Country Boy (3 page)

“Baby, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?” Q said.

“Hurt? The only thing that hurts is Omar stopped it before I could finish that trick off,” she said as she grabbed Q’s hand and put it around her slim waist.

“I love you, more than life itself. Never once have I considered cheating on you. Baby, don’t let this hustle game, these streets, and these dizzy bitches that don’t really love you for you, ruin what we made plans to have ever since we carved our names in that tree,” she said as she pointed out her bedroom window. Q could see the sincerity in her eyes and it crushed his heart. All the dirt he had done she stood strong, living up to her promise she had made to him as a teenager. That she would always be by his side through thick and thin. Holding her warm body in his arms he could feel the moisture from her tears on his shoulder.

“I love you too,” was all he could muster up the strength to say, as they held one another for hours.

“Hey Baby,” Van said, handing Q her spare condo key as she embraced him. He stepped back and took the key from her hand. She had on a tight fitting Prada mini dress which matched her dark skin. Van never had to wear make-up. Her beauty was natural. She wore a chain around her neck with the word ONE. Q had given it to her as a gift and a promise that they would always be just that... ONE.

“What up ma?” Q yelled over the music.

“You,” she said.

“Nah. It’s got to be you. And what I tell you about all that exposure,” he said while eyeing her up and down.

“Boy, don’t start tripping’ over a dress you bought,” she yelled as she put her hand on her hip.

“Aiight now. I just don’t want to have to get up in one of these nigga’s ass tonight. I’ve already had some problems on The Block tonight and I’m not up for more drama.” Van sensed his uneasiness and suggested they leave.” We can get up out of here if you want baby.”

“I can’t right now because I haven’t seen Tim yet and he was supposed to meet me here. Besides, your cousins Vet and Netra are looking pretty impatient over there waiting on you.”

“Well that’s tough shit. And anyway, I’m sleeping with you, not them.” She said with a smirk on her face.

“Na enjoy yourself, I’ll See you later tonight.”

With that said she headed toward her table. Q watched her until she sat down with her cousins before making his way towards the front of the stage where Tee and Elbony were sitting. “Damn this shit’s packed” he thought, as he squeezed through the crowd. When he finally reached Tee’s table he was surprised to see Omar there with Kiki. KiKi hardly ever came to the club. “What up everybody?” Q said as he pulled out his chair beside Tee. Instantly he noticed her attitude.

“It’s almost 1:00 Q what took you so long?” said Tee.

He took a deep breath and was about to answer when the lights went dim and the DJ begun introducing The Ying Yang Twins. The crowd went wild when Lil John entered first saying “YEA.” They rocked all of their latest joints including “Shake It like a Salt Shaker” and the strippers were going crazy. Given the signal Omar and Q stepped away from the table and made their way to the office in the back. Once inside Big Kev waved them in another door that read PRIVATE.

“Damn nigga, how many strippers you got out on that mothafucka tonight?” Q said to Big Kev.

“Stopped counting at twenty nigga, why?”

“Cause them bitches probably making more money than all of us together, that’s why.” Q began dialing Tim’s cell number. The phone inside the desk drawer began to ring. Big Kev pulled the phone from the drawer and showed it to Q. He shut his flip and grabbed Tim’s. “So that nigga did make it here huh?”

“Yeah, he’s at the bar with some new cat. He told me what went down on The Block. Shit’s going to be hotter than a mothafucka for a few days.”

“Yeah, I’m hip nigga. Them four bama’s had a death wish or something.”

“Well, they always said be careful what you wish for.”

“That nigga at the bar with Tim, he is as thorough as they come. He didn’t even blink before letting that Mac-10 go!”

Code-Red Code-Red was all you could hear blasting on Kev’s radio. All three jumped up and headed out the door. The commotion was coming from down at the booth where Shea and Tab were collecting money. Two niggas were standing outside of a Big Boy Benz complaining about being checked for weapons. Big Ant was explaining the situation to them as calmly as he could, but they weren’t trying to hear that shit. Cars were honking their horns behind them, trying not to miss the rest of the show.

Q stopped at the booth to check up on the situation. “What’s the problem?” he asked.

“Just two niggas acting up, thinking they VIP or something." said Tab.

“Yeah.”

“Yeah. They both packing but don’t want to leave their shit.” Q looked the Benz over. Da Da was on the license plate. He only knew of one person by that name. He was a money-getting’ nigga from outta Wadesboro, NC. While Big Kev and Ant were flagging other cars around the stopped car, Tim and the new cat from The Block slowly walked up on the situation.

“Yo’ Q what tha fuck this Code Red shit? You got problems down this bitch or what?” Tim Said.

“Who you nigga?” the guy on the passenger side said to Tim.

“I’m the coroner nigga.”

“What up Da Da?” A voice could be heard over the split second of silence. “What’s the problem?” Q said, creeping up almost motionlessly, sliding his gun from its holster under his left arm. He concealed it from the cars waiting behind him as best he could, not wanting to cause a panic toward the crowd.

“What up Q?” Da Da said in a surprised tone.

“What up homie? What’s the problem?”

“Ain’t no problem man. I just don’t like parting with my girlfriend,” he said patting his waistband.

“Rules of the game playa, nothing personal. Now, you can either put your ‘girlfriend’ in the booth, or you can turn this shit around and go party elsewhere.”

“Oh it’s like that huh?”

“Yeah it’s like that homie. And for future reference, you need to put a bridle and bit in your horse’s mouth,” he said pointing to the guy on the passenger side. “If he ever tries to make some noise on this side of town again I will personally dig up in that ass.”

Da Da and his partner were heated, but they knew better than to try something stupid. It would surely prove fatal. Everyone near by could hear the confrontation, and that only made Da Da’s want for revenge more personal. He glared hard at Q before sliding in his Benz and yanking a three point turn leaving. Tim walked up and put his hand on Q to motion him back to the club.

“Oh yea this is my man June,” Tim said.

Q gave June some dap before getting into a conversation.

“Man, you’re a hard nigga to catch up wit.”

“I just don’t meet many people homie,” Q responded.

“He wants to join the crew,” Tim said.

“Yeah playa, whatever I got to do to be in, I’m game.” Q knew he had a hair trigger. He could tell that from The Block. A man like that is always good to have on your team, he thought. But it was something else about him Q really liked. Maybe it was the fact he saw himself in June. A few years back he would have killed first and asked questions later. However, time and experience had made him cautious.

“We’ll meet tomorrow at Grady’s on the set and discuss business, aiight?” “Aiight. Well let’s get back up in this club wit these hoes.” “Yeah that nigga Da Da, got me all fucked up. I’m a see that nigga again and it’s going to be on.” said Tim.

Getting Paid

The Crews stash house was located three houses down from the mayor’s home. They knew more about the mayor’s wife than he did. The Crew had a couple of officers on the payroll. Some strictly for, giving information on raids and others were hauling kilos by night. Both were supposed to be serving and protecting the community during the day.

“Everything’s ready,” Corey yelled from his car window. “The Brew is in place.” With that Q headed to their cook house. He stopped by the Purina dog food place and picked up a hundred and fifty pounds of food for his pit bulls. He knew he would have to cut back soon, but he didn’t know where to start. He knew every dogs match weight, and kept them semi-conditioned in case some of the local hustlers brought one of ‘their curs by to get stopped’. Turning on to the dirt road Q could see two of his boys holding their position on look out. One could never be too careful in this game. With all the stick-up boys trying to come up, along with the Po-Po raiding people’s shit, The Crew didn’t take any chances. Pulling behind the house he could hear all his dogs greeting him. He had a two time winner named Skull who would always make his presence known by running at full speed yanking himself off his feet. Any other breed of dog would have broken their neck. This particular dog had already been over the two hour mark in the pit. At twenty minutes into the fight Skull had suffered a broken leg. He went the other hour and fifty-two minutes on three legs and a truck load of heart. He was dead game and would give his life for Q in or out of the pit.

“Yo’ Q, you ready to do this homie?” It was Corey standing on the back patio. “Everybody’s in place.”

“Aiight, let’s do it.” He tossed his cell phone and pager in his front seat and walked inside the house. Everything was in order as usual. “I brought fifteen joints from the mayor’s house homie (the downtown stash house).”

“Oh yeah. Did you kiss his wife for me?” Q said with a smirk on his face.

“Nah nigga, but I did get some brain from her ass!”

Putting on his latex gloves and mask, Q began the long process of cooking fifteen kilos. The Crew had really blown up when his main connect (Dreadlock AKA Baby Rasta man) taught him how to whip his coke, turning fifteen into thirty. After about six hours Q finally finished his last two. Before he was half way through ten were already gone.

“You nigga’s gonna have to learn how to cook this shit man. I’m stepping down in about seven, eight months tops. I won’t be coming out of retirement to cook this shit for you niggas.”

None of The Crew wanted to accept the fact that Q was serious, but they knew he was. He had mentioned it a lot lately. They also knew he wasn’t the type of nigga, to say shit just to be saying it.

“Aiight, you nigga’s can hit me later,” Q said grabbing the duffel bag containing damn near two hundred thousand dollars. “Tim, you and Corey divide the shit that’s left. I’m out. Peace.”

Once inside his car Q checked his two way. He had thirty-four messages. His baby momma had texted him a couple of times from her cell. Q considered himself and his daughter lucky to have such a good baby momma. Keonne was six years old. She would always call on Thursday to remind him the weekend started the next day. She would be standing at the door waiting on Friday to spend the weekend with her daddy. Q loved his daughter to death and wouldn’t trade her for anything in the world. But like any man he wanted a son desperately. He had tried to have a child with Van, but she was unable to maintain a full pregnancy. She had suffered some damage to her uterus as a child and was never able to overcome it.

Tee had also called and wanted Q to stop by and see her new salon.

After driving to his hideaway spot on the outskirts of town he pulled up inside his four car garage. After the automatic door closed he jumped out and entered the house. His Rot’ named Bear was standing at the door waiting. Bear growled when he walked in. “What’s your problem boy? I been gone too long, huh? Aiight, let’s get something to eat.” Bear’s automatic feeder was still half full, so he knew Van had to have been by earlier. She was the only person who knew anything about this house, and two more properties Q had purchased. He had bought Bear for her as a gift.

Entering the kitchen on the way to his safe he noticed one single white rose with an envelope:

My Dearest Q,

By the time you read this letter I’ll be back at our place rubbing on your favorite body lotion. My heart almost leaped out of my chest when you told me you were getting out of the game. So many nights I prayed this day would come. Soon I won’t have to worry about you being safe... I’ll have you in the safety of my arms. You are my life, my love, my everything.

Your soul-mate, Van

Closing the letter Q knew this was his true love. The only question in his mind was how he would be able to explain all this to Tee, when the time came.

***

The truck finally arrived at the building that would soon be called “Honey’s.” “It’s about time they got here,” said Tee. “Yeah, we’ve been here almost two hours,” El responded. The truck was bringing three new dryers for the salon. One of the movers spoke, “sorry for the delay ma’am. Our truck broke down so we had to load everything onto another truck. Where would you like your merchandise?”

The Grand Opening was next Thursday. Tee knew her dream was about to become a reality. She had put in a lot of hours in the living room doing hair. She had everything she ever asked for. Well, almost everything. She loved her man to death, but was growing tired and weary from competing for his heart.

“Damn Tee, we finally gonna do it,” said El. “Yeah, sometimes I can’t believe we’re opening our own shop.” “Well Gurl, pleaz believe it. It’s ours. But I’ve gotta go pick up my mother, so call me at home tonight.” “Aiight. I’m gonna call Q and see if he’s coming or not.” “Okay, but don’t stay here too long by yourself.” “Okay Mama,” Tee said, rolling her eyes in the air and waving her arms. She grabbed her cell phone and gave Q a call. Q answered his phone, “Yes.” “Hey baby, I’ve been calling you,” she said. “Sorry ma, I got a little tied up, but I’m on my way now. You want me to stop and get you something?” “Well I’m finished here for tonight, so I was thinking we could go out for Chinese food.” “Sounds good to me. I’m game if I can have you for desert!” “Okay, but what about my desert mister?” “You’ll think of something before I get there won’t you?” “I have something already in mind, hum... hum... hum…” “Stop teasing me Tee before I blow this mothafucka up trying to get there.”

“Aiight baby, but pleaz hurry. I’m starving. .. Not for food either!” With that she hung up while Q was stripping gears and cussing....