It was agreed that no guns would be brought to the courtyard. This war appeared to be about one crew defending their turf against a takeover. The real cause was a scandalous, stripper named Elaine.
“Fuck! Look at that bridge!”
Hill reached 125th and saw that the bridge to the Bronx was jam packed. He sat in traffic honking his horn while cursing loudly. Hill had a strong notion that something bad was about to happen.
“I should be there with my friends…” mumbled Hill, pulling out a blunt.
The pre-dawn battle was in full swing. Several of the combating soldiers were badly injured and left the fighting to tend to their wounds. Ten men were left fighting in the front courtyard. Malik and Rishon had discarded their weapons. They fought fist to fist. It was more personal that way. AG had been stabbed in the leg, but he kept fighting. Cornelius and Heckie were holding their own. Big-O had knocked out several of the opposition.
The fighting casualties were fairly equal. Both sides lost the same amount of men. Patrick surprised everybody by fighting like a true warrior. He had beat down many men with his martial arts fighting style. He was punishing one of Rishon’s men, when someone spun him around and punched him in the face.
Patrick saw Heckie standing in front of him. Heckie used to be a semi-pro wrestler before he started dealing drugs. The two men circled, feeling out each other. Patrick threw a kick that caught Heckie flush in the grill. Heckie quickly shrugged it off, and was caught with another and another. Patrick was way too fast for Heckie’s defenses. Heckie couldn’t get close enough to attack the martial arts expert.
Patrick threw so many kicks he suddenly became very tired. Heckie saw this and took advantage. The last kick that Patrick threw was very slow and weak. Heckie timed it perfectly, and grabbed Patrick’s extended leg, while coming up under him and scooped him off the ground. Heckie lifted the frail Patrick over his shoulders and body-slammed him on the concrete.
The bone shattering noise could be heard throughout the fighting ranks. All of the combatants stopped fighting and looked at the limp, broken body of Patrick. Malik, AG, Nes, and Big-O ran over to the body. They all shook their heads in sorrow.
Chapter 08
The death of Patrick caused both sides to declare a truce. They would use the time to tend to the wounded and take Patrick’s body off the street. They brought their fallen soldier inside the park. Rishon had a deep stab wound on his right arm. He went to Elaine, seeking first-aid for his injury.
“Baby, I got cut. Go get the first aid kit out the bathroom cabinet, and help me sterilize the wound.”
Sandra was there silently watching her brother. She decided not to tell Rishon what she had seen Elaine doing. She wanted him to see how grimy his lover was for himself. He probably wouldn’t believe her anyway.
Rishon walked over to the couch where Elaine was watching television he noticed she didn’t even look in his direction.
“Oh baby, I’m sorry you’re hurt, but I just did my nails and they’re wet. Can you ask somebody else to help you with your little cut? Thanks baby,” said Elaine, without glancing at Rishon’s bloody arm.
Rishon stared at her in complete shock and wondering. How could a woman he loved so much and claimed loved him, be so cold and unfeeling? He thought silently to himself then Rishon remembered all that his sister had told him. He started having doubts. Without saying a word to Elaine, Rishon walked out of the apartment with the first aid kit under his arm.
A makeshift headquarters in the park was a place of silent mourning. Patrick was not the only casualty of the skirmish, but he volunteered to fight and lost his life, that made everyone feel the loss even more.
The men talked about the events and everyone had mixed feelings about their purpose for being there. They all agreed on one thing—it was time to go.
Everyone was conversing when Hill’s truck pulled up to the curb in front of the park. Hill walked into the park and immediately sensed something was wrong.
“Sorry I’m late y’all. There was mad traffic coming across the bridge.”
“You’re more than a little late cat, it’s over,” said Malik with anger in his voice.
Hill ignored Malik’s comment and walked over to AG.
“I’m sorry I’m late. We have to talk later okay?”
AG hugged his lifelong friend for a few seconds. Hill and AG parted then Hill went to talk briefly to Nes and Big-O before he looked around and made the dreaded inquiry.
“Yo, where’s Patrick? I know he didn’t break out after I left. That’s just not his style.”
The mention of Patrick’s name brought a solemn reaction. Hill’s face turned pale and he started walking around the park calling out Patrick’s name over and over. Big-O caught up to him.
“Hill, I got to talk to you. Some fucked up shit happened. It’s about Patrick.”
Looking at Big-O’s expression Hill knew it was bad news. Hill turned and continued to call out his friend’s name. “Yo Pat, Pat where are you, man?”
“Damn my brother, I’m sorry but Pats dead,” said Big-O.
Hill stopped dead in his tracks and spun around to face Big-O. Through his peripheral vision, he caught sight of a lifeless body lying on a bench. He walked over closer to the bench and his knees buckled when he saw the ashy-gray face of his expressionless friend.
Kneeling down and tenderly caressing Patrick’s face, Hill openly cried. Most of the men looked at him, feeling his pain. The way Hill held Patrick confirmed what was suspected about their relationship. They were more than friends, but nobody commented on the heartfelt moment.
The scene between the two men lasted about fifteen minutes then suddenly rage appeared on Hill’s face and he stood up.
“Who did this?”
Wiping the tears from his eyes, Hill walked over to Nes and Big-O. “Who did this?” he demanded.
Nes looked at AG and then at Hill before saying, “It was Heckie, but, yo, I don’t think he meant to kill him, man.” Nes paused for a beat before continuing. “We were fighting hand-to-hand so we could settle this. And shit just got out of hand. I’m sorry, partner.”
Immediately Hill started across the street. He got to the other side and stood by the entrance to the Commons.
“Heckie, Heckie, yo, you killed my boy. Muthafucka, now I’m a kill you. This beef ends now with me and you, just the two of us, nigga. Hand to hand homey until one of us stops breathing. Let’s see you kill me. You a bad-ass nigga, right Heckie?”
There was no response from the building for a few minutes. Hill shouted a variety of insults at Heckie and the barricade came down. Seconds after the gates were flung open Heckie walked out into the courtyard to face Hill.
“Listen, I didn’t mean to kill your boy. He just fell wrong and his neck broke. It really wasn’t my intention, it really was an accident.”
Hill didn’t hear what Heckie saying. All he saw was the one who had murdered his friend. Hill rushed Heckie and caught him with a right cross in the jaw. Heckie was big and stout but the power of Hill’s punch knocked him to the ground.
He was all over Heckie, punching him in the face repeatedly and crying at the same time. Heckie knew that he had to get up off the floor. Heckie swung his right leg under Hill’s legs and swept him off his feet. He was now able to stand up. Heckie knew there was no reasoning with Hill and he had to fight fiercely to survive.
The two men started boxing. This was Hill’s specialty. Hill threw several quick jabs to Heckie’s face and drew first blood. His one-two combination from the stomach to the temple sent Heckie flying several feet across the courtyard. Heckie was out-matched and laid on the floor fearing for his life. Dazed from the volley of punches, he reached into his Timberland boots and pulled out a long sharp throwing knife.
Hill saw the blade and reached down pulling out his own. Suddenly Heckie jumped to his feet, and got off the first throw. Had Heckie not have been dazed by Hill’s intense punches his weapon might have found its mark. Hill’s re
flexes however were sharpened by his anger, and he ducked the razor sharp projectile. Sidestepping the weapon, he released his own. The knife found its target.
Gasping for breath Heckie put his hand around the blade that protruded from his throat. Blood poured freely from the wound, and Heckie’s eyes took on a lifeless appearance.
“That was for my friend,” said Hill, walking over and yanking the knife out of the wound.
More blood gushed from Heckie’s neck. He looked at Hill, not seeing or hearing him. Heckie crumbled to the pavement dying before reaching it.
Hill picked up Heckie’s body and flung it over his shoulders. The men in the park stared at Hill puzzled, while the people in the building looked on helplessly. In minutes tires were heard screeching around the corner. Anyone who had witnessed this sight must have thought that Hill had gone mad. He drove down Lafayette Avenue circling Stevenson Commons, dragging the lifeless body of Heckie behind his truck.
Malik and the men looked on in horror as Hill drove around the entire Commons several times, screaming out of his window. The death of Patrick had driven Hill mad with vengeance and the men on both sides were furious with his disrespect toward the body.
When Nes could take it no longer he took out his Glock and walked into the street. Hill’s truck came around the corner and Nes opened fire. The automatic spat and three of the truck’s tires were blown, causing it to swerve, before slowly hitting the curb.
“What the fuck you doing, Nes…?” shouted Hill, coming out the truck screaming mad.
“You buggin’, Hill. That shit you did was some caveman bullshit. You were violating that man’s body. That shit was foul. It’s over.”
Nes walked to the back of Hill’s truck and took out his knife cutting the rope that tied Heckie’s torn and broken body to the truck. Nes lifted up the body and flung it over his shoulders. Walking to the front of the building, he laid Heckie on the bench, and left.
“I’m sorry, ma. I didn’t mean for Heckie to get… Ah killed. It’s… Really all my fault,” said Rishon, sounding emotional.
His parents had helplessly watching the horror show going on in the streets with Hill and Heckie’s body. His mother looked at Rishon with hate written on her face. They watched Nes carrying Heckie’s body over his shoulders. Rishon ordered two men to get his brother’s body.
“Don’t touch my son!” yelled Heckie’s mother. “I will go take care of my baby.” Heckie’s mother along with his somber father went to get their son’s battered body. Together they brought it inside.
“We gotta be out of here, man. What Hill did was crazy wrong,” said AG, getting his boys ready to leave.
“AG, you and your cats, hold up. Let’s not forget why we’re here. Elaine is still inside and we got about two hours before daylight. I ain’t leavin’ without her,” said Malik with conviction.
“Malik, I think we did our best, man. Sometimes you have to cut your losses and hang it up. I think now is one of those times,” said Nes, agreeing with AG.
Malik saw Hill’s at his truck, changing his flat tires. He called out to Hill, “Yo Hill, I need to talk to you.” He turned to his boys and said, “Let’s see what Hill says about leaving.”
Hill had a deranged look on his face when he stood up to walk over to the park. He reached the middle of the street, and shots rang out. The first bullet entered Hill’s foot below the right ankle. The second one went through his back and entered his heart killing him instantly. The men in the park started shooting back at the building. A few went and dragged Hill’s body from the middle of the street.
“You cats still wanna leave,? They just broke the truce and murdered Hill right in front of us,” said Malik, looking at Hill’s body.
“Malik, Hill was my boy too. But that shit he did to Heckie’s body was a violation. I ain’t no big religious brother but that might just have been God’s justice. Let’s just bounce,” said AG with tears in his eyes.
“Let’s just get the fuck out of here,” said Nes. His tone was very emotional.
“I told all of you cats, I ain’t leaving,” shouted Malik.
“I think I can put a stop to this, once and for all,” said Big-O.
Everyone looked at Big-O and gathered around to hear what he had to say.
“I’m feeling that. I think that shit can work. I’m down with that plan. What about you cats?” asked Malik.
“I don’t know, man…” said AG.
“I’m with AG on that, I don’t know if that shit will work either,” said Nes, sounding skeptical.
“I know that Hill violated, and maybe that was the price he had to pay. I don’t know. But it doesn’t change the fact that they broke the truce and killed our boy. I just can’t let that go. No disrespect, Malik. But fuck Elaine at this point. I’m going in for my own reasons” said Big-O.
“Y’all cats with this, or not?” asked Malik, looking at Big-O, but not commenting.
He knew he needed as many allies as possible to pull the caper off. There was contemplative silence. The men took a turn and examined the situation. Then Nes looked at AG and they both looked at Hill’s body.
“Let’s get this over with, man,” said Nes.
“What you mean they just left like that?” asked Sandra.
Cornelius and Rishon were standing in front of Stevenson Commons. They had gone outside because lookouts reported Malik and his entire crew left the park, driving in the direction of the highway. Rishon and a few of his men followed by Sandra and Cornelius came outside to check on the report.
“Them cowards really left. They knew what time it was. They had no wins with the kid,” boasted Rishon.
“Rishon, they left this fly-ass Navigator by the park. I think it belonged to Hill. It has two flat tires,” reported one of Rishon’s boys, after checking the park across the street.
“Word, that shit was Hill’s. It’s mine now. He won’t need it where he’s at. A few of y’all push that shit around the back. Leave it in the underground garage. I’ll hook it up tomorrow,” smiled a confident Rishon.
“This shit just looks too easy to me. I don’t think this shit is over, Cornelius,” whispered Sandra to her brother.
She shook her head and walked back inside, looking at the men pushing the vehicle across the street.
Chapter 09
Malik and his men had left the park and it seemed abandoned the siege on Stevenson Commons. The entire population of the building started to celebrate. Rishon had this moment planned. He had his men bring up all the food and stashed cases of Hennessey and Moet champagne. They broke out the exotic weed and everybody got tore-down, having fun.
Rishon took on an aura of invincibility. The victory over Malik along with the effect of the liquor and weed had Rishon acting like he singlehandedly saved the Commons.
When the sun started to peak out over the horizon it found the occupants of Stevenson Commons all stuck on high and drunk. Some residents staggered back to their apartments, while others crashed out, sleeping in the courtyard on the benches and in the grass. Sandra was still having doubts and didn’t celebrate. Instead she went straight to bed, but not before warning Rishon and his men to watch their backs.
“You hear that, AG?” asked Malik from a hidden compartment under Hill’s truck.
Hill used to make drug runs down south in his truck and he built a hidden compartment behind the back seat. It wasn’t very big but if situated just right, it could easily hold two grown men.
“Hear what, man? I don’t hear shit,” replied AG, getting very uncomfortable in the stash compartment.
“That’s just it. It’s dead silent, cat. I think we can get out now.”
AG and Malik opened up the hidden compartment and cautiously came out, looking around. The garage was dark and packed with cars in every parking spot. The only light visible was from the emergency lights in the stairwell leading up to the inner courtyard.
“AG, let’s see what’s up, and remember stick to the plan.”
&n
bsp; The two men walked to the staircase and started climbing the stairs. When they got to the top they put their ears to the door, but still only silence.
“Here we go, homey,” said AG, pushing the door open and peeking inside.
Scattered around the courtyard were a few men and women knocked out sleeping and snoring, dead to the world. Doubting that everyone in the complex was asleep, they moved quickly before being seen.
Malik walked cautiously but quickly to the front entrance and quietly removed the barricades and opened the gates. Big-O, Nes and a few of their mercenaries were waiting on the other side to get in. Malik smile when saw them.
“Hurry up. You cats know what to do,” ordered Malik as the men entered the Commons.
The men scattered around the building. A few of them were carrying buckets of gasoline. They started pouring the gas on every floor of the complex. The men gathered in the courtyard after the entire place was soaked with gas.
“Listen, when we light these fires, all hell will break loose. Cats will be running around in crazy panic. There’s going to be shooting. Please don’t shoot each other or me in the chaos. Whoever finds Elaine come get me right away, and that bitch-ass, Rishon too.”
The orders were given and the men set fire to the buildings. Couple seconds were all it took for the people of Stevenson Commons to smell smoke. They quickly realize what had happened.
“Fire, fire…! Oh shit the whole place is burning,” said a pregnant woman, running out of her apartment.
Men came running out in their boxers and briefs. They saw their opposition and knew they were in grave danger. Malik and his men started shooting at the fleeing occupants of the building. They tried not to hit any women or children but with the smoke and confusion many innocent people were injured.
The few of Rishon’s men who actually came out armed were instantly and mercilessly gunned down. Malik walked around the courtyard amongst the chaos, and heard someone calling his name from one of the apartment windows.
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