The man gently placed the three pistols Murder had given him into a metal crate, then slowly lowered them into the barrel. The liquid bubbled and sizzled for a couple minutes before making the guns disappear. He then pointed to the arsenal of weapons behind him and said, “Take your pick. What would you like this time?”
Murder quickly wrapped up his business and led me back out to the alley. Once we were safely back in the car, I turned to him and said, “What was that all about?”
“Don’t worry about it, ma. That’s not for you. The only reason I let you come inside is because it was dark and I didn’t want you in the car for that long. That’s the last thing I need is to fuck a nigga up over you in the middle of Queens. You still hungry?”
“Nah, I’m alright. I’m tired now anyway,” I lied. I just wanted to get back to Anisa and find out what the fuck was up. She knew exactly what Murder was into, and now I was curious too, but before we got out of the car, Murder grabbed my arm.
“Yo, Miamor,” he said.
“Yeah?” I looked back at him and noticed the serious expression he had on his face.
“I know you and Anisa are close and I would never come between that, but I need you to keep what you saw tonight to yourself, a’ight?”
The way he looked at me wasn’t menacing or intimidating, but sincere, as if I held his life in my hands. I knew that it was important to him. I had never kept a secret from my sister in my life. She was my other half, and I owed her everything, whereas I owed Murder nothing. But for some strange reason, I nodded my head in agreement.
Chapter Four
Months passed, and as Anisa and I grew closer, so did Murder and me. Anisa and I spent day in and day out together. She was my love, and although I wasn’t a little girl who followed everything that she did, I still admired her greatly.
Most days we were shopping or taking day trips to the spa. The notion of getting a job was never an option, because Murder made it clear that his lady didn’t need a job, and said that since I was just like Anisa, he was claiming me too. So I wasn’t to lift a finger. The only thing I did was count his money. The average chick would have been jealous of how close Murder and I had become. I rode shotgun in his car more than Anisa did, but she wasn’t tripping because it wasn’t like that. Anisa never planned on being with Murder long term. She was just ‘riding the wave', she would say. When the ride was over, she was getting off. She would always say that there was no room for love in the life he was living, and since he always said he was never giving it up, they maintained a relationship. They pledged that they would never get too serious. He looked out for her though, and I knew he would do anything for her, because in the short amount of time he’d known me, he gave me his all. He called me his “lil’ mama” and kept me grounded, because he said fucking around with Anisa, I was becoming a diva.
All in all, life was good, but I still had no idea exactly what Murder did to fund the lifestyle. All I knew is that when that phone rang, it meant money. Sometimes after answering it, he would be gone for days, but when he’d come back, I’d have a whole lot of new faces to count-big faces-Ben Franklins.
Before I knew it, I had been out for a year, and my birthday was rolling around. Anisa had spoken to Murder about throwing me a party, and although he wasn’t really feeling the idea, he consented anyway. I was turning nineteen and feeling myself more than ever. The past year of my life had been amazing, and I couldn’t wait to celebrate.
Murder rented out a trilevel loft in Brooklyn and invited the entire ‘hood out to the affair. He even paid Young Jeezy to perform.
As I dressed for my big night, I oiled my body down and applied body shimmer before putting on a chocolate Fendi dress with gold braided straps that crisscrossed in the rear, revealing my toned back. My wide hips, flat stomach, and shapely behind had the dress hugging me precisely. My gold stiletto Zanotti’s and gold matching clutch were the perfect accessories. The dress was short, and completely opposite of my normal attire. I was usually geared, always fresh with skinny jeans and a cute blouse or top with heels, but that night, I was getting my grown woman on from head to toe, leaving very little to the imagination. My hair was curled and hung down my back, while my makeup was professionally done and gave me a dramatic smoky look.
As I sat on the bed and fastened the ankle strap on my shoe, Anisa walked in. Her strut was runway flawless and her dress effortlessly sexy. “You look like a grown ass woman, Mia,” she complimented with a smile.
“I’ve been that, you didn’t know?” I asked with a smile to match.
Anisa pulled a Tiffany box from behind her back and handed it to me. “Happy birthday, Miamor! I love you!”
I opened it and gasped at the diamond necklace and matching tennis bracelet. “Thank you, Anisa!” I said with a big hug.
Anisa laughed and replied, “I had to give you my gift first. Murder’s gift to you is shitting all over mine.”
“I highly doubt that.” I put the necklace and bracelet on just as Murder knocked on the door. I didn’t show it, but I was excited to see what my big bro, Murder had gotten me. I couldn’t imagine that anything topping Anisa’s gift though.
“It’s time to-” he stopped mid-sentence and nodded his head in approval when he saw me, as if my appearance had taken him by surprise. “You look beautiful, sis. Happy birthday!”
“Thanks,” I blushed. “Is it time to go?”
He nodded and held out his arm for me. I grabbed it and walked out with him, with Anisa trailing behind us. We were almost out the door when Murder’s business line began to ring. He stopped mid-step.
“Murder, come on! Not tonight!” Anisa said, raising her eyebrows in annoyance.
“You’re right,” he said. He kissed her on the side of the cheek. “It’s about Miamor tonight.”
I let Anisa walk ahead and I whispered to Murder, “Go ‘head and get it. I’ll keep her on ice for you,” I said, knowing that if Murder didn’t answer the call, he would be thinking about the money he had missed for the whole night.
“Cool,” he said almost as if he was relieved, and he rushed to the phone and picked it up.
I talked to Anisa on the way down to the car, and told her that he had to go use the restroom to distract her. Moments later, Murder came rushing down the stairs and caught up with us. He winked his eye at me to say thanks, and we got in his car and headed to the party.
We arrived at the club, and the line was out the door. It was ridiculous the amount of people who had come out. Undoubtedly, they weren’t all there for me. I didn’t fuck with anybody, and I had no friends besides my sister and Murder, but just the fact that the place was packed in my honor pleased me. We stepped out of the limo with a million eyes fixed on us. We bypassed the line and walked straight in, making our way to V.I.P. I felt like a celebrity, and I was all smiles, and so was Anisa.
Murder had an uncomfortable look on his face as he escorted us in. I could tell he was uncomfortable around all the people. His head was on a swivel, and his arm stayed tucked in his hoody, palming his pistol as we entered. That nigga never took a day off! He was always on his toes, and I had to respect it.
The entire place was decorated in turquoise and white. There were already bottles of Cris, Remy Louis XII Grand Cognac, and bottles of Mo spread out in ice buckets around my spot. The music was already at screaming level, and the party was going at full blast.