HAM (Hard As a Muthaf**ka)

Midnight Marauders

WARNING: This chapter depicts a murder/execution and contains scenes of an intense sexual nature. Reader discretion is advised.

Midnight Marauders

                  Winnie stood there, in her Hawks t-shirt and panties, with the door open. Her hair was a lil frazzled, but as decent as it could be at midnight. Her skin looked soft and creamy, as usual. ”You gonna come in, or what?”

                  I stepped into the townhouse apartment. I looked in the living room, to Phaedra, grabbin her keys and her purse…she and Winnie had been friends for a long time, since high school…basically, Phaedra was the only person who could deal with Winnie’s mood swings and attitude back in the days. She had calmed down after her and Devin split up. I tried not to look directly at Phaedra, as she addressed me…her stomach didn’t look too much bigger than it already was. Maybe she was in the phase where the pregnancy wasn’t showing right now.

                  “Have you heard from Kantrell, J?” she asked.

                  “Not in a minute, no,” I answered…hell, it was the truth.

                  “I gotta go in for a shift,” groaned Phaedra. She worked as an assistant at an old folks’ home. “I should be back so you can get to class, Winnie,”

                  “Class?”

                  “Yeah…I’m goin to school to be a medical assistant, like Phae,” said Winnie. “She gon watch Mari, while I’m schoolin,”

                  “Oh yeah…congrats, ma-ma,” I teased, as Winnie giggled. Phaedra smiled, walking to me for a hug. “Thank you J. Imma give Kant a call tonight…you two keep it quiet and don’t wake Mari,”

                  “Hush gurl…you betta get goin before you be late to work,” sassed Winnie. Phaedra kicked out a laugh, and then left, closing the door. I sat on the sofa, turning on some basketball- the Nuggets versus Golden State…yeah boring match up, but it beats watchin boring ass shows in syndication. Winnie walked around the back of the sofa, caressing the back of my head. “What happened to you? You look like you got in a scuffle…speakin of which, I heard what Quint them did to you,”

                  “Tell Mari he aint gonna have no Daddy anymore,” I said. “When I catch that bitch nigga, Imma kill him,”

                  “Jacoby! That was uncalled for,” griped Winnie, as she shoved my shoulder. She stormed to the table and sat down…I looked to her. That was her bein dramatic as usual, actin like she really gave a damn about Devin…if she did, then why am I here about to blow her back out?

                  “Quit playin,” I said. “You know you ‘ont even give a flyin fuck about that cornball ass nigga, shawty. You just like that he takes Mari off yo hands whenever he can, and that he still gives you money towards y’alls son,”

                  “At least he doin something for Mari!” whined Winnie. “I mean, Dev aint the best, but he does care about his son,”

                  “Winnie…that nigga sell like I do. So I know he makin money like I do- not exactly my figures, but probably close. I know he can do for that boy better than what he is doin…that nigga is bein slack as fuck,” I lectured. “And you are enablin him,”