Black Widow
Page 23
People say that I should probably be mourning the death of Logic. That I should be balled up somewhere in a corner, shut off from the world, crying like a baby. But I’ve witnessed my father die in my arms, seen my first love die in front of my very eyes, had my ass whipped and a baby literally beaten out of me, seen two men murdered in cold blood, and witnessed my sister go to jail at the hands of an abuser. And I myself slipped through the fingers of the feds! I came through all of that, so what makes people think things should be any different now?
Since that awful day when Logic was killed, I’ve worn only white because I won’t mourn until I avenge my husband’s death. Yes, maybe then I’ll mourn, cry, and even kick and scream like one of them women in a TV movie. But for now, there’s no room for tears…only revenge.
Thank Yous
First, all the praise and glory must go to my father in heaven because it was his grace, favor, and mercy that allowed me to write this book.
To my two children and the love of my life, thank you for being so supportive of me and loving me as you do.
I thank my family for all your support. Aunt Yvonne, thanks for always having my back through the storm, fire, and sunshine. And Bet, you are truly the best!
To all my Nikki Turner Presents authors for entrusting your great works and careers, I appreciate your dedication and patience as we go through all the red tape together to put out the best books. I also want to thank you for understanding that the publishing world moves slowly. I have such special relationships with each of you. Seven, you’ve become a good friend and I appreciate your belief in my vision when it was only a mere thought. Freeze—nothing I can say could ever reflect my gratitude to you for waiting on NTP to manifest. You’ve shown me that loyalty is more than a word…it’s a lifestyle. Dana Dane—wow! Who ever thought that one of my favorite rappers would end up on my line? Thanks for your insight and wisdom, which you give to me so freely.
My friends that keep me encouraged on a daily basis: Joy, Latina Tunstall, and Tammy Saunders (NJ). You are three of the deepest sisters that I have ever met. Tammy, your positive words and overall insight on this game called life are sometimes the only things that can get me through. I thank you for being you and dropping everything to read the very first draft of this book. Latina, thanks for being backup when the walls are tumbling down. Joy, you have grown so much over the years and I am so proud of the person you have grown into spiritually. Time and time again you continue to show me that you have my back—with words of wisdom, a lesson on life, or a laugh. But I thank you the most for knowing what to do when there is nothing else to do but pray.
Tim Dawg, I know at times I have a crazy way of showing you that your insight, input, and opinions are appreciated but they are—you will never know how much. Melvene, thank you for reading the first draft and cheering me and my books on the entire way.
Melody, you are such a great editor but an even better friend. I thank you for all the passion you put into my vision and dream, and insight into my crazy life. I do love you so much. To my dear publicist, Sarina Evan—thank you for your tireless hard work and for putting my book and face in places that I never imagined. I love you, and I couldn’t have done it without you. Marc, I thank you for our friendship and for always listening to all my new ideas.
To everyone reading this, including my loyal readers—I could never thank you enough for showing me as much love as you have.
About the Author
Nikki Turner is a gutsy, gifted, courageous new voice taking the urban literary community by storm. Having ascended from the “Princess” of Hip-Hop Lit to “Queen,” she is the bestselling author of the novels A Hustler’s Wife, Project Chick, The Glamorous Life, Riding Dirty on I-95, and is the editor of and a contributing author in Street Chronicles: Tales from da Hood. Visit her website at nikkiturner.com, or write her at P.O. Box 28694, Richmond, VA 23228.
* * *
Check out these bestsellers
by Nikki Turner,
the Queen of Hip-Hop Fiction
“Nikki Turner is one of the most provocative urban-lit authors of this generation.”
—TERI WOODS, author of True to the Gameand the Dutch trilogy
One World/Ballantine Books | www.nikkiturner.com
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Also by Nikki Turner
NOVELS
Forever a Hustler’s Wife
Death Before Dishonor (with 50 Cent)
Riding Dirty on I-95
The Glamorous Life
A Project Chick
A Hustler’s Wife
EDITOR
Street Chronicles: Girls in the Game
Street Chronicles: Tales from da Hood (contributing author)
CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR
Girls from da Hood
Girls from da Hood 2
The Game: Short Stories About the Life
Praise for Nikki Turner
Forever a Hustler’s Wife
An Essence #1 Bestseller!
“Few writers working in the field today bring the drama quite as dramatically as Nikki Turner…. [She’s] a master at weaving juicy, ’hood-rich sagas of revenge, regret, and redemption.”
—Vibe.com
“A fast-paced tale of just how far a woman will go for her man…Turner’s characterizations are true to life, and the ease with which she switches from the hardness of the streets to the love between the characters is to be applauded…. An open and honest portrayal of the possible consequences of the gangsta lifestyle.”
—Romantic Times Book Review
“Nikki Turner has once again taken street literature to the next level, proving that she is indeed the ‘Queen of Hip Hop Fiction.’”
—UrbanPublicity.com
Riding Dirty on I-95
“Riding Dirty on I-95 is USDA hood certified.”
—TERI WOODS, author of The Dutch Trilogy and True to the Game
“[A] gritty, fast-paced street tale with heart.”
—Publishers Weekly
Street Chronicles: Tales from da Hood
“Nikki Turner has put together one helluva team for this one. Street Chronicles is a joint you need to cop.”
—THOMAS LONG, author of Cash Rules
“Street Chronicles is a walk through Anyhood, USA.”
—K’WAN, bestselling author of Gangsta, Street Dreams, and Hoodlum
The Glamorous Life
“One of the premier queens of urban literature presents her latest steamy page-turner.”
—Black Expressions
“A gritty street tale of a young woman who has to decide which is more important—money or love.”
—Seattle Skanner
Black Widow is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
A One World Books Trade Paperback Original
Copyright © 2008 by Nikki Turner
All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by One World Books, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.
ONE WORLD is a registered trademark and the One World colophon is a trademark of Random House, Inc. READER’S CIRCLE and colophon are trademarks of Random House, Inc.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Turner, Nikki.
Black widow: a novel / Nikki Turner.
p. cm.
1. African American women—Fiction. 2. African Americans—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3620.U7659B63 2008
813'.6—dc22 2007043351
www.ballantinebooks.com
eISBN: 978-0-345-50764-8
v3.0
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