Payback Is a Mutha Read online

  “Yeah, right. I’ve given up my time. We’ve been sitting here for ten minutes.”

  “Not that kind of time. I want some of dis pussy. Do me like you did the last time. Let me give you some head, then put me outta my own truck. I won’t even be mad. That’s how bad I want to taste some of dis pussy.”

  Shan laughed. “Some pussy? What? Sitting right here in the backseat in the parking lot? Nigga, please! You ain’t my man. Only my man would have it like that.”

  “I’m tryna be your man but you won’t let me.”

  “Cut the bullshit! Like I said, you had your chance Playboy. But we are not going to even waste our time arguing about that.” She went to grab the door but he grabbed her hands.

  “What about the feelings you had for me? You know you still got some so don’t front!”

  “Yeah. You said the key word: HAD! I’ve moved on and it’s your loss.” She grabbed the car door handle, pushed it open and got out. Briggen was right behind her. “Now give me some cash.” She turned around and held out her hand. “I want to buy something.”

  He grabbed her hand and pulled her close. “And I want some pussy,” he ordered as he was squeezing her ass and sucking on her neck. “I saw all of them bags. You already bought a whole lotta sumthin’!”

  “Briggen, stop it! Do not put any hickeys on my neck!”

  He held her even closer. “Why? I’ma piss your man off? Well, give me a kiss and maybe I’ll think about letting you go.”

  “I don’t think so!”

  His lips went to the other side of her neck. “Ouch! Briggen, stop! Let me go!”

  “Now I want a kiss and a hug!”

  She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a quick peck on the lips. “You are so ignorant.”

  “Oh, hell naw baby. Don’t tease me. You gonna have to come wit’ it!”

  “Why you gotta play with me Briggen?” She really did like him.

  “Keep stalling and I’ll be taking me some of this pussy. Now come on and give me a kiss.” Shan gave him a peck on the lips and then another one. Briggen held onto them lips, grabbed that tongue, and they didn’t come up for air until her pussy was throbbing.

  When Briggen sensed how turned on she was he asked, “You sure you don’t want to give a nigga some of dis pussy?”

  “Nigga please, I’m not that turned on.”

  “Yes you are.”

  “Well you already know all of your privileges have been cut off.” They kissed again and couldn’t help but hear the bass knockin’ in the background.

  “Can I come over later?”

  Shan was melting in his arms. “Call me.”

  The Low Rider stopped and the windows rolled down. Briggen heard Woo yell, “Cover up, Brig! Cover up! Dive down!” as Woo began firing into the Low Rider.

  Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! The gunfire rang from out of the Low Rider. “What’s up now, motherfucker?” Somebody yelled. Then there was laughter.

  “Fuck?” Briggen spat as he felt burning sensations.

  Shan started screaming when she saw the first squirt of blood and couldn’t make herself stop. The world appeared to be moving in slow motion as she fell backwards with Briggen’s heavy, twitching body pressed to hers. Blood was oozing out of the corner of his mouth and he was trembling. Shan knew she was screaming but couldn’t hear a thing.

  The tires squealed as the Low Rider took off.

  Woo obviously hit a target because there was blood splattered all over the side window. Brianna and Woo ran over. “Shan! Shan! Oh, my God, Shan!” B was mumbling. “Oh, God, Shan, are you all right? I’m sorry. I should have taken you home when you wanted to leave. I’m sorry. Please, God, let her be all right.”

  “Fuck!” Woo stomped. “You hit man! You hit!”

  “Go now,” Briggen was trying to tell Shan. “Go!”

  Shan squirmed out from underneath him. Brianna grabbed her arm. “Come on, Shan! Come on! Let’s go! Damn! Let’s go! We gotta get outta here!” She was pulling Shan, who was staring at Briggen. “C’mon girl! Let’s fuckin’ get outta here!”

  12

  SHADEE

  “Hello.”

  “Crystal, it’s me. Where’s your sister? What’s up with her and that nigga who drives the Beamer? I go—”

  Crystal cut him off. “Hold on Sha, let me go to another phone.”

  Shadee heard her door slam and then Crystal fumbling with the phone. “Crystal what the fuck is goin’ on? She leaves this message, crying and shit, talkin’ bout come and get her. But she doesn’t say where the fuck she is!”

  “Sha, shit has been crazy!” Crystal blurts out and then starts crying. “Janay said they was gonna kill her. She took over Big Choppa’s business; they’re jealous and she didn’t want nobody to get hurt. But she had to do what she had to do. She scared to leave. She said she didn’t plan on taking over his spot, it just fell into her lap…she…Daddy’s chemo, the doctors, I don’t…”

  “Girl slow the fuck down! You ain’t making any sense. Where is she?” Sha screamed into the phone.

  “Getwell Gardens.”

  “Getwell Gardens? Why the fuck is she down there?”

  “That’s her spot. I don’t know what building. I just know the building’s in the back, Big Choppa’s newest spot.”

  Shadee hung up on Crystal and dialed Kay-Gee’s celly.

  “What’s good Sha?” Kay-Gee’s loud mouth yelled.

  “Yo, sumthin’s up. Get your tools and the crew. Meet me at the Getwell Gardens. But don’t do shit, just wait for me.”

  Shadee hung up and dialed Born.

  “What up Unc?”

  “I’m around the corner. I need my tools. Where you at?”

  “I’m on the block but sounds like we about to go to war. So that’s what’s up?”

  “We’ll see. Meet me at your crib in fifteen.”

  Shadee was already sitting in front of Born’s apartment building on Riverside Drive when him and Teraney pulled up. Born jumped out and ran over to Shadee who was on his phone. No one spoke until they got upstairs to his apartment.

  Teraney couldn’t contain himself. “What’s happenin’ Sha? Who we got beef wit’?” Teraney was always trigger happy and always ready for drama.

  “Everybody man. How come nobody knows about the competition? Like whose servin’ Big Choppa’s peeps? Why we ain’t on it? What! Y’all niggas ain’t hungry no more?” Shadee was yelling as he went to the back to get the guns. “Y’all niggas slippin’!”

  “Ain’t nobody slippin’. You always outta town man. I’m on it. Jeff K and Biz took over.”

  “That ain’t what I’m hearin’.”

  “Those are your girl’s peeps. You said to let ’em ride for now. Am I right?” Born was looking at Shadee hoping that that’s what Shadee had said. Born was not one to hold his tongue.

  “Strap up nigga!” Shadee threw two glocks at him.

  “What’s happenin’yo?” Teraney was strapping up as well as he joined them in the back.

  “We’re gettin’ ready to find out.”

  They jumped in Born’s ride and headed for the projects. They circled around first to see what was up. Everything seemed to be ghetto as usual. Kids were still out playing even though it was dark. Niggas was hangin’ on the corner slangin’, hoes were on the stroll, the crack fiends were prowling and the teens were chillin’, smokin’ blunts, pumpin’ the music of Three 6 Mafia. As soon as they parked Kay-Gee pulled up next to them. Shadee rolled down the passenger window.

  “Yo! What’s poppin’ Sha?” Kay-Gee wanted to know.

  “I really don’t know but we got to go in expectin’ a war. Janay done got herself into something man. Foreal, Foreal; I’m not sure what the fuck is the story. I do know one thing though. Seems like between all of us mutherfuckers, we would know what the fuck is going on in our own backyard. Shit’s gonna have to change. And if this bitch been slingin’ behind my back I’ma put my foot in her ass!”

  Kay-Gee nodded yeah, seeing that his m
an was pissed off. “A’ight man, I heard you. We ready. I’ma leave Jo Jo here with the whips. The rest of us, we ready to roll wit’ you. Let’s do it!” They left all of the vehicles parked in the middle of the street with big ass Jo Jo.

  Teraney spotted one of his boys who use to be large on the block, but was now smoked out. “What up Spontaine? Let me holla at you!” Teraney was trying hard to wipe the look of disgust off his face. Spontaine was pitch black and ashy. His hair was matted to his head and he was wearing a dirty cable uniform. His hustle was going around hookin’ up peeps’ cable for a rock.

  “Raney, what’s good? You got all the channels man? Pay Per View? The works?” Spontaine wasted no time going into his sales pitch. “If not, you know I’m yo man. I can hook you up today. You still my nigga. I’m just doin’ a little sumthin’ sumthin’ until I get back on my feet.”

  “I hear you man.” Teraney pulled out ten dollars. “Which apartment is the whole show runnin’ from?”

  Spontaine snatched the ten-dollar bill. “Man, its been dry and quiet for the last coupla days. Nobody ain’t been runnin’ shit! That bitch that’s up there, I don’t know what’s up with her. She rules with an iron fist. Big Choppa be lookin’ out. We just been watching and waitin’; most fiends been coppin’ elsewhere, you know how that go.” He pointed to the buildings in the back. “Foreal, Foreal—I don’t think nobody’s back there. There has been no movement except for a few hoes turning tricks, but nobody’s answerin’ the door. The whole building is theirs. Big Choppa got it on lock.”

  Teraney pulled out another ten. “Yeah, well spread the word that the bitch and everybody relocated. A’ight?”

  “I got you man. Can I get a rock instead of the ten?”

  “Nigga, you just said you tryna get yourself together.” Teraney put the ten back in his pocket and turned to walk away.

  “Yo wait! A’ight, man. Gimme tha ten. You got some work for me? I need to come up.”

  “I’ll get back at you.” And he turned to Shadee. “Sha!” He pointed behind him. “That’s the spot. Top floor. They got the whole building. Word is some bitch been runnin’ shit but it’s been quiet for the last two days. Damn man. You really think that’s Janay?” Teraney didn’t know whether to be shocked or impressed. He knew that Big Choppa was her pops. He also heard rumors that he taught both of his daughters every detail of the “Game.” And word on the street was, whenever Big Choppa would get sick, Janay was the one to hold it down for him. She would oversee the smooth running of his entire operation. Now it appeared to be déjà vu. The most impressive rumor was she caught her first body before her eighteenth birthday. To Teraney, that was really gangsta, especially for a female.

  “Yeah man. It’s her.” They all marched with Shadee to the spot where she was supposed to be. They definitely looked like they were on a mission.

  When the fiends spotted Born they all rushed over to see if he needed something.

  “Move the fuck outta my way!” he yelled, pushing the fiend closest to him, causing him to fall on his back right on top of some dog shit.

  “Aw, dayuum!” somebody yelled and everybody started laughing.

  “Oh shit! I think them niggas run New Chicago.” A young fifteen-year-old soldier said.

  “What they doin’ out here?” his partna asked.

  “Naw.” CK, a kid whose oldest brother worked for Big Choppa, interrupted. “Those are Big Choppa’s peeps. That bitch in there is getting ready to get her brains blown out.”

  “They ain’t Big Choppa’s peeps!” the young soldier challenged. I told ya them niggas run New Chicago. They probably gettin’ ready to take over!” New Chicago was a Memphis hood and huge money-making spot.

  Everyone was speculating and curious as to what was happening as Shadee and his crew marched through the crowd looking as if they were about to blow something up. Shadee pushed the hall door open and already had his glock cocked. The building reeked of crack, weed, beer, wine, and urine all mixed together. It was a building that belonged to the fiends. All of the apartments were condemned and were used only to get high and turn tricks.

  Shadee banged on the steel door. “Goddamn! What is this, Fort Knox? Janay!”

  Plop! Plop! Everyone turned behind them and was aiming. “Chill out!” Teraney said.

  “Chill out? How the fuck we gonna chill and you shootin’!” Shadee looked at Teraney as if he was crazy.

  “It was a rat, dawg. You know I hate them sons a bitches.”

  All they heard was groans and mumbles as everybody wanted to shoot Teraney personally.

  Shadee had his ear to the door. “Damn yo. It sounds like I hear some ticking.”

  “This shit could be booby trapped Unc!” Born’s eyes was big as saucers.

  “Hell, yeah,” Kay-Gee chimed in.

  “Well, we ’bout to find out, niggas.” He banged some more. “Janay! You in there?” he yelled out as he banged harder.

  The slot where the drugs were passed through opened and then closed. When the door opened Shadee went in first with his gun cocked. “Shadee, put the guns away. I’m the only one here.” She stood behind the door wearing blue shorts and a white top. Her sneakers were untied, hair up in a ponytail and the tears were falling down her cheeks. She went to close the door but Born and Teraney stepped through.

  “Whoa, girl! You gonna kill a nigga with that steel door,” Born said. Behind him was Slim and Kay-Gee.

  “Did you have to bring the army with you?” she wanted to know, looking at Shadee.

  “I didn’t know what to bring. How the fuck was I supposed to know?”

  “Put the guns up y’all,” Janay scolded.

  “What the fuck is goin’ on Janay? And what is that smell? I hope it’s not what I think it is,” Shadee said.

  “What’s going on? What about, how are you baby? I miss you. I’ve been busy but I’ma make it up to you. Why I gotta go through drama to get your attention? Where have you been Sha? You better believe if I had someone else to call I would not have called you!” She rattled off.

  Shadee was standing in the middle of the floor looking around and ignoring her outburst while kinda surprised and shocked at what he saw. There was a long picnic table against the wall. It was covered with bags of all sizes of crack, powder, and weed. On the kitchen table there were two duffel bags.

  “Don’t nobody touch shit!” he yelled. “Janay stop bitchin’ for a minute and bag up all that shit on the table.” He went over to the duffel bags and just as he thought, they were filled with money. He grabbed both of those.

  “Yo Unc! Come here!” Born yelled from the back.

  “Don’t touch shit!” he yelled again, looking around at the others. He went down the hall to where Born was. Born stepped out of the room with a handkerchief around his nose and mouth. Shadee stepped in the room. “Oh damn!” He yelled and jumped back into the hallway. His eyes began to water. He pulled his jersey up over his nose and mouth and went back inside to look at the three dead bodies lying on the floor.

  “Damn Janay,” he mumbled.

  13

  BRIANNA

  “Is he dead? Is he dead?” Was all Shan could get out. “Brianna, did they kill him?” She was screaming.

  “Shan, I was never so fuckin’ scared in all my life. You worrying about him? If that would have been you, I swear I don’t know what I would have done. You are like my shadow.” Brianna’s hands was trembling as she tried to keep them steady on the steering wheel.

  “So he is dead? Brianna I should have done something! Is he dead?”

  “I don’t know, Shan.”

  “Then why are you so scared and shaking?”

  “Never saw nobody get shot before. Not up close. And at first I thought you was hit. You’re the only family I got who loves me for me. You don’t judge me. The thought of you not being here for me spooked the shit outta me. I need to get myself together. That was a wake up call. That was too scary for me.”

  Shan began to cry harder. “He’
s dead. I should have kept him in the truck. Oh, God, Brianna!”

  “Shan! Pull yourself together!” She had been trying to block out Shan’s screaming and crying, during the entire ride home. “Let me get you inside,” Brianna said as she pulled up in front of her building. She jumped out, then took Shan inside. She immediately peeled the bloody clothes off of Shan’s trembling body.

  “You know I have to get rid of these don’t you?” Shan nodded her head yes. Brianna started the shower and noticed that Shan was in a daze. “Shan! Shan!” She grabbed both shoulders and squeezed them tight. “Get in the shower. You can do that, right?” Oh, my God! Brianna said to herself. “C’mon.” She guided Shan into the warm water and closed the curtain. “I’ll be right back.” She gathered up the blood-soaked clothes, put them into a trash bag and put them into the Dumpster. She then ran back inside and straight to the bathroom, only to find Shan in the same spot that she left her. She grabbed her lavender body wash and began lathering up Shan’s body; she felt as if she was bathing a child. After her entire body was lathered up she turned Shan around in circles so that she could rinse her off. She turned the water off, grabbed a towel and dried her off. After giving her some pajamas she got her comfortable and tucked her under the covers. “I’ll be right back.” Brianna ran outside and unloaded all of their shopping bags. When she came back inside and checked on Shan, she was still crying.

  “Bri, get me something for my head. It’s killing me.”

  “It should be. You’ve been crying nonstop in a damn zombie trance. Let me see what I’ve got. I should have something.” Brianna went to her bathroom and checked her medicine cabinet.

  When she came back she had one pill and a glass of water. “What is this? I just want some Tylenol or something. Not no damn psyche meds!” Shan said, knowing how Brianna was.

  “Girl, please. Do you want your headache to stop or what? Plus, this will put you to sleep for an hour or two. It’s not gonna kill you.”

  “Yeah. Psyche meds, just as I thought.” Shan said but swallowed the pill anyway.