Carlton and his entire family better pray that she never ran into the psycho twins again. If she did, she was giving Corey up and anybody else who she thought had anything to do with what happened. Unlike her husband, she didn’t give a fuck about Corey because he didn’t give a fuck about anybody else.
Irvin turned off his sign, alerting would be customers that he was closed for the night. He had a crowd earlier that day and two of his barbers weren’t even at work. Gavin had been off for the past week and the other man was always unreliable. It was cool with him either way because he’d made enough money to get him through the rest of the month.
“I’m closed!” Irvin yelled when he heard the front door to his shop chime.
He was sweeping up the floor when two men walked in, making him do a double take. He had seen twins before but they looked too much alike. The shit was eerie if he had to say so himself.
“Do it look like we need our hair cut nigga?” Remo asked as he took a seat in one of the barber chairs.
“How can I help you?” Irvin asked.
“We’re looking for Gavin. And before you lie, please keep in mind that I’m tired, hungry and in need of some pussy. Make this easy on yourself and answer the question. I’m trying to get home to my girl,” Nas said as he sat in the chair next to his brother and put his gun on his lap.
The past week had been hectic but in a good way. Stori and Toi were excited about getting another house and they picked one that they fell in love with. It wasn’t the house that was next door to Lady’s but it was on the same street. Lady and Richard’s house was the second one on the block and theirs was about five house down. It was walking distance and she was satisfied with that. The place was huge, but Richard wrote the check without even blinking an eye. Toi was sold on the endless pool in the yard and Stori fell in love with the enormous kitchen. The interior decorator had been meeting with them every day and they were looking over some things that Stori wanted done to the house. Nas really didn’t care about any of that. The only time he voiced his opinion was when it came to his boys. Stori was trying to do some Disney bullshit in their room and he wasn’t feeling it. Other than that, she was happy and that was all that he cared about.
“Gavin is not here,” Irvin said, stating the obvious.
“Duh muthafucker,” Remo spat angrily.
“When do you expect him to return?” Nas asked calmly.
“I really don’t know man. He just told me that he was taking a week off. He didn’t say why and I didn’t ask,” Irvin swore.
He was pissed that Corey had recommended Gavin to him. The nigga looked goofy as fuck but he was obviously in some bullshit. The niggas who were sitting in his shop did not come there to play. Irvin was done with the street life and he didn’t want to get pulled back in.
“That’s your story?” Nas asked him.
“That’s all I know. I don’t really know dude like that. The nigga told me that he was looking for a job and I hired him. He’s my employee, not my friend,” Irvin replied.
Nas stared at him for a while, trying to see if he detected any nervousness. The man seemed to be telling the truth but he still needed answers. Going to Irvin’s shop wasn’t on his list of things to do, so he didn’t have time to ask around about him. He was definitely going to get some info from his sources for future references though.
“Call him,” Nas demanded as he looked at Irvin.
“And say what?” Irvin asked.
He had been in the streets for a while before he went legit and he knew how it went. He wasn’t afraid of the two men in his shop. He knew that if they wanted to kill him, it would have already been done by now. They wanted answers and a dead man couldn’t talk.
“Fire his bitch ass. After this, I’m sure you don’t want him working in your shop no more anyway,” Nas replied.
“Fuck no. I got kids to think about,” Irvin replied angrily. He dialed Gavin’s number and waited for him to pick up.
“What’s good Irvin?” Gavin asked when he picked up the phone.
“Where you at nigga?” Irvin asked.
“I’m on my way back from Texas. I had to help my daughter’s mother move. That’s why I needed the week off,” Gavin replied, as Nas and Remo looked at each other.
They knew that Misty and Milan were originally from Texas, but they had no idea that they had moved back. Nas was hoping that Milan’s disgusting ass left too. Maybe that’s why she hadn’t been bothering him. That and the fact that he threatened to end her miserable ass life if she did.
“Tell that nigga that Nas and Remo came here looking for him,” Nas whispered, as Irvin nodded his head in understanding.
“Aye, some niggas named Nas and Remo came here looking for you. I don’t know what the fuck you did but I can’t have that around my shop,” Irvin said.
“What did you tell them?” Gavin asked nervously.
“The fuck you mean nigga? I don’t know shit about you other than your name and phone number. But, I need you to come get your shit. This ain’t gon’ work. I don’t need my shop to be hot like that,” Irvin replied.
“Man, fuck them niggas. They ain’t gon’ do shit but talk. It’s cool though, fam. I’ll send somebody to get my shit soon,” Gavin said before he hung up in his face.
He was talking all that shit but he was scared to death. He knew that Nas and Remo were more than just talk. He had never witnessed them do anything but a lot of niggas feared them. He would never admit it but Gavin was one of them. He was no fool and he wasn’t going anywhere near Irvin’s shop again. He needed his supplies but he would have to ask one of his parents to get it for him.
“We’re all talk but his bitch ass is scared to come get his shit. I bet you a stack that his hoe ass gon’ send his mama or daddy to get it for him,” Nas said, as Remo laughed.
“Good looking fam. This is for your trouble,” Remo said as he sat three crisp hundred dollar bills on the counter for Irvin.
“Enjoy this and, if you want more, come to Twin Tails Strip Club and fuck with us,” Nas said as he handed Irvin some weed that smelled good as hell.
He nodded at both men in admiration as they left his shop. He’d heard about the twins before but he’d never seen them. He’d been to their club a few times and it was always lit. Irvin locked up his shop once they left and finished sweeping. Once he was done, he grabbed the weed that Nas had left him and rolled himself a blunt.
“Damn! This shit is official. Them niggas just got a new customer,” Irvin said as soon as he took his first hit. He grabbed his keys and prepared to leave. He wasn’t about to go home though. He was about to hit up Twin Tails and spend some money with his new weed suppliers.
“G ood looking fam,” Gavin’s customer said when he paid him and got out of his chair.
Two weeks had passed since he stopped working at Irvin’s shop and Gavin had another job already. It was at an old, outdated barber shop but he quickly became the man to see. The shop was owned by two brothers and they couldn’t cut for shit. Gavin had taken all of their customers and gained a few of his own. He was making some nice money and the older crowd were good for tipping. His father had gone to Irvin’s shop to get his supplies and he put a word in for Gavin with one of his old friends. Before Gavin became a barber, his father had been a faithful customer at that same shop for years.
Gavin had been laying low and staying out of the way. He felt like a damn fool for trusting Corey and now he had Nas and Remo gunning for him. Corey never once mentioned his previous history with Stori. He just had Gavin believing that he was trying to hit a lick. Gavin never knew that he had a personal vendetta against her, even though he swore he didn’t. Not to mention he had Milan in his ear calling all the shots. She hated Nas and Stori more than anybody and she wanted them both dead. Corey’s stupid ass sent kids to do the job of a man and they fucked everything up and almost lost their lives instead. Gavin ran into Carlton at the gas station and he gave him the rundown of everything that happened. Gavin nev
er knew that Carlton was the one who had the twins gunning for him. He was too trusting and that was proving to be his downfall.
“It’s closing time young man. These old bones can’t take standing up all day no more,” one of the brothers said as he looked over at Gavin.
They usually closed the shop before dark. Since Gavin started working there, they started staying open later and making more money. It didn’t matter that they lost a few of their customers. They were happy to have someone young in the shop with fresh new ideas.
“That’s cool with me. I’m tired as hell my damn self,” Gavin replied.
He felt like he’d been on the go more than usual lately and he needed a break. After spending two weeks at his house, Misty and Summer finally made the move back to Texas. Gavin and his mother went there for a week to keep Summer while she got settled. They stayed in a hotel and let Misty do what she needed to do. Gavin had never been to Beaumont but it wasn’t that bad. He went to a club and enjoyed being in a place where no one knew him. He’d even met a chick while he was there and took her on a date. The only reason why he even approached her was because she reminded him of Stori. Gavin thought about Stori often and it always left a bad taste in his mouth. He’d never loved another woman the way he loved her and she broke his heart in the worst way imaginable. He and Stori would be officially divorced soon and that was something that he never fathomed.
“Maybe we can see about giving you a key to the shop soon. We’ll give it a little more time to see how everything goes,” one of the old men said as they all walked out together.
As soon as Gavin got into his car, he called his friend who he met in Texas. He and his parents agreed to visit Summer at least twice a month. If all went well, he would be visiting his female companion too. She had never been to New Orleans, so she and Gavin made plans for her to visit whenever time permitted. They always had lots of festivals in the city and he wanted to show her around. He couldn’t do that if someone was after him though. He hadn’t seen or heard anything from Nas and Remo since Irvin called him and he was hoping that everything blew over soon.
Gavin had just hung up the phone when he pulled up to the gates of his apartments. He entered the code to get in right as a black car pulled up on the side of him. When two masked figures jumped out of the car with guns, Gavin tried to duck. His car was sprayed with bullets and a few of them hit his body. Gavin had never felt anything so painful before and he prayed that he never had to again. He seemed to think about everything that he’d ever done wrong and he found himself repenting for his sins. It was crazy how he felt like enjoying life at a time that he could possibly be dying. The pain had him going into shock and everything faded to darkness soon after.
“The fuck we got on masks for? I wanted his bitch ass to see me,” Remo fussed, as Nas sped away from the scene in Bee’s car.
“No face, no case,” Nas replied as he took the mask off and threw it in the back seat.
“I hope the nigga ain’t dead. That way we can come back and do the shit all over again.” Remo frowned.
“Stupid ass probably thought he was home free since niggas ain’t been saying shit about him,” Nas fumed.
Just like he’d assumed, Gavin sent his pops to Irvin’s shop to get his shit. Nas and Remo had been lurking around the shop for days waiting for it to happen. They followed Gavin’s father to his house and Gavin showed up a short time later. Nas had been knowing where he lived and worked for over a week but he wasn’t in a hurry. He wanted to catch Gavin off guard and that’s exactly what he did.
“I don’t know bro, I still feel like some shit ain’t right. That nigga Gavin is a duck. I just can’t see him sending some lil niggas at you like that on his own,” Remo spoke up.
“I said the same thing. Somebody is in his ear. I just have to find out who. Shit, I don’t have time to focus on that right now. We’re in the process of moving and Stori’s baby shower is coming up. Fuck them niggas for right now,” Nas replied.
“You think Stori’s stepdaddy might wanna adopt me? Ole boy out here buying houses and shit. That’s my type of dude,” Remo said, as Nas laughed.
“You’re focused on the wrong thing right now. You need to do what I told you to do,” Nas replied.
“Yeah bro, I am. I hate school man. You know a nigga got ADD. I can’t sit still for too long. And you know I get anxiety when it’s time to take test. I be knowing the shit but my mind go blank the minute it’s placed in front of me,” Remo pointed out.
“That’s why you need to work on being nicer. All you have to do is find a nigga like Gavin to do the shit for you,” Nas laughed.
“Hell no, bro. You know I don’t really like people.” Remo frowned.
“Don’t even trip bro. I’ll come through that bitch and take the test for you. It ain’t like I don’t already know the shit. We got this,” Nas assured him.
“You know I’ll follow wherever you lead.” Remo nodded.
“I’m trying to think of the bigger picture. All we need is for you to become a licensed barber and shit will be sweet from there. Truthfully, I can teach you how to cut but you need that certification under your belt,” Nas noted.
“I’ll sign up for classes tomorrow,” Remo promised him.
Nas was trying to make some things happen. The building that was right next to the barber shop was going up for sale. He was cool with the owner and Nas told him that he was interested in buying it. If all went well, Nas planned to knock down some walls and expand the shop. That way, he could sell the hair and other hair products right in the shop and he wouldn’t have to worry about renting out another space. Kalani could still run it but she would be in the same shop with them. Once Remo got certified to cut, he could work in the shop and they would all be getting money together. Although Remo loved the idea, the thought of going to school annoyed him. Still, to make sure that he and his family ate well, he would do what he had to do just like always.
Gavin’s eyes fluttered a little before he finally opened them fully. His vision was blurry and it took a while for him to really see clearly. When he did, he tried to sit up. The pain that coursed through his entire body made that almost impossible.
“No baby, don’t try to sit up,” his mother, Karen, said as she gently pushed him back down.
“How do you feel son?” his father asked him.
“Like shit,” Gavin managed to say through his aching, dry throat.
“Well, after being shot five times and in a hospital bed for three days, that’s to be expected,” his mother noted.
“Three days?” Gavin questioned in shock.
“Yes, you’ve been doped up and sleeping so much,” his mother replied.
Besides being shot up, Gavin couldn’t remember much else after that. He remembered the pain being so bad that he passed out but that was about it. He didn’t remember how he got out of the car and he didn’t remember being taken to the hospital.
“What happened son? Do you know who did this to you?” his father asked.
“I just want to know why,” Karen said.
Gavin knew who had done it to him and he definitely knew why. Unfortunately, he would never tell that to his parents. Although the shooters wore masks, Gavin could recognize Nas and Remo’s build from a mile away. He should have known that they weren’t going to let him off the hook so easily. Gavin was just pissed that he was the only one that was being punished. He needed to get at Corey to let him know what was up.
“No, I don’t know what happened or why. I had just pulled up to my gate when a car pulled up and started shooting. It might have been a case of mistaken identity,” Gavin grunted as pain shot through his body.
“That’s bullshit Gavin. Now, I don’t doubt that people are victims of mistaken identity, but I seriously doubt that you were one of them. You did something to piss somebody off. I just hope they don’t come after me and my husband behind whatever mess you made,” Karen fussed.
“Maybe he needs to go visit my mother in Ch
arlotte for a while,” his father suggested.
“What good would that do Gordon? If they wanted him to come out of hiding, they would use us to do it,” Karen pointed out.
“Can y’all stop talking about me like I’m not right here? Nobody is after me and nobody will come after y’all.” Gavin frowned in annoyance.
One thing his father said resonated within him though. Leaving New Orleans wasn’t such a bad idea. Besides his parents, there was nothing left for him there. He had no friends and, soon, he would no longer have a wife. He couldn’t see himself moving to Charlotte though. He liked the area when he visited but staying with his grandmother wasn’t happening. If anything, he would relocate to Beaumont to be closer to his daughter. As if on cue, his hospital room door opened and Misty walked in carrying Summer.
“Hi,” Misty spoke as she smiled awkwardly.
Gavin’s parents tolerated her because of Summer but they weren’t too fond of her. She was a whore in their eyes and their son was too. They loved their granddaughter and that was the only reason they were cordial with her. Summer was a year old and they had already missed out on so much of her life. Karen put her disdain for Misty aside and called to tell her what happened. She deserved to know since Gavin was her daughter’s father. Karen didn’t expect her to come but she was happy to see Summer.
“Hey grandma’s baby. You look so pretty,” Karen said as she smiled at Summer.
Her heart was filled with joy when Summer reached her hands out for her grandmother to hold her. She had been around them enough to know them and that was all that Karen wanted.
“Did she eat anything? I’m about to head to the cafeteria,” Karen said.
“She ate while we were on the way but she’s probably hungry again,” Misty replied.
“Come on, I’ll walk with y’all,” Gordon said as he opened the door for his wife and granddaughter to walk out of.
“How do you feel Gavin?” Misty asked.
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