Carmen

by Nako

  Failure wasn’t inevitable in the streets because he was a professional.

  It was those other lanes that made him cautious.

  “I’m on it.”

  His big brother looked at him, “You don’t have a choice. I’m pulling you out.”

  Neezy slammed on the brakes, causing his brother to drop both his phones and the blunt double-stuffed with a potent strand of marijuana called ice cream.

  “YOU GOT ME FUCKED UP!”

  Money wasn’t his father and even if he was, he couldn’t make him do shit.

  They were partners.

  He exhaled loud enough for his baby brother to hear that he was indeed beyond irritated. Neezy ignored the honking of several horns behind him, as he made his way to a parking spot in front of an old laundromat.

  Money was pissed at him.

  “Don’t ever do that again,” he warned. He could’ve caused an accident with his dramatic antics.

  “…On the real…”

  It was hard for him to not swing on his brother because that’s what they normally did whenever one had taken it too far.

  “Don’t tell me what you pulling me out of. Nigga you don’t—"

  Money eyed him carefully, wanting him to reconsider what he felt pumped up enough to say right now.

  “You don’t think I want more for you?”

  Neezy didn’t need the lullaby.

  “YOU MY BABY BROTHER. YOU JUST DID A BID FOR ME! YOU KNOW HOW THAT SHIT FELT MY NIGGA?”

  Money roared.

  He didn’t want to hear that. He really mother fucking didn’t.

  In an effort to attempt to calm his nerves, he ran his hands over his face and told his brother, “It’s not nothing I wouldn’t do for you so don’t ever say that shit to me again. I am your brother. Our blood—"

  He reached for his hand to show how important this conversation was to him.

  “Listen to me…we got the— “

  He already knew what he was about to say.

  “Same momma, same daddy,” was their favorite thing to say, growing up.

  “Neezy, I went and got a reading yesterday…man…. shit got me petrified. Not even going to lie to you,” he admitted.

  That was what came with their religion; the truth.

  Readings had the power to make you feel enlightened or worry you about what was to come.

  “What he say?”

  He being their Priest.

  “…someone is lurking in the shadows.”

  Neezy wondered who could that be.

  “What you mean?”

  He needed more information.

  “Who the fuck lurking in the shadows?”

  They were in the streets heavy but were also protected by their ancestors and with the pistols in their pockets.

  Money shrugged his shoulders, “We need to wrap it up and put everything we got into our businesses. We got the money and the brains. Truth be told lil’ bruh, I’m over all this street shit. I wanna see my baby girl get big man.”

  He had never seen his brother talk like this before.

  “Yo, promise me one thing—"

  He shook his head, “You tripping. Is it the weed?” he had to ask him.

  They weren’t about to have this conversation, as if his days were numbered or some shit.

  “Listen to me, this is not a game.”

  He wasn’t playing with his ass this morning.

  Money knew what he heard in his reading, so his brother did as he commanded.

  “Make sure Lira is good, when I say good. I mean well taken care of. The finer things. You hear me? Keep Tesha’s trifling ass away from my baby.”

  He spoke ill of his baby momma.

  “I got you.”

  “Don’t let none of these niggas out here act like they fucked with me either,” he rambled off at the mouth.

  Neezy wasn’t trying to have this conversation with him.

  It made him uncomfortable.

  “Anything else nigga?” he was ready to change the subject.

  Money raked his brain, “You know where everything at…so nah, I think I’m good.”

  It took him awhile to stop wondering and putting the pieces of the puzzle together concerning his brother’s reading. Whomever was lurking in those shadows finally came out to play when they shot him in broad daylight.

  Neezy sighed, “Let me take my ass home.”

  No longer wanting a reading. His life was going good right now and he wanted it to stay that way. The reading could’ve been a positive one, confirming what was already taking place in his life. Or it could’ve been a scary, negative one that would’ve fucked his head up and he was doing good these days.

  Staying focused, laying low, praying and remaining out the way; that was how he lived his life these days.

  Neezy was on the straight and narrow. He couldn’t be knocked off his square for nothing in the world. His vision was tunnel. Like Future said, He could make five hundred plays and not nan one of them fumble even if he stumbled.

  There wasn’t anything that a reading could tell him on today. His heart was full, his soul was…resting and his mind was free. It was clear from all the negativity and bullshit.

  His mom remembered him, he saw his niece across the finish line and the love of his life was at home waiting on him to get there in their home with both of their names on the deed… and the shit was paid for. Dreams came true. The hustle was sold separately and Neezy bought every jar of it.

  His accounts were plentiful and the tickets for his first tour was sold the fuck out.

  What more could a man need in this life of sin? Nothing.

  Epilogue

  Rich ass nigga… - Future

  “Mark my words, G. My brother is going to be a ma’fucka millionaire…nah fuck that, billionaire! Real bills too. Not no street money.”

  Money popped his shit.

  The people that filled the room hung on to his every word. If the OG said Neezy was gon’ blow up then goddamn it that’s what was going to happen.

  He smiled at his big brother. He was drunk and high, you had to love him when he was in this element because it didn’t happen often.

  The holiday was Christmas and the entire squad had a lot to be thankful for on today.

  The children were pleased, and the gifts were plentiful so now the adults were enjoying their night.

  “Yo, how many shots you done had?” Neezy called him out.

  Money looked down at his plastic red cup, “I ain’t took no damn shot. I’m a nigga. I drink my Henny straight, ain’t that right baby?” he asked his current flava of the month.

  “Back to you though lil’ bruh. Aye! You gon be rich. I can see you now at all the parties, on your cool daddy shit. Neezy’s private so he ain’t gon do no interviews. I know how he is.”

  He could only shake his head at him.

  “You gon’ be chill with it but everybody gon’ love you. I don’t really see you going to the parties getting them groupie hoes, so I’ll handle that for you,” he said, clearly forgetting that he had a baddie to the right of him.

  “On the real, I think you gon’ end up falling in love fast as hell and be wifed up at the parties. Wifey gon’ be right there with ya like, Go Neezy. Go Neezy,” he was a true character.

  He appreciated that his brother saw something in him that he didn’t see in himself. It was a good feeling and he could only hope that one day, it came true.

  Carmen asked her boo, “You ready?”

  She knew how much he hated interviews, but he had to do it. She promised Nia a long time ago that once his schedule cleared a tad she could have an exclusive sit down with the superstar.

  Neezy groaned, “Yeah, yeah. I am.”

  “Let’s do it then,” she smiled at him.

  It’d been two years since their lives transformed. Neezy’s debut album landed in the top ten and quickly climbed and secured the number one spot for twenty-nine weeks. Almost half the year. He broke records, created classi
c hits and made his way into the hearts and minds of the universe.

  Although, his accounts had changed tremendously, he was still the same nigga.

  One rainy day while they were in the air, she opened her mama’s journal and as if God heard her silent cry and had watched her toss and turn at night, due to not having closure on her mother’s death. The page that she randomly turned on held a note. A simple scribbled note with a date that according to the Kincaid’s housekeeper could’ve been the last day she was in the house before she moved.

  Her mother wrote, I’m tired.

  The private investigator said it could’ve been a heat stroke. The coroner reported otherwise. What gave her a sense of peace was that it wasn’t foul play or murder. It wasn’t a struggle. She’d pitied her mother her whole life and that wasn’t a way to feel about the woman that birthed you. She knew that she had to accept her mother’s death and let it be. The one less that she’d learned in the past two years was to enjoy the moment.

  Taking things one day at a time was extremely helpful. She no longer harbored old thoughts. She’d asked God to seriously remove the spirit of overthinking and being overwhelmed about every little thing and He’d done it.

  She was so busy these days, there wasn’t much time to be allocated to the past. It most likely wasn’t a healthy mental process but she didn’t care. It’d been working.

  Carmen didn’t regret choosing love. Neezy made her dreams come true in the midst of making his own a reality. The decision of being on the road with her baby was worth it. Together, they learned a lot about each other and the business. God worked in mysterious ways. Lira, Neezy’s niece and Eden, Nia’s daughter became the faces and the brain of The Showroom. Carmen remained the CEO of her company and balance had been difficult, but she made it work. Knowing for certain that when you asked God to let you eat, you couldn’t complain when it was a lot on your plate. They drove to Nia’s film studio, listening to a podcast from one of Neezy’s favorite motivational speakers and author. NAKO had a way with her words and he was always tuned in to whatever she had to say.

  “I love you.”

  He looked over at the best thing that had ever happened to him and smiled graciously, “I love you more.”

  They went their separate ways as soon as they entered the warehouse. An hour or so later, Neezy was escorted onto the stage.

  “Is the microphone on?” The producer asked his assistant.

  Neezy was puffin’ on something real potent. Enjoying the vibe. High off life.

  That was a blessing in itself.

  His hat was tucked low and flipped to the back. One would have to stand right in front of him to get a glimpse of the emerald speckles in his eyes.

  His bushy eyebrows were an inherited trait from his father. He never met the man, but his momma used to tell him that all the time.

  During a brief stint in prison, he inked his body up.

  The CEO of the label that he’d been signed too since the beginning, Juice Shahid, absolutely hated all the tattoos. Neezy called it, “Art.”

  On the knuckles of his fingers he had “Money 4 LIFE” in honor of his brother who was gunned down while serving food to the homeless.

  Life had humbled him.

  Losing his brother could have took him out but Neezy stood strong.

  His eyes scanned the area.

  He was surrounded by love.

  His niece was present.

  The team was here too.

  Manager. Assistant. Publicist. Photographer and a heap of real niggas that would die for him.

  “Can we get you anything to make you more comfortable?”

  He shook his head, “I’m already awesome.” His eyes were low and hazy.

  Shoulders relaxed. His clothes fit good. He was great. What else did he need?

  Neezy born Nehemiah T. Walker.

  No one knew what the T stood for and he kept it that way.

  The name Nehemiah was derived from the Bible. His mother didn’t play about the Lord.

  She shoved it down their throats growing up.

  Probably why when he was old enough; he went the other way.

  Green, red, and yellow beads were the only evidence of his religion.

  He didn’t talk about it and it was off-limits in interviews.

  People knew not to even go there with him.

  He was a millionaire but was still a certified hood nigga.

  Neezy would kill you. Period.

  Eastland Huffington approached him.

  A brother from another mother.

  A man that stood up and filled a pair of shoes that his brother left behind came over and dapped him up.

  “I’m late but I’m here.”

  Neezy was happy to see him, “All gravy, my G.”

  They shared a hug as well.

  Few more minutes till show time. He peeped the time on his watch.

  “Where is Juice? I see everyone but him,” East looked around.

  Juice, the big man in charge wouldn’t make it today but he sent his love and a gem which he’d become known for via Twitter over the past few months.

  He was getting his Rev. Run on and Neezy was tickled.

  “Out of town. New artist. I’m old news now,” he kidded.

  That was far from the truth, but it came with the business. Juice had done what he had to do for Neezy’s career. The seed had been planted, watered and seen about. Now, they reaped the harvest of their sacrifice.

  “I don’t plan on being here long. They only got seven questions.”

  He wasn’t one of many words if a microphone wasn’t in front of him and although, technically he would be handed a mic… they weren’t in a studio recording music, so it didn’t count.

  Neezy was a private person and it would remain that way before and after this interview.

  “I remember these days, long time ago…” East remembered when Nia put all their business on front street a few years ago.

  “Yeah, you know I know!”

  Neezy knew all about it.

  The set silenced out of nowhere and Neezy saw Nia walking towards him. “When she enters the room, the Red Sea parted,” he joked to Eastland who didn’t even have to turn around to know who his partner was referencing.

  “You ready?” she asked, wanting to be sure.

  Her face was still. He’d only seen her turn up a few times, for the most part she always seemed ready for war…or to get a check. He could dig it though.

  “Yep.”

  Nia spoke to East, it was curt.

  Neezy peeped it and kept his mouth shut. He bid Neezy a head nod and stepped off the stage.

  “Okay, let’s roll.”

  Neezy motioned for his assistant to come over and grab the rest of his blunt. He would finish it when they got in the car.

  She didn’t play no games.

  Five minutes later, the camera was rolling.

  “You were very adamant about seven questions so my team went back and forth for hours to get the best damn seven questions we could. Here we are…”

  Nehemiah flashed a Colgate sponsored smile.

  “Let’s do it.”

  “Question number one, who is your inspiration?”

  Without much thought, he knew who it was and fans across the map were incredibly shocked when he didn’t say his brother, MONEY.

  “Aah…easy breezy. Thanks for taking it light on me,” he laughed, smoothly.

  Nia smiled and waited on him to answer.

  Neezy rested on his knees… he knew the world was gon’ go crazy and she would too.

  “This fine, caramel, incredibly talented, Heaven sent woman. My wife, Carmen.”

  In true Beyoncé fashion…the world stopped.

  Even Nia Hudson didn’t know that they’d married.

  “When? Huh? What?”

  Neezy laughed, “Yeah, yeah, few months ago. We’re going to have the reception on a yacht next summer in Greece.”

  He searched the studio for her, but s
he was nowhere to be found. Probably somewhere running around in the back, handling business. As always.

  “Carmen Kincaid is your inspiration?”

  “Well, yeah now…it’s Carmen Walker,” he corrected her.

  The End.

  Author’s Note

  Author’s Note

  Upon reaching the end of this series, I came up with the brilliant idea to compile the characters into what would be a Love Drought IV, to include The Bavay’s, The Shahid’s and our newest added couple, The Walker’s. I want to know what you think about this! Let me know on my social media handles.

  IG/Twitter – nakoexpo & nakosreadinggroup.

  Hope you enjoyed the story.

  Love.

  Drought.

  About the Author

  Nakoreya “Nako” Roberson is a native of Atlanta, Georgia.

  Her first national release, The Connect’s Wife, ranked within the top one hundred (100) releases and was number one (#1) in the following categories: African American Romance, Urban Fiction, and African American Fiction .

  Nako recently ventured into self-help as the author of Where Is My Peace: A 21-Day Journey to Contentment and Girl + God and Grace for millennials who wants to reclaim their time and reconnect to God.

  At twenty-five, Nako has already made her mark on the literary world with fifty published novels and twenty number one bestsellers. Through her publishing company, NakoEXPO, she's dedicated and determined to use her pen to help readers realize their true potential by changing the world one novel at a time.

  Discussion Questions

  Discussion Questions

  Every release is discussed in Nako’s Reading Group on Facebook, we’re an active community. You can also chime in on Instagram at @nakosreadingroup. For those readers that still got their own thing going on… here are a few questions that I came up with. Enjoy with wine.

  This story was pretty fast-paced in relations to the timeline, were you able to feel Carmen’s emotions after suffering so many losses?

  Did Neezy properly grieve and accept his brother’s death?