A Gangsta Twist Saga (15 page)

“Because she's a li'l tied up at the moment, gee,” said Taz as he stepped in front of the first two who had entered the shop. He pointed his silenced weapon at their heads and continued, “Now, get down on the floor slowly.”

The three men who had come in behind the first two tried to reach for their weapons, but Wild Bill and Bo-Pete stopped them. “Go on and pull out, nigga! You'll be dead with your gun in your hand,” Wild Bill said as he put the barrel of his nine-millimeter to the side of one of the guys' head.

With a smile on his face, Bo-Pete had the other two held at gunpoint. “Make it happen, Captain! It's all on you. You want to live or die?”

All three of the men raised their hands in the air slowly.

“That's what I thought! Now, get your asses on the fuckin' floor!” yelled Bo-Pete.

Once they had them all on the ground and restrained, Taz had Keno and Bob take them to the back of the shop with Dee. Red watched with an amused smile on his face as the captives were led toward him.

“All right then, let's grab the work and shake this spot,” Taz said as they sat all of the men down on the floor next to Dee.

One of the first two men who had come inside of the shop was staring real hard at Taz.
These fools are about to smoke us. How the fuck did they get onto us? This shit ain't right. Somethin' just ain't right. They ain't got on no masks or nothin'. Damn! They is goin' to smoke our asses!
he thought as he continued to stare at Taz.

Taz noticed him staring and said, “Don't trip, gee. Y'all gon' live. We gots what we came for.” Then he gave him a big smile so he could see his platinum and diamond grille.

Some country niggas! Hell nah! You fools are dead!
the man thought to himself as he watched in disbelief.

“Dog, go and get the truck. As soon as you're in front, blow the horn twice,” Taz instructed Keno.

“Gotcha.” Keno ran out of the shop and got the truck. By the time he blew the truck's horn twice, the crew was standing at the door, looking over their shoulders at the men and lady that they had secured in the back of the shop. They stepped out of the shop one at a time with a smile on their faces as they each climbed inside of the Expedition. They didn't have to kill anyone, and they were all one million dollars richer.

Taz came out of the shop and was about to climb inside of the truck when he noticed someone staring at him from inside of a red Escalade. He opened the door to the Expedition and asked, “What kind of car did those clowns pull up in, Bob?”

“That Escalade, my nigga. Why? What's up?”

“Fuck!” Taz screamed as he slammed the door and walked back inside of the shop. After he closed the door, he saw the guy inside of the truck talking to someone on his cell phone. “Damn, he gots to die!” Taz said as he opened the door to the shop quickly and charged the red Escalade with his pistol in hand.

The driver was so caught up with his phone call that he didn't even get a chance to yell. Seven bullets from Taz's silenced nine-millimeter crashed through the windshield of the Escalade, killing the driver instantly.

Taz opened the passenger's side of the truck, reached across and pulled the slumped driver over to him to make sure that he was dead. When he saw the three holes in his face, he grimaced and let the dead body fall back against the headrest. He closed the door and walked back to the Expedition. Once he was inside of the truck, he calmly said, “Let's roll out.”

Sacha was sitting at her desk. Her intercom buzzed, and her receptionist told her that she had a call. “Hello, This is Sacha Carbajal. How may I help you?”

“Hello, ma'am, this is Tony Surefield. I just wanted to let you know that I'm out, and it looks like I won't be needing your services, after all.”

“I see. So I assume that you were able to work a deal out with the U.S. assistant attorney, Mr. Surefield.”

“Yeah, something like that.”

“Okay, then, you better make sure that you keep your nose clean out there.”

“I will, and thanks for your help anyway though.”

“That's what you paid me for, Mr. Surefield. Have a nice day.”

“You too,” he said and hung up.

After Sacha hung up the phone with her client, she said, “Snitch!” Then she went back to reading the file on her upcoming trial.

 

 

Clifford was sitting in his office when he got a call from someone from his past. “Long time, C-Baby!” said the voice on the other line.

When Clifford heard his old nickname, he asked “Who is this?”

“Come on, my nigga, don't tell me you done forgot about your boy!”

Clifford couldn't help but smile when he asked, “Do-Low?”

“What's good, C-Baby?”

“When did you get out the pen?”

“Two days ago. I got your number from your moms. I need you, C-Baby. I need you bad.”

“Look, I don't go by C-Baby any longer, Do-Low. You know that was a long time ago. I go by my government name now.”

“Yeah, I know. But check it out, dog. We need to talk. You know about old times and shit. Come on, man, let's get together and kick it a li'l bit.”

“What's up? You need some money or something?”

“Man, my problems are way worse than ends, my nigga. I'm dying, C—I mean Clifford. I got that thang, dog.”

“What thang? What the hell are you talking about, Do-Low?”

“HIV, man. I got that package,” Do-Low said seriously.

“How the fuck did you get that shit? I know you didn't go out backward when you was in the pen.”

“Hell nah! You know I ain't on that fag shit, fool. Remember when I got blasted back in '94?”

“Yeah.”

“They had to give me a blood transfusion during surgery while I was down. I got called to take our yearly HIV test, and I tested positive. That was two years ago. This shit is starting to kick in on me now, dog. My days are numbered, and I'm not trying to go out without being able to leave something for my shorties, dog. Feel me?”

In a somber voice, Clifford answered, “Yeah, I feel you. How are your kid's anyway?”

“Man, they're big! Dionne is ten now, and she's almost as tall as her mother is. And the twins, man, they're the spitting images of me, gee,” he said excitedly.

“That's cool. Yeah, that's real cool. Listen, I got a few things to take care of real quick. Give me a number and I'll get back at you in an hour or so.” After writing Do-Low's number down, Clifford said, “Don't worry, dog. I'm going to make sure that you'll be able to look out for your seeds.”

“Is that right? Come on, don't bullshit me C—I mean Clifford.”

Smiling as he thought about Taz and Sacha, Clifford said, “You know me, Do-Low. I'd never play with you like that. Now, let me go so I can handle my business. I'll get at you in one hour.”

“A'ight then, Clifford. One!”

“Yeah, later,” Clifford said and hung up. “A nigga with nothing to lose. Perfect! Just fucking perfect!” he said aloud as he went back to work.

 

 

It had been a long time since Taz had actually had to use his weapon. It felt strange, but at the same time exciting.
Damn, this is some crazy-ass shit!
he thought as he relaxed in his seat as their flight prepared to depart out of LAX.

After their flight was airborne, Keno smiled as he inserted his
Scarface
DVD into his portable DVD player. Just before he plugged in his headphones, he asked Taz, “Are you all right, my nigga?”

“Yeah, I'm good. I'd be better if I didn't have to look at that old-ass movie again. I thought you were going to watch Fifty.”

“I watched it when we left the City. It was cool, but gee, that shit just wasn't gritty enough for me. 'Face is a damn fool.”

Taz laughed and said, “Whatever! Damn, dog! Bob slipped on us today. He was supposed to be on point with that clown in the truck.”

“Yeah, I was thinking about that. What's up?”

“Nothin'. I'll get at him when we get back.”

“Yeah, you need to, 'cause if that love-struck-ass nigga's gon' be slippin' like that on us, it's time for his ass to get the fuck out.”

Taz closed his eyes and said, “I know, gee. I know.”

 

 

After Clifford dropped Do-Low back off at his apartment, he sat in his car and thought about what he had just done. He was going to pay Do-Low fifty thousand dollars to take Taz's life for him. But he had to make it look as if it was a random robbery attempt. That way, Sacha would never link him to it. “I'll play the good, supportive friend with her for a few months. Then we'll gradually get closer. Then, everything will be good,” he said to himself as he started his car and pulled out of the apartment complex.

Sacha and Gwen had just finished having dinner when both of their cell phones began to ring at the same time. Sacha smiled when she saw that it was Taz who was calling her. Gwen smiled also when she noticed that it was Bob who was calling her. After speaking to Taz for a few minutes, Sacha hung up her phone and waited for Gwen to finish talking to Bob.

When Gwen finally got off of her cell, Sacha said, “Damn, ho! He must have been telling you some real good shit. It took your ass long enough.”

Smiling, Gwen said, “Yeah, bitch, he told me that he has something serious to talk to me about. I'm meeting him at his place in a couple of hours. I'm going to go home and get changed, and grab me some gear for tomorrow, 'cause I got a feeling it's going to be a real long night.”

“What do you think he wants to talk about? I remember when you told me he said something about y'all getting closer and stuff.”

“I think he wants me to move in with him.”

“Stop lying! Ho, are you going to do it if he asks you to?”

“I might. Bitch, I'm sick and tired of being all by myself. It would feel real good to be able to wake up with someone every morning.”

“I know that's right! But you have to remember, sometimes there will still be mornings when you'll wake up by yourself. You know how often they be going out of town.”

“I know. What do they be doing when they leave?”

“I've tried my best to get Taz to tell me, but he just won't do it. No matter how mad I act, he refuses to tell me. He always comes with that ‘it's my business' shit, or ‘don't worry, Li'l Mama. It ain't nothin',” she said as she tried to imitate Taz's voice.

“Do you think they're into some shady shit?”

“To be completely honest, no, I don't. Taz has shown me that he's legit, and I won't question him on it again. You know they're still caught up with their thug images and shit, so I've chosen to ignore that shit. The jewelry, the fancy cars, the gangsta shit, that's just who they are. I love Taz, and no matter what, I'm going to support him. As long as he's safe and I'm happy. Regarding his business affairs, no matter how sneaky they may seem, I'm rolling with my nigga.”

“I hear you, bitch. But still, they could at least put our minds at ease.”

“As far as I'm concerned, Taz has done just that. Don't worry about that shit, girl. I don't.”

“Well, that's you. Bob and I are going to discuss this later on, and I'm going to make it a point to let him know that I want to know exactly what is going on. And believe me, bitch, he's going to tell me.”

“Whatever! Come on, ho. Let's get out of here. I'm ready to see my man.”

 

 

Taz and the rest of the crew were all seated in his den. They had just finished checking their accounts. After Taz got off of the phone with Won, he closed his cell and said, “All right, I guess everything is everything. Won wants us to stay ready, 'cause we might be bouncing as quickly as next week, so you know what it is. Stay ready so you won't have to get ready.”

Bob stood and said, “All right then, my niggas, I'm out. I'm about to go get with Gwen and chill for the rest of the night. What's up for the weekend? Are we clubbin' or what?”

“It's whatever with me, dog. You know now that you and Taz are all in love and shit, y'all might not be able to come hang with us,” Red said with a smile on his face.

“Fuck you, clown!”

They were all laughing as they filed out of Taz's home.

Taz stopped Bob before he had a chance to get into his truck and said, “Dog, let me holla at you for a minute.”

Bob climbed into his truck and asked, “What's up, homey?”

“Tell me something. Do you feel that you're ready to get out of the game we're playing?”

“As long as we're safe and the chips are chunky, I'm in it to win it, gee.”

“That's what I'm talkin' 'bout. But, dog, you slipped on us back in L.A. One of us could have gotten twisted.”

“I was thinking about that shit on the flight back. I didn't pay attention once I saw the truck stop and saw the fools climb out. That was my bad, dog. It won't happen again, Taz.”

“It can't happen again, Bob. I love you, dog, but before I let you put either of us in a jam like that again, I'll have to shake you, gee. We've been too strong for too long, my nigga. Ain't no room for getting sloppy now.”

“I got you, dog.”

“Do you? Is what you're feeling for Gwen causing you to slip, my nigga? This is some real shit, so I'm giving you some real talk. 'Cause we won't ever have this conversation again, gee. So don't take offense to my words. Feel every one of them.”

Bob sat back in his seat and thought about what Taz had just told him. He smiled and said, “I ain't mad at ya, Taz. I love you and the rest of the homies as if we were all brothers. I fucked up in Cali, and like I said, it won't happen again. Thank you for catching my back, dog. And to answer your question, yeah, I love that broad. Dog, it's been a long time since a nigga has been able to feel some real love from a female. For once it ain't about the chips I got or the car I'm rollin' in. Dog, she's into me and I'm into her. It's real, dog . . . real as it can get. As a matter of fact, I'm about to meet her at my pad and ask her to move in with me.”

Taz smiled and said, “That's cool, dog. I'm feeling just as deeply for Sacha as you are for Gwen, but I will never, and I mean never, let my thoughts or love for her interfere with the work that we do. So, make sure that you stay on your square, my nigga.” Taz closed the door to Bob's truck, turned, and went back inside of his home.

 

 

By the time Bob pulled into his garage, Gwen was already parked in his driveway. He smiled as he climbed out of his truck, and his girl ran into his arms. “I've missed you so much, baby!” Gwen said as she kissed him passionately.

Bob pulled from her embrace, scooped her into his arms, and said, “I've missed you too. Let me take you inside so I can show you exactly how much.” He then carried her into his home and straight to the bedroom. He dropped her onto his bed and started laughing when she threw her purse at him. “Ouch!”

“Don't get it twisted, nigga. I ain't with that rough shit!”

“I was just playin'! Damn!” He smiled as he sat next to her on the bed and said, “Check this out, baby. How would you feel if I asked you to move in with me?”

Smiling, she said, “That depends.”

“On what?”

“On whether or not you're asking me, babe.”

“Okay, let's do this then. I'm tired of being alone, and I love having you around me. I love everything about you, Gwen. You bring some balance into this crazy-ass life of mines. Will you move in with me, baby?”

“What about my house? What am I going to do with it?”

“You own it, right?”

“Yep.”

“Well, rent it out. That way, you'll have some more income coming in, even though money will be the least of your concerns.”

“Who's going to fix shit when something goes wrong over there?”

“Come on with that shit, Gwen. You know I'll make sure everything is straight. I love you, Gwen, and I want you to be with me. Let's do this for a while and see how things fall.”

“What if they don't fall the way you expect them to?”

“I seriously doubt that will happen.”

“But what if it does, babe? Then what?”

“Then, you can move back in and everything will be everything.”