Deceitful Hearts

by A'zayler

  “Zoo Crew in the bitch,” Phoenix screamed.

  When Bear finally put her down, she fixed her clothes. Since she’d been the one putting in the most work, she still looked fine. Not even her hair was out of place.

  “Yo lil ass is wild as fuck!” Ollie screamed as he grabbed her in a playful headlock.

  “Her lil’ thug ass.” Tone said as he lifted her face to make sure she didn’t have any bruises.

  “She good, Tone. You know Phoenix can take a hit,” Tek said as he fixed the strap on her purse.

  “Man, y’all knew before y’all sent me over there that I was about to tag one of their asses. Y’all wanted to see me do that shit.” Phoenix smiled and sat back down.

  “We ain’t tell you to go over there showing your ass out here.” Zino laughed.

  “Man, I’m thirsty. I’m about to go grab me a soda or some water or something.”

  Phoenix got up and headed for the line of tents. She stopped short when she heard someone running behind her. When she turned around, she saw Ollie.

  “You know better than to think you’re going anywhere by yourself.”

  “I’m good. Ain’t nobody about to try nothing out here. You just don’t want nobody trying to talk to me. You ain’t slick.”

  “You damn right. So don’t get nobody fucked up out here.”

  Phoenix rolled her eyes and kept walking. When they got to one of the tents, there were two girls standing there eyeballing the fuck out of Ollie. It probably wouldn’t have pissed her off so bad if his was wasn’t standing there smiling back. Phoenix sucked her teeth and slapped him across the back of his head.

  “Girl you better watch your fucking hands.”

  “Nah, nigga, you the main one screaming don’t get nobody fucked up, your ass better mind your fucking manners before I knock those hoes out. Now try me.” Phoenix crossed her arms over her chest and leaned all of her weight on one leg.

  Ollie had the nerve to look at her and laugh. She would show his ass. She marched straight over to the girls before he could stop her. When she was in front of them she turned her body slightly so they could see, and pointed at Ollie.

  “That one right there is off limits. I advise y’all hoes to look the other way or close your fucking eyes.”

  They looked at her like she was crazy and mumbled shit as they were walking away.

  “Yo, you need to fucking chill.”

  “You don’t tell me what to do, Oliver. If you would act like you got some damn sense, I wouldn’t have to act so foolish.”

  Phoenix didn’t even wait for an answer. She grabbed her a bottle of water from the cooler and walked away. As the day went on, Phoenix began to enjoy herself. After the fighting incident and Ollie’s thirst traps, things had gotten pretty enjoyable. She had been laughing and chilling with her brothers, appreciating their down time. It wasn’t until members of a rival gang entered the park did things get a little shaky. It was clear by the way that they were mean mugging the Zoo Crew that they wanted problems. Little did they know, they were ready and willing to give them whatever they were asking, for.

  Tone had been trying to get at these same boys for a while now, so Phoenix already knew he wasn’t letting this opportunity go. It was about to get really ugly. Phoenix scanned the crowd quickly before sliding her purse into her lap. She needed to keep her gun close, just in case they made a move before she was ready. She watched them take a seat on the bleachers directly next to them, stealing glances every few seconds.

  Tone tapped her shoulder. “Aye, baby sis, you feel like doing me a favor?”

  “What’s up?” Phoenix was all ears. She’d do anything Tone asked her to.

  “Go throw our set in that nigga face.”

  Phoenix looked at Tone to see if he was serious before saying okay. She removed the safety from her gun before she stood up. Versus doing as he’d asked she proceeded past the other gang and went to the restroom. She snatched off all of her jewelry and threw it into her bag before exiting. Her eyes locked with Tone’s as soon as she came out. With a subtle nod of his head, he gave her permission to get it popping.

  As she would have on any other occasion, Phoenix walked as if she didn’t have a care in the world. She kept a straight face, giving away nothing that might cause uncertainty. One step… two... three… here. Phoenix put her hand so close in the dude’s face that it almost touched his nose and threw up the gang sign that was used solely by Bloods. Her action had more than likely gone unnoticed to anybody that wasn’t paying attention, but in their world it was war. That was one of the ultimate signs of insolence, and Tone knew it. That was his plan.

  Before she even had the chance to move her own arm it was slapped backward by the boy. He was now standing directly in her face being that he’d jumped up the moment she disrespected him. Unbeknownst to him, Phoenix wasn’t easily intimidated. As he was opening his mouth to say something, she was pulling her gun out. It was to his temple before he could form a sentence.

  “Caught you slipping.” She smiled as he glared at her.

  He was killing her a thousand times with just the look in his eyes. When he noticed his goons had their guns drawn and trained on her, he smiled.

  “Am I supposed to be scared of this little elementary school army you got behind you? Because I’m not.”

  “I’ ma murder you, bitch. Mark my fucking words.”

  “Is that a threat?” Tone’s voice commanded all of the attention.

  Phoenix looked over at him then the rest of the crew. They were all holding their guns and ready to set shit off. It even seemed as if the entire park was watching them to see what was about to unfold. The game had stopped and people were actually standing there waiting for something to happen.

  The guy looked from Tone to Phoenix. “It’s a fucking promise. If I was you, I would kill me now.”

  Tone looked at the boy, then around at the crowd before turning his gun slightly to the left and firing two shots. One landed in the center of a young boy’s chest while the other went between his eyes. His body fell with a thud as people started to run and scream.

  “Yo, what the fuck!” The gang leader screamed. He was so in a zone, he’d completely walked away from Tone and Phoenix to tend to his homeboy.

  “I’ll save you for later,” Tone winked before turning on his heels.

  He and the rest of the crew eyed the entire park as they made their exit, never looking behind them. Although he’d just killed an innocent boy, everyone at the park knew not to say anything. Things like this occurred almost every time the Zoo Crew went anywhere. There was so much fear in their hearts, Tone didn’t even have to worry himself about the cops. They would never tell. Too afraid that they might meet the same fate.

  Explicit language and threats were yelled at them from their rival gang as they made their way to their vehicles. Just before they sped out of the parking lot, Phoenix locked eyes with Jamar. He was standing near the restrooms with a confused look on his face. She wanted to believe that he hadn’t just seen what had gone down, but in her heart she knew that was a lie. All she hoped was that he wouldn’t hold it against her. Just maybe he would look over the fact that she was part of the deadliest group of individuals in the city.

  Chapter 6

  Jamar walked into his one-bedroom beachfront condo and threw his keys onto the table. Before going to take a seat on his sofa, he kicked off his shoes and left them by the doorstep. Quickly, he made his way over to his mini bar and drank some Crown Royal straight from the bottle. Normally he wouldn’t have done this, but today was different. He was stressed. After seeing what had gone down at the park, he definitely needed a drink. Never in a million years when he met Phoenix at the club would he have thought she was affiliated with the Zoo Crew. How in the hell did I miss this?

  He had been watching them for almost a month now, and she hadn’t been anywhere around. When his cousin, Rocko, asked him to come down to Florida and help him out with some things, that’s all he intended to d
o. His cousin was way too hot headed and needed someone with the appropriate amount of patience on his team. In the past few months, Rocko had already had a few encounters with the Zoo, and from the looks of things, would be in a few more before it was all over.

  After downing another few sips of the liquor, Jamar picked up his phone and headed to the shower. All he kept thinking about was the look on Phoenix’s face when she spotted him as her brother’s truck pulled away. She looked almost fearful, maybe it was uncertainty. Whatever it was, he didn’t like it. She didn’t deserve to be caught in the middle of the type of gang war that was about to take place.

  Jamar had to admit he was pretty impressed with the way she pulled her gun on Rocko. That shit was way too legit. While in the shower, Jamar tried to rid himself of the complexity of this situation, but he couldn’t.

  “Fuck, man!” he shouted out loud as he exited his bathroom.

  Steam filled the room as he sat down on his bed. He grabbed his phone and scrolled through his messages. He saw none that he wanted to return at the moment so he set it back down, only to pick it right back up. He was debating on whether or not to reach out to Phoenix. In his mind, he wanted to just let it go because this wouldn’t end well, but he’d already begun to like her.

  Forgetting her was going to be hard as hell. He hadn’t dated anyone in almost two years, and hadn’t planned on changing that. Jamar fell backward onto the bed and blew out a breath. Just as he picked up his phone to check the time it starting ringing. He paused for a minute trying to decide whether or not to answer. His interest outweighed his pride, so he answered.

  “Yo.”

  “Um, hey Jamar.”

  “What’s up, pretty lady?”

  He could hear the hesitation in her voice.

  “I was just calling to see what you were doing.”

  Now she wanna lie.

  “Shit. About to catch a few Z’s. What you got going on?”

  “Oh, okay, well just hit me back. I didn’t want nothing.”

  “Alright.” Jamar hung up.

  He needed to get his life together. Phoenix was about to be a hard obstacle to pass.

  *****

  Phoenix walked around the hardwood floor of her upstairs hallway as she mopped. It was close to two in the morning and she was up cleaning. Anytime stuff was on her mind she would either clean or work out, and since she didn’t feel like driving to the gym, she was cleaning. Even though she wasn’t really worried about Jamar not feeling her anymore, that still didn’t mean she wanted him in her business. Hell, this was her life, he could either take it or leave it, she didn’t really care. She just didn’t need that nigga getting loose lips.

  If he had been any of the local boys, she wouldn’t be thinking twice because they knew not to open their mouths. Jamar was different though, because he was from out of town. He didn’t have the first idea of how the Zoo Crew got down. The only logical thing left to do was kill the nigga. That was why she was up scrubbing floors now. She didn’t really want to do that to him, but Tone was family. For family, she’d do anything.

  “Why you still up? Cleaning up at that?” Tone asked as he took a seat on the stairs.

  “I just couldn’t sleep.”

  “Why not? Your ass is usually calling the hogs by now.”

  Phoenix shot him a bird before she went back to mopping.

  “For real though, Fe, what’s on your mind?”

  “You probably gon’ get mad if I tell you, so I’ma just keep it to myself.”

  “No I’m not, just tell me.”

  Phoenix stood still, looking at the picture on the wall in front of her without saying anything. Telling Tone couldn’t make anything worse, so she decided she’d just tell him. What did she have to lose?”

  “I met this dude at the club last weekend, and we hung out while y’all were in Daytona. I saw him today. Well, he saw me, pulling that gun on ole boy. He’s not from around here, so I’m a little worried,”

  Tone’s face was void of any emotion. As always. “Worried for what?”

  “That he might say something. I was thinking about just killing him to be on the safe side.”

  Tone laughed. “I dun turned your little ass into a monster.”

  “See, that’s why I started not to tell you. You think it’s funny, and I’m serious, Tone.”

  “Chill. I’m not laughing at you, baby sis, I’m laughing at the situation. You don’t have to kill him. I got people on the force that know me. Any shit he says will be thrown out, and if it isn’t, then you kill him.”

  Phoenix nodded her head. “Yeah. I guess you’re right. Thanks, because a bitch was stressing.”

  Tone’s face grew serious. “What I tell you about referring to yourself like that? Don’t let me hear that shit again.” He got up and walked back down the stairs.

  Phoenix shook her head. Tone was too serious when it came to the B word. He didn’t like it, and if he happened to call you that, you were on his shit list. He never really told Phoenix why he hated it so much, but he didn’t have to. His actions after hearing it showed her every time. He didn’t even allow anybody from the crew to use it in reference to women. Phoenix found it funny that even though he was a murderous tyrant, he still had morals.

  Once she’d finished talking to Tone, she didn’t even feel like cleaning anymore. She just wanted to crawl in her bed and go to sleep, so that’s what she did. The next morning when she woke up, she had a missed call from Kara. She wondered what she could possibly want, since she wasn’t on the schedule until Tuesday, and the day was Saturday. After lying in bed for a while she decided to call her back.

  “Hey, boo, you sleep?”

  “Just woke up, what’s going on?” Phoenix yawned.

  “Can you come in tonight? I know the schedule says Tuesday, but we’re shorthanded.”

  Phoenix thought about it for a minute before deciding to go. “All right. I’ll be there.”

  “Thank you so much, boo. See you later.”

  Phoenix hit the end button and tossed her phone back onto the nightstand. She lay there trying to go back to sleep before she realized that wasn’t happening. After brushing her teeth and washing her face, Phoenix wet her hands, ran it through her large curly fro, and headed down the stairs. When she got into the sitting room, Tek and Bear were sprawled out on the sofa sleeping, while Tone and Ollie were on the floor. Why they chose to sleep like that was beyond her being that they all had their own rooms with beds big enough for six people to sleep in.

  Clearly, they’d had a wild night because there were liquor bottles, half smoked blunts, and pizza boxes all over the coffee table. I should slap all of their asses. Phoenix looked at the mess they’d made and got mad. She marched over to where Tek’s head was hanging off the sofa and slapped him hard across his face. He stirred a little before opening his eyes. He hadn’t had the chance to say anything before she moved on to the next.

  Ollie… SLAP!... Tone… SLAP!... Bear… SLAP!... Zino… SLAP!

  “Man, what the fuck you doing, Fe?” Tek said.

  “SHUT UP!” Phoenix yelled while snatching the empty pizza box from the coffee table. “I am so tired of y’all. I am not no fucking maid. I clean up behind y’all every single day. The least y’all could do is help sometimes, dang!”

  “Your lil’ skinny ass.” Tone laughed.

  Phoenix shot him an icy stare. “Don’t fuck with me right now, Tone. Believe me when I tell you today is not your day. I will knock your yellow ass out.”

  The whole group fell quiet as she continued to grab their discarded materials. Once she was halfway down the hall and into the kitchen, she could hear them all laughing. They make me sick! She threw away the trash before going back into where they were. Phoenix could tell they were all trying to hold in their laughs, so she stood there with her arms crossed over her chest.

  “I want one of y’all to laugh while I’m standing here. Please do it. I want y’all to.”

  They looked around the ro
om at each other, but didn’t say anything. It was still funny to Phoenix that she was the youngest, yet they allowed her to be the oldest. Once she was satisfied with them not saying anything, she turned on her heels to go back to her room. She was stopped by Ollie grabbing her around the waist and flipping her over his shoulder.

  “Grab the belt, Tone. Grab the belt.”

  “Noooooo, y’all stop!” Phoenix yelled.

  “Hell nah, you was just acting all hard, we’re about to show your ass who’s in charge.” Tone snatched his belt out of his shorts that were on the floor and brought it down hard across her butt.

  “Ahhhhhh!” Phoenix yelped in pain.

  Tone did this a few more times, but a little lighter, before Ollie started spinning her in a circle. Once he thought she’d had enough, he laid her down on the sofa where Tek and Zino proceeded to tickle her. Phoenix was laughing so hard that tears were coming out of her eyes. She hated that she couldn’t stop laughing when all she wanted to do was cry. She hated being tickled. That was almost as bad as Tone hitting her with the belt.

  “All right, all right. That’s enough,” Bear intervened. “Come on, Phoenix, get up.” He lifted her from the sofa by her waist and stood her to her feet.

  Phoenix was a still a little mad at them for being childish, but she had to admit the entire ordeal was funny. They all sat around laughing as she tried to catch her breath.

  “I hate every single one of y’all except Bear.”

  With that, she turned and headed up the stairs. Thank God none of those idiots she shared a house with followed her. After closing her door, she slid to the floor behind it and just sat there for a minute. Her eyes darted over to her alarm clock, checking the time. It was almost one in the afternoon. She needed to get moving if she wanted to stop by the mall before going in to work tonight. She dressed quickly in a short pink skater dress and sandals and ran her hands through her hair with her natural hair products before pushing it up into a wild bun and putting her pink and yellow turban around it. After applying a minimum amount of make-up and jewelry, she grabbing her purse and phone.