A Gangster's Girl by Chunichi Page B

explained.
    â€œThe only reason Laymont is being held is because narcotics had a big drug bust in Park Place and some of the small fish ratted on the big fish to shorten their time. With the help of those guys, they were able to build a tree of all the dealers in the area. Laymont, along with Red, Bear, and a few other guys, were at the top of the list. After they got all the small fish off the street, they forwarded the information to the Feds so they could get the big fish. You shouldn’t worry, though. Laymont will be home in no time,” the attorney assured me.
    The attorney sounded confident. There was no doubt in my mind things would be okay. I pulled out my checkbook.
    â€œSounds great. How much will all this cost me, sir?”
    â€œBecause this is a federal case, we’re looking at ten thousand.”
    Without any hesitation, I wrote him a check in the amount of ten thousand dollars and left.
    As soon as I walked into the house, the phone rang.
    â€œHello,” I answered.
    â€œHey, baby. What’s the deal?” Vegas asked after I accepted the collect call.
    â€œEverything sounds good, baby. Your lawyer says there’s no need to worry. At the most, you’re looking at a couple of years in a program.”
    â€œWhat?” Vegas said angrily.
    â€œTwo years, baby. What’s wrong with that?”
    â€œThat just won’t do, baby. I can’t settle for that. Who the fuck is going to be there for you and the girls?”
    â€œWe can manage, baby. Things could be worse.”
    I told Vegas about the bust they had out the way and their intentions to work out deals with the small hustlers so they could get to the big hustlers. Vegas was well aware of the tree. The Feds actually showed him the list when he was in interrogation. He went on to tell me about his experience.
    â€œYeah, they showed me all that shit during interrogation. They kept asking me about some guy out of Jamaica. They’ve been following this nigga and his family for years. They were on his ass, but that nigga got smart. The Feds are having problems tracing the money. Without an exchange in money and drugs, there’s no way they can pin him. They did seize a ship once, but that led them to a dead end.”
    As Vegas told me the details of what the Feds had said, my heart froze with fear. Oh my God! They’re talking about India’s boyfriend, and if they find out about the money, she’ll be on the list as well. I probed to see how much Vegas knew about the Jamaican kingpin.
    â€œSo are you going to work with them, baby?”
    â€œHell nah, ma. I don’t even know this cat. They offered me a deal if I would give him up, but I can’t fuck with that. I have too much on the line to become a snitch. And like I said, I don’t even know him.”
    He expressed his worry about the safety of the twins and me. I told him not to worry and that he would be home soon. He felt a little better but was still upset that he would miss the growth of his twins. He would not be at their birth, and he would not witness their first steps, first tooth or first word. I cried as I thought of not having him with me to share in the milestones of our daughters’ first year of life.

Chapter 10
    A Lonely Battle
    As the months passed, I became depressed and lonely. I turned to the one person who could offer me the support and comfort I needed without being judgmental.
    â€œHello,” my mother answered with her warm voice.
    â€œMommy, I miss you. I’m so alone and depressed,” I whined.
    â€œAwww, baby. Why don’t you come and visit me for a couple of weeks?” my mother suggested.
    Since I hadn’t seen her or my close friend, Chastity, in at least a year, I agreed. My mom moved to Atlanta shortly after her divorce from my father. She felt the move to a new environment was just what she needed for a new beginning. Atlanta was the place for Chastity’s new beginning as