Addicted to a Dirty South Thug

by Shan

  Screechhhh!

  Just as I was about to murder this clown, I see my brother pull up in his dusty-ass Maserati and hop out the car. He casually walked over to me like he was stepping out of GQ magazine or something. I laughed at this nigga the closer he got to me, because in reality, no matter how hard he tried, he wasn’t shit but a street nigga just like the rest of us. He low-key thought he was Mafia affiliated or some shit. Shit was just going too far.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you? Get in the fuckin’ car,” Khi said, and I frowned at him before I shoved the gun further down the Arab’s throat. Of course, his bitch ass wanted to flex as usual. He grabbed me by my throat and shoved me back. The gun fell out of my hand and onto the ground, firing off a round that didn’t do shit but skid across the pavement.

  I pushed Khi off me and went to pick up my pistol, but he shoved me toward his car. I pushed my dreads back, ready to square up with that nigga, until KaeDee hopped out the passenger’s seat and came in our direction. I wanted no parts of that fool ’cause I knew he would knock me out and take pride in that shit. I looked at Khi and shot his ass the bird before I walked off toward my whip that was parked across the street from the local food mart.

  “Dae! Get your ass in the car, nigga!” KaeDee yelled, sounding like a big-ass bear. I shook my head and turned to walk back to the Maserati.

  “I drove myself here; I can drive myself back,” I told him and frowned as he casually pulled that long-ass beard of his.

  “You out here on that drank?” KaeDee asked as he grabbed me from the back of my head and pulled me closer to him. I always felt like a little kid under scrutiny when dealing with KaeDee. He and Cassidy stepped up and took on the father role when our father got knocked and went down with that all-day-and-a-night sentence. He was the only one of my brothers that I didn’t test when he was getting in my shit. With Khi and the rest, I would play all day, but no matter how much shit I gave them niggas, I loved them ’til the death of me. They were my brothers, forever and always.

  “When is he not on that drank? Man, get your ass in the car before we be late. You supposed to be on your way to the fuckin’ meeting, and we get a call about your ass out here fooling,” Khi said as he flopped down into the driver’s side.

  Damn, I thought, forgetting all about the meeting we had with our connect. I hit the alarm on my car and got in the back seat of the Mazi.

  “Yo, Dae, is you stupid, nigga? You out here with a crowd of muthafuckas ready to murk Amin like that. What the hell is you thinkin’?” KaeDee asked the moment he got inside the car.

  I shrugged my shoulders and took my attention outside of the window, watching a few of the onlookers help that Arab fool to his feet. I smirked and thought about coming back to body the nigga during closing.

  “You really ready to go to war with them, mane?” KaeDee continued.

  “Shittt, them niggas declared war when they popped our people and got our shit last night. I know it was them. Who else riding through the hood with them ARs, nigga? Tell me a nigga you know in the hood that got that kinda firepower? They took our fam away from us. Nigga Cocoa died in that muthafucka last night,” I said, and both of them fools sat in the front seat all quiet and shit.

  Thinking of Cocoa had me thinking of the wifey, Amber. I didn’t know what I would do if someone were to take her away from me and the kid. I used to have her out there trapping with a nigga, but the minute she got pregnant with our shorty back when we were young as hell, I made her get off the block. I couldn’t have the both of us out there risking our lives when we had a mouth to feed. Somebody had to be there to care for the kid in case shit got bad out there.

  “Bruh, even if that’s the case, what you going after Amin for? Fuck that’s gonna do? Make them niggas madder so they can get at more of our people . . . more of our shit? We can’t be out here on no slick, dumb shit ’cause we angry, bruh. Come on now, Dae. I’m always telling you we ain’t on the block no more. We can’t be out here like that,” Khi preached, and I yawned, letting him know I ain’t give a fuck about nothing he was saying.

  “Yeah, whatever, nigga,” I said as I leaned back in the seat and tried to sleep off some of this drank. Khi turned the music to the max, and minutes later, I had drifted into a slumber.

  * * *

  “So, y’all don’t know of anybody that could’ve did this shit? My nigga, that’s a big-ass loss,” Tamar said as I fought to keep my eyes open.

  Tamar was known nationwide in this underworld drug game. He had the game on lock and was the reason we were seeing the kinda paper that we were now. I heard all kinds of stories about how this cat stumbled upon some coca fields and had somehow taken over the Mexican Cartel, but I didn’t know what exactly was the truth. What I did know was that he had the best product we had ever seen, and he had invited us to be a part of the coalition that he had formed under his drug cartel that he called United Nations. It was supposed to stop the beefs in the street over territory and ensure that everybody was getting paper. The shit had its ups and downs, ’cause a nigga always felt like he could be getting it from everywhere, but it was what it was. I wasn’t missing no meals, and my pockets had been far from shy as of late. The only muthafuckas that acted like they missed the meeting and refused to get on board was them damn Arabs. They were fucking the game all the way up.

  “I mean, we got a few possibilities, but I ain’t ready to jump on shit just yet. We just ready to put that work back out there like nothing ever happened,” Khi said, and I let out a big yawn that had everybody in the room looking over at me like I did something wrong. I shrugged my shoulders and sat up in my seat.

  Suddenly, I felt sick to my stomach like I had to throw up. I jumped up from my seat and shot out the first door that I came to, which led to the back yard. I kneeled over the grass and dry heaved until what seemed like everything I had eaten over the past few days came up. I started getting all hot and shit, so I pulled off the T-shirt I was rocking and used it to wipe the sweat from my forehead.

  “Shit,” I said as I spit into the grass and took a few steps back.

  “Here,” I heard someone say from behind me. I turned around to see a short, brown-skinned female with some pretty, hazel brown eyes. I ran my eyes over her body, admiring the way her hips filled out her jeans.

  “Figured you might need this,” she said, handing me a bottle of a water.

  “Thanks, li’l mama. I appreciate it.” I took the top off the water and downed a couple of gulps before I looked back over at shorty. She smiled as she stepped a little closer to me and held out her hand.

  “I’m Taylana, Tamar’s sister.”

  “Dae,” I told her as I took her hand into mine and brought it to my mouth to kiss. She flashed me another pretty smile, this time bigger, showing off a set of perfect white teeth. I knew I was flirting with danger, but shorty had approached me, and a nigga like me loved new pussy. Yeah, I had Amber at home taking care of the kid, but that was that and this was this. I shot shorty a smirk before I let her hand go and took another sip of the water.

  “You get drunk like this in the middle of the day often . . . Dae?” she asked me.

  “Leanin’ a li’l bit, that’s all.”

  “Look like more than a little bit. You out here sweating and shit. I got scared looking at you from my bedroom window, thinking you were gonna pass out.”

  “You was gonna save me if I did?”

  “Yeah, but no lie, you still look like you need a little saving. I want you to take me out.”

  “Damn, shorty, you always this bold?”

  “Not unless I’m going after something I want . . . and I want you.”

  I chuckled, and then looked up to see my brothers wrapping things up with Tamar. I slightly nodded my head so that Taylana could see. I already knew that more than likely, her brother didn’t approve of her talking to niggas like me, because if I had a little sister that looked like her, I would feel the same way.

  “Give me your phone real
quick,” she said and held out her hand. I reached into my pocket and pulled my phone out. Unlocking it, I handed it over to her and watched as she quickly typed her number inside and handed it back to me. She walked off just as KaeDee and Khi made their way outside and headed in my direction.

  “What was that all about?” Khi’s nosey ass asked. That nigga was always noticing some shit.

  “Nothing. She brought me a bottle of water,” I said, holding the water up so that they could see it. “How did everything go?”

  I followed behind KaeDee and Khi and completely zoned out. I saved Taylana’s number in my phone under the name “Troy” and went to shoot her fine ass a text.

  Me: You the dinner and movie type? Or the Netflix and chill type . . . Dae.

  Send.

  Troy: It don’t matter as long as I’m with you.

  Me: Just tryna see if I’m eating at the table or what’s on the table.

  Send.

  Troy: Lol lol . . . you corny as fuck. But eat me on the table please daddy.

  Me: not shy at all . . . just the way I like em. lol

  Send.

  I chuckled as I hopped in the back seat, knowing shorty was bad for me and bad for the business we had going on with Tamar, but like they say . . . Dae was always fucking up.

  Chapter 4

  Deonna

  I walked inside of She is Beauty with Skylarr’s big, chunky self glued to my hip. I had promised my brother-in-law Khi that I would pick her up from his mother’s house and bring her to Tangie’s to get her hair braided. I felt bad for my little bro. This was the second time that Briana had put him through this drug shit, and I knew now that their daughter was around, it had to be much harder for him. He pretended like he was cool, but I knew, deep down, Briana’s relapse had to be eating him up.

  “Hey, Tangie,” I said as I walked over to her talking to some brown-skinned chick that was working the front desk.

  “What’s up, Deonna? Hey, pretty girl,” Tangie said, reaching for Skylarr. Surprisingly, Skylarr went right to her. I smiled and looked around Tangie’s shop. Things were really coming along for her, and the place looked a lot better than the last time I was there.

  “Khi said to call him when she’s done getting her hair braided, and he’s going to come pick her up.”

  “Girl, look at this baby’s head. I can’t believe Briana would let her hair get like this. She’s too young for her hair to be all tangled up and in knots.”

  “Exactly. I tried, and so did Khi’s mother. We gave up, and Khi said to just bring her to the professional, so here she is. Work your magic, boo.”

  “Only for Khi, because he knows I don’t even deal with babies this young. Oh, and forgive me for being rude. Deonna, this is my cousin, Cuba. Cuba, this is Deonna. Her and her husband KaeDee own a law firm, one of the best in the city,” Tangie said.

  I could feel my phone vibrating in my clutch, and I pulled it out to see that I had several messages from my husband. I briefly looked down at them, and then brought my attention back to Tangie and her cousin.

  “Cuba? That’s a cute name. Nice to meet you, girl. I hate to be rude myself, but KaeDee just text me saying he’s back from his business meeting, and I need to get back to the office quick.”

  “Okay, girl, we understand. I’ll see you soon for your appointment anyway, and we can chat then.”

  “Cool,” I said absentmindedly as I turned to leave the shop. Once I made it outside and into my car, I opened KaeDee’s messages and read them all over again.

  KaeDee: Where the fuck you at?

  KaeDee: I’m back from my meeting and need to see you now! Get to the office.

  KaeDee: And hurry the fuck up.

  I locked my phone and placed it in my cup holder. Cranking my car, I pulled out of the parking lot and headed across town to the office, wondering what KaeDee was so hostile about. My husband and I had been married for the past four years. We met when I was a just a struggling freshman in college at Howard University, and he was in his last year of law school. He came to my rescue when he offered to pay for my tuition after he overheard me begging the school’s cashier to give me more time when I’d fallen behind. I thought it was odd for a man that didn’t even know me to want to help me out like that, but KaeDee was that type of man. He was genuine, had a good heart, and just wanted to see others succeed in life. That alone had me open and wanting to know more about him.

  After a few dates and many long conversations, I was in lust and ready to give KaeDee my all. I wanted to explore a life with him. I could tell that he was the kind of man that I needed in my life and that would make me happy. I was so used to dating niggas in the streets that had records, that didn’t mind robbing niggas, that was selling dope, and all that shit, that I wanted something different, and KaeDee was that different. At least that’s what I believed.

  After KaeDee graduated and came back to Dallas to start his law firm, he proposed to me after us dating for only eight months. I had gladly accepted, and within a few months of being engaged, we were married, but still living apart. Life was good, things were good, and I was happy. There was no drama, no crazy baby mamas, no looking over my shoulder, or no paranoia every time a cop was in the area. KaeDee was the man of my dreams—hell, the man of every woman’s dreams, but then, it all changed drastically. The man that cared so much about my dreams and goals no longer did. Everything was everything that he dreamed of and what he wanted.

  It wasn’t until our home was done being built and I finally reunited with him in Dallas that KaeDee requested that I change my major to the criminal justice field and help him run his firm. He wanted us to be the Bonnie and Clyde of criminal defense attorneys, and shit, what woman didn’t want to be her husband’s ride or die? I did that shit with no questions asked. I enrolled in the degree program at the college and never looked back, and even though I would miss dancing, I figured there was always later.

  In my second year of the degree program, I got pregnant with our daughter, Chanel, but I made sure that didn’t stop me. KaeDee was counting on me, and I was going to make sure he never regretted the day he made me his wife. I was so stoked and proud that I couldn’t wait until the day I graduated and was able to stand next to my husband every time he fought a case in that courtroom. I was definitely ready to be the Bonnie to his Clyde. The only problem was that I didn’t realize how much that statement would hold true.

  The life I thought I had escaped was the one I had walked right back into, only deeper than I had ever been. KaeDee was just another thug in a suit, using his law firm to cover up his drug activities, and I had no idea until he wanted me to know. I felt so deceived and so betrayed. I felt like I didn’t know the man I had married, and I had been misled into something that I hadn’t even asked for. Things were so different now for me. I had a daughter that I had to look after—a daughter that I felt safe keeping and giving birth to, because I felt safe with the man I had fallen in love with.

  KaeDee had deceived me so badly that, for a moment, I had fallen out of love with him. Things were rocky, but when I came to my senses and realized what I had in my man, I got my shit together, and got it together quick. I knew better; what KaeDee did for a living didn’t make him. He was a loving and caring man that would never let anything happen to his family. He suddenly was the man I fell in love with again, the man that I would do anything for. I was Bonnie; he was Clyde. Together, we were a force to be reckoned with, and I loved this shit.

  I stepped out of my 7-series BMW and armed the alarm as I made my way toward the office. Once I stepped inside, I nodded to the receptionist and gave her a smile before I made my way to KaeDee’s office. I could see through the glass window that surrounded his office that he was in a conversation with two men dressed down in suits. Their backs were to me, so I couldn’t tell who they were.

  KaeDee’s eyes locked with mine as I came closer. I held my hand up to let him know that I would be in my office, but he signaled for me to come in. I could see that
the worry lines were riddled in his forehead once I pulled the door and stepped inside.

  “Hi, baby. Sorry. I got back as soon as I could. Do you need me to handle—”

  “Mrs. Davis,” one of the men turned to me and said.

  I looked from him to KaeDee, who sat behind his huge oak desk. He absentmindedly toyed with the picture frame in front of him, something he did when he was frustrated and wanted to snap. It held a picture of him, Chanel, and me; a reminder of what he had to lose if he ever fucked up and made the wrong decision. Never once did KaeDee return my glare. He slammed the photo down, causing it to shatter. Pieces of glass scattered across his desk and onto the floor.

  KaeDee got up from his seat, and his six-foot-four frame seemed like a huge statue as he stood there and adjusted his tie. I watched as he rubbed one hand over his smooth chocolate face and cleared his throat before he then rubbed one hand over the waves in his low-cut fade. KaeDee was a man of very few words, only speaking when he felt he had something of importance to offer. He was so calm in this moment as he walked around his desk, but based off his demeanor, I could tell that he was burning with fire on the inside. Briefly, KaeDee’s dark hazel eyes wavered over me before he walked out of his office and left me alone with the two men.

  “Mrs. Deonna Fortson,” the man said again, but I was too busy looking after KaeDee.

  “It’s Prince now . . . KaeDee!” I yelled after him, but he kept walking down the long hall.

  “We have a warrant for your arrest. I’m Agent Porter. This is Agent Cryer.”

  “What?” I said, finally looking them over in full. That was when I noticed the badges that hung from the pockets of their suits.