There's Levels To My Thug (15 page)

“You find something funny?”
I asked her.

“Oh snap. Did I hit a nerve? I just thought it was a cute gesture for your niece that’s all. My apologies if I offended you.”
She said putting her head down a little.

“Baby girl please don’t ever do that again. You’re too beautiful for you to ever hold ya head down.”
I said to her quickly grabbing her and kissing her.

I don’t know what turned me on more, her or the fact I just took out one of the sexiest bitches of NY here in Philadelphia.

*Chapter Seventeen*

Savannah

    I was awakened from my cell phone ringing back to back. Normally a night like that I would’ve just stayed cuddled up. But I felt a little dirty not waking up next to my babe and even dirtier that I just had the best sex ever with Darrin’s little brother. I reached over Javier for my cell phone. I couldn’t tell what it was that was on his mind while he slept, the way he was smiling I could tell he enjoyed himself too. I could tell by the ringtone that it was Desiree calling. When I finally answered Desiree sounded nervous she was all frantic and shit at the same time.

“Sissy wake up, please I think something is wrong,”
Desiree said.

“What do you mean something is wrong? Are the s girls ok Desiree? I said to her.

    “Yes, the girls are fine. It’s Tameka I haven’t seen or heard from her since the girl’s party yesterday.”
She said.

Not knowing what the fuck going on I automatically jumped up and threw my shit on.

“Boo wake up it’s an emergency,”
I said damn near choking up the Boo.

“What’s wrong you need another round?”
Javier asked yawning.

“No, there’s a problem at home and I’m needed there A.S.A.P”
I said.

    Without any hesitation, Javier jumped up and threw on his black Nike sweat suit and pair of black ACG’s. He grabbed two orange juices out of his fridge and we headed back up to Chestnut Hill. When we arrived back to the house, Desiree was pacing the floors with her cell phone.

    She kept yelling out
“Pick up Pick up Baby, pick up.”

Desiree looked up at me and said
“Savannah what’s going on? Why isn’t she answering? We were supposed to meet up last night and have a sleepover with the girls and she never showed up. Or for that matter called or sent a text.”
She said flopping on the couch.

    Desiree was very much the worrisome type. It hadn’t even been 24 hours yet. Tameka used to do shit like this back in college. She would spin off for a day or two then pop back up. I went upstairs to check on the girl’s. When I got to the top of the steps, I could smell baby powder thick in the air to the point I started to gag on it. Nola had pushed the ottoman over to the girl’s changing station and put powder all over the fucking place. While cleaning up the powder, I thought of all places Tameka could be. I knew she liked to hang down at the Eagle bar down Erie Ave. Desiree and I drove up to New York to Mrs. Rachal house to drop the girls off before we went on our hunt to search for Tameka.

*****

    It’s been three days with no sign of Tameka. We’ve been at all her favorite hangout spots and up and down Germantown Ave. Shit, we took it as far as South St and Delaware Ave. Stressed to the max, I knew she had been a little down because she hadn’t booked a show in a while. But to just step off with no notice had my mind wandering. Ms. Rachal had dropped the girls off before they left for their cruise. While making the girls something to eat for breakfast, I decided to call the police to make a missing person’s report, just as I picked up my cell to dial out someone started to ring the doorbell. Desiree went to grab the door while I finished fixing the girls breakfast.

“Hi, good afternoon I’m looking for Ms. Sunders?”
The Caucasian man said to Desiree.

“Yes, just a moment. May I ask who you are?”
Desiree asked.

“My apologies I’m Detective Montgomery.”
The man in the suit replied.

Desiree came into the kitchen where I was feeding the girl’s. I was instantly concern because she was shaking.

“Hey, Savannah I don’t know what’s going on. But there’s a Detective Montgomery in the front Foyer asking for you.”
She said with a worried look on her face.

    I rushed into the living room to find out why a Detective would be at my front door. The look on his face didn’t have good news written on it at all. My first thought was he was there with some information on Dragon’s murder. I wasn’t ready for what he was getting ready to tell me whatever it was.

    “I’m sorry to have to come to you with this news again.”
Detective Montgomery started to say then paused.

“Detective Montgomery, whatever it is please tell me. I’m a big girl I promise. There’s nothing else that you could tell me to break me.”
I said trying to reassure him I’d be okay.

“I’m sorry to say we found your friend Tameka Santos floating in the Schuylkill River this morning, she was shot four times in her chest and her tongue was cut out hr mouth. We don’t have any leads at the moment. But we’ve been looking into it and we’re starting to think these murders are connected. Is there anybody out there that would be trying to do you any harm?”
He asked me.

I stood there damn near numb and empty with nothing left in me. First they take my Mama, then Dragon and now my Sister from another mother. I buckled and hit the floor this just had to be a nightmare. I started to think back and the only thing I could think of was Darrin.

“No Sir I can’t think of anything at all.”
I said

“Ok Ms. Sunders if there is anything you can remember from the last time you seen Tameka or think of anything, please give me a call.”
He said as he handed me his card.

Many thoughts were running through my head as tears started to fall down my cheeks. Desiree walked into the living room where I was sitting.

“Savannah what’s going on, what happen? Did they find anything out about Dragon murderer?”
She asked me.

“Detective Montgomery was here to tell me they found Tameka floating in the Schuylkill River shot four times in her chest with her tongue cut out of her mouth,”
I said as I cried out even louder.

    I needed to get to the bottom of this while at the same time planning a home going for my best friend. I picked up my cell and went through my contacts and reached Rico’s number I pushed call. It didn’t take more than two rings to answer my call.

“Good afternoon little sis, what’s going on? How are my beautiful god daughters?”
Rico asked me.

“They’re getting bigger each day. They’re walking and everything, it’s a shame you couldn’t make their first birthday party.”
I said trying to hold back my tears.

“Savannah what’s wrong? It sounds to me that you’ve been crying and are getting horse or you’re still crying. Tell big bro what you need.”
Rico said to me.

    I remember Dragon telling me if he wasn’t around and needed anything, the only person he wanted me to call and trusted me and the kids with was Rico. So I started telling Rico everything.

“Rico a Detective by the name of Montgomery just left the house not too long ago. They found Tameka in the Schuylkill River shot four times in the chest. I know for a fact she doesn’t have any problems with anyone, she would’ve told me. Rico, I need help finding out what’s going on and to make sure me and the girls aren’t in any danger.”
I said to Rico.

    After I finished explaining everything to Rico even down to them thinking that it’s a connection with all the murders from my Mama down to Dragon and Tameka. He was quick to hang up with me to do his investigations. I knew Rico had all types of connections from what Dragon used to tell me and I was confident he would get to the bottom of it. Javier had better hope he has nothing to do with the murders. Behind every Bad Man, there’s a Bad Woman and I didn’t have any problems with blasting a motherfucker.

*Chapter Eighteen*

Rico

    All types of shit were running through my mind after hanging up with Savannah. While I was standing in the bathroom washing my face, I thought of the promise I made to my brother Dragon about keeping his family safe if he couldn’t. I knew one-day Savannah would be whole again because time heals all wounds. After getting dressed, I made some arrangements so I could go out Philly. I reached back over, and grabbed my cell phone and made some calls and sent some messages out to some of my people in Law Enforcement here in New York Cityand in Philadelphia. I had to find the underlying cause of things before shit got even more hectic.

    I didn’t like the way Savannah sound on the phone, so I had a patrol car placed at her house. I even took it to the extremes by hiring chauffeurs for her Desiree for wherever they needed to go. I called her to inform her of her having chauffer along with Desiree and that they weren’t to leave out of the house unless they were in the car with him and that I would be touching Philly grounds in a couple days. I really didn’t want them staying in Philly since Dragon was murdered. Savannah could be very persuasive and very head strong at the same time.

*****

    I made it to Philly in record timing even had a couple of homies ride up with me. I needed fresh faces in Philly to be on the lookout and see what was going on without being made. I don’t know how Dragon and I let things get so messy. The Police Chief was high on Dragons and Tameka’s cases day in and day out. He and I were good friends back in the day when he lived out in NY. When he moved to Philly, we still kept in touch with each other’s families.

    Before going and checking in with him, I made my way to Savannah and the girls up Chestnut Hill. I didn’t let her know I’d touched down in Philly because I wanted to surprise them. When I reached the house, I parked on the street and headed up their walkway. I could hear Desiree and Savannah talking in the backyard. Instead of me going and ringing the doorbell, I walked around to the back patio. The closer I got to the patio I could hear a male’s voice laughing and shit. I crept up on them yelling
“Surprise”
out loud startling Desiree and Savannah, they damn near dropped their wine glasses. The girls came running over to me calling out
“BABA”
and giving me much needed hugs and kisses.

“You could have at least called a sister to let her know you were coming today. I could’ve cooked something up for you.”
Desiree said laughing.

       I started to laugh but quickly snapped right back at Desiree and never taking my eyes off of Savannah and that Nigga Smoke.

“I could’ve, but that would’ve taken the fun out of scaring ya’ll little asses. I see you have company my bad Desiree I didn’t mean to impose. But what’s going on with ya’ll?”
I asked with a smirk on his face while looking over at Javier.

“Sorry, Freak-o Rico he’s actually Savannah’s new boo,”
Desiree said while pointing over at Savannah.

Just as Desiree was pointing out the obvious, Javier got up telling Savannah he would talk to her later. Desiree started laughing saying I really know how to scare people off. But I know it wasn’t that. The way Javier looked at me was as if he indeed had something to hide. Savannah walked him out and over to his car. While she was saying her goodbyes, I asked Desiree to take the girls in the house while I talked with Savannah.

    She came back over with a smile on her face, looking real dumb if you asked me. I didn’t know if it was something he said or something I did. But at the very moment, I didn’t give a shit. Here it is she has people all around her dropping like flies and she has time for a Nigga.

“What did I do and why are you looking at me like that? He’s just a friend Rico that’s all. Those text messages and things Tameka said to me is on my mind every day. I’ve been watching my back and keeping an eye on him. Have you found anything on him yet?”
Savannah said as she walked in my direction and sat next to me.

“
Nothing much, you’re just sleeping with the enemy is all. And to answer ya question No, I haven’t heard anything yet. I mean you sleeping with him. You don’t know?”
I said to her in a sarcastic tone.

    There were things that Dragon didn’t make Savannah privy to and for good reasons. He thought the less she knew, the better, Savannah was the type to put all her cards on the table when at times she shouldn’t show her hand. Dragon and I were about our paper and most of all our family. Whatever he had to do by any means necessary to keep his family safe he did. Dragon and I were aware that Smoke came back to New York calling himself laying low. We knew he was searching for the murderer of his brother especially because he went from a single hoe ass dude, to being a single father to Darrin’s daughter Nola.