The Face That Launched A Thousand Bullets (The Cartel Publications Presents) (41 page)

“Tiara put that shit down. I want you to meet somebody.”

She smiled handing the bag to Cray until she saw Nyzon sitting on her sofa. Both of them looked at each other as if the devil had presented himself to them both. Nyzon felt a major blow as he looked at Tiara. How could he be so stupid? A female that bad had to belong to a nigga who could afford her. And in Baltimore city, Cray was it. Had he asked more questions, he would’ve figured it out.

“Nyzon…you a’ight man?” Cray asked sensing the tension between them. He looked at them both trying to figure out what was up.

“Oh…yeah…uh…when I first saw her, she reminded me of somebody I thought I knew.”

Silence.

“So you gonna introduce us or what?” Nyzon said. He stood up and walked over to them.

He was doing his best to ease the thick vibe in the air. And when he looked at Tiara, he saw a single tear fall from her eye. She thought as he did, their romance although new, was already over.

“Oh…yeah, this is my shawty Tiara and this is Nyzon.” Cray placed one hand on Tiara’s back and the other on Nyzon’s shoulder. “This my partner from DC I been tellin’ you about.”
“Nyzon?” she said as if it were a question more than his name.

But I thought his name was Shelton.
She thought.

“Yeah…Nyzon.” He shook her hand as if it he hadn’t just held it for hours on a plane.

Cray no longer caring about the connection he saw between them, because he was so drunk, dismissed Tiara.

“Aight, get lost. I gotta talk to, Ny.”
She couldn’t move.
“Bitch, you heard what I said? Get lost.”
“Hey…you don’t have to talk to her like that, Cray.”
Cray laughed.
“Stop trippin’ off of these bitches. You gotta keep ‘em in check.”
Nyzon was seconds from dropping him on the floor. Luckily for him, Tiara hurriedly walked down the stairs.

When she left, Cray rattled off the plans for tonight’s events. On and on he talked about the shit he had lined up for his cousin Devon. And how when Devon came home, he’d be set for life.

While Nyzon and Tiara on the other hand, saw their lives falling apart.

 

 

The Kings Of 295

Martin’s West, Woodlawn Maryland

The Release

 

M
artins West was filled to capacity the evening of Devon’s release. Cray made sure his money was well spent. There were ice sculptures in the shape of dollar signs and free flowing fountains of Kettle One and Hennessey. And he even sent out free IPod’s with video invitations loaded on them a month before the event with all of the latest music.

The party was hot!

To top it all off, Cray saw to it that the women outnumbered the men two to one.

Through all the chatter, Devon’s voice could be heard clearly over the music and the sounds of champagne glasses clinking against one another played in the background. Cray had yet to arrive and when everybody kept calling him on his phone, he kept saying he was on his way. The Kings knew he was trying to make an entrance with Tiara on his arm. It would be the first time he’d introduce his trophy girl to everyone else in his crew. Some saw her before he cleaned her up but most didn’t.

“So I here ya’ll out here doin’ big things!” Devon said to Jason while a female especially chosen for him sat on his lap and kissed him on his neck. “They tellin’ me ya’ll youngins got so much money, ya’ll can’t even spend it.”

“You heard right, man. Cray got up wit them DC niggas and we ain’t looked back since.”

“I heard about that shit.” He sipped his vodka before kissing the chocolate female in his lap then pouring the liquor in her mouth from his. “I don’t know about some of ya’ll decisions though.”

“Why you say that?”

“I’ma cut to the chase cause that’s how I do. I’m not down with yall trustin’ DC niggas and shit?”

“Why?”

“Cause history shows that they can’t be trusted.”

“Nyzon cool. He got Cray’s back.”
Devon laughed.
“You still a kid.” He said shaking his head.
Jason was offended but kept his comments to himself. Besides, he respected Devon.

“Look, I’m back home and a lot of shit gonna change. For real if we runnin’ shit the way they say we do, ain’t no need to deal wit DC blood no more. Let’s keep it in the family. The more money, the more betta.”

“I feel you.” Jason said nodding in agreement. “The thing is, Nyzon got the connect info so it ain’t that easy.”

“Cray let that shit ride like that?”

“He trusts him. We trust him.”

Just when Devon was getting ready to pick Jason’s bitch ass for some more information, Cray walked through the door with Tiara on his arm. She wore this stunning form fitting red dress by Valentino and all mouths dropped. It would be the first time some people saw her but her beauty would be engraved in their minds forever. There wasn’t a female in the room who could touch her.

Cray came through the door wearing a pair of Red Monkey jeans, a red shirt and some fresh red Air Force ones. He was also sporting a brand new platinum diamond chain he had made which read, The King of 295.

Shortly afterwards, Nyzon came through with Angel on his arm looking as luscious and as phat as ever, in a short pink one piece dress. But as bad as she was, the moment Nyzon saw Tiara, the two stared at each other as if they were all alone. For that moment, Angel didn’t exist. It was like falling in love all over again. How could they get through the party without talking to one another?

Nyzon’s dark blue pen stripe suit made him look edible. And the five carat diamond ring in his left ear shined like the star he was. The Kings were doing it balla style! Nyzon mingled a little allowing Cray the time to kick it with his cousin.

“Is that my cousin ova that mothafucka?” Cray yelled walking up to Devon.

They embraced each other in a manly hug as the females flocked hoping to get their attentions. Cray had hired a video team to follow him around like paparazzi so he seemed larger than life. Before Devon could answer his cousin, they posed for a picture.

“Who else can look as fresh as me?!” Devon responded as they took their seats and Devon eyed Tiara.

“Baby, this is my favorite cousin.” Cray said. “The one I was telling you about.
Tiara shook his hand softly. And he shook his head three times in disbelief. Her exotic appeal got his dick hard.
“Hi, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” She said. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

Devon licked his lips before saying, “My man, I see you’ve done better for yourself than I thought. Where did you find her? They don’t make ‘em like this no more.”

“You thought I was play pippin’?” Cray asked. “Only the baddest bitches for the baddest nigga.”
They both laughed but Tiara felt humiliated.
“Baby, let me find my friends.”

When she stood up, he smacked her in the ass. She was so embarrassed her face turned red. And, the moment she stood up, two sexy twins came and sat on his lap. It was like they were waiting in the darkness like most snakes do.

“Don’t go too far. I might need to show you off to a few more niggas. And we gonna have to get that tattoo on your arm that says, Cray’s bitch, we talked about. ‘Cause I know niggas gonna be gawking’. Remember who you belong to aight?” he said as one of the women kissed him in the mouth.

“I know who I belong to,” she smiled thinking of Nyzon.
Knowing Cray was in his element, she walked off to find Felecia and Yolanda who were around the other Kings.
When she left Cray and Devon got situated and got right down to business.

“So I’m hearing you puttin’ in work wit DC dudes?” Devon asked downing more liquor. “What…ain’t no loyal Bmore niggas ‘round no more?”

“It ain’t even like that. Da nigga had access to a connect wit the best shit around. We can step on his product five times and still put out a banger.”

“Well I’m out now so you betta put it down to main man that I’m gonna be hands on wit the family business. Seein’ as though I put funds in the original package too.”

Cray didn’t want to tell him that his measly fifty thousand couldn’t even cover one percent of the dough they spent. It was the money he stole from Tiara that Kavon hid in his apartment that helped with his portion of the weight. Tiara had no idea that the key around her neck belonged to a safe deposit box full of cash, and he’d never tell her.

“Plus I gotta watch my cousin’s back.”

“No doubt.” Cray responded as he spotted Nyzon and Angel walking in his direction. He wanted to have the conversation Devon was trying to have at another time. “Speakin’ of DC cats, this my nigga, Ny.”

Nyzon walked up to Cray with his winning smile.

What’s up, nigga?! You wasn’t lyin’. You went all out!”

“Fuck you think I was playin’?” Cray joked.

Devon studied them and could tell they had a genuine respect for one another and that bothered him.

“Angel, go get us somethin’ to drink,” he told her.

He didn’t bother introducing her because she wasn’t relevant.

“Ny, this my cousin, Devon.”

Ny shook Devon’s hand and felt instant tension.

“My cousin tellin’ me you cool peoples. So if you are, you can understand me when I say I’ma have his back, so if you down wit him, I got yours too.”

Nyzon looked at Jason, Cray and Devon and laughed.

“Main man, I see where you comin’ from because my family got me too, but I’m good on the back watchin’ tip. I ain’t locked up.” Devon was shocked that Nyzon wasn’t going for his shit. And the three of them looked at one another. “On another note, I’m glad to see you home, young. Cray been talkin’ bout you since I’ve known him. That’s real talk. But this is a celebration! Lada, for this business talk shit! You home, nigga! Let’s make it a party.”

“Oh…yeah. We’ll rap lada,” Devon responded.
“Indeed,” Nyzon said before walking away.
“I told you he’s cool,” Cray said. “I ain’t use to fuck wit’ him but he’s aight.”
“We’ll see about that. We’ll see.”

 

 

Nyzon Peat

Martin’s West

There’s No Denyin’

 

N
yzon kept Tiara in his peripheral vision as she walked around the ballroom.

She was a queen and stood out like a one hundred dollar bill on a black marble floor. Everyone couldn’t get over how beautiful she was, and eventually Angel picked up on his stares.

“Nyzon, I’m leaving.” She grabbed her purse and stood up from the table they sat at.

“Not this bullshit again.” He shook his head. “Sit the fuck down and stop trippin.”

“Look how you talk to me. You don’t have any respect for me and for us.”

“Now what’s wrong? You makin’ a fuckin’ scene.”

“I’m makin’ a scene? You been eyeing’ Cray’s girl all night and you sasy I’m makin’ a scene? Plus I see her keep lookin’ over here. If you want her so bad go get her, but don’t use me as an excuse.”

“It’s not even like that.” He stood up. “Sit down and stop trippin’.”

“I’m serious. When you ready to be for real about me, you got the key to my heart
and
the key to my house. Use them.” With that she stood up. “And don’t worry, I’ll catch a cab home.”

She passed Tiara who looked at Nyzon with concern. Angel was halfway out the door when she decided to say something in Tiara’s ear. “I don’t know what’s goin’ on between ya’ll, but he’s feelin’ you too. But be careful, he breaks hearts on a regular. Good luck.” She continued as she strolled out the door.

Other books

Evil Breeding by Susan Conant
Apprentice in Death by J.D. Robb
One & Only by Kara Griffin
Falling for Max by Shannon Stacey
Found (Captive Heart #2) by Carrie Aarons
The Wrong Lawyer by Donald W. Desaulniers
A Devil Is Waiting by Jack Higgins