Chapter 2

I really don't have the time for these cops. I know I put on a damn good show but I'm in no mood to sit here and keep putting on this sorry ass show. They ask too many damn questions. Questions that I'm not trying to answer. All in my business. Shit! Why were they getting so involved?! Why can't they just look into my watery eyes and listen to me pour my heart out about how I regret letting the love of my life bring his troubled brother into our home and have to face this tragedy when his enemies followed?

Following me around and shit while I tried to hold it together long enough to get some clothes out of the house so that I could go stay with a friend who would comfort me in my time of grieving. Giving me and my son condolences for our lost. Shit. My son hasn't even been around to know some shit popped off. Hell, he wouldn't give a fuck if he found out today. He wouldn't give a fuck if I was laying lifeless in that house with them.

I pushed my thoughts to the back of my mind as I watched one of the two boys disappear behind a door, leaving the other standing outside to guard the car I had been watching. I pushed away from the fence I was leaning on and walked down the sidewalk of a dead street. He turned to face the car, skimming his focus right pass me, not knowing that what he summed up as no problem was actually his biggest threat. He stuffed his hands in his pockets then looked back at the door with his body language screaming impatient. He turned back toward the car and sat down on the curb then pulled out his phone.

I ran my hand through my hair and stuck my hand in my pocket. Walking up next to him, he looked up slowly then jerked back when I pulled out my gun.

"Put the phone on the ground."

He frowned up at me and dropped the phone.

“Yo! What the fuck?”

“Get up.”

“Yo!”

“Shut the fuck up and get up.”

He scurried to his feet and I aimed the gun right in his face.

“Open your mouth wide enough to yell out to old boy and you will be deep throating my friend here.” I nodded at the piece in my hand. “Got that?”

I couldn't see the fear on his face but I smelled it on him. My guess would be that he's never been caught in a situation like this alone. If you're a nigga that rely on back up, your life was fucked up from the beginning.

“Now we're gonna be smart about this shit. I'm going in your pocket. Don't be stupid. I got a bad temper and trust me... you don't want to set it off.”

He nodded and held his hands up higher so that I could reach in his pocket. I looked him right in his eyes and he didn't blink. I knew he under-estimated me. He thought I'd be an amateur and slip with my gun giving him time to make a move and take it from me. Wrong one. I'm not that bitch and will never be able to be put in that category. I felt around for more than the lump I felt when I first reached into his jacket. I failed at holding in my chuckle as I went back to the one and only lump and pulled out his gun. I shook my head at the pathetic shit.

His eyes darted over at the door the other boy went in and I figured I better speed things up. If he was holding on to hope that this dude came walking out any second now then he knows the guy wasn't going to take long. I got a good grip on his gun and waved mine in his face.

“Move yo damn arm.”

“Cmon man.”

“What did I say?”

“Cmon man. You don't know.”

His tone was pleading. I wanted to laugh so bad but I sort of felt sorry for him. I knew he would be getting into some deep shit if I pulled off in this car. He was putting more effort into protecting the car keys than he was his gun. I tapped his chin with the gun and his arms flew up and out of my way. I tossed his gun in my purse and reached into his pocket to get the car keys.

“You wanna know how you got caught slipping?”

“You're making the worst mistake of your life.”

“No, I'm making the worst mistake of YOUR life.”

I kicked his leg causing him to hop back out of the way.

“You shouldn't have been sitting on your ass.”

I smirked while making my way around to the driver's side of the car.

“You don't know who you fucking with!”

I rolled my eyes at him barking nonsense. I slid my purse off of my shoulder before opening the car door.

“And why yo dumb ass only packing one piece anyway? Nigga, you don't want to live.”

I slid into the car and fumbled with the keys while trying to keep an eye on him. I tossed my purse across the seat and pulled the door shut. He kept glancing over his shoulder. I knew he was hoping his partner came out right on time, catching me before I could get away. He glanced back again but snapped his neck back in my direction when the engine roared.

“Well... I'd love to stay and make you piss yourself but I've got a long ride ahead of me, sweetie. You even got the tank looking nice for me. This just might be the best road trip ever.”

I giggled as I sat my gun in my lap and slammed my foot on the gas just as he leaped towards the car.

“As if you stood any chance at accomplishing that.” I spoke to him while peering through the mirror. I took one final glance at him to see him throwing a tantrum as I sped up and turned the corner.

“Is there a damn gps in this bitch?” I asked out loud while checking to get an answer to my question. My mind zoomed out and scanned the city as I thought of a place to stop and have a look in the car to see just how long that nigga would be standing outside damn near in tears. I laughed at the shots at his pride when he had to report back that he was hit and by a bitch.

“Alright, car.” I spoke soothingly to my new best friend for the next couple of days. “We gotta pull over somewhere and see what your value is. You just might cost that boy his life.”

------

“Aye, lil mama.”

I continued on my mission ignoring his call out to me.

“Aye, you might wanna slow up.”

“You might wanna get off my ass.”

I shot back without missing a step.

“Yo, you can't jus-”

The world itself stopped spinning when I whipped around as a reaction to him grabbing my arm.

“Yo!” A male voice shouted out off in the distance. “Hold on. Hold on.”

He sounded as if he was caught in a surprise that he couldn't get over. I stared down this young ass wanna be hard thug like my eyes were a bomb locking in on its' target. Just as my mind began to race through the things I could do to this dude, Bo's voice snapped me out of it.

“You might wanna hurry up and let this one go.”

He stepped fully around me and met eyes with the boy.

“Yeah, you might wanna hurry up and do just that.”

I tossed my warning on top of Bo's warning. As if the boy knew authority, he quickly released my arm. I stretched to shake off the feeling he left on my skin that made me itch to back hand him right in the middle of his damn face.

“Well well well...” Bo smiled as he looked me over. “Look what the wind blew in. Long time, no see. You aging good, girl.”

“Nothing age but my experience and knowledge.” I replied to his half ass compliment while putting my hands on my hips. “Where's Montey?”

His eyes landed on my hand on my hip and bulged out of his head when he took notice of the keys in my hand. He looked pass us and fixed his eyes on the car that I rode up in. He laughed and shook his head.

“Damn.” He brought a hand up to his mouth and took a step back while still laughing. “That was you, huh? Why am I surprised but then again not surprised?”

“Because you know me. That's an answer to both your questions. Where's my answer?”

“You know Montey stay behind a desk.”

“Not doing shit.”

I took upon myself to add to his report on Montey's whereabouts.

“He need to be down here checking new blood.” I darted my eyes in the boy's direction and he squirmed, knowing that he had stepped on some type of landmine, only he wasn't sure what category disaster it could cause.

“Aw, they don't know a legend face like yours. You ain't been round. Cut him some slack.”

“I'll cut him something alright.” I touched my arm where the boy's hand was once wrapped around me.

“Let me go tell Montey about this visitor. He'll never guess.”

“If he can, I'm slippin.”

He turned and walked off. I fell right behind him but not before looking back at the boy one last time. I'ma have his balls in my hand before I leave here and they won't be attached. I stepped around Bo to walk by his side instead of in his shadow. We turned a sharp corner and I frowned at how I damn near ran into the first step. Why the fuck these stairs so damn close? I stomped on the first step and calmed my temper by the time I made it to the third step. I heard niggas laughing and apparently so did Bo. He stopped at the door at the top of the steps and yelled something in the room. They all started laughing so I assumed it was an inside joke. These niggas were the only joke I caught on to.

I chuckled to myself while walking off, leaving Bo hanging in the doorway. Ignorant to the fact that I left him behind, he continued passing words with the other guys as I found my way down another hall that only led to another.

“Is this shit really necessary?”

Aggravation took over as I continued the maze of a building that Montey probably thought was safe on his end. Sure it gives niggas a hard time to get to you but what your dumb ass gonna do when you trying to be quick and get away from someone? This that half thought out shit I be talking about. And this that other stupid shit I be talking about. My eyes were trained on the two guys sitting outside of a door I assumed Montey was behind. What's with all the new blood? I mean damn. I know I haven't been around for a while and some of these new faces might not be so brand new but the looks of them, they are young so they couldn't have been around that long. I know Montey got a thing for keeping young niggas around because he think he can son em and bring em up to be loyal but he will learn that lesson one day.

They took notice of my presence a little too late to be holding somebody down. I made it right in front of these niggas before they jumped at alert. Lazy motherfuckers. Always sitting down and playing. This the second time in 48 hours I've proved that some niggas in Montey's camp need to be eliminated. If I was the wrong person, his ass would be hanging from the wall. Proper fucking display trophy. These niggas ain't made for this life. I shook my head as I went to walk pass them when one stood up and stared down at me. My eyes followed his height and I giggled at his attempt at intimidation. I reached up and patted his chest.

“Back up before you get backed down. I'm good.”

I went to walk off when he threw up an arm to block my way and the second guy stood up.

“I said I'm good. Damn! Move out the damn way so I can talk to Montey. Montey!”

I shouted at the door so he could come rescue these niggas because in less than five minutes, I had a count of six balls that I would be storing.

“Mont-”

“Yo! Tasha! Cmon, ma.”

“Cmon ma my ass. Tell these niggas I'm not the one.”

“Aye, Bo. Handle this.”

“Handle?” I diverted my attention to the slick mouth ass one who had his head cocked back like I'm supposed to start shaking. “Oh somebody can get handled.”

The door swung open and a few seconds passed before Montey leaned into the door frame.

“Damn. You like a fairy god mother or some shit, girl. You know when to pop up. Only thing is you always carry baggage with you when you travel.”

“You gon save these niggas lives or what?” I ignored his last remark and held out my arm to knock the tall guy out of my way. He tensed his body like he wanted to grab me but knew that I was not to be touched by Montey's chill vibe that quietly invited me.

“Relax.” His amused expression was replaced with a stern look as he made eye contact with my new enemy. “I got too much use for you to risk her getting a hold of you. She's small and pretty but that bitch bites.”

I grabbed his cane as I walked pass him and into the room. I felt his eyes doing a slow intake over my body as I twirled the cane and took in his office. I heard one of the punks start saying something smart to Bo but the rest was inaudible when the door closed.

“I see you still matching these canes with suits.”

“I see you still getting into trouble.”

“Mmm. Well you know how it is with me. I let you hit one time and you just can't seem to leave me alone. I haven't been able to get trouble off of my ass yet.”

I slid into the chair behind his desk and ran my hand across the bottom.

“You always try to send me out to fix something that someone fucked up.”

“And you're always giving me that smart ass mouth when you are going to do it anyway.”

“Well you know me, Montey. I've always been good with this mouth.”

I reached across his desk and picked up a manilla folder that he snatched back before I could get a good grip. His hand caught my wrist and pulled my arm back. We made eye contact while his other hand slid down his cane and he took it from me. He stood over me and we read each other in all of 40 seconds before he softly tugged at my wrist, pulling me up out of his chair. I dropped my eyes down to his hand that held my wrist and eased pass him. Stopping right in front of him, standing face to face, I leaned forward and blew a quick kiss before falling out in giggles.

I watched him limp around me then take a seat in his chair. I sat on the edge of his desk and went into my purse.

“I got something for you, Daddy.”

He leaned back in his chair and licked his lips just as the word daddy rolled off of my tongue. I pulled out a keyring and neatly placed it in front of him. A deep chuckle poured out of him as he ran his hand over his mouth. He picked up the key and smiled like he was holding a laugh.

“I should have known it was you.” He dropped the key and looked back over at me. “When I got the call from two niggas claiming that a bitch somehow managed to take one of my cars with my shit in it, I should have known.”

“I know I haven't been gone for so long that you've forgotten my name, baby.” I slid off of the desk and made my way around it. “Take it easy on him. I think I might have made new blood's life flash before his eyes more than once.”

“Nah, I can't downplay that one. He let a bitch run up on him and get my load. Where is it?”

He questioned as if it just dawned on him that his load was still floating around.

“It's all there. In the door right where it's supposed to be.”

“You broke my shit down?”

“I put it back in place.”

“How did you know it was mine?”

“Haven't I always known? I think I've been away from you for too long. You act like you're talking to a bitch that's not named Tasha.”

“Speaking of being gone for too long, what dragged you back?”

“Relocation.”

“Because...?”

“So you said I'm right on time. I know when to pop up. What does mommy have to fix?”

“You too damn discreet with me, girl.”

“Has that ever hurt you before?”

He adjusted in his chair and jumped out of my book to get back to his pages.

“I got a to do list. I need someone I can trust on the move. Somebody that I don't have to worry about if they miss a report in by a second.”

I scooted forward in my seat and slid my hand underneath a manilla folder that his eyes kept darting off to as he spoke of it. His hand landed on the folder stopping me from picking it up.

“You know my rules, Tasha. You're not laying your eyes on my shit if you not going to take the offer.”

“And you know MY rules, Montey.” I gave him a stern look. “I will always know what I'm getting into before I jump in the ride. I live for me. If I fuck up and go down, it will be because of myself. I'll be damned if I go down for the next motherfucker. That's not how I live.”

I held my hand out and held the stare down between us until his face screwed up as he eased the manilla folder in my hand.

“Only because I know you are good at what you do and I can trust you to carry shit out. It's worth feeding you.”

“And oh you gonna feed me good.” I spoke up to leave my words to marinate while I pulled out the papers in the manilla folder and scanned over the basics. I shrugged at the simple shit and smirked at how this simple ass task seemed to be stressing him. This is the burden you carry when you fill your camp with a bunch of niggas that don't know that life is a business. Get caught up in being out here trying to have fun and shit. No time for that. Living to make it to the next day is hard fucking work. Without having to read into the full details of the moves at the moment, I slid the papers back into the folder where they would stay until later. “Now let's discuss my meal.”

“The numbers are on the paper. I'm sure you know how to add the dollars up.”

“I'm not talking about this appetizer. I said you're going to feed me. I need a full course.” I adjusted in the chair I slid into while looking over the paper and crossed my legs before looking around at what he called an office. “I need a place to stay. I need to sit for a while.”

“What have you gotten yourself into now?”

“I don't have to get into anything. I'm stuck in my life already.”

He leaned back in his chair and ran his hands over his face as if he had some serious shit on his mind. His body language gave me every vibe that was opposite of what I should have been getting.

“How much you talking, Tasha?”

“Don't act like I'm not good for it. I've pulled off a lot of shit for you. Shit you probably wouldn't have tackled had it not been for me.”

He cocked his head to the side and burned through me with his eyes. The same eyes he always pierced me with when the aura of my arrogance put a glow around my body. Only thing is, he couldn't deny it. He knew that. I knew that. Even worst, he knew that I knew. I raised an eyebrow and awaited his pride to back down from its' defensive stance.

“Your attitude will be the death of you.”

“My attitude is why I'm still alive.”

I shot back without the slightest hesitation. He picked up his phone and paused for a second as if he had to really think about what move he was about to make. I rolled my eyes and stood up while stuffing the folder in my purse.

“I'm taking this with me. I'll be riding around, getting a feel for my new home. I'd like for you to have me all settled in by the time I'm ready to lay my head down.”

With that being said, I walked out of the door and darted my eyes toward the two boys sitting outside of the door.

“You niggas is lazy. Stand the fuck up. Sitting, getting comfortable and shit leads to you getting caught off guard.”

I shook my head in disgust as I glanced back again to see them giving me ugly looks.

“How this nigga even build this high off of an unstable base like this?” I mumbled while holding up my hand and swaying my middle finger, knowing they were still looking my way. I laughed without looking back to see their reactions that I knew they gave. I always got reactions out of people. Its a gift.