by Foye, K'wan
"Have it your way then. I'll call you with the details. Right now, I gotta breeze." Lou-loc slapped his home boy a five and headed for the stairs.
"What you gonna do, cuz?" Snake Eyes yelled after him.
Lou-loc turned around smiled. "What I do best, my nigga." With that he was down the stairs.
CHAPTER 12
The sun shone brightly through Satin's bedroom window that morning. As the warm rays moved and danced over her sleeping face, she began to stir. Satin loved the sunshine. That was the reason she had a large picture window built into her loft. The owner was a friend of her aunt Selina, so he didn't complain about the remodeling.
Satin sat up in her round king sized bed and welcomed the new day. She arched her back to stretch, and exposed erect brown nipples peeking through her sheer night gown. She slid her long brown legs off the side of the bed and rubbed her manicured feet back and forth over her area rug. There was something about the smooth feel of the smooth Persian material on her bare feet that felt good to her.
When she recalled the details of her date with Lou-loc, she couldn't help but smile. She had been a little skeptical about the whole affair, with him just popping up and all, but he turned out to be a perfect gentleman. He held all the doors for her, complimented her on her outfit, and never once tried to coax her into intimacy. He got a ten for the evening.
Satin padded across her hard wood floor to her walk in closet. She didn't have to work today, so jeans and a T-shirt were the order of business. Satin laid her clothes across her bed and headed for the shower. Before she made it to the bathroom, the phone broke her stride.
Satin answered the phone with a pleasant hello, and was delighted to hear the gentleman's voice on the other end. "St.
Louis," she sang, "what the deal, poppy? I didn't expect to hear from you so soon."
"I didn't disturb you, did I?" he asked.
"Nah, I was up. Thanks for the good time."
"No, thank you. It was different, but I enjoyed it. What you got planned for this morning?"
"Not much. I'm off today, so I'll probably just chill, and catch up on my reading. Why do you ask, you got something planned for me?"
"Can I see you? Maybe take you to breakfast, or something?" Satin wanted to shout, "HELL YEAH YOU CAN SEE ME!" but she knew she couldn't play herself. Instead she responded "Nah. But if you wanna come over, I know how to cook a little?" At first Lou-loc was preparing himself for a rejection, but he was pleased to hear that she was willing to see him. "A'ight," he said coolly, "but since it's ya place, let me cook for you." After getting her address, the two hung up. She felt like jumping for joy, but instead she bolted for the shower. Lou-loc said he'd be there in a half hour, so she didn't have much time.
Guess she'd save the jeans for another day. She wanted to look good for Lou-loc. Martina's time was just about up, she just didn't know it. Hurricane Satin had arrived, and she planned on staying for awhile.
***
Lou-loc pulled his car over on west 8th street and hopped out in front of a pay phone. He dropped a quarter in and punched the number pad. His cell was in working order, but he made it a point never to talk business on it. To do so was just as good as indicting yourself.
After two rings, a female picked up. "Hello." she barked in a husky voice. "Who the hell is this, and what ya want this damn early?"
"Hey, Kiki," he said pleasantly, "this Lou. Ya brother around?"
"Yea," she growled, "that no good nigga in there sleep."
"I need you to wake him up, ma. Tell him it's important."
"He need to have his ass up any how. Mafucka should be out job hunting instead of laying' up on me and shit."
"You know how it is in the hood, Kiki?"
"I got ya hood, nigga. So what's up, Lou? When you gonna come knock the bottom out this here?" Lou-loc shook his head. Every time he saw or spoke to Kiki, she was trying to hit on him. At the 'Blue & Gray' barbecue they had last summer, she even went as far as to grab his crotch when Martina wasn't looking.
"Now, Kiki, you know I can't handle that good loving of yours," he lied, "you too much woman for me." That part was true. Kiki was almost six feet tall, and built like a line backer. She had knocked out quite a few females, as well as a few men. Lou-loc had never just come out and told her he wasn't trying to fuck wit her, cause frankly the girl didn't take rejection well. There was no
doubt that he could whip her in a fist fight, but her skills with a razor almost surpassed his own. Plus she was a down ass chick, and he didn't want to hurt her feelings.
"Yea, a'ight." she said slyly. "One day I'm just gonna have to get you loaded and take what I want, wit yo pretty ass." There was no doubt in either of their minds that she meant what she said.
Kiki put the phone down, and screamed for her no good, lazy, dope selling, fake ass gang banging brother to come to the phone. Kiki was a female, but her four letter vocabulary was more vulgar than most of the home boys.
After a brief exchange of words, her brother finally came to the phone. "WHAT!" he snarled.
"Hold that down, nigga," Lou-loc said in a stern voice, "it's me, fool."
"Oh, my bad, cuz," Pop-Top said, realizing who he was talking to, "I thought you was that faggot ass nigga Breeze calling me bout his paper. You know I don't get up till after one, what's the deal?"
"We got a game tonight." Lou-loc said speaking in code. "I need the whole team there, the homey Gutter got hurt, and can't play."
"What?" Top asked in disbelief. "Is it bad?"
"Yea, cuz. He might be out for the season, so you know we gotta play hard. I'm talking free for all." At the mention of violence, Lou-loc could almost hear Top grinning through the phone. That boy loved to put in work, and Lou-loc was well aware of it. That's why he called him first.
"I'm on it, cuz. Time, and place?" Top asked.
"Home court, baby." By this Lou-loc meant St. Nicolas park, but anyone who might be listening wouldn't know that. "I want everyone there at midnight, and I don't mean 12:01. You and Snake Eyes will be my co - captains. You in the field, and him in the front office."
"Fo sho," Top said trying to keep his anger in check, "it's on baby."
"Get them niggaz there, cuz."
"You know I will. Let me get up off this jack (phone) so I can make it happen." Without waiting for a response, Top hung up.
Lou-loc knew that if anyone could rally the troops, Pop-Top could.
Lou-loc dropped a quarter into the phone, and moved on to the next order of business. Lou-loc didn't have Anwar's direct number, so he called the contact that had supplied him with the information. He informed him that the funeral arrangements (hit) would be handled within the next twenty-four hours. The contact thanked him, and said that he could pick up the floral arrangement (payment) the next evening. With that taken care of, he was ready to go see his sweetheart.
***
After dropping Sharell off, Snake Eyes hopped on the north bound freeway and headed for the Bronx. He really and truly was in a down mood. Not only because his homey was laid up in the hospital, but because of the ripple affect it was having on everyone else. Snake had
met Sharell twice before, and spoken to her on the phone dozens of times over the years. He knew she was a good girl and that she loved his friend dearly. He respected her for that. She was in such bad shape that he had to score her some volume so she could calm down. It's fucked up when the ones you care about are really hurting, and there's nothing you can do to ease their pain.
Then there was Lou-loc. After talking to Lou-loc, there was no doubt in his mind as to what he had planned. To a lot of people it wouldn't be a big deal, he'd be just one more nigga, with a chip on his shoulder. Snake Eyes, however, knew different.
Inside the shell of a young man, there lived two people. There was Lou-loc, the intelligent young philosopher, then there was Lou-loc, the assassin. So cold and diabolical that sometimes he even gave Snake Eyes the creeps. Lou-loc was a master schemer, and cold blooded
killer, which is why he made O.G. status so quickly. If you asked for it, you got it, and that's just how it was with him.
It was strange how someone so intellectual and compassion-ate about life, could take it away so effortlessly. He was like two sides to a coin. Maybe it was the brutal murder of his father that made him like that, or watching his saint of a mother wither away and die. No one really knew what made him tick. Lou-loc was a good dude and there was no mistaking that. But in his heart, he was a killer.
Snake Eyes felt bad for his friend. For as long as he'd known him, Lou-loc had always been a fair man. It just seemed like life didn't want to be fair to him. The G's in the hood expected so much from Lou-loc, and no one ever stopped to consider how he felt. To them, he was just a killing machine, but, Snake Eyes knew different.
Lou-loc was indeed a tortured soul, who would be forever eluded by happiness. He had so much potential, but because of his loyalties, he would be forever limited. On many occasions, Lou-loc had told Snake that sometimes he wished he was dead.
He still wouldn't have achieved happiness, but the madness would be over. He would finally be able to rest. That was deep.
Snake Eyes reached the run down auto shop Lou-loc had directed him to in the Hunts point area of the Bronx, and parked his hog around back. The front of the place was littered with beat up cars and trucks. Some in need of repair, others hooked up and ready to go. No doubt, this was the place.
Snake Eyes entered the auto body shop, and was over-whelmed by the smell of gas fumes mixed in with sweat and urine. Before he got all the way inside, he was cut off by a hulking Mexican wearing a tattered blue overall. From the look in the behemoth's eyes, he didn't want to make nice.
"Fuck you want, homes?" the Mexican asked, exposing a mouth full of rot, and empty spaces where his teeth used to be.
"Name's Snake Eyes," he said matching his opponent's tone "I'm looking for Wiz. You him?"
"What you want with Wiz?"
"If you ain't him, don't worry about it."
"I think you better watch your mouth, mafucka." said a voice from behind him. Snake Eyes turned to find himself staring at a gorgeous Mexican woman. She wore a tight fitting leather jump suit, and her silky black pony tail was held in place by a single blue ribbon. Her green eyes looked Snake Eyes up and down like a hungry lioness eyeing a gazelle. This woman was the baddest thing he'd seen since his arrival in the big apple. The only thing that kept Snake Eyes from admiring her further was the fact that she had an AK-47 pointed at his dick.
"Maybe you didn't understand my brother's question," said the girl, "so let me try. You got exactly ten seconds to tell me what the fuck you want with Wiz or I'll just make a fucking transsexual out of you. Choice is yours, cuz." Snake Eyes had no choice but to spill the beans, but he told himself that this bitch would answer for pointing a pistol at him.
"Listen, honey, my name is Snake Eyes. Lou-loc sent me up here to pick something up from Wiz." The girl narrowed her eyes at him and began nodding her head. For the first time, he noticed a small device sticking out from her ear. After a few moments of debating and mumbling in Spanish, she lowered her gun.
"Sorry about that." she said, brushing her hair from her forehead. "You can never be too careful. Our shop is smack dab in the middle of enemy territory."
"Ain't nothing," he said relaxing, "I know how it is to live the life. So where is this Wiz?"
"Go on in the back and get yourself a soda. I recommend the orange."
"I don't want a soda," Snake Eyes said confused, "I just wanna get what I came for and bounce."
"Just go to the vending machine and get your soda." she said sounding irritated.
Snake Eyes walked to where the old vending machine sat, and eye balled it suspiciously. The button for the orange soda had a sticker on it that said out of order. He looked back at the brother and sister team, and they were covering their mouths trying to keep from laughing. Seeing that he was getting frustrated, they both motioned for him to push the button. With a shrug of his shoulders, he did. That's when the floor fell from under him.
Snake Eyes' heart plummeted as he fell through the floor and down a circular tube. The only thought flashing through his mind was that he was taking his last breaths. To his surprise, he slid out of the tube and landed hard on his ass.
As quickly as his good leg would allow him, he sprang to his feet and clutched his cane like a club. He quickly scanned the room and noticed he was in some kind of work shop. The floor was littered with old papers and scraps of metal. There were charts and diagrams covering the walls with a large file cabinet of sorts near the hole he exited. In a far corner of the room was a table with all kinds of equipment on it. They were the kind of things one might see in a chemist's lab. Sitting behind the table was the man Snake Eyes was seeking.
Wiz wasn't at all what Snake was expecting. When he stood up and came around to greet Snake Eyes, he couldn't have been any taller than maybe 5'1." He was a short Mexican, with slick black hair, wearing a pair of grease covered khakis with a pearl white T-shirt. On his face, he wore thick rimmed glasses.
Actually, they looked more like coke bottles than glasses. He looked like a mad scientist.
"So, you're the lawyer?" Wiz asked extending his hand.
"Yea, the name's, Snake Eyes." he responded shaking Wiz's hand. "Lou-loc, sent me for the package."
"Right, right. Hold up a sec." Wiz walked over to a small freezer unit and removed what appeared to be a box. After checking the contents of the box, Wiz placed the first box inside of a slightly larger one. The larger box had what looked like a battery attached to the back of it.
"A'ight," Wiz said handing Snake Eyes the box, "tell Lou-loc to follow the instructions to the letter. Once he takes these out of the case, he'll only have a little while before they become unstable. One of those bust in his hand, he's gonna have a serious problem."
Snake Eyes looked at the black box suspiciously. He wanted to ask what was in it, but he figured it wasn't his business. If Lou-loc wanted him to know, he'd tell him on his own. Besides, from the way Wiz was talking, he wasn't sure if he wanted to know.
"Well then," Wiz began speaking, "our business is conclud-ed. That," he said pointing at the file cabinet, "is an elevator. You can take it back to the main floor. Tell Lou-loc that I said good luck."
As Wiz turned to go back to what ever he was doing, Snake Eyes stopped him. "Say, homey. What's wit that vending machine shit?"
"Sorry about that," he said smiling, revealing a mouth full of braces, "I'm afraid my siblings have a weird sense of humor.
That's an emergency entrance to my lab. I guess it was their idea of a joke."
"Very fucking funny." Snake Eyes mumbled as he climbed into the tiny elevator.
CHAPTER 13
Satin just finished putting the finishing touches on her hair, when her buzzer rang. She saw Lou-loc when he pulled up in front of her building, so she didn't need to ask who it was. She buzzed him in, and then went about making sure all the scented candles were in place and lit.
When she opened the door, Lou-loc greeted her with a smile and a hug. As he stepped in, she sized him up. Even though he was conservatively dressed in a gray sweat suit, he still looked as good as ever.
Lou-loc openly admired the decor of her small loft. Her walls were lined with pictures of her friends and family. Mostly her and an older woman who he would learn later was her aunt Selina. In addition to the pictures, there were artifacts and pieces from various Latino cultures. In the one corner, there was a book shelf that took up almost an entire section of the wall. In it, she had everything from Tolstoy to McMillan. Lou-loc was quite impressed.
When Lou-loc went into the kitchenette, it was Satin's turn to be impressed. He began to empty the contents of the shopping bag he was carrying onto the counter. Inside the bag there were all kinds of foods. There were fresh fruits, vegetables, pas-tries, thin steaks, eggs, fresh cheese and an exotic wine that Satin knew ran him quite a few dollars. Sh
e had never had a man cook for her before, and here he was not only cooking, but going all out. This was going to be interesting.
Lou-loc noticed Satin staring at the bottle, and felt a little ashamed. The morning had given way to the afternoon, but it was still a bit early to be drinking. The last thing he wanted to do was give Satin the impression that he was an alcoholic.
"I hope you don't mind," he started, "I thought you might like a glass of wine with your meal? I can run out and get some juice if you like?"
"No," she started, "wine will be fine." Seeing that she wasn't bothered by his beverage selection, Lou-loc relaxed a little.
After washing his hands he began preparing the meal. By the time he was done in the kitchen he had prepared quite the little feast. The steak was lightly breaded and sent waves of pleasure through Satin's taste buds every time she took a bite. The cheese eggs were light and fluffy. They almost seemed to melt in her mouth. In addition to the steak and eggs, Lou-loc had chopped up the assorted fruits and arranged them in the shapes of beautiful flowers. If Satin had any doubts before, she was sure now.
She was falling in love with this man.
As they ate they talked about everything from books, to movies, to politics. She knew Lou-loc was intelligent, but she was actually quite surprised at how informed he was. He kept abreast on everything that was going on in the hood as well as in government.
After the meal they moved into the living room where they sipped hazelnut coffee and ate marble cake.
As the smooth sounds of Billie Holiday seeped from the CD
player, Satin couldn't help but to smile at how together Lou-loc was. He even turned off his beeper and cell phone. He didn't think she was paying attention when he did it, but she was. That was very gentlemanly of him, and he scored big points with her for the act.
The morning turned to afternoon, and afternoon started giv-
ing way to evening. Satin was having a wonderful time with Lou-loc. As wonderful a time as she was having, the thought of his girl was nagging at her. It was then that she decided to lay her cards on the table.