The Streets Or Me: A Louisiana Love Story (7 page)

I watched as Miracle played with A’Laya, since it was visiting dayI decided to bring LayLay to see her. I can't imagine the thought of our daughter not seeing her moma everyday, Miracle’s missing important moments in her life, me not bein' able to hold her at night, not bein' able to just chill and thug like we used to. To be honest, I think this whole situation fuckin' wit me more than her, she takin' it like a boss while I'm goin' crazy tryna remain a Street King and raise my seed.  Sometimes a nigga wished he never skipped out on college and got into this life, but with a son on the way and no real way to survive I did what I had to do.

My son's mother, Courtnei, told me one day I'd regret jumping into this lifestyle and I swear she ain't lie. I was captain of the basketball team, star of the track team, and a nigga grades was on point. The day Court told me she was pregnant and her peoples was threatening to kick her out the crib, I went straight to Uncle Killa and he put me on so that I could get her and my son straight. I was 17 and a senior when that happened, now here I am 27 years old and still deep in this game; I need to get out so that I can be a better example for Lucas and A’Laya, but it's like once you in these streets the only way out is a cell or a grave. smh

"Luke, are you listening to me?" Miracle asked knocking me from my thoughts.

"Wassup baby girl?" I asked.

"I asked if you had talked to the lawyer lately?" she asked.

"He working round the clock on yo case to get you a lesser sentence. How you holdin' up in here?" I asked.

"It's tough bein' away from, but I'm surviving. How 'bout you, looks like you losing sleep," she said.

"I'm stressing Miri, this ain't where you belong ma. I rather be taking this bid instead of you, A’Laya needs you. I'm tryna balance this street life and raise her at the same time shit got me fucked up ma," I said.

"Bae, I know you stressing but I need you to keep it together for our daughter and for me. Luke if you fall apart out there then I’ll fall apart in here, I need your strength to get me through this shit," she said.

"I'm tryin' Miracle, but I just-"

"Visiting hours are over," The guard called out.

"Baby I love you ok, take care of LayLay, and please call my lawyer to see what the hold up is. A’Laya mommy loves you baby, I'll see you soon," she said.

"We love you too baby girl, be good," I replied.

"You bet not give up on me Luke," she said as tears streamed down her face.

"Too solid for that, dry ya eyes ma we gon' get you outta here," I replied as they escorted her out the room.

LayLay screamed and cried as they took Miracle away, shit was killing me to see my baby girl cry like that. smh I finally got her to calm down once we got in the car to head back to the crib. I was driving down the highway and I just got this weird feeling that something was about to go completely wrong; I just hope it's a feeling and not something real.

"Look Khyia just chill aight, I got this everything gon' be cool ma," I said.

"All I'm saying is you don't have to be out on the streets anymore. You're at the exact level as Killa so why be out there? I bet Chi ain't out in them Houston streets, he probably chilling with his kids and letting money come to him," she replied.

We had been arguing since yesterday about me still conducting business in the streets. I told her that I needed to get up with Chi's lil team on some shit and she just been trippin'. The three of us had our own lil team of hittas that ran for us before we ever even knew of this 'new power' that we now have. We spent months building these teams with lil niggas that we knew could be trusted, it would be wrong for me to just cut ties with Chi team but keep mine and Luke's onboard. Nah, shit don't work like that and I know my brother would want me to take his team under my wings so they could eat like us.

"Khy, this Chi's team we talking 'bout. They deserve an explanation as to why they leader left them without a word. They been down with us way before our come up, I can't just leave them hanging like that," I said.

"I know but Leg-"

"No buts Khy, I’m headed out. I'll see you in a couple of hours aight," I kissed her softly then headed out the door before she had the chance to protest.

I hopped in my Benz and dialed Marco's number as I pulled out of the driveway. He picked up on the first ring.

"Legz, what's the word boss?" he asked.

"Have Chi's boys to meet us at the warehouse over in downtown, make sure everybody there including our team," I said.

"Aight I got you. What time we need to be there?" he asked.

"In about thirty minutes, I gotta make a stop real quick then I'll be there," I replied.

"Cool, I'll have everybody there then. One," he replied.

"Already, one," I hung up.

I get a weird feeling that somebody is following me, so I check my rearview and spot a black Impala creeping behind me. 'Who the fuck is that?' I think to myself as I hit a quick left onto the freeway breezing through traffic without looking too suspicious. When I look up again the car is gone. Guess I’m taking the long way to the warehouse.

Before goin' to the warehouse, I had to go holla at Luke. My nigga been kinda down since Miri went in and I know he need somebody around to keep him above water before he drowns. I pull up in his driveway and get out seeing him kicking it wit' Lucas and A’Laya. I dapped lil Luke then sat in the chair beside Luke as he fired up a blunt.

"What up bruh? You see Miri yesterday?" I asked.

"I took LayLay to see her," he nodded.

"That's what's up. How she holding up?" I asked.

"She straight, but I know it's fuckin' wit' her 'cause she can't be wit' LayLay every day. Shit got me stressin' bruh, my girl lookin' at five to fifteen years over some bullshit that a dumb hoe started," he replied hitting the blunt.

"Chi told me you had plans to get at that nigga Trey top. You kno' I'm behind ya ten toes down if shit pop off on blood I got you bruh," I said.

"I'm already knowin' this bruh, but I need to holla at you bout somethin' tho," he said.

"Talk to me then bruh, wassup?" I asked.

"I'm thinkin' 'bout quitting the game man, this shit ain't for me no more," he said.

I ain't gon' lie he caught me off guard wit' that I mean a nigga ain't never heard Luke say shit about quitting the game and leaving the streets. What the fuck brought on this conversation?

"Leave the game! Why bruh wassup?" I asked.

“I can’t do it no more. I feel like I got the weight of the world on my shoulders,and I just wanna get right for my kids,man.” He said.

"It's cool bruh as long as I still got you as my right hand then we good. Do what you gotta do for ya lil ones and focus on Miracle, if ya need me just hit me up and don't even worry bout that Trey shit, I'll handle that for ya bruh," I said.

"I been thinking 'bout it for awhile bruh. I mean Lucas getting older and he understand alot more than we think, I don't want him growning up in this life then I got A’Laya to raise on my own.  I'm stressing about Miri and I keep having this fucked up feeling that something bad gon' happen; I can't have that stress on me bruh, I gotta do something better for my lil ones bruh," he replied.

"I understand that, but I mean what about yo percent of the streets tho? You gon' keep it or what?" I asked.

"I can give it back to you. I got more than enough bread to make sure me and my lil ones straight. I'ma always have ya back no matter what, but I can't do this shit no mo' cuhh," he replied.

"That's why you my fuckin' brother. I know no matter what you and Chi got my back through whatever," he dapped me.

"You know what it is bruh, Street Kingz fo' life my nigga," I said as he nodded in agreement.

We ran it for a lil minute then I had to go meet up wit' the teams to get shit I play.

"Yo what took so long we gotta get to this money?" Dyme asked as I walked in the warehouse.

"Had to shake this car that was trailing me then stopped by Luke crib," I reply dapping him.

"Marco and Rook got everybody in the back meeting room waiting on you," he said leading the way.

I could hear light chatter coming from the room as we approached. I knew they all wanted to know what was going on and why their leader was gone, but they'll know soon. We walked in the room and the smell of weed was strong as hell in the atmosphere.

"Who blazing?" I asked looking around.

"My fault boss, I forgot," young nigga name Joc replied putting the blunt out.

One thing we don't tolerate is smoking before or during a meeting. We expect clear and sober minds so they can take in any information that may be valuable to them in these streets. I take the blunt from him and dispose of it as I make my way to the head of the room where Marco and Rook stood.

"Profits from the two bricks I took last night plus interest," Rook handed me a duffle bag containing over fifty grand.

"Respect lil nigga, always 'bout ya business," I dapped him.

"Fa'sho business always come first, play time for the birds. So what this meeting about?" he asked.

"Some of you may or may not know that Killa is leaving the game soon, and he decided to make some changes," I began.

"That mean he leaving permenantly or he still gone be around?" Danny asked.

"He leaving Louisiana, but he'll still be an asset in the game. OG gotta leave the limelight and live happily with the wife ya know," I chuckled.

"So who gon' take his position 'cause I ain't going under the control of some new random nigga that don't know how we make moves?" Prince asked.

"You know Killa would never put a random nigga in his spot, 'specially not when he just gained complete control of the Northeast," I said.

"Aight so who is this cat, and where Luke and Chino? I mean them niggas just disappeared like it wasn't shit," Bone asked.

"Yea and who these niggas on the East we keep hearing 'bout? What kinda shit got going on Legz?" Tim chimed in.

Immediately loud chatter rose throughout the room as everybody tried to come up with logical answers to their own questions. This was the only thing I hated about not having Khyia at big meetings like this 'cause these lil niggas didn't know how to shut up unless she was jumping down they damn throats or threatening they asses. I hate getting outta character with muhfuckas that knew better than to speak outta turn like this.

"Aye! Shut the fuck up and let me talk in this bitch or I swear bodies gon' get to droppin'!" I yelled.

Silence fell over the room as they all focused on me. I finally felt a real sense of authority when I got they attention.

"Now as I was saying. Killa leaving the game and he put me, Chi, and Luke in charge of the business. Chi had to leave so that leaves me in Killa's position which means I now control 90% of the Northeast and Luke got the other 5% Killa had while Chi took his portion to Houston," I explained. "As far as these Eastside niggas, I-"

"It's some niggas from Atlanta," Slim cut in.

"How you know them?" I asked.

"My brother Chris told me about 'em a few days ago, say they related to this nigga named Lux or some shit. Anyway, he got murdered a few weeks ago in his crib now them niggas out for blood," he said.

When he said Atlanta then Lux name came outta his mouth, I already knew what was up just like I know me, Luke, and the teams gotta stay on our toes before shit decide to pop off.

"He tell you anything else 'bout these niggas?" I asked.

"Nah, just tol' me to make sho' I watch my back out 'chea on these streets," he replied as I nodded.

"Shit I heard them niggas was gunnin' for our team on some shit so what we gon' do Legz?" Joc asked.

"We handle shit accordingly, keep our ear to the streets, move in silence, stay strapped, and watch each other's backs...simple," I replied.

"Aight so now that we know you really are the new boss and Luke still wit' you. Where does that leave us now that Chi is gone?" Snipe asked.

Snipe was one of the strongest assets Chi had on his team and also the oldest. At 22 years old, he was already making moves like a real boss does. He knew the ins and outs of the hustle, plus he earned his nickname 'cause he could fire his gun and hit a nigga from 20ft. away, so I understood why Chi kept him on his team.

"Since Chi in Houston now, I'm pretty sure he got a new team of hittas so that means you gon' be down with my team now," I replied. "I'm gon' be doing alot of major work so that means the Street Kingz will be appointed some new leaders and those leaders get to choose which hittas they want on they team. The leaders will also have new territories that I recently acquired for us to do business in," I said.

"So who these new leaders gon' be?" Dyme asked.

"Marco, Rook, Snipe, you, and Sl-"

"I don't wanna be a leader. That's too much power for me which means more time away from my daughter," Slim cut in.

I forgot about Slim having a four-month old daughter. That's the main reason he got into the game so he could provide for his girl and daughter.

"So who you think I should give yo' position to?" I asked.

"Give it to Bone. He got the mentality and experience to be a leader," he replied.

"Aight then Marco, Rook, Dyme, Snipe, and Bone choose the hittas you want on your teams and let's get to discussing these new territories," I said.

Over the next few hours or so, I told them about the shit I had set up in the new areas. Nightclubs, strip joints, bars, and several new warehouses that they could use to conduct business. I decided to take advantage of my power and set alot of shit in motion. I got a plan for me and Khyia to be set for life.

"I got a few trusted connects in and out of jail that can help also. I'm sure they wouldn't mind taking on some jobs for me," I said.

"Legz, you sure about that man. I mean one slip up and the feds get wind of what we got going on then we all go down for a long bid," Rook said.

"Only thing you should be worrying 'bout is the paper ya gon' be making from this shit. The feds won't be a problem for us wit' Chi and Khy uncle on the force and hella officers on payroll, we good," I said.

"Aight bruh as long as you sure then we done for whatever. Just tell us when to get started," Marco said.

I smirked at his anxiousness. I like a young nigga that was 'bout his business and getting his paper. I was ready to put them in these new territories and get this money rolling, but I had to ensure that they were fully ready to be leaders. I got a way to put that to the test tonight. Either way I was gonna take full advantage of any influence that comes with being the boss of this game. After I dismissed the others to go to their respective areas, I kept the leaders around for a private meeting.

"So why you wanted to holla at us in private?" Dyme asked.

"Me and Luke got beef with this nigga in Presidential named Trey. He a small time, nickel and dime hustler out there or whatever. Anyway, word on the street he comin' after me and Luke since Miracle shot his sister after some mall beef and-"

"You need us to get at this nigga right," Snipe said.

"Beat his ass, tie him up, and bring him back to here. Me and Luke'll handle the rest," I said.

"Say no mo' boss, we'll have his ass here before mornin'," Rook replied.

"Cool, I'ma get to the crib 'foe Khy crazy ass come kickin' down doors thinkin' I'm wit' a lil yea. Snipe when ya find this nigga don't get trigga happy unless you need to," I said.

"Tsk, mayne chill out. Long as the nigga don't run then shit should run smooth," he replied.

"Aight, I'm out," I dapped them.

I walked outta the warehouse and hopped in my car then headed back to the crib wondering what my lil baby was up to.