King of The Hood 3 Page 2

  The blood she spoke on, I could feel it running down the side of my face. Ripping my shirt open, I took my wife beater, using it I wiped the blood off the side of my head.

  “It’s not bad, I do believe you will live. She has got to live, Racks. I don’t know what I would do without her. Preshus has been more to me than just a friend. She’s the sister I’ve always wanted. She loves me without question. Her words, no matter how harsh, I know they always came from her heart. She has fought for me harder than I’ve fought for myself at times. Not to sound selfish, I need her,” Kimmy expressed, with tears running down her face.

  “Pray,” I whispered, while maneuvering us closer to the stage.

  Helping her up as Banks did the same with Neesha. Once again, the sight before me tore my heart out. Neither of them deserve this shit. Without warning, Kimmy and Neesha dropped to their knees then,

  “Oh my God! Preshus,” Neesha sobbed.

  “We got you, girl. We need you, lovely, you gonna be good,” Kimmy sobbed.

  Stone doesn’t even seem like he’s here with us. He’s just holding a lifeless, bleeding Preshus. Placing my hand on his shoulder, I knelt, followed by Banks doing the same. The girl’s sobbing is gut wrenching. Over the last few months, I’ve learned just how close they really are. I can’t even begin to know what they are feeling. I know if it was Stone or Banks in this situation, I wouldn’t know what to do. Dropping my head while closing my eyes.

  “Our Heavenly Father, we come to you with heavy hearts. Tears drenching our faces, as pain over takes our hearts. We are begging, pleading, asking you to touch Preshus’ body. Heal her, Lord. Give her the strength she needs to pull through this ordeal. Not only her, her baby also. She’s needed here, Lord. In all these things we pray. Amen.”

  As I ended the prayer, “Amen,” resonated from the three of them loud and clear. A low dirty, gritty one fell from Stone’s lips.

  “Sir, sir, we need to work on her. Are you hurt? Does all this blood belong to her?” An EMT asked, reaching for Preshus.

  “Don’t fucking touch her,” Stone growled, holding Preshus’ tighter.

  “Sir, you are not helping. The only way I can help her is if you turn her a loose. Release her, so I can do that,” she snapped, causing all four of us to stare at her ass.

  “Hol’ the fuck up, Thumbelina. Watch yo tone. I know yo beady eyed ass can see he’s fucking hurting. Yo ass ain’t got no damn compassion. Don’t get fucked up. Yo ass’ll end up being yo own damn patient,” Banks snapped.

  He stood, moving Kimmy and Neesha to the side of us. Neither one of us have ever been in this situation. We moved back to Stone, squatting to get to his level once again. This shit’s gonna take some finessing.

  “Bruh, let her go. They gotta help her. We gotta fuck up the city. We gotta get the muthafuckas who’s stupid enough to pull this shit. Remember yo solider, his ass coming. They both gotta make it. She can feel you. Let’em work,” I coaxed.

  For a second, I ain’t sure my words registered. Then he blinked a few times, before looking down. He leaned forward, placing a kiss on her lips before,

  “Yo ass gonna be good, Stallion. Yo ass too fuckin’ strong not too. Our lil’ man gonna be good too,”-he paused, placing his hand on her still flat belly- “I love you,” he whispered, harshly, causing my eyes, along with Banks’, to widen.

  The girl’s tears flowed steadily down their cheeks. Taking my free hand, I wiped my face.

  “Shit, something’s in my eye,” I mumbled.

  “Crying ass lil’ boy,” Banks chuckled, wiping his eyes.

  Stone took his hand, wiping his hand down his face, wiping his tears away. He laid Preshus down gently on the floor. He eyed the EMT’s as he stood to his feet. His height, coupled with the death glare he’s sporting, caused them to take a tentative step back. He eyed them hard. I know that look, he’s committing everything about them to his memory.

  “Do yo job. Yo lives depends on it,” he hissed out.

  For a few beats, they stood frozen, then suddenly, something clicked. They started working quickly. We moved a little way to the side to give them some room to work. Turning my body slightly to take in the scene it’s swarming wit firefighters, more paramedics, and police.

  “She has a very deep gash on her forehead, a gunshot wound to the left side of her neck, also to the left side of her chest. The one to her neck isn’t a through and through. I don’t know about the chest wound,” the female paramedic called out.

  My head snapped to Stone’s. Leaning forward slightly.

  “Gunshot? Did you hear a gunshot? Did you see someone wit a damn gun?” I fired off, lowly.

  Stone’s usually light grey eyes, darkened at my questions. His brows furrowed, as the ticking in his jaw began thumping. His eyes moving like he’s running the last few moments through his brain. I saw the moment something clicked.

  “Y’all, go outside, scope that shit out. Get Dawg’nem, they asses were here tonight. I know they saw something. Neesha, what the fuck yo ass know bout that bitch that was at the cookout?” He seethed, vibrating with anger.

  Neesha raised her head. The look of remorse and worry she was sporting has been replaced by a look of death. I moved Kimmy closer to her, making her stumble slightly.

  “Racks, why are you moving me?” She hissed.

  “I need you to protect me. She finna snap,” I answered, causing her to elbow me.

  Ignoring my words, Neesha focused on Stone like she’s trying to read something that wasn’t said.

  “Are you tryin’ to say that no tip dick, punk, summabitch, did this to my cousin?” She asked, slowly.

  Banks back got tight as he eyed her. Damn, another one bites the dust, I thought.

  “I ain’t say,” Stone started.

  “She’s crashing! We’re losing her!” The male paramedic yelled.

  We all turned towards them.

  “What? Fuck, no! Save her, man! Stallion, fight, baby, fight! Fuck,” Stone pleaded, reaching foe her hand.

  “Sir, we are doing everything we can,” the female paramedic assured.

  That shit ain’t work.

  “She’s fading fast. We gotta go now,” the male paramedic ordered.

  We moved too, right behind them. Busting through the doors, our presence caught the attention of those who weren’t badly hurt, but were still waiting to see what’s going one. From what I could tell, a lot of the people milling around are employees of ‘Creamy Pies.’ I quickly recognized the dancers. Recognition hit them as they zoned in on the stretcher.

  “That’s Preshus! What’s wrong with her? She’s gonna okay, right? She gotta be,” one yelled.

  “She’s a fighter, Redd. This lil’ shit ain’t gonna take her out,” another comforted.

  “Who the fuck did this shit? P don’t fuck wit no damn body. Fuck. I’m ready to gut a muthafucka,” another one sneered.

  “Pooty Tang, that trout mouth, hoe bag, threatened P. She knows something, ugly, crackhead ass, bitch,” Heavy C yelled.

  I recognized her from the lap dance she gave me.

  “Damn, Heavy C, I forgot bout that bitch. We can run up on her ass,” another one yelled.

  Their commentary sparked our interest. Banks moved to them quick, huddling them together.

  “Watch yo hands, Banks. Don’t get cut,” Neesha called out.

  Banks raised his hands above his head. A few of them eyed Neesha, before seeing the crazy her ass ain’t trying to hide. Stone stepped off towards the stretcher. Turning my body, I followed him. The shit don’t look right.

  “How she doing?” Stone questioned, as the paramedics prepared to lift Preshus in the back of the ambulance.

  “Sir, she has no pulse. She’s gone. I’m so sorry,” the female paramedic answered, remorsefully.

  “No, the fuck she ain’t! Work on her! Don’t give the fuck up! She got my baby! Save her!” Stone yelled, pulling his gun.

  BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

  “Stone!” I shouted,
grabbing his ass.

  “Get off me! She ain’t dead, man! Fuck! Tell’em to work on her! They playing wit my heart, man! Tell’em to save her!” He yelled, fighting my ass.

  “Nigga,” I growled, gathering his damn arms.

  Fucker damn neared dislocated my jaw.

  “Work on her! Don’t fucking give up! She ain’t giving up! That’s a fuckin’ warrior right there,” I barked to the paramedics, while tussling with his cock strong ass.

  “Fuck,” I heard Banks hiss.

  “Not like this, Stone. They need yo ass. I know yo ass don’t want Racks’ ass in the delivery room. Calm yo ass down. She ain’t leaving yo hostile ass. God made her for yo ass,” Banks told his ass, while helping my ass to hold the nigga.

  I swear, I’m close to knocking his ass out. The fight in him lessened as he clutched his gun.

  “She gotta live, man. She’s my other half. I get it now. I love her. She got my solider. I need her,” he whispered, gravelly, dropping his head.

  I’m fucked up over the whole thing. We ain’t perfect. We do some fucked up shit at times. But damn, Stone, his ass deserves his family. He doesn’t deserve to have the first person to break through to his ass taken away from him. That shit happens, I’m afraid we’ll lose his ass too.

  “She ain’t leaving yah ass, Stone. Who else gonna cuss yo ass out while threatening to shoot you? She loves you. Remember that, she loves you,” Neesha comforted, causing Stone to lift his head.

  He eyed her like he wants the words she spoke to be true.

  “Believe her, Stone, Preshus loves you. You are still breathing after the fuck shit you did. I know you don’t want to hear this, but you need to. Lester tried to raw dawg her, she sliced his fucking arm open,” Kimmy chimed in, causing Banks to chuckle.

  “That’s my Stallion,” Stone grumbled, facing the stretcher, as it rested in the back of the ambulance.

  They were working on her double time from what I can see. Shit, they probably praying hard as hell.

  “Sir, sir, I need your firearm. We understand the circumstances, so we won’t arrest you for firing a gun in public,” a deep voice spoke from behind us.

  We turned in unison. Stone raised his head slowly. He eyed the officer, whatever he showed the officer caused his ass to take a few steps back. Without breaking his glare, he handed me his gun, to which I tucked in the back of my pants. No words were exchanged. Mr. officer man got our non-verbal exchange real clear. He walked off, shaking his head.

  “Oh my God! Sir! Sir! We got a pulse. It’s weak, but steady. We’re headed to the hospital. Do you want to ride?” The female paramedic exclaimed.

  “Fuck yeah,” Stone spoke, walking to the ambulance.

  “He can’t ride. He discharged a weapon, that’s a felony, which prohibits him from stepping inside a government vehicle,” the male paramedic spat.

  “Fuck that shit. Either I ride, or drive, either fucking way, I’m in this bitch. Say something else, yo ass gonna be on oxygen,” Stone promised, climbing in the back.

  Overgrown ass don’t’ even fit in the shit. The female EMT slammed the doors before jogging to the passenger seat. With the sirens wailing, we watched as it cut through the parking lot.

  “Aye, y’all go to the hospital. We need to clean up some shit. Make sure that nigga don’t shoot no damn body,” Banks spoke, handing Neesha the keys to his Bentaya.

  “Monti, Banks, I can’t drive, all my shit is in there. Stone got another gun?” Neesha responded.

  “Hell yeah,” we answered, at the same time.

  “Aye, don’t worry bout that shit. Take yo motherfuckin’ time. If anybody is dumb enough to pull yo ass over, tell them who the fuck yo ass is, along wit where yo ass is coming from. Shit, if that ain’t enough, let they fuckin’ ass know yo ass is King Banks’ woman,” he broke down, while handing the keys to her.

  “Okay, I gotcha, King Banks. Be careful,” she conceded, smartly, standing on her tippy toes, placing a kiss on his lips.

  He pulled her closer by her ass, deepening the kiss. Niggah bout to fuck her ass right here on the damn sidewalk.

  “Be careful. It’s a new cell in the glove box. Get it, it’s yours, I was gonna give it to yo ass later. Now yo ass need it. It’s programmed. Hit me when y’all get to the hospital,” he informed her, after releasing her from the kiss.

  Without another word, she walked off. He eyed her, tracking her ass.

  “Thongs, or boy shorts?” Kimmy teased.

  “Thongs,” he answered, with a smirk, while cutting his eyes at her.

  “Be careful, y’all, seriously. We’ll see y’all at the hospital. Racks,” Kimmy started, then paused.

  Eyeing her, she moved to me without any prompting, hugging me. My arms went round her waist on instinct. She stood on her tippy toes in an attempt to reach my ear. Helping her to balance while leaning my head to help her out.

  “I was wrong about you, for that, I apologize. Thank you for everything. I greatly appreciate you. I’ve never had a man to care about my well being without wanting something in return. There is a lot I need to tell you. I’m ready just for you, I’m ready. Please, be careful,” she whispered, passionately, in my ear.

  Leaning back slightly to see her face. She ain’t joking, there’s nothing but seriousness, mixed with nervousness, shinning back at me.

  “You got that,” was all I said, before she pressed her lips against mine.

  I didn’t deepen the kiss, neither did she. I think we’re thinking pretty much the same thing. Releasing her, she stepped off, without a backwards glance. I eyed her until she made it to the car. A few beats later, the car reeved as Neesha turned it on. They pulled out the lot, taking some jealous, envious stares, with their asses.

  “The fucking great white hope strikes a fuckin’ gain. I see you, boy. Let’s get to fuckin’ work,” Banks stated.

  Nodding, we did just that. The fuckin’ city bout to be lit on fire. Don’t nobody fuck with ‘Triple Crown’ and live to fuckin’ tell about it. Shit, ask anybody, oh yeah, you can’t.

  Neesha

  “I see you, Ms. Kimmy. Is there something you want to tell me? I know we ain’t close. Well, shit, you know why, but that don’t mean I can’t be a listening, non judgmental, ear,” I spoke, no sooner than I pulled out the parking lot.

  She cut her eyes at me.

  “You can cancel that look. You know just as well as I know, I didn’t get down wit how you played niggas. I was truly hurt when yo ass was in the hospital. Regardless of what you did, you didn’t deserve that shit. It fucked Preshus all the way up. She loves yo high maintenance ass,” I added, causing a smile to break loose from her.

  “Yeah, I,” she started, then stopped.

  I followed her eyes.

  “That’s odd as fuck. Why would a van be parked right there like they asses on a stake out or something?” I surmised, out loud.

  She didn’t respond, she picked the cell out the glove box. Turning it on, she waited ‘til the screen lit up. Then she scrolled through it. I didn’t have to ask who she was calling.

  “Racks,” she called out, when he picked up, while putting the phone on speaker.

  “You good? Fuck y’all at?” His deep, gritty voice, boomed through the speaker.

  I noticed she squeezed her thighs together at the sound of his voice. I know that feeling. I get the same damn way with Banks.

  “We are down the street from the club, well, a little further now. But on that second road over, like right before you hit the curb. There’s a black van parked there like it’s on a stake out. It has no windows, plus, no license tag. We couldn’t make out anyone inside. The windows are heavily tinted,” she explained, in one breath.

  “That’s what the fuck is up. Yo ass on yo Magnum P.I. shit. Good looking out. Hit me when y’all hit the hospital,” he spoke.

  “Okay,” she answered, softly, before hanging up.

  A self satisfying smile was playing on her lips.

  “Un huh,” I humm
ed out, causing her to push my shoulder.

  “Since you are questioning me about Racks. What’s going on with you and Banks? I’ve noticed how close y’all have gotten. No matter what anybody says, you are a good look for him, always have been. He seems to know it too,” she stated.

  Smiling slightly at the mention on Banks name before I could stop myself.

  “He’s good people. I mean, once we got through his bullshit. He has shown me some things I know he doesn’t show anyone else. We’ve gone out on dates, he’s been in South Carolina more than Augusta. That’s something that Lil’ D loves. I haven’t even had a run in with Shenniqua. He placed Sprinkle in his own form of rehab. That surprised the hell outta me. I actually saw her. She looks good. I haven’t seen her clean in years. That shit touched me deep within. No one has ever tried to help Sprinkle’s ass. This can only turn into something great. I’m really hoping it does,” I rambled.

  My words were met by silence. I chanced a look at her. She was looking at me wide eyed. Her expression caused me to smile shyly.

  “Well, damn, girl. I’m happy for you. You deserve happiness. You have given up so much of your life. Seeing Terrance gunned down in front of you was hard, terrible really, but you fought through it, never letting your siblings suffer. I’ve always admired your strength. That’s something I lack. I never had to really rely on nothing but my looks and well placed words.

  I didn’t need to be strong. Granted, Kenya taught me to do what I do. But at any time, I could have stopped. I even tried to stop at one point. I learned real quick that all men seen in me was my looks. Every man I came across, the only thing they saw was my looks, my body, hair, eyes, my figure. Don’t you know men would approach me with what they could offer me? What they will do for me. Most of the time, I didn’t even ask for anything.

  Instead of fighting against it, I embraced it. I went back to what I knew, and what was expected of me. My hospital stay smacked reality in my face, along with Racks’ words. There’s so much I’ve been through since I was released from the hospital. I finally realized I don’t love myself. So, I’ve been learning to love myself, amongst doing some other things,” she expressed.