Country Boy 2 (16 page)

"You know what, nigga? I gave your stupid ass the benefit of .the doubt, but I see that there is no reasoning with none of you outta town nigga's!" He screamed. "You say you miss yo Brother, huh? Alight then nigga, rocka by.... Motha-fu...."

"Hey mister."

Q froze.

"Hey mister." The voice spoke again. He didn't want to take his eyes off Dame, but his attention was drawn to the familiar voice. It was the tender voice of India. Q looked down at her then back at Dame. She continued, "Are you gonna hurt my Daddy?" she asked. Her eyes were showing signs of fear. Fear for her Father. Words couldn't express the amount of shame Q felt as he once again stared down into those beautiful eyes. Eyes that vividly reminded him of the unforgettable mistake he'd almost made in New York. Oblivious to Dame now, he quickly hid his Colt underneath his tank-top as best he could. Dame didn't move when he saw Q kneel down on one knee in front of his daughter. "Hi there, beautiful!"

"It's India." She quickly corrected him. "Oh yeah. Okay, well hi India. How are you doing?"

"I'm doing fine." She answered. "Mommy says that you're not a stranger anymore."

Q smiled at her statement. He still hadn't noticed Gazelle until she was finally able to speak from behind him.

"Thank you for saving our Daughter. I.... I didn't get a chance to really, really thank you."

"It's alright." Q turned to her and said. I
.
wouldn't hesitate to do it again." He continued.

Tee, El, and Terri all stood in shock at what they had just witnessed. Each of them thought that the argument had gone beyond reasoning. Unbeknownst to her, India had done something her young mind could not yet register. She'd saved her father's life.

"Hey, yo Son."

Q turned and faced Dame, who spoke.

"Thanks for saving my family, B. And please forgive me for disrespecting your place of business Ms Tee." He look back at Q, “Look kid, we need to sit down and chop this shit up. I came south to give my family a safer life. Not to start a war. It’s enough paper out here for everyone.”

Q agreed, he knew he had too much going to go back down that road. The street’s had cost him so much already. Maybe it was time to sit down and settle this with words.

June held the phone away from his ear while Pandora screamed at him at the top of her lungs.

After being away for over a month caring for her mother, she was making plans to return to North Carolina.

"Answer me, June! Is the project bitch there with you?"

June turned and looked at Keshia who remained calm, but confident.

Never one to lie under any circumstances, June took a deep breath before answering.

"Yeah, she's here Pandora."

Keshia stood and walked out of the room.

June listened to Pandora vent numerous threats and promises about their situation, but when she threatened him with his only son he lost it.

"You will never see Xavier again, June!"

He stopped her. "Let's get sum'em straight, Pandora. Whatever happens between us, let's keep it that way alright.... If you ever try to keep my Lil Man away from me, I will...."

"You will what, June"? Kill me too." She cut him off asking.

"Get rid of the project bitch, June... I'll be home in a week” Click. She slammed the phone down in his ear.

After ending his call with Pandora.... Well.... After she ended the call for the both of them, June began getting dressed, but his mind was still on her. Today was the first time in their eight year relationship that he would have to question her love for him. Had it been love at all or just an infatuation? Judging from the amount of hate in her voice just now, he would say that it was more likely the latter.... No love at all, but a woman dangerously scorned. "Damn." June mumbled before walking into the bathroom where he found Keshia crying.

"What's wrong shawty?" June asked walking up behind her wrapping his arms around her waist.

"She's right June.... You do deserve someone much better than me. I mean.... Look at me June, I have two kids, I'm on welfare, and I live in a roach and rat infested project." She said as the tears fell from her eyes.

"Come mere Kesh." June said as he turned her around until she was facing him.

"Look ma, so what you stumbled and fell.... does that make the next woman or person, for that matter, any better than you? Hell No... Why? Because you had the will and the courage to get back up and' try again."

"Don't ever look at yourself as being beneath nobody again, except the man above. Ok baby girl?" Keshia nodded. "Promise me." June teased her while wiping the tears from her face.

"I promise." She said softly.



The Meadow-Wood Community hadn't changed much since the last time Q had been there. The upkeep on the homes was immaculate. As he drove down the street his thoughts turned to his new home. With their dream house almost complete, he and Van were planning to move in as soon as the landscaping was done.

When Q pulled into the large drive-way, he found Dame washing his Black Suburban. Q sat there a moment, his mind drifting back to the last time he'd seen the Black SUV. He had decided to let the situation rest for now, but he knew eventually he would have to find Scar and take care of that situation.

Q continued to watch Dame as he prepared to leave his family. He kissed his Fiancé, then beautiful India before walking towards the Benz.

Q had just left the County Jail visiting the rest of the crew when he received the call from Dame, wanting to put an end to all the bloodshed. He agreed to a meeting with the entire crew once they were released. But he knew that he would be possibly jeopardizing lifelong friendships in the process.

"Whassup Son?" Dame said as he climbed into the car next to Q.

"What's good Dame?" Q answered.

"Your family seems to be adjusting to the South very well." Q continued saying while pointing out the windshield at Gazelle and India.

"Yeah Son, they love it down here...." He paused for a moment, and then continued.

"They’re my whole world Q, and neither of them deserves the dangers of my lifestyle.... Can you imagine what I would be going through right now if you hadn't showed up in our building that day?"

"I wouldn't hesitate doing it again." Q said patting him on the shoulder.

"Thanks again fam.... I will never forget what you did for my family Son, word."

"Like I said before Dame, It was nothing." Q said as he drove away, from the new home.

Fifteen minutes later he pulled into the parking lot on East Washington Street. Q sat and watched the corner hustlers making sale after sale.

"This hustle game is outta control, Son." His passenger Dame interrupted his thoughts saying.

"Yeah Dame, I agree.... It's been outta control Homie. Look at all the victims." He said pointing at all the fiends, young and old.

"Q this is nothing.... Down here it's mainly crack. Back in the city it’s any kind of drug you can find. Word up Son, its crazy."

"Well at least you were able to get your family out, Dame."

"Yeah, but there's still a few more issues, Homie." Dame said thinking about his mother.

"She'll come around Dame.... You ready to do this?" I asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be." He answered before pulling his Nine Millimeter Pistol from his waistband passing it over to Q.

"Let's do it then." Q stepped out of the car.

Game tight and Doe were sitting next to June inside Mrs. Janies, enjoying her cooking when Q walked in with Dame.

Tempers wasted no time rising as Game spoke first.

"Nigga yo ass outta bounds." He said reaching for his Forty Cal.

Q eased his button down shirt open and calmly rested his hands on the Ivory Butts of his twin 45's before speaking.

"I gave this man my word on his safety before he walked in this place."

"He came on his own terms,... Unarmed and in peace."

June looked over at Q before settling a deadly gaze in Dame's direction. As bad as he wanted to kill him, he also felt a form of respect for him. Walking inside there unarmed would have been overlooked by only a fool, but being born and raised in the streets June lived by the code. Dame's actions demanded respect, even from him.

Meanwhile as they stared, Dame's mind took control.

‘
So this is the nigga who murdered my brother.' He thought to himself. 'My precious baby brother.'

'Forgive me Quake, but
it
has to start somewhere. I have to do this for my family. Our family, Son Rest in peace Lil Bro.'

Q watched as June slowly pulled his Mac-10 from his oversized shirt. Dame held his gaze, but didn't move. As Q stood there contemplating his next move; he knew the hatred June had for Dame, but he also knew the amount of respect his friend had for him. What he didn’t know was if it would be enough to relinquish the burning desire he had to kill. There were two things that were hard for a man to forgive once trespassed on. Money and a man’s women, and Dame had done both.

After a few moments June turned around and sat his Mac-10 down on the bar's counter next to the food he was enjoying earlier. Game wasn't far behind with his Forty Cal.

June didn't speak as he walked up to Dame and the two of them gave each other a pound before embracing.

Q let out a sigh of relief, all this shit was finally coming to a rest. All involved had loss family and friends.



Big Kev, Tim, Poo and Fat Dave all walked outside the County Jail, to find both sides of the street lined with H-2 Hummer limousines.

"Damn Kev... This looks like some ‘Gambino Family’ type shit homie," Tim said just as the doors opened on the nearest stretched Hummer, and Terri stepped out to greet him.

Dolce and Gabbana never looked so good, Tim thought as he quickened his pace in her direction.

Seconds later he was lifting her body completely off the sidewalk, squeezing her in his arms.

"I missed you baby," Terri said giving him a kiss.

"Not as much as I've missed you shawty... And where is my Lil man at?" he asked.

"Tyier is with his grandmother, Tim... He wanted to be here, but I told him you wouldn't be home until tomorrow."

"Tomorrow! Why tomorrow, ma?"

"Because baby, I figured it would've been a whole lot easier telling our seven year old son a small lie, than having to explain to him that his mother was starving for some 'Dick'," she answered before bursting out in laughter.

"Amen to that," Big Kev's girl agreed while rubbing his close to four hundred pound frame.

"Where my boys at?" Poo asked, walking up with his baby's momma Sadie, tucked underneath his arm.

"If we told you, then it wouldn't be a surprise," Elbony yelled as she stuck her head out the window of the other H-2 Hummer.

"Whassup lil sis," they all said at once.



Q watched as June and Dame struggled to put the last of seven beer kegs on the stand.

"Damn son... That shit was crazy heavy ..." Dame complained.

"Yeah, I feel you on that homie, and I don't even drink this shit," said June.