The Streets Or Me: A Louisiana Love Story (15 page)

I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at a photo of Miracle and I in the hospital after she had A'Laya. I’ve been a state of depression since I got that letter from her. A nigga can't eat, sleep, or nothing, all I’ve been doing is sipping, takin' shoots, and getting lit. I been on Xanz, Percs, Powder, Dip, and Lean; nigga just wanted to be numb so I could block out the pain I was feeling deep inside. I let Courtnei take A'Laya 'cause I wanted to be by myself.

To be completely honest, I wish I was dead. That way a nigga ain't gotta deal with the bullshit that's sure to come me and my boys’ way. I know them Atlanta niggas was down here plotting to make a move on us, once they catch us slipping. I'm sure Legacy got his ears to the streets and making sure his boys stay on their toes. Chino got H-Town locked so I know he good.

Then there's me, the main hitta in the clique, who always down for some gunplay. Even though I gave my life over to God, I still feel like death coming for me. My life been spiraling downhill for the longest, but once I get shit back right, then I’m hit with more bad shit. I done lost my girl and I feel like ain't nobody in a nigga corner right now. My back’s against the wall, who the fuck can I depend on?

I threw another Xan in my mouth and let it dissolve as I do a long, heavy line of the Powder. I rubbed the residue from my nose, taking a sip from my Lean cup as I type out this long text to Courtnei. Last thing I remember after hitting the send button, is trying to get up then my head spinning and I blacked out.

It's about six in the morning and I hear my phone blaring through the room. I raise up slightly when I notice Khy sleeping peacefully on my chest. I kiss her head softly as I grab my phone from the nightstand. Looking at the id, I notice a missed call from my nigga Joc. I unlock the phone and hit the call button, as I eased outta bed so I wouldn't wake Khy. I walk in the bathroom, closing the door when he finally picks up.

"Yo Joc, what’s good? What you calling so early for?"

"Yo Legz, what's up? I gotta holla at you on some real shit bruh."

"Run it then, my nigga. Tell me what's up."

"I was just on the East, shooting it with Drew and the fam at the spot. We overheard a convo from some niggas trying to off ya top."

"Hold on, slow down, and run that back my nigga what is you saying?"

"Remember that nigga on the Northside that we used to run with, back when we were nickel and dimeing, trying to get rich?"

"Yea my nigga Cain. Nah Joc, that's my dude, Cain and his boys wouldn't do me like that."

"I wasn't saying them, Cain put me on some heavy shit. Remember when you, Chi, and Luke went out to Atlanta on them runs and shit?"

"Yea so, what about it?"

"The nigga he was dealing with came up dead along with some of his crew. His Pop’s a big time dealer out in Bankhead, say he heard ya’ll was the last ones to deal with him now he wants revenge. Cain schooled me, so I figured I’ll school you; shit getting real and they coming hard, my nigga what we gon' do?

Damn I knew this shit was bound to happen, I had that feeling when my niggas mentioned them Atlanta niggas awhile back. If they coming for me, I know they coming for Luke and Chino too. I gotta warn my niggas before shit pop off and we get blindsided more important I gotta protect Khy and my kids.

"What else he let you know?"

"They know about the spots you just copped and how you got half of Louisiana on locked. They know about Chino being out in H-Town, even got niggas watching his crib now. They know 'bout Luke and the shit he going through with Miracle. To make shit even worse the nigga Trey, that we popped from Presidential, was his nephew. He got a niece named Shara that got a baby sister name Kiari-"

"Wait what the fuck! Yo Joc, I think I been set up. I met that bitch Kiari a few months back after a lil party, took her back to the west and fucked her."

"Damn boss, you slipping."

"Chill fam, I ain't tripping 'cause shawty gon' get it. We got more guns than the government can afford, just let them niggas know that when they come they better be ready for war. They can't catch a nigga slipping, keep ya ear out for anything else my nigga. 'Preciate the warning."

"No doubt my nigga...one."

I ended the call, scrolling through my contacts for Lexi’s number. Alexia or Lexi is Marco big sister, aside from Khy and Miracle, she one of the only females we trust to hold down the traps or make drops for us along with her twin sister Shay or Pooh. She a real rider too, so I know for sure if I can't count on nobody else to handle this Kiari shit, I know she can and will. I finally find her number and hit call as I peek out the door to check on Khy. Thank God she was still sleeping 'cause I don't want her worrying or getting involved. After the third ring, Lexi finally picked up.

"Legacy, what you calling so early for? This shit better be important nigga."

"Mayne calm down aight. I need you to handle some shit for me, ma."

"Handle what?"

I quickly ran her down on the Kiari situation and the convo I just had with Joc. I just need her to handle Kiari while I figure out a plan to get at her people before they get us.

"You think you can handle that for a nigga?"

"All I need to know is how much?"

"$5000 now...$5000 later."

"That's a bet, just have Marco drop it off for me."

"Bet! 'Preciate that ma."

"It's all love...one."

I end the call just as the door opened and Khy walked in. I stood up and kissed her cheek, making her blush.

"Morning beautiful."

"Good morning, you up early."

"Yea, yo loud snoring woke a nigga up."

She mugged me playfully and pushed past me going to the sink.

"Lying bastard. Who was on the phone?"

"Oh umm, I called to let Marco know to do my pick-ups 'cause I’m spending the day with you."

"Hmm well that was sweet of you. Are you hungry?"

"Yea, but you don't have to cook, I’ll do it."

"Legacy, really it's no problem for me to cook."

"I know, but it's my job to cater to you while you carry my seeds."

"Lol. ok, you can cook. We want bacon, eggs, cheese grits, french toast, fresh fruit, and juice."

"Damn greedy as hell, but I got you ma."

"Thanks Popa."

She looked up at me smiling as I held her stomach. I hate lying to about shit, but I can't have her worrying about this street shit while she carrying my seeds. I just hope I can keep this shit from her long enough to get these niggas out our way.

I've been calling Luke all morning since I received that disturbing text from him, but all I keep getting is the voicemail. I pull up in front of his house and shut off the car, grabbing LayLay from the backseat as Lucas climbed out of the passenger side. We walk up the gravel to the door and ring the doorbell.

"Luke, open the door!"

I was beating on the door, yelling his name but all I got was silence. I remembered he kept a spare key under his welcome mat, so I got it and opened the door, walking inside.

"Luke, are you here? Luke!"

The house was completely silent, but I knew he was home because his cars were parked out front. Where the hell is he?

"Lucas, take your sister and go to the kitchen ok. I'm gonna check upstairs for your father."

"Yes ma'am. Come on LayLay, let's go to the kitchen."

While he took her I made my way upstairs where his room is.

"Luke, are you up here?"

Still complete silence. I stand outside of his room and knock on the door, but still no answer. I was getting worried so I twist the doorknob and ease it open, stepping inside. My heart dropped when I saw his body face down on the floor with blood coming from his head.

"Oh my God, Luke! Luke say something please!"

I checked his pulse, it was really faint and he wasn't breathing. My hands shook violently as I dialed 911.

"Hang on for me, Luke. Please just hang on for me."

"911 what's your emergency?"

"I need an ambulance to 3211 Deborah Drive. It's my son's father. He isn't responding and has blood coming from his head."

"Ma'am does he have a pulse?"

"Yes, but it's very faint. I think he's gone into shock."

"Ma, is dad ok? What happened?"

"Lucas, baby go back downstairs. Send someone please."

"Ok ma'am the paramedics are on the way."

"Thank you so much."

I end the call and place my hand on his head as tears fell from my eyes. God how did this happen? I know he was going through a lot with the whole situation of leaving the street life behind him to now not having Miracle in his life anymore, but was all of that enough stress to make him this reckless. I stare at his lifeless body lying on the floor and I see all the drugs around him, and I just think to myself, "Is life really this hard for him that he would go to this length to take the pain away?"

The paramedics finally arrive and begin examining Luke as I stand side calling his mother. I know she gonna take this hard given the fact that we all watched him recently give his life over to God, now this happens. After four rings, she finally picks up the phone.

"Courtnei, is everything ok? Did you talk to Luke?"

"Ms. Mason, I need you to meet me at the hospital, St. Francis Medical. It's Luke, I think he tried to commit suicide through overdose."

"Oh dear God, not my baby. Courtnei, I’m on my way. Don't leave my babies side please."

"I’ll be by him the whole way."

I disconnected the call, following the paramedics out of the room. When I made it downstairs, I see his uncle Kevin talking to Lucas and A'Laya in the kitchen. How do I tell my eleven-year old son that his father tried to commit suicide? Lucas looks up to his father like he's some kind of super hero. He never saw the big time drug dealer that Luke was, all he saw was a hardworking father who went above and beyond the limits to provide for his family. Then you have A'Laya who's only two years old, she's so young. Her mother is already behind bars now her father is fighting for his life. My heart just breaks even more as I think about all of this. I can only pray that God sees him through this setback.

I walked through the hospital doors squeezing Legacy's hand, praying to God that my cousin was ok. I spot Courtnei in the corner holding a sleeping LayLay. Her eyes were so puffy and red from crying, all I could do was embrace her in a warm hug and tell her that everything was gonna be ok.

"I still love him, Khyia. After all these years of being apart, I still love him. I don't know what I’ll do if I lose him."

"Court, don't cry. Luke isn't going anywhere, he's strong and he's gonna fight through this no matter how hard it is. God has the final say."

"I just love him so much Khy."

"I know you do and despite what he has or had with Miracle, I know he loves you too."

"I needed to hear that Khyia. Thank you."

"No problem. Now dry your eyes, Lucas is watching you."

She nodded, drying her eyes as Lucas walked over and hugged her. I look over in the other corner and see Legacy with his head in his hands. I go over to him and place my hand on his shoulder, making him look up. He put a fake small smile on his face, but I could see in his eyes that he was hurting.

"You ok?"

"Nah, not really. That's my best friend and your cousin in there fighting for his life, Khy. How the hell this happen?

"Only he and God know how it happened. All we can do is pray for a greater outcome."

"Mason family?"

I stood up with my aunt, uncle, cousins, and Courtnei as the doctor walked toward us.

"How's my son?"

"Ms. Mason, your son is in a coma with very little oxygen flow to his brain. There were several different drugs found in his system and he has severe head trauma. We did our best to revive him, but-"

"Is my dad gonna die?"

I felt a pain in my heart when Lucas asked that question, and seeing the pain in my aunt and cousins face hurt my very soul. The doctor kneeled in front of Lucas and held his hand in hers.

"Sweetheart, we're gonna continue to do all that we can to make sure your father survives, I promise."

"So what happens now?" Courtnei asked.

"Mr. Mason will be placed on a ventilator in order to help oxygen flow back into his body with hopes that he will come out of the coma and breathe on his own again."

"How long will that be?" Aunt K asked.

"It couple take months or even longer. It all depends on whether he's strong enough to fight through this, but like I said we will do everything that we can to help him survive. You have my word."

"Thank you doctor." Uncle Kevin shook her hand.

"I’m just doing my job. I can't let you all see him right now, but I will allow his mother to see him for a few moments. He's in the MICU room 220b."

We all nodded as she walked away. I hugged my aunt and the rest of my family, then Legacy and I left to head home. I just wanted to lay under him and pray that no other drama takes place in our lives.