Authors: Treasure Hernandez
Resurrection (3 page)
“That's not fair, Tash!”
“No, you're not fair, Hal! And you know what else? I been sitting up here trying with everything I had to block some shit out, saying to myself, âNah, there's no way that Halleigh could do me like that.' But I guess I was wrong! Your nose is so far up Malek's ass that it doesn't even bother you that he murdered Maury and Mimi! Right, bitch? Tell me I'm lying and I swear on everything, I'll lay your ass out right here!”
Halleigh felt the tears coming to her eyes. “Tasha, what are you talking about?” Halleigh asked, a twisted and confused look on her face.
“Tasha, stop with the bullshit. You know what I'm saying is true, and that's why you ain't been around and that's why you running off! The cops told me what was up, and I played shit cool and covered for Malek's ass. Why? Because that's how I do for my people! And because I never in my wildest thoughts would have believed that Malek would do some shit like this!”
Halleigh burst out into tears.
“Halleigh, enough of the crocodile tears and all that fake shit!”
“Fake? Tasha, this ain't fake! You . . . I . . . I mean, I know you are hurting and going through it, but you're talking crazy. And I'm dealing with a lot of conflicting shit too, and I don't even know what is going on.”
“Halleigh, you wanna know what's the fuck is going on? Yeah, whatever! But I tell you what; you walk outta here, and I'll know what was up and what went down, and you won't have to say shit. And if you stay, then I'll be on my knees apologizing and forever grateful. But understand this: if you leave after all I done did for you, then it's on! On the life of my brother and on the life of Mimi, it's on!”
Halleigh was feeling beyond stressed out. She shook her head and stared at Tasha. Then she left the room and went into the one that she had once occupied. All of her things were as she had left them. She grabbed a small laundry basket and placed some of her items inside, including a few of the pieces that Maury had purchased for her while she was in New York.
She wouldn't tell Malek why they were important to her, but she had to have them. Maury had helped her rebuild her self-esteem in a way that Malek couldn't. See, she looked at Maury as a neutral person who didn't judge her or come down on her, and in the process, he helped to validate her. She was eternally grateful to him for that. With Malek, he didn't judge her or come down on her for anything, but he was someone that she'd loved and known and had history with. So, in her mind, she never really knew if Malek's actions toward her were stemming from a genuine place in his heart or out of pity for her.
More tears came to her eyes when she looked at the picture of herself, Mimi, and Tasha that sat on her nightstand. She wiped them away, took a deep breath, and picked it up. “Mimi,” she whispered as her fingers graced the faces in the picture. “God, please take care of my girl.”
Honk! Honk!
The sound of Malek's car horn made her jump. She put the picture in the basket and took one last look at her room before turning out the light.
Tasha was waiting in the hallway, leaning against the wall. With her arms folded in front of her, she looked defiant.
Honk!
“I've got to go,” Halleigh stated reluctantly.
Tasha nodded and said, “It's on, bitch! I should whup your ass right now! Hmm.”
“Take care of yourself, Tash,” Halleigh stated through her tears. She took her house key off her key ring and held it out for Tasha.
“Get that shit out my face before I wear your ass out,” she replied, slapping the key out of Halleigh's hand.
Halleigh left the house in tears and in shock and walked back to the car.
“You a'ight?” Malek asked. He noticed that she had been crying, and he reached out for her hand.
She gripped it tightly. “Let's go,” she whispered as she looked up at the apartment building.
Malek put the car in gear and pulled away from Halleigh's past. “Halleigh, what's up? What's wrong? What happened in there?”
Halleigh slumped in her seat and blew some air out of her lungs. “I don't know . . . she talking crazy. It's like I go from Manolo and one controlling situation to another. Like she don't want me to leave, talking about if I leave, then it's on. âIt's on, bitch!' ” Halleigh said in a mocking tone. “I mean, I can't believe her.”
“Halleigh, it's done! You outta here and you ain't looking back.”
Halleigh didn't respond immediately to Malek.
“You trust me to take care of you, right?”
Halleigh hesitated, and then she looked at Malek and said, “Malek, you know I trust you, you know that. But I wanna ask you something, and I need you to be straight-up and completely honest with me.”
“Definitely,” Malek responded.
“Malek, did you kill Mimi and Tasha's brother Maury?” Halleigh asked with a frown and a concerned look.
Malek cut his eyes at Halleigh, trying to figure out how she could have known that. He was also wondering just how he should answer her, so he kept quiet. His hope was that through his silence, Halleigh would get the answer she was looking for.
Halleigh asked again, “Malek, did you kill Mimi and Maury?”
Malek reached forward and turned up the volume to Jay-Z's
American Gangster
soundtrack. But he made sure not to answer Halleigh's question.
American Gangster
soundtrack. But he made sure not to answer Halleigh's question.
Chapter Three
“M
anolo's money is my money, and you fucked up Manolo's money. So that means you fucked up my money!” Sweets bitch-slapped Tasha, sending her to the floor of the beauty salon.
anolo's money is my money, and you fucked up Manolo's money. So that means you fucked up my money!” Sweets bitch-slapped Tasha, sending her to the floor of the beauty salon.
Tasha had reached out to Sweets, asking him to meet her at the hair salon. Her hope was that if she were to meet him in a public place, he wouldn't spazz out on her. But with the loss of her brother and one of her best friends, she was really going through it, and she decided to return to the one thing that was familiar to her: selling pussy.
Sweets held his foot to Tasha's throat, completely cutting off her air. “Where the fuck was you?”
As Tasha was about to pass out, Sweets finally relented. He grabbed her by her hair and dragged her out of the hair salon and into his waiting Yukon Denali. “Get yo' ass in that truck!”
Tasha got in the truck, and Sweets got in the backseat with her and instructed his driver to take off. He reached in his waistband and pulled out his 9 mm and pressed the barrel of the gun against her forehead.
“Bitch, you better start talking, and you better make that shit good!”
Tasha was so nervous that she was about to wet her pants. At that moment, she was second-guessing her decision to want to reach out to Sweets and Manolo.
“Sweets, I know how it looks, but as soon as I could reach out and say what was up without getting killed, that's exactly what I did. Officer Troy is a dirty muthafucka and snatched up me, Mimi, and Halleigh, and threatened to lock our asses up and to kill us if we didn't get down with what he was gonna do.
“We didn't know exactly what he was plotting, but now I know what was up. Halleigh and her snake ass had been down with Malek from the North Side, and she put Malek up on how Manolo was moving. Malek worked it out with Officer Troy to rob Manolo, which was all part of Malek and Jamaica Joe's plan to take over the South Side. Malek promised Troy way more than he could turn down, so Troy went with the it.
“Then I find out people is dropping like flies. Mimi got hit, and my brother got hit, but meanwhile shit is looking good for Halleigh. So I put two and two together, and I find out that Malek done murked my brother and Mimi, and that's when I knew what was up.
“I said fuck Officer Troy and his bullshit threats, 'cause I knew that I was next to get killed. So it was either I get killed by officer Troy, I get locked up by officer Troy, I get killed by Malek, or I risk my life and reach out to you and Manolo and tell y'all what's up and try to get back on this madame grind! You feel me?” Tasha said all in one breath. Trying to come across as convincing, she was rambling nonstop like a chickenhead. But that was because she was nervous and because she knew that her life was seconds from being snuffed out.
Still holding the gun to her head, Sweets squinted his eyes as he looked at her.
“Sweets, tonight I can get this ho shit back on and poppin'! I'll sell my pussy and I can get that chick Keesha who been trying to get down with Manolo from day one. Come on, just let me get this money for you, Sweets.”
“Bitch, I should throw your ass out this moving car right now 'cause you playing me for a bitch-ass nigga.”
“Sweets, I'll get Officer Troy on the phone right now. I'll put him on speaker, and you'll see for yourself that I ain't lying.”
Tasha was lying through her teeth, but she was desperate and she just hoped like hell that Sweets didn't call her bluff because, if he did, she knew that he wouldn't hesitate to pop her ass.
Sweets, eyes still on Tasha, lowered his gun.
Tasha exhaled.
“So Malek is really trying to be Frank Lucas,
American Gangster
in this bitch?”
American Gangster
in this bitch?”
“Sweets, his ass is so lame! He running around like a gangsta, and meanwhile half the city done ran up in his girl that he's treating like wifey. And this nigga ain't never even screwed Halleigh yet? Bitch ass!”
Tasha's words made Sweets chuckle to himself.
“That nigga must be waiting for me to bend his ass over and lay some pipe to 'im,” Sweets said in a sinister tone. His dick actually began to swell at the mere thought of being able to do a tender young enemy like Malek.
Tasha, like everybody else, was disgusted with Sweets and his homo-thug behavior. But she would much rather see Malek get raped and killed by Sweets than to see herself laying dead in the streets at the hands of Manolo or Sweets. In fact, she knew that Sweets would be the one to avenge the death of her brother and Mimi, who was like a sister to her. Like she had told Halleigh,
It's on!
It's on!
Chapter Four
M
alek sat in the limo along with Jamaica's Joe's baby mother and their two young sons while on the way to the funeral services. Malek supported Joe's family during this devastating time. Sobs and lost hopes filled the air, and it broke Malek's heart to see Jamaica Joe's young sons, smiling and playing, not grasping that their father was gone forever.
alek sat in the limo along with Jamaica's Joe's baby mother and their two young sons while on the way to the funeral services. Malek supported Joe's family during this devastating time. Sobs and lost hopes filled the air, and it broke Malek's heart to see Jamaica Joe's young sons, smiling and playing, not grasping that their father was gone forever.
Just the day before, Malek had found out Joe had a baby mother and kids. Joe always preached to Malek about keeping family and business completely separate. Obviously, Joe used to practice what he preached, because Malek had no idea that he had a family.
Although Malek didn't know about Joe's family, Joe made sure that his wife always knew who to reach out to and what to say in the event of his untimely death or imprisonment.
Malek made a mental note to remember and utilize the game that Joe had given him during their relationship. A chill went through his body as he saw Joe's grieving woman sobbing while sitting across from him.
Kim, Jamaica Joe's woman, kept whispering while quietly crying into a handkerchief, “He's gone, he's gone.”
Malek rested his hand on her shoulder and assured her that he would retaliate against the man that killed her man. She kept asking Malek what went on that night and he told her everything, leaving out the mysterious woman, not wanting to throw dirt on Joe's name. She had enough worries; Malek didn't want to reveal that Joe was cheating on her in the process.
“Everything is going to be all right,” Malek said confidently. He looked through the window and noticed that they had reached the church. His heart dropped when he saw the pallbearers unloading Joe's casket from the hearse. The death of Jamaica Joe had the whole city in mourning. The city had just lost one of its elite, and all of the hood legends, crackheads, workers, and community were in attendance to pay their final respects to Flint's fallen boss.
Joe had taken a page out of Mob boss John Gotti's life. Like Gotti, Joe would always throw neighborhood barbecues, give turkeys on Thanksgiving, gifts on Christmas, not to mention fireworks on the Fourth of July for the whole neighborhood to enjoy. And although the citizens knew that he was a dangerous drug dealer, they all loved him. Because of his constant benevolence, they always overlooked his misdeeds.
Malek and Joe's family stepped out the limo onto and the packed sidewalk, where people crowded the streets outside of New Jerusalem Church. They walked into the church to say their final good-byes.
Malek took a deep breath. He patted his waist to make sure his gun was in place before he entered the church. He saw firsthand what could happen when you put your guard down, and he vowed to himself to never get caught slipping again.
I'm never taking
any
more bullets again. That's my word. I'm going to body a nigga before they body me,
Malek thought as he felt the tenderness in his shoulder from the gunshot wound.
I'm never taking
any
more bullets again. That's my word. I'm going to body a nigga before they body me,
Malek thought as he felt the tenderness in his shoulder from the gunshot wound.
Malek knew that Joe's funeral was littered with undercover cops and federal agents who likely wanted to question him, but he didn't care at that point, because everything was about Joe. And with the way he was feeling, he knew that he would probably go to jail for murdering a cop with his bare hands if they were to be disrespectful and approach him at Joe's funeral.
The walk to Joe's casket seemed like it was three miles long to Malek. He looked down at Joe's body and was at a loss for thoughts and words. Seeing a man that was so powerful lying in a casket taught him a lessonânobody was untouchable.
After the service, Malek sat with the family at Joe's estate just outside Flint, in the suburb of Grand Blanc. Malek never knew that Joe had a spot in Grand Blanc. He knew about Joe's spot in Flint, but never knew that he also rested in Grand Blanc. With Joe being dead, Malek figured that it didn't matter anymore who knew where Joe lived. See, Joe was a certified gangsta from the old school, and he knew that once a player in the game was either murdered or locked up, the player's family would be off-limits to his enemies at that point.
Only there to show moral support for Joe's family, Malek was quiet and to himself. He stared out of the living room window, thinking about how Joe took him under his wing. Joe showed him how to be a thinking man and to always plan his moves. That's why Malek was already thinking about getting to Sweets. Retaliation was a must for him.
All of Joe's henchmen and former workers were scattered around the room, grieving in sorrow. Malek felt someone gently rest a hand on his shoulder, and he turned to see Kim.
“Hey.”
“Hey. How you holding up?” Malek asked as he faced her.
“I can't believe he's gone. He was just talking about leaving here for good. He promised me that once he got you situated and prepared you to take over the empire, he was gone.”
Malek dropped his head, as a wave of guilt overcame him.
Kim gently lifted his head with her index finger and stared him in the eyes. “It's not your fault,” she said. “Joe was his own man and made his own decisions.” She grabbed Malek's hands. “Look around this room, Malek. You got an army that's willing to do whatever you say. You have power by default. You are in charge now. But with this game comes death, jail, and sorrow. Don't let this game swallow you. Get out! Get out now, before it's too late.”
Kim's eyes teared up. She saw firsthand how the game altered Joe's mind, so that even though he had enough money to leave the game, he didn't. She witnessed how the allure of the game kept him in the streets, which ultimately led to his premature demise. She felt obligated to warn Malek of the flip side of the game; the cons of the drug game. Malek reminded her so much of Joe, and she saw the same glare in Malek's eyes that once was in Joe's.
Kim reached in her bosom and pulled out a small key and a small piece of paper that had a safety deposit box number on it. “Malek, I'm supposed to hand this key to you. But it rips at me to do it because it's like me signing your death certificate.”
“Whatchu talking about? Ain't nobody bringing death to me!” Malek said defiantly.
Kim shook her head. She knew that Malek had that gangsta ego, which was one of the worst kind. “Malek, listen, just tell me you don't want this key because you're about to get out of the game and you won't need it.”
Malek smirked. He looked down at the ground and then at Kim.
“Kim, I'm supposed to be in the NBA right now. But I fucked that up and I didn't make it. And in the process, I let my agent down, I let my fans down, I let my coaches down. And you wouldn't believe how I let my moms down. But you know what? There isn't anybody that I let down more than myself! So for me to walk away from you right now and not take that key, a key that Joe wanted me to have, then you know what? I would be letting Joe down and proving how much of a fuck-up and a failure I am.”
“Malek, I hear you. And you know, you're about to make tears come to my eyes. You were gonna be the number one pick in the NBA and now you're about to be the number one hustler in Flint. But what you're missing is that you could be number one in whatever you put your mind to. Start a business and you'll be bigger than Bill Gates. Go to law school and you'll be bigger than Johnnie Cochran. And that's because you got something special in you just like Joe had. Don't follow in Joe's footsteps and waste that special gift that God put in you.”
Malek paused as if he were in deep thought, and he did take in every word that Kim had said. But he felt that she didn't really understand him and that she never would, nor would anyone else. He moved forward and embraced her, and he whispered in her ear and told her to be strong. As he hugged her, he simultaneously took hold of her hand and the key that was his.
“I'll be smarter,” he said to her.
She nodded her head, knowing that she was handing him death.
About a week after Jamaica Joe's funeral, Malek walked into the First of America Bank, the place where Joe kept his safety deposit box. It had been two weeks since he'd been shot, and he was ninety percent healed from his wounds. Malek wondered what was in the safe deposit box and why Joe had told Kim to give the key to Malek if something ever happened to him.
It seemed like he knew he was going to die early
, Malek thought as he walked up to the male teller.
It seemed like he knew he was going to die early
, Malek thought as he walked up to the male teller.
“Hello, how may I help you?” the man asked with a cheesy smile.
“I would like to go into my safety deposit box,” Malek said as he slid the teller the card with the box number.
“Follow me,” the man said as he made his way to the back of the bank. Malek followed the teller into the spacious vault.
The teller stuck his master key in the safety box and began to head out of the vault. “Ring the bell when you are ready to exit,” he said before closing the vault behind him.
Malek slowly walked to the box and entered his key. He slowly turned it and pulled out the large steel box from the wall. He took the heavy box over to the table in the middle of the room.
Malek didn't know what to expect as he stared at the box. He took a deep breath and opened it up. His eyes lit up as the neatly placed Benjamin Franklins lined up in stacks. He flipped through the money, all hundred-dollar bills. “Oh my God,” he whispered.
A note with Malek's name on it was in an envelope under one of the money stacks. Malek picked it up and opened it.
Malek,
If you're reading this, that means I'm gone. Every hustler's reign eventually comes to an end. The lifestyle that we live doesn't come with any guarantees or pension plans. It's hard for a man to express his feelings to another man. It's just our nature. But I wanted to let you know that I love you like a younger brother. I see myself in you, and I want you to remember all the things that I taught you.
I don't want to tell you what to do or anything, but my greed probably is the reason why I'm not alive anymore. Get your money and get out of the game, Malek. If you stay too long, you will end up like me or in somebody's jail cell. Start you a family and enjoy the good things in life.
I left you one million dollars to secure your well-being. I am the one who turned you out to the streets; I feel it's only right to give you this. I put the poison in your hands and cursed you with a hustler's mentality. I never seen a hustler as smart or as disciplined as you. I created a monster. I can't tell you what to do with it, but please be smart. Remember to keep business and personal completely separated. Take care of yourself, Malek.
One,
“Jamaica” Joe Holland
Malek took a deep breath and put the letter in his pocket. He wasn't ready to leave the game alone so soon. He had to admit that he didn't expect to be reading a note like that from Joe, but it was what it was. Nobody knew what it was like to be destined for the NBA and then to have that pulled from under you. Nobody understood what it was like to have things at your beck and call from the age of 12 simply because you can play ball. It was like a drug to Malek, a drug that only a handful of human beings ever experienced. Malek had experienced it, and he got addicted to it.
He wanted to feel that high again. He didn't want to fuck the beauty queen and not climax. He wanted to fuck the beauty queen and nut all over her ass. And he hadn't nutted yet. As far as he was concerned, he wouldn't bust that nut until he had totally dominated the drug game in the same way he'd dominated the game of basketball.
Yeah, Malek knew that he had unfinished business, like murdering Sweets on Joe's behalf, and also making more money than Joe had ever imagined. He was going to learn from Joe's mistakes and become bigger and better than him. It was Malek's time.
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