Hood Misfits Volume 3

Genres: African American; African American Urban

Synopsis

Never underestimate a misfit. All Enzo, aka Shawn Banks, and Bianca “Angel” Smith wanted to do was leave any evidence of their old life behind them, but the past has a way of coming back to haunt you.
When international king pin Damien Orlando was taken down, the streets of Atlanta thought DOA’s reign of terror was over, but sometimes even tied up ends can unravel. Step into the underworld of the NFL, where E.N.G.A. takes on a whole new meaning, especially for Angel and Enzo. Neither one of them will be prepared for what happens when murder and mayhem takes to the streets of the ATL once again, pulling them in head first.
Player steps back into the E.N.G.A. world, where both Enzo and Angel will see how far some will go to advance their own agenda.

Release date: September 1, 2015

Publisher: Urban Books

Print pages: 288

Sample

Weariness traveled through every nook and cranny of my body. A wretched spasm of pain cut into me, causing me to lean over in a position that was habitual for me now days. I emptied my stomach, pushing my thinning black hair from my face. I was exhausted as I sat back into the bed to get my breath. I used to have beautiful locs, but after I got stage one cancer, I chopped them off and went through my chemo. That was about two years ago. Now my frizzy mane was back and I was sick yet again, the cancer back to claim its bounty. Life had a funny way of going full circle. I guess it was karma, because my life hadn’t always been perfect.

Glancing at the flat-screen TV that my nephew bought for me, in a condo I knew he stole from a nigga I despised he ever worked for, I turned up the television. A tired smile spread across my face at the thought of how much his thirteen-year-old brother looked like him. Taking care of them again had brought me joy and regret. Regret that I had been too scared to keep them with me when I knew their mother, my sister, was no good for them like I thought she was. The circumstances around her and my nephews was one of the many secrets I’d held on to, one I knew I’d have to tell them soon. The other was one I’d take to my grave.

The reason for that was because I was their true mother. When I had Shawn I was young, only eighteen, when I was violated on my way to my apartment near Decatur. Shawn was the product of that attack and I wasn’t ready to take care of him like I wanted to. Sade was eager to be a mother at twenty-five, so we made an arrangement and she came to the A to pick up Shawn, and took him to Kennesaw, Georgia. She’d travel every summer so I could see Shawn growing up. My little heart was always so smart and it made me proud to watch him become so strong. Those visits were my bread and butter until I learned that my attacker had become invested in having my sister too. He’d found out where she was, attacked her, violated her, and pumped her with drugs, something I didn’t know of until later in Shawn’s life.

By then, my rapist had made a routine of traveling between my sister and me. He’d fuck us both and then found the means to stalk us both to the point that I got tired of running. He destroyed my sister’s womb with drugs, which she continued to use to hide from the pain of him finding her and using us both. I used my gift for words to be my healing tool, even when he got me pregnant again with Drew.

He used my fear to keep me quiet. I shipped my other son off to my sister, hoping that if he hid in Chicago my attacker wouldn’t find them, but I was wrong. He did, and he made her life hell. It wasn’t until years later, when she was dead and police found evidence that it wasn’t an overdose but foul play, that he ended up in prison, where justice found its way into his cell. He had destroyed my sister and me, and I promised he’d never lay his hands on the product of his attacks, ever.

I had kept that secret well, until my sister died. When I moved my nephews home with me, my fears became reality when Shawn was recruited by a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a demon named Dame. I fought hard those days with Shawn, begging him to find a different football camp, one out of state, one away from the Trap, away from a man he had no idea was closer to him than he’d ever know, but it fell on deaf ears. He always had my and my sister’s stubbornness and our ability to be fighters, loyal to family first and others second. That was our weakness, one that had been exploited well in the past, and was now being repeated.

Fear gripped me, but there was nothing I could say. I knew the devil was a lie and he was going to use my . . . my son for his own plan, and he did. Shawn became his reluctant dope boy and his prize budding star in the football camp. I watched it all, heard it all, and no matter how much Shawn tried to hide his budding predatory ways from me, it never worked, because my ears were always in the street. But like any protector, I kept it all to myself, especially the one secret he didn’t want anyone to know, one that broke his soul and heart because of what Dame made him do. One that broke my own heart as well: the death of his best friend Jake’s grandmother, all ordered by Dame through Shawn’s trigger finger.

Those boys were close, and Dame used that knowledge to have Shawn break into Jake’s grandmother’s house, shoot her, then go after Jake. Sadly, it worked, but it broke my son down to his core by the act and he’d never forgiven himself for it. Even with running in the streets by that boy’s side, watching Shawn have the letters E.N.G.A. tatted down the side of his ribcage, that secret ate at him deeply and broke his spirit. I hated Dame’s existence before that, because of where he came from, but I hated him even more after that. There were plenty of times I tried to take him out for it all, like I had done Shawn’s assistant coach, but I couldn’t get close enough without jeopardizing my kids to do so.

Now I lay sick in my thoughts, karma growing in me in the form of cancer, and I prayed that the Lord would just let me stay long enough to protect my kids, because everything I ever did I did for them.

A soft, wet feel of a cloth against my forehead had me glancing up into a set of chocolate brown eyes that warmed my heart. I genuinely loved this kid as if he were also one of mine. I used to make cakes and cookies for him and his granny. I used to sit and listen to her stories she’d share with me, watching her give me recipes of dishes Jake loved, just in case she passed on in her sleep one day. I was to protect him too and I did my best; damn, I did my best. I was the one who saved him from being paralyzed; the pain of the memories always left me crying, so now I lay looking into that angel of death’s face, muttering, “Forgive me.”

I knew when a flash of anger and hurt spread across his face that he was really there, and the shock had me sitting up abruptly in confusion.

“You are supposed to be dead, baby boy. I . . .”

Any anger that was once in his face now faded away with wisdom I hadn’t expected, and he leaned down to settle me back in bed and kissed my hot brow. “No, ma’am. Sometimes the Lord has other plans; and I see you were a part of that always, too, huh?”

Fresh hot tears trickled down and I realized I had made a confession I hadn’t intended to.

“There is no vengeance in my heart for what you just told me. That nigga Dame planned it all. But he’s maggot bait now. I can’t kill my fam for something he had no control over. I learned that lesson awhile ago.”

Head bowing, my arms wrapped around him to hold him tight, his deep voice felt like healing balm to me, and I cried.

“Besides, I see the pain in you and him changed you both, made you sick; and now from what you just told me, I want to burn that nigga’s dad’s grave. I got you always Tía Shy, that’s why I’m here.”

A loving smile warmed my cheeks as he wiped at my tears. I saw beside him a cake and a thick envelope. “I cried for days, baby boy. Don’t you ever do that to me again, kid!”

He chuckled low, crinkles forming near his eyes, even as a smile spread across his thick, bushy beard. “Yes, ma’am, I’ll make sure not to. Look what I have for you.” He turned his back and showed me the cake I had spotted. “Got you this caramel cake because I remembered how you liked them. My baby girl can burn in the kitchen so she made it. I just tasted it.” He chuckled as he held my hand.

“Your baby girl? Well, tell her I said thank you and next time you visit you bring her here so I can give her a hug.” I chuckled. I patted the back of Jake’s hand, swallowing my tears.

“Yes, ma’am. I will. I wanted to see you and give you that while I was in town,” he explained.

The little boy I used to call a teddy bear was now a grown man, so changed. I could see familiar pains in his eyes. I could tell he had gone through hell, something I was familiar with.

“How did you find us?” I asked him.

“I’m always watching my fam, the ones I trained,” he simply stated. “I’m set up in a way that will help you. Right now, just listen. After what you just told me, you really want to listen. There’s money, a cell phone for you that connects directly to me, and a set of keys in that envelope for you and Drew. We are going to pack you up and get you outta here. For now it’s best we get you in a place to heal you up and get that cancer out, Tía Shy, while keeping you and Drew from the fallout.”

My mind immediately understood what he was trying to say. “So just because Dame is dead doesn’t mean his agenda is?”

Jake gave a slight nod, cut me up a piece of cake, and watched me carefully savor it. “You’re right, and y’all being in Dame’s old spot ain’t going to work for long but we got it covered. So Enzo can stay here do his thing so not to cause too much suspicion. We want to make sure nothing happens to you two while Enzo covers all his bases. Right now, just you and Drew will be moved to a new place, and we’ll move you out in a way where watching eyes can’t catch ya, trust me.”

I studied his expression. His gait was in a protective position, all love and trust, and I knew he’d protect my babies, so I agreed. “Okay, whatever I have to do, I’ll do it. Let us stay a little bit and we’ll move there, so Shawn can get his game play ready.”

“I can respect that. I’ll set up some nurses you can trust. I know one who healed poison from my boy. You know him.” Jake smirked.

My eyes widened and I almost choked on my cake, because I definitely did know him. He’d come to our house from time to time, too, to rest his head when he didn’t trust it in Dame’s setups. I asked, “Will I get to see him?”

“Yes, ma’am, if we can get you all outta here quickly and let Enzo do him in the game. We’re just moving you out of here to a safe spot in Atlanta. You won’t be too far, until we get you settled in your therapy,” he explained.

My hand covered his again, and a knock then a peeking of Drew’s head in the room let me know our conversation needed to be cut off at the pass. Drew knew some of the streets but I was proud that he still was a kid at the same time.

“Okay, baby boy, I’ll explain it when I see him. He’s at drill, and will be going to some party later tonight,” I explained. I quickly continued, when I saw him stand, “And you’re not going to kill my baby?”

Jake turned, his hands clenching before relaxing. “No. Dame did that shit to wound us both. Enzo loved my gram too, just like I love you, Tía. Him and me are fam, and it’s all love. I just got to fuck him up later but it’s all love; he’s E.N.G.A. just like you used to tell us back when we were kids. You created us. I got you for life even if I ever die.”

Rocko’s “U.O.E.N.O.” sounded from Jake’s pocket. He dug into it, then gave a quick glance at his cell before looking up to give me a reassuring smile. He stepped forward to pull Drew in with a hard tug. He snaked his muscle-thick arm around my son, a boy who thought I was his aunt, and they laughed and joked.

“Your secret is mine, but I do have two people I need to tell: Trigga and my boss. They need to know that because we have someone you all need to meet,” Jake said, before setting Drew down.

I didn’t understand who we had to meet, but to keep us safe, I had to trust that. “Okay. No one else please.”

“On my word. Love you, Tía; rest up or else I’ll be hurt about it. We need you healthy because who else will be my seed’s nana?” He gave me a gentle smile while standing in the doorway and I smiled, knowing he had found love and created life. “I got some of your stuff with me. We’ll meet again.”

Drew followed him out and that was the last I saw of Jake for now.

This life was karma, but eventually healing can come. That was proof in the words of a young man who always looked out for us, just as I did for them. I was the gatekeeper; that was my agenda.

I recognized his face as soon as I saw him walk onto the field for practice. I didn’t want to remember him. Shit, I didn’t want him to remember me either. In fact, a bitch had wanted to run as far away from her old life as she could. But life didn’t always work the way you wanted it to. I could tell by the way his eyes had lingered on me for just a second too long that the recognition was there for both of us.

“Best keep your eyes off the players,” a feminine voice echoed in my ear.

I looked to the right of me and saw another dancer, only this one was male and he was a Bounce Girl too. I mean, you may as well have called him a girl. He was just as feminine as I was. Tino was a light-skinned slim dude who you could tell had been fucked in the ass most of his life.

I shrugged. “Was only looking.”

He stood and switched over to grab some water then switched back. “Rule number one, baby girl, the players are off-limits.”

“Oh, I don’t want not one of those niggas. You know where my head is.”

“Bitch, you better not let Micah find out you robbing these niggas dry like you do,” he said then laughed.

I smirked. “The only way he’ll know is if you tell him,” I said then smiled.

Although I was smiling, I could tell that Tino could see the predatory look in my eyes. I could tell by the way he tilted his head and raised his brows at me. It warned him that if I even suspected he snitched me out, I would find a way to take his life.

Tino put his hands on his hips. “You know, bitch, I see that sneaky side of the game in you. You’re pretty as fuck, but you got some secrets under this bad-ass body and pretty face. What’s your story?” he asked.

I glanced back at the field to the player who had just happened to be glancing at me, then back to Tino and shrugged. “We all got a past, right? Do you want me to go asking why a man as fine as you is gayer than Elton John at a gay pride parade?”

A darkness overtook Tino’s features for a nanosecond until he caught himself. He gave a tight-lipped smile and said, “You got that.”

“I know.”

“Oh, if you really wanna make bank, it’s best you get your ass to that party Micah invited you to tonight.”

I rolled my eyes. “The only reason Micah invited me is because he keeps trying to get me to sell my pussy.”

Tino gave a girlish chuckle. “You should be used to it.”

That was all he said as he smirked and walked off. I kept his smart comment in the back of my mind. Although it had made me nervous, it also told me to stay on my toes around him. Since practice was over, I started grabbing my towels and water bottle so we could head back to the locker room. Sometimes it was a hassle for me to keep my past a secret. The only way Tino found out was because he and I had been out to lunch when the manager of Magic had come through the place we had been dining. I couldn’t deny that I used to be a dancer when the manager stood at our table for at least thirty minutes trying to get me to come back and shake my ass for him. The life I had led for the past four years was not one I had planned for myself.

As I walked toward the double doors, I felt someone behind me. I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. Although each of us played it off as if we were headed in different directions, we both knew what was up. There were still dancers and other people milling about and none of them knew that the two people mingling amid them had a grimy past: one of us a well-seasoned whore at eighteen and another a killer ex-drug dealer. When he passed me, he was close enough to brush against my shoulder. He was sweaty and looked tired as he took deep breaths. He had been out there running drills like he was in a real game, all so the sponsors could see what a hot commodity he was to the team. I looked up at the man who had once protected me and, in both of our eyes, a night we would never forget flashed.

It was easy to remember the face of the last man I’d seen from Dame’s camp on the night his reign of terror ended. I didn’t know his name right off the bat then. Dame had so many niggas running in and out the Trap you never knew if you would see the same one twice unless they were in his inner circle. The only reason this one stood out was because he had a bull nose piercing with a small horseshoe-type ring. He had a patch of hair growing on his chin. The hair on his head sat in a cut with tight, thick, silky curls; and although his square jaw line rocked a light five o’clock shadow it was his long, thick eyebrows and brown eyes that gave him a baby face look.

“Time for your set, Angel,” was all he said to me.

Gina and I were the only two in the club who came with our own bodyguards, and while I missed having the security knowing Jake was protecting me, since the dude came recommended by Jake I was okay. I nodded at him and told him I’d be out in a minute. He turned to leave. The rest of the girls and I all sat talking about all the craziness that had been going on since the new girl, Ray-Ray, had been brought in. Shorty was a fighter, and until Dame had damn near beat her to death in his room, she had countered every measure he had set against her to break her in.

Most of us were still laughing when the words, “Dame’s dead,” echoed around the room.

Those words played over and over in my head. I’ll never forget that night at the City. I wasn’t even supposed to work the pole that night, but something in the air just told me to make it my business to get the hell out of that house. That, along with Jake telling a couple of the girls and me that it was imperative we head to work that night.

I had been snatched off the street on my way to church when I was fourteen. Dame was ruthless in his pursuit of me. Every time I’d seen him, he was trying to get me in his ride with him or to talk to him or something. I wasn’t like those other girls entranced by his good looks or by the cars, the lifestyle he was into. I was simply a fourteen -year-old girl keeping her head in books and school like my grams told me to. I guess what they say is true: eventually most little black girls become a product of their environment.

Back then I used to live off of Garden Walk Boulevard in Riverdale. That place was the hood if you ever saw one. The street was lined with apartments and duplexes on both sides. Some gave off the façade that they were upscale, while others looked as if they were falling apart. The violence there was rampant and, just like most major cities plagued by crime, there was a no-snitching policy. Dame had the whole Clay Co in a death grip. It had gotten so bad in the area with violence that at one point someone was being raped and killed daily. The thing with Garden Walk was that you didn’t know it was the hood from the outside looking in. You’d have to be living there to know the hell that lived within.

That particular night Dame had people snatch me, my grams had been sick and we were having a revival at the church that week. She couldn’t drive but told me I could go ahead and walk to the church since it was only about ten minutes away walking. I was happy about it because that night was going to be the night me and the mime team did our little routine. Being on the praise team was something that I enjoyed doing so much at the time. I was a differen. . .