End of the Line (15 page)

“Good morning, baby,” Asia said as she rolled over seeing Hazel watching television.

Asia and Hazel had been spending so much time together that Hazel gave her a key to her place. “How did you sleep last night?”

“I slept good,” Asia replied while stretching out her arms.

“You hungry or what, bae?” Hazel reached over kissing her on the neck.

“Yeah, just a li’l. You know I’m trying to watch what I eat.”

“I told you that I like the way you look. You perfect.” Hazel got naked and went to take a shower.

Hazel didn’t mind that Asia was a big girl; she still liked her. Since they had started dating, Asia decided to work on her weight. She’d lost twenty pounds. Asia liked the way she looked but knew that it was unhealthy and slowed her down. As she started losing weight, she felt surer about herself and thought she’d be ready to hustle hard and go the distance in the streets when J-Rite dropped the package off to her as promised.

“Baby, your phone is ringing. You want me to get it?”

“Naw, I got it,” Hazel panicked, jumping out of the shower soaking wet to answer it. She talked for a minute in a somewhat muffled conversation, then hung up. “I gotta go. That was my mom. She needs to see me.”

Asia paused, “Your mom? I thought you told me your mother was dead.”

“Naw, baby, she is deceased. That was my stepmother. She was the one that just called.” Hazel fumbled over her words, trying to cover her story having just been caught in a lie.

Asia watched Hazel dry off, then dart out of the house without even fixing her breakfast.
Something ain’t adding the hell up. This bitch better not be cheating on me, and if she is, fuck her. When I get this package I’m about to blow up anyway!

* * *

Things had been going well for Rell, despite the fact that his girl was dead. He had started buying from Benji and was making a lot of moves. He still made money with Dino and Marlon, but he loved the solo hustle. Rell was all about money. Even though he was upset that his girl died, he was more upset that Dino didn’t make J-Rite or her ruthless crew pay for it. “That nigga is over there with that old bitch with the good job, Monique, like fuck the world.”

Dre and Rell had started hanging together on the low, and they didn’t want Dino to know. They also made sure that Marlon didn’t find out. Even though they all grew up together, they never really liked Marlon. To Rell and Dre, he was too high and mighty. They never told Dino or Marlon how they felt, but Dre believed that they both knew anyway. “Oh wow, yeah, he took me by her crib once before.”

“Yeah, he ain’t even fucking with J-Rite at all, so he claims. Dino like, fuck happened to my girl and me.”

“That boy a damn green snake in the green grass, and he need his head chopped off!”

Rell laughed at the statement that his homeboy had made. Dre hadn’t totally kicked his drug habit. He’d just slowed down a little bit. He knew in order to get money he would have to stay focused, so he was trying his best. “So what’s up with this lick you talking about?”

“I told you, we should get that nigga Benji. I know he got major weight, and he seem soft as cotton.”

“Yeah, that nigga gotta be holding. I wouldn’t mind hitting him for that ride of his and that stash.”

“So what the fuck we waiting for?”

“What Dino and Marlon think? Did you run it by them yet?”

“Fuck them niggas! We gonna do this one on our own, just me and you.”

Dre didn’t know if he should leave them out of the equation, especially Dino. “I don’t know; we might need Dino.” Dre worried, second-guessing himself. He never did any dirt without Dino since they had been hanging together.

“Man, why you keep talking this Dino shit? That nigga ain’t thinking about your ass! He ain’t been fucking with you for a while. I’m the one that’s been bringing you and your girl food and money. That nigga don’t give a fuck about you!”

“Yeah, you right. I’m tripping. I ain’t got shit from that nigga Dino!”

“That fool told me and Marlon not to even fuck with you. He said as far as he concerned, you dead to him. How that nigga supposed to be your day one and he playing you like that?” Hearing how Dino was acting hurt Dre to the core, and his pain was easily visible. They had always been road dawgs. “If you ask me, we should rob both them niggas and leave ’em in the dirt,” Rell suggested seeing Dre was on the verge of tears.

“Yeah, I’m down,” Dre said, nodding his head. “So when you wanna handle this shit?” he asked, eager to get his revenge on Dino for leaving him high and dry.

“I gotta work out a few more kinks, then I’ll be ready.”

Hell, yeah! It’s about time we handled this business. I gotta floss on all these niggas that thought I fell off.
It never crossed Dre’s mind that he might be getting played. He never thought that Rell might have the same feelings for him that he has for Dino and Marlon: pure hatred.

“I’m about to get outta here. You need anything?”

“Yeah, a few bucks if you have it to spare.”

Rell went in his pocket and pulled out a bankroll. “This is all you, nigga,” he said, tossing the money to Dre.

Dre looked at the money in his hand knowing it was enough for him and his girl to get high all night long. “Thanks, fam, good looking out!”

“It ain’t shit. You my nigga. I gotta take care of you.” Rell turned, walked off the porch, and got in his car.
I got Dre dumb ass riding with me, a new connect, and I’m about to hit a major lick. Shit might work out for ole Rell after all.

* * *

Mario had gotten to the hospital as fast as he could. Even though he wasn’t talking to his brother, he wasn’t going to let that come between him and J-Rite. “Hey, how’s she doing?” he said, running up to Leesa.

“She still knocked out, but the doctor said she gon’ pull through. It’s all good.”

“What the fuck happened? Do y’all know?”

“They say she was speeding and hit a tree.”

“How’s the baby?”

Leesa didn’t speak. Mario knew what it meant, and he didn’t have to ask again. Q walked up and sat next to Leesa, handing her a coffee. “Oh, Mario, this is my friend, Q.”

“What’s up?” Mario half-assed spoke.

“You good?”

“Yeah, I’m good, baby.”

“She woke up yet?” Q then asked.

“Naw,” Leesa said, leaning her head back on his shoulder.

Who the fuck is this nigga?
Mario thought just like the others had.

“Well, Raven downstairs and Tone and Benji went to take care of something. How long you staying?”

“I’ll be here for a minute, but when two-face come back, I’m gone. But I—”

At first, Leesa wasn’t going to say anything, but then she couldn’t hold her tongue. “But I . . .
nothing
,” Leesa raised her voice, cutting him off. “Our girl lying in the bed fucked up, and we don’t know what really happened. But this beef you got with your brother over some pussy needs to stop! And it needs to stop right now. That’s
her
pussy, she can give it to whoever the fuck she wants.” Leesa had tears forming in her eyes. Q tried to get her to calm down, but she pushed him off her. “I know that you in love or was in love, but you gotta let that shit go. This ain’t the time to be out here beefing with your family—blood or otherwise.”

By this time, Raven was getting off the elevator. She saw Mario and braced herself for the fallout.
This nigga ’bout to act a damn fool.
She walked over to where they were and sat down in a chair. “Hey, Mario; you all right?” She hesitated to speak.

“Yeah, I’m good, and you?”

Raven was caught a little off guard. She didn’t think he would even speak to her.

“Hey, can I hollar at you real quick?” Mario said, looking directly in her eyes.

“Yeah, sure.” Raven got up. “You ain’t gon’ wild out, are you, boy?”

He smiled. “Naw, you’re good. I just wanted to say that I was on some dumb shit. My bad.”

“Naw, you ain’t gotta apologize. You was acting on the way you felt, and ain’t nothing wrong with that. Me and you just not meant to be.”

“Yeah, I feel you, fam. I just gotta make my heart understand that. All bullshit aside, I’m glad you happy.”

“So this why that boy wouldn’t do what the fuck I told him to do,” Tyrus shouted furiously to Tommy, his bodyguard, as he slammed his fist down on the desk. Tommy was no more than a loyal snake in training that would do anything to secure his spot at the right hand of Tyrus. He had gotten the boss pictures and detailed information on the girl Raven that Benji had been dating and was spending so much time with. He’d been with plenty of other women since working with his uncle, but this was the first that had his mind snatched away from business.

“Yeah, boss, her and them girls we’ve been having so many problems with are thick as thieves. That bitch and Benji, they been dating for a while. And if you ask me, seriously, that’s some real disrespectful shit; ho shit.”

Tyrus flipped through the pictures again and shook his head in disappointment. “That’s what’s wrong with things now in this world we live in and this game we play . . . Ain’t nobody have loyalty anymore. Well, they kinda do, but it’s always to the damn wrong people. How the hell could he switch on me like this? I been good to him, and now this turncoat done went straight renegade on me! It’s a sin and a shame.”

“You right, boss. So how you want me to handle this?” Rotten to the core, he was hoping that he would finally be able to kill Benji and be done with having to deal with him altogether. He hated Benji and always had since joining Tyrus’s team. Tommy felt Benji was no more than a spoiled little nigga that had Tyrus’s ear. He wanted to be the number two guy, and Benji was an obstacle in his way.

“I gotta think about it. I mean, that backstabbing motherfucker is family, even though he ain’t showing me that consideration.” Tyrus took a cigar out of the box on his desk and started prepping it to be smoked.

“Okay, then, I feel you on all that, but are you open to suggestions?” Tommy asked, hoping to give some input and manipulate the outcome.

“Yeah, dawg, go ahead. What you got for me?”

Tommy knew this might be his one and only time to accomplish what he’d been trying to do for years: make a permanent wedge between both parties. “Listen, like the old saying goes, why not take away the things Benji loves the most; show him that the same shit makes you laugh can damn showl make you cry. And if you don’t be careful, kill your black ass!”

Tyrus didn’t speak. He just sat back and thought as he lit his cigar, taking a few puffs to get it started.
Killing the girl would fuck him up and let him understand that when he signed up to be a part of this organization, it was serious. Not something that he thinks is a joke. It’s about time he stepped up in case I have to ever step down. He needs to prove he’s worthy. If the bitch is dead, then he’d have his mind on his business.

“You know what, Tommy? I think you might be on to something. Go ahead and do what you do to that filthy three-baby-daddy-having whore. Just make sure it doesn’t look like we did it. I don’t want no connections to our camp. I want it done clean, simple, and quick.”

“Gotcha, boss, I’m on it.” Tommy was hyped as he headed toward the door to put his deadly plan into full motion. Anything he could do to hurt Benji was A-1 in his book.

“Hey, hold up, Tommy. What about the rest of the crew? Any thoughts on them as well since we talking?”

“Naw, right about now, I don’t think they’ll be a problem. I’ve put my ear to the streets and from what I’m hearing, they have enough shit on their plates to eat on for days on end.” Tommy walked out of the office ready to rock and roll and get his murderous party started.

Damn, boy, how could you fuck over me like this?
Tyrus thought to himself, looking over at a framed picture of him and Benji taken in Miami several years back. He was really hurt that Benji had made such a bad move choosing some ho over the family. Shaking his head in denial, Tyrus felt he should’ve known something was wrong when he had to tell his nephew the same bullshit over and over again. Benji usually did what he was told off rip without having to be told twice.
Now it’s judgment time. Do I kill him? Or do I let him live? I wonder if he loves her enough to try to get back.
Tyrus hated to be in this unpredictable situation. He didn’t know how things were going to play out, and at this point in time, was starting to care less.
It is what it is! If the boy comes at me wrong, I’m going to have to kill him.
Tyrus walked over to the bar and fixed a drink. He downed it, then had another.
Fuck it, I’ll let Tommy handle it for now. That way, I can wipe my hands clean of the whole shit. Damn!

* * *

“Hey, y’all, we gotta re-up,” Rell said to Marlon and Dino as they sat around the living room of the spot counting up. “I’ll call Benji and tell the kid to bring that through. We don’t wanna miss none of this first-of-the-month money out here in these streets.”

“Whoa, what the fuck you talking about? What you mean you gon’ call him? Nigga, since when you start making decisions like that and calling shots? We don’t re-up until I say so.” Any other time, Dino wouldn’t have cared, but as of lately, since the mall thing, he’d started catching bad vibes from Rell anytime they would be around each other.

I can’t wait to get this bitch! When he least expect it, I’ma be all over his punk ass, then let’s see who calling all the shots!
Rell thought, trying to hold his hostile words for another time and keep the peace. “My bad, dawg. I just was trying to show that I can hold my weight too and step up. That you can count on me for whatever, whenever.”

“Yeah, okay, then, no problem. My bad.”
I don’t know what’s up with this nigga, but he gonna make me pop his fucking head. I’m starting to not trust this fool at all. He gonna mess around and make me send him on his way to see his girl Tiffany real soon,
Dino thought, smoking on a blunt.

I wonder what the fuck wrong with both of these clowns? If it ain’t one thing, it’s a damn other. Why can’t they just stop bugging so we can get this bread before the next crew do?
Marlon didn’t know what was going on. He was slow to pick up on things.

“So, okay, real talk, my nigga, when we gon’ take care of J-Rite’s grimy-ass team that got down on me and mines, huh? That’s what I’m waiting to hear.”

“Damn, dude, what’s the big rush? I mean, it ain’t gonna bring your girl back one way or another. So just chill; be cool.”

“Say what?” Rell got the dis on the sly and didn’t appreciate it one bit.

“I mean, Rell, you got something up your sleeve, or you gonna just let me handle shit the way it should be done?” Dino asked, not really ready for what was to come next.

“Naw, ho-ass nigga, I ain’t got shit up my sleeve, and what the fuck wrong with you to keep running off at the mouth at me like I’m one of them females you be dealing with?”

“Ain’t shit wrong with me, faggot. It’s just lately that you been on some real sneaky slimeball shit. Don’t make me have to fuck you up! ’Cause if I have to fuck you up, I’m gonna kill you!” Dino knew that he shouldn’t have said that last part but couldn’t help himself. He was upset at everything that had been going on lately in his personal life and was letting it get the best of him.

Rell was in Dino’s face violating his zone. With his fist balled up ready to go the distance if need be, he spoke his piece. “Look, boy, you better watch who the fuck you talking to! I ain’t bitch made, and I ain’t no damn Dre sitting around waiting for a handout! I’m a grown-ass man that calls his own shots.”

“Whoa, whoa, man. Y’all niggas need to chill the fuck out! We family. This shit ain’t called for. We just need to stop tripping and get this bread,” Marlon said, getting between Rell and Dino, who were now nose to nose, about to swing.

“Pussy, go sit your punk ass down somewhere before you get handled too!” Rell swore, mean mugging Marlon.

“Hold up, Rell, this ain’t what you want, dawg! You know that. I might not say much, but you already know I’m about that life when shit gets down to it. Bitch, I’ll go,” Marlon had tried his best to be the peacekeeper as always but had been pushed to the edge.

Rell stood silent. He didn’t respond. Not a dummy by far, he knew right now he was in a lose-lose situation because if he hit Marlon, Dino more than likely was going to ride with him and jump in. Rell was pissed but far from being a fool. He knew he couldn’t beat them both or take the certified ass whooping that would surely come with it.

“Look, man, we just all need to chill. You right, Marlon; we got too much shit going on to beef in the family. We need to keep getting this money and get out before the walls come down.” Rell backed down still playing the game.
They think it’s gonna be all good. Well, the fuck it ain’t! Shit gonna get good real quick for me real soon!

“Yeah, guy, you right, and we ain’t gonna just hit J-Rite; we gonna get her whole li’l crew when they least expect it. I’m just waiting for the right time. I know you want some get back, Rell, and you gonna get it. Just be patient. I got you. Trust, I got you.”

“Okay, now kiss and hug, you two pussy niggas!” Marlon said, laughing, glad the battle royal had been avoided.

“Fuck you!” Dino replied also glad things had calmed down, even though he set them in motion by going hard on Rell unnecessarily.

“Well, I’m about to get outta here. I’ll get at y’all later,” Rell said, walking to the door, then leaving.

Marlon got up and looked out the window. He wanted to make sure that Rell had indeed left and was not still on the porch possibly ear hustling. “Hey, man, something’s up with that nigga. You ain’t tripping.” Dino didn’t speak. He just sat and listened. Marlon walked over to the couch and sat down. “Look, I ain’t wanna say shit when Rell was here and make shit crazy, but the other day I was out riding around and seen Rell and Benji together.”

“What? When?”

“It was like two days ago, I think. I was riding around, and I seen them both over by White Castle, parked. And he’s been fucking with Dre. Now, I ain’t mad at him for that; but what’s with keeping it a big secret if he a grown-ass man that calls his own shots like he just said?”

Hearing Dre’s name, Dino got angry. “Oh, so his fake ass not only trying to back door the connect, he back fucking with Dre now too? He straight-up foul!”

“Yeah, fam, he’s been taking the nigga money and food. But I’ma keep it real, Dre don’t seem like he messing with that stuff as much as he used to.”

Hearing this made Dino feel a little better. “You sure, or you just saying?”

“Yeah, I’m sure. I seen the nigga myself; face-to-face at the gas station around the way. He was buying milk and I think some toilet paper.”

“Damn, I miss my homeboy!”

“Yeah, well, you need to go holla at that fool. Maybe he got his shit right. I mean, no matter what, he still part of this family. We can’t just leave the nigga swinging in the wind long term. There gotta be a better way.”

“Yeah, you probably right.” Dino knew years ago he would have never thought twice about Dre, but now he had started getting high and shit changed. It had to, but now he wanted his man back in the car with him riding shotgun just as it had always been since they were teenagers.

“I am right, and look, Dino, we need Dre back on deck. I don’t know what the fuck up with Rell, but I’m starting not to trust that nigga, just like you.”

Dino sat and took it all in. He didn’t know if Marlon really felt like this or if he was trying to shoot a move as well as Rell. He was suspicious of them both.
This nigga might be playing a game, trying to get me to go at Rell. But why have me fuck with Dre after I cut him off?
“So you think I should go get with Dre and see what’s good, huh?”

“Yeah, man, that’s what the fuck a real nigga would do; make amends with his people and not kick a nigga when they down; especially family.”

Dino knew his boy was dropping that true science and that everything Marlon was saying was on point. “Yeah, man, you’re right about everything, but the nigga was supposed to be stronger than that, you know! He disappointed me like a motherfucker!”

Marlon wasn’t done giving it to Dino straight, no chaser. “Dre disappointed his damn self. I know this ain’t what he really wanted. He ain’t the first hustler that fell off and got caught up doing that dumb bullshit, and he showl ain’t gonna be that last. Yeah, he is, or was, strung out, but deep down inside, he still Dre. He can make it back. And if we about to go to war, we need all the help we can get. Now, I ain’t trying to be all in your business or in your head, but you gotta go get him and make shit right.”

“Yeah, I am. You know where he at?” Dino finally gave in.

“Last time I seen him, he was over by the gas station, but one of the runners said they know where he lay his head at though.”

“Cool, well, I’ll go see if the nigga over there can find out what’s up with Dre. And you should have told me when you first seen him with Benji. Don’t ever keep shit like this from a nigga . . . Let me know soon as you know.”

“Yeah, I got you. What we gonna do about Rell?”

“We gon’ keep playing it cool, and if I have to kill him . . . then I’ll kill him. We gonna hook up later.”

Marlon was glad that Dino had finally decided to talk to Dre. They had been friends too long to stop talking. He was just hoping that Dino wasn’t going to have to kill Rell, because he had love for Rell and Dre, even though he knew the feeling wasn’t mutual.

* * *

Damn, my head killing me. Oh my God, what happened? I can barely remember.
J-Rite felt weak. She was only able to open her eyes a little bit because the light from the room was hurting them. This was the second time that she had woken up since the awful accident the first time she was moved to recovery. The doctor had taken the tubes out of her throat. In extreme pain, she looked over and saw Leesa sitting in a chair asleep. She had no idea whatsoever that Leesa had stayed by her side the whole time she was unconscious since arriving at the hospital.
Oh my God, I hope my baby is all right
. J-Rite placed her hand on her stomach pressing slightly down. She felt way beyond a bit woozy from all the medication that she was under the influence of as well as the massive lump on the side of her head. Trying her best to put all the pieces together of the complicated puzzle she was now a part of, she didn’t know how long she had actually been in the hospital. Glancing up at the IV that was dripping down into her battered and bruised arm, she grimaced. She tried to lift her other arm but couldn’t quite find the strength. She still was very sore and softly moaned in anguish.