Chapter 10
Nas
“How many of them came?” I questioned Chance as I stepped out of the car.
“All of them,” he answered as we made our way towards the warehouse.
“Damn. I didn’t expect them all to come on such short notice.”
“I mean when you’re offerin’ pure product at a fraction of the price that it’s goin’ for everybody gonna try and be down with that.”
“That’s true. Let’s get to the money.”
“Wait a second. Let me holla at you before we go in there.”
“Wassup cous?”
“Look I know you’re on yo’ grown man shit when it comes to how you conduct yo’self and I’m proud of you.
However, I need you to let that muthafuckin’ dog out if need be today.
Don’t fuckin’ hold back because we need these niggas to know that disrespect isn’t tolerated and we are not to be fucked with or fucked over. Ya feel me?”
“I feel ya. Trust me I got this.”
“Alright bet.”
When we walked into the room it instantly went quiet, so quiet you could hear a cotton ball drop.
A part of me chuckled on the inside because that at least let me know they either feared or respected me.
Either way I was gonna have it quiet before I talked either by choice or force.
I made my way towards the head of the table to get a good look at everyone.
The hunger I saw in all their eyes was a good sign because that meant they were just as hungry as I was when it came to making money.
“Each of you comin’ out on short notice shows me that y’all don’t play when it comes to makin’ money,” I expressed.
“And that’s exactly the kind of people I’m lookin’ for.
Now from what I’ve gathered all of you are the go-to people to see when trying to secure product.
So, I know that some of you have a steady supplier already and I respect if you don’t want to mess up that relationship with some random nigga that just came in town… ”
“Especially some random nigga that’s claimin’ to have pure shit for the low,” one of the dudes spoke what was probably mentioned before I came in.
I didn’t say anything as I made my way over towards him.
Don’t get me wrong I ain’t no dictator ass nigga and appreciated feedback and respectful constructive criticism.
The way he’d just interrupted me from finishing my speech didn’t seem respectful at all.
When I made it over to him, I started to chuckle which caused his guard to be let down.
When he slapped his hands down on the table while laughing with me, I pulled two knives from the holsters swiftly before plunging them into his hands.
The gut-wrenching scream caused me to laugh even harder.
“Shut that shit up,” I barked as I whipped out a gun and sat it under his chin causing him to shut up.
“You wasn’t doin’ all that hollerin’ when you interrupted me to put yo’ weak ass two cents in, so don’t do all that hollerin’ now that you gotta cash that check yo’ mouth wrote.
Next time allow yo’ mind to drift back to all the pain you’re feelin’ right now and let that be a reminder to keep yo’ fuckin’ mouth shut, understood? ”
“Y-y-y-yeah,” he stuttered to get out.
“What’s yo’ name?”
“Slick.”
“Not yo’ lil’ street name. What yo’ mama named you?”
“Sean Livingston.”
“Y’all see how I’m allowin’ Sean Livingston here to still have breath in his body?
” I questioned the group causing them all to nod in agreement.
“This is the only fuckin’ pass I’m givin’ any of you niggas.
Any future disrespect will result in death.
I get it I’m a new nigga and I’m sayin’ a lot of shit that sounds too good to be true.
However, I’ll never fix my lips to lie to any of you niggas.
I’on care enough ‘bout y’all to ever do that.
So, take everything and I do mean everything I say as a fact, a threat, or a fuckin’ promise.
Take it whichever way you need to take it, so you don’t lose yo’ life over disrespect. Got it?”
They nodded their heads again, but I ordered them to verbally respond.
I needed to hear that all of them actually took in exactly what I’d said that way they would never be surprised when I shoot them in the chest if any of them got disrespectful.
Once each of them verbally agreed to what I’d just said, I instructed them to take a sample of the product to the fiend they were instructed to bring.
It wasn’t a good ten minutes after they did that, and they were ready to purchase bricks immediately.
Everything needed to be legit, so I had them fill out a form that was for purchasing a car from us.
Everyone but Sean was able to purchase then leave.
Once we were alone, I made my way back over towards him.
Snatching the knives out of the center of his hands caused him to gasp in pain.
My eyes narrowed down in slits as I tilted my head to the side.
He quickly silenced himself as I tossed him some wrapping bandages.
It took him a little while but eventually he had his hands wrapped from dripping any more blood.
As I fought with the thought of giving him work or not, I decided not to because he’d already damaged our relationship.
“As much as I want to murk yo’ ass I’ma let you keep gettin’ yo bread, but just not with me,” I informed him as Fernando stepped behind him. He snatched his wallet out of his pocket before giving me his driver’s license.
“Wait, I don’t want to fuck up this opportunity,” Sean tried to reason. “I understand what I did and I won’t do it again, I promise.”
“I know it won’t because I won’t allow you the chance to do it again. Next time you’re ever in this position again, I hope you just shut the fuck up and listen next time because I seen the hunger in you too.”
Once everyone was gone, we counted the remaining bricks.
There were only forty left. I didn’t think the out-of-town niggas would come to the last-minute meetup, but they wanted to see if I lived up to the hype.
With the way their fiends were on them about another sample, I already knew I had locked them in with some product.
It was no way a real hustler would pass up not only cheaper product but cheaper product that was actually as good as the competition was too hard to pass up on.
I just didn’t expect sixty bricks to be gone that quick.
“Aye, cous, can you secure the rest of the bricks I gotta head out?” I asked Chance.
“You know I gotcha,” he assured. “I’ll text you when I leave out.”
“Bet, thanks.”
I instructed Fernando to stay with Chance while I handled this errand.
Once he was sure that I was going somewhere where I wouldn’t be at any risk, he agreed to stay.
It was nice to know that aside from me and Chance, Fernando really looked out for me and my family.
Even though I stressed him to get his rest at night, he still stayed until three watching my house.
Hell, he’d recruited two other young Hispanics to watch me when he would get his rest. They watched me and now my family as if we were the President of the United States.
Which was why I wasn’t surprised when I noticed one of his recruiters following me to my destination.
When I made it to the dealership, it didn’t take me long inside.
All they needed me to do was sign for the 2025 Jeep Wrangler I’d secured for Nessa.
I’d already had it customized to Nessa’s liking.
It was her favorite color, which was mint green with a black accent color and the inverse of the inside with black leather seats and mint green accent color.
I decided to have it delivered to my house at the end of the week, so I could wait and gift it to her.
Tension was at an all-time high with her accepting the house but not liking the stipulation that came with it.
After the threat that fell from Juan’s mouth, I’d be damned if I allowed any outsider in their space like that.
Nessa was so mad at a nigga, I still hadn’t had a chance to tell her that I lived next door.
I didn’t want to further piss her off so that would be news I’d break to her at a later time.
With her still working it was easy for me to move about without her putting two and two together yet.
I’d move freely in my car while she was at work, and I allowed Fernando to pick me up if I needed to handle something while she was off.
Nyla’s smart ass finessed me out of some toys when I told her to keep it a secret that I lived next door.
She’d been over her a few times already, so I had to bite the bullet with that and give her everything she asked for.
It had been four days since they moved and knowing my child she wouldn’t make it much longer.
As I made my way back home, I decided to tell Nessa that evening.
Turning onto our road, I became confused when I saw Nessa’s little red car in the driveway.
Instantly my mind went to her having that nigga over there.
Then the thought of them possibly having sex crept into my head, and that’s when all sense went out the window.
After I pulled into her driveway, I hopped out and made my way towards her door.
Using the spare key, I’d made myself for emergencies like this, I quietly gained access inside.
As the sounds of Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran filled my ears, my mind took a trip down memory lane.
Nessa used to play this song all the time when we were growing up.
One time I came home from hanging out with Chance and she was swaying her hips to this as she washed dishes.
We slow danced with her back on my chest as my head rested in the crock of her neck.
At that moment I knew I wanted to make this girl my wife because she felt like home.