My Brother's Keeper 2

by U. E. Wynn

  “If Kay and Dej’a weren’t woke I’d show you how demanding I really can be.”

  “Promises, Promises.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Koran and Jamel took a bath not long after Serenity and Dej’a left and were in the living room watching video’s on B.E.T. when Jahad, Derrick and Sha’’ stormed in. All of their faces were twisted with anger. Jahad went straight to the bar, poured a double shot of Henessey and downed it with one toss. Koran knew something had to be wrong. Jahad never drunk during the day.

  “What’s up?” Koran asked alarmed.

  “That Puerto Rican bastard bodied the niggaz we sent to Bronxdale. Muthafucka!” Jahad hissed through clenched teeth.

  “Who bodied who?”

  “Hector,” Derrick answered. “The dudes we sent over there to scope shit out were found this morning in the middle parking lot with head shots. Hector sent a message through a bitch saying every nigga we send to Bronxdale was getting merked.”

  “What! Who the fuck he think he is? That was our shit!” Koran was pissed now. “Who the bitch?”

  “Nobody, she’s dead. The faggot is good for sending messages through bitches. I should have bodied his ass years ago.” Jahad paused as a sudden thought struck him. “How in the hell did Hector know we sent them niggas?” he asked under his breath looking off at the wall.

  Koran looked over at Jahad. “So what’s up?”

  “You know what’s up. We bout to go through Bronxdale and tear shit up. He calls himself sending me a message. I’m about to send his ass one.”

  Sha’ shook his head. “C’mon, Jah. We talked about this already. I mean, I know you heated. We all are, but don’t go thinking with your emotions.”

  “Emotions!” Jahad was about to explode, but took a deep breath and studied Sha’ for a moment before speaking. “Check this out homey. And what I’m about to say stays in this room. When we first popped this shit off on the Island we planned and worked out every single problem that could come up. Am I right?”

  “Yeah, that’s why…”

  Jahad held up his hand. “Hold up. Hear me out. Now ask yourself the same question I asked myself a few minutes ago. How in the hell did Hector know we sent them niggas? Think, Son! Don’t nobody know who we are or what we do. If they did the Feds would probably have our asses by now? See what I’m saying?”

  Sha’, Derrick, and Koran Stared at Jahad stunned. Even Jamel, who had been looking back from Sha’ to Jahad following their exchange, stared at Jahad like he knew what was going on. The implications were somewhat unbelievable, but the fact he presented was undeniable.

  “So you saying we got a snake around us?” Sha’ asked breaking the silence.

  “What else can explain it? Why is it we ain’t heard shit about niggas being in Bronxdale in the first place? I’m willing to bet money that the shit you said about niggas moving weight in your hood is true too. Only ten people, eleven counting Koran, knew what we were planning.”

  Jahad started pacing back and forth as his mind started putting shit together. “The head’s, our top lieutenants, you, Derrick, and Koran I can cancel out, but I ain’t taking no chances with the others. Not right now. So before we hold any kind of meeting we should blow Bronxdale up. Fuck holding a meeting, then risk having some niggas waiting on us. Ya feel me?”

  Sha’ nodded. “Yeah, no doubt, but what’s up with the snake shit?”

  “We sit back and watch. Sooner or later whoever it is will crawl from under his rock. For now though, we keep this shit to ourselves. That’s our advantage.”

  Off to the side, Derrick reached into the backpack he carried, took out a brand new black M-P5 Heckled and Koch, and passed it to Koran. “Think you can get busy with this?”

  Koran admired the gun as if it were a woman. Since Jamel became a part of the family he had taken advice about killing so much, but the desire was still there. “Hell yeah I can rock with this! Shit, let’s go.”

  “You gotta take Kay over to Mrs. H crib.” Jahad glanced at Jamel where he stood beside Koran looking up at the gun.”

  “Kay go. I bang bang too.” Jamel began to pout poking out his lip.

  Jahad laughed. “Nah lil’ dude. When you get older I’ll let you get your bang bang on.”

  A knock at the front door drew their attention.

  “I’ll get it,” Koran said, passing the gun back to Derrick. “Put that up. It’s probably my shorty, Sin.”

  When he opened the door Serenity stood in front of him wearing a red and white Roc-A-Wear sweatsuit. The pants hugged her hips causing Koran to stare. Her hair, which was usually kept braided, was parted down the middle in the two long plaits giving her the Pocohantas look. Beside her Dej’a wore a white Baby Gap jean suit, a yellow sweater, and a pair of yellow Timberlands on her small feet.

  “Look at you.” Koran smiled as he dropped to one knee and kissed Dej’a on the cheek. “Ain’t you pretty.”

  Dej’a giggled. “Thank You.”

  “Dej’a’s the only person you see?” Serenity asked with her hands on her hips.

  “You know better than that.” He stood and put his mouth close to her ear. “I had to catch myself before I ripped your clothes off.”

  “Um huh. You ready?”

  Koran shook his head. “I can’t go, something important came up. I still want y’all to go though.” He put an arm around Serenity’s shoulder, took Dej’a’s hand and led them inside the apartment.

  Serenity pulled away from him, frowning. “It better not be one of your friends and I don’t need to go shopping,” she said stubbornly.

  Koran sighed and ran a hand over his face. “Here we go. First off, I didn’t ask if you needed to go shopping, you are going. Second, and I hope I don’t have to repeat this again either. I only have one shorty, that’s you. I wouldn’t have done what I did last night if I had plans of fuc…messing around on you. So I’d appreciate it if you never bought that up to me again. Are we clear on that?”

  “Yes.” Serenity smiled and kissed him lightly on the lips. “How long you gone be gone?”

  “I can’t say. Probably a couple of hours, though.”

  “Want me to wait?”

  “Nah. I’m giving you Fifth Ave money, so you probably be gone all day.”

  Serenity bunched up her face. “Fifth Avenue money?”

  “Yeah. Louie, Gucci, Chanel and Prada. I want you and Dej’a to look like movie stars when y’all get back.”

  “What you trying to say you don’t like the way I dress?”

  “Oh, don’t get it twisted. I’m feeling the ghetto side of you.” He looked down at her outfit. “But I wanna see the other side though. The classy Sin. Tell her Dej’a.”

  “Um huh,” Dej’a nodded. “The classy Sin.”

  “See. Dej’a know,” he said, smiling.

  “Do that mean I can expect to see you in a dress suit wearing some Italian shoe’s?”

  “Nah, Ma. Timbs, Jeans, a fitted and a tee shirt for me. I said nothing about me looking like a movie star. I’d have to fight the women off me then.”

  Serenity punched him on the shoulder.

  “I’m playing, Sin,” he said laughing. “I’m saying though. You already look like Beyonce. Shit... better. Now you gonna dress better than her. Am I right Dej’a?”

  “Yep!”

  Serenity rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help blushing. “I see Dej’a is your little yes woman,” she said following him down the hall.

  Jahad, Sha’ and Derrick snapped their Heads around when they entered the living room. Jahads’ eyes nearly bulged out of his head when saw Serenity. For a second he studied her through slitted eyes before looking over at Dej’a. Koran smiled, catching his look. Serenity’s beauty had the same effect on him when he first saw her too.

  “Sin! Sin!” Jamel shouted, running to her with his arms out.

  “Hi cutie. Looks like it’s me, you and Dej’a today. You wanna go to Fun World?” she asked, picking him up.

  “Ice
came!”

  “Sin,” Koran dropped an arm around her shoulders. “This is my big brother Jah I was telling you about. And these are my boys, Derrick and Sha’. Jah, this is my shorty, Sin,” he said proudly and Jahad frowned.

  Serenity smiled. “How y’all doing?”

  All three nodded as Dej’a tapped Koran on his leg. “Oh, and this is Sin’s daughter, Dej’a.”

  “Niece,” Dej’a corrected.

  “Pardon me. Sin’s niece, Dej’a.” Koran gave Serenity a questioning look, but Jamel held her attention.

  “Ka-wan we go?”

  “Yeah. Let me get my keys for you, Sin.” Koran walked off without noticing that Jahad was right behind him.

  No sooner than he stepped into his bedroom Jahad grabbed him by the shoulder. “A yo, who that chick?”

  “I told you, my shorty. Why?”

  “Where she from?” Jahad asked forcefully.

  Koran screwed up his face. “What up with all the damn questions? I don’t be asking crazy ass questions about the chicks you be fucking.”

  “I ain’t trying to hear that shit!” Jahad barked and took a step toward Koran with his hands bunched up into a fist. “Where she from!?”

  Koran automatically got into his fighting stance. He could hold his own with the best of them, but had no illusion who would win in a hand to hand confrontation with Jahad. On the same token, he knew he wouldn’t be the only one to get knotted up either. Jahad would take some licks too.

  “Ain’t none of your damn business where she from. I don’t know what the fuck you thinking, but I ain’t no kid no more nigga!”

  Jahad Stared deep into Koran’s eyes. “You in love ain’t you?”

  Koran didn’t answer.

  “Did you say something to that bitch about what I told you on the roof?”

  “What! What the fuck you trying to say, Jah?”

  “You heard me nigga. Did you say something about us having these niggas in Bronxdale on some pillow talking shit?”

  In an instant all Koran saw was red. Without thinking he swung a quick left hook that Jahad slipped effortlessly. Before he could throw another punch Jahad scooped him up by the legs and slammed him on the bed.

  “A yo word up, if you weren’t my brother, I’d beat you to death nigga. Now answer my damn question. Did you tell that bitch!?”

  Tears welled up in Koran’s eyes at the mere thought of thinking Jahad could believe he would betray his trust. “You gonna ask me some shit like that, Jah? You for real man?”

  Jahad noticed Koran’s expression and loosened his grip. A bad mistake. Koran swung a hard right hook that connected squarely to the side of Jahad’s head. The blow knocked him into the headboard. Moving quickly, he pushed himself off the bed and advanced to where Jahad rolled to the left side of the bed.

  “I don’t give a fuck who you suppose to be! I’ll fuck you up for asking me some stupid shit like that.”

  As Jahad pushed himself up, Sha’ rushed through the door.

  “What the hell y’all doing in here?”

  “It’s nothing.” Jahad kept his eyes on Koran as he spoke. “We chopping up about something. Give us a minute, we’ll be out there.”

  Hesitantly, Sha’ walked out while Jahad made his way around the bed. Taking no chances Koran put his guard up.

  “Chill nigga. I ain’t gonna fuck you up. Don’t hit me no damn more though or I’ll hit yo ass back.” He gave Koran a crooked grin then turned serious. “I owe you an apology lil’ bruh. Your shorty puts me in the mind of someone and it fucked me up. Like I said, my fault. But what I tell you about that love shit though. Don’t front and say shorty don’t got you open either. That shit in your eyes.”

  Koran shook his head miserably. “She got me Jah, but I couldn’t help it man. Word up, I couldn’t help it!” He shook his head again. “I mean it’s like…it’s…I... See, I can’t even explain this shit.”

  Jahad smiled sadly. “I know lil bruh. I been there before and that shit is dangerous. Make sure you find out where shorty priorities are before you put your trust in her. I’m telling you this because I know how bitches are. I got caught up in that love shit and it damn near got me killed. So be careful.”

  “I got you, Jah. You taught me too well for me to slip.”

  Jahad rubbed the side of his head. “I know one thing. I won’t underestimate your ass no more.”

  When Jahad left, Koran went to his closet and took out ten thousand dollars from his stash. He then found Sin in the guest room changing Jamel’s diaper.

  “You better watch out. He be trying to piss on you.”

  “My baby won’t pee on me, will you cutie?” Serenity ticked Jamel’s side and he giggled kicking his legs.

  “No pee- pee, Sin.”

  “See, I…” She froze when Koran threw the stack of money on the bed.

  “That should be enough to get you and Dej’a right. Remember what I said too. Not one penny left. Dej’a make sure she spends it all.”

  “I will. I want a notebook computer.”

  “You heard that?” He kissed Sin on her bottom lip Since her mouth still hung wide open. “We gonna talk about your school situation later too, a’ight. See y’all later.”

  “Ice came Ka-Wan,” Jamel said frowning.

  “Sin is taking you to get ice cream. You be good, a’ight?”

  “Kay good!”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Jahad was tightening up the last of his plan when Koran entered the living room after walking Serenity to the elevator. The guns, extra clips, three sets of gloves, three ski masks, and three hoodies, were laid out on the couch and coffee table.

  “How’s it going down?” Koran asked once Jahad finished talking, “All I heard was Sha’ is gonna be waiting in White Castle’s parking lot.”

  “Me, you, and Dee gonna walk through Rosedale, hit the Bruckner Expression and go through the underpass. That’ll bring us directly to the middle section of Bronxdale. The parking lot is right there when we come from under the underpass. That’s when we’ll pull on our ski masks. After we wet it up, we’ll run through the first section to White Castle. Sha’ will be waiting for us there. Got it?”

  Bronxdale projects were only a few blocks from Monroe projects and different as night and day. Six, seven story buildings made up three sections, each separated by a side street and parking lot.

  “Yeah, I got it. Let me get my baby and I’ll be ready.” Koran dashed to his room, went to his closet and grabbed his 17 shot Beretta 9mm. By the time he returned Sha’ had left and Jahad and Derrick were ready to go.

  “C’mon Koran damn!” Jahad glanced over his shoulder impatiently as Koran removed the Beretta from the small of his back and replaced it with the Heckler and Koch. The Beretta he tucked in his hoody pocket after checking to make sure it was cocked and ready.

  “A’ight, I’m ready. Let’s go send these bastards to hell.” He grinned, feeling the old adrenaline rush he missed so much.

  On their way through Rosedale apartment grounds Koran took in how peaceful it was compared to his projects. The lawns were neatly cut without a speck of trash in sight. The buildings were graffiti free. Rosedale’s two, fourteen story buildings were exact replica’s of Monroe projects. The difference was the armed guards and trained dogs that patrolled the grounds at night to keep stragglers away. For as long as he could remember everybody in Monroe projects looked at Rosedale as being the uppity projects.

  Traffic was light when they made it to the Bruckner Expressway underpass, but overhead the roar of passing cars drowned out all other noises. The few cars that stopped at the light inside the underpass gave off thick exhaust fumes which caused them to cover their mouths and noses with their shirts to keep from choking. Exiting the underpass, the parking lot lay just ahead crowded with groups of people who stood out in front of the buildings. A few guys had their pit bulls on leashes with muzzles over the dog’s deadly mouths.

  “Get ready,” Jahad said under his breath just befo
re they crossed the street. Trying to be inconspicuous as possible they tucked their Heads in unison and pulled the mask over their faces, then pulled the hoods over their Heads. Koran took a quick glance up and estimated close to thirty people total. In a few minutes, thirty dead if he could pull it off.

  “Spread out, left, right! I’ll take the middle,” Jahad snapped out once they made it to the parking lot about forty yards away from the building.

  Derrick and Koran branched off from Jahad, Derrick to the left, Koran to the right, while Jahad continued straight towards the crowd. About twenty yards away Koran walked in between two parked cars. Derrick followed his lead on the other side of the parking lot. The crowds now were looking at them slightly confused as if to determine whether they were friend or foe, but a few weren’t taking any chances and were reaching for their guns.

  Suddenly, without warning bullets tore into the car Koran walked between and shattered its windows. He ducked, moved to the rear end of the car, calmly pulled the Heckler and Kock. After hitting the safety button he leaned over the trunk and sprayed three round burst into the crowds. Jahad, laying flat on his stomach directly in the middle of the parking lot, swung his gun from left to right, his face underneath the mask twisted in a snarl. Wanting to get closer to the action Derrick crawled to the front of the parking lot until only one car separated him from the shooters. Return fire came heavy from the left side of the building, but though in front were pinned in from three sides.

  “I’m going around! I’m going around!” Koran shouted motioning to Jahad as he moved from the cover of the car. His intentions were to go around the right side so he could come behind the shooters on the left. Too much firepower came from their direction. From the number of shots he guessed it to be at least seven shooters. If Jahad and Derrick could keep them occupied long enough, he could sneak up from behind and end the gunfight.

  “Chill nigga! Chill, we can’t get them!” Jahad yelled over the shots, but Koran was already on the move.

  The scene looked more like CNN live footage from the Iraqi war as Koran edged closer to the right side. Gun shots, agonizing screams, and howling dogs echoed loudly while everything else seemed to move in slow motion. The wounded tried to crawl to safety. The bullets that ripped into those who stood in front of the building tried to hold their ground. Bullets tore into anyone too slow to move and the bodies of though already dead.