Gangsta Divas (27 page)
Authors: De'nesha Diamond
Diesel's green eyes shift to me. “You didn't tell me that you had a kid.”
“She don't,” Nookie butts in.
“Do you mind? This is an A and B conversation. C your way out of it.”
Nookie's head bobs up for air, but I give him the brick wall before he gets started.
“C'mon, baby. Let's go back to your room,” his bitch urges to break the tension. “I have some more homemade blackberry pie ready for you.”
The mere hint of pussy springs a new smile across Nookie's face and I'm shoved to the back of his mind. “Mmm. I looove pie.” He hits the power button on his chair and he's off.
“Interesting family you got,” Diesel comments from the peanut gallery once we're alone with the sleeping baby on his chest.
“You like them, then you can have them.”
He cracks a smile that doesn't reach his eyes. “So . . . no children, then who does this little man belong to?”
The hackles on the back of my neck stand at attention.
This nigga really does ask a lot of fuckin' questions.
“I'm just babysitting for a friend.”
This nigga really does ask a lot of fuckin' questions.
“I'm just babysitting for a friend.”
Diesel gives me that look again that calls me a liar. “Babysitting? Do you always go out clubbing when you're babysitting?”
I buck. “What's with the interrogation? You a cop or some shit?”
Diesel holds up one of his hands and backs away. “Don't even play like that. The last time I checked, niggas ask questions when they're tryna get to know a chick they're feelin' but you know what? Your ass is startin' to be too much damn work.” He walks to the sofa and lays the baby down.
“C'mon. Don't be like that,” I beg him. “You know niggas get suspect when people ask a whole lot of a questions. I mean, you know more about me than I do about you.” I throw my arms around him and push my body up against him. I'm learning that this big nigga stays hard.
Diesel wavers. “What do you want to know?”
“Everything.”
He mulls the shit over and then slaps me on my ass. “A'ightâbut at another time. I gotta go. I got some business I gotta handle.”
“What kind of business?”
“Now who's interrogating who?” He gives me a flat smile and another smack on the ass. “I'll call you later.”
I don't believe him. “You promise?”
“Promise. I've already put my number in your phone. Answer when I call.” He leans down and lands a long, hard kiss on me. I'm practically on cloud nine as I walk him to the door. From there I watch him climb into his car and even wave when he rolls out of the driveway. But my thoughts turn dark when I return to the living room and stare down Jayson.
What the fuck am I going to do with you?
The kid being an insurance policy against LeShelle isn't turning out the way I thought. In fact, getting caught with the kid doesn't guarantee that LeShelle won't flip the script.
Why didn't you listen to Tyneshia that night?
The kid being an insurance policy against LeShelle isn't turning out the way I thought. In fact, getting caught with the kid doesn't guarantee that LeShelle won't flip the script.
Why didn't you listen to Tyneshia that night?
I plop down on the sofa next to the baby, thinking. Before long, I'm stroking his soft hair and brushing my finger against his chubby cheek. “Sorry, but you can't stay here no more.” I choke up on the words, this shit is affecting me more than it should, especially since Jayson looks so innocent lying here.
My finger drifts down to his cheek and then stops abruptly at a horseshoe-shaped birthmark on his neck.
“What the fuck . . . ?”
42
LeShelle
“F
at Ace is dead, right?” I ask again, trying to ignore the flare of alarm sparking off inside of me.
at Ace is dead, right?” I ask again, trying to ignore the flare of alarm sparking off inside of me.
Python's face twists in agony. “I don't know. I think so.”
“You
think
so?” I thunder, incredulous. “What the fuck does that mean?”
think
so?” I thunder, incredulous. “What the fuck does that mean?”
“It means that . . . I don't know,” he barks, tossing up his hands.
I can't stop staring at him as he paces around in a circle.
“At the scene of the first wreck, it was raining so hard and he wasn't responding. I thought he was dead, I was pretty sure of itâbut then on the bridgeâa few seconds before that SUV slammed into me, I thought I heard . . .”
“What? You thought you heard what?”
“That's just it. I don't knowâmaybe a groan or something. Everything happened so fast. Next thing I remember was flames, then the feeling of falling, and then a shitload of water. Had the window not been down, I would have never made it out of that vehicle alive.”
My gaze automatically sweeps toward the ugly burns on his hands and arms. “I'm sorry, babe.” I go to him and drape my arms around his neck for support.The whole thing sounds terrible. I lean over and pepper his face with kisses. I stop when I realize that he's not kissing me back. One look in his face and I note that he seems more annoyed than comforted. “What is it?”
Python's black gaze bears into me. “You're not really sorry, are you?”
Gritting my teeth, my arms fall back to his sides.
Hell no. I'm not sorry.
Hell no. I'm not sorry.
As if hearing my answer, Python stalks around me, shaking his head. “I don't expect you to understand.”
“Understand what, Python? That our number-one enemy is dead? Have you forgotten the rampage that they were on
that
night? They blew up the Pink Monkey, destroyed your construction company, they took out half our leaders and a few members of our Columbia connect. They were on their way to running a murder train down Shotgun Row. And you want me to shed a couple of tears because Fat Ace may or may not be your long-lost brother? Sheeiiit. Blood ain't everything.” I step back and expose my scarred chest at him. “This is what family does to you when you let down your guard. Hell, you taught me that shit when your cousin Datwon turned snitch.”
that
night? They blew up the Pink Monkey, destroyed your construction company, they took out half our leaders and a few members of our Columbia connect. They were on their way to running a murder train down Shotgun Row. And you want me to shed a couple of tears because Fat Ace may or may not be your long-lost brother? Sheeiiit. Blood ain't everything.” I step back and expose my scarred chest at him. “This is what family does to you when you let down your guard. Hell, you taught me that shit when your cousin Datwon turned snitch.”
Python turns his back toward me.
“You're getting tripped up over the wrong damn thing,” I tell him, walking around so that he has to face me. “We're at war. Even if what you're saying is true, what does it change? Huh? Do you think that everybody is gonna lay down their guns and sing âkumbaya' just because you two got the same momma?”
Python's face twists and contorts. “I didn't say all of that.”
“Then what are you saying?”
âShit. I don't know!” He rakes his hands across his head.
“Well, I
do
know! It changes nothing, especially now that his ass is gone. The Vice Lords are still engaged in a hostile takeover and the Crips have flipped the script and are tryna beat the VLs to the punch and you're in here grieving over shit that don't matter. It's time to get your mind right and get back into the game.”
do
know! It changes nothing, especially now that his ass is gone. The Vice Lords are still engaged in a hostile takeover and the Crips have flipped the script and are tryna beat the VLs to the punch and you're in here grieving over shit that don't matter. It's time to get your mind right and get back into the game.”
KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.
Python books around me and heads toward the front door.
“Where you going?”
“What does it look like? I'm answering the damn door,” he says.
“Are you expecting somebody?” I close my robe and tie the belt as I follow him, curious.
Python creeps up to the door, grabbing his gat along the way. “Who is it?”
A deep baritone growls back.
My eyebrows dip because I didn't quite catch the name.
“Ah, shit. My nigga!” Python attacks the locks on the door like a kid tryna let Santa Claus inside. The second he gets it open, he throws his arms around the man on the other side.
Nosy as fuck, I rubberneck to peek out who's getting so much love from my nigga.
“Bring your ass on in here, cuz.”
The brothah that strolls into our small space has my ass shook for a moment. The muthafucka is fine as hell.
“LeShelle, I got someone here I want you to meet,” Python says, cheesing and directing the man toward me.This is my cousin Diesel from Atlanta,” Python boasts, puffing out his chest.
It's been a minute since I've seen Python this happy. But the name Diesel definitely is ringing some bells. I've heard his name as far back to when I first cliqued up into the Queen Gs. Most of the women who had met him were in love and the brothahs who spoke of his reputation did so with mad respect. Some say that his power even reached into the Atlanta city government and there wasn't a nigga that he couldn't reach out and touchâanywhereâany time.
I don't want to come off like no fuckin' groupie so I check myself and make sure my poker face remains on point. “Hello,” I say simply.
Diesel tips his head. His green eyes make my heart beat faster.
“So what brings you here?” I ask.
Python closes the front door. “With things being what they are, we gonna need reinforcements in the streets.” He smiles cryptically. “See. My mind in still in the game.”
I give him the same smile back.
“Anyway. I need niggas that I can trust to rein in shit and make sure our soldiers are still eating.You feel me?”
“What . . . so . . . he's supposed to be king by proxy or something?” I shake my head, not liking the sound of that shit. “Naw. Hell naw.”
“Damn, cuz. Wifey is rude as hell,” Diesel interjects, looking me up and down.
Muthafucka just jumped off my fantasy list and onto my shit list. “It's
wife.
” I flash the ring so that he doesn't make the mistake again. “And I don't believe I was talking to you.”
wife.
” I flash the ring so that he doesn't make the mistake again. “And I don't believe I was talking to you.”
Diesel smiles. “My bad.”
He's apologizing but it sounds like he's laughing.
Python steps in. “Yo, Shelle. Give us a few minutes.”
“What?”
“Weren't you about to take a shower or some shit? Me and cuz here needs to chop up some business.”
“What business you got that I can't hear about?”
Diesel snickers. “You got a wife or a new damn momma?”
“Excuuuuse you?”
“Damn, Shelle,” Python snaps, heated. “Put that shit on pause and go do what the fuck I told you.”
“Fine. Fuck. I'll go wash my ass. Happy?” I roll my eyes and stomp toward the bathroom. The idea of Python putting
that
nigga on the throne got my blood boiling. I don't give a fuck how muthafuckin' temporary Python thinks this shit is. Once muthafuckas get a taste of power, their asses get greedy for more. Why rule one city when you can rule two?
that
nigga on the throne got my blood boiling. I don't give a fuck how muthafuckin' temporary Python thinks this shit is. Once muthafuckas get a taste of power, their asses get greedy for more. Why rule one city when you can rule two?
I switch my ass with much attitude as I stroll into the house's one bathroom. When I close the door, I press my ear up against it and listen in.
“So, what's up, D? Whatchu got for me?” Python asks.
“Look, cuz. It's been wild out here. No shit. I peeped out that spot Da Club tryna get at that young buck Profit for you, but he was a no-show.”
“Fuck!”
“Yeah, I hear that. My ass wasn't in that joint but a hot minute before muthafuckas started poppin' off.”
“Niggas, alcohol, and bullets don't mix,” Python gripes.
“True dat. But lookie here, I did hook up with this one lil gangsta bitch with loose lips. Name is Qiana. Know her?”
My heart stops.
Oh shit.
I jam my ear up closer, but I can't hear anything.
Oh shit.
I jam my ear up closer, but I can't hear anything.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
The door rattles.
The door rattles.
I jump back with my heart in my throat.
“Stop ear-hustlin',” Python barks. “I don't hear no fuckin' water.”
I smack the door. “Fuck you!”
Python laughs.
I call him all kinds of muthafuckas as I head over to the shower. My imagination runs wild once I get under the hot water. What the fuck did that lil bitch tell Diesel? How much longer will it be before Python storms in here and blasts my ass full of bullets when he learns that I had his baby and her sloppy, slow-ass momma killed? I swear you can't trust bitches for nothing.
Twenty minutes later, I shut off the shower and take my time toweling off. Maybe Python is waiting for me to walk out of the bathroom before letting me have it. Shit. My heart pounds so hard that I can't hear my ass think.
Gathering my courage, I finally walk out.
Diesel and Python are glued in front of the television.
“What are y'all watching?”
Neither responds.
Since Python doesn't bark for me to go back into the bathroom, I join them to see what's up.
On the screen is a picture of Yolanda's SUV. I'd know that vehicle anywhere since the bitch tried to do a drive-by on my ass a while back. I sneak a glance over at Python. He's clearly shocked as shit.
“I knew something had to have happened to her,” he whispers under his breath.
I listen intensely to the news reports....
“
Investigators are still gathering forensic evidence from this gruesome homicide scene. We can tell you that the two young women have been dead for some time, but one of the women is believed to have been pregnant and her baby has been crudely cut from her belly . ...”
Investigators are still gathering forensic evidence from this gruesome homicide scene. We can tell you that the two young women have been dead for some time, but one of the women is believed to have been pregnant and her baby has been crudely cut from her belly . ...”
“THEY FUCKIN' TOOK MY SON!”
The bitch kept the baby?
My knees dip, but I catch myself before hitting the floor.
Oh, fuck me.
My knees dip, but I catch myself before hitting the floor.
Oh, fuck me.
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