My Hustler’s Keeper by Larissa Page A

going to die,” she says, crying into my chest.
    “It’s okay Ray. I swear after I bury Grandma I’ma make whoever took you suffer.”
    That following week in the middle of September, I finally lay my grandma next to my grandfather, on their wedding anniversary. After the burial Daniel pulls me to the side, I know he has a lot on his mind. Shit we, all do.
    “Bro, you ready?” he asks.
    “Always, my nigga. But shit let me finish burying my first lady first,” I tell him.
    “I feel you on that. But man this shit is eating me alive. We have to get Rayla to tell us who had her so we can take these niggas off the map.”
    “I understand man.”
    “Bro, you don’t know what the fuck I’m feeling. My fucking girl is pregnant and the thought of me not being the father hurts.”
    “Don’t even think like that Daniel.”
    “I try not to but I can’t,” he admits to me.
    “I know it ain’t my baby. We always used protection. I told her kill the bastard but doctors say it can kill her if she has an abortion. I’m going to have to look in the eyes of the baby of the nigga who raped her and pretend to be okay. How am I going to raise another man’s child and keep my cool about the whole thing?”
    “Bow your head man. Let’s say a prayer to the man upstairs. He knows what to do,” I tell him.
    “ Dear God, protect this family and heal us as we try to cope with the loss of our backbone, Grandma dearest. But most importantly protect us on this journey as my right hand and I lay a couple niggas down to rest.  I know it isn’t my job to predict nigga’s lifeline. But it is my duty to protect this family of mines. And with that being said Lord, they must go. I’ll face Judgment Day when my time comes . In Jesus’ name.”
    “A-fucking-men,” Daniel says.
    “Now that’s go find these pussy ass niggas,” I say, drinking the last of my grandma’s favorite drink, Seagram’s Apple Vodka, before leaving.
    “Lets start with Joe’s house first. I’m sure this nigga knows something,” I tell Daniel.
    ** ** **
    BOOM !
    Daniel kicks the front door of Joe’s home as if he is FBI himself.
    “That’s how you kick a door my nigga,” I tell him, stepping inside.
    Pop…pop!
    Two shots fly past us, causing us to hit the floor. Looking up, getting ready to bust back, I see it is Henry doing the shooting.
    “Henry, man it’s us!” I yell out.
    “ Us ? Who the fuck is a us?” he asks, still busting gunshots into our direction.
    “Sincere and Daniel man,” I say, standing up.
    “You two niggas were about to be worm food,” he says.
    “Where is Joe?” I ask.
    “Shit, that why I’m here. Homie sent a couple of niggas to run up in my crib, scaring my baby mama and daughter. So you know I had to personally deliver the same message back to his ass. But I’ll catch that nigga slipping like grease. He got to come back to that shit hole of a church.”
    “You better hope you catch that nigga before I do. I got some questions and I know he can answer them,” Daniel says, leaving out and going towards my Escalade.
    “Look man, I got to bounce. But hit my line when you spot homie,” I tell, Henry leaving out as well.
    “No doubt,” he says, making his way towards his own ride.
    “Where y’all niggas going tonight? Wanna hit up a few clubs with the ladies or go out to eat? It will get our minds off this shit that’s been taking place,” he suggests.
    “Hell yeah, I do,” Daniel says, getting out my ride and entering Henry’s ride.
    “I don’t think Rayla will be in the mood seeing that we just buried Grandma, but it don’t hurt to ask,” Henry says.
    “Count me out. I’m going home. I must take care of some things with your sister first. I have a plan, and I’m hoping it works,” I say before getting into my car and driving away. 
     
    ** ** **
    “What the fuck Sincere?!” Harmony yells out at me, while throwing knives in my direction.
    “You got to be fucking kidding me. You can’t be