Pitbulls In a Skirt 5 Read online

  “That won’t work now, Heavy,” Wilson smiled. “Sadly enough. Even if you threw us under the bus nobody will believe you weren’t involved. Grace is your daughter’s mother.”

  Grace walked up to him. “It’s true, Heavy. You might as well stay with me and—”

  “I said I don’t want no part of this!” He yelled looking at Grace, Rambler, Wilson, Corey, Spotter and Kliyo. “Now are you coming with me or not, Grace? I’m not gonna keep asking.”

  Graced moved to respond when Corey shoved her a few inches back. “I already answered your question for her, man,” He interjected. “Maybe we should show him the body in the room. That way he can really understand the gravity of this situation.”

  Heavy’s eyebrows rose. “Wait…ya’ll in here killing niggas too?” He placed both hands on the side of his face before dropping them. “Are you serious?” His eyes widened.

  “Correction, she killed somebody,” Wilson said pointing at Grace.

  “Who did she kill?” Heavy continued.

  “Quinton, one of their soldiers,” Corey responded.

  “You know what…whatever you niggas do is on you. Just leave me and my name out of it!” He stormed out of the Trap, slamming the door in the process.

  “He’s gonna be a problem,” Wilson said looking at the door. “Should’ve never let him inside.”

  “I can tell him to come back so we can hit him with something if you want, Wilson,” Spotter suggested raising his gun.

  “Don’t fuck with him,” Grace yelled approaching Wilson. “Everything happening is my fault and Heavy don’t have nothing to do with it.”

  “I’m with Wilson,” Rambler said. “Are we fucking with Heavy’s head so you can be with him, Grace? Or are we robbing the bosses? ‘Cause this don’t have nothing to do with what we talked about earlier today, G. Your nigga came to get you, like you wanted. But you didn’t go. Why not?”

  “Bitch, ain’t you listening to me?” Wilson yelled stepping to her. “Every plan before I got in here is dead. The only thing we should be doing now is trying to figure out how to get those kilos out of here when that snow melts. And since our names are all over this shit, we need to also be thinking about how to kill them bitches before they kill us. Because trust me it’s coming. You heard, Heavy.” He turned to look at the dog food bags. “Wait, I have an idea!”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  MERCEDES

  “You good with talking about why a plan won’t work but you’ve never been part of the solution.”

  Yvette stood in the middle of the floor with me, Carissa and 88 behind her. She had a cell pressed to her ear while frowning. “Fuck, nobody answering the phone now!” She tossed it on the couch. “I’m sick of this shit.”

  This entire ordeal was making me all kinds of mad. Prior to Rocky and them coming over we never had any reason to suspect Kliyo and Quinton of foul play. They’ve worked with us for months and we trusted them.

  Well…somewhat anyway.

  And now it was as if all of that was being tossed out the window.

  “This nigga answered his phone every time I rang him and now he ain’t got no time for me?” Yvette looked at all of them. “And where’s Quinton?” She scratched her scalp. “It’s settled, I gotta go over there.” She moved to the closet and grabbed her fur jacket because the hallway was cold.

  So cold you could see your breath when you spoke.

  “Wait, Yvette, before you do anything let’s talk it out,” I said. “We haven’t fully gone over the what if it’s a trap scenario. And I think it’s worth our time. Don’t you? Karen and Oscar are out there?”

  “I’m going to get my kilos,” Yvette said.

  “And where you gonna put it, Yvette?” Carissa asked. “Here? So we can go down like the Spanish-Jamaican cat out New York?” Carissa shook her head from left to right. “You know DC police been trying to get at us for years, Yvette. We have to play this smart. Ain’t that what ya’ll always tell me?”

  Just then my phone rang. I took it out my pocket and looked at the number. “It’s C.” I answered and put it on speakerphone. “Hey, son, I got you on speaker.”

  “What’s up, fam?” Lil C said out loud. “Everyone holding up?”

  Everyone collectively said, Yeah. But it was obvious we weren’t.

  “No flight out yet?” I asked. “Because we need you back now.”

  “Nope, and it don’t look good. They expect at least seven more inches in DC. Man, all I’m trying to do is come home.” When his voice sounded a little irritated I took the call off speaker and walked toward the balcony. I figured he wanted a little privacy. Looking out the frozen door I asked, “How things going? 88 and Fresh still there right?”

  I looked over at 88 who was staring at me before looking away. I was worried someone else would see me. And catch our glances.

  “Yeah, but something’s up, Cameron.” I paused. “Kliyo and Quinton not answering the phone. It don’t look good. I think they may be turning on us.”

  “I knew something was up, I could hear it in your voice. I hate this shit happened with them new niggas. Like I said, they were loyal but neither of them were responsible for this much weight.” He paused. “Let me wrap to Fresh right quick, ma.”

  I walked over to Fresh and said, “C, wanna talk to you.”

  Fresh jumped up and took the call. “Boss…” He walked away, out of earshot from the rest of us.

  I rejoined Carissa and Yvette who were both agitated. I could tell the tension was building and it was just a matter of time before things exploded. “Like I said, I’m going over there,” Yvette said nodding. “I gotta know what’s up and I gotta know now. Waiting is killing me.”

  “Look, instead of you going, maybe I should,” Carissa suggested.

  Yvette looked at me and we both laughed. If she think somebody would have her cokehead ass around the pack she was crazy.

  “You can’t be fuckin’ serious. Since when do you answer the call for shit like this? You’re usually the last person who wants to go.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest tightly. “What’s that supposed to mean? You calling me a punk?”

  “It means exactly what it sounds like, Carissa.” I continued. “You good with talking about why a plan won’t work but you’ve never been part of the solution. Ever. And I don’t see any reason you should start today. So do yourself a favor and fall back as usual.”

  Carissa knew she had never been the fighter type and with her on drugs she was even more laid back, unless she passionate about something or trying to get her point across.

  It’s amazing that after all of these years, she still resembles Salli Richardson with her copper-colored skin despite her habit.

  Still she always allowed Yvette and me to handle the problems on the streets since niggas gave her the most shit because she was short and petite.

  Carissa frowned. “What is it really with you?” she asked me. “We fight all the time but you been coming at me extra hard lately, Mercedes. Just be honest.”

  “Like I said, stick to what you know. And when it comes to handling the tough work me and ‘Vette got it. You know that already.”

  Yvette’s cell rang just as Carissa was about to say something to me. Whatever it was it was probably stupid.

  “Kliyo, why you ain’t answer the fucking phone a few minutes ago? I been hitting you.” Yvette yelled into the handset. I couldn’t hear what was being said until Yvette put the call on speaker. “Hold up, what did you just say to me?” she frowned.

  “Quinton’s dead, boss,” Kliyo said. “He died from an overdose. I’m sorry…I didn’t know what else to do so I called at the last minute. That’s why I wasn’t answering the phone.”

  Everyone gasped.

  It was at that time that I remembered that Rocky, Kisha and Dukes were still in the apartment. I looked back at them but they were doing a good job of pretending not to listen. Their backs were turned toward us and everything.

  But who would
n’t eavesdrop on this shit?

  “Fuck you mean he overdosed?” Yvette yelled at the handset. “You telling me that ya’ll niggas been fucking with my shit?”

  I turned around and saw Fresh had moved closer. He had my phone in his hand and was holding it up in the air. I’m sure so Lil C could listen.

  “I didn’t know he was gonna do it, ‘Vette,” Kliyo continued. “I took a nap and when I woke up he had dug into one of the packs. I don’t know what to do now,” Kliyo whined. “I’m not trying to be snowed in with no corpse, man.” His voice grew more frantic. “You gotta come and help, boss. I ain’t never been in a situation like this and I’m all alone.”

  Yvette’s face turned red. “Stay put. I’ll hit you in a second.”

  “But you gotta come now, ‘Vette,” Kliyo persisted. “I’m not trying to be in here alone!”

  “Nigga, don’t tell me what I gotta do. I said I’ll hit you back.”

  “Okay and I’m sorry again. About everything,” Kliyo continued. “I didn’t know he—”

  Click.

  Yvette hung up on him before he could finish his sentence. I’ve seen her angry before but never this mad. Her face was almost blue like she was holding her breath but I understood where her anger stemmed from.

  We just got back on and something like this could set us back financially.

  Our plug wasn’t gonna give us product on credit anymore. We needed the cash up front which meant we needed the pack untouched.

  “Are you trying to tell me this ain’t no trap, ‘Vette?” I yelled. “I’m telling you something’s up and we shouldn’t make any moves until we thing things through.”

  “I’m with, ma,” Lil C said from the speakerphone. I almost forgot he was listening. “This is what we gonna do. Fresh, I want you to go see what’s up at the Trap.”

  “No problem, boss. You want 88 to roll too?” Fresh continued.

  “No, I want him to stay with my mother and aunts.” Lil C responded. I was relieved too. I cared about 88 too much and until I knew exactly what was happening I didn’t want him anywhere near the spot. “Hit me back when you know something more.”

  Lil C hung up and Fresh handed me my phone. Fresh was preparing to walk out the door when ‘Vette stopped him. “I know what C said, but I don’t think you should be going by yourself. Let me go with you.”

  “Fuck is wrong with you, Yvette?” I paused. “Don’t you know when to fall back and delegate? We not on the steps of Emerald no more. Ain’t no reason to bust your gun when we have soldiers.”

  “But he don’t need to be going by there alone,” Yvette said. “I got a feeling about this shit.”

  “I’ll go,” Rocky said. “I mean…I know how to use a gun and I’ll watch his back.”

  “If ya’ll let this bitch go with him to the Trap I’m gonna smack the shit out everybody in this room.” Carissa roared. “I don’t even understand what they’re still doing here.”

  Part of me agreed with Carissa. But Yvette felt it best to keep them where we could see them instead of letting them leave. That way if something else was going on, and they were in on the alleged Set-Up, Rocky and her friends couldn’t alert Kliyo and Quinton of our plans. Also, there was something about Rocky that I liked.

  She was genuine.

  Her energy makes me feel like I can trust her and you don’t get to be in our business long without being able to read people.

  “Let her go,” I suggested. “Since Lil C wants 88 to fall back with us.”

  “You know what…both of you bitches are getting dumber by the snow flake,” Carissa stormed toward the back of the apartment just as Heavy knocked on the door.

  Yvette let him inside and he walked up to her. I don’t know about everybody else but the first thing I noticed was that he wasn’t carrying a bag. So what did he get from his apartment?

  And why did he leave so abruptly?

  “Sorry, it took me longer than I thought.” Heavy said before kissing Yvette on the cheek. “But can I talk to you for a minute? In private?”

  She looked at all of us and then back at him. “Yeah, baby, sure, let’s go to my room. ”They walked away and collectively everyone appeared to have the same expression.

  Nobody trusted the nigga Heavy anymore.

  At one point I was on his team but with everything going on and his shaky personality I couldn’t call it.

  Fresh dug in his waist and pulled out one of his guns which he handed to Rocky. “Are you sure you know how to shoot? ‘Cause ain’t no need in you hanging with me if you can’t bust back.”

  “I’m at the range every weekend.” She laughed. “Trust me, I got your back.”

  “She not lying ‘bout that,” Kisha said eating a bag of Kit Kats. We said she could have some food but she was drying us out. There were hardly any snacks left but nobody was going to deny a pregnant woman her grub either. “Even when it’s her weekend to grocery shop she at the range. She definitely can shoot. You’ll be good.”

  I rolled my eyes at her fat ass and focused on Rocky and Fresh. “Go to the trap, see what’s up and come right back,” I said. “If you see something off don’t play the hero. We’ll deal with it when the snow breaks.”

  “No problem,” Fresh said.

  ROCKY

  Fresh and Rocky crept down the hallway leading to the Trap house. “So you got a man?” Fresh asked her. “Somebody who you feeling when times get rough like now?”

  Rocky laughed. “Not that there’s anything wrong with it but it’s not my thing.”

  He chuckled. “Fuck that ‘spose to mean?”

  She shrugged. “Don’t know how to make it clearer than I already have. You asked a question and I gave you a direct answer. Men ain’t my thing.”

  He shook his head. “Women have just given up on trying now a days.” He sighed. “One nigga breaks their heart and they run to the other side.”

  Rocky laughed. “First off I was born this way. Not into the fads like you may think. But fuck all of that. Let’s just do this job Mercedes asked us to do and head back. To be honest I don’t see how my private life applies to the current situation anyway.”

  “We gonna do that. I was just trying to pass the time. But let me tell you something else too…you’re cute. And if you ever want to come back home I’ll be more than happy to greet you.”

  “Wow. Didn’t take you for a jerk.”

  He laughed quietly. “I’m just putting my bid in that’s—”

  “I saw something,” Rocky whispered touching his arm. They were six apartments from the trap at the end of the hall. “You see that shit? Somebody moved.”

  Fresh removed his weapon but it was too late. They were suddenly bombarded with bullets flying in their direction.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CARISSA

  “I need some air, I’ll be back when I feel like it.”

  There was a loud banging on the front door just as I came out of my room to get something to drink. Sensing something was off; I rushed to the door with everyone else behind me. Before answering I glanced out the peephole and was shocked to see Rocky covered in blood.

  BANG! BANG! BANG!

  “Open the door, please!” She yelled, causing the door to rattle with every pound.

  I turned around and looked at everyone. With my back against the door I whispered, “It’s that girl ya’ll sent with Fresh and she got blood all over her scrubs. She look like a serial killer or something.”

  Mercedes stepped up, her eyes as wide as melons. “Well open the fucking door.” She moved toward me and touched the knob but I shoved her backwards.

  “We not letting that woman in here. Are you fucking crazy? I just said she looks like a serial killer.”

  “Carissa, stop messing around. If she’s covered in blood she could be hurt.” Mercedes continued. “Now open the door.”

  “Plus I need to know what’s going on with Fresh, boss,” 88 said to me. “If you want I can go out there and find out myself before letti
ng her inside.”

  “No!” Mercedes yelled. “I mean…I mean…”

  I grinned. “Don’t want your lover boy getting hurt do you? Isn’t that special.”

  “You know what, Carissa…” Mercedes charged me and knocked me to the side before opening the door. She was so rough I almost hit my forehead on the table at the door side.

  Before I could fight back the door was wide open and Rocky collapsed on the floor while breathing heavily in front of us. Fresh lie at her feet and blood poured from the multiple wounds on his body.

  “What the fuck just happened?” Mercedes asked as 88 and Dukes helped pull Fresh inside safely.

  I slammed the door behind them and looked down at the bloody scene, just as Yvette and Heavy came out of the room and rushed up to us. “What the fuck happened?” Yvette yelled. “Why is he shot?”

  Rocky raised herself up but only to her hands and knees. Looking up at us she said, “We were almost to the spot when…when…they started shooting at us. It seemed to be coming from everywhere. From all directions. So…so I used the elevator to drag him here.” She was trying desperately to catch her breath.

  “Who was it?” Yvette asked while 88 and Heavy tended to Fresh’s bloody body.

  “I couldn’t tell but I think it was coming from the Trap.” Finally she stood up and leaned on the white wall, leaving bloody smears everywhere and some other places too. “It was hard to tell. We let off a few rounds but they outnumbered us. Even from other apartments too…well…I think. It was all happening so fast.”

  “Out of other apartments?” Mercedes yelled. “What you mean?”

  “There were a few doors before you reached the Trap, and they opened and started shooting,” Rocky continued. “I can’t tell you which doors opened but it was an ambush for sure.”

  The more she spoke the angrier I got. If they couldn’t tell this girl was involved in this shooting I was afraid they never would. “I can’t believe ya’ll buying into her shit.” I advised. “The Trap is probably overthrown and now we got Fresh in here who may die in any moment.”