Riptide

Jazmine's POV

Sirens sounded and I shook my head knowing it was the sign of another lost life as I walked into the store, sad as it was, it was reality, men died every day by the very object they praised, the gun.

The same thing that granted them power left them weak and in need of breath. Many of them got too caught up in the lifestyle, bragging and waving their egos around too blind to see that someone would stomp it to prove their own power and dominance one day.

I sighed as I grabbed a can of Arizona before moving over to the shelf that held the snacks, scanning it for a bag of Cheetos frowning when I came up empty.

"Devin are you out of Cheetos?" I asked speaking to the cashier.

"Yeah, but we're getting some more tomorrow," he announced and I shook my head in disbelief looking for replacements.

"Got an entire store with no Cheetos, shit don't make no goddamn sense," I mumbled grabbing two bags of Doritos.

The small ding that sounded whenever the door opened echoed and I looked up immediately going on guard, my body relaxing when I saw a woman step inside and I couldn't help but stare, a frown taking over my features since I didn't recognize her face, paranoia always made sure I was aware of small details like these, a pair of observant eyes was a mean of survival.

My gaze moved off her going to Devin as I walked towards him placing the things on the counter, reaching into my pocket quickly realizing my dumbass didn't walk with any change.

"Just take payment for me and her, and keep the change if there is any left," I announced handing him a 100 hoping for some good karma from the universe especially after the day I had.

He nodded bagging my things before handing them to me. I took it walking out of the store, dreaming of my bed, my entire body feeling drained.

I watched as a car pulled up a frown greeting my face as the horn sounded, my hand moved to my waist as the window began going down not planning to be the next cause of sirens tonight.

"What's up you short motherfucker?" Dice called out and I chuckled lowering my guard walking over to the car.

"Whose car did you steal?" I joked

"You got jokes huh?" he asked and I smiled.

"Whose car is that?" He asked eyeing the vehicle parked beside mine.

"A woman,"

"A woman, do she got a name?"

"Do I look like the fucking yellow pages?" I asked amused and he laughed slightly as I turned away from him, the sound of the door opening grabbing my attention.

"Is that her?" He asked and I nodded watching as she moved to her car, the tracksuit she was wearing displaying her figure perfectly.

"I've never seen her around here before," he announced his gaze following her and I silently agreed. I turned back to him watching as he drove up blocking her car in.

"Dice chill" I warned since she didn't look like the type to tolerate bullshit.

"Give me your number and I'll let you pass," he called out and she rolled her eyes, letting me know she wasn't in the mood for whatever he was doing.

"Dice," I called out after him as she got in her car. I began walking over to them as she blew her horn resulting in him pressing his as well.

"I got one too," he called out.

"Get out of the way" I ordered hating how childish he could be sometimes, as smart as he was he didn't know how to read the room when it mattered and as a woman I understood the annoyance she was probably feeling at the moment.

Her horn sounded once more and he frowned turning to look in front of him.

"Alright bitch I'm backing up" he replied loud enough for her to hear every word, pressing his horn as he reversed.

"Chill out," I told him firmly before moving over to my car surprised that she didn't drive off yet.

"Thank you," she called out and I turned to see her window winded down and I nodded, actually spending time to appreciate her features finding her quite attractive.

"No problem he can be childish sometimes"

"Let me repay you" she offered out, and I frowned confused since she didn't look like the type to fuck somebody she barely knew, but then again you can never be-

"For inside, the cashier said you took care of it, you didn't have to," she clarified and I chuckled.

"No that's okay, my friend ruined your night anyway so we're even, " I replied getting into my car.

"Are you sure?" She asked and I nodded starting my car.

"Yeah I'm sure, drive safe and welcome to the neighborhood" I replied driving off, blowing my horn at Dice in warning as I left.

I sighed exhausted knowing I had to get some rest since I had to be at my family's cookout early tomorrow.

If my mother could see me now, she would be stuck between disappointment and pride, because even though I did what she feared my brothers getting into, I was different from the other people who pushed drugs in the neighborhood, for one I actually gave back to the community and played it smart, I only did it for two years and stopped the moment I had enough to get on my feet and stay there.

Two I never supplied hard drugs to my people only marijuana, so in ways, I wasn't as bad as everybody else pushing drugs, or at least that's what I told myself to help me sleep at night.

I never planned on this being my future, but life happened, and with life came sacrifice.

My mother died when I was only eight, three bullets to the chest, as a warning to my father, it just comes to show that loving the wrong person will always be your biggest downfall.

Shortly after that my father went to prison for the same thing I was involved in, it's funny how the world works, but the difference is I never let my pride lead me astray.

I made decisions from a place of logic and not greed and got out the minute I could, I saw beyond that life and never got comfortable.

With the loss of both my parents, my siblings and I were left to live with my grandmother who already had six grandkids to take care of, so you know how that went.

But in life, nothing goes as planned you got to do what you have to to survive.

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Jazmine's POV

I continued to walk towards the house the music getting louder with each step. I pushed open the gate to the backyard my entire family insight along with a few friends.

"Jazmine," a voice I loved called out and I smiled walking over to my grandmother pulling her into a hug, placing a kiss on her cheek.

"Are you hungry?" She asked pulling out of my hold.

"No grandma I'm fine," I replied and she frowned.

"Did you eat already?"

"No, I-"

"Go find a seat I'll have someone bring you a plate," she said walking off leaving no room to argue and I smiled moving over to the grill grabbing a beer greeting a few family members on the way.

My eyes locked with my little sister Sarah who was standing with a small group of friends and I smiled moving over to her, immediately pulling her into a hug.

"Let go of me," she called out smiling and I kissed her forehead pulling away.

"So I can't hug you anymore?" I asked and she smiled.

"You're late,"

"I got held up at work,"

"Work," she repeated rolling her eyes.

"So are you going to introduce me to your friends?" I asked earning another eye roll, the sight making me smile.

"Samantha and Lesley, this is my sister Jazmine," she introduced and I smiled shaking both their hands.

"Jazmine," I heard my Grandmother call out and I smiled turning away from them looking at the old lady who held a stern look.

"Go sit around the table," she ordered handing me the plate and I kissed her cheek taking it into my hands.

"So are you going to tell me about what's going on at church?" I asked amused walking away with her.

"You should stop by and find out" She replied and I chuckled sitting around a half-full table, I was a spiritual woman, but the church never felt right to me.

I greeted the table taking a sip of my beer before I began eating, the tension between us growing with each passing minute. It was no secret that all despised me, and if I told you what for you wouldn't believe it.

It's just funny how life played out, I was labeled as the lesbian family member who would never be anything, and they hated that I was the most successful, that I was the motherfucker to move out of the hood, but I didn't go far since I still had ties here, but it was far enough, it was somewhere where no one knew my name and that is all I wanted.

As I grew older I had come to realize the most hate came from the people who knew you.

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I walked over to my car frowning as my eyes caught a familiar face and the better part of me told me to approach her, I placed the plates on top of the car complying with my conscience as I moved over to her.

"Hey," I called out and she turned towards me, confusion taking over her features.

"Gas station girl," I announced and she smiled realization presenting itself.

"Oh, nice to see you again," she said and I nodded.

"Likewise, I'm Jazmine by the way" I replied loving the way her light brown skin shined under the sun.

"Brittany,"

"So what are you doing here?" I asked not ready to walk away from the conversation, finding her beauty mesmerizing.

"I'm here to pick up somebody," she replied keeping the details to herself and I smiled loving how discreet she was.

"You're not dating somebody from my family are you?" I asked amused and she smiled.

"No, I'm not, I didn't even know this was a family thing,"

"I almost forgot that you're new around here but that reminded me"

"How so?" She asked curiously a hint of amusement in her voice.

"Everybody and their mama know about The Johnson's cookouts, best home cooking in the neighborhood," I replied and she laughed.

"Well yes, I'm new but I'm just visiting,"

"That's cool, if you want I could give you a tour one of these days," I offered and she smiled.

"I'm good, my friend is from around here," she replied

"Your friend?" I asked curiously.

"Yeah, she-" she started but stopped as a voice interrupted.

"I'm sorry I'm late, were you waiting long?" The female asked

"10 minutes,"

"I'm sorry,"

"It's okay Jazmine here has been keeping my company," she announced looking at me and the girl turned becoming aware of my presence.

"Oh, you're Sarah's sister, Samantha we met earlier," she greeted and I quickly remembered her face.

"Yeah, we did,"

"Well thank you for keeping her company," she replied

"No problem, it was nice to meet you both," I replied flashing a friendly smile, both of them returning one as I walked away feeling intrigued.

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Jazmine's POV

I turned on Crimson street slowing down as I got closer to the store, I quickly parked the car beside Spain getting out.

Loyalty was rare so I really appreciated the friendship we had, we've been friends since Middle School building a bond that was more solid than blood. He was my right hand in everything, the only one I could actually trust, I would give my life for him and he would do the same.

I closed the door going around the car sitting on the hood as he moved over to me, we actually started everything together and the moment I left he did too.

"What's up Ice?" he greeted and I smile hating and loving that his dumbass nickname stuck.

"Anything on the streets?" I asked and he looked around for a second before leaving his gaze on me.

"They're saying that Vipers were the ones responsible for the killing that went down the other night,"

"Those messy motherfuckers" I mumbled shaking my head since they already had the heat on them from the thing that went down last month.

"Did you check out the price of that property you were telling me about?"I asked and he nodded.

"Quarter mil" he replied and I motioned for him to get it, we owned most of the properties on the west, all the money that we saved selling drugs went into buying them, so we could secure a better life for ourselves.

During our days of selling, they also gave us a cover and explanation as to why we were living like we never met poverty.

I also worked in one of the properties but that one was in the city. Spain and I were the most off radar set of individuals which is why we always had suppliers during the time. We operated without gaining attention from authorities which in return had us making the most profit.

After we left we created an 'alternate gang' if you were supposed to label it, that offered a family and protection without the criminal lifestyle attached.

So instead of picking up young kids and getting them to sell in return for a better living like other gangs, we offered them a home and a life, and all we expected was for them to make something of themselves, which is something we wished we had growing up.

We weren't like most gangs we didn't go around starting shit because of different colors. We were a family, no home we got you, trying to provide we here, we tried our best to keep other kids from falling into this fucked-up cycle, spent thousands on school every year even though Spain and I were both kid-less motherfuckers, we were built on loyalty and trust, and only popped off when we were fucked with, no need to start fire cause the smoke will always come back to choke you.

We didn't sell drugs, all our money was clean, it came from the businesses we purchased over the years, which we also allowed black ex-convicts to work in, and-

"I'm heading into the store, you want something?" He asked

"No, I'm good" I replied and he nodded walking off. My gaze going to the apartment across the street, that we had bought three months ago so the guys could get somewhere to stay at an affordable rate, we would always take care of our own cause we all we got.

The renovations were completed a month ago but we didn't have time to stop by because we were busy with the apartments on Cresent Street and Phillips Avenue.

A horn sounded and I turned watching as Dice pulled into the parking lot, parking beside me, I leaned off the hood walking over to him as he got out of the car.

"They in the backseat" He announced and I glanced at the tinted windows.

"We're walking over," I told him and he nodded opening the front door popping the trunk, knocking the glass, silently telling them to get out as he went for the bags.

I closed the front door watching as the back opened the two of them getting out.

"You must be Michael right?" I asked the one on the right and he nodded silently saying yes, they had both recently turned eighteen.

Michael's father used to work for me before he did some dumb shit and got shot down by the cops last month, Michael's family didn't want anything to do with him, especially since they weren't cool with his father in the first place, so he's here after one of my guys brought it to my attention that he was sleeping on the streets.

"Use words when you're speaking to me, that nodding shit makes you look weak, like a pushover and you're not," I replied before glancing over to the next one.

"And you're Terrell?" I asked

"Yes Miss" He replied and I chuckled

"You don't have to Miss me, relax" I stated amused catching on to how tense he was, Terrell had no ties to my gang or family as I would prefer to put it, but I watched him play ball a couple of times at the court a few blocks down, talented kid but he had recently been kicked out after knocking up his high school girlfriend, they were both staying in a cheap motel.

The word on the street was he was going no longer planning to go to college since he had a child and baby mother to take care of, so I had them bring him here.

"Do any of you know who I am?" I asked

"Of course I do, you're Ice," Michael replied.

"Please call me Jazmine I hate that name" I replied smiling and he returned one.

"Why am I here?" Terrell asked hesitantly.

"The word is you're going to quit school and you're too smart and talented for that, so you're going to be living here with your girl and your child and I'll be handling all the expenses"

"And what I gotta do in return sell drugs?" He asked clearly not liking the idea and I chuckled.

"No, you have to get an education and make something of yourself," I replied

"And why am I here?"

"Your father used to work for me before he fell out, this a family we protect our own and I need you both to understand that, this is a family we're built on loyalty, love, and trust. I heard about your current situation and so you're here, you both have to restart school and don't let your pride and ego fuck this up," I said directing the last part to them both, sensing their hesitancy.

"Get the bags we're heading over" I ordered realizing Spain was back and they did just that as I went to my car grabbing my phone before we all began making our way across the street.

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