by Foye, K'wan
"Lou-loc," she said touching his hand, "I wanna thank you for such a beautiful day."
"It's cool," he said sliding closer to her. "I enjoy your company, Satin. It wasn't nothing for me to come throw a meal together for you. In fact, we need to do this more often."
"I'd like that." she said. "But there's something I need to know. What are you gonna do about her. I mean the Dominican girl." Satin expected him to panic. To her surprise, he didn't.
Lou-loc stood up, and pulled her to her feet. She wasn't sure what to expect, so she was a bit hesitant. In the back of her mind she hoped that he wouldn't pick now to show his crazy deranged side.
Lou-loc pulled her close to him and spoke in a very soft tone.
"Look Satin, I would be lying if I said I don't still love her, but I ain't in love with her. I have grown to care about her and her kids, but I just outgrew her in life. She don't give a fuck about me. She only want the next fur, diamond or purse I can buy her.
But you ain't like that...please believe it girl" Satin turned her face away so he couldn't see the tears welling up in her eyes. "I don't know, Lou-loc," she sobbed, "I can't play second fiddle to nobody. No matter how I may feel about you."
Lou-loc wiped the tears from her cheeks. "Listen, baby," he said softly, "I'm gonna run something down to you, and I hope you don't think I'm a sucker for it.
"I know I've only known you for a few days, but I feel like I've been searching for you all my life. I'm falling for you, baby.
Wait, let me rephrase that. I've already fallen, and fallen hard."
"Stop it, Lou-loc, just stop it. Don't say things you don't mean."
"Don't mean?" he asked shocked. "I don't bull shit with my emotions, girl. Soon as my man float me the info I need on this phony ass broad, I'm in the wind. She can keep the crib and the rest of that funky ass shit.
"I'm getting out of this game, and that's real. I got some bread put up, and I plan on doing something with my life. If you were to ask me to pick up and leave, I would. Anywhere you want.
"Don't get it fucked up though, Satin. I ain't no trick ass nigga. The reason I'm coming at you like this is because I believe you're the real deal. Now if I'm wrong about you, or you don't feel where I'm coming from, tell me. Let me know that I'm full of shit, and I'll be on my way." Satin just stood there speechless, staring at Lou-loc with tear filled eyes. "I see." Lou-loc said sadly. "Thank you for the wonderful day, Satin. I'll always cherish the memories of the brief time we shared together." Lou-loc lowered his head and made for the door.
Satin just stood there for a while weighing her options. She knew guys were notorious for running game, but something in Lou-loc's eyes made her want to believe him. Without giving it a second thought, she dashed out the door to catch up with him.
When she finally caught him, she was surprised to see tears in his eyes. She brushed his cheek tenderly and whispered, "I believe you. I feel the same way you do, baby. It may sound silly, but my heart tells me you're being real. Just don't hurt me like the rest."
Lou-loc tried to muster a smile. He was a little embarrassed that she had caught him in a moment of weakness. Deep down,
he really didn't give a shit though. The main thing was that his words rang true.
"Satin," he said playing with her hair, "I'd rather go blind and broke before I caused you to ever shed one more tear over a nigga like me."
"Stay with me?" she pleaded. "I hope you don't think poor-ly of me, but I want you to make love to me. Seal the deal and become my man?"
Lou-loc reluctantly broke the grip she had on his neck. "I wish I could," he said stroking her cheek, "but I got some things I need to handle tonight. But I'll be through to see you tomorrow."
"You promise?"
"Satin, you are my shining diamond amongst a field of coal.
Light the way for me so I can always find you." Lou-loc kissed her softly on her forehead, and made his way down the stairs.
As Satin made her way back inside her loft, she felt as if she was floating. In her heart she knew she had made the right choice. Lou-loc was the kind of man she dreamt about as a little girl, and now she had him live and in the flesh. The fact that he was a gang member didn't even bother her anymore.
Satin went into her bedroom and removed her rosary from the vanity mirror. She knelt beside her bed and started to pray.
"God," she whispered, "I know we haven't spoke much lately, but I need your help on this one. This man that you've sent me is all that I've ever needed or wanted. I might be foolish for falling for him so quickly, but if loving this man is wrong, I'll be damned if I'll be right. So, if you can find it in your heart to make everything okay, let ya girl come out on top?"
***
Lou-loc stepped from Satin's building and took a deep breath.
Even the foul ass New York air smelled sweet to him at this point.
He knew it was some bird shit letting Satin see him cry, but fuck it. She had assumed his emotional display was over the conversation they had, but that wasn't the case. When he went into the hallway, he cut his cell back on. There were thirteen messages.
Eleven from Martina, one from Snake Eyes, and the last one from Cross. It was the last message that caused him to break down.
All he said was that the dog was rabbit, and had to be put down.
Lou-loc read between the lines and knew what was up.
As Lou-loc made his way to the car, a young kid wearing a red hoodie pulled up on a mountain bike. "You got a light, Blood?" the young boy capped.
Lou-loc fished his lighter from his pocket with his left hand, and fingered his glock with the right. "Here you go, cuz." Lou-loc wasn't no fool. He knew this kid was working for the other side, but he let him slide with his slick ass comment. Now that he and Satin were on the way to becoming an item, he was floating on air. He didn't really give a fuck about a color.
"Thanks, big homey." the kid said exhaling the smoke from his cigarette. "You better be careful out here with them colors on, dog. This LC Blood hood."
Lou-loc sized the kid up, and there was a striking resemblance to Satin in the boy's features, but he disregarded it. "Look here, lil homey," Lou-loc started, "I'm from the old school. I wear what I want and go where I please. Niggaz don't fuck wit me, and they live to see they next birthday. Ya heard?" The kid smirked at Lou-loc and asked, "You must be a bad man, huh?"
Lou-loc rolled up his shirt sleeve exposing his tattoo of a six pointed star. "I'm an O.G., straight outta the jungle. You New York niggaz get up on shit late, and then y'all ain't even putting it down right."
"What you mean?" the kid snapped. "We put it down out here. LC gangsta, take it in blood, nigga." he said throwing up his set.
"That's just what the fuck I'm talking bout." Lou-loc said shaking his head. "Y'all niggaz don't know shit about shit. You rob a few mafuckas, or slash some ol' wine head, and you think that's gangsta? You need to give it up, homeboy.
"Where I'm from, to be down with a set means more than busting ya gun or just being a hard ass. We took care of each other, and our neighborhoods. Y'all niggaz see an old woman struggling, and instead of helping her, y'all wanna get ya jack on. That's ass backwards.
"Unity, knowledge, respect, loyalty. That's what we putting down. Y'all 'dead rag' niggaz got the game fucked up. Take my advice, homey, leave this shit to us grown folks." During the whole conversation all the kid could think of was how much hood fame he could gain by killing this O.G. Lou-loc turned to walk away, and the kid made his move. From under his hoodie, he pulled a .25 and pointed it at Lou-loc's back. "Crab mafucka," he spat, "I should twist yo shit for coming through here sideways."
Lou-loc turned and looked the kid dead in the eye. From past experience, Lou-loc should have been begging for his life, at least that's what the kid's brain had told him. But Lou-loc didn't even flinch.
The cold look in Lou-loc's eyes made the kid hesitate, and that mistake cost him. With speed born of a life time in the streets, Lou-loc snatched th
e hand gun and knocked the kid off his bike and onto the pavement. The kid had no doubt that his life was about to end.
Lou-loc leaned over and grabbed a handful of the kid's shirt.
"Stupid ass nigga," he snarled. "I'm death on two legs, mafucka. I should take yo life." Lou-loc felt the beast raging inside him, and was about to give it release. When he looked up and saw Satin's bedroom light come on, he checked the animal that was his temper. He had to remind himself
that he was trying to get away from the hood shit and make something of his life.
"Youz a lucky nigga." Lou-loc said gaining his composure. "I should pop one in yo ass, but I ain't. I'm in a good mood, so you get a pass."
Lou-loc stuffed the .25 in his pocket and kicked the kid in the side of the head, getting blood on his sneakers. "Cross me again, and it's a wrap, blood." Lou-loc turned and headed for his car.
When Lou-loc's car pulled off, the kid sat on the curb and cursed himself for being so weak. He could've made the big time by capping Lou-loc, but instead, he almost got himself killed. He hated Lou-loc, and vowed that he would see him again. The next time only one of them would walk away.
CHAPTER 14
Lou-loc parked two blocks from the meeting area. His Techno Marine watch read eleven thirty, so he still had some time before the meeting. Top had rounded up all the troops, and Snake Eyes had picked up his package from Wiz. His lieutenants were on point, and that's why he chose them. Pop Top was a savage when it came to combat, and Snake Eyes was the voice of reason.
All that was left for Lou-loc to do was meet Cross to get the details of his stake out, and give him the address of the young virgins he was promised as virgins. Lou-loc still wasn't comfortable with dealing with his friend's eccentric taste, but when dealing with "licks," you had to expect the unexpected. Two tears in a bucket. If it got the desired results, it was worth it.
As Lou-loc stood in the shadows of the park side, he felt a presence approaching, but couldn't pinpoint a direction. It was kind of like when you know there's no one else around, but you feel like someone is watching you. Giving substance to his suspicions, Cross came slithering out of the shadows.
"You need to stop sneaking up on people like that," Lou-loc said good playfully, "one day you gonna get ya ass shot."
"So." Cross replied. "If I had a quarter for every time some ass hole has shot me, I'd be a rich man."
"So, what do you have for me?" Lou-loc asked. "Give it to me straight, I can take it."
For an answer, Cross tossed Lou-loc a paper shopping bag.
Lou-loc peeked into the bag and almost hurled. The bag slipped to the ground and the contents fell out. It was a human hand with a ruby ring on the pinky finger.
"I'm sorry, old friend." Cross said sincerely. "That's what's left of the gentleman Martina was creeping with." Tears welled in Lou-loc's eyes, but he refused to let them escape. His worst fears were confirmed. "I thought I loved her," he mumbled, "then she put this shit on me." Cross felt bad for his friend. Even though they were from two different worlds, Lou-loc was his only real friend. One of the few people who didn't shit their pants or run off when they discovered his true nature. Friend was a world seldom used in Cross' world, so his loyalty to Lou-loc was genuine. After all, the same blood ran through both of their veins.
"If it makes you feel any better," Cross said touching Lou-loc's shoulder, "I made his death as painful as possible. He was still alive when
I removed his hand." Lou-loc tried to muster a smile, but Cross knew it was only a mask to hide his pain.
The pain Lou-loc felt inside started to fade, and was replaced by anger. Every time he wanted to do right, something always went wrong. The beast that he once was cried for release, tonight Lou-loc would grant the wish.
"Cross," Lou-loc said with glassy eyes, "I need two favors from you."
"Just tell me who, Lou-loc," Cross said, "and he's a dead man."
"Not that kinda favor. I got a lot of shit I need to do tonight.
Most of it is fucked up, and I need that killer edge. You know what I'm asking for?"
Cross shook his head and said, "Lou, you gotta understand
about this thing of ours. I can't keep giving you that shit. The more I give you, the more dependent you'll become. It's like any other drug, and I don't want you to become an addict."
"Don't trip," Lou-loc assured him, "I just need a little something for myself. Just so I'll be able to perform at top efficiency.
The second favor I need, runs a little deeper than that."
"Well, don't keep an asshole in suspense, what is it?"
"My nigga Gutter is in Harlem laid up, sprayed up. He ain't doing so good, probably gonna die."
"Lou, I already know what you're gonna ask, but I don't know about doing it."
"Cross, that's my heart. If he leave here, I ain't gonna be no more good. I couldn't stand to live if my boy die knowing that I could've did something to help. Don't make me beg, Cross. I need you to do this for me, will you?"
"Lou-loc," Cross said softly, "I hope you realize what kind of position you're putting me in? This thing you're asking me to do could land both of us on a coroner's slab.
"Thanks, Cross. I..."
"Don't thank me," Cross cut him off, "I never said I'd do it.
Just know that I might never see another night after this one if I do this thing for you. All because I was your friend. Lou-loc, you saved my life when my own comrades wouldn't help me. You could've left me to suffer and die, but you didn't. For this, I owe you a great debt. In all the years I've been around, I've never met an outsider like you. You murder just like me, but there is still some shred of humanity in you. Too bad I can't say the same for myself. I'm a monster, and I can accept what's waiting for me on the other side. It's like that kid said, 'it's dark and hell is hot.' I'm sure that in time, I'll find out if there's any truth to it, but don't let yourself fall prey to the same temptations I did. Always remember what I've said to you this night. Nothing is without its price."
Cross closed his eyes and let his thoughts roam. "Damn you, Lou-loc for putting this load on my shoulder," he whispered "and damn me twice, for being your friend."
***
South of where Lou-loc and Cross were making their exchange, Cisco sat listening to a young man recounting the events of his run in with the notorious Lou-loc, of Harlem Crip.
"Are you sure?" Cisco asked the kid while taking a puff of his cigar.
"Yea, I'm sure," the kid went on, "it was Lou-loc. When he showed me his crab ass tattoo, I saw his name under the six pointed star. You shoulda heard how that faggot was talking. He was actin' like LC don't hold no weight down here. I was gonna clip his ass, but he snuffed me before I had a chance to pull out on him." he lied.
Cisco absently rubbed the scar on his cheek, and winced from the still lingering pain. "Tell me this, Jesus," Cisco started "if that was Lou-loc you bumped into, what was he doing nos-ing around Satin's building? You think Harlem knows we're behind the hit on Gutter?"
"Nah," Jesus spoke up, "I seen them together before. I think he's trying to fuck, bro."
Cisco's eyes flashed anger. Could Lou-loc be fucking Satin?
Just the thought of it sent sharp anger pains through Cisco's temple. He figured if he couldn't have her, no punk ass crab would.
Then another thought flashed through his twisted mind. What would the rest of the crew think if they found out that their leader's sister was involved with one of their rivals?
"Jesus, I have a job for you." Cisco said smiling devilishly. "I want you to keep an eye on your sister, and find out what the deal is with her and this crab. Don't let her know you're following her, and do not alert El Diablo to the problem just yet. This may work to our advantage yet.
"You do this without fucking up, Jesus, and there's a promotion in it for you." Cisco saw the greed well up in Jesus' eyes. He had no idea that Cisco was using him as a pawn.
"Don't worry, Cisco," Jesus said heading for the door,
"I won't fuck up."
Cisco sat back in his leather recliner and clasped his hands together. This was a situation that would definitely require some watching. Cisco giggled like a school girl as he thought of the look El Diablo would have on his face when he broke the news to him.
***
Lou-loc stood atop the jungle gym, and looked down at the sea of blue clad soldiers. Even though it was dark, Lou-loc could see each and every member in attendance. He made a mental note of those who didn't bother to show, and decided they would be dealt with accordingly. At the last minute, they had decided that having all of the home boys in the park at one time might draw too much attention. They thought it'd be best just to have all of the captains and their lieutenants present, each with a soldier of their choice. Even with this precaution, there were still a good twenty-five of the home boys present. When Lou-loc's voice finally boomed out, all became silent.
"I wanna thank all y'all niggaz for coming." he said addressing the crowd. "We got pressing business to attend to, so I ain't gonna keep you long. I'm pretty sure all y'all niggaz done heard about what happened to our folk Gutter, so ain't no need for me to go into detail about the shit.
"When them faggot ass brims tried to slab Gutter they played themselves. By them even thinking that they could touch an OG, they disrespected us. They basically said, fuck Harlem, and fuck the whole C-nation. I know mafuckin' well we ain't going for that shit?" Lou-loc had the crowd in an uproar. There were chants of 'fuck bloods,' and threats ridding the world of Bloods.
There was a wicked gleam in Lou-loc's eyes. It had been so long since he had held the reigns of power, that he almost forgot what it felt like. The beast was in control, and it howled for blood. The man speaking to the home boys wasn't St. Louis Alexander the writer, it was OG Lou-loc, head buster, and stone murderer.
Lou-loc waited until the crowd died down before he began speaking again. "Now," he said waving them silent, "we know it was some brims who did the shooting, but we don't know which set exactly, or who gave the order, but that ain't no big problem.