by Dutch
Kev stood back up looking strangely at Ty’s lips. He knew Ty’s words had a hidden meaning, but he let it go for now. “Still think them Wolf Pack nigguhs didn’t set this shit off?”
“Naw, but they got the right one now. And unlike you… I won’t miss,” Ty assured him.
Kev smiled to himself as he walked away. The Wolf Pack was history. He had met with his mole and he had calmed his nerve. Well, the brick of heroin had calmed his nerves and fed his greed. He had agreed to set them all up in one spot for Kev. Vee had been elusive, but he promised Kev he’d have him there. “Then you’ll be the man in Durham,” Kev had promised him while thinking to himself, yeah the man they find dead in Durham. If he’d set up his own homeboys for Kev, what would he do to Kev for a better offer? It was a dirty game, but someone had to play it and Kev planned on playing it to a tee.
Kev found out where Karrin’s room was and he headed for the elevator. When he entered the room, she turned to see who it was. Their eyes met and locked, until her’s watered up and she dropped her gaze.
“I’m sorry, Kevin,” she sobbed.
Kevin didn’t reply. He silently shut the door and studied her lovely face. The only thought on his mind was why she couldn’t see he truly loved her? Ty had all but left her for dead. It was Kev that went through it with her. He gave her anything she wanted and treated her like a queen. But it still wasn’t enough. He didn’t see himself as a nice guy, the kind women say they want but never appreciated. But more and more he felt like one, standing in the room.
“Please, Kev, I know you’re upset, but please say something,” Karrin begged him. The look of love in his eyes made her feel guilty that she didn’t feel the same, but she didn’t want to hurt him either.
“What you want me to say, Karrin? What can I say? That I’m sorry you got shot creepin’ wit’ my brother?” he retorted, his voice low but tense.
“We weren’t creeping.”
“Oh so, you expect me to believe if this wouldn’t have happened, you were going to tell me you were with Ty?”
Karrin didn’t respond.
“I didn’t think so,” Kev finished as he paced the room. “You want the nigguh that bad, Karrin? Huh? Just be woman enough to just say it to my face! You ain’t gotta do it behind my back!”
“Kev, stop it! I love you, I do. I don’t want Ty, I want you,” Karrin lied, but since she willed herself into living an illusion, it flowed from her lips truthfully. “I… I just needed to know why, Kev? I just needed closure. Can you understand that?” she cried.
“So you called him?” he asked surprised.
Pause.
“Yes,” Karrin admitted. Kev huffed loudly, so she quickly added, “I just had to get him out of my system.”
Kev stopped and stared at her. “Did you fuck him, Karrin?”
“No!” she yelled, surprised but not shocked that he’d ask.
Kev approached the bed like a D.A. would a witness on the stand. “So you’re telling me you went through all of this going behind my back, setting up a meeting spot and all, just to see him?!”
“I needed closure.”
“You fucked ‘im, Karrin,” he said, his voice so low, it was almost a whisper.
“No, Kev—”
“You fucked ‘im?!” he barked, feeling sick to his stomach just thinking about it. Kev had her by the throat but he couldn’t bring himself to apply pressure.
“No, no, baby, I swear I didn’t!” she vowed.
Kev looked at her then slowly removed his hand. “But you wanted to,” he mumbled.
Karrin sat up and grimaced as she did, “No, Kev, I didn’t. I don’t. It’s over between Ty and me. There’s… there’s nothing left,” she explained half truthfully because she was speaking from Ty’s viewpoint.
Kev wanted to believe her with all his heart. He tipped her chin up and looked her in the face. “Did you kiss him?”
She looked him square in the eyes and replied, “No… I didn’t.”
It came out so smooth, so believable, he would’ve believed her had he not seen the smudges of lipstick on Ty’s mouth. The same candy red Karrin loved to wear.
“Yo, young blood, you got that Wolf Pack?”
“Let me get a bundle over here!”
“Let the Wolves out!”
The McDougal projects in Durham were abuzz with activity. The dope of choice was the one with the N.C. State Mascot on it—the one that belonged to the Wolf Pack. Fiends crept through the streets like zombies for that heroin that guaranteed to put your dick in the dirt.
The team of soldiers Vee had out there was truly solid. Ready for war and ready to eat. They just weren’t ready for Ty. Like black rain, bullets began to seemingly fall from the sky, turning the black rain into deadly reign. The street team was totally caught off guard. They couldn’t even locate where the bullets were coming from and a few ended up shooting each other. In a matter of minutes, the shooting stopped, and no member of the street team had survived.
When Ty hit, he didn’t do drive-bys or even walk-bys—that was so West Coast. Ty brought in snipers, six of them, positioned strategically around the area. From where the snipers sat it was like shooting fish in a barrel.
The same thing occurred in Greenville and Wilmington. In less than five minutes, in three different areas, Ty had successfully reduced the Wolf Pack’s army by half.
“What’s wrong wit’ you?” Vee wanted to know. He and Cat had just finished fucking. She had rolled off him and laid down with her back to him. He knew something was wrong, because she loved to snuggle in the afterglow of sex.
“Nothin’,” she replied without turning over.
Vee sat up on his elbow. “Nothin’? A minute ago it was ‘Owww, daddy, daddy, daddy! I love you. I love you.’ Now it’s nothing?”
“I was horny. Thanks,” Cat answered sarcastically.
Vee smiled at her back. He knew Cat had an attitude because he had taken so long to come see her and the baby.
Okay,” he shrugged. “Thanks for the shot.” He rolled over and turned his back to her, smiling. He knew she was boiling because he didn’t urge to get it out of her.
Cat turned over quick. “Fuck you mean, thanks for the shot? I’m one of your hoes now?! Get the fuck out my bed!” she yelled, pushing her feet against his back.
“Chill, Cat.” He laughed as he got up. “Damn, you just thanked me! I’m sayin’, you said it’s nothin’ then it’s nothin’.”
“You know damn well what it is, Vic, don’t play wit’ me! Oh, you think just ‘cause you come sling a little dick I ‘posed to be the happy little housewife?! Not happenin’!”
“Little dick?” he chuckled, gripping his flaccid six inches that stood erect at eight plus. “You wasn’t sayin’ that when this lil’ dick had you shakin’ and speakin’ in tongues.”
Cat sat Indian-style on the bed. “Don’t flatter yourself, I’ve seen bigger.”
“Yeah, but have you had better?” he quipped. He pounced on her unexpectedly and started tickling her.
Cat laughed until she cried, trying to kick and punch Vee. “Stop! Stop! You gonna wake Taheem!”
“No you gonna wake him laughing so loud,” he shot back, tickling her unmercifully. “Now say it, say you the best Da-Da!”
“Hell no!”
He tickled her harder.
“Okay, okay!”
“Say it!”
“I can’t catch my breath, I’m havin’ an asthma attack!” she huffed.
“You ain’t got asthma! Say it or the feet next!” Vee repeated.
Tickling her feet made Cat pee on herself, so she quickly relented, “You the best Da-Da!”
“And you know this!” Vee replied triumphantly, lying on top of Cat. He kissed her on the nose. “I know it took me a minute but shit is hectic back home.”
“No, home is where me and Taheem is, so home is here,” she retorted.
“True. Okay, it’s hectic in N.C. but I’ma be home for a minute, okay?”
Vee shrugged. “A minute minute,” he answered evasively, not wanting to be tied to a specific time.
Cat sucked her teeth and began pushing him up. “You full of shit, Victor.”
“Aw-iight, aw-iight. I’ma be here long enough so you know where my priority lies. So you know where my heart is… and you know all that street shit is for us,” he told her then kissed her passionately.
The next day, Vee took Cat and Taheem for a much needed family day. He took Cat furniture shopping for the living room set. She already had most of the condo hooked up, so she knew exactly what set would compliment her taste. He took her out shopping for a whole new wardrobe before they had lunch at the famous Fleming's Steak House.
Vee was familiar with the city. He had gone there a few times to pick up dope before Sami became his connect, so he also knew a few players. His main man was a dark skin Puerto Rican dude name Tradero, but everyone called him Tre’. Tre’ was a New York transplant that had come to B-more to get his hustle. He had been the main dude Vee was buying from back when Vee was just copping ounces. Vee decided to call Tre’ and let him know he was in town. You never know when an opportunity to make money might arise.
Yo, who this?
Was the text Vee received back after his call to Tre' went unanswered.
Jay from N.C.
Vee texted back, using his street alias. His phone rang back instantly.
“Yo, what up, son?! Long time no hear? How you?” Tre’ chimed with his gruff New York Spanglish accent.
“It’s all love, dawg. Where you? I’m over here at the Fleming's,” Vee answered.
“Oh word, you in town? Say no more. I’m on my way.”
“Naw, naw, I’m wit’ this cutie I just met,” Vee lied, winking at Cat. “What you doin’ tonight?”
“It’s a spot called Eden’s Lounge that be jumpin’. Gimme your hotel and I’ll swing by and scoop you,” Tre’ told him.
“Cool. I’ll text you. See you tonight.”
“Say no more.”
Later that evening, Cat dropped Taheem off with the babysitter she used when she had classes. Then they met Tre’ in the parking lot of a local motel. Tre’ was instantly impressed with Vee’s come up. Vee only allowed his shine when he was out of town, so once Tre’ saw Vee’s money green Bentley Continental GT he knew he was doing big things.
“Damn, Bee, it’s like that?” Tre’ chuckled, leaning out the window of his BMW 745Li. This definitely wasn’t the same kid from two years ago.
Vee followed Tre’ to the Eden’s Lounge where Vee saw Tre’ was doing big things himself. The way the people greeted him as they walked in, the bottle of Louis XIV the house sent to their table and the three blood raw chicks he came with that catered to his every whim.
“Tre’, this the chick I just met. Renee, this my man Tre’,” Vee introduced Cat, using an alias for her too. He trusted no one.
“Pleased to meet you, ma,” Tre’ charmed, shaking her hand. “And this is so and so, such and such and what’s her name… y’all introduce y’all self,” Tre’ said dismissively. The chicks introduced themselves.
“I’m Anita.”
“I’m Shaneeqa.”
“I’m Monica. Don’t you go to Morgan?”
“Yeah,” Cat replied with one word, letting the chick know she wasn’t beat for conversation. She couldn’t believe the disrespect some females were willing to put up with simply ‘cause a man had a few dollars. As for Tre’, she thoroughly disliked him as well.
Vee chuckled. “Damn, dawg, you definitely ain’t doin’ too bad for yourself.”
“I can say the same thing for you! What’s a recession?!” Tre’ exclaimed, lifting the bottle of Louie in the air then filling everyone’s flutes. Everyone laughed except Cat.
“Excuse me, I have to go to the bathroom,” Cat said in a huff, sliding out of the booth.
Tre’ motioned for his girls to go, too. The three chicks went with Cat. Tre’ slid over closer to Vee.
“So, Jay, what brings you to Bodymore?” Tre’ asked, sipping champagne.
“Just had a little spare time on my hands, so I figured I’d come see what’s what.”
Tre’ nodded, exchanging acknowledgements with another balla who had just entered.
“Yo, shit is fucked up out here, B… the game that is. Muhfuckas playin’ leapfrog when it comes to tellin’ on each other. A nigguh’ll tell on his moms for the Feds,” Tre’ shook his head.
“Shit, like Biggie said, ‘Yo' mom’ll set that ass up properly gassed up,” Vee quipped.
“Real talk. My cuz just got twenty-five in the Feds. Guess who flipped?”
“Who?”
“His fuckin’ pops, B! True story! Fuck that shit, I don’t need the drama,” Tre’ said dismissively. “I even heard it’s this C.I. down your way. Nigguh ‘posed to be heavy in the game but he set cats up for the Feds. You know about that?” Tre’ inquired, looking at Vee out the corner of his eye.
Vee turned to him, face screwed up. “Nigguh, what the fuck I’ma know about some hot nigguh in Carolina for?!”
“Naw, B. Be easy… I ain’t tryin’ to play you. Believe me, if I felt a way about you I wouldn’t have returned your call period,” Tre’ told him looking him in the eye. “And if I did return it, I would’ve met you wit’ a bullet… word.”
Vee smiled, drinking his champagne. “You would’ve tried.”
Tre’ laughed. “But on the real, B, I’m out the game. I got a new hustle.”
“Yeah? You a pimp now?” Vee joked as the ladies made their way back to the table.
“Naw… I’m into that porn shit,” Tre’ informed him.
“Booty flicks, dawg? Get the fuck outta here,” Vee said unimpressed. For him porn seemed like some bootleg flea market shit.
“Don’t sleep, yo, I been in the game eighteen months and I already seen over a meal ticket after taxes,” Tre’ bragged.
“A meal ticket?” Vee exclaimed. A meal ticket was a million dollars.
Tre' nodded proudly. “After taxes… and check it, I made like half of them online! I’m tellin’ you, B, porn is a billion dollar industry, and nigguhs ain’t up on it except as customers and actors! Few control the dollars.”
Vee nodded. Now he was impressed. Tre’ leaned his elbows on the table.
“But the real money is in legit films. Cats doin’ these little DVDs on street legends, B.E.T. take the idea and run wit’ it and make American Gangsters! B, I’m tellin’ you shit is official, and I definitely could use a partner,” Tre’ alluded.
Vee looked at Tre’ deep in thought. He had seen the DVD game on the street for years, now Hollywood wanted to jump on the bandwagon. He knew he couldn’t play the street game forever and if porn was a billion dollar industry….
Cat sucked her teeth. She had heard enough. Porn? Hell no, not if she could help it! Having all those freak ass naked bitches around Vee on the daily. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him, but a kid in a candy store? Sooner or later he’s going to taste. “Umm, Jay, that’s your name, right?” Cat quipped. “I really have to get up in the morning for school.”
Vee looked at Cat and damn near read her mind. He turned to Tre’ and shook his hand.
“Yo, keep my number locked in. I’ma be in touch for sho'!” Vee assured him.
“Say no more,” Tre' replied.
“And, yo… on the hot nigguh… see if you can get a name,” Vee asked.
“I’ll see what I can do. Be safe my nigguh!”
Chapter 9
Guy was on top of the world. Nothing makes a man feel better than when his plan comes together. He had his first spot in Brooklyn and the money was coming in hand over fist. The dope the Council got from the Italians was top shelf and kept the fiends coming in. The Council kept everything completely organized, and Guy used that model for his territory.
He had a crib where the dope was packaged. In t
his house, six or seven naked women cut the heroin with quinine, lactose, dextrose and bonita then packaged it up in glassine envelopes. Since he wasn’t a wholesaler yet, meaning he didn’t sell large amounts of weight, Guy’s money came from hand to hand deals that his runners took care of.
He had a studio apartment in Harlem’s lower east. Eddie taught him the valuable lesson of never sleeping where you shit, meaning never live in the same area you do dirt in. Many hustlers had gone against that simple maxim and paid with their lives.
Guy lived a hustler’s life with all the parties, Cadillacs and women a young man on the come up could handle. He also had something else every man wants. Gloria was pregnant with their first child. He and Gloria had quickly become a couple ever since Nicky’s party. Eddie approved of their relationship from the door.
“Nigguh, my sister been diggin’ you since she first laid eyes on you. Yo’ country ass was just too slow to recognize!” Eddie joked.
Guy truly loved Gloria, but a man’s love is expressed differently than a woman’s. Even though Guy had his share of women, Gloria was his only feminine priority.
Gloria also noticed that Guy was changing. She was a firm believer that money didn’t change people, it just brings out what’s already there. And at heart, Guy was a natural womanizer, as was his daddy and his daddy’s daddy as well. Still, it didn’t sit well with Gloria and they fought many nights about it until Guy finally told her, “Look, Glo, we can fight and fuss, break every goddamn dish and plate in the house, it ain’t gonna stop me from doin’ what I wanna do. If you can’t handle that then there’s the door. I love you wit’ all my heart, but either you can hang or you can’t.”
“Guy, I hate yo’ motherfuckin’ selfish ass self! You ain’t shit! You reel people in, that’s what you do! Woo ‘em wit’ that country ass charm then you treat ‘em like shit!” Gloria exclaimed with tears of anger running down her face. “I don’t deserve to be treated like this and you know it, Guy!”