WHEN CHINA PULLED up to the Martin County Jail, it was just hitting 5:00 p.m., and she knew that was the time Smooth would be coming off lockdown.
“Perfect timing!” she said as she exited the Benz SUV and walked toward the jail.
Staring at the many small windows of the jail, China wondered which one was Smooth’s cell and if he could see her walking up to reception. It was her third time visiting him since his incarceration, and these same thoughts would always run through her head.
Once inside, China approached the receptionist and waited patiently for the receptionist to attend to her. It took every bit of five minutes, and China felt disrespected standing and waiting for the receptionist to come take her name.
These bitches about to make me stunt up in this bitch! China thought, with a mean look on her face.
“Sorry, ma’am, may I help you?” the receptionist said over the microphone.
“Yes, I’m here to visit inmate Donavan Johnson,” China said with an attitude.
“Give me a moment, please,” the receptionist said as she looked in her computer for Smooth’s location.
China stood a long minute before the receptionist came back on the mic.
“Ma’am, booth 27. He will be there shortly.”
“Thanks!” China replied as she rolled her eyes at the heavy-set black woman and strutted away to the visiting lobby.
These muthafuckas would make me get Miami on them in this bitch! China thought as she found booth 27, sat down, and waited for Smooth to show.
When Smooth came through the door and saw China waiting for him, he knew beyond any doubt that his baby was indeed pregnant. It was evident from her weight gain. Her cheeks were getting chubby, and her nose was getting fat, he noticed.
“Damn, baby! You could have told me that I was looking for a new China. You’re already picking up weight,” Smooth said to her with a smile on his face when he picked up the phone.
“And yo ass must be stressing or you’re getting your food taken, because you’re losing weight!” China said as she took notice of his decreasing weight, that he wasn’t aware of himself.
“Never that! I’m eating like a hog, and I’ll kill a nigga trying to take anything from me,” Smooth said.
“I know you would. So how are you, and has the lawyer come to see you yet?”
“Nah, that useless muthafucka ain’t come see me in two weeks as of today.”
“Well, we’ll just get you another lawyer. One from Miami this time. I don’t trust these people up here,” China said.
“That’ll be nice. Last time I did see him, he wanted me to plea out to twenty-five years, telling me I had no hope for trial,” Smooth informed her.
“Smooth, twenty-five years? What is he thinking, and why are you just telling me this shit?”
“Because, China, I don’t need you stressing. It’s not good for the baby,” Smooth replied.
“You being gone twenty-five years out of our life is supposed to feel better, Smooth?” she asked as tears fell from her eyes like a stream.
“Baby, I’m not getting twenty-five years. That was only the first offer, which will go down with the right mouthpiece,” Smooth said, making her calm down.
“Baby, are you preparing to do time?” China asked as she wiped her eyes.
“Baby, I don’t know how this shit will play out. I was set up, and the only good thing is I know who set me up!” Smooth announced, giving China an impish smile as she caught onto his intentions.
“Oh really?” China replied, with a smile on her face.
“Without him, there’s no case, huh?”
“At least half of it, baby,” Smooth admitted.
Smooth was still stuck with possession of the one hundred kilos the feds found in the Range Rover stash spot. But with the snitch incapable of testifying, Smooth could shake the probable cause and make the state attorney yield a sweet deal or drop the case.
“Is he local?” China asked.
Smooth nodded his head up and down.
“Yeah, so listen to me careful, China. I need you to locate Rebecca’s brother and have him come see me so I can deal with this nigga,” Smooth told her.
China was ready to do anything to help Smooth come home to his family.
“Where the hell do I find him? Does Sue Rabbit know?”
“No! They never met, something I intentionally did,” Smooth said.
“Smart, I guess,” China stated.
“Something like that! But to find him, look up Eric Spencer. He’s an ex-militant.”
“I know, baby. I got the name. So, I guess this is some good damn news, baby,” China smiled.
“Yeah, I want to talk to you about something else, China.”
“Why does it sound like it’s not my cup of tea now?” she said.
“It may not be, baby. But I need you. Sue Rabbit is my second-in-command, baby.”
“And?” China said, with sarcasm in her voice.
“Please hear me out, China. Damn! Let’s not turn this visit into a damn battlefield,” Smooth said while China held a pout on her face.
“What is it, Smooth?”
“Like I was saying, Sue Rabbit is my second-in-command. I need you to make a trip and get double quantity.”
Is this nigga out of his mind? China thought, realizing that Smooth was asking her to venture into the dope game.
“Smooth, do you realize that we’re about to be a family, or is you just saying fuck that?” China asked with an attitude.
I knew this shit wasn’t going to be easy, Smooth thought, biting down on his teeth and trying to bridle his anger. “China, all I’m asking is you to help me out. A nigga got niggas that…”
“Smooth, it’s all about your niggas. Don’t you know that’s what separated us the first time?” she exploded.
“China, what separated us is your damn stubbornness. I’ve worked hard to build what I have in them streets. I can’t leave my niggas starving because I’m incarcerated. All I’m asking is for you to carry my load, baby, and watch my back. China, come on!”
“Smooth, I have your back like nobody else. Don’t even go there with me!” China said sternly.
“Then continue to have my back. If you don’t want to do it, pay for a driver, baby.”
“You’re still asking me to do something I just don’t want any part of, Smooth! You’re not getting the picture!” she explained.
“So you’re telling me to just say fuck Sue Rabbit, huh?”
“Them are your words, Smooth, not mine!”
“But they’re your actions, China! Who do you think had my back when you were in prison?” he asked.
“Smooth, you damn near got killed. Where was he at then, huh?”
“Woman! You’re so damn stubborn!”
“Fuck you, Smooth! The only stubborn muthafucka I see is you! Why won’t you just leave that shit alone?”
“I will when I make it home, China. I promise,” Smooth told her sincerely.
Smooth was serious, and China knew him too well to doubt him. When he said something, then he was a man of his word.
“Are you sure, Smooth?” she asked.
“Yes, baby. I’m sure. But until I get there, I’m still in charge of the streets, China, despite your unwillingness to take any part in it. We stepped in this shit together, and I’m not throwing no dirt in your face. I’m just saying I need you to help me continue to stack this paper. I’m giving you my word, China, that when I jump, I’m out of the game. And it’s just gonna be about us, baby—our family. Just please help me out until I can get there and hand everything over to Sue Rabbit,” Smooth begged.
China looked at Smooth and saw in his eyes that he was serious.
He’s making a promise to me, China thought. With Smooth operating from jail, at least I don’t have to worry about losing him to a bullet by one of his enemies.
“You come home and you’re done, Smooth!” China said, staring him in his eyes.
“Done!” Smooth agreed.
“Let me sleep on this, Smooth. I’ll make up my mind and see if I’m gonna do it or not.”
“That’s fair!” Smooth said, bridling his excitement.
He knew that if China had to sleep on a decision, her mind was already made. What he didn’t know was that he was putting her and their child in danger.
* * *
Stone sat in his cell and couldn’t believe how his workers were giving him up along with Smooth. Stone knew Smooth’s real name well, unlike his workers who he had listened to on a tape just hours before in an integration room giving up Smooth’s street name like it was nothing.
I can’t believe these soft-ass niggas just turned state on me! Stone thought angrily while pacing in his cell.
It was midnight, and his cellmate was asleep. His bodyguards and two lieutenants were sure to pay for their infidelity. He had looked out for all of them equally and fairly.
I gave them niggas anything they asked for. For them to cross me at the end, mon! he reflected.
He needed to get out, but he had no bail and a lengthy federal indictment. In spite of all the restraints, Stone still had connections to make all his betrayers pay for their disloyalty.
I just need to get in contact with my man, to handle business without these muthafuckas listening to me conversation, mon, Stone thought as he stood at the cell’s door and stared out into the wing.
He could hear a couple toilets flushing every few minutes, which indicated that he wasn’t the only one up thinking of a way out of federal housing unit 9, where everyone was looking at thirty to life on major federal charges.
I gotta get in contact with my boy and let him know that the streets are setting him up, mon, Stone thought to inform Smooth without tipping the feds off to his location and identity.
* * *
“Damn, baby, this dick is good!” Roxy purred as Sue Rabbit pounded her hard from the back.
Roxy’s face was buried in her silk pillow, and she had pulled all the sheets off their king-sized bed.
“Yes, daddy! Beat this pussy!” Roxy demanded while throwing her pussy back into Sue Rabbit’s deep penetration.
She was using her pussy muscles at the same time, blowing Sue Rabbit’s mind; he loved the tricks her pussy could do. It was the best pussy he had since being in Miami, and the pussy that made him leave his sideline bitches alone. Sue Rabbit surprised himself at how he fast he fell for Roxy. There was no doubt that he had found a queen among queens.
She had her head on her shoulders and wanted Sue Rabbit to fall back from the dope game. She was about to open two more Roxy’s soul food restaurants between North Miami and the keys. Business was sprouting, and she needed help from her man on how to manage it.
“Oh shit, baby! I’m coming!” Roxy shouted as she came to a mind-blowing orgasm.
“Arrrgghhh, shit!” Sue Rabbit groaned, exploding his seed deep inside of Roxy’s pussy, matching her orgasm.
Roxy squeezed Sue Rabbit’s dick with her pussy muscles until he was done sending all his seed up her tunnel. He then collapsed onto the bed all sweaty and panting.
“So you’re tired now, huh?” Roxy asked as she climbed on top of him and lay on his chest.
“Tired isn’t the word, baby. Because I’ll never get tired of making love to you,” Sue said breathlessly.
“Me either, baby. I can’t get tired of you, baby,” Roxy replied as she leaned over and softly kissed Sue Rabbit on his lips.
“Baby, I need to ask you something, and I need your honest advice too.”
“What is it, baby?”
“Okay,” Roxy started as she sat up, straddled Sue Rabbit, and then looked deep into his eyes. “I’m about to open up two more restaurants, but after I pay for them to be built, it will be all the money I’ve saved up to make this happen. Am I making a smart decision by using up all my savings to invest in two more restaurants? Or do I need to save up some backup money? The thing is, I feel that if I don’t do it, then I’m leaving open an opportunity for someone new to take over, baby, and I don’t want that!” Roxy explained.
“Listen, baby,” Sue Rabbit began, moving Roxy’s hair out of her face. She threw back her head and slung her hair onto her back. “Baby, when your mind tells you to plan, you plan. And when your heart tells you to execute, then you execute, baby. You’ve been saving your money to invest since the moment you planned on opening up two more restaurants. Now you have it, baby. So all you have to do is trust in your investment, the same way you trusted in saving up for your investment. Now will be a wonderful time to expand your business. But are you ready to step up your game? That’s the ultimate question to ask yourself,” Sue told Roxy, who smiled because she always loved the way Sue wouldn’t sugarcoat anything for her.
“Yes, baby. I’m ready,” Roxy replied.
“Then I will be there with you every step of the way, baby,” Sue Rabbit promised.
“Thank you, baby,” Roxy said, being touched by his words.
“Baby, I have something else that I want to talk about,” Roxy added.
“What is it?”
“Are you planning to retire from the game and come help me manage the restaurants? It’d be nice to have you over at least one of them,” Roxy suggested.
“Leaving the game alone is in my plans, and sooner than you think, Roxy. Just give me a little more time, and I promise you that I’m retiring from the game.”
“So you’re really thinking about letting it go, huh?”
“It can’t last forever. And we fall short by believing that it does,” Sue Rabbit told her.
“I wish Smooth could have seen it like you, baby. Now he’s caught in a sticky situation, and there ain’t no telling when he’ll be home,” Roxy said.
“He’ll be home. Just got to find him a good-ass lawyer. Me and Guru are trying our best!” Sue Rabbit informed Roxy.
“Is there any way I can help? Smooth helped me start up this business. There’s gotta be something I can do,” Roxy said.
“That’s sweet of you, baby, but Smooth is being well taken care of. When you get a chance, just write him a letter and express your gratitude,” Sue Rabbit suggested.
“Okay, baby. I will do that.”
“And instead of two restaurants, we’re gonna open up four of them!” Sue Rabbit exclaimed.
“But I only have money for two at the moment,” Roxy reminded him.
“Well, now you have enough for four of them at my expense. And by the time I do retire, we’ll have Roxy’s soul food restaurants all throughout South Florida,” Sue stated. “Daddy is here for the long ride and will be happy to help you make your dream a reality.”
Roxy was at a loss for words. But she now understood what her mother GaGa meant when she said that God brings people into each other’s life for a reason.
Sue Rabbit is definitely my soul mate and the man who God has sent into my life to help me, Roxy thought as tears fell from her eyes—tears of joy and real happiness.
“I love you, Trayvon,” Roxy said.
“I love you too, Roxy. Trust me! We will see it through,” Sue Rabbit promised her as he guided his again-erect dick inside of Roxy’s wet pussy and made love to her once again, until dawn came upon them, and then Roxy had to get ready for work.