“Uh, no. I mean, I was going to see if I could do some more dance competitions. So I can make some more money and maybe get on with one of these big deejays.”
“I hear you. Well, I got some moves that you might be interested in. You can make a whole lot of money.”
She looked at me in a suspicious manner and said nothing.
“Don’t worry about it now,” I told her. “I got to figure out everything, but we can get rich together, babes. Trust me.”
“All right. Just let me know.”
I knew she may not be down at first, but I had the power to manipulate any situation. Just then I heard my phone ringing, so I took it out of my pocket.
“Yo.”
“Gaza, what’s up, son? You a hard man to catch up with.”
“What’s good, Rio? Just been cooling after all this shit that went down with Gio and shit. Things got a little sticky, so I been trying to lay low.”
“Again, my sincere condolences, but Gio is among the dead, and we’re still here. And business can’t wait no longer. My people been hitting me up from left to right. I’ve been giving them the runaround ’cause I been waiting to hear from you. So tell me something good, my nigga.”
“My apologies, Rio, but I can get something to you by Friday, no later than Sunday.”
“Sounds good, sounds good. Same price?”
“Yeah, well, it depends on what you trying to get.”
“I need a whole shipment. About eighty kil is good.”
“A’ight,” I said slowly. “I don’t know if I can pull that much right now. Let me get some things in motion, and I will get back with you ASAP.”
“A’ight, son. I’ll be waiting.”
Shit! If I could pull off this shipment without it getting seized, I could make close to a hundred million dollars. This would be the biggest lick for us, and it definitely would put me in a great spot right now.
I needed to get on this right now. I pulled up my nigga’s number. This nigga was my and Gio’s partner in this. He was a really laid-back nigga who barely ever showed his face. He had a big mansion up by Beverly Hills, and Gio had told me, he was very careful about who he did business with. I dialed the number.
“Hello.”
“Yo, boss man. I need to come visit you,” I said.
“I gotcha, and please come by yourself and make sure no stray dogs follow you in.”
“No worries. I’m on my way,” I told him, and we ended the call.
I walked downstairs and stepped into the kitchen. It was smelling good.
“What are you cooking, babes?”
Camille looked over at me from her place at the stove. “Some curry chicken back, with dumpling and banana. I figured you was hungry.”
“That I am, but I got an important run to go make.”
“C’mon, Gaza. The food almost finished,” she pouted.
“Trust me, babes, I wish I could just eat right now, but I have something to handle that will change our lives forever. So no, it can’t wait. I’ll be back soon, though.”
I grabbed my keys from the kitchen counter and left out. Then I hopped behind the wheel of my car.
All the way to Beverly Hills, my mind was racing. This was a big order, but I had faith that we could pull it off. I made sure the coast was clear before I pulled up at the Big Man’s mansion. Everything seemed cool, so I approached the gates, came to a stop, and pressed the intercom button.
“How may I help you?” a female voice yelled.
“It’s Gaza. I’m here to see the boss.”
The electric gates started opening, and when they were finished, I drove in and the gates immediately closed behind me. This was my second time coming up here, and I felt the same way now as I had felt the last time. Like this was prison. The walls around the house were high, and the tops were covered with barbed wire. The minute you entered the property, around four guard dogs made their presence known. And it seemed as if cameras were on every inch of the property.
I drove closer to the house, then stopped and sat in my car, the engine still running, and waited for one of the many houseboys to come out and get me. I wouldn’t dare exit my car with all these fucking dogs looking for their next piece of fresh meat. A few minutes later, someone exited the mansion and walked up to my car. He motioned for me to put my window down.
“Yo, is you name Gaza?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
“Follow me. The boss man is waiting for you.”
I cut the car off, got out, and followed him. He said some shit to the dogs as they ran toward us, and they obeyed and went back over to the side of the house. He then opened the front door, and we stepped into the foyer. I caught sight of a few bitches, who were either half naked or had on minimal clothing. They waved to me and smiled. These were some bad-ass bitches, especially that little Asian-looking one. I would love to fuck her....
“The boss man up there, on the back patio.” The houseboy pointed to the stairs.
I walked up the stairs and was about to step out on the back patio when a big, bulky security-looking dude stepped in front me. “Hand me your gun.”
“What the fuck you need my gun for?”
“No one talks to the boss with a weapon on them.”
I looked at this nigga and shook my head. I then reached in my waist, pulled out my gun, and gave it to him.
“The boss man is waiting on you.” This bitch-ass nigga smiled at me.
I was seconds away from swinging on his bitch ass, but I was here to handle important business, so I controlled myself. Plus, I already knew he was only taking orders. I stepped out on the patio.
“Gaza, my man, welcome to my house,” the boss man said without turning around.
“Bless up, Father.”
I went to stand beside him at a wall that overlooked the entire city. I thought my view at this crib was dope. This was way better. You could stand here and see vehicles coming from miles away. If you were into illegal activities, this was definitely the view you needed.
The boss man caught my eye. “I heard what happen to Gio. I sent my condolences. Did you handle it?”
“Yeah, it’s handled. Everything good.”
“Are you sure? Because you can’t do good business if there is a war going on.”
“Trust me, I know. That was one of the reasons why I’ve been laying low for a while, but my America people are hungry for that work.”
He nodded. “Talk to me. What can I do to help you?”
“Well, Father, I know you and Gio had a deal that was working for y’all, and I respect it, but Gio is gone and I’m the one that will be running this organization. With that said, I want us to be partners . . .”
“Partners? Ha-ha. And why do you think I would need a partner? And what makes you qualified?”
“What makes me qualified is the fact that while I might be fresh in Jamaica, I am not in America. Niggas know me, and they respect my business, from Miami to New York to Boston. Yes, you have the supply of coke, but you don’t have the market to move it swiftly. You can definitely use the help to get the product shipped off, up to one hundred kil at a time. Together, I feel like we can have the coke game on lock.”
He said nothing at first. Just gazed out at the view, deep in thought. We stood there in complete silence for over three minutes.
“Hmm, you sound like every other nigga that is dreaming of taking over this drug game,” he said finally. “I don’t mean no disrespect, but you were just deported. The Feds could still be hot on your ass. Doing business with you could be risky.”
“Doing business with anyone can be risky,” I returned. “I’m a real nigga. I know how to handle business. I can even go in with half of the money to show you I’m about my business. No disrespect, if you don’t want to fuck with me, ’cause I got deported, let me know so I can go find someone that wants to get on board with me. Time is money, and I got moves to make. My New York people are expecting a shipment no later than Sunday. That give me onl
y around five days to get things done.”
“You know, Gaza, I love your drive. Matter of fact, you remind me of myself around twenty years ago. Young, ambitious, and hungry. We can definitely do business, but I will deal only with you, and with no one else. These niggas in this country are greedy, and greed creates envy, which can become deadly. In this game, no one can be trusted, and I mean no one outside of yourself. You can’t even trust the bitch you laid up with at night, ’cause I’ve learned they will betray you for the next nigga that has more money . . .”
He was spitting some real shit, but I was no stranger to the game, so these were all things that I already knew or practiced.
“So do we have a deal?” I asked him.
“We got a deal.”
We exchanged daps and sealed the deal with a glass of Grey Goose. We sat on the balcony, playing with the numbers and making sure we were making the best deal possible. I loved how he did his business: he didn’t get his hands dirty with anything. Before I left, he introduced me to two of his most loyal men, who would be working with me.
While I was glad I would be doing business with the boss man, I was happy when I drove off that day and was no longer behind the gates, the walls, and the barbed wire of that mansion. I didn’t like anything that reminded me of prison. But I was convinced that forming this partnership was the right move, because I would be able to handle my business now.
Chapter Nine
Camille
Gaza had my mind all over the place. I was still thinking on what the hell he was talking about when he said he had a way for us to make money. I mean, I was hungry and was looking for ways to make money, but I wasn’t into doing no drug shit, and I knew that this was what they were in. I had done watched too many shows and heard too many horror stories of bitches who got caught up in the drug thing because of their niggas. There were two things that I had said I would never get involved in, and they were selling pussy and transporting drugs. Both those things could have you either dead or doing life in prison. And me, I loved my life and my freedom too much to risk it.
This was the day that Gaza was having the dudes move my stuff out of my place. My landlord had been shock when I told his ass I was leaving his place. He had tried talking me out of it, but my mind was made up. Shit, if you asked me, his ass had been getting one over on me. This little-ass apartment wasn’t worth no twenty-five grand per month, but I was grateful that I had had a roof over my head, so I didn’t complain.
I didn’t have much to move. I had only my bedroom set, which I’d bought when I first moved in, and my couch, which I had decided to give to Sophia. Speaking of Sophia, why her ass ain’t at the house? I had told her what time I was coming around here. I pulled her number up now and dialed.
“Hello?” she said when she answered.
“I thought you was coming to get the settee before I leave out?”
“Oh shit! I didn’t know you was up there. I’ma tell Oneil to come grab it, and I’m on my way.”
“All right,” I said before I hung up.
The dudes packed the bedroom set and the suitcases containing my clothes in a small truck and then left. I grabbed a broom, mop, and bucket and started to clean the house. My landlord didn’t give me his place dirty, so I didn’t want to leave it without cleaning it.
“Gyal, I can’t believe you leaving me,” Sophia said as she stepped up on the verandah.
“Goody, I done explain to you, so the thing set. But guess what? It don’t matter where I live. You still my best friend, and we still going to hang out and part together.”
“I know, but it’s not the same. We have been only houses apart. Now I’m still in the Gully, and you’re uptown, living the good life. I’m happy for you still. Just wish I was going with you.”
I looked her right in the eye. “Listen, you’re my ride-and-die bitch, and that will never change. No other gyal can take your place. I’m just a phone call away, and soon as I get settled in, you will be coming to see me.”
“You right about that. I love you, bitch.”
“Love you too. Now move. Let me finish cleaning this man place before him come get his key.”
“Fuck that slumlord. Him bloodclaat lucky it’s not me who’s moving, ’cause I would leave this piece of shit just like this.”
“You too wicked, man.” I burst out laughing.
We continued talking until her man came and got the couch. We hugged, and she left. As soon as I was left alone, I began to feel nervous, so I hurried up and finished what I was doing. The voice of that nigga who had stuck a gun in my back echoed in my head. Once I was done cleaning the place, I waited twenty minutes to see if the landlord was coming, but he didn’t show up. I called his phone and got no response. Oh well, I thought. I didn’t intend to stick around not one second longer, so I grabbed my purse, took one last look around. I was stepping out the door when I heard voices outside the apartment. I turned my head to look.
“There go the gyal!” I heard a voice say. I recognized it as the voice of the nigga who had grabbed me that evening and threatened me.
I knew this situation wasn’t good, so I turned to run....
Pop! Pop! Pop!
I tried to get away, but my feet were not fast enough. I felt something hit my bag, and I tried to run faster. Then something sharp hit my leg, and I went down....
“Jesus Christ! Y’all try to kill the gyal!” I heard my landlord shout.
I heard more gunshots ring out, and then it was quiet.
“Call the police,” I heard voices say in unison.
I knew I was going to die, so I started to cry and pray. I was scared of dying and definitely didn’t want to die like this. I was in so much pain.... I tried to stay awake, but I was so sleepy....
* * *
“Can you hear me?” I heard a voice ask.
I slowly opened my eyes and looked around. I could tell I was in the hospital, but I couldn’t move. I had wires strung up all over my body. I couldn’t move my leg.
“I’m happy you are awake, Miss Brown. I’m Dr. Lewis. Somebody did a number on your body, and for a minute there, we thought we had lost you. You’re a strong young lady, and you fought your way back to us.”
Hearing this man talk like that brought tears to my eyes, because when I was lying in that yard, I really thought I was going to die.
He went on. “You’re in serious condition. The bullet that hit your back missed your spine by a few inches. We were able to remove it. The other bullet hit your leg, but this is only flesh wound. That one will heal up pretty fast if you stay off the leg and let it heal. This is the second day, and you’re doing pretty good. Your vitals are great, and you’re pretty stable.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
“You’re welcome. Oh, the police are waiting to see you.”
“Okay. Thanks, Doctor.”
After he left the room, two uniformed policemen entered.
“Miss Brown, how are you feeling?” one of them said.
I didn’t respond, because this was a stupid-ass question. I had almost lost my life, and here they were, asking me dumb-ass questions, about how I was feeling.
The officer who had asked the question spoke again. “I’m Lieutenant Wilson, and this is Sergeant Davis. We are here concerning your injuries and assault. Is there anything you can tell us? Who did this to you?”
I had to think hard and long. Did I really want to tell the police who had done this? I had been raised never to talk to or trust the police. I had been raised in the Gully, and the only times I’d seen the police there were when they were attacking us or coming through, trying to intimidate us. So my motto was, “Fuck the police.” It was crazy that here they were, standing in front of me, pretending like they gave a fuck.
I finally spoke. “I heard voices. I didn’t recognize the voices. And I didn’t see the people they belonged to.”
“Are you sure? These ruthless thugs murdered an innocent man. I believe it’s your landlord, Mr. Leon
ard. They almost killed you,” Lieutenant Wilson said. “If you can think of anything to help us to bring them to justice, please tell us.”
Hearing that Mr. Leonard had lost his life behind trying to help me brought tears to my eyes. This wasn’t fair....
“Like I told you a few minutes ago, I didn’t see them. Maybe you can talk to the other people in the yard. They might’ve seen something.”
“Miss Brown, do you know a Mr. Coley?” Sargeant Davis asked me.
“No. Why? Who is he?” I pretended like I was lost.
The sergeant stared at me. “That’s strange, because I’ve talked to quite a few people who told me that you’re the girlfriend of Mr. Coley. His name is also mentioned in reports of the shootings of several victims in the area. Your shooting is described as a revenge shooting. Someone getting at you to send a very important message to your boyfriend.”
“No disrespect, but I done told y’all, I don’t know no Mr. Coley. I’m single, so I don’t know why people lying, talking about I got a boyfriend. Listen, I’m tired. Why don’t y’all go back to whoever feeding y’all these lies?”
I closed my eyes. This was my sign to them that this conversation was over. I was tired, and my body was in pain.
“Okay, Miss Brown. If you remember anything, please don’t hesitate to have the doctor or one of the nurses call the station,” Lieutenant Wilson told me.
I didn’t respond; I kept my eyes closed. I waited until the door had closed before I opened my eyes. But then I saw the door opening, and I was sure it was these fucking policemen again. I was ready to cuss them out. But then I saw my mama walk through the door.
“Mama!” I said as tears flooded my eyes. I hadn’t seen my mama in weeks, not since the last time I visited her.
“Baby, how you feeling?” she said as she stood next to the bed and gazed down at me.
“In a lot of pain,” I confessed.
“I was up here all yesterday. The minute I get the call, I rush up here and been here ever since. My phone was off, so I run to go pay it over Digicel. Baby, which pussy them do this to you?”
“Mama, I don’t even know. I don’t walk and mess with people, and I don’t deserve this. Mama, I thought I was dead. All I could think about was how you was going to hurt.”
Carl Weber's Kingpins: Jamaica Page 8