The Streets Or Me: A Louisiana Love Story (17 page)

Legacy has been really quiet, but suspicious these past three days. He's stared staying out late again, talking in hushed tones on the phone, being distant with me, missing my appointments again, etc. I don't know what's going on, but he's been strange since the day we got that call about Luke. I don't wanna seem clingy or selfish, but I need him home with me. Shit just seems weird lately, like something is gonna go wrong.

Chino and his family along with my mom and dad are on their way here for my shower, which is days away. I know I’m supposed to be happy and excited, but I just have this eerie feeling in the pit of my stomach that something bad is gonna take place. I'm already trying to stay strong with my cousin being in MICU, I won't be able to hold it together if another tragedy happens.

It's been four years since I left Louisiana. After I had my now four-year old daughter, Symphony, Chino thought it was safer if the kids and I moved out of Louisiana. Since my father left me a townhouse in Houston, I left when my baby was a month old. Now entering the state after so long, has me kind of uneasy.

Although Chino hates to make me worry or stress about his street lifestyle, he tries his best to keep me inside the loop of what is going on with him. As of a month ago, he's decided to make some legit moves by opening a joint barber and beauty shop for he and I to run. He's still an asset in the streets from Houston to Louisiana, which is why I have reservations about being here because I know about the situation with these Atlanta niggas. I'm supposed to be excited about celebrating Legacy and Khy’s baby shower, but I just have a very bad feeling about being here.

"Why you so quiet baby?

"I’m just tired that's all."

He just chuckled and shook his head. I don't know why I try to lie or hide things from him because he sees right through it.

"Bri, stop worrying ma. We gon' celebrate with Khy and catch up with my parents then visit Luke before we head back home. We gon' be good, I promise."

"I hear you Chi and I believe you, but baby I’m just scared."

"Ain't nothing to be scared of ma, if anything pop off then I got us, but we not gon' think about that negative shit. Stop stressing, we straight."

I just nodded as we pulled into the Valero station for gas. He kissed me softly then glanced in the backseat at Sincere and Symphony, smiling as they slept peacefully. He got out of the car, heading inside to pay for gas.

“Chino, my nigga what's good?"

I was at the Valero over on the eastside of Monroe, getting gas beef for I took the family to the crib. Nigga ain't really been in the boot since I left, but I had to come back for my boy Legacy and lil sis baby shower. I walk in the store, running into my nigga T-bone.

"T-bone, what the business is fam?"

"Shit bruh. What you doing in town?"

"Khy and Legz baby shower in a few days, and to check on Luke. Family business, ya know. Give me $20 on 3."

I hand him the twenty for the gas.

"I still can't believe Khy ass pregnant bruh. How moms and pops doing tho?"

"They straight bruh, they touched down earlier. Let me get outta here though 'cause I got wifey and the kids in the car, but we gon' link before I head back out."

“Oh no doubt fam, just hit me up. My number still the same."

I nod as I push the door open to leave. I didn't make it halfway to my car before a black challenger pulled up in front of me. I guess I ain't react quick enough 'cause the last thing I remember is hearing Bria scream my name and tires squealing before everything went black.

We sat in the waiting room of the hospital waiting for the doctor or a nurse to come out and talk to us. I knew from the moment Bria called my phone at three this morning telling us to get to the hospital 'cause Chino had been shot that things were bad. He and Bria were here in Louisiana for my baby shower in a few days, she said they had stopped at the gas station for gas.

When Chi walked out the store, an all-black challenger with out of state plates pulled up on him and started shooting. As far as we know, he was hit in chest and stomach area, and he had severe internal bleeding.

I was so stressed, praying that my brother would survive and be fine, but I knew that was a long shot. I sat with my head on Legacy's shoulder as he stared blankly at the wall; I knew he was trying to figure who could've done this and why they would do it. I'm pretty sure he and Luke as well as Chi have an idea as to who was behind this, and I know Legacy is gonna go after whoever it is.

We all rose to our feet as the waiting room doors swung open and the doctor walked in with a weary look on his face. Mom and dad walked toward him, they tried to keep the conversation quiet, but I heard every word.

"Dr. Sullivan, how is our son?" dad asked.

"Mr. and Mrs. Harris, we tried everything we could to save your son's life, but the damage and bleeding was too severe. He passed away ten minutes ago, I’m so sorry for your loss," he replied.

"No! No! No! No, not my baby! Please God no!" Mom screamed as my dad held her in his arms

I just fell to my knees crying as Legacy wrapped his arms around me. My brother was gone, they took my brother from me and for what! I cried so much that I just started to feel numb, all I heard was the cries of my mom, Bria, and my niece and nephew. Hearing Sincere and Symphony cry and beg for their father just broke my heart even more.  How are my 9 and 4-year-old nephew and niece supposed to grow up in a world without their father. What about my babies? They'll never get to know their only uncle when they get older. God why did this have to happen? Why would you take him like this, why?

They allowed us to go to the hospital morgue and see his body. We weren't allowed to touch him, but I didn't care what they said I was gonna hug and kiss my brother one last time. I walked in the room with Legacy behind me as the nurse removed the sheet from his face. He didn't even look dead, it looked as though he was sleeping peacefully. I stood next him and placed my hand on his cheek, I could still feel his warmth, but I knew there was no life left in him. smh

"Chino, why did you have to leave me like this huh? What am I supposed to do without you? I miss you so much already, I know this wasn't in your plans, but I guess God needed you more. I love you big brother, I’ll see you again one day," I cried as I kissed his cheek.

"I’ma miss you big brother, but I’ll make sure ya girl and kids straight no matter what. I love you bro, thug in paradise." Legacy added as he hugged me.

We walked out of the room heading toward the hospital exit. I really can't believe my only brother is gone, all because he decided to live the street life. I looked up at Legacy as we approached our car and the only thing I could think was, "Will me and my children lose Legacy to this street life?"

I felt so broken seeing the man that I’d loved since high school, my children's father, laying lifeless on the cold hospital slab with gunshot wounds to his chest and stomach. I wanted it to be a dream for him to just wake up and tell me that he's fine, but I know it won't happen because he's gone. Hearing Cerey and NyNy scream and cry for their father killed everything in me. Their father will never see them go to high school or college, he won't see them grow up and get married. He won't be here to show Cerey how to be a real man, he won't be here to show NyNy how a man should love and treat a woman.

I won't hear him say that he loves me for the last time. I won't get to kiss him goodnight or feel his arms around me. We were supposed to get married next week, on his birthday. Now it's not gonna happen because they took him from me. How am I supposed to face the days ahead without my love?

I held my wife tight in my arms as she cried. I never in a million years thought we would live through the pain of losing another child, but here we are once again grieving the loss of our only son. I was supposed to protect him from this street life, but I failed the moment I allowed him to be a part of my cartel. I already have my only sister's son fighting for his life, now days later I lose my son.

I know my son being murdered is connected to the death of Lux and his cousin Trey, which means my old drug rival, Lucky Jones, is behind all of this. Me and Lucky both started out as small time dealers back in the late 70s, and early 80s. He ran the east and west sides of Monroe, while I held down the north and south. We had a good deal going until he decided that he wanted to send his boys in on my territory. Long story short, he chose the wrong nigga to fuck with. So after I ran him out of Louisiana, he moved to Atlanta, and I became the king of the boot.

I looked at my son's face one last time, letting the tears fall before they replace the sheet. I don't wanna accept the fact that he's really gone, but I know he is. I don't know Lucky’s next move, but I know mine. I won't rest until I know he's lying in a pool of his own blood with a bullet through his head. He just brought Killa Harris outta retirement and started a war!

I paced back and forth across the floor of my in-home office, thinking about all the shit that done took place over the past 96 hours. My best friend tried to kill himself, my traps got hit heavy, I committed two murders in one night, now my brother-in-law’s gone. I tried my best to wait this shit out, but I ain't taking the risk of another one of my niggas or myself being next. I'm brought out of my thoughts by my phone ringing.

"Whoever the fuck this is better have some kinda good news for me 'cause I ain't in the fucking mood." I barked in the phone

"It's Killa. Meet me at the warehouse downtown."

I already knew what was up if Killa was telling me to meet him. Shit just got real heavy and niggas was finna pay.

"Give me 'bout an hour to make sure Khy straight and I’ll be there."

"Cool, see you then. Make sure you call ya teams, they need to be here as well."

"I got you. We'll be there."

I ended the call, walking out my office. Khy been locked in the room since we got home from the hospital. I know she hurting like hell and a nigga don't wanna leave her like this, but business gotta be handled. I get up to our bedroom and tap on the door before twisting the knob. I was surprised she left the door unlocked. I walk in and she's sleeping peacefully holding a picture of me, her, Chi, Luke, and Miracle together.

I go over to the bed and pull the covers up on her, easing the picture from her arms. Only way I’ll be seeing my nigga’s face is on pictures. Just knowing that shit made a tear fall from my eye. I sat the picture on the nightstand and kissed Khy on the head as I grabbed my Beretta from the draw and tucked it in my waistband. I had a lot on my mind as I walked out the house, the main thing being getting the niggas that got my brother.

***

"Killa, what's up pops?"

"Tryna make it, son. How’s baby girl doing?"

"She was sleeping when I left, but she holding it together. What about Queen?"

He shook his head as he ran in fingers through his grey curls. Killa was an older version of Chino, except for the fact he has a curly taper and beard while Chi had the long wavy hair with a clean shaved face. Aside from that, they could've been twins; Killa was in his early 50s but could pass for early 30s.

"I ain't seen her hurt like this in a longtime. Kelley and Zoel staying with her at the house. C'mon, let's handle this business."

I nodded as he took his seat at the head of the table while I took Chi's seat next to him. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, the door opened as to my surprise his brother Kevin walked in with his brother King right behind him.