Her Sweetest Revenge (Delphine Publications Presents) Read Free

Luscious is one of the dope boys that runs with this crew called the Boone Squad. It’s the same squad that Squeeze runs with. Squeeze is actually the leader. Luscious is like his right-hand man. Neither one of them live around here, but they’re in the hood all day trappin’. As Luscious passed me, he looked me up and down, then winked at me. He wishes I was like the ho he just dropped off, fucking for an outfit, but that will never be me. I’d rather look broke-down the way I do. Forget them niggas and their money. I rolled my eyes at him and headed into Rochelle’s apartment, where the smell of bacon hit me from the door since Rochelle had it cracked open.
     
    “ I saw you coming up the walkway. That’s why I cracked the door open. That nigga Luscious was checkin’ you out. That whole squad is checkin’ for you. I have told them niggas to get over it,” Rochelle started mouthing off as soon as I entered the apartment.
     
    “ That’s what they better do. Only thing any of them niggas can get from me is a stray bullet. I can’t stand they ass.” The frown on my face looked like I just ate something sour.
     
    “ I told ’em,” Rochelle said, laughing. “You hungry? I got some bacon and eggs. I woke up hungry this morning.”
     
    “ You know I want to eat. Charlene ain’t showed up yet?” I bounced down on the living-room couch so I could watch cable television. We ain’t had cable in so long it’s a treat when I get to watch it.
     
    “ Nah. Ain’t nobody been here. Mike finally done got locked up, and he’s calling here all day, bugging me. I told him last night don’t be calling me from no jail. Those damn calls are expensive. Nigga gon’ have Wynita going upside my head about them long-distance charges shit,” Rochelle complained. Wynita is her momma, and Ms. Wynita don’t play.
     
    “ What he locked up for?” I asked out of curiosity.
     
    “ He all the way down in Flint selling dem bricks. I told him if he wanted to talk to me he shoulda stayed out of jail.” Rochelle rolled her neck. “But nooo . . . This nigga thinks he the next kingpin of Detroit.”
     
    “ You so crazy, Rochelle.” I laughed at her. “But he is paid, girl,” I reminded her.
     
    “ I know, right? But he needs to get his priorities together. Besides, we ain’t got nothin’ to talk about except Tiny. I ain’t messin’ wit’ him no more. Nigga think he my daddy. And you know the one thing I won’t put up with is somebody tryin’ to control me. Scratch all that.”
     
    Someone knocked on the door. Rochelle got up to unlock it. Charlene entered.
     
    “ Hey, what’s up, y’all?” Charlene said, stepping in the door with a smile on her face rocking a pink and blue Rocawear short sweat suit with some white Force Charlene never leaves home looking like a bum.
     
    “ I’m ready, Mya. You know I need to make my third-period class on time,” she said, while she checked out her freshly manicured nails.
     
    “ Well, let’s go in the kitchen. I already got everything set up,” Rochelle said. “Because I already knew Mya was gon’ sit on that couch as soon as she got here.”
     
    “ Shut up, Rochelle,” I said, while getting off the couch.
     
    “ So, y’all going to that party that the Height Squad’s giving at the Ripple Turn this weekend? It’s about to be off the chain,” Charlene grinned.
     
    “ Hell, no,” I said. “You ain’t either because you have to be twenty-one to get in that club. And they be cardin’ people at the door, hard,” I informed Charlene.
     
    “ Never mind all that.” Charlene gave me a reassuring glance. “All I need is a fake ID or this big booty. Trust me, I will be there with all those ballers come Saturday night. Besides, I was invited by Pig.” She beamed.
     
    “ Pig? You like that nigga?” Rochelle had a disgusted look on her face.
     
    “ I didn’t say all that, but that nigga got mad paper. He’s gettin’ money like a motherfucker, and I