He got caught by the red light on 6th street and was able to get a better view of the area. K saw some local cats standing in front of the corner store bodega on the corner. He didn’t see who he was looking for, but one of the cats on the corner noticed the Caddy. G’d-up gave a head gesture saying what’s up and K nodded letting him know shit was all good. Once the light turned green K pulled off cruising slowly in search of a parking spot. He found a spot midway down the block, just after a bar called Trinkles, and pulled in. He removed the.45 caliber Glock from under the armrest and slid it into his waistband. The extended clip made his shirt poke out a little, but he really didn’t give a fuck. Shit is real in these streets, he reasoned. K leaned against the caddy.
“Yo what’s up fam?” said G coming down the sidewalk.
“You know the struggle youngun. Tryin to make moves, I got mouths to feed. What’s good witchu?”
“I been trying to holla at Dark, but he said shit was dry. I’m trying to make a move.”
“Watchuworkin wit. I just touched down (got back in town),” said K.
G had been buying ounces pretty consistently and K knew he had the potential to be a big customer. K didn’t believe in going to the top by himself. Before he had got knocked and was getting money in VA, he made sure everybody in his circle, as well as niggahs he dealt with was eating. Jealousy and envy usually came into the equation when everybody in the food chain wasn’t getting fed.
“Yo that shit yall had, had my customers blowing up my phone. I got like $2000 I’m trying to make a move with. What can you do for a niggah? I’m tryin to come — up.”
“Come on and hop in the whip. Let’s take a ride and talk about some things,” said K.
“Hold up, let me stash this shit, I copped from the Philly niggahs. I snatched a lil seven grams to keep me going, but they shit aint that good.”
G spun off and went down the alley. He reappeared two minutes later and slid in the front seat of the caddy.
“Open the ashtray and fire up that kush,” K said a Styles P came through factory speakers.
Eyes are the window to the soul/too many people lookin’/so I blow a dutch and leave em half closed- Styles P flowed.
As the whip slowly began to fill with the lovely scent, K got right to BI (business).
“Look fam, I been peepin your moves and it seems to me like you trying to get some bread.”
“No doubt, but it been kinda hard. Everytime I start getting right shit get dry. Or shit might be going good and something come up on the homefront. Mymoms be running into tough times, so I gotta hold her down. On top of that shorty is pregnant. That’s why I’m spending 2 G’s trying to stack for this seed I got coming,” said G.
K had seen the little cute white girl named Jodi. He had met her sister named Terri, who was a freak that another crew of N.Y. niggahs was running through.
“True. I can dig it. Peep game though. I’m trying to help you change your situation. How long would it take you to rock (sell) a big 8(4? ounces)?
“Nah fam, you don’t understand. I only got 2G’s.
“Nah playa. You don’t understand. I’m trying to take you to the next level.”
It was like a light went on. When the reality of what K was saying hit home. G hit the dutch and thought for about 20 seconds.
“It all depends on how I move it, you know-if the numbers is right. If I bust it all the way down, it might take me a little over a week. But if I could get it for like $3800 I could sell some eight balls, and quarters and move it in a couple of days.”
$3800? He was leaning more towards 34.
“We can make that happen, but I’m trying to have you at half a brick status in like a month, month in a half. That is if you ready to go there.”
”Hell yeah, I’m ready. Niggahs be always looking for weight.Especially my peoples on Chew St. and my fam down on Second.”
K already knew about the money down on Second Street. He had a few cats he rocked with down there, but the potential for that spot was unlimited. Them 2nd niggahs was about they scrilla. They pulled up in front of G’s crib and K dropped him off.
“Yo, call my cellphone so I can have your number and lock it in. You won’t be dealing with Dark after today. Give me about 20 minutes and I’ll call you when I’m pulling up,” K said handing G his cellphone number.
“Good looking out on the hook up too. I’ve been waiting for a chance like this.”
“Just keep it funky with a niggah and we gonna shine like 50 carats of clear blue stones on everybody. That’s my word.”
After K dropped off G’d-up at his crib he called Mattie.
“Hey daddy. Where you at? “ Mattie answered.
“I’m on my way to the crib. I need you to fix me something to eat,” he said talking in code.
Mattie knew exactly what he was talking about because K had put her up on game a long time ago.
“What you want me to fix for you? A steak (ounce) a burger (2 and a quarter ounce) or barbeque ribs and macaroni and cheese (four and half ounces)?”
“Them barbeque ribs and macaroni and cheese, is what’s really good?”
“Alright, I’ll start on it right away. I got something to tell you when you get here.”
“I’m on my way.”
K pulled in the complex ten minutes later and Mattie had the big 8 waiting for him when he came through the door. She was almost done unpacking and shit was everywhere.
“Good looking out baby. I’m taking all this work up otta here before we go to bed. Where is your sister?”
“That dude took her to go get some trees. I told her we had to talk or I was gonna send her ass back to N.Y.”
Mattie could see the expression on K’s face and knew he was getting frustrated.
“You know what I went through in Amityville and I’m not trying to relive that nightmare again,” she quickly added.
“And I dam sure aint. What did you want to tell me?” K said changing the subject.
“I’ve got an interview tomorrow.”
“Already?Dam girl, you aint bullshittin. That’s what’s up though. Where?”
K could see her expression change and could see that he might not like what was coming next.
“I saw a billboard for a club when we were on our way in town and called the number. They want me to come in for an audition tomorrow.
“Audition? What kind of- oh….”
It didn’t take long for K to figure out what kind of club Mattie was talking about. He was about to protest, but quickly remembered how she had told him about her last experience, being in another state with him, and left with nothing after he got locked up. As much as he wasn’t feeling the idea, he had to respect the fact she was covering her tracks. He could look in her eyes and see the fear of possibly reliving the experience. But he could also see the determination as a go getter which was another characteristic he admired about her.
“Aight. We’ll talk more about it later. Let me go and handle this BI.”
Mattie could tell it was bothering him more than he let on, but hoped that things wouldn’t change. Things were definitely going to change in the near future, but not in the way that either of them had expected.
Things began to move quickly and within six weeks K had managed to crank up four spots and employ 17 workers around town. Mattie had gotten hired on at the spot because of her skills and beauty, and soon became a main attraction at the club. The first few weeks in PA had been sweet. K had done exactly what he said and let Mattie hook up the condo. From the furniture to the flat screens, and computers, to the fully stocked bar. It definitely had every outward appearance of home. The first weeks Mattie only worked at the club a few days a week. So on the weekends while Reebie was out learning the town with her new friend in the Lexus, K and Mattie would blaze blunts and sip mixed drinks on the balcony and talk about their goals and aspirations for the future.