Falling for a Hustler: A Benton Harbor Love Story (5 page)

Yandy

I swear, I wanted to punch Lyric in her fucking throat when she came at me like that! Hell, if it wasn’t for her telling me that Brick was out, I probably would have. How the fuck could this be happening? The last time I checked, with the amount of drugs he went down for, he should have been doing a damn MANDATORY sentence of five years.

Now my plan was all the way fucked up! I had to figure something out and quick. The emergency money my brother had left me was long gone, and so was the money that Lyric and Destiny found before they got with me. Bills were piling up, and I was slowly starting to lose my mind. Niggas around here were talking, so it was getting harder and harder to get anything up out of them. Shit, they was so scared of getting caught up that they were bringing their own bottles to the club. I had lucked up and ganked a few lame ass dudes, but after seeing how much they had, I almost felt bad for
them.
It was sad really. These niggas didn't even hustle like they used to anymore.

My brother Casino hustled so that his family could live good and want for nothing. Besides his cars and his brick home, you wouldn't even think he was out in the streets like he was. I used to tease him for always having a t-shirt and sweatpants on. Whenever I would question him about it, he would always say:

“Baby girl I ain’t trying to impress these other cats out here. A muthafucka will never know how much money I’m getting, or where I lay my head. I don’t mind nigga’s thinking I’m broke as fuck. How you think niggas get caught up out here? They all in the club flashing money and popping bottles, then got the nerve to wonder why the fuck they got robbed.”

It didn't make sense back then, but when my mama put my ass out at 16, shit became crystal clear. Niggas was out here hustling for clothes, shoes, and to be able to trick with a random rat bitch every now and then. The way I saw it was if they was flashing it, it was mine for the taking. It wasn't like they could go to the police and report the shit. All they could do was pray they catch up with me; they’d have to remember me first though.

Though I’m only 27, thirty was creeping up on my ass and I wasn't trying to still be doing this shit. All I needed was this one lick and I would be able to relocate and open my dream boutique. I had gotten careless with all the money I was getting and blew it all on clothes and new weaves, when I should have been stacking and saving. This broke bitch shit was for the birds! Something had to fucking give!

The sound of a car pulling into the driveway caught my attention. I looked out the blinds and saw that it was Lyric’s ass. I rolled my eyes and sunk back into the couch, scrolling through the On Demand listing on Comcast. Just as I turned on my show MasterChef, Lyric came strolling in. I looked her over and I had to admit, my niece looked damned good! I was still mad at her stanking ass though. Even though we were more like sisters because of our ages, I was still her aunt and I felt that I deserved a little more respect than what she had given me.

“Des!” she yelled. I looked at her like she was fucking stupid. She knew I was watching TV before she came in here doing that petty ass loud shit. “Bitch guess what the fuck just happened to me!” A big ass smile adorned her face, as she kicked off her shoes and climbed the stairs two at a time. She had her fucking nerves leaving me out the loop! Once I heard the bedroom door shut, I ran up and stood outside of it, trying to hear the juicy shit she was saying.

“What the hell you cheesing and shit for? We just missed out on bands and you all giddy,” Destiny said.

“Guess who I ran into!”

“Who?”

“Bitch I said guess! You always taking the fun out of something.” I rolled my eyes, wishing she would get to the point.

“Are you gon’ tell me or nah?” Destiny was obviously tired of her bullshitting around too.

“Bryce Donovan himself.”

My ears perked up at the sound of Brick’s name.

“Brick?”

“Yess! I went out with Khalil and ended up literally running into his ass. That man is fine as fuck!”

“So that means everything is back on track, right?”

“Not really.” My eyes grew large at her stupid ass. The fuck she mean not really? “I talked to him for a little while, and so far he seems nice. I actually want to get to know him a little bit.”

Hearing enough, I walked away from the door before I went in there and beat the hell out of Lyric. She knew the motto we lived by was,
‘Fuck niggas get money’
so why the fuck was she making this nigga out to be so different?

If this bitch ain’t trying to get money, then fuck her! Her not helping me definitely wasn’t stopping shit. Me asking her to help was to cover my own ass, but this shit was even better. I could use her dumb ass without her even knowing, and eventually she’d lead me right to his stash. I smiled at my revelation. This shit was gon’ be too easy.

Brick

The smell of coffee and lavender annoyingly greeted my nose as I walked into Richard’s new firm. It had taken me a few days to get the location due to him only dealing with high profile clients now. The chinky-eyed receptionist looked at me and licked her plump lips before greeting me. I ignored her and looked around the waiting area. Expensive ass artwork adorned the walls, cream-colored marble tile decorated the floor, and the chairs he had lined against the beige wall had the thickest cushions ever. I could already see that he wasted no time and spared no expense when he spent my money. The longer I stood there and looked around, the more pissed off I got.

Totally disregarding the thirsty bitch in front of me, I began walking to the back.

“Sir! You can't go back there! Mr. Herrington is on a very important business call!” she yelled out as she chased after me.

I gritted my teeth and counted to ten as I kept walking. If she knew what was best for her, she would sit her ass down and shut the fuck up talking to me. As soon as I found the door to his office, I opened it and walked in like I owned the place. Richard was standing in the window with his back facing me. I sat in one of the comfortable chairs that sat across from his desk and waited. After almost two minutes, he turned around. When he saw me, his phone fell from his hands and his usually perfectly tanned skin was pale as fuck. I had my answer without even having to open my mouth.

“M...Mr. Donovan! What a surprise!” he stammered as he sat in his seat. I noticed that he wouldn't look me in the eye.

“You nervous ‘bout something, Rich? You ain’t looking too hot, man.”

“Not at all! I just wasn't expecting you so soon.”

“I see you’re getting money now, huh? You done left Michigan and moved on to the Chi! That’s what’s up. How’d you manage that in a year, Richard?”

A lump formed in his throat, and I watched as he struggled to swallow it. “You’d be surprised at how many investors were willing to hop on board. Chicago seemed like the perfect business move with the whole ‘Chiraq’ thing going,” he chuckled.

I stood up and began looking around his office once again. “It’s amazing what $90,000 can buy. Ain’t it?” He opened his mouth to speak, but was cut short when I pulled him out his seat and roughly hemmed him up against the wall. “I want you to think twice before you lie to my fucking face, Rich.” His face was now red, and fear flashed in his eyes. “I paid you forty g’s to get me off, and gave you fifty to bribe the judge. A little birdie told me my proposition never even reached Judge Hackney,” I laughed a little. “Can you explain to me how the FUCK I ended up getting sentenced to five years!?”

“Bryce…”

“Mr. Donovan muthafucka,” I growled.

“Mr. Donovan please…please allow me to clear things up.”

If he wasn't saying he had my money right now, then I ain’t give a fuck about what he had to say. It sure as hell wouldn't change shit.

“When I come back in two weeks, there better be $90,000 waiting on me.”

“How am I supposed to come up with that much money in two weeks?” His voice had gone up an octave, and if this bastard hadn’t stolen my damn money, I probably would have found the shit funny.

“I don’t give a fuck how you get it.”

I walked out his office and slammed the door behind me. The thought of just killing him crossed my mind, but I wanted what belonged to me. I couldn't speak on what would happen after I got my money. There was no telling what I was gonna do to that muthafucka.

I climbed into my Charger and sat for a moment. Instantly thoughts of Lyric ran through my mind. Shit, to be honest, she had been on my mind since I ran into her at Applebee’s a few nights ago. Before I could stop myself, I was dialing her number.

“Hello?” sexiness oozed from her voice, and she wasn't even trying.

“How you doing today, beautiful?” I started my car and checked my surroundings before pulling out of the parking lot.

“I can’t complain.”

“You still fucking with that lame ass nigga you was with?”

She giggled. “Chill out. It ain’t even what you think, love.”

“You never answered my question.”

“If that was your way of asking if I’m with him, then no. I’m single.”

That shit was like music to a niggas ears. I mean it really didn't matter if she was taken or not because I wanted her ass and Brick always got what he wanted.

“A'ight. I like the sound of that, ma.” My phone beeped, and I saw that Tyriq was coming through. I didn’t want to end the conversation with Lyric just yet, so he would just have to wait. “What you on tonight?”

“Shit. I don’t have to work tonight, so I’ll probably get a bottle, some Chinese from Good Fortune, and kickback with Netflix.”

“On a Friday night?”

“Pretty much. Nigga this Benton Harbor you know it ain’t shit to do. That partying and club shit been played out to me.”

“I see you on ya grown woman shit, ma. How about I take you out though?” The line went silent for a few seconds so I looked at my phone. The call was still connected. “You there?”

“Uh yeah I’m here. What did you have in mind?”

“Don’t worry about all that. Just be ready at nine. I’ll scoop you.”

“How am I supposed to know how to dress if you don’t tell me where we’re going?” she pressed.

It was my turn to laugh now. “Dress casual. No heels.”

“Ok.”

I spent a few more minutes making her laugh before we ended our call. Though I was pissed off about the way things went with Richard, I had to admit that just hearing Lyric’s voice made all that shit go away. I wasn't looking for love, but shorty was definitely someone I could use on my team. After I got on the highway and set the cruise control, I called Tyriq back.

“What up Riq you hit me?”

“Yo, you need to come get yo sister, for real. I swear to God, I’m so close to pushing her big ass over. She better be glad she carrying my muthafuckin daughter.” I laughed; those two were always into it over something stupid.

“Shit, I can’t help you with that bro, I’m in the Chi.”

“Word? The fuck you doin out there?”

“I paid Rich bitch ass a lil visit. Nigga took my money and got little. Obviously he don’t know who he fucking with.”

“You handle that?”

“Nah, he got two weeks to make shit right.”

“A'ight I see you.” He knew how I was with talking about shit like that over the phone. “Aye, you need to get up with Eden, bruh. She been trying to get up with you.”

“Shit, I ain’t even trying to step to Eden right now.” I wouldn't be able to cop weed from her like I did before, and the shit was fucking with me. Even though I had about a seventy thousand, I still felt like a fuck nigga. I was out here making triple that, and now I had to start over. This shit was fuckin with a nigga heavy.

“I don’t think it’s a request. More like a demand, my nigga.”

I sighed into the phone. I was in a lose-lose situation. If I went, I would have to tell this chick that I basically had nothing, and would have to start off copping a quarter of what I used to grab. I really wasn't feeling that, cause I ain’t want her to think that I had fallen off. If I didn't go, I knew she wouldn't fuck with me again. Eden had a good heart, but her money came before anything. If I didn't show up, she wasn't making money, and that was bad for business.

“Fuck it. Set that shit up and let me know the details.”

“Bet. I–” Tyriq stopped mid-sentence. I heard scuffling in the background, and then I heard Mariah’s squeaky ass voice yelling. “Man Riah, gone with that bullshit. I’m talking to Brick!”

“A'ight, Imma get up with you later bro. I don't want Mariah to kill you cause her spoiled ass ain’t gettin no attention.”

He agreed, and then we ended the call. Those two were truly something else.

***

“Where are you taking me, Brick?” We had only been riding for five minutes, and she was already asking questions.

I looked at her and smiled. “Does it matter?”

“Yes it matters! Nigga I just met you. How I know you ain’t taking me to the boonies to rape me or some shit like that?” Her ass was feisty, and I liked that shit.

“Rape you? Baby girl I ain’t gotta take shit. After tonight, you gon’ be tryin to throw the pussy at me any way,” I joked with a shrug. Her mouth fell open, and then she smacked me before we both fell out laughing.

“I don’t just throw my shit around. This pussy is like no other, boo. You gotta earn a taste of this.”

“Is that so?”

“Pretty much.”

I nodded my head at her. I turned the music up and let Trey Songz take over as I thought about my next move. I really didn't have anything planned; I just needed an excuse to spend time with Lyric. I looked over at her, and she was looking out the window. The moonlight was hitting her face just right, making her skin glow. Suddenly, I had the perfect idea.

We arrived at Tiscornia beach in less than ten minutes. It was already dark, and the beach would be closing to the public soon, but I didn't care. Everyone had already left or was beginning to leave; it was the perfect time to be there. After I put the car in park, I jumped out and went over to her side, opening the door for her. Smiling, she stepped out and shut the door. I grabbed her, and together we walked toward the pier.

“Oh my God, this is so nice, Brick. I never thought that the water could be so beautiful in the dark,” she said as she stared at the waves.

“Call me Bryce.”

“Well thank you, Bryce.”

She turned toward me and placed a soft peck on my lips. I wanted to snatch her up and bend her over the rail, but I refrained from doing so.

“It’s crazy I know nothing about you, yet I don't want to be away from you,” I admitted.

“We have plenty of time for that.”

That night we walked up and down the beach, just laughing and getting to know each other. She told me all about her childhood, and I felt terrible for her. I couldn’t imagine how I would have turned out if I had lost my mother. Luckily, she had an aunt that was willing to take her and her sister in. Just hearing her talk about how she got through it gave me a greater respect for her.

“I have this little gig now. I’m making decent money but, it ain’t coming fast enough,” she answered after I had asked her how she was getting by. I noticed that she didn't tell me exactly what she did, but I didn’t press the issue.

After almost three hours of random conversation, I dropped her back off at home. I didn't really want to, but it was late and I figured she would have to go to work soon.

“I really enjoyed myself with you, Brick.”

“I enjoyed you as well. Next time we’ll do dinner or something.”

“Next time?” she asked with her brow raised.

“Quit actin like you don’t know, Lyric. You’re already mine, I’m just trying to get all this formal shit out the way first.”

We both smiled. She leaned over and kissed my lips for the second time that night; only this time, there was a bit of hunger to it. When she pulled away, she grabbed for the door handle and got out of the car.

“Goodnight Bryce.”

“Goodnight Lyric.”