The three men approached the rapper with ease, smiles on their deceiving faces. Although D.Gunna was a bit apprehensive, he was never one to shun a fan.
“No doubt, no doubt. Appreciate the love, baby.”
“That’s what’s up!” Bennie squealed, throwing his hands in the air stepping up closer on him. “You cool as shit, homes. Can I get an autograph for my son? He loves your shit, too!”
D.Gunna nodded and reached in his pocket for the pen he always kept handy. He wasn’t feeling son’s closeness, but he figured the sooner he’d sign it, the sooner son would back up off of him. Brick and Dirk watched from the sidelines, Brick a little more alert than Dirk.
“Yo, let me get…something…”
“Oh yea, my bad homes. Here, take this to sign it on,” Bennie offered, handing him a dollar bill. “Gotta have dollar bills right? For the bitches?”
He laughed and Gunna chuckled, and as Gunna looked down to sign he asked, “Aight, who you want me to make it out to?”
“Make it out to my Beretta, ese.”
Before Gunna put it together, Bennie sprung out his gun and had it to his gut, but not before Brick stepped up ready to break his neck.
“I don’t suggest it, you black gorilla motherfucker,” Raul spoke pressing his cold 9 to the back of Brick’s bald head. The other cousin also had his weapon on Dirk. They were so fast with it, so quick, no one had a chance to react.
“What you want, pussy?”
For the slick comment, Bennie punched Gunna hard across the jaw before pushing his Beretta deeper into Gunna’s side.
“Gimme your fucking jewelry, bitch. I want that fucking chain, the watch, the bracelet, and the fucking rings.”
Gunna had to have on over a million dollars in jewelry. It was so normal to him, he almost forgot how he probably looked like a full course meal to niggas in the street. But damn, they were in Hollywood?
Gunna began to reluctantly remove his jewelry, knowing most was insured. Unlike stupid motherfuckers who claimed they’d die for they shit, Gunna was from the streets, and he knew niggas would kill for it, no questions asked.
Gunna removed his watch and bracelet, as well as his rings and handed them over to Bennie with a grimace. Just as he was lifting his prized possession, his platinum chain with the huge diamond flooded Mac-11, the lights from the limo could be seen approaching. The slight distraction caused everyone to glance for a split second and in that second everything turned around.
Brick snapped his pistol out of its holster with a subtle motion, turned it slightly to where it was aimed to the back of him, prayed he was accurate and pulled the hairpin trigger.
It sent a bullet straight into Raul’s groin and he cried out in pain at the same time that D. Gunna sent a right hook into Bennie’s jaw, dropping him to the ground. Brick spun around quickly, his ten years of martial arts training coming to effect, aimed at the other cousin and shot him dead in the face before he could pull his own trigger.
At the same time Bennie lifted his weapon to Gunna but Brick swiftly kicked it out of his hand.
“Wouldn’t recommend it, bitch!” Brick spat.
The limo driver pulled up to the curb and Dirk was the first one in the direction, as Gunna and Brick stood over a dazed Bennie.
“You thought I was soft nigga?” Gunna questioned with venom in his voice, picking up Bennie’s gun which lay a few feet from him. He leaned over and cracked the weapon hard against Bennie’s face.
“Nigga, I’m from the Bricks!”
Bennie’s mouth instantly filled with blood as he watched Brick urge Gunna to the car.
“Let’s get the fuck outta here, D,” Brick warned, looking at the skinny white limo driver who was exiting but still incoherent to what was happening.
D.Gunna stalled, but nodded in agreeance, and just as they turned, Bennie let out a cocky laugh coated in blood.
“I’m coming back for that chain, D. Gunna,” he taunted. “And your album was garbage, homes.”
D.Gunna turned around quickly still holding Bennie’s gun, and fired two rounds straight to Bennie’s chest. He watched Bennie take his last struggling breath with satisfaction. Although he was a high paid rapper, he was from the streets first. And in the streets, respect was everything.
Brick pushed Gunna to the limo more anxious than ever for them to get out of there and as the limo driver walked around the car, he sighed in disappointment.
“Shit.”
“Holy shit, D.Gunna is that you?” The white boy screamed. “What the fuck happened…yo, d-did you shoot someone?”
Gunna and Brick looked at each other and knew what had to happen. Gunna hated to do it, he had turned his life around, but it was either his life on the line, or the life of the nosy limo driver.
Before another word could be uttered from his lips, Brick took out his own pistol and sent a bullet straight to the young boy’s head, killing him instantly.
“Now let’s get the fuck outta here!”
Brick jumped behind the wheel and Gunna joined an awaiting Dirk in the back. He knew Dirk was a punk, so he didn’t even mention his lack of involvement in the altercation.
The purring of the limo’s engine was all that could be heard as the trio sped down Sunset. Minutes passed with no words spoken.
“Shit…,” Dirk finally cursed, breaking the silence and feeling a little guilty for not doing more. “After all of that, a nigga don’t even know if I should call Kim now!”
“Who?” D.Gunna snapped, a strange feeling suddenly coming over him at the sound of that name.
“Kim,” Dirk repeated with a cracked voice. “The white bitch from the strip club! The one I was holla’n at.”
D.Gunna swallowed hard and nodded, the crease in his eyebrows relaxing a bit as he wondered why the name had given him a sudden flashback to his past. Shaking his head in an attempt to start to put the last twenty minutes behind him, he rolled down the window and let some fresh air in.
The sweet summer night air crept in and swept across his face, caressing his cheek and putting a sudden calm over him. D.Gunna released a smile and didn’t even know why.
Little did he know, Kim had just given him a sweet kiss for taking the life of her killer. Now she could rest in peace.
“Oh, it’s always about money shawty…and lots of it.”
– Bleek, Still Thicker than Water
-10-
Three months later…
“Welcome! Welcome, my friend!”
Ree stepped first off of the helicopter and was immediately greeted by the friendly family of the Segovias, one of Ecuador’s largest and most dangerous drug and crime cartels.
“Can we take your bag? Pedro, take his bag.”
Ree handed over his duffle which held his basic amenities for the next couple of days. He then turned and helped a very big and pregnant Tatum down the eight small steps.
“Your wife? My god, Senor Respect, she is breathtaking,” Manuel Segovia complimented, putting the wrong emphasis on the English syllables but still getting the accolade across.
“Thank you,” Tatum beamed, her glow illuminating even through the night.
“Welcome to Ecuador, Senor Respect,” Manuel’s wife, Veronica spoke up. She was a petite and beautiful woman, with long hair that grazed her buttocks, olive skin, and a deadly reputation. “We hope you find your stay comfortable…and easy.” She then turned to Tatum.
“Mrs…”
“Tatum,” Tatum smiled and announced, shaking her waiting hand.
“And I’m Jayde.”
Jayde graced down the steps of the helicopter with Chauncey in tow behind her. Not only was she annoyed by the Segovias blatant disregard for her in business priorly, they were gushing over Tatum like she was the head bitch. Just because she was married to the king, didn’t make her the queen…not in Jayde’s eyes.
“This is one of…this is my daughter,” Mickel corrected, stepping closer to the chopper.
Jayde’s face tried not to sour
at his near word slip and Ree turned to him.
“You made it old man,” Ree chuckled, shaking his hand and stepping into a loose embrace. He hardly had seen them with the twenty plus Segovias who stood around. Mickel’s island features caused him to blend right in.
“I did. And you are Tatum.” Mickel’s eyes danced and he smiled genuinely. Not in a sensual sense but in pure admiration of Tatum’s beauty. “An angel,” he smiled. “You look even more beautiful up close. I only saw you from a distance on your wedding day.”
Tatum crinkled her brow.
“You were there? Oh my god. There were so many people, I could hardly keep up,” she smiled.
Mickel shook his head.
“It’s not your fault. I um... I met up with an old friend…I’m sorry I didn’t get to introduce myself then. Now’s a better time. You were much busier last time I saw you,” he joked.
“Yeah, and a lot smaller,” Tatum quipped.
“Oh please, don’t say that,” Mickel said seriously. “Pregnancy is when a woman is the most radiant, and you wear it well. I should stop with my praise.”
“You should,” Ree interrupted and Mickel cracked a smile.
“Ah, the test. My young friend is indeed in love. He will slit my throat before I get to utter another compliment to his lovely wife.”
Tatum chuckled but looked to Ree, wondering if it was true.
“And you must be Chauncey. Good to put a face to the name.” Mickel extended his hand and looked behind him, as if he were expecting someone else to emerge from the helicopter.
“Is this all? Wasn’t there someone else?” He asked.
“Who, Bleek?” Chauncey questioned.
“Bleek’s staying behind to start on the street level situations,” Ree summed up.
“No,” Mickel spoke quickly. “With you,” he pointed to Chauncey. “Your wife, no?”
Jayde took a deep breath but wanted to scream at her father at the top of her lungs.
“Oh, Sasha,” Chauncey smiled. “Yeah, she just started a new job at the hospital. She had to stay.”
Mickel was notably disappointed and Jayde was infuriated.
“Lets us go inside,” Manuel Segovia suggested.
While everyone sat by the pool, enjoying a light midnight meal, Respect and Manuel took it inside to the bar area which was so huge and had so many half naked women walking around, it reminded Ree of some type of brothel.
“I’m glad we came to this understanding so smoothly,” Ree let him know, inhaling his daily choice of herbs.
“Me too, Mr. Respect. I’m sure Mickel told you, I was not anxious to work with any new Americans. But when I heard that you would be the link in the equation, I knew we could see eye to eye. Your reputation precedes you…you are a business man…a very smart man. I just wish it could be more long term for us.”
“Yeah well, like you said. I’m a smart man,” Ree quipped.
“Exactly. That’s why I hope the people that I deal with after you, can make things happen…so smoothly. I would hate for this to go off track.”
“I believe so but then again, I make no promises,” Ree let him know. “Business involves risk. In the event that there is backlash, don’t bring that to my door. I cannot guarantee our conversation will be as civil as this,” Ree warned. Once he was done, he would take no one bringing any street nonsense his or his family’s way.
“You will bring me war, I know. Like I said, your reputation precedes you. You are a dangerous man…like myself.” Manuel and Ree made eye contact on that last statement. After a few seconds, Manuel smiled.
“These women are intrigued by you. Look at them,” he pointed. “They are usually my girls, but they are fascinated by you.” His accent crooned. “I swear they are like bloodhounds. These whores smell money. They can sniff the king out of the crowd.”
Ree continued to puff and did little to acknowledge the subjects of Manuel’s speech. Manuel however shot them a smile and they made their way to the bar surrounded them.
“You are American?” One asked in broken English, her DD breasts barely covered by the triangles of her bikini top. Her long brown hair and bronze skin gave her the look of an exotic Victoria’s Secret model.
“I love a black American,” another sang, running her hands through her short, bleach blonde bob. “I will surrender to you,” she admitted with no shame, attempting to pick up one of Ree’s dreads.
This was not new to Ree, nor intriguing. He simply involuntarily blew smoke in their direction.
“Let us please you,” the exotic one begged as Manuel looked on with a grin.
“Bloodhounds,” he mouthed before stepping away.
“I’m sorry ladies, I’m gonna have to pass,” Ree let them know, respectively taking their roaming hands off of him.
“Ohhh,” she whimpered. “But I love chocolate,” she cooed, her English hardly audible.
“Yeah, well this candy bar is allll mine. Sorry girls.”
Tatum smiled flaccidly and wrapped her arms around Ree’s neck as she stepped in between him and the black dick and money vampires.
Ree smirked and the girls were a bit disappointed but smiled back.
“De nada.” They retreated.
“Hmm, and just think…I almost didn’t come on this trip. How would that have played out if I didn’t?” She asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Different words. Same results,” Ree calmly told her and Tatum chuckled.
“Yeah, whatever. I saw that Adrianna Lima looking chick all over you.”
“Yeah well I’m trying to be all over you, Ms. Lady,” he sang, moving close to her and bringing his face to hers. “So how can we make that happen?”
“All over all of me,” Tatum cracked.
“Yes, all of you. Every inch,” he told her. “’Cause every single inch is sexy as hell.”
Tatum smiled.
“That’s sweet, even though I’m big as hell. You can call me big sexy.”
“Cut that shit out,” Ree told her, laughing.
Tatum knew she was big though, but she didn’t care.
She knew for a while that she would most likely go from not showing to huge as hell in just a few months.
“So Tatum, you say Mr. Knights finally wants to know the sex?” Her doctor had asked a few days before they left for Ecuador. Tatum had been holding off the big surprise from him since she’d found out on her prior visit. It was the only visit Ree hadn’t accompanied her to.
“Yes,” Tatum had said anxiously with Ree on the side, quiet and calm. Inside he was eager.
Mrs. Patel, Tatum’s doctor smiled at the young couple as she looked at the monitor.
“Okay, sure…so Sean, which one would you like to know first?”
Ree crinkled his brow and it took a moment to process.
Mrs. Patel spun the monitor around slowly with a wide smile.
“Twins,” she beamed widely. “A healthy baby boy and girl.”
He was thrilled.
“So, you tired? You wanna go to bed?” Ree knew Tatum must’ve been worn out with the late flight and in her condition.
“Actually,” Tatum started. “My back is killing me. Veronica said the jet sets in their Jacuzzi would be good, as long as we put them on low and the water isn’t too warm. I might wanna hit that up.”
Ree stood up off of the barstool and put out his blunt.
“Alright, let’s go.”
Tatum took her time and Ree assisted her as she lowered herself into the high set Jacuzzi which had a beautiful waterfall attached.
Tatum had changed into her black bikini and sheer full cover that made her look sexy even in her pregnant state.
“Okay…okay, I got it,” she told him as he climbed in after her. “I hope you can fit, with the whale in here,” she laughed.
“I think I’ll manage, Shamu.”
Tatum took a gush of water and pushed it to him, splashing him with force.
TTW 3 ( Thicker Than Water 3 ) Page 20