Nah, I’m good. I need to keep my mind clear.” All my sorrow rushed to my face. I was fighting to be strong, but the pain was cutting me too deep. I could feel the blood rushing through my veins. My heartbeat was even different, the rhythm was off.
“Hey, hey, what’s with da tears.” Big Nick sat his glass down and walked over and hugged me. For a moment I lost all my pride. I fell in his arms and cried. His strong embrace made me even more vulnerable with the tears. I felt safe.
“Tell me what happened,” he encouraged me.
I straightened up as best I could and tried to fight the tears. “Shit so fucked up right now, Nick.”
“Lay it on me.” He guided me over to a sofa where I sat down. I needed to sit down; my legs felt like they would give out any minute.
“Well, you know Monica had a baby, Imani . . .” My lips trembled. “Well, she was kidnapped today. Imani was.” I wanted to clarify who was missing.
“What the fuck?” Big Nick looked devastated. Rubbing his forehead, he started to pace the room.
“And that is not all.” I sniffled. “Hood is missing. I don’t know if you have been watching the news? If you heard anything about those dead bodies they found. One of those guys was his homey. The other, well, I ain’t sure what to call him, they were supposed to be doing a deal, though.”
Big Nick was still circling the room and rubbing his forehead as if to make some sense out of everything I had laid on him. “Wait now, you say that Imani was kidnapped and Hood went missing while doing a deal?”
“Well, yes. I mean I don’t know for sure about Hood but Imani was kidnapped by some bitch who ass I beat a minute back.”
“So that was some revenge type shit.”
“You can say that.”
“Who was these niggas Hood supposed to do the deal with?”
“I don’t know much about them besides their names and that they from out of town. I just knew about the deal because I been pressin’ Hood about gettin’ out the game. Other than that, he don’t tell me nothin’ about what he do. But I got to find him and Imani before it is too late.”
“No doubt. I’ma call up some people and get some leads goin’, then we gone hit the street.” Big Nick was ready to cause bloodshed on the streets of Detroit. But I wanted to do this alone.
“Look, I appreciate it, but I got to do this alone. I can move better and get into places I need to easier if I’m alone.”
“Fuck that.” Big Nick looked at me like I was crazy. “I ain’t lettin’ you go out there alone. These streets are monstrous at the least.” He was telling me nothing I did not already know.
And I understood what he was saying, but I had to convince him otherwise. I stood up. “Listen, Nick, I can do this. All I need you to do is supply me with the right heat and I’ma make these niggas feel it.” I meant every fucking word. There was about to be hell to pay. “But I tell you what, I will call you if I need your help. Just let me do this by myself.”
Big Nick was looking at me like he was not sure if he could trust that I would call him. He knew I was Lester’s daughter and that meant I had my own back. “Girl, you just like your daddy,” he declared but finally agreed. “Okay, go ahead, but you better hit me if shit get sticky. And I mean that.”
“A’ight, I will. I promise.” I started searching the room with my eyes. “Now, where is my heat?” We needed to cut the conversation and get down to business. The clock was ticking and my nerves were along with it.
He gave me a killer grin. “I thought you would never ask. Follow me.”
I rose up off the sofa and fell into step behind him as we went into the huge room with the pool table. It was the same spot I suited up the last time he hooked me up. Spread out on the pool table before me was some of the heat that I would be using. The table was full of all type of handguns. Big ones. I’m sure he had more orders to fill.
“That is a Smith & Wesson.” I picked up the gun. He watched me fake-aim the gun. I wanted to see what my shots would be like. “That weight is just enough so that you can carry it concealed just like you want. Now this here is a Ruger SR 45. You gone love this one.”
I set the Smith & Wesson down as he passed the Ruger SR45 to me. I already owned a couple of Rugers that Big Nick had supplied me with, but I needed some new heat with new numbers on it. And just like the last time, he came through.
“I think I got just what I need. I’m already strapped wit’ a nine,” I confirmed.
“Damn, you ain’t playin’, is you?”
I gave him a look that answered his question, then I suited up. I had to get going. I hugged Big Nick good-bye and promised to call him if I needed him. But truth be told, I had no plans on calling him. I didn’t want to involve him in my mess. I would take care of this on my own.
Chapter 26
Before dropping in on Silk, I wanted to change into something more comfortable and darker, which would make me less noticeable. I threw on a pair of black Levi’s, a black tee, with some all-black Nike Air Shox. I also decided to change cars. I jumped in Hood’s white Bentley Continental; somehow riding in his car made me feel closer to him as I geared up to find out what had happened to him. Jumping inside and firing up the ignition, I almost jumped out of my skin as 2Chainz’s “Fuckin’ Problems” blasted out of the speakers. I had told him time and time again to turn that shit down when he got out. I guess he never listens. I smiled thinkin’ about the way I had just jumped. You would have never thought I was the same chick that had robbed and killed in the past.
When I arrived at the location where Silk was supposed to be staying, I assessed the area then the house once I confirmed the address. The house was a little brick ranch-style flat sitting at the back of a dead-end street. Why would his dumb ass rent a house on a dead-end street? I guess he wanted his enemies to surround him. Stupid. I parked a few houses down on a portion of the street that was dark. Some of the streetlights were out, which worked fine for me; it would be hard to notice much. This area was not the Bentley type: The last thing I needed was for someone to try to steal my only ride or me have to waste a bullet on a fool for trying to carjack me. Either way I had business on this street, so I parked and jumped out.
I made my way around the back in search of the back door. I figured I could ease my way inside without being noticed. Clearly Silk’s punk ass was scared of the dark because he had all the lights on in the house. Every room in the house seemed to be lit up. Maybe he had company, but the house was quiet, so he seemed to be alone. Plus the information that I had received said that he would be alone. I was almost to the back door when the ground sucked me in. I had stepped into a big black hole. I almost screamed but I kept my composure and covered my own mouth. I could not believe this cheap-ass dude would not get a hole that deep filled. I could have easily broken my leg, but I caught my balance before putting too much weight on the leg that had been ravaged by the hole. After dusting myself off, I made my way to the back door.
I reached to my waist and pulled out the Ruger for protection. Niggas be thinking they tough so the heat was reassurance to get some to act right.
I had a key in my back pocket that opened most door locks, but before reaching for it, instinct told me to try the doorknob. I reached out and touched it, then slowly and very lightly turned it. The knob twisted all the way. The door was unlocked! I could not believe my luck. Did he think he was in a gated community? Being this stupid, he deserved what he got.
Stepping inside the back door put me directly into the kitc
hen. Talk about a slob. There were dirty dishes everywhere. Bud Light cans were scattered about the counters and there was no kitchen table. And what the fuck was that sour smell? It was clear the garbage had not been out in days. My nose burned and my insides turned inside out. I fought back the bile that was rising in my throat. Ugh.
Slowly and very quietly I stepped out of the kitchen and onto an olive green carpet that led down a short hallway. The house was quiet but the farther I got down the hallway, I could hear a television. Then I saw a big opening coming up and I knew that had to be the living room. Approaching the living room, my heart started to beat faster. I was nervous. Sticking my head inside, I saw Silk—well, I saw his head. His back was facing me as he was sitting in a worn brown recliner.
I wasted no time creeping up behind him. I didn’t make a sound so he must have sensed my presence. He jumped and turned around, but he was not quick enough because before he could say spit, I had my left arm wrapped around his throat with the Ruger to his skull.
“If I were you, I would sit very still,” I whispered in his ear. I don’t know why I whispered because I knew we were alone.
“Bitch, if you knew what best for you, you would get that gun from my head.” I could not believe his audacity. Calling me a bitch like I was some common chick. Like I did not have heat cocked at the back of his brain.
“Nah, nigga, if you knew what was best for you, you wouldn’t call me a bitch.” I tapped him on the back of the head with the gun to remind him it was there. “Now where is Felicia? And don’t lie to me.”
“How da fuck should I know where dat hoe at?”
“Look, nigga.” I pressed the Ruger to his temple. “Don’t fuck wit’ me because I will put one of these bullets in your head. Now just tell me where Imani is so I can get her back.”
“Who da fuck is Imani?” he asked. He actually sounded like he was clueless as to the question. But I was not ready to believe him yet.
“My niece, motherfucker!” I yelled. “Felicia, that bitch you messin’ with, she took my niece. And I want her back before dead bodies start piling up,” I threatened, and I was ready to make good on that threat.
“I ain’t got shit to do with that. You need to call that bitch. I don’t kidnap kids and shit.” For some reason I believed him. I just still could not believe that bitch would come up with something like this. Not all by herself. After I was done with her, she would hate the day she ever decided to fuck with my family.
Now there was the question about Hood. I was more than sure that Silk knew what had happened to him. He was sitting in the recliner eyeballing me. I could tell he was wondering when I would bring Hood up. He also had killing me up his sleeve. I could tell his mind was racing trying to figure out his next move to take me down. But I was staring at him watching his every move and not once did I blink.
“Where Hood at? And I urge you not to fuck wit’ me.”
“Ha, ha, ha, ha.” He started laughing. This nigga was psycho, he almost looked like the Joker. His evil-ass grin was that wide minus the makeup. “I knew you were going to ask me that. Actually I could not wait. I hated that nigga from the first time I met him.” He stopped laughing and whipped the grin off his face. “How about you tell me where you think he at?”
I swallowed hard. That question caught me off guard. I could not believe he had the nerve to request that. Without warning, I took my Ruger and smacked him across the jaw with it. Blood flew out of his mouth and some down his throat; he coughed long and hard to keep from choking on it. I stood back and watched him catch his breath.
“Fuck you, bitch,” he gurgled, his mouth still full of blood.
“No, fuck you, Silk. Now tell me where my husband at. Today is really not the day to be fucking wit’ me.”
“He dead, bitch. Nigga got just what he deserved. Yeah, he killed both of my partners, Dontae and Rico.” My eyes grew wide at the mention of Rico. How did he know about Rico? “Yeah, that nigga bragged ’bout killin’ my nigga Rico. Over yo stank ass. So you wanna know where he at? Find the closet, fucking dirt spot bitch . . .” He spat. I shot him in the knee, then took my gun and smacked him across the other side of his face. He screamed in agony for a good five minutes. I stood there and watched him. I couldn’t kill him yet. I needed to find Felicia. And I needed him to tell me. Besides, something told me he was lying, Hood was not dead. If he was, I was sure I would know it in my heart. This nigga was lying, he was not the man in charge; Monty was.
“Look, I’m through fucking playing wit’ yo ass. Tell me where Felicia at. She yo bitch so I know you know where she be kickin’ it at.”
“I ain’t tellin’ you shit. So why don’t you shoot me and get the fuck out.” Talk about stubborn, this nigga was it. He sittin’ in that recliner bleeding from the knee and mouth still tryna get smart. How he gone order me to kill him then put me out? Ha, he had some nerve, but it was time he really realized who was in charge. Clearly he had no real idea what I was capable of. Me putting a bullet in him was the least of his worries. I could think of something a whole lot more sinister and painful. He did not want to fuck with me.
“You know, Silk, I have given you ample chances and been very nice to you. But you continue to test my patience. Now I told you when I first got here that Felicia has my niece and I want her back.” A tear slid down my face. I was getting emotional.
“So here is what I’ma do for you to help you out.” I went inside my back pocket and pulled out a hunting knife that belonged to Hood. Hood was not a hunter, but he was a killer and sometimes he used different tools to finish the job. This hunting knife happened to be one of them. I was prepared to share it with Silk to get what I wanted.
I pointed the knife in his direction so that he could get a good look at. “If you do not tell me where I can find Felicia. . . .” I surveyed the knife myself. I could only imagine the damage it would do. And I knew that Silk was no stranger to knives with that cut he had running down the side of his face. I continued my proposition. “If you don’t tell me where Felicia is, I’m going to take this knife and chop your dick OFF!” I screamed like a mad woman. “But I’m not going to take time to pull your pants down to do it the proper way. Nooo. . . .” I shook my head from side to side. “No, I’m going to take this knife and stab your dick with it and once it’s in there really good, I’m going to pull it out then cut through your pants until I get to your pelvis area. Then I’m going to cut it off from your balls and put it in your MOUTH!” His facial expression was blank. So I made up my mind to show him I had no more time to waste.
I headed toward him with the knife in position to hit my mark. Right before I made the landing, Silk screamed. “Wait, wait, I’ll tell you.” Just like that he read off the address to me. As fast as he said it without stuttering, I knew he was not lying.
“See, that wasn’t that hard now, was it. And guess what, for that you get to live.” The look on his face was pure relief. He started to breathe again. I could see his shirt moving because for a minute it had stopped. I guess he was so nervous about me cutting off his manhood that he froze. I turned around as if to walk away and just like I thought, I felt Silk trying to move. I turned back to him in record time.
“Singing you a lullaby, bitch,” I said, then put two bullets right between his eyes. You see, I knew he would try that. Did he really think I would walk away from there with him alive? Dummy. It just felt good to fuck with him to make him believe that he had a chance to live so that he could possibly kill me. Hilarious. Too bad I didn’t have time to laugh. Others had death waiting on them.
Chapter 27
Breaking into Felicia’s spot seemed to be risky once I saw her building. I knew it was some condos because Silk had said condo 356. I had just assumed it was made like some outside apartments. However, it turned out they were located inside the building. I had to go in then use the elevator. There were no back doors, only balconies, so I had one way to get in unless I wanted to climb up three flights. There was no way I risking
falling trying to get up some tricky-ass balcony plus risk being seen by some nosy neighbor.
Instead I decided on using the old credit card break-in trick. That was risky, too. Not being able to see inside the condo I had no clear vision of where she was at inside. Or if she was inside at all, because I had no idea what she was riding in. Some cars were inside the garages and some were sitting out on the street but I was clueless. The credit card was my only real hope of getting inside, so I went with what I knew. My heart pounded as I slid the card in and, as quietly as possible, I worked it and prayed that I didn’t mess this up. I had to get the upper hand on her and, more important, I did not want Imani to get caught up in whatever jumped off.
Finally, the lock snapped open and I was inside the front door that led me into a hallway. The condo was quiet; I didn’t even hear a television going. I was relieved that I had made it inside undetected but worried that they had run off. Down the hall to the right, I peeked inside the living room. I looked around and noticed that Felicia had the place decorated really nice. Coming from the Brewster-Douglass in that rat hole apartment she had been raised in, I knew she was doing better now. She had a bunch of brothers and sisters and they never had shit growing up. That’s part of the reason she turned into a hoe so young. On an end table next to her loveseat there was a picture with her and Charlene at the club, of course.
I had not seen one glimpse of Charlene since I killed her and I must admit I didn’t miss that selfish hoe. Felicia pulled me from my thoughts when she yelled out, “Silk, is that you babe?” I guess she had heard me come in. I was startled for just a second. The space was open—there was no place to hide—but even before I could, she was standing in the living room.
Shock graced her face: She was speechless for just a moment. I pointed the Smith & Wesson with the silencer attached at her.
