Ghetto Girls Too Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Acknowledgements

  ONE

  TWO

  THREE

  FOUR

  FIVE

  SIX

  SEVEN

  EIGHT

  NINE

  TEN

  ELEVEN

  TWELVE

  THIRTEEN

  FOURTEEN

  FIFTEEN

  SIXTEEN

  SEVENTEEN

  EIGHTEEN

  NINETEEN

  TWENTY

  TWENTY-ONE

  TWENTY-TWO

  TWENTY-THREE

  TWENTY-FOUR

  TWENTY-FIVE

  TWENTY-SIX

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  TWENTY-NINE

  THIRTY

  THIRTY-ONE

  THIRTY-TWO

  THIRTY-THREE

  THIRTY-FOUR

  THIRTY-FIVE

  THIRTY-SIX

  THIRTY-SEVEN

  THIRTY-EIGHT

  THIRTY-NINE

  FORTY

  FORTY-ONE

  FORTY-TWO

  FORTY-THREE

  FORTY-FOUR

  FORTY-FIVE

  FORTY-SIX

  FORTY-SEVEN

  FORTY-EIGHT

  FORTY-NINE

  FIFTY

  FIFTY-ONE

  FIFTY-TWO

  FIFTY-THREE

  FIFTY-FOUR

  FIFTY-FIVE

  FIFTY-SIX

  FIFTY-SEVEN

  FIFTY-EIGHT

  FIFTY-NINE

  SIXTY

  SIXTY-ONE

  SIXTY-TWO

  SIXTY-THREE

  SIXTY-FOUR

  SIXTY-FIVE

  SIXTY-SIX

  SIXTY-SEVEN

  SIXTY-EIGHT

  SIXTY-NINE

  SEVENTY

  SEVENTY-ONE

  SEVENTY-TWO

  SEVENTY-THREE

  SEVENTY-FOUR

  Teaser chapter

  Copyright Page

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  When I first started out I said I’d never do this but I’ve been shown so much love that not only do I feel compelled but I am proud to say the following: Good-looking-out on the props. Nuff respect to all readers and friends who holla at my government, Anthony Whyte. Thanks goes from me to you and God: without neither none of this would be possible. What’s good, reader? Thank you for copping GHETTO GIRLS and GHETTO GIRLS TOO. I hope you enjoy both and continue reading. Remember; it’s fundamental.

  Run out and tell your neighbors from Hotlanta, Ga. to CaliforNIA, all up and down the east, west, north, and dirty south. I don’t care, tell ‘em to cop that Ghetto tihS and help stomp illiteracy da fu@# outta Hip-Hop. Now that’s real. Holla if you feel it! I’m doing my own thing at Augustuspublishing.com now FUBP! One love to everyone at Smooth Magazine.

  To all scribes real in the field: Shannon Holmes the don of this urban fiction. Keep slaying ‘em. Much success goes to Eric Gray, Mark Anthony, K’wan, Treasure Blue and all other scribes out there doing this damn thing. Big ups to Jojo and Leondrie Prince, D-ware connect. Antoine Inch Thomas, much success, bars can’t hold you.

  Shout to the members of the Tuesday Night Writers’ Workshop. Sue Shapiro, Gerry Jonas: May you kiss and make up. Together you did big things. Thank you both. What’s up Red?

  Special shout to all booksellers whether or not you’re in stores or outdoors. To Hue-man Bookstore and staff. Shout to all my peeps doing it on da corners, Sidi @ 125 and 7th. Vas Gut?

  Carl Weber @ Urban Books d’ya, damn thing ting. What’s up Zane? It was nice to put faces with governments’.

  Big-ups to Vickie Stringer, writers and staff @ Triple Crown.

  Respect due to Tania Nunez and Kim Cabble doing the damn thing at Amiaya Ent. What’s going on Kenya? Black Girl is that magazine, ya heard me!

  I’d like to give thanks to God, family and peeps. Jay Clay you catching bodies for these dope designs: Nothing can stop us now.

  Lisette Matos, editor extraordinaire you were there from jump. Goodlooking out on the cuts and edits. Thanks for staying around to the finish.

  Respect due to Jason Santiago at Sublime Visuals and all that Freaky Ice. Shout to photogs, Sanji Gomez and Will Treez.

  Nuff respect to all the hard workers at ACS, Bebop, Mercedes. Virginia Vacca thanks for looking-out, Sheila and Unit 391. There’ll never be another. Nothing but love forever for y’all, Karen, Tonya, B-Law, Big Tone, and last but not least, Uppie the Regulator. Hate on us if you wanna. And while we on the topic, if you hating, thanks for motivating. It wouldn’t have been possible without the birds, bees and trees.

  Holla atcha Rodnu and all my peeps up in Harlem World, BK, da BX, Shaolin, Money Earning, Y.O., doing big things. Trent METAPHL360.

  Mad love for the physical; Juliet, Yolanda, Joy, Shawn, Patrina and family, Rick, Pam, Michele, Nicholas, Nellie, Phillip, Joan, the D.C. and Baltimore, MD connect: Vee, Black, Holla atcha boy. Loraine and Kerry Ann, thanks for all those prayers and words of inspiration.

  One love to my nigga Silky Blizack, and the heads at Laconia barbershop. Respect to Wild Life, Show Biz, Reese Kid, Shane, the And 1 street-balling crew, I see you. Respect to Jessie West. Do your thing, Ghetto Superstars. Represent Tru God, Ainge, Ed, Trent, O and all the ghetto celebs doing they thing up in Edenwald. D.Fraze, they can’t guard u sun. Shout out to Kev @ Jackson Press. Big Tone RIP, you’ll always be my nigarow.

  Young ladies, good looking out all y‘all. Keisha, Teres Baldwin, Katrina, Chaloe Williams; poets y’all are. Thanks for the love and support. Shout out goes to the Vacca family.

  Vivienne not only are you a talented singer - you’re fine ma. I lu’ da way you ‘Hold Me Down’ on my book cover. Much success in your musical endeavor.

  Shout to my peeps in da ‘Heights‘, Home of da Haze, all da niggas holding me down, shout to Redman. Lick shots for all my peeps on Gunhill Road, Justice n da gods. Big-up all massifs on White Plains Rd. D.J. Lodose, Disco Dave, Bhuda stay on your grind cuz sun will shine. One love to all my Philly peeps.

  One Love, to the Gaillard family of S.C. Troy, what’s good? Zonyia my Atlanta connect, Marcus at Nubian Bookstore. Thanks to you both. My Houston peeps. Good looking to my Miami peeps. Big-ups to the Hyatt family. Hola to the Matos family.

  This goes out to every single person who has suffered a loss or had a setback in this struggle called life. Just in case you’re still stuck in that rut, let one thing be clear: In order for you to be rewarded with life treasures you’ll have to reach for a plain much higher than any other, it’s at the apex of that desire you’ll meet destiny; your true self.

  To all the soldiers captured and on lock, keep your heads. Remember bars can only hold you physically, never really imprisoning minds. Let your thoughts roam. You’re already home.

  Now, to Yolanda, my niece, she told me to say this: “If I didn’t mention you by name on this go around, don’t feel too bad cuz I will holla atcha next time, peace.”

  You can do anything you’ve set your mind to do. You just got to really believe that it’s possible.

  One Love-Ant Whyte

  ONE

  He heard multiple explosions and felt his whole body rock. At the same time, bullets hit him with so much force that he was separated from his Timberlands and viciously slammed against a fallen untitled Korean painting. Stunned, he recovered grasping at the hole in his stomach.

  “Ah, what da fuck, bitch? You shot me. A-a-ah-h-h, no you didn’t. You fucking bi-bi-bitches!” Lil’ Long screamed. “You fucking bi-bi-bitches!” he wailed before staring wide-eyed, his mouth gaping in silence when he saw all the blood gushing from his wounds.

  In a last ditch ef
fort, Lil’ Long tried to grip the steel in his hand. His fingers were slow to respond. Instinctively, Lil’ Long twisted his body and tried to roll away when he saw another flash. With three slugs already buried in his body, his motions became sluggish and he labored badly. His reaction time was a lot slower than he thought. He had been given props for reigning terror on the hood so payment by bullet wounds was new to Lil’ Long.

  This wasn’t part of the plan. He was without his main ally, Vulcha, and completely defenseless. Another round crashed into his body leaving him immobile. Slumped over on his backside, his eyes rolled uncontrollably. This is fucked if it’s the end. His mind wouldn’t rest. Lil’ Long could sense the joy in the expressions from those relishing his present demise.

  “Yeah, I think that’s it for ol’ boy,” Eric Ascot shouted looking at Lil’ Long’s body sprawled against the wall.

  I can’t let it end. Fuck death. They gotta pay. He was at his wits end but wouldn’t let go of life. Blood seemed to be everywhere. Some of it splattered across the décor like wallpaper.

  Eric walked over with gun in hand and examined Lil’ Long’s seemingly lifeless carcass.

  “Is everybody all right?” Eric asked then gasped as he saw the gory twisted angle of Kamilla’s body. “Oh shit!” he exclaimed and hurried over to where her crumpled carcass rested, downed by slugs from Lil’ Long’s guns. Eric held his breath hoping but seemed unsure and cautiously moved closer. He felt her cold clammy skin and knew she was fatally wounded. Eric’s touch disturbed the carcass. Kamilla’s once beautiful head shifted awkwardly back revealing a full frontal view. For the first time, Eric could see what she looked like. He took some steps back, visibly shaken. “She’s dead,” he announced. Eric’s voice cracked from the strain of his emotions.

  The grotesque look on one side of her face was enough confirmation. Kamilla was mortally wounded. Eric felt a tremor of relief when he turned and saw Sophia. He hurried to help her to the sofa. “You’re alright? Are you okay, honey?” Eric asked brushing her hair away from her face. He saw the penny sized lump just under her hairline as he attempted to comfort her.

  Eric hurried to get an ice pack and held it against the lump. Sophia pushed him away and rubbed her eyes in disbelief. A worried frown enveloped her face when she saw Coco and Deedee holding guns that were still smoking and pointed at the bloody mess. Sophia surveyed the entire scene with frightening curiosity. It was as if being suddenly awake in someone else’s worst nightmare.

  She saw Eric who had a defiant air about him and he seemed all right. Sophia blinked uneasily. She was still stunned and tried to slow down the whirlwind of thoughts and emotions invading her mind. The whole thing was difficult for her to absorb all at once. Sophia tried to make sense of it. How did the girls get the guns and why was this thug here in the first place? She put her hand to the side of her head and felt the bruise. It was a reminder of an incident that she was slowly trying to put together .

  The whole thing seemed like it happened in a flash, she thought. The ruminations slowed and Sophia remembered the doorbell and the incessant knocking. She had thought that someone was making a delivery so she answered the door and was surprised by a man with a gun. Or were there two guns? Maybe there were two men carrying guns. Her memory was cloudy from there on. Try as she may, Sophia couldn’t remember much more of anything. What was abundantly clear was that the body of one of the intruders was bleeding to death not too far from where she sat. As the cobwebs slowly cleared from her head, Sophia heard Deedee’s eerie cry.

  “Oh my gosh! Kamilla… is she ah… for real Uncle E, what’re we gonna do? Shouldn’t we call the…” Deedee fumbled for the right words but her mouth was dry from fear.

  “What about him? Do you think he’s dead, yo?” Coco casually asked. Deedee sensed no anxiety in Coco’s tone. Her teenaged friend appeared far more composed about the entire incident than her adult counterparts. It was this quality that Deedee wished she had and another thing she admired about the fearless Coco. “He deserved all that shit,” Coco said as she and Deedee turned their gaze on the fallen fighter.

  Deedee felt a rush of adrenaline as if she had accomplished a huge feat. She had defeated an enemy who had raped her. The gun felt cold and heavy against her sweaty palm but she refused to let it go. It was as if she wanted to savor this moment. Deedee wanted to secure it in the same manner that Coco hid her scars after she had been raped. Coco had buried that feeling of being violated somewhere deep down in her soul. Unforgiving, she used the anger to fuel her drive.

  This moment was Deedee’s and it was clear that from this point on there would be no turning back. Deedee knew the police would come. She knew that there would be questions and a criminal investigation. But where was all that when this punk was mauling me? This is my sweet revenge, she thought going from Coco’s chilled demeanor to the look of confusion on Sophia’s face.

  TWO

  Sophia turned her head as she felt Eric’s arms encircling her tightly. There were so many questions she wanted to ask but became confused when she felt the security and looked into his brown eyes. She really did not know where to begin. Her turmoil was temporarily allayed when the realization that they both survived triggered tears of relief.

  Eric kissed away Sophia’s tears as she wiped her hands across his. Sophia was curious over what had happened but right now she was just happy to be alive. She refrained from asking Eric any questions but kept them in her mind. She would find out what had caused all this later.

  “You’re okay, Eric?” Sophia managed to finally ask.

  “Baby, how do you feel? Should I call a doctor?” Eric asked and touched his fiancé’s face. He stared at her waiting for an answer. She still looked dazed. “Maybe I should just go ahead and get you to a hospital?” Sophia sensed that he was concerned but she would worry more if she left his side.

  “No, honey, I don’t need to go anywhere. Kamilla? Is she alright? She’s not moving at all.” Sophia’s grip on Eric became tighter. He saw the worried and confused look she wore underneath the tears her questions brought. Eric hugged her again. He knew it wasn’t a good look for either of them.

  “We’re gonna ride through this one, baby. We’re gonna be alright,” he said in an attempt to console the woman that he loved.

  Eric knew that his actions or reaction to the rape of his niece had triggered this outcome. It was something he would have to live with. He had made the pact with Busta to have someone rubbed out. It was now clear to Eric that things had not gone as planned. Eric felt that he had to call Busta and let him know about the situation. Lil’ Long was bleeding to death in his living room. Eric held Sophia and felt the fear in her. His thoughts were now on high volume.

  “I don’t see either of them moving. Do you?” Sophia asked inching closer to where Kamilla’s body lay. She leaned over closer to get a better view, all the time holding tight to Eric. “Kamilla? Kamilla? Oh God, I think she’s dead. We’ve got to notify the police,” Sophia cried. Her mind was in a whirl and she did not know what to think or even where to begin. She looked around at the others and their faces registered equal turmoil and confusion.

  “Five-oh is probably on their way already, yo,” Coco said. She looked at Deedee, gun pointed and still staring at Kamilla’s distorted body. “Yo, Dee, we better get rid of these burners. They’re hot. We’ve got to stash ‘em, yo,” Coco said gripping the arm of her friend.

  Deedee seemed completely mesmerized by the whole thing as she turned to Lil’ Long. Coco pulled herself even closer to the girl. “What da deal, yo? You wanna finish him off?” Coco quietly asked but Deedee paid no heed to the question. She stood awestruck staring at Lil’ Long as he writhed in pain. “You’re either gonna help him or finish him.” The girl still did not respond. “Deedee,” Coco said, “wasn’t this the bastard that you said raped you, girl?”

  Coco appeared to have ignited an emotion. For one beat, it appeared as if Deedee not only wanted to pull the trigger but to do it over and over
again. Maybe she would have but Coco quickly added, “I think five-o is right outside the door, yo.” Coco could not pry the gun from Deedee’s grip. “We’ve got to get rid of all this heat. Five-oh will be here shortly, Dee.”

  “Can you hear the sirens?” Eric asked. The room fell silent.

  “Yep, I can,” Coco assured him. “Five-Oh is definitely on their way, yo.”

  “It probably sounded like a war zone up in here.” Eric walked to the window, peeked then said, “Goddammit, one of my kind. Nosey neighbors already called the police.”

  The others in the room gaped as the reality of the moment became pressing. There was still the matter of two bodies and some guns. Eric thought about it for a second before adding, “All right, listen up real quick-like. This is how we’re gonna do it. Pass all the guns to me.” He wrapped each gun in a towel and carefully wiped them clean of all prints. “There were only two? It sounded more like a dozen a couple minutes ago.”

  “All this terrible noise,” Sophia said hugging herself. “This is getting crazier by the minute. I don’t like…” Sophia continued but was cut off by Coco.

  “Lil’ Long had two gats,” Coco said. The others immediately turned their focus to her. “That’s his steeze, yo. He rides with those,” Coco explained with a cold stare that followed the trail of blood seeping from Lil’ Long’s body. She resisted the urge to squeeze off another round.

  “Two gats?” Sophia asked.

  “Two guns,” Deedee clarified.

  “It doesn’t seem like he’s going to be shooting anyone else anytime soon,” Sophia said and attempted to avoid looking directly at Lil’ Long’s motionless body with no success. She saw that the downed street warrior still clung to his weapons of choice.

  “Word. He’s laid out for the count, yo. He looks like he’s gonna bleed to death,” Coco added.

  “Look who’s laid out now!” Deedee seemed to release her anger in the taunt.

  “Rock-a-bye-baby,” Coco and Deedee said together with a high five. Deedee felt the tension ease but even with the adrenaline coursing through her, she still kept considerable distance away from his body. She did not want to venture too close to Lil’ Long.