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| NO WAY OUT |
LORD HELP ME
“Welcome to McDonalds. May I take your order,” Nancy asked the overweight
man that stood across the counter from her.
“Yeah, let me get a number one with extra pickles.”
“And your drink?”
“Let me get a coke with no ice,” the greedy man said with authority.
“Coming right up sir,” Nancy said politely as she went to get the big man’s
fries ready.
Nancy couldn’t stop looking at the clock because she only had thirty minutes
left until she got off. Being five months pregnant didn’t help, since her back
was aching. Needless to say she couldn’t wait to get off her feet.
“Thirty minutes and I’m gone,” she kept telling herself.
“Thank you. Come again,” Nancy said nicely as she handed the big man his
food.
“Hi. Welcome to McDonalds. May I take your order,” she asked playfully.
“Bitch stop playing with me and get my food,” Dave snarled smelling like
strong Vodka.
“Nine piece nuggets with fries again,” Nancy asked rolling her eyes.
“Isn’t that what I ask for every night,” he replied coldly.
“Well I’m sorry Dave, but it won’t hurt you to tell me what you want again”
“I don’t like to repeat myself. Now go get my fucking food,” he said with ice in
his voice.
“I’m sorry but you’re going to have to pay for your food tonight because my
manager is still here. You came too early,” Nancy said in a light whisper.
“Bitch you must be crazy. I ain’t paying for shit,” he yelled way louder than he
had to.
“But Dave my manager is still here,” she pleaded.
“Fuck him I’m your manager. Now go get my food or else,” he warned.
“I can’t stand this motherfucker,” Nancy mumbled under her breath as she
went to go get his food.
“I don’t know why you put up with that shit,” Nancy’s manager whispered as he
walked pass.
“I don’t know why either,” Nancy said to herself as she filled an empty cup to
the top with sprite.
“Damn hurry the fuck up. Does it look like I got all day?”
“Dave I’m five months pregnant and I only got two feet, not to mention that I’m
the only one in this relationship with a fucking job,” she shot back.
“Bitch, how dare you talk to me like that? I should smack the shit out of you.
You know ain’t nobody trying to hire a convicted felon. What, you want me to
go back to the streets and risk my freedom? You want me standing on the
corner at all times of the night? Huh? If I get locked up again I’m going
upstate. The eight months I spent on Riker’s Island was bad enough. You
want me to get back into that lifestyle,” Dave asked hoping she didn’t call his
bluff.
“Baby you know I don’t want you back out there in those streets,” Nancy said
feeling sorry for the worthless man standing in front of her.
“I just need a little help,” she said handing Dave his food.
“You know I love you baby. I’m outta here. Call me when you get home,”
Dave said as he made his way towards the exit.
“I don’t know how you put up with an asshole like that all day,” the manager,
Mr. Wiggins, said wiping down the counter.
“I love him, but I hate him at the same time. Plus he told me that if I ever left
him, he was going to kill me and I believe him,” Nancy said looking a little
shook.
“Kill you,” Mr. Wiggings asked in disbelief. “Child please, all that punk needs
is a nice ass wiping. Just call the cops and put his punk ass in jail if he put his
hands on you.
“I thought about calling the cops, but that would be like sending another black
man back to slavery, cause prison ain’t shit but modern day slavery. I would
never send one of my people back to slavery no matter what he or she has
done.
“Yeah that’s true, but you can’t just sit there and let him do whatever he wants
to you just cause you don’t want to put him in jail,” Mr. Wiggings stated plainly.
“Yeah, you’re right, but sometimes I just don’t know what to do.”
“Don’t even worry about it sweetheart, you’ll figure it out. Why don’t you go
home a little early and get some rest.”
“Thank you, Mr. Wiggings. I could definitely use it,” Nancy said as she
grabbed her things and quickly made her exit.
Nancy sat on the train, while thinking and feeling depressed. She was five
months pregnant, and didn’t even have a bib for her baby yet. A million
questions ran through her mind as she sat on the train.
Nancy wanted Dave to change his ways and start to help out a little more, but
deep down inside she knew he wasn’t shit and would never change. When
Nancy stepped into the nasty apartment she lived in, she noticed her mother
and her mother’s boyfriend sitting on the raggedy couch watching T.V.
“Hey what’s up ya’ll?”
No answer.
Instead of arguing Nancy went straight to her room and closed the door. She
hated living with her mother, Jasmin, and she really hated being in the house
when her mother’s boyfriend, Rick, was there. Ever since her mother started
messing with Rick, Rick has been slowly but shortly turning Jasmin against her
daughter. It was as if he wanted her all for himself.
As Nancy got her under clothes ready for when she got out of the shower, she
heard a sharp knock on the door. Before she could ask who it was, the figure
had already entered her room. Nancy was getting ready to bark on somebody
for just busting in her room, until she realized that it was her best friend, Coco.
Now Coco was what you called a project Barbie, and most of all she was a
gold digger. She ran away from home at sixteen and has been taking care of
herself ever since.
“Damn girl you still working at McDonalds,” Coco asked already knowing the
answer.
“Yeah unless you got a better way for me to make some money,” Nancy
countered.
“Now that you mention it, I do got a new money scheme”
“No, I’m not going out with no drug dealer and using him for his money, if that’
s what you were thinking,” Nancy told her.
“Girl that’s a side hustle, and I’m talking about a permanent hustle,” Coco
confirmed.
“So what do I have to do? Because I know ain’t nobody just going to give us
no money,” Nancy joked.
“Well I was chilling at club Spirit the other night when some guy named G-
money came up in the club throwing money around like it was nothing”
“I already told you I ain’t messing around with no drug dealer,” Nancy cut in.
“Wait let me finish,” Coco said rudely as she continued. “So I’m in the club
minding my business, when out of no where one of the men from G-money’s
entourage tapped me on the shoulder, and started to tell me how beautiful I
was. I was thinking
in my mind, “Yeah whatever.” He then handed me a card with a number on it,
and then he whispered in my ear, “If you need a job, call this number within
forty-eight hours. In forty-eight hours this number will no longer be in
service.” Then before he left, he whispered in my ear again but this time he
said, “You got some nice titties.” Then he walked off.”
“Oh my God, you’re a prostitute now,” Nancy joked playfully.
“Fuck you bitch,” Coco countered as she playfully pushed her friend.
“So what happened,” Nancy asked wanting to hear the rest of the story.
“Aight, so the next day I called the guy just to see what kind of job he was
talking about. So he told me to meet him at this chicken spot in Harlem. So as
I’m waiting at the chicken spot an all black Range Rover pulled up, and
beeped the horn. As I approached the vehicle, the back window rolled down
and inside of the backseat sat G-money. So I got in the backseat with G-
money, and we talked for about thirty minutes.”
“So get to the point,” Nancy cut in once again.
“Basically he told me that he needed a few chicks to bag up some coke for
him and his partner Ali. I was like cool no problem, so that’s what I’ve been
doing. I can plug you in if you want?”
“Are you crazy? I can’t be around a whole pile of coke like that. Those fumes
would kill me and the baby,” Nancy stated plainly.
“They give you a mask to cover your mouth and nose”
“Thanks, but no thanks. I’ll just stay at Mickey D’s,” Nancy said thinking slow
money is better than no money.
“Girl you’re going to be flipping burgers for the rest of your life. G-money is
paying $100 dollars a night, so you do the math. No job you get is going to
pay you a hundred dollars a day. Shit you can do both, work at McDonalds
and get ya’ side hustle on.”
“Nah, it sounds too risky. The cops can raid that place at anytime. I can’t
afford to take a chance like that.”
“Nancy, with me and you both doing that we can afford to get us an
apartment; then you can finally leave that loser, Dave. That nigga ain’t gonna
never be shit but a bum ass nigga and you know it.”
“You know Dave ain’t letting me go nowhere,” Nancy said letting out a light
chuckle.
“That muthafucka ain’t gonna do shit, but bring you down. The crazy part is
that you know this,” Coco said not understanding her best friend.
“It’s not that simple. If I told him that I didn’t want to be with him no more, he
would kick my ass and you know that,” Nancy stated plainly.
“That’s why you have to get up and bounce. Don’t tell that nigga shit. We
would just get our apartment and be out,” Coco said desperately trying to get
her best friend to at least think about leaving her mother’s apartment, and
most importantly leave that bum, Dave.
“Okay Coco I’ll think about it, but I ain’t making no promises.”
“I knew you would come to your senses,” Coco said playfully as she gave her
best friend a big hug.
“Easy bitch I said I’ll think about it, now get up outta here so I can hop in the
shower and get some rest. You know that I have to be to work early
tomorrow,” Nancy said escorting her friend to the door, so that she could get
some sleep.
G-MONEY
“What’s good my nigga. We gonna do this or what,” Skip asked getting
frustrated.
“Yeah let me light this spliff up real quick,” G-money answered lighting up the
finger thick blunt. “Now I’m read,” he said letting out a light cough as he and
his five man entourage hopped out of the Yukon, heading across the street to
the bodega on the corner.
When G-money stepped foot into the bodega, he noticed that the small store
was packed with customers. Immediately he went straight to the counter
skipping the long line.
“What’s up Oscar? You don’t look too happy to see me,” G-money said
blowing smoke in the Spanish man’s face.
“G-money what’s good? I was just about to call you,” Oscar lied from behind
the counter.
“So what happen? Ya phone got cut off? You don’t got no minutes? What?”
Before Oscar could reply a construction worker standing at the end of the line
decided he should voice his opinion. “Hey muthafucka I know you see this
long line back here,” he yelled out. G-money looked the construction worker
up and down, and then turned to Skip and gave him the go ahead nod.
Before the construction worker knew it Skip pulled out his .45 and broke his
nose, sending the big man crashing to the ground clutching his nose.
“Yo, everybody take whatever ya’ll want and get up out of here,” G-money
ordered as he watched the customers take whatever they wanted. Once the
last customer exited the bodega, Skip closed and locked the front door.
“Every month it’s the same thing, and you know Ali wants to get paid on the
first of every month,” G-money said putting his blunt out on Oscar’s shirt.
“Come on baby you know I wouldn’t fuck with you or Ali’s money,” Oscar said
attempting to sound firm.
In one quick motion G-money slapped Oscar twice, and then snatched him
over the counter.
“Yo, open up the freezer in the back,” he ordered as he watched his goons do
as they were told. “Listen to me carefully Oscar,” G-money said kneeling down
so that he could have Oscar’s full attention. “If I take you to that freezer you
ain’t coming back,” he warned.
“Come on. All that is not called for because I got the money behind the
counter,” Oscar announced through a pair of bloody lips.
“So give me the fucking money so I can go already.”
Oscar quickly scrambled to his feet to go fetch G-money his money. “Here you
go. Sorry about that,” Oscar said speaking with his head down.
“All the coke you sell out of this bodega and you still playing games like a
fucking kid? If Ali didn’t like you so much I would’ve been smoked ya’ stupid
ass,” G-money snarled looking Oscar up and down.
“I’m sorry G-money. I promise that something like this will never happen
again.”
“It better not! Have that protection money same time every month,” G-money
said as he and his crew exited Oscar’s bodega.
DETECTIVE NELSON
“Freeze! Put your hands where I can see them,” Detective Nelson yelled as
he aimed his .44 magnum at Ali and the Jewish man sitting next to him.
“Don’t even think about it,” Big Mel yelled aiming his twin .45’s at the Detective.
“Damn you scared the shit outta me,” Ali said as he gave the Detective a
pound. “Big Mel its cool, Detective Nelson was just joking,” Ali said to his
twenty-four hour bodyguard.
Ali paid Detective Nelson $20,000 every month to keep the FEDS off of his
ass and to keep his crew from behind bars. Detective Nelson also took care of
all of Ali’s competition. Detective Nelson would immediately shut down any
crew that was making money, and then let Ali put some workers in that same
spot. Ali had the master plan, and whoever didn’t like it just stayed broke and
hated from the side line. He was the boss and G-money was the under boss.
“I’m glad you came over here cause, I need to holla at you,” Ali said handing
Detective Nelson a brown paper bag full of cash.
“What’s on your mind?”
“I got a little problem. There’s these cats out in Brooklyn that call themselves
opening up shop. G-money’s been begging me to let him go handle that, but I
put him on hold because I don’t want to draw up too much attention. You dig?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it first thing tomorrow morning,” Detective Nelson
said as he stood up to leave.
“Aight. Let me know when you take care of that, so that I can send a few
workers up there with some packs (a small package of drugs).”
“No problem,” Detective Nelson responded.
“Yo, Big Mel show Detective Nelson to the door,” Ali ordered as he went and
continued his conversation with his Jewish lawyer.
When Big Mel returned, Ali noticed that he had a sour look on his face. “What’
s wrong,” Ali asked.
“I don’t trust that fucking cop. There’s something fishy about that mother
fucker.”
“I don’t trust him either, but we gotta do what we gotta do. You dig?
Everything with that white boy is strictly business; can’t have friends like him
because people like him will turn on you in a New York minute,” Ali stated
plainly.
“Just be careful boss man, cause I don’t like that fool,” Big Mel replied.
Big Mel’s job was to protect Ali from anything or anybody looking to hurt him.
Big Mel was an ex-high school line backer. The only problem was that he
wasn’t too smart, so people in school called him dumb. But on the streets he
was as smart as they came, and sharper than a thumb tack. Big Mel didn’t talk
much, instead he let his actions do all the talking for him.
“Yo Mel get G-money on the phone and tell him to make sure he has
somebody pick up that protection money from all of our spots before the week
is out,” Ali ordered.
I DON’T THINK THIS IS GOING TO WORK
“Only two hours left,” Nancy said to herself as she glanced at the clock, then
at the long line of customers standing in front of her cash register. Nancy
served two of her customers when she noticed Dave enter the restaurant.
From the look on his face she could tell that he was drunk.
“Hey baby what’s up,” Dave shouted loudly as he skipped the long line of
customers making his way to the front of the cash register. “Look at you,
looking all good and shit,” he said as he leaned over the counter trying to give
his girl a kiss.
“Baby you can’t do this while I’m at work,” Nancy said leaning back refusing to
give Dave a kiss.
“What,” Dave growled looking Nancy up and down. “Bitch I’m your man. I’ll
kiss you wherever the fuck I feel like it,” he snarled as he roughly kissed
Nancy on the lips. “Now let me get a double cheese burger, some fries, and a
sprite.”
“Okay baby I got you, but I’m gonna need you to step to the side so I can take
care of these customers first.”
“Fuck these customers. You serve your man first. You must’ve lost your
fucking mind,” Dave said loudly causing a scene.
Mr. Wiggins sat in his office in the back talking to his girlfriend on the phone,
when he heard a loud commotion coming from the front. “What the fuck is
going on,” Mr. Wiggins said to himself as he took a look at the surveillance
camera where he saw Dave acting a fool. “This muthafucka must’ve lost his
mind,” Mr. Wiggins said to himself as he headed to the front of the store to
see what all the commotion was about.
“Excuse me brother is there a problem out here,” Mr. Wiggins asked nicely.
“Old man this ain’t got to do with you, so mind your business before you get
knocked the fuck out,” Dave said with ice in his voice.
Mr. Wiggins let out a light chuckle before he spoke calmly. “Nancy your fired
get the fuck out of here and take your broke ass man with you.”
“Mr. Wiggins how can you do this to me?”
“I didn’t, you did it to yourself,” Mr. Wiggins countered smoothly. “All this
drama ain’t good for business.”
“What am I supposed to do now,” Nancy asked innocently.
“Ask your big mouth boy friend,” Mr. Wiggins replied feeling sorry for his best
worker.
“You ain’t right, I bust my ass everyday in this mother fucker for you. Now you’
re just gonna fire me like I’m a piece of crap,” Nancy said as tears ran freely
down her face. “You know what? I’m better than this, so fuck you and Ronald
McDonald . Both of ya’ll can kiss my ass,” Nancy snarled as she whirled on
her heels, and stormed out of the restaurant. When she made it to the train
station, she saw Dave standing there waiting for her.
“Dave don’t even say shit to me right now,” Nancy growled as she brushed
past Dave heading downstairs to the subway platform.
“Bitch who the fuck you talking to like that? I did you a mother fucking favor. I
know you ain’t want to work there for the rest of your miserable life now did
you?”
“Dave a job is a job. I don’t care where I’m working, as long as I’m getting
paid. But some people wouldn’t know shit about that now would they,” Nancy
countered looking Dave up and down, before she turned to get on the train.
“Well since money means so much to you, then I’m gonna get back on my
grind out here in the streets, and risk my life, and my freedom again,” Dave
said trying to make Nancy feel sorry for him like he always did.
“Dave honestly I don’t care what you do anymore,” Nancy said taking a deep
breath. “You only care about yourself, what the fuck we gonna do now? I don’t
know if you forgot, but I am pregnant”
“Bitch I know. You better watch your mouth,” Dave warned ready to put on a
show for the rest of the passengers on the train.
Instead of arguing Nancy just stayed quiet until it was time for her to get off of
the train. She knew that arguing with Dave was a no win situation, so all she
wanted to do was go home and take a hot shower.
“Why aren’t you talking to me,” Dave asked as he forcefully grabbed Nancy’s
wrist.
“Because I don’t feel like arguing with you tonight, that’s why.”
“Oh what you mad because I embarrassed you in front of your old ass
boyfriend, Mr. Wiggins?” Dave laughed as he staggered a little from all the
alcohol he consumed earlier that day.
“Sometimes you can be a real asshole. You know that,” Nancy said as she
noticed Coco standing in front of the building waiting for her.
“Bitch what I told you about your mouth,” Dave snarled through clenched
teeth.
“Same thing I told you about your temper,” Nancy shot back waving Dave off.
Before Nancy could take another step, she felt pain combined with a powerful
force connect with the back of her head. It took everything she had inside of
her to stay on her feet. Once Nancy regained her balance, she saw Dave
charging towards her.
“Bitch you ain’t going to be shit, just like your mother,” Dave said as he
stepped back, and hog spit in his baby mother’s face. Tears ran freely down
Nancy’s cheeks as she wiped the nasty spit mixed with phlegm from her face.
“You know what your problem is? You don’t have no respect for nobody but
yourself, but I’m about to teach you what happens when you disrespect
somebody,” Dave growled as he took his belt off, letting the buckle swing
freely. Before Dave got a chance to hit Nancy with the belt, Coco came to her
rescue.
“If you touch her with that belt your ass is going to jail tonight muthafucka,”
Coco said in an icy tone.
“Bitch you need to mind your business before you’re next,” Dave warned with
fire dancing in his eyes.
“Nigga please… I wish you would touch me, my brother would be up here so
fast you wouldn’t know what to do,” Coco huffed shaking her neck.
“Fuck your brother. I’ll do him like I just did this bitch.”
“My brother just came home from doing five years behind the wall. Please
don’t make me have to call him because it won’t be a pretty site…trust me,”
Coco threatened.
“Fuck you and your brother. I ain’t hard to find,” Dave slurred as he
staggered across the street, in the opposite direction.
“You okay,” Coco asked as she helped her best friend back to her feet.
“Yeah I’m fine,” Nancy replied feeling shit on the inside.
“I don’t know why you don’t leave that fool alone, all he’s gonna do is keep
treating you like a punching bag.”
“Yeah but he won’t let me leave,” Nancy responded as the two hopped on the
elevator of her building.
“What you mean he won’t let you leave? Bitch you better stop playing and get
lost on that clown. He don’t do shit but whip ya ass, take your money, and
blame you for all of his mistakes,” Coco said hating the way Dave treated her
best friend, especially while she was pregnant.
The two hopped off the elevator, and headed straight to the staircase. After
everything that had just went on the last place Nancy wanted to be was home,
so instead her and Coco sat on the steps in the staircase and continued their
conversation.
THE HOOD
“Yo slow this muthafucka down. Don’t you see the cops right there,” G-money
barked angrily.
“Man fuck the police,” Skip shot back stopping at the red light. “I’ll slap the shit
out of one of those crackers if they try to arrest me.”
“I don’t care about all that, just slow this muthafucka down when you see the
fuzz you dig?”
“I thought if anything ever went down we could call that faggot Detective
Nelson to get us out,” Skip asked.
“Fuck Detective Nelson. I don’t trust nobody that got blue eyes, you smell
where I’m coming from,” G-money asked taking a long swig from his bottle of
Henny that sat on his lap.
“I can dig it, but if you’re so worried about us getting pulled over, then why you
got a big ass bottle of Henny sitting on your lap?”
“Listen B, I’m a tell you like this.” G-money hogged spit out the window before
he continued. “I do this for all my niggas that’s locked up you dig? You know
how many muthafuckas in jail would love to be getting drunk right now? How
many of them would love to be getting high right now, getting money, and
fucking bad bitches every night? So that’s why I do what I do. It’s a fucking
war going on out here; us against the motherfucking police and right now we’
re losing. So I do this for all my niggas that’s in jail who went out for theirs.
This street shit is my life. All I know is money, drugs cars, hoes, jail, and
fiends…smell me? Its all a game and if I go to jail I lose understand? And I ain’
t having that.”
“Yeah I can dig it,” Skip replied as he double parked in front of Sumner
projects. “I hope this muthafucka don’t take all day.”
For some reason Brooklyn made Skip very uncomfortable.
“There’s that clown. Go right there. Pop the trunk so I can hit this fool off,” G-
money said as he slid out the passenger seat, and grabbed the duffle bag
from the trunk.
“Tray what’s goodie,” G-money asked giving the stocky man a pound.
“You know, regular shit,” Tray answered as he lead G-money into the building.
“Yo keep up the good work. Ali said every month your numbers been
increasing. Keep that up and you might get a promotion…smell me,” G-
money said handing Tray the duffle bag.
“Come on you know I gotta get this money by any means necessary,” Tray
capped as he handed G-money three large stacks of money.
“Aight I’m a swing back around here in two weeks to pick up that gwop.
Everything’s already packed up for you, so all you gotta do is hand out those
packs, and make sure the count don’t come up short, aight?”
“You ain’t gotta tell me twice,” Tray said as he gave G-money a pound, then
headed up the stairs.
As G-money made his way back to the car, he was cut off by some hood rat
he piped a few weeks ago.
“What’s up G-money? I thought you was going to call me,” the hood rat huffed
standing pigeon toe.
“Yeah I was, but I got caught up with some other shit ma. You know how that
go,” G-money said coldly as he brushed past the young lady.
“Bitch ass nigga,” she mumbled once G-money was out of ear shot.
G-money was very popular when it came to the women. Most girls said he
reminded them of the rapper, Jim Jones because of the way he wore his hair
braided and kept his face unshaved.
“Who was that bitch,” Skip asked pulling out into traffic.
“I don’t even remember her name”, G-money said before laughing hysterically.
“Another one bites the dust huh?”
“You know I don’t play no games,” G-money boasted as he flipped open his
ringing cell phone.
“What’s up Coco,” he answered.
“Hey G-money, what’s poppin,” Coco asked in her sexiest voice.
“Making my rounds for the day. Why what’s up? You wanna get up with me
later,” G-money asked looking at his watch.
“Yeah that would be nice, but I was really calling because I need a favor.”
“A big favor or a little favor,” G-money huffed.
“Ummmm…..medium,” she giggled.
“Aight what is it?”
“Well its like this, I got this friend of mine who’s having money problems, so I
was wondering if you could maybe let her work with me and the other girls
bagging up?”
“I got you, babes, just bring her with you on Friday aight?”
“Wait its one more thing….she’s pregnant.”
“I don’t give a fuck. It ain’t my baby,” G-money said coldly before he
continued. “If she want to take that risk its on her, you dig? I’m just here trying
to provide jobs for those who need employment because you know the man
still isn’t giving us no opportunities or jobs, especially all the people with
felonies.”
“You right about that shit,” Coco agreed.
“But don’t worry about that because my girl is a soldier, and neither one of us
is trying to work for the white man.”
“You know I can dig it; but yo, I’m a little busy right now. Be ready at ten cause
I’m a come through and scoop you up.”
“Don’t worry daddy you know I’m gonna be ready. See you at ten.”
“Aight one.”
* * * *
“Aight girl I got you in there, so now all you gotta do is get this money,” Coco
said giving Nancy a high five.
“Thanks girl, but you know I’m only doing this until I save up enough money so
that I’m comfortable. Once I’m comfortable I’m gonna go find me another job.”
“Fuck getting a job,” Coco said aggressively. “Why get a job working for the
white man when instead you can work for your own people?”
“Because working with my people will fuck around and have me behind bars
with the rest of my people,” Nancy said sarcastically.
“Nancy you just a scaredy cat,” Coco joked turning on the stereo.
“Thanks again for letting me stay here until I get my shit together. You’re a
life savor,” Nancy said as Fantasia hummed through the speakers.
“Girl don’t mention it, but you know that fool Dave is going to go crazy when
he can’t find you.”
“The only thing Dave can do for me is kiss my ass,” Nancy said glad to finally
be free.
“He can kiss my ass too while he’s at it,” Coco added as the two friends
laughed. “Girl let me go get my ass in this shower so I can be ready by the
time this fool gets here.”
“Who’s that,” Nancy asked nosily.
“G-money with his fine ass. I hope he ain’t looking too sexy tonight because I
might have to go old school on him,” Coco said seductively licking her lips.
“Yuck! You’re so nasty.”
“Oh yeah I forgot that you’re a Christian. That’s why you’re pregnant now,”
Coco said jokingly as she headed towards the bathroom.
Nancy didn’t respond, instead she just laughed it off and stuck up her middle
finger.
* * * *
“Yo who the fuck is Coco,” Skip asked slowing down for the yellow light.
“One of my P.Y.T’s (pretty young thing),” G-money said lighting up another
blunt.
“Do she got a friend,” Skip asked wanting a piece of the action.
“I don’t know, but I’ll find out for you tonight. Oh shit pull over real quick,” G-
money said as he took off his shades making sure his eyes weren’t playing
tricks on him. Immediately Skip pulled over across the street from the dice
game.
“Yo tell me that’s not Calvin right there.”
“Yeah that’s that bitch ass nigga right there,” Skip confirmed. “What that clown
owe you some money or something?
“Yeah he fucked up some money back in the day, but Ali told me to give him a
pass. He just told Calvin never to come back on the block. Now this nigga
must think something is sweet,” G-money said as he slid out the passenger
seat.
As soon as Calvin saw G-money and Skip coming across the street, he
already knew what time it was. “Look G-money its not what you think,” Calvin
said copping a plea. “I was just leaving.”
“So you mean to tell me you wasn’t over here rolling dice,” G-money asked
getting all up in Calvin’s face.
“Nah I was just passing through,” Calvin lied afraid to make eye contact with
the killer standing in front of him.
“How much money you got on you?”
“Not much why?”
“Listen I ask the questions around here chump,” G-money said poking Calvin
in his head with his index finger.
“I got about five hundred on me”
“Let me see that real quick,” G-money said nonchalantly.
“What my money,” Calvin asked some what confused.
“You must think it’s a game,” G-money growled searching through the man’s
pockets vigorously, until he found what he was looking for.
“Damn that’s fucked up G-money,” Calvin said in a light mumble.
“What,” G-money barked loudly causing Calvin to flinch.
“You’re lucky I caught you instead of Ali,” G-money said as he chuckled
lightly. “Enjoy the rest of your day brother,” G-money yelled over his shoulder
as he walked off. “I almost forgot to give this muthafucka a warning,” G-money
said as he clutched his .45 and made a U turn. Before he got a chance to
even do anything Skip had already sent a hot slug into Calvin’s hip bone. G-
money watched Calvin lay on the ground holding his hip. “Stay the fuck off the
block next time,” he chuckled as he and Skip hopped back in the ride and
peeled off.
* * * *
“How do I look,” Coco asked stepping out of the backroom.
“Like a whore as usual,” Nancy replied half-jokingly. Coco stepped out of the
backroom wearing some black spandex fitting jeans, a black wife beater,
along with some red four inch heel pumps to match her red headband that
added more features to her pretty face. Coco favored Mariah Carey except
her skin was a few shades darker.
“Yeah it’s on tonight,” Coco said excitedly as she poured herself a drink.
“I don’t know why you love going out with drug dealers and criminals all the
time,” Nancy said playfully.
“Well at least they don’t beat my ass,” Coco yelled over her shoulder as she
headed out the door.
Nancy sucked her teeth. “Fuck you. Ain’t no man going to put their hands on
me again.”
“I know because your girl is gonna always have your back, and hold you
down,” Coco said planting a kiss on her best friend’s forehead. Coco’s ringing
cell phone interrupted the best friend bond.
“Hello,” she answered.
“Yo I’m downstairs ma. Don’t have me waiting all day,” the voice on the other
end said.
“Okay I’m coming down right now,” Coco said closing her cell phone. “Okay
girl I’m out. Don’t wait up for me.” Coco grinned as she stepped out the front
door.
As soon as Coco stepped out of the building she spotted G-money’s black
Range Rover. G-money hopped out of the Range sporting a snug fitting
thermal shirt, with his jeans slightly hanging off his butt, along with a fresh pair
of black Nike boots. The only jewelry that he wore was a nice watch, a chunky
bracelet, and two diamond studded ear rings.
“Hey babes what’s up,” Coco said as she gave G-money a hug followed by a
kiss on the cheek.
“Waiting to get up with ya sexy ass,” G-money said cupping both of her ass
cheeks in the middle of the street so everyone could see.
“You got your license on you?”
“Of course I do. Why what’s up,” Coco asked curiously.
“Because you’re driving that’s why,” G-money said tossing her the car keys.
When Coco spotted the half empty bottle of Hennessy laying on the
passenger’s seat, she already knew what time it was.
“So where we headed,” Coco asked pulling out into traffic.
“It’s this nice Spanish restaurant called El Conde. I think its on 176th St and
Broadway in the Bronx.
G-money turned up the volume on the new Lil’ Wayne mixtape, pushed his
seat back, and just stared out the window, watching the blur of faces pass by
block after block. Before stepping out the vehicle G-money made sure he
grabbed his .45 from under the seat and placed it in the side of his
waistband. His pants hung so low that everyone in eye site could see the
firearm.
“Come on B. I’m hungrier than a muthafucker,” G-money huffed as the two
entered the restaurant.
“You don’t think they might call the cops if they see that gun,” Coco asked
suspiciously.
“Nah,” G-money chuckled. “As much as I spend in this muthafucka they would
be crazy to do some shit like that.”
The couple took a seat directly in front of the window. G-money always liked
the window tables so that he could see everything. Immediately the waitress
brought him and his lady two apple Martini’s.
“Yo let me get steak with rice and beans.”
“I’ll have the same,” Coco added as she handed the waitress back the menu.
“You going to love the steak,” G-money stated taking a sip from his drink.
“G can I ask you a question?”
“Yeah what’s up?”
“Why do you act so thuggish all the time?”
“Act thuggish,” he echoed loudly. “Listen sweetheart ain’t shit about me a act,
you understand? I been doing this since niggas was rocking high top fades
and playing hop scotch you dig?”
“I didn’t mean it like…”
“You better do your history, before you open your mouth. I’m band from
almost every club in New York. My name rings bells in every jail. I’m known
by the whole NYPD, so believe me sweetheart what I do is no act”
“Come here baby you need a hug,” Coco said playfully as she got up and
gave G-money a hug and a kiss.
“Don’t get it twisted like I’m bragging because that ain’t shit to brag about. It’s
just how I was raised,” G-money stated honestly. For the rest of the night the
two talked, laughed, and enjoyed the rest of the night.
“Welcome to McDonalds. May I take your order,” Nancy asked the overweight
man that stood across the counter from her.
“Yeah, let me get a number one with extra pickles.”
“And your drink?”
“Let me get a coke with no ice,” the greedy man said with authority.
“Coming right up sir,” Nancy said politely as she went to get the big man’s
fries ready.
Nancy couldn’t stop looking at the clock because she only had thirty minutes
left until she got off. Being five months pregnant didn’t help, since her back
was aching. Needless to say she couldn’t wait to get off her feet.
“Thirty minutes and I’m gone,” she kept telling herself.
“Thank you. Come again,” Nancy said nicely as she handed the big man his
food.
“Hi. Welcome to McDonalds. May I take your order,” she asked playfully.
“Bitch stop playing with me and get my food,” Dave snarled smelling like
strong Vodka.
“Nine piece nuggets with fries again,” Nancy asked rolling her eyes.
“Isn’t that what I ask for every night,” he replied coldly.
“Well I’m sorry Dave, but it won’t hurt you to tell me what you want again”
“I don’t like to repeat myself. Now go get my fucking food,” he said with ice in
his voice.
“I’m sorry but you’re going to have to pay for your food tonight because my
manager is still here. You came too early,” Nancy said in a light whisper.
“Bitch you must be crazy. I ain’t paying for shit,” he yelled way louder than he
had to.
“But Dave my manager is still here,” she pleaded.
“Fuck him I’m your manager. Now go get my food or else,” he warned.
“I can’t stand this motherfucker,” Nancy mumbled under her breath as she
went to go get his food.
“I don’t know why you put up with that shit,” Nancy’s manager whispered as he
walked pass.
“I don’t know why either,” Nancy said to herself as she filled an empty cup to
the top with sprite.
“Damn hurry the fuck up. Does it look like I got all day?”
“Dave I’m five months pregnant and I only got two feet, not to mention that I’m
the only one in this relationship with a fucking job,” she shot back.
“Bitch, how dare you talk to me like that? I should smack the shit out of you.
You know ain’t nobody trying to hire a convicted felon. What, you want me to
go back to the streets and risk my freedom? You want me standing on the
corner at all times of the night? Huh? If I get locked up again I’m going
upstate. The eight months I spent on Riker’s Island was bad enough. You
want me to get back into that lifestyle,” Dave asked hoping she didn’t call his
bluff.
“Baby you know I don’t want you back out there in those streets,” Nancy said
feeling sorry for the worthless man standing in front of her.
“I just need a little help,” she said handing Dave his food.
“You know I love you baby. I’m outta here. Call me when you get home,”
Dave said as he made his way towards the exit.
“I don’t know how you put up with an asshole like that all day,” the manager,
Mr. Wiggins, said wiping down the counter.
“I love him, but I hate him at the same time. Plus he told me that if I ever left
him, he was going to kill me and I believe him,” Nancy said looking a little
shook.
“Kill you,” Mr. Wiggings asked in disbelief. “Child please, all that punk needs
is a nice ass wiping. Just call the cops and put his punk ass in jail if he put his
hands on you.
“I thought about calling the cops, but that would be like sending another black
man back to slavery, cause prison ain’t shit but modern day slavery. I would
never send one of my people back to slavery no matter what he or she has
done.
“Yeah that’s true, but you can’t just sit there and let him do whatever he wants
to you just cause you don’t want to put him in jail,” Mr. Wiggings stated plainly.
“Yeah, you’re right, but sometimes I just don’t know what to do.”
“Don’t even worry about it sweetheart, you’ll figure it out. Why don’t you go
home a little early and get some rest.”
“Thank you, Mr. Wiggings. I could definitely use it,” Nancy said as she
grabbed her things and quickly made her exit.
Nancy sat on the train, while thinking and feeling depressed. She was five
months pregnant, and didn’t even have a bib for her baby yet. A million
questions ran through her mind as she sat on the train.
Nancy wanted Dave to change his ways and start to help out a little more, but
deep down inside she knew he wasn’t shit and would never change. When
Nancy stepped into the nasty apartment she lived in, she noticed her mother
and her mother’s boyfriend sitting on the raggedy couch watching T.V.
“Hey what’s up ya’ll?”
No answer.
Instead of arguing Nancy went straight to her room and closed the door. She
hated living with her mother, Jasmin, and she really hated being in the house
when her mother’s boyfriend, Rick, was there. Ever since her mother started
messing with Rick, Rick has been slowly but shortly turning Jasmin against her
daughter. It was as if he wanted her all for himself.
As Nancy got her under clothes ready for when she got out of the shower, she
heard a sharp knock on the door. Before she could ask who it was, the figure
had already entered her room. Nancy was getting ready to bark on somebody
for just busting in her room, until she realized that it was her best friend, Coco.
Now Coco was what you called a project Barbie, and most of all she was a
gold digger. She ran away from home at sixteen and has been taking care of
herself ever since.
“Damn girl you still working at McDonalds,” Coco asked already knowing the
answer.
“Yeah unless you got a better way for me to make some money,” Nancy
countered.
“Now that you mention it, I do got a new money scheme”
“No, I’m not going out with no drug dealer and using him for his money, if that’
s what you were thinking,” Nancy told her.
“Girl that’s a side hustle, and I’m talking about a permanent hustle,” Coco
confirmed.
“So what do I have to do? Because I know ain’t nobody just going to give us
no money,” Nancy joked.
“Well I was chilling at club Spirit the other night when some guy named G-
money came up in the club throwing money around like it was nothing”
“I already told you I ain’t messing around with no drug dealer,” Nancy cut in.
“Wait let me finish,” Coco said rudely as she continued. “So I’m in the club
minding my business, when out of no where one of the men from G-money’s
entourage tapped me on the shoulder, and started to tell me how beautiful I
was. I was thinking
in my mind, “Yeah whatever.” He then handed me a card with a number on it,
and then he whispered in my ear, “If you need a job, call this number within
forty-eight hours. In forty-eight hours this number will no longer be in
service.” Then before he left, he whispered in my ear again but this time he
said, “You got some nice titties.” Then he walked off.”
“Oh my God, you’re a prostitute now,” Nancy joked playfully.
“Fuck you bitch,” Coco countered as she playfully pushed her friend.
“So what happened,” Nancy asked wanting to hear the rest of the story.
“Aight, so the next day I called the guy just to see what kind of job he was
talking about. So he told me to meet him at this chicken spot in Harlem. So as
I’m waiting at the chicken spot an all black Range Rover pulled up, and
beeped the horn. As I approached the vehicle, the back window rolled down
and inside of the backseat sat G-money. So I got in the backseat with G-
money, and we talked for about thirty minutes.”
“So get to the point,” Nancy cut in once again.
“Basically he told me that he needed a few chicks to bag up some coke for
him and his partner Ali. I was like cool no problem, so that’s what I’ve been
doing. I can plug you in if you want?”
“Are you crazy? I can’t be around a whole pile of coke like that. Those fumes
would kill me and the baby,” Nancy stated plainly.
“They give you a mask to cover your mouth and nose”
“Thanks, but no thanks. I’ll just stay at Mickey D’s,” Nancy said thinking slow
money is better than no money.
“Girl you’re going to be flipping burgers for the rest of your life. G-money is
paying $100 dollars a night, so you do the math. No job you get is going to
pay you a hundred dollars a day. Shit you can do both, work at McDonalds
and get ya’ side hustle on.”
“Nah, it sounds too risky. The cops can raid that place at anytime. I can’t
afford to take a chance like that.”
“Nancy, with me and you both doing that we can afford to get us an
apartment; then you can finally leave that loser, Dave. That nigga ain’t gonna
never be shit but a bum ass nigga and you know it.”
“You know Dave ain’t letting me go nowhere,” Nancy said letting out a light
chuckle.
“That muthafucka ain’t gonna do shit, but bring you down. The crazy part is
that you know this,” Coco said not understanding her best friend.
“It’s not that simple. If I told him that I didn’t want to be with him no more, he
would kick my ass and you know that,” Nancy stated plainly.
“That’s why you have to get up and bounce. Don’t tell that nigga shit. We
would just get our apartment and be out,” Coco said desperately trying to get
her best friend to at least think about leaving her mother’s apartment, and
most importantly leave that bum, Dave.
“Okay Coco I’ll think about it, but I ain’t making no promises.”
“I knew you would come to your senses,” Coco said playfully as she gave her
best friend a big hug.
“Easy bitch I said I’ll think about it, now get up outta here so I can hop in the
shower and get some rest. You know that I have to be to work early
tomorrow,” Nancy said escorting her friend to the door, so that she could get
some sleep.
G-MONEY
“What’s good my nigga. We gonna do this or what,” Skip asked getting
frustrated.
“Yeah let me light this spliff up real quick,” G-money answered lighting up the
finger thick blunt. “Now I’m read,” he said letting out a light cough as he and
his five man entourage hopped out of the Yukon, heading across the street to
the bodega on the corner.
When G-money stepped foot into the bodega, he noticed that the small store
was packed with customers. Immediately he went straight to the counter
skipping the long line.
“What’s up Oscar? You don’t look too happy to see me,” G-money said
blowing smoke in the Spanish man’s face.
“G-money what’s good? I was just about to call you,” Oscar lied from behind
the counter.
“So what happen? Ya phone got cut off? You don’t got no minutes? What?”
Before Oscar could reply a construction worker standing at the end of the line
decided he should voice his opinion. “Hey muthafucka I know you see this
long line back here,” he yelled out. G-money looked the construction worker
up and down, and then turned to Skip and gave him the go ahead nod.
Before the construction worker knew it Skip pulled out his .45 and broke his
nose, sending the big man crashing to the ground clutching his nose.
“Yo, everybody take whatever ya’ll want and get up out of here,” G-money
ordered as he watched the customers take whatever they wanted. Once the
last customer exited the bodega, Skip closed and locked the front door.
“Every month it’s the same thing, and you know Ali wants to get paid on the
first of every month,” G-money said putting his blunt out on Oscar’s shirt.
“Come on baby you know I wouldn’t fuck with you or Ali’s money,” Oscar said
attempting to sound firm.
In one quick motion G-money slapped Oscar twice, and then snatched him
over the counter.
“Yo, open up the freezer in the back,” he ordered as he watched his goons do
as they were told. “Listen to me carefully Oscar,” G-money said kneeling down
so that he could have Oscar’s full attention. “If I take you to that freezer you
ain’t coming back,” he warned.
“Come on. All that is not called for because I got the money behind the
counter,” Oscar announced through a pair of bloody lips.
“So give me the fucking money so I can go already.”
Oscar quickly scrambled to his feet to go fetch G-money his money. “Here you
go. Sorry about that,” Oscar said speaking with his head down.
“All the coke you sell out of this bodega and you still playing games like a
fucking kid? If Ali didn’t like you so much I would’ve been smoked ya’ stupid
ass,” G-money snarled looking Oscar up and down.
“I’m sorry G-money. I promise that something like this will never happen
again.”
“It better not! Have that protection money same time every month,” G-money
said as he and his crew exited Oscar’s bodega.
DETECTIVE NELSON
“Freeze! Put your hands where I can see them,” Detective Nelson yelled as
he aimed his .44 magnum at Ali and the Jewish man sitting next to him.
“Don’t even think about it,” Big Mel yelled aiming his twin .45’s at the Detective.
“Damn you scared the shit outta me,” Ali said as he gave the Detective a
pound. “Big Mel its cool, Detective Nelson was just joking,” Ali said to his
twenty-four hour bodyguard.
Ali paid Detective Nelson $20,000 every month to keep the FEDS off of his
ass and to keep his crew from behind bars. Detective Nelson also took care of
all of Ali’s competition. Detective Nelson would immediately shut down any
crew that was making money, and then let Ali put some workers in that same
spot. Ali had the master plan, and whoever didn’t like it just stayed broke and
hated from the side line. He was the boss and G-money was the under boss.
“I’m glad you came over here cause, I need to holla at you,” Ali said handing
Detective Nelson a brown paper bag full of cash.
“What’s on your mind?”
“I got a little problem. There’s these cats out in Brooklyn that call themselves
opening up shop. G-money’s been begging me to let him go handle that, but I
put him on hold because I don’t want to draw up too much attention. You dig?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it first thing tomorrow morning,” Detective Nelson
said as he stood up to leave.
“Aight. Let me know when you take care of that, so that I can send a few
workers up there with some packs (a small package of drugs).”
“No problem,” Detective Nelson responded.
“Yo, Big Mel show Detective Nelson to the door,” Ali ordered as he went and
continued his conversation with his Jewish lawyer.
When Big Mel returned, Ali noticed that he had a sour look on his face. “What’
s wrong,” Ali asked.
“I don’t trust that fucking cop. There’s something fishy about that mother
fucker.”
“I don’t trust him either, but we gotta do what we gotta do. You dig?
Everything with that white boy is strictly business; can’t have friends like him
because people like him will turn on you in a New York minute,” Ali stated
plainly.
“Just be careful boss man, cause I don’t like that fool,” Big Mel replied.
Big Mel’s job was to protect Ali from anything or anybody looking to hurt him.
Big Mel was an ex-high school line backer. The only problem was that he
wasn’t too smart, so people in school called him dumb. But on the streets he
was as smart as they came, and sharper than a thumb tack. Big Mel didn’t talk
much, instead he let his actions do all the talking for him.
“Yo Mel get G-money on the phone and tell him to make sure he has
somebody pick up that protection money from all of our spots before the week
is out,” Ali ordered.
I DON’T THINK THIS IS GOING TO WORK
“Only two hours left,” Nancy said to herself as she glanced at the clock, then
at the long line of customers standing in front of her cash register. Nancy
served two of her customers when she noticed Dave enter the restaurant.
From the look on his face she could tell that he was drunk.
“Hey baby what’s up,” Dave shouted loudly as he skipped the long line of
customers making his way to the front of the cash register. “Look at you,
looking all good and shit,” he said as he leaned over the counter trying to give
his girl a kiss.
“Baby you can’t do this while I’m at work,” Nancy said leaning back refusing to
give Dave a kiss.
“What,” Dave growled looking Nancy up and down. “Bitch I’m your man. I’ll
kiss you wherever the fuck I feel like it,” he snarled as he roughly kissed
Nancy on the lips. “Now let me get a double cheese burger, some fries, and a
sprite.”
“Okay baby I got you, but I’m gonna need you to step to the side so I can take
care of these customers first.”
“Fuck these customers. You serve your man first. You must’ve lost your
fucking mind,” Dave said loudly causing a scene.
Mr. Wiggins sat in his office in the back talking to his girlfriend on the phone,
when he heard a loud commotion coming from the front. “What the fuck is
going on,” Mr. Wiggins said to himself as he took a look at the surveillance
camera where he saw Dave acting a fool. “This muthafucka must’ve lost his
mind,” Mr. Wiggins said to himself as he headed to the front of the store to
see what all the commotion was about.
“Excuse me brother is there a problem out here,” Mr. Wiggins asked nicely.
“Old man this ain’t got to do with you, so mind your business before you get
knocked the fuck out,” Dave said with ice in his voice.
Mr. Wiggins let out a light chuckle before he spoke calmly. “Nancy your fired
get the fuck out of here and take your broke ass man with you.”
“Mr. Wiggins how can you do this to me?”
“I didn’t, you did it to yourself,” Mr. Wiggins countered smoothly. “All this
drama ain’t good for business.”
“What am I supposed to do now,” Nancy asked innocently.
“Ask your big mouth boy friend,” Mr. Wiggins replied feeling sorry for his best
worker.
“You ain’t right, I bust my ass everyday in this mother fucker for you. Now you’
re just gonna fire me like I’m a piece of crap,” Nancy said as tears ran freely
down her face. “You know what? I’m better than this, so fuck you and Ronald
McDonald . Both of ya’ll can kiss my ass,” Nancy snarled as she whirled on
her heels, and stormed out of the restaurant. When she made it to the train
station, she saw Dave standing there waiting for her.
“Dave don’t even say shit to me right now,” Nancy growled as she brushed
past Dave heading downstairs to the subway platform.
“Bitch who the fuck you talking to like that? I did you a mother fucking favor. I
know you ain’t want to work there for the rest of your miserable life now did
you?”
“Dave a job is a job. I don’t care where I’m working, as long as I’m getting
paid. But some people wouldn’t know shit about that now would they,” Nancy
countered looking Dave up and down, before she turned to get on the train.
“Well since money means so much to you, then I’m gonna get back on my
grind out here in the streets, and risk my life, and my freedom again,” Dave
said trying to make Nancy feel sorry for him like he always did.
“Dave honestly I don’t care what you do anymore,” Nancy said taking a deep
breath. “You only care about yourself, what the fuck we gonna do now? I don’t
know if you forgot, but I am pregnant”
“Bitch I know. You better watch your mouth,” Dave warned ready to put on a
show for the rest of the passengers on the train.
Instead of arguing Nancy just stayed quiet until it was time for her to get off of
the train. She knew that arguing with Dave was a no win situation, so all she
wanted to do was go home and take a hot shower.
“Why aren’t you talking to me,” Dave asked as he forcefully grabbed Nancy’s
wrist.
“Because I don’t feel like arguing with you tonight, that’s why.”
“Oh what you mad because I embarrassed you in front of your old ass
boyfriend, Mr. Wiggins?” Dave laughed as he staggered a little from all the
alcohol he consumed earlier that day.
“Sometimes you can be a real asshole. You know that,” Nancy said as she
noticed Coco standing in front of the building waiting for her.
“Bitch what I told you about your mouth,” Dave snarled through clenched
teeth.
“Same thing I told you about your temper,” Nancy shot back waving Dave off.
Before Nancy could take another step, she felt pain combined with a powerful
force connect with the back of her head. It took everything she had inside of
her to stay on her feet. Once Nancy regained her balance, she saw Dave
charging towards her.
“Bitch you ain’t going to be shit, just like your mother,” Dave said as he
stepped back, and hog spit in his baby mother’s face. Tears ran freely down
Nancy’s cheeks as she wiped the nasty spit mixed with phlegm from her face.
“You know what your problem is? You don’t have no respect for nobody but
yourself, but I’m about to teach you what happens when you disrespect
somebody,” Dave growled as he took his belt off, letting the buckle swing
freely. Before Dave got a chance to hit Nancy with the belt, Coco came to her
rescue.
“If you touch her with that belt your ass is going to jail tonight muthafucka,”
Coco said in an icy tone.
“Bitch you need to mind your business before you’re next,” Dave warned with
fire dancing in his eyes.
“Nigga please… I wish you would touch me, my brother would be up here so
fast you wouldn’t know what to do,” Coco huffed shaking her neck.
“Fuck your brother. I’ll do him like I just did this bitch.”
“My brother just came home from doing five years behind the wall. Please
don’t make me have to call him because it won’t be a pretty site…trust me,”
Coco threatened.
“Fuck you and your brother. I ain’t hard to find,” Dave slurred as he
staggered across the street, in the opposite direction.
“You okay,” Coco asked as she helped her best friend back to her feet.
“Yeah I’m fine,” Nancy replied feeling shit on the inside.
“I don’t know why you don’t leave that fool alone, all he’s gonna do is keep
treating you like a punching bag.”
“Yeah but he won’t let me leave,” Nancy responded as the two hopped on the
elevator of her building.
“What you mean he won’t let you leave? Bitch you better stop playing and get
lost on that clown. He don’t do shit but whip ya ass, take your money, and
blame you for all of his mistakes,” Coco said hating the way Dave treated her
best friend, especially while she was pregnant.
The two hopped off the elevator, and headed straight to the staircase. After
everything that had just went on the last place Nancy wanted to be was home,
so instead her and Coco sat on the steps in the staircase and continued their
conversation.
THE HOOD
“Yo slow this muthafucka down. Don’t you see the cops right there,” G-money
barked angrily.
“Man fuck the police,” Skip shot back stopping at the red light. “I’ll slap the shit
out of one of those crackers if they try to arrest me.”
“I don’t care about all that, just slow this muthafucka down when you see the
fuzz you dig?”
“I thought if anything ever went down we could call that faggot Detective
Nelson to get us out,” Skip asked.
“Fuck Detective Nelson. I don’t trust nobody that got blue eyes, you smell
where I’m coming from,” G-money asked taking a long swig from his bottle of
Henny that sat on his lap.
“I can dig it, but if you’re so worried about us getting pulled over, then why you
got a big ass bottle of Henny sitting on your lap?”
“Listen B, I’m a tell you like this.” G-money hogged spit out the window before
he continued. “I do this for all my niggas that’s locked up you dig? You know
how many muthafuckas in jail would love to be getting drunk right now? How
many of them would love to be getting high right now, getting money, and
fucking bad bitches every night? So that’s why I do what I do. It’s a fucking
war going on out here; us against the motherfucking police and right now we’
re losing. So I do this for all my niggas that’s in jail who went out for theirs.
This street shit is my life. All I know is money, drugs cars, hoes, jail, and
fiends…smell me? Its all a game and if I go to jail I lose understand? And I ain’
t having that.”
“Yeah I can dig it,” Skip replied as he double parked in front of Sumner
projects. “I hope this muthafucka don’t take all day.”
For some reason Brooklyn made Skip very uncomfortable.
“There’s that clown. Go right there. Pop the trunk so I can hit this fool off,” G-
money said as he slid out the passenger seat, and grabbed the duffle bag
from the trunk.
“Tray what’s goodie,” G-money asked giving the stocky man a pound.
“You know, regular shit,” Tray answered as he lead G-money into the building.
“Yo keep up the good work. Ali said every month your numbers been
increasing. Keep that up and you might get a promotion…smell me,” G-
money said handing Tray the duffle bag.
“Come on you know I gotta get this money by any means necessary,” Tray
capped as he handed G-money three large stacks of money.
“Aight I’m a swing back around here in two weeks to pick up that gwop.
Everything’s already packed up for you, so all you gotta do is hand out those
packs, and make sure the count don’t come up short, aight?”
“You ain’t gotta tell me twice,” Tray said as he gave G-money a pound, then
headed up the stairs.
As G-money made his way back to the car, he was cut off by some hood rat
he piped a few weeks ago.
“What’s up G-money? I thought you was going to call me,” the hood rat huffed
standing pigeon toe.
“Yeah I was, but I got caught up with some other shit ma. You know how that
go,” G-money said coldly as he brushed past the young lady.
“Bitch ass nigga,” she mumbled once G-money was out of ear shot.
G-money was very popular when it came to the women. Most girls said he
reminded them of the rapper, Jim Jones because of the way he wore his hair
braided and kept his face unshaved.
“Who was that bitch,” Skip asked pulling out into traffic.
“I don’t even remember her name”, G-money said before laughing hysterically.
“Another one bites the dust huh?”
“You know I don’t play no games,” G-money boasted as he flipped open his
ringing cell phone.
“What’s up Coco,” he answered.
“Hey G-money, what’s poppin,” Coco asked in her sexiest voice.
“Making my rounds for the day. Why what’s up? You wanna get up with me
later,” G-money asked looking at his watch.
“Yeah that would be nice, but I was really calling because I need a favor.”
“A big favor or a little favor,” G-money huffed.
“Ummmm…..medium,” she giggled.
“Aight what is it?”
“Well its like this, I got this friend of mine who’s having money problems, so I
was wondering if you could maybe let her work with me and the other girls
bagging up?”
“I got you, babes, just bring her with you on Friday aight?”
“Wait its one more thing….she’s pregnant.”
“I don’t give a fuck. It ain’t my baby,” G-money said coldly before he
continued. “If she want to take that risk its on her, you dig? I’m just here trying
to provide jobs for those who need employment because you know the man
still isn’t giving us no opportunities or jobs, especially all the people with
felonies.”
“You right about that shit,” Coco agreed.
“But don’t worry about that because my girl is a soldier, and neither one of us
is trying to work for the white man.”
“You know I can dig it; but yo, I’m a little busy right now. Be ready at ten cause
I’m a come through and scoop you up.”
“Don’t worry daddy you know I’m gonna be ready. See you at ten.”
“Aight one.”
* * * *
“Aight girl I got you in there, so now all you gotta do is get this money,” Coco
said giving Nancy a high five.
“Thanks girl, but you know I’m only doing this until I save up enough money so
that I’m comfortable. Once I’m comfortable I’m gonna go find me another job.”
“Fuck getting a job,” Coco said aggressively. “Why get a job working for the
white man when instead you can work for your own people?”
“Because working with my people will fuck around and have me behind bars
with the rest of my people,” Nancy said sarcastically.
“Nancy you just a scaredy cat,” Coco joked turning on the stereo.
“Thanks again for letting me stay here until I get my shit together. You’re a
life savor,” Nancy said as Fantasia hummed through the speakers.
“Girl don’t mention it, but you know that fool Dave is going to go crazy when
he can’t find you.”
“The only thing Dave can do for me is kiss my ass,” Nancy said glad to finally
be free.
“He can kiss my ass too while he’s at it,” Coco added as the two friends
laughed. “Girl let me go get my ass in this shower so I can be ready by the
time this fool gets here.”
“Who’s that,” Nancy asked nosily.
“G-money with his fine ass. I hope he ain’t looking too sexy tonight because I
might have to go old school on him,” Coco said seductively licking her lips.
“Yuck! You’re so nasty.”
“Oh yeah I forgot that you’re a Christian. That’s why you’re pregnant now,”
Coco said jokingly as she headed towards the bathroom.
Nancy didn’t respond, instead she just laughed it off and stuck up her middle
finger.
* * * *
“Yo who the fuck is Coco,” Skip asked slowing down for the yellow light.
“One of my P.Y.T’s (pretty young thing),” G-money said lighting up another
blunt.
“Do she got a friend,” Skip asked wanting a piece of the action.
“I don’t know, but I’ll find out for you tonight. Oh shit pull over real quick,” G-
money said as he took off his shades making sure his eyes weren’t playing
tricks on him. Immediately Skip pulled over across the street from the dice
game.
“Yo tell me that’s not Calvin right there.”
“Yeah that’s that bitch ass nigga right there,” Skip confirmed. “What that clown
owe you some money or something?
“Yeah he fucked up some money back in the day, but Ali told me to give him a
pass. He just told Calvin never to come back on the block. Now this nigga
must think something is sweet,” G-money said as he slid out the passenger
seat.
As soon as Calvin saw G-money and Skip coming across the street, he
already knew what time it was. “Look G-money its not what you think,” Calvin
said copping a plea. “I was just leaving.”
“So you mean to tell me you wasn’t over here rolling dice,” G-money asked
getting all up in Calvin’s face.
“Nah I was just passing through,” Calvin lied afraid to make eye contact with
the killer standing in front of him.
“How much money you got on you?”
“Not much why?”
“Listen I ask the questions around here chump,” G-money said poking Calvin
in his head with his index finger.
“I got about five hundred on me”
“Let me see that real quick,” G-money said nonchalantly.
“What my money,” Calvin asked some what confused.
“You must think it’s a game,” G-money growled searching through the man’s
pockets vigorously, until he found what he was looking for.
“Damn that’s fucked up G-money,” Calvin said in a light mumble.
“What,” G-money barked loudly causing Calvin to flinch.
“You’re lucky I caught you instead of Ali,” G-money said as he chuckled
lightly. “Enjoy the rest of your day brother,” G-money yelled over his shoulder
as he walked off. “I almost forgot to give this muthafucka a warning,” G-money
said as he clutched his .45 and made a U turn. Before he got a chance to
even do anything Skip had already sent a hot slug into Calvin’s hip bone. G-
money watched Calvin lay on the ground holding his hip. “Stay the fuck off the
block next time,” he chuckled as he and Skip hopped back in the ride and
peeled off.
* * * *
“How do I look,” Coco asked stepping out of the backroom.
“Like a whore as usual,” Nancy replied half-jokingly. Coco stepped out of the
backroom wearing some black spandex fitting jeans, a black wife beater,
along with some red four inch heel pumps to match her red headband that
added more features to her pretty face. Coco favored Mariah Carey except
her skin was a few shades darker.
“Yeah it’s on tonight,” Coco said excitedly as she poured herself a drink.
“I don’t know why you love going out with drug dealers and criminals all the
time,” Nancy said playfully.
“Well at least they don’t beat my ass,” Coco yelled over her shoulder as she
headed out the door.
Nancy sucked her teeth. “Fuck you. Ain’t no man going to put their hands on
me again.”
“I know because your girl is gonna always have your back, and hold you
down,” Coco said planting a kiss on her best friend’s forehead. Coco’s ringing
cell phone interrupted the best friend bond.
“Hello,” she answered.
“Yo I’m downstairs ma. Don’t have me waiting all day,” the voice on the other
end said.
“Okay I’m coming down right now,” Coco said closing her cell phone. “Okay
girl I’m out. Don’t wait up for me.” Coco grinned as she stepped out the front
door.
As soon as Coco stepped out of the building she spotted G-money’s black
Range Rover. G-money hopped out of the Range sporting a snug fitting
thermal shirt, with his jeans slightly hanging off his butt, along with a fresh pair
of black Nike boots. The only jewelry that he wore was a nice watch, a chunky
bracelet, and two diamond studded ear rings.
“Hey babes what’s up,” Coco said as she gave G-money a hug followed by a
kiss on the cheek.
“Waiting to get up with ya sexy ass,” G-money said cupping both of her ass
cheeks in the middle of the street so everyone could see.
“You got your license on you?”
“Of course I do. Why what’s up,” Coco asked curiously.
“Because you’re driving that’s why,” G-money said tossing her the car keys.
When Coco spotted the half empty bottle of Hennessy laying on the
passenger’s seat, she already knew what time it was.
“So where we headed,” Coco asked pulling out into traffic.
“It’s this nice Spanish restaurant called El Conde. I think its on 176th St and
Broadway in the Bronx.
G-money turned up the volume on the new Lil’ Wayne mixtape, pushed his
seat back, and just stared out the window, watching the blur of faces pass by
block after block. Before stepping out the vehicle G-money made sure he
grabbed his .45 from under the seat and placed it in the side of his
waistband. His pants hung so low that everyone in eye site could see the
firearm.
“Come on B. I’m hungrier than a muthafucker,” G-money huffed as the two
entered the restaurant.
“You don’t think they might call the cops if they see that gun,” Coco asked
suspiciously.
“Nah,” G-money chuckled. “As much as I spend in this muthafucka they would
be crazy to do some shit like that.”
The couple took a seat directly in front of the window. G-money always liked
the window tables so that he could see everything. Immediately the waitress
brought him and his lady two apple Martini’s.
“Yo let me get steak with rice and beans.”
“I’ll have the same,” Coco added as she handed the waitress back the menu.
“You going to love the steak,” G-money stated taking a sip from his drink.
“G can I ask you a question?”
“Yeah what’s up?”
“Why do you act so thuggish all the time?”
“Act thuggish,” he echoed loudly. “Listen sweetheart ain’t shit about me a act,
you understand? I been doing this since niggas was rocking high top fades
and playing hop scotch you dig?”
“I didn’t mean it like…”
“You better do your history, before you open your mouth. I’m band from
almost every club in New York. My name rings bells in every jail. I’m known
by the whole NYPD, so believe me sweetheart what I do is no act”
“Come here baby you need a hug,” Coco said playfully as she got up and
gave G-money a hug and a kiss.
“Don’t get it twisted like I’m bragging because that ain’t shit to brag about. It’s
just how I was raised,” G-money stated honestly. For the rest of the night the
two talked, laughed, and enjoyed the rest of the night.