Ties to the Hood

by Aija Monique

  “No, I’m good. Maybe you should go with him. Help him cope with whatever he’s dealing with since you’re his counselor and all.” Shun sighed as he relaxed. He couldn’t refrain from feeling her love deep within his soul. Angry or not, he felt that he should tell Sophia the truth.

  “You know, Sophia, after hearing you with Cyrus, I became so angry. I couldn’t understand what you could be talking about privately. The two of you barely speak. We don’t have time to rub this man’s head and coddle him. Do you realize the mob and the police want our heads? You don’t have time to baby this nigga. Do you understand?” Shun knew that he was out of line, but part of what Phil said about Cy and Sophia got to him. “You sneaking around the house with this man whispering and shit.” Shun’s voiced trailed off midsentence. He caught himself slippin’, floating dangerously toward his emotions overriding reason.

  “I understand, but you don’t have to worry about me being untrue to you, Shun. I love you. You are all I see.” Sophia wrapped her arms around him and met his eyes as she looked up toward the sky. “I love you,” Sophia said softly. Once those words departed from her lips, she could feel Shun’s tense arms loosen a bit. He was a strong and disciplined man, and his heart was frozen. Sophia knew that much. Shun had had a hard life. Always doing for others. The short end of the stick was something Shun had gotten used to.

  “I care for you deeply, Sophia. Loyalty is one of those things that make or break a person. I know from experience. But I will tell you this. I won’t blame you if you leave. Loyalty can lead to death and further heartaches. I don’t want to put you in that position. I would never forgive myself if something happened to you.” Shun looked down at Sophia with high hopes on her being honest with him about what was really going on with her and Cyrus.

  “Shun,” Sophia interjected, “I’m a big girl. I’m not going anywhere.” Sophia removed his arms from around her waist and held on to his hands. “Don’t be afraid to love me. I won’t hurt you.”

  Shun looked out the window for a few seconds too long. He began to rub his head in frustration because he knew that Sophia was hiding something. He couldn’t believe that she would look him dead in the eye and lie. And on top of that, profess her love. Finally, Shun smiled and held Sophia’s shoulders gently and kissed her on the forehead.

  He could visibly see her heart break, but so was his. Shun couldn’t possibly utter the words I love you to a woman that was clearly lying to him. He needed to know that she would rock with him 100 percent. He wondered how long she would keep secrets from him. He could feel his blood beginning to boil. She made no mention of talking privately with Cyrus. Phil’s constant taunting of the possibilities of lust and deception between her and Cyrus played in his mind. It was like Sophia’s hands were contaminated and burning holes through his skin. “I just have a lot going on is all. I have to find a way out of this mess,” he said through clenched teeth.

  “And we will, babe,” Sophia replied. She was mulling over her threats to Cyrus who seemed hell-bent on seeing his entire plan through. He was less than cooperative when asked what he was really after. Sophia had no choice but to threaten to tell Shun about his true identity. Only, she didn’t know how she would come out and tell Shun the truth without setting off a battle that would surely end fatally.

  Shun ignored her. He was tired, in pain, and just wanted to calm his nerves under a hot shower. “Can you go check on the food? I want to get in the shower.” Shun heard his voice crack slightly. His emotions were dangerously close to erupting. Sophia felt the same as a lump in her throat threatened to choke her.

  “I’ll be right downstairs if you need me,” she said trying to hold back tears.

  “Cool,” Shun responded flatly.

  CHAPTER 29

  Two Birds with One Stone

  Shun fell to his knees and let out a small whimper under the cool flow of the shower. The cold water stiffened his muscles, but it did wonders for the sting burning bright from his open, untreated wounds. As the shower calmed his nerves, the tears flowed, and his talk with God began....

  I have all these voices. Just ongoing rants that are intertwined. Slanderous remarks spewed outlandishly. Followed by a large crowd of spectators spitting on me as I jog up the stairs of the courthouse. I feel abandoned. Hate is growing deep inside me, and all I can think about is hurting those that hurt me.

  These voices, they say mean, horrendous things. They threaten to kill me if I don’t comply. I’m saddened by such demonic behavior, and though I call out the name of my Lord and Savior, He doesn’t seem to answer.

  I’m lost, afraid to share with Sophia my thoughts because she may think that I’m going mad. In many ways I am. I’m so tired of taking care of everyone around me. Just once I would like to be taken care of. I admit Sophia has been that. Ever since the shooting, she has been more than a lover. She was my nurse and best friend. There are things that blood can’t seem to understand that Sophia got before I could utter the words.

  I don’t know what to do, God, because tonight is the first time in years that I felt such lows. My panic attacks lessened a few months after coming home from overseas, but my mental state of mind was jumbled with images of not those I killed in battle, but by those that turned on me in the trial and testified against me.

  * * *

  I know that taking a life is a sin, and taking my own is classified as such as well, but I can’t lie and say that I haven’t thought about ending it for us all. I realize I don’t have a right to make those kinds of decisions; however, I need to get a grip before the voices in my head graduate to movement of my limbs. Sophia comforts me. I worry if I place too much on her. She has a ton going on as well, with the loss of her job and perhaps her nursing license if anyone found out about her medication thefts. Part of me feels deep guilt for her life falling apart. It’s as if she gave it all up for me, and here I am making cowardly statements about succumbing to the voices in my head. This same woman that just professed to love me—and lie to my face. I’m not sure that I’m worthy of truth. I may be even afraid of the truths that may flow once the bow breaks. I have my secrets as well. I know of the snake in our midst. Our friend, enemy, and liar.

  My mind is full of disease. So much has happened. Now, all eyes are on me, and it’s up to me to make things happen and get us out of this jam. Only, I don’t have all the answers, and I’m just as scared as the rest of them. In reality, as corny as this shit sounds, all I ever wanted was to be loved and respected. Only in this neck of the woods, respect means affluence. No one paid homage to bums, ex-cons, or veterans, for that matter. I could have been the most decorated soldier and still be ignored and treated as if I hadn’t risked my life for this country.

  I can almost hear the snickers in a crowd telling me to man up. I guess I’m supposed to thank my lucky stars for being an American citizen. Women and children are fighting wars in other countries. Well, thank you, God. I salute you for bringing me into a world to serve mankind. To be a slave for others to walk all over and trample upon. I’m not as strong as you think. I’m weak and need guidance. I could use a little help. I was the boy with high hopes for myself. I dreamed of better lands than Kern County. I believed in myself and challenged these limbs to play harder than anyone on the team, run faster, study with the due diligence to get into college. I often wonder what my life would have been like had I taken the ticket to college instead of the marines. I felt like the uniform would put a little hair on my chest, and it did. I learned a few lessons as well.

  God, can you hear me?

  I thank you for changing my life. I appreciate the lessons. However, I don’t know how many more I can take. Thank you for removing the knife from my back. I’m sure there will be others. I can only imagine the dangers that are lurking around the next corner.

  He loved Sophia with all his heart, which is what he was truly afraid of. What if he couldn’t protect her from those that were after him? His only recourse would be to put her in a safe place and go after T
ommy himself. Only he couldn’t trust his pack. So, the plan to execute Cyrus and Tommy himself in one swing would have to suffice. Time to kill two birds with one stone.

  CHAPTER 30

  Damn

  Rico touched down in Miami and headed straight to his girl’s place. He figured he would smash first before business. He ordered some takeout and was making a stop at the store when he could have sworn he saw one of the men that frequented the bar and gambling hall.

  He wasted no time to get answers about his sightings. He almost broke his phone, hurrying to retrieve it and make a call to Tommy. He could hardly wait for Tommy to answer.

  “What’s good? You got the next package ready for me?” Tommy added a small chuckle, trying to bring humor into a deadly situation.

  “Naw, man, you know payment is due before I package and ship, but look, fam, you not gon’ believe this shit, ma nigga. I mean, this is a small-ass world or somthin’.”

  Tommy scratched his head in frustration. “Why? What’s going on?” He was hot under the collar. It was Tommy’s connect. He had better have answers for the missing loot, or the entire tribe would be on the first thing smokin’.

  “I’m good, I’m good. I’m always fresh. Miami weather is always a good look. I got ma all-white on and a few gold jewels to blind these bitches. You know how I do. So we good. You got that bread fo’ me?”

  “Yo, you know I got that work. We puttin’ it in. I just need a few more days. The heat has been hot as fuck this past week.”

  “That’s not gon’ effect our sales and future business, is it, Tommy? Keep it one hunnid wit’ me. I give you a week, you good. But aye, that ain’t the reason I even hit you up, fam.”

  “What’s up? What’s going on?”

  “Yeah, so you know them muthafuckas, the boys lookin’ for from out yo’ way?”

  “Yeah, what about them?” Tommy sat up in his chair intrigued by the subject matter. “What’s good ’bout ’em?”

  “I see that cop dude that supposed to be like a hostage or some shit. He just hopped out of a black-on-black Maserati. He don’t look like no hostage to me. He look like he on vacation. Either he is undercover, or he is in on whatever the other two niggas on. This could prove to be a fucked-up situation on all accounts in your situation. Tommy, how the fuck you didn’t know that dude was a cop? This undercover pig been in all yo’ shit. Your business dealings—you befriended him. This cop dude is an undercover pig. You seriously don’t know shit about it, or you yourself could be in with the pigs and therefore, making a ploy to get me and my business shut down.”

  “Whatchu talkin ’bout, Willis?” Tommy said, reciting the familiar phrase from Diff’rent Strokes character, Arnold. “Cop?” Tommy was pissed. You mean those two mangy mutts had a cop snooping around my establishment? Tommy thought to himself.

  “You good, nigga?” Rico interjected. Tommy was lost in his thoughts.

  “Where the hell you been? News headlines this morning, blogs, etc. Every media outlet known to men is talking about the cop that is being held hostage by fugitives Shun and Phil.” Rico paused as he realized the silence on the other end of the phone.

  Naw, fish ain’t bitin’, Tommy thought to himself. “Follow him!” Tommy roared before hanging up the phone. He couldn’t believe his ears. Shun and Phil informants?

  * * *

  Cyrus grabbed a few cases of beer, some juice, and a few packs of 1882s for his weed sessions with Phil and Shun. He felt like a teen again. Having Shun and Phil around was like this border of protection. Now, he may have the chance to save them for once. The two men were like his blood brothers. They fought like cats and dogs, but no one outside their circle could cause them harm. The guilt rose like thick smoke from a fire. He was choking. Every time Cy got close to telling the truth, something else would prove that the time wasn’t right to talk about any of it. Now that Sophia knew his true identity, he had to ensure that she was quiet. He had to contact Dana. She was his only hope. The thing was, could he trust Dana to keep quiet? He knew she cared for him deeply, so deeply that if the risk of continuing down the path of destruction was too great, then she may pick the road less traveled and leak his whereabouts. All out of the name of love.

  * * *

  Dana walked in the precinct frustrated and ready to lay into anyone that may have something to say about her latest actions. Her inability to work without personal interference proved her unstable countenance. Every hour not knowing what really happened to Cyrus felt like an eternity. Sergeant O’Reilly stared at her through the blinds, working up the bravado to confront her about being late and her off-duty activities. Cyrus was her partner and one of the boys in blue. Dana would be the first to admit that she was on a war path with Cyrus gone with the wind.

  O’Reilly swung his door open with such force he nearly shattered the glass. Dana rolled her eyes with a submissive attitude and whispered, “Someone’s angry.”

  When Dana entered the office, she jumped as the door of the office slammed shut. She was confused because she had followed orders since their last encounter. She had made a few runs to see if anyone saw or suspected anything.

  Dana knew of Cyrus’s gambling trouble from a number of sources, but she was both surprised and ashamed to know that her boss dealt with Tommy and his dirty business. She blamed O’Reilly for the happenings altogether. Dana sat down on O’Reilly’s couch and dried her sweaty palms on the lap of her jeans.

  O’Reilly sat on his desk peering at her with a blank stare. Truthfully, he was in a coma of thoughts on how to explain the horseshit he not only trampled over but decided to take a dive in. The money was good. A cop’s salary didn’t even cover the tax on his son’s treatments. O’Reilly hadn’t mentioned his son’s illness to the fold of officers around him. He didn’t want to appear weak. When Tommy approached O’Reilly with a business proposition, there was no way he could allow the offer to pass him by. In the last six months, O’Reilly’s son Jacob was responding to treatment very well. Had the doctor not performed a series of unusual tests, his son would have died. O’Reilly was certain that if he used Cyrus as his undercover officer, he could find something he could use to put Tommy behind bars.

  Only, he needed to make sure his son finished his treatments and his officer was safe from harm. The entire plan was off the books. He was careful. So he thought. Nevertheless, Cyrus was missing. Cy was a good cop. More importantly, he was like a son to O’Reilly. He was excited that Cyrus wanted to transfer to his neck of the woods. Los Angeles was too fast for Casey. She wanted to move to a town that was a bit quieter and more close knit.

  O’Reilly shook his head trying to refocus his attention to Detective Santiago. He needed to be rational and take on one issue at a time, even though they were all pressing.

  “What’s up?” Dana asked.

  “Have you locked eyes on where Cyrus must be? I know this is going to a tough pill to swallow, but I need him to check in. I have reason to believe that he may be a part of this fiasco.”

  “I haven’t.” Dana kept her responses short and straight to the point.

  CHAPTER 31

  One Phone Call

  “Shuuuunnn! If it isn’t one of the most wanted dead cats in America right now. You know they want your head. What kind of nerve do you have to call me? I’m leading the pack. Which could only mean one thing: You, my foe, are calling me to tell me where I can pick up my fuckin’ money!” Tommy snarled and glared into the mirror with a face of gloom and determination. “You know I was just thinking about you. Your name came up in a recent conversation.”

  “Yes and no!” Shun said sternly. He had a plan to end this foolishness with one swoop. “I would like to meet. I’ll give you the cash in exchange for a truce. I don’t have any business with you, and all Phil and I want to do is rest easy. We hangin’ this shit up. He has his son to raise, and well, I’d like to try my hands at just being a regular law-abiding citizen.” Shun spoke with a hint of compassion. He wanted to sound helpless in hopes t
hat Tommy would feel sympathetic.

  Tommy looked directly into his phone and pinched his lips at the ignorant ploy Shun tried to pull over on him. “Yeah, I got kids too. I take it mighty personal that the funds that are used to feed them was taken from my family. One would say that a violation of that sort would be cause for a violent response. A sheer sign of disrespect, if you ask me.”

  “I don’t doubt Frankie felt the wrath of his own flesh and blood.”

  “Frankie’s blood is on your hands, Shun. You were his partner. See, partners have each other’s backs. They ensure both are on the same page in dealings, and they surely don’t leave the other to rot in jail. In my opinion, you failed on all accounts.”

  “It wasn’t my idea to rob you, Tommy.”

  “Oh, so you are adding snitch to the list of treachery now?”

  Shun had to bite his lip at Tommy’s allegation. Shun was far from a snitch. He knew what it was like to serve time for a crime he didn’t commit. Once again, he found himself facing the wrath, taking the fall for others’ dirty deeds. He still couldn’t bring himself to tattle on his fellow man. No matter how bad things seemed, he still proclaimed to be loyal. Even to Cyrus, who he knew had to pay for his crimes.

  Shun was so hot about the fact that Cyrus didn’t divulge his comradery with the boys in blue it made his blood boil. He paraded around his whole life with hoodlums, sticking out like a sore thumb. Only when they were young, it was just the fact that he lived on the outskirts of the hood. He was free from the hood life and mentality. For the life of him, he couldn’t figure out why Cyrus would want to hang in one of the most dangerous projects in Bakersfield. He knew he had his reasons, and he didn’t fault him for it. This is what made Shun so angry. Cyrus could have come clean so many times. Yet, he remains to be dishonest about the situation. Shun suggested that he remained loyal; however, his inner spirit argued how one could be dishonest, yet loyal.