A Good Day to Die

by James Hendricks

  “What happened?” She managed between sobs.

  “Shut the fuck up! You don’t care about Zoe or any of them!” Jon said with tears still falling from his eyes. Don was as he drove.

  20

  It had been a month since Zoe passed away. The boys were traumatized by his death, especially Jon. When the doctor told them Zoe was dead Jon walked out the hospital and went straight to the Bronx shooting at houses, people, even dogs. He left only when he had no more bullets. Jon went to the game room, got more shells and magazines then did the same to the Miller area.

  No one had been able to get through to him since Zoe’s death, not his mama, Don, Kay, Lynette or Bay Bro, nobody. Jon isolated himself and walked around zombie-like. The crew suffered as a result.

  Jackie has been conducting business with Don and Kay. She didn’t like the inconsistency. Jon hadn’t been to see her or even answered her phone calls. Jackie heard about Zoe’s death and how hard Jon took it. It was time Jon stopped grieving, Jackie thought.

  She drove all over the city looking for Jon. Finally she spotted his truck at the beach. Jackie found Jon sitting and staring at the water.

  “What’s up stranger?” Jackie said sitting next to him. “I haven’t seen you in awhile.”

  Jon kept staring at the water. Jackie wasn’t phased.

  “So you just gone ignore me, huh?” she said as she nudged Jon. “It’s cool though. I can do all the talking.” She said picking up a handful of sand. “I want you to listen to me Jon. Zoe’s gone. I feel your pain but you’ve gotta move forward and carry his love and memory. That’s what Zoe would want. Instead of sitting here feeling sorry we should be kicking in doors trying to get even.” Jackie got up and squatted down in front of Jon. “Where’s my little brother? The one who don’t take no shit. The one who gets even when you fuck with him. What’s up Jon? You want to go take care of this or what?”

  “I’m straight,” Jon said looking down at the sand.

  “That’s too bad.” She said reaching into her pocket. “Because I got an address.”

  Jon quickly looked up. “Where at?”

  “Let’s go,” Jackie said leading the way.

  They went to the game room. The rest of the boys were there.

  “All right,” Jackie said walking into the backroom. Jon was by her side. “This shit gone stop. I got this address to Will’s baby mama’s house and we gone go take care of his ass. Then we gone do Shine.”

  The boys were quiet and all eyes were focused on Jon not Jackie. “Y’all have invested too much time and energy to let everything fall to pieces.”

  “Jackie’s right, we’ve all sacrificed a lot to make this happen but none more than Zoe.” Jon paused and cleared his throat. “I’m not going to let his death be for nothing.”

  Jackie looked around the room. The boys’ posture, facial expression and mood all changed. Jon was the glue that held them together.

  “What we waiting for?” Kay asked embracing Jon.

  The boys busied themselves grabbing weapons.

  “Whoa.” Jackie said in amazement. “All this artillery. We not gone need all that. A couple of guns will do.” Jackie hugged Jon. “Welcome back.”

  Jon kissed Jackie on the cheek. “Thanks…”

  Will’s baby mama lived in Merrillville with white people on a nice quiet street. There was no sign of Will’s rides at the house. Jackie got out and knocked on the front door. A brown skinned woman answered the door. The two women talked and Jackie returned to the BMW. Will just left.

  “Fuck it!” Ron said from the backseat. “We wait.”

  “Yeah, but not out here,” Jon said. He got out of the car.

  “We going up in there and have that bitch call his ass.” Jon said leaning into Smoke’s window.

  “How we know he gone come?” Smoke asked turning off the car.

  “The nigga just left. She can tell him that he forgot something or that she need something. We’ll think of something.”

  “Fuck it.” Twon said getting out the car. “Let’s do this.”

  The boys lined up on the side of the house. Jackie knocked on the door again. This time when the woman opened the door the boys rushed. They knocked the woman down.

  “What’s going on?” She asked from the floor.

  Jon stood over the woman and extended his hand.

  “Help us and we won’t hurt you. The sooner you get Will to come here the sooner we’ll be gone,” he said.

  The woman grabbed Jon’s hand and got up from the floor.

  “What is this, a robbery?” She asked looking only at Jon. “Will don’t keep his money here, I mean maybe twenty, twenty-five thousand but that’s it. I get y’all that right now.”

  “We didn’t come her for money,” Jon said with a wild look in his eyes. “We came to see Will. He owes us something worth more than money. Either you get him here, or today, you be paying his debt.”

  The woman’s eyes bulged. She tried to run but Jackie’s fist caught her.

  “Stupid bitch,” Jackie said adjusting the rings on her fingers. “Where you think you going?”

  The woman looked up at Jackie and started crying. “Why y’all doing this to me? I haven’t done nothing. Me and Will not even together. I’m not his woman. Tasha is.”

  Jon helped the woman to her feet and walked her to a chair.

  “It’s Will we want. You protecting him because y’all have a child together but Will took a child away from us.”

  The woman looked shocked. “Will would never do that,” she said shaking her head.

  “It’s true,” Jon said standing up. “We’ll do whatever we have to get Will.” Jon paused. He made sure the woman was looking at him as he continued. “Even use your child.” The woman wasted no time calling Will.

  “He’s on his way,” she said hanging up the phone.

  “Where’s the baby at?” Don asked with a half smile on his face.

  “Uh… ah. She um…” The woman was stalling.

  “I’m not going to hurt her, I love kids,” Don said.

  “The baby’s in the back sleeping. Please don’t wake her.”

  “How many kids y’all got?” Jackie asked.

  The woman looked at Jackie and turned her nose up. “One,” she said.

  Jackie caught the look. “Bitch, you can lose the attitude before I lose you,” Jackie said walking up to the woman. “I thought Will had a boy.”

  The woman stood up and faced Jackie. “He do got a little boy,” the woman said with a smirk on her face. At that very moment Don came into the living room with the infant on his shoulder.

  Jackie looked at the little boy and smacked the woman across the face.

  “This bitch is setting us up,” Jackie said and kicked at the woman barely missing her. The woman scrambled to her feet and the two women squared off with the size advantage going in favor of the woman. She was three inches taller and twenty pounds heavier.

  “Yeah bitch,” the woman said putting her guard up. “Try that shit now.”

  Jon hurried to break it up but Jackie held her hand up stopping him. “I don’t need no help, little brother. I’m a wreck this bitch.”

  The woman swung missing badly. Jackie hit her with a quick one-two to upside her head. Jackie caught the woman with a hook to the mouth. The woman stumbled blood came from her mouth. She charged Jackie with her head down and her arms swinging wildly like a madwoman. One of the woman’s wild swings caught Jackie in the eye dazing her. The woman wrestled Jackie to the floor. The two women rolled around on the floor biting, kicking, scratching, pulling and tearing each other apart. Jack punched the woman twice in the throat taking all the fight out of her.

  “Stupid bitch, look what you did to my clothes.” Jackie said lunging. Jon grabbed her.

  “Hey beautiful,” he said pulling her to the next room. “You won. Now what are we going to do?”

  Jackie looked down, her shirt and bra were torn exposing her breasts.

  “Can
you believe this?” She asked pointing at her breasts.

  Jon stared but couldn’t help it. Jackie’s titties were pointing straight at him. “Boy what you looking at?” She asked pushing Jon.

  He took his shirt off exposing an eight-pack, toned chest and arms. “Even now you’re beautiful,” Jon said handing Jackie his shirt.

  “Damn, milk does a body good,” Jackie smiled putting on the shirt. She hugged Jon.

  “Nice,” Jon said gripping Jackie’s round ass.

  “All right, enough,” she said and pulled away. “We can kill the bitch and kidnap the baby. Kidnap them both. I really don’t give a shit.”

  Jon thought about the options. “We walk,” he said after a couple beats.

  Jackie gave him a crazy look then shook her head sideways. “Well alright, if that’s what you want. I wouldn’t.”

  The two walked back into the living room. “Is Will coming?” Jon asked standing directly in front of the woman.

  “No,” she said with her ample sized breasts fully exposed.

  Jon tightened the grip on his gun while staring at the woman. He wanted to send Will a message. “Come on, we out,” he said.

  Don gave the woman the little boy. They all left.

  Instead of going to his baby mama’s aid, Will went to the Bronx. He got two workers and went to the twin’s house. They kicked in the front door and searched the house tearing up everything. Will clogged the sinks and toilets up and turned on the water. He walked out the house and lit a blunt thinking about his baby mama and the signal that he told her to use if anybody ever kicked in the door.

  She was down for him despite all that he had put her through. The twins went to their mother’s home. They found the house flooded. They put their mom in a hotel for the night and bought her a house in South Holland, Illinois the next day.

  It had been a month and half since Jon and Lynette broke up. The two would see each other and not speak. Jon was interacting with the crew and was also running the operation again. Jon was showing Kay everything that must be done and how it should be done.

  He thought about Lynette all the time. His pride kept him from apologizing and Jon was always depressed. Lynette tried to apologize but gave up. Two weeks before school started Lynette was stressing that Jon picking one of the many girls that flocked around him.

  Lynette called Jon and told him that she was alone and heard a sound outside the house. She asked him to come and check things out for her. Jon hurried out the door.

  He pulled up to the house and saw the front door open. Jon cocked his gun and got out the car, cautiously walking to the house. He went inside, closing the door behind him. Jon started searching the house. He opened Lynette’s bedroom door. Lynette was on the bed wearing one of his button-up jerseys. Candles lit the room and R. Kelly was on the speaker. She got up from the bed and walked to Jon.

  “I’m sorry for the way I acted.” Jon was mesmerized by her beauty. “I should’ve never--”

  Lynette placed her index finger over Jon’s lip cutting him off.

  “Shush,” she said softly kissing his lips. Lynette led Jon to the bed and pushed him down. “Tonight’s my night.” She stripped him of everything he was wearing. Lynette sat on his leg. He could feel her moistness. Lynette kissed Jon from the top of his head. At his navel she paused and looked up at him. Jon wore a look of surprise. She held his dick with one hand and licked around it. Her other hand caressed his washboard stomach.

  “Oh shit…” Jon moaned with pleasure.

  Lynette sucked as much as she could inside her mouth. Jon held onto the sheets. Lynette worked her head up and down his dick like a pro. Occasionally taking it out and licking its full length. After five minutes Jon exploded in her mouth. She swallowed it. Lynette moved back up to face Jon. He grabbed her and rolled on top.

  “My turn,” Jon said unbuttoning her shirt.

  Kissing her softly on the forehead, he made his way down her body. When he reached her breast Jon took one nipple at a time into his mouth, sucking it like an ice-cream pop. He made his way down to her flat stomach and her pussy. Jon licked at her outer lips before sliding his tongue inside her. Lynette grabbed his head. Jon licked her inner walls. She rubbed his braids.

  “Right there. Right there,” Lynette said between deep breaths. Jon had found Lynette’s magic spot. He licked her clit until her legs stiffened and her toes curled.

  Lynette was still breathing heavy after the orgasm.

  “I’m ready baby.” She said while pulling Jon up and kissing him passionately.

  “Are you sure?” Jon asked not wanting to hurt her. “We can wait if you want to.” Jon looked at Lynette’s green eyes and was about to speak but Lynette beat him to it.

  “I don’t want to wait,” she said.

  Lynette ran her nails up and down Jon’s back. “Put it in, Jon. Quit playing with me.”

  Jon grabbed his dick and rubbed it up and down Lynette’s pussy searching for the opening. After a minute the moistness led him to it.

  “Aha ouch…ah…ah…” Lynette swallowed hard as Jon penetrated her. He looked down and was about to pull out.

  “I’m fine.” Lynette said grabbing Jon’s ass to stop him from pulling out. Jon slowly slid his dick inside Lynette. When he was all the way in, he kissed Lynette and slowly started moving in and out of her. After a couple of minutes Lynette was moving in rhythm with Jon. “I love you Jon.”

  “I love you boo…”

  21

  During the ’95-’96 school year Will and Shine put a price on all SCC. The war with the boys had cost them thousands of dollars. Shine wanted the thirsty people to deal with the boys. He wanted to focus on his new love, Renee.

  Shine didn’t know much about Renee’s past. The first time he saw her in Hustlers, he had to have her. Renee knew about the beef he had with Don but never mentioned that she dealt with Don. Will moved his son and Kenya even further into the suburbs and didn’t let anyone know where, not even Shine. Will trusted no one in the dope game especially since he and Shine started their own version of the boy’s Bobby and Pauline’s.

  Shine was already supplying Dorie Miller projects he and Will locked it down. The two rented three houses in someone’s name and set up shop. The houses were next door to each other making it easy for Will and Shine to protect them. Dorie Miller was the perfect place to put the houses because there was only one entrance.

  The houses were doing well but Shine wanted them making the same amount of money he seen Bobby making, if not more. Will was content with sales and thought Shine was being greedy. Will continued to play the background.

  Lynette got pregnant the first time she had sex. She was ecstatic about having a baby. Jon was going to be a father. They thought Bay Bro was going to hit the roof but he was cool.

  Don was loving family life and spent a lot of time with his son. After Zoe’s death, he helped Jon make runs to the apartment buildings but didn’t hang out with the crew at the game room like before.

  Kay had a high school sweetheart and they often went out with Jon and Lynette. Twon was now in charge of the boy’s new apartment building on 36th and Carolina, named Christine. He was happy about his new responsibility and was now pretending to be a big shot.

  Ron continued to run Pauline and handled the security matters for the crew. He had found a new love and was now thinking of retiring. Even though things were looking up for them, the boys missed Zoe.

  April ’96. Victoria was pregnant again. When she told Bay Bro the news he said that it would be a boy. Victoria was trying to have all the fun. Bay Bro took her out every night dancing over in Chicago. He didn’t allow Victoria to drink any liquor. That didn’t stop Victoria from getting her party on. Victoria was into all the latest styles. She saw a dress in Hustlers that she had to have. Bay Bro didn’t shop for clothes in Gary but made an exception for Victoria.

  They went to Hustlers. Bay Bro was impressed he found that the store had a lot of hot items. Victoria showed Bay Bro an
outfit she wanted him to have.

  “Isn’t it hot? And it’s your colors too,” Victoria said pointing at the black and gold outfit.

  Bay Bro shook his head. “It’s kinda hot, but I don’t wear denim suits,” he said.

  The disappointment was written all over Victoria’s face. “But for you,” he said kissing Victoria’s forehead. “I’ll make an exception.” Bay Bro took the outfit from the rack and then they went to get the dress.

  “I’m wearing this tonight.” Victoria held the dress against her body Bay Bro stared.

  “I’m glad niggas know who I am,” Bay Bro said smiling and whistling. “Whew now that’s hot.”

  Victoria got a couple more dresses and a short set and the two went to the check-out counter. Bay Bro stared at the man behind the counter. His face looked familiar.

  “Do I know you?” Bay Bro asked the bald headed man.

  The man looked at Bay Bro and froze. Bay Bro stared.

  “What’s the matter, boo?” Victoria asked looking at Bay Bro.

  “It’s nothing,” Bay Bro said still staring at the man. “Nothing at all.” The man told Bay Bro the price.

  Victoria had not even looked at the man until she heard his voice.

  “Cash…?” She asked looking at the man.

  The man hurried to stuff their items into a bag.

  “Excuse me,” he said. “I think you’re confusing me with someone else.”

  Victoria and Bay Bro focused on the man.

  “It is you Cash, your sorry ass. I know who you are,” Victoria said walking around the counter. “Nigga you ain’t shit. If I knew this was your store I wouldn’t even have shopped here.”

  Bay Bro grabbed Victoria and pulled her behind him. “Oh yeah nigga, I got sump’n for yo ass.”

  Bay Bro reached for his gun just as two customers entered the store. Cash rose from under the counter with a .45 pistol. Bay Bro was holding the .357 magnum on Cash. Both men fired.

  “No baby, no baby,” Victoria said as she held Bay Bro in her arms. “You can’t do this to me.”

  Tears were flowing from Victoria’s eyes as she held Bay Bro in her arms.