Carl Weber's Kingpins (15 page)

Charlie smiled at Toni again and said, “I wouldn't expect anything different.”

Though it had only been a couple of weeks since the incident in Del City, Keko felt it was necessary for him to get things right back poppin' at the Summit apartment complex. His motto was “there is money to be made.” King was against Keko making his move so quickly, but he chose to keep his mouth closed and sit back to watch what would go down. Everywhere else on the north side was business as usual. The money was coming in and everyone was eating good.
Flex seems to be eating exceptionally well,
King thought as he watched as Flex pulled onto the block in a brand new Lincoln Navigator.

“Look at that nigga, big old flossin' like he the shit,” Tippi said as she stared at Flex as he climbed out of his new SUV and came and joined them on the porch of the trap.

“What it do? Y'all good?” Flex asked as he sat down on the third step of the porch.

“Yeah, we straight. What's up wit' you?” asked King.

Flex shrugged and said, “Same ol' shit, just tryin' to eat like everybody else.”

“Looks like to me you eatin' way better than everybody else,” Tippi said sarcastically, staring at Flex's new truck. “What happened to your other Navi?”

“Man, that shit was two years old. It's that time I had to come new. I got this plug with this cracka who gets powder from me. He owns a spot out in Bethany and he hooked me up with that bad boy. He even has the plug with a finance company, so it's like all of my paperwork is straight legit. I got a payment book and everything. But you know a nigga ain't payin' no notes; that bad boy is straight paid for,” Flex boasted.

“Good for you, nigga,” Tippi said as she stood and stepped off of the porch.

Flex waited until she was out of earshot and asked, “Damn, dog, why she hatin' on a nigga?”

“Don't pay her no mind; you know how she gets at times. Tell me, thangs done got that better wit' your white girl, huh?” King asked as he relaxed back in the chair.

“Yeah, they been spendin' like a mothafucka, dog. She done got 'em crackas turned on to that pipe now. They startin' to smoke like crazy! In a minute I'm gon' be able to go through a whole brick just fuckin' wit 'em!”

“That's straight, but make sure you don't get too comfortable with 'em mothafuckas. Anything can happen when you fuckin' wit' fools who fucks wit' that hard. Don't take shit for granted, feel me?”

“Got ya. I'm 'bout to head back out that way. I'll be back this way for the late-night hype. Cool?”

“Yeah. Be safe, fool.”

“Fa' sho',” Flex said as he left the porch and got back into his brand new Navigator and sped off the block.

Tippi came back to the porch and said, “I don't give a damn what he say; that nigga needs to be kept on a short leash, King.”

“Why?”

Tippi tapped her stomach lightly and said, “I can feel it in my gut.”

He laughed and said, “Don't trip. He's doin' him right now. As long as he keeps the ends comin' ain't no need to be mad at him.”

“Mad at him? I ain't mad at his ass. I don't trust that nigga like I used to. He's up to more than he's tellin' yo' ass.”

“Maybe, but as long as he doesn't come short wit' 'em chips or crosses me, let that nigga be.”

“Oh, I ain't trippin', 'cause sooner or later that nigga gon' show his hand. Then I'm gon' be right there. Dead on his ass.”

King smiled at his number one killa and said, “You need a role model.”

Tippi laughed and said, “Nah, I need some dick.”

Before King could respond to her statement his cell phone rang. “What it do, Charlie?”

“We need to get together. I have some things I want to discuss with you. Meet me at that Chili's out on Northwest Expressway in thirty,” Charlie said and hung up the phone.

King stared at his phone for a few seconds then shrugged his shoulders. Tippi noticed his strange look and asked, “What's wrong with you?”

“That was Charlie. That fool has never came at me on no order type shit. All of a sudden it seems like there's been a change in the program.”

“What you mean?”

“Nothin'. Look, I got to go get wit' Charlie. I'll be back in a li'l while. You good?”

“Always. Be careful, nigga.”

He smiled at Tippi and said, “Always.”

* * *

Charlie was sitting in the back of the restaurant when King entered Chili's. He saw Charlie and quickly stepped toward the rear of the restaurant and joined Charlie.

After King was seated, Charlie asked him, “Are you hungry?”

“Nah, I'm good. What's poppin'?

“That's exactly what I wanted to ask you.” Charlie saw the confused expression on his face and said, “It seems like there's a problem out in Del City that you need to tell me about. An associate of mines has relayed some information to me and I need for you to confirm it for me, King.”

“Such as?”

“Did that shooting that took place a couple of weeks ago have anything to do with you asking me for protection in Del City?”

“Yeah.”

“Enlighten me, please.”

“My nigga Keko opened up a spot in Del City at the Summit apartments. He got it jumpin' off real quick like and the money was lovely and gettin' better and better each day. Some fools on the other side of the Forty decided to open up a spot of their own in the Candlewood apartments. That caused my man's business to slow up a li'l. He wasn't trippin' at first 'cause his shit was still doin' good. But when he heard 'bout 'em fools on the other side droppin' their ticket in order to compete with him, he felt it was necessary to make a move. So he got at me wit' it.”

“And you gave him permission to shoot up that apartment complex?”

Shaking his head no, he said, “Nah, not at first. I came and got at you to make sure that you would be able to blanket him if he got into any shit out that way.”

“Then you gave him the go-ahead?” Charlie asked with a frown.

“Yeah,” he answered sheepishly feeling like a little kid again.

“Do you know who the guys are who were trying to compete with your man?”

“At first I thought they were some Del City niggas, but since then I found out it's some niggas from the south side.”

“So, you authorized a hit without knowing anything about the people you ordered to be moved on? I never thought you'd get down like that. Tell me, have you gave any thought about those guys retaliating?”

“Yeah, that's why I had my man back off of Del City for a minute. I wanted shit to die down before I let him go back out that way and get it back poppin'.”

“You're not worried about your man gettin' hurt?”

King shrugged and said, “To be totally honest with you, Charlie, nah. Keko knows how to do him. He's no rookie when it comes to the gangsta shit.”

“Gangsta shit? Shooting up an apartment building full of crackheads ain't gangsta, King! It's stupid! If I'm not mistaken, seven people were killed that night. That kind of heat ain't cool. When there's violence in the hood behind drugs the local officials catch a lot of heat from higher-up officials. Mainly because the people above them are on top of their asses. If shit don't cool down then the feds get involved. When that happens everything is fucked. Do you hear what I'm saying, King? Because we can't afford to get fucked with by the feds. I need you to be smarter with your decision making. You made a mistake that could become fatal for us all.”

“I feel you, Charlie, but damn, neither me or my man can afford to let niggas think they can do what the fuck they want to when it comes to us gettin' this money. You didn't trip out on a nigga when I had Tippi and my mans and 'em smash 'em niggas who was tryin' to get in on my groove on the north side. Or the time when 'em Cali gang niggas came to the north trippin' out like they was gon' take shit over. You let me bust my gun then. You wasn't worried about 'em alphabet boys back then, so why are you trippin' out on me now for handlin' shit like I've always done? I'm holdin' down what's mines, at whatever fuckin' cost. I've kept this money comin' and comin' since you started fuckin' wit' me. I can't let you put restraints on me and how I get down just 'cause there's been a few bodies. That's how this game is played, real talk.”

I've created a fucking fool,
thought Charlie. “Listen, King, I can't afford for you to be involved in shit that can be avoided. You didn't think this one through clearly enough for my taste. If you had, I feel you would have never given your man the green light to do that shit. What's done is done, though. When are you going to let your man go back out there and open back up?”

King smiled and said, “I let him get back crackin' earlier today. The spot should be fully operational as we speak.”

Charlie returned the smile and said, “You're something else, King.”

“Nah, I'm just doin' me. My squad trust my judgment just as I trust theirs. I won't fuck this shit up, Charlie. I can't. Too many people are eatin' off of this plate of yours. It's my job to keep that plate full and I'm gon' do that no matter what it takes. I don't give a damn who I gots to lay down in order for us all to continue to eat this damn good.”

“Understood. But in the future, before you choose violence of this nature, give it deeper consideration before you go off all cock diesel, a'ight?”

“You got that, Charlie,” King said and smiled.

After their meeting concluded, Charlie called Toni and said, “I've just finished gettin' at King. You need to have a sit-down with Flamboyant as soon as possible.”

“Why, what's up?”

“I'm pretty confident that those people who got shot up in Del City a couple of weeks ago were his people.”

“So, that was his reason for asking me for protection out that way. He's about to retaliate,” said Toni.

“Exactly.”

“But what does that have to do with your man King?”

Charlie sighed heavily and said, “King's people were the ones who shot up that apartment complex.”

“Oh, shit!”

“Exactly.”

* * *

Tippi was sitting on the porch of the trap watching the block as the squad's hand-to-hand men made that money. It amazed her how automated their moneymaking was. She loved this game. When King pulled back onto the block she could tell that whatever he'd been told at his meeting with Charlie was something good. He had a big smile on his face as he came toward the trap.

“I guess everything is everything, huh?” asked Tippi after he was seated.

“Yeah. Charlie was on some bullshit at first, but after I gave it to that fool raw it was all gravy.” King then went on and explained everything that was said during his meeting with Charlie.

When he was finished Tippi said, “Damn. Charlie actually thought a nigga was just gon' let 'em fools get in the way of us gettin' this money?”

“Yeah, but not no more. So it is what it is. Have you heard from that nigga Keko?”

“Nah, that nigga Boleg called and told me that they back out in Midwest City.”

“Yeah? What about 'em south side fools?”

Tippi shrugged and said, “He didn't say. He said they were strapped and that they brought along some extra wolves.”

“Why is that?”

“He wanted someone up there to watch Nutta's ass after they shook the spot.”

“That's right. Damn, I got to piss,” King said as he stood and stepped toward the front door of the trap.

Tippi smiled and asked, “You need some help in there with that big old thang?”

He shook his head from side to side but didn't respond to her joke. After he handled his business he was washing his hands when he heard Tippi scream out his name. He ran back to the front and said, “What the fuck are you screamin' for?”

Tippi was holding her cell phone, trembling and shaking her head as she listened to whoever was on the other line. She took a deep breath and in a controlled and deadly tone said, “A'ight, listen: King wit' me now. We'll be over there in a few minutes. Make sure that you keep that nigga under wraps 'til we get there, Spook. Don't let him get caught the fuck up. We on our way,” she told him. She turned to King. “South side niggas hit the Summit. Obviously they been waitin' for that nigga Keko to open shop back up. As they were settin' everything up four niggas ran into the apartment complex blastin' everybody and everything in sight.”

With a grim look on his face King asked, “How many got hit?”

Tippi shook her head and said, “Only one.”

“Who?”

“Keko's wife, Neecy.”

“Awww, fuck no! Come on, let's roll!” King yelled as he stepped off of the porch and ran toward his car. The game was about to get real bloody now.

Flamboyant had dropped Shayla off at home when he got the call from Prince informing him of what Gunna, Milo, Ken, and Wave had done in Del City. “From what Gunna told me, they shot up everybody and everything that was movin', dog. Ain't no tellin' what the body count gon' be. That nigga Gunna gon' have to fall back from out there for a minute,” said Prince.

“Oh, that's fa' sho'. Where they at now?” asked Flamboyant.

“They didn't want to take the chance of tryin' to make it all the way back south so they went to Midwest City to Milo's new spot to lay it down for the night.”

“That was good thinkin'. Where you at? I'm 'bout to come scoop you so we can go holla at 'em niggas.”

“I'm on the block.”

“A'ight, I'll be there in twenty,” Flamboyant said as he ended the call. He then called Shayla back at the house and told her, “Looks like some shit has come up, babe. I got to go out to Midwest City for a li'l bit. Ain't no need for you to wait up; ain't no tellin' how long I'm goin' to be.”

“All right, Marco, be careful. I'm about to take a shower then lie down and watch a li'l TV.”

“A'ight, babe. I'll see you when I get home,” he said as he ended the call.

After hanging up with Flamboyant, Shayla changed her mind. Instead of taking a shower, she chose to take a nice, long, hot bath. While she was running her bathwater she turned on the television that was mounted right above the Jacuzzi tub. She sat on the edge of the tub and watched as the news reported a story about a shooting in Del City: “In what seems to be a related case, there has been yet another brutal shooting here in the city of Del City. Approximately twenty-five minutes ago, four gunmen ran into the Summit apartment complex and proceeded to shoot several rounds of automatic gunfire. So far there has only been one casualty reported. Neecy Gipson was fatally shot twice in the chest. As you can see behind me, there seems to be quite an uproar from family and friends of Ms. Gipson.”

Shayla's mouth was wide open in shock as she stared at the television and continued to listen to the news reporter: “Just two weeks ago there was a similar shooting right on the other side of Highway Forty at the Candlewood apartments. Seven people were shot down by gunmen of this same type. Was this some form of retaliation? Are these two shootings here in Del City related at all? These questions have yet to be answered. This is Bobby Joe Trent, reporting live for Channel Five's
Five Alive.
Back to the studio, Linda.”

Shayla continued to stare at the television in complete shock. She saw King crying while holding on to a guy who looked familiar to her.
Probably a guy from the north side.
She put her hands on top of her head and said, “Oooh, what was that boy's name?” She snapped her fingers after a few minutes and yelled, “Keko! That's that Blood boy who used to go to John Marshal.” She went into the bedroom and grabbed the cordless phone. She paused for a few seconds then said, “Damn, I almost fucked up.” She grabbed her purse and pulled out her cell phone then nervously dialed King's cell phone. When King answered the phone she asked, “Are you all right, Trevor? I just saw you on the news. What's going on out there?”

“Look, Shay, shit is kinda thick for me right now. My nigga's girl just got killed. Let me get back at ya later, okay?”

“Is that guy Keko okay?”

There were a few seconds of silence before King answered her question. Finally he said, “He's a rider. He'll be good in a li'l while. I got to go. Thanks for checkin' on a nigga, Shay. It's good to know that you still care.”

Before she could respond to that statement King hung up the phone. She set her phone down on the bed and started to undress. After she had taken off her clothes, she went and climbed into the warm water of her bath. As she relaxed in the tub she thought about King's last statement to her.
Damn, when I saw Trevor crying like that on TV my heart skipped a thousand beats. I still love that man. Oh, God, I still love him.

* * *

Flamboyant and Prince arrived at Milo's trap in Midwest City to find the mood there quite festive. Gunna was laughing and joking around with Milo, while Ken and Wave were sitting on the other side of the room smoking a blunt, getting very high. Flamboyant stared at the bottles of Moët and Dom P. and said, “You niggas are somethin' else. Y'all act like y'all just won the fuckin' lotto or some shit, instead of puttin' in some work.”

Wave shrugged his broad shoulders and said, “It is what it is, dog. Niggas fuck wit' the team they get dealt wit'! We figured since we're holed up here for the night we might as well get bent and kick it.”

“I'm surprised y'all ain't got no hoes over here,” Prince said as he sat down on the couch next to Gunna.

Wave smiled and said, “We do! They should be here any minute!”

Flamboyant shook his head again and said, “A'ight, then listen: you know that ain't no way in hell you're goin' to be able to go back out to Del City anytime soon. So you might as well get used to doin' your thing back south or out this way with Milo.”

“Yeah, I feel you,” said Gunna.

“Good. Next, we got to keep our eyes open 'bout this shit to make sure that everything is good. The streets will be talkin'.”

“Dog, after the work we put in tonight 'em Del City niggas ain't gon' be tryin' no shit wit' us no more,” Milo said confidently.

Prince frowned and said, “Never underestimate, nigga; that's how niggas get done. Even a gangsta-ass nigga like yourself. That spot is gon' be hot and the Ones is gon' be gettin' at snitch niggas, smokers, and everybody around there tryin' to find out who is responsible for all of that chaos.”

“Exactly. Like I was sayin', I want y'all to stay on point and make sure that y'all don't be slippin' and shit.”

“What you mean by that?” asked Ken.

Flamboyant pointed toward the bottles of liquor as well as the weed on the table and said, “Y'all niggas are gettin' blowed and fucked up tonight. That's cool; I'm not trippin' on that bullshit. What I'm concerned about though is how y'all will be actin' once 'em females arrive. Y'all can't be runnin' your mouths 'bout what was put down. Some stupid shit like that could get us all fucked up.”

“Come on wit' that shit, Flam, you know damn well we don't get down like that,” Wave said as he took a swig from a bottle of Moët.

Slightly disgusted with his man's arrogance, Flamboyant said, “I hope not.” He turned toward Gunna and said, “You got your man; now get back focused on this fuckin' money.”

Gunna nodded his head solemnly and said, “Fa' sho', my nigga. Fa' sho'.”

* * *

Toni saw the news that evening. After hearing about the shooting and seeing King on TV, Toni quickly called Charlie and said, “There's been another shooting in Del City. And guess who I just saw on the fuckin' news holding on to one of his friends, crying like a baby?”

“Who?” asked Charlie.

“Your man.”

“King?”

“None other.”

“Shit. Did you get a chance to speak with your man today?”

“Nope. I had to drop off that package of change for Eduardo, remember? That took up most of my day.”

“This shit is about to erupt into a fuckin' war if we don't hurry and get a grip on this. Get at your man as soon as you can and I'll do the same. We have to put a stop to this shit before they fucking kill each other and completely fuck up everything we've put together.”

“All right, I'll give you a call later after I've spoken to Flamboyant,” Toni said and hung up the phone. Toni sat there for a moment, decided to hell with it, picked the phone back up, and quickly dialed Flamboyant's number. When he answered the phone Toni said, “I know it's late but we have to meet immediately.”

“Where?” Flamboyant asked nervously.

“Meet me in the parking lot of the Pizza Hut on Lincoln. I'll be there in about thirty.”

“I don't do the east side too often. Is there any place else we can meet?”

Highly irritated by this statement, Toni yelled, “No, there isn't! So have your ass at the Pizza Hut before I get there!”

Flamboyant stared at his phone after Toni had hung up on him and thought,
oh shit. I bet this shit has something to do with Del City.
He turned toward Prince and said, “I gots to bounce. I'm 'bout to make a run to the east side real quick. When I'm finished I'll come back and scoop you.”

Prince frowned and asked, “You sure you don't need me to roll wit' you?”

“Nah, I'm straight. It shouldn't take me too long.”

“Toni?”

“Yeah,” Flamboyant said as he turned and walked out of the trap in Midwest City.

Flamboyant made the twenty-minute ride to the east side in fifteen. He parked his truck close to the front of the Pizza Hut and waited for Toni's arrival. Toni pulled into the parking lot fifteen minutes after Flamboyant. Flamboyant hit his light switch so Toni could see where he was parked. After Toni parked next to him, Flamboyant got out of his truck and got into Toni's car. As soon as he had the door closed, Toni pulled out of the parking spot and left the parking lot. Toni remained silent and drove for about ten minutes before speaking. Finally, after turning onto the Broadway Extension Toni said, “I see you had your team retaliate like we discussed the other day.”

“Yeah. I told you it was a must that my man got back at 'em dudes who did that bullshit.”

“In two weeks, there have now been eight murders in Del City. There is no way I'll be able to keep the heat off this one if you choose to continue to let your team work out that way.”

Flamboyant heard what Toni said but something didn't sound right to him. He asked, “Eight? What you mean by eight murders?”

“The seven who were killed two weeks ago and the lady who was murdered this evening equals eight, Flamboyant. What's wrong with you, you can't count now?”

“You mean to tell me that only one lady was killed tonight?”

Toni laughed and said, “Obviously you don't watch your local news, huh? There was a lot of shooting but, yes, only one person was killed and I'm sad to say that it was in fact a woman.”

“Damn. 'Em niggas went through all of that shit and didn't even get their man. Ain't that a bitch.”

“Yes, it is. Now you have to fall all the way back from this.”

“I know. I was just telling the team that when you called.”

“Not only that, but in case of any form of retaliation, I want you to make sure that your team is aware that for no reason whatsoever are they to strike back.”

“What? You tryin' to tell me if those Del City niggas try to get back at us I have to have my people lie down and do nothin'? Come on wit' that shit, Toni.”

Toni stared at him and said, “I want you to listen to me and I want you to pay very close attention to every single word I speak. The people who shot and killed your people were not, as you said, Del City niggas. They have just as much strength as you do, Flamboyant, if not more. I'm in the process of getting in contact with them now, so it's imperative that you do exactly as I say. I—no, we—cannot stand for a war. War costs and I don't have the time nor the energy to be dealing with something so silly as this shit. Do you understand me?”

“I hear what the fuck you sayin' but this shit ain't really registerin'. You know the niggas who got at my man and 'em and you tellin' me to fall back 'cause you don't want a war 'cause it could be costly? What 'bout my man's people? Don't you think their lives were costly, Toni? This is some straight-up ho shit you're askin' of me.”

“No, this is business I'm informing you of. Don't get this mistaken. I'm not asking you for a mothafuckin' thang, Mr. Flamboyant! You are going to do exactly as you're fuckin' told! If not, then you and your team will simply have to be dismantled. Am I understood, Mr. Flamboyant?”

He couldn't believe how Toni was getting at him. He felt like a complete coward. A coward because he knew that without Toni's help he would be completely out of the game and that was something he wasn't ready to deal with. He sighed and said, “Yeah, I understand. But tell me something, Toni.”

“What?”

“Who is these niggas who's supposed to be so high powered?”

Toni smiled and asked, “Have you ever heard of somebody by the name of King? He runs the north side of Oklahoma City just as tight as you run the south side.”

King
. . .
King
. . .
Yeah, I heard 'bout that nigga,
Flamboyant thought. To Toni he said, “Nah, I don't think I have. So, he's the nigga you're protectin' from me and my team?”

Toni pulled back into the parking lot of the Pizza Hut and parked next to Flamboyant's truck. “What makes you think I'm protecting him from you? Why can't I be protecting you and your team from them, Mr. Flamboyant? After all, I don't have any business dealings with King or his crew. You're my breadwinner. I'm just making sure that you stay in a position to continue being my breadwinner.” Before he could say a word, Toni said, “Have a good evening, Mr. Flamboyant. This meeting is over.”