Chapter 16 Whodie
I couldn’t even hang up the phone. While Adore slept, I just put my phone on the charger and listened to her.
I had gotten used to her being in this small condo with me.
This week had been long without talking to her.
Even when we were mad, we still talked, even if it was brief.
Leaning against my headboard, I lit a blunt and stared out the window.
Adore was telling me not to be impulsive, but I needed to get to the bottom of this shit because I needed my girl back by my side.
The longer we let this shit linger, the longer we were apart.
Her being out on bond was putting a strain on our business, and I knew them muthafuckas were going to be watching our every move now that they knew the operation.
I had to come up with a way to move the operation around under their nose.
It wasn’t out of greed; it was more so if they wanted to bust any of the spots for evidence, I needed that shit to be empty.
They didn’t have a case if there was no evidence.
The sun had come up and I still hadn’t gone to sleep.
Adore’s phone went dead hours ago. I showered and hopped in my car.
I wanted to just look around and get a feel of how hot things were since they let Adore out.
Sure enough, undercover cars were sitting outside every store I rode by.
That shit was going to be hard. As far as the trap houses, they were clear, so I gave the boys the go ahead and cleared them out. It was close to noon when Adore called.
“Hey, baby.”
“My bad for going to sleep on you. I was tired.”
“You ain’t gotta apologize. I get it. I stayed on the phone until yo’ shit went dead.”
“What are you doing today?”
I paused because I didn’t want to tell her that I was already out moving shit around. Then she was going to jump down my throat and get in boss mode. This shit had to be done, and without her knowing.
“Nothing, just went and got something to eat since you’re not here feedin’ a nigga.”
“Are you lying to me?”
“What I gotta lie for?”
“I want to see you today.”
“Wherever you need me to be.”
“Hollow is adamant about us not being seen together. He’s already caught one undercover riding by. I don’t know how we’re going to do it,” Adore said.
“I’ll just pull up on you tonight. No pressure. If Hollow got something to say, we’ll handle that shit like men. His ass was not too long ago runnin’ to New York to get Love back. I’ll drive another car, and we can chill in the car like we used to,” I told her.
“That’s sweet. Okay, but listen, stay out the streets.”
“I got you,” I lied before we said our goodbyes.
I wasn’t playing about this shit. If somebody was talking, I was going to find the fuck out.
I went and got Adore’s crew all new burner phones.
I didn’t trust talking or texting any of them off the phones they had.
I pulled up to one of the trap spots and sat for a minute before getting out.
A nigga just wanted to read the energy and see if anything was suspicious.
Shit was still moving, but it was moving in a way that was too obvious.
I stepped inside, and all heads turned towards me.
“Whodie,” one of them said, dapping me up.
“What’s up? Why ain’t nobody at the fuckin’ door watchin’? Muthafucka can just bust in this bitch and y’all wouldn’t kno’.”
“I thought we had two niggas out there,” the same dude said.
“I just said ain’t nobody out there. Better yet, call they bitch asses and see where they at,” I told him.
He sent a quick text as I pulled the phones out of the bag.
“Everybody grab a phone. Don’t use yo’ old shit no more.”
They looked at me, confused.
“Stop lookin’ at me like y’all ain’t fuckin’ heard. Adore won’t be ‘round for a lil’ minute. I need this shit cleared the fuck out, and I’ll tell you where in a day or two.”
“Aye, them niggas say they went to the corner sto’ to get something to eat.”
I nodded. I’ll catch their ass once I leave here. Out of the seven niggas in the house, it was only one phone still sitting on the table. That nigga wasn’t making eye contact. I continued to talk anyway.
“We movin’ different. I’m takin’ all the money wit’ me today. Everything else needs to be bagged and snatched the fuck up outta here before the end of the day.”
I watched as everyone agreed.
“Aye nigga, do we have a muthafuckin’ problem?” I asked the nigga who still hadn’t picked up the phone.
“Nah, ain’t no problem.”
“Why the fuck you ain’t picked up yo’ phone yet?”
“‘Cause I got a baby due any day now and I ain’t ‘bout to be changing numbers.”
I wiped my nose and pulled my gun out.
“Whoa! Wait, Whodie!” two of the dudes yelled.
“You wanna live to see yo’ jit or nah?” I asked.
He sat there like he was big shit. Since I was already on edge about Adore, I didn’t hesitate to pull the trigger. One snake ass nigga down.
“Clean this shit up. If I hear ‘bout this shit again, you’ll be next,” I warned.
“Fuck that nigga, man,” one of them said. “What we gonna do about the westside spot?”
“Let it sit. They watchin’.”
That was really my first test. The westside store was the only store I was able to clear. The Indians on the westside moved like thieves in the night. The wives were able to move the product day by day under their clothes. So, if anything came back on the westside store, I had my answers.
“Bet.” He nodded.
I pushed off the wall and headed out. Back in my car, I sat there for a second and pulled my phone out.
“Yo,” Reese said on the phone.
“I need you to pull up on me, Reese. Old spot on our side of town.”
“Bet,” he said before hanging up.
I drove to the empty lot that we used to meet up and drink when we were underage. The lot was so damaged that no one bothered to buy it and gentrify it because they were afraid of the kids that hung around. Reese pulled up ten minutes after me, hopped out, and got in the car with me.
“Nigga, you switched yo’ number on me?” Reese said.
I handed him a blunt.
“You trust everybody?” I asked.
He looked at me crazy.
“Fuck nah. Why you ask?”
“Good.” I lit my own blunt and took a pull as he did the same.
“We got a rat. I don’t kno’ if it’s Adore’s crew or one of us. I’ve been feedin’ different information to different muthafuckas. Whichever one takes the bait is the rat.”
“Aight. Sayless.”
“If it’s one of us, Reese–”
“They don’t get a pass,” he finished.
“That’s why I fuck wit’ you. Shit been fucked up since Tone been gone. You’re the only one in the crew that I can talk to ‘bout this shit.”
“You kno’ I got you. Whatever you on, I’m on.”
We finished our blunt and parted ways. As I got on the freeway, my phone buzzed with an unknown number.
“Whodie,” a voice said.
I pulled the car over. “Who the fuck is this?”
The male chuckled, “You’re moving pretty fast there. Cleaning up all her shit like a good ol’ do boy ass nigga. I see you switched phones.”
“Man, stop hidin’ and tell me who you are.”
“You don’t know me,” he replied. “But I know you. You are a crack baby. Parents didn’t want your ass and left you, hoping you would die. You let the streets raise you, and the streets will be where you die. You should’ve stayed out of this.”
I was fuming and ready to blow some shit up.
“Oh, and tell that bitch Adore, shit just getting started,” he said before hanging up.
I tried calling that number back several times, but it kept sending me to voicemail.
Hollow was protecting his sister and all by keeping her away from me, but there were bigger fish to fry.
I needed that nigga to let me see Adore without the sneaking shit.
Dialing his number, I hopped on the highway.
“What’s up?” Hollow said on the phone.
“Where you at?”
“In town at work. Fuck you got goin’ on?”
“I’m headin’ to you,” I said before hanging up in his face.
He had a few connections that I didn’t have.
Battling with a no-face and no-name ass nigga was something I wasn’t in the mood for.
I pulled up to Hollow standing outside with a family.
To be polite, I waited until they got in their car and left, and he waved for me to come on.
Shit was funny every time I saw him in work mode.
This nigga was a whole professional. Nobody but the ones close to him knew the real him.
“What’s the emergency?” He asked, closing his office door.
“Look, I kno’ you think it’s best for Adore not to be ‘round me and shit.”
“We both kno’ it’s best, Whodie.”
“Nigga, I got a random call today. Nigga knew my name and told me to tell Adore that shit is just I’ started. Now, do you think it’s best we be apart?” I stared at him, waiting for an answer.
“Muthafucka, no one can protect her like I can. Not even you, lil’ nigga.”
“Fuck you say?” I asked.
“Nigga, I ain’t tryin’ to beef wit’ you about my sister.”
“Shit, we ain’t beefin’, but I am ‘bout to state some facts, nigga. You got yo’ own family to take care of. It was me that’s been protectin’ Adore all this time. Before I even knew who you were, I was there. It really don’t matter how the fuck you feel, I will be wit’ Adore today.”
Hollow leaned back in his chair. At this point, I didn’t give a fuck how he felt. Someone was threatening my girl, and there wasn’t a nigga on this earth going to tell me I couldn’t see her today.
“Bet!” He rose out of his seat. “Bring yo’ ass on so you can follow me.”