Grind Mode

by Willie Slaughter

  Bee started laughing. Most people knew of his reputation. In the streets on the Southside, he was known as the knockout king. To other people in the public, he was a Golden Glove boxer.

  Bee took off his jewelry and put it in his front right pocket. “Alright, my nigga. You just asked for this ass cutting.”

  Lil Nook ran up on Bee swinging. Bee weaved and bobbed his punches without putting much effort into it.

  “Nigga, is that all you got?” Bee asked while dancing around light on his feet.

  Bee weaved a right hook before throwing two quick jabs to Lil Nook’s face. He was dazed from the jabs. He swung wildly trying to keep Bee off him, but it didn’t work. Bee kept his guard up and rushed in, taking him out with a three piece snack; a left and right jab, then a left hook.

  Lil Nook hit the concrete, unconscious. Bee looked around, making sure nobody else was trying to get at him. When he saw it wasn’t a hood beef against him, he jumped in his ride and left.

  *******

  Henry was getting a little impatient with the fact that he had paid Nod to do a job that hadn’t been done. He knew Mike was still breathing because the streets were always talking.

  And when a nigga was making money like Mike made, a bitch would forever keep his name in her mouth. Frustrated, he called Nod to see what the holdup was.

  The phone rang and rang. Finally, Nod answered. “What up?”

  “Why ain’t the nigga dead yet?” asked Henry.

  “Some niggas take a li’l more time to kill than others. My work is official,” Nod replied in a professional tone of voice.

  Henry was not trying to hear the professional jargon. “Well, kill the nigga already.”

  Henry hung up. “Dammit. If you want something done, you got to do it yourself,” he said to himself.

  *******

  Nod was sitting in the parking lot of Wal-Mart. “Where the fuck this nigga at?” he thought out loud. Just as he was about to leave, he spotted him. He was dropping his little brother off at work. He smiled. “I got that ass now.”

  He waited. His adrenaline was pumping, thinking about the other fifty thousand he would collect after the job was done. When his mark pulled off, he eased into traffic behind him.

  Damn, I love my job. Easy money, baby, he thought to himself. He pulled out the two chrome 40s and set them on the passenger seat. He was ready to get it over with.

  Mike was on his way to check the trap house. As he drove, he had an ill feeling that something was up. He looked through the rearview mirror, and just as he thought, someone was tailing him. He took a detour just to confirm his suspicion, and when the unmarked car continued to follow him, he knew he wasn’t tripping.

  Thinking it was the feds, Mike floored the Benz, running every red light and stop sign. The Ford was right behind him. He realized it couldn’t be the cops when the sirens didn’t show.

  He turned down a side street, jumped out, and hit the pavement running. Nod peeped as he hit the fence. “Damn, this nigga fast, but I got you, nigga, believe that,” he said to himself.

  Nod jumped out and ran behind him. “Nigga, ain’t no need fo’ running! I’m going to put some hot slugs in yo’ ass tonight!”

  They ran through backyards and on to different streets. Mike peeped a house with the back door open and ran in closing it fast as he ducked out of sight. Nod had lost sight of him.

  “Damn, that nigga runs like a rabbit. Where did you go? Think. Think. Think,” Nod thought out loud. As he was about to go left, a shot went off, hitting him in the shoulder.

  “Fuck!” Nod ducked behind the nearest tree. Blood was soaking through his shirt. “Fuck nigga, you dead!”

  “Nigga, who the fuck are you?” yelled Mike.

  “I’m yo’ grim reaper, bitch,” Nod yelled back.

  “Oh yeah? We’ll see ’bout that!” yelled Mike. Mike eased the door open and aimed in the direction he had heard the voice.

  What most people didn’t know about Mike that he was an expert with a gun. He had learned how to break them down, clean them, put them back together and shoot any gun you put in his hands at the age of nine. He let two rounds off, hitting the tree Nod was posted behind.

  “A’ight, my nigga. Let’s keep this shit G! Your gun lying on the ground at my feet, so I know you know you fucked up,” said Mike.

  Nod breathed harshly. He knew he had picked the wrong job. He also knew this day would come, but damn, he didn’t think it would be so soon.

  Mike checked his clip. He had three rounds left. “I’m going to give yo’ ass five seconds to do the right thing! 5! 4! 3! 2!”

  “Hold up, my nigga!” Nod came from behind the tree with his hands up.

  Mike looked at him, confused. “Who the fuck are you? Why you following me? You fed or something? Talk, nigga.”

  He didn’t answer. His silence caused another bullet to strike him in the leg. Nod went down on one knee. “Fuck, man!”

  “Oh, now your ass got a voice. Talk, nigga. I ain’t got all night. The next one you getting to the dome,” Mike threatened.

  As he aimed at his head, Nod put his hands up. “Alright, my nigga. Put the gun down. I was paid to kill you.”

  Mike lowered his aim. “Really? By who? Henry?”

  Nod nodded his head. “Yeah.”

  “How much?” Mike asked.

  “Nigga put one hundred racks on your head, my nigga,” he replied.

  Mike whistled. “Dammit, man!” He laughed, thinking about the situation. “Look, nigga, it would be my loss if I put a slug in your face right now. I need you to do something fo’ me.”

  Nod looked up at him. “Like what?

  “Say I give you 250,000 to smoke his ass,” Mike said.

  Nod's eyes went wide. “Damn, nigga. You offering me that much after I just tried to bust your ass?”

  Mike laughed. “Yeah, nigga. I advise you to give me an answer before I have a change of heart.”

  “No pressure. I’m in,” said Nod.

  Mike helped him to his feet. “Do the shit right. And you got three days.”

  “Consider it done, my nigga,” replied Nod.

  Mike shook hands with Nod. Looking into Nod’s eyes, he didn’t see a soul. Only a heartless killer.

  Chapter Thirteen

  After Mark met up with Lil Will in Cali, they made their way to Texas. Three SUV’s, fully-manned, waited on them at the airport.

  “Good day, sir.” One of the bodyguards opened the door.

  They jumped in without responding. All three vehicles pulled out.

  Lil Will knew it was going to be a long day and this meeting was the big break they needed. So he knew he had to be on point.

  “Listen Mark, if all goes well, we’ll be very rich after this day,” Lil Will said. Mark’s expression was serious. “I’m with you, fam.”

  “Good,” said Lil Will.

  Mark had been thinking about the situation with Monica and Erica. It wasn’t too much to say about it since they were officially unsolved mysteries. But it was on his mind.

  “Lil Will,” he began to say, “was that shit really necessary with Monica and Erica? I mean, come on, fam, you act as if the bitch broke your heart or something. And with most of the shit we be out here doing, I know that ain’t the case.”

  Lil Will looked at Mark with a straight face. “Mark, you my nigga and all, but do me and yourself a personal favor. Stay the fuck out of my personal business. Understood?”

  Mark nodded. “All day, fam.”

  *******

  The head man was enjoying a meal at the estate when one of his guards walked in and said, “Sir, Lil Will is on his way.”

  He looked up from his meal and nodded. “Good. Anybody else arrived yet?”

  “No sir. I’ll keep you updated,” the guard replied.

  He smiled. “Thank you.”

  Upon being dismissed, the guard left the room and returned to his post near the front door. The head of the estate relaxed in his chair in deep thought. The
day had come where he was ready to get out of the life. The seat would be passed.

  There was a knock on the door. “Enter!”

  Agent Wright walked in. “Sir.”

  Agent Wright was a good-looking, all business, and deeply-tanned Sicilian. She looked straight black at 5’7”, petite with long flowing black hair. She was one amongst the many FBI agents on the drug lord's payroll.

  He looked up at her with a straight face. “Sit down. I’ve been getting bad reports.”

  Agent Wright took a seat in one of the leather chairs. “Sir, my partner wants Lil Will off the streets.”

  “Any idea why?” he asked Agent Wright.

  She shook her head. “No sir.”

  “Well, you need to find out, Agent Wright. There’s too much at stake here. Lil Will can’t be touched. He is the next me. Do you understand what I’m saying, Agent Wright?”

  Agent Wright eyes widened. “But sir, he is hot.”

  He looked unconcerned with her explanation. “Make the heat go away.”

  She sighed. “I’ll get on it right away, Sir.”

  His expression turned more serious. “Not next year, Agent Wright.”

  “Sir, I’ll do everything in my power,” she said in a definite tone of voice.

  Hearing her reassuring answer, the smile returned to his face. “Thank you. Now let’s have a drink while we wait on everyone to get here.”

  The head of the estate pushed the button underneath the desk. It wasn’t a minute later that the butler appeared. “What can I get you, sir?”

  The head of the estate looked at Agent Wright. “What will you be drinking, my friend?”

  “I will have a Scotch on the rocks,” she said.

  He turned his attention back to the butler. “Agent Wright here will be having a Scotch on the rocks. You already know what my preference is.”

  The butler nodded. “As you wish, sir. I shall return with your drinks shortly.”

  After the butler left, the head of the estate continued to explain to the agent the importance of making sure Lil Will stay in the clear. She expressed her understanding verbally, but deep down inside, she really didn’t understand what would make him put a billion dollar operation in the hands of a street thug.

  *******

  Ju-Ju was knocked out when Tee came in. Tee tapped him on the foot. “Aye nigga, wake up!”

  Caught off guard, Ju-Ju jumped. “Man, what the fuck?”

  Tee’s facial expression was serious. “Bruh, I just got word yo’ girl got killed.”

  His eyelids shot open. “Who? Monica?”

  Tee looked at him sideways. “Yeah. Who else, fool?”

  Ju-Ju got up. “What happened?”

  Tee shook his head. “They say it was a car bomb. Two people dead. Damn, do you think Erica was with her?”

  Ju-Ju punched the wall. “Fuck, nigga! Let’s get back to Boston. This nigga gots to die.”

  They packed up and was heading out when Ju-Ju's phone rang. It was his brother. “Yo, bro. Talk to me.”

  “I got good news,” his brother said.

  “Spit it out,” Ju-Ju demanded.

  “Lil Will in Texas. We can go down there and twist his shit loose without anyone knowing,” his brother informed him.

  Ju-Ju became excited “Shit, let’s do it.”

  “Meet me at the airport at eight o’ clock,” said his brother.

  “I’ll be there,” Ju-Ju replied.

  They hung up. Ju-Ju turned to his partner Tee, smiling. “Let’s hurry up. We got to fly up to Bean Town to meet my brother at the airport at 8.”

  “I’m ready to go now,” Tee replied.

  They made their flight to Boston on time. They looked around for Ju-Ju's brother. Tee was on edge because he had to go to the bathroom. After walking around for the third time and not seeing him, Tee let it be known. “Damn, I got to piss.”

  Ju-Ju laughed. “Shit, don’t feel bad. I been trying to hold off until I see this nigga, but fuck it. Let’s hit the bathroom.”

  They grabbed their luggage and went to the restroom. The first person they saw inside pacing back and forth was his brother. Seeing Ju-Ju, he smirked and said, “I’m hoping you niggas are ready.”

  Tee ignored him, but Ju-Ju didn’t. “Yeah. Just let a nigga piss in peace first.”

  He waited on them silently. After they washed their hands, he grabbed his brother by the arm. “Let’s take a quick walk.”

  Ju-Ju snatched loose. “A’ight. Grab the bags, Tee.”

  They walked out into the waiting area to make sure they didn’t miss their flight. Ju-Ju didn’t know how his brother was ready to play it with Lil Will, so he said, “Listen, bruh, you might want to lock this nigga up, but I’m ready to body his ass.”

  His brother smiled. “So am I. The nigga killed my wife in the process of trying to get at me, so you got to know that I want this nigga's head on a pike.”

  Ju-Ju nodded. “Damn, bro. I didn’t know. My condolences. So what’s the move?”

  “He’s having a meeting with some very power people from all over. They fly in once a year to discuss business. After the meeting, we’ll follow him and off his ass,” explained his brother.

  Ju-Ju shrugged his shoulders. “I’m with it.”

  Ju-Ju's brother patted him on the shoulder. “That’s what I wanted to hear. After we do this, I’m going to need you to lay low. I’ll go back to work and throw a monkey wrench in the mix to cover our tracks.”

  They pounded each other up.

  “Let’s just get this shit over with,” said Ju-Ju.

  “Yeah, you right,” his brother replied.

  They boarded their flight. After takeoff, Ju-Ju went to the bathroom and made a call.

  The person on the other end answered. “Talk. What’s the move?”

  “In the air, headed to Texas. I need that handled by the time I get back,” said Ju-Ju.

  “Say no more. I’ll have my men on it,” the guy replied.

  “That’s what’s up. Go by the spots and collect the dues. Afterward, shut ’em down. It’ll be too hot to move in a minute,” cautioned Ju-Ju.

  “Say no more,” the man said.

  *******

  Henry was riding down 10th when he spotted a familiar face. He knew he knew the nigga from back in the day, but he just couldn’t put a name to the face. He pulled up on the curb and hopped out. “Say, my man, don’t I know you?”

  He eyed Henry closely. “Maybe. What ya need, young G?”

  Henry walked up on him. “Nigga, ain’t you T?”

  “Yeah. Stop wasting my time, G,” he said in a serious tone.

  “I’m Henry. Henry Thomas’s son,” said Henry.

  T started laughing. “Well I’ll be damned.”

  They laughed and hugged.

  Tony Taylor, a.k.a. T, was one of Henry’s father’s partners since way back when. He had put hot lead in several niggas and broads alike for playing with his money. Matter of fact, that’s why T had caught a bid.

  “Man, where you been?” asked Henry.

  “Doing time for the past twenty-eight years,” said T.

  “About that. I found the nigga who did ya pops and rocked his ass to sleep,” said Henry.

  “Appreciate that, young G,” T said.

  “I did what I had to do,” responded Henry.

  T nodded. “That’s right. Anyway, what’s been going on with you, Lil Henry?”

  Henry rubbed the back of his head. “A long story, man.”

  T laughed. “Shit, I got time.”

  Henry started walking back towards his car. “Come on. Get it.”

  T jumped in. Henry took him to the mall and bought him some clothes and shoes. Afterwards, he asked T where he wanted to eat at. He told him it didn’t matter, so they stopped at a mom and pop like spot.

  As they ate, Henry filled him in on the good and the bad. T whistled. “Dammit, Lil Henry. Shit been real fo you.”

  Henry chuckled. “Yeah. So where you staying
at, OG?”

  “Nowhere permanently. Bouncing around from bitch to bitch right now,” said T.

  Henry shook his head, laughing. “I got you, bruh. You can chill at my crib as long as you like.”

  “Thanks Lil Henry,” said T.

  “No problem,” replied Henry.

  “Lil Henry. Boy, I knew you would end up being a man like your pops. All business,” T said.

  Henry sighed, remembering his father. “Yeah, he is a true legend and I miss him.”

  T's expression turned serious. “If you need me, Henry, don’t hesitate to get at me.”

  “That’s love, fam,” Henry said as they got up to leave.

  As they exited the restaurant, his phone went off. He looked at the caller ID. It was Nod. “Nigga, it’s about time,” Henry said sarcastically.

  “Yeah. Meet me with my money,” Nod said, sounding all serious.

  Henry frowned “Is the job finished?”

  “Yeah. Bring my money. I’ll be on the Eastside 21st and 18th. The old warehouse in an hour,” he said.

  Henry didn’t like the shit he was saying. “A’ight.” He hung up with a puzzled look on his face. Something wasn’t right. Nod knew better than to get personal on the phone.

  “What’s up, Lil Henry? Is everything everything?” T asked, concerned.

  He scratched his head. “Something ain’t right.”

  “What?” asked T.

  Henry was frustrated. “That problem I was telling you about supposed to be solved. But I got an itchy feeling ’bout the shit.”

  T put his thinking cap on. “Give me a quick rundown.”

  “The nigga just hit my line telling me to meet him on the Eastside,” Henry explained.

  “Say no more. Let’s ride. Nigga, tell me you got handles,” T said.

  Henry laughed. “Every kind that’s made.”

  T rubbed his hands together. “Let’s pull up. Give me the goods about this nigga Nod.”

  “The nigga got a rep. Originally from Cali and a nineteen year army vet. Known for twisting shit up. We did good business once before,” explained Henry.