Introduction To Hard 2 Da Kore (Hard2daKore Book 1) (16 page)

Sadique and I had never once gotten pregnant, because I was never ready for a family, but why Carmen and how could I not have known? I could’ve never seen betrayal coming by either of them. He played me, got me feeling like I’m living a Kelly Price song right now. He could have told me that he didn’t want me anymore and that he wanted to be with another woman and that he and Carmen had a thing going on. Am I having a bugging out episode right now? “Yo that was a bitchass move Sadique!” I yelled out loud as if he could really hear me. So that’s probably why Carmen went ballistics at the morgue.

Suddenly my cell phone rang. I checked it and saw that someone was paging me. I didn’t even feel it vibrate. I thought to myself. I reached into my handbag and fumbled for my cell phone. I had three missed calls. Two were from my mother and one was from Jackie. I guess by now the word of Sadique’s death was circulating. My mother still had some friends in the neighborhood, so I knew someone had called her by now. I’ll call them back later. Rome’s town house was right off the Garden State Parkway. I parked in the garage as he instructed and he parked behind me in his driveway. I pulled into the garage and just sat there and waited. I should have at least gone by my place and grabbed a few things and I felt really bad about not going to see Mrs. Parr too. Rome came over to my car and tapped on the window. “Come on, I promise not to bite, beside I don’t want to mess with the champ. You almost looked like Tracy Ali back there.” He joked.

“Cut it out boy.” I finally laughed. That was one of the things I like about Rome, he always made me feel good. Rome looked surprised to see me laugh. “Hey look, I don’t want you to go out of your way Rome.” “Tray stop and listen because I’m not going to repeat myself, so save the tough girl independent role for someone else. You’re hurt and need a friend right now, so why don’t you allow me to help. Jackie and your mother called. They got kinda worried when you didn’t answer your phone. They’re gonna be over first thing in the morning. I know I might be your boss but I’m still you friend, Rome. Remember me, are you hungry?” He asked while smiling as we entered his condo.

Rome walked into his apartment and headed towards the kitchen. “More like starved, but I don’t have an appetite if that makes any sense.” I said as I followed him. “I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast.” How about I make us a few sandwichs or I can call for some take out?” He said. “Whatever you have here is ok Rome you don’t have to go too far out of your way.” Do you mind if I help myself? I need something to do right now.” I said. “Are you sure?” He asked. “Yes I’m sure, I think I can still manage to make a couple of sandwiches.” I assured. “Okay, because I need to return a few phone calls before it gets late.” He stated. I went into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator and found some fresh cold cuts, cold fried chicken, and some tuna salad in the fridge. Well someone’s been cooking, or getting cooked for. I thought out loud. I didn’t need for him to hear that.

After taking a good look around it looks like someone’s been cleaning too. I pulled everything out of the fridge that looked good and was preparing some of the food that he had when. “Having a party are we?” Rome startled me. “You scared the shit out of me”. I never heard him come into the kitchen. “Sorry, didn’t mean to sneak up on you like that.” He said. “I didn’t take too much food out did I?” I asked. “No not at all, help yourself Tray. Do you want a glass of wine?” He asked. “That would be really nice right about now?” I said. And I meant that literally. All of this craziness was already making me feel like I was drunk, so I might as well be drunk. I thought as I prepared some food. I rolled some Swiss cheese and some roast beef up like a pig-in-a-blanket and placed it on a plate with some fresh fruit.

“Is that’s all you’re going to eat after taking all that food out?” He asked. “I was really just being nosey I didn’t realize you made time to cook.” I said. “Well I have to eat don’t I?” He smiled back. “Are you in here playing detective?” He added. “No, but I’m about to become a P.I.” I said seriously. Rome looked at me with a puzzled look on his face. “What does that mean he asked?” I looked over at him with an im dead serious look on my face. “I have to find out what really happened to him Rome.” I expressed. “And that’s why we have a judicial system Tray, please Tray, please don’t start none of that Nancy Drew shit now.” He countered. “That’s messed up Rome, Nancy Drew was a white girl, I’m thinking something a little more darker like, Coffee Drew or Brown Sugar Drew. I joked, but I was dead serious.

“So now you wanna go around shooting people?  You need to get some rest Tray. Eat your food, drink your wine and go get some rest. You’re traumatized and not thinking clearly. I put a pair of fresh of pajamas on the bed in the guest room, or would you prefer a t-shirt and shorts.” “The pajamas will be fine.” I stated as I headed for the bathroom. I just wanted to wash the day away. I opt for a shower but Rome had already began running the bath water for me. How sweet. “Why did you let him go?” I could here my mother’s voice asking me in my head. “But that was years ago.” I said out loud. What made me think of that? You have enough issues to deal with right now, so please Tracy Truesdale don’t go complicating things more with some illusions de’ grandeur. I thought to myself as I stepped into the warmth of the bath water that smelled like fresh lemons.

The aroma woke me up while the water eased away some of my stress, at least for a little whiles anyways. Who are Sadique’s friends and what did he really do during the day? There were far too many unanswered questions that began to run through my mind. It was time to take off my rose-colored glasses and see things for what they really are. Did I really know the man that I loved? I loved Sadique with all my heart, but I knew we could never truly make each other happy. I was chasing love and he was chasing paper. Is any of this even real? I thought as I looked at the engagement ring that he gave me.The money he chased caused him to ultimately chase after evil. Forgive me God as I forgive those that trespass against me. “I forgive you Sadique.” I whispered. “I’ll find out who did this to you, I love you to at least owe you that much.” I said as I sat in the warmth of the lemon scented bath water and quietly mourned my man’s death.

16

THE AFTERMATH

(Korey)

When I woke up I had one of the biggest hangovers that I could ever remember having. I looked at my watch. It was a little past twelve noon and I fell asleep on the couch with my clothes still on and all. My head was banging heavily as I slowly crept towards the bedroom. Luckily the bathroom was next to it because I felt myself getting ready to throw up and I did, again, and after that I felt a little better. I rinsed off my face, brushed my teeth then went into the bedroom, took off my cothes and laid down on the bed. I could overhear the radio playing loudly from the apartment next door. Lionel Richie’s ‘Easy Like Sunday Morning’ mellowed out the atmosphere as I rested comfortably on my bed.

After the song went off I could overhear the news and weather report being told. I reached over and turned on my little alarm clock slash radio and listened in on the news being reported:
“Today will be rather pleasant, highs in the upper 70’s reaching about 80 degrees later on today. The lows tonight will be about 65 degrees and chilly dropping even more as the fall season sets in so you might need to wear your light jackets tonight due to the moderate temperature drop.

"In other news, 5 people were shot and 2 of them fatally wounded in the early hours this morning after a party celebration for rap star Xaviar from the rap group The Born Criminals. One of the fatally wounded was another well known rapper. Gregory Sumpter a.k.a. The Crazy Gunner and his friend Jerry Gomez were shot and killed late Saturday night early Sunday morning while they were leaving from the local nightclub ‘The Funnel’ located in downtown Manhattan.

"Police witnesses say that shots were fired killing the two instantly and seriously injuring three others in a rare drive by shooting as they exited the popular nightclub. The well known rapper leaves behind a wife, two children, family and friends and many hurt fans which raise a lot of questions about the effects of rap music and the violence it promotes among the youth who listens to that type of music....”

Oh shit! What the fuck! I thought as I snapped fully awaken by the news that I just heard. “I was just with that nigga last night!” I whispered to myself. I reached for my phone. I need to call Jay and see if he heard the news. My phone rang as I was grabbing for it. “Hello?” It was Jay. “Yo you heard? Gunna got killed last night.” He said.

“I know I just heard it on the news. That’s fucked up.” I said. “Hell yeah, and I’m bettin’ that it had something to do with that beef he had with that nigga in the bathroom over that bitch.” He said. “Damn, niggas can’t go nowhere without killin’ each other in shit, shit is sad yo. I feel sorry for his peoples though. He seemed like a cool dude.” I said sadly. “He was son, that nigga was cool as hell. I’ma miss that nigga for real. I know his manager and a few of his producers. Damn, and he was gonna put you on his album too. I’ma holla at his peoples and see if I could still get you on it though. Oh damn, I almost forgot, yo Mann. You remember that rhyme you kicked for me a couple of months ago? Somethin’ about being addicted or dividends, or some shit like that?” He asked. “Yeah I remember it’s called addicted to the dividends. I remember why?” I asked. “You ever heard of this cat who calls himself Gameface who be runnin’ with them Woodz niggas?” Jay asked.

“Nah, what about him,” I asked curiously. “Yo, I heard that nigga spittin’ that same shit you spit on that new E Double mix CD.” Jay told me. “Stop playin.” I chuckled. “Yo Mann I wish I was playing. You ever did any work with that nigga, or wrote any rhymes for him?” Psss, now if anybody would known if I did that somebody would be you, I don’t even know that dude Jay word up.” I answered. “You ever spit any rhymes around him before.” Jay asked. I had to think for a minute. Now I’ve had a few street battles before, but I never heard of this cat that calls himself Gameface.

“How many times I gotta tell you Jay I don’t know that cat.” I answered. I’m getting annoyed now. “Yeah, well he sure knows you, and well enough to spit the same rhymes you spit. You know your shit better than me, well, maybe not but I’m a thousand percent fo’ certain fo sho’ that that’s the same shit you spit. He spit it on that E Dub joint. You know you gonna have to see about that nigga right? I grabbed my face and shook my head because I already knew the exactly what next words that were going to come out of his mouth.

“Time for another battle son,” Jay excitedly added. Besides being my first cousin, Jay was my biggest supporter, fan, top dog, and definitely knew how to soup a nigga up too, especially me. I thought as I let his words sink in. “Hey whatever Jay, if what you sayin is the truth then ima give it to him.” I said as I started to get angry by Jay’s souping. “Iight I’ma bring the CD over later so you can listen to this shit. I’m bugging too Mann ‘cause it looks like we done gone and got ourselves a real live biter. Can you imagine that in this day and age, and you better get at that nigga too Korey Manning Jackson aka The Mann. Matter fact, I think he gonna be at Foxes tonight. Want me to round up the posse tonight so we can see about this nigga?” Jay added.

“That’s cool.” I told him but wasn’t really sure if I was up for this bullshit, not tonight anyways. Knowing Jay though, he probably had everybody rounded up and surrounding him right now while he was on the phone with me, and probably before he even told me about the shit. “Tonight is the open mic night and you best believe we gonna roll up mad deep like 200 plus up in that mafucka.” Jay said excitedly. Me battle, tonight at Foxes? I have to think about this for a second. Now I know I gotta go to work tomorrow mornin’ and I don’t want to be late. I thought hard as we both remained silent for a moment. Why niggas wanna fuck with me? Can two niggas write the same rhyme, around the same time? I don’t think so. I don’t be fuckin’ with nobody like that, and definitely not with this music shit. Oh well, fuck it. I guess one more day I’m late for work won’t hurt. What Sal gonna do, fire me? I thought to myself. “Aight hell yeah let’s roll up in that mafucka tonite!” I said to Jay.

“Iight bet, see you later.” Jay replied. After we hung up I asked myself. Who is this Gameface mafucka and how the fuck does he knows my shit? On everything I love I wrote that shit myself, this shit got me trippin’ like two untied shoes right now. How could some bullshit like this happen, and why would anybody wanna go and say somebody else shit. Jay gotta be fuckin with me? I’ma call him back and tell him to knock it off with the bullshit. I got so caught up in my thoughts that I didn’t hear Sinnimin walk in.

“Hey baby.” She said as she grabbed me by the waist from behind. “Did you sleep well?” she asked “Pssss, yeah I guess, I was drunk as hell last night. Me and Jay and nem’ we went out last night.” I explained. “Where were you?” I asked her. “Lisa and I did some shopping. Tamika’s throwing a baby shower for her cousin Tiara and I needed something cute to wear. You looked like was sleeping so peaceful this morning I didn’t want to disturb you, even with all your clothes on.” She chuckled. She had a funny look in her eye as I turned around to face her. She looked me dead in the face and began undressing. She stopped once she got down to her underwear. Damn she looked sexy as fuck in that red lace. My girl always knew how to keep my attention. She caters to me so well. That was one of the things I loved mostly about her.

She walked over to me and planted the most sensual kiss on my lips, instantly making me forget all about the beef with that nigga Gameface or any other beef I ever had. I began thinking pleasant thoughts. Flashbacks of making love to her yesterday and every other time we made love. My girl is about two inches shorter than me so her head rested snuggly on my shoulder as she lay in my arms. “I wanna have me a baby one day Korey you know, get married and a nice house. I would love a big house like the one Tiara and her man got.” She complained. “It’s gonna happen one day baby, but we gotta work together on this ma.” I said. “You remember what you told me?” She pouted. “Yeah I remember.” I answered.

“What am I talking about then? You have no idea what I’m talking about.” She pouted. “I already know you talking about that time you asked me would I marry you and I said yes but that we should wait until we’re more financially stable. I said even though that didn’t really matter because I love you and… why you asking all these questions, are you pregnant or something?” I asked curiously. “No I’m not. It’s just sometimes I wish we had those things now. I’m tired of shacking up and not being able to go to really nice places. Tamika and Tiara’s boyfriends took them shopping and they even got some Monolo boots.” “Damn baby, why are you all of a sudden concerned about the Jones’. Everything that gitters ain’t gold. Your girlfriends are gold digger type broads anyways. They only go out with drug dealers. I see if them niggas had to work a real jobs and was still throwing around money then they could get that, but don’t compare me to a cat standing on them corners, I’m a workingman, I work for what I want.” I told her.

“What’s wrong with wanting to have nice things?” She asked. “It ain’t nothing wrong with that, it’s just that those things cost a lot of money and It’s hard to buy shit like that if you ain’t makin’ that kinda’ loot, and I ain’t makin that kinda loot like that. “Well, what’s happening with your music? You sound like you should be makin’ some money off of it.” She added. “I’m tryin’ to do something with it but I got a job that be keeping me busy and too tired to try to write some music. I was thinkin about goin’ back to school for another trade so I could bring in some more money, but what about you Sinni? When you goin back to work?” I asked.

“I don’t know, I filled out some applications but nobody called me back yet.” She stated. “Oh, iight, but anyway, me and Jay was tryin’ to get some money together so we can make a demo.” I explained. “Jay? What does your cousin know about the music industry?” She asked. “Shiit, bae you shoulda seen Jay last night at the Funnel, he knew everybody, them Born Criminal cats and all I can say is he be makin’ moves for real. My time is comin.” I said. “Well, I hope it comes soon because I’m tired of living like this.” She said. “It ain’t that easy Sinni, it takes a lotta hard work and a lotta time to make it in the music industry.” I explained.

“If it’s gonna make us some money, shit, give me some of them rhymes you got in there I’ll say em shit. I’m m.c.
Sinnimin
and I look so
innocent
, and I taste like a strawberry mixed with
Cinnamin
ha ha ha ha.” She joked. “Aw damn babe, I can’t wait for the video for that shit right there baby ha ha.” I laughed with her as we lay on the bed. She climbed on top of me and gave me a passionate kiss on my lips. “So what’s your plans for today?” She asked softly while resting her head back on my chest.

“Mmm, nothing, besides a battle tonight at Foxes with some nigga named Gameface.” I answered. “Gameface? Well, you know that I’m gonna be there representing for my baby, oh shoot! I almost forgot, the baby shower is later on, maybe afterwards if it’s not too late. Damn baby I’m sorry I can’t be there, and you betta beat that sorryass nigga too bae.” She said, slapping me on my chest playfully. “Hey, damn babe why you gotta beat me up about it?” I chuckled. She kissed me softly. “Hey listen, if you beat him for me, I’ll rock your mic sooo good, you’ll be spittin’ out them rhymes like you never did before.” She provoked and gently grabbed at my manhood. “Oh, so you say?” I asked.

“Oh yeah, I say.” She whispered playfully. “You want a sample?” She added sweetly. My manhood started getting hard as soon as she said the word
want
. “Whew, what’s that I feel down there rising up against me?” She asked friskily as she began rubbing her warmness against my manhood. But somewhere in the back of my mind I was wondering why was she so concerned about me winning a battle and, oh shit! The battle tonight! I need to get ready for that shit and, ohh sshhhit! This feels so good. Those thoughts all seem to hit me at once as I watched Sinnimin take off her top and then her bra, exposing her beautifully well rounded breasts. She still had her skirt on, and don’t ask me how she got her shoes off. I could feel the moistness and the heat from her puss against my steady ready manliness. She began kissing me again. Now I’m ready to fuck. I thought as I grabbed her ass and pressed her against me harder. We were grinding and kissing savagely, both of us breathing heavily, swapping saliva as the passion grew more and more intense. “So, you want that sample now?” She breathed. “Mmm Hmm, hellll yeah.” I panted as I felt her wetness growing inside of her panties. We bumped and grinded for a few seconds more then she began kissing my neck, my chest, and then slowly easing down to my nipples. Her soft moist lips skillfully kissed and sucked on my dark flesh as her warm tongue flickered lightly against my skin. I could feel her warm breath easing down to my abs as she made her way down to my now exposed rock hard manhood.

“Ahhh yeah, damn Sinni.” I moaned when her hot tongue slid slowly up my pole. I grabbed her head gently as she licked and sucked on my stiffness. “Dahamn girl, roc that mic baby.” I breathed as I glanced down to see my beautiful girl in action. Her lips wrapped around my swollen member softly, while her tongue danced around the head, sliding up and down while trying to take more and more of me down her throat with every stroke. And it felt gooood as hell too. “Oh hell yeeaeah suck that dick ma, ooohhh yeah hhmmm.” I panted as I felt myself getting ready to explode. My girl looked up at me, and our eyes met. We stared at each other as she gave me some dynamite head, then closed her eyes and began to suck me harder and faster while jerking my rod. “Oh oh, I’m about to cum.” I whispered quickly as my load was about to explode, and then…. She stopped.

“What the? Aww, come on Sinn, I was about to…“I said a sample Korey.” She interrupted. “Aww come on babe, finish.” I begged as she sat up on the bed and smiled. “If you win that battle tonight, I’ll make that what I just did look like kindergarten play.” She added, and then got up off of the bed and went into the bathroom. Aww damn! I thought to myself as I watched my hard throbbing manliness slowly shrivel back down to its regular size. I was kinda upset because I really wanted to pop that one off bad as hell, but right now, I got bigger fish to fry, and when I’m finished with him, he gonna have to change his name to Babyface. Cause right now I might just be a local rapper so niggas don’t know me, but they’ll know about The Mann soon enough, and as for my girl. I’m gonna tear that ass up tonight fo’ sho! I thought as I laid on the bed hoping that she’d come back and finish gettin me off. I started thinking back to my younger days and my first exposure to rapping. It came along when I was about 13 years young. My brother Tyrone was in this project crew called Odyssey 1000. They used to throw small parties in the project recreational rooms. Back then they called it the “wreck room!” They would charge about 50 cents to a dollar to get in.

They used play a lot of that house club music a lot back then. Anyway, one night on the weekend in the summer time when my brother’s crew was battling this other crew from the hood. The other crew, I gotta admit, they was dope, but my brother and his crew? They tore it down. They had even made up a little dance move that they did while they rhymed, and to see them kick their rhymes, and hear the reaction of the crowd in that small packed hot recreation room made them seem like they were stars. My brother was like a star in the hood. I used to watch them practicing their rhymes, and trying to catch the beat’s tempo. No bullshittin, I must’ve heard that record “Good Times” by Chic, at least a million times if not more.

Or sometimes, in the project hallways, they’d bang on the walls and rhyme. Ba booomm pap pap, boom pap! Nameen!? It was those times that inspired me to want to be a rapper. That feelin it must feel like to have someone sing your song along with you. I mean simultaneously, on tempo, mad rhymes spittin, hot shit! So what if I cursed 17 times in 16 bars, or called a bitch a hoe! Or said NIGGAAA and wasn’t trying to put down black people.

If the shoe fits, then wear that shit! And if your shit is dope, then kick that shit! It’s been a while since my last battle though. The last one I had was with this cat who called himself The Jackal. I tore his ass out the frame. That happened about 4 years ago when we battled in the middle of the mall, accapella. But that was the second time we battled. The first time we battled, he tore my ass out the frame. It happened at a basement party not too far from the projects where I lived, me and Jay was invited to the party by a couple of hommies from school. Some niggas was up on a little platform rhyming on the mic and Jay went up to them, grabbed the microphone, and challenged any nigga in the party to battle me.

Well that nigga that called him self The Jackal stepped up and kicked some shit, and I mean some hard shit too! I couldn’t fuck with that nigga yo! So I ain’t even try, but one day, me and Jay saw that nigga and a couple of his hommies in the mall, and he stepped to me ready to battle again, and I was ready for his ass this time. He spit some shit that was iight, but I wrote some shit after I lost the first battle, then mixed it up with how bad I wanted to beat this nigga. I blocked everything out, tuned all of my attention on that Jackal cat, checked my surroundings and looked him right dead smack into his eyes. I felt a little threatened by his boldness, but not scared as he spit his rhymes.

His boys cheered him on and praised his lyrics while he acted out his rhymes by pointing his fingers towards my face and what not. I was getting mad as hell as he trash talked the shit outta me with his harsh lyrics in accapella, but by the time he was done, I hadn’t heard half of the shit he had said. I was too busy conjuring up the shit I was about to hit him with. I was silent for a few seconds as he stood up in front of me with a frown on his face, waiting for me to get at him. So I got at him. I was so zoned out that I had threw away all of the shit I had prepared for him and came off the top of myy head. This is the shit that I spit at him. It went like this.

“It was around, 7:15 a.m. when I woke up                                    in hotel, room 422, where I was post up                                      everybody askin around about my whereabouts                             sayin did the cops get em or did he take flight down south?--they said they wanna question me                                                      bout a murder robbery                                                                             they said they had witnesses but yo check da drama                              it all started one day when I was in the mall shoppin              mindin’ my own biz from a hard days clockin                                  when this nigga rolled up from behind me                                        said he recognized me, he said if you really Da Mann come try me                                                                                                                I’ll bet you everything you got you can’t get by me                               cause yo I be, taking niggas out like a Nazi                                                    I said whoa hold up my man because you can’t see what I see                                                                        and out all these rappers out here why you fuckin’ with me?                                                                            he said I’m seekin revenge, because you took out my mens                                                                                and oh yeah if you really Da Mann, I bout to put that to an end! ---------
When I commit

Murder in the first degree                                                                     Mo murder mo murder comes first for me                                                  I gotta have it every day it’s like a curse to me                                              And when I do it a John Doe is who I have to be                            Cause they after me

now did I--or did I just not, hear a challenge                                           this nigga Jackass callin’ me out makin’ me wanna get violent                                                                         but I stayed cooool, in order to avoid a lawsuit                                   now what you ought to do my man is find a nigga you can talk to                                                                                                                 cause fuckin’ with me I’ma give ya ass some therapy                                        in my dome that’s where the terror be that’s why you feelin jealousy                                                                                                           I heard you was rockin’ but only momentarily                                        and I can tell by them whites in ya eyes---that ya scareda me                                                                   cause I rock steady and I’m alreadily deadily                                   takin’ out whoever think that they be betta than me                    whoever it maybe! Grown up or baby                                                      I’ll rip yo ass so bad you’ll need a pad, Stayfree!                                     so write it down take a picture no fuck it just paint me                                                                                  and if you lookinn for that nigga to battle it ain’t me                            cause I strike like AIDS full blown an im bad to da bone                        and I spit them rhymes make me shine like chrome                               Now that’s...