Ch. 4
GENESIS
Smoke filled my lungs as I sat on the couch waiting for the rest of the crew.
It was ‘bout that time to get some shit going ‘round this muthafucka. I had the perfect fuckin’ plan and this shit was gon’ put hella bankroll in everybody pockets.
The risk of getting caught or hurt in this shit was low as fuck.
Nothing ‘bout this plan left them figuring out what was next.
All they had to do was get the fuck in and out. I had everything else handled.
The Springs had plenty of folk that handled jewelry, but this particular store had pieces on top of pieces, which meant they wasn’t short on stones.
Missing a few pieces wasn’t gon’ hurt them.
Twenty-One needed this shit. Ace and them were getting antsy and low on bread.
I knew if I didn’t put something in motion soon, them niggas was gon’ start doing dumb shit and bring the heat our way.
“Yoooo!” TJ hollered as he made his way through the front door. We had a lil’ trap spot we kicked it in. It wasn’t shit but an abandoned warehouse we nigga rigged. We ain’t have nowhere else to meet and do this hot shit at so this made do.
“What it do nigga?” I spoke back before taking another hit. He was gon’ ask for it as soon as he was in reach.
“Not shit. Where them niggas at?”
“On the way. You looking real spiffy and shit. Where the fuck you been?” I asked extending the blunt in his direction. He could have it. I was already high as a fuckin’ giraffes’ ass.
“Man, Ma Dukes wanted me to go with her to this damn job interview but come to find out it was for me the whole time. I should’ve known something was up when she said, ‘Dress appropriately, Tevin.’ I swear she set me up.”
“Sound like it to me. I got some shit for y’all boys. I need them to hurry up and fall through.”
“Let me check they lo. I think them boys together. I know Ace said something earlier ‘bout them running somewhere to meet some nigga.”
I was a lil’ throwed by them two venturing off together finding side quests and shit.
I was even more throwed that it was them two and not TJ and Hulk.
Yeah, we were a crew, but Ace was my left hand and TJ was Hulk’s right.
This shit lowkey had my curiosity running loose.
What the fuck was them two stupid muthafuckas up to?
“Cool. I see it,” I chuckled. I wasn’t pleased in the slightest but them were two grown ass men. I couldn’t control shit they had going on. “Check that lo and let me know wassup.”
He did like he was told and said, “Oh, they coming through the door right now.”
My head turned to the entrance, and they walked in like shit was sweet.
Ace always wore a smile but that damn Hulk had one stretched from ear to ear.
It was unusual of him, so a nigga felt uneasy ‘bout him lowkey.
When a grumpy muthafucka like him came in like a Chesire cat on a random ass Wednesday, my antennas were up, and I was on high alert.
“What it do? What it doooo?” Ace shouted.
“Where the hell y’all been?” I questioned. Ace was gon’ keep it a buck but something told me Hulk was ready to lie through them buttered crooked ass teeth of his.
“Shit, Hulk met up with—”
“I had to go check a play right quick,” Hulk commented.
“Nah, let him finish. He met up with who, Ace?” I pushed.
“Some nigga that supposed to—”
“That’s my business until I make it yours, nigga. Damn. Why the fuck you on my goddamn nuts like that? You questioning where the fuck a nigga be like I ain’t a grown ass man. The fuck wrong with you,” he said interjecting for the second time.
I cocked my head to the side as a grimacing smile plastered across my face.
He must’ve thought I was one of them punk pussy ass bums he be bossing around.
I wasn’t scared of him or anybody he had stepping behind him.
He had to know I wasn’t gon’ allow that, not from no nigga who didn’t know how to hustle without a fuckin’ blueprint being laid out for him.
Patience was a fuckin’ virtue. I waited until that nigga was in reach before I stood and hit him in his shit.
I wasn’t too fond of being disrespected by a fuck ass soul.
That put him on his ass with a busted lip.
He was dark but he could still be beaten black and blue and left leaking. My smirk had yet to fall.
Hulk hopped up ready to retaliate but Ace and TJ held him back. If they had any sense, they’d let that nigga go. He needed to release whatever he was feeling ‘cause we still had a job to do afterward. He wanted his lick back so by all means, run the fuck up!
“Aye, y’all brothers!” TJ yelled.
“Man, hell nah. Stop this fuck shit!” Ace shouted.
Poor hulk must’ve felt embarrassed. Lil’ nigga pulled out his .
9mm and aimed it right at my face. I know that shit right.
I was just as quick as he was. Tamera was out and at his dome seconds later.
Hulk knew once the twins were pulled it was only up from there.
He pulled that shit, so I hope he was prepared for the aftermath.
“Oh yeah, I love when a nigga on this type of timing. Make me take it there, so I can end yo’ snake ass,” I chimed in a calming tone.
“Black, chill the fuck out. Y’all brothers!” TJ reiterated.
“I’m an only child,” I said still cool as a fan and locked on my target.
“Who the fuck a snake though? Hulk? Man, ain’t no way. He been riding with us since day one. Why you trippin’ today all of a sudden?” Ace was gon’ catch it all even if he was the goofiest one out the crew.
“Damn, Hulk. I know you said this nigga ain’t shit to be played with but this lil’ nigga move like a killa for real.” My gaze shifted to the unfamiliar nigga walking through my fuckin’ spot like he was welcomed.
I wasn’t a nigga who liked surprises. I pulled Tia and aimed her in his direction.
I didn’t call for a visit not one time. This was Hulk’s doing and couldn’t nobody tell me different.
The nigga he went to meet was him. Perplexed as fuck as to how Hulk thought bringing muthafuckas to a place where we conducted business was the right fuckin’ move.
The nigga threw his hands up as he continued to close the gap between us. He wasn’t scared or cautious at all. He seemed like he was only performing to please me. The smirk that never fell was rubbing me the wrong way. It wasn’t shit genuine ‘bout him. I sensed that shit from a mile away.
“Don’t play with me. I’ll put you to rest way before yo’ bedtime nigga,” I said gripping my peace tighter. Tia’s trigger was on the way to getting pulled and he didn’t even know it.
“Woo! I like you!” he shouted.
“You must got a death wish or something.”
“Nah, but I got another job for y’all. Ain’t no middleman so the payout more,” he stated stopping next to Hulk.
“The only thing yo’ pussy ass need to have is a name, so I’ll know who the fuck I’m sending to OG.”
“Damn nigga, I need you on my team for real. The rest of y’all not asking enough questions. I see why he the leader of this muthafucka. I’m Bentley. The same nigga that sent that job through Walt,” he replied.
“I don’t work for niggas… especially ones that can’t even cook up a flawless plan. You too eager to take from a muthafucka and got them folk served as maggot food. What the fuck makes you think we ‘bout to do shit you plated this go round?”
“See, that’s yo’ fuckin’ problem. If you ain’t bringing it to the table, you don’t want to hear it. This thirty bands a piece. We need that bread!” Hulk shouted.
Glad to see you ain’t swallow yo’ tongue, bitch.
“I don’t need a bitch ass thing. Tell me this ain’t some snake shit, Ace.
Hulk ain’t told a soul ‘bout conversations he had with this outside nigga, yet he up in our shit like he belongs here. That last job could’ve got y’all wiped off the fuckin’ map right along with Walt.
Ain’t no way y’all think I’m going for this shit,” I said with my eyes still keyed in on the nigga I now knew as Bentley.
Niggas like him looked at us as throwaways. I might’ve been an asshole to these niggas at times, but even I cared enough not to put these stupid muthafuckas in a situation where their life was on the fuckin’ line. This nigga went after my brother like he wasn’t the most feared nigga up this way.
He finally dropped his hands and pocketed one of them. He tapped Hulk on the arm and Hulk put his pistol up. He seemed calmer now too. Oh, curiosity had a nigga by the tongue for real. Me on the other hand, I ain’t drop shit. I was still aimed and ready.
“Bentley want us to hit Royce again. He said the product did numbers in Florida. We doing that shit no questions asked,” Hulk voiced.
“You the kind of nigga that’ll let another nigga fuck you in the ass. The way you riding his shit right now for some bread is crazy to me. Twenty-One ain’t taking that job so get yo’ man’s up out of here before I do something to him,” I threatened.
“Come on, Black. That was mad disrespectful. This Hulk we talkin’ to. He ain’t switched or none of that. He giving you a break from scouting licks. Let him lead this one,” TJ chimed.
“The shit y’all let come out y’all mouths is what’s disrespectful. We don’t know this nigga!” I yelled. I was where they wanted me to be now. Shit, this whole warehouse could catch a grave if they weren’t careful.
“I do though,” Hulk answered with the quickness.
“Yeah, that ain’t the only thing you know, either. Why this nigga here, Hulk? It ain’t for no fuck ass job either. What the fuck you two got going on behind my back?”
I wasn’t buying shit either one of these niggas was saying.
Bentley looked like he could knock my lil’ ass out at any given moment which was why Tia didn’t budge.
I talked too much shit to let a nigga put me down so easily.
I wasn’t too proud to say he’d drop me, but I was damn sure too proud to be dropped, especially in front of these niggas.
“Despite what you want to believe, lil’ nigga, it’s just a job. I liked the way y’all handled that shit the first time, so I need y’all to double up. I pushed the payout so everybody will eat nicely,” Bentley spoke up.
“You and that nigga you standing beside got to be the dumbest thieving muthafuckas I know. Rule number one is never hit the same fuckin’ target twice.
You think Royce ‘bout to let y’all get him twice?
You must think I’m stupid like this nigga, even I know he switched shit up.
Plus, ain’t no inside man no more. Take that flawed ass plan, much like the fuckin’ last one, the fuck up out of here.
Twenty-One ain’t touching that, and that’s final! ”
Ace shook his head and walked away. TJ gave Hulk one last look before he followed behind him. All that was left was me, Hulk, and Bentley. I was daring one of them to buss a move. The twins ain’t caught heat in a while. They deserved some attention.
I’m begging you to flinch wrong.
“I know when I’m not wanted. If you change yo’ mind, Hulk know how to hit me.” Bentley took a few steps back before that menacing smile stretched from ear to ear. “When you ready to join the team, you can hit me, too.” Turning his back to me, he exited the same way he entered.
Hulk waited until he heard the door close before he found his voice. “That was some bitch shit, and you know it,” he said tightlipped.
“The only thing I know is yo’ ass moving real fuckin’ suspicious lately.
That’s the same nigga that sent a job to yo’ uncle and got him knocked the fuck off.
The nigga from Florida but trying to take from niggas in the Springs.
He know exactly who the fuck Royce is, and it’s evident he got a fuckin’ vendetta against him.
You think I’m ‘bout to put Twenty-One in the middle of they shit. Hell nah. I got our shit laid out on the table ready to be ran down and this pussy nigga walk in here with another swissed ass plan but yo’ goofy ass can’t see it ‘cause you too focused on the fuckin’ payout. ”
“It’s thirty grand a piece. Who ain’t jumpin’ on that shit?” Hulk saw money and nothing else. He ain’t hear a word I said other than the bread.
“Jump then bitch. He already told you how high. Ace, you and TJ jumping, too?” I asked. I was eager to hear their response.
“Nah bro,” TJ spoke first.
“The last time we went after that nigga, Royce, muthafuckas came up missing. I’m straight. I’m more interested in this shit right here. Diamonds? For real?” Ace questioned wearing a smile as he pointed to the play on the table.
“Outnumbered. Thirty grand ain’t shit to the money we ‘bout to touch. You so fuckin’ impatient,” I said finally withdrawing the twins completely.
“Don’t put yo’ fuckin’ hands on me no more and pull that trigger next time. I promise I ain’t letting it go again,” Hulk threatened.
“You better not ‘cause I ain’t running with no pussy ass niggas. I’m already eyeing you sideways, don’t fuck around and get comfortable next to yo’ dead ass uncle.”
Hulk’s eyes shifted and nothing but coldness exuded through them. I had him where I wanted him. I wasn’t shit to play with and he knew it. Twenty-One would be a three man instead of four. He walked over to the table and focused on what Ace shed light on.
“What’s up with these diamonds nigga?” he inquired. He was playing it cool, but I knew he wanted my head. I was definitely going to keep an eye on him.
“We going back to the Springs. Y’all dumbasses went after Royce and his drugs knowing that ain’t us.
We hitting his mall again fa sho, but it won’t be for no damn shipment, and it’s not the same mall.
We hitting the one across town. It’s a jewelry store called XXIV Carats.
I got word the owner just put some exclusive pieces out.
It’s time to make a move, boys,” I stated.
“I’m with it,” TJ said with a grin.
“You know I’m in it,” Ace chimed.
I looked to Hulk, and he nodded. “Bet.” I started to run the play down step by step. This was the one and them petty ass thirty bands wasn’t touching this payout. The buyer was ready with his billfold open.