Gunz And Laci: Black Rose Mafia (2 page)

Chapter 2: Bryce ‘Gunz’ Carter

“Yo, make sure you and Jinx is at the crib. I’ll be there in thirty,” I said to Jiselle, then hung up the phone. I placed my iPhone 5 back in my pocket, jumping into my 2014 Lexus is350. I cruised the streets of Manhattan, headed to my brownstone in Queens. I know from the way I talked to lawyer girl y’all probably thinking I’m some cocky asshole. I couldn’t even deny it because it was the truth. A nigga was cocky as fuck, but I had every right to be. At the age of twenty-seven, I was out here getting it. I had a gang of young bulls ready to kill at a drop of a dime. Let me clear the air right quick; no, I’m not a drug lord or the plug. That’s the shit my pops was into. Even though my pops taught me the game, I chose to make my own lane. What nigga you know wanted to follow in another nigga’s footsteps? Pops or not, I was determined to create something that was my own. It was hard to explain my profession because I was into a little bit of everything. I guess you could call me the secret service of the hood. I had techs on my team that could make the dirtiest record clean in a matter of minutes. I had snipers on my team that could kill a person from thirty feet away. A nigga was even fucking with a couple of assassins. Most importantly, I protected my parent’s drug empire. What y’all might call illegal activity, I call Black Rose Mafia.

I didn’t have the traditional relationship with my parents, like most kids growing up. Our family was more about money, power, and respect, than it was about love. My pops, Stephan Carter, and my mother, Rose Carter, made sure that each of their kids had one skill that they were good at. My pops use to always tell us one may not always know his purpose until his only option is to monopolize in what he truly excels at. When I was younger, I didn’t understand the shit my moms and pops were trying to teach us. As I got older and realized exactly what my skill was, I understood what they were trying to instill in us. You see, my skill is guns. I can handle just about any gun out there. I’m the deadliest sniper in Black Rose Mafia. Jinx’s skill is technology. He is the best hacker of our generation. This nigga can hack into just about anything, which makes him just as deadly as me. Jiselle’s skill is knives. My sister was a bad bitch in every sense of the word. She can slit a person’s throat faster than someone can blink.

Our parents weren’t the normal parents. They had that cliché Bonnie and Clyde relationship. What made them different was how they raised us. We didn’t attend public school or private school. My parents felt there wasn’t shit a school system could teach us that they couldn’t. Jinx, Jiselle, and I were all home schooled. We did the work that was expected of us, but my parents always gave us extra tasks that would heighten our skill. Since skill was an important factor in our lives, I decided at the age of eighteen to capitalize off it. I started off killing for my father. Whoever he needed dead, I would handle that for him, and he would pay me accordingly. Once my brother and sister saw I was making money, they wanted in. With Jinx’s hacker skills, Jiselle and I became assassins, killing people for the cartels, the mob, and everything in between.

We were young and getting it, but at some point, it became too much. We started recruiting young people from the hood that were looking for a come up. Instead of trying to figure out what their skill was, we taught them our skills. However, we never taught them too much to where they could turn around and use the skill against us. As our empire grew, we decided that we needed a name. Since our pops’ crew was called Black Mafia, and our mother’s name was Rose, we chose to combine the two, hence Black Rose Mafia. That was nine years ago and we were now seventy-five members deep. Black Rose Mafia was an empire, and I ruled it with an iron fist. Everyone in the hood knew of me and my siblings, but no one really knew us. Shit, to be in our presence was a blessing in itself.

I pulled up to my brownstone and hopped out my car. I jogged over to my mailbox, then rushed into the house to get away from the cool crisp air. It was the first week of February and winter wasn’t playing with our asses. The snow didn’t hit yet, but it was cold as shit outside.

I went into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water, then went to the living room, where I had an intercom installed.

“Yo!” I said, pressing the button. My brownstone was like a three family home. Jiselle lived on the top floor, I lived on the middle floor, and Jinx had the bottom floor.

“I’m coming down now,” Jiselle replied.

“I’m coming up,” Jinx said.

I sat on the couch, flicking on the TV, waiting for my siblings. Jinx was a year younger than me, and Jiselle was a year younger than Jinx. It was crazy how close the three of us were. I guess you could say since our parents didn’t show us much love, we loved each other hard. My parents were still alive, I just didn’t fuck with them unless business was involved, or it was Sunday dinner.

“How things go with the lawyer chick?” Jinx asked, walking in the living room, followed by Jiselle.

“Shit went ight. She tried to tell me she didn’t do retainer, but you know I shut that shit down real quick. I told her ass what she was going to do and left her office like I owned the place,” I chuckled.

“Bryce, what did I tell you about going into places, demanding shit? The sun does not rise and shine on your ass,” Jiselle complained.

“You know you can’t tell this nigga nothing.” Jinx laughed.

“I could have sworn I was the nigga in charge. Am I not the nigga that started all of this?” I looked at my younger siblings, waiting for one of them to challenge my authority. I loved my brother and sister to death, but I didn’t tolerate disrespect from anyone.

“Bryce, chill with all that ‘I’m the king’ shit. We are your family, not your fans or entourage,” Jiselle sassed.

“Nah, you need to chill out trying to tell me how to operate. If I wanted to walk in shawty’s office demanding shit, then that is exactly what I’m going to do.”

“All I’m saying is you could have gone about things in a different way. I don’t even know why you want ole girl on our team anyway. I’m sure there are better lawyers than her.” Jiselle rolled her eyes at me and poked her lips out. Jinx and I didn’t really date much, which made Jiselle the sole female in our lives.

“I want her because she’s hungry. She has a point to prove and is willing to go to war to prove it. I just need her to go to war for me, if it ever came down to it.”

“Yeah whatever, she just better stay out of my way.”

“Why you acting jealous over a chick you don’t even know yet?” Jinx asked.

“I’m not acting jealous, so shut up dummy.”

“Jiselle, you don’t have to worry, baby girl. No one is going to come in and take your spot. You know you’re the number one girl in our eyes.” I smiled.

“And that’s how it better stay,” she giggled.

“You sound like you want us to be gay or some shit,” Jinx said.

“Don’t nobody want you to be gay. I just feel like no smut, thot, or whore should be put above me.” She shrugged as if what she said was something we should’ve already known.

“What if we find a woman, then what? Are you still supposed to come first?”

“Jinx, if you ever find a woman in this generation, I will name my first born after you. I have a better chance finding a real ass nigga, then you do a woman. Shit, things have changed; men aren’t really the hoes anymore, chicks are. I’m the last real woman on the planet.” Jiselle laughed.

I couldn’t help but to laugh with her because she was always saying some slick shit.

“Just remember that shit you said, ight. I’m out of here though. I got some shit to handle,” Jinx said, getting up.

“I guess it’s just me and you tonight,” I told Jiselle.

“Yup, so get dressed because we are going out to eat.”

“You can just cook here. I don’t really feel like going out. A nigga is tired.” I yawned.

“I don’t feel like cooking and you can’t cook, so that means we are going out. I’ll let you take a little nap, but just know I’ll be up here at six, waking your ass up.”

“Correction, I can cook and my shit always comes out better than yours. Don’t try to play me, sis. Now, get out my house yo,” I told her.

“I’m going to let you keep thinking that because it makes you feel better.” She got up, hitting me with the peace sign and heading out the door. I stretched out on the couch, ready to catch some z’s. Right before I drifted to sleep, the conversation I had with Laci replayed in my head. I kind of felt bad about the way I handled her. I made a mental note to send her some flowers as an apology. We were going to be doing business together and I didn’t want to start off on the wrong foot.

* * * *

I yawned and stretched my lean body as I stepped out of my car. I traded in my suit for a pair of black G-Star jeans, beef and broccoli Timbs, an olive green hoodie, and my black Moncler coat. Jiselle stood by my side wearing the same exact thing. If you didn’t know we were siblings, you would’ve thought we were doing the cute couple thing.

“Out of all places we could have went to eat, you wanted to come here?” Jiselle spat.

“Where did you think we were going? You wanted to go out to eat, so I’m feeding you. Don’t act like you’re too good for Buffalo Wild Wings.”

“I’m not saying I’m too good; I just didn’t think we would end up at a sports bar,” she said and walked towards the entrance. I shook my head because Jiselle was too high maintenance and spoiled for me. Whatever dude locked her crazy ass down would be in for the ride of his life.

I was about to catch up with her when something to my left piqued my interest. Getting out of her car was Ms. Laci. I watched her strut towards the entrance and I began walking in the same direction. Being the one with the longer stride, I made it to the door first.

“After you.” I smiled, holding the door for her.

“If it isn’t Mr. Bryce,” she snickered, walking in the door. Her whole demeanor was off and I didn’t like it. Before she could get to the greeter, I called out to her.

“Laci!” She looked back at me, rolled her eyes, and continued the short distance to the greeter.

I walked right up on her as she was telling the greeter she just wanted to get take out.

I coolly grabbed her hand, pulling her back towards the entrance. I made sure to take long strides, so her ass would have to run a little to keep up. I brought her to my car and pushed her ass up against it.

“Did you or did you not hear me calling you?” I had my hands on both sides of her head, leaning on the car. She looked at me with so much confusion in her eyes.

“I uh…” she stuttered.

“It’s a yes or no, Laci.”

“Yes.”

“Then why did you ignore me? When I call out to you, you answer, ight? I don’t play childish games and neither will you. We are both adults, so you need to behave as such.”

I didn’t notice it before, but I damn sure was noticing it now. Laci was breathtaking and I’m not even talking about her body. She had the richest chocolate skin complexion I had ever seen. The glasses she wore did nothing but bring out her chestnut colored eyes that were slightly slanted. From her button nose to her plump pouty lips, Laci was perfect. From the looks of it, she didn’t have on any makeup, and she didn’t need any. Her natural beauty was more than enough. I unintentionally touched one of her curls, wrapping it around my finger. I let it go, then took a step back to get a better look at her. She was short as hell from what I could see; she stood about 5'4". She was rocking a navy blue pants suit that was a little loose fitting, leaving me to imagine what her body looked like underneath all those clothes.

“Uh Bryce, I’m kind of hungry. If you don’t mind, I would appreciate it if you would stop undressing me with your eyes and allow me to go place my order. I have a lot of work I need to get done tonight.” I heard the nervousness all in her voice as she tried to be polite. I grabbed her hand, once again, and walked with her into the restaurant. I spotted my sister off in the distance flirting with some dude. I led Laci to the takeout line and stood with her.

“Why are you holding my hand?” Laci questioned.

“Why does it matter?” I asked right back.

“You are making it seem as if we are couple, and we aren’t,” Laci said in a hushed tone.

“If you think I’m making us look like a couple, then that is because you want us to be.” I gently yanked her, moving her closer to me. I leaned down, bringing my face only inches away from hers.

“Laci, all those sexual thoughts you’re having about me right now, you need to dead them. I will fuck your life up. I would have you thinking about taking a charge for me, and that’s not even you. As far as I’m concerned, this is just business between the two of us. You are my lawyer and I’m your client. Do you hear me Laci?”

“Yes, I hear you.”

“Ight then. Order your food, then call me when you get home, so I know you’re safe.” I gave her a light kiss, then walked away, heading towards the table where my sister was waiting.

“What was all of that about?” she asked as soon as I sat down.

“That was nothing.”

“Whatever big head.”

I mushed Jiselle before looking over my menu. Laci didn’t know it, but she was officially on my radar. I could tell from the way she allowed me to handle her that she was green to a lot of things. It was cool though because that meant I could mold her into the woman I wanted her to be. Ms. Laci was definitely someone I would begin to invest my time in. All dudes say they get what they want, so I’m not even going to use that line. I’ll just leave it at, Ms. Laci will be Mrs. Carter in due time.