“We still makin’ that move south?” Six asked. He wanted to change the subject.
“Yeah, after I murder this nigga… we out.”
CHAPTER NINE
After Vinny Telesco buried his eldest son, he waged war and severed every tie he had to anybody that wasn’t of Italian descent. Bodies started dropping up and down the eastern seaboard like flies, and everyone knew why, but nobody could stop it. He didn’t know who pulled the trigger, but sooner than later stories started circulating. The first name to be mentioned was Mox Daniels.
Vinny relaxed in his leather lounge chair with his right leg crossed over his left. He held a burning La Gloria Cubana in one hand and a chrome and black Smith & Wesson.9 millimeter in the other. He knew he wasn’t supposed to be smoking, but the added stress had him caring less about his health. He looked around the room. There were six guys; all hit men—all trained and ready to kill at the given word. The sweet stench of cigar smoke filled the air as he stared each man in the eyes.
“I’m gonna say this one time,” he puffed the cigar, savored the flavor, and let the smoke escape from his mouth. “If you guys don’t bring me that fucking nigger’s head, I swear before God I’ll kill each one you… now get the fuck outta my face.”
None of the men said a word. They just left the room.
A few hours later, three of Vinny’s men entered Frank’s spot, Club Red and opened fire. Five people were shot and two were killed, one of them was Nate.
________
Priscilla’s lips were poked out and she refused to step foot out the car. “I’m not going.” she insisted.
“This is the only choice we got Priscilla, and you know as well as I do this visit is long overdue. Now c’mon.” Mox insisted.
“I’m not leavin’ my daughter with that lady. You must be outta your mind. I don’t even know the last time I saw her. And now you want me to go up there and ask for help… you can’t be serious, Mox.”
Mox was becoming frustrated and the scorching sun wasn’t helping at all. “I’m very serious, Priscilla. We can’t have her seein’ all this crazy shit. She’s better off here wit’ your mother.”
Priscilla stared out the window at her mother’s apartment building. She honestly couldn’t believe she was even thinking about what Mox was saying, but the truth was that he was right. Their daughter had seen enough. The streets weren’t the safest place to have your child out at all times of the night, and them being in the bind they were in caused Brandi to see more than her young eyes ever imagined.
Mox was fed up. He opened the passenger side door and grabbed Priscilla’s arm. “Let’s go…” he said, pulling her from the car. “C’mon Brandi, let’s go see Nana.”
Priscilla rolled her eyes as they walked to the entrance of her mother’s apartment building. “She doesn’t even know her, Mox. You can’t force her to stay there.”
“She’s a child, Priscilla, she’s gonna do what I tell her to do. And I think it’s about time she get to know her.”
“Get to know her, for what?”
“Because that’s her grandmother, that’s why. Don’t you think it’s a lil’ selfish to not let her meet her grandmother? Just because you two had your differences doesn’t mean Brandi has to suffer. She should know who her family is.”
“She does know who her family is,” Priscilla replied. “We’re right here. We’re the only family she needs.”
As they were walking into the building, Mox stopped short. He stopped and thought about what Priscilla had just said. He thought hard about it. He held Brandi’s hand, looked down at her precious, innocent little face, and then he looked up at Priscilla. “Well, what if somethin’ happens to us, then what? What would she do then?”
The thought hadn’t even crossed her mind. “Ain’t nothin’ happenin’ to us, so we don’t even need to discuss that,” Priscilla said. She looked down into Brandi’s big beautiful eyes and wanted to cry. She couldn’t fathom the thought of being separated again, and she would go to great lengths to make sure it didn’t happened a second time.
She bent down and kissed her daughter’s forehead. “You know Mommy loves you, right?” Brandi nodded yes. “And you know I would never let anything happen to you, right?” She nodded yes again. “Mommy needs for you to stay with your grandmother for a little while until things get situated. You okay with that?” Brandi half smiled and nodded yes once again.
They entered the building and took the elevator up. The ride was a silent one. Priscilla tried to encourage herself to be open minded and not dwell on the past, but it was difficult. It was a struggle for her to let go of the heartache caused throughout her childhood. She still felt a bitter taste in her mouth towards her mother. It was something that should have been addressed a long time ago, but wasn’t.
Before the elevator door opened, Priscilla closed her eyes, took a deep breath and prayed that everything would be fine. She prayed that the slight amount of love she did have for her mother would override the hate and uneasiness she felt towards her. She prayed for her anger and emotions to remain intact, and she hoped she could stay calm and at least try to listen.
When the elevator stopped and the door opened, Priscilla watched Mox walk out while she stood in a daze. Brandi—more anxious than both of them—tugged at her hand as she stepped off the elevator.
“Mommy, c’mon… we’re here.” she exclaimed.
Priscilla snapped out of her trance and stepped off the elevator. All three of them stood in front of the door, but no one knocked. Priscilla looked over to Mox and he looked back at her. Brandi looked up at both of them and figured she’d do what they didn’t.
“Who is it?” Ms. Davis asked hearing taps on her door.
Priscilla looked at Mox again.
“Mox,” he answered. “I brought you a gift.”
Ms. Davis undid the locks and slowly pulled the door open. It was only cracked enough to see the face of the person knocking, because she hasn’t heard the name clearly.
“Oh, that’s you,” she said, seeing Mox’s face. “I wasn’t expecting no company today. I thought you was one of those people selling something.” As she spoke, she slowly opened the door all the way and when her eyes met Priscilla’s, it was like everything around them came to a pause. They stared at each other for more than sixty seconds, just gazing—amazed, astonished and baffled, all at the same time.
“Y’all come on in and have a seat,” she said. “Hurry up and close my door, you letting all the good heat out.”
“It’s nice out, Ms. Davis. What you doin’ with the heat on?”
“I ain’t as young as I used to be,” she replied with a slight giggle. “Time catching up to me, baby. I ain’t that spring chicken no more.”
“Hi Grandma,” Brandi mumbled as she stepped into the doorway.
“Oh my God,” Ms. Davis covered her mouth with one hand and tossed the other on the air. “Is that my grand baby?”
Brandi’s tight frown turned to a full-blown smile. “Yessss.” she sang.
The corners of Priscilla’s mouth went up. She couldn’t hold the smile back if she wanted to. She watched Brandi embrace her grandmother. It was a first. It was the first time she had the chance to see how much love surrounded her. It was the first time she got to see her daughter interact with her mother—something that was long overdue.
Ms. Davis hugged her granddaughter for the first time, and realized how much she missed her. She hadn’t seen her since she was born, and hadn’t touched her until today.
“We’re not stayin’ long.” Priscilla said, taking a seat on the sofa in the living room. She looked around at the pictures on the wall, and the ones on the mantle. Most of them were of her, and even though she had been taking care of her mother, she rarely visited and almost never called to check on her.
Mox snatched a picture off the top of the television, looked at it, and then handed it to Priscilla. “Remember this?”
“Of course,” she said, marveling at the photo.
“This was the day you got your car. I could never forget this day.”
Ms. Davis sat in her favorite chair with Brandi in her lap, watching Priscilla and Mox. She could see the love radiate from their bodies. She knew it was a true love they shared, but they had a problem, and she also knew they needed her help. “So, what brings y’all by here to see me today?”
Mox placed the picture on the table. “We got a lil’ problem, Ms. Davis,” he turned to Priscilla. “Tell her,” he said.
Priscilla hesitated.
“Tell me what?” Ms. Davis asked.
Priscilla stared at her mother’s face. She was taken aback by how much she resembled her. She never wanted to look like her mother. She hated her mother.
“I know you seen the news because that’s all you watch.” she said. “I need you to take care of Brandi for a few days while we figure this thing out.”
Ms. Davis heard her daughter talking, but acted as if she wasn’t paying attention. Her focus was on Brandi.
Priscilla got annoyed. “See,” she said, standing up from the sofa. “This is why I don’t come here. She pays me no mind. Like I’m not even here.”
Mox grabbed her arm. “Sit down and chill out.”
“You know, I had a feeling you would come by here after I saw you on the news.” Ms. Davis said. “Y’all done got all them people searching for y’all… you know that’s dangerous, don’t cha’. And you can’t be running around here with this baby…”
“That’s why we came to you, Ms. Davis. There’s no one else we can trust to watch over Brandi.”
Ms. Davis looked at her daughter. “Only if she apologizes.”
“What!” Priscilla was livid. “Apologize, to you? You should be the one apologizing, not me!”
“Priscilla, calm down.”
“No Mox… Mind your business.”
“I’m not doing it unless you apologize.”
“I can’t believe you.” Priscilla got up from the sofa again, this time she reached for Brandi, but her mother pulled her back. “Give me my daughter please, I’m leavin’.”
Mox stood up and put his hand on her shoulder. “Hold on Priscilla, wait…”
“Get off me, Mox.”
“Brandi’s staying with me, but not under your circumstances, under mines.” Ms. Davis picked her telephone up and dialed some numbers. “They’re here.” she said, and hung up. “See, I knew y’all would come here, so I called the police.”
“You did what!” Mox ran over to the window and looked out. He didn’t see any police.
Priscilla went to grab Brandi’s hand, and Ms. Davis pulled a small knife from her brassiere. She wrapped one arm around Brandi’s neck and held her close. “You make another move, and I’ll cut her throat.”
Mox was stunned. He couldn’t believe what was going on. “What the fuck is wrong wit’ you?”
“Reward money, Mox. You think I’ma let that fifty thousand go to someone else when I can use it?” Ms. Davis was serious.
“Fifty thousand?” Priscilla was raging. “I told you we shouldn’t have come here.” She shook her head, reached into her purse, and pulled her gun out. “If you don’t let my daughter go in two seconds, I’ma shoot you right in your fuckin’ head.”
“Priscilla, drop the gun… please, don’t do this. Think about Brandi, think about our daughter Priscilla.”
“Shut the fuck up, Mox!” She turned and pointed the weapon in his direction.
Ms. Davis snatched Brandi off her feet and pulled her into the bedroom a few feet way.
Mox backed away and put his hands in the air. “Priscilla… listen to me.”
“No, Mox!” A river of tears poured from her eyes as she clutched the weapon in both hands. “I listened to you enough. That’s the reason we’re in this situation now.”
A loud knock at the door made their heads turn. They looked at the door, and then at each other.
CHAPTER TEN
Pieces of pure white clouds were scattered throughout the crystal blue sky as a soft spring breeze rustled the leaves on the trees. School busses were pulling up to the entrance of the Hartley Housing Projects, and kids were jumping through the doors like they had been held captive for years. School was nearing its end, and the weather was getting warmer each day. Tenants sat on wood benches in front of their building gossiping about the previous night’s endeavors—anxious to hear a story other than their own.
Tyrell leaned against the black gate in front of building 70. He had on a pair of black True Religion jeans, a white t-shirt, and some black and white Air Max 95’s. It had been three weeks since he was shot, and he was healing much faster than expected. He held a cane in his right hand and a blunt in his left. “Yo, Six, send one of them lil’ niggas to the store.” he said.
Six was a few feet away, sitting on a crate, drinking a Pepsi and talking to his young boys.
“Yo, one of y’all niggas run to the store real quick.” Six pulled some money from his pocket and gave it to the closest person to him. “Here…”
“Why I always gotta go to the store?”
“Yo Grasshopper, shut the fuck up and take yo’ ass to the store before I slap the shit outta you.”
Grasshopper looked at the seriousness on Six’s face, sucked his teeth, and took a walk to the store.
Since the incident took place with Tyrell and Gahbe, the hood was on high alert. Everyone knew retaliation was a must, and they were just waiting in the wind for it to happen. A few people other than the young boys wanted to see Gahbe dead too. He owed a few old heads some money and was hesitant to pay, so if Tyrell didn’t get the job done, someone else would.
A black Cadillac STS slowed to a stop and pulled to the curb. Wise Earl stepped from the driver’s seat, hit the alarm, and walked into the projects. He spotted Six and the young boys as soon as he hit the strip, and then saw Tyrell leaning against the gate.
“Tyrell, let me talk to you for a minute,” he said, as he approached the young hustler.
Tyrell looked around and followed Earl into the little park.
“Wassup, old man?”
“You hit the Italians, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, and?”
“And? Tyrell you killed a kid.”
“Yo, listen man, it is what it is. That shit is done wit’… everything good wit’ you?”
Earl pulled a cigarette from his pack and lit it. The thought of that child being murdered for no reason was heavy on his brain. He couldn’t stop thinking about it. “Hell no, everything ain’t good. Look at me.” He raised his shirt so Tryell could see the bandages.
“Damn… what the fuck happened?”
“It don’t matter what happened. I’m bowing out the game. This shit is too much. My purpose for gettin’ back in was to get rich, not shot.”
“C’mon, old man, you know that’s part of it. Look at my shit.” Tyrell pulled his sweat pants halfway down and showed Earl his wound. “Niggas get shot… but life goes on. It’s still money out here to get.”
“Yeah, but it comes with a price. And that price is usually your life. I kinda wanna be livin’ for the next twenty years. Not wearing a colostomy bag.”
“So, what you sayin’, old man.”
“I’m sayin’ I’m out. Done. Wavin’ the white flag. I think I’ma start goin’ back to church.”
Tyrell burst out laughing. “Church? Yo, Six you hear this nigga? He talkin’ bout he goin’ back to church. You can’t make no muthafuckin money in the church. Fuck is wrong wit’ you, old man, you trippin’.”
Earl didn’t appreciate being clowned. “That’s the problem wit’ you young punks, you think you know every fuckin’ thing, but you don’t. I bet you didn’t know the church is a billion dollar business.”
“Fuck the church.” Tyrell replied. “I know one thing, I hope you got that muthafuckin’ bread you owe me.”
“That’s why I came.” Earl reached into his pocket and pulled a roll of money out. “I’ll see you wit’ the rest in a few days.�
��
Tyrell snatched the wad of cash from Earl’s hands. Earl sensed the hostility, but he kept his cool and let it slide. He didn’t come for a problem; he came to let it be known that he was stepping away from the streets.
Tyrell shuffled through the bills counting each one. “Nigga,” he threw the money in Wise Earl’s face. “You owe me fifteen stacks, what the fuck is that?”
“That’s all I got right now. You see me, I’m fucked up.”
“Fucked up?” Tyrell took a step forward. “I ain’t tryna hear that fucked up shit, everybody fucked up. I’m fucked up… nigga jus’ tried to kill me and you talkin’ ‘bout you fucked up.” Tyrell was about to reach for his gun, but he had second thoughts. “Yo, Earl… get that to me, dog. I’m givin’ you three days and I want my bread.”
Earl got ready to say something slick, but didn’t. He swallowed his pride and chose to be the bigger man, but inside he was boiling. He was fuming—ready to explode. Within those split seconds, he had envisioned himself whipping his knife from his pocket and jamming it in Tyrell’s ribs. But he wouldn’t get far. He wouldn’t get but a few steps before Tyrell’s entourage would pounce him like wild hyenas on a helpless prey. So he played the sucker role. “Three days… I’ll have it for you, don’t worry.”
“I ain’t the one that should be worried,” Tyrell responded. “Now get the fuck outta here.”
Earl shook his head, turned and walked off. When he walked past Six and the young boys Grasshopper had just come back from the store. He saw Earl had a cigarette in his hand and he wanted one.
“Yo, old timer… can I get cigarette?” Earl kept walking. “Yo! Old timer!” Grasshopper jogged to catch up with him. “Nigga, I know you—”
He touched Earl’s shoulder and a spilt second later, his back was on the concrete and he was staring up at the clear blue sky.
“Oh shit! He knocked that nigga the fuck out!” Six and his crew started keeling over from laughter. But Grasshopper’s little cousin didn’t like that, and he wanted to do something.
Six saw him reaching for his gun and got up from the crate. “Hol’ up, son, we ain’t doin’ that. That nigga an old school cat. Let ʼem live.”
The Union III Page 6