by Jazmyne
“I’m sorry,” Tamera mouthed. “I had to call them,” she confessed. Aaliyah smiled; she wasn’t mad at all.
“Who did this to you?” Ace asked as he examined Aaliyah’s face.
“Amir, I’m fine,” she tried to comfort him.
“I didn’t ask you if you were fine or not. I asked who did this to you,” he repeated.
Ace felt bad. Here he was in the streets doing everything he could to find his wife but was neglecting his duties with Aaliyah and his daughters. He was obligated to protect them as well.
“I’m sorry,” Ace said before Aaliyah could say anything. “I’m fucking sorry,” he said planting kisses all over her face. “Here I am supposed to be protecting you and I’m not doing my job. I promise you this will never happen again,” he said, pulling her into a hug.
“Amir, this isn’t your fault. So, you have nothing to be sorry about,” Aaliyah said.
Amir and Aaliyah stared into each other’s eyes as he caressed her cheek.
“I don’t mean to break up ladies’ night but I need Aaliyah to come with me,” Ace stated, helping her from her seat.
“But why? Amir, I’m fine,” Aaliyah whined.
“Girl, go with your man. There will always be another ladies’ night,” Neisha declared. Aaliyah pouted as she gathered her things. Even though she wasn’t ready to leave, she wasn’t about to argue with Ace over it.
Ace slapped hands with his niggas then promised to get up with them later.
Chapter 5
Ace sat in his home office playing a game of chess by himself. He had mastered the game. Anyone who played against him, he could beat in five moves or less. It had been three weeks since he had killed The Grim Reaper and discovered his own brother had kidnapped his wife and had been holding her for three years. He still didn’t have a clue as to how he wanted to handle Adam. Every time he thought about having to kill his twin brother, it tore him up internally. On the other hand, if he didn’t kill Adam, Adam would one day kill him. Not to mention, he still had to find J’vion’s bitch ass and do him something dirty. Ace couldn’t wait to get his hands on him. He dreamed of tying him to the back of his car, hopping on the interstate, and then driving at 120 MPH until there was nothing left of him but muscle and bone. The memory of J’vion shooting up the restaurant as well as his home while his daughters were there remained perpetually fresh wounds, wounds that didn’t and wouldn’t heal until someone paid with their life.
Due to the fact that his girls were now a safe distance away and out of danger, he would be able to move the way he wanted and needed without worrying about someone harming them.
“What’s really good with you?” Jay asked as he walked into Ace’s home office with a blunt between his lips.
“Ready to put all this bullshit behind me and live a normal life,” answered Ace. “Now that my girls are out of harm’s way, I can maneuver the way I need to,” he declared.
Even now, Ace was enraged at the fact that J’vion’s pussy ass attacked Aaliyah. Ace felt it was a bitch move. Nevertheless, J’vion would get what was coming to him.
Jay took a seat across from Ace. Jay knew all too well how it felt to believe the world was against you. He had experienced it all his life. The only difference was Ace wasn’t alone. Ace had him, Boy, Boog, and any other nigga he had on his team when they were running wild in the streets.
“You already know we’re waiting on you to give the word to move,” Jay stated.
“I’m ready to move tonight. The sooner I can get this over with, the better I’ll feel,” Ace declared.
“I’m glad you said that because we can move tonight.” Jay said sitting up in the chair. “But let me ask you this,” he stated looking into Ace’s eyes. Jay knew he was trying to hide his feelings but they knew each other too well.
“What’s up?” Ace asked leaning back in his seat.
“Are you prepared to lose your life as well as Sunshine’s?” Jay inquired. Ace closed his eyes then took a deep breath. No matter how many times he said he would die to rescue the ones he loved, he felt bad because his daughters were the ones who would suffer the most. They didn’t have a clue as to what was going on or why they might lose both their parents.
“You of all people know the answer to that. I’m a man of my word. That’s all I have; it’s the only thing that means anything nowadays,” Ace answered.
“Enjoy this,” Jay said as he got up to hand Ace the rolled blunt he had just removed from behind his ear. “Let’s ride,” Jay instructed, leaving Ace’s home office. Ace followed closely behind him.
*
When Jay and Ace pulled up to Larry’s house, they were greeted by a host of niggas they trusted and who had been down from the beginning.
“Let’s go. It’s time we get Sunshine back home where she belongs,” Jay said smacking Ace on his back before climbing out of the car. Ace polished off the blunt he had been smoking, flicked the roach across the pavement, and also climbed out of the car.
When they stepped inside of crackhead Larry’s place, Ace was greeted by even more niggas he had grown to love over the years, along with a number of handguns, choppas, and any other necessities they might need to complete the mission at hand.
“Ace, let me holla at you,” Larry requested as he waved him in the opposite direction so that the two of them could speak in private.
“What’s up, Larry?” Ace asked as they slapped hands.
“I know you gotta do what you gotta do to save your wife,” Larry said looking Ace directly in his eyes. “I just hope you haven’t chewed off more than you can handle. I want you to be safe out there and think about those little girls,” he declared. “Is this battle really worth leaving them in this fucked up world with no guidance, no father figure, and no parents?” Larry queried, giving Ace something else to think about.
“Larry, believe me when I tell you, I’ve weighed the pros and cons of this crazy situation I’m in. To be honest, whether I walk away or fight to the end, I believe the outcome will be the same,” Ace confided.
“And what might that outcome be?” Larry asked.
“Me dying at the end,” Ace answered with no emotion. He had come to terms with that likelihood and felt there was no turning back now. His wife’s life depended on him as well as Aaliyah’s and his daughters’. If losing his life meant they could live theirs without a care in the world, so be it. At least he could say he gave his all. “Larry, you remember when you said some things aren’t meant to be understood and everyone copes with stress differently?” Ace asked; Larry nodded his head in the affirmative.
“I remember telling you that.”
“Well, I believe this situation isn’t meant to be understood. And this is how I cope with stress,” Ace professed, patting Larry on the shoulder before walking away.
Larry shook his head. He respected Ace’s decision to go out with a bang. However, he thought Ace could be his own worst enemy at times. He prayed all would end well for the young man he had grown to love. A man he had so much respect for, an individual who was too smart for his own good at times.
Ace stopped then called out, “Larry!”
“Talk to me,” Larry replied looking up to hear what Ace had on his mind.
“When I stood in front of that priest and said ‘till death do us part’, I meant that shit,” Ace avowed as he turned to walk away.
*
When Ace walked into the kitchen, all his day-one niggas were waiting on him. The room fell silent as they anticipated what Ace would say.
“I just wanna thank you all because this is a battle you have nothing to do with. Yet and still, y’all are standing here waiting to put in work for me,” Ace said looking around the room.
“You already know, if one of us has beef, we all have beef,” Boog declared.
“Remember, love and loyalty is what we have for each other,” Jay stated. “Enough of this mushy shit, let’s go handle this business,” he concluded. Jay wasn’t the type to spill his f
eelings about anything. Doing so caused him to feel as if he was weak and weakness was something he couldn’t accept.
Ace was a true leader. When he spoke, everyone listened. Most importantly, Ace treated everyone with respect and love. From niggas who formerly worked with him, down to the local fiends he previously served on a daily basis. You had no other choice but to respect him and the way he moved. There weren’t too many men left like Ace. He was definitely a one-of-a-kind type of guy.
“Let’s ride out. I got the drop on where this nigga, J’vion is,” Jay instructed as he led the way out.
Everyone fell in line and followed him out the front door, holding hand guns and automatic choppas that held thirty rounds or better. Hampton city was about to be lit up like the fourth of July.
*
J’vion was tired of being in hiding. With a complete plan in motion, he was ready for war. With his niggas coming from Norfolk and having one up on Ace, he felt he would soon be crowned the king of the seven cities. Looking over his shoulders and walking with his head held low was something he never had to do. It pissed him off and caused his blood to boil. Just a few years ago, J’vion was making major moves and clocking major paper. Street fame came with a lot: hoes, haters, enemies, fake friends, and more. He loved everything the life had to offer. J’vion took the good with the bad and made it work for him. Conversely, spending time in jail quickly immobilized his strategy as well as the life he had become accustomed to. He had worked too hard to create a name for himself in the streets of Norfolk for it to be taken away.
J’vion didn’t realize how much he was underestimating Ace. A war was something he didn’t want or could afford. Ace was like a bad storm that the weather man warns you about. They knew it was coming but didn’t know when or how bad the damage would be after it was over. Nevertheless, he would indeed find out.
J’vion looked around the room to notice all eyes on him. He had been in deep contemplation, attempting to collect his thoughts. The young men standing before him had enough heart to get the job done. What he respected the most was they had no reservations about losing their lives’ to save his. They were loyal, which was all that mattered to him.
J’vion talked a good game. On the contrary, he didn’t give a fuck about anyone but himself. He had never preached about loyalty because he didn’t have any to anyone other than himself.
The only nigga he had devotion to was Meek and he was dead and gone. J’vion felt he owed Meek that much. Therefore, killing Ace was a must.
“I really don’t have to explain much to you niggas,” J’vion stated. “Everything is self-explanatory. We have one goal, which is to take Ace out,” he said while holding up a picture of Ace.
J’vion reached into his pocket for his ringing phone. “Yo?” He answered as he turned his back on everyone.
“I thought you were making a move soon?” Adam asked. J’vion could hear the nervousness in his voice.
“Trust me, I’m doing just what I said I would do,” J’vion spoke into the phone. Adam laughed.
“Nigga, I don’t trust anyone. The longer you wait to move on Ace, the more you open yourself up to being a deer caught in headlights,” Adam enlightened him.
“Let me do what I do; you worry about what we talked about,” J’vion said before disconnecting the call.
*
Adam looked at the phone to be sure J’vion had hung up on him. He shook his head at how hardheaded he was being. Ace was extremely unpredictable. You never knew what he was planning until it was too late.
Adam shook off any thoughts of Ace and J’vion, walked into the room, and stood over a beaten and battered Sunshine. He didn’t have an authentic explanation as to why he was taking his anger out on her, but it helped him get through his days. Lately, Adam had been doing nothing but stressing. Just the thought of what Ace would do to him produced tremors up and down his spine.
Adam stood over Sunshine and simply stared at her. “You’re just another snake in the grass,” he said as he admired how strong she was. Her body had taken so many beatings over the years. Where most females would have given up, she persistently fought and held on. Sunshine was damn near unrecognizable, both eyes were swollen shut, her lip was busted and inflated as well. She looked like she had, had an allergic reaction to something.
“ADAM!” Brenda called out. Adam could hear the panic in her voice. He turned and left the room. “Whew, I thought something bad had happened to you,” she admitted as she ran to him then wrapped her arms around him tightly. “What’s so important that you needed me to get here so soon?” She asked looking into his face.
“There’s been a change of plans,” he answered.
“Change of plans? Why, what happened?” She asked confused.
“Mark is dead and Ace knows Sunshine is alive.”
“What? How? I mean damn, what are we going to do now?” Brenda asked, taking a seat at the table.
“I have everything under control and handled, so don’t worry…”
“Don’t worry?” She asked standing to her feet. “We better be worried. Ace isn’t your everyday nigga,” she shouted.
“Chill the fuck out; everything is under control,” Adam yelled trying to conceal his anxiety. He knew Brenda was speaking the truth. Even so, it was too late to turn back now. “Just hear me out.” He said as he sat down. Brenda took a seat across from him and waited to hear what he had to say. Adam explained what would happen next.
Brenda laughed while shaking her head. “So you’re telling me we’re letting her go?” She asked in disbelief. “What we need to do is kill her. She knows too much; and to tell you the truth, I’m not ready to die.”
“Everything will work out. Letting her go is best. While he’s nursing her back to health is when he’ll be the most vulnerable. We can take him out then,” Adam plead his case. Once again, Brenda shook her head.
“Ace will never be vulnerable. You of all people should know that. Adam, it doesn’t matter if Sunshine tells him who held her captive for three years or not. He isn’t going to stop until everyone involved is dead,” Brenda declared. “I have to go get my mind right,” she said as she got up and grabbed her things to leave.
Brenda couldn’t believe Adam was considering allowing Sunshine to go free. She knew they should have killed her a long time ago. Being greedy and wanting something neither of them could ever have now had them in a fucked up situation.
*
Boog drove down the street at a normal pace. They were five cars deep. My Nigga by YG, Young Jeezy, and Rich spilled from the speakers notifying the entire block they had arrived. They didn’t give a fuck because it wasn’t a surprise they were there.
The block was dimly lit. The loud talking and bickering happening in front of the house a few feet away meant they were in the right spot.
“Slow up,” Jay told Boog. Boog did as instructed. Jay waved his hands; assailants began piling out of cars behind them with their guns and choppas ready to put in work. “Pull up,” Jay informed them, restarting the song.
“Mane, can any of you niggas help me?” Jay called out the window, grabbing everyone’s attention.
“What you need help with?” Someone asked. Jay didn’t know who he was and really didn’t give a fuck.
“I’m looking for J’vion. Do any of you niggas know where I can find him?” He asked.
“Why you looking for him?”
“I got some information for him,” answered Jay.
“Tell me and when he comes around, I’ll be sure to deliver the message for you.”
Jay smiled as he opened the car door and got out holding the choppa with both hands. “Let that nigga know we stay ready,” Jay said as he let his AK-47 do the rest of the talking. Once Jay pulled the trigger on his automatic gun, everyone else followed suit. They lit up the block as if they were lighting firecrackers on Independence Day. Cries for help, bodies dropping, and ducking for cover went unheard.
The gunshots ceased. “I said I’m gon
na ride for my mothafuckin niggas, most likely I’m gonna die with my finger on the trigger.” Jay sung quoting the lyrics from “My Nigga.”
“Hold up,” Ace said as he walked over to a nigga barely hanging onto life. “Where can I find J’vion?” He asked.
“Fuck you!” The boy said as he spit blood into Ace’s face. Ace laughed as he wiped the blood away.
“Fuck you too, pussy,” Ace said as he stood up, aimed his gun, and pulled the trigger once. “I’m sure he’ll get the message loud and clear.” He said, standing over the young boy’s dead body.
“That nigga wanted war, well tell his ass I brought it to his fucking street. He knows where to find me!” Ace spat, pissed off. It felt damn good to finally let off some frustration that he had been holding in for so long.