There's Levels To My Thug

by Judith Tamalynn

  I pulled into the Please Touch Museum parking lot. Desiree was very surprised when she spotted Javier getting out of his car. Desiree started joking around saying his ass must have been following us. When he noticed us getting out of the truck, he started yelling across the parking lot.

  “It must really be a small world. Twice in one day ladies, I see my guardian angel is working double time.” Javier said.

  Tameka and Desiree looked at each other and smirked.

  “I guess… Or you could be a stalker I don’t know.” Desiree said to Javier laughing while I was grabbing Faith out of her car seat.

  Tameka walked over pushing the double stroller with Hope already strapped in. She looked a little confused because Desiree and I forgot to tell her about my little conversation in the mall with Javier.

  “Who is that honey?” Tameka asked me.

  “Oh, that’s just Javier. We met him this morning inside of Kay Jewelers at the mall. But we spotted his ass in the parking lot first.”I said with a smile.

  “Oh, okay honey. I’m just going to say take your time with him and be careful. I know that look on your face chica. I don’t know what it is about him. I can’t put my finger on it but he looks very familiar.” Tameka said while still looking over at Javier.

  I have admitted I was a little attracted to him, maybe because I haven’t had been with or had sex with a man since the night Dragon was killed. My lady parts were talking to me and I damn sure was trying to ignore them. We made our way into the Museum, when I turned to see where Javier went, I saw him going through the employee’s entrance door. I was actually relieved that he worked there especially after Desiree said something about him being a stalker and all. Assuming after he clocked in he was right back on the floor. After he was finished with his tour group, he came over to me and the girls to give us our very own personal tour. He even got down on his knees with Faith & Hope playing with them and some of the exhibits.

  *****

  Before I knew it, we’d been talking almost three months and Javier and I were on the phone day & night even sometimes when I was at work. It felt nice being someone’s priority again but still in the back of my mind I wished it was Dragon instead. We’d been out to lunch almost every day since our jobs are in walking distance of each other.

  I’d been planning the girl’s 1st birthday party and we had a lot of family members coming in from New York for their party. Javier extended his employee discount to me since the girls loved the Please Touch Museum so much. I planned it for February 20th, 2016 three days after their Birthday. Desiree planned to make them a dinner and a personal birthday cake on their actual birthday. I even invited Javier and his niece. Javier and I never really talked about it, but he has custody of his four year old niece.

  He’s been giving me some pointers here and there about parenting then always bringing up how he’s only been a father for a year in a half and an Uncle for four. The girl’s got along with Javier and Nola, his niece. He even got along with Desiree and that was a definite shocker being how close Desiree and Dragon were. The first night I had his ass over Desiree had a million and one questions for him, and she was the one who pushed me to talk with him in the store. She was just as protective over me as Dragon was. If I jumped, she ran and leaped snatching whoever I was after, before I had a chance to chop them. After his first night over he just kept coming back and or I was inviting him over. We ate out at different Restaurants more than anything, besides Javier working at the Please Touch Museum he was also one of those food critics. So when there was a new restaurant he had to check out he would call me to do some tasting of some sort with him.

  In the beginning, of us talking I would make up excuses that I couldn’t or I was too tired. Because I knew it would come a time we’d be out and things may go too far. I started digging him and I like spending time with him. I felt myself ready to take it to the next level. I thought if I’d stay away the feelings would go away. Desiree met me downtown for lunch at Liberty Place. She asked me how things were going between Javier and me. After explaining my feelings to Desiree, she looked over at me and burst out laughing. Javier had been calling and texting me all day. Desiree said there was no way I could really duck him unless I didn’t come home.

  By the time I got home from work, I had him on speakerphone. He was blabbing about how he wanted to see me. I was getting undressed trying to jump in the shower after work. I went as far as saying I didn’t have a baby sitter for the night but in the midst of me saying it, Desiree walked in the bedroom and asked what was she here for, if I wanted to go out I could, her and the girls were cool. I quickly hung up with him turning and thanking her. She turned laughing saying she knew by the tone in my voice she could tell I was trying to get out of it.

  “Go out get to know him some more. He seems very interested in you and he’s good with the girls. You better stop playing girl good men are hard to come by. I see he doesn’t have his gold teeth in anymore.” Desiree said laughing.

  “No, he doesn’t actually. We had a long conversation about them. He’s even sexier without them.” I said to her.

  She walked into my closet going through my clothing rambling about how she was my stylist for the evening she told me to sit down and just relax. I went through a whole hair crisis after Dragon was killed and chopped all of my hair off, I kept it pin curled most of the time. It was growing back I had my hairstylist styling it in a bob with feather curls. Desiree walked out the closet with one of Dragons short Sweater Dresses he designed and a pair of black suede thigh high 6-inch boots. I put the dress on turning looking at myself in the full-length mirror we had on the wall in the bedroom, the dress fell off my shoulders showing Dragon’s name tatted on my right shoulder. I stood there for a second remembering when we got our matching his & her tattoos.

  I set down on the ottoman so I could slide on my fishnet stockings and my boots. We went down into my Woman cave so we could do my make-up and hair. We feathered my hair and beat my face I was ready to meet Javier. I called him up to find out where we eating at and how to get there, that’s when this Nigga told me not to worry my driver would be out front in five minutes.

  Just as he said there was a car in front of the house five minutes later. As I walked outside who I thought was a regular driver, it was, in fact, Javier. I laughed as I got closer to the car seeing him stand at the passenger side door with long white roses. He drove over to a place called Spot Gourmet Burgers down on Girard Avenue. I don’t know how he knew it but I’m damn sure a good burger type girl. I looked over at the Spot, laughed, and looked back at him.

  “I mean who doesn’t love a good cheeseburger every now and then?” I asked him.

  “Absolutely right Savannah we shall see what they’re working with. This is the best part of my job, you know going out and having dinner on them.” Javier said with a little snicker.

  Javier knew all the hotspots in Philly that part I enjoyed most about him. Just as we were walking into the Burger joint, I received a text message from Tameka saying.

  “DON’T TRUST HIM BOO…HIS GOVERNMENT NAME IS JAVIER, BUT HIS NICKNAME IS SMOKE! HE’S NO GOOD… I know him from campus but he’s a trap boy. I also know he’s DARRIN’S BABY BROTHER, SMOKE!!!!!”

  As I was reading her text message, my heart was dropping just as well as my phone. He picked up my phone and handed it to me. I looked over at him and smiled as I continued into the restaurant. Once we were in and seated, I excused myself right to the lady’s room. Once the close was clear and the bathroom door was shut behind me. I picked up my cell and instantly dialed Tameka. Her phone rang and rang with no answer. Just as I was about to exit the ladies room she rung my cell back.

  “Boo what the fuck is going on? Who the hell is Smoke? And since when did Darrin have a little brother? He never spoke of him when I was around him and neither has Dragon.” I said yelling into the phone.

  “Baby girl I’ve been making phone calls since I got back. I snapped a picture of him and sent it
to Rico. That’s when he sent me a text saying Young Nigga Smoke.” Tameka said.

  “Well I don’t know what the fuck is going on but I’m about to find the Fuck out… I’m going to keep his ass real close. I wasn’t going to fuck him. But now I have no choice I need to find out what fucking games he’s trying to play.” I said to Tameka while checking my purse for my Ruger 22.

  I couldn’t believe this Nigga done swindled me by using his government name. I stood in the bathroom an extra five minutes to calm myself down before rejoining him. Javier or Smoke whatever the fuck his name is was standing at the bathroom door scaring the hell out of me. I grabbed my chest smiling shaking my head. He took me by the hand saying he was worried, and he thought I got lost and then made up a joke saying he thought I skipped out the back door. We laughed as we headed over to our table. I was a little uneasy with him since my conversation with Tameka. He grabbed my attention back when he mentioned taking me and the ladies to Miami. Saying his peoples took trips out there monthly on their private plane, and all I had to do was say when.

  Smoke ended up saving our date with his silly ass jokes even with all the tension.

  *****

  I’d been almost six month in deep with Javier or Smoke whatever he wanted to be called. Word on the streets he wasn’t to be trusted and for me to keep an eye out for all his tactics. He invited me to an event at Motivo up in New York. I knew when things popped off in N.Y. it was going to be a Hell of a night. I knew I couldn’t go without my ride or die Desiree. I asked Javier joe ass and he was quick to agree after springing on me that he would be working security that evening.

  Desiree loved going out, when I brought the event up to her and who was all going, she, at first, snubbed the idea. Tameka had been talking back in forth with Desiree about Javier a.k.a. Smokes real deal. Tameka had a P.I. looking into Javier ever since her conversation with Rico. I kind of figured he was on to her before he had no interest in her but now a day’s he’s always asking her whereabouts. And when she’s around he always says something to piss her off and she ends up storming off. The more information Tameka got on him I needed to keep eyes on him at all times. Shit wasn’t adding up with him but I couldn’t put my fingers on it.

  The day of the event Javier was due to pick Desiree and I up around 4 pm sharp. Just as he said, he was ringing my cell at 3:58 pm telling me he was at the front door and to let him in. I ran down and swung the door open. He greeted me with a hug and out the corner of my right eye I noticed his matte black Dodge Durango in my driveway. I almost threw up right on him. I excused myself upstairs to my bedroom asking him to give me a minute. As I ran upstairs, I called for Desiree.

  “Desiree, can you help a sister out for a minute?” I yelled out as I ran up the steps.

  “Yeah sis, what’s wrong?” She asked as she walked into my bedroom.

  I took her over into my bedroom only to remind her of the matte black Dodge Durango that tried to run me over, back when we took the trip here for my interviews. I never seen the driver and I couldn’t be sure if he was indeed the driver. Desiree and I decided to check the truck out since I still had the license plate number stored in my phone. We agreed that we wouldn’t jump and do anything stupid.

  We joined Javier downstairs with our bags. Desiree and I had plans on staying overnight with the girls after the event. I just didn’t know how to break it to Javier, with me not knowing his plans in all. I figured if I suggested it he wouldn’t be to upset.

  “Hey um boo, I was thinking about what if we stopped past to see the girls after the event?” I said to him darn near choking out that fucking “boo”.

  He looked at me with somewhat of a smirk on his face but I really didn’t give a fuck since that matte black truck sitting on my driveway, looked mighty fucking familiar. I was waiting for a cocky answer from him.

  “I don’t see why not. In fact, I can drop you off if ya’ll like, just so they can wake up to you in the morning. I have some other ends to clear up so I don’t mind. Do you and Desiree mind being dropped off then instead of making a pit stop and kissing them on their foreheads or some shit?” He said with a smile.

  I didn’t know what type plans he had in N.Y. but he has me all the way fucked up if he thinks I was just going to be running all around town with him. I was cool with him dropping us off and picking us up after the event. He took Desiree and I bags out to his truck while we gathered a few snacks out the fridge for the ride. I asked him to turn the truck around so we didn’t have to back out and have to deal with the trouble of oncoming traffic. It made it less obvious too with us checking his license plate to see if it matched.

  When we stepped outside my heart sank…

  *Chapter Sixteen*

  Smoke

  “Bitches ain’t Shit, bitches ain’t shit

  Bitches ain’t shit but hoes and tricks

  Lick on these nuts and suck the dick

  Let’s get the fuck out after you’re done

  And I hops in my ride to make a quick run…”

  I drove down Germantown Avenue with my stereo blasting rapping Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg “Bitches ain’t Shit”. I was feeling like the man, my brother had to be up in heaven smiling down on me. I know it had to be Dragon that took my Bro out. While Darrin was dating that Bitch Savannah, he would sneak snap shots of her sleeping and shit then send them to me, telling me that was his new main Bitch. After my brother was murdered, I went back to New York and did my own investigation. And that’s when I discovered his main bitch with that Nigga Dragon, smiling happy and shit pushing a stroller and shit.

  My name is Smoke, I’m the brother of Darrin, when I got word my bro was killed I had to take a vengeance on who ever his killer was. To see Dragon and Savannah a couple days after my bro was murdered and his stash houses burned to a crisp. Those two pussies were my first suspects, cause just a couple days ago before his murder Darrin and that bitch was on their way to Miami. Not to mention how Darrin and I ran all through his stash spot. I knew his bitch ass had something to do with Darrin. Either the he had someone do it, or he did it himself. No matter how anyone see it, my brother’s blood is on his hands.

  I figured I’d lay low before making a move on them. But when I saw they were headed to my city. There was no love between Dragon and me, only an eye for an eye. When I saw Savannah up close and personal, I had to taste her. At first, my plans were to take them both out. After seeing her chocolate skin and her brown eyes, her lips were full and luscious. I now knew what had these Niggas heads spinning. I was intrigued with her conversations. She was the type of female who could fuck your mind mentally and physically. I couldn’t kill one of God’s beautiful creations she had to be mines forever. So I didn’t mind getting that Nigga out the way.

  I’d get Savannah to fall deep in love with me get her ass knocked up and marry her ass, knowing I was the one who took the love of her life and the father to her beautiful little girls was my vengeance against her. Knowing after our conversations about life and what marriage means to her. If we’ were to marry, she wouldn’t leave being how she takes it seriously.

  So far my plan was working she couldn’t keep from smiling when she was with me. Her peoples even loved me. The only one I had to check was her friend Tameka. The way that bitch be looking at me is as if she knows something. And somebody like that can blow my whole fucking cover.

  Savannah party for her daughters went smoothly. I even helped Savannah pack up her car after the party and helped load Faith & Hope in their car seats. She started snapping on them when they called me Daddy. She hurried up hopping in her wheel peeling off yelling at the girls saying “He’s not your father!” I watched her tail lights pull out of the parking lot speeding off. When I turned the bitch, Tameka was standing behind me with her arms crossed smacking on some chewing gum.

  “I don’t know what type of fucking game you trying to pull on my girl. But I think that shit should stop now. I know you had her mama killed and I also know it was you motherfucker who p
ulled the trigger on my Bro Dragon. ” She scolded while puffing on her blunt.

  “Look Bitch! I don’t know what you think you know. But you should erase that shit from your memory. You don’t know who I am and what I am capable of doing to you right now Bitch. I think you better back off and disappear real fast. And never come back you fucking troll!” I said trying to walk away.

  That’s when Tameka grabbed my collar and I turned around and punched her dead in her face.

  “Bitch I said you don’t know who I am. And you don’t put ya hands on a grown fucking man.” I said after I spit on her ass.

  The bitch didn’t get enough she ran back up behind me clawing me my in eye. I don’t know if this bitch thought she was super save a hoe or something but she just wouldn’t give up. When I seen her reaching for whatever was in her purse. I didn’t give her a chance to pull out on me. I quickly ran back up on her knocking her ass out. I popped my trunk and threw her ass in it. I went back into the job in the employee bathroom rinsing my hands and my face off. After I finished cleaning myself up, I went and clocked out. I hopped in my car, took that bitch down Kelly Drive, and shot her ass four times in the chest then I cut her fucking tongue out her mouth from running it then stuck it inside her pussy since I heard she gets down like that, I threw her ass in the Schuylkill River and stepped off.

  Whatever problems she was trying to drift up between Savannah and I with them fucking text messages I found in Savannah’s phone, were now drifting away with her dead ass down the Schuylkill. I sent Savannah a text asking her if she could get away for a couple hours. She quickly responded yes. I went and picked up Shorty after I went home and showered. I took her down Penn’s landing. Usually, when I wanted to get up close and personal, I would take my Bitches down Penn’s Landing and sit by the water with a nice warm blanket. I told her to dress comfortable because we were going to be outside.

  I picked Savannah up at 9:30 I had everything setup ready for her. I had Tamar playing in my BMW truck. I had two wine glasses and a bottle of Cabernet in the back seat with a fleece blanket and some roses. She hoped in the truck placing her pocketbook in the back seat. When she peeped the setup, she looked back up at me smiling. The more time I spent with her, the more, I was falling for her and that wasn’t in my plans. I placed my hand on her thigh while riding up 76 to the South St. exit. I figured I’ll park close to Penn’s Landing and we could walk down by the water, with it being so cold she has no choice but to be up under me. I placed the wine cheese and crackers in a basket with the fleece blanket on top. I held her hand on the walk down near the water to a bench. I figured I could wine and dine and hitting them skins tonight. The longer we set by the water and talked, the more Savannah moved closer over to me snuggling up under me. We drank damn near the whole bottle of Cabernet.