Chapter Thirty-five
Flamboyant had a smile on his face when he saw Taj pull into the parking lot of the Skirva. His smile got even brighter when he saw Shayla, the love of his life, walk out of the hotel's lobby with her Gucci luggage in her hands. He knew that if he kept an eye on Taj sooner or later she'd lead him to Shayla. Ever since that incident at the Waffle House he'd been a total wreck. He wasn't sleeping right, his eating habits had become irregular, and he was drinking more and more. He knew he couldn't keep going the route he was going so he made up his mind to find a way to get Shayla back in his life. But first he had to find her. Now that he had her in his sights there was no way in hell he was going to let her get away from him again.
Taj jumped out of her car and helped Shayla with her bags. “Damn, girl, I didn't know you had this much stuff,” Taj complained as she loaded two of Shayla's Gucci bags into the trunk.
“Stop whining and hurry up, girl. I can't wait to see where Trevor lives.”
“You decided to be with this man and you don't even know where he lives? That's crazy,” Taj said as she got back inside of the car.
After joining Taj, Shayla said, “He had some loose ends he needed to take care of before I was able to move in with him. He called me this morning and told me that he had taken care of everything and that it was time for me to come home.”
“Hmm, so he had another broad he had to shake first, huh?”
Shayla laughed and said, “Something like that.”
“Well, at least he didn't try to play no games with you and try to keep her on the side.”
“That's not Trevor's style. He may be on some thug shit, but as long as I've known him he's never lied or played any games like that with me.”
“What's up with Marco? Have you heard from him anymore?”
“Not since I got rid of that phone. Trevor bought me a new one and no one has the number except you and him.”
“You know you got to be careful, girl. Ain't no telling what's going on in that man's head. You hurt him, Shayla, and when a nigga from these streets get hurt like that he can become very dangerous.”
“Don't I know it! A few months ago I would have put my hand on a stack of Bibles that Marco would never put his hands on me. Girl, that man has slapped the piss out of me twice, and God only knows what he wants to do to me now that he knows I'm with Trevor. But I'm not worried. Trevor won't let anything happen to me,” she said with a confident smile on her face.
“I hope you're right,” Taj said as she turned her car onto the highway, headed toward Shayla's new home.
Both of the females were so busy chatting that neither of them paid any attention to Flamboyant's Denali following them.
* * *
Everything is finally in place. My money is right, I got the north locked tight, and the squad is gettin' paid, too. I got the girl I've always wanted back in my life and Tippi ain't trippin'. The only thing I got to worry 'bout is that nigga Flamboyant,
King thought as he sat down on the bed. He was anxiously awaiting Shayla's arrival to his home, their home. Today was about to be the official beginning of their relationship.
He grabbed the phone and called Charlie. When Charlie answered he asked, “Have you heard anything on that fool yet?”
“As a matter of fact, I have. Watch your ass at all times, King. It looks as if that guy is going to try to bring the drama your way.”
“You know what that means, right?”
Charlie sighed and said, “Do you, King? I can't be upset with you for defending yourself.”
“Good lookin', Charlie. I'll holla.” After he got off of the phone with Charlie he quickly made another call. Tippi answered the phone on the first ring. “Listen, you need to get a line on that nigga Flamboyant and his peoples.”
“I got the green light?” asked Tippi.
“No doubt.”
“Good. I'm on it.”
“Get at me as soon as you know somethin'.”
“What, you want a part of this?”
“You don't think I'm gon' let your ass have all of the fun.”
She laughed and said, “Whatever, nigga.”
“Get on that BI for me. I want that nigga done like yesterday.”
“Gotcha.”
Fifteen minutes after King had gotten off of the phone with Tippi, Shayla and Taj pulled into his driveway. Shayla jumped out of the car and happily ran toward the front door. When King opened the door and stepped onto the porch she ran into his arms and gave him a tight hug. “I'm home, baby! I'm home!” she screamed, and then kissed him tenderly.
He pulled from her embrace and said, “Come on, Shay, let me get your stuff. I don't need my neighbors all up in mines. Y'all go on in the house while I lug in all yo' shit.”
“Okay, come on, Taj,” she said as she let Taj inside of her new home.
Flamboyant watched from down the street as King grabbed Shayla's bags out of Taj's car. He was parked about four houses down from King's home. “Your ass is mines, nigga,” he said out loud as he watched King go back inside of his house. He started his truck and left King's neighborhood with a deadly smile on his face.
Somebody 'bout to die and it ain't gon' be me!
* * *
“I just got off the phone with the damn Chicos, Toni.”
“And?”
“They know about our little problem,” said Charlie.
“How did they find out about that shit so fast?”
“You know them mothafuckas got eyes and ears every-fucking-where.”
“What did you tell them?”
“That everything was under control and there was nothing to worry about. You know what that bean-eating mothafucka Eduardo had the fucking nerve to say to me?”
“What?”
“That he never worried, because he was the boss. I swear I wanted to roast that illegal immigrant mothafucka!”
“Calm down, Charlie.”
“Calm down, my ass! Look, Flamboyant is most likely about to fuck up a large part of our monthly income. How do you expect for us to make up for what we're going to lose?”
“Lose?”
“Yeah, lose. If he is successful and takes out King, we're going to lose that money from the north side, as well as the south side. Because if he hurts my man, he's a dead man too, Toni.”
“Why don't we cut our losses in half?”
“How?”
“Call in Teedo and have Flamboyant taken care of before he gets to King.”
“Teedo? I don't know. I think King may just be able to handle that nigga.”
“Why take that chance? If he doesn't, we lose all the way around. If we let Teedo come do what he's highly paid for, then we'll only lose half of our monthly money.”
Charlie smiled and said, “You know what, you're absolutely right, partner. Make that call to Teedo and get his ass down here from New Orleans as fast as you can.”
Toni smiled and said, “Gotcha.”
Chapter Thirty-six
Flamboyant paced back and forth inside of his living room as he waited for his team to arrive. He was ready to strike King and his people a blow that should bring their little organization crumbling down. “That nigga crossed me out and took Wifey. For that, he has to die painfully,” Flamboyant said out loud as he continued to pace the living room. He stepped to the bar and poured himself a stiff shot of Crown Royal. He was sipping his drink when he heard cars pulling into his driveway. The team had arrived.
After letting everyone inside, Flamboyant smiled and said, “It's like this, I know y'all been waitin' for the opportunity to handle 'em north side niggas ever since we buried Prince and Gunna. I thank each one of y'all for listenin' to me and not pressin' the issue. My first concern was gettin' that money for all of us. If we couldn't eat we wouldn't be able to get our revenge. Shit is 'bout to get crazy around here so I wanted to make sure that y'all were down for what I'm 'bout to put down.”
“What's poppin', Flam? You gon' let us do 'em niggas now or what?” asked Wave.
“Yeah, 'em niggas think they got away wit' this shit! You need to g'on and let us put 'em down,” added Milo.
Ken remained silent as he stared and patiently waited for what Flamboyant had to tell them.
“Once we move on 'em niggas Toni will cut me off. That means no more work and our protection will be snatched. We'll be on our own as far as gettin' our money. I'm to the point where it don't even matter no more. I want that nigga King to die a painful death for the shit he's done to our niggas. So, if y'all ready to ride on 'em niggas we might as well get this shit started. I already know where that nigga King rest his head. I'm takin' care of that nigga myself.”
“Right. And we'll take care of the rest of 'em niggas. They got right back comfortable out in Del City so it won't be no problem lookin' at 'em fools out that way,” said Wave.
“Yeah, that li'l nigga be poppin' up out in Midwest City, too. You already know I got his ass,” said Milo.
“Good. We still got to hit 'em niggas up on the north side. Not only are we puttin' 'em niggas down, we're 'bout to make a mark on the entire city. We don't need Toni's ass to get money. We 'bout to lock this whole mothafucka down by our gotdamn self!”
“That's real talk right there,” said Wave. “So, when do you want us to move on 'em fools?”
“The sooner the better. I'm gettin' at that nigga King later on tonight.”
“So be it! It's on!” said Milo as he got to his feet. “I'm 'bout to round up my gorillas and make this shit pop off.”
“I'll make my moves later on too,” added Wave.
“Be safe and get back at me and let me know what's what,” Flamboyant said as he poured himself another drink.
As they were leaving Flamboyant's home, Ken stopped after Wave and Milo were outside and asked Flamboyant, “Are you sure you want to make this play, dog?”
“Yeah, it's the only way. 'Em niggas got to die.”
“That's no question. But you know the streets are talkin', my nigga. The word is out 'bout Shayla, dog. Is that the reason you've made this call?”
“Too keep it one hundred wit' you, Ken, yeah, it is.”
Ken nodded and said, “I can respect that. At least you're keepin' it all on the table. Fuck, I'd be on some murda shit too if that shit happened to me. You know you're puttin' everything we've worked for at risk if this shit goes left on us, right?”
Flamboyant downed the rest of his drink and answered his homeboy. “Yeah, I know.”
* * *
“Teedo will be here tomorrow evening. He wants us to have his equipment ready. He doesn't plan on staying long,” said Toni.
“What, that nigga don't like Oklahoma City?” asked Charlie.
“You know how he is. He wants everything nice and quick, in and out.”
“Whatever,” Charlie said and hung up. Charlie picked the receiver back up and called King. When King answered Charlie told him, “It would be wise for you to take Shayla out the way for about forty-eight hours.”
“Why's that?”
“Flamboyant might be trying to make a move on y'all soon.”
“Yeah, well, I can deal wit' that clown-ass nigga. I ain't runnin' from that coward.”
“This isn't about you running away from him, King. Do what I've asked and everything else will be taken care of. Do you understand me?”
King smiled into the receiver and said, “Yeah, I got you. But you know you should've let me and my squad handle this shit.”
“Forty-eight hours, King,” Charlie said and hung up the phone.
After he got off the phone with Charlie, King told Shayla, “Baby, go pack a lightweight bag real quick. We're 'bout to hit Dallas for a couple of days.”
Shayla smiled and said, “Okay. Do you have some business to take care of out there?”
“Nah, I just want to go do a li'l shoppin' and shit. I got a li'l spot out there that has the plug on some True Religion jeans and a whole bunch of other shit. I'm tryin' to get my winter gear in order, that's all. Plus, I figured you wouldn't mind gettin' your shop on too.”
“You know it.”
He watched as she went into the bedroom to pack. As soon as the bedroom door closed he picked up the phone and called Tippi.
“What up, nigga?” asked Tippi.
“Look, somethin' is 'bout to pop off wit' that nigga Flamboyant. Charlie wants me to shake the spot for a couple of days so I'm takin' Shayla to Dallas. Have you found anything on 'em clowns?”
“I was gon' to hit you up later and let you know that I got a line on 'em fools' spots on the southeast and southwest side. I've already got wit' my wolves and we gon' go look at 'em fools later on.”
“Do you. Make sure you get at me and let me know what pops off.”
“Mmm hmm.”
“And, Tippi?”
“What?”
“Be safe.”
“Whatever, nigga, like you really give a fuck.”
“You know I give a fuck, so don't be on no rah-rah shit out there. Watch yo' ass,” King said sincerely.
His tone of voice touched her where she didn't want to be touched. She sighed and said, “I will.”
* * *
Boleg and Cuddy pulled in front of the trap on the block as Tippi was stepping off of the porch. She strolled over to Boleg's Suburban and said, “Y'all niggas are right on time. Y'all want to put some work in wit' me and my wolves?”
“What's poppin'?” asked Cuddy.
“I'm 'bout to go look at 'em south side niggas out on the southeast side first. Then I'm gon' ride on the southwest side and see who else we can smash. Y'all wit' that?”
“You fuckin' right!” yelled Boleg.
“A'ight, look, go on and strap up and meet me back here in about thirty. Where that li'l nigga Nutta at?”
Cuddy shrugged his broad shoulders and said, “Ain't no tellin'.”
“Hit him up and let him know what's 'bout to pop off. Have y'all heard from Keko?”
“Yeah, I talked to that nigga about an hour ago. He's out in Del City doin' him,” answered Boleg.
Tippi checked the time on her watch and said, “A'ight, let me bounce. I got to get my wolves. I'll see y'all here in a li'l bit.” She stepped quickly to her truck and sped off the block.
* * *
On the southeast side, Milo was gathering his gorillas and preparing them for what he had planned for King's squad, preferably Nutta. Ever since that incident at that McDonald's, Milo had been waiting for the opportunity to hurt Nutta something terrible. And now that he was in a position to make his move, he couldn't wait.
“A'ight, my niggas, it's like this: I just checked wit' my peoples out in Midwest City. That li'l nigga I want to smash is out there gettin' his grind on. So we gon' ride out that way and handle that fool real quick. After that we'll come back over here and chill 'til it gets dark; then we gon' go tear up the north side. We smashin' every nigga I think is affiliated wit' that nigga King's crew.” Milo's men were ready. They all gave nods of their heads, letting him know that his gorillas were ready for whatever. He smiled and said, “let's ride!”
* * *
Nutta was sitting on the porch of a crackhead's home counting the money he had just made. He had a smile on his face because he was making more money out in Midwest City than he ever thought he would.
Yeah, this shit is lovely right here,
he thought as he put a rubber band around the large wad of cash he held in his hand.
Just as he was putting his money inside of his pocket he saw Milo turn onto the block in his Chevy Tahoe, followed closely by two other cars.
Three cars deep. I know these niggas ain't lookin' for no drama,
Nutta thought as he pulled his pistol from the small of his back and racked a live round into its chamber. His cell rang just as he locked eyes with Milo. “What's up, Cuddy?” Nutta asked as he continued to stare at Milo.
“Dog, we 'bout to move on 'em south side niggas. You tryin' to ride wit' us or what?”
“It looks like I'm 'bout to have some drama wit' 'em fools right now.”
“What's up?”
Before Nutta could answer Cuddy, Milo jumped out of his SUV with two .40-caliber H&Ks in his hands and yelled, “My turn now, nigga!”
“Aww, shit!” Nutta yelled as he dropped his phone and raised his nine and started blasting away at Milo.
Milo smiled as he held his ground and returned fire at Nutta. He knew that he had Nutta right where he wanted him and there was absolutely no chance of Nutta getting away from him or his gorillas.
Outmanned and outgunned, Nutta refused to back down. He continued to fire his pistol until he was able to slip into the crackhead's house. Once he was inside, he told the crackhead, who was screaming hysterically, to shut the fuck up and call the police. While she was dialing 911, he was reloading his weapon and trying to figure a way out of this mess. Just as he racked another round into his nine, the front door was kicked in followed by a deadly volley of bullets from Milo's gorillas who joined the heated gun battle.
Nutta heard the crackhead scream as she was hit twice in her chest. He wasn't really concerned about her; he was too busy trying to blast anyone who tried to enter the house. Sweating profusely, Nutta realized that he had no win
. It is time to get the fuck on,
he thought as he slid on the floor toward the back of the house.
When he made it to the kitchen he got to his feet and smiled as he opened the door. As soon as he stepped into the backyard he was shot three times in his chest. He tried to raise his arms to fire his weapon at a smiling Milo, but he had no strength. Milo calmly stepped up to Nutta and said, “I knew I'd get your punk ass.” Then he shot Nutta point blank in his forehead and turned and walked away as Nutta's lifeless body fell to the ground.
When Cuddy heard all of the shooting in the background he screamed, “Awww, shit!”
“What?” asked Boleg.
“Nutta's in some shit out in Midwest City. I hear a whole lot of blastin'. Let's get out there.”
As Boleg drove toward Midwest City, Cuddy called Tippi and told her what was going on.
“A'ight, I'm on my way wit' my people. We'll meet y'all out there. Y'all hurry the fuck up before they get that li'l nigga!” Tippi screamed into the phone.
“We on it,” Cuddy said as he hung up the phone.
By the time Cuddy and Boleg pulled onto the block where Nutta made his money, there were police cars everywhere. Boleg parked his truck and they got out of the SUV, looking for their homeboy. When Boleg saw the yellow crime scene tape wrapped all around the crackhead's front door, he knew that Nutta was dead. He stepped to one of the police officers and said, “My li'l brother was inside of that house, Officer! Could you please tell me what's going on?”
“We have two people dead. One female and one male. One is inside of the home and the other victim is in the backyard. Can you give me description of what your brother was wearing today, son?” asked the officer, concerned.
Boleg shook his head and said, “I haven't seen him since last night. But he's five eight, light brown skin, and keeps his hair braided toward the back. I know he's here 'cause that's his truck parked in front of the house.” Boleg pointed toward Nutta's SUV as tears fell slowly from his eyes.
“Come wit' me,” said the officer as he led Boleg toward the backyard. “I can't let you contaminate this crime scene, but you can be helpful with a positive ID.” When they stepped into the backyard Nutta's body was covered with a white sheet. The officer stepped to the body, knelt down to it, and pulled the sheet back. “Is this your brother, son?”
With his tears flowing harder, Boleg gave the officer a nod yes, turned left, and left the backyard. As soon as he was back in the front he told Cuddy, “They got him, dog. They smoked Nutta.”
“What? Aww, hell nah!” screamed Cuddy. “Come on, let's get the fuck outta here!” When they made it to the truck Cuddy grabbed his cell and called Tippi. “Where you at?”
“We should be there in 'bout five. Is Nutta a'ight?”
“Nah, 'em niggas got him. Nutta gone,” Cuddy said gravely.
“Shitttt! Come on, y'all, meet us at that li'l gas station on the corner of Southeast and Fifteenth, right off the highway.”
“We on our way.”