Pitbulls In a Skirt 4 Read online

  “Fuck are ya’ll doing here?” one of the men says to us. “She doesn’t belong to you anymore.”

  “What kind of sick shit is this?” I ask ready to put something hot in his skull if he moves to quickly or closely. “You can’t just take a child and think shit is sweet. She is a fucking minor!”

  “We can take better care of her than her own mother can,” says a woman.

  Carissa looks crushed when she says that. “I don’t know what the fuck is going on, but I am not leaving here without my daughter!” Carissa cries. The crowd is so thick now no one can drive on the street, without hitting us.

  “Where’s Cheese?” someone yells into the crowd.

  “He’s not here!” says someone else.

  “Somebody go get Karen,” another screams. “Tell her we got outsiders out here!”

  “Yeah, get Karen, bitch,” Yvette yells at him. “Like we give a fuck!”

  “Karen must be their fake ass leader.” I say to my girls. “Ya’ll packing right?”

  Toi and Yvette place their hands in their purses. Yvette says, “You already know it.” I hear the soft cock of her gun.

  And then we waited. Waited for the person they call Karen to appear. As I linger, I look at the strange black faces amongst the crowd. We share the same heritage, and probably speak the same language, but I can tell they don’t understand me, or recognize me. Their eyes look closed off to me, and the outside world. It’s hard to describe, but their faces remind me of one of Yvette’s Pitbulls. It can’t speak, but it seems like it wants so hard to understand, but most of all, it wants to kill. I can only imagine what sick things Black Water has pushed into their minds when he was alive.

  A few minutes later, I hear a female’s voice ring out through the crowd. Maybe it’s Karen, but I can’t see her face.

  “What’s going on?” she says.

  “We got trouble over there!” another person answers as the crowd parts from the entrance of the building.

  Finally I see her face. The one I believe is Karen is extraordinarily beautiful, and I am surprised because I was expecting a monster. She is about 5’4, and appears to be about thirty-something. A small mole rests on the tip of her nose and her honey brown face is flawless. Her hair is dirty brown, but her eyes are hazel. She’s carrying a red leather book, which resembles a bible, in her hands. Although she is extremely attractive, I’m not dumb enough to assume she’s harmless, by letting my guards down. I mean look at my friends and me. We could work the pages of any Victoria Secret magazine, but we could blow your face off too.

  Karen walks next to Persia, and the woman. The crowd behind her closes, as if they are locking a back door. I’ve been in a lot of dangerous situations before in my lifetime, but this takes the cake. They look like trained killers, ranging from pre-teen all the way up to adults.

  At first Karen is frowning until she looks at Yvette. Carissa and I stand next to Yvette, and Toi stands behind Yvette. If this person they call Karen gets wild, I will take her life, no questions asked, before they take mine.

  Yvette steps up to Karen. Her eyes look soft, and not as angry as before. “Cecil?” Yvette says covering her mouth.

  Karen’s eyebrows rise and her head tilts slightly to the right. She leans in and says, “Oh my, God! Yvette…is that you?”

  This is odd to me because I know everybody my friends know. There isn’t a person alive who they have hung with, that I have never met before. Still, I don’t know this person. Who is she? And what does she want with my best friend?

  “What’s going on?” I ask Yvette.

  Yvette doesn’t answer me. Instead I notice Yvette’s shoulders don’t seem as stiff anymore. She looks like a kid, instead of the crime-killer-boss I know her to be.

  “Who is this, Yvette?” I ask her.

  Yvette still doesn’t say shit to me, and I’m irritated. I need to know if this is a friend or foe. Instead of putting me at ease or on guard, Yvette reaches out for Cecil/Karen and pulls her into her arms. Karen embraces her.

  The mob behind Cecil/Karen seems to be as confused as I am. When they move closer, I bust three shots in the air. The first two are a warning, but the last shot could’ve hit the bitch who been mean mugging me from the moment I walked over here, if I lowered my gun just a little.

  “If anybody walks up on her it’s gonna be a fucking problem,” I tell them all. Carissa and Toi aim their weapons into the crowd along with me. “So, make a move if that’s how you feeling.”

  Cecil/Karen separates from Yvette and says, “There’s no need for violence.” She turns around to her people who had yet to give us the breathing room that we desired. They were so close to us that I could smell their breaths. “Everything is fine,” Cecil/Karen says to them, “back up a little.”

  A young attractive man with light brown hair, wearing navy blue eyeglasses struts up to Cecil/Karen. “Ma, who are these people?”

  He looks like the kind of boy Persia would be into, older in his mannerisms, but young in the face. He puts me in the mind of a young Malcolm X. He had some kind of authority with the Klan, I can tell by how his eyes never leave mine, and his shoulders stand high. He wants me to know that he’s not afraid. Little does he know, not being afraid of us makes him stupid, not smart.

  “Oscar, go back inside, and take the family with you,” Cecil/Karen says to him.

  Oscar doesn’t budge. He looks at her and says, “But, ma—,”

  “Son, go,” she yells pointing toward the building. The crowd opens up to allow him room to walk back, but still he doesn’t move. “Now,” Cecil/Karen says more firmly.

  “If you wish,” he says with an attitude before looking at me evilly. “Family, let’s go inside,” he yells to the crowd. Before walking into the building he focuses on two other teenagers by the door. “Roman and Lance, you stay out here, and protect Ma and Persia with your lives.”

  “We on it,” the younger one responds.

  When the crowd dispersed I got a good look at Roman and Lance. I don’t know why, but for some reason their names and faces are familiar to me. But we ran into so many of their members that I couldn’t be sure. The one, who moved to the name Roman, was young, about eight years old if I had to pick a number. The other was probably in his late teens.

  Eventually the crowd, following Oscar, disappears into the building.

  “Where have you been?” Yvette says to Karen/Cecil, with tears rolling down her face. “I haven’t seen you in forever. I can’t even believe I’m standing in front of you right now.”

  “I’ve had a hard life,” Cecil/Karen replies. “A real hard life.”

  “Can somebody tell us what’s going on?” Carissa asks Yvette, although her eyes remain on her pregnant-freaked out-daughter.

  “I’m sorry, ya’ll,” Yvette says turning around to look at us. “She’s cool. This is my oldest sister, Cecil.” Yvette looks at me. “You remember right, Mercedes? She’s the one I told you about that my mother abandoned.”

  My jaw drops. Years ago I remember Yvette mentioning her sister, but I put it out of my mind, because she didn’t bring it up to me again. It may have hurt too much that she had a sister in the world, but not a relationship. Truthfully before we had to kill her mother some months back, for trying to set us up, I thought we were the only family Yvette had. In my opinion we’re the only family any of us need. I don’t trust this person named Cecil. I don’t trust her sister.

  “Wow, I forgot you had a sister,” Carissa says. She extends her hand to Cecil/Karen. Cecil/Karen shakes it with a smile. “I feel better already about this situation.”

  Sometimes Carissa is extra green. I mean just because this chick is Yvette’s sister doesn’t mean she’s cool, or won’t do us harm. Blood don’t mean shit these days unless it’s in your own body. Remembering how we had to kill Yvette’s mother for setting us up should remind Carissa of that fact. But as always she only sees what she wants to see.

  “Can somebody explain to me what’s going on?”
Cecil/Karen says to us. “Are you kin to this child?”

  “Yes, I’m her mother,” Carissa replies.

  “She said her mother died,” Cecil/Karen says with a frown. “I’m confused.”

  “Cecil, I don’t know what’s going on here, but let me clear some things up,” Yvette says softly. “Persia is a minor, and her mother is one of my best friends. This is her parent right here,” she touches Carissa on the shoulder, “and she’s been looking all over for her. We just happened to be out, and saw her here.”

  “Is that what brought you here?” Cecil/Karen says. “Did you show up because you knew she was with us?”

  “I’m gonna be real with you,” Yvette starts, “we got beef with the Black Water Klan. They took a lot of good people from us. But, all of that shit went out of the window when we saw Persia, and I saw you.”

  “Wait, you are a part of the Emerald City squad?”

  “I am,” Yvette confirms with a nod of the head.

  “I didn’t know. I never saw you before.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Yvette says. “All that matters now is this. I want to be diplomatic about this shit so Persia can get back with her family. I’m done with the war, Cecil. My girls are too.”

  “My mother don’t give a fuck about me,” Persia says rolling her eyes at Yvette.

  “Persia, slow your roll,” Yvette warns. “I’m talking amongst adults. If I want your opinion on a matter best believe you’ll know.”

  “Don’t be so mean to her, Yvette,” Carissa responds. “She’s pregnant.”

  “So because she’s pregnant that means she gets to fly off at the lips?” Yvette questions. “Naw, Car, you know I don’t play that shit. A child stays in a child’s place even if I gotta put her there.”

  “Listen, someone close to the family brought her to us some time back,” Cecil/Karen responds. “She said a lot of things about her family life, and it made us concerned which is why we didn’t call the police. We were afraid to return her to her violent past. But, I am more than willing to work this out with you Carissa, if it’ll be for the benefit of us all.”

  “It will be for the benefit,” Carissa responds.

  “Good,” Yvette smiles again. “That works for us.” Yvette hugs Cecil/Karen again. “I’m sure we can come up with something fair.”

  I’m confused though. What did we just decide? Is this fresh little bitch coming back with us or not?

  “I’m so glad I found you,” Yvette says to her sister. “There’s so much that has happened. I gotta tell you about ma, and the shit she pulled some months back. Cecil, I swear you won’t believe this shit when you hear it. Ma actually was about to set me up on some wild shit. Luckily me and my girls were on it.”

  Suddenly the mood changes. Cecil/Karen pushes Yvette backwards and I instinctively place my gun against the pulse of her temple. Carissa and Toi follow my lead by lining up their barrels to her head too. We weren’t the only ones preparing for a gun battle, because Roman and Lance ran up to us and pulled out their weapons. Somebody was going to die. The question was who?

  “What’s going on?” I ask Yvette although I’m looking at Cecil/Karen. “I thought you said this chick was cool.”

  “She is,” Yvette says softly. She doesn’t sound sure though. Why isn’t she sure? “Cecil—,”

  “Karen,” she interrupts. “I go by Karen now.” Her eyes are now pulled closely together and she’s frowning.

  Persia, on the other hand, is grinning so widely I felt like knocking her in the face with the butt of my gun. I would’ve done it, but I didn’t feel like dealing with Carissa afterwards. She sensitive about that type of thing. All of this shit is Persia’s fault anyway.

  “Did I just do something?” Yvette asks Karen. “I mean one minute we were bonding and the next you pushing me away.”

  “You know what, Yvette, for the longest time I hated you,” Karen says. “I know it wasn’t your fault, but I couldn’t get the feeling out of my heart that ma chose you, instead of me.”

  “Karen, don’t put that shit on me,” Yvette says. “That wasn’t my fault. I was a kid, and I thought about you everyday of my life.”

  “It probably wasn’t your fault, but at the end of the day, ma made a decision that she could take care of you, but not me.” Tears roll down her face. “And, now I hear you’re still in contact with her?” She yells. “But what about me? Who cared that I was sold to a white dry-cleaning storeowner for fifty bucks? Who, when he was finished with me, gave me to his friend after losing in a Poker game? My life was taken from me, and yet she stayed by your side. That’s all I ever wanted, for my mother to love me. But she never did. I never experienced real love until now, with my new family.”

  “Karen, I’m sorry,” Yvette says holding a hand over her chest. “But you can’t put that beef on me. That was ma. I never forgave her for abandoning you either. And I didn’t trust her—,”

  “Save the shit, ‘Vette,” Karen says with a wave of her hand.

  “Save the shit?” Yvette repeats.

  “Exactly, but let me make this clear too,” Karen exhales, “I will honor what I said to you all earlier, about facilitating the meeting with Persia, and her mother.” She clutches her red book tighter. “But, I will not turn her over until I’m sure she will be safe. Unlike what Ma did to me, the Black Water Klan takes care of their own. But, my involvement in your family’s life is going to cost you.”

  “So she’s a member of the Black Water Klan now?” I ask, gun still trained to Karen’s head. As a matter of fact, everyone was still aimed but Yvette, Karen and Persia.

  “Yes,” Karen says flatly. “And, we won’t release her until we’re ready.” She snaps her fingers, and Lance and Roman lower their weapons and walk Persia toward the building. “I’ll be in contact with you all regarding my fee,” Karen continues. “I’m sure Persia knows how to reach you.”

  “Baby, don’t leave,” Carissa screams at Persia. She runs toward her before Toi lowers her weapon, and pulls Carissa back toward us.

  “Don’t do it like this,” Toi tells Carissa. “Let her go for now. We know where she at.”

  Carissa shakes away from Toi. “How do you know I just won’t call the police?” she yells at Karen. “You got my daughter. She’s a fucking minor.”

  “Because you and I both know you’ll never see her again,” Karen says seriously. “I’ll assist in helping her get away, and I have many resources at my disposal. Trust me when I say I can make her a ghost if I choose.”

  “You wrong for this shit,” Yvette says.

  Karen looks back at Yvette. “I don’t ever want to see you around here again. Do you hear what I’m saying, Yvette?”

  Yvette remains silent.

  “Then it’s settled,” Karen continues.

  “What’s to stop me from killing you right now?” I ask Karen. “It ain’t like your people out here anymore. If we wanted, we could kill you, run up in that bitch and bring Persia out ourselves.”

  Karen nods up at the building on the left and right. Every window was open, and every window had a barrel pointed in our direction. Her men were on guard like the soldiers in Emerald City. We are clearly outnumbered.

  “Don’t be dumb,” Karen smirks. “Be smart and live.”

  “You know this is not over,” I say.

  “It never is.”

  CHAPTER 2

  YVETTE

  (Three Months Later)

  The sun turns my silver Bentley into liquid platinum, as I cruise down the highway. I like my ride, but truth be told I’m a truck-kind-of girl, and I can’t wait to get the new red Range Rover I had been coveting.

  I open a vanilla scented tree air freshener, and hang it on my rearview mirror. I’m on my way to deliver Lil C his package. I could’ve given this job to one of my soldiers in Emerald City, since we own it again, but I don’t trust anybody handing off work to my nephew, whether he’s a drug boss or not.

  The cell phone lying in my lap is warm, because
I called my ex-girlfriend Chris so many times trying to reach her that I guess my battery was heating up. I can’t believe that almost a year ago, we lived together in my townhouse in Georgetown, a suburb of Washington DC.

  So much has changed since then. Starting with the fact that Bucky, the bitch Derrick was fucking behind Mercedes’ back, called the police on me, Mercedes and Toi, after we jumped her in the laundry room. I was arrested for that shit some time after that. How scandalous. She totally disregarded the code, no snitching or calling the cops…ever.

  When I made it to jail to answer for the beat down, I saw Chris who was also inside for some speeding tickets she failed to pay. The crazy part is, she acted like she didn’t know me when I approached her. Chris’ exact words were, ‘Do I know you?’

  I’m telling you I could’ve killed her, but my heart had too much love inside of it for her at the time to take her life. Plus, I was the reason we weren’t together anymore, because all Chris wanted to do was to love me. She practically begged me to give our relationship a chance, but I rejected her. I wasn’t sure about the gay lifestyle, and I’m still not.

  The next thing I know, I came home one day and her clothes were gone. She moved out, and I haven’t been the same since.

  When Mercedes bailed me out of jail, I waited for a while before reaching out to Chris. At first she was giving me a hard time by not accepting my calls, but eventually she gave in. The thing is, the nature of our relationship had shifted. It was no longer about us; it was all about sex.

  I wasn’t tripping too hard because I had been spending time with Judah, our new drug connect. But, Judah was just a thing; he wasn’t where my heart lied and I’m not sure if he would ever be. I guess I was still in love with Chris, but how do you give your heart so freely, when it’s been broken before?

  I don’t like being in love, although I can’t live without it. I don’t like my mood being impacted by a person leaving me, not calling me, or hurting my feelings. I can’t run a business like that, and I can’t function with someone in my head. After Thick played games with my heart and mind, I can’t see opening up so easily, although for some reason, for Chris anyway, I want to.