Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
Hood
Fuck, this wasn’t the call I expected this morning. I told Adrienne to tread fucking lightly, but now she wanna fuck up Fumi’s Benz because a nigga ain’t paying her any attention. Now Adrienne and I got some real shit going on.
I’ll do whatever it takes to make Fumi happy, but this shit right here is unacceptable. Fumi will probably never fuck with me again after this shit. And now I got to come out of pocket to fix her car and buy her something else… I know she finna break my pockets, and it ain’t shit I can do about it.
I got out of bed to wash my face and take care of my hygiene. Adrienne put me in a bad spot, and I don’t like it. Yeah, she’s mad because we’re not fucking around, but that’s her fault, not mine; she made her choice.
Despite all that, we would still be here because my heart still belongs to Fumi. When I came home, I planned to make her mine without any interference. The last thing I want is to pull up to Fumi’s folks’ house with this shit, but it is what it is.
In all my years of juggling women, shit ain’t never played out like this. Fumi is the only woman I want. My momma finna go in. I slid my fit on and walked into the living room. My momma cooked breakfast, and I can’t even eat.
“Good morning, son. What’s wrong with you?”
“Ma, can you do me a favor?”
“Sure, is everything okay?”
“Somewhat. I need you to ride with me while I drop Fumi off with a car to drive.”
“Why are we dropping off a car to Fumi?”
“Some shit went down with her car?”
“And what does that have to do with you?”
“I need to know what I’m getting into…”
I fill my momma in on what happened to Fumi’s car. I know Adrienne did that shit, and my momma looked at me and shook her head.
“I told you these girls are crazy. Adrienne shouldn’t have done that. Fumi doesn’t deserve this shit.”
“I know.”
“So how do you plan to handle this?”
“I’m gonna get Fumi’s car fixed and buy her something else.”
“What about that heifer, Adrienne?”
“I don’t know yet. Ain’t really got that far. My only focus is making sure Fumi is good.”
I wouldn’t dare tell my momma that Adrienne is about to get handled sooner than she thinks. I ain’t giving out passes for fuck shit.
I ate breakfast before I got busy on the streets, but I barely had an appetite. My mind is heavy as fuck. I ain’t never wanted Fumi to get caught up in my shit. I know she’s mad; I can feel her pain.
Iain’t even been home a week. I wasn’t expecting to make any trips to my storage unit anytime soon. My momma is sitting on the passenger side, looking at me sideways. We’re just picking up a car for Fumi.
Shit, when I was hustling for real and really in the streets, I kept a fleet of cars; a nigga had so many that I had to get a storage facility for all of them.
We pulled up to the storage facility forty-five minutes later. The whole ride over here, I’ve been thinking about which car I was going to let Fumi drive until I get hers fixed and she decides what she wants me to buy her…
I know she finna bleed my pockets dry; buying a car wasn’t on my fucking list… I could’ve gotten her a rental, but I got a cocaine-white 2019 Audi A8 I bought right before I got locked up; that bitch barely got a thousand miles.
I didn’t even wanna buy that fucking car, but Fumi talked me into it right before she left my ass. I only bought the car to lure her back in, so when she saw me bending the corner through the hood, she would think about us.
It didn’t work.
The plan was to put my excess cash into investments. I gotta pick up some cash later from an investment I made right before I did my bid. I pulled the car out of the storage unit and tossed my keys to my momma.
“Boy, what are you still doing with all these cars?”
“I wanted to give you the Lexus years ago, but you refused.”
“Yeah, I was living in the damn hood, and I didn’t want anyone to steal it.”
“What’s your excuse now?”
“I ain’t got one; I’ll take one of these cars off your hands.”
“About time, momma?”
“Which one you want?”
“Shoot, I want that Lexus.”
“You can have it. I’ll get it towed to the house unless you wanna drive it now and swing by here later to pick up my Porsche with me.”
“You can have it towed; I ain’t riding way back out here.”
I locked up the storage units after I handled my business for today. I’ll slide back through here with a tow truck to get the Lexus for my momma. One thing I regret is buying so many cars; I can’t drive them all.
Damn, traffic is heavy as fuck on Sunday. It’s taking me a little longer to get to Edgewood. Fumi knew what she was doing by having me drop the car off at her folks’ house. I had a tow truck pull up to her apartment and tow her BENZ to the shop.
I didn’t think Fumi was gonna need security, but now I’ve got to put a few eyes on her since Adrienne is on her bullshit. I finally make it to Fumi’s folks’ house. It’s already busy over here. Every Sunday, her family gets together for Sunday dinner.
My momma and I both hop out. It’s just my luck that Fumi’s momma and auntie are on the porch. I’m sure she told them what happened. My momma speaks to Fumi’s momma, Aunee.
“Hey, Aunee.”
“Hi, Terry, it’s good seeing you.”
I hope they don’t start talking and shit. I’m trying to drop this car off and keep moving. I walked onto the porch to hand Fumi’s mom the keys.
“Hey Mrs. Aunee, how you doing?”
“Hey, Hood, I’m good. It’s nice seeing you.”
“Sup, Cookie, how you doing?”
“Good,” Cookie said dryly. Fumi’s aunt Cookie never liked me, and I don’t give a fuck. Cookie wanted to fuck me, but I would never fuck her. I spoke anyway.
“Mrs. Aunee, I stopped by to drop off this car to Fumi; she wanted me to give you the keys.”
I heard Cookie mumble something under her breath.
“Okay, she didn’t mention it, but I’ll make sure she gets the keys when she comes over. Thanks. It’s good seeing you, Hood. Stay out of trouble.”
“I plan on it.”
I jogged back to my car and pulled off. I would call Fumi, but I’ll let her momma or her hating-ass aunt Cookie do the honors. My energy is off; a nigga out here trying to live and do the right thing for once, and this hoe is causing problems.
My mind felt extra heavy; I didn’t even say shit to my momma on the drive back to the crib. My day was supposed to be light: meet up with my best friend, pick up this cash, and fuck with Fumi from afar.
Idropped my momma off at the crib. I’m glad she didn’t pry. I’m running late on the drop-off. I called one of my best friends, who just so happens to be female. I’m supposed to meet up with her later; she answered on the first ring.
“I thought you were on the way.”
“I am. I need you to do me a favor.”
“How much do you need?”
“I don’t need any cash.”
“So, what the fuck do you need?”
“I’m finna pull up…”
“Hurry, you’ve got an hour, and I’m finna leave.”
“I’m on my way. I had a detour earlier.”
“Ok.”
It took me about 40 minutes to get there. I was pushing it to get here. This crazy-ass girl has always been a stickler for time. I pulled up to the office space and took in my surroundings.
Work Now Atlanta, yeah, I always knew she would be great, even with that temper. I walked into the building coolly. The receptionist’s eyes fucked me lustfully; I got to tell my lil homie she got some hoes working in here.
“Welcome to Work Now Atlanta. How can I help you?”
“Yeah, I’m here to see Kaniya.”
“Do you have an appointment?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“One sec, sir. Let me check to see if she’s available.”
“May I have your name, so I can let her know who’s waiting?”
“Hood…”
The receptionist looked at me like I was crazy. I’m trying to be cool, lil hoe. I’m not in the mood, especially after all the shit that happened this morning. It’s taking everything I’ve got not to touch Adrienne’s hating ass.
“Hi, Hood, she was waiting for you.”
“I know.”
“I’ll escort you to her office.”
“It’s cool. I can find my way. Which one is it?”
“It’s the third door on the left.”
“Preciate you.”
“I’m sorry if I came across as rude; I just didn’t see you on her calendar.”
“It’s cool.” I headed to Kaniya’s office; she was sitting behind her desk, looking at something.
“About time you fucking made it, nigga.” Kaniya rose from her desk and mushed me. I pulled her in for a hug.
“Don’t be hugging me; ain’t no telling who you been laid up with.”
“Damn, is that how you talk to a nigga? If you missed me, just say so. We ain’t seen each other in years.”
Kaniya closed her office door.
“Welcome home, Hood! I missed you, but you were supposed to be here earlier; I don’t work on Sundays.”
“Some shit came up?”
“Nigga, you ain’t been home that long; what the fuck came up?” Kaniya walked back to her desk. She sat down, grabbed the black duffle bag from under her desk, and set it on the desk. “Count it…”
“500k…”
“Of course.”
“I ain’t got time… I trust you.”
“It’s all there.”
“Appreciate you. How’s Killany doing?”
“I don’t know.”
“How you come you don’t know?”
“Hood, I don’t fuck with Killany for real; blood don’t really mean shit to her.”
“It shouldn’t be like that.”
“It shouldn’t, but I’m cool.”
“You sure?”
“I’m positive.”
“How’s Lucky?” I chuckled.
“Nigga, you fucking pushing it now?”
I burst out laughing.
“Ain’t shit funny. You know I don’t fuck with him; I haven’t dealt with him in years. That’s your friend. If you wanna reach him, his hoe ass ain’t hard to find.”
“I know I talked to him a few times while I was inside; that nigga still loves you, and I don’t know why.”
“I don’t wanna hear shit about Lucky, okay, and what do you need from me, besides this bag I just dropped on you?”
“I need you to handle someone for me.”
“Who?”
“This girl I was dealing with?”
“Handle her how?”
“I need you to beat her ass?”
“Why?”
I give Kaniya the rundown of what happened and what Adrienne did.
“So, why did she do it?”
I explain to Kaniya what happened on the first day I got out.
“So, you want to be with Fumi?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“What you mean?”
“I’m too old to be knocking hoes out because you’re still out here leading hoes on.”
“I promise I didn’t lead that girl on.”
“How do I know that?”
“Because you know me? We’ve been friends for years.”
“And I know how you are?”
“Shit, and I know how you are; don’t act like you a fucking saint now. I ain’t asking for much. You must be scared she might whoop yo ass.”
“I know yo weak-ass bitch don’t want no smoke with me for real, nigga. I’m still her, ain’t changed. What makes you think Fumi still wanna fuck with you, anyway? I seen that video on Facebook last night, the way yo weak ass was begging, Hood. I ain’t buying it. Fumi left yo ass outside, nigga.”
“Fumi wants me, Kaniya. We have soul ties that can never be erased. She knows how I’m coming behind her? Are you gonna do it?”
“I guess, what if I beat her ass and Fumi still doesn’t take yo ass back?”
“Regardless, she needs her ass beat. I can’t touch her because I’m on papers, starting tomorrow.”
“Give me her name, address, and phone number.”
“About fucking time.”
“Whatever, Hood?”
“You acting brand-new now?”
“No, I’m older, and I don’t move recklessly anymore. I got way too much to lose, and I’m too old to be whooping a hoe’s ass because you’re still leading bitches on at your big age. I don’t see how you didn’t know the bitch was crazy any fucking way.”
“All females are crazy.”
“Nah, just the hoes you pick.”
“Where yo fine ass momma at?”
“Minding her fucking business.” Kaniya’s office door opens.
“Ma, you busy?” she asked.
“No, I’m just finishing up.”
“Kaniya, this Jamia?”
“Yeah”
“Damn, you’re getting old?”
“Nigga, you’re older than me.”
“Jamia, say hi to Hood.” Jamia waved at me. “Jamia, say bye to Hood.”
“Don’t be rushing me off… I’m her Godfather.”
“You a damn lie.”
“Jamia, Hood is one of my best friends from when I was a kid until he switched teams and started hanging with your daddy.”
“Oh, you’re still salty about that shit.”
“Salty, nigga, please… Bye, Hood.”
I finished chopping it with Kaniya and her daughter. I need to get up with Lucky soon.
I left Kaniya’s office with a duffle bag full of money in one hand and her warning still ringing in my ears. Kaniya wasn’t scared of Adrienne; she was too grown to lose her cool over some shit I created. That bothered me more than I wanted to admit, because deep down, I knew she wasn’t wrong.