Chapter 4 #2
Their father, Hampton, or Big Hamp, as people used to call him, was pushing weight big time during the 1990s. He had just been promoted to Q’s right-hand man when he first laid eyes on Annabelle walking home from school.
Let his mother tell it. He was smitten with her “around-the-way girl” vibe, but because of the ruthless reputation that preceded him, she kept her distance.
For over a year, he would park outside her school in his Benz, waiting for her to get out so he could walk her home safely.
For over a year, this was their routine, and slowly but surely, he won her over.
Just before giving birth to Havoc, she was approved for a unit in the projects, and she moved Hamp in to play the part of head of household.
After a few months, Hamp moved her into a small rental house a few blocks over and set up shop in her project apartment.
He had also taught Belle how to cook his work.
Hamp and his “belle” stood side by side, taking over.
Slowly, the little family they made became hood royalty.
Always one for presentation, he made sure they were always dripping in designer. They always had the best of the best.
Now, with a mature mindset, Danger didn’t see things that way.
Sure, they had the newest Fubu, every pair of Jordans, and the custom Mercedes-Benz, but they were still in the fucking hood.
After his father went to jail and all that shit was sold or confiscated, they ended up starting over in that same project apartment with nothing.
His mother had to take on odd side jobs just to hold it down.
Danger and Havoc became the heads of the household.
In his eyes, his father cared only about being hood rich rather than truly wealthy.
He could have easily bought a house for his family and even a rental home for his grandmother, to have something after all the smoke cleared.
Danger decided to change the subject. “Anyway… you and the golden girls still playing cards tomorrow?”
“You know it. That’s why I’m doing all this baking.
Tracy isn’t gonna be here this time- something about an anniversary cruise.
Ms. Glenda’s gonna bring the chicken, Tina got the ham biscuits and meatballs, and Chrissy’s gonna bring the mac and cheese.
Noma can’t bring hers anymore, tore my guts up last time.
Talk about it, she put some type of vegan cheese in her recipe.
Then she had the nerve to say that Maurice eats it just fine.
Like that boy doesn’t eat everything in sight. ”
They both burst out laughing. Danger grew up with Maurice and always remembered him as a fat kid.
“How is he doing anyway?” Last he heard, Maurice had dropped out of college and was trying to become a rapper or something like that.
“He’s doing all right, I suppose. You should see him now; he’s changed, and not for the better.
He’s apparently signed with a label. Noma bragged at our last game, saying her baby boy bought her a house and a new Mercedes.
I don’t understand why she wants that boy to be something he’s not.
He had a few shows at the Camel Club recently.
” She moved from the kitchen into her living room.
Danger stayed around for about thirty more minutes before his mother pushed him out the door, just as her guest arrived.
With a kiss on the cheek, he got out of her hair and went to see Chyna.
After checking her location, he learned she was home instead of at her store, which should have been open at this time of day.
Chyna was on her couch, scrolling through her phone, when Danger walked into her townhouse.
The place smelled of rotten food. His irritation grew as he eyed the sink full of dishes and the laundry spread across the living room.
Mountains of boxes were taking over her dining room, with merchandise for her store amongst them.
“Hey, boo!” she said, eyes still glued to her phone.
“So, you’re not opening the store today?” He picked up a box with a shipping label from the dining room table.
“Nah, business has been slow as fuck lately, so I decided to close for the rest of the week.”
“Are you at least shipping out products to your customers then?”
“In a lil bit. My customers know the policy.” China waved him off. “They get the shit when they get it.”
Danger shook his head; he had heard the rumors circulating concerning her business practices.
“Why don’t you just ask the girl you hired for the shop to come over and pack and ship out all your orders?” Danger said, leaning into the living room doorway.
“She quit… something about inconsistent hours,” China said nonchalantly, still staring at the 75-inch TV screen mounted on the wall.
Danger pinched the bridge of his nose. It was shit like this that irritated him about Chyna.
She would go all out, investing in new hobbies or business ideas she had, and the moment she got bored or felt they weren’t doing as well as she hoped, she would throw everything away.
First, she wanted to sell bundles, then invest in waist trainers, then some type of SlimFast tea.
It was a cycle, wash, rinse, and repeat.
It was only a matter of time before she hopped on the next wave.
“You need to get these people’s orders out. Aren’t you tired of people making statuses and shit about you not shipping orders, or worse, people complaining about not getting their shit at all?” He was in front of her now, blocking her view of the TV.
“What’s your problem, huh? Did something happen with your drop today? You need your dick sucked?” She grabbed his hand, but he snatched it away and went into the kitchen.
She hopped up from the couch, hot on his heels, and followed him as he went straight to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water.
She leaned against the kitchen counter, arms folded. “Seriously, what’s up with you?”
“Nothing. Just tired, that’s all.” Danger gave her a lazy smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
He wanted to tell her about his future business endeavors, but for what? She didn’t share his ambition or hustle. Since he had been in her life, everything had been easier. He was starting to think she was opening the boutique only to flex on social media.
“Well, let me take care of you real quick.” Chyna dropped to her knees and unbuckled his pants. In one motion, she had his long, hard dick in her mouth.
As his dick slid down her throat, his mind began to drift.
They had been doing whatever this was for years.
With most of their time together blending in so much, Danger didn’t know where to lead them.
They both just went with the flow, no real commitment, just a lot of sex and gifts.
There was once a time when he had a huge crush on Chyna, the neighborhood girl who everybody wanted a piece of but couldn’t get.
At twenty-four, Chyna shouldn’t have looked at seventeen-year-old Danger in that way, but she did, and from that moment forward, he stayed around knowing she was too old for him. Paying bills and financing things.
But this same ol’ routine was getting tiring.
His life was changing, and so were his needs.
What good was it to build a legacy without his own family?
It was the kids and marriage that he longed for.
Things they never talked about. Then came the big career shift.
Money would slow down and be invested. Would Chyna stay down?
She enjoyed the lifestyle he provided, but outside of superficial conversation and back-shots, they didn’t really have much in common.
Then it was his mother who hated Chyna and always expressed her disdain for the seven-year age gap between them. And his brother, who thought she was nothing more than a gold-digging hoe. Even if she did express interest in marriage, his family would never accept her.
Danger had so much to think about. He grew soft. His hand came down on her hair, stopping her motion.
She slid her mouth off him with a frown. Now on her feet, she asked him, “What’s going on with that?”
Danger tucked himself back into his pants. “I’ll hit you up later.”
Chyna gave him a sympathetic look. “Are we good?”
“As good as we will ever be.” Danger walked out of her townhouse, got into his truck, and drove away with a million and one problems on his mind.