by J-Blunt
Star cut her eyes at Tanya. “So, that mean you choose yo’ nigga over yo’ bitch? You know how it go. Hos over bros.”
“She got a point,” Princess cut in.
Tanya eyed her cousin. “Really?”
“I’m just sayin’, we gotta stick to the ho code how niggas stick to they bro code.”
Star laughed loudly, slapping Princess a high five. “Now this is my type of bitch! Keep that shit real, cousin. What you say yo’ name was again?”
“Princess.”
“Yeah, Princess. Tell her ass the truth. That’s the problem wit’ bitches nowadays. We keep turnin’ on each other for these no-good, li’l dick-ass niggas. Where all the real bitches at?”
“Right here, bitch,” Tanya said. “My daughter need her father, and he ain’t got no li’l dick. You need to be worried about yo’ nigga. Where Derion li’l dick-ass at?”
“Gurl, Derion bitch-ass is old news. His punk-ass gon’ fuck Tasty nasty-ass. I cut him and that bitch off. They can have each other.”
“Yo, cousin. Tasty?” Tanya laughed. “She did that?”
“Yeah. You know her nasty-ass don’t give a fuck who she fuck. These hos ain’t loyal. Just ‘cause we share the same blood don’t mean shit. The muthafuckas you share blood wit’ will fuck you over the fastest. That’s why I don’t fuck wit’ these bitches. I’m all about my coins. If a muthafucka ain’t eatin’ this pussy or puttin’ some money in my bag, fuck ‘im.”
“Talk that shit, bitch,” Princess sang. “I been waitin’ to meet a bitch like you, Star. Tanya prissy-ass too stuck up. Chase a check. Neva chase a dick!”
“Hey! That’s what I’m talkin’ ‘bout!” Star bounced, doing a shimmy-shake.
Tanya shook her head. “Y’all way too much.”
“See, that’s that prissy-ass shit yo’ cousin was talkin’ ‘bout. Bitch, you need to come put on some heels and come shake some ass wit’ me at the titty club. Yanna gave you some ass and hips. You need to use what God gave you to get y’all ass out them projects.”
Tanya gave a funny look. “Bitch, I don’t gotta shake my ass to get out the projects. Ricco is my man, and he got it. Soon as he get the salesman job, we gon’ be good. As long as I got him and my baby, we gon’ be okay.”
Star imitated throwing up.
“What club you at?” Princess asked.
“Safari. A li’l strip club downtown. It’s poppin’ on the weekends. You know somethin’ ‘bout the nightlife?”
“Girl, if it’s ‘bout money, I’m there. When they do tryouts?”
“Shit, I know the manager. Lucky keep his tongue up my ass. Since you my girl cousin, I’ma put you in. Gimme yo’ number before y’all leave.”
“I will. So, who is this nigga, Derion? I think I know him.”
“You prolly do. He a ho-ass nigga that run wit’ a group of ho-ass niggas. Call theyself Goon Squad. J-West is they daddy. Whatever he say, they do.”
“Yeah. That’s his bitch-ass. You know if he was at Pole Boulevard last night?”
Star cut her eyes at Princess. “Damn, bitch. You ask a lotta questions. What you on?”
Princess gave a sly smile. “Was I that obvious?”
Star looked from Princess to Tanya. “What yo’ cousin on?”
“We was at Pole last night.”
“Did you hear what happened?” Princess asked.
“I still don’t know why you hos askin’ me all these questions. Lemme find out one-a you bitches wearin’ a wire and I’ma fuck y’all up.”
“Bitch, please!” Tanya frowned.
“Ain’t nobody the police,” Princess said. “We had a run wit’ Goon Squad last night. You heard anything?”
Star looked amused. “That was y’all that fucked up Laro and Queezy?”
Princess nodded. “They tried to rob us.”
“Damn. The whole city talkin’ ‘bout that shit. Laro in the hospital about to die, and Queezy dead. But y’all already know.”
“What the streets sayin’? Do they know who we is?”
“Nah, I don’t think so. But I’m not sure. I heard this through the grapevine, and you know how shit get twisted.”
“Can you get in touch wit’ Derion to find out for sure? We payin’.”
Star smiled. “Bitch, you shoulda led wit’ that. I told you hos I ain’t loyal to nothin’ but my coins. I need my car note paid. What you want me to do?”
A loud knock on the door stopped Princess from answering.
“Who the fuck knockin’ on my muthafuckin’ door like this?” Star questioned as she handed Tanya her baby and stormed toward the door. “Who is it?”
“Where that punk-bitch Star at?” a woman screamed from outside. “You thought I wouldn’t find out where you lived, ho? Come outside and say that shit to my face!”
Star looked through the peephole and seen three women standing on her porch. “I don’t know who y’all bitches think y’all fuckin’ wit’, but y’all betta get off my muthafuckin’ porch!”
The women began beating on the door, un-phased by the threat. “This Bridget, bitch. You talked that shit on Facebook, now say it to my face.”
Princess pulled the 40-caliber Pop took from Red Dot out of her purse.
“Where you get that?” Tanya asked. “What you about to do?”
“I don’t leave the house without it. And if them bitches don’t leave, I’ma put some holes in they ass.” Then she turned to Star. “Who is Bridget?”
“Some hatin’-ass bitch who nigga been cashin’ me out. She found my pictures in his phone and started trollin’ me. Lemme go get my shit. I’ma show these hos,” Star said before ducking into her bedroom. She came out a few moments later holding a 9mm with a pearl handle. “I told these bitches to get the fuck off my porch.”
After unlocking the door, Star charged outside, her pistol high. Clap. clap. clap. clap! She fired in the air. The women stumbled and tripped over one another as they ran off the porch. Instead of letting them go. Star chased them, swinging her pistol and slapping them upside the heads. Princess stood in the doorway smiling, loving the way Star took care of business. Tanya stood next to her cousin, watching the show with wide eyes.
“Don’t come by my house talkin’ that shit no more, you punk-ass bitches,” Star screamed at the terrified women as they hopped in a red Chevy Impala. “And tell yo’ li’l-dick-ass nigga to lose my number!”
“Yo’ girl crazy,” Princess laughed.
Tanya shook her head. “I know.”
Chapter 5
A loud knock on the door broke Red Dot’s concentration on 2K20. “Damn. They knockin’ like they the police.”
“Hold on. Lemme get that,” Ricco said, pausing the game. “Who is it?”
“Pop Somethin’.”
The cousins gave each other wide-eyed looks. “Fuck he want?” Red Dot whispered.
Ricco shrugged.
“Think he know ‘bout the pills?”
Ricco shrugged again. “I don’t know. But don’t say shit. I got it.” After opening the door, he greeted the big man coolly. “What’s good, brah? Princess gone.”
“I know. I need to holla at you,” Pop said flatly.
“A’ight. Come in.”
Red Dot acknowledged Pop Somethin’ with a nod when he walked into the apartment. The goon stone-faced him as he sat on the couch.
“What up, Pop?” Ricco asked, anxious to know what he wanted.
“First, good lookin’ for comin’ through for me at the club. That nigga had the ups on me, and you took care of that. That was real shit.”
“It wasn’t shit, fam. You been showin’ me and wifey a lotta love since you been here. I was just returnin’ the favor. Favor for a favor, my nigga.”
Pop mugged him, showing open hostility. “Don’t say that shit no more.”
Ricco looked puzzled. “What you talkin’ ‘bout? What I do?”
“I blazed the last two niggas that told me that shit.”
The living room grew qu
iet as the cousins considered the meaning behind his words. After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Pop spoke again. “I need Tanya to make anotha move.”
Ricco blew out a long breath. “C’mon, Pop. Last time she did somethin’ for y’all, she got snatched up by them people. No offense, but fuckin’ wit’ y’all is dangerous.”
Pop chuckled. “You got that. But I think this gon’ benefit all of us. I heard about J-West and Goon Squad. I dealt wit’ niggas like them before, and if we sit back and let them niggas plot and make they moves, it’s gon’ be too late for us to pop back if they find out who we is. I need Tanya to go wit’ Star and Princess to see what these niggas know and how we can hit these niggas if they try some shit.”
“Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Hold on, mane. Goon Squad deadly like AIDS, my nigga. I ain’t wit’ this and don’t want no-parts. We good. And who the fuck is Star? I know you ain’t talkin’ ‘bout that thotty-ass stripper bitch.”
“She got involved. They together now. Tanya wanted to call you and let you know, but I told her I would talk to you. Everything already in motion. I thought you’d agree if you heard it from me. Tanya see the big picture. If Goon Squad find out who we is, they comin’.”
Ricco grabbed his phone. “Hell nah! Nah! I’m callin’ her ass right now. We ain’t gettin’ in this.”
“He right, cuz,” Red Dot spoke up. “If Goon Squad find out who y’all is, they gon’ sweat shit. It ain’t gon’ be hard to connect the dots since y’all was together. They plotted on y’all. Y’all gotta use them bitches to find out what them niggas know.”
Pop nodded to Red Dot before turning back to Ricco. “Er’body see what’s goin’ on but you. Whatever you hidin’ from, you can’t keep hidin’. All that layin’ low is over.”
“I ain’t hidin’ from shit. I don’t want this shit. I been through all this before. Ain’t nothin’ good in them streets. I got shot in the face because of it. I ain’t trynna lose nothin’ else,” Ricco vented, tears threatening to spill from his eyes.
“Fuck wit’ me, my nigga, and I got you. Tell me who shot you and we can go fuck them niggas up. But right now I need you wit’ me and focused on Goon Squad.”
Ricco ignored Pop, continuing to try to call his woman. When she didn’t answer, he started texting.
“I’ll fuck witchu, brah,” Red Dot spoke up. “Tell me what I need to do. I’m ready to get a bag.”
Pop studied the small-time hustler. “What happened to Ricco?”
Red Dot turned to his cousin for approval.
“Stay out my bidness, Red Dot!” Ricco growled.
***
“I don’t know about this, y’all. I never stripped before,” Tanya said, checking her reflection in the full-length mirror. She wore light make-up, hair bone-straight and flowing past her shoulders, her body barely covered by a white one-piece bathing suit.
“All you gotta do is shake ya ass a li’l bit and let me and Princess do all the work,” Star said easily, making it seem as if stripping for the first time was no big deal. She was more concerned with adjusting her double-D breasts inside a way-too-small bra.
“That don’t make it easy for me. I never danced before. What if they touch me?”
“If you don’t like it, tell ‘em to stop,” Princess spoke up, wrestling her dreadlocks into a ponytail and checking out the way her ass looked in the gold fishnet stockings. “And if you nervous, take one of these percs. They will have yo’ ass all the way laid back.”
“Ooh! Gimme one,” Star said, snatching a pill and swallowing it dry. “I don’t’ know why Tanya never told me ‘bout you. We coulda been out here fuckin’ the city up.”
A knock on the bathroom door interrupted the women getting ready. “Aye! C’mon out here and shake dat ass! Niggas been waitin’ all night!”
“Get away from the door, horny-ass nigga!” Star screamed before turning to Tanya. “Let’s get out here and get this money and info. Don’t smoke nothin’ you don’t see get rolled, and don’t drink nothin’ you don’t see get poured.”
“And don’t do nothin’ you don’t feel comfortable doin’,” Princess added.
When the scantily-clad women revealed themselves, all eyes popped and focused on them. Oohs and ahs filled the room as two men approached Star and Tanya, trying to feel them up. “Move, nigga!” Star snapped, pushing one of the men.
He stumbled backward, barely catching himself from falling. After he caught his balance, a mug flashed on his face and he balled up his fists. “Punk-ass bitch!”
Star threw up her hands in a boxer’s stance. “C’mon, nigga! Try me!”
“Chill, Radical!”
The angry man paused at the sound of his name being called, spinning to face the man who called his name. “C’mon, D. You seen that bitch put her hands on me.”
Even though he was sitting down, Derion was an imposing man. Standing six feet, two inches with a husky build, bald head, and tattoos all over his face, the big man looked savage. “You put yo’ hands on her first. Relax. Smoke somethin’. They came to show us a good time.”
After one last glaring look, Radical sat down and sulked.
Princess took a moment to address the crowd to avoid any more misunderstandings. “Don’t be trynna feel on us without us sayin’ y’all can or try to stick y’all fingers in our ass or pussy. We ain’t playin’ that shit. Y’all empty them pockets and we gon’ put on a show. If y’all act cheap, then y’all gon’ get what y’all pay for.”
When the girls began dancing, the money began falling. Just like they planned, Princess and Star did most of the work while Tanya collected the money and did a few lap dances. After putting on the erotic show, the women lounged around and kicked it with their company. Star was hugged up with Derion, laughing and smoking. Princess picked Radical to be her victim and sat on his lap, stroking his ego, and Tanya sat between two men who pawed at her body, touching her in all the wrong places. The normally modest woman liked their aggressive hands and vulgar whispers. Under any other circumstances she wouldn’t have allowed herself to behave in such a manner, but the Percocet had released her inhibitions. Star and Princess recognized the situation for what it was and kept an eye on their girl.
“Why I ain’t neva seen you wit’ Star before? Where you been hidin’, girl?” Ricco asked, gripping Princess’ thigh.
“I ain’t been hidin’. You just ain’t been lookin’ hard enough.”
“Turn out the lights! I’m lookin’ for you!” he sang. “But on some real shit, I wanna fuck witchu, luv. Why don’t you leave yo’ girls and come fuck wit’ Goon Squad’s finest tonight?”
“I don’t think my man would like that.”
Radical laughed. “Fuck dat nigga, shawty. I just help pay yo’ bills. You sittin’ on my dick right now. Cancel dat nigga and fuck witcho boy.”
Princess gave the impression she was struggling to make a decision. “I don’t know. Y’all niggas hot. I don’t wanna get fucked up in some shit that don’t got nothin’ to do wit’ me. If the niggas y’all beefin’ wit’ seen me, they gon’ get on my ass. You cool an’ all, but I ain’t dyin’ over no dick.”
“Chill, baby. We got the city on lock. Niggas don’t move on us. They shook. We make moves. We the big dogs. Niggas know not to fuck in ours or they get burned.”
“Well, what happened at Pole?”
Radical gave a suspicious look. “Whatchu talkin’ ‘bout?”
Princess gave Radical a look of her own. “The streets talk, and you know dancers hear everything. I heard y’all had a issue.”
He laughed. “You always speak yo’ mind like this?”
“When it comes to my life, hell yeah! My momma ain’t raise no fool.”
Radical gave her a long look. “Listen, that shit wasn’t ‘bout nothin’. My niggas fucked up and got clapped up. When Laro get out the hospital, we gon’ find who dem niggas is and take care of that. We Goon Squad, baby.
***
When the key was inserted into the lock, Ricco�
��s good eye found the door. Before it opened, he had crossed the living room and was in Star’s face.
“Damn, nigga! Move.”
Ricco ignored her and got in Tanya’s face. “Fuck yo’ ass been? Fuck you ain’t text me back?”
“I’m sorry, babe,” Tanya slurred, swaying a little. “We had to–”
“Yo’ ass high!” he accused. “Fuck you been out there doin’? Where the rest of yo’ clothes?”
“Chill, Ricco. Let us in the house first,” Princess said.
“Nah! Fuck that! Y’all ain’t comin’ in here. This my shit. Matter fact, all y’all muthafuckas get out!”
“Chill, brah,” Red Dot spoke up. “You wilin’ out.”
Ricco spun toward his cousin, rage burning inside his good eye. “You can’t hear, nigga? Fuck out my shit. You too, Pop Somethin’!”
The tall, muscular goon stood silently and crossed the living room. Ricco felt a bit intimidated by Pop’s size, but he didn’t let it show. He couldn’t show weakness in front of his girl, so he met Pop’s stare as they stood face-to-chest.
“Get out cho feelin’s, li’l brah. She put in work and they got the job done. You need to congratulate her for her boldness instead of harassin’ her for not bein’ what you want her to be. She trynna save yo’ life, nigga.”
After saying his piece, Pop left with everyone else. Ricco slammed the door behind them, then spun to find Tanya. She was lying on the couch. He stormed over and got in her face. “So, this what you on? You don’t talk to me about shit? You just do what you wanna do?”
“It wasn’t like that, baby. I did this for us.”
“How you doin’ this for us? We ain’t in no drama. That’s they shit.”
“We is in it. Why didn’t you tell me you ran over Laro? Why do you hide everything from me? Why won’t you tell me nothin’ about you?”
“We ain’t finna go there. You know I don’t talk about what I been through. And this ain’t ‘bout me. This ‘bout you. Where was you at, and why you dressed like a ho?”