Authors: K'wan
Gutter (19 page)
Monifa sucked her teeth. “Fuck Gutter.”
Rahshida shook her head. “Monifa, why do you keep doing it to yourself? I watched you go through the motions when he left, and just when the wounds finally start to heal you wanna pick at the scab.”
“I don't know why I keep doing it to myself, Rah. I tried to tell myself that I could handle him being here and that the old feelings are gone, but no sooner than he gets me alone I go to pieces.” She took a light sip of the beer and made a face. “Am I stupid or what?”
“You're not stupid, Mo, just a young girl in love,” Rahshida told her. “Baby, I know how you feel about my nephew, but you gotta let it go. He's a different man than you knew, with a different life.”
“Yeah, a life with his New York bitch.”
Rahshida narrowed her eyes. “Monifa, that isn't called for. You know you're bigger than that.”
“Rah, I feel like I fell and bumped my head for the way I'm allowing myself to feel about Gutter, especially after the way he dissed me. There's something about him that I just can't seem to let go.”
Rahshida propped her elbows on the table. “For as much of a good man that I know my nephew is, or wants to be, he isn't ready to let go of his mistress ⦠the set. I pray that he's grown up enough to do right by that girl, but at the end of the day he's gonna do what he wants. Monifa, that's my nephew and I love him no matter what, but he's still a Soladine man, and the only woman he'll ever give his heart to totally is the street.” Rahshida nodded outside, to where Gutter was congregating with the homeys. “Let that train go, baby.”
There was so much truth in Rahshida's words that Monifa only felt stupider for the way she was carrying on. She knew Gutter had a new life and a new woman, but what about old promises? It was clear that that chapter of their life was at an end, but it wasn't yet closed.
GUTTER'S NIGHT
was spent very fitfully trying to sleep. After the heated word exchange, he had retired to one of the upstairs bedrooms. After firing up blunt after blunt of chronic, he fell asleep. During his rest he was plagued with terrible nightmares. It was the same death scene that had played out for his comrade, except he was the one being fired on. It seemed so real, that he thought he even felt the bullets tearing through his skin.
was spent very fitfully trying to sleep. After the heated word exchange, he had retired to one of the upstairs bedrooms. After firing up blunt after blunt of chronic, he fell asleep. During his rest he was plagued with terrible nightmares. It was the same death scene that had played out for his comrade, except he was the one being fired on. It seemed so real, that he thought he even felt the bullets tearing through his skin.
It seemed as if he had only been asleep for a little while when he was awakened by a commotion downstairs. He was irritated about the noise breaking his rest, but grateful for it awakening him from the nightmare. He made his way down the stairs and found a group of spectators crowded around the back door. After elbowing his way through the crowd, he was surprised by what he saw.
Tears, Danny, and Snake Eyes stood among some of the other homeys in a semicircle. In the center of the circle Rahkim and Blue Bird were going head up. Blue Bird was a skilled boxer, but Rahkim was a straight animal. For every blow Blue Bird landed,
Rahkim hit him with two. Seeing that exchanging punches was getting him nowhere, Blue Bird changed his strategy.
Rahkim hit him with two. Seeing that exchanging punches was getting him nowhere, Blue Bird changed his strategy.
He rushed Rahkim, trying to scoop him up from the waist, which proved to be his undoing. He was heavier and stronger than Rahkim, so he had no problem getting him off the ground. The only problem was, every time he tried to lift him, Rahkim rained punches on his exposed face. Several vicious blows brought him to one knee. Rahkim hauled his leg back and kicked Blue Bird in the jaw. It was a clean knockout.
“Tears, gimme ya strap!” Rahkim demanded.
“Hold on, cuz,” Tears protested.
“Fuck that shit, I'm 'bout to smoke this dumb muthafucka!”
“Rahkim, what the hell are you doing?” Rahshida cut through the crowd, and stood between her brother and Blue Bird.
“Rah, mind your business. This ain't got nothing to do with you,” he warned.
“The hell it doesn't. Our brother is up in there fighting for his life, and you're out here about to murder a man in his yard. Hasn't there been enough violence?”
“Rah, this greaseball muthafucka took our nephew, Gunn's baby boy, on a fucking hit. The shit is all over the hood and the goddamn news!” he explained.
“Oh, my ⦠Tariq, bring your ass here. Now!” she shouted.
“Sup.” He stepped from the crowd with his head down.
“Are you crazy!” She slapped him across his face, shocking everyone especially him. “Why would you let someone talk you into such foolishness? Haven't you learned anything from what has brought us here?” She shook his arm.
“Yeah.” He jerked away. “I learned a lot of niggaz talk about gangsta shit and codes, but most of 'em is bitches. Some Brims fired on my daddy, and I fired on some Brims. Fuck them niggaz!”
“Watch your mouth, Gunn,” Gutter interjected. “Rah is telling you right. Blue Bird had no right to take you roll'n. Who y'all dump on?”
“Some busters.” Lil Gunn shrugged. “Blue said they was Swans, so we blasted them niggaz. I think one of them was named Shorty.”
“Shorty?” Snake Eyes rubbed his chin. “Yeah, I know that cat. A real loudmouth that's always itching for a beef. If they didn't ride on them, somebody would've.”
“That don't change the fact that this nigga was wrong.” Rahkim nodded toward Blue Bird, who was finally beginning to stir.
“Fucking dummies, both of you,” Gutter said. “Who else was down with this lil G ride?”
“It was just me, Blue, and Charlie. We lost him in the battle,” Lil Gunn said sadly.
“Police are supposed to have found the body and linked him to the Crips.” Rahkim added.
“There's gonna be a shit storm behind this,” Snake Eyes shook his head.
“Who the fuck you telling? This is the reason why this had to be handled with finesse,” Gutter reminded them. “The last thing we need is the LAPD laying their pressure game down on us. It'll make setting this shit right that much harder.”
Danny added, “Man, y'all got so many sets and gangs out this muthafucka, you really think the police is gonna be looking at y'all in particular?”
“I'm sure of it,” Snake Eyes said. “Like I told you before, this shit is politics. Even though they wear badges, the LAPD is a gang, same as ours. They know what's going down in the streets, and who it's going down with. The Bloods are rumored to have shot Big Gunn, and they found Charlie's body at the scene. Even though he's with Grape Street, he's connected to us. It's only a matter of
time before they start snatching Grapes and Hoovers, 'cause we allies for the moment. They'll be poking around here soon enough and that could be bad business for some of us.” He glanced at Gutter, remembering the murder they had both played a part in.
time before they start snatching Grapes and Hoovers, 'cause we allies for the moment. They'll be poking around here soon enough and that could be bad business for some of us.” He glanced at Gutter, remembering the murder they had both played a part in.
Before they could ponder it further, one of the nurses attending Big Gunn appeared in the doorway. She was a motherly looking Mexican woman with salt-and-pepper hair. Her face was sullen and blood spatter stained the front of her uniform. Tears twinkled in her eyes, as she motioned for the Soladines to come with her. Once she had led them into the living room, she began speaking.
“It's Mr. Gunn,” she sobbed with a heavy accent.
“What's wrong?” Rah asked frantically.
“We thought we had stabilized him, but he started hemorrhaging internally.”
“Move!” Gutter barked, rushing past her.
“Wait!” she called after him, but Gutter kept going.
When he got to the bedroom where Gunn was being kept, he heard orders being barked and metal scraping. Ignoring the nurse and his aunt who were both following closely behind him, Gutter barged into the room. When he stepped through the threshold, a lump formed in his throat.
Doc Holliday was a homey, who had pulled his way through the sludge of the ghetto and had graduated from medical school. He worked at St. Vincent's Hospital in Pasadena, as a resident. Big Gunn had schooled him to the game back in the day, so he was more than willing to take some time off to tend his former mentor in his time of need.
Doc Holliday stood over Gunn's bed in a bloody lab coat, working expertly trying to stop the bleeding. Sweat ran from his forehead into his eye, which one of the attending nurses wiped. He
tried a variation of clamps and stitches, but the bleeding just seemed to continue. It wasn't looking good for Gunn.
tried a variation of clamps and stitches, but the bleeding just seemed to continue. It wasn't looking good for Gunn.
“Doc, what the fuck is going on?” Gutter approached.
“Gutter, not now,” he said, applying pressure to one of the wounds. “I'm trying to save your uncle. Get these people out of here and let me work!”
Reluctantly, Gutter led the entourage from the room and back into the hallway. Everyone looked nervous, but none more so than Lil Gunn. You could see tears in the corner of his eyes, but he wouldn't allow them to fall. Gutter placed an arm around him and led the youngster into the living room. He tried to convince him that his father would be okay, but he didn't know if it was more to set the youngster's mind at ease or his own.
Blue Bird had been helped outside, and held ice wrapped in a cloth against his face. Stacia had appeared from where ever she was and taken up a seat in the living room. In her hand, she held a glass of wine, which she kept swirling between sips. Monifa stood in the corner, dressed in jeans and a tank top. She looked sorrowfully at Gutter, but didn't approach. The rest of the homeys stood around, trying not to look terrified.
After what seemed like an eternity, Doc appeared in the living room. His scrubs looked as if they had been painted red. Removing his glasses, he looked out over the inquiring faces. He opened his mouth to speak, but couldn't find the words. When he couldn't hold it any longer, the tears came.
“Nooooo!”
Stacia screamed before collapsing to the ground.
Stacia screamed before collapsing to the ground.
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DOC FOUGHT
as hard as he could for his mentor, but in the end his injuries proved to be too severe. He might not have been able to
prevent his death, but he pumped him so full of drugs that it was painless. It was the least he could do for the man who had literally kept him alive during his stint with the Hoover Crips. When his contact from the mortuary arrived to take the body away, he slipped him a wad of hundred dollar bills, and thanked him for the role he played.
as hard as he could for his mentor, but in the end his injuries proved to be too severe. He might not have been able to
prevent his death, but he pumped him so full of drugs that it was painless. It was the least he could do for the man who had literally kept him alive during his stint with the Hoover Crips. When his contact from the mortuary arrived to take the body away, he slipped him a wad of hundred dollar bills, and thanked him for the role he played.
Everyone took the loss of Big Gunn hard, but his son appeared to be hurt the worst. He overturned furniture, and cursed the rival set, while his family looked on. Rahkim made to stop him, but Gutter held his uncle back. The boy needed to let it out, and if this was his way, then so be it. Stacia cried and carried on, between freshening her drinks. For all the bullshit she talked, she still loved Gunn. Everyone except the immediate family and closest friends were asked to leave the house.
Gutter tried to hold it together, but it was too much. With tear-filled eyes, he threw his cell phone against the wall, shattering it. All of the Soladines were close, but he and Gunn shared a special bond. When his father died, his middle brother stepped up and made sure that his nephew was prepared to deal with the ugly world that awaited him.
Rah and the women sobbed as they lit candles around a makeshift altar supporting a picture of Big Gunn in the yard at San Quentin. The sun was just beginning to rise in the eastern sky, blanketing the yard in an orange glow. Rahkim stepped into the backyard, followed by the men who were left in attendance. Danny, Tears, Snake Eyes, and Doc hung back while Rahkim led his family to the front. Three prayer rugs were placed on the grass, which Gutter, Lil Gunn, and he knelt upon. With tears streaking all their cheeks, they made Saullat and asked that Allah accept Big Gunn into his bosom.
BY
THE
time Gutter rose from prayer, his knees ached and he had trouble walking from the lack of blood flow for so many hours. He bypassed everyone who was gathered in the living room and made his way upstairs to the bedroom. The women cried and sobbed over Gunn's loss, while the men cursed and vowed revenge against their sworn enemies. None of this moved Gutter. Though he knew he was supposed to be sad he couldn't find it inside himself, only the cold darkness that came before the storm.
THE
time Gutter rose from prayer, his knees ached and he had trouble walking from the lack of blood flow for so many hours. He bypassed everyone who was gathered in the living room and made his way upstairs to the bedroom. The women cried and sobbed over Gunn's loss, while the men cursed and vowed revenge against their sworn enemies. None of this moved Gutter. Though he knew he was supposed to be sad he couldn't find it inside himself, only the cold darkness that came before the storm.
Somewhere along the way he had managed to grab a bottle of vodka. It wasn't normally his drink of choice, but it would do. He took a long swig, letting the sting cleanse his insides. It felt like a small fire had started in his chest, but it still didn't help the coldness in his heart. All he wanted was to be alone and reflect on the man who had meant so much to him over the years. With Gunn's passing Gutter had lost more than an uncle. He'd lost a father, friend, mentor, and icon.
A soft knocking snapped Gutter out of his daze. Ignoring it, he
took another deep swig of the bottle and stared blankly out the window. Instead of the intruder taking the hint and going away, he heard the door creak open. Gutter was about to flip over the invasion of his privacy, but the words stuck in his throat when he saw Monifa standing there.
took another deep swig of the bottle and stared blankly out the window. Instead of the intruder taking the hint and going away, he heard the door creak open. Gutter was about to flip over the invasion of his privacy, but the words stuck in his throat when he saw Monifa standing there.
“Sorry, I didn't know anyone was in here,” she said sheepishly.
“It's all good,” he told her, taking another drink. From the way her eyes were puffy and red he could tell she had been crying. Monifa and Gunn were very close when he was alive.
“I was just trying to get some space to clear my head. I can go somewhere else.” She started back the way she'd come.
“Nah, you ain't gotta bounce, Mo,” he told her. “Come on in,” he beckoned, patting the space on the bed next to him. She gave him a weak smile and sat down. For a minute there was an awkward silence, neither really knowing what to say to the other, but it was Monifa who broke it.
“So, how ya doing?” she asked, looking at the worn carpet.
“Shit, I'm fucked-up. We just lost the most stand-up nigga ever to claim a set,” he said emotionally.
“Yeah, I'm gonna miss the shit outta Big Gunn, that was my folk. Remember when he let us hold his Bonneville to drive out to Disneyland?” she recalled.
“Do I? Man, that muthafucka broke smooth down halfway there. I thought I was gonna catch a heatstroke waiting for Rahshida to come pick us up off the side of the highway.”
“I remember. You was mad as hell because you got motor oil on your Magic Johnson jersey trying to be Mr. Mechanic.” She giggled.
“Damn right. I paid a grip for that joint.” He smiled and shoved her playfully. A small static current passed between them, causing Monifa to flinch.
“Guess that old spark ain't totally dead, huh?” She rubbed her arm.
“Guess not,” he replied. “Mo, about the other dayâ”
“Gutter, there ain't no more to be said about it. You've got your life in New York and I've got mine out here,” she told him, getting off the bed to go stand by the window. Monifa only called him Gutter when she was angry or trying to put distance between them.
Gutter sucked his teeth. “I love how you try to make shit all black-and-white.”
She glared at him. “Gutter, you left me without a word and started a life with your new bitch in New York. It don't get no more black-and-white than that.”
“Ain't no need for name-calling,” he said. He sat the bottle on the ground and became a bit more serious. “Watch ya mouth, hear?”
Monifa laughed. “What, you getting sensitive because I'm talking about ya bitch?”
“I ain't gonna tell your ass no more.” He slid off the bed and stood nose to nose with her, his green eyes flashing anger. A few years ago, Monifa would've shrunk under his gaze, but this was a whole new day and a whole new Monifa.
“Gutter, you can miss me with that mean-mug shit, because I'm hardly impressed. Save that for them buster-ass niggaz y'all be tripping on. I ain't scared of you, Kenyatta.”
“Monifa, don't push me,” he warned.
“Push you? Push you? Kenyatta Soladine, you've got hella nerve after the way you
pushed me
right out of your life. You're lucky I didn't try to kill your ass when you showed back up on the West.” She went to mush him, but he grabbed her wrist, causing her to wince.
pushed me
right out of your life. You're lucky I didn't try to kill your ass when you showed back up on the West.” She went to mush him, but he grabbed her wrist, causing her to wince.
The moment Monifa felt the pain shoot up her arm she knew she'd gone too far. There was a look in Gutter's eyes that she'd only
seen before he was going out to “put in work.” Though they had once been lovers, she didn't know the man who stood before her. She expected him to strike her, or at the least toss her across the room, but to her surprise he kissed her.
seen before he was going out to “put in work.” Though they had once been lovers, she didn't know the man who stood before her. She expected him to strike her, or at the least toss her across the room, but to her surprise he kissed her.
Gutter's lips pressed against hers so hard that she thought her teeth would pierce her upper lip. The kiss was not a soft passionate kiss of a lover, more like that of a rapist conquering his victim. Never one to be outdone Monifa nicked his bottom lip, almost drawing blood.
Monifa's body suddenly felt weightless. The room became a swirl of colors, devoid of sound save for the beating of two lovers' hearts. She raked her nails along Gutter's neck, to match the iron-like fingers that were digging into her back. A cool wind caressed her cheek and she thought sure that she was falling down a bottomless pit, until the softness of the bed's mattress touched her back.
Looking up into his eyes, those same eyes that often made her feel loved or terrified, Monifa found that it was hard for her to concentrate. She promised herself that she wouldn't let him back in, that she would carry the hate with her forever, but she couldn't. Though Gutter had done her wrong, she still wanted him ⦠no, she needed him.
With a tug, Gutter had torn off her tank top fumbling with her bra strap. Tiring of his clumsy fingers she popped the latch, exposing ripe cinnamon breasts and brown, silver-dollar nipples. Gutter suckled her breasts like a starved child, while she moaned in ecstasy. Grabbing a fistful of his braids, she yanked his head back and bit into his neck, drawing a yelp from him. The bite wasn't hard enough to draw blood, but it was hardly friendly. Strangely enough this seemed to turn him on more.
Grabbing her by the waist he flipped her over onto her stomach. Monifa's back arched as he ran his tongue down her spine.
Gutter proceeded to pull her jeans off and plant kisses on her ass cheeks. She thought she saw spots when he pulled her thong to the side and started lapping at her kitten from behind. His tongue moved in and out of her pussy like a hot spear, hitting spots that he was clueless to when they were an item. He had obviously been practicing. She shook him off and flipped over, wrapping her legs around his neck and pulling his head further into her love cave, and he happily gorged on her. At that moment he was one of Jesus' apostles and she was the last supper. As waves of pleasure rode her like a jockey she wondered how the hell she could've ever let him get away from her in the first place.
Gutter proceeded to pull her jeans off and plant kisses on her ass cheeks. She thought she saw spots when he pulled her thong to the side and started lapping at her kitten from behind. His tongue moved in and out of her pussy like a hot spear, hitting spots that he was clueless to when they were an item. He had obviously been practicing. She shook him off and flipped over, wrapping her legs around his neck and pulling his head further into her love cave, and he happily gorged on her. At that moment he was one of Jesus' apostles and she was the last supper. As waves of pleasure rode her like a jockey she wondered how the hell she could've ever let him get away from her in the first place.
Slowly, he slid up her body, tickling her with his beard. His catlike eyes twinkled as he whispered, “I missed this so much.”
“Not as much as I did,” she panted. Monifa raised her head as much as she could under his weight and kissed him. Her juices tasted like sweet nectar on his lips. “I need you inside me, baby,” she pleaded. “Please, let me feel you.”
Aiming with his thumb, Gutter slipped inside the warmth that was Monifa. Her walls felt like warm silk, gently tightening on his muscle as he dipped a bit deeper into her. Monifa hissed like she was in pain, but that didn't stop her from pulling him in deeper. She raked her nails across the picture of Lou-Loc that he had on his back, begging him to go deeper still. Even when Gutter reached the furthest and deepest parts of her she begged for more.
Monifa's eyes rolled back in her head as Gutter slipped in and out of her in a steady rhythm. She let her tongue roam his neck then his chest, but stopped when she saw the tattoo above his heart. Sharell is what it said in Gothic letters. It was just another reminder of what Monifa had lost, which pissed her off. It was at that moment that the intense pleasure mixed with the mounting rage took over. Digging her nails into the back of his neck she began
slamming herself against him like she was trying to break his penis off inside her.
slamming herself against him like she was trying to break his penis off inside her.
Gutter saw the change come over Monifa, but he was too lost in the warmth to care. He didn't know what had gotten into her but if she wanted to be
fucked
then he would gladly oblige. Gutter slapped her hands away and moved his upper body out of the girl's reach. Using his arms he locked her legs around his waist and started plowing into her. Monifa tried to scream, but he leaned in and silenced her with his mouth. They half kissed, have devoured each other while still slamming their bodies together.
fucked
then he would gladly oblige. Gutter slapped her hands away and moved his upper body out of the girl's reach. Using his arms he locked her legs around his waist and started plowing into her. Monifa tried to scream, but he leaned in and silenced her with his mouth. They half kissed, have devoured each other while still slamming their bodies together.
Not bothering to remove himself from her, he flipped Monifa on her side, with one leg resting on his shoulder and the other pinned between his legs. Gutter cursed, snarled, and damn near foamed at the mouth as he could feel all the energy in his body concentrating itself in his privates. Monifa felt so good that he wasn't ready to come, but when she bounced her heart-shaped ass against him it stole the choice from him. Gutter exploded inside Monifa like a small geyser before falling on the bed next to her, still inside her cave.
Monifa snuggled against Gutter's body and wrapped his arm around her. She could feel his heart beating erratically against her back. Monifa felt like all the tension she had carried around for the past two years was finally released. Though she didn't fool herself about what had just happened it was still nice to be touched by someone she loved. She knew that as soon as Gunn's business was concluded he would be back on a plane to New York where his girl was waiting, but didn't ruin the moment by dwelling on it. Sharell had obviously won his heart, but at that moment his body belonged to her.
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