Bitch (7 page)

"I hear you, but I still say you need to put your foot in they ass every now and then," Ritchie stressed.

As I listened to them exchange words, I knew that Ritchie didn't understand that Nico had a different style of dictatorship. Ritchie's browbeating style actually worked well for many bosses in Nico's position, but Nico vehemently opted against it. See, Nico wasn't big on bluffing. If he had to instill fear in you, that meant your time was up, and your life was over. He maintained a calm, cool and collected persona that made even his worse enemies respect him. When the dark side of Nico appeared everyone knew to stay away.

"I'll think about what you said," Nico answered, trying to get off the subject. "What time do you want to meet up at Harlem Grill?"

"Nine is good."

"So we'll see you there, and don't have us waiting on you neither," Nico added with a smile, knowing how it was nothing for Ritchie to be late or not show up at all.

After Nico and I went shopping, he dropped me off at home so he could handle some business before we went out. The moment my bags hit the floor, I called Inga. "What up?"

"What's going on, Precious?"

"Not too much. Did Ritchie call you?"

"Not yet, why is he supposed to?" I looked at my watch and saw it was quarter to five. "That nigga so simple. Yeah, he was supposed to call. The four of us is going to the Harlem Grill for dinner."

"Word ...wait hold on a minute. My phone beeping." As I waited for Inga to click back over from the other line, I twisted my mouth up, thinking how slack Ritchie was. We saw that nigga at twelve in the afternoon, and it damn near five and he still hadn't called Inga. That's why he couldn't keep no girlfriend `cause he was one of those simple-ass dudes. I could never comprehend why Nico had so much love for him. "I'm back. That was Ritchie on the other line."

"Oh he finally decided to call," I said sarcastically.

"Girl, yeah, he said he'll pick me up at eight-thirty. What you wearing?"

"Probably something I got today when Nico and I went shopping."

"Yah stay shopping. I hope Ritchie generous like Nico so I can start flossin'."

"I doubt it. I ain't neva seen Ritchie wit' no official bitch. `Cause an official bitch wouldn't be able to deal wit' his clown ass on no long term basis."

"Well, maybe they ain't neva fucked him right. `Cause he's a cutie."

"Whateva. Let me get myself together `cause I been running round all day. I'll see you tonight."

When I hung up with Inga, I just rolled my eyes. Inga was my girl, but she always got so caught up in nigga's way before they started feeling her. I could tell by the sound of her voice that she was already feeling Ritchie, and knowing him, he was just looking for a big butt to bust a nut in.

Of course Nico and I arrived first and on time for our reservation at the Harlem Grill. The hostess led us to a table in the back. After our second drink, Ritchie and Inga came walking in the spot like they were on time. I knew it wasn't Inga's fault, but because she had a big Kool-Aid smile on her face from being so happy to be with Ritchie, she was guilty by association.

"What took ya so long?" I asked just to fuck with Ritchie.

"The traffic on the bridge was backed up." Inga said, already trying to come to the defense of her clown-ass date.

"Oh, it was moving fine when we were coming across."

"What ya want to drink?" Nico said, trying to keep the peace. For the rest of the dinner Nico and Ritchie talked, and me and Inga engaged in our own conversation. After finishing up there Nico took us to this DL spot called Zip Code.

Nico had to do a special knock just to gain entrance. He said it was an exclusive lounge for the top-notch hustlers. We stayed for a couple of hours poppin' bottles and listening to music. I stepped away for a few minutes to use the bathroom, and when I came back, Ritchie's hand was damn near inside Inga's coochie. She was giggling, and he was whispering in her ear. Right when I was about to tell them to get a room, Ritchie said they was breaking out. I gave Inga a hug goodbye and told her to call me.

"I had a good time tonight," Nico said as he drove us home. "We should all hang out more often."

"Baby, do you really think we should be making longterm dinner dates with those two? I mean how long can their relationship actually last?"

"Ritchie seemed like he was really feeling her."

"Yeah, feeling up her ass."

"Stop it. I'm just saying they seem to enjoy one another. It's cool. Inga's your best friend and Ritchie's mine. We have a nice little family thing going on."

I secretly hoped that Ritchie was so bad in bed Inga would kick him to the curb before anything started. As far as I was concerned, Ritchie was bad news, and I didn't want him in no family of mine.

"Let me ask you something, Nico."

"Go right ahead."

"You don't ever feel like Ritchie just riding yo' dick and not bringing nothing to the table? He always got some shit to pop about how you need to do this and how you need to handle your business like that, but it's all dead noise. That shit don't bother you, `cause it sure as hell gets on my nerve."

"Precious, you too hard on Ritchie. Sometimes a cat has to throw his weight around a little bit in order to feel like a man, but it's harmless. Ritchie might have his shortcomings, but the reason why I keep him by my side is because he's loyal. With the game I'm in, that's a character flaw. These niggas out here ain't got no loyalty to nobody, but Ritchie got my front and my back." Then Nico turned and looked at me with a smirk on his face and said, "Listen here. I'm like a dog, I don't speak, but I understand everything. Ritchie is good people, trust me."

I sat there in the passenger seat, just nodding my head. The conversation was a lost cause. Nico was dead set on his opinion of Ritchie, which was disappointing to me. I always viewed Nico as a dude that was beyond reproach when it came to his street savvy. But if he honestly believed that Ritchie was a loyal dude, then he had the game all fucked up.

The following afternoon Inga called me, sounding like she was on her honeymoon. "Girl, that nigga Ritchie can fuck. He just left here like an hour ago."

"Where was yo' moms at when all that fucking was jumping off?"

"She went to Philly this weekend to visit her sister, so I had the place to myself. He's coming to get me later on this evening so we can go to the movies. Girl, I'm in love wit' that nigga."

"Whateva, Inga. You say that about every dude that beats that coochie good."

"Precious, this time was different. He was so gentle with me and before he left, he gave me five hundred dollars and told me to get my hair and nails done. You know it don't cost no five hundred dollars to get that shit done. He's feeling me, and I'm feeling him too."

I had to admit that I was surprised by what Inga was telling me. I always thought of Ritchie as being a five-minute fucker. I definitely didn't think he would lay up with a bitch or leave her money. Five hundred was a drop in the bucket for him, but the point was he gave it to her and told her to get her nails and hair done. Not only that, they were going on a second date already. Maybe Ritchie wasn't as bad as I thought. And if Inga was happy, then so be it. She deserved for a nigga to lace her. Now maybe she would keep her weave a little bit tighter.

"Inga, I'm happy for you. But don't get too caught up in Ritchie. I would hate for him to get you open, then break your heart."

When I got off the phone with Inga, I called Nico. I wanted to see if he had heard from Ritchie and got any feedback. Inga was my girl, and I would feel some kinda way if Ritchie played her out. Nico's cell went straight to voice mail. His phone was doing that a lot lately. For a second I wondered if the nigga was creeping on me with the next bitch but decided I was being paranoid. Not saying that Nico wasn't capable of cheating like any other man, but Nico knew he would have to be extra discreet with his shit. I do not play that. When and if Nico fucked around on me, it better be when he's going in and out of town.

Later on that day, I had an appointment at Boogie's detailing shop so I decided to stop by my moms' crib. I hadn't seen her in a few months, and even though I didn't fuck with her like that, I wanted to make sure she hadn't died of a drug overdose. I used my key, and when I opened the door, my moms was lying on the couch, butt ass naked with some dude on top of her. Empty bottles of liquor were around the couch and some needles and pipes were sitting on the table next to them.

For a moment I thought they were dead because their bodies were motionless, but then they both started moaning as they changed positions on the couch. I walked over to the stereo and blasted the music to wake the two junkies up.

"What the fuck?" the two of them said in unison as they jumped up off the couch. When I had their full attention I turned the stereo back off.

"Who the hell is you?" the bony Chris Rock look-alike screamed. He didn't look like new money Chris Rock, but `Pookie' "New Jack City" Chris Rock.

"I'm her daughter, you nasty-looking crack head."

"Who the fuck you talking to?" the Pookie look-alike asked as he wiped the crust from his eyes and mouth. He motioned his arms towards me like it was about to be on.

"Nigga, I'm talking to you, and you betta watch how you speak to me. I know you heard of Nico Carter. Well, that's my man, and it wouldn't take nothing but a phone call to have your life ended, so back the fuck up." I had to put some sort of fear in the dude because junkies can be some of the stupidest, overly confident ma'fuckahs out here.

"Both of ya calm down. It's too early in the morning for this shit."

My moms was straight trippin'.

"It's two o'clock in the afternoon; the morning been ended. Now, my man," I said, pointing my finger at the clothes lying on the floor. "You need to get yo' shit and get the fuck up outta here `cause I want to speak to my moms."

He looked over at my moms like she was supposed to say something, but I was still hitting her off with paper so she just turned her face away like her name was Bennet and she ain't in it.

I stood with my arms folded as the dude moved in slow motion getting dressed. He even tried to cover himself. "Nigga, ain't nobody checking for that little dick you got over there. Hurry the fuck up."

When he picked up his keys, he tried to grab the small amount of drugs they had left and my moms smacked his hand. "I paid for this shit. Get yo' hands off my drugs."

"Listen, we ain't `bout to have no crack head fight up in here. Take that shit, Pookie, and get the fuck up outta here."

"My name ain't Pookie. It's Leroy."

"Whateva, nigga, just go." When I turned my head for a minute making sure Leroy was gone and then locked the door, my moms tried to disappear into the bathroom. I went back there and started banging on the door. "Yo, I want to speak to you."

"Precious, damn. I'm shittin'. Give me a minute." Fifteen minutes later, my moms came strolling out of the bathroom like nothing happened.

"You a grown woman and can do whateva you like, but not on my dime. You're bringing any ole type of dirty mggas in here fucking them wit' no condom or nothin'. Are you tryna die of AIDS?"

"Just because you give me money, I'm still yo' mother, and you don't tell me what to do," she said, opening up the refrigerator and pulling out a beer.

"I tell you what then, how `bout I don't give you no mo' money, and you do whateva the fuck you like."

"Precious, you know I need that money. You my only source of income."

"Then act like it. I would prefer if you'd check yourself in some sort of rehab, which I would gladly pay for, but if not, keep them dirty niggas outta here. You neva know. They might flip out on you one day and kill yo' ass. I know one day I'm gonna have to bury you, but I would hate for it to be over some shit like that."

"You neva know, Precious. I might have to bury you first." Something about the way my moms said that sent chills up my spine.

"Just do what I ask. Here, take this." I pulled out a wad of cash and counted out fifteen hundred dollars. I knew she would probably smoke it up in less than a week, but somewhere inside of me I wished my mother would get straight. Every time I looked into her beautiful green eyes, I saw hope.

When I got in the car, I called Nico again, and this time he picked up the phone. "What's up, baby? Where you at?"

"Just in these streets handling business."

"Oh, I called you earlier and your phone went straight to voice mail."

"I don't know what that was about. Where you at?" He tried to change the subject.

"I just left my moms' crib. She was in there wit' some grimy nigga. I so wish she'd get off those damn drugs and get her life together."

"Baby girl, once a junkie always a junkie."

I knew the odds of what Nico was saying was true, but the fact that he said it bothered me. I was looking for a sympathetic ear, not a self righteous point of view.

"Have you talked to Ritchie?" I said, now wanting to change the subject.

"For a minute-why?"

"Inga said they supposed to go on another date tonight. Maybe you was right about them feeling each other."

"Oh, that's alright. I'ma see him in a few, and I'll ask him."

"Don't make it seem like you spying for me, so I can go back and tell Inga."

"I'm not. I know how to handle my man."

"So what time are you gon' be home tonight?"

"Probably late. I got mad shit to do. But I'll call you later."

My stomach was getting that queasy feeling which wasn't a good sign. The little bitch that's your conscience, who taps you on the shoulder when something is up, was doing a motherfucking tap dance on my shit. The message was clear: Nico was definitely creeping.

Although my instincts were screaming that at me, I needed some confirmation. I also wanted to find out the best way to handle it. The only person I trusted to discuss my suspicions with and who could give me sound advice was my main man, Boogie. I put my car in drive and headed to the detailing shop.

When I arrived, Boogie was in front checking out a customer's new Lamborghini, but he would have to continue that another time.