WINTER 1983

Nicole rubbed her eye gently afraid she'd damage her eyeliner. Kevin sat in the car next to her rambling. The night was quiet, too quiet for Nicole. She eyed the dark road up ahead keeping her breathing even.

"And with my cousin dead, I had to take it." He shook his head looking out the window.

She shook her head sighing, "Kevin. You can't steal from Franklin."

Kevin sucked his teeth watching the house down the block, "Fuck Franklin! He letting these niggas think he soft."

"They were in Hispanic territory. That's a no-go."

South Central, LA was divided. The Black kids stayed on their side: Compton, Oakland, etc. While the Hispanics stayed in Pico-Union.

"So you saying my cousin deserved to die?" Kevin turned his attention to Nicole.

"What's Franklin been saying about that Hispanic chick?" Nicole changed the subject.

"Lucia?"

She nodded wondering how he knew her name.

"He told me to wait until she gave up the shooters but she came to me instead."

Nicole turned her head to him, "What did you do?"

"I gave up the crack recipe for the shooters."

Nicole avoided eye contact seeing their target step outside. She knew him from way back when but they weren't in their territory, "Let's go."

Nicole exited the car pulling on her sweatshirt sleeves. "Yo Manboy!"

The tall light-skinned man, known as Manyboy or Drew, smirked at the girl, "Wassup, still got that Coke bottle body huh."

She rolled her eyes clearing her throat, "I'm here on behalf of Franklin Saint."

His silence allowed her to continue, "We want to expand."

The man laughed, "You think imma just give up my block just cuz some nigga think he's running shit now?"

Nicole's jaw tensed when he flashed the gun in his waist belt, "Listen, I'm just here as a courtesy. Either you with us or-"

He stepped closer to her grabbing her throat, "Or what?"

Nicole relaxed as she clawed at his hands, "Drew."

"He doesn't exist anymore, not to you anyway."

Nicole gasped for air tumbling back as he let her go. She rubbed her skin feeling the bruises form.

Drew waved her off, "Now get the fuck off my block."

...

Nicole stood at the dirty payphone on the phone with Franklin. Her back turned slightly away from Kevin who packed the trunk with duffle bags. Uncle Jerome turned up his boom box as they filled the car wheels with coke.

"What did Manboy say?" Franklin asked on the line.

She cleared her sore throat remembering how his hands felt around her neck, "It's not gonna work."

"Why not?"

Nicole looked over her shoulder as Kevin and Jerome shared a blunt, "Just because I know him doesn't mean anything."

He paused, "What did he do, Cola?"

"Don't worry about it. I found the rat." Nicole lowered her voice staying calm.

She could hear Franklin perk up at her accusation, "Who is it?"

"I can't talk here but I'll tell you at the New Year's Party."

Franklin moved the phone to his other ear, "Okay. Keep running those drops, take the shit to Leon, and have him give it to the soldiers in the PJs."

Nicole gripped the phone not wanting to see Leon, "Okay."

...

Meanwhile, Leon stared at Wanda in despair. She squirmed trying to undo her restraints. Her hair was in knots and her body was drenched in sweat.

"Why you doing this to me?"

Leon looked into her soul trying to find some of the old Wanda left, "Because I love you."

Nicole knocked on the door of Leon's new house, courtesy of Franklin Saint and the drug money. Leon sighed leaving Wanda on the floor as he cracked the door open.

"What?" He asked irritated.

Nicole shook the duffel bags and motioned to the car where Kevin sat, "I need you to take these to the projects."

Leon shook his head trying to ignore Wanda's pleas, "I can't. Give that shit to Franklin."

Nicole averted her gaze noticing Wanda strung out on the floor, "Fuck is this?"

"Don't worry about it?"

Nicole stepped back turning her neck with teary eyes, "You love her?"

Leon began shutting the door, "Like I said, take that shit to Franklin."

"What the fuck am I supposed to do with ten kilos of cocaine?" Nicole stepped closer feeling her rage begin to seep through her veins.

Leon shrugged, "Tell Franklin what I said. Figure it out."

...

Nicole knocked on her sister's window trying to be quiet. Bethany's sleepy figure moved the curtain shocked to see her older sister.

Bethany lifted the window silently allowing her to come inside. Nicole looked around the room reminiscing on the time she used to spend here.

"Cola." Bethany's voice was excited yet timid.

Nicole hugged the young girl feeling her worries rest for a split second, "I'm sorry I haven't been around much."

"I have so much to tell you," Bethany said watching as Nicole opened the closet placing the duffle bags inside.

"Uh-huh. Look, Beth, I need to leave this here for a day or two. Is that okay?" Nicole asked in the dark room.

Bethany nodded, "What is it?"

Nicole placed her cold hands on Bethany's shoulder, "You cannot look at this okay? Promise me?"

Bethany nodded, "I promise."

The creak of footsteps in the hallway made Nicole scatter to the window. Bethany closed her closet door and laid back in bed.

Their father Julius cracked open Bethany's door checking inside, "Beth, baby you okay?"

Bethany stirred in the bed pretending to be asleep, "Yeah. What's wrong?"

"I just thought I heard voices."

Bethany turned away from the window seeing Nicole's shadow disappear into the night, "No, it's just me."

Author's Note:

Okay sorry I've been away! This book will start picking up and I'm meshing seasons now!

Vote and comment, or not lol

Semi-proof read