“I’ve been on tour with some dudes making moves.” T-Tone slapped a twenty-dollar bill on the bar. “We just flew back this morning.”
“Okay. I see you doing big things.”
“I’m trying.” He was a well-known street dealer turned super producer on the music scene in Detroit. He used his drug money to buy a studio and started making hits for some of the best artists in and around the city. After he produced a track featuring a few go-getters, the music industry took notice, and T-Tone blew up.
“Enough about that, though. What have you been up to, Ms. Jamaica?” T-Tone licked his lips. He’d been around the world and could’ve had a slew of models and industry chicks at the drop of a dime, but he was only interested in Jamaica. It had been that way ever since they met at the Upper Room a year ago. Although he’d heard the rumors about how she got down, he never pursued her in that way.
“I’m good over here, big shot. Just maintaining like everybody else, I guess.”
The bartender placed the drinks before them, and Jamaica grabbed hers. “Let’s make a toast.” She raised her glass.
“Here’s to old friendships and new beginnings.” T-Tone raised his glass then took a drink.
“Look at this nigga here.” Bird walked up to the couple with a smirk.
“Oh, shit. If it isn’t my niggas Bird and Syn.” T-Tone placed his glass down and dapped up his boys.
“What’s popping, family?” Syn and T-Tone went all the way back to fourth grade, but T-Tone and Bird went as far back as kindergarten.
“I see you been eating good.” Bird pointed to the diamonds dripping from T-Tone’s neck and ears. The boy was very frosty.
“Don’t let my new music shit fool you. Y’all know better than anybody that I been eating good since before I started that up,” T-Tone reminded his boys. All three men had been on the same moneymaking squad from day one. The money, power, and respect kept them beating the block from sunup to sundown. The only thing that separated T-Tone from Syn and Bird was his musical talent. Had it not been for one of his songs going viral on YouTube, he would’ve still been a major player in the dope game.
“Where are the ladies?” Jamaica scanned the club with her eyes.
“They made a stop at the bathroom.” Bird shook his head, never understanding why they didn’t use the bathroom before they left home or why they always had to make a trip to the ladies’ room a team sport.
“What are y’all drinking?” T-Tone waved the bartender over.
“Are you buying?” Syn asked, and T-Tone nodded. “Then, in that case, I’ll take a double shot of Don Julio.”
“Make that two double shots, my brother,” Bird added.
“Watch my drink. I’m going to find the girls.” Jamaica made her way across the floor. Janet’s was beginning to fill up; she knew it was only a matter of time before they wouldn’t be able to find a seat.
“Hey, Jamaica.” A redhead waved as Jamaica passed the girl and a few of her friends on the dance floor. She didn’t know anyone in the crowd, but that didn’t stop her from waving back. Ever since she became one of the main attractions at the Upper Room, people knew her wherever she went. She relished the attention.
“Panda panda panda.”
“That’s my shit!” Kali emerged from the bathroom with her hands in the air. Fly was right behind her rapping along to the song blasting over the loud speakers.
“About time you bitches acted like you came to party.” Jamaica gave them both a smile and then pulled Fly toward the dance floor. Fly pulled Kali and, seconds later, the three of them were turning up in the middle of the dance floor like they owned the joint. The only reason they decided to take a break was because the DJ started spinning some bullshit.
“I saw you over there working it, shorty.” Bird handed Kali a bottle of water.
“I hope you liked what you saw.” Kali untwisted the cap and took a sip.
“What are y’all drinking?” T-Tone asked, prepared to order another round of drinks.
“I know you’re feeling generous, my nigga, but your money is no good when it comes to my lady.” Bird appreciated the gesture, but he wasn’t the type to let another nigga pay for his girl’s shit. In his mind, it was an open invitation for some underhanded shit to occur. He liked T-Tone and loved Kali; therefore, he didn’t want any reason to fuck either of them up.
“Damn, dog, since when it got like that?” T-Tone began stuffing the money in his hand back into his pocket. He was lightweight offended.
“No disrespect, my G, but that’s just how I operate.” Without another word on the matter, Bird waved the waitress over and placed orders of vodka and cranberry for Kali, Fly, and Jamaica.
“Where is my drink at?” a voice hollered from the other end of the bar. Only Bird and Kali heard it. Everyone else was engaged in conversation.
“Rochelle, what the fuck are you doing up in here?” Bird wrapped his arms around the big, tall black girl who looked almost identical to him. In fact, the only reason you would be able to tell them apart was because one had breasts and a lip ring.
“Bro, you know I be dangling.” Rochelle smiled. “Question is, what the fuck are you doing in here?” Lately, she hadn’t seen her big brother as often as she used to. “I’m surprised your owner let you off the leash tonight.”
“Don’t start that shit.” Bird knew damn well his sister saw Kali standing there. He didn’t want any drama on their night of celebrating.
“Hello, Rochelle.” Kali gave a halfhearted smile.
“I didn’t even see you, girl,” Rochelle lied. “So, what brings you two lovebirds out?”
“Well, I was going to come by Mom’s tomorrow and share the news, but since you’re here, I might as well tell you.” Bird grabbed Kali’s hand and held it up. “We’re engaged.”
“Engaged? As in getting married? As in you’re giving this bitch your last name?” Rochelle couldn’t hide her annoyance.
“Who are you calling a bitch?” Instantly Kali was ready for war.
“If the shoe fits.” Rochelle smirked.
“Ro, are you fucking serious right now?” Bird frowned. “Even if you don’t like the situation, at least show some fucking respect to me.” The way his sister and mother felt about Kali was not a secret, but Bird never tolerated them disrespecting her in his presence.
“All right, bro, you got it. My bad.” Rochelle hated to argue with her brother, especially over someone as unimportant as Kali, so she let it go. “Congrats.” She forced a smile at Kali. “Now, where is my drink?” She turned back to Bird.
“Tell me where you’re sitting, and I’ll have the waitress bring it over.” Bird rubbed his temples.
“I’m right over there by the pool table with Melinda.” Rochelle pointed to her childhood friend. “Hey, bro, my ends is a little tight this month. Can I borrow a few dollars to pay my cell phone and get my nails done?”
“Didn’t I just pay your fucking phone bill the other day?” Bird raised a brow.
“That was the house phone. This time it’s my cell phone.” Rochelle held out her hand, already knowing her brother was going to lace her as usual.
“Ro, you need a job.”
“I have one. It just don’t pay much.” Rochelle looked past her brother at Kali who was shaking her head. It took everything in her not to snatch little Miss Perfect up by the collar of her dress, but she decided to let it go.
“This is the last time.” Bird reached into his pocket and retrieved a wad that totaled $423. Bird never liked to carry around too much cash. “You better make this three hundred dollars work.” He handed his sister the money then put the rest back into his pocket.
“Thanks, bro.” Rochelle kissed her brother’s cheek then headed back to her friend.
When Bird turned around, he could see the disappointment on Kali’s face. “What?”
“She got you again, that’s what.”
“She ain’t get nobody.” Bird tried to walk past her, but she stopped him.
“Baby, why do you let Rochelle and your mother treat you like a one-way ATM?” Kali hated to see anyone take advantage of her man, especially his own family.
“What is a one-way ATM?” Bird sighed.
“Them bitches always make withdrawals but don’t ever make any deposits.”
“You better watch who you call a bitch!” The same way Bird demanded respect from his mother and sister with regard to Kali, he demanded the same from Kali in return.
“I didn’t mean it like that, but it’s the truth, baby.” Kali wrapped her arms around Bird and pulled him close. “When I become Mrs. Harris I will be putting an end to that, just so you know.” She kissed his lips, and he smirked.
“I already know you’ll be watching the bag close.” Bird laughed before returning Kali’s kiss with one of his own.
“Look who the fuck just walked in the muthafucking door.” Breaking up their moment, Syris tapped Bird then pointed at the front of the building. Li’l Nut was strutting through the joint like he didn’t have a care in the world.
“Ain’t this a bitch!” Bird pushed Kali away and instantly went into beast mode. “Baby, give me a second.” Without another word, he and Syris walked away.
“What the fuck is going on?” Fly asked her girl.
“I don’t know, but I think that’s the nigga who set them up,” Kali whispered. Instantly her head was on the swivel. Although she was a good girl at heart, she was trap queen by nature. Her hood instincts were on a thousand right now.
The conversation among the three men appeared to have taken a turn for the worse. They were now in a heated debate. Kali knew things would only escalate from here. “Go get the car, now!” she hollered.
“Oh, shit, he has a gun!” some girl screamed just before three flashes of light covered the dance floor. Pop! Pop! Pop!
Kali watched in slow motion as people began to scatter like roaches, nearly knocking her over. “Go get the car!” she screamed again.
“Where is Syn?” Fly scanned the chaotic club. Her heart damn near jumped from her chest. She was petrified.
“I’ll find him. Just go get the fucking car!” Kali repeated for the third time.
“He has the keys.” Fly shook her head nervously.
“My car is down the block,” Jamaica told the girls. “I’ll grab it and meet y’all at the front door in five minutes.” She took off running toward the back exit.
“Kali, get the fuck out of here,” Bird hollered over the commotion. He was sitting on the floor with blood covering his shirt.
“Oh my God!” she screamed and ran toward him. “Baby, are you okay?”
“It’s not my blood,” Bird admitted.
“Where is Syn?” Fly began to fear the worst.
“He went to get the car.” Bird pointed to the door.
“Whose blood is that?” Kali was now crying. Although Bird told her it wasn’t his, she had trouble believing him because there was just so much on him.
“Look, y’all got to get the fuck out of here.” He pulled the girls toward the door, and that’s when they saw Li’l Nut lying dead in the middle of the floor, surrounded by a puddle of blood.
“I’m not leaving without you,” Kali cried.
“I’ll be right behind you,” Bird tried to reassure Kali, but she wasn’t having it.
“I’m not fucking leaving you here!” she barked just as Jamaica ran through the front door.
“Come on, y’all.”
“I got to get Rochelle out of here.” Bird backed away. “I’ll be home soon.” No sooner than he said the words, he was lost in the sea of faces still making a run for the door. Kali wanted to go find him, but she knew it wasn’t the best thing to do.
“Come on, Kali, he’ll be all right.” Jamaica could see the pain in Kali’s eyes. For the first time, she saw the girl in a new light. She admired the love she had for Bird and respected that she wasn’t willing to leave him at the first sign of trouble. Maybe she’d underestimated the spoiled church brat. “He’ll be okay,” Jamaica repeated and finally convinced her and Fly to leave the club.
As soon as they were outside, police sirens could be heard in the distance. Kali didn’t have a good feeling, but what could she do?
“I’ll get Bird. Y’all go home!” Syn ran past the ladies and reentered the bar.
“Be careful,” Fly hollered with a shaky voice and a heavy heart. She too had a bad feeling about the events to come, but she held it in and hurried to Jamaica’s car.
CHAPTER NINE
JAMAICA
“Yo, son, that shit was bananas!” Jamaica peeled down the block trying to get as far from the bar as she could. Within minutes several police cars passed them. “That shit is going to make the news, just watch what I tell you.”
“I hope Syn and Bird are all right,” Fly mumbled.
Kali didn’t respond. She was too busy scrolling down the contacts in her phone. Seconds later, she stumbled upon the name she was looking for and pressed SEND. Immediately the voice mail came on, and Kali remem bered it was almost 4:00 a.m.
“Hey, Desmond, this is Kali Franklin.” She paused. “I’m sorry to call you so late, but I might need a favor. Please call me as soon as you can. Thanks, and God bless.” Kali slid the phone back into her purse and sat back on the seat.
“Who was that?” Jamaica looked at Kali through the rearview mirror.
“He’s an attorney who belongs to my daddy’s church.” Kali really hated asking anyone for help, especially church folks, but this was an emergency. Although she didn’t see anyone pull the trigger, deep down in her heart, she knew Bird was the guilty party.
“Desmond Waters, the fine-ass lawyer your parents wanted to hook you up with?” Fly turned around to face her girl as a sly grin swept across her face.
“Yes, that’s the one,” Kali admitted with disdain.
She and Desmond were raised in the church together and at one point were great friends. Time and circumstances had changed all of that, though. He was four years her senior, but it didn’t matter because Kali had always been mature for her age. They shared a lot of the same interests, as well as an unborn child.
His parents were longtime members at Higher Ground Ministries and best friends with her parents. Sometime after Kali’s fifteenth birthday, they began concocting an arranged marriage type of deal. The only problem was Desmond and Kali had already gotten to know each other personally and physically. After just their third time having sex, she ended up pregnant. Desmond urged her to keep the child, and he offered to take the heat from their parents, but Kali refused. She was wise enough to know she was too young to be anyone’s mother.
After days of praying and pondering, she decided to cop a fake ID and have an abortion. Kali never told anybody but Desmond what she’d done, and she begged him to keep their secret. He was furious to say the least, but he agreed to take it to the grave. Both the friendship and their relationship were strained from that point forward. Although their parents kept urging them to date and get to know each other, Desmond eventually went off to law school in California and Kali met and fell in love with Bird.
Nearly twenty minutes after leaving the bar, Jamaica pulled up to Bird’s townhouse and cut the engine. Everyone in the car was quiet.
Jamaica decided to break the silence. “Ladies, everything will be okay. Niggas like Syn and Bird know what they’re doing. Trust me.” She reached into her glove box and produced a tightly rolled kush blunt. “Anybody want to hit this?” she asked after lighting the brown paper and taking a hard pull.
“Hell yeah.” Kali extended her hand and Jamaica almost choked. She couldn’t believe Miss Bougie was a weed smoker. “Don’t look so surprised.” Kali put the blunt between her lips and inhaled softly. With a smirk, she blew out smoke rings.
“I’ll be damned!” Jamaica busted out laughing.
“I told you this bitch wasn’t no Goody Two-shoes.” Fly held her hand out indicating it was her turn to puff on the magic dragon.
“Don’t let the innocent look fool you. This bitch probably been in more shit than me and you combined.” Fly retrieved the blunt and took two short puffs.
“Damn, I had you all wrong.” Jamaica was totally impressed.
“That’s why they say never judge a book by its cover,” Kali stated as a matter of fact. She was so used to people judging her based on her looks and religious background that it didn’t even faze her. She decided a long time ago to let people believe whatever they wanted. As long as she knew who she was, it didn’t matter.
“Here come the guys,” Fly said when she saw them pull up. She took one more puff and put the blunt out in the ashtray container Jamaica had in her cup holder.
“Come on, y’all.” Kali opened the car’s back door.
“Nah, I think this is personal. I’ll get up with y’all tomorrow.” Jamaica started the car.
“Girl, after what you did for Syn and Bird today we are family, so come on in the fucking house.” Fly wasn’t taking no for an answer. Her friend had proved her loyalty in more ways than one and for that Fly was grateful.
“Well, if you insist.” Without argument, Jamaica stepped from her car and followed everyone into the house.
“What the fuck was that?” Kali hollered as soon as they were safely behind closed doors.
“All I know is shit went sideways tonight.” Bird pulled off his bloody shirt and tossed it in the garbage can sitting beside the refrigerator in the kitchen. “That wasn’t supposed to happen.”
“Well, tell me what exactly was supposed to happen.” Kali folded her arms.
“We went to talk to the nigga, and we asked him about the cops.” Syn spoke while pacing the floor nervously.
“What did he say?” Fly asked nervously.
Syn gave her a look that meant not to interrupt him again, and then he continued. “Nut starts back peddling his story, just trying to buy time and shit. Then out of nowhere, this nigga pulls something black out of his pocket.” Syn stopped pacing and looked at Bird.
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