Carl Weber's Kingpins: Greenville

by Cedric Lewis

Genres: African American Urban

Synopsis

When a kingpin is betrayed by his friend, the whole city will turn upside down as they go head-to-head.

When he was young, Curtis Griffin, a.k.a. Cane, formed a clique called the CMB. As a young boy, Curtis Griffin, a.k.a. Cane, had street knowledge beyond his years, gained from his family—some of the biggest drug dealers in the area. While most adolescents were playing Nintendo, Cane was hanging with big-time hustlers, earning his way and making his keep.

When Cane forms a clique called the CMB, his best friend Travis, a.k.a. Trapp, joins him. They are getting money, women, and notoriety, until jealousy gets in the way. Trapp betrays the clique and joins forces with their archrivals from the west side: the Poison Clan. They become the Jack Boys, robbing everyone who crosses their path by any means necessary.

Once best friends and now members of rival gangs, Cane and Trapp’s conflict will create chaos in the streets of Greenville.

Release date: June 24, 2025

Publisher: Urban Books

Print pages: 288

Sample

Tyrese’s voice serenaded the air from a mixed CD called The Quiet Storm. His single, “Signs of Love Making,” had just been released, and it was hot! Cane couldn’t help but smile to himself since he possessed the same chiseled chest, tattooed body, dark chocolate complexion, and bald head. People were always telling him that he looked just like Tyrese, which he took as a huge compliment. Tyrese was a hot commodity whom Cane assumed was most likely fucking all of the finest women in Hollywood, especially since Wesley Snipes had opened up the doors and brought the dark-skinned brothers back into style after his 1991 hit movie, New Jack City.

Over the music, he could hear Tina moaning out, “Don’t stop now, ssssss. Oh, give it to me. Fuck me, daddy.” All the groaning and moaning she was doing turned him on. He sped up his pace as sweat began to pour profusely from his face, neck, and back. Simultaneously, she aggressively rubbed his back with her hands in rhythm with his deep, hard strokes.

A cool breeze blew from the platinum and gold blades of the ceiling fan that hung above them. For him, the breeze was right on time. The cool air bouncing off of the trickling beads of sweat that poured from his back made him feel as if he were making love on the shore of a beach. Through the window, he could see the shadows of the moon, which gave his room a darker, more sensual vibe.

He continued his strokes, glancing out of the bay window, noticing the moon was full and shining bright, just like in the movies. Cane knew he had to bring out the beast in him and make “thug love” to Tina. “Oh, shit, Cane! Oh, shit, I’m cumming.” Her body tensed up and jerked like a tractor trailer on a bumpy road. As her warm juices flowed, he released himself and came with her.

He rolled onto his back, gasping for air while holding Tina’s body tightly as they stared out of the skylight, watching the stars.

“Cane, baby, don’t ever let me go. My body feels so safe and secure with you holding me.” She paused for a few seconds and then exhaled, letting out a breath of fresh air. “Baby, just hold me in your arms forever and promise to never let me go.”

“I love you too much to let you go,” he said as he gently kissed her on the forehead.

“Damn, Cane,” she said, feeling a heat wave run through her body. She had to get her thoughts together. Tina swallowed her saliva to clear her throat. She really needed to tell him, and now was about as good of a time as ever. “Baby, we’ve got to talk about something.” She could tell by the way that he looked at her out of the corner of his eyes that he knew what she was about to say, and he didn’t want to hear it. But not hearing her wasn’t an option. She was going to speak her mind no matter what.

“What’s up, Tina?” He closed his eyes, preparing for the scolding that was coming.

“We need to talk about your retirement from this dope game if we ever plan to be a family,” she said.

“We’re already a family. Just because it’s not on paper yet, in my mind, you are my wife.” He opened his eyes, looking down at her.

Tina cleared her throat again. “No, Cane, a real family, because I’m pregnant,” she blurted out.

His heart nearly came to a halt as he sat up, looking over at Tina, who was lying on her back, just looking at him, unsure.

“Pregnant! Damn, Tina, you’re fuckin’ pregnant?”

She was getting furious. “Yes, Cane, I’m fucking pregnant!” she said, allowing her cockiness to kick in, something she rarely had to do with him. “So, in six months, you’re going to be a father.”

He was still in a daze as he thought, damn, a father? She’s pregnant?

Tina could see that he was clearly in shock. “Cane, seriously! Are you really upset about this? I thought you would be thrilled. This child will be born out of the love that you and I share for one another.”

He had zoned out and was in a trance-like state. He didn’t know what to think. Random thoughts consumed his mind about Tina’s pregnancy, having a baby, and whether he was ready for such a responsibility.

“Cane, say something, please,” Tina cried as she stared up at him.

He ignored her and turned his body toward his grandmother’s picture. The anxiety inside of him caused his body to sweat, realizing that six months was around the corner.

“Really, Cane?” she asked again as she got up from the bed. “You have nothing to say about the situation?” She stood over him, sizing him up, hoping to break his silence.

“I am not ready for this!” he shouted while trembling and wiping sweat off of his face. “We can’t be having any fucking kids. You’re only nineteen. I’m twenty-one. We’re both still in college. Shit, we haven’t experienced life yet! I’ve only got one more semester before I can transfer to Florida State. This baby will ruin everything,” he said as sweat continued to pour down his face.

“How in the fuck did this happen?” he asked as he took his fist and punched the wall.

Tears began to fall from Tina’s face. “You fucked me without protection!” she screamed as she punched him in his chest. “Did you forget, Mr. I Wanna Feel My Dick Inside You? ‘I don’t like condoms’?”

“Okay! Okay! Just chill out! We’ll figure this out together,” he said after hearing enough of his own words.

He was too late. She was furious and crying hysterically. He took her into his arms and embraced her tightly, tugging her playfully, hoping to change her attitude. His touch smoothed her over. She giggled as they fell onto the bed. Trying not to apply pressure to her stomach, he rolled her to her side and placed his hands on her stomach, rubbing her belly in circular motions.

“I’m sorry, baby.” He stared into her golden brown eyes, wiping away her tears. “You know I love you. I’ll never turn my back on you or the baby.” His heart was sincere, but his mentality was not ready. Financially, he could hold them down, but he was still living the fast life and was in no hurry to end his lifestyle just yet. He couldn’t imagine giving up one hundred grand per week and buying the foreign whips he praised as trophies, aka eye candy.

He began tallying up all of the accomplishments he had achieved in life in a short period of time. He was a major drug supplier in the upstate of Greenville, and he was on top of his game, living a lavish lifestyle, like Scarface. Cane wanted to take over the world like Nino Brown did the Carter in New Jack City. The world was his oyster, and no one could tell him anything different.

He had built his dream house from the ground up. He had more than enough money to take care of Tina, the baby, and his family, but Tina wanted him out of the streets completely. He knew this day would come, but he was hoping for it to be after they were done with school. He loved Tina with everything in him, and although he wasn’t ready to give up the game, he was not going to lose the best girl on earth for it. He opened his eyes, gazed directly into hers, and said, “It’s over.”

“What’s over? Cane, I’m sorry! I love you. Please, Cane,” she cried.

He couldn’t do anything except smile on the inside. “It’s not over with you, silly. I’m talking about the dope game and this lifestyle. I’ll give up any- and everything for you, baby.” He held her hand, letting her know she was safe and didn’t have anything to fear.

She pulled her hand away from his hand and then slightly turned her back. “You’ve said that same thing before.” Tina took a deep breath. “I just don’t know if I can go through with this after the big scene you just made. Don’t take this the wrong way, you know I love you more than anything, but I don’t want my child being born into a drug-infested environment.” She folded her arms across her stomach, watching him out of the corner of her eye, studying his body language.

Just a second ago, she was giggling. Now, tears seeped from her eyes. He felt in his heart that it was over, and he was being sincere with his decision. “It’s over, Tina. A year ago, you weren’t pregnant. A lot has changed since then. You know, just as well as I do, that street life is all I know. It’s gotten me all I’ve ever wanted. It helped build me the family I’ve always wanted.”

She wiped her tears away and faced him. “Cane, the game has been good to me and you. You have treated me like a queen and bought me the world, but don’t let greed be your downfall. All of these years you have been blessed. Get out while you are ahead and never throw it in my face for wanting to keep you around.”

“Just listen and trust me! I’m giving it all up for you, the baby, and myself. I don’t want my child growing up the way I did. I don’t want my child to be surrounded by drugs and guns. All I want is you. Marry me?” he said in a plea.

All of her tears ceased. She knew that he was serious.

“Cane? Are you serious, baby? Yes, Cane! I’ll marry you.” She kissed him softly.

All he could think about was that he actually had a child on the way, and Tina was going to be his wife. Yes, he had to get mentally ready to be the best husband and father he could be, but giving up the game for good was going to be hell, and most of all, explaining it to his CMB—Cash Money Brothers—clique that he was retiring for good would be difficult.

He was most definitely feeling good about himself. He wanted to call his favorite woman, his grandmother, and tell her the good news. Tina told him that, to hustlers, 3:00 a.m. was still young, but to ordinary folk, it was too early in the morning to be calling anyone unless it was an emergency. She advised him to wait until dawn.

The smooth melody of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” played, and he was feeling the mood, pulling Tina to him as they danced to the rhythm. Tina squeezed him tightly. “I know that this will be the best thing for the both of us, just watch and see,” she whispered into his ear. Her pussy was throbbing for his attention.

He was more excited than ever. Not the cars, money, or any other material thing could compare to the new life he had ahead of him. He always knew that he wanted to one day be a family man. He just didn’t expect for it to be for another fifteen years. But what he did know was that, when that time arrived, he would hold down his wife and children. He had vowed to be everything that he had longed for as a child to his family. He knew that any fool could make a baby, but it took a real man to raise one.

“Baby, I’m sorry about everything that happened tonight.” He held on to her as if his life depended on her. “I just wasn’t in the right frame of mind when you hit me with the baby shit. You dropped a bombshell on me.” He paused for a second. “I was being very selfish, and I’m about to be selfish right now. So, stop those tears from coming from your eyes, unless they’re tears of joy.”

Tears began to fall from his eyes. “Those better be tears of joy,” she said in a joking manner.

“Yeah, babe, they are tears of joy. You’re blessing me with my first seed. And most of all, you’re committing yourself to being my wifey.”

“Aw, babe, I wouldn’t trade you in for nothing in the world. A man with a heart like yours is priceless.” She wiped away his tears and gazed into his eyes. Just the look she gave him turned him on.

The twinkle in her eyes was bright and shined like a star. He started kissing on her, hitting the spots he knew made her hot. One hand gripped her fat ass and his other hand twirled her golden nipples.

“Stop,” she groaned, using reverse psychology, hoping he would take what was his and make passionate love to her.

“Why? You don’t want me?” he asked, knowing good and well that she really didn’t want him to stop.

“Yes, I want you, big daddy,” she groaned before an outside noise startled her. “Did you hear that noise?” she asked as she pulled herself away from him, looking toward the window.

“Baby, stop tripping. You’re spoiling the moment.” He pulled her back into his arms.

“I’m serious, Cane. I heard noises!”

“Stop tripping, babe. The alarm would’ve sounded by now if someone was back there.”

Thinking about it, she said, “You’re right, baby,” as she tried to relax and get back into the mood. “Just got a lot going on in my head.” She rolled over on top of him and started kissing on his chiseled, ripped chest. He loved the way she took control. He grabbed her ass and spread her cheeks apart, massaging her thickness.

In the heat of the moment, his eyes roamed in the direction of the bay window. He saw shadows reflecting from the spotlight. He tried to be as calm as possible, so as to not startle her. “Baby, move for one second,” he said calmly, yet with urgency.

“I thought you loved it when I took charge. Am I doing something wrong?”

“Nah, you never do anything wrong when it comes to your lovemaking skills, sweetie. Just chill for a second,” he said, putting his finger to his lips, shushing her as he sat up in the bed and squinted his eyes toward the bay window. At first, he thought his eyes were deceiving him until he saw more shadows reflecting from the spotlight of the neighbor’s house.

“What’s going on, Cane? You’re starting to scare me.”

She quickly rolled onto her side. He remained silent as he stood up and grabbed his 9 mm Glock out of the drawer next to the bed.

“Cane, baby,” Tina whispered in fear. She leaned upright to see what was going on.

He could hear the fear in Tina’s voice, but his mind was on what was going on outside. He had heard earlier in the week from one of his crew members that word on the street was that the Jack Boys were plotting to rob him. Knowing the dope game was one of the dirtiest games to be in, he knew off top that there were four things that he had to watch out for: the Jack Boys, the police, haters, and snitches.

He looked out the bay window fearfully, as any scared man would. The shadows were moving rapidly around the corner of the house. With it being dark, he didn’t recognize who the shadows belonged to.

Tina finally got his undivided attention by crying out, “Cane, I’m scared! Please, Lord, don’t let this be happening.”

“Calm down, and put your clothes on,” Cane demanded at once. He couldn’t think clearly with Tina and the baby on his mind, and Tina’s crying certainly wasn’t helping him. His focus right now wasn’t even about him. It was about protecting his family by any means necessary.

He placed the gun in her hands and commanded her to get under the bed and not come out until the police got there. She was in a trance, shaking in fear. “Did you hear me?” His tone rattled in her ears.

“Yes.” She was terrified. She had seen plenty of guns before but never envisioned herself using one. Momentarily, she put her fear aside and began thinking about her unborn baby and what would happen if Cane was killed. She broke into tears. He grabbed her, hugging her tightly as if he was to never let her go. He looked into her tear-filled, scared eyes, and with one of his fingers, he wiped away the tears from her left eye while he kissed away the tears from her right one.

His grip was tight. She could feel his insides tremble with fear. Suddenly, he pulled away. She reached out and embraced him once again, kissing him as if it were going to be their last. “I’ve got to go, baby. Now, do what I told you to do, and don’t come from under the bed unless it’s the police.” He knew that the jack game could be treacherous. “And don’t come from under the bed for me either.”

“Please don’t leave me,” she cried out. “Please don’t leave me. I can’t do this by myself.”

“Yes, you can,” he said, trying to build up her confidence. “You’re brave, so stop it, and be the woman I know you are. I promise you, I’ll never leave you. I’ll be back. Now, get under the bed. We don’t have much time.”

He walked toward the picture of his late paternal grandmother that hung next to his bed. Once he reached it, he removed it and opened up the safe which hid behind it. He removed a semi-automatic with two filled banana clips that he kept there in case of an emergency. He closed the safe and then kissed his grandmother’s face, imagining that she was there with him.

Placing her picture back on the wall, he muttered under his breath as he checked to see if Tina was under the bed and out of sight. “Back to business,” he said with his Scarface game face on. “These motherfuckers want to play? Well, ‘say hello to my little friend,’” he said just as Tony Montana did in the hit movie Scarface.

There was no way possible he was going to let the Jack Boys take him alive. His motto was to kill everything in sight. The sacrifices he had made to make his riches, he was not about to let anyone who hadn’t paid the cost take away from him.

He heard what sounded to be about thirty or more footsteps pounding the outside deck. By the sounds, he could tell they wore combat boots. He peeked out the window but could only see shadows moving at a fast pace. “Damn, they brought the military to rob me?” He at first panicked and tensed before he became mad. His adrenaline was pumping, and he was ready for war! Whatever they had in store for him, he had in store for them. Right now, he was a one-man army—but he was ready.

Suddenly, a loud boom rang out from both the front and back of the house. Behind the explosion, a deep, raspy voice yelled out, “Cane! Come out! We know you’re in there.” His heart pounded as if it were being beaten with a hammer. He ducked into the hallway closet. By the echo of their voices, he knew they weren’t close to him. He stood still and stayed alert while the raspy voices shouted “come out or else” scenarios.

His mind was made up. He wasn’t going to let those low-life, jealous, hating-ass niggas with guns and ski masks take shit from him. He had hustled too hard, put in too much overtime, missed too many days of school, and wore the same clothes for too many weeks in a row in order to get on top, and he’d be damned if all that shit was going to be in vain. He wasn’t giving up shit. They would get it over his dead body.

“Cane, don’t make us tear up this house looking for you!” the voice sounded out with anger. Yet again, his worries worsened as he thought about Tina and the baby and how he had endangered their lives. Life for him was too good to be true with all the good news and Tina being pregnant. He couldn’t believe how fast his day turned into a nightmare. A little relief came upon him when he didn’t hear any gunshots coming from the room where Tina and his unborn child were.

He gripped the machine gun tightly in his hands. Although he never had to use one in the past, due to his Uncle Jack’s reputation, he was ready to burn some people. The voice got closer. “Cane, come out wherever you are!” He aimed the gun at the door, ready to shoot anything or anyone who opened it. “Come out, Cane. We found your girlfriend,” the voice pleaded once again. Instantly, his heart dropped to his stomach. Fearing that they may pistol whip Tina, Cane knew at this point it was kill or be killed.

“I’m all right, baby. Please come out before you get hurt. It’s the police.” Her voice was shaky, which confused him. Although he was happy to hear her voice, he was unsure if the Jack Boys forced her to call out his name and claim them to be the police or what. “I’m not hurt, baby, so come out.” He still lay low. “I don’t want to see you get killed, so, baby, please come out!” she pleaded. “Do it for me and the baby.”

He could feel the pain in her voice, and knowing that Tina would die for him, he knew she wouldn’t have called him out for the Jack Boys. He dropped his gun and stepped out of the closet with his hands pointing toward the ceiling.

Once his pupils dilated and the darkness from the closet escaped his eyes, he was shocked by what he saw before him. There were so many infrared beams pointing at him. He was lit up like a Christmas tree.

“Freeze. I’m DEA Agent Jackson. You are under arrest! Turn around slowly and put your arms behind your back.” Relieved it was the DEA and not the Jack Boys, he did as ordered. He could get out of this, but had it been the Jack Boys, he and Tina would have been killed on contact. “Now, get down on your knees, and if you try anything slick, I will blow your black ass into pieces.” Agent Jackson was ready to squeeze the trigger. His finger was itching to do so if Cane made the wrong move. To Agent Jackson’s disappointment, he obeyed, dropping to his knees.

As he lowered himself to his knees, a couple of agents rushed in and slapped handcuffs on both of his wrists while they forcefully pushed on his back, causing him to fall forward onto his face.

“Stop, y’all are hurting him. He hasn’t done anything to y’all!” Tina cried, rushing to his rescue, shoving her way through the agents.

“Get her the fuck outta here right now.” Agent Jackson’s face turned beet red as the agents attempted to remove her. Tina turned into beast mode and began kicking and screaming at every agent in arms’ reach. “Ms. Davis, if you don’t want to go to jail with him, I advise you to get control of yourself,” Agent Jackson said, giving her a stern look.

“Calm down, babe. I will be all right,” Cane reassured her.

The agents stood him up and placed shackles on his ankles. “Curtis Griffin, aka Cane, you are under arrest for conspiracy of drug trafficking cocaine with the intent to distribute. I’m going to read you your rights. You have the right to remain silent—”

Cane cut Agent Jackson off. “I don’t want to hear this bullshit.”

Jackson was fuming, with his veins protruding from his neck. Cane loved every second of it.

“I don’t care what you don’t want to hear. I’m going to tell you what you need to hear.” Agent Jackson continued to recite Cane his rights.

He ignored Jackson as ten agents began to escort him out of the house. He was somewhat shocked from the events that had taken place. Agents surrounded his house. He was astounded. They proceeded to a Ford Crown Victoria with ebony tinted windows. The doors were already ajar as if he were entering a limousine. His chariot had arrived.

Before he got into the car, he glanced over his shoulder, only to see the love of his life sitting in the back of a police car. He winked his eye at her as he whispered, “I love you.” Although she couldn’t hear him, she read his lips and said that she loved him also.

They backed the car into the road and began to drive off. He thought he was dreaming. There were four DEA agents in the car with him: a driver, Agent Jackson in the front passenger seat, and two in the back surrounding him. His worst dream had finally become a reality as the blood continued to run down his lips. The excitement was finally over, and his adrenaline was no longer pumping. His head ached in pain.

He caught himself sightseeing as the Crown Vic headed into town. He was noticing buildings that he had never paid attention to before. The car pulled into the parking lot of the bank. He questioned himself, what the hell is this?

Anxiety kicked in because he wanted to know what was going on. “Where in the hell are y’all taking me?”

Agent Jackson turned around with a victorious shit-eating grimace on his face. “Welcome to the major league, sport. This is our headquarters, and you’ve just earned yourself a free VIP pass.” His facial expression spoke high volumes. He couldn’t believe that the bank was the federal headquarters. And to make things worse, he was a loyal customer with his CMB clique. He got lightheaded, and his head started spinning, knowing a large percentage of his money was inside the bank.

The car pulled into the back of the bank. Agent Jackson rolled down his window and placed his hand on a scanner. “Hello, Agent Jackson,” said an automated voice as the overhead doors rose, and they disappeared like a thief in the night into the building. “Have a nice day, Agent Jackson,” the programming said as they proceeded through.

“What’s so fucking nice about this day?” Cane thought out loud to himself, knowing it was the worst day of his life.

Agent Jackson smiled. “Oh, sport, play for now,” he laughed out. “It’s a very good day. We are locking your black ass up. Now, it doesn’t get any nicer than this . . . sport.”

Displeased with Agent Jackson’s comment, he retaliated back. “Nah, what would be nice was if I had your white mama sucking my big black dick.” He held back from laughing. “Now, that would be nice, right, fellas?” The agents sniffled while holding back their laughter.

Finally, they approached the interrogation room. Agent Jackson sat Cane down and began unlocking his shackles and cuffs. Thoughts of escaping crossed his mind, but with all of the technology, he knew he wouldn’t get very far.

A familiar-looking Latina agent walked up, placing an identification card, black ink, and a camera on the table in front of him. Although it had been six years since he had seen the Greenville County Detention Center, this was a process that he knew all too well.

The female agent tried to hold a decent conversation with him, but he was not trying to hear shit she had to say. Once Agent Fernandez finished fingerprinting him and taking his picture, Agent Jackson escorted him into a holding cell. Before exiting the cell, Agent Jackson looked at him and said, “Yeah, we finally got you, Mr. Griffin. You’re finished. History. You will be in prison for the rest of your life, you black son of a bitch.”

His ears didn’t miss the hateful, spiteful words Jackson let seep from his mouth. He tried his best to laugh it off, but his pride and slick tongue had to get the last word in. “Oh, I guess you’re still mad about the mama comment, huh? Hell, I know you can picture her slobbering up and down on my dick.” Cane could not hold back his laughter. Jackson’s eyes turned firecracker red.

“We’ll see who gets the last laugh, Mr. Griffin!” Agent Jackson said, exiting the room and slamming the door behind him.

He was still in disbelief that he had just gotten picked up by the Feds. Earlier today, you couldn’t have told him that his night would end with him sitting in a holding cell that only had a toilet, sink, and no windows. He lay back on the cold steel bench and closed his eyes as he began meditating on how he got caught slipping.

She was making sure that her hair was on point as she looked into the mirror. She knew that, if not on any other day, today she had to be glamorous. It was her first day of public school. After two years of pleading, she had finally been able to convince her overprotective parents to allow her and her s. . .