I Ain't No 50/50 Type Of Chick

22. Jayceon Brewer

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

JAYCEON brEWER

“ J ayceon!” Cali called my name loud as fuck.

“Yeah, Cali? Damn!” I groaned, turning over in bed, still sleepy.

“Your brother is here! He’s upfront!”

“My brother?”

“Yes, Maleek!”

With squinted eyes, I picked up my phone and noticed he had called me four times.

I yawned. “Tell that nigga I’ll be in there in a minute, but aye, let me holla at you for a second,” I told her as I exited the bed.

Cali turned around with an attitude. “What is it, Jayceon?”

“Well, first of all, get rid of the attitude. I thought giving you this dick last night would’ve solved all that.”

“ Momentarily, ” she shot back, looking at me unfazed.

“Anyway, you know that money I gave you yesterday.”

“Yeah?”

“Well, I kind of need it back,” I said as I put on my shorts. I really did need it back. I had lost all the bread I had shooting dice.

“Need it back?” Cali scoffed loudly. “And this is your way of redeeming yourself or becoming a better man by asking back money that you gave to me as a gift? Well, I’m sorry to tell you, but I don’t have it.”

“What the fuck you mean you don’t have it?”

“Just what I said! Yesterday, I did a little shopping for myself and the twins, something you were supposed to do! I also went ahead and paid up the bills for this month and the rent for next month. For one, to avoid an argument with you, and secondly, so I can get a head start on the twin’s Christmas.”

I felt like Cali was lying, not about the shopping, because she came home with hella shopping bags the day before, but more about her paying the rest of the bills for the month and rent for the following month. For her to have done that, she either was slap broke afterward, or she had gotten some more money from elsewhere.

“So, you’re saying you’re broke?” I asked.

“Yep! It’s becoming a norm around here, don’t you think?! The only difference this time is I’m stress-free because I know my bills are paid!” She smiled.

“I feel like you’re lying.”

“Even if I am lying, nigga, your first thought before even asking me to return anything that you’ve given me, when I rarely receive anything these days from you, should’ve been, ‘nah, she ain’t going for that shit’!”

“Yeah, aight.”

Without saying anything else to her, I left the room and headed to the front.

“What’s good, bro?” I slapped hands with Leek, then took a seat on the couch.

“Ain’t shit! Looks like you’re having a little trouble in paradise, huh?” he chuckled, letting it be known that he overheard me and Cali’s argument if one could call it that.

“Nigga, you’re the last person who should be talking. You got yo’ baby mama’s money?” I joked but said it in a low tone to avoid Cali hearing me.

His smile faded.

“Yeah, like I thought.”

“Anyway, nigga, look, I got you that meeting with my boss, but we gotta roll like now !”

“Now?!” I reared my head back at the urgency.

“Yeah, nigga, now ! He wants to meet with you in the next thirty minutes.”

“Thirty minutes?! Damn, he doesn’t give a nigga a twenty-four-hour notice at least?”

“Hell nah! He’s the type of nigga that, if he calls, he expects you to already be ready! So, if you want this money, get ready, nigga!”

I nodded, then stood. “I’ll be back.”

“Ten minutes, Jay! I know you try to be on yo’ pretty and clean boy shit, but we ain’t got time for all that this morning!”

“Aight, nigga!”

Although I said that, I was definitely about to wash my ass. I wasn’t trying to hear that shit Leek was talking, and I definitely wasn’t going around no new niggas looking or smelling like the day before.

When I reentered the room, Cali was almost finished dressing.

“You keep that lil’ chump change that I gave you. A nigga about to start making some real money after today,” I flaunted in her face, then swaggered into the bathroom.

“Nigga, whatever,” Cali said with a smack of her lips from behind me.

Cali thought I needed her ass, but I was about to quickly turn the tables on her.

“Damn, Jay! I told yo’ ass ten minutes! We literally got five minutes to make it to this nigga, and it’s a twelve-minute drive!” Leek fussed as we swerved through traffic, trying to make it to our destination.

“Then, I suggest you push this muthafucka so we can get there in half the time!” I advised.

“And risk getting a ticket that would prolong our time? Fuck no, nigga!”

“I don’t even know why you’re trippin’. Hell, the meeting is for me, not you!”

“Yeah, but I’m the muthafucka who vouched for your ass! So, you showing up late makes me look bad!”

“Look, my bad, bro, but you know I couldn’t leave the house half-steppin’. But, aye, it’s been a minute since we turned up. Let’s hit up a club tonight. I’m trying to see some ass and add me another baddie to my team.”

“Nigga, fuck having the baddest. You better find somebody who really gives a fuck about you, which is Cali.”

“Bro, Cali doesn’t give a fuck about me. I think we both just tolerate each other, probably for different fuckin’ reasons. And since when did you become such a homebody and goody two-shoe ass nigga?”

“When I realized that one fuckin’ woman is enough. Bro, you should never be out here spending mo’ time with yo’ niggas or other bitches than you do with yo’ woman.”

I didn’t know what had gotten into Maleek, but I felt like he was having a mental breakdown or something; I assumed it was because of what he and Jai were going through. Then again, maybe he was just sexually frustrated since he did mention she wasn’t giving up any pussy.

“Look, Leek, I don’t know what phase you’re going through in life, but one pussy just ain’t enough for me right now. Hell, I honestly don’t know if Cali is the one for a nigga. I’m still trying to explore my horizons.”

Leek shook his head as he pulled up in front of a white house nestled in one of the more affluent neighborhoods.

“What the hell are we doing here?” I asked, my curiosity tinged with apprehension.

Leek turned off the engine and glanced at me. “This is where we’ll be meeting my boss. And by the way, that’s what we call him—Boss.”

“Fuck the nickname. What’s the nigga’s real name?” I pressed.

“The hell if I know,” he replied, shrugging.

“Are you serious, Leek? You don’t even know this nigga’s real name?”

“I already told you I don’t. And honestly, if it makes you feel any better, none of his workers do—at least, not to my knowledge. Come on, Jay. Stop acting like this is a big ass surprise. You know how the game works.”

I found that shit to be strange as hell. How could he be working for someone and not even know their real name? Not even a hint of a nickname other than the vague title of “Boss”? But I pushed those thoughts aside, focusing instead on the neighborhood we were in.

“Yeah, aight. But we’re meeting him here, you say? This looks like a regular fuckin’ house. I thought we’d be meeting up at a warehouse somewhere.”

“Nah, he doesn’t roll like that, at least not for these types of meetings. Now, before we go in here, let me just tell you, Jay, don’t go in there on no rah-rah shit, acting all tough. This nigga is not a friendly ass nigga by a long shot.”

“Damn, you’re acting like you’re scared of the nigga.” I stared at my brother, questioning his manhood.

“This ain’t about being scared, Jay! He’s the type of nigga who will kill yo’ ass with no hesitation and wouldn’t give a fuck about it afterward!”

“Well, if he tried , I would hope that you’d have my back, and hell, if he succeeds, you get revenge by murking his ass.” I looked at him.

“Bro, you know I got yo’ back. Look, just don’t go in there starting any unnecessary bullshit. Most importantly, speak only when spoken to! Now, let’s go! We’re already fuckin’ late!”

As Leek exited the car, I couldn’t help but shake my head at the man he was slowly turning into. Even though we shared the same blood and had grown up together, when it came to certain issues, we couldn't have been more different. Where I chose to remain oblivious and nonchalant, he sought empathy and understanding, and that divided us in ways that were hard to ignore.

“About damn time,” a nigga in a ski mask grunted as he swung open the door. “Follow me,” he instructed, gesturing for us to step inside.

As I entered the house, my eyes scanned the room, and I quickly spotted several men stationed in the corners, each gripping heavy firearms. Those weren’t your average handguns; they were weapons designed for serious business, the kind that could turn a situation deadly in an instant.

“What the hell is going on?” I muttered to Leek, keeping my voice low, but of course, he ignored my ass, focusing solely on the task at hand.

We continued down the hall until we reached another room where even more men were gathered, all wearing ski masks that concealed their identities. In that moment, it felt as if we were intruders about to be ambushed or some shit. In the center of the room stood a nigga whose stance seemed to command the attention of everyone around him.

“You’re late,” came from him. His tone was impatient, giving off an air of authority.

“Yeah, but only by a few minutes! Damn! A nigga showed up! That should be worth something,” I shot back.

Leek shot me the meanest glare, then shook his head, basically telling me I had royally fucked up. Not only that, but the room grew quiet. The next thing I knew, one of the soldiers stepped to me with his gun aimed at me.

“Muthafucka, did he say you could talk?! He talks, and you listen! That’s how shit goes around here!” the nigga hissed through clenched teeth as he pressed the cold, metallic gun against my forehead.

“I got it,” Boss instructed, tapping the nigga on the shoulder, prompting him to lower his weapon.

Leek stood nearby, still shaking his head in disappointment as he watched the exchange unfold.

Moments later, Boss stepped closer. I couldn’t see any of his facial features due to the disguise, but I could sense the intensity of his gaze penetrating through the mask.

“You showing up here means nothing to me, nigga,” he said, his voice cool and measured, “but I’m guessing it means everything to you. Remember, I don’t need you, but from what I’ve heard, you definitely need my help.”

With raised brows, I glanced over at Leek, wondering what all he had told that nigga about me.

Boss pulled out his gun.

“You know, I should kill you right now for that remark you made. Believe me, I’ve killed niggas for less. But… on the strength that I could possibly use a nigga like you on my team is the only reason you’re still breathing. So, don’t thank your brother for me not putting a bullet between your eyes because he’s definitely not the reason you’re still breathing. That being said,” he stepped closer and pressed his gun between my eyes, “I’m never free, nigga. I make time. So, respect my fuckin’ time when I give it to you. Are we clear?”

I swallowed my pride because I really felt in that moment that nigga would kill me.

“Crystal,” I replied through gritted teeth.

He patted my shoulder.

“Good! Now, I hear that you want to join my team, and as I’m sure your brother has already informed you, I don’t just put anybody on my team, and well… let’s just say the shit isn’t a walk in the park either. So, I hope you didn’t come here thinking I was just going to induct you because of your brother. Nah. Actually, he’s been a real disappointment lately… slacking some serious. Who knows? A month from now, you’ll probably be in his position.” The guy laughed, causing the other niggas to join in.

I looked over at Leek, and I could tell he was seething with anger, but he remained quiet. I didn’t like how they were clowning my brother, but if he remained quiet, then it was probably best that I did the same. Well, pertaining to that.

“Do I have permission to speak?” I asked, my voice low and hesitant, the words escaping my lips like a timid child seeking approval.

Before responding, Boss took a seat, lit a blunt, then leaned back and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke that curled toward the ceiling. With a raised eyebrow and a hint of a smirk playing on his lips, he finally said, “You may.”

“So, what do I got to do?”

“I’ll have you a package ready in a few days. Come back then, and we’ll discuss everything. Now, get the fuck out of my face, you and your brother,” he rudely dismissed us.

I felt my fist ball up, but I knew that was a moment I had to control my anger.

“Damn, Jay, would it hurt you to just shut the fuck up sometimes?” Leek fussed after we exited the house.

“Leek, you know I ain’t about to just let a nigga talk to me any kind of way! Hell, I’m surprised you did!”

Leek stopped in his tracks and faced me. “As you can see, he wasn’t a regular nigga! Oh, but that first nigga who stepped to you is probably worse than him! You need to fuckin’ listen to me sometimes! You could’ve gotten both of our asses killed!”

“Well, we still here, so I guess you can say we had an angel watching over us!”

“Everything is a fuckin’ joke to you these days! This is real life, Jay! Grow the fuck up!”

“Don’t take your fuckin’ anger out on me because yo’ boss trying to give me yo’ position!”

“Nigga, what?! You know what… fuck you, Jay! A careless ass nigga like you could never fill my position! Find a way back to your crib, bitch ass nigga!”

That nigga hopped in his whip, locked the doors to where I couldn’t open them, and then sped off.

“Well, fuck you too, nigga! I don’t need you! I don’t need none of y’all asses!”

I was going to show him and Cali that I could make it without both of their asses, even if that meant me taking my brother’s spot.

This is a dog-eat-dog world, and I’m hungry as fuck.