For the Strength of You (10 page)

Anshon wiped his eyes then glared at Larrisha. Wood C was dead on the money.

Larrisha ignored the remark about her brother as she reached for her Marc Jacobs tote bag from the floor. She opened it then pulled out a business card and handed it to Wood C.

Larrisha allowed him a few seconds to study the card before she explained the legal hustle she ran with her brother. Wood C looked up.

“We research the stock market, New York Stock Exchange,” Larrisha continued, “the Amex and Nasdaq to find the hot commodities or a company that will soon be in a real high demand. We then observe the buying trend of that market, and if it looks good, we borrow money to buy shares or make an investment. Our motto is to keep investments limited. That way we never take a big loss if things flop, and of course”—She smiled—“we keep all our business legit.”

Larrisha pulled the diamond pin from her hair then explained to Anshon how she had a plan that she felt would work . . . a plan that her brother didn't agree with, but she didn't care. Anshon was all ears. All he wanted was a name, but for now, he'd play her game.

* * *

Anshon, Wood C, and Deck made it back to Selma before twelve that night. Monica was in the bed asleep, but she quickly woke up.

“Anshon, baby, what's going on?”

He gave her the short version, leaving out some details on purpose. Then he took off his clothes, showered, and changed.

“Deck and Wood C in the living room waiting on me,” he said before leaving again. “We gon' run by Ms. Johnnie Ray's shot house. I promise I'll be back by three.”

Monica didn't really want him to go, but she felt that she had no choice. “Okay, baby.”

Anshon took the back seat in Wood C's 300C as they headed to get their drink on. When they pulled up, they found the spot packed. The twins saw Wood C's 300C and waved him over to park behind their chromed-out minivans.

“'Sup, dawg? E'rythang straight?” Teck said, giving them some dap. Wallo followed his brother's lead.

“Look, Anshon,” Wallo said, “I know we had some words the other day, but it's all good. We still peoples and shit. I'm sorry to hear about Tammy. I just found out. I was down in Murfreesboro. My aunt died.”

Anshon nodded his head to make them think that everything was straight.

“A'ight,” Teck said. “First round on me.”

“Y'all just gettin' here?” Anshon asked, going up the stone steps.

“Yeah. Fid'na get tipsy then find somethin' to smash,” Teck replied.

Inside the 1930s-built house, the music was blasting, and a thick haze of smoke filled the living room. Big-titty Gale was solo dancing on the worn-out carpet with a glass of gin in one hand and a cup of O.J. in the other. Al Green's music was helping her to get her groove on.

In the kitchen, two old heads were beefing at each other over a dominos game, while Fernistein stood at the gas stove frying chicken. Teck and Wallo had stopped cooking food in the yard, so Ms. Johnnie Ray started selling food again.

Staying true to his word, Teck pulled out his knot and hit Freddy off to pay for the first rounds of brew. Freddy ran the liquor spot with Ms. Johnnie Ray, along with a short temper and an even shorter sawed-off pistol-grip pump.

On the low, this spot was a brothel, so Freddy and Ms. Johnnie Ray could also be held liable as pimps. They had two Mexicans from Smithfield that were far from attractive, but that was okay, because it was pussy they were selling.

The taller one with the black hair signaled Wallo out and talked him into following her to the back. Teck shook his head then turned to Anshon, Wood C, and Deck.

“Why you in such a good mood?” Anshon shouted to Teck over Al Green playing in the background.

“You ain't heard?” Teck moved in closer. “I beat the McMillan basketball team today!”

“Yeah, right,” Wood C replied, leaning on the freezer.

“Word, dawg,” Teck proclaimed.

“Who was all out there?” Anshon asked, finding it hard to believe.

Teck held a finger up as he downed his cup of gin. “Whew!” He pounded his chest, as the gin caused a burning sensation. “Shit like moonshine! But anyway, Markie was out there . . . Clevan, Kayo, Varis, Fonz and his brother, and some herbs from Micro.”

“What was the score?” Anshon asked before he sipped his gin and juice.

“We won by one. Twenty-one to twenty,” Teck bragged. He then went on to tell them about Janis out in Johnston Court in Smithfield. She was having a welcome home party for her sister, who had pulled a five-year bid. They all wondered who would be the lucky man to bust that pussy wide open.

Deck finished with the Latin whore in the back and then excused himself to go make a call. He dipped out to the front yard to use his cell phone and called Don. His 14-year-old sister, Fatima, picked up on the sixth ring.

“Who dis?” Fatima asked.

“Don in?” Deck asked.

“Nope.”

“Where he at?”

“I'on't know. He left on a motorcycle about an hour ago.”

“Who bike he on?”

“I'on't know, boy. Ain't keepin' tabs on him.”

“A'ight. Just tell 'im to call me and to bring my clippers next time he come by my crib.”

“Okay, bald head.” She giggled before she hung up.

Deck flipped his phone closed then headed back inside. In the corner, he saw Anshon and Teck in a deep conversation. Wood C was tripping out with Gale, dancing and sipping on gin. Every new song that came on, she would raise an arm in the air and shout, “Dat's my shit!”

The scene kinda took Deck back to the good old days. Club 82, back in 1994 . . . man, he missed those days. If there was beef, it was settled with the hands, but now it was all about the chrome or metal.

He went up to Freddy and bought a cup of gin with no chaser, then posted up against the freezer to watch Wood C get his clown on.

Anshon moved from the corner to sit on a stool as Teck went to take a piss. He yelled out for Freddy to fill one up for him with a squirt of juice. He spun around on the stool to come face to face with the second Mexican chick.

“You wanna go talk?” she said with a slight accent.

“Nah, I'm good, senorita,” he said, turning her down.

“Are you sure? I bet I can suck your dick all the way down my throat.”

“No haps on this one.”

She said something under her breath in Spanish then stepped off. Freddy handed him his drink a few seconds later. This would be his last round.

He later joined Wood C, Teck, and some dude from Kenly at the dominos table. He was feeling good as hell.

Wallo was getting his major trick action on with the Mexican. First he had her snort a line of powder off the length of his erect dick, then had her suck him off. He got souped up then rolled on a jimmy and fucked her doggy style in the back bedroom. He spanked her and told her to call him Daddy. After he paid for her services, he went to the bathroom and walked in on big-titty Gale.

“Boy!” she shouted. “You see me in here. Get the fuck out!”

Deck was done with the gin. It was time to get his smoke on. Oh yeah, Freddy also sold some phat joints, and the weed was straight! Freddy stayed busy as Deck asked him for some hot sauce for his chicken.

“A nigga feeling good tonight,” he joked.

About six or seven minutes later, Wallo exited the bathroom. Taking a large bite from his greasy chicken, Deck went to empty his bladder. From across the room, Teck yelled out that he was on his last domino.

Deck staggered into the bathroom and kicked the door closed behind him. He was halfway finished pissing when he heard someone cough behind him. He nearly pissed on his jeans as he reached for his .32. The cough came from behind the dingy shower curtain. Deck opened it with the stubby barrel of his .32. only to find Gale curled up in the tub with a bloody mouth. Deck used to kick it with her niece back in the days, and Gale had once hid him in the closet when his P.O. was looking for him. So, he felt close to her. He put up his .32 then reached down to help Gale out of the tub.

“What the hell you doin', Gale?”

“One of dem twins tried to make me suck his dick,” she murmured.

“Say what!”

“Don't cause no trouble, Deck,” she pleaded as Deck helped her stand up.

“Did he hit you?”

“Yeah . . . but it ain't nothing. I'ma be fine.”

“Look,” Deck said, reaching for a towel. “Clean yourself up and go home.”

She pushed the towel away with a frown on her face. “Get dat nasty thing outta my face. Dem Mexicans might be using dat to wipe their funky tails.”

Deck saw that she was fine, just had a small cut on her lip. Leaving her, he went back into the living room to find Anshon, Wood C, and Teck getting up from the dominos table. He searched for Wallo and found him standing by the door, feeling up on the second Mexican.

Deck approached the group just as Teck was telling Anshon and Wood C that they should roll with them to Johnston Court. Wallo walked over to his brother's side. Deck was waiting for an opening in the conversation; then he played his part.

“Y'all hear about Robert?” Deck asked the group.

“Nah, what up?” Teck asked.

“Man, that lame-ass coward got locked up for beatin' on his girl. Said he broke her arm or some shit.”

“Word?” Anshon replied.

“Yeah,” Deck continued with his eyes locked on Wallo. “To me, a nigga is a straight bitch if he hits a woman.”

“Fuck you mean-muggin' me fo'?” Wallo said, returning Deck's glare.

“'Cause you's a lame-ass nigga. That's why!”

“Hold up, Deck!” Anshon put his hand on Deck's chest. He looked at Deck like he was crazy. Hell, he was fuckin' up the plan they had.

“Yeah, hold up, nigga!” Teck jumped in. “You got beef with my brother?”

“Fuck you and your coward, bitch-ass brother, nigga!” Deck snapped.

“Say what!” Teck reached under his Zoo York shirt. Wallo did the same, but they were slow to the punch, as Wood C had his two .40s aimed at their chests.

“What the fuck?” Anshon shouted as he tried to calm things down. “Deck, what's up?”

Wood C kept his two pistols aimed at the twins, while Deck told Anshon what Big Gale had just laid on him. Anshon nodded his head.

“Wood C, put the heat up.” He turned to Teck and Wallo. “Y'all need to roll out. I'll call you tomorrow, Teck,” Anshon said as the twins walked toward their new Nissan minivans.

“Yeah, dawg,” Teck shouted over his shoulder. “And you betta let Deck and Wood C know wassup. We got guns too. I'ma let this shit ride, but a nigga come at me or my brother sideways again ain't gonna be no talkin'. Nigga betta keep ya third eye peeled open.”

“Don't be makin' no threats on my fam,” Anshon warned him.

Teck sucked his teeth. “Fuck you! You better be easy, nigga, 'cause you could get it too. Matter of fact, fuck all you bitches. Y'all can suck my dick!”

“You got a lot of mouth,” Anshon snapped.

“You don't put fear in my heart. Nigga, you must got me mixed up with Tom-Tom.”

“Let it go, Teck,” Anshon said.

“Come to Durham and get put to sleep, cowards. You betta recognize.”

“Teck!” Wallo called out to his brother. “Fuck all this lip-boxin'. Let's roll on them niggas. They know where we live at. Fuck 'em.”

As the twins drove off, Wood C moved beside Anshon and Deck.

“You know we got beef with them clowns,” Wood C said, pulling out a Newport. “What was that Tom-Tom remark about?” Wood C asked.

Anshon played it off by shrugging his shoulders. “Check this,” Anshon said. “Them clowns even bend a blade of grass in my yard, I'll kill 'em. Yo, take me home. I'm done for tonight.”

* * *

Early the next morning, Constance was at the Super 8 Motel in Smithfield with Wallo. She was on her elbows and knees as he drilled her from the back. Sweat coated her naked body as their moans filled the dark room. Her ass was jiggling like jelly as his hips smacked into her ass over and over. She clutched the pillow in her hands as her pussy started to tingle. She loved to get fucked this way.

“Harder!” she shouted over her shoulder then threw her left hand back to place it on his sweaty stomach. She felt him grip her waist tighter, pulling her back against his strokes. She arched her ass higher in the air and started breathing through her mouth. “I'm gonna cummmm!” she moaned.

At the same time in the room next door, Kristi sat on the bed beside Teck, watching TV. It was the first time she'd seen him since Tammy's murder.

“What's wrong wit' you?” Teck asked.

“Nothing,” she mumbled. “Just had a long day, that's all.”

“Yeah, right.” He frowned. “You still think we holdin' out on the money, huh? I told you she didn't have shit on her.”

“Look.” She looked at him. “ I saw the bank statement myself! I know she had the money . . . but she didn't have to die for it. Did you let her see your face or something?”

“Yeah, and she saw my tattoo. Plus she called my name and accused me of shooting her the first time.”

“Well, you did!”

“So the fuck what! That's why I had to do her in this time. I know she would've told.”

“Goddamn, Teck!” Kristi screamed. “We made a deal that nobody would get killed. That's what the masks are for. Goddamn, first the robbery in the club that night got fucked up by Doughnut, and now this!”