Hood Barbies Reloaded

Prologue

WHERE WE LEFT OFF

Bitch, I’m from Zoo York

Bitch, I’m from Zoo York, Zoo York (Bitch)

Bitch, I’m from Zoo York, Zoo York

Bitch, I’m from Zoo York, Zoo York

Bitch, I’m from Zoo York

Lil TJay Zoo York” blasted through the system as I merged onto the New Jersey Turnpike, headed back to my City.

My right hand, Meech, and my lil sis Slim rode passenger; my adrenaline was still running.

They had really tried to play with my family and me, and I wasn’t allowing shit to slide.

They had violated and killed my pops and big brother, which started a war they were far unaware of.

I was a gorilla in the fuckin’ coupe, finna pull up to the zoo, nigga.

Brooklyn legend born and raised. Been in the streets since I was a teenager; I was twelve when I bought my first .

38 and thirteen when I caught my first body.

This street shit was something that I was really living.

I was in Miami when I got the call from my sis Slim about niggas running into my pops' spot. I didn’t find out until I flew in that my family didn’t make it.

Shit, cut me deeper than ever; not even an eye for an eye can settle the emotions that I’m feeling.

I wanted so badly to cut my emotions off; to me, it was a weakness.

But they had hit a soft spot with this one.

Slim tapped my shoulder, passing me the blunt. I was in a deep trance, thinking about my family. I took the blunt and pulled it, allowing the smoke to invade my body. Shooting up the gender reveal was only the beginning of the pressure that I was about to apply to my family.

We made it to Brooklyn just in time for my brother and father's candlelight vigil. The red and black we chose were their favorites. The entire city had come out to support my family, and I felt honored that my people were so loved and respected.

My brother Nasir’s baby's mother stood in front of the sheet with my brother's picture spray-painted on it, along with the words "Rest In Paradise Nas” and his sunrise and sunset dates. By her side stood her and Nasir’s seventeen-year-old twin sons, Asir and Nas.

She fell to her knees, letting out a heart-wrenching scream followed by tears.

My nephews rubbed her back, never leaving her side.

I walked over, helping her to her feet. She dropped her weight into my arms, and I held her up, allowing her to let her grief out.

“They took my Baby Daddy!” she cried. “They really killed my best friend.”

“Don’t worry, sis; they're gonna pay; it doesn't matter who they are; they're gonna pay.” I seethed.

She broke down crying even more. It was a hard pill to swallow, a new reality that none of us wanted to accept.

I rubbed her back. It was hard to look my nephews in the face and not know what to say to them.

They were damn near grown and knew everything that was going on.

They were both street dudes, following in their fathers' footsteps proudly.

Both trained and raised killers, both with murder in their eyes.

We were just alike in many ways, all thinking the same thing, all wanting the same results and outcome.

I took the bottle of Don Julio that I was holding in my hands and tipped the bottle, pouring some out for my Brother and pops before taking a large sip. Big Nas' friends stood around, so many familiar faces were in attendance, all feeling the same loss.

“Did you find out anything?” My nephew Lil Nas asked. He was the boldest of the twins, the ruthless one, heartless, and didn’t give a fuck. He had no chill and no filter; he was as raw as they came.

“Nah. Don’t worry; everything will come to the surface soon,” I replied.

I made sure to keep him in the dark when it came to certain shit. I was strategic, which meant I came with rules and orders that needed to be followed and respected at all times. Lil Nas respected me, but following rules and taking orders was something that he would never do.

Asir gave me a knowing look; he already knew what was up and what I was on. I knew that, however, I chose to play this shit, I needed to keep my nephews and my brother's wife safe.

“I’m gonna check on Momma Dukes,” I told my Brother's Baby Mother, Shae, and my Nephews before looking for my mother. I spotted her sitting in the corner alone. I knew that, knowing her, being alone was her request. Not only did she lose her child, but she and my pops were soulmates, so she didn’t just lose her husband; she lost her best friend.

Being in the game, I knew losses were gonna come; it was part of the territory, it was one of the cons of being in the streets.

The streets didn’t give a fuck about anything or anybody; it was everyone for themselves.

“Hey, Baby,” My mother said. I leaned low to hug her before grabbing a chair to sit next to her. She was hurting; I could tell she hadn’t been able to sleep much since we received the news.

“You look just like your father. Every time I look at you, I see Sol in you. I worry about you a lot, and I just want you to promise me that you won’t risk your life because of the people who did this.

I won’t lose you too.” I could hear the pain in her voice, I could see the fear in her eyes, and it killed me not knowing what to say to her.

I was front and center behind my family.

This shit was gonna go the way it was gonna go, the chips were gonna fall wherever, but how could I tell my mother that?

“Pray for me, Momma.”

“Always, Baby, every night,” she promised.

I wasn’t sure how this shit was gonna go; I just knew that my family needed me, but niggas also had to pay. I was doing the best that I could to stay on point. I wanted shit to go flawlessly, but I didn’t know how many people I hit or if I hit anybody.

“There goes that crazy ass girl of yours,” my mother said, shaking her head.

I could sense that her entire mood had changed.

I knew she couldn’t stand my girl, but I managed it as best as I could.

I often made sure they didn’t cross paths or end up in the same room, but I couldn’t stop my girl from being at my family's vigil.

“I know you're not happy seeing her, but I needed her to be here tonight.” I expressed. Instead of responding with words, my mother sucked her teeth, which made me crack a smile. She was a Leo, very stubborn and stuck in her ways. She didn’t like that Ashanti was blunt and kept it real.

She respected her as my mother, but she didn’t bite her tongue or sugarcoat shit.

My girl was a Taurus, so both of them were constantly clashing.

“What up, everybody? Sorry about your loss, Ms. Brenda.” Ashanti spoke before approaching me.

“Ump,” My mother responded.

“Ma,” I leaned in and spoke in a low tone.

“I know this isn’t a good day for you, and your emotions are all over the place, but Ashanti is my girl, and she spoke respectfully.

Please do me this solid and put y'all differences to the side, even if just for tonight.” She took a deep breath before flashing a fake smile.

“Thank you,” she replied, keeping her response short.

Ashanti didn’t respond; instead, she looked at me, leaned in, and kissed me on the lips.

She was looking so damn good in her all-black catsuit with her red leather snakeskin half jacket.

The red YSL heels I had brought her for Valentine's Day, the matching YSL purse, completed her outfit perfectly.

“You didn’t have to say anything, babe; I wasn’t paying her mean ass no mind.” Ashanti sat on my lap, placing her arms around my neck. “How are you feeling, my love?”

“I’m straight. Shit hard, but I’ve been managing.” I told her.

The sounds of a loud altercation caught my attention.

When Ashanti stood up from my lap, I saw my twin nephews stomping some big dude out.

I quickly rose to my feet, grabbing my .

38 on my waist just in case anybody had a problem.

I pushed through the crowd, making my way to the front.

I used my strength and arms to hold back both my nephews as the crowd backed up.

The big dude was sprawled out cold on the ground, almost lifeless.

“Get my nephews in the crib,” I ordered.

I kicked him to get a clear view of who he was.

Some slime ball named Monopoly that my brother had beef with back in the day.

They recently put their differences aside to bring peace, him showing up tonight wasn’t going well for him.

My nephews didn’t care about whom their father had squashed his beef with.

I reached into my waist, pulled out my .

38, and let off two shots into his head.

“Get this nigga outta here,” I ordered in a low tone.

I stared at my brother's memorial before blowing a kiss to the sky.

“Warriors for life.”

THE DAY OF THE FUNERAL