Promise Broken, page 18
“Does she know that? From the way that girl acts you’d think you asked for her hand in marriage.”
“That’s because she’s extra like that,” Asher remarked.
“I don’t think it’s being extra. More like her knowing what she wants and waiting for you to come around and get with the program,” Linda told her son.
“Good luck with that.” Asher sat on the bed and slipped his sneakers on.
“Asher, you ain’t always gotta be so mean when it comes to that girl.” Linda didn’t like when he down talked Ruby or any woman for that matter.
“Ma, I ain’t being mean I’m just telling it like it is. Ruby knows where we’re at with that. Seems like you’re the one always trying to force the issue. You take her side more than you take mine. You’re my mother, for crying out loud.”
“Yes, I am your mother but I’m a woman first, Asher. If I’m being honest, I genuinely fucks with Ruby. Sure, she’s ghetto as all hell, but she’s also got tons of potential. Ruby is beautiful, smart, and will ride with you to the bitter end of whatever is going on. I can’t do anything but respect a woman like that because that’s the cloth I’m cut from!” Linda said with conviction.
“Calm down, Vice President Harris,” Asher said to lighten the mood. “I know who Ruby is, but I also know what she is. I ain’t taking nothing from her, but maybe I’m starting to realize that she ain’t for me.”
When he made the statement, it made Linda give him a quizzical look. She knew her son . . . he had come from her womb and she had raised him. There was no secret he could hold from her and when he refused to meet her gaze she understood. “Only thing I know of that can make a man second guess a good thing is something better. Which one of these little neighborhood rats done snatched your nose so wide open that you’re thinking about jumping ship?”
Asher looked at his mother. She had always been intuitive about the shifts in his life. From the question, he could tell that she thought that she was onto something and who was he to tell her different? “It ain’t that deep, Ma. Just another pit stop on my journey to find myself.”
“I should hope that she’s more than a pit stop if you’re willing to risk Ruby’s wrath to cat around with her.” Linda laughed. “Do your thing, son. Just be careful and respectful. Remember, it ain’t their fault if they get fat off whatever lies you feed them. Be mindful of that.”
“I will,” Asher said, more to get rid of his mother than actually agreeing to what she was talking about. He loved his mother and valued her wisdom but she was too far removed from who Asher really was to be able to give him the soundest advice about his social life. He sipped from his bottle and scrolled his phone while waiting for his mother to realize that the conversation was over and to leave so he could finish getting himself together. She finally did and walked through the bedroom door. Then as an afterthought, she stopped and turned back to her son.
“I almost forgot, I bumped into your old girlfriend’s older brother on my way home from work. What was his name? Zul, I think?”
Asher’s brain hadn’t immediately processed what his mother had said until maybe a split second after the words had left her mouth. When the statement processed itself in his brain he dropped the pint of Hennessy, shattering it and spilling liquor all over his bedroom floor.
“Damn, boy! What the hell is your problem? You drunk already?” Linda jumped back just enough to avoid the liquor splashing her house-shoes.
“Sorry, I think I still had lotion on my hands,” Asher grabbed the towel he had showered with earlier and tossed it over the puddle of liquor and glass. “I’ll get it up before I leave.”
“No, I’ll do it. You’ll probably do a half-ass job and the floor will not only be sticky but be lousy with glass pieces. I’ll take care of it,” Linda told him. She was once again not holding him accountable.
“That nigga, Zul . . . he come at you on some funny shit?” Asher pressed his mother.
“No, why would he? Like I said, it was a random ass meeting at the gas station. He told me that he had recently gotten out of jail. He looked good, but Zul could always dress. He also told me that he’s got some big stuff in the works. He says that you should come and see him when you’re serious about what you want to do with your life.”
Asher peeped the threat behind the message even if his mom didn’t. “That’s what’s up.”
“A man offers to give my unemployed son a job and that’s all you’ve got to say? That’s what’s up?” Linda asked.
“Ma, you act like you forgot that I’m already moving in some important circles.” Asher poked his chest out.
“Son of mine, you ain’t been in the streets long enough to know the difference between those who are important and those who are just popping,” Linda schooled him. “I respect your loyalty to B-Stone, but a good businessman always keeps his options open. Feel me?”
“Yeah, I feel you, Ma,” Asher said. He cast a glance at the clock to let his mother know that he was pressed for time.
“Well, I’m about to go out here, pour me a glass of wine, and watch Gray’s Anatomy on the DVR. You be careful in these streets, boy. Don’t get into no shit.” Linda kissed Asher on both cheeks. “Make sure you come home to me tonight, ya hear?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Asher promised. It was a promise that in his heart he planned to make good on, but sometimes the universe had other ideas.
CHAPTER 22
Five minutes later Asher was out of the house and walking to meet Calico on the corner of his block. He found him sitting on the hood of his Acura Legend, smoking a cigarette and wearing a grim look.
“My fault, I had to chop it up with my mom right quick.” Asher gave him dap.
“All good,” Cal took a last deep pull from the cigarette before plucking it away.
“What’s up with you?” Asher asked, noticing that his friend was in a mood.
“We’ll talk about it in the car,” Cal said and got in on the driver’s side.
Asher didn’t feel good about the response. He walked around the car and jumped in on the passenger’s side. He turned to press Cal about what was going on and that’s when he heard the voice from the back seat.
“Glad you could finally join us.” Saud was in the back seat.
Asher looked to Cal, who had his eyes front and hands firmly on the wheel. He adjusted himself so that he could turn and address Saud while letting his arm fall so that his hand was close to the .380 he had in his pocket. “What’s this?”
“Drive,” Saud told Cal, ignoring Asher’s question.
For the next three blocks they rode in silence and it felt like the longest three blocks of Asher’s life. Before becoming B-Stone’s advisor and a part-time pimp, Saud had a reputation in the hood as a killer, so seeing him in uniform had him on edge. Had he done something wrong? Did Saud know about his unexpected guest earlier? He had been super paranoid since Zul left, and Saud showing up unannounced wasn’t helping. Cal still hadn’t looked at him, but he could feel Saud’s eye burning a hole in the back of his head. Every time the old man shifted in the back seat, Asher instinctively looked up at the rearview mirror. His hand was halfway in his pocket, gripping the butt of his gun. The minute Saud tried something, Asher was going to lay him and Cal would go shortly after.
“Pull over up here,” Saud said from the back seat. They were on an empty block not far from the hotel.
Asher looked up and down the block, looking for signs of anyone but them on the block. It was deserted, save for a figure wearing a hoodie that he almost hadn’t noticed, coming in their direction. “Saud, you wanna tell me what we’re doing here?” Asher tried to hide his mounting nervousness. He had slipped the gun from his pocket and it was now tucked between his thigh and his seat. If it was going to happen then he was going out dumping.
“In a second.” Saud stepped out of the car to meet the hooded person.
When the person in the hood got closer Asher realized it wasn’t a man, but a woman. He couldn’t think of her name, but he had seen her with Saud before. She was one of many spies that he had all over the city. His network of gossipers was even better than Cal’s sisters.
“What the fuck kind of shit is this?” Asher turned to Cal angrily once Saud was out of earshot.
“Ash, that’s my word. I didn’t plan this. The nigga popped up out of thin air like a fucking ninja while I was waiting for you,” Cal explained.
“What does he want?” Asher asked.
Cal shrugged. “Nigga wouldn’t say. All I know is that he’s mobilizing the troops for something.”
Before Cal could elaborate, Saud was back. He jumped back into the back seat and instructed Cal to pull off, which he did without question. After a few more blocks of silence, Asher was tired of the game and was about to demand that Saud tell him something, but he wouldn’t have to. “I guess I ain’t gotta tell you that Zul is home, huh?”
Asher was surprised by the question but did his best not to show it. He was trying to figure out if Saud was making an accusation or asking a question. He decided to go with the latter. “I’d heard something about it.”
Saud didn’t respond right away. “You seen him around? Maybe one of your corner boys came across some scuttle?”
“Nah, man. I haven’t seen him,” Asher lied.
“Considering your delicate history, I reckon that you’d be one of the first people he paid a call on once he started his victory tour. If he hasn’t, I expect that he will so you best make sure your ass is prepared,” Saud told him.
“I keep a strap,” Asher assured him.
“I ain’t talking about that bum ass .380 you’re hiding under your leg. Zul would eat them slugs and spit ‘em back at you. I got some heavier shit stashed here and there, so tomorrow morning you make sure you come and see me so I can strap you up properly. I need all my street lieutenants strapped at all times, you get me?” Saud asked.
“Yeah, I get you. You really think that he’s gonna come around on some bullshit?” Asher asked, already knowing the answer to the question.
“I don’t think, I know. Zul ain’t the type of nigga to leave scores unsettled. He’s probably more motivated to kick it off now because of what that hot head B-Stone did.” Saud shook his head in frustration.
“Stone? What he do?” Asher asked.
“Put a hole in some little nigga from that side and slapped Zul’s sister around for good measure,” Saud told him.
“Liza?” Asher was shocked. He and the girl hadn’t dealt in a while, but he still had a soft spot in his heart for her. She had some of the best head in the city. One thing he did know from his time being around her was that Zul was a fool when it came to his baby sister. “This is bad.”
“Who the fuck you telling? This nigga B-Stone done went and fast-tracked the war. Ain’t shit we can do about it at this point but to tool up and handle our business,” Saud said. He had been through so many wars that one was no different from the other to him.
* * *
“Yo, Ab!” Asher called after Ab, crossing the hotel lobby. They had spotted him while they were walking from the parking lot where they parked the car. He was putting someone in a taxi. If Asher didn’t know any better he’d have thought that it was Promise’s little friend, Keys. But why would the church boy be with Ab?
When Ab turned to see who was yelling his name across the hotel lobby, he frowned. Asher was making hurried steps to catch up with him, while Cal and Saud brought up the rear. Why was Saud with Asher and Cal? And where the hell was B-Stone? Those were questions that would have to wait until later in the night. “Little nigga, stop screaming like you ain’t got no class inside this establishment!”
“My fault, Ab. I was just trying to catch you before you went upstairs,” Asher said apologetically. “How’s the party looking?”
“I wouldn’t know. I haven’t been upstairs yet. I was down here in the bar taking care of something,” Ab told him. As if on cue, Don B.’s entourage emerged from the bar with the girls. Mouse was hanging on Tone, smiling at whatever line of bullshit he was feeding her. When she spotted Ab, she put a bit of distance between them. “Where y’all sliding off to?” he looked at Mouse suspiciously.
“Not that you care, but we were about to go to Don B.’s Maybach and blow some trees,” Mouse told him. She was still salty about him insinuating that her pussy was negotiable.
“Is that so?” Ab gave her a disapproving look. He wanted to check her but was too player to do so in front of the New York dudes. He’d make her wear the funny move before the night was over.
“Relax, Ab. We were only borrowing them for a few,” Don B. capped. He went to drape his arm around Promise as a way of letting Ab know Big Dawg was about to pluck their broads, but the move ended up awkward when Promise turned herself out of his reach. “Oh, that’s what we doing? Y’all drink up our booze then throw us the cold shoulder?” Don B. wasn’t used to being rejected, especially not in public and not by a hood rat.
“I got a boyfriend,” Promise lied.
“Where was he when y’all was in the bar drinking up the champagne?” Don B. asked.
“Outside, parking the car,” Asher stepped forward, much to the surprise of everyone in attendance, including Promise. Keeping his eyes on Don B., he snaked his arm around Promise’s waist and shot two inches of his tongue down her throat. The inside of her mouth tasted like whatever she had been drinking. This was hardly what he expected the first kiss between them to be like, but there had to be no room for question about his claim on her lest he risk the rappers making off with what he felt was his to claim. “Sorry, I kept you waiting so long.”
“Um . . . it’s fine.” Promise was flustered from the kiss. Had he really claimed her as his girlfriend or was it a part of the act she’d initiated? It didn’t matter. She was basking in the moment like a love-struck school girl.
“My fault, shorty. I didn’t mean to come in between anything,” Don B. told Asher, raising his hands and backing up. The kid claiming to be Promise’s boyfriend was hardly in Don B.’s league, but he respected him for having the balls to step up. He did it like a gentleman, as opposed to the lame way Keys had gone about it.
“Yo, ain’t that ol’ boy’s people?” Devil tapped Don B. He was looking at Saud who was shooting daggers at them. Tension passed between the two men but was broken when Saud started in their direction. Devil reached for his gun, but Don B. waved him to stand down.
“Chill, D. Too many muthafuckas in here for that.” Don B. laid a calming hand on Devil’s shoulder before moving to meet Saud.
“You know who I am?” Saud asked, sizing Don B. up. His body was tense and his fists balled tightly at his sides.
“I’ve seen your face. I don’t know you, but I can guess what your gripe is,” Don B. said coolly.
“‘Gripe’ is an understatement. You got a lot of nerve showing your face in the Bricks after how you did one of its most beloved sons!”
Don B. sighed in frustration, thinking how he should have listened to Tone when he tried to get him to move the meeting to New York. Tone saw this coming and Don B. should have as well. Now he found himself in a hostile jungle and had to ease his hand out of the lion’s mouth. “Listen, OG,” he began calmly, “I know you been gone a long time, and probably received a lot of bad third-party information, so I’m going to overlook all that hostile energy you brought in here with you. Shit ain’t work out between your boy and the company, so we dropped him from the label. It is what it is, so I’d appreciate it if everybody got out of their feelings.”
Saud laughed sinisterly. “I hear you talking, big dawg. I don’t do feelings though. For me, this is about some unresolved financial issues.”
Don B. looked from Tone, but to Saud, confused as to what the older man was speaking of. “Bruh, fuck is you talking about?”
“I’m talking about you thinking you can violate the no-fly order we place on you without having to pay a toll,” Saud told him.
Don B. hadn’t meant to, but he laughed out loud. “Yo, out of respect for your history in the streets I tried to keep this on some cool shit, but let me speak to you in a language that you understand. Ain’t a nigga alive can say they ever extorted me. Never happened and it won’t happen.”
“How about I pay this pussy in iron?” Devil’s pistol was now in his hand.
Asher moved Promise behind him and eased his strap out. Cal was right behind him, hand tucked under his shirt and ready to draw down. A few of the other homies who were coming to the hotel for Clay’s events had been drawn into the lobby by the commotion and they now had the dudes from New York outnumbered.
Little did any of them know, the minute Tone had seen the situation taking a turn he jumped on the phone and put the goons on alert. By then there should’ve been a car full of shooters outside the hotel. All they were waiting for was the signal to come into the hotel lobby and lay down anybody who didn’t live within a New York zip code. Tone had warned Don B. that coming to Newark was a bad idea, but as usual he didn’t listen.
“Everybody calm down.” Ab stepped between them. This situation was about to get out of hand. “Saud, what’s the deal?” he asked, unfamiliar with the beef between him and the rapper.
“The deal is homie ain’t welcome on this side and if we can’t come to an understanding, it’s gonna be something tonight.” Saud motioned to the young soldiers at his back. He couldn’t wait to humble the New Yorker in front of them, or kill him. Whichever was fine by him.
“Saud, I don’t know what kind of unresolved issues you and Don B. got, but he’s here as my guest,” Ab explained.
“Fuck that, he’s an op!” Saud shot back. He tried to take a step, but Ab blocked his path. Saud looked at Ab as if he had taken leave of his senses. “You siding with this nigga over your own hood?”
