Queen Hustlaz

by Falicia Love

  Dana walked into Shirley’s house and scanned the room. She saw Shirley standing in a corner, talking to some woman she didn’t recognize. She saw groups of people talking, and a few were crying.

  Dana’s gaze froze on a sight that made her heart sink. Over on the couch, curled up in a snug, tight ball, with his head in between his knees, was Travis. Several people approached him, but he simply didn’t acknowledge them.

  Stephanie and her friend were talking to a few of Farrah’s cousins, and Jeryca had made her way to talk with Shirley. Shirley embraced Jeryca and held her for a few seconds, let her go, and then grabbed her again.

  Dana decided to make her way over to Travis. When she sat down, she leaned over and said, “Hey, T-man. It’s Dana.”

  He raised his head and began to cry uncontrollably. Instinct made Dana pick him up and hold him. He wrapped his tiny arms around her neck tightly and wept. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked over at Travis. Shirley began to cry and ran out of the room with Jeryca and Karen on her heels.

  Dana’s heart went out to both Shirley and Travis. “Hey, li’l man, do you want something to eat or drink? I hear your li’l tummy growling.”

  “I’m n-n-not h-h-hungry,” he sobbed.

  “Eat just a little bite for Auntie D,” she pleaded.

  He finally gave in, but he wasn’t going to let her put him down. Dana struggled to hold him up, and as she walked to the kitchen, she overheard Shirley talking and crying at the same time.

  “I’m his grandmother, and he hasn’t really spoken to me since yesterday. How am I supposed to take care of him on my income? All I get is seven hundred dollars in disability. I’m sickly. I can’t raise him alone. What’s going to happen to him if I die or become ill? Somebody please tell me!” she cried.

  Dana turned around and walked back toward the door.

  “Where we going, Auntie D?” Travis asked.

  “Auntie D is taking you to Burger King. Would you like that?” she asked.

  “Yes, ma’am!” he replied.

  “Okay, well, jump down and let Auntie D go and tell your grandma where we are going.”

  Travis got down, but he stood up against the door with his head down.

  Dana told Shirley that she was taking Travis out for a while. Shirley nodded her head with approval. Before Dana could get out the door, Stephanie ran up. “Where you going?”

  “I’m taking Travis out for a while,” Dana answered.

  “We’re going to ride with you, okay? All this is too much for me. Dana. It really just hit me that Farrah is really gone.” Stephanie began to cry.

  “Steph, we got to keep it together. Travis isn’t doing good at all, and he doesn’t need to see you crying. You can’t do that crying if you ride with us,” Dana replied harshly.

  Robin rubbed Stephanie’s shoulders. “Baby, she’s right. Look at that little boy over there.”

  Stephanie sniffed and smiled. “I’m good, y’all. I promise I got this.”

  “Are you sure? You good, sis?” Dana said softly, rubbing Stephanie’s arms.

  “Yes, I am. Let’s get Travis and go eat. I’m starving!” Stephanie replied, half-smiling.

  They left and went to Burger King. Travis ate his food quietly and kept his head on Dana’s arm the whole time. He talked to Stephanie about seeing his mother lying on the floor, bleeding.

  Dana felt bad hearing Travis describing what he had seen. She had been so angry with Farrah and her betrayal that she had forgotten about the impact it would have on Travis.

  She looked at her watch and told Stephanie and Robin that they had to leave. As they gathered their belongings, Travis asked her if he could spend the night with her.

  “Baby, I’m sorry. I have to work tomorrow. You know what? Your grandma needs you to be there with her. You got to make sure she eats like you did. Talk to her and make sure she is okay. Can you do that for me?” Dana asked.

  Travis sat in silence for a few minutes but finally agreed to stay with his grandma. Dana drove him back in silence. She had to figure out how she could help Shirley and Travis in their time of need.

  After she dropped him off, she told Jeryca that they had to go. Jeryca then informed her that she was going to stay the night and help Shirley out for a while. Dana hugged Jeryca and Shirley and then walked over to Travis. She squatted down before him, grasped him gently by the chin, and tilted his head up so that he was looking at her.

  “Aye, T-man, remember what I said. Look at me,” she said when he looked down. “Remember, you got to be a big boy, okay?”

  He nodded his head with tears streaming down his face. Seeing Travis in that much pain ripped through Dana’s heart, and she fought back the tears threatening to spill over.

  She hugged him tightly and rushed out the door in tears. She wasn’t crying from the loss of Farrah, but from Travis’s pain.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Brittany, are you on board or what?” Zack asked.

  “Before I answer that, have you run this by Dana? If she’s on board, then I’m on board. You know I’m always ready to make some money, but I want Dana to be a part of this,” Brittany replied.

  “I’m going to talk to her, but you know Dana will be all for it,” Zack said.

  “Well, make sure she is, and then we can talk. You know Dana has become hardhearted. I love the new her.” Brittany laughed.

  “Yeah, me too. I talked to Orlando and Tim this morning, and we had our conference call with their man, Sergio. Brittany, I’m telling you this lick is going to be sweet. If I can pull it off successfully, I’m going to see if we can connect with my people in North Carolina so we can take over the East Coast. These guys that Orlando introduced me to are the real deal,” Zack whispered after seeing Debra walking by Brittany’s office.

  Brittany motioned for Debra to come in, trying not to look too conspicuous.

  “What’s up, boss lady?” Debra said as she bounced into the office with yet another seemingly new outfit on. Brittany noticed it immediately.

  “Well, you know our lick went bad the other week, but we have a plan to recoup from it. We need your help on this one. Will you help us once we get everything planned out?” Brittany asked.

  “Why do you need me?” Debra asked suspiciously.

  “With Farrah’s death and all, I don’t know if everyone who was previously involved will be available to help,” Brittany replied quickly.

  Debra thought about it for a few seconds and finally agreed. “Girl, I’m all on it. What do you want me to do?” she asked.

  “We haven’t gotten everything just right, but when we do, I will get back to you. On a different note, what are you having for lunch today?” Brittany asked.

  “I don’t know yet. What do you have a taste for?”

  “Girl, just let me know where you’re going so I can send for something. I’m preparing for this case on Monday, and I probably won’t have time to get anything.” Brittany sighed, rolling her eyes.

  “Okay, I will let you know when I figure out where I’m going,” Debra replied.

  Debra left Brittany’s office, walked over, and knocked on Dana’s door. When she walked in, Dana looked up.

  “You need something, Debra?”

  “When you get time, I need you to look up a case for me,” Debra replied.

  “Brittany got me on two cases right now, and it’s already ten thirty. Get me the case file, and I will see what I can find before twelve. You do remember that we are only working ’til two o’clock since its Saturday?” Dana asked.

  “Well, couldn’t you work over?” Debra asked, looking confused.

  “No, I can’t. I am going over to Ms. Walker’s house,” Dana answered.

  “Oh, I forgot about your friend,” Debra replied, putting an emphasis on the last word.

  Dana glared at her and started to respond, but Zack walked in.

  “Oh, I didn’t know you were in here, Debra,” he said as he walked in.

  “Yeah, just
trying to get a li’l work done,” Debra replied before excusing herself from the room.

  “I don’t know what persuaded you to come in when you did, but boy, I swear I thank you. I was ’bout to go in on that bitch,” Dana groaned.

  “What the fuck she do?” Zack asked.

  Dana sighed. “Just her being in my presence ticks me off. What’s up, though?”

  “Shit, can you get your girls together tonight?” he asked.

  “Hell, I don’t know. They so wrapped up in their feelings right now. But what do you want me to get them together for?” Dana asked.

  “Come and walk with me to the car, sweet cheeks.” He laughed as he grabbed her by the hand.

  “Oh Lord, got to be some kind of bullshit that you trying to sweet talk me into,” Dana joked as she stood up and walked with Zack out of the office. Dana walked to Brittany’s office to inform her that she was going to take a small, ten-minute break.

  “Go ’head, lady,” Brittany replied.

  “It might be fifteen,” Zack said, sticking his head in the door.

  “Ten minutes, girl,” Dana said, quickly dismissing Zack’s comment.

  Brittany laughed as the pair left her office and the building.

  They playfully pushed each other as they walked to the car. He opened the passenger’s side door so she could get in. Once they were in the car, Zack looked at her.

  “Listen, I got information on a lick that will set us up for the long haul. Shit, I fuck with you, and I need you and your girls on board. Plus, this is still going to get some payback for you with Thad.”

  “Zack, I don’t know if Jeryca and Stephanie would be down with that so soon after Farrah’s death. Tell you what: let me talk to them, and I will let you know by four o’clock if they with it,” Dana promised.

  “All right, I will be waiting for your call. Now, if they aren’t wit’ it, can I depend on you to work wit’ us?” Zack asked as he rubbed her fingers.

  “Of course you can. You know I’m down with fucking over Thad, and getting some money is an added bonus. But I got something else for Thad’s ass also,” she stated.

  “That’s my girl. Make sure you let Brit know. She said she wasn’t in if you weren’t,” Zack said, smiling.

  “That’s my muthafuckin’ bitch,” Dana said, getting out of the car. Once she was out, she bent her head down and looked Zack dead in his eyes. “Oh, and don’t get it twisted; all that hand-rubbing and sweet talk isn’t what persuaded me to help a nigga. It’s all about that dollar.”

  As she walked away, Zack watched her until she reached the entrance of the building. He laughed as she turned and waved. He really liked her and couldn’t wait to smash her ass, he thought, watching the jiggle of her butt as she walked into the office.

  * * *

  “Man, you ain’t talking ’bout shit, nigga. Just pass that blunt and shut the fuck up lying.” Thad laughed as he grabbed the blunt from Austin.

  “For real, man. Just think about it: how the hell did the Egyptians create all those pyramids? They’re aliens. Real talk, yo,” Austin replied.

  “Don’t nobody give Austin any more bud! He done lost it.” Thad laughed, choking on the smoke he had just inhaled.

  “All right, don’t believe me!”

  Before Austin could finish, Toby came into the room. “I got Chris on the phone, bro, and you need to hear what he is saying.”

  Thad could tell by the look on Toby’s face that it was important. He grabbed the phone.

  “What’s up, my nigga?”

  “Thad, man, word in here is that Larry was involved with the robbery. They said that Farrah somehow found out, and that’s why he killed her,” Chris said quickly.

  “Man, you are fucking lying. Larry ain’t did no shit like that. God damn it,” Thad yelled.

  “Man, you know the nigga ain’t even reached out to me at all. He over in F Block and could’ve been got at me. I think it’s some truth to this shit. The man who gave me the info is solid. You know D-Red?” Chris asked.

  “Yeah, man, I know that nigga. Listen, thanks for looking out. You know we got you, my nigga, and we gon’ handle this Larry situation. I’m gonna let you holla back at Toby. Keep ya head up, man.” Thad sighed, shaking his head.

  Thad handed Toby his phone and walked out of the room quietly with his fists balled. Toby knew that his brother was out for blood.

  After Toby got off the phone, Austin looked at him. “What’s up, Toby?”

  “Man, we just found out that Larry fucked us, and he is the reason why we are in our current situation.”

  While Toby explained to Austin what Chris had just divulged to him, Thad walked in.

  Austin looked at Thad. “Let me take care of dude for y’all. I am a part of this now. Trust me to take care of this.”

  Thad and Toby looked at each other, and Thad sighed. “All right, handle it.”

  Austin walked out of the room on his phone. Toby flopped down on the couch, and Thad paced the floor. A few minutes later, Toby’s phone rang, and Thad looked over at him.

  “It’s just wifey,” Toby said.

  “Man, I wish I could get my hands on that fuckin’ nigga for real. I knew he was acting suspect. I told you,” Thad shouted as he punched the wall.

  Toby waited until after Thad finished ranting before he called Tiffany back.

  Thad was infuriated, but he was calming down, bit by bit. As he sat down and took slow, deep breaths, he closed his eyes. When he opened them, he called for Luscious, one of his new hoes, to come into the room.

  “Yes, sir?” she said as she entered.

  Thad looked at Toby and said quietly, “You should excuse yourself.”

  Toby knew what that meant, and as he was about to shut the door, he heard Thad tell Luscious, “Come over here and give me some head, bitch.”

  Toby shook his head, disappeared into the dining area, and called his wife.

  * * *

  After an hour of pleading her case, Dana finally convinced Jeryca and Stephanie to join her, Brittany, Orlando, and Zack at Brittany’s house. Her house was huge and on a large, private lot.

  Everyone sat around Brittany’s large kitchen table and listened to Orlando and Zack explain every detail of their plan. Dana had told Jeryca and Stephanie that this would be a good move, and it would benefit Shirley and Travis as well as them, which was why Jeryca and Stephanie agreed to help. They knew that it was going to be hard for Shirley to take care of Travis all by herself. Her finances just wouldn’t be enough, and to make matters worse, Farrah didn’t have any life insurance, which was an extra strain on Shirley. They had to help her out.

  After Orlando and Zack finished talking, Brittany began to talk. “All right now, y’all know we got to get our shit back from Debra. Since I brought her in, I will deal with her, but I’m going to need a few hands on deck to assist me.”

  “Debra?” Stephanie asked.

  “Oh, shit! I didn’t tell y’all that we found out that Larry and Debra were the ones responsible for the hit on our lick.”

  “What!” Jeryca yelled and stood up angrily.

  “Fuck, I’m in! Just let me know when and where. The how I will leave up to you,” Dana said.

  “I’m in also. That bitch done fucked up!” Stephanie said.

  Jeryca sat back down slowly. “I can’t do anything until after Farrah’s funeral on Monday.”

  “Understandable,” Zack and Orlando agreed.

  Dana, Zack, and Brittany got up and walked into the front room while Jeryca, Stephanie, and Orlando stood talking in the kitchen.

  “Listen, you know I had my cousin D-Red spread a rumor that Larry was responsible for hitting Thad. I told him that we needed to get that nigga out the picture as payback for Farrah,” Dana whispered.

  “Shit, that was good thinking, sis. That way no one will link you to her death, and that’s a stress off you,” Brittany muttered.

  “I know, right? Shit, we need to figure out a day to deal with Debra, and on
ce those two are out the way, I’m in the clear,” Dana said, smiling.

  The three of them quickly turned around as they heard Orlando clearing his throat. He and Jeryca stood in the doorway, and a few seconds later, Stephanie appeared with a drink in her hand.

  Dana immediately smiled but silently prayed that they hadn’t heard what they were just talking about.

  Stephanie sipped her drink, never taking her eyes off Dana. “Let’s go to the club or something. We need to turn up and party like Farrah would expect us to.”

  Everyone agreed and decided to hit the club. They laughed and danced all night. What shocked Dana was how good Jeryca and Orlando were getting along. They were inseparable. Dana was pleased with how things were coming together.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Brooklyn Detention Center

  Sunday Morning

  Larry sat on his bunk, biting his nails. He didn’t have anyone he could call to help him in his situation. He knew that Thad and Toby were thinking that he had something to do with the robbery. They would be out to get him if he was released, so he wasn’t going to call them. He would’ve felt somewhat safer where he was if Big Bam wasn’t constantly eyeing him and smiling at him. Everyone knew Big Bam was a booty chaser, and he was too damn big for Larry to try to fight. However, he would definitely try him to keep his ass from being penetrated.

  Larry looked around his sleeping area. He was in an open dorm. His bunk was located at the far back end of the dorm, against the wall. He figured if he had to, he would sleep with his ass against the wall, which he doubted would stop Big Bam if he wanted to get him.

  Big Bam was known in the street and was awaiting trial for a triple homicide that he was caught in the act of doing. He told everyone in the dorm that he knew he was going away for life and wasn’t afraid of doing the time. Big Bam was well respected in the dorm, and no one would go against him. He preyed on the weak guys in there, so Larry hoped that Big Bam had heard of him and who he was affiliated with.

  Larry’s thoughts were interrupted as D-Red approached him and sat on an opposite bunk. “Larry, your boy Chris wanted me to see if you needed anything. He said he don’t know why you haven’t reached out to him yet.”