“Hear yourself clearly, then look your men in the eyes. Make sure you look them in the eyes long enough so they can accept that you are the reason for their early funeral. I don’t beg, Smack. So, tell me, is that your final answer?” I tilted my head to the side and leaned in close enough for only him to hear me clearly.
“Daddy’s no longer here to protect you. You should think really hard about your next words.” I added.
Silence.
The air in the room turned sharp with tension, I embraced it. It was always moments like this where I could literally feel the fear radiating off of a weak man’s flesh. Smack swallowed down hard; his jaws clenched tightly. His eyes shifted away from me followed by his hands dropping in defeat.
“…How much a brick?” He finally asked.
I smiled for real this time, I stepped back and looked at his two men behind him.Pussies… Y’all let this kind of man lead you all.I shook my head.
“Good boy.” I winked at him, adding insult to injury.
I reached into my pocket then tossed a flash drive right into his lap.
“That holds the full inventory, pricing, and the route where you will meet at to collect. Delivery comes Friday; I would hate to come back to this dump to have another conversation wasting time. I suggest you spread the word and move fast. I’m kind of eager to catch your mommy out on an evening walk with her puppies.”
I turned, ready to walk out. Tone stayed in place until I was out of the door. I picked up my pace not out of fear of what would happen but because the smell was pissing me off. How could one live so filthy with the means and money to live clean.
Let him choose, then I’ll make the final decision.Today, I not only came to Smack to turn the Eastside into a better place. I came today to show my face to remind him that he had a deadly debt that would be collected, soon. On behalf of his bitch ass father Rosco.
By the time I hopped into the backseat of my truck, I was a hundred percent sure that Smack would start plotting. He would plot out a way to go to war, an easy war on his behalf that would ensure his revenge for his father.
I loved war, loved to end things, and even more…I loved the sight and smell of blood.
“What do you want Dre to do with the kids of the fiend?” Tone asked as soon as he stepped outside of the building.
“Tell Staress to go buy a lot of kid shit, clothes, shoes, and toys…no tablets. We starting a Grand daycare.” I smiled widely at the idea.
“Who gone watch the kids?” Tone shook his head in disbelief.
“Mira will, she needs to earn her keep.”
THE VILLAIN IN EVERYBODY’S STORY…
“Wake up, Mira baby.”Mommy stated sweetly.
I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes as the dim hallway light spilled into my room. She stepped fully inside of my room, smelling faintly of coffee, and rain. Her hair was pinned back with stray curls falling loosely against her high cheek bones. I looked at her and saw the heaviness of her eyes, mommy was tired.
“Hey baby,” she whispered.
I smiled at her then stifled a yawn, the last thing that I wanted to do was make her feel bad about waking me up in the middle of the night. She worked a double shift, and tonight she got off at three in the morning.
She crouched down by my bed; I could see the sheen in her eyes before she even smiled up at me. It was the same look that I saw time and time again, a look of defeat filled with burdens that she would never say out loud.
“Happy birthday!” She mustered up all of her strength and energy to put the happy umph in her voice for me.
My throat tightened, not because I forgot about my birthday, but because she was the first person to say it to me before I got ready for school. I threw my arms around her neck, breathing in the comfort I only ever got when she was close. She held me just as tightly, and I felt her sigh into my shoulder long and heavy.
“I wish I could have been here tonight, at midnight,” she said, pulling back just enough to look at me.
“I’m sorry, Mira. But tomorrow, I swear, I’m taking off from both jobs. It’ll just be you and me.” Her voice trembled like she didn’t trust herself enough to promise that.
I nodded and smiled to make her feel good. At the age of eleven, I knew what bills were. I saw mommy at the end of each month sitting at our kitchen table with a stack of white envelopes along with her big black calculator adding up what all she had to spend out for the following month. I always silently wished that I could make magic happen and help her with all of the bills that came to the house monthly.
She reached behind her and brought out a musical worn leather case.
“I didn’t have time to wrap it; I end up not taking a break today.” She smiled sadly.
