Queen of the City 2: The Life of a Female Rapper

by Tamicka Higgins

  Chapter 17

  A few weeks passed, and I ended up staying at the Hilton for longer than I planned. I think I just got lazy with the room service and everything, and the thought of moving out into an apartment was something that I wasn’t ready to deal with. My collarbone finally healed up to the point that I could move around freely without feeling any pain. Prince was back to his normal, fun-loving self ,and as long as I had the children’s Tylenol ready for him whenever his teething fits started, everything was perfect. He was even regaining some of his Junie-like facial expressions that he melted my heart with. The unknown number called my phone periodically, but I already knew who was on the other line, and I wasn’t ready to answer. I wasn’t willing to face him just yet, so I left it alone. Not now, Lyric, not now, I said to myself as it rang back to back certain times.

  Even though the hotel was excellent and it was more than I could have asked for, I knew I couldn’t stay there for long. Otherwise, the money that was supposed to last me for the next year would be burned up in half that time. I finally got Prince up and headed out to the north side of Rockwall to look for an apartment. It was only about a 15-minute drive from downtown Rockwall and on the way, it seemed as if I passed nothing but middle-aged and older white folks. It was something I wasn’t used to, especially growing up on the north side of Milwaukee. We arrived at the apartment complex, a small, gated community with a swimming pool in the middle of it. I imagined Prince being old enough to jump into the pool with his little arm floats, swimming around with his other little friends and enjoying himself in the summer heat. Just then, Prince cooed and broke me out of my daydream. “I know, little man, I know,” I said as I began walking to the apartment’s office.

  Inside, a short and pudgy white woman stood up with a smile that pushed her chubby cheeks up near her eyes. She walked over to me pleasantly as I held Prince in my arms, “Well, hello there! How are you?” she said, looking towards my son. He smiled back at her as she addressed me, “And hello. Welcome to Sasha’s Court, how can I help you today?”

  “Yes, I think I spoke with you earlier today? Are you Amy?”

  “Yes, I am. And you must be Lyric Sutton?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, wonderful! It’s great to finally put a face with the name. Come on over to my desk and we will get going with finding you a place.”

  We walked over to her desk and sat down as Prince reached for everything within his grasp. I had to pull him back a few times to keep him from pulling some of her things to the floor. “Oh, he is just a busy body, isn't he? Yes, he is!” she said, entertained by how active he was. “Yes, he is a handful, but he is not a problem at all.” She smiled as she paged through a folder, “I’m sure he isn't! He doesn’t look like one bit of trouble with those cute little dimples!” she slid the envelope in front of me,

  “Ok, well, these are our floor plans for our apartments here. How many bedrooms will you be needing?”

  “Either a one- or a two-bedroom will be all right.”

  “Ok, perfect. Well, we have both of those available now, so you’re in luck! They go pretty fast, though.”

  I went through the floor plans and decided on which apartment I thought would fit us best and afterward she took us on a small tour of the complex and inside the apartment. It was a beautiful and cozy apartment, nothing too out of the ordinary of what I expected. We headed back to the office as she handed me the application for the apartment. I knew I didn’t have income, so that was the only part that worried me about the process.

  “Excuse me, Amy?”

  “Yes?”

  “As far as income goes, I don’t have a steady income right now, but I will be able to pay eight months of rent right up front if I’m able to get this apartment leased to me.”

  “No steady income?”

  “No, ma’am, but like I said, I can sign an eight-month lease and pay it all upfront right now.”

  I could tell by the look in her eyes that she was a little unsure about what I was bringing to her. She looked down at Prince as he began reaching for items on her desk again and with that, she seemed to soften up a bit, “You know what, let me take this information to the apartment supervisor and see what she says, alright? Just hold on for me once second.” She got up and walked to the back of the office. I hoped that they would be able to take what I was offering because this spot couldn’t have been better. It was quiet, the neighbors all smiled and waved when I was touring the facility like it was something in their lease stating that they had to. This apartment was my first choice to live, but I knew that if they didn’t take the offer, somebody else around here was bound to. Over $6,000 upfront? Who in their right minds would reject that? Amy came back to her desk as I prepared myself for the worst.

  “Well, I talked to the apartment supervisor, and she said that we can accept the arrangement to pay everything up front in place of you not having a steady income.”

  “Perfect! Thank you so much.”

  “No problem at all, Ms. Sutton. No problem at all.”

  We agreed that I would move in later that week and with that, I headed to check out the neighborhood. There were a few grocery stores just a few blocks away from the complex, so I stopped at one of them to pick up a few things to eat that night. As I strolled through the store, I caught a glimpse of a familiar face. She stood in the frozen foods aisle, seemingly stuck in-between choices. I had mixed feelings about seeing her. On one hand, I was still pissed at what she did to me in Chicago but on the other hand, it was a feeling of nostalgia that made me feel good to at least know one person in a new city. I walked up to her with my shopping cart and stood just to her side. I saw her reflection in the glass, and she laughed, her attention still straight forward, “Hell naw, Lyric. What the fuck are you doing here?” She turned around with a smile on her face as she slipped a bag of chicken into her basket, saying,

  “Suzie mutha fuckin Rock. I wasn’t expecting to see yo’ ass anymore. You still rapping and shit?”

  “Nah,” I said as I stepped closer to her.

  “Look, Lyric, I thought that shit between us was squashed. You remember George Webb? Shit, wasn’t that enough?”

  “Yeah, I just don’t know what you on right now, though.”

  “Lyric,” she smiled, reaching into the freezer for another bag of chicken, “I know I fucked you over. I get that, and that’s why I didn’t even come back at yo’ ass after you caught me in George Webb. Yeah, I deserved that shit, but I was just jealous, you know? Shit, you were the new girl, and you were getting all the attention from niggas that used to pay me, so I felt like that money you had was mine. Like I said, I fucked up, though, my bad, you know? But I’m done with it if you’re done with it.”

  I looked over at Prince as he rocked back and forth in the basket, slobbering all over the front of the cart. I was glad that she didn’t have the desire to retaliate, though, I didn’t want anything to happen to Prince again while I wasn’t paying attention. “So, what you doin’ out here, Quandra?” I asked as she closed the freezer door. “Let’s just say I found a new way to make quick money off thirsty ass niggas,” she said, prompting me to walk down the aisle with her. I grabbed my cart and pushed it next to her as she Pinched Prince’s cheeks.

  “Easy money,” she said, “because niggas are so fuckin’ stupid, and pussy whipped that they don’t even expect it.”

  “What is it?”

  “Look, I don’t wanna say too much out here, you know what I’m sayin? I don’t know who else is listening to us because it’s some nosey muthafuckas out here. That’s one thing you find out quick by living out here; it’s quiet as fuck and muthafuckas look friendly, but they got they eye on you just waiting to tattle on yo’ ass the moment they get the chance.”

  She made it to the checkout line and placed her items on the register, “Look, I’ma give you my number and shit. Hit me up and we can talk more about it, you know what I’m sayin?” I curiously looked down at the number as she spoke up,
“Lyric, I’m not on that bullshit no more. For real. This is all about getting the money together, not working against each other. You wouldn’t be competition but at the same time, I get if you don’t want to fuck with me. I totally understand,” she handed her card to the cashier, “It’s your choice but I’m telling you, it’s money to be made. As long as you still got that phat ass and a pretty face, you are dangerous as a bitch. Trust me. Niggas haven't prepared for this kind of shit so we in and out, and a bitch like you? Somebody who really ain’t scared of shit? It’s perfect for you,” she reached over and grabbed two candy bars, handing them to the cashier. “Yeah, I heard about yo’ ass running with Nas and shit. The whole city knew about yo’ ass but that nigga Nas ain’t no fuckin’ joke, though. I knew he was gon’ turn on you sooner or later.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Girl,” she laughed, “I know why you’re here. Yo son right there got kidnapped, Nas wanted him back, and you weren't feeling it, so you vamped. I mean, I still got my ear to the city and shit, you know? Even though we making our rounds through Illinois right now, I still know what’s going on in my hometown.”

  “Makin’ y’all rounds?”

  “Look, like I said, Lyric, we will discuss all that if you decide to call me. If not, though, it was good seeing you,” she took one of the candy bars out of the bag and handed it to Prince, “you still fine and thick as shit, too. If I were a nigga, I’d hit without thinking twice,” she said as she laughed, walking away with her bags in her hand. “Hopefully, you’ll call me, though. I believe we could use somebody like you, for real.”

  I looked over at Prince as he put the candy bar in his mouth. I took it from him and unwrapped the paper, breaking a piece off and giving him the rest. I kept my eyes on her as she walked away, switching her ass back and forth, causing her cheeks to shake with each step. I was bored out of my mind since I had been in Rockwall and I knew that the only reason I came here was to lay low and stay out of trouble, but that was becoming tired real quick. I looked down at the number she wrote on a piece of paper, then back towards Prince as he slobbered over the candy bar, making a chocolatey mess. I picked up him out of the shopping cart and left the store, not even picking up what I came in there to get. Quandra had me intrigued, and I was too curious to not at least see what she was talking about.

  Chapter 18

  Mrs. Butler called me later that night as I was in the hotel room. I told her that I found an apartment and that I was going to move in later this week. She was excited for me and wanted to make plans to come out to visit us. I let her know to come Friday because, in my mind, I had already made the decision to go and see what Quandra was talking about. I knew I wouldn’t be able to just sit around for a year without doing anything. I wasn’t cut out for that kind of life, and I don’t know what made me think that I was.

  When Quandra answered the phone, she was happy that I had called. I told her that I would see what they had going on this Friday, and she said it was perfect timing because they were planning something for Saturday night. She said I could get in on it if everything I heard them talk about was cool. Right after we hung up, the unknown number called my phone four times in a row. On the fifth time, I picked it up,

  “What, nigga?”

  “Bitch, you think I don’t know where you at? Huh? You think you are safe?”

  “Look, nigga, all you been doin’ is sendin’ wolf tickets. If you know where I’m at, get me, nigga. You know I’m ready for you or whoever else you got—”

  “Aight, bitch. We’ll see how ready you are. Yo’ ass is gon’ end up like that bitch husband. Oh, and by the way, have you heard from Vinny? You might wanna check on that nigga,” he laughed, “I’m just saying.”

  I hung up the phone and called Vinny right away, “What up, Lyric?” I breathed a sigh of relief at the sound of his voice.

  “Shit, man. Just out here trying to adjust to this new life. Everything been alright?”

  “Yeah, everything been straight. I’ve just been working and staying low key. I ain’t trying to get mixed up in shit out here.”

  “I feel you. Well, aye, if you need anything just let me know.”

  “Aight Lyric, but I’m good though. Thanks for hitting me up.”

  “No doubt. Aye, Vinny… make sure you’re careful up there, aight?”

  “Aight, no doubt.”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  I hung up the phone as a sickening feeling began to stir in my stomach. I didn’t know what I would do if something happened to Vinny. That would almost be too much for me to handle and I wanted to tell him to get out of the city, but I didn’t want him to worry. Besides that, I knew he wouldn’t leave. There was too much of his past in Milwaukee for him to pick up and start somewhere else.

  The week flew by and before I knew it, Mrs. Butler was outside the door of my hotel room, “Heeeey, baby! Oh my goodness! Prince!” She hugged me around the neck and then quickly rushed over to Prince as he laughed and reached for her, nearly falling off the bed in the process. I stuck around for a few minutes before I let her know I had to make a run,

  “I’ll be back in a few, Mom. I have to run and check some things out with the apartment and then I’ll be right back.”

  “Ok, honey, no problem. Be safe, me and Prince will be right here waiting for you to come back.”

  I headed to the Southside of Rockwall. It looked to be a little more run-down than any other area of the city, and I was surprised to see it myself. I guess every city has its hood, though, no matter how big or small it is. I pulled up to an apartment that had trash and kids’ bikes riddled all over the lawn. It was a gated community but the entry and exit gate was broken, so it stayed open for everyone to come and go as they pleased. The swimming pool looked as if you would get some disease from the dirty water as soon as you stepped into it. I called Quandra when I got to the apartment number, and she came out to my car.

  “What up, Lyric, I’m glad you here and shit.”

  “No doubt.”

  I got out the car and followed her up to the second floor of the apartment complex. I could smell the marijuana smoke as soon as I began walking up the stairs and it completely engulfed me when we walked through the door. Through the thick smoke, I saw lighters firing up more blunts and the silhouettes of various women standing around, watching me as I walked in. “Follow me,” Quandra said as we walked through the sea of women straight to the back room. She knocked twice and opened the door. She sat on the bed with a blunt hanging out of her mouth. She blew a cloud of smoke into the air as soon as I walked into the room behind Quandra. Her lips were covered in red, eyebrows arched to perfection. I could see her eyelashes extending out far beyond her eyelids, resembling mosquito legs. Her eyes were sky blue and her peach-colored skin seemed to have been painted onto her body with perfection. On the top of her head, long red hair flowed down like a sensuous fire. She stood up to me as I leaned against the dresser,

  “So, you’re Lyric, huh?”

  “Yeah.”

  She smiled, “Quandra had told me a lot about you. A lot of good shit,” she looked to my side, glancing down at my ass, “Yeah, you thick as a bitch, too.”

  If I closed my eyes, there was nothing in this world that would have convinced me that she was a white girl. She had the attitude and characteristics of a black woman. She walked over to the window, her ass jiggling effortlessly inside of her gray yoga pants. Just then, two more girls walked in behind me, “Maley, we got one of the niggas down for tomorrow. We workin’ on the other two, though.” She inhaled another drag of the blunt as she turned around, “Cool. Make sure all five of them niggas are down, otherwise, ain’t shit movin.” They both turned and left the room as Maley passed the blunt to me. I grabbed it from her hand and inhaled it, allowing the weed to sit in my lungs for a few moments before I blew it back out. I didn’t cough once as I passed it back to her. “That was some G shit,” she said, smiling in approval
of how I just handled the blunt, “not even coughing once? Aight Miss Lyric. Well, like I said, Quandra told me a lot about you, and I think you’d be perfect here, you know what I’m sayin? You got the looks for it and from what I hear, yo’ ass is as hard as they come,” she leaned towards me, whispering in my ear, “You’re the perfect fucking killer.”

  She winked at me and walked back to her bed, taking another hit of her blunt. I had no idea what the fuck was going on here. I didn’t know if this was a prostitution ring or what but it was something about Maley that I liked. It was her assertiveness, the way she seemed to run whatever shit she had going on here. It was in that position of power that I saw for myself. Her pretty smile seemed to get lost in the thick smoke as Quandra leaned on the dresser right beside me. I looked to the right out the window and for a moment, I saw Big Mama’s face outlined in the smoke. That weed must be hitting quick, I thought to myself as I refocused my eyes in that direction. A tear fell from her eye just as Quandra walked into her, dispersing the vision that I had. She went over to Maley, “So, what you want me to do with her?” she asked as Maley looked right at me. Maley smiled, “Don’t do nothing. This is perfect for her, and she doesn’t need convincing either, I can tell. She’s not going anywhere.”

  SNEAK PEEK: Queen of the City 3