Always Gonna Be My Baby: A Hood Love Story

by Charmanie Saquea

  “Look who’s finally woke.” The nurse smiled as she walked into the room. “I’m Jessica, how are you feeling?” she asked Aries.

  “I’m in pain but it’s mostly in my head. Do you have something I can take for that?” Aries questioned.

  “You took a pretty nasty fall that made you hit your head which resulted in you having some slight swelling of the brain. It’s nothing that the doctor is too concerned with but he wants to make sure you’re getting some oxygen to your brain so the blood can flow, which is the reason for the oxygen and the IV. The pain in your body is probably because you sustained some fractured ribs during your fall but I’ll definitely go get you something for the pain right now,” Jessica explained.

  “Thank you,” Aries said in a low tone.

  Everyone’s focus was on Jessica, so they never noticed Choppa walk into the room. He stood by the door trying to contain his anger as he listen to Jessica describe the injuries that Aries had due to Kevin. Aries looked up in his direction and reached out her arms for him to come hug her. Choppa walked over to her awaiting arms and kissed her on the forehead.

  “You good?” he asked.

  “I will be,” she told him.

  He took his finger and lightly traced it around her bruised and swollen eye. The more he looked at her, the harder it was becoming to contain his anger. He had no respect for a man that thought it was okay to beat on a woman like she was a nigga on the street. Especially if she didn’t want to be with you. That was the definition of a real bitch nigga in his book.

  “I’m fine Brandon, really,” she told him.

  “It don’t look that way.”

  “Y’all cute or whatever but are y’all going to act like y’all the only ones in the room or…” Treasure joked to lighten the mood.

  Aries turned her attention to her parents who were standing there looking as if they were waiting for her to do some introductions. She really hadn’t planned on introducing Choppa to them this early in the game or until she knew for sure they were going to be together but since they were all in the same room, she figured why not.

  “Mom, Dad, this is Chop…Brandon. Brandon, this is my mom and dad. Terrance and Ariela Moss,” Aries introduced.

  “You’re Solo’s son, right?” Terrance questioned. “Choppa?”

  Aries and Treasure looked at their daddy, wondering how the hell he knew Choppa’s dad and what the streets called him.

  “Yes, that’s me,” Choppa answered proudly.

  He knew he and his dad didn’t have the best of reputations out there on the streets but he wasn’t the least bit ashamed of who he was or the legacy that his dad had passed down to him and his brother.

  “I thought so, I grew up with Solo. Tell him T-Time said it’s all love,” Terrance told Choppa.

  “T-Time?” both Aries and Treasure asked at the same time.

  “Before y’all time, girls, before y’all time,” Terrance laughed.

  “I’ll let him know.” Choppa smiled. “When they letting you out of here?” he asked Aries.

  “I don’t know, I’ll probably have to be here for a few days, though,” she told him.

  “Bet.”

  Choppa was going to chill out on finding Kevin for now because he knew eventually he would pop up. As of right now, his main focus was going to be making sure Aries was straight and recovered. He was going to let it be known that Kevin’s days on this earth were numbered.

  Twenty

  Lorenzo and his boys sat outside one of Choppa and Benji’s traps waiting for the right time to it hit. He was tired of playing these little boy ass games with them. He didn’t care what Benji or Treasure had to say, he knew for a fact that one of the King brothers had something to do with him getting shot. He wouldn’t have even cared about this shit and would have charged it to the game had it not been for the fact that his daughter was with him. Since they didn’t know how to pull off a hit successfully, he was going to show them how it was done.

  “When we get in there, I want everything in that bitch cleaned out. Lay down everybody but one person so he can be the one to send the message,” Lorenzo said.

  “Got it,” Samson, Lorenzo’s right hand man said as he cocked his gun.

  Samson was a rowdy nigga who loved shooting first and asking questions never. He was always down for whatever and just never gave a fuck. That’s why Lorenzo had him as his right hand.

  “Alright,” Lorenzo said as he pulled his mask down. “Let’s go.”

  All four of the men quietly filed out of the truck and across the street to where he house was located. Lorenzo didn’t even bother with dealing with the lock. He put the silencer on his gun and shot the door down. All four of the men entered the trap house with their guns out and aimed, ready for whatever.

  “I wish the fuck you would!” Lorenzo said, shooting a boy in the hand as he reached for his gun that was under a couch cushion.

  “Ahh fuck!” he yelled out.

  “Where the shit at?” Lorenzo asked.

  “Wh…what shit? Ain’t shit here!” the boy yelled as he held his wounded hand.

  Lorenzo sent a silent bullet to his head as he moved throughout the house. He and the boys proceeded with caution because it was too quiet in there and they knew damn well more than one nigga was in the trap. They were far from stupid.

  BOOM BOOM BOOM

  Lorenzo ducked just as a bullet flew past his head. Before they could even reach the back of the house, bullets starting flying from the back. Just as they suspected, more niggas were hiding in the back of the house.

  BLOCKA BLOCKA

  Samson returned fire while still standing up, hitting one of his adversaries right in the middle of the forehead. He looked down at his shoulder where he had been hit but to him, it felt like a bee sting. He had been shit before in worse places so to him, this was nothing.

  “Man, get your crazy ass down! Fuck is you doing?” Lorenzo yelled to Samson.

  Samson ignored him and fired off his gun like he was reenacting the famous scene from Scarface where Al Pacino was high as a kite and firing off his machine gun.

  “Come on out to play, you little bitches!” Samson yelled.

  Lucas came from the kitchen with a sawed off shotgun, taking out two of Lorenzo’s men who were too busy worrying about what Samson had going on to pay attention to who was left in the house. Lucas thought these were some amateur ass niggas that were trying to run up in his shit and rob him.

  “Put the gun down!” Lorenzo yelled as he and Samson aimed their guns at him.

  “Fuck outta here! Shit don’t work like that,” Lucas told him, without an ounce of fear in him.

  “Where the shit at?” Samson asked.

  Lucas looked at him like he was a dumb ass nigga. He was as loyal as they came and they were going to have to kill him before he freely gave up shit that belonged to Choppa and Benji. He knew the street code and how things went. He would never go out like that.

  Samson was tired of playing with him so he fired two shots into Lucas before he even knew what was going on. Lucas fell to the ground with a burning sensation in his chest. Lorenzo walked over him and made his way to the back of the house, also walking over the dead bodies of the other men he and Samson took out.

  When he got to the back room, he smiled when he saw the kilos that were stacked up on the table looking as if they were waiting on him. He rushed over and grabbed the duffle bag that was on the floor and tossed them in there. Lorenzo was feeling like a kid on Christmas morning.

  “Yo, nigga, let’s go!” Samson yelled out to him.

  “I’m coming right now,” Lorenzo yelled as he rushed out of the room. “We hit the muthafuckin jackpot!”

  He walked over to Lucas who was laying on the ground looking as if he was struggling to stay alive. “Tell Benji’s bitch ass, he could never take real a nigga out!” he said before spitting on him.

  Lorenzo and Benji rushed out of the house with no time to spare. They knew it would only be a matte
r of time before the scene would be swarmed with police so they had to get away as fast as possible. Lorenzo shook his head at the fact that he went in with three niggas and only came out with one of them. He said a silent prayer for his fallen comrades as he sped away from the scene.

  ___

  Benji walked into the warehouse on a warpath. He was so pissed off that he could spit bullets. He was usually the level headed one out of him and Choppa but at this moment, even he was thinking irrational thoughts. He had a low tolerance for bullshit and this is exactly what this was. Some bullshit.

  “What’s the word on Lu?” Choppa asked as his brother came to sit at the table.

  “He’s in critical condition. He lost a lot of blood and one of the bullets was inches away from his heart. The doctors were scared to remove it and shit,” Benji filled everyone in.

  “Well, we’re definitely sending prayers up for him,” Choppa said.

  “Definitely,” Everyone agreed.

  Benji just nodded his head because he didn’t know what to say. Lucas was only nineteen years old and someone whom Benji had taken under his wings and was basically showing the ropes. Lucas was always saying how he looked up to him and Choppa because he never had a male figure in his life to be there for him or love him, so Benji was really feeling at fault for letting this happen to him.

  Instead of trying to steer Lucas in the right direction and keep him on the straight and narrow, he welcomed him into the street life with open arms. He should have been trying his best to show Lucas that there was more to life than the streets and encouraging him to get an education and be something in life, to be a better man than he was. Now, he was laid up in a hospital fighting for his life.

  “Don’t stress it, bruh. Lu is a tough one. He’s gonna make it,” Choppa told his brother. He already knew what was going through Benji’s head without him even having to say it.

  “Yea, you’re right,” Benji sighed.

  “Alright, so let’s put our heads together and think about how would be dumb enough to pull this shit and sign their own death certificates,” Choppa said.

  “It ain’t nobody we really got beef with,” Cooper said. “I mean, it’s been niggas that’s been talking but nobody that’s bold enough to make any noise and pull this shit.”

  “Lorenzo,” Benji said.

  Everyone got quiet as they directed their attention to Benji. They heard exactly what he said but they were wondering what made him come to the conclusion that Lorenzo of all people was the one behind this.

  “I don’t know, Benji, Renzo don’t seem like he got enough heart to come at us like this. It’s been a minute since that shit went down at Ceon’s party. So why would he wait now to do some shit?” Choppa asked.

  “Because that nigga thinks we had something to do with him getting shot,” Benji informed his brother.

  “Come again?” Choppa said as he sat up in his seat, giving his brother his undivided attention.

  Benji told Choppa and everyone else about how he went up to the hospital with Treasure when she got the call about Eternity and Lorenzo being shot. He told them how Lorenzo was laid up in the hospital bed talking mad shit about how either he or Choppa had something to do with him being shot. “So that’s why he had a motive to pull this shit off,” Benji said.

  “You a dumb muthafucka, Benjamin! Why the fuck would you sit on some valuable information like this when we could have been prepared for Renzo’s bitch ass to come at us?” Choppa yelled.

  “Nigga, how the fuck was I supposed to know that—”

  “It don’t matter if you knew he was going to come at us or not! The fact of the matter is you knew that this bitch ass nigga had some malice in his heart for us but you left us in the blind about the shit!”

  “Alright, Brandon, watch who the fuck you talking to! I’m not none of these little niggas out here in the street you put fear in. I will slap the shit out you, boy!” Benji said as he got up, standing over his brother.

  “I don’t give a fuck who you are, bitch boy. You do stupid shit and Imma treat and talk to your ass like the stupid nigga you are. Don’t get buck with me when you let Renzo’s bitch ass talk to you like he ya daddy, nigga,” Choppa said as he got up as well, getting in his brother’s face.

  “Alright, y’all. Chill the fuck out with all that shit. Y’all are brothers and emotions are high as fuck right now but ain’t no need for y’all to act like this,” March said as he stood between Benji and Choppa.

  “Man, fuck that bitch,” Choppa spat. “Just know, if Lucas don’t make it, his blood is on your hands. Dumb bitch,” he said before leaving.

  Never in is life had Choppa been so pissed at his brother. He usually stood behind anything his brother did one hundred percent but this was one thing he couldn’t back Benji on. Choppa felt as if there was no reason Benji shouldn’t have given them the heads up about Lorenzo thinking he was after him or out to get him so they could be ready for him.

  Now they had lost sixteen kilos, four of their men and Lucas was at risk of losing his life all because Benji held out on some information. All Choppa knew was niggas were going to regret the day they ever pissed him off.

  Twenty One

  “This is a nice house, who live here?” Aries asked as Choppa pulled up to an iron gate.

  “Stop being so damn nosey,” he joked.

  “This your house, too, Brandon? How many houses you need? What you doing, hiding a wife and kids or something?” she asked as she cut her eyes at him.

  Choppa laughed at her as he pulled up in his parents’ circular driveway. Aries had only been out of the hospital for an hour and had been talking his ear off ever since. Choppa wasn’t complaining, though, because he was just happy to be in her presence and that she lived to be able to talk him to death.

  “Aries, shut yo ass up with all these questions and come the hell on,” Choppa said as he turned the car off.

  Aries sat there with her arms folded and pouting. She had told Choppa too many times before about being rude to her but he just didn’t listen.

  “Are you fucking serious right now?” he laughed.

  Aries ignored him and turned her head to look out the window. Choppa sighed as he grabbed her hair and pulled her head towards him, kissing her neck.

  “Stoooop!” Aries said as she tried to push him off of her.

  “I’m sorry, can I get a kiss?” he asked.

  Aries tried to act tough but the kisses that Choppa were placing on her neck were wearing her down and he knew it. He lightly bit and sucked on her neck, leaving a hickey in the process.

  “Okay, okay,” Aries said as she turned to him and gave him a kiss.

  “That’s what the fuck I thought,” Choppa said as he bit her lip.

  “You’re still an asshole.” Aries rolled her eyes as they got out of the car.

  Choppa just blew her a kiss, truly being an asshole as he grabbed her hand and walked her up to the house. He opened the door and Aries’ mouth hit the floor at how beautiful the house was. She had never been in a mansion before and this home was just too stunning for words.

  “Familyyyy!” Choppa yelled.

  “Is that My Suga?” Violet called out.

  Choppa walked into the sitting room with a smile on his face that immediately faded once he saw who was sitting in there with his mom. “Fuck is you doing here?” he asked with his face scrunched up.

  “Well damn, hello to you, too, Brandon,” Daisy said.

  Choppa knew that if Daisy was back in town, shit was sure enough about to hit the ceiling fan.

  “That’s yours?” Choppa asked the little girl that was sitting in his mother’s lap.

  “She’s not an it, but yes, that’s my daughter. Your niece Rieley,” Daisy said.

  “Niece? Fuck outta here, Daisy! Ma, I know you not condoning this shit?”

  “My suga, who’s this you got with you? Don’t be rude,” Violet said, changing the subject.

  “Oh, she ain’t nobody special.” Choppa sh
rugged.

  Aries shoved Choppa in his shoulder, causing him to look at her like she was crazy.

  “You must wanna get fucked up,” he told her.

  “Why you gotta be so childish, Brandon?” Aries rolled her eyes. “Hi, I’m Aries,” she introduced herself to his mom.

  “Ooh, finally. It’s so nice to finally meet you, Aries. I’ve heard a lot about you,” Violet smiled.

  “All good things, I hope,” Aries lightly laughed.

  “Don’t push it,” Choppa said.

  “Since when do you start bringing girls home?” Daisy asked as she eyed Aries.

  “Since when do you get in my fucking business? You been gone for how long? Continue to be irrelevant,” Choppa told her.

  “Brandon, not in front of the baby,” Violet told him as she cut her eyes at him.

  “Chop…” Solo said as he walked in the room “Aw, shit! Hey, Aries. Long time no see.” He smiled.

  “Ma, get your husband. He smiling at my girl. I don’t wanna have to fuck him up,” Choppa joked.

  “Boy,” Violet laughed.

  “Shut up, nigga. Where Benji at?” he asked.

  Choppa shrugged. “Somewhere being a bitch.”

  “He took Treasure and Eternity out for some family time, he said they had some things to talk about,” Aries said, shaking her head at Choppa.

  “Okay, Choppa, let me see you for a minute,” Solo said.

  “Play nice,” Choppa told Aries before leaving out of the room. Choppa followed behind his dad as they made their way to the basement, their usual hang out spot. As soon as they were out of earshot, Choppa wasted no time going in.

  “Pops, where the fuck y’all dig Daisy trifling ass up from?” he asked.

  “She just popped up, claiming her daughter is Benji’s. You know how bad your mama want grandkids, so she up there eating that shit up,” Solo said.

  “That’s some bullshit. I’m not feeling her ass playing with my mama emotions and shit, especially on top of everything else she got going on. Her ass should’ve just stayed the fuck away,” Choppa spat.

  One thing besides being taken for a joke that Choppa couldn’t stand was someone fucking with his family. Daisy was always on some bullshit back in the day, playing with Benji’s emotions and shit. Benji used to swear up and down that Daisy was going to be the girl he was going to spend the rest of his life with until she cheated on him and then just disappeared shortly after.