Pitbulls In a Skirt 2 Page 14

  “Which unit does your family live in?” I ask.

  “Unit C. I have her number if you want me to call her,” she continues.

  Reaching in my pocket I pull out my phone. She gives me the number and the moment I hear a squeaky voice I know who it is. A Troublemaker.

  “Keri, it’s me, Mercedes. Somebody’s out here for you. What’s your name?”

  “Whitney,” the one with the dreads replies. “I’m her cousin and this is LeLe.”

  “She says she your cousin Whitney and some chick name LeLe wit’ her too. You know them?”

  “Yeah,” she says without hesitation. “Are they okay?”

  Still not sure if this was real or not I said, “Describe her.”

  “She’s real pretty and she wears dreads.”

  I knew even if Keri was looking out the window, where we were, she couldn’t see them clearly. Anyway, her window faces the backside of the building. I quickly make up my mind to save the children.

  “She on her way up. This betta not be no bullshit, Keri or I’m comin’ for you,” I say hanging up on her. “What’s up with the bag?” I ask Keith.

  “It’s clean. The only thing she got in here is a tampon and a bag of M&M’s,” he continues tearing the edge of the bag and eating the candy.

  “Aight,” I say looking the women up and down. “You can take the kids upstairs.”

  Something in my spirit tells me I’m making a bad decision. All of them were about to walk away until I say, “One of ya’ll stayin’ wit’ me.”

  “O…okay,” the one with the dreads stutters.

  “You with the dreads stay with me. I wanna keep ya’ll separated.”

  “But Keri’s my cousin,” she complains.

  “Stay wit’ me or get the fuck outta Emerald. It don’t make me no never mind.” I lied.

  If she didn’t take my offer, and I found out later something happened to these children I’d feel some kind of way. But true to my word, if she didn’t listen, all of these mothafuckas would have to get off of our grounds.

  “Okay,” she says putting her head down. “I’ll go with you.”

  “I’m stayin’ wit’ you too,” the shortest child says holding onto her leg.

  “Is it okay?” she asks looking down at him and then up at me.

  “Whatever, just come on before I change my mind.”

  “Boss you want me to look in them backpacks before they go inside?” Keith asks.

  “Hold up!” I yell stopping everyone from walking toward the building. “What they got in them bags?”

  “We don’t know. Their parents bring them everyday when they drop them off. We told them to grab what they could before we left. You’re welcome to look inside,” Lele replies.

  I look at the kids and remember how Lil’ C was when he was younger. I made a point that whenever I needed a sitter, she would have to stay at my house just so my kids could be around their things.

  “Let ‘em go” I turn to the men in front of Unit C. “They goin’ up to Keri’s! Let ‘em inside and tell whoever’s guarding the floor to call me when they get there!”

  “Got it!” one of them responds. As we walk up the stairs to Unit B a nagging voice in my head yells, “You’re making a mistake!”

  The only thing was, it was too late.

  Kenyetta

  The Lost File

  When Mercedes walks up the steps with someone from the gate, for a moment, I think she’s lost her mind. At first the night sky conceals the person from view but I soon recognize her. She’s one of Black’s wives. I met her at his place, but what is she doing here?

  “What the fuck is she doin’ here?” I ask Mercedes when they reach the top.

  “Don’t worry. I got it. Black was on some bullshit in Tyland and they had to hide out here. I’ll figure things out later.”

  As Mercedes speaks, the bitch smirks at me. She knows I didn’t tell her about Black and she’s using it against me.

  “Let me take them inside,” Mercedes says. “and then we’ll talk.”

  The moment they attempt to pass me to walk to the door, I lose all sense of reason. Taking out my gun, I aim…pull the trigger and hit her in the head. Guts and blood from her body hit the dirty glass window and my face.

  “Oh my, Gawd, Kenyetta!” Mercedes screams holding her mouth. She was bloody too.

  When I’m sure she’s dead, I aim at the child but Mercedes jumps in front of him.

  “Fuck are you doin’?” Mercedes asked, placing the child behind her. “Whatever’s goin’ on you know I got you, but I can’t let you shoot no kid!”

  “Are ya’ll okay over there?” one of our men yell from another unit.

  “You need us?” another one calls.

  “Uh…yeah, everything’s cool!” I reply.

  I look at Unit B hoping Yvette would be out soon. I just want this over with and I never thought I’d have to do what I was about to…tell one of my closest friends that I betrayed her.

  “Kenyetta what the fuck is up?!” she screams again, the child looking around her and up at me. I wasn’t sure, but something told me he had deadly plans.

  “Please don’t hurt me, Miss lady. I’m just a kid,” the child cries.

  When I really look at the boy’s face I feel sad. What have I become?

  “I’m sorry, Mercedes. I’m losin’ my mind right now, but I got to talk to you,” I told her putting my weapon up, the dead body still at our feet. “Jones, can you keep him in the hallway with you?” I ask one of our soldiers inside the building, who was guarding the first floor. “I’ma have somebody take him up to Fat NayNay’s later.”

  “No problem, Kenyetta,” he says nervously. “I got lil man.”

  When the child steps over the dead body, my heart breaks. It feels like we were living in Afghanistan instead of in our Nations capital. We were becoming so use to murder that it wasn’t phasing us anymore. We place a quick call to the Vanishers and I prepare myself to be honest with my friend.

  I take a deep breath.

  “Mercedes, I got to talk to you.”

  “Go ‘head,” she responds anxiously. “Cause you got me fucked up right now.”

  “I…ummm, use to date Black.”

  “Black who?”

  “Black Water. From Tyland.”

  “I’m not understanding what you’re tellin’ me.”

  “You know Dyson never use to let me leave the house when he was alive. It was like I was his slave. If I wasn’t with ya’ll, I couldn’t go anywhere else. I was his little Indian girl,” I laugh realizing how stupid I was back then. “I felt like I was in hell sometimes because he would leave for days and when he came back, he did not want to be with me. It was just me and my worrisome ass grandmother all day in that apartment by ourselves. I was bored and hated life.”

  I look and pause.

  She says, “Go head, Kenyetta. I’m listening.”

  I exhale. “Well because I never got out, I never saw Black’s face. I heard of him but never saw him. And when we finally met, he didn’t tell me who he was at first. A year passed before he finally told me. By that time I knew I should’ve dumped him, but I didn’t. I was in love.”

  “Damn, Kenyetta,” she says shaking her head. “That’s some heavy shit.”

  “I know,” I cry wiping a tear from my face. “I know it’s fucked up, but that’s not all. He wanted me to have a baby and I was so wrapped up in having a man that I brought him on Emerald city’s grounds to have sex. He was testing my loyalty to him and I fell for it.”

  “What?!”

  “I’m sorry. I violated our bond and our sisterhood and I was wrong.”

  “The Vanishers here!” a man calls breaking our conversation. “Let them in?”

  We look at the black beaten van coming through the gate and I say, “Let em come through.”

  Although no one was guarding the gate from the station, our men still had intentions on shooting to kill. Our conversation pauses as the Vanishers walk up the
stairs, pick up the body and remove it from the grounds. As usual, they never ask us questions and we never volunteer. Just as long as their direct deposit is sent to an offshore account monthly, all is good. Ng did a good job of keeping our secret.

  When they were gone just as quickly as they came, I look at Mercedes. “I’m sorry about this shit. I really am.”

  “Did you help them niggas come in here? The ones who killed Jake?”

  “No! I swear! I knew nothing about that! I let Black Water in once felt bad, and never saw him again.”

  She exhales and says, “I’m not gonna lie, this shit is fucked up, Kenyetta. But…but…I know you love us and I understand how it is to be wrapped up in some bullshit. I just fucked a man who didn’t deserve me and almost lost a man who did.”

  “So who was she? That girl you killed.”

  “His wife,” I say shaking my head. “That nigga got ten of them. I can’t believe the shit this nigga’s on. He had the nerve to ask me if I wanted to be his eleventh wife. He’s crazy!”

  “You didn’t know he was into that shit?”

  “Fuck no! You know we never really talked about Black. The only time we mentioned his name was when we heard that they were tryin’ to steal our customers some years back. It was when Critter was alive. I never knew he was a bigamist!”

  “Yeah…he been wifin’ chicks for years! Damn, Kenyetta, I never realized how clueless you really were.”

  “I know.” I smile. “Dyson was my life.”

  “You got any other secrets I should know about?”

  I take a deep breath and say, “Yes. I had sex with Dex before he and Stacey were killed. I was at my lowest. I know it was wrong but I had to tell somebody because it’s been eating me up alive.”

  Mercedes looks away and says, “I already know.”

  I gasp.

  “You know?”

  “Yeah, she told us. She said he told her what happened between you two. He said you were about to take your life. She was hurt, but she loved you enough to keep the friendship and not cause you any pain by bringing it up.”

  “Dex told Stacey we made love?”

  “Yeah. I didn’t think you’d ever tell us, especially after they died because the secret went with them. But, Stacey cried for days after Dex told her and when she was done, she put it out of her mind. I don’t know if you remember her sitting with us one day when we were on the steps at Unit C.”

  “She sat with us all the time.”

  “I know, but this time she sat close to you and told you she loved you. She told you that nothing could ever break ya’ll’s bond. Stacey knew you weren’t trying to steal him from her. And she never held it against you.”

  “I can’t believe it,” I say.

  “I know but in her mind it was us before them. If she had to choose between you and Dex, it would’ve been you. Trust me, if Dex didn’t get her out of Emerald like our no good ass niggas back then, she would’ve rode with us to the death.”

  Wow. I would’ve never thought Stacey would’ve handled it the way she did. She was a real solider! And I would forever look up to her after hearing this. Had one of my friends fucked my man, I don’t know how I would’ve reacted. On second thought, I probably would’ve handled it like she did. I guess it speaks to our friendship. We had a bond that was unbreakable.

  We were still talking when Yvette came running out the front door.

  “We found some of ‘em,” she says breathing heavily. “Most of them were in apartments spread out on the second floor. We killed eight of them already. They weren’t in Harold’s crib though, Mercedes.”

  “I figured,” she says.

  “Doctanian and Derrick are watching the floor right now. We gonna have the men knock on a few more doors so we can get the rest of ‘em. And then we goin’ in blazing.”

  “We only have twenty somethin’ men here. If we all go upstairs, the front and back doors won’t be secured.

  “I know. But we still got the men guarding the yard in the other units. They’ll let us know if anybody comes in or out of here. But we got to move. This shit got to stop tonight. We need to reclaim what’s ours.”

  Cameron

  “It ain’t about how many goons you got, it’s how you use ‘em”

  “You comin’ or what?” Black asks as he sits in the back of his silver chauffeured stretch Hummer. “Tonight’s the night. We movin’ on Emerald.”

  Cameron and he met in the parking lot of Eastover Shopping Center on the borderline of DC and Maryland.

  Cameron takes a look at the limo and says, “This a bit much ain’t it?” He places his hands in his pockets and steps back to get a better view.

  “If you got it, it ain’t. This how ballers roll.”

  Cameron laughs and says, “I bet. But look, there’s been a change of plans.”

  “You sure it’s not a change of heart?”

  “You can call it what you want.” He says stepping closer. “I tried to call you to tell you I ain’t fuckin’ wit’ it, but you ain’t answer your phone,” Cameron says nonchalantly.

  Black pats his pants realizing he left his phone on the bed at his house. He’d taken it off right before making love to his three wives.

  “Aight…well I missed the call. So what that mean…you bailin’ out now?”

  “First off get out of the car and talk to me like a man. I ain’t some bitch you tryin’ to hook up wit’.”

  Black laughs, and exits the car. His height, size and build makes him seem more powerful than Cameron believes he really is. But one look in Cameron’s eyes, you knew that he was more powerful.

  “Now what?” Black barks.

  “Like I said, I’m not fuckin’ wit’ it. It’s done. Shit has gone too far already.”

  Black Water shakes his head in disgust and breathes out heavily.

  “I knew you was gonna pull some shit like this,” he laughs. “That’s why I had that whore baby mother of yours kidnapped for collateral. Don’t you get it Cameron? Shit ain’t over till I say it is.”

  “I think you missin’ an update,” Cameron replies in a sinister tone. “And you betta be glad I don’t smoke your bitch ass right now.”

  “And update?”

  “Yeah, she got away. I taught her good.”

  The smile is wiped from Black’s face and his lips press tightly together. He’s in a furor.

  “You know you betta never step foot on Emerald city grounds again right?

  “You just betta hope I don’t find a reason to.”

  “Is that so?”

  “That’s so…and you can forget about my niggas helpin’ you in Emerald. They behind the girls now. You on your own, partna. Good luck,” he chuckles.

  “Do you really think I’ma let Mercedes live once Emerald is mine?”

  “I don’t think about it either which way. All I know is what’s done is done and at this point, I’m sure she could hold her own.”

  Black looks toward Cameron’s car parked a few feet over from his. A girl was inside.

  “I see why you not trippin’.” Cameron looks back at Toi who is impatiently waiting and he smile smiles.

  “Naw, I ain’t trippin’ cause I don’t give a fuck.”

  “Well…I guess we said all we need to. For your sake I hope our paths don’t cross again. I got niggas everywhere,” Black says pointing behind him. There are five vans parked behind Black’s car. “Remember that.”

  “It ain’t about how many goons you got, it’s how you use ‘em,” Cameron replies.

  He points at Black’s jacket. Black follows his stare and sees a red dot on his leather coat.

  “You got it,” he says nervously not knowing where Cameron’s gunman was located. “For now anyway.”

  “I got it always,” Cameron replies. Black gets in his car and it drives off.

  When Cameron steps back in the car, he braces himself to deal with Toi. He knew she was mad after sitting in the car for thirty minutes waiting on him.

  �
�Are we goin’ to the Luxe or not? I’m ready to get a drink and party.”

  “Give me a kiss first,” he says. “And stop being so damn mean. You gonna make your face ugly.” Toi laughs and they’re lips meet.

  “You betta watch the people you hang around. Everyone not in your corner, Cameron.”

  “Toi, mind your business. It’s over anyway. I got it.”

  “We’ll see.”

  Emerald City Soldier

  “I’m two seconds from takin’ care of that attitude problem for you.”

  Twenty year old Wallace was leaning against the wall watching the first floor. In the game for only two years, Wallace had visions of moving up the ladder and becoming a lieutenant. He worked tirelessly around the clock and often got by with less than three hours of sleep. He lived and breathed Emerald and the girls noticed. He was well on his way.

  The kid who was left with him, sat on the bottom step after Yvette and the others went upstairs. The little boy spent most of the time in his book bag and seemed to be preoccupied with its contents.

  “What you got in that bag, man?” Wallace asks playfully. “You been in that mothafucka for five minutes straight.”

  “Why?” the kid questions in a smart tone. He looks him dead in his eyes as he waits for his response. “I didn’t ask you what you got in that whack ass coat you wearin’ so why you all in mine?”

  To be ten Wallace was caught off by his attitude. Earlier he seemed timid and scared. Now something in his eyes told Wallace everything he did was an act.

  “You got a smart ass mouth to be a lil’ youngin’,” Wallace tells him standing up straight. “You betta watch that shit though. You might find yourself in a situation you can’t get out of.”

  “Nigga fuck you. I ain’t gotta watch shit! If somebody got a problem wit’ me they can suck my dick.”

  Wallace was about to break on him until he took into consideration the murder he witnessed earlier. He figured seeing the death was causing his brash tone.

  “Was that your moms who got hit earlier?”

  “No. She was my aunt. Why?”

  “Hey, shorty, I’m two seconds from takin’ care of that attitude problem for you. So how ‘bout we do this, don’t talk to me until it’s time to roll and I won’t say shit to you.”