by India
Overnight, my crew became celebrities. Everywhere we went, people took notice. For fear of attracting the Feds, I didn’t like all of the attention. Yet Ali didn’t mind it one bit. In her opinion, as long as we weren’t caught with our hand in the cookie jar, there would be no harm and no foul. I knew better, but there was nothing I could do about it.
My crew had made over $3.2 million in a year’s time. Everyone upgraded their whip as well as their address. I purchased a home in West Bloomfield. Alicia purchased a condo with Keisha. Tyra had even managed to convince Tamia to join the squad as our accountant on a full-time basis. The first thing she showed us was how to invest our money the legit way. For doing so, we paid her well.
I invested in a chain of clothing stores in each city. The retail stores were called Capa Donna and were set up in malls. In the Italian families, the word “capo” is used to describe the head of a crime family. The word “don” depicts a high-society man with money and power. Since I’m not a man, I rolled with the female version of each word. If for any reason I were ever audited, my bank accounts were all linked to that business. Furthermore, if I were to be questioned with regard to my frequent flights to each city, I would have an excuse. Alicia chose to invest in a record company that would only produce some of the dopest female entertainers in the game. The company was called Grade A Entertainment. She already had ten clients.
Money was pouring in at such an impressive magnitude that we needed buckets. In my mind, things could only get better from here. Boy, was I wrong.
* * *
“Oh, shit, we’ve got the AFM in the building!” the disc jockey announced as we walked into Club Haze in Southfield. People began to stare at us. A few of them even raised their drinks in a toast.
“Who in the hell is the AFM?” I asked Alicia, who was in front of me. Tonight, she had invited everyone out to celebrate the success of one of her artists who had a single playing on the radio. Typically, the club scene wasn’t for me. However, Gran offered to watch Ju. Because I hadn’t been out for a while, I agreed.
“It means All Female Mafia,” she yelled over the music. I didn’t know where he had gotten the name from, but it was kind of catchy. I liked it. Back in the day, Detroit had seen its fair share of drug dealers. Yet the most memorable of names were the infamous “YBI” or Young Boys Incorporated, as well as the “BMF” better known as Black Mafia Family. Those men mastered the game. It may sound crazy but I was proud to be among the list. Never had a female been able to do what we did. This was only the beginning.
“This place is the truth,” Tamia said into my ear. I nodded in agreement. The club was packed with people dressed to the nines. The disc jockey was bumping the jams. Our bottle service kept the bottles of Cîroc and Grey Goose on deck. The funny thing about it was none of us were old enough to drink. All the same, when you had money, people did whatever you asked in hopes that you would look out for them.
“Ain’t that Chucky over there? What’s his old ass doing up in the club?” Alicia laughed and beckoned for the waitress. “Here’s five hundred dollars. Send that old nigga in the Kangol hat the best bottle of champagne you have in the building.”
“No, please don’t send that bottle.” I stood and tried to stop the transaction between Ali and the waitress.
“Sweetheart, take this money and get his ass the most extravagant bottle you have at the bar,” Ali slurred. She was already lit and we hadn’t been here for an hour. “Keep this hundred for your trouble.” She slapped the girl’s butt. Keisha saw her but didn’t say anything.
“Girl, why are you starting stuff?” I yelled at Ali. I hadn’t seen Chucky since he refused my deal. Presently, there was no bad blood between us and I wanted to keep it that way.
“That nigga will be all right.” She brushed me off then went back to slow grinding on Keisha. I sat back in the cut and watched with a side-eye how Chucky was going to react to Alicia’s gift. If he accepted it, I knew we were cool. Unfortunately, if he sent it back, then we had problems.
“Grab your glass, Jane.” Tyra held hers up along with everyone else while Alicia’s drunken ass made a toast.
“To AFM and fuck everybody else!” she slurred. With the exception of me, the entire crew repeated her toast. I was too busy trying to see what Chucky was going to do about the bottle, but I had lost sight of him in the dark room full of people. Maybe he left? I relaxed a bit and sipped from the glass. Usually, I wasn’t a drinker. I didn’t like being in an altered state of mind, but tonight was a celebration. Besides, I needed to take my mind off of Ace. He was still behind bars, but Richard assured me he would be home soon.
“What’s wrong?” Keisha came over to where I was sitting.
“I miss Ace, that’s all.” I offered her a smile although it wasn’t authentic. My man had been gone for way too long. Every day he was missing out on Ju’s big moments, which caused me to be despondent.
“He’ll be home soon. His lawyer said it was looking good for him, right?”
“Well, yeah, he did say that, but they still haven’t set a trial date.” As we conversed, I noticed Chucky entering our VIP area, heading in my direction. My stomach hit the ground but my game face remained unchanged. “Keisha, give me a minute please.” I excused her and motioned for him to take a seat. Back in the day, I would’ve stood to greet him, except he no longer deserved that kind of respect.
“Look at you all grown up, sending bottles and shit. What’s this all about?” He was offended. “Are you trying to make me look bad or something?” He placed the bottle of Ace of Spades on top of the cocktail table before me.
“First off, I didn’t send the bottle. Nevertheless, it was sent as a peace offering.” I grabbed the bottle and poured myself a glass. There was no need to let a good bottle go to waste.
“Peace offering for what? I didn’t know there was an issue.” He was mind fucking me and I knew it.
“Look, Chucky, we just came here to have a good time. Sorry if the bottle offended you, but it really was intended to be a generous gesture.”
“Well, I won’t stop your good time. I just came over here to return the bottle and to give you a piece of advice.” He smiled.
“And what’s that?” I sincerely wanted to hear what he had to say.
Leaning down close to my ear, he said, “Watch your back.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you may think just because you’ve won the battle, the war is over. But not so. The streets are always watching.” With those words, he excused himself from our region and vanished into the crowd of people on the dance floor. To say his words had me feeling some sort of way would’ve been an understatement.
“What was that all about?” Ali wrapped her arm around my neck.
“Chucky didn’t like your gift.” I sipped from my glass.
“Fuck that old nigga! He’s just mad because we’re young boss bitches.” Alicia turned her attention back to the crowd then went back to partying, leaving me in the corner contemplating how to clean up this mess.
* * *
Outside of the club, there was a line for valet parking. We waited good-naturedly along with a few other party-goers. “Baby, I love you so much.” Keisha wrapped her arms around Alicia from the back and kissed her neck.
“I love you more with your fine ass.” She palmed her ass like a basketball.
“Why don’t you bitches get a room?” I teased.
“Yeah, don’t nobody wanna see that shit!” Tyra cracked up laughing. Alicia flipped her the bird. At last, my car was pulled in front of the door. I tossed my girls the deuces and went to retrieve my ride.
As I made it around to the driver’s side, I heard the sound of screeching tires and then gunfire. Having no other choice, I dropped to the ground and lay flat. I heard screaming and saw everyone dispersing in one direction or another. The barrage of bullets appeared to go on forever. The moment it stopped, I was back on my feet, trying to make heads or tails of what ha
d just occurred.
“She’s been hit!” I heard someone say, so I checked myself for wounds but there weren’t any. “Call 911. She’s been hit!” This time I looked around to see who was hurt and if there was anything I could do to help. My heart skipped three beats when I looked over to see Alicia covered in blood. She was cradling Keisha like a baby. I knew this was bad. Leaving my car and purse right on the ground where I’d dropped them, I raced toward my friends.
“She can’t die, J. Please make the bleeding stop.” Alicia cried uncontrollably. Looking down at Keisha, I knew there was nothing I could do. Only God could change this outcome.
“Hold on, Keish, the ambulance is on the way.” Tyra kneeled down beside them.
“Baby, please don’t die.” Alicia relentlessly rocked back and forth. “I love you, Keish. Don’t do this to me.”
It broke my heart to watch this scene unfold. Alicia was a mess and Keisha had already started to make that final transition. Her body began to shiver, her lips were practically blue, and her eyes kept rolling to the back of her head. We all heard the sirens approaching from a few blocks away. Even so, everyone knew it was too late. Keisha was gone in a flash. She died in Alicia’s arms with her eyes wide open. While Ali was rocking her lifeless body, I reached down and closed her eyes.
“We promised each other forever, J, so she can’t be dead.”
“Baby, she’s gone.” Sniffing back my own tears, I tried to be strong for my friend. This disaster was definitely a hit below the belt. The person responsible had taken one of our own. For that, this shit had to be rectified pronto.
Chapter Sixty-one
The days following Keisha’s death were unnerving. My entire crew was on edge. Conversely, Alicia was a train wreck. I invited her to stay with me and Ju on the night of the shooting, but she refused. Not wanting to press the issue, I decided to give her time. However, days turned into a week. I still hadn’t heard from her. I burned several tanks of gas going to her condo. She was either not at home or refusing to answer the door. I would’ve blown the locks off but I wanted to respect her space. Everyone grieved differently. Therefore, before I put out an all-points bulletin for her, I decided to see if she would show up at Keisha’s funeral today.
“Thank you so much for coming, Janelle.” Keisha’s cousin Brandy walked over to hug me.
“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”
“Is Alicia with you?” She looked behind me. “I haven’t heard from her since Keisha passed. I just wanted to make sure she was okay.”
“Neither have I, but I’m sure she’ll be here.” I grabbed an obituary from the table and proceeded into the church. Keisha was very popular and loved by many people. Although the place was small, it was filled to the brim with nearly 100 people. At first glance, all of the seats were taken. Then I spotted Tyra and Tamia waving me over.
“Girl, we got here early to save you and Alicia a spot.” Tamia slid down so I could scoot in.
“Where’s Ju?” Tyra asked.
“With Gran. I couldn’t have her crying and disrupting the service.” I opened the obituary and began to read about Keisha’s life.
“The question should have been where’s Alicia?” Tamia whispered as the service was beginning. I shrugged then turned my attention toward the processional of family members going to view the body. We were in the third row. I could see just fine from my seat. Because I preferred to remember Keisha the way she was, I didn’t want to see her up close and personal in that casket.
As the minister delivered his sermon on life and death, I periodically scanned the room for Alicia. She was still missing in action. A few people got up to say kind words about Keisha, causing me to wipe a few tears. Damn, my girl had her whole life in front of her. She didn’t have to go out like that.
When the minister announced the final viewing of the body, my heart sank as I noticed Alicia standing in the aisle. For what seemed like an eternity, she stood there frozen before the tears began falling. She dropped to her knees. I was instantly out of my seat and consoling my friend.
“Why did she have to die, Jane?” She looked up at me with eyes that needed an explanation. I felt horrible for Ali as I pulled her up from the floor and ushered her toward the back of the church. “Keisha, I will get that nigga for you, baby. I promise!” she screamed.
* * *
The murder of Keisha had undoubtedly started a war between my squad and Chucky’s crew. Alicia was on beast mode, and I could do nothing to tame her. “So what are we gonna do, Jane?” She paced my kitchen floor. “Somebody’s gon’ pay for this shit, no lie!”
“It’s your call, fam. Whatever you decide, I’m riding with you.” After the funeral, I’d called an emergency meeting at my house that same afternoon.
“I say we hit that nigga in his pockets,” Tyra spoke from her seat at the stone kitchen table.
“Fuck his pockets. After what he did to Keisha, I want that man dead!” Alicia slapped the counter, which caused Juliana to cry. She was sitting next to me in her highchair, so I picked her up and rocked her gently.
“Since they know we’re coming for Chucky, he’ll be under heavy protection for a while. I say we go after his crew one by one until he’s all alone and has no one to protect him.” I handed Ju a Cheetos Puff and watched her chew with four little teeth the size of cooked rice.
“I’m with that! Let’s brainstorm and make this shit happen.” Alicia rubbed her bloodshot eyes.
For hours, we plotted on Chucky’s crew and strategically calculated every move needed to make this shit successful. Our goal was to target his right-hand man, Perry, his son, Vito, and eventually Chucky himself. Frankly, I was to some extent apprehensive about what was getting ready to go down. Beefing with someone as big as Chucky didn’t have the propensity to work out in the underdog’s favor. Nevertheless, for Alicia I would’ve gone to hell with gasoline panties on. She had had my back on more occasions than I could remember. At this juncture it was time for me to have hers. I just hoped we didn’t mess up!