Read Online Payback Is a Mutha by Wahida Clark - Free Book Online Page A

gone?” Slim was countin’ them dollars in his head. “We need to re-up. You said you was gonna have that cat from Dyersburg serve you up this time. He got dat shit.”
    “On my way back I’ll stop and do that.”
    “On your way back?”
    “Hell, yeah. On my way back,” Shadee emphasized. “Y’all work with what y’all got. Then get served by your connect. It’s your call. I’m giving you a chance to make some money.”
    “A’ight then. But if you need me to meet up with you, just page me.”
    Shadee nodded his head. “Wake that nigga up! This ain’t no hotel.”
    Born kicked Timmy on his knee. “Wake up man! It’s time to bounce!” Born kicked him again. Timmy woke up grabbing his piece.
    “Nigga what you think you gonna do with that?” Born laughed.
    “Stop playin’ boy!” Timmy put his piece away, stood up and stretched.
    “Boy? I get more pussy than you, punk! Now who the boy?” Born pounded his chest emphasizing that he was indeed the man.
    “You better get this stank ass kid before I hurt him,” Timmy told Shadee.
    “I don’t have time for y’all’s shit.” Shadee had hisear glued to the phone. He threw the phone down and mumbled, “Where this hoe at?”
    “Man, that hoe Bri got you sprung,” Born teased.
    “Fuck you punk. Who said I’m calling her? As a matter of fact, all y’all get the fuck out. And while y’all at it, call Doc and tell him I’m waitin’ on him.”
    “You got that Unc,” Born said as he grabbed his phone. “But yo, I know you gonna handle her, right?”
    “Oh yeah. I got something real nice planned for that bitch.” She gonna wish that they killed my black ass when it’s all said and done.” Everyone nodded their heads in approval. Shadee stood up and opened the front door. “A’ight niggas. I’ll holla at y’all.” Everybody stood up except for Born. “You too nigga!” He pointed at Born.
    “Come on Unc. Let me spend the night. Look at your head. You might faint or something.”
    “Lil’ Nigga, get the fuck out. I ain’t babysittin’ tonight.” Everybody started laughing.
    Born reluctantly stood up. “A’ight Unc. I’ma remember this.”
    “Remember this and get the fuck out!” Everybody walked out except for Born, who stood in the doorway.
    “Seriously. You gonna be a’ight?”
    “I’m straight Lil’ Nigga. I’ll holla at ya!” He gave Born dap and closed the door.
     
    Two hours later Doc was at the door. His arm was bandaged up and in a sling. Jo Jo was behind him carrying the dope and the money. Shadee took the money and put it up. He checked his dope and thentold Jo Jo to handle it. He then told them that he was going away for a few and that he would be in touch.
    The three of them headed out the house together. Jo Jo and Doc on their way to sell some dope and Shadee on his way to Janay’s. The sun was just peeking above the horizon.
     
    Janay was Shadee’s wifey and his baby’s mother. Janay’s father, Big Choppa, used to be the man—that was until all the New Jacks began to spring up, including Shadee. So a stranger to the hustling game Janay was not. When Big Choppa was diagnosed with liver cancer, it was Janay who held his business down. But Shadee and Big Choppa never could get along. Janay had been hustling before she met Shadee. And of course he convinced her to stop, and Big Choppa didn’t like that one bit. Big Choppa was always in and out of the hospital and Janay was always back and forth in the game. Even after she gave birth to Shadee’s son Marquis, she kept on hustling. Finally Shadee said, “Enough is enough!” He was hustling enough for the both of them so he made her stop. When Marquis was coming up on his second birthday, Janay was at it again. When Shadee found out he gave her an ass whipping that earned her a two-day stay in the hospital. But not before she shot Shadee in the arm.
    Now three years later and still together Janay feels as if there is no other man for her and that she will