“I can’t believe you seeing somebody and didn’t even tell me,” Janay said in a chastising tone. “What does he look like? Where does he live?”
“It’s only been a few weeks. And it’s not serious or anything. I don’t know where he lives. We went out a couple of times, we fucked and we still talk. We doin’ it like that. I ain’t trippin’. Plus the nigga dropped a few grand on a sista. I ain’t tryna marry the nigga or no shit like that. Sis, you know how I do. So, now that I told you all of my business, what’s up with you? And turn that fire down.”
Janay lowered the flame under the chicken and went and stood in front of her sister. “I’ve been talking to someone,” she whispered.
“Who is he?” Crystal whispered back and they both broke into giggles.
“His name is New York and—”
“New York?” Crystal cut her off. “What’s his real name?”
“I don’t know.”
“And you call yourself checkin’ me?” Crystal flipped the script.
“I’m the oldest, bitch! You can’t be questioning me. I’m supposed to be looking out for you,” Janay snapped as she went to turn over the chicken. “I’m feelin’ his conversation,” she continued. “This nigga is either a boss or he frontin’. I haven’t been able to put my finger on it yet but it’s something about him.”
“Well introduce me to him and I’ll let you know what’s up.”
“All right, I’ll see what can be arranged. And why don’t you get with Skye, and I’ll check him out for you. You know how we do when it comes to these niggas.”
“It’s a done deal then,” Crystal said. The sisters were in agreement for a change.
Briggen and Woo were chillin’ in Woo’s living room. Briggen was checking out Woo as he dumped the ounce of weed onto the plate. Briggen had grabbed some hydro from a Detroit nigga from P. Rock, Plymouth or whatever they call it. The nigga had all different kinds of weed. This was far beyond Briggen’s knowledge. All he had smoked was purps. But dude introduced him to some weed with white hairs on the end of the leaves. You needed scissors to cut them off the bud. Briggen was laid back as Woo was cutting it up.
“Nigga, why you so quiet?” Woo asked, full of suspicion.
“Shan is pregnant.”
Woo kept cutting the weed until what Briggen said registered. Woo leaned back into his chair, cocked his head to the side and ran his hands over his beard. “Word? I thought you wasn’t tryna get none of these hoes pregnant.” He sat up and began rolling up the weed.
“I wasn’t.” Briggen shrugged. “But sometimes shit happens.”
“So let me get this straight. Your original plan was to expand to the D. First get a house, put this broad up in it so that you can run shit in comfort. Then, open the beauty salon and have Shan and your cousin run it, set up a couple of traps and run the dough through the business. But . . . now you feelin’ this broad and since you knocked her up the game plan has changed.”
Briggen reached for one of the blunts, fired it up and immediately began choking. As he held the weed in his lungs he looked at Woo, who had a look on his face that said, “You dummy!”
“So what’s the game plan now?” Woo prodded.
“I don’t know why you trippin’, ain’t nothin’ changed, nigga. I want Silk and Tee Tee to come down. Let Jay and Donny-Boy step up. I need to get with them tonight.”
“All four of ’em?”
“Yeah.”
“Aiight, cool. Wanna meet at the club?”
“That’ll work.” Briggen stood up. “Just hit me up later when all of y’all are there.”
“Sit yo’ ass down, nigga. I ain’t lettin’ you off the hook that easy.”
“Maine, go ’head with that.”
“When Mia and them find out, shit’s gonna be crazy.”
“What? So you sayin’ you don’t got my back?”
“I got you, dawg. I’m just surprised at this whole scenario. But hey, big pimpin’, you dat nigga.”
“I got this.” Briggen took another pull off his blunt, opened the door and left.
“Let me find out big pimpin’ ready to settle down and be a family man!” Woo yelled out.
Briggen smiled and headed for his ride. “Nah, never that!”
“Did you get that info for me?” Janay sweetly asked Skye.
“Yeah, I got it,” Skye cockily answered.
“I appreciate it. Give it to me so I can write it down.”
“Whoa, whoa, hold up, shawty. I still think that you need to rethink this.”
“Oh, so now you gonna flip the script on me?”
“Naw, it ain’t that. I just don’t want to see you get caught up in no unnecessary bullshit.”
“The nigga put his hands on me! Or did you forget?” Janay was getting pissed all over again as she paced back and forth, replaying the scene at the detail shop.
“You not thinking clearly and that’s not good.” Skye swerved around a wooden plank in the middle of the road.
“You shouldn’t have gotten the info if you never had intentions on giving it to me,” Janay snapped. She listened to him chuckle.
“Whoa, little snapper. I ain’t the enemy.”
“You know what? I’m straight. I’ll put somebody else on the job. Believe that. Ole boy will get dealt with.”
“Okay, Billy Bad-Ass, but you still need to eat. Every good soldier needs to eat for strength to be ready for war. So can a nigga take you out?”
“Who said anything about a war? That peon-ass nigga just didn’t know who he was fuckin’ with. I plan on teaching him some manners. That’s all. No need for a war.”
“Yeah, all right, but you still didn’t answer my question.”
“Where?” She still couldn’t believe he had asked her that. “Where do you want to take me?”
“I don’t know. Give me a time to pick you up and by then I’ll have it all together.”
“I don’t know you like that to be inviting you to my crib.”
“Aww, that’s low.”
“Well I don’t.”
“I can respect that. We’ll just arrange to meet somewhere.”
“Yeah, we can do that if I decide to go out with you.”
“You want that info, right?” When she didn’t respond he said, “Then you’ll be going out with me.”
“This is bullshit.”
“What?” Skye asked, acting as if he didn’t know what she was referring to.
Janay and Skye continued to kick it on the phone and Skye wasn’t even aware of the beige Impala tailing him. The streets had finally coughed up Skye’s name. Doc couldn’t believe that this out-of-towner had the balls to come on their land, set up shop and eat lovely off their hard-earned sweat, blood and loot. But Doc swore to himself that this nigga wouldn’t live to see daybreak.
At the light Doc did two more lines. His boys were right. That recent loss was all his fault. If he hadn’t been pillow-talking while laying up with this bitch-ass nigga Greg, Skye wouldn’t have known about his move. Doc had been trying to catch up with Greg but it was obvious that dude was ducking him out. But he knew he’d eventually catch up with him. Greg couldn’t stay away from the ass. And for now, he just needed to know where Skye laid his head.
Doc was so focused on Skye he failed to see the Caddy tailing him. Born had borrowed the ride from a friend, and going against his orders from Slim, here he was anxious to put Doc to sleep. He refused to have him around to tarnish Shadee’s reputation. His anger was sharpening his focus because he noticed that Doc seemed to be following that money-green Corvette.
When the Corvette pulled into a Hampton Inn, so did the Impala and the Caddy.
When Skye got out of his Vette, the Impala came to an abrupt stop and a figure jumped out and pointed a burner at his face. That’s when he realized that he had been followed and hadn’t even peeped it.
Splat! The impact from the bullet penetrated his shoulder, causing Skye to jerk back. “Ahg!” he screamed and noticed tha
t the shooter was the nigga he had jacked and tied up in the shower. “Fuck!” he gritted as he dropped down and crawled around to the other side to seek cover.
“Who you gonna jack now, pussy?” Doc yelled out.
Skye heard more shots pop off and wondered what the fuck was Doc shooting because it damn sure wasn’t him. Then he heard an unfamiliar voice yell, “You the pussy, nigga. And this here is for my uncle.” Skye heard four more shots fired, someone scream out, footsteps running followed by a car pulling off.
Then it got quiet.
Born smiled as he lit his blunt. He replayed in his mind that beautiful shot to Doc’s dome. It was no way in hell he’d survive the shot that split his wig, literally, in two. “Meet me at the crossroads,” he sang along with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Skye peeked over the hood and didn’t see anyone . . . not even his shooter, the nigga he had jacked. He wasted no time getting in his ride and pulling off. He fumbled with his cell phone and finally got the call through.
“Hello,” a familiar voice answered.
“Tommy.”
“Who is this?”
“Skye, man,” he gritted as he tried to drive and apply pressure on his shoulder at the same time.
“Skye? Long time no hear from. What’s up, dude?”
“I need to see you. I got one in me and I can’t stop the bleeding.”
“Whoa, whoa, dude. I got company.”
“C’mon, man, you know I can’t go to the hospital. It’s only one. Let me come over there.”
“Aww hell naw, you know the rules. Where you at?”
“I’m in my car.”
“Well park that muhfucka and I’ll come to you.”
Skye frowned as he looked around and noticed that he wasn’t too far from Crystal’s house. “I’m close to this broad’s house. You can meet me there.” He gave Tommy the address. “I owe you one.”
“Nigga owe? Have my paper when I get there. You know how I do it.”
“Nigga, just hurry up. I ain’t ready to die,” Skye teased.
“Punk, you ain’t gonna die from one in the shoulder. One.”
Skye heard the dial tone, and called Crystal.
“So you and New York going out tonight?” Crystal was on the phone talking to Janay. “Where y’all going? He’s coming over there?” Crystal was very surprised at that.
“I’m not sure where we are going. He just told me to be ready. I’m gonna meet him somewhere.”
“Oh, I was gettin’ ready to say. You invitin’ a nigga over to the crib, what’s really good? This y’all’s first real date, right?”
“Umm-hmm. You’ll be able to watch Marquis, right?”
“Sure, but I ain’t cooking. Can you stop and get some Pizza Hut first?”
“When do you ever cook?”
Crystal was getting ready to say something smart but someone clicking on her line stopped her. “Oh, that’s my line, I’ll see y’all later.” Crystal clicked over. “Hello.”
“Hey, it’s me. I was hoping that you was home. Mind if I stop by? I’m in a little bit of a jam. I’m right around the corner. You don’t have company, do you?”
“No, I don’t. C’mon on.” As soon as Crystal hung up, she pumped her fist and hurried into her bedroom to change into something sexy and freshen up.
Before she could apply some makeup her doorbell was ringing . . . and ringing. “I know that Skye is not ringing my bell like that!” She hurried up to the door and peeked out the curtain. She unlocked it with a puzzled look on her face. She opened the door prepared to cuss him out. “Why are you—” She closed her mouth as Skye pushed by her and she saw that his left shoulder and his shirt were a bloody mess. She closed the door and locked it.
“Sorry about this but I was in the area when this shit happened.”
She didn’t know what to say as she grabbed his elbow and led him to the kitchen. She was not going to allow him to bloody up her furniture or her carpet.
“I got somebody coming here to meet me and take care of this. You got a few clean towels? I’ll replace them.” He began to take off his jacket and the rest of his things.
She went to get some towels. When she came back, his jacket was on the floor and he was struggling to take off his T-shirt.
“Let me help you.” Together they managed to get it off. “Eeeew, that’s pretty deep.” She stared at the gunshot wound. “Aren’t you in pain?”
“I’ve endured worse.” The doorbell rang.
“Is that your people?”
“I hope so.”
Crystal went to the door and yelled, “Who is it?”
“It’s Tommy.”
She looked over at Skye.
“Yeah, that’s him.”
She opened the door and a scrawny brown-skinned dude with hazel eyes, dressed in G-Unit from head to toe, waltzed in. He quickly began unloading his backpack.
“What’s up?” He nodded at Crystal and went over to Skye. He immediately began laying out his supplies on top of the kitchen table and going to work.
“Damn, dude, what you do, fly over here?”
“Don’t worry about it, punk. Just know that I’m here. You know how I do it. Plus I didn’t want yo’ punk ass to die on me.”
“Fuck you, nigga. And hurry up, this shit hurt.”
An hour later Crystal was sitting on her couch with her legs curled under her as she watched Tommy clean up his mess.
Skye came out of the kitchen and sat next to her on the couch. His bare chest was glistening and Tommy had removed the bullet and bandaged up his shoulder. His sweatpants were dirty and had blood on them. “I appreciate this.”
“It’s cool. You just caught me by surprise.”
“The shit caught me by surprise too.” He looked her over and noticed that her hair was on point and that she had on a pair of hip-hugging Parasuco jeans, a blouse showing her belly button and a pair of cute little Nike sneakers. “Is that one of the outfits I brought?” he teased.
“No. I’m afraid not.”
Tommy came out of the kitchen. “Aiight, dude, that shot I gave you is going to have you feeling drowsy so don’t try to drive for a couple of hours. Other than that, yo’ punk ass will be aiight. But come see me or go to a hospital in a couple of days so that somebody can make sure you’re healing okay. I wouldn’t want you to die from an infection.”
“Gee thanks,” Skye said with much sarcasm.
Tommy tossed him a mesh bag. “Keep your dressing cleaned. That’s enough to last for a week. I’m out.”
“Thanks, man,” Skye said.
Crystal got up and saw Tommy out.
“Yo, I need another favor.” Skye hated to do this to her.
Crystal locked the door and folded her arms over her chest. “I’m listening.”
“Do you think you can run to a store and pick me out an outfit? I gotta take care of something.” He was determined to keep his date with the thug missus, Janay.
“I thought he said for you not to drive?”
“I ain’t thinking about that pussy. I just need an hour for a nap, some dro and I’ll be straight.”
“Y’all niggas are so hardheaded.”
“Can you help a brother out or what?” He went into his back pocket and pulled out a wad of bills. “Here you go. I owe you big-time.”
You sure do. Especially since I planned on getting some of that dick. And now you’re leaving?
She grabbed her purse, tossing the money inside. “Don’t die on my couch. If you start to feel like you’re getting ready to cash out, call me,” she teased.
He laid his head back onto the headrest. “Oh, so you’re a comedian now? I told you, all I need is an hour and I’ll be good.”
Crystal grabbed her cell phone and left. After she got into her car and started it up, her cell phone rang. It was her sister.
“Hello.” She turned down her radio.
“Bitch, you sound like you’re in the car! Your ass is supposed to be home. I know you’re not reneging on me.”
“Janay, shut the hell up. You got a key and I just need to make a quick run.”
“Where to?”
“To get this nigga something to wear.”
“What nigga?”
“Skye, girl. He got shot. Don’t ask me shit because I don’t know shit. But check it out. He’s at the crib and now is your chance to meet him. Where are you?”
“I just placed the order at Pizza Hut, then I’ll be headed over there. Bitch, don’t keep me waiting because I still need to go back and get dressed.”
“I won’t. Check him out and let me know what you think.”
“So he got shot?”
“Yeah.”
“And he came to your house? What kind of nigga is that? You need to find out something on this . . . Skye person.”
“Just wait for me at the house. We can run a background check on his dick if you want to.”
“Bitch, whatever! Just hurry yo’ ass up.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Shan was standing on mainline with the gentleman who was her boss as well as the head of education, Gordon Wright. She had spent all morning with him and now here they were inside the FCI’s huge dining hall. Mainline in the federal prisons is where all the department heads, unit managers, counselors, warden, assistant warden and lieutenants stand around making themselves available for the inmates. If the inmates have any questions, concerns or problems they can come to mainline and address the appropriate staff member.
Gordon was also using this opportunity to introduce Shan to other staff members. She was anxious for Gordon to go on about his business because his bad breath was killing her.
She looked around the huge dining hall at the sea of khaki-clad men, labeled as inmates.
“What else do we have on the agenda for today, Mr. Wright?” Shan wanted to know.
“After we leave here, we’ll go to my office. I need to make sure we covered everything and then we’re done.”
“Mr. Wright, don’t be talking this pretty young lady to death. What’s wrong with you, man? And did you pop a breath mint?”
Payback With Ya Life Page 16