by Meesha
My mind drifted back to Max and I needed to talk to somebody about him. I decided to hit Beast up to see if he knew anything. As I was scrolling through my phone, it started ringing. When I saw Jess’ name pop up I got mad instantly because I told her bird brain ass I was done with her. The shit she pulled had me wanting to go back to her crib and kick her ass. I let it go to voicemail but she called right back.
“Didn’t I tell yo’ thieving ass to lose my number, bitch?” I asked after answering without saying hello.
“Sosa, I’m sorry. I want to give you the money I took back. I’d rather have you than seven hundred dollars.”
“Oh no, bitch! You made your choice when you searched through my shit without permission. I’m good on that. Keep that shit and don’t contact me no mo’. If I have to tell yo’ ass again, I’m fuckin’ you up! I don’t need a bitch by my side that I can’t trust, you fucked that up on ya own. Now get the fuck off my line!”
I hung up on her ass and went back to scrolling through my phone. When I got to Beast’s number, a text came through. “This bitch think I’m playing with her hoe ass.” I said out loud. I didn’t even read the message, instead I pressed the phone icon and called Beast.
“Nephew, what it do?” he ask.
“Chillin’. I wanted to ask you something. Have you talked to Max?”
“Yeah, I talked to him this morning. Everything good?”
“I’on no. He called and said he needed to crash at my place for a minute, but he didn’t say much else. He said he would fill me in when he got back to the city. Where did he say he was headed today?”
“He went to see Big Jim. He said he was going to try to stop the war between y’all and Floyd. Shit couldn’t have gone well. I tried to tell him that he was wasting his time trying to talk to that nigga.”
“Why the fuck would he go talk to Big Jim if he didn’t even sit his ass down to listen to what all of this shit stemmed from. This is what I mean when I say his ass needs to listen!”
“Sosa, I’m gon’ be real with you. I think it’s deeper than Max is letting on. Something else has happened or he know something that nobody else knows. If he went to the prison to stop this war, he threw something at Big Jim to make him call it. I can tell you this, it didn’t go as planned if yo’ brother need a place to stay. I’m getting myself together and I’ll be on my way.”
“Beast, me and Ricio will handle this. If we need you, I’ll call you myself. But what I do need you to do is, come through for Ricio’s surprise birthday party that I’m giving him on Friday. It will be at Paradise Kitty. I need all the reinforcement I can get in case those niggas come for us.”
“Nothing else needs to be explained. I will be there, but I won’t be there. You know how I roll. When you see Sin, you will know I’m in the building.”
“Bet. The doors open at ten. I know you won’t be there at ten, but I need you to be there.”
“Nah, with these niggas lurking about, I’ll be there before yo’ ass do. I will have to be in place to keep my eyes on shit while you boys have a good time. I suggest y’all let everybody else get fucked up. Y’all need to keep ya minds right and yo’ eyes open at all times.”
“Thanks Beast.”
“You don’t need to thank me. I’m here to look after y’all and that’s what I will do. I didn’t do a good job with Reese, but I’d be damned if these muthafuckas bring y’all down under my nose. They want beef, they got it. First thing Monday, we will start getting this empire together.”
“Fo sho! I’m ready, for this shit.”
“Aight, nephew. I have to get off this phone before Sin starts talking crazy. You know how she is when she’s not getting my undivided attention.”
“Bet. I’ll holla atcha later.”
Beast hung up and I chuckled while going back to my laptop to check the event page I made on social media. There were many people saying they were coming out to help celebrate my brother’s birthday. This party was about to be lit. I just hoped we could party with no problems.
***
I finished my business with the party and laid back on my couch watching the baseball game. The Chicago Cubs were playing the St. Louis Cardinals on the road to clinch the division. The boys in blue were tearing a lining out of their ass, ten to four in the eighth. It still stands, their pitching sucked.
Not realizing I had dosed off, I heard my alarm beep indicating a muthafucka was coming in my shit. I reached under the cushion grabbing my nine-millimeter Sig Sauer and sat up. It sounded like someone was creeping along the foyer, but it didn’t matter because I was ready. When the figure emerged in the family room where I was, there was a red beam front and center.
“What the fuck is yo’ problem, Sosa? Get that shit out my face!” Ricio barked while pushing Nija behind him.
“I don’t have a problem, brah. With the shit Big Jim and Floyd is on, I’m ready for whatever. Yo’ ass need to let a nigga know when you are coming in. Holla my name, say aye, something so I won’t have to lock and load on ya ass.”
“Crazy muthafucka. Fuck them niggas, they ain’t on shit. Have you heard from Max?” he asked.
“Nah, he hasn’t called, let me call him to see where he is.” I said reaching for my phone.
I dialed him up and waited for him to pick up but the voicemail picked up. My nerves started twitching and I didn’t want to jump to any conclusions so, I tried again. The phone rang a couple times and he picked up. I was relieved and let the breath out that I was holding.
“Where ya at, lil bro.”
“I just made it back to the city. I’ll be there as soon as I go to the house and get my shit.”
“Uh uh, bring yo’ ass straight to my crib. Don’t go over there by yourself, Max. Are you fuckin’ crazy?”
“Put that shit on speaker, Sosa.” Ricio said sitting on the couch. I did what he asked and sat the phone on the coffee table.
“Max, listen to me and listen to me good. For the past couple days, we have been bumping heads, I need that shit to stop right now. Floyd and his cronies are not to be taken lightly. Whatever the fuck you got at that house, we will go out and buy again. Wherever you are, stop and come here, bro. We got you. I don’t know what’s going on, but obviously Sosa does. Are you hearing me?” Ricio asked.
“I just jumped on the expressway, Ricio. I’m on my way.”
“Max don’t go against me bro, bring yo’ ass!”
“Damn, I’m not. I told you I was on my way. I’ll be there in twenty.” He said hanging up the phone.
Ricio sat shaking his head back and forth. Nija sat next to him and rubbed his back. He looked over at her and smiled. I didn’t know what the hell the two of them had been doing, but she’s got his ass wrapped around her finger. The way he stared at her was different, and she calmed him down with a touch of her hand.
“Are you okay?” she asked him.
“Yeah, I would be better once I see my little brother walk through that door.” He turned to me and asked, “what the fuck is going on, Sosa.”
“According to Beast, Max went to see Big Jim.”
“What the hell did he do that for?” he growled.
“Beast said he went to talk Big Jim into calling a truce. Obviously, it didn’t go well because Max needs a place to stay. I think Big Jim told him to get out his crib. These niggas are about to come for us hard, Ricio. We have to get a plan in motion.”
“I’m already on that. I want to go out and have some fun before I attack these niggas. Once we start, we ain’t stopping until all them are eating maggots and worms for dinner.”
“Ricio, since you brought it up. I figured we could go out Friday to the strip club. Seeing a big booty bitch in your face would be a sight to see.” Nija said staring at the side of his face.
It was like that nigga was stuck, he didn’t know how to respond to what she suggested. My stupid ass started laughing uncontrollably because of the expression on his face. I loved the way Nija played that shit at the right time
.
“When did you start going to the strip club?” he asked glancing at her.
“I’ve never been to the strip club, Ricio. I think my first time would be lit if I was there with you. What do you think?” she asked with a sneaky grin on her face.
“I don’t think that would be a good idea.”
“Why not, Ricio?” she chuckled.
“You would be jealous as fuck if one of them hoes give me a lap dance. I don’t have time for all that catty shit.” He said shaking his head no.
“I’m not you, Mauricio. That shit doesn’t bother me. If I was the jealous type, it would’ve shown a long time ago. I don’t give you or your tribe the satisfaction. Now, are we going to watch some ass shaking, pussy poppin’, titty swinging hoes on Friday at Paradise Kitty?”
Ricio cut his eyes at her and I laughed again. “Shut the fuck up, Sosa! Ni, what the fuck do you know about Paradise Kitty? Yo’ ass better not lie either.”
“I don’t know shit about it, that’s why I want to go. I looked up strip clubs on the internet and that one looked clean as fuck. The dancers don’t look dirty, it’s in the heart of downtown, and from the videos I’ve seen, they know how to party. Are we going? Sosa, you want to tag along too?”
“Hell yeah, I’m in!” I said joining in on getting this nigga to commit to going.
“Aight, I’ll go. The first time I see you getting upset, we leaving.”
“Get upset for what? I might get me a lap dance myself, fuck you thought.” She said laughing.
When Ricio was about to respond to what she said, the doorbell chimed and he got up to see who it was. He and Max walked into the family room and all jokes were put to the side. My little brother looked stressed the fuck out.
“You ready to tell us what’s going on, man?”
“I want to tell y’all but it’s so much to take in. I went to see Big Jim today and this muthafucka had the nerve to brag about having daddy’s brains blown out. Hearing him admit it, made things real.”
“Max, that’s what I was trying to tell you on Monday. We know Big Jim had everything to do with Papi getting killed. Why the fuck did you think we were telling you to stay the fuck away from them? Ricio went to pay Big Jim a visit before that shit went down last night. That was the reason we rode down on them.” I explained to him.
“We weren’t telling you that shit to fuck up yo’ money! Them niggas are snakes! Not only did they have Reese killed, they had something to do with mama dying too! There, I said that shit. You were ridin’ with the enemy, Max. It was like you were saying fuck us and what they said was law. I wanted to fuck yo’ ass up!” Ricio spat at him.
“I know they are not right. There’s some shit that I can’t reveal right now, but they ain’t shit. I didn’t know they had anything to do with the deaths of our parents though.”
“Max, what do they have against you? What are you not telling us?” I asked.
“I can’t say right now. I was threatened today and I’m not trying to lose my life.” he said loudly.
I wasn’t about to force him to tell us what was going on. When he is comfortable enough to tell us, he will. I could tell that he was scared, but he didn’t have anything to worry about as long as he had me as a brother.
“Ricio, I want to apologize to both you and Sosa for trying to stay in their good graces. I wanted it to appear as if I was on their side to get more information from them. I went to talk to Big Jim and he refused to call off the war. He said you was a dead man walking because you disrespected him and you tried to steal from him. When I stood up for you, he told me that I had to get out his shit and he didn’t give a fuck if I starved. He has basically given them the go to kill y’all.”
“Bro, you don’t need to apologize. I don’t want you to put your life in danger for me. As far as them killing us, they better come strapped like the US muthfuckin’ Army. They have to wake up early as hell to get at us with the weak muthafuckas they got on their team. Truthfully, you are the weakest of us all, I believe you will be the target. I’m gon’ need you to watch your surroundings when you are out. You don’t have to worry about money or any of that shit. Papí left us well off and we are opening up shop on our own. We will be having a meeting with Beast on Monday, to discuss things. Until then, I want you to lay low.”
Ricio said the majority of the shit that I wanted to say and I was glad he didn’t try to pressure him into telling us what he refused to let out. It was all on Max to follow the rules that were set out for him. He was going to have to live off the money that he had because there was no more going out with Shake and John John to sell packs.
“What type of bread are you talking, brah?” Max asked rubbing his hands together.
“You will learn all of that on Monday. Don’t think too much about it, just know that you are good for the rest of your life. I want you to concentrate on the fact that Big Jim ain’t shit, along with everybody that rolls with him. Nobody would be able to tell me they didn’t know what the fuck he did. All them niggas are on my radar, everybody got a bullet with their name on it. Believe that shit. You can stay here as long as you need to, but I don’t’ want nobody in my shit.” I said sternly.
“That’s why I need my own crib. I will be looking for something next week, I’m too grown for a muthafucka to be telling me what I can and cannot do. Madysen is my girl and she can’t come over, either?”
I didn’t know if he was trying to start an altercation or what, but I wasn’t about to feed into that shit. “Max do what you gotta do. You of all people knows I don’t like for nobody to know where I lay my head. That goes for Madysen’s ass too.”
“What about Nija? She ain’t family.” He snarled.
“Nigga, she may as well be family! She’s been around a long ass time. You are trying to compare some shit between a bitch yo’ ass have known for a couple years, to a female that’s been around since you were nine. Sit down somewhere with that hoe shit.” Ricio barked at him. “Let me get up outta here. I’ll let the two of y’all figure out your living arrangements. I’m going to the crib.” Ricio said walking toward the door.
“See you around, Sosa. Don’t forget about Friday. Bye, Max.” Nija as she left out of the house.
I heard the door close and I told Max, to take the guest room that he used when he spent the night over. Picking up the remote, I turned the tv off and went to my room without saying anything else to my little brother.
Chapter 13
Nija
We pulled out of Sosa’s driveway and Ricio was driving like a madman. I knew he was upset because Max used me as an example, but it wasn’t that serious. As he drove, his jawline flexed constantly. I was trying my best to keep my eyes on the road because I was ready to be a backseat driver.
“Ricio, would you slow down please? I would love to live to see my twenty-second birthday.” I asked as I grabbed his hand.
“Max is pissing me off because he is not telling us the whole truth. Instead of talking to us, he wants to start conflict. I don’t have time for that shit, man. I’m gon’ look out and be there for him, but I am no longer trying to tell him what he needs to do. He’s not going to listen.”
“Whatever he is going through can’t be easy for him. You have to step outside of the equation to see the entire picture. Max is hurting about something. Y’all have to give him time to open up. Don’t give up on him.”
“You’re right. I’ll reach out to him and have a one on one conversation with him. By now, Floyd knows about whatever Max and Big Jim talked about. I would’ve paid to be the fly on the wall to hear what was said.”
“Max will let y’all in on what’s going on. I believe that in my heart.”
He pulled into the parking lot of J &J Fish and parked. “Thank you for being here with me through all of this. What do you want out of here?”
“I don’t know. I’ll go in with you.” I said unbuckling my seatbelt.
We got out the truck and walked toward the entrance, there wa
s a woman staring in our direction. I didn’t pay her any mind and kept walking. She headed toward us and I knew then, she was someone he knew. Her face lit up as she got closer.
“Mr. Vasquez, what are you doing in my neck of the woods?” she asked walking up to him with her arms outstretched.
“Hey Miss Smith. I’m good and you?” he responded giving her a hug.
I stood there for a spell and decided to let them have their reunion in peace. When I took a step in the direction of the restaurant, Ricio grabbed my hand. Turning my head to glance back at him, a look of confusion was evident on my face.
“Latorra, this is my friend Nija. Nija this is Latorra.”
The way he said ‘this is my friend’ let me know that he had more than a friendship with her. It didn’t make me feel any type of way, but I wasn’t about to stand there and listen to their conversation. One of these days he was going to have to make a choice.
“Hello,” was all I gave her before I shrugged out of his grasp and entered the restaurant.
As I ordered our food, I glanced out the window and the two of them were all smiles. I felt my phone vibrating in my purse and I dug around to get it without taking my eyes off Ricio. Seeing my sister Nihiyah’s name on the display, I answered.
“Well hello stranger. Something must be totally wrong if I’m getting a call from you.”
“Nija, please. I’ve been busy as hell.” She said.
“Busy doing what, chasing dick?”
“Oh sis, you tried it,” she said laughing. “Where are you?”
“I’m at the J &J Fish on 79th with Ricio. Why what’s up?”
“I was just trying to see what you were up to. We haven’t hung out in a while, I miss my sister.
“Nihiyah, we ain’t never hung out. Tell me what the fuck is up and stop with the bullshit. If you need some money, I don’t have any.” I said with an attitude.
“Damn, every time I call, I’m not asking for something! Fuck it don’t worry about it. I’ll talk to you later.”