Carl Weber's Kingpins: Richmond

by Racquel Williams

Genres: African American Urban

Synopsis

The love that bonds D’Amond and Coolie might just be the one that separates them when they are faced with the lies, betrayal, and most of all, deadly secrets.

The sexy and rich D’Amond was born into royalty and has lived the good life from early on—until it was quickly snatched away when thugs killed her parents. All this young woman knows is pain, and she vows to hunt down the men responsible for this heinous act.

Finding love in the wrong place, her heart will start deceiving her as she comes face to face with the evil she so dreaded. Will she go against family? Or is blood not thicker than water?

Young, ambitious, and ruthless, Coolie is a force to be reckoned with. Coming from a powerful family that wreaks havoc all over Richmond, he awaits his position as the next Virginia kingpin. After being overlooked by his powerful father, he soon realizes that the only way to get his rightful spot is to part ways with the only people he’s known as family and create his own crew. With powerful men and the feds eager to bring them down, the crew must put some plans into motion. Torn between money and love, Coolie is torn and must pick a side.

Publisher: Urban Books

Print pages: 288

Sample

Six Years Ago

Anxiety and fear gripped my young, frail body as I hovered down beside my younger brother, Asa, in the crowded closet of my parents’ room. I shivered uncontrollably as my body convulsed. I wasn’t sure how this madness started. Minutes earlier, I was in a deep sleep when I felt someone shaking my body. I slowly opened my eyes, blinking a few times before I realized it was my beautiful mother, Kymani, whispering to me. I didn’t understand what she was really saying, but I knew it was serious. She grabbed my hand gently and eased me up out of my twin-sized bed.

She had a frightened look in her eyes, but her words were calming as she told me, “Stay quiet, baby girl.”

She led me out of the room and into my brother’s room, doing the same thing to him. Asa was a deep sleeper, so it took her longer to get him up. She then held both of our hands and tiptoed into the dimly lit hallway. With only a side lamp on the beautiful table she had in the hallway, she led us into her room, where she quietly ushered us behind some clothes baskets she had on her closet floor.

“Y’all stay in here, y’all hear me? Don’t come out no matter what,” she warned in a low but serious tone. She grabbed her blanket off the bed and threw it on top of us and shut the closet door.

I heard her room door open and shut. The room was quiet as I was gripped with fear. I wanted to scream for my mother, but I wouldn’t dare disobey her warning. Kymani was loving, but she didn’t play that shit. Her word was law that everyone, including our daddy, had to live by. For a woman only about five foot two, her words were bigger than her and immensely powerful.

Fear gripped me tightly because my guts were telling me something serious was taking place outside the door. My thoughts were interrupted when I heard a few unfamiliar voices yelling expletives.

“Get the bitch, too! She’s somewhere in here!”

“Leave her the fuck alone!” I heard my daddy’s voice holler.

“Get the fuck up, nigga, and open this motherfuckin’ safe!” a very raspy but distinctive male voice ordered.

“Nigga, I told you, ain’t no motherfucking safe. I ain’t got nothing but the work that’s on the table,” my daddy yelled out.

“Bitch-ass nigga, I know you lying. Either you open the motherfucking safe or I’ma put one in this ho’s head,” the same male voice echoed with venom in his voice.

“Draco, please give them what they want. Please, baby!” my mother yelled between sobs.

“Yeah, nigga, you better listen to your bitch ’cause you know what we here fo’,” a second male voice yelled.

“Bishop, fuck you! I ain’t givin’ y’all shit. You can suck my motherfucking dick. You ain’t nothing but a weak, pussy-ass nigga. Get these cuffs off me and watch me beat all three of y’all motherfucking ass. Y’all know how the fuck I roll. …”

Daddy’s voice trailed off before gunshots started going off.

They were in the living room, but the gunshots were so loud it appeared as if it were in the room where we were hiding. I grabbed my brother close to me and held him with every ounce of strength that I could muster up.

“Now, nigga, open the motherfucking safe!”

“You killed her, you pussy nigga! All y’all fucking dead. You hear me, nigaaaaaa?” I heard my dad yell out in anguish.

“Not before you, bitch nigga. Now you can join that bitch.”

Another round of gunshots went off, then complete silence. I continued holding on to my little brother and hugged him tightly, with our heads against each other. I put my hand over his mouth. I was scared he might yell out. I was only 12 years old, and my younger brother was 9 years old. I had to protect him, no matter what, ’cause Daddy always told me I was his protector.

After the gunshots, there was a long pause until I heard footsteps. I held my breath as I hung on to Asa. I could tell they were rummaging through the house. I assumed they were looking for what they came for.

“Boss man, the safe is right here, but it’s locked.”

“Oh, yeah, baby, I knew that nigga was lying. Stand back and let me blow this motherfucker off.”

More shots rang out. “Bingo! This nigga was holding some major paper. Oh, shit, dawg!”

I listened as they celebrated what they had just found. They chatted among themselves until their footsteps faded away. I assumed the cold-blooded killers were now gone.

The place was quiet but held that eerie feeling to it. I wasn’t sure what was going on. I was scared to move, so I just hung on to my brother.

Without having the exact time, I knew an enormous amount of time had gone by. I was tired of being in the closet. With fear in my heart and tears rolling down my face, I let my brother go and opened the closet. Fearing the inevitable, I peeped out the door, but I didn’t see anyone or hear anything.

“Sis, please don’t go out there,” Asa whispered and hung on to my arm.

“I’ll be back, bro, I promise,” I assured him, even though I didn’t know what might lie ahead.

I feared the worst but had hoped for the best as I tiptoed to the room door. I opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. My heart was beating so hard as if it were a drum. I needed to know where the fuck my parents were. I stopped dead in my tracks. I stumbled first on my mother. She was sprawled out on the hallway floor. She had blood all over her with bullet holes piercing her body. I stooped over and hugged her. I lifted her head off the floor and placed it in my lap. I wiped the blood that was coming out of her mouth. I started kissing her face as I clung to her lifeless body.

“Mama, no, oh, Mama, please answer me!” I screamed out. My voice cracked under pressure. I felt a lump in my throat as if someone had punched me in it.

I was able to look a few feet away, and that’s when I saw my daddy’s body. His body was worse than Mama’s. I wanted to let go of Mama and go hug him. I just couldn’t bring myself to let her go. I could tell she wasn’t breathing, but shit, I needed to call the ambulance. Maybe they can do something to save her. Shit, God can work all kinds of miracles.

I gently placed her head back down. I was about to run to my room to get my phone when I stumbled into Asa. He was standing there shivering, with long tears rolling down his face as he stared at our parents’ dead bodies. I hugged him and rubbed his back as we both started to bawl louder. A few seconds later, I let him loose, then dashed to my bedroom. I grabbed my phone from under my pillow and frantically dialed 911.

“911, how may I help you?”

“I need … I need the ambulance. My mother … my mother and father was shot.” I stumbled over my words while I tried to breathe.

“What’s the address, and what’s your name?”

“Lady, please just send the ambulance to 1215 Broadrock Boulevard. Pleaseee, I don’t want my mama or daddy to die. Pleaseeee help us. …” My voice trailed off.

“Honey, what’s your name, and how old are you?”

“Listen, woman, don’t worry about my fucking age. Just send the damn ambulance.”

That bitch was still running her mouth, but to be honest, I didn’t hear shit else this bitch was saying to me. I was sure she got the address, so I ran back out of the room to check on my brother. He stooped down over Daddy, yelling at him to “Wake up.”

“Daddy, get up! Get up, Daddy!” Asa yelled and continued shaking our dad’s dead body.

I pulled him up and managed to drag him away. I was hurting too, but I knew I had to be strong for him. I held him down in a corner as he screamed in agony. A few times, I formed my mouth to utter some words, but they just wouldn’t come out. I just hugged him and let the tears flow out.

A few minutes later, there was a banging on the door. “Police, open up! Richmond City Police Department. Open the door.”

I got up and rushed to the door, unlocking it.

“We got a call about a shooting.”

“My mama and daddy. They are over here.” I pointed to the bodies.

The officers and the EMT workers rushed past me. “Get those kids out of here!” an officer yelled.

A female uniformed officer walked over to me. “Let’s get out of here. Leave these officers to do their job,” she urged.

“Why aren’t they taking them to the hospital? They have some good doctors at the hospital. They can help them,” I cried out to the woman, trying to get a glimpse of what was going on behind me.

“Where’s my brother?”

“He’s coming out as well. Let’s get you in a patrol car, honey.” She placed her arm around my shoulders.

I felt nauseated. Before the thought left my mind, I started throwing up on the steps of the house.

“Honey, are you okay?”

This bitch just saw me throwing up, and yet she asked if I was okay. I thought about snapping at her, but before I could do that, my head started spinning, and within seconds, I collapsed into her arms.

They took me to the hospital for observation and had a social worker come over to talk with me. I really had little to say. I was still in a state of shock and just sat there, staring into space.

I recalled my grams showing up, and it felt great seeing a familiar face. It was only then that I squeezed out a smile and ran into my grandma’s arms. Not too much was spoken, but she did everything to comfort me. Later on, we went to my grandma’s house, where Asa was. I could tell he had been crying nonstop from his swollen eyes. I took a seat beside him on the couch. He was the closest thing I had left, and I sure wasn’t going to let him go.

It was my parents’ funeral, and I was sitting at the front of the aisle, looking out into space. All this preaching the pastor was doing seemed wack as hell to me. If God were so high and mighty, why the fuck did He allow these motherfuckers to walk into our house and take our lifeline away from us? Why? Yes, even at my young age, I was aware that my dad was a big-time dope boy, but he was a good man. He fed the entire neighborhood at times and made sure the kids where we lived were good. He even opened a center for old people. He was a good motherfucking man who didn’t deserve to die like this, and my mama wasn’t in no streets. She was full of life. Shit, she always fussed at Daddy to leave them streets alone. She even threatened to leave him and take us away from this life.

She wasn’t born in Virginia, and most of her family was in Newark, New Jersey. Daddy would threaten her and tell her she could leave, but his kids weren’t going no damn where. Mama was no punk, but she knew Daddy was serious and meant business.

“Baby, why don’t you come in and join us?” my granny Naomi asked, interrupting my thoughts.

“I’m sorry, Grams, but I just can’t stand to hear that pastor talking. He didn’t know my parents. Half the shit he’s saying is crap.”

She stepped in closer and hugged me. I laid my head on her shoulder and let the tears flow. There was a hole in my soul that was hurting, and no matter how friendly people were to me, it just wouldn’t go away.

After the funeral, everyone started walking away. I stayed behind. I placed the black roses that I had on the grave.

“Mama and Daddy, I promise this is not over. Whoever did this to y’all will pay with their lives. Continue resting though. I love y’all.”

“Let’s go, D’Amond!” Asa yelled out to me.

I kneeled and kissed the headstone. I then got up and walked off. This was the day my life changed, and the world would know who D’Amond was all about.

Present Day

“Bitch, so graduation is in three days, and you still haven’t decided if you want to go away to college?” my bestie, Naisha, quizzed as we exercised at the YMCA.

“Girl, I told you that college is not for me. I might just get myself a job or something. You know, shit, I might try to be a trap queen.”

She stopped jumping rope and turned to face me. “Bitch, what you mean, a trap queen?”

“I mean, it’s in my bloodline. My daddy was damn near a kingpin, and my little brother is already heavy out in these streets. So why can’t I take my spot at the table? I mean, I’m smart, sexy, and I have knowledge of the streets.” I shrugged my shoulder to display my cockiness.

“Bitch, quit playing. You don’t know shit about selling drugs, plus you need to get an education. Trapping is dead. You better ask these old beat-up-ass dope boys.”

“Listen, boo, I’m proud that you are going to college, future psychologist Williams, but that’s your path. Mine is slightly different, and college isn’t for me.”

“Well, I hear you, and you’re my bitch, so whatever you decide to do, just know I’ll always love you and be here for you. We besties for life.” She resumed her jumping.

“Yeah, so when these college bitches come all up in your face, let them know you already got a bestie. I don’t want to beat nobody’s daughter up ’cause they don’t know they place.”

“Bitch, you know I don’t even do females like that, so I’m not getting close to anyone. I’m just ready to see what college has to offer.”

“Babes, you got this, and you know your bitch will be right here rooting fa you.”

“A’ight, you ain’t got to get emotional and shit.”

“Damn, sis, you ain’t gotta put me out there like that.” I busted out laughing.

I was so proud of my bitch. She had no idea how much I was rooting for her. It was the first day at George Wythe High School when we met in English class. She was the prissy, sort of bougie kind of chick, and I was the rowdy, ghetto-ass chick. Opposites do indeed attract because we were totally the opposite, but we clicked perfectly. I done busted a couple of bitches in the head because they often thought because she’s quiet they could try her. Wrong. Naisha was quiet, but I wasn’t.

After losing my parents, I had so much anger built up in me, and I got into fights almost every week. My uncle tried to get me into counseling, but that shit was a waste of money. I would tell the counselor what the fuck she wanted to hear so she could think that she was really helping me. After two years of going to counseling, I think my uncle figured it wasn’t working out. He also put me into karate classes. All that did was help me become a beast at fighting.

After chatting and finishing up our exercises, I was tired as hell. Still, working out had become a part of my daily routine when I wasn’t in school. It helped me stay fit but also kept my mind occupied. After losing my parents, it was tough for me, especially at night. I would have nightmares of my parents’ killing even though I didn’t actually see the shooting. My mind done made up some horrible scenes that wouldn’t leave me alone.

“A’ight, girl, I got to run. I got to go meet up with my mother at Willow Lawn to get these shoes for graduation. So, are we still on tomorrow for our hair appointment?”

“Yup, for sure. I’m ready to get slayed. I’ll be at your crib at eleven a.m. sharp.”

“Sounds like a plan. I’ll be ready.”

We hugged, and we walked out of the building. Naisha walked off to her car, and I walked in the opposite direction to my brand-new RAV4 SUV.

The day I was dreading was finally here. It was graduation day. My family from near and far were in town to celebrate my big day with me.

My soul wasn’t into it because I felt cheated. My parents should be here to see this important milestone. As I put my gown on, I glanced at the dresser in front of me. The picture that I had on it of my parents caught my attention. I stopped dead in my tracks and stared at their faces. Tears welled up in my eyes. I stepped closer to the dresser and snatched up the frame, which was years old. I ignored the dust that had found a home on the five-by-eight frame. I rubbed my hands across their faces. The tears started flowing harder. I sat down on my bed and started crying harder. My heart was hurting, so I hugged the frame to my chest. I knew it’d been years, but the pain I felt was still fresh in my mind as the day that I walked out of that room and saw their dead bodies. I tried to let this hurt go, but it just wouldn’t leave.

“Mommy and Daddy, I need y’all here with me right now!” I cried out.

Someone knocked on the door, and I tried to wipe the tears away quickly. Before I got the chance to answer, the door pushed open. It was my grandma.

“Sweetie, there you are. I was wondering where you were. It’s that time, baby, for us to go.” She walked over to me.

“I know, Grandma, but I don’t feel like going. I mean, I’m still going to get the diploma whether or not I’m there.”

She walked over to me and lifted my chin. “Baby, you’ve been crying. Look, you done messed up your makeup.” She tried wiping the tears away with her hands.

“Grandma, I miss my mama and daddy so much. I can’t do this without them.” I leaned my head on her bosom and cried.

“Baby, you listen to me. Your parents loved you and your brother with everything in them. They might not be here in physical forms, but trust me, I know they are up there smiling down on you. Through the struggle, baby, you fought, and look at you today. I know they’re proud of you because I’m damn proud of you. You have your dad’s stubbornness and your mother’s strength. This is just the beginning for you, baby. You are going to be great.” She fought back the tears as she struggled to finish her sentence.

I knew it was hard on my grandmother as well. She lost a daughter, and they were remarkably close. I remember when mom died, my grandma had a nervous breakdown and had to be hospitalized for days.

We heard a knock at the door and looked at each other. The door opened, and it was my brother this time.

“Sis, you good? We need to go,” he said as he poked his head in the door.

“Baby, c’mon. You can do this,” my grandma said while she kissed me on the forehead.

“Yeah, bro, I’m ready.”

“I’ma leave you two.” My grandma flashed me a smile and winked at me. She walked out of the room, leaving Asa and me alone.

“Sis, listen, I know this is hard for you, but I’m here with you. I didn’t graduate, but you made it. You made it, sis. Pops and Ma are up there smiling right now, talkin’ about ‘Baby girl made it.’ You know they up there arguing about who you got your brains from. Mama tryin’a take all the credit while Daddy talkin’ shit.”

We busted out laughing. These two fools stayed arguing. Daddy always thought he was right, and Mama, being who she was, never backed down. It would all start with a simple little thing, and before you knew it, they would be in there arguing and cussing one another out. One time, it got so bad, Daddy ended up pulling the gun on Mama, threatening to shoot her. You’d think she would’ve backed down, but she didn’t. I cracked a smile as I thought about how crazy our family was, but we were happy. Crazy and happy.

“Clean up your face, sis, and let’s go get it,” Asa urged as he hugged me tightly before he walked out of the room.

I knew they were serious about me walking across that stage. I was surprised that my Uncle Lex didn’t pop up in here. I grabbed my phone and looked at the time. I was running late. It was 2:30 p.m., and graduation was set to start in thirty minutes. Before I could put the phone in my Louis Vuitton clutch purse, it started ringing.

“Hello,” I answered while I pulled the flexi rods out of my head, letting my Brazilian body wave curls drop freely.

“Bitch, why are you not here yet?” Naisha’s voice echoed loudly through my earpiece.

“Aht, aht, bitch, calm all that noise down. You know I’m a drama queen and I got to make my grand appearance like the queen I am.”

“Well, bitch, you need to hurry the hell up. I’m sitting up here by myself.”

“I love you too, bitch! I’m on the wayyyy.”

I hung up and put the phone away. I styled my hair to my liking. My girl Brytanny really did the damn thing with my head. This honey blond lace front was popping. I had gotten my face beat earlier, but after all that crying, my makeup was a bit smeared, so I grabbed my makeup bag and fixed the blemishes.

“Are you ready?” Asa knocked on the door and yelled.

“Yes, bro,” I said as I grabbed my cap and purse. I stepped into my red bottom Louis Vuitton heels, cut the lights off, and exited the room.

We walked out of the house together and took a few pictures. There were several cars packed up, ready to go. I got into my brother’s Charger, and he pulled off. The rest of the cars pulled out behind us.

My brother reached over and grabbed my hands. “Sis, I’ll be right in the crowd rooting for you. Trust me. You goin’ to hear my scream loud and clear,” he said as he rubbed my hand.

I looked over at him and smiled. I was older than Asa by three years, but you couldn’t tell. Standing at about six foot six and pushing about 250 pounds, he quickly eased himself into the big brother role. Asa dropped out of school in the tenth grade and started slanging drugs. It didn’t take any time for his name to ring bells in the street. Older cats showed him respect because of our father’s name, and younger niggas feared him because he was known to be ruthless. To me, he was still my little brother and the only person who understood the pain we shared. Asa wasn’t like me, though. After crying that day we found our parents, he displayed no more emotions. He barely spoke about what happened that day and often got angry when others brought it up.

“Bro, can I ask you a question?”

“Yeah, sure, what’s up?” He took his eyes off the road for a second and glanced over at me.

“Do you ever wonder who killed our parents? I mean, I know the police said it was drug related and never really put too much investigation into it.”

“Sis, I think about it all the time, but niggas ain’t talking or too . . .