

## My Besties: The Come Up

### A Novel

### by

### Asia Hill

My Besties: The Come Up

A Novel by Asia Hill

ISBN: 9780990869450

Copyright © 2015 by Good2Go Publishing

Published 2015 by Good2Go Publishing

7311 W. Glass Lane, Laveen, AZ 85339

www.good2gopublishing.com

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All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without written permission, except for brief quotations to books and critical reviews. This story is a work of fiction. Characters, businesses, places, and events and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

# Prologue

Damn, out of all the shit I've done in my life, I never thought that it would end like this. As I look into the eyes of my besties, I see no fear. We came up together, got money together, cried together, killed together, and shit, it looks like we about to lay it down together. We had a great run. We shook this muthafucking city up like dice, for real!

Coming up, all we had was each other. We didn't give a fuck about anybody because nobody gave a fuck about us; feel me? We rode hard in these streets, burning a lot of muthafuckas in the process. What? We ESC, East Side Crazy! You better know it! We fucked up though. We became comfortable when we started sleeping on the enemy, and they swarmed our asses like killer bees. As I stand here with my besties ready to meet my maker, I can't help but wonder, "Did I choose the wrong career path?" Hearing the hammer cock back on the gun that I'm sure will end our lives; I can't help but see my life flash before my eyes. The beginning was bad, but this shit right here, nigga, is death . . . literally!

Money over everything,

Self-made but right now, shawty,

You looking like money,

I'm talking real money.

# Chapter 1

### Ja`ziya

"My chick bad looking like a bag of money, I go and get it and she always count it fa me." As I sit here in my room looking out the window bumping to my motivation song, I'm just daydreaming as I always do. I wish I could get a hold of a bag of money. Shit, I'm so broke that I can't even afford a bag of weed.

Damn shame, isn't it? I think I was doomed the second that I came out of my momma's raggedy-ass vagina. My momma was a pretty woman from what I remember. Although, my Aunt Tae told me that she was a rotten bitch on the inside.

My momma left me with my aunt when I was eight. I'm fifteen now, and shit hasn't been right ever since. I think my aunt resents me because she fake-stopped her life to raise me. Shit, she was no better, ghetto-ass bitch!

That ho thinks that she's still in her twenties, walking around here with her pink and blond hair. Really? She doesn't do shit but sit around the house waiting for her state's check that she gets for her daughter Tyesha and me.

Tyesha is two years younger than I am, but Lil Mama is off the chain. I'm still a virgin, but she's not. She's out there bad, and my aunt allows it. She doesn't let me come in the house late or have a nigga call the house without flipping the fuck out on me. My aunt belittles me because I'm by far the prettiest bitch in the house.

My name is Ja`ziya Campbell, but y'all can call me JuJu. I'm five foot six, 155 pounds, and thick in all the right places. I have slanted brown eyes that give me an exotic look. Our ethnic background is Jamaican and Native. I know y'all like that combination. Yeah, I'm a true rude gal, as I'll whoop a bitch's ass and take names later. Sometimes I don't even take names, fuck them!

I'm not all bad though, I do have goals. I damn sure don't want to be another statistic in the hood, such as a teenage mother or high school dropout. If I could stop fighting, I'd be all right.

Hoes hate on me all the time, which lets me know that I'm doing shit right. No one can hate on a bum bitch, am I right? I'm glad that out of all the bullshit I've endured throughout my young age—not knowing my father, not having my mother, growing up in an unstable household, and having fucked-up people to look up to—I can justly say that I'm not that bad.

I have three people in this world that I can honestly say love me. We literally met in the sandbox. God knew that we were all made for each other, and we have been in the same class together since preschool.

First, there's Tamiko, a.k.a. Tiki. We call her "Ms. Smart Mouth" because the shit she says out of anger will make a weaker bitch commit suicide. Standing four foot eleven, at 130 pounds, and with dark brown eyes that give her a mysterious look, she rocks her hair like Halle Berry. She has an ass so big that you can sit a drink on it and she doesn't even know it's there. To put icing on the cake, this ho is bowlegged. She has that "come fuck me" walk down pat. She's the oldest out of the four of us.

All of our birthdays are in the first week of August. With four Leos on the prowl, trust me, we make shit move when we slide through. Tiki's is the first, and mine is the third.

Next, there's Elizabeth, a.k.a. Dirty E, whose birthday is on the fifth of August. We call her "Ms. Know It All" because this bitch knows everything. She knows everybody's business and can tell you who is fucking who, who's selling what, who robbed who, and when the jump-out boys are coming. How the fuck does she know that shit with her nosey ass? She is my right-hand man. She is five foot two, and she weighs 135 pounds. She is high yellow with freckles all over her face. Her large hazel eyes make her look innocent, but don't sleep on this ho. She got the name Dirty E for a reason. She is the tomboy of the bunch. Well, let me keep it one hundred. This muthafucker is gay as hell. She's the enforcer. Her little ass has been through hell and back growing up, so the term "click the fuck out" fits right up her alley. I truly think that if we were in a fucked-up situation, she'd be the one to come out blazing. Remember that I said that.

Last but not least, we have "Ms. Church Mouse." Randy, a.k.a. ReRe, is the youngest of the crew. Her birthday is August seventh. She fucks with nobody but us. If she doesn't know you, she won't say shit to you. When she was about six years old, her father did some fucked-up shit to her body.

When I say that she developed fast, it was an understatement. At fifteen, she is five foot four, weighs 150 pounds, and her chest is size 36DD. This little girl measures at 34-24-40. You'd need to see this girl to believe it. This is my baby. She has the prettiest caramel complexion, and her eyes are emerald-green, courtesy of her white father. Her mother is Latino, so she has this thick black hair that flows down the middle of her back, beautiful.

But you know what they say about the quiet ones. We had a run-in with some dudes a few weeks ago.

We all attend South Shore High School on 76th and Constance. It's the end of the school year, just before the summer break, so instead of taking the bus, we like to walk down 79th. I stay on 88th and Marquette. It's a nice walk, but we didn't care because 79th be juking.

So on this particular day, we decided to cut up Jeffery and stop at the gas station on 76th. We were all walking, laughing, and having a good time, when this light blue Charger with twenty-four-inch ice medals was at the light, beating my shit "Clappers" by Wale.

Shawty got a big ol' butt, O YEAHHHHH!

"That's yo' shit, JuJu!"

"E, you know that's my shit!"

Right there on the corner of 76 and Jeffery, I hit that shit. I dropped to the ground on my tippy toes and popped my ass all the way back up. Your girl's a fool with those dance moves. My besties, all except for E, of course, started doing the same shit. That's how we move.

The passenger yelled out the window, "A, shawty in the red! What up?" I looked at ReRe and smiled. "Go, ReRe, he at you," I teased.

"No, Ju, I'm cool. You go."

Knowing that my bestie wasn't feeling him, I politely yelled that she was cool.

We quit clowning and began walking up the street to our destination, but you couldn't tell some niggas shit! The Charger zoomed to the curb, and the dude in the passenger seat hopped out and walked toward us.

"Man, shawty in the red, come here."

This time it was E that said she was cool. Maybe he felt some type of way because E looked just like a nigga.

His old, disrespectful ass had the nerve to say, "Bitch-ass nigga, I ain't talking to you." Why'd he say that? We were ready to put our hands and feet on this nigga.

The driver must have sensed that his boy was about to be fucked up, because he slowly stepped out of the car. Once his foot hit the pavement, my breath got caught up in my throat. This man had God's hands on him. He had to be at least six two, with a complexion that was so smooth and chocolaty. His dreads were neat, and his razor lining was fresh. He kept it simple in an all-white, Gucci linen short set with a pair of Gucci high-tops to match.

Too bad he was going to get his fine ass fucked up too if he wanted to play Captain-Save-a-Nigga!

"So you wanna be a disrespectful-ass nigga?" I said, all up in his face. Out of nowhere, ReRe's crazy ass snatched me back and pushed him against the Charger, with her blade to his neck. I mean, damn, fuck the small talk, right?

"Hey, shawty, hold up a minute!" His voice was even better than I expected. He walked up to ReRe and calmly placed his hand on her arm while saying in the sexiest voice ever, "Lil mama, my boy can be a fool at times. He didn't mean no harm talking the way he was talking. I mean, can you blame him? You tight!"

"Fuck that! This muthafucker needs to know when to show some respect!"

"True, but let me handle my homie."

The dude from the passenger seat stood there with a smug-ass look on his face. He wasn't struggling or anything. The sick bastard looked as if he was enjoying the shit, for real.

ReRe looked at me, and I mouthed, "Put it down."

She turned back, looking square in his eyes, and the next thing you know, she whipped her hand back so fast that it caused everybody to jump. It happened so fast that I don't even think dude realized that she had nicked him, until the blood began trickling down his neck.

"BITCH! YOU CUT ME!"

ReRe gave him the coldest stare that I have ever seen. "You lucky I didn't slice you the fuck up, you disrespectful son of a bitch!"

The driver was now in the middle of us. He wore a nice chain with a pendant hanging from it that read "LJ."

"Shawty, what's your name?"

I looked at him and smiled, "JuJu."

"Well, Ms. JuJu, like I said before, I apologize for any problems my boy caused today. Let me make it up to you," LJ said.

I looked at him as if he had just spit in my face. "Nigga, you got me fucked up! Your boy wanna be an asshole and now you trying to fuck with me. Nigga, beat it!"

I've been through a lot of shit in my past, and it has made me tough, so of course I think I'm _that_ bitch. The look this nigga gave me was enough to make me go as mute as a deaf child.

He walked up so close to my face that I could smell the peppermint on his breath. "I'ma let you have that because I know my boy fucked up, but don't get shit twisted. I'm a grown-ass man, and I do not tolerate disrespect from nobody! Watch yo' fucking mouth before I break yo' neck!"

On the inside, that turned me the fuck on, but I knew better than to come back with some slick shit. I stepped back and said, "You got that, but don't sleep on us."

I grabbed ReRe and we walked off. LJ looked at me and said, "I'ma see you again, Ms. JuJu, and hopefully it will be on better terms."

The dude from the passenger seat got in the car mugging. When he got in the car, he yelled back, "I'ma see yo' little ass again."

ReRe shot back, "Not if I don't see you first!"

I didn't know that my girl carries a blade with her. We always have each other's backs no matter what.

Like I said before, school is almost out, and we are about to do it big this summer. The only thing is that we are all broke. We are not your average girls from the hood. We are all from the East Side of Chicago—from state to the lake, baby! Anyway, we do little schemes here and there to get a little change.

We are not trying to fuck the dough boys in our hood. E isn't fucking with niggas period! We have no time to be falling all in love, getting pregnant, or going back and forth from jail with them fools. We surely don't have time to be falling out at anyone's funerals. Something has to give.

We are some about-it-assed females. We call ourselves East Side Crazy, (ESC). Our only hope is to get up out of the hood alive, accomplished, and rich. I want to be a nurse. Dirty wants to be a realtor. ReRe wants to be a youth counselor, and Tiki wants to open her own hair salon. That ho is a beast with all that hair shit.

We work hard all school year so we can relax and enjoy our summer breaks. Little did we know that this summer would be one we would never forget!

Rolling down the street on some

shining twenty-fours pulling up with

chocolate fe's and redbones.

# Chapter 2

### Lockjaw

"Hello!"

"Who is this?"

"You called my phone! Fuck you asking me questions for?"

"Jaw, this your auntie. I'm on 79th and Cottage."

"Good! Hit the liquor store and bring me something to drink."

"I got you. Give me a few minutes."

I hop out my car and quickly hit the store. There's no standing around this muthafucker: 79th is hot as fish grease! The police are on some good bullshit. Plus, it's the beginning of the summer, so I have to stay on my toes around this bitch.

My name is LJ, short for Lockjaw. I got that name when I was a shorty. My mom dukes said that I used to suck on dirty socks. Fuck y'all! Don't judge me! Anyway, I'm a smooth kind of dude. You could say that I'm somewhat of a ladies' man. I'm six foot two and I weigh 195 pounds. My skin is smooth as chocolate. I rock dreads, but I keep them tight. I'm young and I'm getting it, to say the least. I just turned nineteen on May 2, and I'm already sitting on a lovely nest egg that's worth over six figures.

I started selling drugs at a young age out in the projects where I was born and raised. Back in the day, the Robert Taylor high-rise buildings were a gold mine. I saw my Uncle DB and my father getting it when I was younger. They would never let me in on the action, so when I was old enough to make moves, I started as a lookout, and I quickly worked my way up the ranks.

At the age of fifteen, I began moving weight. The scariest moment I had selling drugs happened when I was running my own trap spot. I had just copped my last brick, and I was bagging it up when my phone rang.

"Yo, Jaw, my mans wanna come holla at you."

"Who the fuck is ya mans?"

"Calm down, dude, he cool."

"He better be, 'cause if he try any dumb shit, I'ma light his ass up like the firework show at Navy Pier on the Fourth of July."

"Fair enough."

I got up and checked my .38 revolver snub nose. What? Yeah, I had a .38. It'd serve its purpose.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

"Who is it?"

"Poohman sent me."

I opened the door, and my heart dropped to my damn socks.

"Damn, Uncle! I didn't know you was coming—"

That's all I got out before Uncle DB put his paws on a nigga. That was the worst ass whooping I ever received in my life. I tried my hardest to get his big ass up off of me.

"Lockjaw, your father would kill me if he knew I bought shit from you!"

"Man, I'm doing me. I'm trying to take care of my mom dukes and my siblings. I'm doing what he ain't doing."

"Nephew, this life ain't for you. Wait a minute, I'm coming up here to get some work, and I'm getting it from you? How long have you been serving?"

"Man, Uncle, I been serving since I was like nine."

"Ain't that 'bout a bitch!"

"Uncle, I been grown for a while, and this is what it is. No disrespect to you, but I'ma keep doing me."

He never told my father what I was doing. He did, however, upgrade my little .38. He gave me my first big gun. It was a Desert Eagle and was my favorite gun.

Other than Poohman, I really don't socialize with niggas. I really don't even have a girl. The buildings talk. These little hoes know who is getting dough. I'm not trying to let one of these hood boogers trap me, no sir!

When I was seventeen, I thought I was in love. I ended up having two kids by my girl at the time. I love my kids to death, but their mama can't be trusted. These hoes aren't loyal.

Needless to say, I take good care of my babies, but their mama can eat a dick! I'm just saying. It's now two years later, and I'm doing better than most.

I don't trick because I got it. A bitch better have their own. I don't mind treating, but you must show me that you are worth it. I got a few bust downs that I entertain when I want my dick wet. I do want a wife one day. That's another reason why I'm not too flashy.

I got a little Charger with some bang and some twenty-fours, nothing fancy. I want my chick to be smart and well-educated. I can't stand a stupid bitch. I'd kiss the moon if I could find a virgin, but finding a virgin would be harder than finding that bitch Carmen Sandiego. I'm just saying.

I like them five five or five six and thick in all the right places. I like them with a caramel complexion and sexy as fuck, but not too thick. Some of that shit doesn't look right when you take their clothes off. I would prefer you have your own hair, but nowadays you never know. As long as you keep that shit done, I'm good.

I like them feisty, but not disrespectful. Let's be clear, I don't play that ignorant shit. I'll shake the fuck out a bitch. I might even slap fire from their ass, depending on what they did. Hold up, my phone ringing.

"Yo!"

"Damn, where the fuck you at?"

"My bad, Auntie Boo, I'm on my way now."

On my way to my auntie's, I call Poohman and tell him to get ready.

"I'm outside, my dude."

Poohman comes out of the crib looking like a hot-ass mess. This nigga is crazy! My mans has on a black long-sleeve T-shirt with some black and green army fatigue shorts, and he has the nerve to wear wheat-colored Timbs.

Really, my nigga? Okay, we do live in the Windy City, but we got hot-ass summers too. I know my dude's feet are hot as shit. Then this fool still got that bandage around his neck from when that little shawty barely cut his ass.

I'm not even going to front, shawty had the look of death in her eyes when she upped that blade on my homie. Quiet as kept, my boy liked that shit. He likes them old crazy-ass broads that stab him and shit.

I'ma break a bitch's face if they up a blade on me. That shit has been on my mind for a minute. I can't get Ms. JuJu off my mind. She was fucking beautiful. I loved her feistiness. That smart-ass mouth and those eyes. Damn! Shawty was like that. That little bitch's mouth is her only shortcoming. I couldn't allow her to talk to me like that no matter how cute she is. I'm a man!

SLAM!

"Nigga, don't slam my fucking door like that, pussy!"

"Fuck yo' soft ass up in here daydreaming about with that sexy-ass smile on your face?"

I look at my homie. "Fuck you and them hot-ass boots you got on!"

* * *

When we pull up to my Auntie Boo's block, people are everywhere. Niggas are all over the corners, the fire hydrant is on at the other end of the street, and you can smell the barbecue in the air. "Damn, I hope Boo grilling, because I'm hungry as shit," Poohman says.

"Nigga, you always hungry."

I pull over in front of my auntie's crib, and I see her high-yellow ass sitting on the porch with a card table, gambling.

"Yo' thirsty ass going take the bid anyway." I hear my auntie talking to her pinochle partner as I walk up to the porch.

"What up, auntie?" She looks at Lil Mama and says, "Oh, hold up, ho; let me get my beer." Lil Mama laughs. "Yo' thirsty ass."

"Ho, don't hate," my auntie says.

Lil Mama is my auntie's best friend. They met while doing a fed bid. Yeah, I said fed bid. My auntie was out here doing her muthafucking thing, and these ho-ass niggas out here were mad, so they put the alphabet boys in her life.

Now Lil Mama is straight gangsta. This bitch pulled some _Set-It-Off_ -type shit. Her and some goofy-ass nigga robbed a bank. Now that's my type of bitch! They got away, but her ass got caught for doing some other shit. That's some ho-ass shit, but doing eight years did her some justice.

She's fine as fuck. I've got a nasty-ass crush on her. She's five foot six, weighs about 160 pounds, and has curly black hair. Her hair is natural and sexy. She has these eyes that make me want to stare into them all day. That's some lame-ass shit, right? Fuck y'all! She bad!

"Damn, why you staring, Jaw? See something you like?" Lil Mama asks while looking at me with those _fuck-me_ eyes. I swear I have seen those eyes before.

"Bitch stop flirting with my nephew, and melt."

As always, my auntie is hating, so I move back to the front yard and go holla at some niggas that I know.

You want beef? I got that.

Dope? I got that. Hoes? I got that.

Dro? I got that. Money? I got that.

Cars? I got that. Pistols? I got that.

Niggas get shot at.

# Chapter 3

### Dirty E

"Elizabeth, come downstairs and take this trash out."

"Why I gotta do it?"

"Because Jae`lyn is at work, and since you think you a boy, it won't kill your ass."

Sometimes I want to punch my mom in her shit. She always has something smart to say about my sexual preference. I didn't have to come out of the closet, but I came out of her pussy gay, no bullshit!

I used to always get my ass beat because no matter what, I wasn't wearing a motherfucking dress. I'm the second child born to Haitian immigrants. My mom was eight months pregnant when they moved to Chicago. My dad was very supportive. When she went into labor, he was there, breathing with her, throughout the whole nine yards.

The second I came out of my mom's pussy, this ol' disrespectful muthafucker actually struck my mom in the face and walked out of the room screaming, "That's the devil's child, not mine." I was white as hell. Both of my parents are blue-black.

My mom swore that she never stepped out on him. He stayed, but he treated me like shit. He would beat me, starve me, and make me do some fucked-up shit to him. I don't want to elaborate, but I want y'all to get to know me and know why I turned out the way I did.

He drank, and smoked weed that was laced with cocaine. My mom worked two jobs to support us, so she was gone a lot. On the days that she would work, he would make me watch him masturbate. Then he would ejaculate in my face. Unfortunately, that was a good day.

On a bad day, he would make me suck his dick until my jaws were sore. He started fucking with me when I was about four. It ended about five years later when I ended his life.

I told my mom what he was doing. She would just tell me to pray about it and eventually he would stop, but I guess God didn't fuck with me like that. I didn't need God for what I planned to do.

It was my ninth birthday, and my mom had planned a small party with just my besties and me. She rented a bunch of movies and bought us a gang of junk food. We ate, had a good time, and fell asleep.

Later that night, I woke up to use the restroom and I saw that ReRe wasn't next to me anymore. I went room to room looking for her. I approached my parents' room, and I could hear small cries. I heard my father saying, "Shut the fuck up, bitch." I knew it was ReRe. My heart broke into pieces because I couldn't help her. I went back to the living room crying. I just wanted him to be quick. I needed her to come back and go to sleep because I was getting his ass tonight.

Ten minutes later, she lay next to me crying, "He hurt me E!" I told her to go back to sleep. I knew she had fallen asleep because her grip on my arm loosened. I knew it was now or never.

I walked back to my parents' room and could hear my father snoring loudly. I got on my knees and crawled under the bed to where I knew my father kept his lockbox. I opened the box as quietly as I could and felt around for a few seconds until I found what I was looking for.

When I used to cry and refuse to pleasure him, he would point this gun at me. He even stuck it down there before. I stood up and walked to the side of the bed. I turned the gun sideways to click the safety button off, and when I looked up, my father was staring at me.

The last thing he said before I blew his brains out was, "You are the child of the devil."

Back to the present, my mom resents me. His murder was labeled a robbery gone wrong. Deep down inside, she knows what I did. Oh fucking well. Shit, she could get it too. I love my mom, but she could have done more to stop the nigga. Fuck it!

Let me call my bestie, JuJu, and see what time we are going to her godmother's barbecue.

I'm sucka duckie, I'm sucka free,

you ain't a G, don't fuck with me,

I'm suckin niggas outta style, G season.

I'm suckin niggas outta style, G season.

# Chapter 4

### Tiki

Bout time y'all muthafuckers got to my chapter. My name is Tamiko, a.k.a. Tiki. As you may already know, me, Ju, ReRe, and Dirty E are like sisters and brothers. We are all Leos, and we get along so well. It's all real. None of that phony shit that y'all are used to seeing. Them my muthafuckers! We ESC until the death of us. If you ask me, we all get along so good because we all have horrible pasts that fucked us all up.

My own mama can't stand me because I look just like my father. She was his side bitch back in the day when he was on the come up. She was just like all the other hood rats in the hood. She thought that if she got pregnant, she would lock my father down. Wrong! He told her he wasn't ready for kids. He gave her four hundred dollars to get an abortion.

This trifling-ass ho went to the mall and bought a few outfits. Needless to say, when he found out what she did, he found her and tried to abort me himself. From what my aunt told me, he beat her within an inch of her life. On the way to the hospital, she flatlined twice. She pulled through, and I came three months early. I was four pounds even. Other than me being a premature baby, I was good.

My mom's fake ass didn't raise me. She was too busy chasing baller dick. My Aunt Rose raised me until I was seven. She died after overdosing from too much heroin. I guess my mom had somewhat of a heart because she took me in. Although, I think I would have been better off in foster care.

She had a slew of niggas in and out of our tiny-ass two-bedroom apartment. A few of them even tried to make their way into my bed. I got tired of that shit. I started running away to E's crib.

When I was about ten, I was walking back from Bessemer Park when this black two-door Infiniti Coupe rolled up on me. My scared ass was about to run. Shit, muthafuckers still be kidnapping kids. I'll be damned if I end up in somebody's basement as a sex slave. Bullshit!

He rolled the window down and said, "Tamiko."

I said, "Who the fuck is you?"

He chuckled and said, "Yeah, you definitely my baby. Come here."

Curiosity got the best of me because I walked over to his car. "I'm yo' Daddy! Get in!"

I looked at him as if he was crazy. "What's my mama name?"

"Sharon."

That was all I needed to hear. I hopped in, and he asked me where we stayed. When we walked into the apartment, we found my mom's trifling ass on all fours getting fucked by a man I called Uncle Larry.

When she saw whom I was with, the look on her face let me know that the words he spoke were biblical. She jumped up so fast that you would have thought she was in a martial arts movie.

"Oh my Lord, Meechie, what you doing here?"

He stared at my mom with a stare that would have made the Grim Reaper kill himself. I guess my mama felt it too, because she pissed all over herself right there in the middle of the living room.

"Tiki, come on, you don't live here no more." Shit, Daddy or not, I had to get up outta this hellhole. BYE, FELICIA! Life after that was heaven. He kept me in the same school after I told him about my besties. He told me how he met my mama. Shit, he even told me about the time he almost killed us. I didn't think my life was worth shit anyway, because of whose vagina I came out of. I wasn't even mad.

He told me I had a brother that was two years younger than I was. I was just happy to finally be happy. On my eleventh birthday, I woke up mad because I had to go to school. I got happy when my Daddy told me he was taking my besties and me to Great America and the mall in Gurnee Mills. I couldn't sit still in class. Shit, neither could my besties. We were all so happy.

Finally, at 2:30, it was time to go. My Daddy's car wasn't across the street in his normal parking spot. No big deal. Sometimes I have to catch the bus home. I told my friends to go home and get ready; as soon as I changed we was coming to scoop them.

I never made it to the bus stop. "Birthday girl, want a ride?"

"Daddy, you late."

"I know, boo. I had some errands to run."

On the way home, I wanted my usual sugar fix. See, every day we stopped at the gas station on 76 and Stony Island. I always get some Tropical Skittles and a red Chilly Willee.

When we pulled into the gas station, my Daddy seemed like he was nervous about something. He handed me a hundred-dollar bill. "Daddy gotta make a phone call."

When I saw that hundred-dollar bill, I jumped out of that car so fast you would have thought it was on fire. I walked into the store as if I had a million dollars. You couldn't tell me shit. I was about to buy everything in there. When I got to the counter, I rang up $55.45 worth of junk food. Hey, it was my birthday. He wouldn't be mad, right?

Walking back to my daddy's car, I could hear him yelling at somebody on the phone. "Fuck you, nigga! Do you know who I am? I will bury yo' ass, pussy!"

As I closed the door, he hung up the phone. "Did my baby buy the whole store?" His smile was a mirror of mine, and I loved to see him smile. Sadly, that would be the last time I saw it.

After we left the gas station, we headed home. It was rush hour, and traffic was crazy. We took Stoney Island north. We ended up on 67th. Sitting at the light, we were rocking to Twista's "Pimp Like Me." My daddy loved this song. We were so busy rocking our heads and singing that he didn't see the man approaching our car.

Before I could scream, he blew my daddy's brains all over my face and clothes. The last memory I have of my daddy was him dying on my birthday. I hate thinking about that shit. It puts a damper on my mood.

Even though I only had him around for one year, that was the best year of my life. My mom all but laughed in my face when I had to come back home. She never changed for me. I still live with her now. She didn't have to change for me. The full-blown AIDS that she has made her seem different.

We barely talk. But fuck all that shit! I'm alive, sexy as shit, and ready to live my life. Like my girl JuJu, I'm still a virgin. I'm not trying to have babies or catch the kill-kill. We still say ReRe's a virgin because the shit that her sick-ass father did to her doesn't count.

Aww shit! Talking to y'all, I'ma be late for JuJu's auntie barbecue. Let me call this girl before I have to curse her ass out.

Only thing that's on my mind,

is who gon run this town tonight.

# Chapter 5

### ReRe

Sometimes I hate being alone. The demons from my past keep my mind consumed with anger and rage. I could never bring a child into the world because the person that helped bring me into the world decided that instead of loving and guiding me on the right path, he'd rather use my body and me for his own sick and perverted pleasures. My mother was also fucked up in the head because she used to help him. All I know is pain, shame, and loneliness. I remember when my daddy first hurt me.

I used to always hear my parents arguing about the smallest things. One argument I heard changed everything. "Papi, you can't! She's your daughter!"

"You can do this small, simple thing, or I'm leaving! Then who's gonna take care of you and that little bitch?"

"I won't do it!"

The talking stopped, so I got up from the couch to eavesdrop. That's when I saw my father fucking my mother in the ass as if she was less than human. That's not even the worst part. She was in a deep heroin nod. To control her, he would keep her high.

I thought I could ease back to the couch without being seen, but as I did, I looked up and saw my father looking at me while he pounded my mother's ass as if he was digging for gold. The next few days were the worst. Before it all became a blur, I remember my mother being extra nice to me.

"Mami, let's play dress up. You can put on Mommy's pink dress."

"Ohhh, and, Mommy, can I wear your makeup?"

I remember looking up and seeing tears fall from her eyes.

"Yes, you can. Let Mommy make you look pretty."

I remember looking in the mirror at my face, clothes, and hair. I swear I felt like a princess.

"You look good, baby. Now come sit next to Mommy and let me make you feel good."

"Ouch, Mommy! That hurt! Why you hitting my arm like that?"

"This will just hurt for a few minutes."

She pulled out a needle filled with white stuff and stuck me in the arm.

"OUCH, MOMMY! Tha . . . Tha . . . That feels good. Mommy, what's that?"

I looked up to see my father coming in the room butt-ass naked. "Look at Daddy, baby. Let Daddy make you feel good."

The sexual abuse went on like that for three years. I was eight when I finally had the nerve to speak up. Not only did the sexual abuse continue, but the drug abuse did as well. I finally told my teacher that my father was molesting me and shooting heroin into my veins.

She was floored! CPS got involved, and I was eventually taken from my parents. I went to a foster home that allowed my father to have unsupervised visits with me. Talk about the system failing you! The abuse didn't stop until my father was sent to prison for murdering my mother.

I was numb to a lot of shit. I didn't have a normal childhood. I liked school because I had three friends who loved me for me. I love them with all my heart, and I would kill for them. Hell, they had their own problems too. Even E's father messed with me. Shit was crazy. I'll never forget that night that she killed him.

After he had hurt me, E held me until I fell asleep. Playing possum is what I did best. I let her think I was asleep. She left and went back to her parents' room. I waited for a good thirty seconds, and then I followed her.

I heard him say, "You are the child of the devil," and then, POW! I didn't even run. I walked up to her and told her to come back to the living room and lie down as if nothing happened.

She wiped the gun off and threw it in the dumpster behind the house. We left the back door open and went to lie back next to JuJu and Tiki, who by this time were wide awake also.

"Did you kill him?" JuJu asked.

"Yeah, Ju, I did."

"Fuck him!"

We lay awake pretending to be asleep until we could no longer ignore the screams roaring from the depths of E's mother's soul.

"LAWD A MERCY! WHYYYYY? HE DEAD! HELP ME LAWD, PLEASE!"

She knew he was a rotten muthafucker, but damn did she love his sick ass. We never uttered a word to no one. We got each other's back. They helped me with my nightmares. Mostly every night, I relive my childhood. My father still tries to reach out to me. The nerve!

I moved in with my father's sister. She's all right, but she doesn't give a fuck what I do. My besties are all I need. Speaking of my besties, let me call and see what's cracking with this barbecue. DUECES!

Who run the world? Girls!

Who run the world? Girls!

Who run this mother? Girls!

# Chapter 6

### JuJu

It's time to get flyer than that thing. Today's my friend's auntie's barbecue. The block is going to be packed. Food's going to be good and niggas gonna be flocking. I'm geeked just thinking about it. Everybody and their mammie is going to be out there, so you know my besties and I are going to show up and show out. It's mandatory!

Today, I'ma live up to my nickname, "Ms. I'm That Bitch," because when I make my way through, I demand attention. Why? Because I'M THAT BITCH!

Today I'm rocking my sheer dark gray maxi dress. It's sexy but classy. I'll keep it simple with my hair. A bun at the top of my head should do. It's hot, plus I want the attention on my blemish-free face. My light brown slanted eyes do damage if you look into them.

"Where my girls at? Damn, my phone ringing."

I feel around my bed and grab it before it stops.

"Hey, skank! We at the door."

"Come up then."

"Yo' ghetto-ass auntie on that bullshit."

I hang up in Tiki's face and stomp down the stairs with a full-blown attitude.

"Lil girl, you better stop stomping down my stairs before I stomp yo' ass! And where you think you going in that tight-ass dress?"

I let my friends in, and I turn around to answer her question. "I'm going to Boo's barbecue."

"Did you ask me?"

"No, I didn't think I had to since Lil Mama gon be there."

"I don't give a fuck about no damn Lil Mama! Fuck her! I raised you! I feed and clothe you! That bitch thinks she's all that! That's why she did eight years in prison! Stupid-ass bank-robbing bitch!"

I can't believe this ol' ungrateful-ass ho. My Auntie Lil Mama did hit a few banks awhile back. She got caught because my Auntie Tae was out there stunting as if she was the one getting money.

She got drunk one night and said too much around the wrong muthafucker. That person turned my auntie in for the reward money. She left my greedy-ass Auntie Tae everything! House, car, and some money. Tae did her wrong. She barely sent her anything. She did her time like a G though. When she came home, she fell back as if it was nothing. I know my auntie. She is just waiting on the right time. When she's ready, she's going to fuck Tae's ass up.

To be honest with you, I don't think she gave Tae everything. She's too relaxed about the situation. Then again, after eight years, wouldn't you be a little calmer too?

"How you gon talk about her like that when this is her house? That truck you driving hers too."

"Who you talking to like that? Don't get embarrassed!"

I guess E had enough. My auntie always had a soft spot for her anyway. "Damn, Tae, chill. You looking sexy as usual today."

I roll my eyes. This ol' thirsty-ass ho has the nerve to smile. "Thank you, baby. Tell Irene to call me." She rolls her eyes at me and walks off.

"She wanna fuck you, E."

"Fuck you, Ju!"

I step back to admire my besties' outfits. Okay, I am impressed. ReRe has on this Baby Phat cotton romper. Her hips and ass are on full display. "Damn, ReRe, you trying to catch you one, huh?"

With us, she's so silly. She walks in the middle of our little circle and makes her ass thunderclap saying, "Shawty gotta big ol' butt, ohh yeah."

We all fall out laughing. E is in this ho looking mighty sexy with her Chicago Bulls jersey on. The back has my number one player on it: D Rose, of course! She is killing it with the all-white Roca Wear shorts and has buried the game with some red, black, and white Jordans. Her waves are making me seasick!

"Damn E, what bitch you trying to make chase you today?"

"Ju don't be J. I'm on one shawty."

"Whatever!"

Tiki looks like a true diva. My bestie has on this all-white cotton maxi dress like mine except her whole back is out. She has on some cute beige wedges.

"Tiki over here looking like a glass of whole milk and shit."

She smiles at me on the way out the door and says, "Well you know milk does a body good! Let's roll!"

We step out of my door looking like a thousand bucks. We aren't anywhere near millionaire status, but you sure can't tell us shit!

The barbecue must be juking because we can hear the music all the way down here. We walk from 88th and Marquette. As we cross 87th street, I hear all the "oohs" and "ahhs" from the block boys.

This one little cutie named Woodie says, "Damn, Juju, you make me wanna leave home!"

I shoot back, "You can't hug the block and this coochie at the same time."

"I ain't going nowhere. I'ma get you, girl."

"Boy, bye!"

(LJ)

"Man, Auntie Boo, this little block party is cracking. It's some cute little broads out here."

My auntie's friend Lil Mama looks at me and smiles. "You ain't seen cute yet. Wait until my niece and her little crew get here and shut this muthafucker down."

I look at Lil Mama's sexy ass and say, "Since I know I'm too young for you, please tell me that your niece is as fine as you."

Lil Mama chuckles and has the nerve to blush, boosting a nigga's ego. "Today is your lucky day because she looks just like me. Speaking of the devil, here they come walking up the street now."

I stand up and look in the direction she was pointing. Before I can say anything, Poohman's hotheaded ass jumps up off the porch and says, "There go that little ho that cut me."

(JuJu)

"JuJu, if you switch any harder, you gon break yo' hips."

"Don't hate! Don't hate, bitch! Learn to appreciate!"

We too damn goofy. I love my besties. As we cross the street, I look up, and I almost faint. "Re, ain't this a bitch? Tell me that ain't the ol' boy you cut standing up in Boo's yard!"

ReRe's hand shoots to her purse. "Hell yeah, that's him. Let him turn up, and I'ma turn his ass down real quick!"

(LJ)

"Damn, auntie, that's shawty and her little crew that I told you about." Boo stands up. "I'll be damned. I shoulda known. Ja`ziya, bring yo' ass here right now."

(JuJu)

"Damn, y'all, Boo's ol' ignorant ass just called my government like that." There are few people in the yard when we walk up. Shit, my besties and I are ready for whatever! I get ready to hit the stairs, when the passenger dude jumps in my way. I look at him and smile. I have to be on my best behavior since my auntie Lil Mama is watching.

"Excuse me, I'm trying to get past."

This clown is unaware of what hood he is in and says, "Bitch, you got a pass, you won't get another one."

WHAAAATTTT? Before I can say anything, my auntie comes walking down the stairs. "Poohman, out of respect for Jaw, I'ma let you get that pass, but if you call her another bitch, I'ma show you what eight years of frustration look like." She pauses for a minute to let that threat sink in. "Do I make myself clear, baby?"

He looks at Jaw for some help. Shit, that nigga puts his head down.

"I got you, Lil Mama."

I walk up the stairs and sit in the seat that my auntie was in. LJ watches me the whole time but doesn't say a word. He has this "hell naw" look on his face. Boo watches the whole exchange. "Damn, Jaw, close your mouth, or speak."

(Jaw)

This is a small world, I swear. I've been thinking about this chick for a minute. Come to find out, she's my auntie's goddaughter. Crazy! I look at my man, and this nigga is mugging the fuck out of the ol' girl that cut his ass. Shit, she is mugging his ass right back like, "Nigga, what?"

"Poohman, let me holla at you." I see it all in my boy's eyes. He wants to say something. As soon as we hit the kitchen, I go in. "What up, Poohman? Let that shit go, my nigga."

He shakes his head, and what he says next confirms what I always thought: This nigga is crazy. "A, you think shawty gon give me her number?"

(ReRe)

I see the way this nigga is mugging. I swear, he's not about that life! I came prepared for anybody's dumb shit. I already planned it out. I'ma mace the crowd first, and then I'ma start slicing muthafuckers. What? I don't play games when it comes to my besties' and my safety. I look at JuJu on the porch talking to her auntie and Boo, and we lock eyes.

I feel like we can communicate with our eyes. It's as if I heard her say in my mind, "You okay?" I wink my eye and shake my head yes. She smiles and continues her conversation. My stomach starts growling, reminding me that I haven't eaten all day.

"Auntie Lil Mama, where's all the cooked food at?"

"It's in the house, baby. Help yourself."

She doesn't have to tell me twice. E's and Tiki's greedy asses already have their food. Their asses are sitting in some lawn chairs in the yard fucking up some ribs. "Y'all bogus! Where my plate at?"

E's silly ass says, "We kept calling you when we hit the yard, but yo' crazy ass was in 'cut a nigga' mode, so we left yo' ass standing there."

"Fuck y'all!"

Tiki looks up from her food and says, "No thank you, but I know somebody who looks like they wouldn't mind rubbing ya fluffy."

"Smart-mouth ho!"

"Girl, go eat!"

I walk in the house with one thing on my mind: food! As I approach the kitchen, I hear voices. "Why you tripping? Let that shit go, my nigga!"

I instantly pull my blade out thinking that this nigga wants to act a fool. I'll cut his ass up for real this time. Who the fuck does he think this is? I'm no punk. I am about to go around the corner swinging. Just before I make my move, I hear the passenger dude say, "A, you think shawty gon give me her number?"

That shit almost makes me bust up laughing. This muthafucker is crazy. Quiet as kept, that shit makes my little kitty twitch. I didn't have the desire to become sexually active on my own, but this nigga's style has me tweaking. Lost in my own thoughts, I don't even realize that they have stopped talking, and when I look up, they are standing in front of me.

"Damn, you gon cut us both, little killa?" The nigga known as Poohman licks his lips and puts his hands in his pockets. Seeing that he isn't on no bullshit, I put my blade back in my purse. I look at him and smile.

"So you want my number, huh?"

(JuJu)

I am having a good time chilling with my besties and my old heads. I swear I want to be just like them. They're some G's for real. Boo's a beast! As I sit here listening to her stories, I am glad that I am not on her bad side. Now my auntie Lil Mama's been a beast. I used to love when she would come over to Auntie Tae's house.

Tae hated how close we were. Lil Mama always made sure I had whatever I needed. I wish she would have let me live with her, but I knew she ran those streets. She made sure she saw me every day, and she always told me that she loved me. She treated my besties the same way.

"Ju, go get me and Boo another drink."

"Can I get one?"

"You can get this ass whooping!"

"Never mind, then. I'm going, Auntie."

I get up and go into the house. No sooner than I hit the corner, did I see LJ, Poohman, and ReRe standing around looking crazy. "What the fuck?" I go straight into beast mode. "Y'all trying to pull it with my girl on the low? I will tear this muthafucker up! ReRe, you ready?"

I'll be damned if all three of their asses don't look at me and start rolling.

"What the fuck I miss?"

Re looks at me and says, "I'm cool. Poohman and I got some things to talk about. Jaw, take my bestie and give us a few minutes."

I look at ReRe as if she has three heads. This ho doesn't talk to strangers, especially niggas.

"Okay, you sure you cool?"

She smiles and says, "Jaw like you, JuJu. Give the boy some play."

And just like that, what started off as a tense situation quickly became a breakthrough moment for my bestie. I'm happy too. Jaw is a cutie! We kick it hard for the rest of the day. E and Tiki even warm up to them. I'm glad I got me a boo thang. God is good!

Will he answer our prayers when we bite off more than we can chew?

I be repping my city,

I be repping my city, err, err, ery night!

# Chapter 7

### Big Moe

"Everybody get the fuck on the ground, right fucking now! You, fill this bag up, and, bitch, if you wanna go home tonight, don't pass me no dye packs! Try me and I'ma murder yo' whole family!"

This ho snatches the bag and starts throwing that money in there so fast you would think she is robbing the bank with me! I've been robbing shit for years. I think I hit my first lick when I was seven. I robbed the candy lady that lived in my building.

My name is Ramon, but everybody calls me Big Moe. I got that name because I've got heart. I went from robbing the candy lady to sticking up doughboys that served out of the building I grew up in. Born and raised in one of the most dangerous housing projects called Cabrini Green, I had to do me to survive.

My mom was murdered when I was a baby. Don't know my punk-ass father. My G-ma raised me. She had seven kids and ten grandkids that she also raised. Food and clothes were limited. My G-ma was gangsta! No matter what I did, she had my back. I robbed a muthafucker, she hid me in the house. When I shot a nigga, she got rid of the evidence. When I got a ho pregnant, it was she that either took 'em to the clinic for that abortion or helped me buy clothes, diapers, and other shit.

I got three kids that I claim. Fucking project hoes always want to trap a nigga on the come up. Through it all, my G-ma had me. The whole Cabrini Green loved my G-ma. She could break any nigga on the dice game. She would smoke and drink your ass under the table. I thought she would be with me forever.

We never kept secrets, and that's why I loved her so much. She had cancer, and she didn't tell us until she was on her deathbed. The love that I had for women died with her.

I've been raining terror on this city ever since. Fuck a nigga, fuck a ho. I'm trying to get money! I don't fuck with no outside muthafuckers. I keep it all in the family. I roll with two niggas and two niggas only. My cousins JR and Boogie, who're brothers.

Niggas ain't built like us these days. Feel me? After I robbed every nigga in the 312 area code, I began casing banks. Why banks? Because drug dealers aren't holding like that. This little slut I was fucking a while back was a bank teller at a bank around the downtown Chicago area. I liked the ho. She had the nerve to have her priorities in order. She had no kids, had her own crib, and she drove a Beamer. I was impressed, but I would never tell her ass that shit. Fuck for? She was an easy fuck. Nothing more, nothing less. No love for these hoes, remember?

Anyway, she gave me the whole layout of the bank that she worked at. I put my cousins on the lick. The shit was too sweet to pass up. I wasn't fucking with outside niggas on this, period. I am not to be trusted. Fuck around and rob his ho ass when we finish the job.

We ended up pulling the job off with no problems. We got almost forty grand. Not bad for two minutes. After that, we were hooked! I ended up murking the little bitch that put me on the robbery. Why? Because I wasn't treating her as she wanted to be treated and I didn't need her having that type of shit on me. Oh well! There's plenty of pussy in Chicago.

It isn't as if I'm an ugly dude. I'm six foot three and 195 pounds. Caramel complexion and the deal sealer is that I've got hazel and green eyes. The hoes can't resist these eyes. Must run in the family because Boogie and JR got them too.

We only choose banks with young and dumb tellers. Wine and dine their asses for a few days and then, BAM! We got the whole layout. We hit the licks with no problems. Then we dispose of the bitches that gave us the info.

Today's lick is all Boogie's. He had this little bitch going in a matter of days. "Man, Joe, we got thirty seconds! Let's move out! Everybody stay where the fuck y'all at and don't move!"

As we make our way to the door, I hear, "POP!" I already know it is Boogie finishing the job. Mission accomplished!

After we count the take, that shit comes out to be almost $350,000. We did well this time. "JR, take this dough over East. We gon lay low for a few days, my niggas. This shit gon be on the news for a few days."

When we hit licks over east, we have a stash spot over there. If we hit licks west of the Dan Ryan expressway, we hide that shit in my storage building past Cicero.

"I'm 'bout to go get some pussy."

Money, money, money, money.

# Chapter 8

### The Come Up

(Juju)

Two weeks after the barbecue, Jaw and I are still kicking it tough. Jaw is cool as shit. He's funny, laid back, and reserved. He has an old soul, but that's okay. Today my boo wants to take me out to eat and shop. We deserve some quality time together since his ass likes to hit the streets.

"I wanna go to Ford City Mall, boo."

He looks at me with the sexiest grin on his face. "Whatever you want, Ju."

I love when he calls me that.

I call ReRe to see if she wants to double date since her and Poohman have been together every day since the barbecue as well.

"Hello."

"Hey, hooker, you and Poohman wanna go to the mall with us?"

I hear her put her hand over the phone. "Yeah, we'll meet y'all. Where you at?"

"At Jaw's crib."

"We on the way."

(Dirty E)

"A, Lil Man, run in the store and get me a beef taco with a large fry. Make sure they put mild sauce on my fries, and get me a Pepsi."

Shorty runs right past my homie. "What up, Pancho?"

The nigga Pancho is responsible for us getting our dough. He put us on all the drug dealers that think they're doing something. Quiet as kept, I think he helped us set muthafuckers up because he's too scared to bust his own gun. Pussy-ass muthafucker!

I told JuJu that if he starts acting funny, I'ma kill his ass.

"E, man, Joe, I've been trying to get at you."

Just then, Lil Man runs out the store. "E, here you food go."

"Thanks, Lil Man. Wait, where's my change, little nigga?"

This little bastard can't be any older than eleven. Shorty's little badass has the nerve to tell me, "Nigga I waited in that long-ass line. Yo' change is my tip."

After he says that, he takes off before I can grab his punk ass.

"E, I been trying to get at you. Come hit a few blocks with me."

We get in his Tahoe. This scary-ass nigga doesn't say shit until we get on the expressway.

"My little sister's been fucking with some nigga from the Greens, and he and his people's getting dough."

I look at his ass as if he has just said, "Fuck my besties."

"Nigga, we ain't fucking with them projects. You crazy as hell."

"Let me finish. The nigga name JR. He and his family be hitting banks around Chicago."

"And, nigga? Get to the point."

"When they hit banks close to the East Side, they hide the money over on Marquette. They laying low for a few days. Thing is, they gon move the money tomorrow."

When he says that, I get to thinking. "How much?"

"She said it's almost $350,000."

I almost choke on my damn taco.

"Nigga, don't spill that in here."

"Nigga, fuck you! I helped you get this bitch!"

He waits a few minutes and then says, "So, y'all gon do it?"

I pick up my phone and call JuJu. "A code four. Meet me at the spot!"

(JuJu)

I am having a nice time with my dude until a code four ends all that. No matter what it is about, it is time to end the fun. Period! I pull ReRe aside and put her up on game. LJ and Poohman are in Finish Line copping us the latest Jordans.

"Bae, we got a family emergency."

My poor boo looks concerned. "What? What happened? You good, ma?"

"Jaw, I'm good. It's just that I need to see what my auntie wants."

I don't want to start off lying to him, but how we dough isn't his business.

"Damn, Ju! I'm salty as shit, but it is what it is."

Damn, it is time to do damage control. "Let me just see what's going on. When I finish, I'ma call you so you can come get me, okay?"

"Alright, let's roll."

(Dirty E)

"Tiki, where you at? When you finish, meet us at the spot."

ReRe, JuJu, and I sit impatiently, waiting for Tiki to finish doing somebody's damn hair.

"So, what did Pancho say?"

I look at JuJu and say, "You know the rules, boo-boo. We all must be here. I'm waiting on Tiki."

She rolls her eyes, huffs, and puffs. That shit don't faze me. She does that shit whenever she doesn't get her way.

We came up with code four in fifth grade. When we say it, it means emergency, and when you have an emergency, you do what? Get together to see what's good.

"Here comes Tiki," JuJu and ReRe say at the same damn time.

"Alright, from what Pancho told me, the money's still there. His sister said that this JR dude is supposed to move the money in the morning, so we move tonight."

"TONIGHT?"

I knew I was going to get that reaction. "Yes, tonight! What? Y'all scared?" I know that will get them going.

Ms. I'm That Bitch is the first to speak. "You know we ain't scared. It's just, this is a lot of money, and I'm sure this shit ain't gon be that simple."

She has a point. "Look, Pancho said that he's been watching the spot. Dudes got this crib as a safe house. His dumb ass really didn't do his homework on the neighborhood. I know everything that comes and goes through this muthafucker. Come on, y'all. We got this!"

I see the uneasy look that JuJu is giving me, so I know that telling her I was killing Pancho after the lick is out of the question, for now at least! Tiki is the only one not talking.

"Speak your mind, Ms. Smart Mouth."

She looks at me and says, "This is some short-notice-ass shit, and it's a suicide mission, but you already know I'm ready for whatever! This our hood! Let's get this money!"

I look at JuJu and say, "We need you, boo. We gon be alright."

JuJu stands up and finally says, "What time we doing this?"

"At sunset. That's about two hours from now, so let's get ready!"

Two hours later, I call Pancho to see what the deal is. "Yo' Pancho, what it do?"

"Dude's driving a tan Impala with rims on it. He just pulled off. From the description my sister gave me, it's him. I called her and told her to tell him to come to the crib, so the coast is clear."

"So, he gone?"

"Yeah, he gone."

"Juju, you, and Re go up Marquette through the alleyway."

"Why we gotta go through that dark-ass alley?"

"Because Tiki and I are going to walk up the street, hop in the car with him, and meet y'all in the alley. I just need y'all to make sure ain't nobody lurking around."

"I guess."

After the final plan is put in motion, Tiki and I walk off to go find Pancho. My bestie and I think we were on some ninja-type shit. We have on all-black everything, so it is hard for us to be spotted.

BUZZ! BUZZ!

I look down at my phone and notice that I have a text message from Pancho. It reads, "Black minivan to yo' right."

I look up to my right and see this fool in an all-black, soccer-mom-ass van.

"What's the verdict?"

"Third house from the corner. I've only been seeing the dude come and go. He walks through the gangway through the garage. I walked back there to check shit out myself. The garage is raggedy as shit, but the door looks like something you gon have to blow the fuck off the hinges. Steel with a big-ass lock on it."

"Let's make this move then."

We drive around to the back of the garage to get a good look for ourselves.

"Damn, how we gon get up in that muthafucker?"

Pancho gets out of the van, walks to the back, and pops the door.

"I got these chains to see if we could just pull the door off since the garage is about one gust of wind from blowing the fuck away anyway."

"My nigga, now you thinking. Hook that shit up and let's get it."

My besties and me all take a few steps back and let this nigga work his magic. I whisper to ReRe, "After we get the bread, I'ma kill Pancho. This shit gon eventually hit the fan. Niggas ain't gon just sit back and accept this type of loss. I don't want nobody coming over here applying pressure to the hood. He can't be trusted, Re. This nigga set up his own fucking cousin. Fuck you think he'll do to us?"

I turn back just in time to see Pancho slowly easing the van forward.

"Don't pull it all the way off."

"I got you."

He pulls a few more feet before I see the wood start cracking around the door. The door begins to shift as the wood breaks away from the frame.

"Alright, stop."

I am the first to enter the garage. Why the fuck did I do that? Next thing you know, I hear all types of growling.

"AWWW SHIT!"

Four big-ass pit bulls rush my ass, knocking me to the floor.

"CODE FOUR! MAN DOWN! MAN DOWN! SHOOT THESE MAFUCKING DOGS!"

Tiki runs in the ho blazing.

POP! POP! POP! POP!

My bestie a beast! That ho aim on point. My other two besties run in there to find me on the floor with my pants to my ankles, my hoodie ripped, and four dead-ass dogs surrounding me. These hoes have the nerve to start laughing.

"Fuck y'all laughing at? Hurry up and let's find this money and bounce before the police come. I know somebody heard those shots."

There is so much junk in there that I think we'll be there all night. Luckily we aren't.

"Tiki, what's them black bags in the corner over there under the table?"

"JACKPOT!"

"Let's get the fuck outta here!"

I have never seen that much money before in my life.

"Okay, Tiki, you and JuJu wait thirty seconds after we leave, and then y'all take the money and go to Lil Mama's. Wait on my call. Ju, you still got the keys, don't you?"

"Yeah."

"Take the bread over there and chill."

I look at ReRe. "Re, you ready to make that move?"

It Is quiet as fuck outside the garage. "Call Pancho."

Re picks up her phone and places the call as we walk through the gateway.

"Where you at?" She hangs up and says, "He's in the same spot we met him at."

I look at her for a few seconds before I say, "You know I'm about to shoot this nigga, right?"

She just nods her head. No words are needed. We hop in the van, and he pulls off. He keeps staring at me as if I am crazy.

"Fuck happened to yo' clothes?"

This pussy has the nerve to start laughing as if he knows something I don't. "You got jokes, huh? Why you ain't tell me about them fucking dogs?"

He stops laughing when he hears the seriousness in my voice. See, muthafuckers in the hood know that me being a female doesn't mean shit. I got a few bodies under my belt.

"Man, Joe, I didn't know it was no dogs."

I can see the lie all in his eyes. Too bad that he doesn't see his death in mine. "A, go back to the garage and scoop up Ju and Tiki. Them bags heavy as shit."

He pulls around the corner and into the alley. He puts the van in park and is the first to hop out and begin walking toward the garage. When he goes in, I am right behind his ass.

"Where they at, E?"

He turns around to see me pointing my gun in his direction.

"What the fuck you doing? This how you gon get down on me?"

I don't have time for small talk. "Ain't no room in my hood for snakes. You aren't right, and I don't trust yo' ass. You probably was planning on killing us, but then again, you too pussy for that. You was going to get somebody to get at us. Not tonight, nigga!"

Sensing that he is about to die, he says some shit to make me think.

"Bitch-ass nigga, I ain't slow. I got insurance better than Allstate. You kill me, and muthafuckers gon come for you—all y'all!" A dead nigga will say anything.

POW! POW!

I shoot him once in the stomach and once in the chest. I know it is a possibility that he can survive both. Plus, I want his ho ass to suffer a little.

"Man, you ain't gotta do this, E! Com—"

POW!

I paint the garage floor with that nigga's brains. Had I done my homework, I wouldn't have hit that lick like that. I knew there was money in the garage, but what I didn't know is that the whole outside area around the garage is surrounded by cameras. I also found out that me, Pancho, and my besties aren't the only ones who knew we were going to take that money. DAMN!

These hoes ain't loyal

no they ain't!

# Chapter 9

### JR

Ever since my brother, Big Moe, and I hit this last lick, we've been laying low. Boogie's been getting on my fucking nerves too. Every few hours he's calling me, telling me to go check on the bread. He and Big Moe still live up north where the Cabrini Greens building use to be. I moved south to Dolton, Illinois, which is a suburb about ten minutes from the city.

I guess since I'm the one who found the safe spot to rent, I'm the one that has to babysit the money. Ain't that some shit? Even though the spot's in a fucked-up neighborhood, the spot is low-key. Plus, I installed a few security cameras around the crib. If that's not enough, I got some mean-ass pit bulls in the garage guarding the money. In case a muthafucka still want to be nosey, I put "no bark" collars around their necks. If they bark, those collars are going to shock the fuck out of their asses. Break up in the garage if you want too! My pits gon eat yo' ass alive.

I roll through at least two times a day. Once in the morning and once at night before I head to the crib. Like tonight, I'm here making sure everything is cool. I just fed my dogs and I'm on the way back to my car when my phone rings.

"Who is this?"

"That's not the way you suppose to answer yo' phone."

I smile, knowing the identity of the caller. "What up, boo?"

"When you coming home? My pussy missing you."

I love how blunt shawty is. "Yeah, I'm about to come through and make yo' ass tap out. Be ready when I get there."

"Hurry up, boo. I got my hand on your favorite spot right now."

"Oh yeah? Let me hear you moan for me."

Listening to her moan makes my dick harder than Chinese arithmetic. I jump in my car with a quickness. I fuck with shawty the long way. Been with her for a couple of months. I'm not like Boogie or Big Moe's crazy asses. I love hard. My G-ma always told me that I was the sensitive one. I got a good heart. I get that from my mama.

My mama died when Boogie and I were little. Some nigga she was fucking threw her off the roof of the project building where we lived. We were playing on the playground in the front of the building. We actually heard her screams as she fell fifteen stories to the parking lot. Her body crashed through a parked car's windshield.

Boogie stood frozen on the playground. I wanted to go get my mama. My young mind didn't grasp the fact that nobody could survive that fall but Superman, and since we have no damn Superman in the projects, she had to be dead.

As people were running around screaming for help, I made my way over to get my mama. I thought my mama was alive because we made eye contact as I walked up to her.

"Ma, get up. Want me to go get G-ma so she can help make you feel better?"

No answer.

Then I heard my G-ma scream, "MOTHERFUCKA! NOT MY BABY! OH LAWD A MERCY!"

I only then realized that she was gone. Unlike Big Moe's mama, who left him, my mama took care of Boogie and me. She loved us. When she died, my G-ma tried to love us the same way. Boogie hung up under Big Moe, so he treated women the way Big Moe did. Like shit!

Me, on the other hand, I love easily. I know what you're thinking, yeah I set the bank tellers up and then kill they ass. That's different. It's business!

When I meet a chick outside of that bank shit, if we hit it off, then we're all good. Luck has it, I met Tutu over East where I got the spot. She said she was visiting some family. I looked at the crib trying to decide if I wanted to rent it. We hit it off, and I ended up renting the spot.

Big Moe and Boogie don't like her. They say she looks rachet. How does rachet look? Since they don't choose my pussy for me, I started fucking with shawty.

When I'm not _working_ , we lay up, pop X pills, and fuck like jackrabbits. This hoe's pussy is so good, it make me want to dig up my mama and slap the death off of her rotten ass. No lie!

"I'm on my way. I'm about to hit the pill spot and the liquor store."

(30 Minutes Later)

I get to the crib ready to put that ho in a coma. I already popped my pill on the way, so I'm feeling right. My fucking phone keeps beeping. I got several different beeps for different things. This particular beep is the alarm system from the safe spot. I have it set up to where I can monitor the back of the house and the garage from my phone. It also beeps when the motion sensor is set off.

One night, I drove over there three times. When I got there, there wasn't shit. I'm not doing that shit tonight. I'm about to touch bottom in some good-ass pussy, smoke a kush blunt, and call it a night.

I walk into the crib, and the sight I see almost makes me bust a nut on sight.

"Like what you see?"

Shawty is asshole naked with her best friend's head between her legs. "Damn! I didn't know we had company."

She looks at me with the sexiest eyes ever and says, "Strip!"

I get up out my clothes so fast you would think I had a onesie on. All that shit falls to the floor at the same time.

"Come here, JR. My friend wanna let you meet the back of her throat."

"Can she deepthroat ten inches?"

"Only one way to find out."

The pill has me feeling so good, I walk over to ol' girl on her knees and accidently poke her in her eye trying to find her mouth.

"Damn, my bad."

She pulls back and starts rubbing her eye. She puts my dick in her mouth and uses her hands to softly caress my balls. My bitch knows what I like. She positions herself on the edge of the couch, opens her legs, and says, "Eat!"

I sit on the couch, lie back, and tell my girl to ride my face. I put my dick back in ol' girl's mouth and enjoy the warmth of her mouth. Tutu's pussy so damn sweet. I can't help but to get lost in heaven. Between licks and slurps, I start my dick talk.

"Damn, boo, yo' pussy sweet as fuck! Cum for Daddy!"

I look up at her riding my face, and I can see that she isn't into it as she normally is. Straight up, I know my tongue game is lethal. I could suck a uterus through a baby bottle nipple. Ol' girl sucking my dick so good that my toes get to cracking.

"Aw shit! Wait! Wait! Aw, fuck! I'm about to fucking bust!"

I grab her head with my free hand and push my hips in the air so I know I'm touching tonsils. I start rotating my hips until I bust long and hard down her throat.

"AWWWW SHIT, GIRL! SUCK IT ALL, BITCH! DAMN!"

And that she does. I push Tutu off of me and grab her by her neck. "Bend the fuck over, bitch!" She does as she is told, and I push deep inside her tight walls.

"You ready for Daddy to make this pussy talk to me?"

She looks back at me and says, "Make it last forever."

I start off slow, loving the way her juices coat my dick. Her pussy so damn hypnotizing you get lost in a zone. I swear! Got a nigga trying to make love. Am I a lame for that? Fuck whoever think so! Ol' girl comes beside me and cocks her leg up on the side of the couch. She looks me dead in the eyes and starts playing with her pussy. "DAMN!"

Now that shit turns me the fuck on. "Let's cum together," she says.

I start digging in Tutu's pussy like I have lost something and am trying my hardest to find it. Although I am enjoying this little freak-show shit, something in my gut is telling me that something is wrong with this picture.

Here I am serving Tutu with some A-one beefcake. I mean, I am deep-sea diving in that muthafucker, but this ho is barely acknowledging my gangsta. I guess she thinks I am too high off of them X pills to pay attention to my surroundings, but I'm not. I am fully aware that instead of enjoying this dick, this bitch would rather fidget with her phone.

"Damn, Tutu! Throw that pussy back! Fuck wrong with you?"

Sensing that I am about to get mad and act a fucking fool, she starts doing that thing I like when she squeezes her pussy muscles and rotates her ass around.

"Yeah, get that shit, girl."

Now I'm really trying to bust a nut before I choke slam this bitch. As I'm pounding away, I can see her phone light popping on and off. It does that like three times. What the fuck? Thinking that it's probably another nigga, I get ready to beat that ho's ass.

"Man, Joe, suck dick!"

I pull out and snatch her up by her hair.

"Baby, let me ride you."

I look back at her friend and back at her. "Naw, suck her pussy while she sucks my dick."

She looks like she wants to say something, until she sees the murderous look on my face.

"Fuck you waiting for?"

As she gets on her knees to pleasure her friend, I let ol' girl's mouth take me to heaven. This bitch has a grip tighter than Poligrip. I nut in her mouth in no time. Since I am finished, I guess Tutu thinks she is too.

"Where you on yo' way to? I'm about to go wash up."

I look at ol' girl. "Did you cum, shawty?"

She smiles at me and says, "Almost."

I look at Tutu and say, "Almost doesn't count. Finish what you started."

She looks at the both of us with that "I hate you" look. I don't give a fuck, because if that was a nigga blowing up her phone, I'ma blow her fucking brains out!

After about five minutes, ol' girl finally gets her nut.

"Go get in the shower and wait for me."

She goes to grab her phone and walk off. "Bitch, you don't need no phone to shower. Put that muthafucker down before I break that bitch."

She reluctantly puts her phone on the table and walks to the bathroom. I go in my pockets and pull out five one hundred dollar bills. "Let me get 'cha number, Joe. I'ma get at you again. Yo' shit on point, baby girl."

She gives me her number, and before she leaves, she turns to me and says, "Be careful. Everybody ain't who you think they are."

I want to ask her what she means, but I take it as my girl is cheating on me and she is dry snitching on her ass. These hoes aren't loyal! I go straight to the bathroom and hop in the shower with Tutu. I grab her by the arm and turn her around so I can look in her eyes. When I do that, I see tears streaming down her face.

"Why you crying? You cheating on me, Tutu?"

She looks at me with a shocked look on her face. "No, I'm not cheating on you."

I stare at my chick for a few minutes. On some real shit, she looks like she is telling the truth. I still can't shake that feeling that something just isn't right.

I fuck her in every room in the house, ending back in the living room.

"Tutu, I love you."

"I love you too. Go to sleep."

Her ass leaves me awake by myself, so I flame up my kush blunt, turn on ESPN, and watch the highlights from the Bulls and Heat game. My nigga D-Rose shows the fuck out, beating the Heat by sixteen points.

In the back of my mind, I still can't shake that feeling that something isn't right. I blame it on them pills. "I gotta stop popping those fucking pills."

I put the blunt in the ashtray and get ready to lay it down with my boo, when I see her phone light up on the table. I walk over to the table and pick the phone up. She has eight text messages. I grab the blunt out the ashtray and open her messages.

"Who the fuck is Pancho?"

There are about thirty messages back and forth between their asses. As I read the messages, I get mad all over again. I can't believe what I am reading. "This grimy-ass bitch! She never even told me she even had a brother."

I get to the last five messages, and my heart begins racing. This one message gets me on murder mode. It reads, "Pancho, get yo' crew together. The money at 8514 Marquette in the garage. Be careful, he got four pit bulls and cameras around the garage."

"Oh yeah?"

I keep reading. The next text is from earlier tonight: "I'ma get him high. Make sure you get every dime!"

I read the text he sent, and it says, "I'll call you when I kill 'em."

I grab my phone from my pants pocket. I have sixteen alerts from my security setup. My heart drops to the pit of my stomach when I play the video. What I see changes every good bone I have in my body for this bitch. After seeing that video, I have murder on my mind, and this bitch is the number one victim.

I walk over to where she is sleeping. "Wake up, shawty. Come on, we gotta take a ride real quick."

"What's wrong, boo?"

"My alarm is going off at the spot."

I watch her go into a state of panic. "What alarm?"

Then she hit me with, "Baby, my pussy is on swole. You wore me out. Let's go in the morning. It's probably nothing."

I want to shoot this ho in her lying-ass mouth. "Get the fuck up. Don't make me ask you again."

As she reluctantly gets up and starts dressing, I sit on the edge of the couch and watch her fidget. "What you looking all crazy for?"

"I'm just tired."

Tired, my ass, I think. Ten minutes later, we are on the expressway.

"Why you so quiet?"

I look at her and watch her bite her nails, something she does when she is nervous. I can't take it anymore.

"Damn, Tutu, why?"

She looks at me with tears in her eyes. "I never meant to hurt you."

WHACK!

I smack her so hard that her head bounces off the window. I don't say another word as we get off on 87th Street. When I finally pull around the back of the house, to where the garage is, I can see the door pulled halfway off.

"Bitch, get the fuck out!" I snatch that bitch out through the driver's side door. "Call Pancho!" I hand her her phone. She looks like she wants to pass out. "Yeah, bitch, I read every text." I hawk up and spit in her face. "You a snake-ass ho!"

She silently cries as she dials his number. It keeps going to voicemail.

"Keep calling!"

I walk to the door to peek inside. "Come here."

I see all my fucking dogs dead on the ground with a body lying in the middle of them. I walk toward the body to see if my dogs ate this nigga up. I bend down to see all this nigga's brains on the floor.

"Who the fuck—"

"OH NOOOOOOO! PANCHO! NO! NO! NO!"

Tutu comes running into the garage damn near knocking me over. She falls to the ground, pulling at the dead body.

"PANCHO! PLEASE GET UP!"

She is screaming so loud that I know God can hear her. Had she not set me up, I would feel bad for the bitch. I pull out my gun and point it at the back of her head. "Bitch, you don't have to cry. You 'bout to go where this nigga went."

"JR, please . . . I know I fucked up, but please don't kill me. You don't have to fuck with me. I won't say shit to nobody."

I look at this ho as if she is crazy. "Bitch, I gotta answer to my crazy-ass cousin, who thought you wasn't shit to begin with. How the fuck am I gonna explain $345,000 missing?"

I want to kill this bitch so bad, but truth be told, I am in love with this ol' conniving-ass bitch.

"Tell me why I shouldn't kill you."

"Because I know who did this."

RING! RING!

I snatch the phone from her hand and see that Pancho's number is on the screen.

"Who dis?"

The caller is real bold. "Fuck you and that snake-ass nigga Pancho!"

Go shawty, it's yo' birthday, we gon party

like it's yo' birthday, and you know we don't

give a fuck cuz it's yo' birthday!

# Chapter 10

### JuJu

(One Week Later)

I thought having that money would make me feel better. We split it four ways. Each of us came off with $91,250 apiece. That lick couldn't have come at a better time because all our birthdays were this week. Turn up!

After we hit the garage, we met up at Lil Mama's crib. It took E and ReRe forever to get there, and when they finally came, they were on some silent shit. I'm not slow. I knew E was going to kill Pancho. I felt that shit coming a mile away. That nigga couldn't be trusted anyway, so fuck 'em.

I do know that this money is not going to last forever. That robbery gave me a new burst of energy. Knowing that this money is from a bank that was robbed, I started to think. We can take a bank, hands down. If it's money like this in a bank, all we need to do is hit like one or two, and we'll be set for a minute.

Easier said than done. I'll find a way to hip my besties and see what they got to say. Today we 'bout to hit up Indiana and snatch us a few cars.

RING! RING!

I grab my phone and see that it's my boo, LJ. I haven't really spoken to him since the robbery.

"What's up, sexy? You miss me?"

I am smiling harder than a fat bitch pulling up to McDonald's. "Hey back at you, handsome. Yes, I miss you."

"I can't tell. I haven't heard from yo' ass in a few days. Where you at?"

"I'm 'bout to get up with the besties, and we're 'bout to hit a few car lots in Indiana."

"You 'bout to get a whip?"

"Yeah."

"Why you ain't hit me up?"

"I dunno. I just thought I'd roll up on you when I got my shit."

"How much you trying to spend?"

Now see, why does he need to get all in my business like that? I hate lying to him about my business, but it's just that: my business.

"My auntie gave me a few thousand. You know, a going back to school present."

"Alright, that's cool, but you should let me and Poohman take y'all so y'all don't get scammed by a shady-ass car salesman named Bob."

I get out the bed and head for the shower.

"Come on."

(E)

I'm tripping the fuck out right now. I don't know how I'm going to explain this to my besties without them flipping the fuck out, Ju in particular. I'm glad I killed that pussy-ass nigga Pancho. That nigga was not to be trusted. I knew he was going to try and double-cross us. This clown-ass nigga even had the nerve to text some ho named Tutu saying that he would call her after he killed us. The nerve of this nigga.

Now I need to figure out who this ho is. Wait a minute; I'm on some slow shit. Tutu that nigga's sister. Does she even know that this nigga's dead? She's been calling and texting his phone all day and night. I called it back a few nights ago. Some clown talking about, "Who dis?"

She must know that he's dead because it was her name that popped up on the screen. The nigga must have been JR. For now, fuck that bitch and her dead-ass brother. It's our birthday week, and we're about to get it in. We're about to go cop us some whips and hit the malls.

I've also been thinking about our next move. On the low, I think we could do a bank. This bread isn't gon last forever. I know Tiki and Re will be down with the bullshit, but Ju's ass is on some scary shit. I been doing a little research, and I'ma let my besties in on my little plan and see where it goes. Time to get ready to go shopping!

Y'all need to move da doe, y'all need

to move da doe, move da doe, ay move

da doe, y'all need to move da doe!

# Chapter 11

### LJ

"Yo, Poohman, come make this move with me real quick. I'm taking JuJu and her little crew out to Indiana to get some whips."

He laughs.

"What's so funny, bro?"

"She said that they all was gonna go get them a car. I asked her where she got the money from."

"And let me guess, she said from Ju's auntie, Lil Mama, right?"

"Bingo."

I trust shawty because she 'bout that life. I really don't want to think that she would lie to me about shit, because she don't have to. Her auntie did just do a bid for bank robbery. I know she put some bread away because my Auntie Boo told me.

"Ju, I'm on my way."

(30 Minutes Later)

"Poohman, yo' ass crazy as shit, boy. So, let me get this straight. You had a crush on Pam Grier when you was a shawty?"

"Hell yeah! If I was old enough back then, I would have took her ass down."

I'm choking on this weed smoke. "Would you hit now, my nigga?"

"Hell naw! She old as fuck now. Plus, she fat as shit. You know I don't do fat hoes."

I'm laughing so hard that I've got tears coming out of my eyes.

"Ay, pull over in the gas station, nigga, I need some gum."

"Yo' ass need some help!" I pulled over at the Citgo on 79th and Yates. "Poohman, put forty-five on pump five."

This cheap-ass nigga walks over to me and puts his hand out.

"What, nigga?"

He gon look at me as if I'm in the wrong. "Man, Joe, give me half."

I go went in my pockets shaking my head. "Cheap ass!"

"Whatever!"

I put the pump in the tank and wait for it to begin pumping. I hear somebody's car knocking off the chain. Whoever that is has some serious bass in their trunk.

"Goddamn!"

They aren't even in the gas station and I hear their shit loud and clear. Next thing I know, this tan Impala whips up to the pump next to me. Dude's shit is beating so loud that he has my windows shaking. He has some nice-ass rims on his shit too. His shit wasn't fucking with mine, but he could pull some hoes.

"Jaw, what up, nigga?"

I turn around to see my nigga JR. I grew up with this nigga. His uncle used to run with my uncle in the projects.

"JR, what yo' black ass doing on this side of town? You a long way from the Greens."

I look into his eyes, and I can see the stress all over his face.

"You good, my nigga?"

"Hell naw! I got a little spot over on 85th and Marquette. Last night a muthafucker stained me for 350 _G_ 's."

I almost passed out.

"And that ain't even the worst part. That money belonged to me, Boogie, and Big Moe!"

"Damn, Joe! That's fucked up! That nigga still crazy?"

"Hell yeah, but the killing part of the whole situation is that the little ho I'm fucking is the one that set me up to get hit!"

"Damn, my nigga! Yo' ass got problems!"

"The good side of it is that she told me who helped her brother steal my shit."

"Wait! Her brother? Where that nigga at?"

"When I went to check on the money, dude ass was laying in the middle of the garage, dead!"

"So the niggas that helped him hit the lick killed his ass afterward?"

"Yeah. She said it was four niggas. She only know one of their names. Some dude named Dirty E."

I get a bad taste in my mouth. "Ay, Joe, is Dirty E a nigga?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"No reason."

I take a deep breath. For some reason I think about my boo and her little crew. They don't even look like they get down like that.

"Here go my number. Hit me if you need me."

I see Poohman coming out the gas station with a mug on his face. JR and Poohman have never seen eye to eye. They even fist fought a couple of times. Poohman always got the best of JR until Boogie jumped in, and that's when I jumped in. It is all love with JR and Boogie. I don't fuck with Big Moe like that. He is a nut. Poohman doesn't fuck with Big Moe either.

JR looks at Poohman and smiles, "What up, Pooh?"

"Fuck you, nigga!"

"Damn dawg, you still mad?"

"Hell naw, nigga! You can't whoop me by yo'self, pussy."

Let me end this shit before these two niggas send this gas station up. "Alright, JR, holla at me if you need me."

I hop back in my car and peel off. "Call Re and tell them we on the way."

While Poohman calls the girls, I can't help but think about what JR told me.

"What you thinking about?"

I tell him all of what JR said.

"My first thought was the girls. I dismissed that shit because I just can't see them getting down like that; feel me?"

We spend the rest of the day helping the girls pick out cars. I am impressed at my boo's taste. She chooses this money-green two-door '96 Cutlass. Straight throwback! The interior has peanut-butter-colored leather. It has a sunroof, and the miles are really low. The funny thing is that all of them choose Cutties.

ReRe then chooses this all-black drop-top Cutlass. I think it is a '95. The inside is sick. White leather, my nigga! Tiki chooses this four-door white Cutlass with white leather. It has a roof too. Man, Joe, Dirty kills the game when she cops a red two-door coupe with red and black racecar seats. The windows are tinted red.

Poohman and I help with the tags and insurance since their young asses don't have a license. JuJu walks toward me talking a mile a minute.

"Boo, we gotta hit the rim and sound store. I wanna get four twelves in the trunk, and I want twenty-two-inch rims."

"You don't even have an alarm. Slow down, I got you."

"Oooh, and we gotta get some customized plates that say ESC."

"What that mean?"

She smiles at me with joy in her eyes. "East Side Crazy!"

Poohman and I look at each other, and I walk toward my car to grab my phone.

"Where you going, boo?"

"I gotta make a phone call, shawty."

Went to sleep real, woke up realer,

Goon affiliated, ex drug dealer, resume

solid, street cred bigger!

# Chapter 12

### Auntie Boo

"What up, nephew? Huh? How much you say she gave them? I dunno about all that, but I'll get to the bottom of it and I'ma hit you later."

I hear shit in the streets, but I'm a vet. I don't believe everything I hear. My nephew has been spending time with my goddaughter JuJu for a month or so. I see that he likes her. Some things have come to light, and they've got him concerned. So what does he do? He calls me because I get to the bottom of _everything_!

First, he says that she always has money. We all know her little bad ass doesn't have a job and her little friends don't either. This hood been in an uproar since they found Pancho's body on the next block dead in some garage. Rumor has it he was robbed and then murdered.

Come to think of it, for the last year or so, all these little dough boys around here have been getting robbed. I also heard that Pancho had a hand in each and every robbery. There's no telling who killed his sheisty ass.

Jaw asked me to ask Lil Mama if she gave JuJu and her little besties some money, because they had a few thousand apiece and they all said that Lil Mama gave it to them. I know the answer to that already: HELL NAW! I know she does for them here and there, but not a few thousand apiece. Something is going on, and I'm the one that's going to find out.

I know that they're not fucking, so tricking is out of the question. I really don't want to call Lil Mama and get her all in an uproar. She doesn't play with JuJu, and she damn sure doesn't play about her. She loves that girl like a daughter.

What most don't know because we don't talk about it is that Lil Mama and Ja`ziya's mother, Lil Baby, were identical twins. Lil Baby had JuJu and then hit the streets. She chased that almighty dollar until her feet were sore. Ju always knew the difference, but Lil Mama was always there.

After Lil Mama finished high school, she hit the streets too. She kept her niece with her until she started hitting banks. She paid her younger sister, Shante' to watch her.

Things went left and quiet as kept; Tae was the reason that she got popped by the feds. She was out drinking one night, and she got loose with her mouth. Somebody turned Lil Mama in for that reward money. She left her stash with me. She only left Tae with enough to take care of JuJu. She knew Tae wasn't going to take care of her, so I did.

Now they don't fuck with each other at all. Hell, Ja`ziya barely stays with Tae now that Lil Mama is home. I can't figure this shit out. Let me call Lil Mama and let her know what's going on. If I keep this from her, this crazy-ass Jamaican is going to have a fit! I don't feel like fighting that ho, nor do I care to be called all these blood clots and bumba clots. I don't even know what that shit mean. I do know that it isn't nice.

"Hey ho, what you doing? What? Wait, kill who? JuJu? Why? WHAT? I'm on the way!"

(Lil Mama)

I'm so mad that I can't even see straight. Here I am, trying to be all domesticated and shit, cleaning up after this funky-ass niece of mine. I don't snoop through her shit because I was in prison for almost eight years. The correctional officers always went through our things. That shit is degrading, and most of it is unnecessary.

They went as far as throwing our clean clothes on the floor. Spilling food on them and even allowing the K9s to walk on our clean beds. Their dirty asses would leave our lockers open, and other inmates would steal our shit. I never want her to feel like she don't have privacy in my house, because she does.

I know the last eight years have been rough on her. My sister didn't treat her right, so that's why I have given her that privacy and fresh air to breathe. This little heifer and her _besties_ , as she would call them, leave this room a damn mess, so I call myself being nice and clean this room.

As I'm picking up the clean clothes and putting them back in the closet where they belong, I find a black bag full of money.

"What the fuck?"

I sit there and count the money. I almost blow a fuse, y'all! This bitch has nearly $350,000 in there. It is separated into four different bundles. Then I think, four bundles, four girls. I'ma kill this little girl!

(15 Minutes Later)

KNOCK! KNOCK!

"Boo, it's open."

My best friend walks in to find me sitting on JuJu's closet floor.

"How much you find?"

I shake my head and say, "It's more than my stash."

She gives me that " _damn_ " look.

"Boo, these damn kids done did some shit that got some serious consequences behind it. I know they must be holding this for somebody. I know they're little scary asses ain't out here making moves like this."

Boo sits down next to me. "Don't trip, sis, we gon find out what's going on. Let me find out yo' ass paranoid."

"Hell naw, ho! I am not paranoid! I'm on parole!"

All I talk about is money,

cuz that's all I know,

ya heard me!

# Chapter 13

### Big Moe

"Hello."

"Big Moe."

"What, nigga?"

"We got a problem."

"It better not involve my money!"

"Meet me over East."

I had a feeling I was going to murder me a muthafucker today. I just didn't think it would be my own blood. Something told me to just grab my share of that money.

I jump up and hit the showers real quick. Thirty minutes later, I'm out the door. Damn, it's a nice day. I had plans to chill, too bad I'm about to make the city rain red today. I'm cruising down 79th. The hoes are out.

"Damn, who is that?" I have to pull over. Shawty is a redbone, and she is thick to death. I need some new pussy in my life. I pull up in the parking lot to this laundry mat on 79th and Colfax. I hop out and go up to a corner store looking for the ol' girl.

"A, you seen shawty that just came in here?"

The cashier points to the back of the store. I walk back there, and I see her at the counter ordering some steaks. "You gon cook one for me?"

She turns around and gives me this "Who the fuck are you?" look.

"A, whatever she buying, I'm paying for."

"Naw, I'm good. Thanks anyway."

She turns around, grabs her food, and hands the clerk a fifty. "This should cover my bill and whatever I'm getting." She looks at me, smiles, and walks off.

"Damn!" I tell the clerk to give me her change, and I run after her. Yes, I run. Shawty is that bad! I get to the front of the store just in time to see her on her phone.

"Let me get the number to that phone so I can call you."

She ends her call and then asks, "Is that how you try and holla at a female? If so, then yo' ass need lessons."

The nerve of this bitch! She's fine, but I'll slap the fuck out this ho. I'm just trying to fuck. Now I'ma make her suck my dick too! Smart-ass mouth. "I don't mean no disrespect. You bad! What else can I say?"

She cracks a smile. "You shoulda just said that then. I'm Boo."

(JR)

"Tutu, I think you should leave before Big Moe gets here."

She jumps out the bed so fast you would think it's on fire. "I agree, baby."

I beat the shit outta her for getting me robbed. I really do love this ho. Anybody else would be floating in Lake Michigan. Plus, I think losing her brother was torture enough.

"Why you think you having a free day, bitch? You better go over East and find out who the fuck them niggas is before I stomp yo' face into the ground, bitch!"

(Tutu)

I'm sitting in the bed watching TV when JR comes and tells me that I should leave before his cousin gets here. That shit is like music to my ears. Since Pancho died, he's been beating me one minute and then fucking me the next. I do need some air, plus I'm going to find out who the fuck killed my brother.

After I hopped out of the shower, I called my little brother.

"Hello."

"What up, Tutu? Where you been?"

"I'm on my way over there. Where you at?"

"I'm at home."

"Lil Man, don't tell nobody I'm coming, okay? I wanna holla at you about Pancho, okay?"

"Okay."

I walk in the living room on my way out the door, and I see JR looking out the window.

"Big Moe here."

(Big Moe)

"Boogie, I'm at JR's crib, come through."

"Alright, give me about forty-five minutes."

I hope this nigga tells me something good. As I make my way up to the front door, his trifling-ass bitch, Tutu, is coming out.

"Hey, Big Moe."

"What up? Where JR?"

"In the living room waiting on you."

Every time I see her, I get a bad feeling about her. I told JR, but the nigga is too pussy-whipped. Ol' sucka-ass nigga!

"What up, JR?"

"Man, Joe, somebody hit the spot."

I knew that shit was coming, so I didn't even snap off the bat. Deep down inside, I know he would never cross me, but something isn't right. He plays the security video for me.

"So it was five of them?"

"It's four now. Dude in the white tee was dead in the garage with my damn dogs. He don't look familiar."

I have to ask him, "Where was yo' bitch at?"

He shakes his head and chuckles. "She was here with me, cuz."

"So what now, my nigga? I'm not about to take a loss like that. Somebody gon pay for this shit! In the meantime, we got another job at a Chase Bank in Hammond, Indiana. I was told the payout could be up to half a ticket. So get cha mind right, alright?"

"Where's Boogie?"

"He's on his way so we can go over the details."

Somebody who you're around wants to

clip your wings and shoot ya down, but

it's okay to keep enemies close, as long

as you know who you're around!

# Chapter 14

### LJ

I'm on the way to scoop up Poohman so that we can chop it up as to what my Auntie Boo told me about JuJu and her damn besties. As I pull up to his house, I see JR's car in front of his crib.

"What the hell he doing over this way?"

I hop out my whip and walk over to the driver-side window. It slides down. "What up my— Oh my bad, shawty, I thought you was somebody else."

She licks her lips and smiles. "I can be whoever you want me to be."

These hoes will do anything. "Ain't this JR's car?"

The sound of his name wipes that smile clean off her face.

"Be easy."

Poohman comes out the house arguing with somebody on the phone. "Don't make me come fuck you up, shawty. What? We need a break? You tripping! Holla at me when you get yo' mind right."

He hangs up the phone and looks at me. "ReRe just told me she needs some time."

I fall out laughing. I relay what Boo told me.

"Poohman, the little ass up to something, and I got a feeling that we going to have to pull them burners out."

(JuJu)

Our birthday weekend was the fucking greatest! We had so much fun hitting up Great America. Tiki was on the sad side, but we got her through it. We hit the Mall of America in Minnesota. Altogether, we spent forty _G_ 's. I don't know, but I think LJ is in his feelings about something. He's been real quiet lately.

Now we are all sitting down and having a long talk about our next lick. Since E made Pancho take that dirt nap, her ass is in charge of setting up things.

"So, I was thinking about hitting a bank."

They all look at me as if I am crazy. Re smiles at me and says, "That's what the fuck I'm talking about."

I look at ReRe and say, "I know we got this. All we gotta do is find a spot and case it." I am talking as if I know what the fuck to do.

E speaks up, "I read about a case outside of Harvey, Illinois, where these four dudes got away with $400,000. They watched the bank manager, followed her home, and got her there. Two people stayed back watching the house, and the other two took her back to the bank and got the money. Simple, right?"

We all sit around in silence for a few minutes.

Tiki breaks the silence, "We can case the bank for at least a week, learn the routines, and go from there."

Deep down I am scared as shit, but excited at the same time. "Alright, when we start?"

E and Tiki look at me and smile. "Me and Tiki already did. We gon hit the Chase Bank in Hammond, Indiana."

I am curious now. "How y'all even come up with this shit?"

ReRe looks at me and says, "We passed it on the way to get our whips. It's off in the cut, and the expressway is less than a mile from the bank."

I look at ReRe with steam coming from my ears. "Why y'all keep that shit from me though?"

E shakes her head. "Because you been caking with ya boo and we wanted to make sure things were right before we let you know. You know yo' ass is crazy, Ju!"

I have to smile because they know me. If shit isn't right, I will blank the fuck out! I look at ReRe. "What you gon tell Poohman? You know he be on your bumper."

"I already told him that I need some me time."

I start laughing because LJ isn't going for that shit. He's already acting funny because I don't ask him for shit. I don't want his dope money. To be honest, I hate drug dealers and their money. He isn't too flashy, and he doesn't have a gang of hoes in his face. I want to be with him, but I want my own bread.

"E, when we doing this?"

"In two days."

"Alright, let me put some space in between me and Jaw."

(LJ)

"Hello. What up sexy?"

"Hey."

"What's wrong with you?"

"You know I fucks with you the long way, right?"

"What's on yo' mind, shawty?"

"I'ma fall back off you for a minute. I need to get my shit right."

"What shit, Ju?"

"I just got some things to iron out, okay?"

"Man, whatever, shawty!"

I hang up on her before I end up cursing her punk ass out. What the fuck is going on with them damn girls? Poohman and I have been on our detective shit. Hell yeah, you heard me right. We've been following their asses. Ju hasn't been on shit, but the other three been real busy taking trips to Indiana every day.

When we followed them yesterday, I told Poohman to call his girl just to see if she would lie about where they were.

"What up, shawty? Where you at? Oh yeah, when she gon be finish doing yo' hair? Just checking on you. Hit me when you done."

I looked at Poohman and shook my head. "Something ain't right, bro."

(Big Moe)

The next bank job is my doing. I met this chick named Andrea at the Horseshoe Casino last week. She was sexy as fuck, I must admit. We chopped it up for the rest of the night, and before dawn, I had her touching her ankles in her apartment. Come to find out, she is a bank manager for a Chase Bank in Hammond, Indiana. BINGO!

So for the last week, I've been dicking down this ho. Her pussy is some A-one platinum shit, too. It's a damn shame I'ma kill her once the job is done. From what she said, we could walk away with more than a half a million. The reason why this bank is holding so much money is because it deals with the casino and their payouts on a regular basis. We need that!

Don't get shit twisted. I'm still on the hunt for that $350,000. I'm not about to accept that kind of loss without a few bodies dropping. I do know that something isn't right with my little cuz JR. I think he knows more than he's saying. Only time will tell. For now, I'ma let it be. We need to focus on this job that is coming up.

Speaking of focusing, I've been chatting with this chick Boo. Shawty got my attention, and that's a first. She's a few years older than me. On some real shit, I swear I know her from somewhere.

When I'm not fucking Andrea into la-la land, I'm kicking the bobo with Boo.

After we hit this last lick, I'ma chill for a while. Plan some new shit and change up our MO.

Yep, I want the money, cars, and the

clothes, clothes and the hoes, I suppose.

I just wanna be, I just wanna be successful!

# Chapter 15

### Dirty E

"Okay, the final plans are in motion. We can't fuck this up y'all!"

I look around the room at my besties. My ride or die bitches. What we're about to do today will forever change our lives.

"JuJu, you and Tiki will go to the bank manager's house and wait for my call. Me and ReRe are going to run up in the bank. ReRe, we in and out in three minutes, no matter what. She gets there every morning at 7:00 a.m. sharp. We gon take her at the door. Any questions?"

Ju raises her hand. "We going to the house, for what? I want to be close in case y'all need us. I'm not scared to bust this .380."

I smile at JuJu. "I know, but if she doesn't comply, then we gon need y'all to snatch her kids up. They get on the school bus every morning at five after seven. Y'all, we got this!" I look at my watch. "Come on, it's 6:30. Let's move out!"

(Big Moe)

"So, my niggas, it's simple. We going in there at five after seven. That'll give her time to disarm the alarm and get to the vault. Boogie, you hit the vault. JR, you watch his back and watch the front door. I'ma get shawty in her office. Boogie, you make sure y'all get every dime. She said it should take like ten minutes to load all that money. Cut that shit to five! No fuck ups! Any questions?"

I check the time, and it is 6:45. "Let's roll!"

(LJ)

Call me a stalker if you want. I don't give a fuck. My bitch has been acting funny, and I want to know why. Poohman and I have been following these little muthafuckers for over a week now. I got the giggles like shit because from what we've been seeing, it looks like these muthafuckers are planning on robbing a bank. I want to see how their little asses are, so Poohman and I are going to lay in the cut and watch.

"A, my nigga, they just left. Wake yo' ass up." I punch Poohman's leg.

This goofy-ass nigga is going to look at me and smile. "Our bitches been watching too much _Set It Off._ "

"It's time to hit, my dude. It's 6:50. Let's get there and post up. I wanna see this shit."

(JuJu) 6:59 a.m.

"E, we here." I hang up the phone with so many thoughts in my head. Robbery, kidnapping, and some mo shit. If we get caught, we going down.

"Ju, quit biting yo' nails."

I look at Tiki and smile. "My nigga, I just want us to be okay."

She grabs my hand from my mouth. "We got this. Ain't shit gon go wrong."

(Dirty E) 7:02 a.m.

"Re, there she go. You ready?"

We walk toward the lady while holding hands. To the average person, we look like a happy couple. "E, walk ahead right now. She put the key in the door."

I let go of Re's hand and hit a light sprint just in time to catch the manager as she unlocks the door.

"Disarm the alarm. If you make a scene, my homies are going to kill them brats you love so much. Don't you live at 9 Roselawn Street?"

Her eyes almost fall out of her head when I say that. "Ple- please, don't hurt me. I'll do whatever you want."

ReRe walks in behind us. "Open the vault."

(LJ) 7:03 a.m.

Poohman and I sit watching with our mouths to the floor. We can't believe what we are seeing. "Poohman, look at this shit. There goes ya girl walking in the door behind Dirty and that bitch."

Poohman has this unreadable expression on his face. "Jaw, what the fuck?" That is all he can say.

"Where the fuck is Ju and Tiki?"

(Big Moe) 7:05 a.m.

When we make it to the bank, I park right in front of the spot. I see Andrea's car, so I know that she is getting shit ready for me.

"Y'all ready?"

Boogie and JR say, "Yeah," at the same time.

"Let's make this shit quick."

(Dirty E) 7:07 a.m.

"Bitch, help put this money in the bag before I shoot yo' ass." That sparks something in her ass, because she starts throwing money in the bag as if she is a cashier at a grocery store. She doesn't look scared though.

"When y'all finish, tie me up and leave through the back door."

I look at her as if she is crazy. "What?"

(Big Moe) 7:08 a.m.

We can hear voices as we approach the bank offices where she said the vault would be.

"Bitch, help put this money in the bag before I shoot yo' ass."

I look back at my cousins and whisper, "This ho set us up."

I pull out my Glock 40 and walk to where I heard the voices. "Oh yeah, Andrea? Bitch, you let another muthafucker hit our lick?"

She looks at the two muthafuckers that are holding her at gunpoint. "You didn't send them?"

I smack fire from her ass. "Bitch, I told you, I was gonna do it!"

I look at this yellow muthafucker holding the gun. "My nigga, this our lick. Y'all can leave or die!"

This a bold muthafucker because he looks me square in the eyes and says, "Then I guess we all about to die, pussy!"

Before I can get another word out, the other gunman draws out of his pants a big-ass AK-47. "GET THE FUCK BACK!" Now that was a girl's voice, all day long.

Boogie and JR both pull out their guns and point them at these two gunmen. The one holding the rifle tells us, "Y'all got us fucked up!"

(LJ) 7:08 a.m.

"Poohman, who them three niggas? Wait! Aw shit! Nigga, ain't that Big Moe, JR, and Boogie?"

He sits up in his seat and looks at me. "My nigga, this 'bout to get real ugly! Let's go in there! You know them niggas kill on sight!"

I check my Glock. "Damn, we gon have to kill 'em all!"

Poohman looks like, "Oh well."

JuJu 7:10 a.m.

Every minute feels like an eternity. "Something ain't right, Tiki. E said in and out in three minutes. It's been seven extra minutes unaccounted for. Call 'em."

She dials the number and gets no answer.

"Fuck this! Let's go get them!"

The whole ride there I'm thinking, "Lord, please let them be okay."

We get to the bank, and it looks deserted. "Come on, Tiki; let's go see what's good." We check our guns and are at the front door in a matter of seconds.

(ReRe) 7:11 a.m.

"Y'all niggas better back up before I start shooting."

I don't know who these niggas think they are, but this our lick. I look at the guy the manager called Big Moe. "You think I'm playing, nigga?"

CLICK! CLACK!

I pop one in the chamber thinking that would back his ass down. He looks at me and says, "You better kill me, bitch!"

(LJ) 7:13 a.m.

As we creep through the lobby of the bank, I can hear voices coming from the back. Poohman stops dead in his tracks when he hears ReRe's voice clearly say, "Y'all niggas better back the fuck up before I start shooting!"

I almost fall out laughing because her ass sounds gangsta. Man, Joe, we hit that corner, and ReRe's crazy ass is pointing this big-ass AK-47 at Big Moe, Boogie, and JR. Poohman is the first to point his gun at them niggas.

"Fuck going on here?"

Even though their faces are partially covered, I can tell it is E and Re. Shit, Re looks like she is about to shoot us too. She looks at E and says, "Bestie, grab them bags and let's go."

She starts backing up to the back door. "If y'all niggas want it, I'll murk all y'all! Try me!"

Big Moe isn't trying to let that money leave that bank. "Shawty, you don't know who you fucking with—"

Before he can finish his statement . . .

TAT! TAT! TAT!

We all look on in shock as the bank manager's brains fly from the back of her head. ReRe points the gun back at them and says, "Run up!"

(JuJu) 7:14 a.m.

I hear what sounds like gunshots. Tiki and I fly through that lobby. As we hit the corner, we hear Re loud and clear tell somebody to run up. "Tiki, you ready?"

She is the first to hit the corner, gun pointed. "What the fuck?"

I am on her bumper when she hits the corner. I almost pass out when I see Jaw and Poohman standing there with their guns pointed at three other niggas. Fuck the fact that there is a dead bitch on the floor. Jaw gives me a look that could have made the devil tuck his tail.

ReRe snaps me out of my trance. "Besties, grab that money and let's go!"

I go to grab one of the bags that was on the floor, and out of nowhere, one of the dudes tries to grab me.

POP! POP!

I close my eyes and shoot. When I finally open my eyes, dude is on the floor. I know he is dead. The bullet between his eyes tells me so.

(Big Moe) 7:15 a.m.

This shit is outta control. Now here come two mo niggas. More bodies to drop. I look at Boogie and give him that familiar nod. When this little nigga attempts to grab, Boogie lungs at him.

POP! POP!

"What the fuck?" My cousin hits the floor hard.

"Boogie, man, Joe, get up! Get up!"

I jump to my feet and start shooting. We're going to blame me missing my targets on the fact that they just fucked my head up by murking my cousin.

Muthafuckers are running in every direction trying not to catch a bullet. JR isn't even shooting. He is on the ground acting a fool!

"BRO, PLEASE GET UP! AWWW SHIT! MY NIGGA, PLEASE DON'T LEAVE!" He is screaming so loud that I'm sure Boogie's ass heard him in hell.

"Come on, cuz, we gotta go! Get up! He dead, nigga! We gotta go before the police come!" I turn and run in the security room to get the tapes, because none of us have on masks. After I get the tapes, I run and grab JR. "Come on, baby boy, we gotta go now!"

He looks at me with the saddest eyes ever and says, "I'm killing everything moving until I find out who did this!"

Dude with the dreads sounds very familiar.

"We gon end up on _The First 48_ if we don't dip now! Don't worry, it's on!"

Many men wish death upon me

Blood in my eyes dog and I can't see

I'm trying to be what I'm destined to be

And niggas trying to take my life away!

# Chapter 16

### LJ

After that nigga clicked out and started shooting wildly, we all get ghost. I even grab one of the bags that was on the floor as we run out that bitch. I snatch JuJu's arm, and Poohman grabs ReRe's. I tell E and Tiki to meet us at my crib. We drive in silence for what seems like forever. That shit was crazy!

"Ju, you cool?"

She looks at me with this blank-ass expression. "Damn, I didn't mean to kill him, boo."

ReRe's crazy ass comes out of nowhere. "Fuck them niggas! If you didn't shoot first, guaranteed you'd be the one with the bullet between yo' eyes."

Poohman and I make eye contact. Re's ass is a killer!

"You right, Re, but can I have some remorse?"

I feel bad for my boo. Clearly, she isn't meant to be a killer.

"Ju, what would possess y'all to hit a bank? Keep that shit one hundred. You been lying to me for a minute, just thought I would let you know." She looks back at ReRe for support.

Poohman jumps in, "Don't look back here! Re's ass in deep shit too!"

So for the next thirty minutes she tells me how they have been getting their dough around the hood. What she tells me next shocks the fuck out of me. She tells me that they hit that garage on Marquette.

"That was y'all? That was y'all? What?" I hit the steering wheel hard as fuck, scaring the fuck out of her. "Do you fucking know the bullshit that's about to come your way? Our way? Them niggas that was at the bank, that was they money y'all took, Ju!"

I can't believe this shit. "I grew up with them. They're some killers, too. They're going to beat the streets until they find out what they wanna know." I don't want to scare her, but it is the truth. We are about to go to war with Big Moe.

"Jaw, I'm not scared."

At this moment, I want to slap the shit outta her. She knows it too!

"It ain't about being scared. It's about being smart. They hit banks for a living. They kill for a living. How y'all hit the same bank at the same time was crazy, but damn, Ju, you killed one of them and took they money! Twice! They coming!"

I look at Poohman and say, "I know Big Moe grabbed those tapes!"

45 Minutes Later

We finally get back to my crib. "Poohman, grab one of these bags, my nigga."

"Tell Little Miss _Set It Off_ to do it!"

E and Tiki have been waiting for us on the porch. "Damn, took y'all long enough."

Once we get in the crib, we get down to business counting that money. Four hours, two blunts, and three pizzas later, we are finally finished. All I can say is, "Damn, shawty, y'all came the fuck up!"

We counted $803,517.

Meanwhile on the Other Side of Town

(JR)

I can't believe my brother's gone. He was all I had left. I keep playing that scene over in my head. How did they hit our lick? I blame Big Moe's ass. He should have had his information right. That was his setup. I'm trying to also figure out why Jaw was there. I know him a mile away. Was he in on that shit? Who were the bitches that were with him? Who was that other cat? Why would Jaw have anything to do with killing Boogie?

"Tutu, come 'ere."

She walks into the room and gives me a hug. I push her ass back. "Bitch, fuck all that sentimental shit! Have you found out who Dirty E is?"

"Yeah."

I wait for her to finish. "And?"

"E is a girl, and she hangs with three other girls named JuJu, Tiki, and ReRe."

I get up and grab my car keys. I have a few moves to make. I grab my .45 off the dresser and walk toward Tutu. "Maybe in the next lifetime you'll be a better bitch!"

Before she can say shit else, BOOM!

I shoot that ho in her lying-ass mouth. She falls to the floor.

BOOM!

I shoot her in the head for good measure. "Dirty bitch!"

(Big Moe)

I done watched this tape over and over again trying to figure out who these muthafuckers are. The two we first ran up on in the bank were bitches. On the low, that was some gangsta-ass shit. I can admit, but my pride won't let that go. Twice I've been beat for my money. Hell naw, I'm killing somebody. Right now, I'm too stressed to think. I need some pussy.

"Hello."

"What up with it?"

"Where you at?"

"At the crib chilling. Why? You trying to come break a bitch off?"

"Hell yeah. That's music to my ears."

"8415 South Marquette."

"I'm on the way."

(Auntie Boo)

Let me jump up and hit this shower real quick. It's been awhile since I've had some. I'm on no layup shit though. He can hit this pussy and be on his merry little way. As soon as I hit the shower, my phone rings. I look at the caller ID and start to not answer.

"Hello."

"Auntie, I'm trying to come holla at you ASAP."

"Damn, you can't wait? I'm trying to get some."

"What I gotta say is better than some dick."

Now he's got my attention. "Better than dick, huh?"

"Hell yeah! All I'ma say is that Ju and her little besties done set some shit off, and me and Poohman accidentally helped them."

"Bring ya ass now!"

"It's me, Poohman, Ju, and ReRe."

"Hurry up!"

(Lil Mama)

"Hey, ho! What you doing?"

"I think ya niece trying to be just like you when she grow up."

"Fuck you talking about? Spit that shit out!"

"All I'ma say over this phone is _Set It Off!_ "

"OMG! NEVER!"

"Come through. They on their way here."

"I'm on the way."

(JR)

I've been all over the Eastside looking for these hoes that they call the East Side Crazy Crew. From what I was told, these little bitches have been on a robbing spree. If these are the same hoes that hit the garage and that bank, I'ma enjoy killing they asses.

"Big Moe, where you at? Meet me somewhere."

"What's good, nigga? I'm about to splash in some pussy."

"I found out who hit the spot over East."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, and get this, they the same hoes that hit the bank."

"Hoes?"

"Yeah, nigga, you heard me right, some hoes."

"Meet me at my little friend's crib. 8415 Marquette."

"I'm right around the way."

(E)

I've been on turn-up mode all day. We came up big time. I'm not even going to lie, that lick was fun as shit, boy! My besties are some gangstas! JuJu surprised the fuck out of me. I knew that she had a little gangsta up in her, but damn. She did that! We do need to sit down and figure out our next three moves. Tiki and I have been chilling downtown doing some light shopping. LJ and Poohman got Thelma and Louise on lock. I'm no hater, but we all need to talk.

"What yo' ass over there thinking about?" Tiki breaks me from my thoughts.

"Shit, we need to get up with Ju and Re. Call 'em."

She answers on the first ring. "Hey, what you up to?"

"Where you at, killa?"

"Don't call me that, bitch!"

"You better watch that bitch word, ho. I'm a grown-ass man."

"Yeah, you wish."

"Well, my dick say otherwise."

"Ugh, E! You nasty!"

"What?"

"Where you at?"

"On the way to Boo's."

"ReRe with you?"

"Yeah, why?"

"We need to meet up ASAP and talk about a few things."

BEEP!

"Hold on, Ju, my other line beeping." I click over. "Yo?"

"Dirty, some nigga riding around here in a tan Impala, paying muthafuckers for information about ESC."

"Word? Who talking?"

"You gon be mad, but fuck him. It's Lil Man."

"Damn! Alright, my nigga, thanks for the info."

I click back over mad as hell. "You still there?"

"I was about to hang up, shit! Got a bitch on hold like that!"

"Man, shut up. I'll meet y'all at Boo's."

# Chapter 17

### Auntie Boo

Wonder why I don't have a verse on my page? I'm old school. Real _G_ 's don't need no introduction. Feel me? Damn, I need a beer! Let me call Jaw before he gets here.

"Yo?"

"Nephew, you'll stop and grab me a few beers? I'm about to throw a few steaks on the grill since y'all coming. My company just called and said he's bringing his cousin. So, I might as well, fill y'all asses."

"Who's yo' company?"

"Nobody you know, nosey ass. Hurry up!"

"Alright, whatever!"

(Lil Mama)

Damn, I need to go see Pete real quick. I need to see if he found out what I was looking for. I'm going to hit Boo up to let her know I'ma be a few minutes late. "Boo, I gotta run by to see Pete real quick."

"Bitch, who you looking for?"

"Yo' ass so damn nosey. I'll see you in a minute."

"I got some steaks on the grill. My new little tender is bringing his cousin."

"Lil tender? Bitch, how old is this little nigga and his cousin? I don't date kids."

"Fuck you, ho. I got him by like six years, but so what? Bring yo' ass."

"Here you go with this blind date shit. I'm on my way. Bitch, if he got his pants sagging off his ass and he calls me shawty, I'm leaving."

(Big Moe)

"A, I'm outside, baby."

"The door's open. Come up."

"I'm hungry. You gon whip a nigga up something?"

"I got some steaks on the grill. My nephew and his little friends are stopping by too. I called my little sister to keep your cousin company. That cool?"

"Yeah, I'm walking up the stairs."

(LJ)

"Poohman, grab them beers out the trunk."

"Nigga, what's wrong with yo' hands?"

"You an ol' lazy bastard."

"So what, pussy? Yo' mama like it."

"I'ma tell her you said that shit too."

"What? Na, I'm just playing. I got 'em."

"Thought so."

That nigga doesn't want problems with my mom dukes, a.k.a. Heidi D. Back in the days, Mom Dukes and my Auntie Boo ran the projects. Which one? Shit, all of 'em. My Auntie Boo was a beast on the drug game. She slung the pistols even harder. My mom dukes straight just knocked niggas out. Literally! My daddy saw a few stars fucking with her crazy ass. So Poohman already knows that she's 'bout that life.

"Auntie, we downstairs."

As we head to the stairs, this little chick from across the street calls JuJu. "Hey, Ju, let me put a bug in your ear."

She turns to look at me. "Go 'head, but hurry up, baby. It's about to rain."

As she begins to cross the street, I get this fucked up feeling in the pit of my stomach. I look at Poohman, who's also looking at me. I don't even have to say shit. He knows me too well.

"What, Jaw? We got beef?"

I shake my head. "Na, my nigga. Something just don't feel right."

(JR)

As I'm riding down Marquette looking for the address that my cousin gave me, I see Jaw, Poohman, and two familiar-looking bitches walking toward the house that I'm looking for. I haven't even hit Jaw up since that shit went down. Fuck it! My brother dies by the hands of a bitch that you leave with. That makes him just as guilty as her in my book.

"Fuck are they doing over here?"

I pick my phone up and hit my cousin.

(Big Moe)

"Yo, cuz, where you at?"

"I'm a few houses away from where you at."

"Then come on up. You tripping. My little shawty got some steaks on the grill."

"How well you know this bitch?"

"Nigga, fuck the riddles. Spit that shit out."

"You know I was saying that I found out who hit both licks?"

"Right. Who told you?"

"Tutu told me, right before I shot her grimy ass. I told you that those niggas at the bank looked familiar."

"Who you thought they was?"

"Jaw and Poohman."

"The little niggas you went to school with?"

"Yeah."

"So what up?"

"They asses walking up the stairs to where you at."

"FUCK YOU JUST SAY?" I have to catch my tone.

"You good, boo?" I look at shawty with pure hatred, but I know I have to keep it cool.

"Yeah, ma, I'm cool."

After she walks back into the kitchen, I put my plan into motion. "JR, wait a few minutes and then come up. Were Poohman and Jaw alone?"

"I saw two bitches with them, but now it's only one."

"Wait about ten minutes and then come up."

I'm on fucking fire. Is the ho trying to set me up? See, this is why I don't trust hoes now.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

"Ramon, can you open the door?"

(JuJu)

"What up, Katari?"

"Bitch, where you been? I been trying to get a hold of you for two weeks now."

"I been booked up. What's up?"

"I see. I asked Tyesha where you were. Anyway, bitch shit just got real out here."

"Well don't keep me in suspense."

"First, rumor has it that you and yo' crew killed Pancho."

My mouth almost hits the ground. "Who the fuck lying like that?"

"Lil Man said y'all killed his brother and ain't nobody heard from his sister, Tutu."

"I don't even know a Tutu, and his little ass better quit lying like that before I get Woodie to fuck his little ass up."

"That ain't even the half. Some nigga been riding around the hood in a tan Impala looking for some nigga named Dirty E."

"What he look like?"

"I haven't seen him, but I know he paid Lil Man, and now he knows that E is a girl. I also know who y'all is too."

"E gon get that little shit."

"Just be careful. You know you my boo thang."

"Thanks, boo." I pick up the phone to call Jaw. No answer! Fuck it. He's just going to have to come with me to fuck Lil Man up real quick. As I start walking back across the street toward the house, I can feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

"What's that all about?" I say to no one in particular. As I reach the top of the stairs, I don't hear shit. "They must be on the back porch."

I turn the knob to enter Boo's apartment, and out of nowhere, I feel a gun being pressed to my back. "Bitch, I'ma kill you just like you killed my brother!"

I could piss myself right then and there. I try to turn around, but he pushes me through the door. What I see next brings me to my knees. Jaw and Poohman are lying unconscious. Boo and my besties are all tied up on their knees with duct tape over their mouths. I am so into my conversation with my girl outside that I don't even see E and Tiki pull up.

Damn, out of all the shit I've done in my life, I've never thought it would end like this. As I look into the eyes of my besties, I see no fear. We've come up together, gotten money together, cried together, killed together, and shit, I guess it looks like we're 'bout to lay it down together. We've had a great run together. We shook this muthafucking city up like dice. For real!

Coming up, all we had was each other. We didn't give a fuck about nobody because nobody gave a fuck about us. We rode hard in these streets, burning a lot of muthafuckers in the process. What? We ESC, East Side Crazy! You better know it.

We fucked up though. We got comfortable, started sleeping on the enemies, and they swarmed on our asses like killer bees. As I stand here ready to meet my maker, I can't help but wonder, did I choose the wrong career path? Hearing the hammer cock back on the gun that I'm sure will end our lives, I can't help but see my life flash before my eyes. The beginning was bad, but this shit right here, my nigga, is death . . . Literally!

(Lil Mama)

Why the fuck isn't nobody answering their phones? Agghh! This shit is pissing me off. I got some words for Boo's ass. I love my sister, but she's been keeping shit from me. Call me paranoid if you want, but I had Pete watching her ass. She's back in the game, and I'm mad about it. I thought that time was enough to shut her ass down. It's dangerous, and she's got enemies that she don't even know about.

From what Pete said, the nigga that told on her is sniffing around town trying to get the drop on her. Why is he looking for her now? I don't know, but it's not good.

"Boo, pick up the phone. I'm on my way over. Pete told me some shit. I'ma kill yo' ass, just so you know."

(JR)

"Bitch, I'ma kill every last one of these muthafuckers, and you're going to watch me do it. You made me watch my brother die, so I'ma gladly return the favor."

I look around the room at each and every face. Sure enough, these are the little bastards that hit up my garage, and the bank in Indiana.

"Big Moe, we got stained by some fucking kids. Where the fuck our money at from the garage and the bank?"

I snatch the tape off of the stud broad's mouth. "Talk pussy!"

This little bitch looks up at me, hawks, and spits in my face. "Fuck you, nigga!"

The nerve of this bitch-ass nigga. "OH YEAH?"

WHACK!

I punch that bitch in her mouth so hard that my knuckles bust. "You gon be the first one I torture and kill."

I turn my attention to this pretty-ass bitch with emerald-green eyes. I remember those eyes. No lie; she is the one that upped that AK-47 on us at the bank. The way she shot ol' girl in the head without hesitation, I know not to underestimate her. She is a killer. I snatch the tape from her mouth.

"I know those eyes. You the bitch from the bank with the AK."

She just looks at me. The look she gives me sends shivers down my spine. "Oh, you think you tough?"

Still no answer.

"Okay, have it your way."

I walk over to where I knocked Poohman's ass out.

"Where that money?"

Her eyes shoot daggers at me. Guaranteed, if she could get to me, she'd try to kill me. I like a gangsta-ass bitch. "I'ma come back to you. We got all day, but this nigga I don't need."

I point the gun at Poohman's stomach.

BOOM!

"POOHMAN! NOOOOOO!"

"Oh, you do talk."

(ReRe)

All I know is, one minute we were all laughing, walking up the stairs, and the next thing I know, we have a big-ass gun pointed at our faces.

"Get the fuck on the ground!"

"What the fuck?"

"Bitch, shut the fuck up!"

Then out of nowhere, WHACK! WHACK!

This crazy-ass nigga knocks Poohman and Jaw out cold. I was mad that I left my pistol in the car. He snatches me in the crib, and that's when I see Boo tied up on the floor.

"Lay down, ho!"

Damn, I'm about to die like this? I hope Ju don't come up here. I want my bestie to live her life to the fullest. My life has been fucked up since birth. I don't have a soul. I don't have shit, really. I'm used up. That's why I haven't let Poohman sex me. I'm too scared that he won't like it because my daddy used me up.

Oh God! I hear people coming up the stairs. Shit, think! Fuck! It's E and Tiki. I can't call out to them, because I don't want to get shot. Shit, I'm about to die anyway. As I get up enough air in my lungs to scream past this tape on my mouth, I am guessing the dude saw me make that effort. This grimy muthafucker hits me so hard in my stomach that I see stars.

"UGHH!"

"E, don't," is all I get out before everything goes black.

(E)

"Man, I'm hungrier than that thing." Tiki looks at me like, "What's new?" "Tiki, call one of them hoes and tell them we are around the corner."

She picks up her phone. "Neither one of their asses are answering the phone. Probably all Boo loving and shit."

"Let me find out you jealous." She looks at me as if I am crazy.

"You know better."

We hit Marquette and find a parking spot. "They're here, because there go Jaw's Charger."

To be honest, the whole scene doesn't feel right to me. As we make our way up the stairs, I feel funny as shit.

"E, what the hell? Why you looking like you smell a shitty diaper?"

"I don't know, Tiki. I don't feel right."

"Quit smoking all that weed, ho."

"Whatever!"

We get to the top of the stairs, and I swear it is quiet as hell. I go to reach for the doorknob, when all of a sudden, the door flies open.

"What's good, Dirty E?"

(Lil Mama)

I can't believe that nobody's answering their phones. I need to talk to Boo.

"Fuck!" I hit the steering wheel while being caught at a red light. I look up to see this old-ass lady mean mugging me.

"What the fuck you looking at, Granny? Mind your business, ol' nosey bitch!"

Yes, I am that mad. As I pull up to her crib, there are no parking spots. "Are you serious?"

I finally find one a few houses down. As soon as I get out, I see my niece's little friend Katari running toward me.

"Girl, why you looking like somebody just slapped the shit outta you?"

"You need to get up there, now! I heard a shot, and I heard somebody scream!"

"WHAT?"

"I saw this nigga creep up there after JuJu left from over here. I been calling, but she ain't answering."

"FUCK!"

I'm on parole. I don't need this shit. I run back to my car and pop my trunk. I grab my gun and check the chamber. What? Better safe than sorry. This the East Side of Chicago. These niggas don't discriminate. Parole or not, I stay strapped. And for future references, don't bring your ass over here without one.

I hit the gangway and quietly creep up the back stairs. As I make my way to the top of the stairs, I can hear voices coming from the kitchen area.

"Big Moe, don't kill 'em yet. We need that money, nigga."

"Fuck all that. Let's shoot these muthafuckers and be done with it. We can hit another spot. I'ma start with that bitch Boo, since she wanna set niggas up."

Kill Boo? Shoot WHO? Not my sister. Okay, think! Before I can come up with anything, all hell broke loose.

(JuJu)

I'ma be fucked up for life after this shit. I'm not even worried about me. I feel bad for my bestie. She can't do shit but watch Poohman bleed to death. I'm hurting more because it's been years since I saw ReRe cry. She is just over there rocking back and forth and the tears are just flowing. Then, when we finally make eye contact, all hell breaks loose!

(ReRe)

I can't believe this pussy-ass nigga shot my man. If we're going to die, it won't be like this. I see JuJu looking at me, and I can't help but cry harder. She might think it's because of Poohman being shot, but it isn't. I got this blade in my hands and I'm slowly cutting away at the tape. Thing is, the tape isn't the only thing I'm cutting. I'm fucking my damn wrists up. That's why I'm crying. This shit hurts!

I block the pain because I'm almost there. POP! I snap the tape in half. Now it's on! I crawl over to where Jaw and Poohman lie, and snatch the tape off of their mouths.

"Jaw, where—"

He cuts me off. "My auntie got that choppa under the couch. Hurry up so I can get him to the hospital."

I look toward the kitchen to see where they are. I hurry up and cut Jaw loose.

"Aww shit! Here they come!"

Jaw looks at me with murder all in his eyes. "Chop their ass down!"

That's all I need to hear. I put my back against the wall and wait. That nigga JR is the first to hit the corner. "Talk that shit now!"

He looks at me and says some real shit. "Bitch, I been ready!"

I go to pull the trigger. CLICK! CLICK!

He smiles at me. "I guess God ain't ready for me."

WHACK! He punches me so hard in my face that I go flying backward, dropping the gun. After that, he is all over me. I can throw these paws with the best of them, but this nigga is possessed. As we roll around on the floor, I can see Jaw and JuJu fighting Big Moe.

E, Tiki, and Boo are still tied up. I can see my baby still lying on the floor clutching his stomach. That gives me some type of energy. I grab this nigga's balls and try to pull them the fuck off.

"Yeah, bitch, I like that freaky shit!"

That must have given him a burst of energy because he starts hitting me harder and faster. I am on the verge of blacking out when I hear "POP! POP! POP!"

He falls on top of me. "What? Get him off of me!" I have no strength left after fighting this clown. I'm trying to push him off of me, but he is dead weight for real. Who the fuck shot him? I see Lil Mama pull him one way so that I can slide from up under him the other way.

"Y'all alright? Where Big Moe, Jaw?"

Jaw's ass is still breathing hard. "That nigga ran out the front door after he heard the shots."

I run over to where Poohman is lying. "Baby, let me see your wound."

I lift his shirt up, and I see a hole the size of a dime. I don't see blood.

"Shit, Jaw! We gotta get him to the hospital. He's bleeding internally."

(Lil Man)

On my mama, I'ma kill every last one of them pussy-ass muthafuckers. I just got a call from my mama. They just found my sister dead in her apartment. Bad enough, I just lost my brother. He took care of me. He always made sure I had the best video games and the newest Jordans. I can't believe Dirty E and those three bitches crossed him like that. I got something for their asses. Watch!

(Lil Mama)

These last few days been crazy. After that shit that happened at Boo's crib, I've been on full alert. Poohman in critical condition. JuJu been at the hospital with Jaw. I'ma have a talk with all their little asses when I get the time. See, I had Pete watching their little asses too! They're really out here doing the most. Robbing drug dealers, and they just hit a bank. What type of shit is this? I mean, here I am trying to stay on the right path. My sister's back in the drug game. My niece and her little besties making power moves and shit. It almost makes me want to . . . Hell naw! Fuck that! Eight years was long enough. But damn, that little $250,000 I got stashed isn't going to last long.

RING! RING!

"What up, Sis?"

"Come pick me up. We need to talk."

(Auntie Boo)

I'ma kill these fucking kids! I don't know what the hell they got us into. Then this nigga Ramon or Big Moe, whatever his name is. I'ma personally kill that bitch when I catch up with him. One minute I'm grilling steaks and having a decent conversation, and the next thing you know, I'm being hit over the head with a gun. What part of the game is that?

My murder game is official. Niggas respect my name alone. Apparently, my nephew and his friends have been real busy. It was almost impossible trying to convince the police that somebody tried to run up in my crib. Had Poohman not been shot, we'd all be in jail for that nigga's body. Lil Mama got ghost before they even came.

After that, Jaw told me some shit that had me stuck on stupid. First, he had been moving weight since he was fifteen, and he was doing it under Heidi's and my noses. Second, JuJu and her little besties not only robbed Big Moe for $350,000, but they also robbed a bank that Big Moe and his boys were trying to rob at the same damn time!

Then Poohman and Jaw accidently helped, adding themselves to Big Moe's murder list. Small world! Who knew that I would end up talking to the same Big Moe? I just called Lil Mama and told her to come get me. I was out of the game for a minute when I got out the feds. That nine-to-five shit just wasn't for me. So I shut up my dude and just kind of, you

know . . . got back down!

I'm extra paranoid though. Niggas telling like crazy. I can't give these people no more of my life, but this is the life. I missed the power that I had over Chicago. I was that bitch. Fuck that. I _am_ that bitch! I think Lil Mama and I could guide these little go-getters the way that we got around.

I thought their little asses were some squares, but they fooled the shit outta me. I'm down to take over this city one more time. For good! I see it in Lil Mama's eyes. She has some gas left in her tank. She's a fool with them pistols too. We got our whole squad already.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

"I hate when you knock, Lil Mama." I walk toward the door and swing it open. "Bitch, you could have—"

My words get caught in my throat when I see who is standing before me. My mentor, my friend. The man that taught me the game is standing before me with a gun pointed at my head.

"I know you saw me."

I know exactly what he is talking about. A while ago, I got up with him to discuss some business. He was too jittery for my liking, so I told him that I had shit to do. I jumped in my whip and peeled off. Something told me to double back. Sure enough, this snake-ass nigga hopped in a white Impala with the feds.

He called me for three days straight. I had no words for him. Next thing you know, I was being indicted for a whole rack of shit. I knew better than to take that shit to trial. I pleaded out and ended up with six years. Needless to say, his ass disappeared. I never told the guys about his role in bringing me down. I guessed he'd finish me off so I'd take his secret to the grave.

Now he's standing here with murder all in his eyes.

"I didn't tell nobody, just so you know."

He looks at me with tears in his eyes, a look I have never seen. I know then that I am about to die.

"You will take that to your grave!"

I just have to ask, "Why did you do me like that?"

BOOM!

I'm slipping, I'm falling, I can't get up

I'm slipping, I'm falling, I can't get up

I'm slipping, I'm falling, I got to get up

get back on my feet so I can tear shit up!

# Chapter 18

### Big Moe

"Hello."

"Yo, this Big Moe. Where you at? I fucking need you right now!"

"What's wrong?"

"Bitch, just get here."

"I got yo' bitch! Where's Junior? Hello! Where the fuck is my brother, Ramone?"

"It wasn't my fault."

CLICK!

FUCK! I'll find another ride. I can't believe this shit. I thought that bitch Boo was official. Everything is all fucked up now. How did we get caught slipping? Damn! Junior and Boogie both are gone. I'm low on my stash. Those little muthafuckers took all our bread. I need to lay low and regroup.

I'm too fucking scared to drive, so I start walking toward 87th Street to the bus stop, when somebody calls me.

"A, wait up."

I turn around about to shoot this muthafucker, when I see it's a fucking kid.

"Fuck you want, little nigga?"

"I just saw you run up outta that crib on 84th."

I start looking around because I'm about to snatch this little bastard in one of these gangways and shoot his ass. He sees my actions, and he puts his hands up.

"Whoa, homie! I am not the law. I just wanna know, did you kill them four bitches?"

I stare at him as if he is fucking crazy. "What four bitches?"

"Them four bitches that killed my brother when they stole that money outta that garage."

"Who the fuck are you?"

This little fucker has heart. He pokes his chest out and tilts his head to the side. "My name is Lil Man. If you didn't kill 'em, I wanted to!"

"You want to?"

"Hell yeah! They killed my brother!"

I think I could use this little muthafucker as bait.

"How old are you?"

"I'll be fourteen in three weeks. I know where they hang at. I just need a pistol."

I think about it for a few more seconds. "Alright. I might be able to help you out."

"Bet!"

Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do

whatcha gonna do when they come for you?

Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do

whatcha gonna do when they come for you?

# Chapter 19

### Detective Malone

"Okay, shut the hell up so I can properly brief y'all on what our next assignment is. This will be operation ESC." I look around the room to see if I have everyone's attention.

"My informant has briefed me, so now I can fill you all in. In the past two months, there have been three murders, several robberies, and a series of other crimes that are now on my radar. Rumor has it, these four little perps have been running around robbing and murdering people. I have a big problem with that. I could give a rat's ass if they kill each other, less work for us."

I can hear a few chuckles in the room.

"The problem is that they are supposedly responsible for the double homicide in that bank robbery in Hammond, Indiana. Now I got the chief sniffing up my ass, and I don't like that. My ass is off limits!"

A rookie by the name of House speaks up, "Boss, ain't Indiana out of our jurisdiction?"

"Yeah, but we are gonna do what we can to help them out and keep the chief far away from my ass. Besides, those little bastards are from our district. Now my informant says that she knows the perps really well. They are believed to be armed and dangerous."

Just as I am finishing up my speech, the dispatcher calls.

"All units available, we have a possible 187 in progress. Please respond to 8415 South Marquette. Neighbors have reported shots fired."

House is the first to speak, "Boss, ain't that the house that had that shootout a few days ago?"

"Yeah, and it's your time to show me what you got, rookie!"

I dismiss the officers and make my way to my office for some privacy.

"Hello, this is Malone. Did you give him the address? Okay. Don't do shit until you hear from me. Bitch, listen to me. Shut the fuck up then. I'll pay you when I know the job is done."

I sit down at my desk, and I have to shake my damn head. All my life, I wanted to be a cop. You know the "protect and serve" kind of cop. I worked my ass off as a rookie. Then I became a lieutenant and then a homicide detective. I followed the rules, and what do I get in return? A bunch of ungrateful motherfuckers in this city. The harder I work, the more I see how ungrateful my own department can be. The pay is on a check-to-check basis. I can't live like that, so I turned to the dark side.

My best informant was found dead in a garage a few weeks ago. That shit really hurt my pockets. Now I'm dealing with his woman. She claims to have solid information on the East Side Crazy Crew. I want that money they stole from Pancho. I'm not going to stop until I body their little asses.

I get up from my desk ready to respond to the Marquette call, when my phone rings.

"Hello."

"Boss, you need to get over here now!"

"I'm on my way. What's wrong?"

"You'll never believe who's on the stretcher fighting for her life!"

"Who, dammit?"

"Just get here, Boss! If she makes it, all hell is gonna break loose!"

"Fuck!"

Let a nigga try me, try me

I'ma kill his whole mafucking family

and I ain't playing with nobody

fuck around and I'ma catch a body!

# Chapter 20

### Lil Mama

"Hi, you've reached Boo. Leave a message."

"Bitch, how you going to tell me to come get you and now you not answering the phone." I hang up mad as fuck! I hate that shit! I have so many thoughts running through my head right now. I know that she's about to tell me that she's back in the game. Ugggh! I'm frustrated. When she was on, it was love. We didn't have to worry about money, but fuck, I'm on parole. Federal parole at that.

"What the fuck?" I pull up on the block, and there are police and ambulances everywhere. I try to find a parking spot, when I hear my name. "Lil Mama, get out! Get out!" I see my niece's friend running up to my car. "What the hell is going on?"

She is breathing so hard that I can barely understand her. "Calm down! Now tell me what's wrong!"

"Somebody shot Boo!"

That's all she gets out of her mouth before I push her little ass out my way and take off running full speed up the block. I make it to Boo's yard before a police officer grabs me. "Ma'am, you can't go in there."

"Let me go! That's my sister's house!"

He isn't letting up, so that shit sends me through the roof. "LET ME THE FUCK GO! WHERE'S MY SISTER?" I am screaming at the top of my lungs when the paramedics bring my sister out on a stretcher.

"BOO? BOO, WHO DID THIS? SIS, WAKE UP PLEASEEEE!"

My pleas go on deaf ears because she isn't responding. "Let me go, please! She fucking need me!" Now I'm jumping up and down acting a damn fool because this pussy-ass police officer won't let me go.

"Ma'am, I'ma cuff you if you don't calm down!"

I let them load her up into the ambulance. "A, Woodie, get my car and follow the ambulance!" I get ready to try to get in the ambulance, when the paramedic grabs me. "Let me go! I'm riding with my sister!"

He looks down and then back at me. "Ma'am, she's nonresponsive."

I am having a hard time understanding what he is saying. "She needs me! Let me ride with her, please?" The last thing I hear before I see black is, "I'm sorry, but she's gonna be DOA."

(LJ)

Man, shit's been crazy this whole summer. Within two months, I met a chick, fell in love with her, accidently helped her and her besties rob a bank, and witnessed a few murders. The little chick and her besties came up in a major way. I haven't seen a chick more about that life, but man, Joe, with the good came the bad. My best friend is in the hospital fighting for his life. We got this crazy-ass nigga Big Moe on the prowl. Both of his cousins are dead because of somebody in our crew.

I need my homie to get right. We got this money to make. We also need to find Big Moe and send his ass on a one-way ticket to hell. My Auntie Boo blessed us with her Jamaican connect. That's a boss bitch for real! Man, I swear that lady is untouchable. With her back in the game, I'm sure we're about to hit that millionaire status sooner than later. I'm really trying to make enough dough so my boo, Ju, can relax and finish school. I don't want her out here in these streets doing all this crazy shit.

I got a feeling that her little ass got turned out to this bullshit. It doesn't help when her three best friends are all about that life. I have never seen three young chicks go so hard. Sadly, murder is a part of that equation.

When I saw ReRe shoot that lady at the bank, I was stuck. But what took the icing on the cake was when my girl popped Boogie's ass with no hesitation. I've been in the streets for a minute, and I have never leveled a nigga down. I never had to. I know for a fact that I'ma pop Big Moe's ass.

"Excuse me, sir; your friend wants to see you."

"Thank you."

I walk back to Poohman's room happy to see my boy sitting up on his own. That bullet to the stomach fucked him up. It hit a few organs, and now it is lodged in his back a few inches from his spinal cord.

"What it do?"

"Bro, she gone," he says, crying.

I look at his ass as if he is on fire. I have never seen Poohman cry. I instantly start crying. "Who's gone?" What he says next brings me to my knees hard. If I'd known, I would have sat down first.

"Auntie Boo! He shot her! She's gone, Jaw!"

\- THE END –

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