“News flash, Clyde,” Diamond said sarcastically, her hands on her hips. “I think it’s a little too late to try and be a big brother. I’m a big girl now, all grown up, so you can save that dramatic shit for one of those dumb hoes you be doggin’ my girlfriend for.”

  Justin’s eyes narrowed in on her perfectly-shaped body. It was as if she was getting thicker, and her runway model walk wasn’t helping his hunger subside either. She was right about one thing. She was definitely a big girl now. Little Diamond had become a number-one stunner.

  “Yo, Cuz, you think we need to check that nigga?” Justin asked as he stared at Diamond’s ass.

  “Nah, I’ll let him live,” Clyde answered. “I ain’t startin’ nothin’ over that hard-headed bitch. I’ll let them Agugbo Brothers eliminate him like a contestant on a game show that gave the wrong answer. Feel me?” he said as they made a detour to the garage.

  “Yeah, Clyde, I feel you,” Justin replied, but his mind was somewhere else.

  Meanwhile, upstairs in the master bedroom, Charles and Pearl had their own little domestic dispute.

  “Why must you always leave the minute you get here, Charles? You never stay home anymore, and I’m sick of it!” Pearl shouted at him.

  “Pearl, I told you before. I got a meeting with one of my good friends in New York. I can’t keep arguing with you over some petty bullshit like this,” Charles replied as he fixed his tie in the mirror.

  “Bullshit, Charles? That’s all bullshit. I know where you’re going. I’m not stupid, okay? You’re going to see that girl, aren’t you?” she asked, glaring at him.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m--”

  “How long has it been, Charles?” she blurted as tears streamed down her cheeks. “How long have you been sneaking around on me?”

  Charles looked at his wife and shook his head as he put his suit jacket on. The sound of the door down the hallway slammed shut as Diamond stood behind it in her own room, shaking her head with disgust. She was fed up with all of her mother’s complaints. If it wasn’t about his cheating, it was about his line of work. Charles had become a star in the criminal underworld. He and Carlton Butler’s Underworld organization handled about 15% of the drugs coming into the country. And on the streets he was known as the Snow White King.

  As her mother continued to complain about the woman Charles was cheating on her with in Philadelphia, Diamond thought back to when she was a little girl. She still remembered seeing the blood coming from the little boy’s head and wondered if he ever survived his accident with the coffee table. She never asked her father about it because he made her swear never to bring it up again. Diamond got dressed and headed back outside. When she got into the BMW with her boyfriend, she beamed like a searchlight.

  “You ready, boo?,” she asked before kissing him.

  “Don’t ready boo me,” JR said, before pulling off. “What took you so long in there?”

  “You know I had to find something to wear. I thought you knew how picky I could be when I want to look cute for my man,” she replied, stroking his ego.

  JR couldn’t counter that. When they arrived at the drive-in movie theater, he parked up and reclined back in his seat. Diamond just sat there like a mannequin.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. Why do you ask?” Diamond asked impatiently.

  “Because you look like a white girl in a gang-related neighborhood,” he said, which wasn’t too far-fetched. “Why are you so uncomfortable?”

  “I’m not uncomfortable. I’m just watching my surroundings. A lot of dumb shit happens in these type of places,” Diamond explained.

  JR chuckled. “You can’t be serious.”

  “What? What’s so funny?” Diamond frowned.

  “You, girl. Let me tell you something. You ain’t got shit to worry about. This my ‘hood. I run shit around here. Now, relax, this time is supposed to be about us,” he reassured her.

  Diamond knew that he was right. He was calm, cool, and smooth. So she relaxed a little. He was a big drug dealer in this neighborhood and beyond it. In fact, he was supplying far more people than she knew. She looked at the handsome thug who stared at her and smiled.

  She wanted to kiss him, but just then someone rushed up to the driver’s side door. Instead of being dramatic, her reactions were totally opposite. Survival shot through her veins. JR saw horror in her face and how fast her hand reached into her Fendi bag for her gun, but it was too late for him.

  Boom!

  A shot slammed into JR’s head from the open window.

  Diamond watched JR’s brains burst from his head like a watermelon. In a flash, she pulled the gun from her bag, aimed, and with no hesitation squeezed the trigger.

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  The bullets struck the assassin, sending him stumbling into a vacant parked car while innocent bystanders who were stuck in the parking spaces got out and ran for cover. Blood spurted out of the assassin’s neck like a faucet. Even his chest was leaking with two big holes. After hitting the car, he fell to the ground, shaking.

  Diamond glanced in the rear view mirror and saw another man sneaking up from behind. She hit the ignition, pressed her foot on the brake pedal, and shifted the car in reverse. The vehicle backed into another parked car, sandwiching the gunman. He squealed in pain like a woman having a baby. Then two more goons swooped in. Diamond peeped the blitz and started blasting for her life, shattering the side window from the inside. The two thugs stopped in their tracks and took cover behind another car. Seeing this, Diamond got a chance to seize the opportunity she needed to get away. She fired three more cover shots at the two assassins. Iceman then popped up, ready to fire. Diamond fired a single shot into his skull. On seeing their top Ape Gang assassin go down, Buck tucked his gun and sprinted off for his life. Diamond jammed the car back in park, then got out to inspect her work.

  She walked up to the assassin who was sandwiched between the two cars. He was moaning in pain. Diamond pulled his ski mask from his face and snarled at him.

  Pressing her gun to his temple, she asked with clenched teeth, “Who are you?”

  “I…Ugh, Ape Gang…I…Please, don’t kill--”

  Boom!

  One side of his head splattered against the asphalt.. She then walked over to the one who was shot in the chest and neck. With no remorse, she executed him, as well. She then gazed over at JR’s lifeless body slumped on the passenger’s seat. It dawned on her; they had taken away her happiness. Her sanity. And now there was no turning back.

  Her emotions began to crumble inside of her. Tears welled up in her beautiful brown eyes until they streamed down her cheeks. Diamond slid down the side of the car until her ass hit the ground. Dramatically, she held her head in her hands. What have I done? she thought. She had just killed not one, but four, men. That amount of blood on her hands was something she couldn’t confess to in church. It weighed too heavy on her heart.

  Just then, the sounds of police sirens wailed in the night air from a mile away. When her mind finally registered to what those sounds meant, her emotions stopped at a standstill. Wiping her eyes, she got back on her feet and quickly looked around for an escape route. As much as she wanted to run, she refused to leave her boyfriend behind. Once she found the courage and strength to move him to the passenger’s seat, she got into the car and made her getaway.

  That night she lost her virginity a second time. That innocent, little girl was completely gone. The Agugbo brothers had flipped on her switch. The cold-blooded killer lurking inside her was now awake.

  Chapter 23

  PHILADELPHIA, PA

  (EAST GERMANTOWN)

  On one of the longest blocks in Summerville, Montega waited on the corner, at the Chinese store on Blakemore Street, where he hustled, for Mike to re-up on the half-ounce he was copping every three days. Hustling crack wasn’t at all what he had expected. Yeah, he was making big money, but the hassle of waiting for the re-up irritated him. Mike would always tell him to meet him somewhere and never show. Montega hated missing out on money because he always ended up spending what he had saved. As he sat on the steps of the store, watching his brother, Taliban, and a few other hustlers run down the crackheads to serve them, his cell phone rang. Hoping it was Mike, he answered without checking the caller ID.

  “Yo, bol!”

  “Yo, what’s good, Tega? What chu doin’?” Razor asked.

  “Waiting for Mike’s fuckin’ ass. It’s been two days Dog, and he still ain’t hit me off with that. Where you at?” Montega asked.

  “I’m with J-Rider, Nino, Killa, Tank, and Gutta. We at the mall, tryna cop them new Jordans so we can stunt at the chick Brandy’s party tonight,” Razor explained.

  “Damn, I almost forgot about that party. Yo, pick me up a size nine, and I’ll give you the bread when you get here.”

  “I got chu, bol. Holla at chu when I get back,” Razor said before hanging up.

  As Montega stood up and dusted himself off, a silver Porsche 911 slowly rode up with Million Dollar Moe inside, slouched to the side with a phone in his ear. Montega frowned when he saw his sister, Kia, get out of the passenger’s side and shut the door. Moe ice-grilled the young hustler for a moment before pulling off.

  “Where the fuck you comin’ from?” Taliban interrogated her.

  “Nigga, I’m grown. Don’t be asking me no questions, boy,” Kia shot back as she approached Montega. “What’s up, brother? You alright?”

  Montega nodded as he scanned his older sister’s outfit from head to toe. She had on some tight Sergio Jeans, a V-neck shirt and a pair of Tory Burch sneakers. Besides her bangin’ body, Montega realized that she was one of the prettiest brown-skinned chicks uptown. Her silky, shoulder-length dark hair was her mother’s contribution to a package of beauty.

  Montega hugged his sister. “I know you gonna do you, regardless of what I say, but be careful messin’ around with dudes like that. You’re a jewel to me, but to others you might be just a possession worth showing off.”

  Kia smiled before she kissed her brother on the cheek, and headed down the block to her mom’s house.

  “Man, that bitch is outta pocket. I can’t stand that nigga Moe,” Talban said with a sneer.

  Taliban was Kia’s and Montega’s opposite. He was high-yellow in color, like his father, but also resembled his mother. He was overprotective with his sister and let every cat know it.

  “Ain’t shit we can do about it, bol, but hope he don’t do her dirty,” Montega said.

  “Oh, there’s something we can do about it, a’ight,” Taliban stated. “Just the other day, I overheard Mike and Reek talkin’ about taking over uptown and rockin’ Moe to sleep.”

  “Yeah?” Montega asked with surprise. “But I thought Million Dollar Moe was his old head.”

  Taliban shrugged his shoulders, giving Montega something to ponder on. That night, Montega met up with his crew at the corner of the block, where the party was being held. His homie, Tank, who was a light-brown skinned smooth thug, was there. Tank swore he was God’s gift to women. With him was a dark-complexion guy named Nino, who was at least 6 feet 2. Nino made his money installing stolen car stereo systems and doing tint jobs. When they were younger, he was the one who always fixed up the bikes for everybody.

  Next up was Gutter, a flashy, light-skinned nigga with curly hair. Gutter loved to wear fly clothes and bust on all the dirty niggas who couldn’t afford what he had. Then there was J-Rider, who had Montega’s almond complexion. Instead of cornrows, like Montega, he wore strands that stretched past his shoulders. His cousin, Killa, looked like his twin, except for their different skin tones. They both lived in North Philly’s Blumburg projects, but had originally migrated from LA, before J-Rider’s mother died. Razor was a high-yellow, half-black, half-Colombian gangsta who was the same height as Montega, 5 feet 9, weighed 160 pounds, soaking wet. He rocked thick, straight, back braids, and could almost pass for a skinnier version of Montega’s brother, Taliban.

  Last, you had Montega’s homie who lived around the corner from his mom’s house in the Bad Landz of North Philadelphia, Beeto, who everyone called Lil Man. Lil Man was 100% Puerto Rican, with a Napoleon complex. He was a hothead, but he could back up his mouth. His brother, Skimask was a skilled street robber who had an impressive collection of guns. Lil Man’s weapon of choice was the fully automatic AK-47, which he would use on a nigga if he got out of line. He was the only one in the crew who had a body under his belt.

  The crew was greeted at the party by thumping rap music, flashing strobe lights and neighborhood chicks with glorious, fat asses. The house was packed with fellas and ladies. Their red cups reeked of spiked punch.

  “Damn, look at shorty over there. She got a fat ass,” Montega marveled in Lil Man’s ear.

  “Yeah, but look at that bitch-ass nigga dancin’ with her,” Lil Man replied, causing Montega to do a double-take look at his homie.

  Montega shook his head in disapproval and stepped off on Lil Man to get some punch. As he poured himself a drink, Brandy appeared. “Hey, Kenny. I’m glad you and your friends could make it because my girlfriend was bugging the shit outta me about you.”

  “Me? What she buggin’ you about me for? And who is she?” Montega asked.

  My girlfriend, Tasha. She just graduated from Dobbins High School and is on her way to college somewhere in Atlanta soon. She said that she always see you around the ‘hood, but never said anything to you.

  “You sure she ain’t talkin’ ’bout Tank?” Montega said, making Brandy frown.

  “Boy, stop playing. Don’t nobody want Tank’s conceited ass.”

  “See for yourself. She’s over there, dancing with some dude,” Brandy said, pointing to the chick he had seen first with the fat ass full of Jell-O and hair like Beyoncé. She was a shade lighter than him and moved like she practiced dancing everyday in her mirror at home.

  Montega couldn’t recall seeing shorty anywhere. Maybe it was the weed fucking with him, but he knew he had to have her.

  “What’s her name again?” he asked as his eyes undressed her.

  “Tasha. And don’t think you just gonna get in them drawahs, ‘cause you not. She’s a virgin,” Brandy informed him before walking off to entertain other guests.

  Montega tossed down the whole cup of punch, then approached Tasha as she rubbed her hips on some freshman from LaSalle University.

  Calm and nonchalant, Montega eyed the football player. “Beat’cha feet, homie, I need to talk to her for a second.”

  The guy paused, then when he saw who it was, he walked off, leaving Tasha standing there, confused.

  “Dag, if you wanted my attention, you could’ve just asked to dance with me,” she proclaimed to the young hustler with the long braids.

  “I ain’t tryna dance. I’m tryna talk, so what’s up?” he asked.

  “I don’t know,” she said innocently, shrugging her shoulder. “You tell me.”

  “A’ight, I see what type time you on, so here’s how this is gonna go. You rollin’ with me now, so all these niggas in here who think they got a shot at poppin’ your cherry before you go to college can forget it,” Montega said matter-of-factly.

  Tasha’s mouth dropped open. She had never heard anybody so boldly talk to her like that. She was used to telling boys what to do, and here was this guy. Not only was he bold, he was cute as shit. “So, you’re saying you want me to be your girl?” Tasha asked.

  “No, I’m not saying it. I’m telling you. Now, let’s ditch this dumb-ass party and go somewhere where we can talk in private,” he said, reaching out to grab her hand.

  Tasha didn’t know why she had even entertained the thought of going anywhere with him, but she couldn’t find it within herself to tell him no. He was so blunt, before she knew it, he was popping her cherry and calling her his. That night, when Montega stepped into his mom’s house, it was close to midnight, but his mom, Brenda, was coming down the steps, looking fabulous in a mini-dress and heels. Montega almost didn’t recognize her.

  “Where you think you’re going this time of night?” he asked with a frown.

  “Do I look that good?” Brenda asked, twisting from left to right.

  “Yeah, Mom, you look beautiful, but that wasn’t my question. Where are you going this time of night?” Montega repeated.

  “I have a date with an old friend of mine, baby. Let me ask you a question. Do you remember Charles?”

  “Who?”

  “Charles. Remember he came by when you were little, with his little girl? You don’t remember how you got that scar on your forehead?”

  Montega couldn’t recollect. He had no memory of what had happened before he bumped his head. He thought he had gotten the little scar in some scrap as a kid. Brenda saw that he had drawn a blank.

  Montega watched his mother grab her pocketbook and leave. Something in him told him not to let her go out that night, but he couldn’t spoil her happiness. Little did he know that he might never see her happy again.

  Chapter 24

  DEATH WISH

  Later on that night, Two Gun Sam and Whisky accompanied Charles as they rode to a little bar in south Philadelphia. The place was big on the outside, but from the looks of the guys hanging around, it looked to be nothing but trouble. Hookers pranced by the dealers in tight little outfits, looking to make ends meet. Even the stray alley cats were on the move, searching for a late-night meal. One of the drug dealers who had a fish platter from inside, tossed the bones near the curb and watched as the cats fought for them.

  When they arrived, Two Gun Sam put the car in park. “You need us to go with you, Chuck?” Sam asked.

  “Sure, why don’t you and Whisky come have a drink? I’m supposed to meet with Carlton Butler.” He looked over at the appointed spot.

  “I still don’t see why we didn’t bring more protection with us. This place looks grimy,” Two Gun Sam stated.

 

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