Page 16 of Hooked On A California Kingpin

“You heard from Queen?” It had only been two days but that was too long. It felt like niggas was giving me the run around when I asked questions. I looked towards the front of the school and locked eyes with Jocelyn, she now stood by herself. Her long thick legs in the jean checkered skirt looked good as fuck on her. The Vans platform shoes had her looking even taller.

“When you gon’ tell that broad you feeling her kid?” Murk’um chuckled and pulled away from the school. I high key wanted to tell this nigga that I wanted to get up with him later so I could walk with Jocelyn. I wanted to make sure she made it back to the Jets safe.

“She ain’t my speed.” I left it at that, then got back on point. “Queen? What’s up with her?”

“Shit, why you so worried? You got a crush on her too?” He pestered; I was never the joke around with other niggas type of nigga. I damn sure wasn’t buddy buddy with Murk’um either. He supplied me with dope, and I made sure it moved how it was ‘posed to. I wasn’t really tryna befriend none of these niggas that I dealt business with. I remained quiet until he broke the silence.

“She straight, just got to get some shit straight. She should be back in town in a couple days. The nigga that took her that night just wanted to talk. You know how the bitch gets when she mad. She called us the same night telling us she was safe and that everything needs to run the same as if she was still here. She gotta go outta town on some business shit with her Abuela so ain’t no telling when she will be back. The meeting for next week won’t be held but Clapback will collect all the dough.” I just nodded at that; I didn’t really appreciate him calling Queen a bitch, but I let him make it. Yea, Murk’um was a deadly nigga, only when he had a gun on his hip and more than one nigga with him.

In my eyes he wasn’t shit but a bitch ass pussy nigga. He would never look Queen in the eyes in disrespect her but when she wasn’t around the nigga got real loose lipped. If it came down to it and I ever felt like he would become a problem for the gang, I’d take him out. Especially with Queen, my loyalty to her was concrete. I didn’t do too much talking because I liked for niggas to underestimate me because of my age and appearance.

We made it to the storage spot, and I packed my backpack with enough drugs to last me for a full week. Once I was done, I linked with my crew in the projects and dispersed the shit. I didn’t care where these niggas moved most of the work as long as it wasn’t locally. I didn’t need the pigs beating down my door because a nigga snitched. I already put niggas up on game that the suburban areas had the most cash flow. It was a smart move like Queen had said. Less competition when it came to moving work in the hood. Too many niggas in the project were drug dealers trying to come up on top.

If a nigga thought, you were stepping on his toes, or seen that you were on they had no problem offing your ass. I kept a low profile and made my ends. Looking down at my G shock watch it was nearing six o’ clock and the sun started to go down. Luv and Passion should be home by now, so I walked through the projects with my backpack secured with one hand inside my hoodie touching my Glock.

I noticed Jocelyn sitting on her steps while her lame ass nigga got his mack on with her. We locked eyes and I kept pushing past until she called out to me.

“Teddy!” I stopped but didn’t turn around to face her. I could smell her strawberry scent approaching and finally turned to face her.

“Yea?” I eyed her down, I slightly pulled my hoodie back a little and looked over her shoulder looking directly at her nigga that mugged me hard. He mouthed dusty ass nigga and I winked at him. If he got stupid, I had no problem blowing his head off, to protect the dope and money I had in my backpack.

“I thought you were walking me home so we could go over all the missing assignments. You know, Soul… if you don’t make up these assignments then you can’t finish out the year playing football.”

“Fuck football, I got plays and moves to make. I’ll walk you home tomorrow and we can do the assignments though.” I hiked my backpack up. I didn’t want to really disappoint her but the only thing I gave a fuck about right now was making ends meet. Only reason why I stayed in school was because Queen insisted that I go. She paid a grip too. I didn’t like the uppity ass private school nor the kids there. It felt like I was too grown to even be there even though I was turning eighteen really soon.

“Right, don’t let this street shit suck you in, Soulful. I want to help you.” She softly said as her eyes batted at me. Her smell was intoxicating as fuck, and I had to remind myself that a girl like Jocelyn would never fuck with a dirty nigga like me.

“I appreciate you; I’ll see what I can do. Get back to your nigga, the way he looking at me got me uncomfortable.” I was on go and I already heard all about that nigga. He was a stick-up kid, all the jewelry that was on him had been stolen. I didn’t want to chance having to pop her nigga.

“Okay but wait for me tomorrow, after school Soulful.” She gave me that innocent smile and pulled her glasses up. Touching my forearm softly, she turned and walked away, right into that nigga’s arms. I got pissed when he grabbed a handful of ass and winked at me. I couldn’t help the angry chuckle that left my mouth. I turned and finished the ten-minute walk to my house.

Arriving home, I stopped at the door when I heard music and good smelling food. It felt too good to be true if it was my mom up in here throwing down like she used to back when I was younger. I let myself in and couldn’t hide my smile. My sisters greeted me and got back to doing their thing which was sitting on the couch watching tv. They looked content with their pajamas on and for once they weren’t asking me what was for dinner.

I walked out the living room and into the kitchen. My mom had music playing as she took some fried chicken out the frying pan and put it on a paper plate that was laced with paper towels to catch the grease. When she looked at me, she was sober, and I could see the sparkle in her eyes. I was tired as hell and felt relieved that I didn’t have to put together another nasty meal. The kitchen and living room was clean and it smelled damn good. I embraced my mom tight to show her my appreciation and went to the back to hide my dope until tomorrow. I just silently prayed that she kept this shit up. Me and the girls needed her more than she knew. I would hustle from sun up to sun down to provide for my mom and sisters just to have my momma home and drug free. The logical and negative side of me knew that it wouldn’t be long before she left and went back to the streets. My mom was the first and only woman that kept repeatedly breaking and ripping a niggas heart out.

Chapter Eight

INFERNO

“Kenya, there are no meetings in the Syndicate. Everyone moves how the fuck they’re supposed to. You’re the major face that plays a big role besides the assistant title and accounting. You work with the public and you do Philanthropy work. Why are you sticking your nose in shit that does not concern you?”

I took a seat at my dining table and gave Kenya my undivided attention. Too many things had to be done before the night was up and here, I am solving a problem that shouldn’t need fixing. My syndicate was way different from my father’s cartel business. I had brutal men and well-qualified women like Kenya Monroe to work in special fields that accommodated my organization. The Syndicate stretched to different groups of individuals with organizations that brought in a certain amount of money. We all had a common interest and that was to stay under the radar. I was the controller of it all and managed to keep shit under wraps like an underground mob. I constantly gave opportunities to different leaders to make more and have more to the point of them not having to get raped by the police that would eventually lead to the feds stopping their money flow and jail time. To have that protection, you needed to be a member of the syndicate and pay a good percentage.

“I don’t like that bitch and she’s always looking at you like she wants to fuck you.”

I stared at Kenya with a little bit of shock. Lately, she had been stepping out of her role and it had to be because of the dick that she had been receiving on the regular. I didn’t have time to switch my women out because I was hard at trusting anyone.

“Monroe, Mrs. Glover uses her government job to ship product and make sure it goes untraced for myself and others that are a part of the Syndicate. Soon when I take over the cartel in Mexico, she will be responsible for making sure shit ships around the United States.” I stroked my beard that I planned on cutting down tomorrow. Standing to my feet, I walked around the cherry oak dining room table and sat at the edge of it.

“Do you think that I’d let you disrespect Mrs. Glover a woman that holds a higher status than you? A woman that is married with kids? Fuck her being married because if I wanted to fuck her or if I was fucking her… what does that have to do with you?”

“Nothing.” She cast her eyes down and I lifted her chin up. I had love for Kenya, she was sexy as fuck and to add to all of it she was smart. I didn’t regret the kind of relationship that we had. My focus was only on one thing, no sexual relations would shift that focus.

“I don’t do meetings unless it is important. I would hate for you to have to recite rules that I set in place for this organization, Kenya. Your pussy is top notch and I love how you take care of business. Never step out of your role are question who I have in place when it comes to my Syndicate. Now let yourself out of my home.”

I walked away from her, there was more that I wanted to say but would let it rest for now. I went into my office and called my father. I was set to take the private jet to Mexico tomorrow to sit in a meeting with the new Golden Triangle. I didn’t want to, but I would do whatever it took to make sure shit was running smooth on my father’s end. His protection and alliances meant no more stupid hits on his life.

I dared a muthafucka to test me once it was known that I was part of the cartel. If they knew who stood behind my father, they would tread with light feet.