Falling for My Side Dude
Page 15
“Don’t you ever put your motherfucking dick beaters on me again.” He pointed his Glock in my face.
“Ha-ha, you got it.” I laughed ’cause the old nigga caught me slipping.
He touched his face and rubbed his jawbone. “Now, back to what the fuck I was saying. You’re my one and only son. I know this might come as a shocker, but I am your father.”
The tears started flowing; I was feeling overwhelmed. I spent my life wishing for a daddy. I used to see my homeboys and them hanging out with their fathers, and I used to wish it was me. Now, here I was, and this old nigga was telling me that he was my daddy. After all these fucking years.
“Son, so many times I wanted to tell you, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell you. I was way older than yo’ mama, and it was a one-night thing. Years later, I saw her, and she told me I had a son. By then, I was too deep into these streets, and having a son meant that niggas would try to touch him whenever they couldn’t get to me. I watched you grow up, and at times, I would drop by and give your grandma a few dollars. I made sure your grandma had money to take care of you. I was always in the shadows, even when you didn’t see me.”
“The fuck you think I wanted money for, huh? I wanted your love and your time. I needed a dad to teach me how to be a man,” I yelled.
“You have the right to be angry with me. I can take it. Go ahead.”
I didn’t say a word; I just sat there. The tears were drying up because the weed had taken over. I was no longer feeling emotional. Anger was starting to set in. My head felt like it was about to explode.
“Listen, young’un, I ain’t been no daddy to you, and I can’t change that, but I want you to give me a chance. Right now, all we’ve got is each other.” He squeezed my shoulders.
I didn’t say anything; I just sat there. He walked off into his living room.
“Young’un, come in here. I’ve got something to show you.”
I got up and dragged myself into the living room. I flopped down on his leather coach. I had been to his house many times, but this was the first time I was allowed to step foot into the living room.
He threw a stack of paper on my lap. I quickly picked it up and started looking. “Is this some kind of joke?”
“Joke? Nah. Your homeboy is a rat.”
“Man, watch how you’re talking ’bout my motherfucking brother. He ain’t no rat,” I snapped.
“Look at the picture! That’s him on numerous occasions, working with the fucking feds.”
“The feds? What the fuck they want?” I was confused as hell now. My case was state, not federal.
“They want you, the head nigga in charge. Your boy’s been working for them for almost a year now.”
“Hell nah, not my nigga. You’re just tryin’a throw salt on my nigga’s name. Hold on. I’m about to hit him up.” I grabbed my phone, and that’s when it hit me. I had no idea where that nigga was. My mind started racing back to the weeks before I got shot. I stopped by his home, and they had moved. Hell nah, this couldn’t be. There was no way my partner, my brother, would work with the feds. This had to be a mistake. But I was sitting here, looking at this nigga getting in a car with a dude who looked like the law. There were pictures of him meeting with them on numerous occasions.
“Who took these pictures, and how did you know this, if it’s true?”
“Like I told you, I’m always one step behind you. One day, I followed you, and right after y’all left the trap, I took a second to pull off. Right then, I spotted a car pull up at the trap, and he got in. After that day, I got my right-hand man to start following him. That’s how he took all those pics. I then took them to my man on the inside of the feds’ investigation, and he confirmed that he is their informant. He is in the witness protection program.”
My stomach started growling, and water gathered in my mouth. I got up, threw the pictures on the ground, and ran to the bathroom. I buried my head into the toilet and started to vomit. “Oh, my God!” I killed my little nigga and his mama, all because I thought he was the snitch. My head started spinning. Nigga, you’re acting like a bitch, a little voice echoed in my head. I got up, washed my mouth, and walked out of the bathroom. I really didn’t feel like talking anymore.
“Ay, if you ’ont mind, I’ma lie down real quick. I’ll get up wit’ you later.”
“Sure.”
I walked back into the room I spent the night in. I got on the bed and lay on my back. Everything in my head was one big ball of confusion. How could I be so fucking stupid not to know that Mann-Mann was working with the law? My mind raced back to the last night we hung out. He seemed different, but I thought it was because he was under stress. One thing that popped in my head was him drilling me about what happened. What a bitch. This nigga could’ve been wearing a wire and, if this was true, I confessed everything to him. I sat up fast and rubbed my hands over my face.
I searched my phone for Plies’s song “I Kept It Too Real.” That was the only thing I wanted to hear. Tears filled my eyes. I felt betrayed, not because this nigga was working with the people, but because he was working against me, his little brother and his partner. I would’ve given my life up for this nigga but, in the end, he didn’t show me the same love. That nigga better stay hidden ’cause, on my dead kids, if he ever shows his face ’round here anymore, I’ma show him the same love he showed me: none!
* * *
Malaya
The police were so predictable. I was on my way to work when my phone rang. It was an officer on the line. He wanted me to bring my client in for questioning. I busted a U-turn and dialed the office number.
“Hello, good morning. Shawrtz and Ipswich Law Firm. How may I help you?”
“Good morning, Dana, it’s me.”
“Oh, hey, boss lady,” she said gleefully.
“Hi. Please reschedule my appointments for later this afternoon. Say around three p.m. if possible.”
“All righty, talk to you later.”
I hung up and then dialed Javon’s number. “Yo,” he answered.
“You need to get dressed and meet me down by the station. They want to question you some more about what happened yesterday.”
“All right, I’ll be there.”
I didn’t ask him how he was going to get there and, honestly, I didn’t really want to know. Last night, I was sure that I was done with his case, but reality kicked in. I needed to get him off so he could get the fuck out of my life for good.
I pulled into the parking lot and waited for about twenty minutes. I saw when a dark 2015 Lexus pulled into the space beside me. I saw when he exited the vehicle. He was looking a hot mess; he had on the same clothes he had on yesterday. I cut my car off, grabbed my briefcase, and got out.
“Have you gotten any kind of rest?”
“Nah, but I’m good, yo. Let’s get this over wit’.”
“Okay, then. Please remember if they ask you something that you don’t remember or if you’re not comfortable in answering, let me answer it.”
“Shit, I ain’t got nothin’ to hide,” he lied.
Yeah, right.
“Good morning, my name is Attorney Ipswich, and I’m here to see Officer Spencer.”
“Good morning. Hold on a sec.”
Within a few minutes of waiting, the same rude-ass officer from yesterday came to escort us into one of their interview rooms.
“Man, they asses need to come on already,” Javon said.
I was going to respond to him, but I didn’t see the need. He was working my last nerves, and I was trying not to be inconsiderate. I had no idea what he was going through. Regardless of how fucked up he was as a person, he was a damn good daddy from what he told me. To witness what he did yesterday could break a strong person down.
Finally, the officers came in the room and started their questioning. I could see on Javon’s face that he wasn’t feeling it.
“Did you and your woman have any kind of dispute?”
“What the fuck is that
supposed to mean? Huh, nigga? You think I killed my fucking kids and their mama?” He got up and flipped the table over, spilling cups of coffee.
“You better sit yo’ ass down before I arrest you for disorderly conduct.”
“Nah, nigga, fuck you.”
“You better sit your ass down and close your mouth,” I said as I towered over him.
He looked at me and hissed through his teeth. “Officers, unless you’re going to charge my client with something, we’re leaving.”
As soon as I said that, he got up and walked out the door.
I stayed behind so I could address the officer. I turned to the officer. “You’re a real asshole.” I didn’t wait for a response. I just walked out, slamming the door behind me. I was so pissed off that I almost bumped into Devon.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m good. You need to really get that asshole, Officer Spencer, under control.”
“I’ll talk to him.”
I walked off on his ass also. I didn’t trust any of these motherfuckers in uniform or with a badge.
I noticed Javon standing by his car when I walked outside. “What was that all about inside there?”
“Man, quit playing. You heard how that nigga was talking down at me. That wasn’t no damn questioning; that nigga was trying to say I killed my motherfucking kids.”
“I was right there with you! There was no need for what you did. You’re acting like a madman.”
“Well, you know what, bitch? Since you’re so cozy with these motherfuckers, fuck you too.”
“I’m so over you behaving like a little child. Grow the fuck up, and start taking responsibility for your actions.”
“Responsibility, huh, bitch? How about you walk your grown ass in there and take full responsibility for getting your husband killed? That’s right, because you’re a scary bitch. I see I ain’t the only one with dirty hands.”
“You know what? I’m done with you! I quit. Please find a different lawyer for your case. I will go the judge and let him know that I can’t defend you anymore.”
“Suck my dick, bitch! You can’t motherfucking quit. It’s in your best interest to make sure I beat my case and, I promise you, if I don’t, you will regret it.”
He winked at me.
I didn’t know what this fool was trying to prove, but I wanted no part of it. I looked at him, shook my head, and quickly opened my car door. I got inside, started the car, and pulled off. I couldn’t think straight. How did I allow myself to get caught up with this young bum? I knew better than this, but I was so determined to get rid of Trent that I didn’t think it through correctly.
* * *
I waited for the kids to go to bed. I poured a glass of wine and sat out in my sunroom. This was the place I often came when I needed to clear my head. I wondered how I got here. I was a good person before I met Trent. All I ever wanted was a man to love me unconditionally; but, after years of abuse, my heart turned stone cold. And after I caught him screwing that faggot, I knew I wanted him dead. There was no way I could live with him, knowing he was a faggot. I wished he would’ve left, but he was determined to make my life hell. I thought about poisoning him but decided against it because they would be suspicious, but hell, I was still being accused even though I didn’t pull the trigger. I thought my plan was a good one, but somehow, someway, I thought I was their prime suspect. It didn’t help what this fuck nigga was throwing out there. I wondered if he told anyone else about what he did.
The thought of poisoning him crossed my mind also, but that would be suspicious. I took another sip of my drink as I figured out a way to get myself out of this shit.
* * *
Javon
I should’ve been taking my kids to the park or to their favorite spot, Chuck E. Cheese’s, but instead, I was planning their funerals. Tania’s mother and brothers came down from Albany, New York. This was my second time seeing her mom, and it wasn’t a pleasant visit. I met her at the funeral home, and that bitch start yelling that I got her baby killed. I tried to calm her down, but the closer I got to her, the more she screamed, “Murderer.” People in the funeral home stood there, looking at us.
I tried to explain to this bitch that I loved her daughter and would never do anything to intentionally hurt her. But instead, the bitch hawked some cold spit in my face. I raised my hand to slap that bitch down, but I stopped before it got that far. I wasn’t tryin’a get locked up because my bond would’ve been revoked. Instead, I just talked to the director of the funeral home and left.
Life ain’t fair. I couldn’t believe my kids were gone, my bitch was gone, and my brother/partner betrayed me. I sped down the street, trying to figure out my next move. A nigga was broke; the police searched the house after the murder and found the safe. After the big bust, that was all the paper I had. Over a hundred grand gone down the fucking drain. I knew I was good to get some work, but my connect wasn’t fucking with me after that big bust. I couldn’t say I blamed him because he wasn’t trying to bring any heat to his camp. Shit, that might be too late. If Mann-Mann was working with the people, I knew he done told them about who we copped our work from.
All I had left were the drawers on my ass; and, shit, I needed to bathe. A nigga nuts were sweaty and shit. “Ha-ha.” I had to laugh because this was what a nigga had become.
I didn’t want to go back to Abraham’s house, but I had nowhere else to go. I hated him for what he did to me, but I knew that right about now I had no one but him. I needed money to bury my kids and to get back on my feet. I wasn’t asking the nigga for no handout. I just needed him to throw me some work so I could flip it really quick.
I banged on his back door and waited. I felt naked out here in these streets without my pistol. I was pretty sure that whoever shot me and killed my family was still around.
“Young blood, you can’t be banging like you’re the police,” Abraham said as he opened the door and walked away.
“Oh, my bad.”
“How did your interview go?”
“Man, fuck them police. Motherfuckers acting like I was behind that bullshit.” I shook my head in disbelief.
“What did you think was gonna happen? These motherfuckers don’t give a fuck ’bout you. So, what did your lawyer say?”
“Man, fuck that ho. She sat there and didn’t say shit to defend me. I told that bitch fuck her.”
“You know you’re a grown man, and I can’t tell you what to do, but the biggest mistake you made was sleeping with that woman.”
“What? Damn, how did you know about her and me?” I was starting to suspect his ass. How the fuck did he know e’erything about my life?
“I told you, I know a little of everything that goes on in this town. I told you to contact that woman to defend you because she’s known to have the DA’s office in her pocket. A lot of dudes beat their cases or had it dropped to a few years because of her. You done got mixed up with that lady. Did you know they’re investigating her for her husband’s murder?”
“Huh? What? I ain’t know shit.”
“That’s good, because he was a detective, and you know they ain’t goin’ to ease up until they pin that murder on somebody.”
I was starting to believe that this bitch was bad news from the beginning. I couldn’t believe I allowed my dick to get me involved in some cop’s murder. That’s capital murder.
“You a’ight?”
“Yeah, I’m good! Just thinking it all seems like a dream, these last few days. Like I’m waiting for someone to tap me on my shoulder and say, ‘Nigga, wake up.’”
“Well, son, I hate to tell you, this ain’t no dream. You’re awake, and shit might get worse before it gets better. First things first, I know you’re broke, so I’ve got the kids’ funeral. You can take the car you’re driving. And if it were any other time, I would’ve blessed you with some work but, young blood, I can’t do that. You’re too hot right now, and I can’t afford to get caught up in no federal investigation. You
know they’ve been trying to get me for years, so this would be too easy for them.”
“What you think, I would tell on you? And I ain’t yo’ motherfucking son.”
“Nah, it ain’t that! You just attract the wrong kind of people. You need to chill out, deal with this case, and then move on after that.”
Man, fuck that. I wasn’t tryin’a hear what he was saying. I was a grown man; I couldn’t go on living off of no other nigga. This nigga goin’ to make me fuck around and rob his ass. I quickly dismissed that thought. This nigga had always had my back; plus, he was nothing nice to be fucked with.
We ended up drinking and smoking blunts after blunts. This nigga was kind of a cool dude. I just wished I knew that he was my dad when I was growing up.
“Well, young blood, I’m about to call it a night.”
“A’ight, yo!”
After he left for bed, I got up and walked to the refrigerator and grabbed another beer. I sat back down on the floor, just letting my thoughts run wild. I thought a heard a sound, so I got up and walked to the window. I looked outside and didn’t see anything. I fixed the curtain and walked away. I was thinking how late it was; but, before I could finish my thought, I heard glass shattering followed with gunshots everywhere. I dove over the sofa. I heard footsteps coming down the back and shots fired from a mini 14 assault rifle. I knew it was Abraham because he often bragged about his chopper. It was like Desert Storm up in the house, and then the shooting stopped. I wanted to pop my head up, but I wasn’t sure who was alive and who wasn’t.
“Youngblood, you in here?”
“Yeah, I’m here.” I popped my head up and saw Abraham standing over a nigga’s body. “Here, let me hold this. Let me check if anybody else is in here.” I took the Glock from him and walked to the front of the house. I didn’t see anyone else. I hurried back to the living room. I was curious to see who the fuck this nigga was. Hopefully, I could get the answers that I needed. I aimed the gun at his head, just in case he wasn’t dead. I removed the ski mask from his face. I took a step back! This was the nigga D. Drizzle’s big brother, who was supposed to be doing a bid in the penitentiary. “Fuck,” I said out loud.