The Cartel Deluxe Edition Read online

  Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock!

  Aries opened the door.

  “We need to talk,” Miamor stated gravely without even offering a hello. “Is Robyn here?”

  “Yeah, I think she in she room. What’s wrong? You crying?” Aries asked in astonishment.

  Miamor stormed past Aries and took a seat on their love seat. She placed her Gucci clutch next to her. Her cell phone rang. It was Carter calling her. She knew that he was calling to make sure she was okay. He had stayed the night at her place the night before, but as soon as daylight crept through her curtains, she got up and rushed to see her friends.

  She sent him to voice mail and then looked up at Aries. “I can’t do this anymore, Aries. It’s over. This entire plan is done.”

  “What?” Aries shouted. “What do you mean, over? Why? What happened?”

  “That nigga done got up in her head, that’s what happened.” Robyn suddenly emerged from her bedroom and leaned against the wall. “Am I right, Miamor? That is why you want to quit, ain’t it?”

  “I just can’t do this anymore, Robyn. I can’t do Carter dirty like that.”

  “What you mean, you can’t do him like that? Oh, but you don’t have a problem doing us dirty?”

  “You’re not the one in his face every day, Robyn. I’m fucking him! I know him, and he doesn’t deserve this. I won’t make him pay for his family’s mistakes. I don’t want to see him hurt. When does it end? I kill him or somebody in his family then they retaliate and kill another one of us. What happens after that? Huh? It doesn’t bring Anisa back!”

  “Miamor, he stole your sister from you.”

  “Don’t even waste your breath, Aries. She had her mind made up who she was picking as soon as she walked through the door. We don’t need her. We’ll do it ourselves.”

  “Shut the fuck up, Robyn! You don’t know shit! It’s over, plain and fucking simple. Don’t nothing move unless I say so! Ain’t shit changed! You know the deal, so stop playing yourself. And don’t pretend that you are all about the crew. You’re in this for the money. This has nothing to do with my sister. Carter has already gotten to Ma’tee. There is no more beef. It’s squashed. The bounty probably ain’t even good anymore, so you ain’t losing nothing. I’m out,” Miamor yelled as she walked toward the door. She knew that she had taken it a little too far by accusing Robyn of not caring for Anisa. It was a low blow, and she knew that it wasn’t entirely true, but her anger had spoken for her.

  Miamor was resentful because it was always herself and Anisa that acted as the leaders. Robyn and Aries just followed suit, which meant they always played the back, while Miamor and her sister put themselves in harm’s way. She wasn’t trying to end up in the dirt anytime soon, so she was going to walk away . . . breathing.

  “So that’s it? You gon’ choose him over us after all we’ve been through?”

  “What do you want me to do, Robyn? This is it! This shit is a wrap! Aries, if you want to take it the same way, you can. It is what it is. I love you guys. You’re my sisters, but I’m in love with him, Aries. I didn’t mean for it to happen, and I didn’t want to give him my heart, but I did. Yes, his family is responsible for Anisa’s death, but how many people have we brought the same fate? We have to take responsibility for the role we played in this. We all knew it was possible. We just got caught slipping. That is something that I will regret for the rest of my life, but I won’t make him pay for it.”

  Miamor stormed out of the house with a heavy heart. She knew that Aries would eventually forgive her, but Robyn would take it as a personal slap in the face. It was possible that their friendship may never be repaired, but it was a chance she was willing to take.

  Miamor walked into her home and heard her shower running. She was glad that Carter was still there. After the morning she’d had, she needed him to prove to her that he was worth it. She walked into the bathroom. She pulled back the shower curtain and admired Carter’s toned body as he washed himself. She stepped inside of the shower in her clothes and all then held on to him tightly. She hoped that he wouldn’t make her regret her decision. She was taking a chance on him, trusting someone other than her immediate circle for the first time in her adult life.

  “Hey, what’s wrong? You’re getting yourself soaked, ma,” he whispered in protest, yet he never let her go.

  Miamor had no regrets. She knew that he was worth the risk. She could feel his love for her even in the way that he held her. Deep inside her heart she knew that he would never hurt her. She just hoped and prayed that she could keep herself from hurting him.

  “I could fucking kill her!” Robyn yelled as she paced back and forth for the twentieth time, practically burning a hole in the floor.

  * * *

  “What has gotten into her?” Aries asked. “Love? She’s killed so many people, me didn’t even know she had a heart.”

  “Fuck this! I’m about to call this bitch because she is not about to just bail out on the plan. I don’t care if I have to murder her little boyfriend myself—We are finishing this job! She can thank me later for getting rid of her distraction.”

  Robyn grabbed the cordless phone off the wall and dialed Miamor’s number. The humming of a cell phone filled the room.

  Aries walked over to the couch and picked up Miamor’s purse. She checked inside, retrieved the phone, and threw her hands up in exasperation. “So much for that. She left she damn bag here. We have to get it together because I was depending on the money from the bounty.”

  A smirk came across Robyn’s face as she took Miamor’s phone from Aries’ hand. She flipped it open and searched her address book.

  “What are you doing?” Aries questioned.

  “Finding Ma’tee’s number. If Miamor wants out, that’s fine, but we are going to get this money. It doesn’t matter to me if she’s with it or not. We don’t need her.”

  Robyn located Ma’tee’s number and pressed dial. She was determined to finish what they had started. By any means necessary, she was going to get paid and then get out of town.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “Why are you always acting like I don’t matter to you?”

  —Breeze

  Breeze walked beside Zyir as they headed to the bodega where a black-owned bookstore was located. They had grown quite fond of each other. Zyir was the only person that Breeze really talked to. Everybody only took her at face value, but Zyir saw through her. He knew her and took the time to actually listen when she talked.

  Zyir slowly felt himself growing closer to Breeze. He didn’t want to because he knew that it could possibly cause conflict between him and Carter, but the more time he spent with Breeze, the more important she became to him. They were together twenty-four seven. Carter demanded that Zyir keep her safe, so they stayed side by side.

  At first Zyir found her annoying and immature, but once he got to know her, he realized she was inexperienced in the aspects of the street because her family had kept her sheltered. She had never had to think about protecting herself because her father and brothers had always done it for her. Now it was Zyir’s responsibility to ensure her safety, and it was a job he took very seriously, partly because of his duty to Carter, but mostly because of his feelings for Breeze Diamond.

  Day in and day out, they rocked with each other, building a solid friendship, even though they both knew they would take it to the next level if and when the time was right. They agreed to keep their friendship under wraps until they could figure out a way to tell Carter.

  Since losing Monroe and sending Mecca away, Carter had been extra strict with and overprotective of Breeze. Zyir kept one hand near his waistline, the other wrapped around Breeze’s shoulder, as he leaned into her.

  Breeze whispered in his ear, “You need to quit fronting, acting like you don’t want me to be your girl.” She kissed the side of Zyir’s face lightly.

  Zyir smiled and rubbed his chin. Breeze wasn’t as innocent as she looked, and he enjoyed her mystique. “I told you, ma, I
like things like they are right now. We’re cool as is. I’m not tryin’-a disrespect my man Carter by coming at you. You’re his baby sister. You already know how he feels about that.”

  Breeze grabbed his hand that was draped around her and kissed it lightly. “I don’t care how Carter feels about us. And how do you know he will trip? He will probably be glad I’m messing around with you instead of one of these other dudes out here.”

  “I just know, a’ight. I know Carter. I can see it in his eyes when the nigga see us together. It wouldn’t be a good look for us right now,” he said seriously. “You know how I feel about you, ma, but unfortunately for us, it ain’t in the cards.”

  Breeze stopped walking and put her hands on her model-thin waist. “Zyir . . .”

  “What up, B?” Zyir stopped walking, preparing himself to be sucked in by her charm. Zyir was usually so focused on his money, but Breeze was a constant and pleasant distraction from his everyday grind. He was constantly molding her, transforming her from a shallow little rich girl to an intelligent young woman. The beauty had always been present, and if it was up to him, he would have definitely made her wifey. If only it were up to him.

  “Why are you always acting like I don’t matter to you? Do you really just want us to be friends?”

  That was one characteristic that Zyir couldn’t change about her. She was spoiled through and through. He smiled and shook his head as he rubbed his fresh Caesar cut. “Come on, B, you know you matter. Stop being like that, a’ight. I’m gon’ figure it out, but there’s too much going on right now. We don’t need to put another problem on Carter’s mind. Let’s wait until things die down first, a’ight.”

  Robyn, Aries, and Ma’tee watched closely as they sat in the BMW with tinted windows, following the young couple’s every move. They had been stalking Breeze for three days straight. They needed to know when and how she moved, so constant surveillance was necessary.

  Miamor had left them on stuck when she decided to grow a conscience and play wifey to their enemy, but the Murder Mamas wasn’t having it. After contacting Ma’tee, they decided to kidnap the weakest member of the Diamond family and hold her for ransom. Once the ransom was paid, they planned to kill Breeze in retaliation for Anisa’s murder, and then they would leave town. They hoped by then that Miamor would come to her senses. They had all been together for too long to break apart now, but with or without her, they were doing this so they could relocate to L.A. The West Coast was the only place they hadn’t been yet, and they wanted to go some place where their reputation didn’t precede them.

  “How de fuck we suppose to grab de bitch if that nigga always with she?” Aries screwed the silencer on her .357-Magnum. “Ah should blast he right now for being such a fucking punk, lover boy-ass nigga. How are we supposed to catch she alone if he constantly with she?”

  “No,” Ma’tee said. “We will stay in de shadows until de time is right, and we will get her when they least expect it. Just continue to watch. Her routine is de same each day. They come to dis same bookstore at the same time. He is her only barrier of protection, but we still have to be smart. We will get her soon enough.” Ma’tee leaned back in the plush leather seat. “Soon enough.”

  Chapter Twenty

  “. . . The Murder Mamas. They’re ruthless. Bitches will kill they own fucking mothers without thinking twice.”

  —Fabian

  Miamor awoke to the feel of Carter’s lips on her neck. She smiled and adjusted her neck so that she could kiss him. For three days straight she had been laid up with Carter in his beachside condo. They had seen no one but each other, and being wrapped up in him kept her mind off her girls. She felt bad for switching up on them, but they didn’t understand. They could never understand why she couldn’t kill Carter. He was the only man who had gotten inside of her heart and made her give regard to human life. Miamor’s body was exhausted from the “sexual Olympics” that Carter had taken her through. She was spent, but it was all worth it because she had pleased her man.

  “What time is it?” she asked, stretching her arms above her head.

  “Three o’clock. Get up and put on some clothes. I’m taking you out tonight.”

  No man had ever spoken to Miamor with such authority in his voice, and surprisingly she respected Carter, doing anything he asked of her.

  Miamor arose, showered, and was dressed in Dolce in less than twenty minutes.

  As they drove through the busy streets, Miamor’s fingers intertwined with Carter’s. She was silent as she watched the city fly by in a blur. I need to contact Aries and make sure they are straight. They’ve been my girls for too long for me to turn my back on them now. I can help them come up on some money with a different job, but I can’t go through with this one. I have to get them to understand where I’m coming from.

  Miamor was so engrossed with her thoughts that she didn’t see the detour that Carter had taken until the car was parked. She frowned as she looked up at the Mercy Mental Health Hospital. She looked at Carter in confusion. “What are we doing here? I thought we were going to dinner.”

  Carter rubbed her hair as if she were his child. The way he soothed her made her smile. “Don’t worry about it, ma, we’re just making a quick stop. I need to see somebody here,” he explained as he opened the car door. He walked around to her side and opened the door for her. “Come on, I don’t know how long I’ll be. I don’t want you sitting in the car twiddling your thumbs.”

  Miamor got out of the car and followed him inside.

  When they entered, Carter signed in and then put his hand on the small of Miamor’s back as he led her down a narrow hallway into a waiting room where patients were visiting with their family and friends.

  Miamor stopped walking when she saw who Carter was going to see. So this is where the fuck this nigga been hiding, she thought. She began to scratch the palm of her hand. Most people’s hand itched when they were about to come into money, but Miamor’s hand itched when she was about to commit a murder.

  “Let me go holla at my brother, ma. Have a seat. I won’t be long,” Carter whispered then pecked her quickly on the cheek.

  It took all of her self-control not to run up on Mecca, and she stared cruelly at her sister’s killer.

  Carter snapped her out of her daze. “Ay, you good?”

  Miamor nodded and forced herself to look away. “Yeah, I’m good. Go ahead. I’ll be right over here.”

  Carter approached Mecca and slapped hands with him.

  “What’s good, fam?” Mecca eyed Miamor. “That’s you?”

  Carter laughed. “That one’s off-limit, fam. How’s everything with you? You good? You need anything?”

  “Nah, I’m good, bro. Have you heard anything from Estes?” Mecca asked. “I’m tired of hiding out in this mu’fucka like a bitch. This shit in here is too calm, fam. I’m ready to come out busting at whoever standing in the way.”

  Carter shook his head. “That wouldn’t be smart, Mecca. You barely survived the first time. I know your record. You ain’t got to prove shit to me, fam, but your grandfather is operating on an entirely different level. If he wants you touched, then you will be touched. Just give things some time to settle down. You talking to the therapists about Money?”

  Carter knew that Mecca didn’t want to talk about Monroe’s murder, but he was worried about his brother. He’d noticed the change in Mecca after Money’s demise and thought it might be wise if Mecca could get whatever was bothering him off his chest.

  “Fuck these crackers, man, they will never understand,” Mecca replied.

  Fabian emerged from his room and into the visiting room. He was eager to see his mother. She had traveled from Virginia just to come and see her only son. He sauntered out of his room with his piss bag taped to his stomach. Walking past Mecca’s table, he stopped mid-step and stared in shock at Miamor. His yellow skin turned pale white as if he had seen a ghost. “Oh shit, man, oh shit!” he stated as he began to cry. He ducked down directly behind Mecc
a’s chair.

  Carter noticed the strange man and frowned. “Fuck is this crazy nigga behind your chair, fam?”

  Mecca turned around and looked down at his crouching roommate. “Fuck is you doing, nigga? Is there a problem?”

  “Please, man, please, man, just hide me. I don’t want to die, man. Please just hide me,” Fabian begged.

  Mecca and Carter looked around the room. There wasn’t one person in the room that seemed to be paying attention to Fabian. They didn’t know that Miamor, who was calmly sitting in the corner, flipping through a magazine, had chopped off his most precious jewels.

  Carter shook his head from side to side and stood from the table. All of a sudden, being inside of the hospital was becoming unbearable. These mu’fuckas in here are loony as hell, he thought.

  Fabian was so deathly afraid of Miamor noticing him that he stayed crouched to the floor as if he were in the army, and maneuvered his way back to his room. He even missed his visit with his mother because he was afraid that Miamor would see him.

  Mecca extended his hand and slapped hands with Carter.

  “Stay sane in this mu’fucka, fam. Call me if you need anything, and be careful. Estes got eyes everywhere, nah mean?”

  “Yeah, I hear you. Be easy, duke.”

  Mecca pulled up his sagging pants and strolled back to his room, where his roommate was hiding out. He looked at the nigga in disgust. He had never even held one conversation with the man. Mecca wasn’t in the hospital to make friends. He simply needed to lay low for a while, so conversing and entertaining niggas that weren’t on his level was pointless. He knew that, once they found out who he was, they would try to get on and would hassle him about being down with The Cartel.

  “Is that bitch still out there?” Fabian asked.

  “What the fuck? You running from a chick?” Mecca asked. “What, the bitch trying to stick you with child support or something?” Mecca laughed at the sight of the grown man crying before him.