Zero Degrees Part 1 (8 page)

Peaches shrugged it off. “A’ight bitch damn, don’t attack me. I’m just trying to help.”

“Appreciated, but not needed. Thank you.”

* * *

After our shopping spree we returned to the apartment to put our things up before heading back to Zeus and Buff’s crib. When I saw Buff he was holding the picture that I’d given him. “Come here Zero,” he said.

We walked into an office with a mahogany desk and computer with a huge, wide screen. The decor was exquisite.

“I finally got something. They live in Miami and shit. My boy Chazz is from Miami and he’s tryin’ to get me connected to them. He got a Cuban connect named Donreco who might be able to get in there. Chazz owes me a favor, so you know how that goes. What they do? Kill your folks?” He asked with concern in his eyes as he took a step toward me.

I gave him a subtle shrug and turned away. I didn’t want my eyes to portray what I was feeling. I looked out of the window, but all I saw was a murky image of my reflection in the classroom that day as my mind took a trip down memory line. I thought about my dad and remembered the last day I saw him. He was so happy and full of life. For some reason I reached in my purse and pulled out the silver bracelet he had given me. On it was the pendent with his picture inside. I looked at it and felt my eyes well with tears. I pushed them back, turned to Buff and handed him the bracelet.

“This is why.”

He looked at it exclaimed with a smile on his face, “Damn who is he, your twin?”

“That’s my daddy.” I choked up and swallowed the dry lump in my throat.

“Wow, you look just like your old man.”

“I know. Everyone used to say that. He was my everything…everything I loved.” I felt my bottom lip tremble. I missed my dad terribly. Every once in a while I would go through bouts of longing for him.

Buff passed me the pendent. “You okay? You wanna tell me what happened?”

“Well, my mom has reason to believe that they killed him. I don’t know for sure, but from what she told me drugs were the motive. I just want them to die for what they did. They took something from me that I can never get back. I know I wasn’t locked up in the pen doing hard time, but while I was there I vowed to kill them. I owe that to my dad and myself; revenge. I used to read all kinds of books when I was in prison on how to torture and kill. These two snakes are first on my list.”

Buff nodded as if he understood. “A’ight sis, we can arrange that.”

I studied his face to see if he was serious. “We? I can do it myself. This is personal Buff,” I said passionately. Absentmindedly, I balled my fists up tightly.

“I’m sure it is Killa. You ain’t gonna be able to do it yourself though. These two Cuban fucks got more security than the President. We have to come up with a fool proof plan.” He gave me the picture back. “We’ll talk about it later”.

Zeus went to handle some business. Another one of our trap houses got robbed. Then he got to go to the club ‘cause the zoning inspector is still giving us hell about the license permit. They hate to see two young niggas getting legit money. He should be back in a little while. Did Peaches get you a phone?” Buff asked and for the first time I saw the stress and strain on his face. That was the second time that month one of their traps had been robbed.

“Yeah, I left it at the crib on the charger. I don’t have anyone to call anyway.”

“Cool. Did you go see you moms?”

“Yeah, I went to see her first when I got out. I can’t live with her though. She’s a religious fanatic now.”

We laughed.

“It’s good to have you back around Killa. Shit the way shit lookin’ we might need you on the team. You’re the realest bitch I know,” he said.

“That’s a compliment coming from a real nigga like you. Zeus had mentioned that one of your workers got murked and robbed a month ago.”

“Yea, they didn’t even have to kill him over a couple ounces of hard and four grand.” Buff shook his head solemnly with his lips pressed into a tight formed line. He then changed the subject.

“Let me go check up on my girl,” he said and walked out of the room.

I followed him and we joined Peaches in the living room. She was watching an episode of Jerry Springer.

“Why the hell are you watching that bullshit baby?” Buff asked picking up the remote from the coffee table as he sat down.

“It’s funny babe. Don’t turn,” she whined.

“Listen, since I got both of y’all attention I’m gonna keep it one thousand wit’ you. This life style has been good to us. It’s how we’ve been able to eat and lace y’all with the finer thangs, but it comes with a cost. A nigga gotta watch out for the shady muhfackas that come with the territory. Whenever a nigga climb out the gutter you goin’ have niggas scheming for a nigga’s riches and bitches. It’s the nature of the beast in this cutthroat ass business”.

“So what you saying baby?” Peaches asked. Her face was rigid with apprehension.

“I’m saying enjoy this shit to the fullest, but sometimes a nigga bitch is the weak link, so keep your head up and your eyes open. Be conscious of your surroundings at all times. It’s been a lot of shit that’s been popin’ off.”

I just looked at him and chewed on my bottom lip. He didn’t have to tell me twice. I lost my father and uncles to the streets because of the dope game. In my heart and soul I knew that Buff was trying to tell us something. He was trying to warn us. I just hoped that Peaches was truly listening. If she was the weak link he was referring to time would tell and the streets would keep score.

Buff reached into his pockets and pulled out a chrome plated Beretta nine-millimeter and a .380-caliber Colt. He sat them down on the glass coffee table. The guns shimmered, looking beautiful, but threatening.

“Both of you are going to start packing heat until this shit blows over,” Buff said as he looked between Peaches and me. Instantly my stomach filled with the flurry of butterflies. That shit was part of being a dope boy’s chick. I didn’t know about that life, but I was prepared for it. On impulse I grabbed the nine and admired it. I loved the feel of the cold steel in my hands. I couldn’t help finger fucking the trigger as I caressed it. Peaches picked up the .380 and we exchanged knowing glances. She smiled at me and winked.

A bitch was loving that gangsta shit.

* * *

About eight hours later everyone was asleep, but I just sat up in bed in the wee hours waiting for Zeus. All type of shit was going through my mind when he finally walked in. In the dim light he looked weary and worn, but still exuded that thuggish charisma that turned me on. He thought I was asleep as I sprawled on top of the silk covers of the enormous king size, canopied, oval-shaped bad. I was clad only in my pink Victoria’s Secret panties and bra set.

He placed a Gucci duffle bag full of money on the floor and then his 9mm and a 45. Smith & Wesson on the dresser. After taking off his red and white Roca Wear velour suit, white tee and white and red Air Ones, he piled all of his jewelry on the dresser beside his guns. That included a platinum chain with a huge iced out medallion, a Presidential Rolex and a diamond embezzled pinky ring. I had to admit, as I admired his chiseled chest and abs that he was the finest man I’d ever seen.

His dick swung from side to side as he walked toward the bed. I watched him with one eye open. He was trying to tiptoe. Instantly my pussy got wet. If he had come home earlier, I would have asked him to teach me how to please him. I really wanted to learn how to suck his dick. I wanted to feel him in my mouth and return the same pleasure he had been giving me every night.

He eased in bed next to me and began to run his fingers across the lacey, silk frills of my panties.

“Hmmm, hey babe,” I whispered sexily, catching him by surprise.

“Hey love, what you doing up?” He asked pulling me into his arms.

“Shit, you’re playing in my damn panties.”

He laughed and kissed my breast as he played with the nipple. Then he pushed my panties to the side and eased a finger inside my pussy. That sexy nigga began to stroke my kitty until I purred.

“Shit… damn.” I spread my legs wider giving him easy access. He eased another finger inside and stroked me faster.

“Let me eat that pussy. All day when I was out getting money I could taste you on my tongue. Mmm, I could smell your sweet scent when I closed my eyes.” Zeus kissed my neck and then his tongue slid back down to my breast. His hot, humid tongue stroked my nipple until it became erect as his finger fucked me faster. My pussy was so dripping wet that it made that gushy sound as I moaned. He lowered his head as his tongue traveled across my body and I arched my back in anticipation. He stopped at my navel and drove me crazy as he licked, sucked and kissed it like he was savoring the moment. His passion was my sexual torment and I was caught up in the web of ecstasy that consumed me. Then he went lower, buried his tongue inside my pussy and lapped up my juices. I couldn’t help it. I grabbed the back of his head and grinded my pelvis against his face as I felt a powerful tremble. I began to cum in what seemed like rivers that he lovingly slurped up. He pushed his tongue deeper inside, ensuring that I cum again. That time it was in convulsions that rocked my body with miniature spasms.

“Ohhh! Shit! Fuck, humph!” I exclaimed as I rocked my hips, fucking his face in a lustful rhythm. Then he stopped and suddenly pulled his face away. I felt a cool draft between my thighs in the absence of his tongue. I heard him groan when he reached to turn me over on my stomach as his dick rubbed against my legs. He was rock hard, about nine inches long and nearly as thick as my arm. I shuddered when he placed a pillow underneath my stomach and tooted my ass up in the air. He was kind of rough with it and I knew that it was his lust for me. Secretly, I liked when he got like that. I looked back over my shoulder. He grabbed the baby oil off the nightstand, squirted that shit all over my ass and began to palm and caress it.

“Damn you got a beautiful, fat round ass,” he muttered and slapped my ass, making it jiggle.

“Baby what you getting ready to do,” I cooed. “You know I’m tight… you have to go slow.” It was our first time trying that position. To my delight he ate my pussy from the back like I was a gourmet meal. That shit felt good as fuck. Then he stopped and climbed on top of me from the back. His dick spread my lips as he eased deep inside of me. I clawed the bed because pain had never felt so good in my life. Thank God he had used the baby oil. He went deeper and I swore it felt like I could feel him in my chest cavity. He began to pound into me. The head board bumped against the wall, the bed squeaked in protest and I was on the verge of tears. Zeus fucked me like he was trying to lose himself in the tight, wet confines of my vagina. It was as if he was trying to escape into the succulent folds of my flesh. He tried to beat my pussy to death and I enjoyed every inch of him loving me with his thug passion.

That night we fall asleep in each other arms like spoons in a silverware drawer. I knew something was seriously troubling him simply from the way he had made love to me. Call it a woman’s intuition, but I knew that it was something.

* * *

The next morning we were lounging around the front room in front of the TV. My coochie was all swollen and sore. Slyly Zeus gave me a knowing glance; like he just knew that he had beat the coochie up. I smiled back at him, because he had. It was one of those lazy, early Saturday mornings. I could tell by the way he was looking at me that he wanted to go another round.

Buff entered the living room followed by Peaches. I caught a whiff of the blunt that she was holding as she entered the room. They were both still in their pajamas. Like me, Peaches had on a night gown. It was like our version of a town hall meeting. Once Buff and Peaches were seated on the sofa across from us, Buff got straight to the point.

“You handle that business?” Buff asked Zeus. His expression was thoughtful.

“Uhh huh, I had to bust on some niggas last night. I didn’t make it in ‘til late”.

“What happened?” Buff asked with a scowl outlining his face.

“While me and Money was counting up, A. J. just happened to be coming back from the store when he spotted a mint green Chevy parked out back with some niggas inside, four deep. We could tell they was plotting because the engine was running and they had the lights off.”

“What did y’all do?” Buff asked. I thought I detected a glint of mischief in his eyes.

“I had some of the crew, Jimmy, Tony and Mike Dee with me. Money stayed behind to watch the dough and then the strangest thing happened. Just as we was creeping on them niggas through the short cut in Ms. Spencer’s yard, I heard the passenger answer his phone and then warn his dudes that we was coming.”

“What?” Buff asked suspiciously.

“But we was still able to bust on they fuck asses. We shot hella heat up in that Chevy. I think I hit one of them niggas while they was burning rubber trying to get outta there.”

“That’s good, real good,” Buff said as he stroked his chin. “I can’t help it, but I’m thinking it’s an inside job. It’s one of the niggas we fuck with.”

“Bruh, I was thinking the same damn thing. But who?” Zeus asked.

“I don’t know, but until we get down to the bottom of this, no mistakes allowed, na’mean. We gotta stay on alert mode and not get caught slipping.”

“Bitch, pass me the muhfuckin’ blunt,” I said to Peaches as we sat on the couch watching the exchange of words. I knew that my intuition was never wrong. That was where his aggression in the bedroom had stemmed from the night before.

“Oh, shit.” She passed me the blunt. Her eyes were blood shot red and slanted as she looked at her watch. “We have hair appointments in an hour.”

“Babe, did you spend all that?” Zeus asked caressing my cheek. I’d never felt what I was feeling at that moment and it felt good.

I glanced over at Peaches. Her eyes were saying, “Bitch, you better say yes.” I didn’t want to seem greedy.

“I got a little bit left over…but…”

“It’s a Gucci duffle bag in the room on the dresser and there’s a hundred racks in there. Take what you need,” he said and kissed my cheek. His hand went under my gown and caressed my inner thigh. He had a smirk on his face when he said with a sly grin, “I’m tryna see you before you leave.”