Hood Rich: The rise and fall of one of Brooklyn's Finest (8 page)

I felt nervous working in Club Wet again after setting
up Zeke. It had to be done though. I was scared. It
seemed like Jocelyn was cool wit everything.
Jocelyn was doing a private show in one of the V.I.P.
Rooms when Kevin called all the girls to the bar. The
club had just opened for the night. There was only
two customers in the building. They were both in
V.I.P., busy team fucking Jocelyn.
It was Manny and Wiz from Moffat Street. They were
Jocelyn’s regulars. I guess they couldn’t get enough.
The meeting started. Kevin introduced us to his
brother “Black”. He was going to be running the club
for a week. Black was just as dark as his name suggested. He was only five foot four. He had a goatee
and enough waves on his head to make the whole
borough seasick. Black was well dressed. He appeared to be in his thirties. After a brief introduction,
Black spoke.
“Look bitches, Kevin run shit his way, and I run shit
my way. Lets clear this shit up right now. While I’m
here it’s my way. If you don’t like it thats a personal
problem. Cry me a river, build a bridge and get over
it.”
Black went on about his rules. Customers started
coming in and he adjourned the meeting. Black and
Kevin fell back into the office and closed the door.
Jocelyn came out of the V.I.P. With Manny and Wiz.
She sat down at the bar beside me.
“Damn girl, these niggas can’t get enough of this ‘ill
na-na. I’m bout to raise the price on this pussy. It’s
real simple right, supply and demand baby.”
We both laughed, only I was laughing at and not with
her silly ass.
“Jocelyn… this new nigga thats gone be running the
club while Kev in Philly is like a black ass version of
Hitler. Your freak ass prolly like it though.”
We both laughed. Jocelyn’s laugh was muffled abruptly. She stopped and froze in the middle of her
laugh. She was trembling and staring in the direction
of the office. Black and Kevin were standing at the
door. Tears came out of her eyes as she turned her
head toward me.
“That’s him, we gotta get out of here, he's gone kill
me!”
“He’s gone do what, fuck is you talking bout?”
“Black… that’s him?”
Jocelyn grabbed my arm and pulled me into the
dressing room. Her face was red and full of tears. She
was still shaking.
“When I ran from Jersey, I was running from him. He
was my pimp in Atlantic City. He told me if I ever left
him, he would kill me if he ever seen me again!”
I held Jocelyn in my arms. Black wasn’t that big. Shit
he was close to our size. I wasn’t about to let him do
anything to Jocelyn.
“We in this shit together, fuck that. We riding to the
wheels fall off.”
Jocelyn shook her head no.
“No, Akira, lets be out, that nigga crazy. He be fucking bitches up like it aint nothing.”
I let Jocelyn go and looked in her eyes.
“Remember what we did to one of your favorite customers? He was like the jolly green giant. We wasn’t
scared of him, so fuck Black.”
“Yeah, but we had Rich.”
“Well, we just have to get him different.”
Just as we sat down to figure things out, Coffee, Kevin, and Black walked into the dressing room. Jocelyn
jumped up. Black opened his eyes wide. Coffee
grabbed Jocelyn by the hair and looked at me.
“What the fuck did I tell y'all lazy ass bitches about
sitting in the dressing room. Go get that fucking money for daddy.”
Coffee released Jocelyn’s hair. We both headed for the
door. Black moved directly in front of us and grabbed
Jocelyn’s arm. He looked at Kevin and said:
“This the little funky bitch I told you about that ran
away.”
Kevin shook his head. Black turned his attention to
Jocelyn.
“So this where you been, you little stinking ass bitch.”
He slapped Jocelyn in the mouth and kept talking.
“Didn’t I tell you what I would do to you if you ran
from me and I found you?”
Jocelyn never responded. He continued.
“You better pray to the pimp gods that you have a
good night cause I’m about two-seconds away from
fading you. Bitch you better go out there and suck
and fuck out of both pants legs like you got white liver.”
Black let Jocelyn’s arm go and stepped aside for us to
leave. We stood there frozen. Coffee grabbed me by
my neck.
“Bitch is you the fuck deaf. Get the fuck out of here.”
Me and Jocelyn left the dressing room. The rest of the
night went extra slow. I just couldn’t wait to get home
to Rich. At the end of the night Black pulled Jocelyn
into the office. I was all dressed and waiting on her to
leave. I knocked on she door too see how much longer they would be. Black opened the door. Jocelyn was
sitting on the floor holding her stomach crying.
“Fuck you want?” Black asked me as he looked me
over.
“I’m waiting on her, our ride is outside.”
Black smirked and looked at Jocelyn.
“This bitch is my property. Go head and get your ride
case she’s going home wit’ daddy.”
“No… that’s my…”
Black whaled his hand at my face so fast and hard I
could only hear ringing out of my left ear. I was picking myself up off the floor.
“See the problem wit’ you funky ass bitches is, you
don’t know how to mind your motherfucking business and keep your cock holsters shut. I’m about sick
of y’all whores. Y’all don’t get paid to think. Stick to
what you do best… sucking and fucking.”
Black grabbed me and Jocelyn and took us to the
dressing room. He looked at Jocelyn.
“Bitch get ya clothes on, and you, I got something for
you.”
Black grabbed me by the back of my neck and bent
me over the table. He pulled my jeans down. That little nigga was so strong. Jocelyn came over and tried
to grab Black. He turned around and punched her
square in the mouth with his free hand. He held me
down with the other.
“Stop, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” I cried and pleaded.
“Shut up bitch.” Black yelled in my ear. I was hoping
someone would hear me, but the music in the club
was loud.
“Black, it’s not her fault, take it out on me!” Jocelyn
cried.
Black looked at her and spat.
“Bitch get dressed, matter fact turn around and look
that way. Mind your motherfucking business.”
Black forced his way into my dry un-lubricated ass
hole. I screamed out in pain. I tried to wiggle my way
out to no avail. Black had me hemmed up. I cried and
cried as he continued to violate me. I turned my head
around and saw Jocelyn going in her locker. She
pulled out Zeke’s gun and cocked it. Black released
me and stood up.
“You gone pull a gun on me bitch? You got twoseconds to drop that damn pistol and get on your
motherfucking hands and knees and beg me not to
whip your motherfucking ass bitch!
Jocelyn was shaking. I was in so much pain I could
barely stand up. Black moved towards Jocelyn.
“Bitch I said put the gun down.” Black said as he
leapt toward Jocelyn.
“Bitch I outa…”
--Bang, bang, bang-
Jocelyn shot Black three times. She dropped the gun
and stood there. I looked down at Black on the floor
and back up at Jocelyn.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here.” I said as I grabbed my
bag. Jocelyn picked up the gun and put it in her bag.
We walked out of the club as if nothing happened.
Coffee, Kevin, and the bouncers were outside talking.
The music was still playing and the lights were still
flashing.
Rich was across the street. We ran across Wilson Avenue and jumped in the car.
“Hey baby, hurry up, pull off.” I said to Rich and
kissed him.
“Damn you in a rush baby, calm down. I’m gone stop
at the Hot Bar.”
I couldn’t tell him what just happened but I need him
to hurry up and leave.
“Baby I gotta take a shit real bad, come on. Take me
home first and drop me off.”
Rich laughed as he started the car. I was quiet the entire ride home, so was Jocelyn. I held my stomach as I
was in pain from Black’s intrusion of my body.

I went to the Hot Bar after dropping Akira and Jocelyn off. I wanted to get some crab legs and a smooth
bitch. I sat at the bar after I ordered my food. Someone tapped me on my shoulder and I turned around.
It was Shakita. I hadn’t seen her in over 9 months. She
had on a black fitted dress with some six inch stilettos. Her hair was braided in micro’s. Shakita sat on
the stool next to me.
“Whats up Rich, damn, I aint seen you in a minute
baby, how you been?”
“I’m good. What you drinking?”
“Alize and Vodka.” She said smiling.
“So how are the twins?” I asked.
“Bad as shit.” Shakita responded.
The bartender came over with our drinks. Jay-Z's ‘All
I Need” was playing on the jukebox. Shakita and I
talked while we drank and I ate of course. Shakita got
up off the stool and whispered in my ear.
“I’m horny as shit Rich… come in the bathroom and
get this pussy.”
Shakita walked to the bathroom at the back of the bar.
I followed close behind. I looked around the bar and
then walked into the bathroom. Once the door was
closed and locked, Shakita pulled up her fitted dress
and bent over the sink. Looking at her pretty round
fat ass made my dick instantly hard. I shoved it inside
of her and watched her as she turned her head
around and looked at me.
“You miss this pussy Rich?” Shakita asked.
“Yeah.” I responded as I felt myself about to nut inside of Shakita again. I couldn’t help myself. It happened.
“Damn nigga, I told you about nutting in me.” Shakita snapped as she lurched forward off me. She squatted and sucked the rest of the nut off.
After finishing in the bathroom we walked back to the
bar to have another drink.
“So Rich… you get a girl yet?”
I smiled, feeling somewhat guilty.
“Yeah… you can say that.”
“Be careful.” She said as she sipped her drink.
“You need a ride.” I asked her after I got off the stool.
“Naw I’m good. About to walk around Manny’s
house”
“Okay.” I said as I put a dub on the bar and walked
off.
“Hey Rich.” Shakita called out just before I reached
the door.
“Whats up?” I said.
“So I guess you a boss now huh? Don’t you think it’s
time for you to step that wardrobe up Hood Rich?”
I didn’t respond, I just smiled. For some reason, I
liked the sound of that… Hood Rich. As I walked out
the bar I could see cops across the street at Club Wet.
There had to be about 10 to 12 police cars. Lights were
flashing and a crowd of people hovered in front of
Club Wet. I headed home.
Akira was balled up on the floor at the foot of the bed.
Jocelyn was lying across the bed sleeping. I couldn’t
see Akira’s face but I could see that she was sobbing.
“What’s wrong baby?” I asked as I sat next to her. She
remained silent. I held her and rubbed her back. I
looked on the floor across from Akira and saw a gun.
“Yo, what the fuck is that doing right there?” I asked
Akira.
She looked at me with her red teary eyes.
“Jocelyn shot him, she shot him.” Akira said.
I was lost.
“Shot who?” I asked Akira, as I grabbed her chin.
“Jocelyn shot Black, he raped me at the club tonight.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this when I came to pick you
up?”
“I didn’t know how to tell you… I’m sorry.”
I hugged Akira tight.
“Baby it’s not your fault, I’m sorry.”
I held Akira close to me as she told me what happened at Club Wet. I decided to take the girls, money
and cocaine out of the house. I didn’t want to take
any chances with Coffee and Kevin knowing were we
lived. I woke Jocelyn up and we went to the Galaxy
Motel.
In the morning I took the gun and found another spot
along the bike trail in Nassau County. I thought about
Iyani. When I passed off that cell phone, I lost my only way to get in touch with her.
I went to meet Manny once I got back to the city. Wilson Avenue was popping again. Two weeks had gone
and Manny was copping four and a half every day.
He then stepped it up to half a bird. Wiz had become
his right hand man and started to accompany him to
all his transactions. Manny tried to include me in his
circle, which was really my circle before I got
booked… Brooklyn’s Finest. I decided to fall back
from the block for a while though. The streets were
hot. They cooled down and the shooting subsided.
Manny began selling weight to niggas from the Stuy,
and Brownsville. Wasn’t long before he needed a bird
a day. He also took over Central Ave which used to
belong to Fats.
The money was coming in so fast I had no time to
count it. I had already made a million dollars. It
didn’t seem real to me yet. I was still driving my
Bonneville playing the part of the pauper. I had finally got my drivers license. Now I was ready to roll.

I was officially retired from the “shaky butts” business. On the other hand Jocelyn couldn’t get
enough… medicine. She had some private clientele
from Club Wet. Regulars whom she exchanged numbers with. She would go see them and make some
ends here and there. She didn’t have to because Rich
was taking care of us. She gave him all the money anyway.
We sat in the hotel all day. I had been looking
through the paper for three weeks trying to find a
nice house that we could move into right away. There
was a house on knickerbocker and cooper on the sheriffs sale list. It was around the corner and up the
street from Rich’s mom house on Decatur Street. I
talked Rich into going to look at it. I was tired of staying in a hotel. I just wanted to be in a place that I
could call home.
Jocelyn laid next to me in the king size bed. I could
feel her phone vibrating on the bed between us until
she answered it.
“Hello.” Jocelyn answered, holding the phone away
from her ear.
“Damn you loud as shit, what’s up?…
Who else over there?…
You got a check for me?…
Okay, I’m gone call a cab. I be there in 45 minutes.”
Jocelyn hung up the phone and looked at me.
“Akira, my best friend in the whole wide world. I
need a favor.”
I knew what was coming. I knew she wanted me to
go somewhere with her.
“Where you want me to go?” I asked her.
“Manny and Wiz from Wilson Avenue.”
“I told you, I’m done Jocelyn.”
“Naw, I just want you to go. I don’t wanna go to they
house by myself. I’m gone do both of them though.”
I looked at Jocelyn and shook my head.
“Aight girl I’ll go, call the cab.”
Jocelyn called Myrtle Car Service and I got up and
dressed.
The cab driver turned around and looked at us.
“Where to?” He asked.
“221 Moffat Street.” I replied seeing that Jocelyn was
busy fixing her hair up.
“Jocelyn, when you gone find you a nice dude and
fall back?”
Jocelyn looked at me and smirked.
“Not everybody can find a nigga like Rich. I’m saying, I’m not jealous, but you know how most of these
niggas be out here, and I love dick too much. It be
taking two niggas at once to satisfy me. I would fuck
wit Wiz but I already let too many Brooklyn’s Finest
niggas hit.
“See if you stop letting niggas run triz on you things a
be different.”
“Man fuck these niggas… we might as well just share
Rich!”
“Fuck outa here… bitch I’ll kill you even though you
my best friend.”
“Sike naw… you know I was just playing.”
We pulled up in front of Manny’s house. Wiz was already outside. He paid the cab driver and we got out.
Wiz led us into the house. Manny was sitting in the
living room on the sofa talking to some light skin
chick. There was two niggas in the kitchen bagging
up. We followed Wiz down the stairs.
The basement was a miniature apartment. There was
a big screen television and two sofas. In between the
sofas there was a sandwich bag full of weed and a box
full of vanilla dutches on top of a coffee table. Jocelyn
picked up a Dutch before sitting down. Wiz stood in
front of Jocelyn and pulled his dick out.
“Damn what you rushing me for, can I smoke first?”
Jocelyn asked Wiz in disgust.
“Naw shorty, I need that now.” Wiz replied.
Jocelyn put the Dutch on my lap and started sucking
Wiz off. I cracked the Dutch, rolled it, and lit it up. I
smoked and watched videos while Jocelyn finished
handling her biz. I passed the Dutch once she was finished. Wiz sat down between us and joined the rotation. Jocelyn held out her hand to Wiz.
“What’s up wit my check nigga?”
Wiz exhaled.
“Manny ‘bout to come down in a few, you know he
got you ‘ma. What up wit you Akira. You sitting there
all quiet and shit, what’s really good?”
I cut my eyes at Wiz and snapped at him.
“I’m cool… I’m chillin, you already got what you
needed right?”
Wiz passed the Dutch to me.
“Shorty you talking fly like your tongue got wings.”
“Naw I’m P.M.S.ing, my period on.”
I took a few puffs and passed off to Jocelyn. I could
hear footsteps coming down to the basement.
The first person coming down was Manny. Jocelyn
jumped up to go over to Manny just as Kevin cleared
the ceiling. Kevin's face looked as if he had seen a
ghost. He pulled out his gun and stormed toward
Jocelyn.
“What the fuck… Manny this the bitch that shot my
brother.”
Kevin grabbed Jocelyn by the neck and threw her to
the ground. I stood up and Kevin pointed the gun at
me.
“Akira sit the fuck down.”
Jocelyn tried to get up and run. Kevin cracked her in
the face with his gun. I screamed at the top of my
lungs as I watched Jocelyn fall to the floor.
“Shut the fuck up!” Kevin said as he held the gun
pointed at my face. Manny grabbed Kevin's arm and
scolded him.
“The fuck is you doing Kev. You not gone do this in
my house!”
“Fuck that yo. I told you this bitch shot Black!”
Manny pulled out his gun.
“Look Kev, me and you aight, but you not gone dead
this bitch in my spot, that’s what you not gone do.”
A female came running down the steps with a gun.
She locked eyes with me for a moment.
“Aye yo, what the fuck is going on down here Manny?”
She looked at me again.
“Baby go upstairs, this shit don’t concern you.” Manny said to her.
“This shit do concern me. Wiz and Kev gone have
you sitting in jail. Fuck that, all y'all gotta leave.”
She stood there with one hand on her hip and the
other hand holding a small .380. She stared at Kev
and Wiz.
“And those bitches gotta go too… ASAP!” She continued.
Kevin looked at Manny and laughed.
“Nigga you betta control ya bitch. Matter fact you
need to check that bitch!” Kevin said as he sat down
on the sofa.
Manny swooped down on Kevin, punching him in
the nose. They tussled briefly before two shots rang
out.
--bang, bang-
Manny dropped to the floor.
“Oh my god!” the female screamed as she raised her
gun and shot Kevin in the chest.
Kevin dropped his gun and fell to the floor. She ran
over to Manny and tried to pick him up. It was too
late. Manny was shot in the heart. Wiz stood there
frozen as I also did. He looked up at the barrel of the
gun that was now pointed at him. He plead for his
life.
“No… Shakita, don’t shoot me.” He pleaded.
“It’s your fault, it’s all your fault.” She replied.
“No… Shakita…” Wiz plead.
--Bang-
She shot Wiz in the face. Wiz was slumped over the
couch. Jocelyn sat up against the wall. The gun was
now pointed at her.
“Please don’t kill me, please, I was just here for Wiz…
please don’t…
--click, click-
The gun was jammed. She charged at Jocelyn who
was balled up in the fetal position.
I screamed out.
“Nooooooooo!”
She stopped and sat down on the floor and cried.
“Why… why… I loved him so much.”
Tears raced out of her eyes and pain echoed through
her voice. She was about to kill us all, yet I kneeled
next to her and took the gun out of her hand. She
cried on my shoulder. She looked into my eyes and
made the strangest face. Her tears stopped, she held
my chin.
“No… it couldn’t be. What’s your name baby?”
“Akira.” I replied.
“Oh my god, oh my god. My baby. My baby. I named
you Akira Stephanie Wilson. I’m your mother.”
“What?” I screamed at her.
I didn’t know how to take it. This crazy ass lady
claiming to be my mother. She knew my middle name
though. I looked at her and it was like looking at myself but older. She started hugging me. I was mad at
her for not being there for me.
Jocelyn was still sitting against the floor rubbing the
knot in her head.
“I’m your mother. I knew you looked familiar when I
came down the stairs. Baby you look the same way
you did on your third birthday. I still have the picture
on my dresser. My name is Shakita Stephanie Wilson.
I gave you my middle name.”
Jocelyn, my mother, and I left the house together. We
walked around to Decatur Street to my moms house.
She showed me pictures of my siblings and myself as
a baby. I met my brothers Quran and Teran. We sat
and talked an hour before Rich called.
“Hello.” I answered
“Where you at Baby?
“I’m at my moms house?”
“What?” He questioned.
“I’ll explain everything to you, just give me a few
minutes. I’m talking to her now.”
Rich hung up the phone and I continued to talk to my
mother. My life seemed to be complete. Somehow I
could not stay upset with her. The last time I saw her
I was too young to remember. We talked and cried. I
filled her in on most of the details of my life. All except Rich. I wanted her to meet the love of my life in
person. He meant so much to me.
“Mom.” It felt so weird saying it.
“Yes baby.”
“I want you to meet my boyfriend.”
“Okay, I’m up for that.” She replied.
“Mom, I love you.” I said, smiling.
“I love you too.” She said, holding me in her arms.
“Baby I’m sorry, I was young, I never wanted to give
you up. I just wish I could rewind time.”
She cried and I wiped her tears. Everything was okay
now.