Tears of a Hustler PT 1 (10 page)

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“
Yo pull over right here,” Rell ordered from the backseat. “There go one of them niggas right there,” Debo said pointing at the young kid selling drugs in the open. “You want me to take care of that clown,” Debo asked sternly. “Nah, I got this one.” Rell said as he threw on his hoody, and slid out of the vehicle. When Andre saw the hooded man coming in his direction, he immediately assumed he was a fiend. “What’s up, you need something,” he asked looking over both shoulders. “Yeah, let me get five of them thangs,” Rell said digging in the small of his back. In a blink of an eye Andre found himself staring down the barrel of a snub nosed .38. Immediately his urine broke, spilling out of him effortlessly. “Tell that faggot Gerald he’s next,” Rell smirked as he pulled the trigger. His smirk quickly turned into a grin when he saw Andre’s brains pop out of the back of his skull. Before Rell left, he made sure he pumped the five remaining bullets into the young kid’s lifeless body. Andre’s body jumped from the weight of the shots as Rell quickly fled to the get away car.

* * * *

Butch found himself caught up in a shit talking contest with one of Stacey’s guest when he heard a loud series of gunshots. He quickly dashed back into the bedroom, grabbed a .380, stuck it in his back pocket, and then headed out of the door. “Yo keep this door locked and don’t open it for nobody until you hear from me,” he yelled over his shoulder as he disappeared in the B staircase. When Butch finally made it outside, he saw that a big crowd formed at the spot he last saw Andre standing. “Oh hell naw,” Butch said out loud when he saw Andre sprawled out on the concrete. “Fuck,” he cursed loudly as he quickly pulled out his cell phone and quickly emailed G-money.

Twenty minutes later the cops finally arrived on the scene. “Yo what happened,” G-money asked calmly with about fifteen to twenty goons behind him. “I don’t know. I was in the stash crib grabbing some more jacks when I heard like six shots go off.” “So did he get robbed,” Skip asked jumping in on the conversation. “Nah, he ain’t have nothing heavy on him because I was bringing him a new pack,” Butch stated plainly. “So mother fuckers just killed him for no reason,” G-money asked. “I guess so because he ain’t have shit for them to take,” Butch answered shrugging his shoulders. “Aight, you keep running this mother fucker how you been doing; just keep your ears open,” G-money said as he and his entourage made their exit. As G-money and his crew made their way back to their vehicles, they never noticed Detective Nelson watching their every move.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES

“
A yo, go get me a pack of Newports,” Dave ordered as he handed the young lookout a twenty dollar bill. Dave was really feeling himself now that he was making money. He went out and bought all new clothes, and a used 2001 Yukon. The way Dave lived in the past was nothing but a memory. According to Dave, he was the man; he had power and was loving every minute of it. All he did was collect the money, count it, and report back to Rell. His main man, Maurice, was the one doing most of the work, watching workers, paying the lookouts, and bagging up while he took all the credit.

“Hey daddy, you still out here working,” Rita asked in a nagging tone. Rita was Dave’s new girl friend. The two met each other at a night club. When Dave saw the pretty chocolate skinned woman dancing by herself he knew right then, and there he had to have her. “Yeah, you know I gotta make this money,” Dave replied as he hungrily undressed Rita with his eyes. “What time you gon’ be finished daddy? I wanted to go see that new Denzel Washington movie,” she whined, pinning her neatly twisted dreadlocks up in a bun. “Damn I forgot that shit came out today,” Dave said as his lookout came back with his cigarettes. “Good looking lil’ homie, keep the change,” he said putting on a show because his girl was present. “Aight baby, go get in the truck, we’re going to the movies. Let me just go holla at Maurice real quick,” he told her. “Yo hold the block down, I’m going out with my shorty,” Dave said proudly. “Damn nigga again? This the forth time this week ya’ll going out.” “What, you my parole officer or something,” Dave shot back looking at his friend. “I’m just saying we both suppose to be holding down the block,” Maurice said as he gave Dave a pound.

Chapter 19

CHANGING THE GAME

“
So in two weeks it’s the big day, huh,” Ali asked sipping on a glass of Grey Goose. “In two weeks I’m going to knock this Spanish mutha fucka out,” Spanky boasted as everybody bursted out laughing. “I’m putting a hundred thousand dollars on this fight, you better not let me down kid,” Mr. Goldberg added as he sipped from his champagne glass.

Mr. Goldberg was a Jewish lawyer that Ali hired to pick up any case he or anybody on his team caught. No matter how small or big the case was, if you was down with Ali then Mr. Goldberg was going to be your lawyer no questions asked. “If you were smart, you would bet two hundred thousand,” Spanky told him.

The foursome’s conversation was rudely interrupted when they heard a loud knock at the door. “Click, Clack…Big Mel go check that out,” Ali ordered as he cocked back one of his 9mm’s. “Who the fuck is it,” Big Mel yelled as he slid a shotgun from under the couch. When Big Mel looked through the peephole he was shocked to see Detective Nelson standing on the other side of the door. “It’s this faggot ass detective,” Big Mel said looking at Ali for approval to let the detective in. “Let him in,” Ali ordered as he slid his 9mm back into it’s holster. “Out of my way big man,” Detective Nelson barked as he brushed past Big Mel. From the redness in his face you could tell that the white detective was smoking mad. “Hey, I thought we had a deal mother fucker,” Detective Nelson growled pointing his finger in Ali’s face. Out of reflex Ali slapped the detective’s hand down. “Yo chill the fuck out,” he warned. “Chill the fuck out,” Detective Nelson echoed with a devious grin on his face. In one quick motion Detective Nelson flipped the table that the four men sat at upside down spilling champagne and liquor everywhere. “Is you crazy,” Big Mel yelled as he grabbed Detective Nelson and rushed him, pinning his back to the wall making sure he placed his forearm under the detective’s throat. “Take your filthy paws off me or else,” Detective Nelson whispered as he struggled to break the big man’s hold. “Listen detective, you’re in my mutha fucking spot. Respect it or you’ll get treated accordingly,” Ali warned. “Let him go Mel.” “Fuck you Al. We had a deal and you broke it,” Detective Nelson snapped. “What the fuck are you talking about? My people have been cool,” Ali said pouring himself another cup of Grey Goose. “Bullshit, G-money and his crew just murdered a young kid in the projects yesterday,” Detective Nelson grumbled.

Another knock on the door startled the five men in the office. “Go check that out,” Ali ordered. “Oh it’s G-money,” Big Mel said as he unlocked and opened the door so that G-money, and the four soldiers he had with him, could enter. “What’s poppin,” G-money asked giving Big Mel a pound. “Uninvited guest,” Big Mel replied in a hushed voice. “What’s good, ya’ll having a meeting up in here without me,” G-money asked as he gave Ali a pound followed by a hug. “Nah ,Detective Nelson just dropped by talking about you and your peoples murdered some kid yesterday,” Ali said taking another sip from his glass. “Get the fuck outta here,” G-money said waving the detective off. “Does Deandre Johnson ring a bell,” Detective Nelson asked with a chill in his voice. “Fuck is you talking about,” G-money sighed. “Lil Andre was one of my workers. Somebody came through and smoked him yesterday. Why the fuck would I smoke one of my own people?” “Either way it goes the kid got murdered because of you whether you admit it or not; probably one of your million enemies,” Detective Nelson said in a icy tone. “Fuck you and the whole NYPD. The whole force can kiss my ass. My lil’ homie got smoked last night and instead of looking for his killer, you’re over here harassing us. Get the fuck outta here with bullshit,” G-money spat helping himself to a glass of Grey Goose. “People like you kill me,” Detective Nelson chuckled as he moved in closer towards G-money. “You think you’re so fucking tough.” “I talk tough because I do tough things,” G-money shot back. “Let me ask you a question tough guy,” Detective Nelson said now face to face with G-money. “You think you’re untouchable?” The murderous look G-money gave him answered his question in more ways than one. “I bet you can get touched,” Detective Nelson threatened. “Listen, anybody touch a cornrow on my head and they gonna be getting fed through a fucking tube, smell me? And that goes for anybody, including you detective,” G-money said in a challenging tone.

“
Ali I’m going to give you another chance to do business with me because you’re a cool guy, but only under one circumstance…you must drop this cock sucker from your team,” Detective Nelson said pointing at G-money. The whole room erupted with laughter after that last comment. “Sorry detective, but G-money is family and we take care of our own around here,” Ali said strongly. “Big mistake, I thought you were suppose to be the smart one, but instead you’re just as dumb as this Nigger.” “Yo, who you talking to like that,” G-money swelled up but was held back by Big Mel. By this time Detective Nelson’s face was as red as an apple. “I guarantee all of you motherfuckers will regret this. Ya’ll must not know who ya’ll fucking with, but around here I’m Mr. Untouchable,” Detective Nelson growled as he stormed out of the office heated.

“Aight everybody listen up,” Ali said grabbing everyone’s attention. “We’re gonna keep running things how we’ve been doing. Just spread the word that we might be under a microscope, so I want everybody to cover their asses. We can’t afford no fuck ups. G-money, I want you to be extra careful because we know for a fact that Detective Nelson got something up his sleeve for you, so stay on point. For right now, we’re just gonna play it by ear and see what happens.”

Chapter 20

RACIST PROFILE

Nancy sat in the tub soaking and relaxing as “Donny Hathaway” Flowed through her bathroom radio speakers. She had to have some relaxing music playing every time she took a bath. For the past two weeks Nancy had been in the best of moods, especially since her and Ali had been spending almost everyday with each other. Once she got out of the tub, she quickly lotioned up her body and got dress. Nancy had a lot of shit to do today; first she had to pick out a cake for her baby shower, not to mention she had to do a little shopping for her and the baby. Nancy threw on some comfortable stretch pants, some flat sandals, put her hair in a pony tail, threw on her Chanel shades and was out of the door. Her first stop was to 116
^th
Street and St. Nicholas to a store called “Make My Cake.” She heard that they made the best cakes for special occasions, so she figured why not show them some love.

As soon as she stepped into the store, she was amazed at the kind of cakes that they had on display. “Wow this is nice,” she said to herself as she saw a cake with the cover of the F.E.D.S. magazine on it. “Yeah I’m getting something just like this,” she said admiring the F.E.D.S. magazine cake. “Hey, can I help you,” a short brother asked politely from behind the counter. “Yeah, I was wondering can ya’ll put any picture on a cake?” “Yes if it’s a clear picture,” the short brother answered quickly. “Okay then I’m going to have to come back when I know what I want. I just wanted to see some of your work, and I must say I’m very impressed. Do ya’ll have a card,” Nancy asked. “Sure, here you go,” the brother said politely handing the pregnant woman the card. “Thank you. I hope I see you soon.” “Don’t worry you will,” Nancy yelled over her shoulder as she exited the store.

Once out of the store, Nancy quickly flagged down a cab and headed to her next destination. After five hours of shopping, she figured that she should start heading home. Nancy laughed to herself as she flagged down another cab because she had spent five hours shopping and still didn’t get everything that she wanted. As Nancy stood on the corner waiting to flag down a cab, she heard a group of footsteps coming from behind her. Nancy quickly spun around with a fright.