When Tron handed me my gun, it brought back scenes from that night my life changed. I remember how I felt when he first gave it to me. I didn't play with it, I just put it on my waist band.
Three days later I was locked up for attempted robbery cause Tay got shot, and I wasn't about to leave my nigga in that house.
I left Tron's full of emotion, emotions I thought I had outgrown, sitting in a single cell for 4 years.
I was mad, but for what? Mad at Tron for having my gun or mad at myself for taking it.
Deep in thought, I stuck my hands in my pockets. It had been years since I wore these jeans, and I was surprised I could still fit them.
Crazy how shit work though, I pulled a 20 out.
"Well, I be damn" I said.
Walking the block was always something we did when we were younger. We all lived around here, but one place we avoided was Little Certa.
I didn't remember much; I just knew an OG named Certa got popped and the whole hood felt it and Paula's sat smack in the middle.
I made my way past the hood store where the dope boys would post up. My man Anute owned it, and you couldn't tell his middle eastern accent having ass he wasn't from here.
I needed to pay my man a visit, but right now I was just trying to get Gino some Paula's.
Paula's was the hood Chinese spot. This where you went after the club, because she didn't close shop until 2 am. You could smell the aroma of the fried rice and chicken wings. It's usually packed, but it was only 2 cars waiting.
I kept my head on a swivel, because this was West territory. These esas over here don't really fuck with nobody who not from the area. Then you got whoever running the streets and the drug game they for sure out and about, lurking.
I was in line when in seen someone come out the back with a customers food.
"Damn" I said out loud.
I was never really into Mexicans. My eyes be on them black queens, but damn she was a bad bitch. Jeans was real tight, she ain't have no stomach, face card was valid, and she was slim thick with it.
I must have been staring too hard because I didn't hear Miss Paula.
"You gone order some food or eye fuck my niece?"
My thoughts finally came back.
"My bad Miss Paula. How have you been business been good?"
"It's ok they all look at her that way, I'm still here so business is good. I still gotta run them wanna be gangstas off from time to time, but we still going. How's freedom?" She asked.
"Freedom feels good. I'm already on a mission. Came to get Gino some wings and rice".
"Yeah, your mom called it in, but never showed up" she said.
I shook my head because that sounds about right. I told miss Paula I was sorry, ordered Gino's food and was waiting when what I was trying to avoid pulled up. Maybe they coming to just get food, but if you know you know.
I saw Paula's niece come from around the corner with more food. I noticed how she stopped once she saw the men getting out the cars. Her eyes gave it away. It was somebody in the crew she was scared of.
"Was these them wanna be gangstas Miss Paula was talking about" I thought to myself.
I played the scene close. They came in and sat down, and Paula's niece was walking back by.
"You don't see me sitting here?".
That got my attention because what the fuck do you mean.
she stopped, turning to face the man.
My first thought was to mind my business and leave. I had Gino food already, but I wanted to see what was to all of this.
"I don't have to acknowledge you nigga, I know what you came for."
she said.
Mexicans saying nigga never bothered me.
The man talking was a heavy set esa, geared up in cowboy boots. He had gold slugs in his mouth, and you could tell he was running shit because he was the only one talking. The 4 men with him just stood there.
He just laughed and blew kisses at her.
"Bitch go get my money" he said.
She stormed off and I was still standing there when one of them said.
"TC you know this fool, he all in the mix."
Bingo! we got a name I thought.
"Chill, he just getting food, I'm sure he knows where he at, you do know where you at right?"
I just laughed and held the bag up, giving it a shake. I was out of bounds here. You should never be solo in Little Certa. They named the whole neighborhood after a mothafucka getting murked, so they really stand on shit over here, but I know what was going on.
Extortion in the hood was real, and as fucked up as it looked, that shit go on everywhere. The same shit was happening when i was gone, it's nothing short of what's going on here. It wasn't my business, but I needed to see that, now I know who run Little Certa.
I was at the door when I saw Paulas niece emerge from the back with an envelope. The look on her face was all it took for me, I was gone have to do something about it!