Powder Blu (8 page)

Just like I said I was gon' do, I had been spending all of my free time over to Nikki's to make sure nothing was going on between her and Budz; at least not while I was there. The more I went over there, the more the thought of them fucking around diminished from my mind. Budz would come over and drop dope off for his workers and leave. I didn't know if that was only because I was there or what. It didn't matter as long as he left.

Budz had two days left before he was supposed to go to court and get sentenced. The thought of that had me sick to my stomach. I didn't know what I was gon' do without him being here to coach me every step of the way. He constantly reminded me that I was in charge and if anything happened it was all on me. With that stuck in my head, I had to make sure I stayed on my Ps and Qs at all times. I got my driver's license like I was supposed to. He made sure our soldiers watched over me twenty-four-seven and let them know if anything happened to me, they might as well kill themselves before he got to 'em.

 

 

The first week Budz was locked up it seemed like shit was spiraling out of control. I had no clue on how I was going to keep our business under control without him. Lenny, one of our top soldiers, got knocked for probation violation and got locked up, another one got shot in the stomach over a dice game, and on top of that, the Davidsons called the police on Nikki again. This time they told them they thought it was drugs being sold out of her house. They had really crossed the line this time. I knew if I wanted Budz to have the utmost respect for me, I had no choice but to pull it together. I had no control over our soldiers at the moment, but the Davidsons had to be handled. The only thing I could do was sit back and think about how Budz would handle them and quickly came up with my own approach.

I was sitting in the basement drinking on a Heineken while Nikki ranted on and on about the Davidsons and how they were messing up her little extra cash because the workers were scared to serve out of the house in fear of the feds running up in there.

“Well what we gon' do about it?' I asked, hoping she had an idea that would keep us both out of the penitentiary.

“I know somebody who would take them bitches out the game for ten bands,” she said, picking up a blunt off the pool table.

“Naw, that sounds too risky. I can't afford no mistakes. One of these crackheads will get caught and tell on everybody,” I said, not feeling her idea at all.

“This nigga I know ain't no crackhead,” she said, lighting the blunt.

“Where you know this nigga from?” I questioned.

“Don't worry about all that. He cool and he ain't the police. He done some work for my cousin Pooh Man, a few months back.”

“Naw, I'm cool,” I said.

“Why?” Nikki asked almost too quickly.

“'Cause it's too risky, that's why! How in the hell do you know he done work for Pooh Man? Ain't no way you should know shit about that! So that means only one thing: somebody talkin' too damn much!”

“Girl, shut yo' paranoid ass up.” Nikki laughed. “I know because they were over here plottin',” she said, trying to pass me the blunt.

“No, thanks,” I said, shaking my head no. Even if I did smoke weed I wouldn't have hit that. I didn't see her roll it and I didn't forget what Sierra told me.

“So you wanna hire him or what?” Nikki asked.

“What you gon' get out the deal? You pressin' me a little too hard,” I said, suspiciously.

“I mean, I'm sure he gon' give me a finder's fee.”

“I knew it,” I said shaking my head.

“What? I got three kids to take care of. I need all the money I can get,” Nikki protested.

You don't bit more take care of them dusty
-
ass kids; that's why they at ya momma's house now,
I wanted to say but let it go. “A'iiiight, so what's the deal wit' this cat?”

Nikki broke down this nigga's entire resume. And after assuring me I wouldn't have to set anything up or exchange any money with this cat, 'cause she would do it all, I was game. Nikki made a phone call and the nigga was handling some business and wanted us to meet him. I was leery at first, but I knew I had to get the Davidsons handled and truth be told I had to get it done soon before they fucked up my money. The thought of all the respect Budz was gon' have for me after I got this done was making my panties wet. He was sure to make me his one and only. This would also take care of my problem with the soldiers. It would show them niggas everyone betta get in line or they'd get dealt wit' too.

After stopping by the house and grabbing ten bands and my gun, me and Nikki headed over to see this mysterious nigga.

“Take a left on Seventy-fifth and Ellis and head toward Kingston,” she instructed.

“You sure we goin' the right way?” I asked, noticing all the abandoned houses.

“Pull up over there,” she said pointing to an empty parking space across from a row of boarded-up apartment complexes. She pulled out her phone and called the nigga.

I was nervous as hell as we waited on him to come to the car.

“Get the fuck out the car, Nikki,” this tall, dark-skinned nigga with dreads said while opening my door, pulling her out by her hair.

“What the fuck?” I asked, thinking I was being set up.

“Where the fuck my money at, bitch?” he said in his native tongue while wrapping his hands around Nikki's neck and choking her. “Did you really think I was gon' let you come over here and not do nothin' to you and you owe me?”

“Nigga, let her go,” I yelled while getting out the car with my little .22 safely tucked behind my back. Even though I hated guns with a passion, times like this made me glad Budz had made me promise that I'd keep one with me at all times, even if I was afraid to use it.

“Bitch, who are you? Captain Save a Ho?” he asked, laughing while easing up on Nikki's throat.

“Nigga, you don't need to know who I am. All you need to do is let my girl go!” I said, pulling my gun from behind my back, putting it in his face. “Let her go or we gon' have some issues.”

Nikki eyes damn near bucked out of her head. I noticed ol' boy looking around and shaking his head no. That could have only meant that he wasn't alone. I thought I had just made the biggest mistake of my life; matter of fact I knew I did.

“Baby girl, are you sure that's a move you wanna make?” He smirked while looking me up and down as if he wanted to eat me up.

“Hell yeah, I'm sure,” I said, standing my ground.

“Now you know you too damn pretty to be out here actin' like this,” he said shaking his head.

“Nigga, I ain't scared of you! I'm Budz's girl,” I said ignoring his comment and hoping he couldn't tell I was scared shitless.

The nigga had the audacity to bust out laughing. “I don't know who Budz is, but he about to lose his main bitch,” he said. I looked around and niggas popped out the woodwork ready to pop off as soon as he gave the signal.

“Wait, Black, she the one who needs the job done,” Nikki said, frantically.

I looked at this bitch as if she was crazy. Now we had just talked about her not even connecting me to this shit and here she was running off at the mouth.
And I'm about to lose my life over some shit I don't have anything to do with. I got half the mind to get in the car and let this nigga continue to kick her ass.

“Oh for real?” he asked.

“She high. I don't know what the fuck she talkin' about,” I lied.

“Oh, so you the one that want the old couple taken out?” he asked, smirking.

“Yeah, she the one,” Nikki said. “She got the money in the car!”

“Shut the fuck up, Nikki, I don't know this nigga!”

“Please, B, just let him do the job for you so I can pay him his money,” Nikki begged with tears in her eyes.

“I don't owe this nigga shit, you do!” Nikki's ass had played and pressed me into using this nigga 'cause she owed him money.

“Please, B, that's the only way I'm gon' be able to pay him.”

Even though I didn't want to, I knew I had to look out for her because she'd looked out for me when my momma was being a bitch. I could have just paid the nigga off for Nikki but I still would have had to get rid of the Davidsons so I might as well g'on and get it over with. Budz always told me having feelings in this game would get me fucked up and fucked over. I never understood the whole concept, but I was starting to see what he was talking about.

“So you want me to do it or what?” He grinned while waving his boys off.

“Yeah, I guess,” I said, feeling like I had no choice.

“A'iiiiight then. Look, meet me at the warehouse on Thirty-fifth and Bravo at three a.m. and we'll talk then. Oh, and don't be late.”

“Okay,” I replied.

“Just a little warnin' before I go, I will slit you and your friend's throat if you don't show up. Now you pretty ladies have a nice day,” he said blowing me a kiss before walking off.

I couldn't believe what was about to go down tonight. I couldn't get it out of my head. After the meeting with Black, I dropped Nikki off; I then went and handled some business for a few hours before going home and trying to take a nap. Not being able to fall asleep, I headed back over to Nikki's to try to ease my mind. My nerves were shot as I paced back and forth through her house for about three hours straight while watching the clock. I was nervous as hell, going back and forth with myself wondering if I was making a big mistake.

“Damn, bitch, you 'bouta wear a hole in my carpet walkin' back and forth.” Nikki laughed, as she puffed on a blunt.

I didn't know how Nikki could be so calm at a time like this. I didn't know if she understood what was about to go down or just didn't give a fuck. “My bad.” I chuckled.

“You need somethin' to calm yo' nerves,” she said, passing the blunt my way.

I knew she was right. I did need something to calm my nerves and beer just wasn't gon' cut it this time. I took the blunt from her fingers and hit it a few times. I lay my head back and let the smoke slowly escape my lips.

“This gon' get you right,” she said, smiling.

Within minutes I was high as hell. I felt like I didn't have a care in the world. After hitting the blunt a couple more times, the thought of Black killing the Davidsons didn't sound like such a bad idea after all.

“It's two-fifteen a.m.; let's roll,” Nikki said, getting up from the couch.

“Let's roll,” I said, slowly standing up too.

We walked out the house and simultaneously looked over at the Davidsons' house. Without saying a word we walked to the car, got in, and headed to the warehouse where Black wanted to meet. My nerves were shook the whole drive there and Nikki for once was quiet. Twenty-five minutes later we pulled up at the warehouse. I didn't know if it was from the weed or what, but I was paranoid as hell. Nikki pulled out her cell phone and called Black.

“We here,” she said when he answered. They exchanged a few more words before she hung up.

After parking where he told us to, I grabbed the duffle bag of money off the seat before we both got out of the car. I looked around the dimly lit area and prayed that the feds didn't bum-rush us.

Nikki knocked on the door three times real slow and then four times fast as hell. I looked at her and wondered why she was playing on this man's door, but to my surprise some big, black gorilla looking–ass nigga opened the door.

“Open up y'all's coats, the duffle bag, and spread 'em,” he demanded as we stepped inside the warehouse.

We both did what we were told. This nigga frisked us like he was working security at somebody's club. I lightweight felt violated as he rubbed me all between my legs.

“They good.” He nodded to another nigga who was standing about fifteen feet away in the dark.

“Follow me,” the nigga in the dark said.

“Hell we can barely see you,” I said.

Nikki nudged me in my side as we made our way over to the nigga. He walked us to the back of the warehouse and into a room where Black was sitting behind a desk. There was five other niggas in the room with him all dressed in black.

“Hmmmm, you're on time. I like that,” Black said in his Trinidadian accent.

I hadn't noticed earlier that Black was sexy as fuck. I guessed I was too caught up in helping Nikki. He was tall, with smooth, dark skin. He reminded me of a Hershey's chocolate bar that I wouldn't have minded taking a bite out of. Even through the Akoo jacket he had on I could tell he had a nice-ass body. He sported a close cut and a clean goatee and man his lips were thick and juicy. I quickly erased the freaky thoughts out of my mind. This wasn't the time nor the place to be lusting after this nigga. I was here on business. It seemed like ever since Budz been locked up, I been wanting to fuck every sexy nigga I ran across.

“Did anybody follow y'all?” Black looked at me and asked.

“Nope,” I said shaking my head no.

“Wrong answer, my nigga. D followed y'all from the time y'all left Nikki's house until y'all got here to the warehouse. You slippin', baby girl,” he said.

For some reason I was slightly embarrassed.
Rule number one: never get caught slipping,
I could hear Budz's voice echo in my head.

“It's okay, this time, but next time be aware of your surroundin's,” Black said as if he was scolding me.

“I'm always aware,” I said, defensively.

Black started laughing. “Yeah, okay. Take her to the back,” Black said, pointing at Nikki. “So me and this pretty li'l lady can handle our business.”

“Wait, why she gotta leave?” I asked.

“'Cause I said so. My business is wit' you and not her,” he said, standing up from behind the desk.

“It's okay, girl, I'ma be all right,” Nikki assured me.

I wasn't feeling that at first. “Fuck it, let's do this,” I said, wanting to get this entire ordeal over with.

I watched as two of the five men escorted Nikki out of the room we were in. I then turned my attention back to Black. He looked like he didn't play around and I had to let him know that I didn't either.

“I run this,” he said, smiling as he made his way over toward me. Black circled around me while staring me up and down. He was so close I could smell the Creed Silver Mountain Water cologne he was wearing.

He had me feeling real uneasy.

“Why do you hang with a girl like Nikki? You too pretty for that,” he said out of nowhere.

“Look, I didn't come here for a lecture or a social gatherin'. Let's get down to business. All I need from you is to take this old couple out for me, that's it, that's all!” I said, sounding like the real boss bitch I was.

“Hmmmm, feisty. I like that too.” Black smiled.

“Ten right?” I asked, cutting to the chase.

“Don't forget ya girl owe me too,” he said, staring me in my eyes.

“I got that in here too,” I said tossing the brown duffle bag at his feet.

One of his dudes picked it up, walked it over to the desk, and began counting it.

“Now you know if I take two people out it's gon' be twenty bands right?” Black asked.

“Twenty bands? Are you fuckin' kiddin' me?” I snapped.

“One thing I don't kid about is money.”

“Fuck that! I can find somebody else to do it for way cheaper. Have a nice night,” I said and turned to walk away.

“You know you don't have a choice now,” he called out.

I stopped in my tracks and turned back around. “Excuse me? I choose not to give it to you and that sounds like a choice to me,” I said smirking.

“Is that right?” he asked sarcastically.

“That's right. And plus, we don't have no contract.”

“Naw, baby girl, you don't understand. When I was beatin' ya girl's ass earlier, she said you had a job for me. Now you see that's a verbal contract and I don't do well with broken contracts,” he said.

“That was not a contract. You said we would talk about it, we talked and I don't like your offer and I turned you down,” I said with an attitude.

“That sounds about right,” he said nodding his head. Black leaned over and whispered something into one of his homeboy's ears. The dude shook his head okay before leaving the room.

“Are we done yet?” I asked, tired of playing around with this crazy-ass nigga.

“Not yet,” he replied as his homeboy returned carrying Nikki. They had her tied up with rope and duct tape over her mouth. Blood was dripping down her face.

“What the fuck? What did you do that for? I paid her debt,” I yelled and tried to run to her but his dudes pulled their guns out.

“I told you I don't do well with broken contracts. Now do we have a deal?” Black asked.

I stared over at Nikki and felt so bad for her. “Fine, we have a fuckin' deal!” I snapped.

“I thought you would see things my way. Now get this bitch outta here,” he yelled to one of his homeboys. Black looked over at me and smiled. “Now, when do you want this job done?”

“As soon as fuckin' possible!” I snapped, trying not to tear up. I tried my best not to show any signs of weakness because I knew if I did he would have me where he wanted me.

“You shouldn't talk like that. It's not ladylike,” Black said, smiling.

“Whateva,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“Okay, I need an address and the rest of my money.”

“You get half now, which you already got, and the other half when the job is done,” I stated.

Black stuck his hand out for me to shake. I hesitated at first before deciding to go ahead and shake his hand. I stuck my hand in his and before I saw it coming he turned it over and kissed the back of it. I quickly snatched my hand away. Black busted out laughing.

“There's that feisty side I like. You got yourself a deal, beautiful, and I'll tell you what, I will personally do it myself. Now, nice doing business with you,” he said putting his hand out again for me to shake.

I rolled my eyes as I turned to walk away.

“See you around, sexy,” Black yelled as I was being escorted out of the room and to my car.

Nikki was already at the car bruised and bleeding trying to lean on the car to hold herself up. “Thanks, Blu,” she said, sounding as if she was in a lot of pain.

“Shut the fuck up, bitch, and get in the car!” I snapped.

Nikki did what she was told.

“Look, Nikki, if you can't afford your habit you need to leave that shit alone! You done got me in some shit that I can't get out of. I don't even know this nigga, Black. All I know is he fuckin' wit' Budz's money and if Budz finds out I have or had any dealin's with this nigga, he gon' kill me and you!” I said, annoyed and scared.

Tears started falling from Nikki's eyes. “I'm sorry, Blu. I swear I didn't mean for any of this to happen and you don't have to worry 'bout me tellin' Budz about none of this. He already asked me 'bout Black and I told him I didn't know him and we gon' keep it at that” she said, wiping her tears away.

“It's cool.” I sighed before starting the car and pulling off. We both sat quietly in deep thought the entire way home. I kept thinking about how this entire situation was fucked up and how this crazy nigga Black had me nervous as hell. He smiled and laughed too much not to be. I just needed to keep everything together so Budz didn't have to get involved, because if he did it would be nothing but trouble.