Page 17 of Jobe

Tito Montalvo sat on the ratty couch in his apartment which also served as his office. Local leader of the Sixers, he usually had plenty of people around to do his bidding and today was no different. Jazzie and Waldo, his right-hand men, were lounging in front of the TV arguing over what to watch. His mind ran through the things that needed to be done by the end of the weekend, but visions of Gabrielle kept running through his thoughts.Bitch. I offered her a chance to be my main pussy and she fuckin’ leaves.

He looked over to another gang member, a real up-and-coming go-getter. “Tank? Get over here.”

The large, Hispanic man lumbered over, eyes on the leader. “You need somethin’, boss?”

“You in the car the other day where Gabby’s hanging out?”

“Yeah. She’s in some house where some other girls live. Looks like some kind of school, with some white bitch running the place. Bitch came out with a bat the other day, but some big fuckers followed her so we left.”

“Keep an eye on Gabby. Don’t make no threats, but you report back to me what you see. And if that skinny ass white bitch thinks she’s gonna disrespect the Sixers, she’s got a real surprise comin’ her way.”

“Sure thing, boss. You want me to start now?” Tank asked.

“No, fucker. I want you to sit on your ass for a while first,” Tito growled sarcastically.

Duly chastised, Tank headed out of the apartment. Tito moved to the kitchen table and snapped his fingers. Jazzie and Waldo turned off the TV and joined him. Getting down to business, they began their meeting.

Tito had every intention of making the Sixers one of the biggest street gangs in Richmond but knew the competition was stiff. Crips and Bloods were at war with each other, leaving some of the picking ripe for his group. The money coming in from drug sales was good, but Tito wanted a bigger slice of the pie. Even if that meant cutting into the piece from the national gangs. And that was dangerous. He wanted more…and had a plan on how to get it.

“I want our girls back on the streets running drugs. They need to put out to do it, fine. But the money’s in the drugs, not their pussies.”

Jazzie reported, “Gotta tell you, boss, that a few girls saw Gabby get out and they’re wondering what you’re gonna do about it.”

“I’m not gonna do shit right now. That bitch wants to work at McDonalds flipping burgers for fuckin’ minimum wage? Let her. You show these girls that they can make bank running my dope. And they want to score johns at the same time? Fine with me. Their pussy can bring in some more money.”

“We’re being watched, boss,” Waldo added. “I seen the cops hanging around our old meeting places.”

Tito glanced over, bored with the conversation. “I don’t give a fuck what the cops think they got or don’t got. They ain’t got me and if we keep working it like we have been, they ain’t gonna get me.”

He sat for a minute, his plans formulating in his mind. “Tank’s gonna get some info for me and when he does, I want you two to roll.”

Jazzie and Waldo both nodded, understanding what he meant.

“You want us to take anyone with us? Anyone need in?” Jazzie asked.

Tito thought for a moment and then grinned. “Yeah. Take that crazy ass, motherfucker Poco with you. He’s eager to get in. He lasted a beat in, so let’s give him a job to do with you two.”

The two associates grinned. “You got it, boss.”

Tito leaned back in his seat, pleased that everything was going according to his plans. Everything except Gabby.But that bitch will soon see what happens to people that try to help her get away from him.

* * *

Mackenna pulled into her driveway, noticing a strange black pick-up truck parked on the street in front of the house. It was not unusual since most of the neighbors parked a car on the street, but she wondered who it belonged to.

She juggled the grocery sacks on her arm as she turned the key in the doorknob and walked into the house.

“Mom? I’m hom—”

She stopped mid-sentence, staring dumbly at the scene in front of her. Penny sat in one of the chairs in the living room…with Jobe sitting on the sofa sipping a glass of iced tea. With mint. Mackenna blinked. Twice. Still not believing her eyes.What the hel—

“Mackea, loo who ca ta see me?” her mother said proudly, smiling at having a visitor.

Mackenna, still too stunned to say anything, just stared. Her mother’s smile began to droop, so Mackenna quickly forced a smile on her face as she held her mother’s gaze, refusing to look at Jobe.

“I see, mom. Um…let me get the groceries put away while you…um…visit.” She hustled into the kitchen before her mother could see her frustration.Why is he here? What is he up to? And why in the hell did she have to let him in?

Hands shaking with anger as she tossed the frozen items into the freezer, she then shoved the vegetables into the refrigerator. So filled with her own thoughts, she never heard anyone approach.

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