Talk of the Town Read online

  “That bitch is bringin’ us down, Ace. You see she got another one of our boys killed. Yo, she gotta go,” my top earner said, with a bold tone.

  “You need to chill,…relax my niggah,” Ace replied.

  “Nah, fuck that relax shit. Our man is gone, so Mya needs to be gone too,” he continued.

  I’d heard enough and emerged from the bedroom where I had been eavesdropping. I was so pissed, that I’d totally forgot, I only had on a pair of sheer panties and a short t-shirt. When I walked in the room where they were, both men turned around and looked at me with lustful eyes.

  “You gotta problem wit’ me?” I asked my earner.

  “Fuck you, bitch, I got heat for you,” he scolded. He walked up in my face ready to cause a problem. “I ain’t the one scared of your ass.”

  I smirked. “Control your lil’ puppy, Ace.”

  “Bitch, you talkin’ to a true gangsta, you don’t fuckin’ control me.”

  “You’re a long way from Chicago, homeboy,” I responded.

  “I don’t give a fuck where I’m at, I’ll still put my murder game down!” he yelled.

  Instantly, I slapped the shit out of him and then backed away a bit. I hated the fact that I’d left my gun in the room, but I still had somethin’ for his ass. When he realized what I did, he came at me, but I landed a hard right across his jaw. Unfortunately, it didn’t faze him, and he grabbed me by my neck. “I’m gonna kill you!” he shouted.

  I gagged, tryin’ to fight him off, and then reached down into my panties and pulled out a small razor that I’d concealed.

  Ace just stood there and watched the assault on me take place, which made me even more furious. He was supposed to be my man, but I guess he didn’t feel the same way. Fightin’ back, I freed my arms, sprung into action and quickly put the razor to my earner’s throat and sliced him rapidly. Blood poured out everywhere and his violent hold on me was suddenly loosened. He grabbed his throat, and displayed a look of death in his eyes. His hands were covered with blood.

  “You fuckin’ bitch,” he mumbled, as he staggered and fell against the wall.

  I just stood there and looked at him. “I told you, niggah, you’re a long way from home. I’m not the one to fuck wit’.”

  “Help me,” he cried out to Ace. He slowly slid down to floor with his back pressed against the wall and within seconds, he was dead.

  When I looked back at Ace, he had his Glock pointin’ in my direction. “You’ve gone too far, Mya.”

  I looked at him with a huge frown. Why is he pointin’ his gun at me? “What the fuck do you mean, I’ve gone too far? Didn’t you just see that niggah was tryin’ to kill me first?”

  “I’m not talkin’ about just with this incident. I’m talkin’ about everything. You’ve gone too fuckin’ far wit’ everything. Even wit’ Diamond.”

  The mention of her name, immediately pissed me off. I know this mutha-fucka is not taking up for her? “Fuck you and this baby,” I screamed.

  He looked at me with this puzzled look.

  “Yeah niggah, that’s right. I’m pregnant and it’s yours,” I informed him.

  He smirked and never stopped aiming his gun in my direction. I loved Ace, and couldn’t understand why he was doin’ this to me. I’d made plenty of enemies in Atlanta, and apparently even in my own crew, but now it was boiling over. I was beginnin’ to think that Ace was right, maybe I was out of control. If I was gonna be somebody’s mother, I had to start gettin’ myself together. I stared at Ace with the bloody razor still in my hand. “So it’s come down to this? You always had my back and now I’m gonna end by your hands?”

  “Don’t you get it? You’re outta control, Mya. It’s over…there’s no more for us,” he replied.

  “There is something for us and I’m carryin’ it,” I said, pointin’ to my stomach. “I promise, I’ll stop all this nonsense today if you want. I know you may not believe me, but I’m startin’ to realize that I do need to calm down and…”

  “I told you that I’ll have your back till the end,” he replied interrupting me. He then lowered his gun and smiled.

  I was confused. “You can’t kill the mother carryin’ your unborn, child. I love you, Ace.”

  “Love will get you killed,” I heard a voice say.

  I turned to see who was talkin’. Suddenly, Diamond appeared from behind. Before I could react, she bashed me in the face with the gun. I stumbled and fell back, and then she hit me again until I collapsed on the floor.

  “Yeah, bitch,” she screamed out, as she stood over me with the gun.

  I laughed and showed no fear. “Do you think I’m supposed to be scared of you?”

  She was quiet, and her face was filled wit’ anger. I began to wonder how she could’ve possibly found me, and then it hit me like a ton of bricks. It had to be Ace.

  I looked at him as tears formed in my eyes. It had been years since I displayed, what I always thought was a sign of weakness. “How could you?” I asked Ace.

  “He looked at me and gave a devilish grin. “Sorry baby, it’s just business. Both O.C. and Mr. G. paid me top dollar to have you smoked, so I figured what better person to watch you die, than your friend, Diamond,” he responded.

  It felt like my heart and been ripped out of my chest. I couldn’t believe the one person who I trusted had betrayed me. I continued to look at him as tears ran down my face.

  “Nobody gives a fuck about those tears,” Diamond said.

  I gave her a look of death, “So you ready to step your game up, huh?” I shouted.

  “Why did you have to kill Marquez?” she responded.

  “I shoulda killed you first, but that’s what I get for holdin’ off for a friend,” I joked.

  “We’re not friends.”

  “Yeah, now we ain’t…you’re a dead bitch,” I replied.

  “This city is so done with you,” she barked. And then I heard the sounds of gunfire exploding in the air.

  Chapter 26

  Diamond

  Like they say, everything comes to an end. Money, power, lives, even love and friendship. After I killed Mya, I took off in my car and drove back to my shop, but I still didn’t feel any better after her death. Everyone who I once called family was dead, and I was suffering.

  There are no true friends in this game and every since I’d stepped into it, I’ve learned that money changes people. It takes over your mind and eventually your soul. I offered Ace, all the money I had in order to get close to Mya and he willingly accepted my offer. I guess in the end, he’d gotten paid from three different people to get close to her. However, it was sad to see that he was still willing to watch Mya die even after he found out that she was pregnant with his child. Damn, this was a cold hearted business.

  I arrived at the shop looking like a fuckin’ mess. My hair was in disarray, my clothes wrinkled and spotted with some of Mya’s blood, and I was overwhelmed with anger and grief.

  When I walked into the shop, everyone turned and looked at me. I saw the look of shock among everyone’s face by my crazy appearance, but I didn’t give a fuck. I’m sure by now everyone knew about Marquez, and probably thought I was going crazy.

  “Girl, what storm did you just step out of?” Alaina asked.

  I ignored her and continued toward my office like everyone was invisible. As I passed by, everyone asked if I was okay, or did I need anything.

  When I got in my office, I flopped down in the chair behind my desk and cried like a baby. At that point, nothing mattered to me anymore. Moments later, someone knocked on the door and then walked inside without my invitation.

  “Diamond, are you okay? I was worried about you,” Carol said.

  “You need to leave now Carol, don’t get caught up in my shit. You’re a good woman, and shit is gonna get real ugly soon,” I stated.

  “Stop talkin’ like that, you know I’m here for you,” she replied. “Talk to me.”

  I looked at her and shook my head. “Mya’s dead.”
/>   “What?” she said, looking surprised.

  “I killed her a few hours ago,” I said.

  “Oh my goodness…are you serious?”

  “Yeah, she had to go.”

  “If I would’ve known that’s why Ace wanted to see you, I would’ve never brought him to your house. That asshole told me Mya was in trouble and needed your help.” She let out a huge sigh. “Shit, now I feel bad.”

  “Stop that Carol. You know damn well, it’s not your fault. Now for your safety, you and the girls need to get outta here. As a matter of fact, I’m firing everybody today. The Feds are coming for me, and I don’t need y’all getting caught up in the bullshit that I’m in.”

  “Diamond, stop talkin’ that nonsense. Whatever happens, I’m here for you. I know you’re hurtin’ right now, but you can get through this.”

  I chuckled, trying to keep my sanity. “How can I?” I cried out. Carol tried her best to console me, saying that she was going to be there no matter what.

  A few minutes later, we heard commotion coming from the shop. There was several loud voices and then suddenly, my office door flew open. They had finally arrived. Several FBI agents with dark blue flight vest with F.B.I imprinted across in bold yellow letters stood in my office with huge grins on their faces.

  “Diamond Pierce?” one of the agents called out, flashing his badge.

  “Do you all have a warrant?” Carol asked.

  “Its okay, Carol,” I said, in a submissive tone.

  “No, girl…you ain’t do nothin’, fuck them,” Carol said.

  One of the agents went over to Carol and warned her to calm down.

  “Diamond Pierce, you’re under arrest for murder, conspiracy, and money laundering,” the agent informed me.

  Two men stepped toward me and I slowly stood up from my chair. I looked over at Carol and noticed that tears had formed in her eyes. “Don’t hurt her,” she shouted as they put the metal bracelets around my wrists.

  “Make sure you take care of the shop,” I said to Carol.

  It didn’t matter if they had hurt me or not because I didn’t have anything left inside of me. Not even life. I went with the Feds willingly. They walked me out of my shop in front of all the customers and my employees. I could see the awe on all of their faces, but I didn’t hold my head down. I had made the mistakes, so I wanted everyone to learn from my stupidity.

  When they put me in the back of the car, I continued to hold my head up. I had to except the consequences no matter how bad they were; and if prison was my fate, then so be it.

  Epilouge

  When it was all said and done they charged me with the RICO act, and for the murders of Rashad and Mya. Much to my surprise, the Feds had bugged my house and were listening to everything for quite a while. They were willing to be easy on me if I gave up Scottie, but I wasn’t a snitch. I killed Rashad for that same reason and I would be contradicting myself if I went down that same route. Some may say that it was a stupid choice, refusing to give up one man in exchange for a lesser time, but I didn’t roll that way.

  I wanted to take my chances in court; even though my attorney informed me that it didn’t look good for me. The Feds had a ninety percent conviction rate, and when they came for you, you didn’t stand a chance.

  It’s crazy, because while in jail, I found out that I was two weeks pregnant, which meant the father was Rashad. As if I wasn’t going through enough, now I was pregnant with a snitch’s baby. Damn, when it rains it pours.

  Crime does pay, until you get caught, and then that’s when the real fun begins. My dreams of happiness, a family and a marriage went out the door, and I was looking at twenty years to life due to the charges against me. They didn’t give a fuck that I was about to become a mother, all they saw was that I was being held accountable for the murders, violence, and drugs that were being poured into the city. Basically, I was their scapegoat with Mya dead and Ace on the run.

  I’d heard from one of Carol’s visits that Ace had disappeared and was on the run for multiple homicides and also from someone in Praise’s crew, who had a hit out on him. I guess he was taking the heat from one of Mya’s stunts as well. More than likely, he’d gone back to Chicago; some say he left the country for Jamaica, where apparently his mother was from.

  I also heard from Carol that Scottie was still in Miami making millions. He had enough money to always pay people off, so I’m sure he would never get locked up. It’s sad because I thought it was love when I was messing with Scottie, but it turned out to be all a game. I started off playing him, and in the end, I was the one who got played. I wasn’t anything to him, but a guinea pig, another way for him to make money. While I was locked up, he had a female inmate step to me and sent a message stating, that if I opened my mouth, I was a dead bitch. But they could keep their threats, I wasn’t a snitch, and never gave it a second thought.

  The best thing that came out of all this was four days after being in jail, I received a visit that brought me to my knees. After years of silently praying to God to bring her back in my life, my prayers were finally answered when I saw my beautiful mother waiting for me in the visitor’s room. To say, I cried like a newborn baby is an understatement.

  In the end, when you think you’re winning, with the money, the cars, and the power, you end up losing. Gangsters don’t retire or get pensions; they end up in jail or dead. When you finally wake up and realize the mistakes you’ve made, you’re looking at twenty years to life and end up asking yourself, was it all worth it. For me, it wasn’t because my baby will be born behind these walls. The father of my child is dead, and my best friend, sold her soul for a dollar, and betrayed our friendship to get rich.

  Life is a gift, how we chose to live it, is a choice.

  As a young girl Karen Whitaker dreamed of becoming rich and famous, promising to buy her mother that huge house on the hill with a Rolls Royce parked in the driveway. Her desire for material things turns into a grown woman’s obsession with money, power and sex. Now of age, Karen possesses the brains of a scholar, beauty of a diamond, and a body that a Coca-Cola bottle would envy. She knows how to get what she wants even if it means taking advantage of those who trust her most. Greed and passion for tantalizing sex throttles her into compromising situations that may destroy her career and crumble her picture perfect relationship with a multi-millionaire. Take a journey into her intriguing story as demons from her past strike to unravel her fairytale life thread by thread. In the end, will she escape her dark clouds or be exposed as one money-hungry, conniving vixen?

  Visit Nicolette Online @ www.myspace.com/paperdollthebook

  Available At Borders, Waldenbooks and Independent Bookstores Nationwide