The Hustler's Daughter {DC Bookdiva Publications} (16 page)

Mercedes
walked into the principal’s office and gulped when she saw India holding an ice
pack on her face. She was sitting in the chair looking like she just went a few
rounds with Floyd Mayweather. Mercedes struggled not to laugh at the sight. She
sat across from India with a steely glare. India rolled her eyes and the
principal came out of his office to address the two of them. He called them
inside and they both sat down as he took his seat behind the desk.

“What
happened?” He inquired. Mercedes and India sat silent.

“So
no one is going to tell me what happened?”

Silence
filled the room once again. Mercedes looked away and crossed her hands.

“Both
of you ladies acted horribly today. Due to your refusal to talk about the
incident, you both will be suspended for one week.” The principal reclined back
in his chair.

“What
the fuck?” India yelled. “She started it.”

“Watch
your mouth young lady.” He raised his voice. “So have a nice weekend; it’s
starting today.”

Mercedes
grabbed her bag and threw it over her shoulder and walked out of the office.
She had never been suspended from school. She was a good girl, but she was
tired of dealing with the drama. She already knew her parents would be
notified, so she prepared to deal with their consequences when she got home.
Mercedes hung around outside until school was dismissed. She refused to sit in
anymore classes since she was already suspended. Also, she wanted to let the
girls know what happened in the office.

“Alright,
I’ll see ya’ll Friday.” Mercedes waved.

Maria
was waiting out front to pick her up. Mercedes got into the car and slid in the
seat. She bit down on her bottom lip and looked out the window to avoid eye
contact with her mother.

“What
happened at school today?” Maria asked before she pulled off. She sat there
with the car engine idling.

“This
girl came out her mouth to me wrong and we ended up fighting.”

“That’s
a good reason to fight Mercedes.” Maria sarcastically responded.

“I
mean she came at me Ma, she disrespected me.”

“Mercedes,
right now I’m so pissed at you I can’t even put it into words. I will let your
father deal with you.” Maria waved her hand and dismissed her. Mercedes huffed
and turned to stare from the window as her mother pulled off. The ride home was
totally silent. When she walked into the house, Mercedes saw her father sitting
on the couch. She said nothing and hoped that he wouldn’t either, of course
that was all a pipe dream. “Mercedes Carter.” Don called out.

“Yes
Daddy.” Mercedes stood there in front of him.

“What’s
going on?”

“What
do you mean?” Mercedes was acting stupid, as if she didn’t know what he was
referring to. Her father took a deep breath and let out a loud sigh.

“You
know what I’m talking about Mercedes, the school called us and said that you
had been in an altercation with a student and they suspended you for a week.”
He notified her as if she didn’t know.

“Well,
she came at me rude and was disrespectful. I had to stand up for myself.”

“Mercedes
you’re only sixteen. You’re very smart and that’s why I didn’t want you going
to a public school! Because I knew this shit was going to happen.”       

“Well
I’m a Carter, and I’m going to stand up for myself. I’m not going to take
nobody’s mess, ain’t that what you taught me Daddy?” Mercedes asked him. She
continued, “Don’t let no one down talk you or disrespect you, you have to fight
for what’s rightfully yours.” Don rubbed his temples as he shook his head side
to side, he didn’t even want his daughter in his presence right now.

“You
know what Mercedes, you’re right.” he said. Mercedes was surprised and had a
smile on her face. “Daddy did teach you well, but I’m going to have to put you
on punishment until you go back to school.” The smile quickly vanished, “WHAT?”
Mercedes yelled, “I’m on punishment?”

“Yes,
until you learn how to behave yourself.”

“Wow,
this is unbelievable!” Mercedes shouted as she stormed up the stairs and
slammed the door behind her.

She
was on punishment for a week at school and at home. That messed up her plans to
go out with the girls. She had her outfit picked out and everything. She really
hoped her mother would reconsider. She had to go out, especially since Chino
would be there.

The Party to Remembe
r

Mercedes
rolled up to the club and Mr. Gates exited the car and opened her door. She
didn’t expect to be able to go. But since she was “Daddy’s Girl” and never
really got in trouble, her father was lenient with her. Her harshest punishment
would be at school. She did have a set curfew that was strictly enforced; Mr.
Gates was to pick up Mercedes at exactly 11 PM.

The
line stretched all the way around the corner. The music was thumping so loud
that you would have thought it was playing outside. As Mercedes made her way to
the line, she noticed most of the girls were scantily clad. Mercedes and her
friends were all dressed to the nines and all eyes were on them. They were
focused on Mercedes especially; she always did a little extra to be noticed.

As
soon as her heels clicked on the concrete, heads turned to see who she was. The
boys wanted her and the girls hated her. She ignored them and made her way to
the front of the line with her friends. Candy knew one of the guards and he let
them jump the line.

Within
minutes, they made their way through security and were in the club dancing to
the music. The beat dropped so hard that they could feel the vibrations in
their bones. They made their way over to the bar and were greeted with drinks,
compliments of Candy and the bartender she flirted with.

“Girl
you’re crazy, we’re underage.” Mercedes said while shaking her head at her
friend.

“Here
Mercedes try it.” Candy passed her a drink.

“Nah,
I’m good.” Mercedes replied.

“Come
on girl, let’s have some fun. Tonight is our night to have fun and show these
niggas and bitches out here who we are M.O.B.B!” Candy yelled. Mercedes gave
her an unsure look. Everyone wondered if she was actually going to drink it.

“Alright
man, just this one drink.” Mercedes took the drink and took a big gulp.  The
drink was Hennessy and Red Bull and it tasted funny. Once it entered her mouth,
Mercedes made a weird face. The liquor slowly crept into her system and she got
comfortable. She smiled while her girls took their drinks too. “Now let’s
toast.” Candy smiled as they all put up their drinks. “It’s M.O.B.B for life
bitchessssss!”

As
they scanned the club, they noticed the men staring hard at them and
particularly Mercedes. The girls put her on notice.

“Damn
Mercedes, this nigga is checking you out hard body.” Candy said.

“Who?”
Mercedes inquired as she looked around the club. She was trying to find out who
her girl was talking about.

“That
nigga right there with the Red Monkeys on and that long ass fucking chain. He
is so fucking fine, Mhmm I love me some Dark chocolate.”

“How
you know he’s looking at me?” Mercedes said. Her words were slurring already
from the liquor.

“Here
he come girl! You better holla at that nigga. Girl here he comes.” Candy walked
away and slipped into the crowd. Mercedes called out to her, she didn’t want to
be alone. Her friend was already gone. The dude walked over toward the bar and
stood next to Mercedes and smiled, “Hey Ma, how you doing tonight?”

“I’m
doing good and you?” Mercedes inquired.

“I’m
just chilling, you know Ma. Seeing you definitely made my night though.”

“Oh,
really is that so?”

“Yeah,
my name’s Mike. What’s yours?”

“Mercedes”

“What
a beautiful name, it’s nice to meet you Mercedes.” Mike gently grabbed and
kissed her hand. Christian Milian’s “Dip it Low” came on.

“You
wanna dance Ma?” Mike asked her. The liquor was already in her system and she
was feeling nice.

“Sure,”
she responded as she made her way through the crowd and stood in the middle of
the dance floor. The drink had Mercedes loose; she had never felt this feeling.
Her dance partner held her hips and touched her sensually. They both were
getting really turned on and it showed in their dance moves.

“Ma
let’s get up outta here and head to my crib.” Mike whispered in her ear. It
sounded good to Mercedes at that time. They were just about to exit the club
when Mercedes looked up and noticed Chino walking towards her.  The liquor
caused her to forget that he was going to be there too.

“Mercedes,
what the fuck are you doing?” Chino barked while giving her an evil glare. “You
over here bumping and grinding on this nigga like you don’t know what time it
is.” Chino yelled as he grabbed her arm and snatched her away from the guy.
“Come on.”

“Chino,
let go you’re hurting me.” Mercedes whined as she tried to pull her arm away
from his grip.

   “Ayo
man, let her go.” Mike yelled.

“Nigga
please, this is my shorty.”

Chino
laughed as he turned around. “Nigga, who the fuck you think you are?”

“I
just met the bitch and you fucking up my groove.” Mike said trying to defend
his actions. His comment made the situation worse by calling Mercedes out of
her name.

“Hold
up, first of all she ain’t no fucking bitch!” Chino assured him. “And nigga you
just met my girl up in the club and think you gon’ hit… nah nigga not my
shorty.”

“Nigga
fuck you! What’s popping den?” Mike was ready to fight, but Chino was from the
streets. He didn’t use his hands if he didn’t have to. He quickly lifted his
shirt to reveal the gun he held in his waist. Mike backed off immediately and
went about his business. Chino covered his gun by pulling down his shirt. He
took Mercedes to his car to talk. They had plenty to discuss.

Outside
of the club, Chino stood in front of Mercedes staring at her in disbelief.

“What
the fuck is wrong with you?”

“What
are you talking about BayBay?” Mercedes speech was slurred.

“Don’t
act stupid Mercedes, you’re drunk right now.” Chino barked.

“How
the fuck did they let you drink you’re only sixteen?” He asked.

“Candy
gave it to me, I mean it’s nothing. Just a little Henny to set the mood.”
Mercedes chuckled and fell directly into him. Chino caught her and held onto
her.

“Look
at you Ma, you all stumbling and shit. You’re coming home with me.” Chino
grabbed her wrist to guide her towards his car. Mercedes snatched her hand away
and began yelling at him in the parking lot.

“No,
no, no I’m not going with you because you’re a liar and a cheater!” She waved
her finger around in the air.

“How?”
Chino inquired. “I wasn’t the one in the club bumping and fucking grinding with
another bitch!” Chino barked.

“Don’t
act like you wasn’t hugged up on India the other day. I saw you.” Mercedes
yelled back with tears in her eyes. “And don’t say nothing was going on between
ya’ll two.” Mercedes tried to walk backwards and she fell.

“Are
you okay?” Mercedes heard a familiar voice but couldn’t place the face.

“Who
are you?”

“Mercedes,
it’s me Emilio.”

“Ohh
shit, I hope I’m not in trouble.” Mr. Gates sent Emilio to check on Mercedes
and bring her home instead. He didn’t want to draw attention to himself with
the limousine.

“Nah,
let’s just get you home. It’s not safe out here.” Emilio picked up Mercedes and
held her in his arms. Chino stood next to them and watched the exchange. He had
no idea who this dude was and wanted to know why he had his hands on Mercedes.

“What
the fuck are you doing with my shorty?” Chino jumped between them and prepared
to grab his weapon.

“I
suggest you back up, I’m taking shorty where she belongs.”

“Nah
nigga, she’s coming with me son.”

“It
was my orders to take her home, Aight son. So I suggest you back the fuck up
before shit gets crazy out here.” Emilio demanded.

Chino
and Emilio were arguing about who Mercedes was leaving with, neither of them
noticed the black Cadillac speeding down the street. The tinted windows rolled
down slowly to reveal a semi automatic weapon that began firing into the crowd.
Everyone ran for cover or dropped to the ground to avoid being shot.

Mercedes
was too drunk to know what was happening until it was too late. Emilio pushed
her to the ground and lay on top of her for protection. The car sped away
without anyone knowing who was inside, or who the intended target was.