DEADLY DECISIONS III: The End (7 page)

When Keisha sat at the edge of the bed that Gutty was sitting on, he grabbed two of the pillows and told Keisha that he’d sleep on floor. “Go ‘head and stretch out, Lady G.”

Keisha stopped him. “This bed is big enough for the both of us, Gutty. You don’t have to sleep on the floor, my nigga. Besides,” she sighed. “I’ma take a long hot bath and check on my loved ones.”

Gutty didn’t contest. He removed his shoes and shirt and threw on a pair of sweatpants.

Big Pope Dog lay across the second bed fully clothed with his shoes on.

After Keisha exited the room to go to the bathroom, Big Pope Dog smiled at Gutty. “Blood, you getting comfortable like you on vacation or something?”

I knew this nigga would have something to say.
Gutty replied, “That mill ticket doesn’t allow you the option to let yo’ nuts hang, my nigga. I’m just an Indian, remember? So sleep with ya eyes open, chief,” Gutty said, teasingly reminding Big Pope Dog of their previous argument of position. He then laughed, “I’m just a little nigga.” He climbed in bed and rested his head.

Early the next morning, Cameron received a call from Niya to meet him at the hotel room where she had been partaking in an illicit affair with B-Low.

“A’ight, I’ll be there in about an hour,” Cameron told Niya.

Cameron then called his mother over to help Monique with the babies so that he could meet up with Niya. Cameron and Monique had been up most of the night with the babies, and now that his sons were sound asleep and Monique was catching up with her rest, he didn’t want her disturbed. Teresa agreed.

When Cameron’s mother Teresa arrived, he kissed her and thanked her as he made his way toward the door, dressed stylishly. His mind had been on Monique’s emotional state and Keisha’s well-being all night, and he couldn’t wait to hear from Keisha. “Thanks, Ma, I should be back in a few hours.”

Teresa set her purse and jacket down on the sofa and then shook her head disgustedly. “So I suppose you’re keeping the baby instead of giving him to that girl’s family or letting your auntie take him in?” She sighed disappointedly. “But instead, you’ve decided to turn your wife’s life upside down. She doesn’t deserve this, son.” Teresa spoke herself into tears. She loved her son to death, and she was proud of all of his accomplishments, but she was terribly disappointed in his decision to bring his illegitimate son into his home and his marriage.

“Mom, not right now.” Cameron was not in the mood or the right mindset. “Me and Nique talked. She’s alright and we gon’ work through this…together.” He paused. “We good, don’t worry.” He left out the door, climbed into his Range Rover, and headed to the hotel bumping Bootsy Collins.

Approaching the hotel, Cameron put out the blunt that he had been smoking in the ashtray. He was under a lot of pressure and tension and needed to relax his mind. When he pulled up in front of the hotel, Cameron made his way to the room number he had been given and knocked on the door, praying no one he or Monique knew was in the area and had spotted him.

Niya opened the door, disappointed that he didn’t bring the baby. “Where’s the baby, Cam?” She let him in the room.

“It wasn’t a good idea. I don’t need my wife suspecting anything else right now. Get Keisha on the phone.”

Dressed conservatively in a Banana Republic dress for a lunch date with her mother, Niya’s attitude didn’t go unnoticed. She called Keisha’s number and then passed him the phone.

“’Sup, Niya,” Keisha answered.

“Hey, Kesh, this Cam. How you doing, girl?” His face immediately lit up upon hearing her voice.

“I’m alright.” She was just as ecstatic to hear from him. “How is my son and how are you?”

“Our son is fine, Keisha, and I’m managing. My wife knows what’s up and we’re just tryna work through this.” He paused. “I’m really happy to hear your voice, though.”

Keisha took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Cam. I truly am. I just really didn’t have any other options. I know he’s safe with you, though,” Keisha said sincerely. “But like I wrote on the letter, it’s best that no one knows he’s my son for now - for his own safety,” she added.
Keisha took a deep breath to compose her feelings; they were all over the place. “I never in a million years imagined my life would have gotten this far out of control, Piru, and damn, I miss my kids more than words can express, Cam. It’s hard for me not to be there for them, especially my son. I should be breastfeeding him right now.” Keisha’s voice cracked.

Cameron interjected, “Babe, don’t be so hard on yourself. You did what you thought was in the best interest of our child, and I understand that now. Just stay focused out there and hurry up and get back to your kids. I know Kessia misses you and so do I.” His heart began to open up to her.

It felt good to know that Cameron was concerned for her even after he got married. She had thought he didn’t give two fucks about her. Keisha’s smile diminished as she prepared to tell Cameron that Carter had him under his radar. “In order to get to me, Carter is monitoring my people’s movement, like that flight you booked for Texas but never made. He had his people waiting for you.” Keisha was about to ask him if his purpose in going to Houston was to give her son to his aunt, but Cameron cut her off.

How the fuck Kesh know that I was scheduled to arrive in Houston?
Cameron was vexed after learning everything. “Cuh want it with me? Following my movements and shit.” Cameron paced the hotel room floor, thinking wickedly. “’Cause that bitch nigga can come get it. I swear to God!” Cameron’s mind was going a mile a minute.

In the midst of talking, Cameron received a call from his mother. He told Keisha to hold on.

“Yeah,” he answered, having a bad feeling in his gut.

“Cameron, Dime just stopped by over here. He said it’s an emergency that you call him back. He says somebody was in the neighborhood asking questions about you -” But her words were interrupted by a loud knock on the door.

“Don’t open the door, Mom. Get the pistol, go into the bedroom with Nique and the babies, and call the police right now, and then call me right back. I’ma tell Dime to swing back through there and I’m on my way back right now,” Cameron told his mother.

“Okay, son,” his mother’s voice trembled. “I got the gun and I’m calling the police right now.” Teresa hurriedly ended the call.

“I see it’s on now, Kesh. That nigga looking for me in my neighborhood. I just know it’s him! I gotta go,” Cameron said as Keisha cried for him to take care of her son.

When Cameron gave Niya her phone back and started to the door, Niya followed him, frantically questioned him about what was going on.

“That nigga Carter coming for me in my hood and shit is about to get real ugly.” He stormed out of the room.

“Do you want me to take the baby?” Niya yelled after him.

“That won’t be necessary. My son is good with me,” Cameron said as he called his homeboy, Dime. When Dime answered, Cameron told him to head back to his house.

“I’m on my way, loc. A nigga just got laid down fishing for info in the hood about you,”
Dime explained.

“One down and however many more to go. We about to have to show some niggas where we at with it, urb. I’ll be at the house in a few. Hurry back to my house, cuh, and hit me once you get there.” Cameron climbed into his car and sped out of the parking lot. He was enraged.

On their way out of Texas, Keisha received an alarming phone call from Poo Baby demanding that Keisha come pick her up.

“
Come pick me the fuck up now, Keisha! Or I swear to God, I’ma end up on Crime Stoppers and the Most Wanted list for taking this bitch’s Imperial Grand Wizard KKK stepfather out - and her old racist-ass mother and sister too!”

Keisha picked u
p Poo Baby and made arrangements to have her vehicle transported to Miami. Poo Baby hopped in the SUV with Keisha and her team. Although Keisha was highly upset at the situations Poo Baby had faced in her new relationship with
Jessica, s
he was happy to have her ride or die best friend riding beside her at such a trying time in her life.

After seeing how out of it Keisha was after speaking to Niya and Cameron, Poo Baby and Gutty suggested making a stop in Atlanta to visit her daughter before heading back to Miami. They knew that seeing Kessia’s face would help Keisha step out of the depression she had been falling in and out of.

“I would love to see my daughter…in fact, I
need
to see her. But I swear for God, on Piru, it’s gon’ be a lot of bloodshed starting with
Carter’s mother. B
lood is pushing me to the edge,” Keisha barked after hours of silence.

“Niya is gonna stay in Compton at her mother’s house until she hears word back from Cam. Think positive, Kesh, everything gon’ be alright,” Poo Baby
comforted he
r friend.

Keisha blew hot air and rolled her eyes. “Sorry, Poo, but I don’t see positive in any of this shit. All I can see is fucked-up shit happening and a bunch of bloodshed soon to come, Piru. Good shit just isn’t likely in my life.”

Gutty reached back and held Keisha’s hand to console her. Keisha snatched her hand from his and then laid her head back, “Wake me up when we get to the ATL or if Niya calls, Poo Baby.” Keisha
closed her eyes in deep mental anguish.

While Keisha tried resting, Poo Baby continued trying to get in touch with Ryan. But unfortunately, like the past couple of days, she was unable to contact with her. “Why the fuck Ryan still ain’t answering her phone?” Poo Baby thought out loud, frustrated.

Keisha opened her eyes and stated evilly, “It don’t take a rocket scientist to figure that shit out, Poo. That bitch Ryan is out giving head to the highest-bidding dope dealer in Atlanta right now. Fuck that ho’, and when I see her, I’m knocking her teeth smooth the fuck out her mouth, Piru. Bitch gon’ look like a smoker when I get done with her ass.” Keisha pulled the hood of her hoodie over her head and then curled up in her seat, dying to get high. She had been trying to get in contact with Ryan all that day and had already come to grips with the fact that her sister had let her down.
Thank God for my G-Ma.
Tears poured from Keisha’s eyes. Being away from her kids was really taking the hardest toll on her life.

Cameron speeding home to his family resulted in him getting pulled over by the
Compton Sheriff’s office and having his car illegally searched. Irate was an understatement for the wa
y Cameron was wilding out. He had completely lost his cool. Handcuffed in the back of the police cruiser, Cameron continued to question their authority and demanded to know why his vehicle was being searched.

“What the fuck y’all searching my shit for like I’m some gotdamn felon or something? I’m not on no muthafucking paper or nothing!” Cameron yelled, trying to be heard by the two deputies searching his vehicle.

Cameron continuously looked over his shoulder, hoping that each time, one of the officers would be headed toward the cruiser to offer him an explanation. Cameron was known throughout the community as a businessman who stayed out of trouble and was widely known as the grandson of one of the most, honored, well-respected, and beloved activists in the city of Compton whom everyone addressed as
Granny West. Granny’s
name alone gave the entire West family minimal contact and passes with city law enforcement, and Cameron was
livid that the police were giving him such grief when he continued to tell them that his family was in danger.

“We found a loaded gun in your console and you just received an obvious drug-coded text on your phone, the numbe
r 3.
What does that mean, Mr. West? Three pounds or three kilos?” one of the
deputies a
sked while the other called in for a tow truck to have Cameron’s vehicle impounded. “What do you know about the homicide that just took place in your neighborhood?” They continued to ask him one question after the next.

Cameron’s mind drew a complete blank as fear began to paralyze him. His eyes got big as quarters.
Dime texted back the number three?
It was a hood code that stood for three letters: BAD.

To the deputies, Cameron’s reactive response was a sign of guilt. Cameron tried to explain as calmly as he could in his current state of mind that he was rushing home due to a family emergency. “I ride with a loaded gun because I’m the owner of the fucking music and cell phone store off
Wilmington
and I transport large sums of money to and from the bank. I didn’t shoot or kill nobody. My gun is clean, and I have the paperwork on it in my glove compartment. There is no need for me to be sitting in the backseat of your cruiser or for my shit to be impounded.” Cameron tried to remain calm to avoid an unnecessary turn out. “Now can you please citation me for speeding, or whatever the fuck y’all gotta do so I can get home to my family?”

By that time, the other officer had made it over and wasn’t buying Cameron’s story. “To be on the safe side, let’s just take this joker in and run the gun. He doesn’t have any warrants, but the gun wasn’t secured in a gun case, it’s loaded,
and on top of that, he’s from the neighborhood that the murder took place in.”

Cameron had completely lost his cool and called the rocket cops every racist pig in the book, which resulted in them using Mace on him and then taking turns beating Cameron with their batons in the backseat of the cruiser. All the while he continued to beg them to send a car over to his home to check on his family. But instead, they locked him in the back seat of the cruiser, had his
Range Rover
towed, and then started to drive him down to the
sheriff’s
station.

Badly beaten, Cameron threatened to sue the department. “Now send a car to my house to check on my family, you piece of shit-ass pig!” he continued to demand all the way to the station.

When they finally arrived in Atlanta, they pulled up in a neighborhood called Oakhurst, one of Atlanta’s many suburbs. Poo Baby shook Keisha awake. “Wake yo’ loud, snoring ass up and wipe that drool from the side of your mouth,” Poo Baby teased. “We’re at your Grandma Ethel’s house.”