He made his first move, watching closely as Champ made his. He had been in TLM when Tuck was the general. They’dgotten locked up together on a RICO charge. Champ had gotten eight years while Tuck had gotten ten.
“Man, I gotta get some bread. The fucking house ‘bout to go in foreclosure,” Champ sighed in defeat.
Tuck stared at the board. “Word? Wifey better go shake that ass.”
Champ smacked his lips before he chortled. “I wish the fuck she would… Aye, I got confirmation that that move happened,” he muttered.
Tuck smirked, cuffing his chin between his index finger and thumb. “Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah, the word spread quick as a bitch. The whole hood talking about it.”
Out of all the deaths Tuck had ordered throughout his tenure as TLM general, this one was special. Jovanis had forgotten who the boss was. Exposing him for the entire city to see was a death wish that he gladly granted.
“Who you got to do that shit?” Champ asked.
Tuck moved one of his pawns. “My secret weapon.”
“Get the fuck outta here.” Champ chortled. “I already know who it was but I’ll let you believe that I don't know. You think Noble gon’ feel some kinda way about you ordering hits without his approval?”
Tuck snorted. “Man, fuck him. TLM is my shit. He’s only there temporarily. Shit, he lucky I ain't packed his ass up outta there since I'm done with him.”
“Why?”
“‘Cause he’s a hoe-ass nigga who only cares about himself. He done shitted on me one too many times. I’m done with him.”
“I feel you, fam.”
They continued playing until Tuck won the game. Afterward, he excused himself to go make a call. Skipping the line, he stood in front of the man who was on a phone call.
“Hey, baby, I’ma call you back, alright,” the man said, focusing on Tuck.
He then hung up the receiver and stepped aside. Tuck grabbed the phone and dialed a number. When the operator put him through, he heard the sweetest voice that had ever graced his ears.
“Hey, bae.”
“What’s up, baby? You good?”
Hallie sighed. “No, I’ve been arguing online all day with people who are coming at you crazy.”
“Fuck them,” he said in a dismissive tone. “Them mothafuckas gone believe what they wanna believe.”
“I know but it makes me mad that they can look at a clearly doctored video and believe it. I’ve been cursing those bitches out all morning.”
Hallie was the only girl that had Tuck’s heart. Only a few knew of her, and he preferred it that way. She was a suburban girl who grew up in a two-parent home and was shielded by the realities of Tuck’s world. Being the only girl that had his heart, Tuck invested in her nail salon that was located in Emerald Village. He kept her out of the city in a four-bedroom house that he had purchased before he got locked up.
“Aye, I told you to ignore they ass. You don’t need to be on the front line for me. I’m supposed to protect you.”
“Yeah, you're right.”
It was so easy to game Hallie. She didn’t know when men were full of shit. Admittedly, she was gullible and Tuck used that to his advantage.
“You know when I get out, I’m going to marry you. What colors you want our wedding to be?”
She giggled. “Tuck don't be gassing me up. You know getting married is high on my priority list.”
“I’m serious,” he stated, meaning every word.
Tuck dabbled with men in his spare time but he wanted to settle down with a woman. Time was ticking and years were being added onto his life. He didn’t want to be released from jail and live like a bachelor. He wanted a woman that would love him, unconditionally. Hallie was that girl for him.
