Blood Ties

Chapter Three: Ashanti

"Run ya mouth". I answered the phone, chewing on a pretzel.

"Sha baby!"

I rolled my eyes.

"Yes Dina?"

"Whatchu doin' sour pussy?"

"Mindin' my business."

"Well, it's this new night club they just opened and I'm tryna hit the scene. Get dressed."

"Is it that serious for you to be seen everywhere? You just went out last night".

"Hell yes! You comin' or what?"

"Yeah bitch, damn."

I hung up the phone, annoyed. If some basketball player or something don't come marry this hoe, her pussy gonna fall off, I just know it. Only reason why I go with her half the time is because there's nothing better to do.

I met Dina at one of Chaz's big birthday celebrations. She kept pushing up on him and he kept rejecting her. Eventually, he told me to escort her ass out and I just did that. Drug her bony ass out the side of the club and turned to leave her in the alley. I couldn't help but make sure she was okay when she started to sob. Never asked why she was crying, still don't know till this day, but I at least gave the bitch a tissue. In that moment, we both had something in common. We both didn't like my brother. She's been a pain in my ass ever since. Should've left her ass alone when I had the chance.

I got into the game with Chaz when I was just thirteen and this is all I've ever known. It felt good having that quick money and have nothing to do but blow it on whatever. I always had the flyest shit in school and I never wore the same thing twice. I spoiled my damn self and I loved every moment of it. Yes, I wanted something else for my life but that doesn't mean the life I have now is horrible. Chaz gives me whatever I want as long as I take care of business for him and I don't see the issue with that. There are days when this shit gets tiring but it's part of the job.

I pushed the button to my floor and thought of what I was going to put on. The doors to the elevator opened and I stepped out, running right into Sevion.

"Damn, watch where you goin'." I said, annoyed.

"You ran into me. Normal people don't barge out of an elevator like that."

"They do when they're pressed for time".

"Where are you off to?"

"What concern is that of yours?"

"Because if it's anywhere outside of here, I'm going with you. I've been locked in this hotel for too long."

I smirked at him. Going out with Sevion might not be too bad.

"Be ready in an hour."

He bit on his bottom lip then walked passed me towards him room. He's been lookin' at me like he wants to fuck me right on the spot every time he sees me. Not saying I'll reject it, but it's weird coming from him. I've thought about a million and one ways how I wanted to take his body down, but he always treated me as a sister, so I left it at that.

I know he can feel the tension between him and I. When he left, I always thought he would take me with him. Shit I was too young to go skip off in the night anyway, and Chaz would kill me but that didn't mean I still didn't want to go. Ever since that day in my backyard, Sev has been a really good friend to me. I remember he used to sneak in through my window and just lay his head on my stomach and sing to me till I fell asleep. Never knew how he climbed up here but I never questioned him, and I liked the company. I used to be embarrassed with my pink pillows and Barbie Doll toys everywhere, but he accepted my innocence. My first real bond was with Sevion, and I don't think he'll ever realize that. I would always wake up that next day hoping he was still there, but of course, he wasn't. I guess you can say I loved him. What little girl wouldn't? Unfortunately, he graduated, the lullaby's stopped, and I woke up from that dream of it ever being a him and I. I threw myself deeper into the game and hadn't thought about him since. Who am I kidding?  I thought about him damn near every day.

        ***************************************

"Who is this?" Dina asked me.

"Dee, this is Sev. Sev, this loud ass bitch is Dina".

"Hello, how are you doing?" Sevion said, reaching out his hand in the backseat of the limo we were in. Dina always wants to make a scene when she arrives somewhere, and I be dumb enough to go along with it. Hell, it's her money, I'm just in for the ride.

"Sha, where did you find this clown at?" she said laughing.

"Why must everyone make fun of the educated brotha' " Sevion said shaking his head.

"You know, you look a lot like this dude Sha has pictures of."

I looked at Dina with bug eyes. "Dee-"

"Yeah, I think his name was Sevion or some shit like that."

"He's-"

"I think they used to fuck around or somethin', cause he's all she used to talk about. Sevion did this, Sevion did that."

"Dina, will you shut the fuck up!"

"I'm tryna tell a story!"

"Bitch this is Sevion."

"Oh ... damn, my bad Sha".

Sev looked at me with a million-dollar smile and I couldn't help but blush. Would take an idiot like Dina to throw me up under the bus like that.

We got out of the limo and walked passed all the people waiting in line to get in. Music instantly had my head bobbing and my hips moving as we stepped inside. It's been a while since I had a little break from the ripping and running and had some fun.

"Sha, they playin' our song!"

Dina pulled me out to the dance floor and we started dancing to "Milly Rock". Can't lie and say I don't kill it to this song. I mean, what person from New York doesn't kill it to this song? I was interrupted by my phone vibrating, and I knew this night was too good to be true. Something had to come up and end all my fun. I ran to the bathroom, so I could hear, but I didn't recognize the number.

"Yo?"

The operator went on to tell me I had a collect call from Chaz. I said "yes" so loud to accept the call, I scared most of the females that were in the bathroom.

"Sha?"

"Chaz, what the fuck you doin' in jail?"

"I ain't got time to explain all that. Go give baby mama a makeover though. I want her lookin' good when I get out."

"Iight" I said, hanging up the phone. I understood exactly what he was saying and what I needed to do.

I walked out the back door of the club and whistled for a cab, then sped off to Chaz's so-called baby mama's house. He's been messing with this hoe for about a year now, claim that little crusty nose mutha fucka is his kid. But the little nigga look bout two, so I don't know what kind of weed my brother smokin' that he didn't blood test him. But that's not my problem.

I jumped out the cab and walked inside her dingy ass apartment complex building.

"Aye aye aye Sha!"

One of the local crackheads came up to me, and I blew out a frustrated breath. I'm not here for this shit.

"I ain't got nothin' for you right now Billy."

"Where Chaz at then?"

" You seen Juicy round here lately?" I asked, completely ignoring his search for my brother.

"What's in it for me to tell you all that?"

I laughed and pulled my gun out from the waistband of my jeans and pointed it at him. He quickly started moving towards the stairs.

"Yeah nigga, I thought you'd understand me now."

I followed him up two flights of stairs to Juicy's door.

"Knock on the door" I said, pointing the gun.

He knocked on the door with shaking hands.

"Who is it?" I heard her say.

"Billy."

Juicy answered the door but before she could say anything, I pushed through, punching her in her face.

"Thanks Billy." I said closing the door.

"Sha-"

"Why you wanna fuck with me, huh Juicy? Why the fuck is my brother locked up and why did he send me here to you?"

"I don't know, I swear!"

I sighed.

"I'll make this as painless for you as possible."

I kicked her in her stomach then grabbed a handful of her hair. I pulled her face to my knee hard, making her fall back on the floor. Blood was spilling from her nose and I stood over her, begging her to get up so I can beat her ass some more.

"I'll give you one more opportunity to tell me."

"It wasn't me, I didn't say anything!"

"Who was it then?"

"I ..."

"Tell me or Imma go find ya son at his school and shoot his punk ass too!"

"Please, no! I said a little somethin' to one of my friends but I know she wouldn't say anything!"

"Ya story sound shitty Juicy. Open ya mouth."

"Sha... please."

I hit her across the face with my gun.

"Open your fuckin' mouth!"

She started crying and slowly opened her mouth.

"We gonna make sure you don't ever run ya mouth again."

I pulled the gun out of her mouth then quickly pulled the trigger. Her body fell limp and blood splattered all over my clothes. I walked into her bedroom and rummaged through her poor excuse of a wardrobe. I took off the bloody clothes and put on one of her t shirts and a pair of jeans. I saw she had some Puma slides in the corner, so I took my feet out of the heels I was wearing and slipped into those. I balled up all the stuff and dashed out of her apartment to the stairwell. I dropped the clothes and shoes in the corner and took some matches out of my pocket. Not caring if the entire building burned down, I lit the match and dropped it on top of the pile.