by S. L. Walker
“You’re okay?” he smirked.
Raven grabbed him and wrapped her arms around his neck giving him the biggest hug she had ever hugged anyone. She never thought she’d see him again and more so was turned on that he came all this way to even find her.
“I can’t believe you found me? Where’s Deon?” She looked behind him, expecting him to be there. DJ was so caught up in finding her that he didn’t think to prepare himself to tell her what happened.
Raven didn’t like DJs expression. It was too hopeless.
“DJ?” She unwrapped her arms around him and looked him in the eyes. Eva also was wondering what the deal was.
“Raven, I…I don’t know how to tell you this,” DJ said softly, taking her by the hands. She ripped them away from him.
“No. Nope, nope! You tell me what happened right now!” Raven grabbed DJ’s jean jacket.
“He was with me in the hospital and I don’t know what happened, Vee. They said he bled internally,” DJ tried to explain the best he could. Raven’s face turned red, her heart was crushed, the pain formed in every inch of her.
“What are you saying? What are you saying?!” Her lips quivered as she thought of the words that DJ just couldn’t say.
“I’m sorry,” his eyes teared up and he looked down at the dirt on the ground.
“Because of you!” She began beating DJs chest, somewhat hurting and bruising what was already painful in his body.
“No, no, I tried to help him!” He covered his chest as she beat him with her fist. Eva tried to tear her away.
“Vee, stop, please stop,” Eva begged, tears forming in her eyes from her friends agony. DJ gave up and let her beat him, knowing that he did have part responsibility and needed to feel whatever pain she was feeling.
“Hey! Hey!” Victoria shouted as her and Angel ran around the bus with snacks in their hand, confused as to what was going on.
“Stop! Stop!” Eva and Victoria were able to pull her off DJ. Victoria handed Angel the snacks and tried to shake Raven back to reality.
“Whats up man?!” Victoria grabbed Raven by the shoulders looking at her and then surprised to see DJ. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to take you guys home,” he told her. Raven was mumbling to herself, crying and dazed.
“My brother is gone,” she told Victoria. Angel covered her mouth in shock. Victoria scowled at DJ as if he was the one who did it.
“Treach?” She asked DJ. He nodded.
“Lila is back at her plane ready to take us back. I know where he will be headed if he isn’t already there. He has a stash spot in Clinton County, New York. I know he has stuff he needs to drop there before touching Canada,” he told the girls.
Raven’s eyes dried a little as she plotted revenge.
“He’s going to Canada?” Eva asked, holding Raven.
“I’m pretty sure. That was always our plan if things went South with anything. Stash our stuff and go to Montreal. He got someone there, but beyond that, I don’t know. Raven, look at me,” he pulled Raven’s hand towards him taking her away from Eva’s grip. Raven was numb.
“We can get this mothafucka. I’m sorry about Deon. I swear I tried to help him. Do you believe me?” He pulled her close, looking her in her puppy dog eyes. He had never seen her this vulnerable. “I can’t go on if I don’t hear you believe me on this.”
“He came all this way,” Victoria chimed in. She hated what her friend was going through. They all did and even though DJ had some part in it, somehow his loyalty to Treach was no more and all for Raven.
“Lila is here?” Raven was able to mutter.
“Waiting for us. But we gotta go now,” he said. The bus they were on started up. Raven had a decision to make.
“It’s on you, ma. We following you,” Eva added.
“Yeah,” Angel stepped closer.
“I’m gonna kill him,” Raven told them maliciously.
$$$$
Treach was fussing at West and Nine to get the tire changed quickly.
“Nigga, do you wanna do it?” West struggled as he jacked up the car to put the spare on.
“I don’t like this shit, man,” Nine shook his head. He believed in karma to the fullest and too many things were trying to stop them from making it to Canada.
“Whatchu talking bout now, man?” Treach grew irritated. Cars flew by honking their horn as they sat on the side of the small road.
“Maybe we should go get a hotel somewhere and leave back out in the am to dump the stash. Something don’t feel right,” Nine leaned on the car as West took the flat tire off. “This shit sit right with y’all?”
“I don’t believe in shit like that. Just get the tire changed. We only a couple hours out. We good,” Treach brushed them off.
Nine’s intuition was on point. Lila, DJ, the girls and their pilot, Alex, were flying straight towards New York to meet them. DJ crossed his fingers he’d get the same luck he got with Raven. God was on his side right now. He looked at Raven who’s eyes had never left the window of the plane. He wondered what her thoughts were, what was she planning and if she truly cared about him. Would she down him, too, when she was done with Treach? He never knew what he’d get with her, but that’s what he liked about her so much.
“You okay?” He whispered to her. She turned to him with sad eyes. She cracked a small smile for him and nodded and turned back towards the window. He took her hand in his and squeezed it. He hoped she really did forgive him. And if he did see Treach again, he’d pull the trigger for her.
$$$$
“Cash ain’t picking up,” Tito relayed. They had gone back to Zara’s house to await any news. They were watching the news like hawks, but nothing was coming on about the girls. No new updates or family concerns or anything.
“Oh my God, you think he found them?” Zara asked, concerned. She looked at Professor Heart who was having a few drinks at the kitchen table. He wanted to numb all of his crazy thoughts of what was going on. He had so many questions for Eva. Questions that he knew Zara couldn't answer. He wished he could go after her, but knew it was better he at least stuck with Zara. She’d contact her before she’d contact him.
“No. Cash would have said somethin’, even if it was to boast. Something is off,” Tito shook the phone in his hand. Manuel nodded in agreement.
“Call again,” he told Tito. But before Tito could dial again, the phone rang and it was Cash.
“Aye. Que Paso? Anything?” Tito answered.
“Tis iz Looney,” Looney said on the other end. Tito knew all too well about Looney.
“Where’s Cash, Looney? Where’s my cousin?” Tito asked vigorously. Looney never had Cash’s phone. No-one had Cash’s phone, so if someone was calling from his phone, he knew something bad happened.
“Them Jamaicans homez. They shot em. I got every single one of em, though, but man,” Looney sounded down. Tito took the phone from his ear and pierced his lips not to let out a cry. Although him and Cash weren’t close, that was his blood. He would never hurt him or want to see him hurt. But in this game, he knew he would eventually get the call.
“Do they have the girls?” Tito put the phone back to his ear.
“No, they don’t got the money either. I got it back. I took Cash’s body back to the Mansion. I called the familia. Chip is on his way over. Tu comin’ ?” Looney asked. Chip was Tito’s brother. He was also in the business. He was way deeper than them two, though, a real king pin, meaning Chip would be the one avenging Cash’s death. Tito looked at the faces of everyone in the room. Now that Cash was gone and the girls were clearly on there way home, he made a choice.
“Si. Gracias, Looney,” he told him and hung up.
“So?!” Manuel asked, impatiently. Zara’s eyes agreed.
“Cash is dead. The Jamaicans took him out,” Tito held his head high. “I gotta go to Miami,” he headed for the front door. Manuel was silent as he walked Tito out.
“If those girls make it back. I’d think twi
ce about keeping Zara away from them. Friends like that, are friends she needs,” Tito winked at Zara, who was trailing behind her father. She smiled as Tito walked away, leaving them to figure out the next move alone.
$$$$
The girls, DJ, Lila, and her Pilot, landed at a small airspace in New York about 15 minutes away from Clinton County. Everyone was tired, antsy, and nervous. Raven was that and a mix of other emotions. She still couldn’t believe Deon was gone and it almost didn’t feel real. She had to see him for herself to make it real, until then, she had a sprinkle of hope that maybe DJ was wrong.
“Listen suga, you can go ahead and fly back home if ya like. I will take it from here,” Lila told her Pilot. He had model features, a chiseled chest formed through his tight grey sweater, and stood about 6’1. Alex was a normal paying customer of Lila’s. His appetite was for one of her favorites, Monique, an 18 year old Puerto Rican girl who costs him an arm and a leg every time. Lila offered him a full free month service with just her for taking them and keeping his mouth shut. He didn’t hesitate.
“I can stay,” he told her as DJ and the girls began walking away to find a Taxi. Lila smiled.
“I thought you didn’t have jurisdiction over the border?” She asked him.
“I don’t, but I can wait till you get back,” he smiled.
Lila shook her head. “No, I can’t tell you when we will be back. Thank you, though. Tell Kaitlin I said you can have Monique whenever you want, okay?” His penis got hard just thinking about that.
“You bet,” he tapped his old baseball hat on his head. He helped Lila step out of the plane in her 6 inch heels and handed her a small red duffle bag. He hopped back in, closing the door and taxiing away. Lila stepped back and put her hand over her forehead shading the sun that sat high, telling the evening time, to watch Alex take off.
HONK HONK!
She looked behind her at an older model silver grey SUV parked not too far from her.
“Hurry up!” Victoria yelled out of the back window. DJ had stolen a parked truck, probably belonging to one of the workers nearby.
“Oh shit!” Lila ran as fast as she could, praying she didn’t break her $600 Giuseppe Zanotti heels. Her skinny legs ran like little sticks over the concrete as she finally got to the truck. Victoria opened the door for her and let her in the back with them; Raven sat in the passenger seat while DJ drove. She barely got the door closed before DJ sped off, making a sharp turn and flooring for the freeway. She sat the bag on her lap sparking curiosity in Victoria.
“What’s in the bag?” She asked her. Lila looked at her as if she’d never ask.
“Protection,” Lila unzipped the bag, unveiling some heavy fire power and boxes of bullets. “I don’t know about y’all, but I don’t go to a war with no machines,” Lila pulled out the largest gun in her bag, an AR-15. “This one is my baby,” she sat it on the floor beneath her. Then she pulled out two Glock 19’s, putting one underneath her and handing the other to Victoria. Victoria looked at the smooth black gun as she held it in her hand.
“It’s loaded so be careful,” Lila told her. Victoria nodded, checking for the safety.
Lila pulled out two more Beretta 92s. These were also her babies, but she lended them both to Angel and Eva. Angel and Eva were now a little used to handling guns and took them with no questions asked. She then pulled out a 9mm for DJ and he shook his head.
“I’m good,” he showed his guns he had tucked in his boxers from his house earlier.
“Fair enough,” she told him. “Raven, I brought something special for you,” she smiled. Raven turned around to see Lila holding a brown and black Browning Hi-power. “They don’t even make these anymore, baby girl,” she handed the gun to Raven and then a small box of bullets. Raven held the semi-automatic pistol in her hand. She knew Browning guns a little and particularly liked the Buck Mark 22. Lila had taste.
“This is mine?” She asked Lila.
“For now,” Lila told her, sticking her guns back into her bag.
“We aren’t that far now,” DJ said as civilization turned into forests. He sped up.
“Slow down!” Lila told him.
“We need to get there, besides if anyone is driving, you should be glad it’s me,” DJ wasn’t only excellent at stealing cars, but driving too. Matter of fact, he had learned straight from Nine. Raven side eyed him not giving him too much credit but still impressed at his skills. She learned how to boost cars when she was smaller through Deon. Her thinking of Deon took her right back to her depressed mood. She wanted to cry. But she needed that energy for when she saw Treach.
“You know where you going right?” Eva asked him from the very backseats with Angel.
“Yep, it’s not that far from here at all,” DJ told her looking through the rearview mirror. He then looked at Raven and they locked eyes. He still wondered what she was really feeling inside. “I got you, okay?” He took her hand and squeezed it. She squeezed back. She wanted to hate DJ so badly, but she knew he was there for her and only her. She couldn’t fault him for her brother. He wasn’t the one she wanted.
The girls all smiled in the backseat. They had never seen Raven taken by anyone before and weren’t that surprised it turned out to be someone from the streets. Watching them hold hands made Eva think about Professor Heart. She had been so distracted with everything that she hadn’t thought about him. Her heart grew heavy with worry and knew he had to have known she was missing.
But did he care enough to be worried about her?
She shook the thought from her head. It would only make her lose focus on what was happening right now. She promised her self she would go see him when she got home.
“You said there is money there already?” Lila asked DJ. Lila had her own agenda at this point. As much as she wanted to see the girls win, she wanted Treach gone and wanted his part of the world and then she wanted to get rid of Reggie’s God for saken ghetto ass. Reggie was beyond greedy and she didn’t like working with a greedy nigga. It was bad for business, but more so, it made her uncomfortable. The game that she was in was only sex and money. With him, it was going to be everything and she knew his dumb ass would never be able to hold down his own, especially now that Treach had dipped on everyone.
“Should be, and depending on what he wants to stash right now, should be a whole lot for us to take. And split,” DJ said, making sure he looked at her in the rearview mirror when he said split. He wasn’t dumb to Lila’s plotting. He figured she wouldn’t go through all this trouble just to help a bunch of teenage girls. He didn’t know what her business was with Treach, but he was sure he’d find out. He would have to make sure that she wasn’t here to betray the girls or him first.
“Of course,” she smirked and looked back outside as the sun began to set.
$$$$
“What kind of city is this?” Lila looked out her window as they came into a small town filled with tall red brick buildings. A sign said Clinton County.
“I haven’t been here since Treach came and brought us for the first time. I was surprised he even trusted us enough to show us this place. But back then, we were actually boys,” DJ told the girls as they passed up a small bar restaurant, a bank, furniture store, and pizza parlor.
“I’m assuming this is where everything is,” Lila said, almost turned off at how boring the place looked.
“Yeah, everything will be closing up in a little while, too,” DJ said, turning a corner to reveal a police station. Everyone froze in an instant, remembering they were in a stolen car, a stolen car full of criminals. There were plenty of police cars in the lot, which only meant that this town didn’t get much action, so they’d be happy to take him and the girls down with a quickness. He put his feet on the gas to speed past them.
“I gotta pee,” Angel spoke up. She had been fairly quiet most of the time. Her head had also been in the clouds, thinking about her mother and father and then Sam. She secretly wished they weren’t going after Treach and would turn around an
d go home. But she also knew that if he was out here, and alive, and found out they were alive, who’s to say he wouldn’t come back for them. Who’s to say he wouldn’t put a hit out on them, so he didn't have to come back. They were only free and clear if he was gone. Her brain raced over and over about Cash. Where was he now? Surely he was hot on their trail, but DJ seemed so calm and collected. Did he know something? Was he setting them up?
Ugh. She pinched the bridge of her nose with her fingers, trying to convince herself she was tripping and to stop stressing out over nothing.
“You okay?” Eva asked, her noticing the change in Angel. Angel nodded.
“Gonna have to hold it, Green Eyes, we are almost there,” DJ told her as he made another turn, leaving the small town and entering a grassy field with tall bare trees. There were a few houses spaced out by hundreds of feet and then he made a turn onto a long windy road. There was only one street light making their surroundings, haunting.
“We’re here,” he reversed into a small driveway, just enough for one car and backed it all the way in and turned off his lights, leaving the car running with the heat on. Everyone was speechless. He looked around trying to see if there were any signs of Treach, or that he had even been there.
Raven squinted to see the best she could in the early night. It was a very small cottage owned by Treach himself. The white paint was old and chipped. It had little steps leading up to a white screen door and pitch black inside.
“Well, he clearly ain’t here,” Lila spoke up.
“Don’t mean he hasn’t been. And if that’s the case, we are shit outta luck,” he looked at Raven. Raven pulled the gun Lila gave her out from underneath her seat.
“Let’s find out then,” she unlocked it. Surprisingly, she wasn’t the least bit nervous or afraid. The anger she felt took over every bit of anxiety she once possessed.