by T. Styles
“I’m all you got.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
SLADE
“I can’t believe this shit! What we gonna do now?”
Slade, Killa and Audio walked down the dark road, mad as fuck at the world. And Slade didn’t know who to be angrier with. Audio for not sticking to the driving instructions he laid out prior to handing over the keys, or himself for ordering him out of the car, which resulted in the roadside robbery.
So they trekked in the darkness on foot without a plan.
“Uh, what we gonna do now?” Audio asked. “’Cause my back—”
“Shut your bitch ass up!” Slade yelled. “I don’t give a fuck about your back?”
“How come you mad at me when you the one who got us ganked?” Audio asked.
Slade was about to strike him again until Killa blocked him. “If you hit him again he’ll fold over.” He extended his hand to stop him. “That’s enough for one day don’t you think? We already know the little nigga don’t listen.”
Slade took an about face and yelled. “FUCK!” He paused. “I can’t believe this shit! What we gonna do now?”
They were still kicking country rocks until a white pickup four seater pulled up on them. Slade placed his hand on his waist out of habit but clearly he wasn’t strapped so it didn’t matter. When a window rolled down the scent of expensive perfume oozed out the car and into the Baker Brothers’ nostrils. Taking a peek inside from a far, they saw a woman wearing a white bikini top and stylish blue jeans smiling back at them.
“You fellas need a ride?” She asked. “Or some smoke?” She raised a lit blunt.
Slade took one look at her white skin and smelled trouble. “Fuck no. Keep it moving, pink thing.” He shook his head. “Come on, ya’ll let’s bounce.”
Killa grabbed Slade’s arm and moved him a little from the car. “Come on, man,” he whispered. “These Foamposites killing my bunions. I can’t kick no more rocks tonight I swear to God.”
When Slade looked at the truck he wanted to hit Audio again after seeing him on the driver’s side window talking to the beautiful girl inside. He was being thirsty as fuck and Slade’s pressure rose due to his insolence. “Man, this don’t feel right. I mean look at that broad. She a ten! How you gonna pull up on three country niggas with no fear unless you the devil himself?”
Killa looked back at her and then his brother. “You right. But we ain’t got no options right now, Slade. So in my mind she a come up.” He paused. “We can’t even get a hold of Major ‘cause we ain’t got no cell phones. And even if he could send us money we don’t have our I.D.’s. Plus you know Major can’t leave ole girl by herself to bring paper to us. She’d be liable to hurt neph’ again and I know you don’t want that. She said it.”
Slade sighed. “Nah, I don’t even want to tell him what’s going on. All he gonna do is say I told you so.” He took a long breath. “Aight…so we’ll see what’s up with her.” He pointed at Killa. “But if this bitch get wild I’m killing her with my own hands and you know I can.”
Slowly they walked up to the truck and looked inside. “So you fellas gonna let me help you or not?” She asked Slade and Killa.
Slade looked at his brothers and with that they eased in the truck, Audio in the front seat of course.
“I take that as a yes,” she smiled tapping the steering wheel once. “So, what happened to you fellas anyway?” She paused as she drove down the street. “Your tires blew out or something?”
“Worse than that,” Audio said. “We were robbed.”
She placed her hand over her trembling lips and Slade believed she was a good actress. “Are you serious? I’m so sorry to hear that.”
“Yeah, them niggas tried to—”
“Audio…you rapping a whole lot right now,” Slade said. “How ‘bout you shut the fuck up for a second and let the young lady tell us about herself for a change.”
“Yeah.” Killa confirmed. “We hear you running your mouth all the time.”
The pretty driver looked back at Slade and Killa by adjusting her rearview mirror. “I get it. You don’t know me.” She smiled brighter. “So let’s start with a few introductions. Maybe that’ll help get the chill out the truck.”
“We waiting,” Killa said.
“The name’s Lilly. But my friends call me Lily.” She giggled.
Audio was the only one laughing like she was an episode of Martin.
“So I have a tough crowd,” she continued.
“You know of any motels that run real cheap ‘round here?” Slade asked.
“Sure…ain’t but ten miles up actually. Off I-75N toward Knoxville.”
“Take us there.”
“Thought you didn’t have money.” She said playfully.
“We don’t.” He nodded at her. “You gonna pay for it.”
She nodded and looked out the window to her left before looking straight ahead. “I don’t mind doing favors. Just as long as when the time comes, the favor is returned.”
Slade nodded, sat back and looked at his brothers with the side eye.
She was trouble.
Guaranteed.
****
Slade, Killa and Audio opened the door to the motel room just as a fat ass rat scurried deeper inside, burying itself in the walls. Slade looked at his younger bros and shook his head at the king bed sitting in the middle of the floor.
“This bitch a garbage bin,” Killa said. “YUCK!”
“And I thought we asked for a double,” Audio added. “Where we gonna sleep?”
“Yo, bitch ass got the floor,” Slade said. “After everything you put me through.”
“Yeah right.”
Slade ran his hand down his face. “We just gonna have to take it back to the tunnel. When we were kids. Two sleep up one sleep in the middle downward.”
“Man, what we gonna do now though? For paper?” Killa asked. “You really don’t think we should go home and regroup first?”
“I ain’t come all this way without her, man. We going to D.C. no matter what.”
Audio flopped on the bed. “Well I’ma see what’s up with Lily before—”
“Nah, my nigga, what you gonna do is get your rusty ass in the shower,” Slade commanded. “I want you to leave that white girl alone.” He pointed at him. “I don’t trust her and if you’d use your head you’d know I’m right.”
“Why though?” Audio begged, holding his hands in front of him as if he were praying. “She wanna fuck I can feel it.”
“White girls fucking niggas ain’t new,” Slade said. “What is new is one pulling up on three on the side of the road in the middle of the night like its regular. I’m telling you I don’t trust her. So until I can make sure she don’t get us before we get her, chill the fuck out.”
“And what she gonna steal?” Audio continued mad he couldn’t smash. “Our jean pockets?”
“NIGGA, AIN’T NOBODY PLAYING WITH YOU!” Slade yelled. “CHILL THE FUCK OUT AND STOP BEING PRESSED!”
Killa walked up to the window, pulled back the filthy doo-doo brown curtains and peered outside. “We definitely can’t be here long. I see predators already.” He released the curtain and looked at them. “Which means we the prey.”
“Just give me until the night to come up with a plan,” Slade said. “And lets stick together.”
Killa sat on the edge of the bed and removed his shoes. “I never asked bro, guess I really didn’t want to know because I’m riding regardless. But what makes her different? What makes her worth all this?”
Slade thought about Farah. “She’s not afraid of me.”
“Huh? How you sound?” Audio said. “We going all the way to D.C. ‘cause she ain’t afraid of your big ass? What sense that make? Memory look like she can handle you too.”
“Women look at me but they don’t see me. Farah knows my bad side and she still feeling a nigga. When you get a woman who will take you at your worst you gotta hold on to her.”
“This nigga acti
ng like ain’t no Mississippi broads would have his ass,” Audio said to himself. “Just say you like the redbone and cut the other shit.” He shrugged.
Slade shook his head.
“And you’d have her in your life, even if she a monster?” Killa asked.
“We from the same cloth, Killa. For now that’s all I can say.” Slade paused. “Well I’ma take a shower since neither of you niggas care about being stank. I be back.” He walked into the bathroom, closed the door and looked at the toilet.
It was so grimy it stunk .
It was the nastiest place he’d stepped into in ages but being alone in the shower gave him a chance to think about what he was getting himself into. And as he cleaned up he replayed his brother’s question repeatedly in his mind.
Was Farah worth it?
Each time he asked himself the answer was yes.
After he showered he left the bathroom only to find Killa sound asleep in the recliner and Audio gone.
“Fuck!”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
MAYONI
“Contrary to what you believe I don’t want to hurt anybody.”
Mayoni walked into Cutie’s room after getting complaints from the members that she’d been crying for her mother and Farah all night. When she entered Cutie stood up and rushed toward her thinking she was about to be let free. “I couldn’t get out.” She sniffled. “The door was locked.”
“Your point?”
Cutie wiped her tears away. “I want Farah. Where is she?”
Mayoni smiled, grabbed her hair and slapped her face twice. Startled, Cutie ran across the room and leaned against the wall, placing two hands on her mouth to mute her cries. “You don’t ask me where anyone is in this house and do you know why?” She walked slowly toward her.
Cutie shook her head no.
“Because you don’t belong here.” She pointed at her. “The only reason you’re still alive is because Bones hasn’t given the okay on your murder like he did your mother. But when he does you gone too.”
Cutie burst into tears and Mayoni grinned. Finally she knew what Farah said was true, Melinda was dead.
“Now, I’m not gonna keep coming by this room telling you to shut the fuck up. The next thing I do will be permanent so if you enjoy life I suggest you remember that. Am I clear?”
“Yes.” Cutie said under her breath. “I’ll be quiet.”
When Mayoni left the room she locked the door again and turned around, bumping into Carlton on the way out. “What did you say to her?”
“Not much. Just told her to stop all the crying that’s all.” She shrugged and tried to walk around him but he blocked her steps.
“I heard you.”
She frowned. “Then why you ask?”
He grabbed her arm. “You’re not gonna hurt that girl.” He paused. “I’m not gonna let you.”
“Contrary to what you believe I don’t want to hurt anybody.” She sighed. “The only thing I want is for Bones to be—”
“BONES THIS AND BONES THAT!” He yelled in her face. “What is wrong with you all of a sudden? What the fuck about me? I’m your nigga! When you gonna start taking into account how I feel?”
“How you sound? I always take into account how you feel, Carlton. But Bones is the leader now and—”
“Wait, you attracted to that nigga, ain’t you?” He frowned.
“What? Of course not!” She paused. “That’s…that’s why I wanted her to be here for him. To make him happy. But now all Farah’s doing is breaking his heart.”
“Why? Because you wanted to be with him and couldn’t?”
“Carlton, cut the dumb shit.”
“I’m never gonna stand by and let you have two men.” He paused. “At some point you’ll have to prove who you’re more loyal too. Are you ready for that day?”
She looked at him, rolled her eyes and stomped away.
****
FARAH
Gregory stood up after he raped Farah for the third time that day. When Bones said he was giving them twenty-four hours, he had intentions on taking her every minute.
Every second.
Swanson, who only needed one taste to get by, sat across the room and enjoyed the scene.
“Damn I missed that juicy pussy,” Gregory said to the room. “I can see why Bones was being stingy with you, Farah.”
Bloody and covered in semen she peered at him with hate.
“Let me find out after all this she still got some fight in her,” Swanson said. “You better be careful, Greg. She might bite that dick off.”
“Yeah, but she won’t be so strong when I pound that pussy again with my fist,” he laughed and clutched his hand. “Ain’t that right Farah?”
Suddenly the door to the Ice Box opened and Zashay entered, shaking her head. She was disgusted when she saw Farah’s clothes hanging off, her face bruised and bloodied. “Leave me alone with her,” she told Gregory and Swanson.
“But Bones said—”
“I SAID LEAVE!” She said screaming in Gregory’s face.
He grabbed his shirt and sucked his teeth. “Aight but I be back in an hour. And I’ma remember this shit too.” He pointed at her. “Besides, I’m not done with her yet.”
When they both exited Farah eased up slowly and walked over to her. “Thank God you’re here. Have you seen Cutie? Is she okay? Please watch her because they’re going to kill that little girl.” She tried to hug her but Zashay took one step backward.
Farah immediately noticed. She was acting different. “Are you okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Zashay, please talk to me. You’re the only one in here who can help and right now I really need a friend. I really need you. So can you talk to me and tell me what the fuck is up? Why would Bones do this?”
“I’m here ain’t I?” She crossed her arms over her chest. “What more you want?”
Farah looked behind her at the door. “Well can you at least tell me if you’re here to let me out of this place?”
“You can get out in twenty-four hours when you fall in line, and understand how things work around here.” Zashay was stern and this threw Farah for a loop. “Cause things not gonna be the same when you walk out those doors. That’s for sure.”
Farah took a moment to consider how cold she was being. “Gregory and Swanson have done things to me I don’t wanna talk about. My body is throbbing everywhere and I can barely stand up except if I don’t, I’m afraid…” she cried a little, “I’m afraid you won’t know how much I need your help. Please, Zashay. I need to know if you’re still my friend.”
“Why should I be your friend?” Her eyebrows rose. “When you talked behind my back about how much you don’t like me.”
Farah felt queasy. Bones had gotten to her and it worked. “Zashay, don’t let him do it.” She grabbed both of her hands. “Don’t let him tear us apart.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“We have been so good lately. You gotta know that I’ve, never said anything to Bones about you or any of the things we talked about in private. If he’s telling you these things its because he’s angry and afraid that you stood up for me earlier. Like I would’ve done for you.” She cried a little more. “Zashay, all I was trying to do is to get Bones to realize how bad it was to kill the doctor. That’s it. And now he’s making things up!”
“Get over Dr. Weil. Bones is in charge!”
“He’s in charge now but it’ll be a matter of time before he gets drunk with power and become severely dangerous, Zashay. Dr. Weil wasn’t just someone who brought in our money, he was also in charge of the mental health of—”
“You telling me shit I already know! Like you were apart of the original crew.”
“Then listen to me!”
“He asked me to be his wife,” she interrupted. “And I said yes.”
Farah backed away slowly. “Zashay, no, no, no! Don’t do this! It’s a trap! Don’t you see it? He’s only usin
g you to get me jealous!”
“Don’t do what?” She frowned. “Take your place by his side? Since it’s obvious you not feeling him anymore?”
“I’m not feeling him anymore because I don’t love him! I never have!” She paused. “If you want my place you can have it but not like this!” Farah walked up to her and touched her shoulders with her chilly fingertips. “Listen, all of my life I have thought about myself. And a lot of people have gotten hurt in the process. This time I’m trying to be something different. I’m trying to put others first. Am I making a mistake?”
“What that got to do with me and my fiancé?”
Farah took a deep breath and shook her head. The chick sounded dumb. “I guess nothing.”
Zashay crossed her arms over her chest. “I was supposed to come in here and show you what the new program is by beating your ass. But it looks like Gregory and Swanson already did that so who cares.” She paused. “Instead of all the violence I’m giving you a firm warning. Respect Bones. Respect The Fold and respect me. Otherwise you’ll have a fucking problem in this house.” She stormed out.
Farah walked over to the wall, slid down and wept. “Slade, if you’re still alive, wherever you are. Help me. Please!”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
SLADE
“Let me talk to my brothers first. Alone.”
“I know, man.” Slade said looking out of the window at the motel. “But I’ma find him, I promise. Anyway I didn’t hit you for you to be worrying. Just felt it was only right to let you know what’s going on.”
“This is why I didn’t want ya’ll bouncing in the first place. Now you out there with no ID or money?” Major paused. “Let me come get you, man. Stop all this dumb shit, moving around out of town like you don’t have family.”
“Nah, I’ma make it work,” he closed the curtain and walked across the room. The rat that was there earlier didn’t even bother to run back in the wall. It just looked at Slade like he was wrong for being in his city. Maybe he was. “Plus now that I think about it, it may be a good thing for us not to have ID’s. In case we have to lay some heads. Don’t need nobody knowing who we are.”