The Face That Launched A Thousand Bullets (The Cartel Publications Presents)

by Styles, T.

  Once at Melody’s door, he glanced over at his old house. He thought about his folks all the time but could never bring himself to reach out to them. What was done was done, and now they were on their own.

  When he knocked on the door J-Swizz opened it and walked away. I can’t stand this bitch ass nigga! He thought when he walked into the half lit living room. The TV was on but the volume was down low. A worn out old red velvet couch sat against the wall and J-Swizz and Carolyn sat on it. He could tell they’d been arguing. Little did J-Swizz know but Jason had been all in that pussy.

  “Where Melody at?” he asked stepping in front of the TV.

  “In the back.” Cray smirked looking at the girl. “Now get out the way.”

  “Make me, nigga.” It was obvious J-Swizz was showing off for his piece so he wanted to call him on it. Cray wanted a reason to put him on his back. He never did get over how he grabbed him up when he touched Melody’s car years ago.

  “Whateva, man.”

  Cray smirked. “That’s what I thought. Punk ass mothafucka.”

  “We’ll see who’s laughin’ in a sec.” J-Swizz retaliated.

  Cray didn’t know what that meant so he kept it moving.

  “Yo, Melody. What you need man?” he asked knocking on his door once before opening it. He stumbled when he saw his father on his knees, asshole naked, sucking Melody’s dick.

  When Cray turned around, he saw J-Swizz put his head down in laughter. The shame and embarrassment Cray felt was unparallel. He knew J-Swizz knew his father was in there but wanted to see his reaction.

  “I thought I told you to tell him to wait out front!” Melody yelled.

  “I forgot, man. I’m sorry.”

  He felt a heat wave take over him as his piercing eyes fixated on his father. He was just about to pull out his weapon and shoot them both when he remembered. He was Crayland Bailor! A loaner and above all, a mothafuckin’ soldier! Why let his weak ass father come in the way of his fortune and his plan?

  He looked at his father, strolled up to Melody and said, “What you want, man?”

  They were shocked. Cray acted as if he’d seen nothing.

  His father stood up, covered his own dick with one hand and touched Cray on the shoulder with the other. “I’m sorry, son.”

  “Nigga, do you know me?!” He waited for him to say something displeasing so he could punish him.

  Silence.

  “Den get ya hands the fuck off of me!”

  His father grabbed his pants and ran out the door. Cray heard stories of Melody going both ways but never had proof. Now he did.

  “Man, it wasn’t how it looked.” Melody offered.

  “Nigga, let’s get down to business.” Cray retaliated.

  He didn’t want to be put in a position to discuss the matter. Because if he did, Melody wouldn’t like what he’d have to say.

  “A’ight then.” Melody adjusted his clothes. “Give me five minutes.”

  He left Cray alone with his thoughts as he walked to the bathroom. Cray allowed Melody the time he needed to get his self together, but trust and believe he’d never forget this shit. And neither would he.

  Nyzon Peate

  Bladensburg, Maryland

  The Pact

  Nyzon, Royala, Cooks and Simon jumped into his car to meet Cray at a secluded spot. It was quiet as they drove down the street. No one said it but everyone was thinking the same thing. Could Cray be trusted? And why the desolate place?

  Once they pulled up to the address on the paper, near a railroad track, all they saw were warehouses.

  “This is it.” Nyzon said looking at his crew.

  “You sure about this?” Cooks asked in the passenger front seat.

  “To be honest, I can’t call it. I mean, why would he try somethin’ when he ain’t got access to the connect? Plus he told us to come strapped.”

  His trunk held their portion of the money for the weight. In total, they had half a million dollars on them, and Cray and his boys were supposed to come up with a half too. With all that cash, he didn’t want to bring up the possibility that Cray could be robbing them. It would put a damper on the evening.

  “Are ya’ll wit me?”

  Royala with her baseball cap pulled over her eyes said, “Fuck you think?”

  Cooks and Simon nodded. They got out and walked to the door.

  As instructed, Nyzon knocked on the steel door five times, waited ten seconds and knocked three more. The door opened and Cray was behind it.

  “Glad you made it my, nigga.”

  “What’s up wit the lights bein’ out in here?” Nyzon popped off.

  He could barely see Cray’s face it was so dark. Dude was giving him the creeps for real. If something didn’t give in a few seconds, all of them were about to unload on his Baltimore ass.

  “You’ll see in a minute.”

  He led them to a larger room within the warehouse. There was one light in the ceiling, which moved a little from side to side, and Nyzon was able to see the rest of Cray’s crew. It would be the first time they met. Cray had three people with him but what really had Nyzon fucked up was the person hog tied on the floor, with a pillow case over his head.

  “Hey, dude, you betta start talkin’.” Royala said slightly nervous at the scene. “Cause I ain’t sign up for no bullshit.”

  Cray looked at Nyzon and than at Royala.

  “A broad on your team? Cute.” He smirked rubbing his chin.

  Royala aimed her 45 in his direction and on instinct, they all aimed at one another. Baltimore against DC in a closed space. If they were to fire on one another nobody would find their bodies for days. There was so much tension in the air it was hard to breathe. One wrong move and everything would be over.

  “Aye, yo, I think we need to start all over.” Cray said looking at the weapons thrown up in the air like gang signs.

  Nyzon with his heat pointed directly at Cray, told his crew to lower their weapons. They obeyed.

  “What the fuck is goin’ on, young?” Nyzon asked.

  “If we gonna unite,” Cray started, tucking his weapon in the back of his pants. “I need to know you got our backs, like we got yours.”

  “We here ain’t we? So get to the point.” Cooks said focusing on the person squirming on the ground.

  “Take the hood off.” Cray instructed Jason. When he did Melody was revealed, his face swollen from all the blows he’d endured.

  “I’m not down for this shit.” Nyzon wasn’t feeling the murder game. All he wanted to do was get paid.

  “This nigga can’t live if we gonna get the money we bought to make. We gonna have to put him to bed. We ain’t makin’ new blocks, we takin’ his!” He said pointing at him with the barrel of his gun. “This the only way, DC. He…CAN NOT…live! Besides, there’s no turning back now. This nigga gonna die whether you want him to or not. The only question is, are you with me?”

  Nyzon thought for a second. Long and hard. He looked at Cooks, Simon and then Royala. They all gave him the nod of approval.

  “So what’s your plan?” Nyzon asked Cray after gaining agreement from his squad.

  “We bust his ass together. We trust, like you trust.” Cray replied.

  Silence.

  “If we do this, don’t ever test me again.”

  “Never,” Cray said.

  Without saying another word they all aimed, pointed and unloaded.

  The pact was formed.

  Tiara Cartier

  5 Months Later

  Too Young For The Game

  Tiara leaned against the cold brick wall in the back of her school as she wiggled out of the Baby Phat outfit she wore, to put back on the boring blue jeans and white t-shirt set her father bought. The moment she got dressed and walked toward the front of the building, instead of seeing Kavon she saw Cray’s car. It was her birthday and Kavon said he’d be there to take her out. Still she could not have been more excited that Cray was there. Time with him was precious because somet
imes he didn’t come around.

  “Get in.” Cray said pulling up on the curb.

  She couldn’t prevent the smile from shining on her beautiful face. Her long hair bounced as she jogged toward his car. Since he met her he always seemed elusive. It was like he wasn’t allowing himself to get close to her and Tiara hated it. All she wanted was to be in his company.

  “Why you wearin’ that shit?” He looked her over disapproving of her gear. If she was going to ever be his girl, she had to look the part. “Where the clothes I got for you?”

  “I couldn’t wear them, Cray.” She stuffed his clothes in her black book bag to conceal it from her father, sat back in the seat, and put her seat belt on. “You know my dad was supposed to pick me up today. So I had to change them before he saw me. It’s like lately he’s starting to trip about me hanging out. I don’t think he trusts me anymore.”

  “Why should he? You lie to him right? You still afraid to tell him about me aint you?”

  Silence.

  “I don’t want to make him angry.”

  “What about me?”

  “I don’t want to make you angry either. I’m confused.”

  He stopped his car and said, “Get out! Go be with your father then.”

  “No. Please! Don’t do this to me. Please.”

  She closed the door and he continued down the road. Tiara couldn’t help but feel like Cray wanted her to choose between him and her father sometimes. And that scared her.

  “If you gonna deal wit me, you got to stand up to your pops.” He said looking at her seriously.

  His once gold hair now back to it’s original color of black. He had a little length on it so now it curled up.

  “I will, Cray! I promise. Just give me some time.”

  She told him that many times before and sometimes, he just set her off to hear her say it. It sounded so sweet coming from her young lips.

  “Yeah whateva! You betta start actin’ like it then.”

  When she saw him past her house she wondered where he was taking her. She couldn’t go too far because her father would be pulling up at the school in about fifteen minutes. It was bad enough her car was still left up at the school so when Kavon rode by, he’d definitely see it.

  “Where we going?”

  “Why? You don’t’ want to roll wit me?!” he shot back.

  “Cray are you mad at me? Did I do something wrong?”

  “I’m just tired of playing games with you, that’s all. Now you rollin’ wit me or not?”

  “I’m going with you.”

  “Than fall back and relax.”

  The Hotel

  It took them twenty minutes from leaving her school to pull up at the Embassy Suites in Linthicum heights. He guided her right past the receptionist desk and right toward the elevator. Her heart beat rapidly as she stood in the corner looking at the buttons light up.

  “You okay?” he smiled.

  “I’m fine.” She was still trying to get over how he treated her earlier.

  She didn’t understand how to deal with his mood swings, but she was willing to learn.

  “I’m sorry, Tiara. I just wanna take care of you and I get frustrated when I can’t. You understand what I’m sayin’?”

  She nodded yes.

  “And don’t worry, baby, just cause we’re here don’t mean nothin’s goin’ down.”

  She knew he wouldn’t do anything sexually she didn’t want. He’d been dodging her since they met. The moment they walked out of the elevator and to room 288, he slid his key in and she caught a glimpse of him from the side.

  Damn he’s fine. She thought.

  The moment the door opened, she saw boxes everywhere. She wondered when he had all the time to do this. Rose peddles filled the room and the scent of vanilla candles teased her nose.

  “I hope you like some of the things I bought. It’s for your birthday. Open ‘em up and tell me what you think.”

  “All of this is for me?” her eyes wide with surprise.

  “Every last box.”

  Tiara ran through the room touching everything at first before she ripped open the boxes. He bought her Gucci outfits, Louis Vuitton purses and a few labels she didn’t recognize. She immediately rushed up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

  “What are you doing to me?” she asked kissing him all over his face.

  “I’m trying to take care of you. You gonna let me?”

  “Yes!” she exhaled! “Yes I will!”

  She gave him a sweet kiss. This time it lasted a bit longer. He pushed her away.

  “Not like this.”

  “What? Why?” she was confused.

  He had gotten the hotel room so why not make love.

  “I thought that’s what you wanted.”

  “I’m not here to have sex with you, Tiara.”

  His rejections made her want him even more.

  “Can you just hold me?”

  He wrapped his arms around her waist while she lie against his chest. He’d succeeded at winning her over.

  “What you want from me?” he asked her in a deep base voice.

  “I don’t know.” She said hunching her shoulders. “I just know I got to be around you. I’m sick when you don’t call. Can you tell me what I need to do? To make you want only me?”

  He kissed her a few more times on the forehead, before taking her over to a table.

  “I’ma be honest with you, your father is in the way of what I’m tryin’ to do. I mean, I respect the dude cause he’s your pops, but it’s time I took care of you now. I already know if I do the things I want, he’s gonna be in the way. And with everything goin’ on in my life, I don’t need that kind of drama.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Tiara, I’m a hustler.” He said looking up at her. “I don’t feel like lyin’ to you no more cause that’s not even me. Plus I think you know already. I’m everything your father warned you about and more.”

  “I know.” Her voice low and weak. “And I don’t care. I just want to be with you.”

  She gripped his hand softly and saw something in his eyes. Is this all a game to him? She wondered. Something whispered, walk away. But she was in too deep.

  “What my father don’t know won’t hurt.”

  “Tiara, that ain’t good enough for me. It’s all or nothin’. I’m not runnin’ hidin’ from your peeps no more.”

  Just as he was waiting on her response his cell phone went off.

  “Give me a second.” He said throwing a finger at her answering the phone. He was silent before he said, “He still there? A’ight, I’ma get wit you lada ‘bout that. One.”

  “I got to take you home, shawty.”

  With that he put everything he bought for her in the bags. But Tiara couldn’t take her gifts home, not right now anyway. The bags would make too much noise.

  “Can you keep my stuff for me? Until tomorrow. I don’t want my father seeing all of this before I tell him about us.”

  “See that’s the shit I’m talkin’ about!” he yelled. “You know what…fuck this shit! I know plenty of bitches who would kill to be in ya shoes right now and here I am wastin’ time on you! This thing…between me and you…not workin’ no more. Let’s go.”

  Her heart ached hearing those words, and although he was rushing to leave, she didn’t want him to go like this. She wrapped her arms around his tensed body and felt his muscles loosen.

  “Move…” he pushed weakly. “I can’t do this with you. Your mind too young to be with a man like me.”

  “Cray, I’m sorry! I’ll tell him I swear! I’ll tell my father about us. Hold me. Don’t leave like this.” He could feel her young heart beating against his chest. “Please…make love to me.”

  Silence.

  She knew she was a virgin and wasn’t ready for a man like him, but she had to have him.

  “I can’t….” he whispered. “I got to handle somethin’ anyway. I ain’t ‘bout to fuck you and then run out
on you like you some fuckin’ whore.”

  “Well stay…and make love to me right.” She said seductively.

  Her words were bold and with promise and even though she was inexperienced, she was ready.

  He lifted her off the floor and took her over to the bed. She stared into his eyes as she undressed herself. He looked at every inch of her body. Tiara didn’t mind him staring because she wanted him to see that every inch of her was his and that she was untouched.

  “You’re beautiful…I never seen a woman look like you before.”

  “Because I’m not a woman until I’d been with a man. Making love to you will make me one.”

  He rubbed his rough hand over her stomach, her bare legs, soft perky breasts and lips. She shivered. Reaching down he gently kissed her. Not knowing what to do, her lips pushed into his prematurely. She was trying hard to do the right things and hoped he could tell. Their lips remained connected for the next minute before he looked at her once more.

  “You sure about this?”

  “Yes. Please make love to me, Cray. I wanna show you that I’m real about you.”

  Cray stood up, removed his clothes and exposed his tattooed chiseled body. In all of his splendor, what got her attention was his stiff large penis. Cray slowly crawled into bed without putting all of his weight onto her. His hips went fishing for the right spot, and when he found her dampness, Tiara’s eyes widened.