by Meesha
“You can stop right there because my papí would be fuckin’ him up right now for the choices that he has made, better yet for the shit that was forced upon him! Big Jim ain’t about his ass, but he’s idolizing that nigga!”
“He was the only person that looked out for me when papí got gunned down!”
“Max, put the gun away, please. Y’all can talk about this like brothers, without weapons.”
I had to scratch my head on that shit because if it wasn’t for me and Sosa, his ass would’ve been out there doing something strange for the lil change Big Jim had him working his ass off for. He lowered the gun and I wanted to punch his ass again but with Nija standing between us, it wasn’t going to be possible without hitting her in the process.
“Big Jim wasn’t the only one to do shit for yo’ punk ass! You ain’t nothing but a check to him. I was the one that tried to bring you up the way papí wanted me to! You let this dope shit go to ya head and now you’re down for the cause, nigga you still got a lot to learn. But I’m gon’ let your hardheaded ass do you out in these streets. Don’t call me for shit because I won’t be there to bail your mark ass out! Call Big Jim and let me know how that works out for you!” I said walking back to my car.
“Fuck you, Ricio! I don’t need you, nigga!”
Those eight words paralyzed me for a minute and I went charging at his ass full force. Once again, Nija stepped in front of me preventing me from reaching out to touch that bastard. “Fuck me? Nah, fuck you, homie. “Tan pronto como sepa lo que necesito saber, Big Jim está cayendo. Espero que no estés en la línea de fuego cuando todo golpea al ventilador. Me estoy moviendo de cualquier manera que se interponga en mi camino, incluyéndote a ti si es necesario, hermano.” (As soon as I find out what I need to know, Big Jim is going down. I hope you not in the line of fire when everything hits the fan. I’m moving any and everything that gets in my way, including you if it comes to that, brother.)
“I’ll be ready, make sure you are.” He said with a smirk on his face.
Nija stayed back to talk some sense into his dumb ass, I was done with him. Everything my papí said about taking care of my brothers went out the window when he upped that thang on me. Him being my brother was the only reason he was able to get away with that shit. If it was any other nigga, they would be hosing his brains off the sidewalk.
The door opened and Nija climbed inside of my ride. The hurt was visible on her face. She loved my brothers like they were her own, she had never seen me and Max go at it like that. But it wouldn’t be the last time as long as Big Jim was in his ear. I knew what I had to do though, I had to go holla at Beast before I had to kill Max’s ass.
Snatching my keys from her hand, I put the car in drive. We were headed to the Italian restaurant that she loved so I could feed her. To be honest, I didn’t even want to sit down and eat anymore. While I was waiting for the light to change, I pulled my phone out and ordered our food through the app and decided to go in to pay for it. The shit with Maximo had me in a different mood all together.
“Do you mind that I ordered our food to go? We can crash at my crib for the night.” I glanced at her quickly then pressed the gas.
“That’s fine, but I have to go to work in the morning, Ricio. I’m going to need to go home tonight.”
“You know damn well you have clothes at my crib, don’t try that shit, Ni. If you would rather go home, I don’t have a problem taking you back. I figured with my birthday being tomorrow, there’s no one else I’d rather bring it in with than you.”
She was quiet for a moment and I looked over at her to see her reaction. Her face didn’t show any emotion so I kept driving. I pulled in front of the restaurant and hopped out to grab the food. It didn’t take long before I was back out in the car. I sat for a minute looking at her after putting the food on the back seat. “What’s it gon’ be?”
“We can go to your house, Ricio,” she said lowly.
The commute to my crib seemed like it was taking forever. I hit the button to turn the radio on and Musiq Soulchild’s “Teach Me” blared through the speakers. I didn’t know if that was a sign from above for me to do right by Nija or not. My mind wasn’t in a place to love her like I wanted to at that moment.
Vibing to the lyrics, there was no doubt Nija was that special someone who could teach me to love. Turning twenty-one was only hours away, and there was plenty of pussy out there for me to play around with that didn’t mean shit. I was still a young nigga and I wanted to make sure I was ready to settle down before I went after Nija on some serious shit.
I hit the button for the underground garage door to open and made my way to my designated parking space. Nija was the only woman that was allowed to step foot in my crib. I took all them other hoes to the telly or one of the trap houses. I was taught not to bring shit that didn’t mean nothing to me to my spot.
Opening the door, I went around to her side of the car and opened the door for her. When she was out, I got the food out the back and locked up. Nija was already at the elevator waiting and it opened as soon as I stepped up. I lived in a two-bedroom condo downtown. The only people that knew where I laid my head were family, Big Jim didn’t even know.
We walked down the hall and Nija had her keys out already entering my spot. I trusted her enough to have a key and she knew more than enough just in case something happened to me. She was my Bonnie and I was her Clyde, we had that type of connection. As I stepped inside, she closed and locked the door before removing her shoes. I kicked off my J’s and went straight to the kitchen.
My phone rang and I snatched it off my hip, it was Sosa. “What up?”
“What the fuck happened on the Nine? Max called and said you almost got shot over there, do we have a problem with them niggas?” I started laughing heartily and doubled over because my stomach cramped up. “I’m lost, fam. What’s so funny?”
“Did yo’ lil brother tell you that his punk ass was on the other end of the barrel? I didn’t think so. I’m done with his ass Sosa, he is solely your responsibility. When he pulled his piece on me, I could’ve—”
“Hol’ up, run that shit by me again.”
“You heard me right, brah. I saw his ass on the Nine beating the shit out of this young dude while his boys cheered his stupid ass on. He got mad disrespectful and I rocked his ass! Lil brother or not, disrespect is disrespect. The mufucka pulled his tool and told me that he didn’t need me as long as he had Big Jim. That nigga said fuck me! Fuck me, out of all people, he chose another mufucka over me! Yeah, I’m done with his ass. If it wasn’t for Ni, I would have forced him to shoot his mufuckin’ self.”
Talking to Sosa only infuriated me all over again. Nija entered the kitchen and started unpacking the food. She set everything on the table and grabbed plates for the two of us. I was watching her every move, she always fit right in when she was in my home with me. I didn’t have to tell her where anything was, she already knew. This was just as much her home as it was mine, she opted to come over every so often as of late. My brother cut into my thoughts when his voice boomed through the earpiece.
“Max didn’t say none of that shit to me, bro!”
“Of course, he didn’t with his pussy ass! If he gets into anything my phone bet not ring with his ass on the other end. I won’t be there to help his ass out, I put that on my mama.”
“Ricio, you can say that shit all day, if he gets into anything you and me both will be there.”
“Sosa, I’m done with Maximo Vasquez, dog. He wants to be that nigga in the streets, he can learn that shit on his own. I’m done. As a matter of fact, I’m calling Beast so he can talk to him before I kill him.”
“I’m gon’ call him when I get off the line with you because he had me thinking I had to gear up to add to my body count. He didn’t tell me he was the muthafucka that was holding steel on ya. Actually, I’m about to see where he at and he is about to get fucked up tonight. He will be calling to apologize, so be on the lookout for his call.”
“Don’t send that boy off, man. He bet not call my shit. I don’t want his mufuckin’ apology. Max can kiss my ass! He’s all yours now, I’m through with him. But I’m about to hit up Beast so I can eat with my favorite lady.”
“You need to stop playing with that girl before you lose her ass, Ricio. Nija is the girl for you. I’ve been telling you that shit for years, brah.”
“What makes you think it’s Nija that I’m referring to?”
“Please, nigga. There isn’t another bitch that you refer to as your favorite girl other than mama. Handle your business and Happy birthday, nigga. I may not talk to you when the clock strikes twelve.”
“Thanks, brah, I appreciate that shit. Until tomorrow man, love,” I said disconnecting the call.
Nija was eating and reading something on her phone. She really hadn’t said anything since the incident with Max. I didn’t invite her over to give me the silent treatment, I could’ve pulled that shit off by myself.
“You want to tell me what’s on your mind, Ni? I asked you over to keep me company so I wouldn’t be alone for my birthday, ma."
“I’m here, Ricio. The shit between you and Max is fucked up. He was wrong for what he did and even for what he said, but I don’t think you should turn your back on him. With the shit that you speculate about Big Jim, do you think it’s wise to leave him out there by himself with Big Jim’s people?”
“He won’t be alone, he got Sosa to back him up. I’m done fuckin’ with him Ni, you heard the way he was talking. Them niggas been feeding my brother shit against us, it shows in the way he blatantly got that shit off his chest. Max is about to learn the hard way that nothing comes before family.”
I sat down and tried my best to eat the lasagna that I’d ordered, but my appetite wasn’t there. Getting up with my plate in hand, I placed it inside the microwave for later. Nija wasn’t going to let it sit in there, she would cover it and place it in the refrigerator before she left the kitchen.
“I’ll be on the balcony. I have to call Beast and fill him in on what transpired. Pick out a movie or something, we still have a couple hours before my birthday.”
She nodded her head and continued to eat. Walking to my bedroom, I went into my emergency stash and rolled a fat blunt filled with purp. Smoking wasn’t my thing but when I was stressed, it mellowed me out. When I was in the streets, there was no drinking and smoking going on. Only in the comfort of my home and I had to be in for the night. Making my way back to the living room, I opened the sliding glass door that led to the balcony. Sitting in the nearest chair I placed the call to Beast.
“What up, boi? It’s not ya birthday yet, I was gon’ call.” he answered in his deep baritone.
“I know you would’ve called but I’m not trying to recite this shit on my day, so I decided to give you a call beforehand about Max. The lil nigga pulled a gun on me tonight.”
“We got to be talking about another Max because I know damned well you’re not talking about my nephew Max.”
“That’s exactly who I’m talking about. He had the nerve to disrespect me and follow it up with a slap in the face. According to him, Big Jim is the only person that has done anything for him. Max said fuck me and he didn’t need me, so I rocked his ass. He grew balls when he pulled that pistol on the one nigga that has been watching his back, but that shit is dead after tonight. I don’t know what the fuck Big Jim and his crew is putting in his head, but something ain’t right with them mufuckas. I’m gon’ find out what’s going on because things been very fishy for the past four years. I just can’t put it together.”
“I can’t believe Max, but I will definitely hit his ass up. I dare him to jump hard with me, I’ll walk to cave his muthafuckin’ chest in. Enough about that shit, there’s other things that we must discuss, but it won’t be done tonight over the phone. In approximately two hours, you will be twenty-one. As well as the King Pin of Chicago.”
“Wait what?” I was confused as hell by what he said, I didn’t understand.
“Come to my crib early tomorrow and I will fill you in. It’s time to put your father’s plan into motion.” Beast said and hung up.
The words he said echoed in my head but I didn’t understand what they meant. I ran a trap for Big Jim but I was nowhere near ready to run drugs through a whole city while I distributed that shit to my own workers. Shaking the conversation from my head, I took a couple pulls from my blunt and went inside. Nija had finished eating and was sitting in the living room waiting for me with Love & Basketball paused on the tv. Every time I let her choose the movie, that was the one she always picked. I didn’t complain, I just went and sat on the couch and allowed her to lay between my legs to enjoy her favorite movie.
Chapter 5
Beast
Sitting in my lounge chair watching the highlights from the Notre Dame football game, my phone started vibrating in the cup holder. When I looked down to see who was calling, it was Mauricio. I had planned to call him at the stroke of midnight to wish him a happy birthday, but he beat me to the punch.
As I listened to him recite what Max did and the words that he threw at him, I knew it was time to tell him the truth. Being quiet until the moment presented itself was hard, but I had to do things in the way I was instructed.
Maurice “Reese” Williams was my best friend from diapers until his untimely death. Our mothers were best friends as well. They conceived months apart. Reese and I were raised as brothers and the bond never wavered. We got into so much shit together back in the day, but never turned on one another.
We both went off to college at Northeastern Illinois University where I played football and Reese just played in pussy. When we graduated, I joined the Army and felt bad because I left him all alone. Staying in contact was a must because that’s the way we were raised. After four years of serving my country, my enlightenment was over. At the time, I made up my mind that I wasn’t reenlisting for the bullshit that was waiting in Afghanistan.
Going back to Chicago was a must for me because that’s where my family was. I didn’t know what I was going to do with my life. Reese was a manager at Foot Locker and he voiced how much he hated it daily. I decided to try out for Pro football after a while because it had always been my passion. Plus, I had plans to make millions and I was going for it.
I tried out for the Pittsburg Steelers twice, Carolina Panthers, as well as the Charlotte Rage Arena football team before my knees gave out, and I was done. Filing for my VA disability was tough because I had to go back and forth with them for my shit. Fighting hard, I didn’t give up. Eventually, I walked away with a quarter mil and that’s when me and Reese’s life changed for the better.
When I was in the Army, I met a dude named Felipe while stationed in El Paso, Texas. He was always telling me stories about how his uncle Jorge was a Columbian drug lord. I wasn’t into that type of shit but I listened all the same, not knowing the relationship I built would set me straight.
One night, Felipe and I went out to have a good time on our off day. A group of Mexicans approached him on some bitch shit. They knew not to approach me because I was a muthafucka that stood six foot four, weighing in at two hundred eighty-two pounds of pure muscle that could silently fuck shit up. Trained in Taekwondo and Silat, I didn’t need a gun to end a life, my body was a deadly weapon.
Felipe on the other hand was a scrawny dude. He had heart and could hold his own, but he was no match for the four assailants that surrounded him. I stood up and one of the guys reached for something on his hip while another guy punched Felipe in the face, it was on from there.
I automatically went for the guy with the weapon so he wouldn’t be able to use what he had in his hand on Felipe. Wrapping my arm around his, I constricted on it to force him to drop the knife he was clutching in his fist. Using my other hand to hold down his left arm, I kicked him in his groin. When he doubled over, I grabbed him by his neck and squeezed until he passed out.
Dropping him to the ground, I was hit f
rom behind. That only enraged me more because I was snaked. When I swung my body around, the guy had pulled an icepick from his pocket. These muthafuckas needed weapons but I was willing to show them that they rolled up on the wrong nigga. He charged at me quickly swinging the pick. Blocking his attack at his forearm, I hit his shoulder and swept his feet from under him. As he lost his balance, I grabbed him by the head and snapped his neck. I didn’t have time to play with these muthafuckas. Being in the Army put me in the mindset of, kill or be killed and I wasn’t ready to die.
Felipe was beating the hell out of the guy that punched him and the fourth guy was nowhere in sight. I watched him beat the dude to a pulp. The guy’s face was unrecognizable and he was wheezing through his nasal cavity. Felipe sent a blow to his chest and the crack of the bone was heard vividly. He was dead before he hit the ground.
We survived that night and the police never found out who killed those guys. Neither one of us were worried. I received a call on my cell a couple days later and it was Jorge. He thanked me for being there for his nephew and guaranteed he’d be there if I ever needed anything. When that settlement came through, I knew I wanted to flip a nice chunk of that shit.
I hit Jorge up and the rest was history. He tried to hit me with my first ten bricks for free, but that’s not how things worked in this game. I was always taught, ain’t shit free in the streets. I paid for the work and we distributed that shit like hotcakes at Ihop. We had the city of Chicago on lock in a matter of a couple of years. Being a drug dealer was never in my plans, I was more of a behind the scenes muthafucka. I handed everything to Reese but I was still standing ten toes down with him while getting money.
Waking up going straight to the kitchen to start the coffee maker, my day wasn’t right without it. As the aroma filled the air, I closed my eyes and my body started tweaking with anticipation of the caffeine that it was craving. A pair of hands wrapped around my waist bringing me back to the present.