pull-up bar. Forever got down and proceeded to do two hundred push-ups. They both worked out in silence. When they finished Zeke said, “Let’s walk.” As they circled the track Zeke asked, “How’s the family?”
“I hope a’ight. I haven’t caught up with her yet. So what’s up? Why has it been so damn dry? Where’s Rice?” Rice was one of the officers who smuggled in Forever’s dope.
“They walked our number one man off on some fucking an inmate bullshit.” Zeke answered nonchalantly.
“What?” Forever said, not sure if he was hearing right.
“Yeah. Rice was coming in wearing red panties under his uniform and shit. He was getting fucked by that punk named Juwan. They got busted in the infirmary. Red panties and all!”
“Damn.” Forever shook his head in disbelief. “What about Carter and Scott?”
“When Carter saw that, he got scared as fuck and transferred to Atlanta. Scott is still around but he just made lieutenant so he’s chillin’ for now. I can’t talk him into doing shit. And you know the visit situation really ain’t worth our while. We need some fresh meat. The market is off the meter. I went up a little on the prices because ya know these niggas still gonna cop. But the little shit I get in now is a fuckin’ joke. You gotta handle your business, and fast.”
“What’d you do?” Forever listened intently.
“An ounce of weed is a “G” and an ounce of powder is double that. I told them that’s all we’ll be moving. Everybody’s waitin’. It’s on you now.”
Forever nodded his head. “How’s your family?” He asked Zeke.
“Man, don’t get me started. That bitch won’t even bring my boys to see me and always bitchin’ about how much money she need.” They walked in silence some more until Zeke blurted out, “I’m just tryna maintain but that hoe be havin’ me stressin’.”
“I hear you man. Some nigga gotta be all up in her head for her to be trippin’ like that.”
“Her head! Fuck that! All up in that pussy!” Zeke spat. Now he was really pissed.
Forever had no comment for that. He switched the subject and Zeke filled him in on the jailhouse drama for the next half hour. “A’ight man. I’ma go try this phone again.” Forever jogged back to the building.
When he reached the phones there was a long line. “Damn,” he mumbled under his breath and leaned up against the wall. He hadn’t held his woman or his five-year-old daughter Tameerah in eight months. He had to admit and be thankful that he was one of the lucky brothas who had a woman on the outside who was riding with him. Finally, after twenty minutes a phone came open. He quickly dialed home hoping that his wife was there. After the fourth ring he heard his daughter’s voice and started smiling. She had the nerve to press five.
“Hello,” she said.
“Hey Tameerah, baby. How’s Daddy’s baby?”
“Mommee! It’s Daddee!” she yelled. “Hi Daddee.”
“Hey baby. You okay? How’s school?”
“It’s fine. We got a rabbit.”
“A rabbit! At home?” Forever acted shocked.
“No.” She laughed. “At school. His name is Fred.”
“I see. You miss me?”
“Yup. Here comes Mommee.”
“I love you baby.” Forever smiled.
“I love you too.” Tameerah passed the phone to her mother.
“Hey baby. How are you? I miss you.” She squeezed the phone tight.
“I’m out the hole.”
“Are you?” She gasped.
“Yeah. I came out earlier today. Can you come see me this weekend? I miss the shit outta y’all.”
“Not as much as I miss you.” Her voice cracked.
“Y’all a’ight?”
“Other than you not being here, we’re fine.”
“How about money-wise?”
“I’m working part time for an insurance agency.”
“Working?” Forever was surprised.
“Our stash is getting low. I know you didn’t think it was going to last forever.”
“Who watches the baby?”
“She’s in school and she’s not a baby anymore, Forever. I take her and pick her up. I’m here when she leaves and here when she gets out. Plus, I’m doing my little balloon hobby, as you like to call it.”
Forever was silent, mulling things over in his mind.
“Everything’s working out fine,” she tried to assure him. “You know I have to keep busy.”
“How does she like school?”
“So far so good. Let’s just hope it lasts. Do you miss me?” Nyla ran her hand across her breast.
“Baby, you know I do. You don’t even have to ask that.”
“I just like to hear you say it.”
“I’ll show you how much when I see you this weekend. I can’t wait to see you.”
“I can’t wait to see you either. You been dreamin’ about fuckin’ me or that bitch Beyoncé?”
“Be who?”
“Nigga, don’t play with me!” she joked. “I’ma step into your dreams and beat that bitch’s ass and then I’ma beat yours!”
“You know I only dream about makin’ love to you. You love me?”
“Always and forever.”
4
SHADEE
“What the fuck is this fool doing?” Hook laid on the horn as the forest green Hummer blocked him in. “Move the fuck outta the way!” he yelled.
“Shit, Hook, this looks like the jackers are gettin’ jacked!” Rob said as he cocked his glock. “Ain’t this a bitch! We bout to get jacked! Fuck! I told you we should have brought some more bodies for this nigga.” Rob’s adrenaline was pumping. Just the two of them were supposed to rob Shadee.
No sooner than those words left his mouth the car was surrounded. “Shadee is lying in the backseat!” Doc screamed in disbelief. Pop! Pop! He fired. “These niggas is busted!” Pop! Pop! The gunfire rang and glass shattered everywhere. Doc was hit in the arm while Rob, sitting on the passenger side, was hit in the head, the bullet bursting his head wide open. Two bullets caught Hook in the shoulder as he screamed out in pain. Glass and blood was all over. The windows on the passenger and driver sides were gone. The front windshield was all cracked up.
Hook was yelling like a bitch. “Shut up, nigga!” Teraney punched Hook in the face. “Move the fuck over!” He pushed him. “Get from under the fuckin’ wheel!” Teraney pushed Hook over and jumped in the driver’s seat. He was sitting on top of Rob’s dead body.
Hook figured that he could get away since he saw that they were occupied with Shadee. He reached in his sock and pulled out his little .22 and pressed it to Teraney’s temple. “Let me out right now, or I’m taking this chump with me! Ossssh! Ahhhh!” Hook yelled as Teraney knocked the gun from his hand. Slim crushed a piece of glass into his cheek. He was still yelling as the blood gushed out.
“You dummy!” Teraney said as he shook his head in disgust. “What was you planning to do with that little shit?”
“Shadee still breathing