Shyt List (The Cartel Publications Presents) Page 3

  Bernice Santana was a hustler’s mother in every sense of the word. Unlike some mothers who steered their sons away from hustling, she introduced him to it. His father, Dylan, was a drug dealer who died by the hands of his own best friend, Tree. But what many people didn’t know was it was Bernice who helped him. He knew the only thing Bernice gave a fuck about was money. So he made her an offer she couldn’t refuse, forty percent of the money he’d take from Dylan.

  So Bernice arranged for Dylan to meet her at an empty warehouse, and when he got there, Tree forced him to take him to the money and weight he had hidden in a secret location. When they found it, they murdered him and burned his body in an abandoned car.

  Years later, Tree was indicted on King Pin charges and Bernice managed to convince him that her fourteen year old son Bilal was ready to take things over. In lust with her, Tree told her where to find his connect, and how to get a hold of some money he had tucked away. She assured him she’d never leave his side, and would make sure his books were straight.

  Bilal quickly proved he was a natural born hustler. And when his business was up and running, Bernice left Tree to rot in prison by no longer accepting his calls or going to visit. Tree promised to pay her back but she moved around so much, he could never find her. He was still looking for her to this day.

  “Stop crying Yvonna.” Bernice said wiping her face with her fingers covered in diamonds. “Please.”

  “Okay.” She sniffled. “I’ll try.”

  Yvonna tried to be strong because she could tell Mrs. Santana was trying to save face in front of everyone. And if Yvonna persisted in making her feel like she felt, she knew Bernice wouldn’t be able to compose herself.

  Just then Cream and Sabrina walked over to them. Cream looked tasteful in the black one piece Sean Jean dress she chose to wear along with Treyana’s husband Avante on her arm. Cream’s fire red hair was pinned up in a bun and for a second, nobody wondered why Avante chose her over Treyana’s big mouth dusty ass. When she first stole Avante everyone was shocked because the way she ran behind Yvonna, they assumed she was gay.

  Sabrina was right beside them wearing black pants and a red top. Her cheeks were dark on the sides which were typical of most obese women. Her arms were out exposing the dark spots that before she gained one hundred pounds, visibly showed her elbows. But despite how big she was, Sabrina was still very attractive. Her smile appealed to everyone the moment you saw it. She softened her features with the natural red locks that fell on her shoulders.

  Sabrina and Cream gave Mrs. Santana a hug. “I’m so sorry about your loss.” Cream said as Avante offered his condolences too. Avante favored Tyrese greatly.

  “Thank you baby,” she smiled lightly. “I’ll be alright.”

  “You okay Yvonna?” Cream asked rubbing her gently on the back. “Can I do anything for you?”

  “I’m good,” she lied. “Thanks anyway.”

  “You want anything to eat?” Sabrina asked Mrs. Santana as she held on to her own plate with one hand and her nine month pregnant belly with the other.

  “No,” she smiled rubbing Sabrina’s belly. “I should be waiting on you. You look like you’re about to bust any day now.”

  Sabrina smiled.

  “I’m fine. Thanks though.”

  After everyone talked about the man Bilal was, Yvonna broke away to prevent from spoiling everyone’s mood. Hearing his name over and over panged her heart. Plus she needed to check on the condition of her sister who was stabilized but still in the hospital. After they told her she was okay over the phone, she ran into Dave who was wearing a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt.

  “Look what I got.” he said showing her his tattoo. “That was my nigga. Know what I mean?”

  Yvonna glanced down at his tattoo and saw Bilal, rest in peace homie tatted on his arm.

  “That’s nice.” Yvonna said trying to be hospitable considering how she felt about him. “When you have time to do that?”

  “Yesterday.”

  “Well I’m sure he’d appreciate you showin’ love like that but if you’ll excuse me.”

  “Hold up,” he said grabbing her arm. “When you gonna tell me what really happened?”

  She couldn’t believe Dave was asking her about details at a time like this. She wasn’t even thinking about talking about the murder. She looked up at his face for any signs of real sorrow. What she saw was his red eyes and knew immediately he was high.

  Crazy Dave was handsome but mental. He looked like Young Buck without the cornrows. He was known for doing crimes without thinking things through. He was the man you went to when you wanted things done illegally. Although he used his rep as a means to get what he wanted, nobody knew that everything he did was to fit in.

  Standing 6’1 inches tall, he was ripped. If he wasn’t so unpredictable, he would’ve made somebody a good catch. But taming him was out of the question because he listened to no one.

  “I don’t want to talk about that right now.”

  “Well you betta be tellin’ me somethin’.” He grabbed her arm again. “Because from what I’m hearing, shit don’t add up.”

  “Like I said,” she said snatching away from him. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  Dave frowned and said, “You know some of the niggas from the YBM wanted me to take you out right?”

  “Who? Swoopes? I know about the niggas he owe. Tell him don’t try to put that shit on me.”

  He squeezed his chin and approached her. “Bilal was supposed to help us get some serious dough. So his murder hurt. Now because he was my man, I told them to leave you alone.”

  “Bilal’s dead and that’s all ya’ll care about? Money?”

  “Like I said, it’s because of me you’re still alive. And I’m not sure how much longer I can hold them off. They wanna know what happened, and so do I.”

  “I told everybody what happened, Dave! I loved him and I hope you not saying I’d hurt him! He was the only person who gave a fuck about me. If they want to be mad at somebody tell them to be mad at my father. He’s the one who pulled the trigger! I’m outta here!” she stormed off.

  Leaving him alone.

  Chapter Five

  Do What You Do

  Jerry Springer’s voice resonated throughout the hospital room.

  “I don’t know where he is! The only thing I’m concerned about is Jesse.” she responded to the detective while focusing on the television set.

  “Okay, Ms. Harris,” Detective Lily said. “But if you hear from him, tell him we need to speak to him immediately. If he’s as sick as you say he is, we can help him.”

  “Like I said,” she responded lowering her voice so that her sister, who still hadn’t regained consciousness, wouldn’t be disturbed. “If I hear from Joe,” she said referring to her father. “I’ll call you!”

  When Yvonna slammed her cell phone shut, she gently touched her sister’s hand. She couldn’t imagine how Jesse would react having her arm amputated.

  As she looked at her face, she wondered if the fire their mother died in three years earlier was an accident or if her father had something to do with it too. Her mother Diana died on Christmas day and Yvonna still hated the holiday. Even before her father’s sickness caused by the Vietnam war, he was a dishonest man. He wasn’t even living in the home when he showed up out the blue that fateful day.

  The last thing Yvonna remembered after her father showed up, was her mother’s corpse being taken out of the house, and the cops drilling her about what happened. To prevent being separated from her sister, she told them it was an accident caused by a candle. The house had been burned so badly, they took her word for it.

  Brushing her soft brown hair in a ponytail, she slid into Bilal’s slippers and walked outside of Jesse’s hospital room to the vending machine. It had been two days since she’d eaten. She hoped she’d be able to keep something down now since everything she ate came up.

  The moment she got off the elevator, she was surprised to run into Cream. She was wearing grey sweatpants and a pink Baby Phat t-shirt no bra. Yvonna had called her earlier to give her Jesse’s room number but she didn’t answer the phone.

  “Cream?” Cream turned around with a shocked look on her face.

  “Oh…uh…hey, Yvonna. How’s Jesse?”

  “She’s doin’ betta. She still don’t know ‘bout her arm though. They got her doped up so she’s totally numb. I just hope she wakes up while I’m here.”

  “Damn.” She looked at the floor and it became apparent that she was trying to think of something to say. “Did she get my roses?”

  “Yeah they came today. She’s in room 267 if you wanna go up and see her. I was just comin’ to get somethin’ to munch on right quick.”

  “Oh I’ll be up later.” She turned around to walk away.

  “Is everything okay?” Yvonna called out to her.

  “Uh…yeah,” she responded turning around. “I’ll see her in a little while.”

  “Isn’t’ that why you’re here?”

  “Huh?”

  “Cream,” Yvonna laughed. “What’s wrong wit you? You’re actin’ like you’re trying to hide somethin’.”

  “I’m not.”

  “So you’re lying to me now?” Yvonna asked lowering her voice.

  “Please don’t put me in the middle of this, Yvonna,” she blurted out. “I’m both of ya’ll’s friends.”

  “Girl, what are you talkin’ about? Put you in the middle of what?” Yvonna asked now intrigued by her shift in mood. Any other time she’d be all up her ass but now she was avoiding her like she was contagious.

  With that Cream handed her a greeting card she had in the bag she was carrying. When Yvonna pulled it out, it read, Congratulations on your new bundle of joy! She put the card back in the bag and her frown was replaced with a huge smile.

  “She had the baby?!” Yvonna yelled holding her mouth. Cream nodded yes. “Oh my Gawwd! Why didn’t she tell me? Take me to her room. I wanna see her.”

  Cream did as she was told although it was obvious she didn’t want to. Yvonna was so caught up in the good news that she didn’t notice.

  When they reached the room, Yvonna was surprised by everyone who was there. Sabrina sat up in the bed when she saw Yvonna enter, before looking at Cream like she wanted to rip her eyes out. But it was who was at her bedside that had Yvonna puzzled. Mrs. Santana was holding the brand new baby boy, and cooing like a proud parent. Dave was also there with Swoopes, and two other dudes from the YBM.

  “Why do I get the impression that I wasn’t invited on purpose?” she questioned as she entered the room and looked at everyone. No one mumbled a word.

  “So you had the baby huh?” she asked as she walked over to Mrs. Santana and reached out for him. Mrs. Santana looked at Sabrina and when she nodded that it was okay, she reluctantly handed the baby over. “Hey, cutie.” she sang. “Welcome to the world. I’m your auntie Yvonna and I’m gonna spoil you rotten.” she kissed him on the cheek.

  Despite the connection she was building with the baby, the room was still shockingly quiet.

  “I have to talk to you, Yvonna,” Sabrina said. “In private.”

  On queue Mrs. Santana got up and carefully took the baby from Yvonna who wasn’t ready to let him go.

  “Let me give him back to the nurse. It’s time for his feeding.”

  “Okay,” Sabrina smiled. “Can everybody leave us alone please?”

  Swoopes walked toward the door with the other YBM members. “I’ma get yo ass.” He mouthed so only she could see him.

  “Fuck you.” She responded back.

  When everyone left Mrs. Santana turned around and said, “Are you sure you don’t want me to come back after I take the baby to the nursery?”

  “No…I’ll be fine. I need to do this alone.”

  Something was wrong. And Yvonna sat in the chair looking at Sabrina praying she wouldn’t say anything that would cause her more pain. She knew the moment she talked to Cream that something was up, and now she was going to find out what.

  Before this secret, she and Sabrina were the best of friends. And her apprehensiveness hurt.

  “What’s going on, Sabrina?” she questioned as the faint scent of rotten pussy filled the room. Even now she can’t wash her ass. Yvonna thought.

  “Before I say anything I wanted you to know that I love you. You know that right?”

  “I hope so, Sabrina. So stop beatin’ around the bush and tell me what’s up!”

  “I’m tryin’ to, Yvonna,” she responded looking down at the eggshell colored comforter that covered her bed. “It’s just that what I’m about to tell you, might fuck up our friendship and I don’t want it to. You like a sister to me.”

  Yvonna listened attentively and pulled the grey New York hoodie tightly together sensing a chill coming on.

  “Okay,” Yvonna responded her voice quivering. “I’m ready for you to tell me the deal.”

  “I just had Bilal’s baby.”

  “You…w…what?” she leaned in to be sure she heard her correctly. “Can you say that again cuz I thought you said somethin’ else.”

  “I said,” she swallowed. “That I was pregnant by Bilal.”

  Now she realized she did hear her correctly. “How you tellin’ me you had Bilal’s baby, Sabrina? Huh?” The room was spinning causing her to feel a little off balance. She placed her hand on Sabrina’s bed for support. “I’m not understandin’ what you sayin’ right now.”

  “Please listen-,”

  “Fuck that shit Sabrina!” Tears escaped her eyes by the pounds. That would explain why everyone reacted the way that they did when she entered the room. Everyone knew but her. “You spose to be my friend! So I know you not tellin’ me you slept with the one man I’d kill ova. Are you bitch?!”

  “It only happened one time!”

  “I don’t want to hear that shit, Brina!” she yelled jumping up and down. “You a fuckin’ snake! I smelled your ass a long time ago, but I put that shit out of my mind. Thinkin’ you would never betray me!” she continued approaching the bed.

  “I’m sorry.” Sabrina responded her hands extended out in front of her.

  “Fuck that! You can’t believe how much you just hurt me! I don’t even have his baby and he was my man! I’m sposed to have somethin’ to remember him by not you!”

  Yvonna had the strong urge to hit her, but the tubes in Sabrina’s arms were making her feel some kind of way. Fuck them tubes! She thought to herself as she smacked the fuck out of her lips.

  “I deserve that.” If she would’ve said anything else, she would’ve smacked her again.

  “I know you did you, fishy-pussy-smellin’, bitch! I know you deserve that shit! And when it happen, Brina? Huh? When you tellin’ me you fucked my man?”

  Sabrina was slow with her words and knew she had to choose them carefully.

  “It was when ya’ll weren’t together no more.”

  “Not togetha no more? When the fuck me and Bilal ain’t been togetha?”

  “It was after Iesha told you she messed with him.”

  “You mean you fucked him 10 months ago right after I found out he was cheatin’ on me with someone else?!”

  She nodded yes.

  “You mean you went behind my back when you knew what I was goin’ through? You lower than a snake, you ain’t shit! I trusted you, Brina! Shit!” She said stomping on the hospital floor again.

  “He wanted me to have the baby.” Sabrina cried. “I wanted to have a abortion and he told me not to. You know how Bilal was.”

  The thought of Bilal wanting her to keep his baby had her on edge. She felt like blowing the entire hospital up but her sister was in it.

  “Shit! Shit! Shit! I can’t believe this!!!” Yvonna screamed.

  Everything started spinning around in Yvonna’s head. She recalled asking her to spy on Bilal when they broke up months ago. Although she was beefin’ with him, she wanted to see if he really missed her, or was out fucking some other bitches. So she asked Sabrina to spy on him. Yvonna remembered the night Sabrina came back late with an update. And when she asked what took her so long, she claimed to have stopped by a fast food restaurant before reaching Yvonna’s. She was so greedy she didn’t question her.

  “Girl, he ain’t doin’ nothing.” Sabrina reported. “He love you and ya’ll need to get back together.”

  Little did Yvonna know that instead of Sabrina scoping the scene on the outside, she had a far better view on the inside of the house he shared with his mother in Capital Heights Maryland. The sneaky bitch heard from Yvonna that Bilal had a big dick, and wanted some of it for herself. So she knocked on his door with a bag of weed, already knowing his weakness, a good high.

  He was so happy to see somebody Yvonna knew because he’d missed her so much, that he didn’t waste time opening the door. Besides, Sabrina told him she wanted to talk to him about Yvonna and their relationship. She claimed to be over there for Yvonna’s sake and that Yvonna was miserable without him.

  It was because of Sabrina that he knew where to find Yvonna and Lucy the night he approached them at Jasper’s. Together they smoked the weed she got from this Jamaican cat who sold nothing but the “Truth”. After the first pull, he didn’t see funky pussy smelling Sabrina anymore, he saw Lela Rochan, and trust, he had to smoke a lot to get to that point.

  Next thing you know she was sucking his dick and licking his ass. She tasted his entire body before she even felt his dick. By the time he fucked her, she only got to enjoy him for five minutes. And that’s all it took for him to get her pregnant. He felt like shit the next day like most men do after fucking their girl’s best friend. But Sabrina put him at ease by promising to never tell Yvonna about their freak fest. He trusted her considering they both knew how Yvonna was if provoked.

  The first person she told she was pregnant was Bernice. Bernice wanted to stay out of it so that Bilal could handle his own affairs. Instead of going to Bilal, Sabrina told Cream. Cream cried for twenty minutes before Sabrina was able to threaten her into secrecy. All she cared about was not wanting Yvonna hurt, but Sabrina wasn’t trying to hear that shit.