Chapter 17 – Hood Brat
Chapter
Seventeen
HOOD brAT
We drove all over New Jersey searching for Gutta Barbie, checking police stations, hospitals, hotels, and even the gun ranges, trying to find her.
I had gotten a call from Lil Rude saying that Wrizzle said that he and Gutta Barbie had gotten into a fight, and he had admitted to putting his hands on her.
He was laid up in the hospital, being treated for an open wound on his forehead and a leg injury, and my homegirl was nowhere to be found.
I wasn’t sure where she was or who I could trust at this time; domestic violence was real.
We had ridden through every hood, even calling her Auntie and Cousin Ken to make sure that she hadn’t driven to New York, but there was no word on her anywhere.
I was worried sick, literally. I wanted to kill that nigga Wrizzle, but the last thing any of us needs right now is to be sitting in a cell for aggravated assault charges, knowing that Gutta Barbie could be hurt out there somewhere.
Hood Gorgeous was crashing out; we had to get her to calm down and breathe several times, reminding her of her baby girl; she needed to stay calm for her.
The last thing she needed right now was to be fighting a case after her Sister just beat one.
She paced back and forth the entire time.
We were at the fourth hospital that day and still hadn’t heard shit.
When my phone rang, I quickly answered, and it was Gutta Barbie’s cousin, Ken. What’s good? Have you heard anything?” I paced back and forth in a panic, putting the phone on speaker.
“Pull up to the address I just texted you. Her new boo owns it; his name is War.”
This was news that I was hearing for the first time. I looked around, and everybody's face was just as surprised as mine was, including her Sister.
“War?!” I was confused.
“Yeah, he's some fine ass Philly nigga, and between you and me, that man don't play about Gutta at all. So if she’s with him, I bet money she’s safe and in good hands, trust me.” He vouched.
I was baffled and couldn’t believe that Gutta Barbie was fucking with a nigga outside of Wrizzle.
That was her first love and the only man that she's ever had.
Then the fact that nobody knew about her dealing with him besides Ken had my ass gagged.
I had a million questions, but right now, who she was fucking with or why she felt the need to keep it from her girls wasn’t as important as making sure that she was safe.
I thanked Ken for the information and promised that I would get back to him as soon as we were able to find her.
I was really hoping for my sanity that she was with War.
Disappearing like this wasn’t something common for Gutta; a lot of this shit just wasn’t making any sense to me, but neither was the fact that Wrizzle had put his hands on her.
We pulled up to the address, and to my surprise, the nigga War owned an entire shopping street.
I looked at Holly, impressed. I wasn’t sure where Gutta Barbie had met him, but she was always good at connecting with bosses, so this was honestly nothing new for her.
I walked into the office on the strip and looked around.
It was nice, and the Bath and Body Works candle had the store smelling like chocolate.
“Hi, may I help you?” The lady behind the counter spoke.
“Yes, we’re here to speak with a gentleman who goes by the name War.”
“Yes, that’s my son. How may I help you?
” She asked again. I grew a little annoyed.
I didn’t care who he was to her. I needed to speak with him asap and all she was doing was delaying that from happening with the questions.
I needed to make sure my friend was good and didn’t have time for all the questioning, but I kept it classy and respectful.
“I’m looking for my best friend Chanel, and I was told that she may be with War,” I explained.
“Ohhh Chanel. Hold on one moment, let me go and get my son for you.”
I flashed her a fake smile as she disappeared into the back.
I really wasn’t trying to be nasty, but I was really on the verge of crashing out if I didn’t get some kind of information on my homegirl's whereabouts.
I was the calm friend out of us all, but one thing I didn't play about was Gutta Barbie.
A couple of minutes went by before a tall, handsome man with waves and tattoos came walking out from the back.
“Hey, I’m War. How can I help you?” He asked.
“My name is Hood Brat, and I am trying to find my best friend Gutta Bar- Chanel,” I said, correcting myself.
“Gutta Barbie told me all about you. She’s actually at my condo; she’s been there since last night.” He said. I looked, and for the first time I noticed her car sitting in the parking lot of the store next door.
“So she’s not here- is that what you are telling me?” I asked with squinted eyes. I was really trying to feel him out.
He chuckled before repeating himself. “I just told you that she’s at my condo.”
“Why is her car parked outside if she’s at your condo?” I was confused. I reached for my purse, ready to blow his top off if he thought for one second I was here to play games behind my friend's life.
“Listen, I know that your friend went through a lot last night, and I’m not happy about that shit she went through. I was just about to leave and head back to my spot, so if you want to follow behind me to see for yourself, you’re free to come.” He offered.
I looked at my friends and her sister, and we all agreed to follow him. Hood Gorgeous was quiet. I knew that she was going through it and was worried out of her mind about her Sister. We followed him outside and jumped in the truck before pulling up behind his Cyber truck. Again, I was impressed.
We followed him to downtown Philly to a nice condominium building.
I was surprised to see that he owned the entire 48th floor.
We stepped into his crib, and it looked like some shit from the show Power.
It reminded me of Ghost and Tasha’s spot.
As soon as we saw Gutta Barbie stretched out on the couch sleeping, it felt like the weight of the world was removed from my shoulders.
I let out a deep sigh before we all rushed to her side to check on her.
I couldn’t believe how bruised her face was and instantly saw red.
My blood began to boil, and I was doing everything in my power to keep my cool.
The tears began to flow as I broke down, seeing my best friend fucked up like that behind the man that she loved, my heart broke in half for her. I was completely speechless.
“Wrizzle really did this to you?” I asked in disbelief.
“Please, I’m fine. I promise.” Gutta Barbie lied. She wasn’t fine; she was battered and bruised. The man she loves not only disrespected her but also violated her as a woman.
“Shit, I believe it; his ass smacked me without a second thought!” Holly commented.
“This shit is not fine!” Hood Gorgeous snapped. “Take me to my car! I’m going to kill that nigga, and if I can’t, then my nigga will do it for me!”
“Calm down, please. Just relax.” Gutta said, trying to get everybody to calm down. Holly was in tears, and I was back pacing.
“I’m going to give y'all some privacy. If you need me, I’ll be in the study.” He said, walking away.
“What the fuck has gotten into Wrizzle?” I was completely taken for a loop. It was hard wrapping my mind around this shit. He was like a brother to me. I would have never imagined that he would hurt Gutta Barbie this way.
“He lost his Cousin and just hasn’t been the same since then,” Holly said.
“He’s also fucking with some bitch behind my back, but I don’t know who she is. Whoever it is, he’s doing a good job making sure that I don’t find out.” Gutta Barbie shared.
Hearing that he was the one cheating on her, but putting his hands on her really blew my mind.
The audacity of this nigga, I had heard enough.
I needed to calm down, especially since he was possibly still at the hospital, so there was nothing that we could do at the moment besides call the law, and I knew my girl wasn’t going to do all that.
It would’ve for sure served his no-good ass right, thinking that he could put his hands on my best friend, and there weren’t going to be any consequences.
Nah, that nigga was gonna have to see me.
I pulled out my phone and called Lil Rude.
I needed the drop on where Wrizzle was at that moment.
My best friend was gonna get her lick back one way or another, and I was going to make sure of that.