“Who gwan, BJ? I'm glad to hear from you,” he responded, sounding excited that I called.
“I'm sorry it took so long for me to call, but I had to do a thorough background check on you before I called. I had to make sure you weren't some sort of psycho or rapist or terrorist or something.” I lied, not wanting to let him in on all the drama I had in my life the past few weeks. That would definitely be a turn-off.
“Mi tek it mi clear? Background check came back okay?”
“Sure did. So now it's safe for us to spend some time. Are you going to be at The Mango Tree tonight?” I asked, hoping that I could come out and have a few drinks on him to ease my mind.
Since Duke and I hadn't been talking, my money was looking kind of funny, which was just another motivator. I really needed to make some moves just on the strength of financial stability, if nothing else.
“Every Thursday through Sunday. You coming out tonight?”
“Sure, why not? I have nothing else to do. So, what exactly do you do there?”
“I play music and throw different parties. We refer to it as a sound. The name of my sound is Macten Sound. We're based here, New York, Florida, Atlanta, and Jamaica.”
“Sounds interesting. I guess that's why you're so popular,” I stated, trying to inquire about his dealings with C and her girls without being too obvious.
“Popular with whom? Your girls from the other night?” he said, picking up on exactly what I was trying to say.
“No, not just them. I mean in general. But since you mentioned them, how do you know them, anyway? They seemed really interested in you,” I stated just to see if he would lie.
“I know them from the strip club. They aren't really interested in me. It's just that I'm pretty generous with them at the club. And I hire a couple of them on a regular basis. You know how it is. It's their job to get money, so they're always on the grind. But that's as far as it goes. No relationships or anythingâstrictly business. So, just how close are you and Cinnamon?”
Not wanting to let him in on the grime of that little bitch, I pretended that things were still good between us.
“Oh, C? She's my girl! The way we met was wild, but we've been friends for the past couple of years. She's like a big sister to me,” I lied.
Just the mention of her name was pissing me off, and it took all I had to force those words out. In an attempt to end the conversation before the animosity began to show, I told Judah I had to run some errands and I would see him later in the night. I hung up the phone, feeling revived and eager to see him.
CHAPTER 20
FAMILY FEUD
SNAKE
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Duke just didn't get it. I was tired of talking to this li'l nigga. I didn't know what it was going to take. Every day it was a new word on the street about this nigga and the shit he was doing. Now I heard he was fucking that bitch, Ceazia. And I wouldn't be surprised if his li'l shortie knew about it too. It was all over town that one of those project chicks he was fucking caught C at his crib one night and slit their tires. Between C, the chicken-heads and his li'l shortie, BJ, Duke was getting in over his head. I tried to tell that nigga Ceazia was dangerous, but he still wasn't hearing me. This was just one thing I couldn't stand back and watch. I fucked up one time by letting him move on his own, but I refused to do it again. I was going to call this li'l nigga over, so I could holla at him.
Ring, ring ... ring, ring.
“You have reached the voice mail box of 757 ...” the recording began to say.
I didn't even bother leaving a message. I just hung up and called him on his business line. One thing for sure, that was one phone that always got answered. Duke was unquestionably 'bout the paper.
“What up, Unc?” Duke answered on the first ring. “Yo, nigga, I need to holla at you. Come by the crib.”
“A'ight, give me like an hour. I'm in the middle of something right now.”
“Nah, nigga, now,” I demanded, attempting to put Duke in his place.
I was prepared for the usual power struggle argument, but surprisingly, Duke agreed to come right away.
“What up, sexy?”
I heard Duke greet Danielle as he walked through the door. To my surprise, Duke had arrived in less than ten minutes. I walked in the living room to see Duke lounging on the couch. He had the remote in his hand, flipping through the channels, but his attention seemed to be elsewhere. I turned my head in the direction he was looking. As soon as I turned, I knew exactly what he was admiring.
“Danielle. Go to the back. Me and Duke need to talk business,” I instructed her.
“And why don't you put some clothes on while you at it?” I whispered in her ear as she headed into the bedroom.
She paused at my statement and gave me an awkward look, but dared to challenge my request. From her expression, I knew she knew exactly what I was insinuating.
My words interrupted Duke's fantasy. The constant massage of his dick as he licked his lips was a definite window into his thoughts. That li'l nigga was getting off on my girl.
“What up, li'l nigga?” I asked while flopping down on the sofa next to him and snatching the remote out of his hand. “You don't need this. You ain't paying much attention to the TV,” I said sarcastically, just to let him know I saw him peeping out Danielle.
“Aw, come on, Unc. It ain't shit for me to look at Danielle. I been checking her out for the past couple of years. Don't tell me you getting all sensitive 'bout that shit now.”
“Nah, man. That's the least of my worries. I'm more concerned about the shit I hear about you and C fuckin'. So, what's up with that? You knocking her off or what?” I asked sternly.
“Look, Unc. I ain't even gon' lie to you. Since she stopped fucking you, she been coming at me strong. And you know me; I ain't the one to turn down no good pussy.”
It was obvious I was going to have to really break shit down to this nigga in order for him to really feel me on everything I was about to say.
“Duke, I only fucked the broad once. You ever wondered why I didn't continue fucking her after that one time?” I asked as my first attempt to bring some things to his attention.
“Nope. Not once. That ain't my concern, Unc. Evidently she wanted something different. From the looks of things, she was feeling me from the first time we met at the strip joint. The only reason she probably ain't holla is 'cause you was throwing salt in the game ... hatin' on a nigga and shit.”
Duke's comment about me hating was really burning me up, but I tried to stay focused and get my point across to his young ass. It was obvious his dick was getting a little too big for his Superman briefs. I stuck to my original point and continued the conversation.
“Duke, she's out of your league, man. The bitch has a hidden agenda. And just so that you know, she didn't stop fucking me; I stopped fucking her. And you notice she ain't even holla at you until I dissed her trifling ass. The bitch is shiesty.
“In fact, you ain't the only nigga she started fucking after I dissed her. Word is she back fucking with that nigga, Bear. So, you think that's cool? That's probably why that nigga been giving us such a problem with business and shit lately. Look, man, the bitch is bad news and bad for business.
“And most importantly, I'm almost certain she killed Vegas. She's on her way to a death sentence. All I need is one solid piece of evidence and she's gone, Duke. I'm putting her to rest, so if for nothing else, at least drop the bitch for your uncle and my brother, Vegas,” I said, putting all my cards on the table.
Duke needed to know the real. I had to open his eyes to shit, so he could know where I was coming from.
“Look, Unc. I hear everything you saying, but ain't shit popping. Vegas is dead. Let that man rest in peace. C is feeling me and I'm feeling her, so ain't shit gon' change. And as for that nigga, Bear, fuck him. He's just one man on the team. One monkey don't stop no show. As for you, all I can say is do you, Unc, 'cause I'm gon' do me without a doubt!” he said while standing up and putting on his NY cap and tilting it to the side as an indication he was leaving.
“Gone!” Duke hollered then closed the front door behind him.
Shit went exactly as I expected. I knew talking to him was like talking to a brick wall. I didn't even bother to go after Duke or force him to hear me. Fuck it. I was just gon' have to let nature take its course.
“What's going on?” Danielle asked as she walked toward the living room, now fully clothed.
“Nothing. Let's go to bed,” I said, annoyed at the fact she was eavesdropping.
“Duke is having sex with Ceazia?” She continued to inquire about our conversation.
“Danielle, stop asking me about this shit. Everything's good. Now, let's go to bed,” I demanded, while grabbing her by the arm and leading her toward the bedroom.
Of course Danielle wasn't letting shit go that easily. Lately, she'd become very unruly. I wasn't really sure what was causing it, but it was going to cause me to smack her ass one good time to let her know who the boss was. For some reason, she had this new attitude as if she was running shit. But in reality, she wasn't running shit here but her mouth.
Once in the bedroom, I dropped her arm and walked around her and headed to the bathroom, while she stood in the middle of the floor yelling.
“I don't want to hear this shit, Danielle,” I yelled from the bathroom before closing the door.
It wasn't long before she was quiet. No one likes to argue alone. Now that shit was chill, I stepped out of the bathroom, back into the bedroom. I noticed Danielle was no longer in the room, but that was cool with me.
Relieved that the dragon was at rest, I rolled a blunt and watched a little TV before I prepared for bed. Once I finished smoking, I glanced at the time. It was midnight, and Danielle still hadn't come to bed. I walked toward the living room to see what she was doing. It was completely dark. No lights were on, not even the television. I wondered what the fuck she was doing in the dark. I could faintly hear her speaking to someone. I walked a little closer then realized she was on the back porch. I could hear her talking, but there was no response, so I figured she was on the phone. I walked closer then stood at the door and listened.
“I don't know what's up with him, but he really needs to start treating me better before someone else steps up to the plate,” I could hear her say.
Then she began to give a flirtatious laugh and stated, “Boy, you are so crazy!”
Boy? Who the fuck this bitch talking to?
I backed away and headed to the bedroom.
I had to move away quickly, otherwise I would have busted through those French doors and choked the shit out of her sneaky ass. Once in the bedroom, I turned off the TV then hit speaker on the base of the cordless phone. That bitch had no idea I was listening.
“Damn, baby, I don't know why that nigga tripping. You holding shit down at home? I mean, you know, in the bedroom and shit?” I heard a familiar voice say.
“I guess. I mean, he doesn't complain.”
“You don't sound confident. You deep-throatin', taking it from the back, and riding that thang too?”
“Yeah, I do all of that,” Danielle said without hesitation.
The more I listened, the angrier I became. This conversation was definitely out of line. Only curiosity kept me listening. I wanted to see just how far the two of these muthafuckers would go.
“Anybody can do those things. The question is, are you doing it right? Are you throwing that ass back when you getting hit from the back? Are you moaning with each stroke? Are you bouncing up and down on that dick, taking in every inch?”
“Mmmmmm, yeeess!” Danielle moaned as though her pussy was dripping at the thought.
“Sounds like you feeling that type of talk.”
“Feeling it is not the word.”
“Well, I may as well finish it up. I need you to follow my every instruction. Put your hands in your panties for me and rub that clit. Get it nice and wet for me. Once it's wet, put your fingers in your mouth and lick the juice off. Let me hear you lick those juices, baby.”
“Mmmmmm, it tastes so good.” Danielle forced out the words between erotic pants.
That was it. I couldn't take anymore. I threw on my clothes, grabbed my keys, and headed out the door, but before I left, I stopped by the back porch to pay Danielle a little surprise visit. I opened the door to see her with one hand on the phone, the other in her panties and her legs open on the patio table. I didn't say a word. I just looked at her. She turned around and noticed my presence, yet she didn't seem startled.
“What? Isn't this the same position you were in the day I walked in the house after getting my ass whipped by one of your bitches?” she said sarcastically then turned back around and continued her conversation. “Now, where were we, baby?”
Smack!
That was the last damn straw! Without thinking, I hauled off and smacked Danielle so hard, she dropped the phone and fell out of the chair. She immediately burst into tears as though I had practically killed her. With no emotion, I walked off and closed the door behind me, locking Danielle outside.
Maybe that nigga can help her get into the house, I thought as I headed out the front door and locked it as well. It was a Sunday night, so there weren't many places to go other than the strip club and the reggae joint. Trying to avoid C, I hadn't been hitting the strip joint lately, so I chose the reggae club, The Mango Tree. Although I was not a reggae fan, I loved to watch the ladies move to that shit.
Once I got in the club, I did my usual strip club routine. I grabbed a table in the corner, near an exit. Then I hit the waitress off decent, so she could look out. As I got relaxed and sipped on my Remy, I noticed C walk in. Luckily, she didn't notice I was there. She seemed to be on another trick mission because as soon as she came in, she headed straight to this nigga from around the way. I didn't really know him, but like any nigga that's getting money, I know other niggas is getting it too. And he happened to be one of those niggas.
From what I heard, he was a Jamaican cat down with Macten Sound that not only got it in the streets, but be killing niggas in gambling too. C and dude didn't talk very long. They had a few words and he bought her a drink. Seemed like after all her seductive tricks, she still wasn't able to get him to trick.
After her drink, C disappeared into a dark corner. I figured she posted up there to try her luck with the next nigga. I continued to enjoy my drinks and observe the many things that were going on around me. One thing I found odd is that an hour had passed and C still hadn't come out of her corner. I started to get the feeling she was trying to be inconspicuous herself. But the thing was, I wasn't really sure why.
The more I watched and thought, the more it began to make me feel a little uneasy. So, after I finished my drink, I was planning to leave. Just when I was close to leaving, I noticed Duke's li'l shortie stroll in the club, looking all Hollywood and shit.
“Damn, she sure ain't no li'l girl no more,” I said to myself.
BJ was never really built as a little girl, but she had a lot of those li'l girl qualities, like the long blonde weaves, the long acrylic nails, the sneakers and the li'l girl wardrobe. I must say she had certainly stepped it up a notch. Hell, if I didn't know who she was, she would definitely be mistress material. She was young and tender, no one knew her, and I could easily mold her into whatever I wanted.