URBAN: Chosen By A Kingpin (60 page)

Enrique paused. “Just make sure to keep it clean, no witnesses and no survivors.”

***

This wasn’t King’s first time at a strip club but it had been a minute. He decided to roll with Reese and meet up with Mook. The girls were on stage doing their thing and to be quite frank he was enjoying it. He thought he recognized a few from way back, like a girl named Tanisha he went to school with. She waved from the stage then gave him a quick hug before returning to her routine.

Across the floor, sitting in the opposite corner from him he noticed a bunch of angry looking esse’s staring at him. It didn’t’ immediately hype him up but it was something he would have Reese checkout. King took a seat at the bar and waited on Mook to show up. After a couple of drinks he became concerned, it was well after 10pm and Mook hadn’t arrived. He gave him a call, but his call went unanswered, so he just continued to shoot the shit with Reese and his homeboys.

Just about a quarter to twelve, Mook walked in looking angry at the world. He walked right past Reese and his boys without a hello, heading straight for King.

King stood up. “Mook…” but Mook didn’t say a word and through a punch which in simple terms knocked King the fuck out. When King came to, he saw Mook standing over him with his fists drawn, and shouting.

“Stand up Motherfucker! If you think you can get away with fucking my sister, then fucking her over you got another thing coming.”

“Ahhh,” King tried to stand up, but stood only with the help of Reese. “Mook, it is not what you think.”

“Man, fuck you! That’s all you say…is that your answer for everything? It’s not what you think…it wasn’t me.” He said pointing his finger in Kings face. “ I told you not to fuck with Bae and you still did, so don’t tell me no more bullshit about it being not what you think. It is what I think.”

King understood. In fact, if it had been his sister he would have done the same. He could only ask for forgiveness and hope his friend comes to terms and recognizes like he had come to recognize that he loved Bae and meant her no harm.

“You right Mook. I’m wrong and I respect your wishes from now on. I never meant to hurt Bae or you. Y’all all the family I got man, word is bond. You, Bae, Cissy and Reese…you all I got.”

Mook turned around and headed towards the door. King went after him, with Reese close behind screaming Kings name.

“King, King! Hold up, let him go, cool out!” Reese called.

Across the street in a dark tinted car were Enrique’s crew and once they heard the name King, they made a move. Speeding across the street, windows down they fired at the threesome. Bullets riddled and bounced off every window and wall. King, Mook and Reese tried to avoid the fire by docking behind cars. Reese was the only one carrying. He spun around them and fired. Soon others from the bar came out and a war broke out in the parking lot of Magic City.

“Pop, pop, pop, pop!”

The bullets never let up. King counted about twenty-four shots in all. These dudes had plenty of fire power, so he couldn’t count on them running out of bullets. Then all of a sudden just like it started it ended. Nothing but silence and the hum of motors nearby.

More of Reese’s crew exited the building to bullet ridden cars, glass and bodies. They moved Reese and King inside. Both of them were fine.

“Where’s Mook?” King asked. “I don’t see Mook.”

Reese jumped up from his chair. “He was right next to me…oh fuck!” Reese said, both of them running outside.

“Fuck!” Reese screamed.

King ran to Mook’s side, turning him over and seeing that his friend had took multiple hits. “Oh hell naw Mook! Somebody call 911! Now! He checked for a pulse and found one but there was so much blood, and King feared the worst.

“Hold on man,” King pleaded holding Mook’s head in his lap. He wasn’t a praying man but he did pray. He prayed that God would save Mook. He prayed that Bae would forgive him, because surely she was gonna blame him for this and he prayed that Mook forgive him too.

***

No matter how many times King washed his hands, he just couldn’t get the sight of all that blood out his mind. After returning from the bathroom a third time, he was approached by two officers.

“Hold up son, what’s your name?” The officer asked.

“Kenan. Kenan Ivory.”

Here came the shakedown. King knew it was coming. It didn’t matter if he had anything to do with the shooting or not. Black men were never seen as victims.

The officer circled around him like he was looking for something.

“You got some ID?” He asked.

“Yeah, I got some ID.” King said handing him his driver’s license.

The officer took it and headed out the door. King knew they were looking him up and yes they would learn he was on parole too. It was a very good chance he was going to jail tonight. He stood their quiet while he watched the other cop make his way around the room. Pretty soon the club was filled with cops, almost two to one of the remaining patrons. He got a text from Bae and was about to return it when the cop stopped him.

“Don’t answer that! We are in the middle of an investigation. Hand me your phone!” He screamed.

“Look officer, my friend just got shot and this is his sister. She probably just wants to know where they took him, if he is okay, what hospital?”

“I don’t give a shit if it is Jesus Christ. You better not be texting nobody. In fact I am taking possession of your phone. Now hand it over to me Boy!”

Damn
!

This night had gone from bad to worse. King gave him the phone just as the other cop returned from outside. He could tell by the look on his face that he was getting locked up.

“Kenan Penn Ivory you’re under arrest. Turn around and put your hands behind your back! He screamed.

“For what?” King asked. “Fuck you! This is bullshit!”

The two cops manhandled him, knocking him to the ground and slapping the cuffs on way too tight. The first officer, held King down, pressing his hands around his neck. If he didn’t know any better he would swear the cop was trying to choke him to death. King gasped, trying to catch his breath. He knew they were winning this match, so he just lay still until they decided to let go. Off in the distance he heard Reese and Big Cissy being arrested, along with everyone in the club. It was some sort of shakedown and they couldn’t do a damn thing about it.

From the backseat of the patrol car, King stared through the wire steel mesh at the chaos around him. In just a matter of moments so much had changed. The whole thing was fucked up and no matter how it seemed like a revenge hit, he had more questions than answers. Why him? A motherfucker didn’t own shit. That shit Reese and him snatched wasn’t even a fucking grand a piece. Something just didn’t add up. He wondered about his friend Mook. No matter how he was feeling, nothing could be worse than being shot.

***

King talked to his Probation Officer, he talked with the DA, talked with his assigned lawyer, telling them all the same story. He had nothing to do with the shootout.

“So you telling me…you just an innocent man King? Oh yeah, I know your street name. Kenan King Ivory. The same King Ivory who we indicted on manslaughter and robbery charges 4 years ago. The same King Ivory who told us the exact same thing. It wasn’t you!” The DA mocked.

King didn’t care. This motherfucker never did like him. In fact he didn’t like niggas period. So, it was just best he kept his mouth shut and the motherfucker run his.

“King, King, King…King Kong MOTHERFUCKER!” He gestured like Denzel Washington, then laughed. “You know what, you all make it so easy. So fucking easy to lock you up. I mean, all you had to do is stay away from motherfuckers like you, get a job, go to school, stay clean and you pretty much would have your life back in say like, 6 years. Yeah, I know minimum wage can’t pay rent, but that’s when you get not one, but two or even three jobs. The point is you lazy, all of you are lazy. I’m gonna give you a bit of advice King. If, and that is a big if you manage to stay out of jail, get bond, get another chance…don’t come back here, because if you do I promise you I am going to give you the maximum sentence.” He stood up and motioned to the cops. “Now, get him out of here.”

He made bail.

King didn’t know who had paid his bail. At first he thought it was his mama, but she said she couldn’t raise that kind of money. Bail was set at 100K, a cash down payment of 10K was paid on his behalf and later he would learn Reese and Cissy’s as well.

Straight out of jail, King, Reese and Cissy headed to the hospital.

***

Mook nearly lost his life three times. First on the street and twice on the surgeons table. The family swarmed around him every day with chatter, prayers, food and news. He was never alone.

It was tense at first between King and Mook. Mook even refused to see him for days on end, but he eventually let him in and they squashed things like brothers do.

On this particular day Mook was in a talkative mood and had a lot of questions that not even King could answer.

“The way I see it Mook, Reese hit up those Nicaraguans, and because of that they exacted revenge. Looks clear and simple right, but why is it so quiet now? Wouldn’t they keep hitting us until they one either get their money and drugs back or two when both me and Reese are dead?”

“Yeah bruh, sounds suspicious and then you telling me some anonymous donor bails all three of you out of jail to the tune of a whopping 30k? Not many people running around with that type of bread. You feel me?”

“Yeah, I feel ya bruh. Somebody is going to want a favor and that’s the shit I don’t like.”

“Speaking of favors…King. I would appreciate you looking out for Bae, you know until I get well. She might need something, some help around the house. She would always call me.”

“Aw man, no doubt. I got you. So,” King paused. “You not tripping on me and Bae? You cool?”

“Yeah bruh,” Mook reached for his hand, slapping it, “We cool!”

***

Reese had a really good idea who hit us up and the only thing on his mind was revenge.

“It was either the Nicaraguans or the Puerto-Ricans…Fucking Marco! See, I’ve been checking them out.” Reese said, stumbling towards the door. “They set us up!”

King was shocked to hear him say Marco. Even with Reese being higher than usual, he made a viable point. This smelled of Marco. Marco was the one guy who had the money to bail them out, who else would care?

“King, I’m going to kill all them motherfuckers!”

“Yeah, I know Reese, but not just yet.”

“Yeah, yeah,” He nodded. “I’m cool.”

King managed to convince him to table it until Mook was well. The police on the other hand blamed everyone and that’s really why neither of them made a move. They were watching, the other dealers were watching, everybody waiting around to see who was going to make the first move. A chess game of sorts and their crew was the pawns. With upcoming court dates, everyone just chilled.

Bae forgave King and the two of them worked on building a real solid relationship, based on honesty and truth, well at least for the most part. He moved in with Bae two weeks after the incident. He managed to get his credentials together and ready for school in the fall. You could say things were really looking up for him. That bullshit job he had wasn’t doing it for him, so believe it or not he listened to that DA and got him two jobs, that and a little slinging on the side, just small stuff kept money in his pocket and enough to help Bae out with her bills.

Reese had found him a new connect so he was back on the street doing what he knew best. Just like Marco back in the day, he recruited him a small crew to handle the everyday dealings. King tried to get him a job at the warehouse he was working at, but Reese ain’t never worked a real job in his life and so he wasn’t having it.

***

Big Cissy came around the corner catching Bae and King in a kiss. “Why don’t you all get a fucking room?”

They both laughed. “You jealous Cissy?” Bae teased. “Don’t be, I hear Reese been checking you out.”

“Oh hell naw, girl! I need to slap you in your mouth for that one! You stupid!”

Bae gave King another kiss. “Hey baby, I need to make a run, so can you finish up with that staining of my porch while I’m gone and I promise I’ll have a surprise for you when I get back.”

***

While on the other side of town…

Marco poured himself a drink. “You sure you don’t want anything? I’m pouring me one now?

“No!” A female voice hollered from the bathroom.

“I like how you work girl! Now that Enrique is shutdown, we can get back to making some money. Sometimes it just takes time and patience and a really good woman. You feel me? Wow I see us back on top of the world and they will never see us coming.”

“That’s what I’m talking about,” she said taking a sip from his glass. Everything is in place, all we have to do is just work it. Finally, we can get back to business.”

“Girl no doubt, you just keep your legs wrapped around that nigga, tight! If anybody’s pussy can do it, I know yours can.” He laughed.

“Oh baby, no worries, I got him just where I want him.”

“Yep, just like old times.” Marco said slapping her ass. “That’s my Bae!”

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In Love With A Boss Nigga

Shantel Johnson

© 2015 Sensual Ink Publishing

Tiffany, Sienna and Derrick just stood there in the lobby of the building staring at each other. Tiffany and Sienna with tears in their eyes and Derrick standing there drenched with an I-don’t-give-a-damn attitude. Tiffany could not speak. When she tried, she just blew puffs of air with no words or sounds. Sienna breaks the awkward silence and says, “I guess we need a new motto. “If you like fucking Sienna, then you will love fucking Tiffany.” Sienna shook her head, turned and walked away, drowning out the sound of Derrick’s voice as he was shouting out something behind her back.

***

Tiffany and Sienna have been best friends ever since they met on the first day of school in second grade at Harper’s Elementary School, a local elementary school in the suburbs of Baltimore. Their friendship survived all of the adolescent drama of middle school, the ups and downs of high school and the building of lifelong friendships in college. Their motto was “If you didn’t like Tiff, then you didn’t like Sin.” They were always together and often mistaken for sisters. Their lives paralleled each other. They graduated college together. They got engaged around the same time. They got married around the same time and they even got divorced around the same time. They were each other’s support system through all of the ups and downs of their lives. Their bond was tight, unbreakable, even though they were opposites in so many ways.