I stayed calm for as long as I could. ''I would never consider abandoning my principals to make a bargain with a snake like you. You can't be serious nigga!'' I said, becoming infuriated getting in his face. ''You know what, Lou...I’ma act like this shit ain’t even happen and let you walk away with your life. You a piece of shit and I should murder you right here, but I’ma spare you this one last time. If I see your fucking face out here again I’ma bury you where you stand.'' I said, throwing the piece of paper in his face.
He turned and walked off in the opposite direction. Something in the pit of my stomach was telling me I had made a major mistake by letting him walk away, but in the same instance I didn't feel it was the right time to kill him because it was too many witnesses out.
I drove around Brooklyn for a few hours collecting my thoughts and my money. Since I hadn't seen or heard from Asia in almost a month I figured I'd ride by her block and pay her a visit. I knew she was back in Brooklyn because people were telling me they had seen her.
As I rode down her block I saw her coming out of the building, but before I could come to a stop I watched her hop into the passenger side of a grey Benz that looked just like Reemo's.
I slowed up and observed as she entered the car and kissed the driver before they pulled off into traffic.
It was that nigga, Reemo. That grimy muthafucka!
They weren't paying attention to notice me, but I saw them.
The fire inside of me burned and my blood seethed. I was livid beyond measure. I thought about following the car and putting a bullets in both their heads, but what would that solve?
I needed to get high. That was the only way I could deal with what I had just seen. I stopped by the liquor store and copped a bottle of Remy, and then I went to the corner store and brought a box of Phillies.
I rode out to Brownsville to see Rahmeek and Wisdom; besides Malikah and my mother those were the only ones I could trust at this point.
I parked in front of the bodega where Wisdom and Rahmeek stood.
My nigga, King, what's good?'' Wisdom said, blowing the smoke from his cigarette through his nostrils.
I shook my head, opened the bottle I was holding and took a long swig. ''I'm ready to lay the murder game down, son!'' I expressed as liquor dribbled down the side of my mouth.
They looked at each other and then looked at me. They had never heard me talk in public this way.
''What's on your mind, King?'' Rahmeek asked.
''Seven years my nigga, seven fucking years I took care of that trifling bitch!'' I spat. ''And she goes and does some creep shit behind my back...fuck that, I'ma kill her and that bitchassnigga!''
''Son, calm down. You can't be out here talkin' like that my nigga. What the fuck is going on?''
''It's Asia, son, she fucking with that lame ass nigga, Reemo,'' I responded.
The three of us stood on the block getting drunk and high for most of the night. They tried convincing me to let them take care of Reemo, but I told them that this was something personal. I was going to handle this my way.
Hours later I called Malikah and she met me at one of our spots in Jersey. I took my frustration out on her pussy and she loved every minute of it.
Sex with Malikah was wild, sweaty and continuous. She knew all the right things to do to satisfy me. I spoke to her about my situation with Asia and she assured me that she would be there for me if ever I needed her.
We stayed in the hotel for two days straight exploring each other’s bodies and getting high to the point that we both would pass out. When I left that hotel I had a mission to accomplish and I was not going to stop until it was done.
Chapter Eighteen
I checked the clip in my MP5 submachine gun. It was filled with thirty shots. I pulled the black skully mask down over my face.
''You niggas ready? '' I asked.
Rahmeek and Wisdom nodded their heads at the same time. Our all black attire matched the midnight sky while the cool breeze brushed against the back of my neck and my heart pulsated at a rapid rate, but that was normal in this type of situation.
From afar I could hear the sound of dogs barking. It was five thirty in the morning and I could see the dew on the crisp, green lawn.
''Yo, check your weapons and your watches, we got no more than ten minutes, in and out,'' I said, making sure my Kevlar, level four bullet poof vest was on securely.
I pushed the buzzer on the side of the door and as soon as it came open I squeezed the trigger on the MP5 hitting the doorman, ripping chunks of flesh and skull from his dome sending his body crashing to the floor.
Rahmeek and Wisdom ran past me into the house. It was pitch black and I could hardly see in front of me. What I did see was a red, beam of light bouncing off the walls.
''Wisdom, watch out!'' I yelled.
Simultaneous rounds tore the marble walls to shreds as I ducked out the way and ordered Rahmeek and Wisdom to cover the opposite side of the house.
I crept through the darkness scaling the wall on my way to the second floor. As soon as I hit the last step an earsplitting explosion ripped through the quietness and I was lifted from my feet into the air and back down the steps.
My chest felt like it was going to explode and it was exceedingly hard for me to catch my breath. I could hear commotion coming from the direction that Wisdom and Rahmeek went.
I tried to move, but it was almost impossible. I lifted my shirt to check for damage and luckily the shotgun blast hadn’t penetrated my vest, but it did knock the wind out of me and the pain was agonizing.
I rose to my feet when I heard footsteps descending the stairs. The dimness made me invisible to the assailant. I recognized Zabu in his long, burgundy, silk night robe holding onto a 12-gauge shotgun.
When he passed me I sprang towards him securing hold of his neck from behind. The shotgun fell from his clutches and I squeezed harder trying to take the life out of him. It was a struggle of power and at the moment I was being defeated.
A sharp elbow struck my mid-section and I was forced to release my grip.
Zabu backed away, reached to his ankle and came up swinging a blade. The dagger punctured my left arm, but I continued to hold my ground. He flourished another wild blow, but this time I blocked it and countered with a right hook knocking the knife from his hand.
Zabu charged at me and I rained a combination of punches to his face and body. He was weakened; I saw my opportunity and went for it. I threw my arm back around his neck and constricted my muscles trying to choke him to death.
His eyes bulged and saliva fell from the side of his mouth. His arms and legs flailed as he tried to break the hold. I could feel his pulse begin to slow up and his heartbeat become faint. My muscles tightened up even more like a Boa constricting its prey and I didn’t let go until his breathing stopped completely. His limp body fell from my arms and I knew he was dead. I picked my gun up off the ground and staggered to the staircase.
Finally making it to the second floor I heard noise coming from Prince’s office. When I got to the room a body lay slumped in the doorway filled with bullets. It was a female. At first I thought it was Malikah, but then I saw she had a head full of dreadlocks.
''Prince, Zabu is dead,'' I said, entering the room. Rahmeek was holding him at gunpoint while Wisdom rummaged through the office.
''You bastard, I knew I shouldn’t have trusted you,'' Prince calmly stated. A vile, simper came across his face. ''In your heart you know what a great mistake you are making, but with your stubborn personality it appears you would rather die than admit you’re wrong.''
''Fuck all that! Where the shit at Prince?'' I demanded, leveling the MP5 to his face. He didn’t answer so I instructed Rahmeek to shoot him. A single slug shredded his kneecap letting him know I meant business. The bullet almost tore his leg off and he bellowed out in pain.
''Wait…'' He begged.
''No, fuck wait…where’s it at Prince?'' I asked again.
''Don’t…tell…him
…shit…Prince,'' A voice muttered.
I turned and was staring in the eyes of Zabu holding the 12-gauge. It was pointed directly at my head. I ducked in the nick of time and the blast ruptured through the air tearing off hunks of the Oakwood paneling.
I jumped back and compressed the trigger of the MP5 sending a torrent of lead into Zabu’s tall frame lastly ending his life.
''Noooo!'' Prince shrieked, reaching out for his brother. He tried to run, but Wisdom struck him over the head with the butt end of his weapon. Prince’s body crashed to the floor.
''Let me finish this muthafucka, King!'' Rahmeek craved, resting the barrel of his gun onto Prince’s forehead.
''Not yet, go find Malikah and bring her here,'' I ordered. Wisdom left the room to find her and a few minutes later entered the room with Malikah in tow. ''Don’t worry, baby everything is going to be all right.'' I assured her, placing a kiss on her cheek.
''Hold on, don’t do this, King…I will show you where the money and drugs are. Please don’t hurt her.'' He cried out.
He was thinking that I was going to bring harm to Malikah so he vowed to give everything up.
Prince led us downstairs to a private area of the house. He pushed some buttons on a keypad and a wall opened up revealing a desolate room filled with suitcases and small barrels.
I opened one of the cases to find it packed to the brim with one hundred dollar bills. When I lifted the top off one of the barrels it was stuffed with top of the line, China white, uncut heroin.
I looked over at Rahmeek and Wisdom. ''This is it boys, start loading this shit into the trucks.'' I said, smiling as I watched them move back and forth filling the three Suburban trucks we had parked outside.
''That’s all of it, now let my wife go you bastard!'' he shouted.
Malikah snatched the gun from my hand and approached Prince.
''What the fuck are you doing? You’re supposed to shoot that muthafucka!'' he squealed, watching her raise the weapon to his head.
''All the beatings and humiliation you put me through you no-good-son-of-a-bitch!'' She cursed and spat in his face. ''Look who’s got the power now, nigga.''
''I thought you loved me, Malikah?''
''Love doesn’t have anything to do with this Prince, and besides why should I forget the pain before the scars have healed?'' Malikah cut her eyes in my direction and I saw a killer. ''This is business, this shit ain’t personal.'' She announced before she brazenly stood in front of him and emptied the clip filling his torso with fiery lead.
We both watched as his body sank to the floor like dead weight.
Personally I didn’t think she had the heart to go through with it, but I guess after you’ve been put through so much bullshit for so long you get fed up and react on emotions.
I stared at Malikah as she held the hot burner in her shaking hands. I could tell from the look in her eyes that this was the first time she had ever taken a life.
I put my hands on hers and pried the gun from her grasp. I saw tears welling up in her eyes, but before they could fall she wiped them away.
''It’s all right, baby, you did good,'' I said, grabbing her face and kissing her soft lips. Our tongues intertwined and the sweet taste of her saliva made my dick get hard.
‘‘I’m ready to go, King.” She spoke softly; making me aware that it was time to get out of there.
I told her to get whatever she needed out of the house because she was never coming back. She returned with two Gucci carrying bags filled with her personal items.
I snatched the last suitcase filled with money and Malikah and I walked out of the mansion. Rahmeek and Wisdom were already waiting. We jumped in the truck and drove away to a new life.
Chapter Nineteen
I felt like I achieved greatness after getting rid of the Africans. In all, we walked away with over two million in cash and 56 kilos of heroin.
The money alone was enough for me to throw my cards in and call it quits, but then what would I do? For me, the pleasure I got from this game came with knowing that I could have what I wanted, whenever I wanted it. I got massive satisfaction out of running these streets. It's a respect or fear thing that makes me thrive to reach the ultimate level of success.
When I first started hustling my mother sat me down and told me that I should never try to make a career out of this game. ''Get what you're going to get and get out!'' is what she said. She also explained to me that temporary success is merely a postponement of the inevitable. At the time I really didn't understand what she was saying, but now I do.
My mother tried to make me realize that this really is not a game and that drug dealers don't retire with a pension and 401k plans. They end up with an asshole full of time or a tailored suit in a fitted casket buried under six feet of soil.
Before I could begin to breathe easy there were still a few things I needed to straighten out. I was determined to make Asia and Reemo pay for their insolence. I kept a few tricks up my sleeve for the two of them.
I had Rahmeek out watching their every move and I now knew where they lived, ate out, partied, and every other step they took.
Prior to handling that situation I felt the need to see my mother and talk to her. It had been a few months since the last time we saw each other, but I always made sure I kept in touch with her on a regular basis.
When I arrived at her house she had company that was leaving out. I thought it was a great thing that my mother made new friends and began to socialize again. She was always a person with bright spirits and even at our worst times she managed to keep a smile on her face.
As soon as I walked in she gave me an embracing hug and a peck on the cheek. I could tell she missed my presence because I felt the same way.
''Hey, baby how are you doing?'' She asked, taking my jacket and hanging it on the coat rack. ''Deon, I told you about not eating when you're out there in them streets. You got to take good care of yourself, baby. You look like you lost a few pounds.'' She said, glancing over my slim physique.
She was absolutely right. The stress and drug use was taking a toll on my physical appearance, and running around so much had me eating unhealthy. On top of that I wasn't getting the proper sleep or exercise that I should have been.
''I know, ma,'' I said. ''You know me and Asia broke up?''
''Yes, I spoke to her. Deon, why are you putting that girl through so much stress, it's not good for her health, baby.'' She replied.
''I'm not putting her through anything; she's doing it to her self. I did all I could to make that woman happy.''
''But you know you're not right, Deon...running around out there messing with all those other women,'' she said, shaking her head, sipping from her teacup. ''Your father was the same way. You remind me so much of him it's a shame.''
''Please don't compare me to him, ma...we're two different people,'' I said, flipping through the pages in an Essence magazine. ''Besides that is everything else good? How do you like the neighborhood?''
''It's beautiful,'' she said. ''Nice and quiet, none of those loud gunshots and everybody minds their business. Those three ladies that left out when you came in are from the church I started going to, they’re nice people, Deon.''
''That's good ma, that's real good. Did you hear about Jayson? They gave him thirty five years.''
She looked down at the bible sitting on the coffee table and shook her head. ''Uh...uh...uh...I told the two of you what y’all doing out there don't last forever. I'll keep him in my prayers and God will make sure he's all right. So what are your plans for the future? You need to come on and go to the church with me.''
''I ain’t going to church, ma...we been down this road once before, my mind ain’t change on that,'' I said. ''But I have been talking to Jayson’s brother, the pastor, and we're going to purchase some property in Brooklyn so we can build a community center in the hood.''
''That's just wonderful, Deon. I wish you the best and know that I pray for us everyday, there's nothing wrong
with trying to make a change especially when it's for a good cause.'' She said.
''I just want to do something positive, try to even things out, you know? Life is about balance, without it you will fall.'' I responded.
''Well, you know they say you got to go through hell in order to reach heaven. '' She replied.
''You're right, ma,'' I said. ''I love you.''
''I love you too, baby.''
My mother and I talked for a few more hours, I got some of her home cooking and then I left.
My twenty-fifth birthday was coming up and I was excited. I been through a lot and to still be living and making something of my life was a true blessing.
Jay-Roc's brother and I negotiated a deal with city hall and all parties came to an agreement about our project. We were going to break ground and begin building the community center in the coming months. The fact of that alone kept a smile on my face.
I wrote to Jay-Roc and relayed the excellent news to him and he wrote back saying he was proud of me and everything that I accomplished.
As I got older my ways and actions began to slowly transform. It wasn't all about the streets anymore. I was trying to build a stable foundation so that the next generation wouldn't have to experience the harsh circumstances I had to face.
Malikah put together a nice gathering for my birthday. It wasn't a big extravaganza, but it served purpose. I purchased a new home in White Plains, New York; a custom lake front house with three bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen with limestone floors and a custom pool and pool house.
She invited some of her friends from her hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, and of course Rahmeek and Wisdom and a few other people I deal with were in attendance. The turnout was great, but I was missing my boy Jay-Roc's presence like crazy. Some things just weren't the same without him there. Besides that, everyone enjoyed themselves.
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