Chapter 24
Kyst knew when his phone rang at six in the morning who it was.
He had yet to speak with Momma Lu since he left almost a week ago, he wasn’t in the mood.
He also knew if didn’t take her call sooner than later, she was going to come looking for him.
The screen lit up in the dark while the sun slowly came up.
For a second, he thought about ignoring it, then answered it anyway.
“Hello.”
Momma Lu exhaled like she was waiting to hear his voice, “Kyst Lucas. Are you ok?”
“I’m good, Ma.”
Kyst sat up on the side of his bed, shirtless, tattoos on display. He closed his eyes and waited for her to speak.
“You disobeyed me.”
“Nah, Ma. I moved how I wanted to.”
“That girl got your priorities fucked up.”
“And this business has yours fucked up.”
Most would’ve folded under Momma Lu’s pressure, but Kyst was ready for whatever she was applying. That was the reason she respected her youngest son; his heart was pure and dangerous at the same time.
“You think you know more than me, Kyst? Your name bigger than mine? Does your word hold more power than mine?”
Kyst shook his head, “You wanna call me back as my mother because right now, I’m not in the mood for Griselda Blanco.”
Momma Lu’s tone cooled instantly, “Listen, I’m always your mother first, before the business, the money, the streets, but you make this the first and last time you go against my word. I don’t tell y’all nothing for my health. You are a target out there.”
“I’m not, I didn’t do shit.”
“They don’t know that. What’s your plan? You gon’ go talk to the nigga, being that he is your girl’s brother?”
Momma Lu had resources everywhere so her knowing what was going on in Chicago was a given.
“If need be, I ain’t taking the blame for another nigga’s move. I don’t take from men that don’t give me a reason to.”
Momma Lu let out a quiet sigh on the line. She knew talking to her son was like beating a dead horse, once Kyst made his mind up about anything, it was made.
“You’re right, you was built for this life.”
“Wrong again, Ma, I was raised in this life. I didn’t have an option.”
“You wanted to be something else?”
He chuckled, “Fine time to ask.”
College and shit were never on the table for the Lucas brothers, they only got high school diplomas because the entire city was scared of Momma Lu.
They learned everything they knew from her and the streets, and though they did well, Kyst couldn’t help but to think of the possibilities.
His mother didn’t even know his love for cutting hair or even rapping because he never had an opening to showcase them.
It was from the womb to the streets with Rosemary Lucas.
“When your father died, everyone around me thought Harlem was going to eat us alive. I made it my business to raise you all to be the bosses you are today. I’m not saying college wouldn’t have made something of you, but I had three boys and wolves at the door.
So excuse me if I taught y’all survival before success. ”
That hit him different because she was right, she built an empire alone that made them very wealthy men without an ounce of debt. Some people wished they lived the Lucas life, but sometimes, Kyst Lucas wished he lived a normal life.
“I know, Ma. I appreciate you for everything, but I’m not coming back to Harlem.”
“I know, Son.”
The vulnerability in her voice disappeared, she snapped right back to herself.
“I respect your decision, but understand business still is to be handled.”
“I know.”
Kyst looked out the window at the birds flying.
“You love that girl?”
Momma Lu got quiet for a minute then she laughed softly.
“You don’t have to answer, I know already. Bring her home so I can meet her.”
That wasn’t an invite, it was a demand and Kyst knew it.
“I will.”
“Son, I’m going to say something that is hard for me say and I don’t say it to many. I’m sorry. You made me realize, I put a lot on you, I forgot you are allowed to carry yourself.”
Kyst chuckled, “Lady, you confusing as hell.”
“And you hardheaded as hell, Man.”
They shared a laugh before she lowered her voice to a serious tone.
“On a serious note, listen to me carefully. Be mindful of how you move in that city, it’s not yours. Lord knows if something happens to you there, everybody in that city is going to have a problem. I don’t spare people when it comes to my sons.”
The line disconnected after that, that was Momma Lu, limited affection, unlimited gangster, but Kyst loved his mother. Kyst thought long and hard about hollering at Chello, but he knew it had to be done if they were both going to exist in the same city, and he wasn’t going nowhere.
Nyla smiled as soon as Kyst walked in her shop, she stopped pushing the broom and ran over to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his lips, she looked in his eyes and took a step back.
“What’s wrong?”
“How you figure something wrong?”
“I know you and something is wrong.”
He took a seat in her chair, and she sat on his lap, the shop was closing and Jada had just left.
“I had a talk with my mother.”
“Everything ok?”
Kyst hadn’t told Nyla that he planned on staying in Chicago for good.
“No,” he answered honestly. Kyst knew he didn’t have to hide behind a tough mask when it came to Nyla. She was his peace.
“I need to holla at Chello,” he continued as her eyes widened, her body tensed up immediately.
“Kyst…”
“I’m serious, my mother got word that he thinks I robbed him.”
“He does, but I told him it wasn’t you because you were in Harlem when he got hit.”
“The streets don’t work like that, baby; he needs to hear from me and I don’t give a fuck how it turns out after I speak my peace.”
She studied him quietly like she was trying to figure out if it was bravery or stupidity, probably both.
“You really talking to him is gonna fix this?”
“No, but it will possibly stop some bloodshed. Chello’s feelings are valid, my mind would be moving the same way if it was me.”
“I guess. Let me call him and see.”
Nyla grabbed her phone and dialed Chello on speaker, her stomach was in her ass because she knew she was getting in business she knew nothing about.
“Yeah, Sister.”
“What you doing?”
“On the block, what’s up? You cool?”
She fell silent for a moment and so did Chello’s background, she could tell he stepped away from the crowd.
“What’s up?” he asked again as she sighed.
“I’m here with Kyst and…”
“And what?”
“And he wants to come and talk to you.”
“He got my shit?”
Before she could reply, Kyst spoke.
“I do, but I didn’t take the shit, it was brought to me.”
“Pull up on me.”
The line went dead and Kyst understood it. Nyla took a deep breath before standing.
“I’ll drive my car, and whatever happens, just know I’m here and I love you no matter what.”
“Yo brother ain’t as mad as you think, come on.”
Kyst sat in Nyla’s passenger seat, the city looked calm. That was a bad sign because the streets were usually live, but it came to life as they moved closer to the hood.
“You sure about this?” Nyla asked one last time, hitting the blocks.
Kyst looked over at her, “Nyla, I’m not scared of Chello.”
“I know, but he has a temper.”
“We all do.”
As soon as they turned on 16th Street, they didn’t make it down to Homan where Chello was before a black truck flew around them and slammed on brakes.
“What the fuck?!” Nyla yelled.
“Put this bitch in reverse.” Kyst sat up and grabbed his gun from his waist. Three niggas hopped out with big ass guns. Nyla screamed, she was a nervous ass wreck while Kyst was calm, “This a hit, I need you to calm down and drive.”
As soon as he said that, Nyla reversed down the street and turned up Saint Louis flying, she needed to get to Homan so that Chello and his people could help them.
“Oh my Goddddd! They coming!”
“You doing good, baby, keep driving,” Kyst lowered the window and threw some shots as some were thrown at them.
When he noticed the bullets damn near bouncing off the car, he knew Chello had that bitch bulletproofed and Kyst appreciated that a whole fucking lot in that moment.
Nyla took the alleys but the truck was still coming; they made every turn, the Benz was no match for the Tahoe trailing them.
It ended up ramming the back of the car, but Nyla handled the hit like a pro.
The car swerved as she tore out of the alley on Homan; as more shots rang out, Nyla screamed again and lost control of the car.
She ended up driving head on into the building on the corner of 18th and Homan.
Off instinct, Kyst threw his hand over her, but he saw her head hitting the steering wheel before the car flipped.
Metal twisted, glass exploded, and everything went black for a second. Kyst knew the crash wasn’t going to stop the niggas from coming.
“Baby,” he called out to Nyla with a mouth full of blood. Nothing.
He managed to look over at her and immediately closed his eyes, his baby’s head was busted wide open.
The engine hissed as blood ran down his face, too.
Gunshots, screams, and footsteps were all he heard.
Kyst knew the niggas were coming, he felt around for his gun, but he couldn’t move.
It was over and he wanted it that way; Nyla was gone, and he didn’t want to live without her.
The footsteps got louder like they were coming through the speakers.
He tried to stay conscious but he was going in and out from the impact of the crash.
“Bitch, thank yo brother,” was the last thing Kyst heard…then…Pow…Pow!