Heartbreak of a Hustler's Wife: A Novel
Page 17
“Give me five.” Desember put her hand up. “That’s my little sister!”
Desi gave her five. “But I still want you to come to my school and stomp,” she stomped her foot, “him like the roachie bug he is.”
Yarni overheard the entire conversation and it broke her heart.
What the hell was she thinking? This life they were living wasn’t what she wanted for her daughter. A couple of years ago Desi had been kidnapped—maybe she was too young to remember. Now she had to protect herself from schoolkids who call her parents gangsters.
Tears came to Yarni’s eyes as she thought about the reality of it, that all the people Desi looked up to were gangsta: Des, Desember, Joyce, Lloyd, Bambi—well, she was borderline but could get real gully. And although Yarni hated to admit it, in her own way she was gangsta too. If she wasn’t, she was damn sure a gangsta’s wife.
When she was younger, she thought being a hustler’s wife was all fun and games. She went on to be an attorney and changed her life for the better, but when needed, she could slip back into that mind-set. She knew she had to put herself under construction and renovate her lifestyle and principles.
She had to ask herself what kind of life she was living. She could defend people tooth and nail, and saw how dirty the system was, but then she would come home and partake in the same life she got people off the hook for.
She had to admit how twisted and fucked-up it was.
Yarni knew firsthand that the life she and Des were living was dysfunctional. Desi didn’t deserve having to live this way nor did she want that for her child.
It was a means to no end, and one day their luck would run out. One day it wouldn’t be a brush with death, it would be death. And one day God would have no mercy for them.
Everything had to, and would, come to end … tonight!
Des would have to pick—it was either the streets or the sheets. Their family or the gangsta life.
No more flipflopping or riding the fence. No more of dreams of the last, the greatest or the ultimate hustle.
Enough was enough! It was time for her to put her foot down—and whatever the repercussions were, she’d take it on the chin.
She fully understood, without a reasonable doubt, what was at stake.
Tonight Yarni would give Des an ultimatum. Though she couldn’t bet on the outcome, she knew one thing: tonight her life would change, forever!
Acknowledgments
I must thank God, whom through all blessings flow. He keeps blessing me over and over and over again with great people who have impacted my life and have my back time after time, day after day!
My dear children, I do it for you! I’m so proud that you are mine! I love you. My family and small circle of real friends … I thank you Special thanks to: Craig for always having my back no matter what. Tim Patterson, thanks for always having the words to keep me going on the rainy days and for the excitement on the sunny days. No words can express my gratitude on those days. Mia Upshaw, for those words of encouragement and for having such compassion through all the craziness. Wanda David, for your love and support, always wanting the best for me. Natakiki, for your laughs and perspective. Auntie Yvonne, for always having a solution and knowing what to say to make me feel better! My little cousin, Natalee; so glad we are so close. Alyce-Nikki Allen, I love you for your concern. Trevenia Blancher, I thank you for all those days that you drove to the country to bring me food or ran errands and just your overall ride or die love in general. Noel, the sky is the limit. Dr. Gregory Pleasants, for being on top of my health, for caring, not just for me but all your patients. You truly are the greatest! My chiropractor, Dr. Larry Griffin (Dr. G. Stacks), you are so passionate about your work; never change the way you are. Laura Cook, OMG!!! If those walls could share our laughs, the entire world would be laughing or shaking their heads at us. Carrie K, your hands are like butter. Thanks for the great massages.
Melody, I thank you for allowing me the opportunity to bring my thoughts to print and I truly value the bond we have outside of the pages. Marc, for assisting in taking my career to such heights and seeing outside the box when no one else does. I’m so happy for you and all the great things that are happening for you. You deserve it!
And the best thank-you is always last: to you, my loyal readers. I love you for loving me and my work! Thank YOU!!! for all the love and support!
About the Author
NIKKI TURNER has taken the urban literary community by storm. Known as the “Queen of Hip-Hop Lit” she is the best-selling author of the novels Natural Born Hustler, Relapse, Ghetto Superstar, Black Widow, Forever a Hustler’s Wife, Riding Dirty on I-95, The Glamorous Life, A Project Chick and A Hustler’s Wife. She is the editor of the Street Chronicles series and the “Nikki Turner Presents” line, featuring novels from fresh voices in the urban literary scene. Visit her website, nikkiturner.com, or write her at P.O. Box 28694, Richmond, VA 23228.