Tears of a Hustler PT 1 (2 page)

“Okay Coco I’ll think about it, but I ain’t making no promises.” “I knew you would come to your senses,” Coco said playfully as she gave her best friend a big hug. “Easy bitch I said I’ll think about it, now get up outta here so I can hop in the shower and get some rest. You know that I have to be to work early tomorrow,” Nancy said escorting her friend to the door, so that she could get some sleep.

“
What’s good my nigga. We gonna do this or what,” Skip asked getting frustrated. “Yeah, let me light this spliff up real quick,” G-money answered lighting up the finger thick blunt. “Now I’m ready,” he said letting out a light cough as he and his five man entourage hopped out of the Yukon, heading across the street to the bodega on the corner.

When G-money entered the bodega, he noticed that the small store was packed with customers. Immediately he went straight to the counter, skipping the long line. “What’s up Oscar? You don’t look too happy to see me,” G-money said blowing smoke in the Spanish man’s face. “G-money what’s good? I was just about to call you,” Oscar lied from behind the counter. “So what happen? Ya phone got cut off? You don’t got no minutes? What?”

Before Oscar could reply a construction worker standing at the end of the line decided he should voice his opinion. “Hey mutha fucka I know you see this long line back here,” he yelled out. G-money looked the construction worker up and down, and then turned to Skip and gave him the go ahead nod. Before the construction worker knew it, Skip pulled out his .45 and broke his nose, sending the big man crashing to the ground.

“Yo, everybody take whatever ya’ll want and get up out of here,” G-money ordered. Once the last customer exited the bodega, Skip closed and locked the front door.

“Every month it’s the same thing, and you know Ali wants to get paid on the first of every month,” G-money said putting his blunt out on Oscar’s shirt. “Come on baby, you know I wouldn’t fuck with you or Ali’s money,” Oscar said attempting to sound firm.

In one quick motion G-money slapped Oscar twice, and then snatched him over the counter. “Yo, open up the freezer in the back,” he ordered as he watched his goons do as they were told. “Listen to me carefully Oscar,” G-money said kneeling down so that he could have Oscar’s full attention. “If I take you to that freezer you ain’t coming back,” he warned. “Come on. All that isn’t called for because I got the money behind the counter,” Oscar announced through a pair of bloody lips. “So give me the fucking money so I can go already.”

Oscar quickly scrambled to his feet to go fetch G-money his money. “Here you go. Sorry about that,” Oscar said speaking with his head down. “All the coke you sell out of this bodega and you still playing games like a fucking kid? If Ali didn’t like you so much I would’ve been smoked ya’ stupid ass,” G-money snarled looking Oscar up and down. “I’m sorry G-money. I promise that something like this will never happen again.” “It better not! Have that protection money same time every month,” G-money said as he and his crew exited Oscar’s bodega.

“
Freeze! Put your hands where I can see them,” Detective Nelson yelled as he aimed his .44 magnum at Ali and the Jewish man sitting next to him. “Don’t even think about it,” Big Mel yelled aiming his twin .45’s at the Detective. “Damn you scared the shit outta me,” Ali said as he gave the Detective a pound. “Big Mel its cool, Detective Nelson was just joking,” Ali said to his twenty-four hour bodyguard.

Ali paid Detective Nelson $20,000 every month to keep the FEDS off of his ass and to keep his crew from behind bars. Detective Nelson also took care of all of Ali’s competition. Detective Nelson would immediately shut down any crew that was making money, and then let Ali put some workers in that same spot. Ali had the master plan, and whoever didn’t like it just stayed broke and hated from the sideline. He was the boss and G-money was the under boss.

“I’m glad you came over here cause, I need to holla at you,” Ali said handing Detective Nelson a brown paper bag full of cash. “What’s on your mind?” “I got a little problem. There’s these cats out in Brooklyn that call themselves opening up shop. G-money’s been begging me to let him go handle that, but I put him on hold because I don’t want to draw up too much attention. You dig?” “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it first thing tomorrow morning,” Detective Nelson said as he stood up to leave. “Aight, let me know when you take care of that, so that I can send a few workers up there with some packs.” “No problem,” Detective Nelson responded. “Yo, Big Mel show Detective Nelson to the door,” Ali ordered as he went and continued his conversation with his Jewish lawyer.

When Big Mel returned, Ali noticed that he had a sour look on his face. “What’s wrong,” Ali asked. “I don’t trust that fucking cop. There’s something fishy about that mother fucker.” “I don’t trust him either, but we gotta do what we gotta do, you dig? Everything with that white boy is strictly business; can’t have friends like him because people like him will turn on you in a New York minute,” Ali stated plainly. “Just be careful boss man, cause I don’t like that fool,” Big Mel replied.

Big Mel’s job was to protect Ali from anything or anybody looking to hurt him. Big Mel was an ex-high school line backer. The only problem was that he wasn’t too smart, so people in school called him dumb. But on the streets he was as smart as they came, and sharper than a thumb tack. Big Mel didn’t talk much, instead he let his actions do all the talking for him.

“Yo Mel get G-money on the phone and tell him to make sure he has somebody pick up that protection money from all of our spots before the week is out,” Ali ordered.

Chapter 3

I DON’T THINK THIS IS GOING TO WORK

“
Only two hours left,” Nancy said to herself as she glanced at the clock, then at the long line of customers standing in front of her cash register. Nancy served two of her customers when she noticed Dave enter the restaurant. From the look on his face she could tell that he was drunk.

“Hey baby what’s up,” Dave shouted loudly as he skipped the long line of customers making his way to the front of the cash register. “Look at you, looking all good and shit,” he said as he leaned over the counter trying to give his girl a kiss. “Baby you can’t do this while I’m at work,” Nancy said leaning back refusing to give Dave a kiss.

“
What,” Dave growled looking Nancy up and down. “Bitch I’m your man. I’ll kiss you wherever the fuck I feel like it,” he snarled as he roughly kissed Nancy on the lips. “Now let me get a double cheeseburger, some fries, and a sprite.” “Okay baby I got you, but I’m gonna need you to step to the side so I can take care of these customers first.” “Fuck these customers. You serve your man first. You must’ve lost your fucking mind,” Dave said loudly causing a scene.

Mr. Wiggins sat in his office in the back talking to his girlfriend on the phone, when he heard a loud commotion coming from the front. “What the fuck is going on,” Mr. Wiggins said to himself as he took a look at the surveillance camera where he saw Dave acting a fool. “This mutha fucka must’ve lost his mind,” Mr. Wiggins said to himself as he headed to the front of the store to see what all the commotion was about.

“Excuse me brother, is there a problem out here,” Mr. Wiggins asked nicely. “Old man this ain’t got nothing to do with you, so mind your business before you get knocked the fuck out,” Dave said with ice in his voice.

Mr. Wiggins let out a light chuckle before he spoke calmly. “Nancy your fired. Get the fuck out of here and take your broke ass man with you.” “Mr. Wiggins how can you do this to me?” “I didn’t, you did it to yourself,” Mr. Wiggins countered smoothly. “All this drama ain’t good for business.” “What am I supposed to do now,” Nancy asked innocently. “Ask your big mouth boyfriend,” Mr. Wiggins replied feeling sorry for his best worker.

“You ain’t right; I bust my ass everyday in this mother fucker for you. Now you’re just gonna fire me like I’m a piece of crap,” Nancy said as tears ran freely down her face. “You know what? I’m better than this, so fuck you and Ronald McDonald. Both of ya’ll can kiss my ass,” Nancy snarled as she whirled on her heels, and stormed out of the restaurant. When she made it to the train station, she saw Dave standing there waiting for her.

“Dave don’t even say shit to me right now,” Nancy growled as she brushed past Dave heading downstairs to the subway platform. “Bitch who the fuck you talking to like that? I did you a mother fucking favor. I know you ain’t want to work there for the rest of your miserable life, now did you?” “Dave a job is a job. I don’t care where I’m working, as long as I’m getting paid. But some people wouldn’t know shit about that now would they,” Nancy countered looking Dave up and down, before she turned to get on the train.

“Well since money means so much to you, then I’m gonna get back on my grind out here in the streets, and risk my life and my freedom again,” Dave said trying to make Nancy feel sorry for him like he always did.

“
Dave honestly I don’t care what you do anymore,” Nancy said taking a deep breath. “You only care about yourself, what the fuck we gonna do now? I don’t know if you forgot, but I’m pregnant” “Bitch I know. You better watch your mouth,” Dave warned ready to put on a show for the rest of the passengers on the train.

Instead of arguing, Nancy just stayed quiet until it was time for her to get off of the train. She knew that arguing with Dave was a no win situation, so all she wanted to do was go home and take a hot shower.

“Why aren’t you talking to me,” Dave asked as he forcefully grabbed Nancy’s wrist. “Because I don’t feel like arguing with you tonight, that’s why.” “Oh what you mad because I embarrassed you in front of your old ass boyfriend, Mr. Wiggins?” Dave laughed as he staggered a little from all the alcohol he consumed earlier that day.

“Sometimes you can be a real asshole. You know that,” Nancy said as she noticed Coco standing in front of the building waiting for her. “Bitch what I told you about your mouth,” Dave snarled through clenched teeth. “Same thing I told you about your temper,” Nancy shot back waving Dave off.

Before Nancy could take another step, she felt pain combined with a powerful force connect with the back of her head. It took everything she had inside of her to stay on her feet. Once Nancy regained her balance, she saw Dave charging towards her.

“Bitch you ain’t going to be shit, just like your mother,” Dave said as he stepped back, and hogged spit in his baby mother’s face. Tears ran freely down Nancy’s cheeks as she wiped the nasty spit mixed with phlegm from her face.

“You know what your problem is? You don’t have no respect for nobody but yourself, but I’m about to teach you what happens when you disrespect somebody,” Dave growled as he took his belt off, letting the buckle swing freely.

Before Dave got a chance to hit Nancy with the belt, Coco came to her rescue. “If you touch her with that belt your ass is going to jail tonight mutha fucka,” Coco said in an icy tone. “Bitch you need to mind your business before you’re next,” Dave warned with fire dancing in his eyes. “Nigga please… I wish you would touch me, my brother would be up here so fast you wouldn’t know what to do,” Coco huffed shaking her neck. “Fuck your brother. I’ll do him like I just did this bitch.”

“
My brother just came home from doing five years behind the wall. Please don’t make me have to call him because it won’t be a pretty site…trust me,” Coco threatened. “Fuck you and your brother. I ain’t hard to find,” Dave slurred as he staggered across the street, in the opposite direction.

* * * *

“You okay,” Coco asked as she helped her best friend back to her feet. “Yeah I’m fine,” Nancy replied feeling shit on the inside. “I don’t know why you don’t leave that fool alone, all he’s gonna do is keep treating you like a punching bag.” “Yeah, but he won’t let me leave,” Nancy responded as the two hopped on the elevator of her building.

“
What you mean he won’t let you leave? Bitch you better stop playing and get lost on that clown. He don’t do shit but whip ya ass, take your money, and blame you for all of his mistakes,” Coco said hating the way Dave treated her best friend, especially while she was pregnant.

The two hopped off the elevator, and headed straight to the staircase. After everything that had just went on the last place Nancy wanted to be was home, so instead her and Coco sat on the steps in the staircase and continued their conversation.