The Block Is Hot | Oscar Diaz

21

So... let's just say a lot of stuff happened for me to be where I am now.

Meaning being in a gang, not having my head covered with what feels like a moving sauna. Part of being mixed, your hair will turn into a giant afro after a drop of water gets into it.

In this case, my sweat after my head being in this thing for over two hours. I heard the clap of hands and the bag was raised. I sat next to Jamal. God, we all smell like shit.

"Please take a drink. Hydrate." A woman nicely offered.

I look at the drink in front of me cautiously. This could be poison. Or worse. And I've watched enough movies to know that you shouldn't drink or eat something that's been offered to you by someone you've never met. Obviously the others haven't.

"Let me know if it's too strong."

"Is what too strong?" Ruby asked.

"The poison."

Freaking knew it. Jamal and Monse spit all over theirs and my shoes. Thanks for that. The woman laughed. "I'm joking. I'm joking. Poison doesn't have a taste." And they spit all over my feet again. "Damnit!" I yelled, which made the Latina laugh. "Maurice, please, get my guests more water. I was being mala." She said with a little dance.

"Uh, we appreciate your sense of humor, but in all seriousness, whatever your husband thinks we did we can explain." Jamal cried.

What?

"My husband?" The woman questioned.

"Boyfriend?" Jamal questioned.

"I answer to no one, let alone a man." The woman replied. You tell 'em sis.

"I am-"

"Cuchillos, heir to the Santos." Cesar interjected.

This... is Cuchillos? Cuchillos is a woman?

Oh snap.

"So you're smarter than you look." Cuchillos complimented Cesar.

"Cuchillos? As in, "knives"?" Monse asked.

"Don't look so scared. I brought you here to thank you." Cuchillos said with a smile.

"For what?" Ruby asked in a low tone.

"For helping take down the Prophets." She answered. "We thought we might get a handful, but to wipe out the entire operation? What a feat? I thought, "Who are these kids? How clever they must be, to find the RollerWorld money."

"Wait." I said. Cuchillos looked at me. "The entire operation? As in-"

"The Prophets OG, your stepfather as well, miss Salonia." The woman said with a wink. She knows my name too. That can't be a good thing, to be known by an heir when you're a nobody in both the Prophets and the Santos.

"I'm gonna tell you a secret. I was with Benito, Frankie, and Lil' Ricky that night." Cuchillos announced.

Jamal shook his head. "No!"

"Who do you think came up with the plan?" Cuchillos asked.

"Lil' Ricky wasn't the mastermind?" Jamal questioned. Cuchillos shook her head. "I don't buy it. There was no trace of you in my investigation."

"Of course not." Cuchillos began. "And for good reason. Because behind every good man is a better woman."

Monse and I looked at each other. I mean, she's got a point.

"So now, I need your help again." She picked up the red duffle bag presumably still filled with the money. "If you were clever enough to find the RollerWorld money, I know you can help me with something even more important, and if you do, I'll give you back the dough. Lil' Ricky is alive." Cuchillos explained. She pointed at us. "And you're gonna find him."