“Wow.” Was all Netta managed to say.
“I’m so glad you got your shit together and got your head on straight…Ain’t nothing out here in Baltimore but trouble. I wish you nothing but the best in Atlanta,” she said with finality, sad that she would never see Netta again.
Unable to control her emotions, Netta threw he arms around the woman and gently embraced her. “I owe you so much, Ms. Tina. Thank you for everything you’ve ever done for me.”
Quickly the tears began flowing between the two women as they shared a very intimate moment.
“Nothin’ is gonna change between us,” Netta assured her. “No matter where I go or what I do, you will always be family.”
All at once Netta’s mind began to fixate on all the special moments that they shared in this house. The birthdays, all the holidays, Thanksgivings and Christmases. She would always cherish those wonderful times there, when she allowed herself to relive those memories. This house and these people who occupied it would always have a special place in her heart. No matter how far away she moved.
It was a good three hours before Netta emerged from the home and hopped into an awaiting cab. Her first coherent thought was she was going to spend the entire night wide awake, unable to sleep. She was happy, but she’d be even happier this time tomorrow when they were on the highway.
Netta knew that she would be too excited to sleep. She was looking forward to the move.
As the cab slowly drove off, headed back to Owings Mills to take Netta home, a few cars down a non descript late model car pulled out of a parking space and proceeded to follow her. At the wheel was Stink, Black’s younger brother. He stayed a discreet distance behind the cab to avoid Netta’s detection. He wasn’t there to harm Netta, not yet anyway. His role was to observe and report his findings back to his brother.
On the other hand, Tone had taken all the necessary precautions to be safe, carrying a gun at all times. Being cautious, not driving straight home. Constantly looking in the mirror to make sure he wasn’t being followed. But even with those safety measures in place, he still wasn’t completely safe. His significant other, Netta, undid all that with a quick trip to the hood.
Netta had only herself to blame for this. Her surprise visit wasn’t a surprise at all. Netta had called ahead to make sure Ms. Tina was home. She in turn got in touch with Mimi and tried to convince her to come see Netta. Her daughter declined. However, what she did do was pass the information on to Black that Netta would be dropping by. He paid her handsomely for the information with some dope.
“I just seen that bitch Netta, yo. She put some shit in a U-Haul truck parked in her parking lot. It’s a big truck. I think they moving somewhere, yo. I bet it’s outta town. We gotta get’em now. I’m tellin’ you, yo. What you want me to do?” Stink said to his brother Black.
“What did I tell you to do?” Black asked. “It’s time to take care of business and get rid of all of these whores, yo.”
It took every ounce of self-restraint for Black not to get right back at Tone. He wasn’t trying to go back to jail, he knew if he set another foot in a Baltimore courthouse, for anything, least of all a murder or an attempted murder charge, he may not ever see the light of day again. So instead of engaging Tone in a shootout, Black hatched a plan to kill him, Mann, Netta and Mimi simultaneously.
Black did the smart thing, just watching, waiting and bidding his time. He had people following both Netta and Tone. So he was aware of their every move. Meanwhile, Mimi was being baby-sat around the clock by a host of workers, keeping her high as hell, tucked away in a stash house.
However, now was the time to strike. There were no temporary solutions ... everyone had to die.
Mann exited the stash house using the back door, under the cloak of darkness of the alleyway. Although he was visually alert for whatever he might encounter out of the ordinary. Mentally, he was elsewhere. His mind was on seizing control of Tone’s drug operation. For once in his life, Mann would be the boss. He smiled at the mere thought of that.
At any minute Mann expected to reach his vehicle and head home, just like he always did at the end of the day. This time it was different, he was in a celebratory mood, he wasn’t in the mood to use his brain in any sort of capacity, except for drinking, smoking and sex. As soon a he got home he was going to indulge in all three things. His girl was already home waiting on him with the liquor, weed and some good pussy. Now all Mann had to do was get there.
Mann emerged from the alleyway. His eyes quickly scanned the immediate area to the left and to his right, not a soul was in sight. He continued walking the short distance to his car, a black Toyota Cressida. He admired the freshly detailed vehicle as he approached, it seemed to sparkle underneath the street light. He clicked the remote, unlocking the car from a short distance away. Mann entered the dark tinted interior and stuck his key in the ignition. Just as he began to turn the key, he heard a voice in the back seat.
“This from Black,” Stink snapped. “You whore!”
Quickly, seven
