Chapter Nineteen
Sammy
I could hear Power cursing and ranting in the next room. He was furious about something. Something bad had happened. He had been on the phone for an hour talking to various people while I was in the bedroom doing my nails and watching cable. We had just finished fucking when his cell phone rang. He saw the name on the caller ID and immediately picked up. It was one of his trusted lieutenants on the other end.
“What?” I had heard Power shout out. “When the fuck this happened? Dodo!”
He had sprung up from my side and gone into the other room. I minded my business, but by the tone of his voice, I knew he was upset and angry. I heard the name Dodo. I had no idea who the fuck he was. My assumption was he was killed last night. I put on my panties and bra and was about to get dressed when Power burst into the room with this sullen look about him.
“Everything okay?” I asked.
“No, everything is not fuckin’ okay,” he snapped at me.
“I was just asking. I’m sorry to even ask.”
“You getting smart with me?” he barked.
“No, I wasn’t.”
He glared at me. He looked like a changed man suddenly. Whatever happened last night he took it to heart and was trying to take it out on me. I didn’t want to argue with him. The past few days had been good with him. I had quit dancing at Crazy Legs and he was taking care of me. But I was also looking for other means of employment /income. I was trying to get back into the studio and record my demo. Power promised he was going to manage me and take me to the top. I heard it all before and I wasn’t about to get caught up in the hype. I wanted to believe him, but when niggas get in their foul moods they start acting funny and promises start to vanish.
Power was in this nasty funk. His attitude became ugly. He started tossing things around, breaking shit, and cursing loudly. He was extremely angry. I figured it was best to stay out of his way. I was leaving. He saw me getting dressed and barked, “Where the fuck you going?”
“I’m leaving,” I spat back.
“Leaving where?”
“It’s obvious you are in a foul mood, but you ain’t gotta take it out on me. Look, I’m sorry whatever happened to ya friend, but don’t blame me,” I said to him.
“You were listening in on my conversation?” he exclaimed.
“No, but you was speaking loud enough for the whole neighborhood to hear.”
He scowled. He charged my way. I braced myself, but he didn’t attack me. He came in my face. “You know what, bitch, get the fuck out then! Leave, bitch!” he shouted heatedly.
“Gladly,” I screamed back.
I started to grab my things in the bedroom and rushed to get dressed. Power started tossing my clothing at me. I swear, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, a case of bipolar at its worst. My shit was scattered all over his bedroom. I snatched up my jacket and shoes, and rushed toward the door with an armful of clothing. I was heated. I was done with him. But the minute I got to the door, Power came running behind me. He was now apologizing.
“Baby, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to take it out on you,” he said with a look of regret aimed at me. “I got some bad news.”
I didn’t want to hear it. He cursed at me. He disrespected me. He called me out of my name and I was supposed to take his bullshit? No!
“Baby,” Power cried out. He grabbed me by my arm trying to stop me from leaving. I jerked myself free from his feeble grip. “Sammy, I need you right now!”
I stopped my exit. I sighed and slowly spun around to face him. This man was over six feet tall and weighed a ton, but the look in his eyes was sincere like a little puppy. He was a notorious figure in the underworld, but yet, he could be as warm and cozy like a teddy bear and funny and intelligent, and he had me opened. I was falling in love with him. When he shouted “I need you,” something came over me. I needed him too.
He stepped forward with his body action looking apologetic. He reached for me; I hesitated in walking toward him. He continued with, “I’m sorry; it’s just some serious shit went down last night and I overreacted toward you. My nigga Dodo was murdered brutally, shot five times in the back of his head.”
“Oh my God,” I uttered.
“Shit is hectic right now. They found him dead with some bitch in the car,” he informed me. “Niggas is ready to retaliate.”
My man needed me. I accepted his apology. It was me now reaching for him and pulling him into my arms to console him. It was no doubt Power was a gangster and a coldhearted killer himself, but the murder of a man named Dodo had him teary-eyed and distraught. I didn’t get it. I was sure Power had seen death before, probably many times over, it came with the game, so why was he so upset about this one?
Power was on his knees in front of me. I was standing over him. He had his arms wrapped around my legs and he let the tears flow. He was crying like a baby.
“Who was Dodo?” I asked.
“He was my cousin and we were close,” he explained tome.
Now I was really saddened.
Power grieved briefly while he kneeled down in front of me. It was a thing to see. I knew he didn’t cry much, and if so, it was definitely not in front of people. It would be considered being weak in front of the wolves. But he let himself go in front of me. I respected him for that. He proved to me that he wasn’t just a coldhearted and emotionless man; he had feelings too, feelings that he displayed in front of me.
I was pleased. And I was going to be there for him.
I spent the morning with Power, but when noon came around he left to handle his business in the streets. I was left alone in his Manhattan apartment, but I needed to get back home to my son. I was worried about Power, but Danny needed me too. Power was on top of the food chain and his clique, the Young Gangster Crew, was at war with the Bronx Mafia Boys. It was bloodshed on the streets and shootings were occurring every day. The police had their hands full; the neighborhood was besieged with violence and terror and they were calling Edenwald “Eden War.”
I couldn’t wait around Power’s place worrying about him. He was a grown man doing grown-man business and he was able to take care of himself. I left and took the train back to the Bronx. If Power needed me, he had my cell phone number. I had other priorities to take care of.
When I got home, the streets were talking heavily about the murders. Dodo was well known and respected and YGC was out in full effect ready to avenge their fallen homeboy. The police were out too, trying to maintain order in a place that felt lawless.
The minute I walked into my building lobby, I was greeted by Kawanda and her friend, Brandy, stepping out of the elevator. The minute Kawanda saw me she hit me with the news.
“Sammy, you heard?” she said.
“Yeah, some nigga named Dodo got killed,” I replied nonchalantly.
“Crystal too,” she said.
I thought I heard her wrong. “What?”
“She was shot in the car wit’ Dodo,” Kawanda told me.
It felt like I got hit by a Mack Truck. The news came so sudden that it almost knocked me off of my feet. Crystal was my friend, my bitch, EBV. We grew up together and now she was dead. My nonchalant attitude suddenly altered into tears of pain and disbelief. I couldn’t believe Crystal was dead. I couldn’t believe someone murdered her. But then again, I could believe it. She wasn’t the first friend murdered and, it was sad to say, I knew she wasn’t going to be the last.
I cried. It was a coincidence that she was murdered with Power’s first cousin. But by who? Whoever killed them both, they had a world of trouble coming their way.