by K'wan
“What's on your mind, sis?” Billy asked.
“Huh?” Trinity said, caught a little off guard. “Oh, nothing. Just daydreaming.”
“Umm hmm. Care to share?”
“Not really.”
“Listen, T. I know you might not want to admit it, but Daddy's disappearance has you spooked. Don’t feel bad, it has me a little shaken, too. But don’t worry, T. He’ll be back soon.”
“I’d like to think so,” she said, rubbing her cheek. “But…what if he doesn’t?”
“What do you mean, sis?”
“Well…what I mean is, what if he doesn’t come back this time?” “Trinity, you’re talking crazy. Daddy's probably out somewhere drunk as hell.”
“No, Billy, seriously. Did you ever stop to think what we’re gonna do if he doesn’t come back this time?”
“Well… no. I never considered it. I mean, would it really make a difference? Trinity, you’ve been taking care of us since Mommy died. Dad hasn’t ever been much help. At least not like a father should be.”
“Yeah, you’re right. But I still think we need to have some kinda plan just in case. Ya know?”
“I guess that makes sense. But do you really think he might not come back?” Her silence was answer enough. After a few awkward moments Billy said, “Trinity, I wanna say something to you. Look…I’m sorry. You know, for what I said about Rio. He's a good dude. For me to even suggest that he might’ve done something to Daddy… well, I’m sorry.”
Trinity gave her little brother a phony smile of thanks, but deep in her heart she knew that he wasn’t that far off. Rio was a good dude, true enough. But he had everything to do with their father's disappearance. Her lover had been the one who pulled the trigger and took their father from them. As noble a gesture as it was, did that make it okay?
“Well,” she began, “let's try not to dwell on it, Billy. We’ll leave it in God's hands and hope everything works itself out.”
“You’re right, sis. As usual.” Billy grabbed an apple from the fridge and went on about his business. Trinity watched her little brother leave and felt a heaviness in her heart. She hated lying to her little brother, but the ends justified the means. She had to protect her man at all cost. Rio, her darling Rio who would make everything right. In time he was sure to make everything okay. He had to.
As soon as Trinity was done with the dishes, she heard her Mickey Mouse phone ringing. She had no idea who it could’ve been since she had been ducking just about everyone since she got out of the hospital. She jogged down the narrow hallway to her room. The lights were off so she couldn’t see the caller ID. As soon as she picked up the phone, she wished she hadn’t.
“What's up, girl?” Joyce asked. “Where you been hiding?”
“Hey, Joyce,” Trinity said in a phony sisterly voice.
“Girl, I thought you up and dropped off the face of the earth. I asked Alex what was up with you, but you know how she be on it? Bitch acting all tight-lipped and shit, like she don’t love drama.”
“Ain’t nothing, Joyce. I just been taking it easy, ya know?”
“Yeah, I feel you. I heard you was in the hospital?”
“Yeah, I’m fine though.”
“I know that's right. You a trooper girl, so you always gonna come out on top. I was gonna come see you, but this nigga Max just came home. You know how that shit go. Had to get that three-year nut up out him.”
“Umm hmm,” Trinity said dryly. “Listen, I was just about to cook dinner for me and Billy, so… “
“Oh, I feel you. I just called to tell you the latest gossip.”
Trinity didn’t really feel like hearing any gossip, but if she humored Joyce, maybe the mouthy bitch would get off the phone. “Okay, spill.”
“Well, you know about them boys from the clubhouse?”
Trinity knew that she was referring to Shamel's thieves’ clique, but she played stupid. “Who?”
“Oh, Trinity. Girl, you ain’t been gone that long. Them niggaz steal whatever the fuck ain’t nailed down. Cars, jewels, whatever. You knew who them thieving niggaz that Rio's peoples run wit?”
“Oh, okay. What about em?”
“Girl, they got busted!”
“Busted? Which ones?”
“The whole squad. Bear, li’l man, Stink, all them niggaz. Cold busted.”
Trinity began to think the worst. She knew that Shamel was one of their leaders and always in the center of what went on among them. He was like a brother to both her and Rio. If something were to happen to him, she’d truly be hurt.
“Damn, Joyce,” Trinity sighed. “That's fucked up.”
“I know it, girl. Them niggaz was getting it, now they ain’t. I heard the police was bringing all kinda shit outta the clubhouse. Money, jewels, you name it. Them kids was sitting on some paper.”
“What about Shamel?”
“I don’t think he was one of the people who got caught. But I heard he had some dough stashed up in there. All them niggaz kept money and hot shit stashed around that house. They didn’t even try to keep it a secret. Everybody knows what happens to people stupid enough to cross them rowdy ma fuckas.”
“Damn, I gotta go find Rio and let him know what happened.”
“Please, girl. Rio probably already knows what went down. The way I hear it, he's that nigga now.”
“What you mean by that, Joyce?”
“Trinity, you ain’t gotta front for me. I know what's up.”
“Oh, yeah? Well, why don’t you tell me what's up?”
“Trinity, all the girls at the nail shop was talking about it. They say that Rio got a promotion. Douglass is under new management. Youz about a lucky bitch, cause Rio is about to see major paper and you wit him, so you know he gonna look out. If you was smart you’d put a baby on that nigga.”
Trinity felt her anger getting the best of her. It would be a no-good bitch like Joyce to be thinking scandalous. Bitches like her were the reason that there were so few niggaz like Rio. Before things got ugly, Trinity decided to end the conversation. But not before she put Joyce in her place.
“Listen, Joyce,” Trinity began in an even but firm voice, “them bitches in the hood ain’t got nothing to do but gossip. Rio doesn’t sell drugs,” she lied. “Them bitches don’t know me or my man, so they need to keep both our names out their mouths. I’d hate to have to come up there and clown. And on a parting note, if you were as much my friend to me as you claimed to be you’d check these bitches instead of following up on the bullshit.” Trinity hung the phone up before Joyce could respond.
Trinity threw on her sweatpants and got ready to head out in search of Rio. She had to put him up on the latest turn of events and see how she could use it to their advantage. One thing Trinity had learned from spending so much time on the streets was that one man's misfortune is easily turned into another man's fortune. Well, in this case, woman's.
14
Rio sat in the little Spanish restaurant on 104th picking at his food and punishing a Corona. Cutty had begun to worry about his friend. Rio had hardly said anything since he saw Truck blow that boy's brains out. Cutty agreed that it was overdoing it, but he understood why Truck had done it. He was sending Rio a message. To play in this game you had to play dirty. Sometimes you had to make an example out of a ma fucka.
“You a’ight?” Cutty asked, tapping Rio's arm.
“I’m cool,” Rio said, ordering another beer. “Just a little shaken, that's all.”
“Don’t feel bad, kid. It threw me a li’l, too. That boy Truck is a fucking monster. Blew that poor kid's head all over that spot.”
“That shit was wack, Cutty. Real fucking wack.”
“Yeah, man. It was wack all right. But that's the game. That might’ve been the first body you’ve seen, but it won’t be ya last kid. When it's all said and done, you might end up catching one yourself.”
“Man, I don’t know if I got the stomach for this shit.”
“Rio, don’t start talking cr
azy. I don’t wanna hear no shit like that coming outta ya mouth. You ain’t ‘small Paul’ no more. Youz an official big dog. Ain’t no turning back at this stage of the game.”
“Fuck, I know. It's just that I hope I haven’t bitten off more than I could chew.”
“Rio, it is very important that you don’t doubt yourself. Not to others and for damn sure not to ya self. People who are in it halfway, get buried all the way. You gonna fuck around and get locked up or get ya brains blown the fuck out. Either way ain’t no future for those who doubt their own ability.”
Rio nodded, letting Cutty's words sink in. What he was saying might’ve sounded a li’l off, but it was dead true. Many a man had come and gone in the game, only to fall victim to their own worst enemies. Themselves. Rio vowed that this was something that would not happen to him. Whatever adjustments he had to make would be handled. He had to get his head right if he intended to make it through the storm to come with his skin intact.
The two men sat and discussed their plans for the immediate future. Rio was a master schemer and Cutty was a case waiting to happen. They were like oil and water, but the two had each other's back. Their little meeting was interrupted by a chorus of “damns” and “good lords.” They turned to see what the commotion was about and found Trinity at the center of it.
Trinity stood in the doorway of the little diner looking like the star that she was. Her tan Lady Enyce sweat suit hugged her body, showing off a shape that she couldn’t hide if she wanted to. Her long corn-rowed hair hung down to her shoulders, making her look like Bo Derrick in her prime. Trinity strode confidently through the onlookers and thirsty niggaz to greet her man. When Rio stood and embraced her, most of the men quickly turned their heads. No one really wanted to earn the displeasure of the hood's newest superstar.
“Hey, boo,” she said, kissing him on the mouth.
“What's good, ma?” he responded, palming her phatty with both hands, not out of disrespect, but to let the rest of the vultures know whom she was rolling with. “What you doing up this way, Trinity?”
“Looking for you, daddy. I haven’t seen you all day.”
“My bad. A nigga been running and shit, trying to get my affairs in order. Ya know?”
“Yeah, I know. But a bitch was lonely.”
“I know, ma,” he said, kissing her cheeks. “I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you.”
“I know you will,” she said, punching him in the arm.
“Sup, Trinity?” Cutty asked.
“Hey, Cutty,” she responded with a half-smile. Trinity and Cutty had never really seen eye to eye on anything. He had never done anything to her personally, but he had a reputation as being a snake. He was one of Rio's closest friends, so Trinity gave him that, but he wasn’t Shamel. There was just something about the young man that rubbed her the wrong way.
“Well,” Cutty said, standing. “I’m gonna go get some smoke and leave you two alone. Rio, you want something?”
“Yeah,” Rio said, peeling off a bill. “Snatch me a ‘dub.’ Don’t bring me none of that green shit you smoke either, nigga.”
“I got you, big-dog.” Cutty took the bill and left.
“You hungry, ma?” Rio asked.
“Nah, I’ll get something later. Let's take a walk. I wanna talk to you about something.”
“Okay, ma. Let's boogie.”
Trinity took Rio by the hand and led him out of the diner. Outside people were buzzing back and forth doing their thing. Those who Rio knew, he gave dap. Those he didn’t know turned their eyes away. This was one aspect of being connected that Rio didn’t like. To be respected on the streets was all fine and good. But with power came fear. Rio was always a dude that got love from everybody just about everywhere he went. He didn’t feel comfortable with people being afraid of him. A wise man once said that “a scared nigga is the quickest to kill you, just cause he's scared.”
Rio and Trinity took a slow stroll down Columbus Ave, shooting the breeze. It had been a while since he had been able to just chill with his lady. Truth be told, he hadn’t had a chance to really kick it with her since her father's … accident. He couldn’t help but to wonder what was going through her mind. He wanted to reach out and try to offer her some sort of comfort, but he knew that wasn’t her way. Trinity would open up when she was ready. When that time came he would be there for her.
“So, what's good, T?” he asked, breaking the silence. “What's so important that you came out here looking for me?”
“Damn,” she said playfully. “You so anxious. Nah, but on the real though. I wanted to talk to you about Mel.”
“Shamel? What about him?”
“You ain’t hear what happened to the clique?”
“Nah, I been running around with Cutty for most of the day.”
“Well, you know I ain’t one for the gossip, but I thought this might interest you.”
“Okay, I’m listening.”
“Joyce's nosy ass called me at the house earlier. She was basically trying to be up in the mix, but she did pass some info along to me about the clique. It seems that they all got knocked.”
“Get the fuck outta here,” he said, shocked. “T, them niggaz is like thirty deep and they all run in different circles. How the hell they all get knocked?”
“I don’t know the details, Rio. I’m only telling you what I heard. Well, like I was saying, the police ran up in the clubhouse and snatched whoever was laid up and all their goods.”
“Damn, my nigga Mel locked up?”
“I don’t think so. She didn’t say anything about Shamel. But a good handful of them took a fall.”
“Shit, that was my nigga's bread and butter right there. Everybody either used the clique's services or fenced hot shit through them. I know he's gonna be uptight.”
“That's my point,” Trinity said slyly.
“What you talking about, T?”
“It's like you, Rio, said. The whole thieving thing was Shamel's hustle. I’m sure he could do okay independently, but without the clique, business is sure to be slow.”
“And?”
“And, that's where his main man Rio comes in.”
“Trinity, you know damn well Shamel don’t fuck wit drugs in no kinda way. He ain’t gonna go for that shit.”
“Rio, I love you, but at times you can be a silly goose. A desperate man will do anything to keep his head above water. Bring Shamel into the fold. Not on the drug tip, but make him part of your little entourage. Kinda like a bodyguard.”
“I got Cutty for that.”
“Rio, Cutty's cool, but the boy is a loose cannon. Shamel is more of a thinker. A street-wise nigga like him can point certain things out to you that Cutty couldn’t. Besides, in your line of work you never can have too many sets of eyes behind your head.”
Rio started to protest further, but the more he thought about it the more sense it made. With Cutty and Shamel with him, his clique would be a lot tighter. Cutty was the more vicious of the two, but Shamel wasn’t no slouch. With a three-headed monster like that, how could they lose.
“Damn, Trinity. Youz a smart chick.”
“I know, baby,” she said, kissing him on the cheek. “That's why you love me. Now, make it your business to find Shamel and lay your offer out.”
“That's easier said than done. That boy is like a ghost. I wouldn’t even know where to look.” The sounds of shouting and breaking glass gave him a good idea where to start.
Shamel came out of the corner store clutching a forty of that eight-ball. It was his third in as many hours, but he didn’t intend to slow up. He had short paper and needed to get wasted. If anything could do it for little money, it was Old English. As he staggered across 100th Street, he could make out two figures moving his way. After fighting with his eyes for focus, he recognized the figures as Kev and Boo.
Shamel sucked his teeth at the sight of his two rivals. Because of the fact that they were all stick-up kids, their paths had crossed before, but there was
no love lost between them. The duo didn’t like Shamel because he was a beast and rolled with the Thieves’ Clique. Shamel didn’t like them because they were rouges. The clique had certain codes that they wouldn’t violate, but the rogues respected nothing. All that mattered to them was paper.
“What up, Mel?” Kev asked, smiling.
“Sup,” Shamel responded, not bothering to slow down.
“What's really good wit you?” Boo spat. “You ain’t got time for old friends?”
“Fuck outta here,” Shamel said, stopping short. “Nigga, we ain’t never been friends.”
“Come on, Mel,” Kev interjected. “We ain’t come on no bullshit. We just wanted to talk to you.”
“Talk to me about what?”
“Look, we heard about what happened with ya team.”
“Terrible, just terrible,” Boo cut in.
“And?” Shamel asked, swigging his beer.
“And,” Kev continued, “we wanna make you an offer.”
“Listen, man, y’all ain’t got nothing I want.”
“Come on, kid,” Boo said. “We know what happened to the clique. It's a wrap for them cats man. What you gonna do, starve? You might as well stop bullshitting and come on it. Me, you, and Kev can start another clique on some new and improved shit. We the cream of the crop, baby. With us three together, we can kill em. Shit, you look like you could use the money. Running round drinking Forties like we still in the fucking eighties.”
“Hold on, hold on,” Shamel said, putting the top back on his beer. “Let me put you niggaz up on game. The God always has and always will be his own man. My team is gone, but that ain’t gonna stop my shine. I’ve always held my own. Matter of fact, why am I even talking to y’all?” Shamel tried to walk away, but Boo wasn’t finished.
“Hold the fuck on,” Boo said, grabbing his arm. “We ain’t finished wit—” Before he could finish his sentence, Shamel smashed him in the side of the head with his forty. Boo stumbled twice and crashed headfirst into the ground. Shamel followed up with a kick to the side, sending him crashing into the small gate.
“Is you fucking crazy?” Shamel barked. Kev had managed to pull his Glock while his man was getting whipped out. He was trying to ease up behind Shamel to lace him, but changed his mind when the darkness exploded with flashes of gunfire. Rio came charging toward the scuffle spitting rounds from his hammer. Kev ducked behind a car and took off running through the parking lot. Boo took one in the shoulder, but managed to pull his ass up and follow his man into the night. Rio hadn’t intended on hitting anyone, but fuck it. His man needed him and he was there.