First off, I have to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Lord, this is the hardest and longest book I’ve written to date. It took me two and a half years to write this novel. I went through so much depression, happiness, laziness, sad times, and so on while writing this book. But you got me through it. Thank you for still giving me great ideas to write these stories.
Lola, Mama, my true ride or die. Thank you for believing in me and having my back, no matter what.
Love you,
Your Baby
Brenda Hampton,
My literary angel/agent. Thank you for always giving me literary advice and breaking down the industry for me. Thank you, and I love you. May God bless you.
I have to say thank you to the entire Tunstall, Isabelle, Wilson, Johnson, Manuel, and Lowe families.
And to Carl and Martha Weber, and the entire Urban Family Staff, thank you for taking another chance on me.
For all my readers out there, I thank you all for rocking with me, and I won’t stop writing!
If you want to contact me with any questions or feedback, email me at [email protected],
Twitter: Sherroddaauthor,
FB: Sherrod The Author,
IG: Sherroddaauthor.
My website is coming soon.
Also By Sherrod Tunstall
Beating the Odds (Book 1)
You Now Have Entered the World of . . .
Living for the City (Chapters 1–6)
Previously on Beating the Odds
Paco, his boys, Brad, Swag, Tyler, and Travis, were in the private prison dining area, enjoying the perks of being in Paco’s crew. They were having a good meal of fried chicken wings, collard greens, T-bone steaks, fried rice, baked potatoes, cupcakes from Diamond’s Bakery, and all of the beer they wanted.
As the fellas were eating like kings, they noticed Brad slowly licking a chocolate cupcake with pink frosting and sprinkles. Brad knew that those delicious cupcakes were from the bakery where Diamond worked, or in Brad’s mind, where she was forced to work. He imagined Diamond’s beautifully manicured hands making cupcakes and mixing up the batter. In his mind, he was having a freaky vision of her in a Victoria’s Secret bra and panty set. Her body was shaped like model Chanel Iman with a Nicki Minaj booty. He could picture her working in a hot, steamy kitchen with sweat dripping all down her sexy body as she was taking cupcakes out of the hot oven. He could imagine watching her frost every cupcake. Brad pretended that his fingers were hers as he licked them passionately.
The fellas were laughing at him because they knew what was wrong with Brad. Being in prison for weeks without any women around was hard on any man, and they jacked off at night. But Brad had gone too far, and he was looking like a desperate fool. Tyler threw a chicken wing at him, knocking him out of his daydream. He looked over at his boys, who were laughing up a storm.
“Damn, playa,” Swag said, laughing.
“He workin’ ’em fingers,” said Paco. “Who’s clit you imaginin’ you eatin’ out?”
They continued to laugh, and Brad gave them all the finger.
As they continued eating like kings, Paco cleared his throat. His crew knew when he did that, it was time to get down to business.
“Well, everyone, I have some bad news and good news,” Paco said.
Everyone was silent.
“The bad news is we ain’t getting out of here because my father only wanted me released, but I said, hell naw. I’m loyal to the damn end. So, I’m officially cut off from the Hernandez Cartel.”
The fellas didn’t say a word. They were stunned that their boy had risked his freedom, wealth, and family to be in a shit hole with them. To them, that was true friendship.
“The good news is I’ve been making contacts, and I’m now hooked up with a very powerful Costa Rican mob boss. We been talking business for years, and I’m thinking of joining that squad. The plan is to bring my father’s piece-of-shit organization down and make the streets of Houston and Mexico mine, with you all as equal partners.”
All the fellas clapped, including Swag, Tyler, and Travis, who really didn’t give a shit about anything anymore except getting the hell out of Brazil by any means necessary. Brad felt the same way, but he had to find out what was up with Diamond.
“Shh!” Paco said. “Calm that shit down ’fore y’all wake up the whole damn prison.”
The fellas silenced themselves again.
“But, Paco, if they gon’ make us full partners, how we gon’ do it from in here and they in Costa Rica?” Brad asked.
“Homies, if you just shut the hell up, I can tell you the rest of the story,” Paco said sarcastically.
“Yeah, I know this cat in Costa Rica, and the boss is going to take real good care of us. We all gon’ make more money than we ever dreamed of. We can kick it in Costa Rica for a few years until I can build my own dynasty and bring my father’s down. Then, Houston can be ours for the taking.”
Swag, Tyler, Travis, and Paco’s boys were saying, “Hell yeah! Anything to get out of this hellhole.”
Brad couldn’t believe how his cousin and his boys were acting. He was greatly disappointed. They kept making the same mistake over and over again. And even though Brad had agreed to go along with the plan, he didn’t want to. There was nothing to be happy about. He just wanted out, and he didn’t give a damn about running the streets with men like Paco. And shame on the others for wanting to be down with him.
“Yo, B, you wit’ us or what, bro?” Paco asked.
Brad pretended as if he didn’t hear him. “What you say, man?”
“You down wit’ us or what?” Paco smiled.
“Yeah, I’m down for whatever.”
“Cool, gentlemen. In a few short days, we will be free and very rich men.” Paco raised his cup. “To the future.”
“To the future,” everyone toasted, raising their cups.
Goodbye, fellas, Brad thought while taking a sip of his drink. I’m so glad this is almost over.
* * *
In prison that night, Paco held a little party for all of the inmates in the cell with jerk chicken, barbeque ribs, corn on the cob, white rice, and cake. No one, not even the faculty at the prison, questioned Paco about having the party. Since he was an ex-member of the Hernandez Cartel, he still had money everywhere, and with money, people always respected him. He had the power, no doubt. All of the prisoners ate like they never had food before. Hell, they hadn’t had good food like that in a minute. One prisoner said, “This feast is even better than sex and Christmas combined.”
All of the inmates laughed.
Paco watched as everyone was enjoying the food. Eat up, ’cause it will be your last meal.
As everyone was enjoying their meal, the officer brought a big orange water dispenser, which contained red Kool-Aid. Each prisoner grabbed a cup, but Paco warned his crew, Brad, Swag, Tyler, and Travis, not to drink it unless they wanted to meet their maker sooner than later. Paco proposed a toast to life and blessings, but in his mind, the real toast he wanted to say was, Fuck you all and good luck in hell.
All the prisoners ate and drank until it got quiet . . . and quieter. The cell went to a deathful silence. Brad and the fellas were scared shitless. Brad looked over and saw his boy Stan, who was now dead to the world. His eyes were wide