by King, Deja
“My people ain’t gotta know what the trip is about and you know Gio and Ortiz wouldn’t dare speak over no overseas phone lines. Besides, I’m the only one who discuss the family drug business with my uncle, so I’ll just tell the fam we vacationing there. That you just coming along to spend some time with your wife. We rented a villa on the beach and enjoying our time together, since we haven’t had a chance to. Ain’t no harm in that. Right?” she asked.
Semaj played right into Vega’s hand. When the dust settled, he would emerge unscathed. He didn’t want the family knowing that his status was upped until the doing was done. Although Vega knew that they didn’t allow anyone to meet with Ortiz, Vega was also aware that once he secured his trust with Ortiz there was no stopping him. Semaj was about to be responsible for his put-on and he could smell the come-up of a lifetime.
“Not at all,” Vega finally replied. “Shit, fucking around with what my people pushing, I think we should start me off with five hunnid keys just by myself. I think that’d be cool for now. What you think?” he asked her. He felt that he would keep the amount of bricks in the center. That way once Semaj saw that he could get so many off, when the time came she wouldn’t hesitate to give him the spot. Also, he wanted it to seem as if he was including her in on everything he thought, so that way, she wouldn’t feel like he was trying to run the show, despite that he was being straight up grimy.
“Everything is on the up and up, bay. When I’m down there he supposed to holler at me about some shit on one of the members at the 16 Tent. Then while you and him touching bases I’ma shoot to Colombia to discuss some undisclosed shit with the Queen,” she said, referring to Valentina but wouldn’t speak her moniker; at this level in the game it was coded to never mention her name, ever. “We leaving out the day after the party so be ready to leave that morning, Vega.”
Chapter 11
It was Labor Day Weekend and the black-tie affair was just right for the rules of the holiday, except members of the Milano family wore all-white everything and everything about them rang long money. Club Mansion was jammed packed as hip-hop blared out of the speakers and Semaj’s dominant squad was in attendance. She had invited her valued business acquaintances from all regions of the country to come party with her and the turnout was unbelievable. Real boss niggas and fly ass bitches were in the building to show love.
Rose and Louis XIII flowed freely in the exclusive VIP section as Semaj, Sosa and Jah-Jah danced by their private tables. As they partied like they were socialites, the rest of the girls played the cut with their hands close to their bangers, never indulging in the theatrics, while armed henchmen were scattered throughout the club. It had been months since they had partied, business had been just that hectic. Then dealing with the war against the Jamaicans, made shit extra crazy, but Semaj thought it would be a good idea to get everyone together in a relaxed environment. She figured the event would allow people to have a nice time while she also reached out to potential buyers.
Six months into the dope game, Semaj was getting paid. She had flipped through millions and was stacking plenty paper. It felt great to be placed on a pedestal so high, and although she played her position low-key, Semaj always shined like a rock star and even made the most confident look like duds. Her hair was pulled high off her face in a sophisticated bun and the Chanel sheathe block dress and pearl-encrusted stilettos made every girl in the club green with envy, but little did they know she was the connect and pretty much the reason their men were able to eat.
The three women walked over to the balcony and noticed Bonjo chopping it up with a few dudes. Semaj smiled as she watched her uncle interact like a boss. It didn’t matter wherever they went, Bonjo received celebrity treatment and he didn’t care about being on-scene because his reputation was brutal and everyone had heard of the things that he had done to those who crossed him. Where is he going? Jah-Jah thought as an eerie feeling passed over her. She watched as Bonjo and some young cat walked over to a private booth in the corner; the two men were hidden behind black curtains. Who is that nigga he with?
“This nigga go so hard. This part reminds me of y’all, Sosa,” Semaj yelled over the music as she swayed arrogantly to the beat and femininely chanted along with Yo Gotti. “Cold-hearted nigga and I run around with lunatics… they be on some shooter shit… I be on some mutual shit… since I got some soldiers I’m on some might as well use ‘em shit.,” she laughed, pumping her fist in the air. She and her girls rocked to the hot track with conceit written across their faces as they continued to have a good time. Semaj had been so focused on the business, that it really felt good to be enjoying herself.
As Vega and his crew sat back, he admired his wife from afar. He watched as a photographer snapped a quick picture of the girls and laughed when Semaj pulled out a wad of money from her clutch and handed it to the man. Never let an unknown mufucka have pictures of how you living life. It could get you nabbed because it might just be the feds or some shit, he thought as Semaj gave the camera man the money and whispered in the henchmen’s ear to dispose the evidence. Semaj turned around sexily and winked at Vega, implying that she’d heeded the rules of the game as she winded her tiny waist while staring him in the eyes. He got mesmerized by the way she had mastered the art of seduction.
Micah leaned into Vega’s ear, and whispered, “Yo’, so you know them people ready. You sure you got all the tracks covered with this one, Vega? Your girl people scoping shit out and look very alert, B. They rolling deep, fam,” he said skeptically. “If you have the Bonjo nigga hit tonight fuck is y’all gon’ fly out and there is a dead family member?” He had thought about it and Vega’s plan didn’t seem well planned out.
“No matter what happens in this Dominican family, when the connect calls and an emergency meeting is ordered, it must be attended. Trust me on this lil’ man. We’d be on that flight no matter what.”
“I don’t know, Vega, man. I gotta bad feeling now about this shit, fam,” Micah confessed.
Vega shot Micah a look. “What you scared, nigga? I’m the one taking the heat. Just let me worry about everything my man,” Vega said in a low controlled tone, brushing him off.
The girls finally returned to their table. Semaj picked up her wineglass and sipped on the Moscato as she eye fucked her husband all night. He lifted his bottle of Dom to display him acknowledging her. He was her king and with his knights surrounding him at the round booth, Semaj smiled, respecting their styles. While the dress code was a black tie affair, Vega and his crew donned black V-neck t-shirts and patent leather Jordans with so much jewelry they each could have created an ice rink. Vega nodded to her, summoning her to him and as she arose from her seat, Sosa leaned into her ear to whisper over the music.
“LuLu and I need to rap with you about some shit, ma,” she said to Semaj as she grabbed her hand, pulling her through the crowd with LuLu following closely behind them.
“Jah-Jah!” Semaj shouted and nodded her head towards the lower level to tell her to come along. The four women left the other two ladies at their table to watch their handbags and made their way down the wraparound stairs and to the restroom. Emilia and
Marcela knew what the conversation would be pertaining to, so there wasn’t any need for all of them. They didn’t wanna involve themselves in the heated debate, knowing that’s exactly what it would be. It was better for them to stay back because they preferred hollow-tips barking rather than shouting matches.
Vega stopped her just before she reached the bottom step and saw the girls staring at him with screwed expressions. He dismissed it, knowing they were a bunch of evil bitches.
“You ready to shake this shit, ma? The private jet will be at the tarmac in the next hour,” he asked pinning her body against the wall. “I figured we should go early so we can spend some time together before you have to shoot straight to Colombia. You ain’t gotta worry ‘bout getting security ready my people already waiting up there for us.”
“We don’t ‘pose to lea
ve until the morning though, bay. I was trying to kick it with the fam, being we rarely get the chance to hang together all at once, you know?” she whispered, whining. He sealed the deal with a passionate kiss as he wrapped one arm around her small waist and grabbed her aggressively from behind to grip her cheeks, making her panties cream.
“I’ve got a secret to tell you and we gon’ handle it when we get there. Let’s bounce.” He said with a mischievous smile and automatically she knew he was referring to his sex game.
She removed his hand that caressed her ass and stood on her tippy toes to kiss him on the side of his lips. “Okay. Meet me at the back exit in about five minutes. I need to holla at my cousins and make sure Bonjo don’t need me for anything,” she said.
He gave her an understanding look, nodded, and said, “Cool. Talk to your people and meet me at the door.”
As soon as they entered the restroom they pushed the stall doors open to check and make sure they were discussing business in a private setting. It was an upscale nightclub, so the restroom was on point. From marble tiled floors to the granite marble countertops. Semaj flopped down on the plush Italian white sofa as Sosa reached the last door. She attempted to shove the door open, but it was locked. She immediately banged on the door with a balled fist. “Hurry the fuck up, bitch. You gotta get the fuck from up outta here.”
The stall door opened and a girl frowned as she stared at the girls. “Isn’t this a public bathroom?”
“Actually, bitch, it’s my people’s spot!” Sosa stared down at the girl letting her know it was time for her to bounce.
“Meaning it is still a public place,” the girl retorted.
“I don’t give a fuck what it is! Get the fuck out!” she shouted harshly as she shoved the girl towards the exit. Semaj looked at her peoples and wondered where did all of the hostility come from and the irritated expressions etched to their faces. Strong arming a chick out of the restroom wasn’t uncharacteristic for Sosa, but it was something unpleasant in the air and Semaj wanted to know what it was.
“Fuck is y’all acting so anxious and antsy for?” Semaj asked with an accusing stare. “Something happening that I don’t fucking know about or some shit?”
“Yeah,” LuLu responded in defense. “Why is your man acting so damn weird?”
“Who you talking about, Vega?”
“Who else, Semaj?” She threw her arms across her small chest while staring down at her. “All of a sudden dude wants to fly out and take business trips with you out of the country. Fuck for?”
Semaj cocked her head back in confusion. She just knew they hadn’t pulled her to the restroom to speak with her about her husband. Fuck’s with the extra bullshit anyway!
Jah-Jah shook her head in aggravation. “Maj, shit does sound mad fishy, mama. He know the rules. No outsiders meet Uncle Ortiz—”
“And how we look at it that nigga is a muthafuckin’ outsider,” Sosa chimed in, interrupting Jah-Jah.
“So y’all telling me that my husband going over to the
Dominican Republic with me is violating some rules?” Semaj popped up from her seat and waved them off dismissively. “If my memory serves me correctly I make the fucking rules, so if I want the nigga on the plane with me then that’s what it is. Fuck!” fumed Semaj.
“So you’re willing to risk other people knowing how everything goes, huh? It’s bad enough that you probably pillow-talking with the grimy ass nigga. Now you want the nigga to not only know all of the business, but to actually see the shit too, Maj. If I knew you would’ve been on some gullible shit I would’ve just took the spot my damn self. Fuck was Gio thinking allowing disloyal niggas in the circle?” Sosa asked no one in particular as she popped her hand on her shapely waist again all the while shaking her head in disbelief.
“This nigga done really got inside this girl head and she really trying to be on some what’s mine is yours shit,” LuLu said harshly as she leaned against the whitewall. “Am I right, Semaj? That’s what it is? You want your boy to be on your level, ain’t it?”
“I just don’t think it is a problem for me to introduce him to Ortiz and letting him get on with his own dope,” she confessed. There was no reason to hide it. Like everything else, they had figured it out. “He already pushing major weight out of the entire DMV area. Why not let him go directly through Uncle Ortiz so I ain’t gotta hit him off with the work and let him do his own thang. Fuck is the big fuckin’ issue?”
“Then what, he no longer has to cop bricks from you and after he get in good enough with Ortiz he pushes your dumb ass out of the way. How come you don’t see this shit, Maj? Huh?”
“That’s probably the reason he convinced you to step up and head the family business. Once you were manning the entire operation he knew that he would eventually be promoted and perhaps persuade you to fall behind scenes and let him control the family business.” If they hadn’t been professional killers, they would have made great detectives. They could sense foul play from anywhere and Vega was stinking badly. “I can’t pinpoint what it is, but the bitch ass nigga on some sheisty shit. I fucking know dude is.”
“Y’all can’t be serious?” Semaj barked. “Damn, you motherfuckers barely do shit and you mu’fuckas eating lovely but always got the most shit to say. What the fuck? Y’all bitches ain’t pushing dope and getting mad bread. What’s wrong with Vega wanting to up his bricks and get paid too? I never knew it was disloyal to want to get fucking money. Fuck outta here with that lame ass shit. I’m out,” Semaj yelled as she walked towards the door. She knew that she had taken it too far. It was a low blow to down talk their position, and although Semaj knew it wasn’t true her anger had spoken for her.
Fuck these bitches on? Think they need a man because they really need a break from Mossberg, Semaj thought in an attempt to make light of the situation as she walked out of the restroom, but the loud sounds of gunshots stopped her in her tracks.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
What the fuck? Semaj frantically scanned the club as her heart started to beat from the unknown. The entire room was in pandemonium as people ran for cover, afraid of getting hit by a stray bullet. Assuming the shots were for her, she quickly backed her steps up and returned to the same girls she had spazzed on.
“Somebody is out there shooting!” Semaj said with apologetic eyes as she burst through the door. As if she hadn’t just given them her ass to kiss, the three of them naturally went inside their white short-length trench jackets to draw their pistols and human shielded the mafia princess. Sosa and LuLu were in front of Semaj wildly pointing handgun Uzis and Jah-Jah was behind her holding two .40s in each hand, as they tried to shoot Semaj out to safety.
Armed Dominican men seemed to emerge from everywhere, all with weapons in their hands ready to pop off. One-half of the Milano Hitters guided the way as Semaj followed behind them and led her to the back entrance where the chauffeur-driven car was parked. As the girls exited, they noticed Bonjo leaned against the hood of the vehicle and his white three-piece Armani suit was bloodstained. Blood specks decorated his face as if sprayed with a painter’s atomizer. “Fuck happened?” Jah-Jah rushed over to her husband.
By this time the entire Milano clan and their henchmen were outside. “This bitch ass nigga tried to pop me but stupid muthafucka didn’t even check to see if I was dead. Nigga thought he killed me and as soon as he turned his back I came out with that .357 dumping. Didn’t stop until my clip was empty.” Bonjo ripped open his riddled button-up and exposed the bulletproof with five bullets lodged in it; the decision to wear it was lifesaving.
“Who was the nigga, fam?” Vega spoke up as everyone’s eyes naturally looked over at him. The girls all glared at him as if he was a poisonous snake, because to them, his words were like venom spitting in their faces.
“Fuck you wanna know for?” LuLu scoffed as she gripped the ratchet tightly, but Emilia pulled her away and put her little sister inside the car. She knew LuLu’s temper was out of control and she wouldn�
��t hesitate to rock Vega to sleep right where he stood without regret.
“What’s up with her, ma?” Vega asked Semaj as he pointed at LuLu in uncertainty.
Semaj dropped her head. “Let’s just shake this joint before the cops come,” Semaj advised as Vega grabbed her hand and walked her to the car. He opened the door for her as everyone slid inside their own awaiting transportation and the caravan of Lexus
LS 600h L’s took leave.
Semaj’s phone began to buzz in her hand as she boarded the Learjet 60 and quickly answered, realizing it was her grandfather. The lavish private passenger plane had a wet bar, full bathroom, living room longue area, and all of the dash fittings were wood grain. She sat in the double cushioned seat and sighed in frustration, already knowing why he was calling. “’Sup, Poppa?” she reclined her seat as she placed her pearl-beaded clutch on the console.
“I knew you throwing this party would be a bad idea. No more parties, Semaj. No more,” he said calmly, but Semaj knew he was fuming.
“But G-Poppa it didn’t have anything to do with me,” she explained in her defense. “That was Uncle Bon’s people. True story.”
“It doesn’t matter, sweetheart.” He never had to raise his voice with Semaj in order to get his point across.
“I understand,” she whispered, feeling bad. “Are you angry with me, Poppa?” she asked.
“You don’t get angry with the ones you love, Maj. Remember that. You just correct their errors and mistakes and move on from the situation to prevent it from happening again. Now when you get back I’ll have Arturo waiting for you at the landing strip. There is some important things we need to go over.” He said before he hung up.
“Looks like you got something on your mind. Wanna talk about it?” Vega asked sweetly as he placed the pillow gently behind her neck, but little did Semaj know he was pissed.