A Gangsta Twist Saga (24 page)

Bump focused on Taz, smiled, and said, “What up, Taz? Dog, it's been a minute, huh?”

“Yeah, It's been a minute. Why don't you let me buy you a drink or somethin'? Ain't no need for this shit, dog.”

Shaking his head no, Bump said, “Nah, Taz, this bitch needs to be checked, and I'm goin' to make sure that she gets checked thoroughly.”

Taz saw that Red was upset, and he knew that he had to get Bump out of the way before Red hurt him. “I can't let you do that, Bump. As you can see, Paquita is chillin' with my nigga Red here. So, why don't you let her make it tonight, huh?”

“Fuck this bitch, Taz, and fuck your nigga too!” yelled Bump.

Before Bump could say another word, Red stepped in front of him and punched him as hard as he could right between his eyes, and Bump fell to the floor, dazed. “Now, get the fuck up and show me how much you want to get down, you clown-ass nigga!” Red said angrily.

Taz helped Bump to his feet and said, “I told you to let this go tonight, Bump. Now, the rest of this shit is on you. As you can see, my nigga ain't for no bullshit. So, are you tryin' to see him or not?”

Bump saw the fire blazing in Red's eyes and knew that he had no win with him. He shook his head no and said, “Nah, this bitch ain't worth it.” Then like a whipped dog, he turned and left the club.

Paquita smiled and said, “Thank you, Red! Thank you for checking that nigga for me!”

Red smiled and said, “Don't trip. Now, tell me. How are you going to repay old Red for lookin' out for you?”

Paquita stepped close to him and whispered something into his ear. After she finished, Red asked, “For real?” She shook her head yes, and he said, “I'm wit' that!”

Keno started laughing and said, “Damn, nigga! What did she say she's gon' do to your ass?”

“That's none of your business, Keno! You just worry about what you've gotten yourself into with me!” Katrina said with a smile on her face.

Keno smiled brightly and said, “No doubt, Ma!”

“Well, since everything is everything, me and Bob can go rejoin our girls. Be good, niggas,” Taz said as he left the group.

Bo-Pete and Wild Bill went back to where they had been standing and resumed talking to a few females.

When Taz and Bob had sat back down at their table, Sacha asked Taz, “Is everything okay, baby?”

“Yeah, everything is straight.”

“Damn! Can y'all ever go to the club without getting into some shit?” asked Gwen.

Bob started laughing and said, “It don't look like it, huh?”

They all started laughing and went on to enjoy the rest of their evening.

Clifford and Tazneema arrived at Mama-Mama's home a little after noon. Mama-Mama was impressed immediately by Clifford's good looks, as well as his manners. She led them into the dining room and began to ask him all kinds of questions—everything from where he was born to what his religious beliefs were. By the time she finished questioning him, she was satisfied that Tazneema had picked a winner.

Mama-Mama smiled as she watched how Tazneema fussed over Clifford, making sure that his glass stayed filled with Mama-Mama's homemade lemonade, to keeping his plate full until he was completely stuffed.
She sure knows how to treat her man,
Mama-Mama thought to herself as she continued to watch their interaction.
My God! That boy Taz is going to have a fit when he finds out about this mess!
“So, when are you going to introduce Clifford here to Taz? You know Taz is going to want to meet him as soon as he finds out about you two's relationship,” Mama-Mama said seriously.

“You know how busy Taz is, Mama-Mama. I don't see why I have to rush and bother him about something so minor.”

“So minor? Humph! You go on with that mess, 'Neema! You give Taz a call as soon as you can, and just gon' and get it out of the way. I'm sure he's going to get along just fine with Clifford here.”

At the second mention of Taz's name, Clifford once again realized that the odds of Taz liking him were like a trillion to one.
Shit! I don't even like him, so I can't blame the fool!
To Mama-Mama he said, “I really enjoyed lunch, ma'am. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a meal this good.”

“Why, thank you, Cliff! But you stop with that ‘ma'am' mess and call me Mama-Mama like everybody else does, hear?”

Clifford smiled and said, “Yes, Mama-Mama.”

“That's better.”

“Excuse me, Mama-Mama. I'm about to go call Taz and see if he's busy,” Tazneema said as she got up from the table.

“All right, girl, you go on and do that. We'll be in here getting better acquainted,” said Mama-Mama as she smiled at Clifford.

Tazneema went into her old bedroom and grabbed the phone. As she was dialing Taz's number, she saw how her hands were shaking lightly. Once the phone started ringing, she took a deep breath and told herself that everything was going to be all right. As soon as Taz answered the phone, she said, “What's up, Taz?”

“Ain't nothin'. What's up with you, 'Neema?”

“Nothing. I'm over here having lunch with Mama-Mama.”

“Yeah? What she cook?”

“The usual.”

“That much, huh?”

“You know it! Fried catfish, rice, mac and cheese, her homemade corn bread, pies, and—”

Laughing, Taz said, “Enough! You're making me hungry up in here. I get the point!”

“So, what are you getting into today?”

“I really don't have much to do. I was going to take Sacha out to get something to eat in a minute. Other than that, I was goin' to chill out around the house. Why, what's up? You got somethin' on your mind?”

“Kinda. I think we need to have a talk.”

“You think?”

“You know what I mean, Taz.”

Taz laughed and said, “No, I don't, 'Neema. What do you want to talk to me about?”

“I'd rather talk about it in person, Taz. Could you come over here after you finish having lunch with Sacha?”

“Yeah, I could do that. We'll be over there in an hour or so.”

“Okay. I'll tell Mama-Mama. Bye!”

After Taz hung up his phone, he turned toward Sacha and said, “'Neema wants to talk to me about something, and I got a funny idea it will have something to do with a nigga.”

“What are you talking about, baby?” Sacha asked as she stretched and climbed out of the bed.

“'Neema was too damn nervous while we were talkin' just now. She says she has somethin' that she wants to talk to me about, and that she would rather do it in person.”

“So, what makes you think it has something to do with a man?”

“'Cause I know 'Neema. Whenever she thinks I'll be real upset with her, she gets real nervous and wants to talk to me with Mama-Mama around. She thinks I won't go off too bad 'cause of Mama-Mama.”

Sacha laughed and said, “Smart young lady. I think I'll remember that the next time I have something I need to say to you that might piss you off.”

“But what 'Neema doesn't realize is that not even Mama-Mama can keep me off of her ass,” Taz said with a smile on his face.

Sacha's only reply to that was, “Oh!”

Taz laughed and said, “Go get dressed, girl. After we get something to eat, we're going out to Mama-Mama's.”

She smiled and said, “Okay, Daddy.”

He started laughing as he watched her enter the bathroom.

 

 

Just as Sacha and Taz had finished their meal at Leo's Barbeque, Taz's phone beeped to let him know that he had an incoming picture. He opened his cell and saw a picture of Michael Jordan holding up three fingers, indicating the Chicago Bulls' third NBA title. Taz closed his phone and said, “Shit!”

Sacha stared at him for a moment and then said, “It must be that time.”

“Looks like it,” Taz said as he reopened his phone and called Keno. When Keno answered his phone, Taz said, “Time to rock, my nigga. This is the one. Get at the others and meet me at the pad.”

“Gotcha,” said Keno.

Taz quickly paid for their meal and led Sacha out to his truck. They rode back to his house in silence. When he pulled into the garage, he told Sacha, “Look, Li'l Mama, when this trip is over, I'm gettin' at Won and lettin' him know that I'm done with this shit.”

“Don't tell me that, Taz, just because you know it's what I want to hear. You don't have to do that, baby. I love you, and I'm not going anywhere. You know that.”

“Yeah, I know it. Just like you should know that I would never tell you anything like this if I didn't mean it. It's over with, Li'l Mama. I'm ready to settle down and really enjoy some of this paper I've made. I want to go see the world, I want to relax and live for once, and I want to do that all with you. I want you in my life forever!”

“Are . . . are you asking me what I think you're asking me, Taz?”

“I know this isn't the most romantic moment I could come up with, but yeah, will you marry me, Li'l Mama?” he said as he pulled a ring box out of his back pocket and passed it to Sacha.

She opened the box, and her eyes bulged as if they were about to pop out of their sockets. She stared amazingly at an eight-carat solitaire diamond, mounted in all platinum. She was so stunned that she couldn't find her voice. All she did was nod her head yes over and over.

With a smile on his face, Taz said, “I guess your answer is yes, then, huh, Li'l Mama?”

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” she screamed.

He reached across the seat, gave her a hug and a kiss, and said, “I really hate to ruin this moment, but I gots to get ready. Keno and 'em should be here in a minute.”

“I know. Come on, let's get inside so I can help you get yourself ready.”

They climbed out of Taz's truck and walked hand in hand inside of his home.

 

 

The crew was assembled in Taz's den, waiting for Won's call. When the call came, Taz asked him, “Is this the one, O.G.?”

“Yeah, this is the one that's going to get us where we need to be, so pay close attention.

“First off, your flights are all arranged, as usual. Taz, you and Keno are leaving out of Tulsa in two hours. Bo-Pete and Wild Bill are leaving out of the City in about an hour or so. Red and Bob got Dallas/Fort Worth again. I know they left this way before, but it shouldn't be a problem, because it's completely a different terminal. You guys' destination is Detroit. Everything will be set up inside your room, as always. You are to proceed to the Westin, located inside of the Renaissance Building in downtown Detroit, after you land. Each of your flights will land an hour behind each other.

“Once you all make it to your room, sit down and review the DVD that Taz will pick up once he checks into the hotel. Taz, don't look at the DVD until everyone has arrived. This is very important, because once again, everything about this one is timed. After you review the DVD, get strapped and head on out. As soon as this mission is over, you will be on a flight to your next destination, gentlemen.

“For the next three weeks, your stamina will be put to the ultimate test. Whenever you have the chance to rest, make sure that you take advantage of the opportunity. You will see as the days progress exactly what I'm talking about.

“After the initial flights out to Detroit, all of you will then be flying together on the same flights. After the last mission, you will then fly back the way you flew to Detroit.

“That's about it for now. If you have any questions along the way, Taz, you know how to get at me. Like I told you before, this is a two-hundred-million-dollar mission. After each mission, the money will be added to your accounts. Good luck! Out!” Won said before he hung up the phone.

Taz turned off the speakerphone button and sat down next to Keno.

“It looks like this is it, my niggas, the one we've been waiting for. Are y'all ready?” asked Keno.

“You damn skippy!” replied Wild Bill.

“Fuckin' right!” yelled Bo-Pete.

“Let's do this!” said Bob.

“I been ready!” added Red.

And finally, Taz said, “Yeah, let's go get this fuckin' money.” He stood up, and they all filed out of his home.

 

 

Once again, Sacha was in her hiding spot, listening to the entire conversation that had just taken place. She went to the front door and watched as the man she loved and his friends climbed into their vehicles on their way to get two hundred million dollars. As they pulled out of the driveway, she went into Taz's den and poured herself a straight shot of his XO and quickly downed it. As it burned her throat, she stared at her engagement ring and said, “Two hundred million dollars! Well, I'll be damn!”

 

 

As Taz and Keno headed toward Tulsa, Taz remembered that he had forgotten to call Tazneema. He pulled out his cell phone and called Mama-Mama's house. When Mama-Mama answered the phone, he said, “Hey, Mama-Mama! What you doing?”

“Waiting on your butt, boy! What you think I'm doing?” she scolded.

“I'm sorry about this, Mama-Mama, but I have to go out of town.”

“Well, why didn't you tell 'Neema about that when y'all spoke earlier?”

“'Cause something just came up. I was on my way out there when I got the call. Tell 'Neema that we'll talk about whatever she has to talk about when I get back.”

“I'll do no such thing! You tell her yourself!” she screamed and dropped the phone.

A minute or two later, Tazneema got on the line, sounding relieved as she asked, “Is everything all right, Taz?”

“Yeah, everything is good. I just got to bounce out of town for a minute, though. So, we're going to have to postpone our li'l chat. Is that all right, or do you want to tell me what you have to tell me now?”

“Uh-uh. I'll wait until you get back.”

“Is everything all right, 'Neema?”

“Yes, everything is fine, Taz, for real. It's just that I need to tell you some things that have been going on in my life, and I'd rather do it face-to-face.”

Not wanting to be distracted during this upcoming mission, he said, “All right, we'll talk as soon as I get back, okay?”

“All right. Bye, Taz!”

“Bye!” He turned toward Keno and said, “'Neema has a boyfriend.”

“
What?
Nah, not our favorite li'l virgin!”

“She hasn't come out and told me yet, but I know her, gee. Her nervousness has damn near confirmed it.”

“Do you think she's lost her . . . you know?”

Taz sighed and said, “God, I hope not!”

 

 

Back at Mama-Mama's house, Tazneema and Clifford were preparing to leave. “I'd like you to know that it was truly a pleasure having such a delicious meal made by you, Mama-Mama,” Clifford said sincerely.

Mama-Mama smiled and said, “Why, thank you, Cliff. Now, you make sure this girl brings you back over again real soon, hear?”

“I wouldn't let her talk me out of coming back over here if she tried!” He then gave Mama-Mama a brief hug and went outside to wait for Tazneema.

After Clifford had walked out of the house, Mama-Mama said, “I like him, 'Neema. I like him a lot. He's respectable and shows that he was brought up in a loving home. You done good, girl. You done real good.”

“But what do you think Taz is going to say when he finds out about him?”

“Don't you worry about that boy none. He'll be bent out of shape for a li'l bit, but he'll be all right. Hell, he told me himself a while ago that you're grown now, and to let you start making grown-up decisions. You're a grown woman now, and much as I hate to admit it, he was right. I trust you and your judgment, and so will he.”