Trap Goddess

by Sasha Ravae

  “Jonah, there you are.”

  “Chill,” he mouthed, “Hey, Ms. Esther. I heard you were looking for me. How you been?” He bent down to give the tiny lady a kiss on the cheek.

  “I can’t complain, son. The Lord is good. Amen. How you been? I haven’t really seen you at church too much since your father’s passing. Your other family misses you.”

  “I know, Ms. Esther. I’m gonna try and make it to church more often. There’s no excuse.”

  “There’s nothing more important than receiving that bread of life, Jonah. Your father, God rest his soul, was adamant about us keeping an eye on you. I know that the Devil has been busy, but I also know that you will come home for good one day. I will continue to pray for you.”

  “Thank you, Ms. Esther. I need all the prayer I can get.”

  “Don’t we all, but anyway, I wanted to come over here and thank you for keeping this event going in the absence of your father. Everything is turning out wonderfully. I really think this will be the best one yet. Your father would be so proud that you are continuing to help out these people. You know how many mouths we are going to feed? How many babies will receive exactly what they need for school? It is beyond awesome. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.”

  “You know I will do anything I can to help,” Jonah said flashing his bright smile.

  “Well, thank you, baby. Let me get back to my rounds. Some of the brothers from the church are out back smoking some of the meat for tomorrow. The last thing we need is a fire to break out,” Ms. Esther said laughing as she walked away, “Oh, before I forget, I just need your signature on two of these invoices.”

  She handed Jonah her clipboard, and he quickly scribbled his name on the forms.

  “Thank you, baby, see you guys tomorrow bright and early.”

  “Let’s go outside,” Jonah suggested once Ms. Esther was out of earshot. The center began to fill up as everyone did their part to ensure that the drive would be a success. Reko and Omari followed right behind Jonah until they arrived at his car. “I told you that we would talk about this later,” he snapped.

  “Fuck that,” Reko said, “Yeah, you might be in charge, but that doesn’t change the fact that our lively hoods are at stake, nigga. We need to talk about this shit now. Omari said he heard that it was some nigga from out of town who did it.”

  “Is that true, Mar?”

  “Yeah, it was a couple people on the block that night when Mal got hit, and they said they had some accents like they were from the south or something.”

  “How you know they just weren’t doing that shit for show?”

  “Shit, they could’ve been. I’m just telling you what I heard, blood.”

  “So basically we still don’t know shit?”

  “Basically,” Omari said pulling a Black and Mild from behind his ear.

  “I think we do know something,” Reko said becoming frustrated, “Whoever hit us wasn’t in our clique. I know that fa sho. Rich Gang got the city on lock, period, so whether these niggas are from down south or wherever, they are not one of us. They shouldn’t be that hard to find. With $500,000 and a couple bricks, they could set up shop easily, and believe me, mothafuckas will take notice.”

  “Like I said before, it’s a waiting game. I’m not saying that I’m bout to just roll over and chalk what happened, the money, the work, all that shit is irrelevant, but that respect can’t be given back. Mal lost his life.”

  “Exactly, somebody’s gotta pay.”

  “And they will, Reko. You gotta learn patience, my nigga,” Jonah said leaning against his black Infinite, “Do you think after all these years that we’ve been banging and pushing dope that not one nigga, not one clique would try to get Rich Gang out the way? Our names ring loud in these streets, boy. Factors are factors at the end of the day, and everybody wants to be a factor. We now get the chance to prove why we’re on top, why we’ve been on top, and why we’ll continue to be on top. Relax. Everything will soon go back to normal. You got my word.”

  Chapter 2

  Trina walked up to the white Escalade and waited until Ron, her body guard, opened the back door.

  “Where you off to today?” he asked making sure she was secured in the back.

  “Just to the mall, but I need to stop by Yari’s house first.”

  “No problem,” he said walking to the driver’s side.

  Ron had been in the Rich Gang for almost ten years. He had been friends with Jonah and Reko for years, but when business started picking up for them, Jonah insisted that he be a part of his growing empire too. Ron was never into slanging, but he would beat a nigga’s ass quick, and he put in work when the time called for it. He was the group’s enforcer until Trina came around. Jonah knew that he couldn’t be around her 24/7, but he didn’t trust leaving her to be alone either, so he hired Ron to protect and watch over Trina when he couldn’t. At first, Ron wasn’t into it the sudden babysitting gig, but when he saw how much it meant to Jonah, he agreed. Plus he didn’t mind looking at a pretty face and a fat-ass all day. Jonah was well aware of Trina’s past, and that made him want to keep her under lock and key even more. He was convinced that if she ever came across another made nigga who had more than he did, she would leave, so he never wanted to give her the opportunity.

  Thirty minutes later, Trina found herself in front of Omari’s five-bedroom, two-story house. He was the most practical out of the clique, so instead of spending all his money on clothes, shoes, jewelry, and cars, he bought himself a house. Growing up, he moved from place to place, from family member to family member, so having somewhere to call his own was the only thing that mattered to him.

  “Ron, I’m not handicapped,” Trina said opening the door as Ron hurried around to the other side, “I know Jonah put you on wifey-watching duty, but believe me; I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.”

  “I’ll fall back, lil mama. I was just tryna be gentlemanly and what not.”

  “I’ll be right back,” she said laughing. She knew that Ron had a little crush on her, but he would never cross that line unless he wanted to lose his life.

  Trina walked up the driveway passing the candy-red Benz Omari bought her friend Yari for her birthday. When she got to the front door, Yari was coming out of the house with her big, bright white YSL bag hanging off her small arm.

  “What’s up, bitch?”

  “I’m guessing you ready,” Trina said noticing her urgency.

  “Omari left me here by myself all day. I’ve been bored as fuck, so let’s go,” she said locking the door, “Ron brought you over here?” Yari couldn’t help but to smack her lips.

  “You know Jonah don’t let me go nowhere by myself. This pussy stays on lock.”

  “Must be nice.”

  “Not as nice as I would want it to be. I’m a grown-ass woman. I don’t need to be followed around everywhere I go. I swear this nigga acts like I’ma just end up falling on a dick or something.”

  “Shit, it’s happened before.”

  “Fuck you,” Trina laughed.

  “But forreal, you better than me. With Ron’s big, fine ass around all the time, I would have been tried to see what it hit like. I mean it ain’t like he ain’t feeling you or whatever.”

  “Feeling me, not feeling me, I really could care less. My home is happy, and I would like to keep it that way.”

  “I’m just saying these niggas use us, so we should be able to use them too. Fair exchange. No robberies,” Yari said walking over to the car. She watched as Ron sat in the driver’s seat focused on his phone.

  “What Mar do now?” Trina asked getting in.

  “It’s not necessarily something he did, but what he won’t do. His baby mama Tasha be real reckless out her mouth, but you know out of respect for him and his daughter, I try to be cordial, but this hoe has no chill. She tries to tell Omari about all these supposed niggas I’m fucking, but if I get on the phone, then all of a sudden, she’s mute.”

  “That’s just
like Jonah’s baby mama Renee. She been asking me to put my foot in her ass, but you know how Jonah gets about his kids. She’s supposed to be dropping them off at the house tonight, so we’ll see. I told Jonah I can’t promise anything cause my actions depend on hers. I swear these females let this make-up and hair fool them every time. I’ve never been above beating a bitch up on God.”

  “Ya’ll need to stop with the bullshit,” Ron interrupted, “They want what ya’ll got. Don’t become two bitter bitches sitting in the same section as them.”

  “Never that,” Trina said, “Renee may have his kids, but Jonah knows I’m bout my money regardless of anything else, and that’s why I know his boss on a first name basis. Renee might learn a thing or two if she would let me lace her one time.”

  “Here you go,” Ron laughed.

  “Forreal.”

  “What mall ya’ll tryna go to?”

  “I guess we can go to the Galleria. You know it ain’t shit out here. I would say let’s go to the City, but I gotta be back at the house at like seven.”

  “Enough about all that,” Yari said climbing into the front seat.

  “Girl, you about to get me a ticket,” Ron said trying to help her over with one hand while he steered with the other.

  “Spark up,” she said trying to get situated as her wrapped skirt eased up her thick, coffee-colored thigh.

  “I thought your little-ass stopped smoking? What happened to that higher path you was supposed to be on?” Ron asked pulling out a pack of unopened swishers.

  “I did, but shit, it’s Friday, and I ain’t got shit to do,” Yari laughed, “Now if you could kindly hop out my business.”

  “By all means, do you mamas,” he said as he steered the car with his knee and rolled up.

  “So what’s up for tomorrow night?” she asked fixing her Mac covered face in the overhead mirror. Her smooth, dark-brown skin was flawless.

  “Tomorrow night, DeAndre is supposed to be having this opening for his new club Lux downtown. You know if it has anything to do with RG then Jonah and his team gotta show out,” Trina said.

  “And you know this, baby,” Ron chimed in.

  “Jonah said that it’s supposed to be real low-key though, and we haven’t been out in a cool little minute cause he’s been all about work, work, work.”

  “That’s probably gonna only get worse after everything that happened.”

  “Yeah, he didn’t tell me too much, but if he’s going out of town on Monday then so am I.”

  “Let that nigga breathe a little bit. Jonah knows exactly what he’s doing. These streets respect him for a reason,” Ron said lighting the blunt he had managed to roll.

  “I never said that he didn’t, but in the year that we’ve been together, his money has doubled, and I know that for a fact. Why, you ask? Because I know business. This whole world is all about transactions, so make those transactions work for you. Jonah was running around getting his hands dirty for what?”

  “Cause that nigga’s a team player,” Ron said handing the blunt to Yari, “He doesn’t believe in roles. They only separate us when we’re all here to do the same job at the end of the day.”

  “Jonah is a boss, and he needs to act as such. If he has work that needs to be done, he has workers for that. I’ve been in this life a long time. I know how this shit goes.”

  “Okay, Griselda.” Trina smiled at the compliment.

  As the blunt was passed around the car, Trina, Yari, and Ron let the thick clouds of smoke fill them, and before they knew it, Ron was pulling up to the mall.

  “Ya’ll need me to come in?”

  “Yeah, if you wanna try on dresses,” Yari smiled.

  “I’m good on that note. I’ll probably just go get something to eat. Just hit me when you get through.”

  “Yep,” Trina said getting out of the car.

  When they got inside, they headed straight for BCBG even though Trina had no idea what to look for. Jonah met her in a strip club, so her overly sexual appearance never bothered him, but sometimes she felt like she wanted to look a little more conservative. The last thing she wanted to do was embarrass him.

  “So the event is gonna be at a church or something?” she asked as she scanned through the racks of clothes that sat in front of her.

  “No, it’s at the rec center, but it’s hosted with Jonah’s daddy’s church. Bitch, you are acting like you never heard about it before. How long have you and Jonah been together now?”

  “Like a year, but I mean my brain doesn’t work like that. Unless it’s about some money, I ain’t even gon’ lie, I don’t be paying attention. Maybe I should start, huh?”

  “You think?” Yari said as she picked up a pair of leather hot pants, “But I mean, it’s something nice for the community or whatever, and from what Mar told me, Jonah takes it very serious. People really depended on his father, so now he feels like it’s his obligation to keep it going, you know?”

  “I know his heart’s in the right place, so that’s why I’m trying,” Trina said picking up a black cardigan as she held it against a pair of coal-colored, straight-leg pants, “I just don’t want him to put himself out there like that.”

  “Everybody fucks with Jonah. Stop overthinking and just have a good time. This weekend is about to be popping.”

  “Let’s hope so.”

  After completing their purchases, Trina and Yari walked around the mall wasting time. They both knew that Ron was waiting for them outside, but Trina was dreading going home.

  “You ready?” she finally asked as she sighed.

  “Yeah, I didn’t tell Omari I was leaving, so I better get back to the house before he starts tripping.”

  Trina pulled out here cellphone and dialed Ron’s number.

  “Hello?”

  “Where you at?”

  “Where I’ve been for the past two and half hours, Trina. I know you done bought that bitch out. There better be something in there for me.”

  “You would be proud, Ron. I was good this time, but we’re ready now. Meet us where you dropped us off at.”

  “Alright,” he said hanging up.

  “So you and Ron have been spending a lot more time together,” Yari said being messy.

  “I guess so. I don’t really think about it.”

  “So ya’ll fucking or what?”

  “Bitch, what do I look like? If I were to ever leave Jonah, it would be for a nigga with more money not less, boo. He’s just hella cool. I mean Jonah usually takes me with him everywhere he goes, but the times that he doesn’t, it’s nice to have someone there.”

  “I’m here,” Yari snapped, and all Trina could do was roll her eyes.

  “Anyway, Ron is the most solid dude next to Jonah, and I appreciate that.”

  “So ya’ll are not fucking, right?”

  “Did you hear anything I just said?”

  “I just had to make sure cause I’ve had my eye on him for a while now.”

  Trina stopped dead in her tracks before they got to the exit.

  “Excuse me?”

  “He’s just so sexy to me. I can’t help it. Those muscles, that face, and that beard, my pussy’s getting wet just thinking about it.”

  “Speaking of pussy, I’m pretty sure that you have Omari’s name blasted on that mothafucka. You thinking about leaving?” Trina asked in all seriousness.

  “A girl can dream, can’t she?”

  “Damn, like that?”

  “I mean I care about him, but between him and his baby mama, I just feel like I’m wasting my time.”

  “Don’t let that punk bitch come between you and your nigga. That’s exactly what she wants to do.”

  “It’s not just that. You know me, and I love to be out and about having fun, but Omari is so fucking dry all the time. I can’t even remember the last time I heard him laugh. He just wants me to be in the house, and that shit is suffocating.”

  “That’s cause he’s about his money. For a young nigga, Jonah trusts him wit
h a lot.”

  “I don’t know. I’m just not feeling it anymore.”

  “Don’t do that.”

  “Damn, can a bitch vent? I haven’t done nothing yet.”

  “Yet?”

  “Yet,” Yari said looking at her friend before she headed out the door. When they got outside, Ron was parked alongside the curb.

  “Damn, ya’ll ready?” he asked rolling down the window. Yari just smiled as she quickly got back in the front seat.

  “Ay, Trina, you need help?” he yelled over his shoulder.

  “No, you just stay put,” she said throwing her bags into the back, “I got it.”

  “Look at you trying to be all independent,” he mocked.

  “Can we go please? I gotta get home before the kids get there, and Yari needs to go meet up with Omari, so we can drop her off first,” Trina said throwing salt in her friend’s game.

  “You got it, boss,” Ron said turning up the music before pulling off.

  The lights on the freeway mixed in with the smoke he and Yari continued to put in the air, but no words were spoken. Trina was mad at Yari’s sudden crush. Jonah was her only source of income, and she wasn’t willing to jeopardize that over Yari being unable to keep her legs closed. The Rich Gang was tight, and Trina wanted to keep it that way.

  Forty-five minutes later, Ron pulled up in front of the house Yari and Omari shared.

  “Alright, young one, I’ll see you around,” Ron said being friendly as usual.

  “Oh, you definitely will,” she said smiling as she got out of the car, “Bye, bitch.” She couldn’t have rolled her eyes any harder, but Trina remained silent.

  “What was all that about?” he asked as he backed out of the driveway.

  “Friends stop friends from being hoes.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?” he asked laughing.

  “Nothing.”

  “Don’t nothing me, baby.”

  “Listen, if I tell you, you can’t say anything.”

  “What is it?”

  “Yari wants to fuck.”

  “I didn’t know ya’ll were close like that,” he said winking through the rearview mirror.