Carl Weber's Kingpins (12 page)

“I do, but my man saw somethin' he liked out that way so I gave him the green light to do him.”

“Has it been prosperous?”

“Definitely. And it's only going to get better from what I can tell.”

“Do you expect a lot of violence from your man?”

“It depends on what you mean by a lot, Charlie. My man gon' do what he feel he has to. Once he moves the crowd, everything should go back to normal.”

“What about retaliation?”

King laughed and said, “When the squad puts it down it's very unlikely that there will be any retaliation, Charlie.”

“King, still confident as ever, I see.” Charlie chuckled.

“Always.”

“Violence—or, should I say, war—is never good for business, but in most cases it is necessary. I understand that fact. I want you to understand that I can have you protected in Del City with a phone call. But before I make that call I need your assurance that you will keep the violence to a minimum.”

“I can only assure you that my man's moves will be swift and hard, Charlie. This shit is too unpredictable for me to put my stamp on it any more than that. My man will handle up. After that, everything should be everything. Like I said, there won't be any retaliation or any shit like a comeback. The shit will be dealt with.”

“Fine. It's done, you're protected. Is there anything else I can do for you, Mr. King?”

“I need to get with you in a day or two for some more work. I'm down to my last twenty birds of the yay. I'm also gon' need some more bud; that's movin' faster than normal all of a sudden. I'm cool on everything else right now.”

“Will Friday be sufficient?”

“Yeah, that's cool.”

“I'll call you on Friday at noon. Be ready.”

“Fa' sho',” King said as he climbed out of Charlie's car. Charlie watched as he went back to his vehicle and left the parking lot.

“Be careful, King. You're playing a very dangerous game now,” Charlie said aloud.

Flamboyant and Shayla were enjoying a very romantic evening together. Shayla went all out to ensure that their evening would be perfect. She made a layered lasagna, along with some baseball-size Italian meatballs. After eating her Caesar salad she served her man the main course. She knew how much Flamboyant loved her lasagna; that's why she chose to have an Italian meal this special evening. It was special to her because she was determined to get her mind and heart back on track. She loved Flamboyant and she didn't want to be the one to screw up their relationship. She was not about to let her past interfere with her future.

Shayla smiled as she poured Flamboyant some merlot.
Everything is just perfect.
Flamboyant sipped his drink and said, “Mmm, this is the perfect touch for this meal, baby. You need to let me buy you an Italian spot so you can sell this good-ass lasagna, for real! You'd straight make a killin'.”

“Stop playing, Marco. You can't open up an Italian restaurant and just sell lasagna. That's crazy.”

“Not really. All we'd have to say is that our Italian spot only served lasagna. That would be your specialty. We could call it the Lasagna Spot.”

She shook her head and said, “Sometimes I really think you be letting this money interfere with your common sense. You are too crazy!”

“Baby, all I'm sayin' is, it's all 'bout you. Ain't nothin' wrong with a man havin' confidence in his woman's abilities. That's all I'm doin' here, baby. I love you and want to do whatever it takes to make sure that you are happy and will always remain that way.”

“I'm happy with you, Marco, because I love you just as much as you love me. You make me happy in more ways than I can even put into words, but wanting to buy me a restaurant is going a tad too far, baby.” They laughed as they continued their meal. When Shayla heard Flamboyant's cell ringing back in the bedroom she said, “Marco, let that go to voice mail, please.”

He checked his watch, shook his head no, and said, “Can't, babe, this has to be important if someone is calling me at this time. Excuse me real quick. I'll be right back.” He got up from the table, went into the bedroom, and answered his cell just before it rolled over to his voice mail. “What's up, Prince?”

“Dog, we got problems out in Del City.”

“What happened?”

“It's Gunna and his niggas.”

“Shit, did they get cracked?”

“You're askin' questions I can't answer, G, at least not on this line. We need to meet like right now.”

“Fuck! This shit can't wait 'til the morning?”

“You obviously didn't understand what I said. We need to meet now, Flam!”

He sighed heavily. “I'll be outside your pad in fifteen.” He grabbed his car keys off the dresser, prepared himself for Shayla's wrath, and went back into the dining room. Before she could go off he said, “Something serious has happened to Gunna and his team, babe. I got to go check on this shit real quick.”

“Why can't Prince take care of whatever is going on, Marco? We're in the middle of our meal.”

“I know, babe, you already know if it were something that Prince could handle alone I wouldn't even be thinking about leavin' this hell of a meal you made for me. Like I said, it's something serious. I'll be back as soon as I can, 'kay?”

“No, it's not okay, Marco. I went out of my fucking way to make sure that we had a very special evening and you and your damn dope dealing has fucked it up! Go on and do whatever the fuck it is that you have to go do!” She stormed from the table, went into the bedroom, and slammed the door, yelling, “I'm sick of this shit! Sick of it!”

He started to follow her but thought better of it.
I'll make it up to her when I get back.

When Flamboyant made it to Prince's home he saw Ken's Navigator parked in the driveway, so that meant that Wave was inside of the house, too.
Something real fucked up has gone down,
he thought as he knocked on the door.

Prince opened the door with a grim look on his face. “Come on in, Flam,” Prince said as he stepped aside.

Just like he thought, Wave was sitting down next to Ken and both of them had the same grim look on their faces as Prince. “A'ight, what the fuck happened to Gunna?” Flamboyant asked as he sat down next to Wave on the sofa.

“Some crazy mothafuckas ran up in the Candlewoods and dropped like seven mothafuckas. Two of Gunna's people are outta there and the other five people who got hit were crackheads,” Prince said from the other side of the room.

“Where's Gunna?”

“He went out to Midwest City to get with Milo and his peoples. That nigga is on the warpath, dog. The only reason he didn't get got was because he was across the highway at 7-Eleven gettin' him something to drink.”

“Does he know who did this shit?”

“That's the fucked-up part, dog. He doesn't know exactly who 'em niggas are who done this shit, but he knows where they came from.”

“Explain.”

“Like I told you, he was across the highway gettin' him somethin' to drink at the 7-Eleven. When he was goin' inside of the store he saw four black trucks, 'Burbans I think, pull out of 'em apartments. He told me that by the time he came outta the store he heard all of the fuckin' shootin' goin' on over at the Candlewoods. By the time he jumped into his shit and got back to the apartments he saw those same four black trucks punchin' it away from the apartments.”

“So, some of them Del City niggas did this shit?”

“That's what it looks like, Flam. And that nigga Gunna is ready to take it to they ass like right now.”

“As soon as he calls and lets us know that's he's ready I'm rollin' right along with his ass, my nigga, real talk!” said Wave.

“Me too,” added Ken.

Flamboyant shook his head and said, “Y'all are trippin' the fuck out. Didn't you tell me that there are seven bodies over that way?”

“Yeah, and?” asked Ken.

“And? And that means that the fuckin' police are all over that fuckin' place right now. Ain't no way in hell y'all are goin' to be able to move on 'em fools tonight. Hell, you might not be able to make a move on 'em niggas this month! That spot is gonna be hot as hell. Think, niggas; don't go out there all cock fuckin' diesel and get your fuckin' selves cracked. What good will y'all be to the team then? Get that nigga Gunna on the phone and tell him that I said to get his ass over here. And make sure that you tell him to leave Milo and his people right where they are.”

“I'm tellin' you, G, that nigga ain't gon' be tryin' to hear that shit,” said Wave.

“I don't give a fuck what he's tryin' to hear! Call his ass, Prince!”

“So, how are we gon' play this shit, Flam?” asked Ken.

“Right now, I don't have a fuckin' clue. But I do know we're goin' to wait 'til we can come up with a proper way to destroy them niggas who did this punk shit,” Flamboyant said as he sat back down on the sofa.

It took close to an hour before Gunna finally arrived at Prince's house. As soon as he came inside of the house Flamboyant saw the look on his face and said, “I know you hurtin', my nigga, but you gon' have to suck this shit up before you get yourself caught up. We got to think before we move on this shit.”

“I know, Flam, I know. But we have to move on 'em niggas, dog. We got to hit 'em fools real hard. I don't want them bitch-ass niggas to think they got away with a gotdamn thang!” Gunna yelled angrily.

“I feel ya, dog, and I give you my word we will. Nobody gets away with doin' shit like this to us. But for now I need you to go get at your nigga's people and make sure they know that everything will be taken care of as far as funeral expenses and whatnot. Let them know no amount is too much; whatever they want, they will have.” Flamboyant paused and stared at the members of his team for a few seconds before he continued. “This is an ugly situation that's only going to get uglier. We will come out on top though, my word.”

“How long do you think we gon' have to wait?” asked Wave.

Flamboyant frowned and said, “As long as it takes for this shit to cool the fuck down. I gotta make some calls in the morning to make sure that our ass is covered out in Del City. 'Em niggas obviously got more nuts than you thought they did, Gunna.”

“Yeah, I know, and that fact alone is what's killin' me, dog. I should have run a better check on my surroundings. I didn't, and for that mistake I lost two thorough niggas. I swear on everything that I've ever loved in this crazy-ass life of mines, 'em niggas gon' pay for this shit. I lost two niggas; they gots to lose ten times as many.”

* * *

Shayla pulled out of the garage and sped off down the street. She didn't have any particular destination in mind, she didn't know where she was going, she just knew where she didn't want to be. And that was nowhere near Flamboyant. Even though she knew what she was about to do was wrong, Shayla let her anger control her actions. She grabbed her cell phone and dialed King's number as she drove toward the north side of town. When King answered she asked, “Can you meet me somewhere so we can talk, Trevor? It's kinda important.”

King was smiling from ear to ear when he answered, “Anytime, anyplace, Shay, you know that.”

“Take that damn smile off your face, boy, and meet me at that little park on Sixty-third.”

“The one down the street from Broadway Extension?”

“Um hmm.”

“How long will it take you to get there? 'Cause I can be there in less than five.”

“Well, get to movin' then 'cause I'm on the Broadway Extension now. I just passed Twenty-third Street exit.”

“I'll see you in a minute then,” he said then hung up the phone.

As nervous as Shayla was she was still excited about meeting up with King.
I have to see if what I'm feeling is real or if I'm just tripping.
After making a right turn onto Sixty-third Street, she drove a couple of blocks and turned into the park. By the time she parked she saw a dark-colored car pull into the park and pull right beside her. “Okay, you wanted this; now you got it,” she said aloud as she got out of her car.

King smiled as he climbed out of his Magnum looking thuggish as ever, sporting a pair of saggy jeans with a wife beater and Tims on.
Damn, she looks good,
he thought as he strolled casually toward her. Shayla smiled shyly as she stared at her ex. “What's good, Shay?” he asked as he leaned on the front of his car.

Even though it was dark in the park the streetlights seemed to have a direct aim at the jewelry that King was wearing. It seemed as if the lights made all of the diamonds he had on glisten even more than they normally did. She inhaled deeply and said, “Nothing much, Trevor. Come on, let's walk,” she said and led him away from their cars. She made him follow her to the sandbox and swing area of the park. She sat in a swing and said, “I really shouldn't be doing this.”

“Doin' what?” he asked as he sat down on the swing next to hers.

“Meeting you like this. This is wrong.”

“If it's so wrong then why are you here, Shay?” Before she could answer his question he said, “Look, I know you got a man and all of that, but you can't deny the fact that there's still some love for me left in that sweet heart of yours. Fuck, I feel exactly the same way. Time has kept us apart but our hearts still feel the same as they did back in the day.”

Shaking her head no, she said, “Time didn't keep us apart, Trevor, you did. I can't believe you did me dirty like that.”

“Come on with that shit, Shay. I was lookin' out for the both of us for real. I didn't want you to be out here havin' to wait on a nigga. That shit wouldn't have been right. Like I told you before, I was bein' selfish, too. I wouldn't have been able to take it if you started out ridin' with a nigga and then shook me after a while. That shit would have killed me. Real talk. Lookin' back now, though, I wish I would have at least tried.”

“Okay, I understand your reasons, but why didn't you get in contact with me when you got out?”

“I was only out twelve days, Shay.”

“Twelve days? What did you do in twelve days to get sent back to prison?”

“Some stupid shit. I never reported to my parole officer. I went straight to the north and startin' gettin' my serve on again. You know I was on that paper chase for real. I didn't want to come get at you without bein' able to take care of you properly.”

She put up her hand and said, “Uh-uh, don't even try that shit. You know damn well that money don't have anything to do with how I felt about you, Trevor.”

He smiled and said, “Yeah, I know. You know how I am. I had to get my money right. Before I could make that happen I got violated and sent back to the pen for another two years.”

“Two years for a violation? Man, they socked it to you for something that trivial?”

“Not really; they gave me a year for the violation. While I was down I kept fuckin' up, gettin' into it with niggas. You know how 'em gangbangin' niggas be tryin' to act all hard and shit. Since I wasn't down with no particular set them niggas thought they could get at the King. And you know I wasn't havin' any of that shit.”

“Um hm. So, you were only out for twelve days and you couldn't give a sista a call. But you were out long enough to stick your thingy inside of that tramp Lawanda? Not only did you have a baby by that slut, you had the nerve to have two! Uh-uh, I should be forever mad at your ass for that fact alone.”