That East Side Love

by Lucinda John

  "Imma go check it out. Go over there to my mama," I said before walking off.

  "Y'all straight?" I asked once I stood face to face with them.

  "We good. You straight?" one of them asked.

  "This right here is private for family only," I pointed back to the funeral.

  "We know; that's why we're standing in the back showing our respects."

  Something about this nigga was familiar. I felt like we met before, but I couldn't pinpoint where.

  "You knew my uncle?" I asked.

  "Very well. In fact I knew him well enough to step up and start running things in his absence."

  "Get the fuck out of here with that shit. Everybody knows those blocks are mine," I spat.

  "Technically they were my father's, Gustave. After his murder your uncle crossed over and stole them."

  It wasn't until I noticed the Haitian flag he wore around his dreads that I realized what he was talking about. Here I was standing in front of Zoe, the legend Gustave's son. I didn't know whether to bow down to him or body his ass. Back in his day he was the youngest nigga running things with the help of his father.

  "We can do it like this," he said clearing his throat. "You can continue to keep your blocks, but they will be ran by me. You and every nigga on your team will pay rent every month in order to be on that block, or you can starve and watch me and my niggas eat. It's up to you."

  "I'm not with it."

  "Dumb ass yank," Zoe spat. "With me back in town no one will fuck with you. Your pockets gon’ be dryer than the Karoo Desert."

  I just stood there looking at him with a mug tattooed on my face. This nigga had me all kinds of fucked up if he thought I was going to let him take over my turf. I would happily give him back the East, but the West was all me.

  "Nah, how about you take the East back and I do my thing on the West."

  "Lil nigga, you talking out the side of your neck. I'm taking over everything! There's enough for all of us to eat, but I'm the head honcho! In order to stroll on my block I want forty percent of what you're making every month. If you decide to cop your weight from me then I'll drop that down to twenty percent. I'm not the one to be fucked with so you better jump on ship Zoe, unless you plan on leaving the game for good," he spoke, staring me down with those dark eyes.

  "Fuck you," I yelled over my shoulder as I walked off.

  I could hear them laughing as I made my way back to my fam. If all of my family members weren’t present, I would have signaled for my boys to take those niggas out for coming at me on some disrespectful type of shit. I turned around and they were still standing there. I could feel Zoe's eyes piercing my soul as he stood back with a huge smile plastered across his face.

  "Who was that?" Cray asked.

  "Nobody, mind your damn business!" I snapped, yanking my arm away from her.

  I rounded up all my fellas and told them to meet me at our spot in front of the barber shop in an hour. I knew I was playing with fire meeting on Zoe's side of town, but I ain't give a fuck. I still had shops set up in the East and as far as I was concerned this was America, a free fucking country!

  "That nigga Zoe is back," I stressed

  "What you mean? I thought they deported his ass," Tommy asked.

  "His ass probably hopped on a boat and swam his ass back to America. All I know is that nigga is back and demanding shit."

  "What he saying?"

  "I'm saying that in order for y'all to eat y'all gotta pay, buy your groceries from me and you'll eat at a discounted rate," Zoe said out of nowhere.

  "Nigga, this a private meeting," I boasted.

  "On my turf in front of my father's barber shop. You must want a ceremony just like the one your uncle just had."

  "What you saying?" I said pulling out my gun.

  "Look at this pathetic ass nigga," Zoe laughed. "Do you not know who the fuck I am? I'm the nigga your mother warned your big sister about, with her fine ass." He licked his lips.

  I lunged at him hitting his ass with a two piece. He quickly gained his footing and knocked me on my ass. He picked me up and shoved me into the glass of the barber shop window. I kicked him in the leg causing him to stumble. Using that to my advantage, I charged at him throwing blow after blow. I was getting him good until he flipped over and slammed my head into one of the barber's work stations. He punched me hard in the face and I heard my nose crack. Pulling out his gun he shoved it in my face and spoke.

  "I'm too grown to be playing with kids. You do shit my way, or go pick up a McDonalds application because there is no way you or your little niggas gon’ be hustling on my block for free!" he spat.

  “We'll see." I stood my ground as I looked him in the eyes.

  Not one ounce of fear pumped through my heart. I wasn't going to give this pussy the benefit of seeing me sweat. A nigga's pride was everything to him and I wasn't letting this cat eating motherfucker take that from me.

  Chapter 13

  Diamond

  Two years later….

  The birthday gift that God could have given me is my release papers. Today was my birthday and the day I was going to be free from jail. Grabbing all the pictures of Kay, Starr, Sky, and Bobby off of my wall, I placed them in the white pillow case that they gave me to put my things in. I made sure that I went around and collected all of my paperbacks from the girls that asked me to borrow them.

  "Stay out of trouble knuckle head," one of the guards joked as she signed me out. "This check look better than the one I get here," she said loading the rest of my commissary money on a prepaid Green Dot card.

  She gave me the receipt and led me out. I hungrily inhaled the fresh air of freedom. I wanted to drop all my things and run up and down the street, but decided against it.

  "Birthday girl!!!" Bobby yelled out hanging out of a metallic grey Lexus that had a huge red bow around it.

  Star was behind the wheel driving and honking the horn. When the car came to a complete stop, Sky jumped out with a hand filled with balloons and charged towards me. I was so happy to see my friends that tears started to fall from my eyes.

  "Happy birthday bitch!!!!" Sky yelled almost knocking me to the ground.

  "Thank you."

  "Damn bitch, I didn't think it was possible for you to get any thicker," Sky said slapping me on the ass.

  "That's all that food, and working out," I smiled feeling confident.

  "Damn Dee, you legal now baby!" Bobby smiled giving me a hug.

  It's been two years since I've seen Bobby. When I got locked up I denied visits from everyone except Sky and Star. I wasn't mad at Bobby or anything; I just needed time for my heart to heal. I thought after two years of not seeing his face that I would be over him, but I was wrong. The moment my eyes fell on him my stomach filled with butterflies.

  "I know. Thank you," I said retrieving the flowers he handed me.

  "I have two surprises for you," he smiled.

  "Okay."

  "One of your surprises is that car, and the next one is inside the car."

  "This is my car?" I was shocked.

  "Yes, all you! Check out the license plate."

  I ran over to the back of the car and read the words Dee Money. That's what they used to call me on the block. The car was a beauty. The paint was smooth, the rims shined, and the interior was so soft. I was so wrapped up in the car that I didn't notice Kay sitting in the back seat.

  "OMG KAY!!!!!!" I yelled pulling her out the car.

  "Hey DeeDee!" she smiled. "I missed you."

  "I missed you too baby, how are you?"

  "I'm good. I'm in the second grade now."

  "I know, you're such a big girl." I blinked away the tears that were forming in my eyes.

  "Damn, I can't get a hello?" Starr said getting out the car and tossing me the keys.

  "Hey boo," I squealed. "I missed y'all so much."

  "We missed you too!! We have so much to catch up on once we ditch the dude."

  "Oh it's like that?' Bobby quiz
zed.

  "Boy bye!! You driving or nah?" Star asked.

  "Hell yeah!!"

  Following the directions that were given to me by Sky, I ended in front of a peach house that was located on 17th street and Causeway.

  "Who lives here?" I asked.

  "We do," Sky replied.

  "What?" I asked.

  "I hope you ain't think you was going back to the group home? Honey we aged out."

  "No, I know that, I'm just surprised y'all thought of me."

  "Of course we did, we're sisters," Star chimed in.

  Star and Sky gave me a tour of our three–bedroom, three-bathroom house. My room was beautifully furnished with a California king-sized sleigh bed, bedroom set. A 50-inch Samsung smart LED HDTV was mounted on the wall. Everything was decorated in white, black and gold. My adjoining bathroom was equally beautiful and decorated in the same color scheme as my room.

  "Thank you man, for real."

  "We can't take all the credit. Bobby paid for everything."

  "Thanks B."

  "Anytime B," He kissed me on the forehead then hugged me.

  I couldn't lie; the feeling of his lips on my skin did something to me. I wanted to drag him in my room and finish off what we started two years ago, but I had to remind myself that he was taken. I had to hand it to Cray; she was doing something right if she was able to keep his ass on a leash for two years.

  "I'm about to drop Kay off, I'll be back later," Bobby spoke up.

  "Aww, do I have to go?" Kay wined.

  "Yes, your grandma has been blowing me up saying you have church in the morning," he answered her.

  "It's okay. I'm going to ask your grandma if you can spend the whole weekend with me, okay?"

  "You promise?" she asked holding out her pinky.

  "I promise," I replied linking our pinkies together.

  "Bitch, I got all the tea. I hope you ready to drink," Star said as soon I walked in from walking Kay to Bobby's car.

  "Spill it."

  "Guess who pregnant?"

  "Who???"

  "Natasha, from Cookie's cousin. She almost lost the baby."

  "How?"

  "His baby mama tried to stomp it out of her," Star’s dramatic ass said, stomping her feet on the ground.

  "Nah."

  "G-shit. That bitch went to the hospital and all… poor baby made it tho."

  "What Cookie been up to?" I curiously asked.

  "Still out here thotting like her mami," Sky replied.

  "That's a damn shame."

  "Any who, we tryna go out for your birthday bitch, turn up!"

  "I ain't got shit to wear." I really didn't want to go anywhere; I really just wanted to hop in my car and cruise the block.

  "Bitch, did you not see how we upgraded your closet?" Sky said dragging me to my room.

  "Oh Lord." I rolled my eyes.

  My walk-in closet was filled with their type of clothes that I didn't wear. There was no cargos, sweats suits, baggy jeans, nothing. The only thing that was there that I fucked with was my shoes and fitted hats collection. Everything else was someone that I wasn't.

  "I don't think so."

  "C'mon Dee, you're eighteen now, time to be on your grown bitch shit."

  "Fine, but I ain't wearing no damn heels."

  "Uh, you're no fun. How about this?" Star held up a white crop top, some bleached ripped skinny jeans, a wheat colored belt, and a pair of wheat Timberlands.

  "I'll fuck with it," I nodded my head in approval.

  "Can I put some tracks in your hair?" Star begged.

  "No!"

  "We at least let me perm and wrap it."

  "Whatever," I shrugged.

  I was still a hood bitch at heart. Eighteen or not, I was not going to change who I am because of my age. I made a memo in my head to go to the mall and pick up clothes that I was comfortable in.

  Chapter 14

  Zoe

  Today was my twenty-fifth birthday and the fellas insisted on taking me out. It’s been two years since I came to America and took over. It took a little time for them little yanks to warm up to me as being their boss, but once they did things started running smoothly. I didn't fuck with Bobby or his crew like that, but as long as the money was there everything was good.

  Dressed in in a pair of wheat joggers, and a white V-neck, I pulled my Timberland boots on my feet. I threw my gold Jesus piece chain around my neck, slipped my gold watch on my wrist, and slid my iced-out pinky ring on my finger. My dreads were neatly twisted up and styled going back, courtesy of Beamer. A nigga was fuego and ready to turn up.

  Walking out of my three story bay front condo, I looked across the street at my mother's house and made sure the security I hired was doing their job. There was no way in hell I was going to allow my mother to live in the East giving those yanks access to her. I knew those snakes were probably planning on trying to come for me, but I was prepared.

  Jumping in my Maserati, I jumped on the highway and did one hundred until I got to my destination. Las Olas was on smash; everybody was trying to turn up tonight. I handed my keys to the valet and made my way to The Art Bar. I was walking to the entrance of the club when a few chicks in line caught my attention. The one that I was really checking for was the thick ass, sexy, black chick that was dressed similar to me. She was real meaty in all the right places. The way her jeans struggled to hold in her ass was a turn on.

  "Let those three in; give them a VIP section next to mine, all drinks on me," I said to my cousin Ronnie who was securing the entrance.

  "You tryna turn up for your birthday," he smirked.

  "Yooo!!!" I yelled out walking to my VIP section.

  As soon as I sat down, two half-naked big booty white chicks came over and wished me a happy birthday. They introduced themselves as my personal servers and informed me to call on them if I needed anything. I was thinking of ways to fuck the both of them, when lil mama I was checking for and her home girls was directed to their VIP section.

  One of the white chicks pushed me back on the sofa and straddled my lap. She started bouncing her ass in my lap to Trey Songz “Slow Motion”. I lit my blunt and began smoking on it. My eyes fell on the chick that captured my interest. I watched as she laid back on the sofa and bobbed her head to the beat. The twins that she was with were both standing, grinding their asses on imaginary dicks.

  "Are you enjoying your birthday?" lil mama that was in my lap whispered in my ear.

  "Not yet."

  "How can I make it better?" she purred.

  “Bring me back that chick," I nodded towards Diamond.

  She sized Diamond up and sucked her teeth.

  "Why her? Yes she is a very pretty girl with a body to die for, but she has the demeanor of a man." She turned her nose up, while grinding her ass in my lap.

  I relaxed and let lil mama do her thing, as I continued to get fucked up. Shortly my boys came and the East Side Boys were officially in the building. We fucked up the whole scene. We had all the bad bitches in our section, we made it rain from all angles, we were on some on top of the world type shit and I dared a nigga to come fuck with us.

  "Zoe, that's you my nigga?"

  "You already know what's good, Yoda," I greeted one of my lil homies.

  "Shit nigga, just stacking paper. You know I'm spitting now?"

  "I heard about you man, that mixtape was the truth. You done trappin'?"

  "You can take a nigga out the ghetto, but you can't take the ghetto out of me. Bitch I'm a G, I gotta live on these streets, survive on these streets," he rapped the lyrics to Lil Hollywood's song.

  "I feel you. Hit me up if you ever need me to put you up on work my nigga."

  "Imma take you up on that nigga, cuz Tampa dyer than an old bitch's pussy," he laughed.

  "Come down nigga and let's get this paper."

  "Let me go rock the stage real quick; take my number down."

  Yoda read off his number to me and I stored it in my phone. I watched him jump on
the stage and rap his version of “Lifestyle”. I remember when I used to fuck hoes with this nigga behind portables in high school, now he out here doing big things. I love to see my people winning. When we come down from Haiti, there is so much against us. We are already at a disadvantage because we don't speak the language. So to come down and be able to manage is a blessing.