After about an hour of dancing, drinking and giving a few women some conversation, he’d seen what he’d come for—Mariska. She was wearing a tight black dress with a pair of Jimmie Choo pumps. The dress was very short leaving little to one’s imagination.
Shaun bought Mariska a drink, and she told him that she wondered if he was going to show. That when she was talking to Ivan and said that Bon V was her favorite Saturday night spot, she was hoping that Shaun had picked up on the hint—which he did.
They danced closely on the packed dance floor where Mariska made sure Shaun felt her Russian body heat. At one point she had her back to him, and as they danced, she grabbed his hands and guided them up her hips and over her breasts so he could feel what she was working with. The techno cut the DJ was spinning had them hot and bothered, but that night Mariska was simply playing with Shaun. Making him hunger for her and giving him something to think about when the night was over and he was on his way back to his urban world and urban women on the south side. They drank and talked that night. She told him she’d met Ivan when she was a student attending Northwestern University. She stated that she didn’t love Ivan that she was with him for his money. She then got straight to the point, telling Shaun that she wanted nothing from him but a good time and sex. That she loved sex with men and women and that she wanted to show him what pleasure was all about. Guaranteed him pleasure he’d never felt before. Shaun felt as if his dick was going to explode as he listened and watch the words flow from her red lipstick covered lips and after another Saturday of partying with Mariska and her friend he was back at the club. Only this time it was with the promise of a night of pure unadulterated sex.
9
“Bone is no doubt a fierce man, but we’ll get him out of the way”—LATANZA
The summer rolled into the fall, and all was quiet with the three crews. They were making money hand over fist, and Slim was glad there were no waves in the ocean of hustling. To Slim, it seemed as if LaTanza and Bone were happy with their arrangement, but word had gotten back to him that LaTanza was thinking of making a power move. The three crews were seven months into their year deal with the Russians, and Slim didn’t need for any of them to mess things up. He had purchased houses and land in North Carolina, Texas, Arizona, Colorado and Washington. They were places far away from Chicago, and his plan was for all the ranking members of his crew to settle down and live normal, but most important, safe, stress free lives. All the houses had plenty of land and mixed communities. Slim had chosen Colorado for himself and his love, Trish, who he has fallen for. She has shown him that love is an emotion that no one should be without. They had gone to Vegas, Los Angeles and Jamaica in the four months they have been seeing each other. Slim learned that her dream was to be an executive chef, and he planned on sending her to culinary school next year when he retired from the game. He would then use some of his money to purchase a restaurant for her to operate. He had so many dreams for him and his friends that he couldn’t wait for the time to spring it on them.
Cancer was still making a home in Lucky’s body, but the strong-willed man barely thought about the life threatening disease. He was too busy relishing in Jamel’s success as a boxer. The young man had won nine fights without taking a loss. Eight of them were by knockout, and he had a big fight coming up with the Mexican he’d beaten years ago before he quit boxing. The same Mexican who had made it to the Pan Am games. The Mexican’s name was Poncho Perez, and he had a professional record of twenty-one and two. Jamel swore to Lucky and Fight Doctor that the man would have three losses when he was done with him. The fight was in a week at the River Boat casino in Buffington Harbor. Jamel was lucky to get the fight, managing to climb over a couple of fighters who should have been next in line to fight Perez, but after the Mexican heard Jamel running his mouth in a local magazine about how he whipped him back in the day, Perez relished the moment to fight Jamel. The entire crew couldn’t wait. They had their tickets and were ready to root their little homey on.
Bone’s crew was full of street gangsters and were used to banging. Robbery, fighting, stealing, killing and of course, hustling was their game, but being connected in a roundabout way to two of their rivals left them with not much to do. They would occasionally find something to get into, especially with people not connected to Slim’s crew or The Fuentes’. But they were getting restless, and some of them were getting the feeling that they weren’t getting their due share. That most of the profits they were spilling their blood for was going into Bone’s pockets. They were fed that theory by Kenny, and Pookie, a skinny former basketball star who blew out his knee and got caught with two ounces of weed in his dorm while playing ball at Oklahoma State. Once back on the block on the west side of Chicago while at a pick-up basketball game in one of Reynard’s controlled neighborhoods, Pookie was slam dunking and putting on a show. When Reynard asked him to play on his basketball team that played pick-up games in the city for money, Pookie told him that was cool, but he also wanted to get put on. That he knew many cats who smoked bud back in college and someone who could get the green off. Reynard fronted Pookie five pounds, and two days later Pookie was back with his money. From that point on, Pookie was a good earner—on the court and the streets. Since then, Pookie has been loyal to Reynard and would follow him just about anywhere.
Reynard had been approached by a Hispanic man one night who gave him a briefcase with fifty thousand in it. All the man told Reynard was “For you and not Bone. Compliments of the Fuentes’.”
Reynard didn’t know what to make of it, until he received a phone call from the head bitch in charge, LaTanza. She told him that there was more money where that came from if he was in charge. Reynard was smart enough to know where she was coming from and couldn’t wait for her to contact him again. He was loyal to Bone, but there was always room for change. Especially, when the leadership at hand was not ruling the way he should be and may needed to be ousted like the Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi.
LaTanza was sitting back keeping a low profile. She knew her sister had her hounds out trying to find whatever dirt they could since she and Carlos killed her father. LaTanza thought it was funny that her sister would always be one step behind her since she had Detective Styles in her back pocket. It was an ace card in her hand, and she kept a good poker face when it came to Detective Styles working for her. LaTanza also had plans of breaking off from the deal with the Russians whenever Chacho decided to supply her and give her his buyers in all the other states in the Midwest since he hadn’t been able to find a good earner. He has had two different men in that position ever since he killed Antoine Villarreal for cooperating with the United States government, but the men were found to be incapable of handling the job. So soon, Chacho would have to call LaTanza. He knew she was ruthless and would make money. She only had two strikes against her—she was a woman and black. But like all racial and gender barriers, they would be broken so that Chacho could get back to making large amounts of money in the Midwest.
* * *
Noonie was laying on the twin bed sleeping lightly. He had just fed his son about an hour ago and had fallen asleep shorty after putting him in his crib. Chantel was in their bedroom catching up on some reading. Noonie had been a lot of help to her; he hadn’t been in the streets much since their son was born. He was a two months old, and all he did was eat and sleep. Miss Joplin told her that most women think that this is the hard part, but in reality it isn’t. She told Chantel that when they were infants all they did was eat and sleep. That it was up to the woman to get on the baby’s schedule if her time permitted it, and with Chantel being at home all day, it afforded her the time to do just that. Get on her son’s schedule.
Chantel had just started re-reading novel she’d read a couple of years ago, an erotica Lies, Lust, Consequences when she heard Noonie’s ring tone. She leaned over to the nightstand and looked at the screen. Greg’s name appeared. She waited until it finished ringing before she headed to the baby’s room. She didn�
�t want the rapping of Rick Ross to wake the baby. She threw the comforter off herself and headed to the baby’s room. When she stepped inside, she noticed Noonie sleeping peacefully. She thought about waking him but decided not to. She clicked on the nightlight then turned off the ceiling light. She closed the door partially then headed downstairs to get some butter pecan ice cream to indulge in as she read her book.
“Thanks,” Noonie said as he took the ice cream from Chantel when she entered the bedroom.
“I thought you were sleep,” she said as she watched her man lick some ice cream from the spoon. She smiled at how the color of the butter pecan matched the hue of his skin.
“I was, but you know I sleep lightly.” He grabbed the book off the bed. “Now you know you shouldn’t be reading this type of stuff,” he said as he kissed her on the forehead.
“You’re right because it makes me horny as hell.”
“Just say the word, ma. Just say the word.”
Chantel reached in her pocket. “Oh, yeah. You had a call.”
He looked at the screen then saw that he had a message from Greg. He was about to check it when Reese called. “Whad up, big boy?” he asked.
“Nigga, you,” Reese said. “You on lockdown or what?”
“Nah, just chillin’. What y’all fools got goin’? I hear the music.”
“We at that new club, get your ass down here. You ain’t partied with us in a minute.”
“Nah, homey. I’m chillin’ with little man and Chantel,” Noonie said.
Chantel sat on the edge of the bed. She could hear in Noonie’s voice that he wanted to hang out. She thought about how he had been such a good man by taking care of her and Jr. that he may need a break. She wasn’t the jealous type and knew that Noonie was hers. She trusted him and didn’t want to have him feeling as if he was locked down so she walked to him and whispered in his ear, “Go out. The baby and I will be fine.”
She then knelt and unbuckled his jeans. She grabbed a hold of his manhood.
Noonie told Reese, “I’ll be there. I’ll hit you when I’m on the road.” He dropped the phone to the carpeted floor as he felt nothing but the warmth of his woman’s mouth.
* * *
Noonie stepped inside the club, and it was happening. It was packed with women in outfits that would make a stripper cry in shame and women who were grouped with their girls dressed in fashionable outfits. They were the proper looking ones. The ones who acted sweet or stuck up but get them behind closed doors they were some of the biggest freaks. The men, well Noonie noticed some hustlers he knew and some he didn’t. They were rocking the latest fad and sported much ice. There were also men who weren’t hustlers, but chasing the same thing—pussy.
“Damn, married man, I thought your ass wasn’t going to be able to get out,” Big Reese said as he gave Noonie some dap.
“I’m a daddy, not married. Little man is what keeps me locked down. But don’t get me wrong. I don’t have a problem with staying at the crib to help Chantel out. That’s what men do!” Noonie replied as he tapped a passing waitress on the arm. “Can I get a double shot of Remy on the rocks?”
Shaun walked up to where the two men were standing. “No need for that, just bring some Heinekens to our table,” he told the waitress as he gestured to where Ant was sitting.
Noonie gave Shaun some dap, looked him over then said, “Damn nigga, you checkin’ out my wardrobe or what?”
Noonie was referring to Shaun’s Antonio Zengara shoes, Sean John white button-down and jeans. Noonie had on the same attire except for his shirt was a lavender color.
Shaun joked, “We need to play this shit like them women do and say ‘fuck this shit that MF got on the same shit take me home’!” he joked
Noonie walked off toward the table. Shaun and Reese followed. Noonie said, “You’re lucky we’re wearing different colors.” They all laughed.
Anthony stood and gave Noonie a hug. “How’s Chantel and Jr.?” he asked.
“All good, baby. This you?” he said as he pointed to the glass.
“Yeah, just poured it.”
Noonie smiled at the bottle of Remy XO and saw why he told the waitress to bring only some beer. Noonie poured a double shot and sipped as they all sat.
Reese said, “We got your locked down boy out the house.”
Noonie said, “Okay, kill the lockdown shit. I’m here to get my chill on,” Noonie said as he noticed a thick in the thighs sista staring him down. Noonie acknowledged with a smile, but he wasn’t interested.
“I know you saw that shit,” Shaun said.
“I’m straight. I’m here to fuck with y’all. I mean do y’all thang, but I’m chillin’.”
Before anyone could respond, Ant patted Noonie on the shoulder and said, “Y’all need to follow in me and my man’s footsteps. This shit ain’t gonna last, so we’ve been preparing to settle down.”
Shaun said, “I feel ya, but dig. Y’all know how I get down so I’m ’bout to go holla at that freak right there,” he said as he pointed to two women standing at the bar. He downed his shot then left his boys to rap to the woman. One woman was light-skinned, short and thick, all ass and tits. The other was tall, dark and leggy. Her body was of average build, but her long legs and hair are what attracted Shaun to her. Those attributes on a woman were what he was a sucker for.
Reese said, “Look at that nigga, he always going for them skinny bitches.”
They laughed and then talked amongst themselves as a cut by Rick Ross blared through the club’s speakers. The waitress finally made it with their beers. They drank, and the woman who had been staring Noonie down, stepped to him. The tight Deron jean skirt with a wrap-around top showed off her well-endowed body well.
“Hi, baby, do you mind if me and my friend chill with y’all?” she cooed.
“No problem, baby,” Reese said as he checked out the friend who was just as thick.
Noonie said, “We’re straight. Maybe a little later. Me and my boys are kicking it now.”
The women looked a bit confused. Anthony nodded for the waitress, and she came over. “Give them a round of whatever they want.” He nodded for the women to leave.
As they did, they gave a snobbish, “Thanks!”
Reese said, “Damn, y’all may be locked down, but a nigga here to play, feel me?”
Anthony replied, “I got y’all here to talk business. We can play later.”
Reese pointed toward the bar and said, “But playboy over there can…what the fuck?”
The men looked over to where Shaun was and saw what Reese saw. Reynard, Bone’s right hand man had stepped to Shaun and he looked pissed.
Reynard faced Shaun as he stood in between him and the woman he was talking to. “Shonda, get the fuck up outta here,” Reynard said to the woman.
She replied, “Reynard, I wasn’t doing shit. He came up talking to me.”
Reynard kept his eyes locked on Shaun emphatically saying, “I ain’t about to repeat myself.”
Shonda and her friend were pissed as she walked off, but knew to do what her man said.
“Nigga, you trippin. Not off the broad, but being up in my space,” Shaun said coolly as he swallowed the last bit of his beer and kept a hold of the bottle in case he had to use it as a weapon.
Reynard barked, “Nigga, you know who I am and who I’m with, so you need to watch whose bitch you tryna holla at.”
“Is there a problem?” Reese’s voice was deep and forceful.
Reynard had seen Shaun’s boys at the table and knew they would come to their partner’s rescue, but he had to let Shaun know what time it was. Shaun had seen Reynard with Shonda last weekend and knew that it was his girl, so trying to push up on her was total disrespect to him. At the moment Reynard had no help. His partner was outside smoking a blunt with his boy, so he decided to chill.
Reynard stared all the men up and down as he slowly walked away. “There will be another time, pretty boy!”
Reese gritted at him and said
, “Kick rocks like Barney Rubble, bitch.”
The men walked back as some of the clubbers watched. Some would have like to have seen a fight, but the ones who knew of the men were glad nothing popped off because it could have gotten chaotic.
Reese poured everyone a shot of Remy. “Man, I wanted to knock that mothafucka out!”
Noonie sighed relief, Anthony caught it and said, “Y’all know how them grimy niggas in Bone’s crew do. They have their broads bring the heat in the club since the bouncers don’t really check them.”
Noonie said, “And I left my nine in the car.”
Reese said, “No need to worry, home boy.” He nodded to a heavy-set woman in a jean outfit. “I keeps a gat near me. Them fools not the only ones who got women bringing in pieces.”
The woman smiled showing the gold tooth she had in her mouth, sipped her drink then turned her attention to the women who were at her table—women who carried pistols for Shaun and Anthony.
The men drank, danced, and had conversation with women and men. Women who wanted to bed the ballers and men who wanted to be down. Noonie ran into Boogie, an old acquaintance who was an independent, but got his dope from Bone’s people. Boogie lived on the west side on Marquette in the West Englewood neighborhood. It’s a tough area where Boogie was given the rights to hustle as long as he bought his drugs from Bone. Boogie and Noonie had become tight when Noonie moved to the city from Gary. He had meet Boogie’s sister, and they were an item for about a year. When Boogie got jumped while visiting his sister, who lived on the southeast side, Noonie didn’t hesitate to help the young man who was on the wrong side of the city. Needless to say, they have been cool ever since.
The Corner III (No Way Out) Page 16