Tears of a Hustler PT 1 (25 page)

* * * *

Rell sat on his couch in the living room watching Killa Season, thinking on how he could find G-money. Rell had been going to all of the hot spots in the city, hoping to run into G-money, but he had no such luck. Rell started to think that G-money was hiding from him. Rell’s thoughts were interrupted when Erica came strolling into the living room wearing nothing but her panties.

“
Hey baby, you want something to eat,” she asked innocently. “Yeah can you make me a sandwich please?” “Sure, turkey and cheese?” “Yeah, and make sure you toast the bread,” Rell said as he slapped Erica on the ass and watched it jiggle as she headed towards the kitchen barefooted. “Don’t start something you can’t finish,” Erica said flirtatiously as she disappeared into the kitchen to make Rell’s sandwich.

Now that Beverly was gone, Erica was doing her best to fill her shoes and replace her. Deep down inside she really loved Rell and was willing to do whatever she had to do to prove it. Rell, on the other hand, had feelings for Erica but it wasn’t anything serious. Of course he still loved his white women, but Erica was just the flavor of the month. Now that Beverly was gone, Rell vowed to never get into a strong relationship again to avoid the same thing from happening all over again.

“Here you go baby,” Erica said reappearing from the kitchen carrying a plate in one hand and a cup in the other. “Thanks babes,” Rell said gratefully as he took a bite out of his sandwich. Rell’s lunch was interrupted by his ringing cell phone.

“
Yeah what’s up,” his voice grumbled through the phone. “You ready for some good news,” Debo asked excitedly. “Lay it on me,” Rell said sipping on the fresh lemonade that Erica had made for him. “Yo, we just snatched one of G-money’s workers from off the corner.” “So where he at now,” Rell asked. “I got the bitch ass nigga in the trunk right now.” “Aight, I’ll meet you at the spot. I’m on my way now.” Rell said ending the conversation.

“Baby you leaving,” Erica asked putting on her best sad puppy face. “Yeah, I gotta go take care of business real quick,” he said grabbing his P89 from off the coffee table. “Will you be home for dinner later? I was going to cook some steak.” “I’m not sure. I’ll call you and let you know, okay,” Rell said as he kissed Erica on the forehead, then headed out the door.

* * * *

“
In jail,” Ali said confused. “Yeah, some bum ass bitches ran up on me and Coco while we was out shopping. I think it was Dave’s girlfriend and her people,” Nancy said over the filthy phone that was stationed in the bullpen. “Aight, I’m going to send Mr. Goldberg down there with some bail money to get you out.” “Don’t forget about Coco,” Nancy said not wanting to leave her best friend behind. “I got you baby. You should be out in about two hours,” Ali said ending the conversation. Once he ended the call he quickly dialed Mr. Goldberg’s number.

* * * *

“
Where is this bitch ass nigga,” Rell asked impatiently. “He’s right over here,” Debo said leading him to the young soldier. The young soldier sat in a chair nursing a black eye when he saw Rell enter the room. “I want to know where I can find Gerald,” Rell huffed getting straight to the point. “I don’t know nobody named Gerald,” the young soldier said through a pair of bloody lips. “G-money, does that ring a bell?” “Yeah, I know G-money,” the soldier answered looking confused. “So where is he,” Rell asked calmly. “I don’t know man, I just want to go home,” the young soldier whined.

“Fuck this shit,” Rell huffed as he snatched his P89 from his waist and let a shot off in the floor. “Where the fuck can I find G-money? I’m not going to ask you again,” Rell said sitting the hot barrel on the young soldier’s forehead. “I don’t know where he’s at. I’m just a worker,” The young soldier pleaded. “But I do know when you’ll be able to find him.” “Where?” “He’s going to be at this big party downtown tomorrow night,” the young worker answered. “Who’s party is it,” Rell asked. “I’m not sure, I think some stripper maybe. I’m not too sure.”

Once Rell got the information he needed, he quickly squeezed the trigger on his Ruger. “Debo get all the soldiers ready for this party tomorrow night,” Rell ordered as he made his exit.

Chapter 43

HUSTLE HARD

“Why you so quiet for,” Skip asked slowing down for the red light up ahead. “I got a lot of pressure on me now that Ali stepped down, you dig,” G-money said sipping on some yak. “I have to start doing a better job. I got a lot of people depending on me” “What you talking about? I thought everything was straight,” Skip asked. “Nah, this month our numbers been down by fifteen percent, plus when Diesil and Marcus got popped the cops took all the work from out the trunk – the whole re-up,” G-money said looking stressed out. “Then I called Pedro trying to buy more product, but he said some other cat had already cleaned him out.” “Damn, so we dead,” Skip asked depressingly. “Nah, I got some work from some cat out in the Bronx, but the new soldier, Knowledge, I got in the hood said all the fiends been complaining about how weak it is; so basically we have to find a new connect soon.” “I’m going to see if I can find a connect too,” Skip said as he pulled up in front of a bodega. “Nah, I got this, plus you can’t afford no more trouble. Don’t you have to go do some time for those two guns Detective Nelson found on you that night he stopped us,” G-money asked. “Yeah, I took a deal for five years,” Skip shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. “When you suppose to go in to do the five?” “Next week, but you know I’m a get on my Ginger bread man shit, you dig?. Those mutha fuckas going to have to catch me to get that time out of me. Make them crackers do they job for once,” Skip said as he and G-money exited the vehicle and entered the bodega.

“Yo, Oscar what’s good baby?” “You know it’s all good,” Oscar replied giving G-money a pound. “What its looking like,” G-money asked helping himself to a bag of hot cheese popcorn. “It’s looking good,” Oscar said handing G-money a brown paper bag full of money. “But I need to talk to you.” “What’s on ya mind?” “I think I’m going to need some protection around here,” Oscar said looking a little too nervous. “Why, what’s poppin?” “Well last week this guy named Rell came up in here with about twenty thugs with him, demanding that I pay him instead of you because he run the streets now.” “And what you told him,” G-money asked. “I told him I was going to pay him because I had twelve to fifteen guns in my face,” Oscar said as beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. “I got you Oscar, I’ll send some guys up here first thing in the morning to watch over the place,” G-money said calmly as he and Skip made their exit.

“I’m going to kill that nigga, Rell, when I catch his punk ass,” G-money said as soon as they made it back inside the vehicle. “He must be hiding out somewhere because I’ve been going to all the hot spots and I ain’t seen him once.” “Don’t worry, he’ll pop up sooner or later,” Skip said as he pulled off into traffic.

Chapter 44

KNOW YOUR OPPONENT

“You see his footwork is fantastic,” Freddie said rewinding the tape so that Spanky could see what he was talking about. “He doesn’t make many mistakes, so you going to have to be sharp in there.” “I’m bringing my “A” game,” Spanky said as he continued to watch the tape of his opponent. Spanky hated to admit it, but The Terminator was very talented and exciting to watch at the same time. Deep down inside Spanky knew he was going to have to come with it. “Now when you’re in there with this guy remember he loves to counter punch so try not to throw single punches. Try to throw combinations and make sure you attack his body. We want to drag this mutha fucka in deep waters so we can drown his ass,” Freddie said sternly. “I’m willing to die out there if I have to.”

That last comment caught Freddie off guard. He knew Spanky wanted to win, but damn dying was something else. The reason that last comment bothered Freddie so much was because he knew Spanky meant exactly what he said. “You can take this guy Spank, you just have to stay focused and have control.” “Don’t worry Freddie, I won’t let you down,” Spanky said as he winked at his mentor / trainer. “I’m going to put these miles in. When I get back, I’m going to work on my foot work and ring awareness,” Spanky said as he threw his I-pod head phones in his ear and headed out door.

Once Spanky was out the door, Christie walked over to Freddie and sat down. “Can I help you,” he asked politely. “Yeah, I need to know honestly how Spanky’s doing,” she asked sincerely. “Honestly,” he echoed. “Well Spanky is coming along fine, it’s only one problem; his reflexes are off a little and I can tell when he swings too hard it still hurts him.” “Will any of these things affect him in the fight,” Christie asked nervously. “I’m not going to lie to you, this is a very dangerous sport and I know, just like Spanky, that anything can happen once you step in that ring,” Freddie said looking down at the floor. “Do you think he can win?” “Well anything is possible when you step in that ring,” Freddie replied quickly.“I didn’t ask you that, I asked you do you think he can win,” Christie repeated the question. “Yes I do, but it’s going to be hard,” Freddie admitted honestly. “But yes I think he can and will win the fight.”

* * * *

“
How much is that,” G-money asked taking the money from his newly promoted soldier. “Twenty-five hundred,” Knowledge answered shamefully. “This must be a mistake, how many times you counted this shit?” “Twice,” Knowledge answered. “The fiends don’t like this shit. They been buying twice as much and getting less high, so now most of the fiends are starting to get they shit from some cat Rell, who got a spot a couple of blocks down the way.” “Aight, I’m going to send a few soldiers down here. I want you to take them over to the block and shut that shit down,” G-money said as he and Skip broke out.

Knowledge had been down with the crew for a couple of years now, but he was nothing but a pick up man. Now the Diesil was gone, Knowledge knew he had to step up to the plate and take on some more responsibilities. “Pull over right here.” “Why what’s up,” Skip asked. “Just pull over, I have to go take care of some thing real quick,” G-money huffed.

Skip pulled over right in front of the house that G-money had instructed. G-money quickly slid out of the passenger’s seat and made his way towards the front door of the house slowly ringing the doorbell.

Seconds later Ms Jones cracked the door and peeked her head through the crack. When she realized who it was she quickly opened the door all the way. “Hey G-money, how you doing baby? You want to come inside,” she asked stepping to the side so that G-money could enter. “No, that won’t be necessary Ms. Jones. I’m just here to let you know that I took care of my promise,” G-money spoke softly looking in Ms. Jones’ soft brown eyes. “God bless your soul baby,” she said stroking G-money’s cheek. “Now my poor baby can finally rest in peace. Thank you Jesus.” “Okay Ms Jones, I have to get going now. You take care of yourself, you hear,” he said kissing Ms. Jones on both cheeks as he made his way back down the path to his awaited vehicle. “Thank you Jesus,” Ms. Jones said out loud as she looked up to the sky.

* * * *

Maurice stood on the corner yelling at one of his workers when he noticed Rell’s Lamborghini pull up to the curb. “Listen, stop letting these fiends sit around. Get ‘em in and get ‘em right the fuck back out,” Maurice said dismissing the young man before Rell approached. “What’s good? You out here schooling these youngins,” Rell asked giving Maurice a pound. “Yeah, you know how it is out here,” Maurice chuckled as he gave Rell and Debo a pound. “You been doing a good job; keep up the good work,” Rell said over his shoulder as he and Debo disappeared inside the building. Rell stepped foot inside the stash crib and immediately smelled crack in the air, bringing a smile to his face as he entered the apartment.

Maurice stood on the block glancing up and down the street, when he noticed an old school car slowly creeping down the block. “What the fuck,” he said to himself. The car and the speed they were driving just didn’t seem right to him. Maurice quickly signaled to one of his shooters on the roof. The shooter nodded his head in understanding and gripped his Mac 11, never taking his eyes off of the vehicle.

“G-money said he wants this whole block cleared out,” Knowledge informed the four soldiers in the car with him. “I want ya’ll to bust them niggas’ heads and get the fuck back,” he growled.

With that being said, the four soldiers hopped out of the vehicle carrying wooden bats. Before they could even reach the curb, the gunman on the roof let his Mac 11 sing, “Pat, pat, pat, pat, pat.” In less then ten seconds, all four soldiers laid sprawled out on the concrete. The gunman on the roof didn’t stop there; after he gunned down the four soldiers, he quickly aimed his weapon at the old school car.