by Askari
“What? Girl, wasn’t nobody thinking ‘bout ya ass,” he lied.
“Umm hmm.” She stated sarcastically, and then used her key to open the front door.
When they entered the house the first thing that grabbed his attention was the glossy hardwood floors. There were four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a laundry room, and a finished basement. She led him out back to the extended patio, and showed him the in ground pool.
“So,” she turned to face him, “how do you like the house?”
He shrugged his shoulders in a nonchalant manner. “It’s a’ight. I can fuck wit’ it.”
“Alright, well I already talked to Mook, so I know your situation. For $20,000, my connect at the bank is gonna approve the loan that you’re gonna need to buy the house.”
“Loan?” He looked at her like she was crazy. “I don’t need a loan. You said that the house was going for $240,000 right? Yo, I got that in the car right now.”
She looked at him and laughed. “Boy, you can’t just drop a quarter of a million dollars down on a house. Especially when it’s drug mone. The feds will be on ya ass faster than you can blink. That’s why I got my connect at the bank. She’s the manager. The bank is gonna buy the house, and then charge you a monthly mortgage. That way everything will appear to be legit, and you won’t have to worry about the feds being all up in your shit. All you gotta do is pay me $10,000 for my services, give me the $20,000 for my girl at the bank, and then the house is basically yours. Well, providing that you keep up wit’ ya mortgage payments.”
“A’ight, ma, I got you. There is only on one condition, and that is that you gotta let me take you out to lunch.”
“Yeah, we can do that.” She smiled. “But that’s only because you’re cute.”
“More or less.”
*****
A Half An Hour Later...
They were at the Applebee’s restaurant on Old York Road, and seated at a table that provided them with a clear view of the entrance.
“Are you guys ready to order?” asked the young waitress who was assigned to their table.
Sonny looked at the chubby white girl and smiled. “Yeah, we'll both be having turkey burgers and French fries.”
The waitress wrote down their orders, then asked, “And would y’all like anything to drink?”
“Yeah,” Daphney interjected, then looked at Sonny with a fake attitude. “We’ll both be having cranberry juice.”
As the waitress walked away from their table, Sonny looked at Daphney, and smiled. “Tic for tac, huh?”
“What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.” She smiled back.
“So, Miss Daphney, where you from?”
“I’m originally from Southwest, but now I’m living in Mt. Airy. I’ve been out there for the past two years.”
“So, how you know my man Mook?” He tested the waters, wondering if she had ever fucked his man.
“I’ve known Mook my whole life. He used to work for my daddy back in the day.”
“Your dad?” Sonny asked in disbelief. “Hold up, you mean to tell me that Alvin Rines is ya pops?”
“Yep, that’s my daddy.”
“Yo, ya pops is a fuckin’ legend in Philly. They say he was one of the first niggas to move crack in the city.”
“Yeah, and they gave him a life sentence behind that shit too,” she sadly replied, and then looked down at the table.
Sonny placed his hand on her chin and lifted her head back up. “Yo, don’t let that shit get you down ma. I can’t exactly say that I know how you feel, but trust me, I understand ya struggle.”
She took a deep breath. “Can we please change the subject? So what are you planning on doin’ wit’ that big ass house?” She asked, wondering why someone so young would be interested in a house of that magnitude.
“My girl’s about to have our first baby, so to show her that I’m ready to step up to the plate and handle my business, I’m gettin’ us a new house.”
She smiled and nodded her head. “Yo, that’s a good look. I hope that she’s appreciative. My nut ass baby’s daddy ain’t shit. All he wants to do is waist his life doin’ county bids, and whenever he’s outta jail, all he wants to do is chase pussy. His trifling ass doesn’t even take care of his son.”
“Damn, I ain’t no hater or nothin’, but if whatchu sayin’ is true, then main man outta pocket. He supposed to be playin’ his part, especially wit’ a chick like you. You’re beautiful. You out here makin’ moves and you keep it hood at the same time. Yo, that nigga trippin’.”
“Humph, who you tellin’? Niggas are so grimy.”
“Nizzaw,” he shook his head from side to side. “Every nigga ain’t like that. If you was my girl, it’s nothin’ that I wouldn’t do for you. You got ya head on straight, you beautiful, and it seems like you on top of ya game. Any nigga would be lucky to have a lady like you by his side. Real shit.”
She looked at him and sighed. “I wish I woulda met you a few years ago, Sontino.”
“Yo, why you say that?”
“Because you’re everything that I’ve ever wanted in a man. You’re a cutie, you’re focused, and you’re not one of these broke ass niggas that be runnin’ around the city frontin’. Actually, in a lot of ways, you remind me of my father.”
“So you’re basically sayin’ that you could see yourself fuckin’ wit’ a nigga like me?”
“In a heartbeat.”
“So what’s stoppin’ you?”
She screwed up her face and snapped her neck sista girl style.
“Hold up, didn’t you just tell me that you had a girl, and that she was about to have your baby? See, that’s the shit that I be talking ‘bout. Y’all niggas are so grimy.”
“A’ight, now what if I told you that even though I love my girl she’s not everything that I need in a woman?”
“Well, what is it that you need in a woman?”
“I need a woman that I can relate to. It’s like, my girl, she ain’t really ‘bout nothin’. Don’t get me wrong, I love shorty to death, but at the same time it’s like, she doesn’t complete me.”
“Well, what does she do?”
“She looks pretty and lies around waitin’ for me to bust her ass.”
“Does she work or go to school?”
“Nizzaw, she doesn’t do none of that.”
“So, if she’s not everything that you need in a woman, then why are you still wit’ her?”
“To be honest wit’ you, I don’t even know. I guess you could say that it’s love,” he shrugged his shoulders, “or maybe I’m just used to her.”
“A’ight.” She nodded her head. “Well, what is it that you love about her?”
He smiled. “I love the way she make a nigga feel. She’s always encouraging me to do better, but at the same time, she’s not really doin’ nothin’ to better herself.”
“Well, do you encourage her to do better?”
“Naw, now that I think about it, I don’t.”
“Well, if you truly love her and you wanna make y’all relationship work, then you need to motivate her to do somethin’ wit’ her life. As a woman, I know that if my man was handlin’ his business, and constantly encouragin’ me to do the same, that would be enough to motivate me.”
“Damn, Daphney, that’s some real ass shit.”
“Well, I’m a real ass woman. What else would you expect?”
Sonny just looked at her and smiled. “Yo, you a tight lil’ piece of work. You know that, right?”
She giggled.
“On some real shit though, you got a nigga feelin’ you. At the same time, I got a girl. So the only thing I can really offer you is my friendship.”
“I know,” she quickly responded, “and I can respect that. All I ask is that you stay in touch because I really think you’re a good dude, and I enjoy your conversation.”
He nodded his head and smiled. “I enjoy your’s too.”
Chapter Thirteen
“Sontino
, wake up!” Riana shouted, while nudging his shoulder.
“Damn, Riri, I’m try’na to sleep man. What the fuck.”
“Boo, it’s nine o’clock in the morning and Erika is downstairs waitin’ on us. We gotta go to the jail to pick up Breeze.”
He instantly remembered that today was Breeze’s release date, and a huge smile spread across his face. He climbed out the bed and hopped in the shower. After getting dressed, and grabbing the money that he set aside for Breeze he descended the stairs, and found Riana and Erika sitting on his mother’s couch.
“Finally,” Erika stated in a sarcastic manner. “It’s been about two years since the last time I’ve been wit’ my baby, and now that he’s finally comin’ home you wanna take all day to wake up and get dressed.”
“A’ight Erika, we’re leavin’ damn.” Sonny shot back, and then threw her the keys to his Tahoe. “Here, you take the truck. Me and Riri gon’ ride in the Benz.”
When they arrived at the Camp Hill Correctional Facility, Breeze was standing out front in the Polo sweat suit and Polo snorkel that Erika had dropped off for him during their last visit.
“What’s poppin’, Scrap?” Sonny greeted, and then embraced him with a brotherly hug.
“That Five,” Breeze shot back, and then threw up his Brim set with both hands.
At 6’1” and 215 pounds, Breeze was husky as shit. He had short, dark, wavy hair, and a darkbrown complexion. His face was usually set into a serious expression, but today he was all smiles.
Erika hopped out the Tahoe, ran up to him, and leaped in his arms. “I missed you so much!” She shouted and smothered his face with kisses. “I can’t believe that you’re finally outta there.”
“Yeah, I know right.” He put her down and examined her from head to toe. “But, look at you though. You’re lookin’ good as shit! You know a nigga gonna tear that pussy up, right.”
“Umm hmm,” she purred. “My shit is super duper extra tight too.”
“Eeewwww! Y’all are so nasty.” Riri laughed as she approached Breeze and embraced him with a warm hug.
Breeze smiled at her. “What Riri? I know ya lil’ pregnant ass ain’t out here callin’ nobody nasty.”
“Boy, shut up,” she continued laughing, and then playfully punched him in the arm.
“Hey Breeze, lemme show you somethin’ real quick,” Sonny interrupted, and then led him toward the back of the Tahoe.
He opened the back doors and showed him the two duffle bags that were lying in front of his speaker box. He opened the first bag and showed him the bulletproof vest, the AK-47, and the Glock .40 that was stashed inside. He then opened the second bag and showed him the $100,000 that he stacked up for him.
“All this shit is for you my nigga. Welcome home.”
“Damn,” Breeze shook his head in disbelief. “Niggas was sayin’ that you turned it up out here, but I didn’t know you was doin’ it like this.” He nodded toward the two duffle bags and the SL 550.
“This shit ain’t ‘bout nothin’. It’s a $100,000 in there.” He pointed at the bag. “Use that to get you a new spot and a new whip. Tomorrow, I’m a take you clothes shoppin’, and after you get settled in. I’m a start hittin’ you off wit’ these bricks.” He gestured toward the bag of guns. “You gon’ need them because shit a lil’ shaky out here right now.”
“Yeah, I know.” Breeze nodded his head. “I heard y’all had beef wit’ the ol’ head Grip. You already know what time I’m on so all you gotta do is bring me up to speed, son. Word.”
“Yo, don’t even worry about that right now. All I want you to do is focus on gettin’ ya money right.” Sonny said, while zipping up the duffle bags and closing the back doors. “I’ma let Erika hold the truck so y’all can do y’all thing for the day. But tomorrow, make sure you get wit’ me so we can do what we do.”
Breeze nodded his head. “That’s gangsta. I’ma definitely need a lil’ time to get my bread back up, but as soon as I do you know what time it is.”
“So, what do you plan on doin’? You stayin’ in PA., or is you movin’ back to New York?”
“I’ma stay in Pennsylvania, between Philly and Allentown. While I was booked, I met the homies, R.O. and Evil. Yo, them niggas is official, son. They originally from up top, but be doin’ they thing in Allentown. So I’ma go out there and fuck wit’ them niggas.”
“Well, whatever you wanna do, just know I got you nigga.”
They hugged one another, and then went to their separate vehicles. Breeze climbed in the Tahoe with Erika, and Sonny hopped in the Benz with Riana.
*****
An Hour Later...
Sonny and Riana were sitting in her doctor’s office waiting to be seen for her monthly check up. Riana had her nose buried in a baby magazine, and Sonny was thinking about the conversation that he had with Daphney the day before.
He closed the magazine that she was reading and said, “Boo, did you figure out whatchu wanna do after you have the baby?”
“I’ma be a good mother, silly. What do you think?”
“Naw, that’s not what I’m talking ‘bout. I’m sayin’ like, what is it that you wanna do wit’ ya life?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. Right now, I’m just focused on havin’ the baby. Whatchu think we’re gonna have, a boy or a girl?”
“I don’t even care. I just want the baby to be healthy,” he responded in a somber voice.
While they were caught up in their conversation, Daphney entered the doctor’s office. She was holding the hand of her four year old son. When she spotted Sonny sitting with Riana her heart skipped a beat, and she became momentarily jealous. Although she didn’t really know him, to her the time that they’d spent together was like a breath of fresh air. She was so sick and tired of the games that her son’s father played, and ever since she met Sonny she wished that he was the man in her life.
She looked at Riana and sized her up. Humph, she’s cute and all that, but she ain’t got nothin’ on Alvin’s daughter, she thought to herself. She put an extra pep in her step, and her voluptuous ass to jiggle with every movement.
As Riana was talking to Sonny, she noticed that the dark skinned woman with the little boy was staring at her. Sonny noticed that Riana was looking across the room so he looked over to see what she was staring at. When he saw Daphney sitting at the other end of the waiting room, he smiled at her.
“What’s up, Daph? That ya lil’’ man right there?”
“Yeah, this is my son Dayshon.” She returned his smile, and then looked at the little boy. “Say hi, Day Day.”
“Hi,” the little boy smiled, and then waved at Sonny and Riana.
Riana scowled at Daphney, and then directed her attention to Sonny. “Daphney? Who the fuck is Daphney?"
“Yo,” he looked at her like she was crazy. “Fall back, Riri. That’s just my homie.”
“Ya homie. I don’t know that bitch,” Riana spat as she stood to her feet.
“Excuse me, but who do you think you’re talkin’ to?” Daphney spoke up.
“Bitch, I’m talkin’ to you!” Riana pointed at her, and then began walking in her direction.
Sonny grabbed her by the arm and made her sit back down. “Yo Riri, you outta pocket. Didn’t I just tell you that she was my peoples.”
“Pussy, I ain’t got no male friends, so how the fuck you gon’ have a female friend? Especially some bitch that I don’t even fuckin’ know! Ahn ahn, I ain’t goin’ for it," she shot back, and then folded her arms across her chest.
Sonny shook his head, and then looked over at Daphney. “Yo, I’m sorry about that. I see you over there wit’ ya lil’ man, and y’all ain’t deserve to be disrespected like that. I apologize.”
“What?” Riana snapped. “You really gon’ stand here and apologize to this bitch. You know what Sontino...”
She cocked back, and smacked him in the face.
Whack!
A red hand print appeared on his left cheek as she br
oke down crying, and then ran out of the doctor’s office.
He followed her outside. “Riri, what the fuck is wrong wit’ you? You buggin’ out for nothin’.”
“Fuck you, Sontino! I wanna go home! Take me home!”
Without another word, he did as she asked. When they pulled up in front of her house, she hopped out the car and slammed the door.
“Pussy, I’m done wit’ you! And get ya shit outta my fuckin’ house!”
He entered the house behind her, and found her mother sitting on the couch, looking confused. “Sontino, what happened?”
“I don’t know, Ms. Mary. We was at the doctor’s office, and a female friend of mines was there wit’ her son. All I did was speak to her, and Riri started trippin’.”
“Pussy, stop lyin’!” Riana shouted from the top of the steps, and then threw down the gym bag that was holding his last six keys. “I saw the way that she was lookin at you. Y’all think I’m stupid.”
“Riri, what the fuck is you talking ‘bout?”
“Don’t act dumb, bitch! You was lookin’ at her the same fuckin’ way!”
“Yo, what the fuck is you talking ‘bout? How was I lookin' at her?” He yelled back because his frustration growing immensely.
“You was looking at her the way that you used to look at me!” She burst out crying, and then ran to her room and slammed the door.
He began to follow her, but her mother stopped him. “Baby, just give her a little time to calm down. She’s going through her emotions right now. Believe me, I know what it’s like to be pregnant. She’s feeling insecure about her weight, and she thinks that you would rather be with a woman who she feels is more attractive than she is.”
He took a deep breath. “A’ight, Ms. Mary, if you say so. Can you please just tell her that I love her, and that I’ll call her later?”
“I will baby. Just give her some time to get her emotions in check. I’m sure that everything will work itself out.”
When he got back to his car, he stashed the Nike gym inside of the trunk, and then pulled out his iPhone and called Daphney.
Ring! Ring! Ring!