Payback Is a Mutha (13 page)

“Get tested Janay. I doubt if you have it.”

“Shadee. What is the matter with y’all? You have to conquer the world? Huh? Is that it? What is up with y’all fine ass, thuggish niggas fuckin’ each other? I thought Doc was your right hand man? Shit! He looks like Suge Knight. I thought y’all was gangsta! What is the matter with y’all? Huh? Explain this shit to me! Doc has a woman and kids!” She had jumped up and was standing in his face. “Y’all get all the pussy in the world thrown at y’all. Wassup G?” She was walking hard like a dude.

“Girl, go ’head.” He was walking away.

“Go ’head? That’s all you got to say?” She followed behind him as he grabbed his keys and stormed out the door.

“K
eke, why in the fuck did you tell me to come over at nine knowin’ damn well you wasn’t gonna be home?” Shan yelled into the phone. Her frustration level was at an all time high. Keke was Peanut’s wifey and she was pressed to pick up the twenty grand she was holding for him.

“My bad Shan. I’ll be there by eleven so come…”

“Whatever. I’m home in the bed.”
Click.
Shan slammed the phone down, cutting her off. She couldn’t wait to tell Peanut that Keke, along with everybody else on his team, had been giving her the run-around about his money. That’s how niggas do when you get knocked. And that’s what she had expected, so she now had to do what she had to do.

As soon as she got comfortable and reached over and turned off her nightlight the phone rang. She started not to answer but thinking and hoping that maybe it would be her brother she grabbed the receiver. She really needed to hear his voice. “Hello.”

“Shan, please don’t hang up this time! I know I fucked up and if I could take it all back I—”

“Brianna, now is not the time. But I will be by your house in the morning on my way to work.”
Click
. With that said, that’s the second bitch who got hung up on in the last hour. Brianna had been calling her nonstop wanting to apologize and explain to Shan why she did what she did. Even though Shan missed her best friend, the shit she’d done was totally unacceptable and unforgivable.
How could I have been so blind? How could I have been so stupid? B, from day one, was a snake and I couldn’t even see it! How could she do me like this? We grew up together, the sister I never had. Some sister!
Shan couldn’t stop thinking about how low the people closest to you would go as she cried herself to sleep.

That next morning before heading over to Brianna’s she decided to pay Keke a surprise visit. At a quarter past eight she was knocking on her front door. Peanut and Keke had had this three bedroom home on the East Memphis for almost two and a half years. Shan knocked harder and rang the bell again. Keke was a baller, the only type of hoes that Peanut would fuck with. All his women at one time or another were in the game. Just as Shan turned to go back to her car the door opened.

“Whassup?” she heard from a deep voice.

Surprised that another nigga would be answering the door, Shan stared at him for a minute. One, because she was starstruck. Two, because Keke got a lot of nerve to have another nigga all up in her brother’s house. “Um…Is Keke home? Tell her Shan is here.” The rapper Project Pat was probably wondering why she was standing there with her mouth open.

“Keke!” he yelled. “You got company!” Then, turning to Shan, “You comin’ in or what?” He held the door open for Shan. “Have a seat.”

“Thanks,” Shan muttered, still confused as to why this rap nigga was all up in her brother’s crib acting like he was legal. On top of that she thought that he was locked up. When he disappeared up the stairs, Keke came down. She looked as if she had just woke up, coupled with the fact of Shan showing up, her eyes were big with surprise.

“Shan, what’s up girl?”

“You tell me what’s up! My brotha ain’t been locked up a month and you got niggas all up in his spot. That’s totally disrespectful.” Shan had to slip that in. “You got my brother’s money?”

“Girl, he just came b—”

“And I just came by to pick up my brother’s money. You ain’t got to explain shit to me.” Shan cut her off.

“Oh. Well, your brother and—”

“I told you, Keke, I ain’t tryna hear that so save the explanations for your man. I got another stop to make so just give me my brother’s money!”

Keke rolled her eyes, turned and sauntered up the stairs. Pat came down the stairs and went in the kitchen. Keke came down shortly afterwards and handed her a manila envelope.

Noticing how small it was, Shan asked, “How much is this?”

“Twenty-five hundred.”

“Twenty-five hundred?! Peanut said you had twenty grand! Where is the rest?”

“That’s all I was holding for
him
.”

Shan couldn’t help but laugh. “Bitches ain’t shit! But you know what? I’ma let him deal with you. I’m out!”

“Hold up Shan. Pat you got some money on you?” She yelled into the kitchen.

“What you say?”

“How much money you got on you?” He came out of the kitchen, digging in his pockets. He pulled out some bills, shelled out a thousand dollars, gave it to her and went back into the kitchen.

“Here. That’s thirty five hundred.”

“Bitch, please! Is this supposed to make me jump up and down with joy? This is a far cry from twenty grand.” Shan stormed out, leaving no doubt that she was pissed and headed for Brianna’s.

“Can things get any more fucked up than they already are? Why me?” Shan muttered to herself, maneuvering through the morning traffic. She needed ten thousand for Peanut’s bond, twenty-five thousand for the lawyer’s fee and he’s charging her another five to get him transferred to another county jail. At the thought of all of that Shan was ready to snap as she pulled behind Brianna’s Lex. “This bitch better be home!” Shan stuffed the envelope that Keke just gave her into the glove compartment and locked it. It had been a little over a week since she last saw Brianna and was tired of hanging up on her and listening to her whine and grovel. Before she could even knock on the door, it flew open. Brianna was standing there with a black scarf on her head, a faded black T-shirt and white boxers.

“Shan please, forgive me. I am
so
sorry. There is no excuse for what I’ve done and I take full responsibility.” She wasted no time getting into her apology.

Pop!
Shan hauled off and punched Brianna in the mouth, causing her to fall back onto the couch. Shan closed the front door and locked it. Even though she
had on a skirt, she kicked off her shoes, sat her bag down and jumped on Brianna. A shocked Brianna could do nothing but block the blows and cover her face and head the best she could. “Bitch…fight me back…so that I can have an excuse…to kill your scandalous ass…!” Those words hurt more than the ass whipping itself. Shan kept beating her until she was out of breath, then fell back against the love seat. The same love seat her and Brianna would kick back, eat ice cream, gossip and watch movies on.

Brianna was balled up into a knot on the floor crying quietly and sniveling like a child. “Sshhhan…I’m sorry.”

“Bitch please! Sorry is not gonna undo what you’ve done to my brother. My
brother
Brianna!” She grabbed the ashtray and hurled it at her, hitting her shoulder. Brianna wailed like a wounded animal. “My brother has always been good to you. We treated you like family. Why Brianna? I never judged you. I never knocked your hustle, so why? I know you wasn’t that hard up for money! You could have asked me for whatever!” Shan’s voice was trembling and all she could see was fire. “Tell me why you had to do that to him.” Shan sat glaring at Brianna and waiting for a response. All she got was more sniveling. She looked around the apartment and it looked as if Brianna hadn’t left out or cleaned up in days. Pizza boxes, Chinese food containers, chips were all over the table and floor. “This place is disgusting and so are you! Peanut’s bail is twenty-five thousand. Give it up!”

That request caused Brianna to raise her head up. “I don’t have that kind of money,” she barely got out.

“Hoe, I know you got something, so don’t even
try to play me. I ain’t the one Brianna. If you really meant what you said about being sorry you would have been trying to get that shit up. What do you have now? The lawyer ain’t gonna do shit without something.” Brianna just lay there on the floor sobbing. “Get your ass up! Go get me something! I gotta stop by the lawyer’s office before I go to work.”

Brianna slowly got up off the floor. “I’m sorry Shan. If I could take it all back, I—”

“Brianna,” Shan interrupted, “save the theatrics and just go get the cash.” When Brianna finally came back she handed Shan some bills. Shan, again feeling how light they were asked, “What the fuck is this?”

Brianna shamefully said, “Fourteen hundred. I told you I ain’t have no money. This is everything I got here.”

Shan just shook her head in disgust. “All this fuckin’ you been doin’. All this settin’ up the dope boys and you only got fourteen hundred to show for it? Brianna you either one, think I’m dumb or two, you dumber than fuck! You need to check yourself because you’ll never, ever find a friend like me. You better get some more money up because I’ll be back. So lay on that grimey ass back some more because you’re
gonna
come up with some money. You’re the one responsible for this whole fuckin’ mess!” Then she hauled off and punched her in the face again. “And I know you fucked Kris!” Shan turned and left while ignoring Brianna’s pleas to be forgiven.

Shan was deep in thought on her way to work. She stopped by the lawyer’s office and gave him the thirty-five hundred from Keke and Brianna’s four
teen hundred. A very far cry from thirty thousand. The shiesty ass lawyer kept twenty-five hundred for his retainer and the remaining twenty-four hundred went towards getting Peanut transferred to another jail. “Fuck!” she said out loud. “Forever is going to have to come with it. And I mean soon.”

When she arrived at work, being that this was an afternoon that she taught class, inmates were standing around her office. Some were waiting to ask questions, some wanting to know how soon they could get in her class and some were just waiting for her to unlock the computer room door. She had intentions on canceling class but since everyone around her was ready to get down to business she got herself together and tried to act as if she didn’t have such heavy burdens on her shoulders.

Two and a half hours later, class was over, the halls were empty and Shan was able to make herself a cup of peppermint tea and wind down a little. She was checking her E-mail and sipping her tea when Forever tapped on the door.

“Come in.”

“Why you say it like that? This
is
your open house. The door is supposed to be open. You sound like you mad ’cause you gotta be here,” Forever told her.

“I know I can take a break!”

“How you gonna break during your open house hours?” he challenged.

“Don’t tell me what to do. As a matter of fact, you can leave and come back in an hour. We need to talk.”

“I’m here now. Talk.” He grabbed the chair that was in front of her desk.

She started to object but then thought better of it. “I need money now.”

“I told you I got you.”

“When Forever? I need it now.”

He could hear the desperation in her voice.
Damn, I really got this bitch’s back up against the wall.
“How much you need?”

“Ten grand for my brother’s bail, twenty-six hundred for the transfer and I still need the whole twenty-five thousand for the lawyer’s fee.”

“Goddamn girl.” Then he said to himself,
I knew I had her, but damn!
Then his thoughts went to getting some pussy but he tossed them out.
I’ma get rich off of this bitch
.

Shan watched Forever as he was in deep thought.
Damn. Why couldn’t this nigga be on the streets?
She slyly licked her lips as she anticipated him kissing her. He was the bomb kisser. He was giving out kisses that left her nipples hard, pussy wet and head dizzy. “So, what’s up?” she inquired, breaking his thought pattern. She got up to reheat her tea. Her office was equipped with a microwave, small refrigerator and a coffeemaker.

“When you pick up the first package, I’ll make sure the twenty-six hundred is with it.”

Shan put the cup down, put a hand on her hip, a pout on her face and asked, “Why can’t I have it all now? I’m good for it Forever. I’m in a bind.”

“We gotta make it first. I can’t give what I ain’t got.”

“Forever, don’t even try it. I know you got it. I need it now.”

He watched her ass as she bounced back to her chair. She started to sit down but changed her mind and came back around to the front of her desk. She
leaned back against it ready to argue and convince him to give her the money now.

Before she could start, Forever said, “I’m serious Ma, we gotta make it first. I can give you the twenty-six hundred now. That’s the best I can do.”
That’s all I’m gonna do for now. Fuck bitch ass Peanut.
She sucked her teeth and was looking at him to see if he was lying. Finally a tear fell. “Awwwww, dayuum girl. Don’t start that crying shit.” He bounced up, snatched a tissue out of the box and dabbed her cheek.

“I told you I needed this yesterday.” She was staring in his eyes, not giving up. He was beginning to like that about her. “I need it now Forever.”

“Look Ma. Listen to me. You said the twenty-six hundred will get him transferred. So at least he’ll be a’ight for a minute. Next week I’ll make sure you get the ten and he’ll be out. You know he can hang in there for at least another week. Right?”

Shan thought about what he had said. “Next week?” She was hoping.

“I got you.” He leaned in and kissed her lips lightly. “A’ight?” He leaned in and kissed her again.

This time she kissed him back. Hungrily. “You got me?” she whispered seductively.

“I said I got you.” He pulled her skirt up and sat her on top of the desk.
Damn.
Forever was now talking to himself.
What’s a nigga to do? Don’t fuck her man. Don’t do it.
That little voice was telling him.
You got her back up against the wall. She already on your team. She already down for whatever; you ain’t got to fuck her man. I’m telling you. Walk away from this pussy. It’s a bad business move with consequences that’s gonna fuck you up! I’m telling you.

Shan kissed him some more and grabbed his
dick. Sensing his hesitancy she began massaging it, causing it to stretch out. “What? You having second thoughts all of a sudden?” She teased and moaned as he grabbed her nipples. Shan had been dying to get the dick. The last time she got fucked was with Briggen. And that was a few months ago.

“What’s a nigga to do?” he asked her. He was trying to be strong even though she was stretching him all the way out.