Page 9 of Chrome

Opening the back door, all I saw was niggas whooping on a group of older white men. I was pro Black so… do your thing but damn. Do it down the street, not around my business.

“Hey. Hey! If y’all don’t leave, I’m calling the police,” I threatened.

I didn’t even think I was going to for real, but I needed them to think I would. These were young Black men, and I knew howsociety probably viewed them already. I wasn’t trying to cause them more trouble. However, when I was called out my name, all bets were off.

“Call them then bitch!”

My head quickly turned in the direction it came from while anger began to course through my veins. It was something about being disrespected by a man that turned me into someone else. I would never hit a man, but I had enough clips with my words alone. I went to tell him off when the one that was doing the most damage to one of the guys intervened.

“Who the fuck just called her a bitch?”At least he had some fuckin’ manners. The disrespectful one owned up to it and was scolded. “Don’t ever talk to a woman like that. You know how the fuck I am when it comes to that shit,” he corrected him. It went in one ear and out the window ‘cause this individual was too hype to understand what was happening.

“Get away from my shop. I don’t need this kind of shit around my business!” I shouted.

Once again, I was called out my name but this time the young man didn’t try and correct his mouth. Instead, he assured me they were about to leave. However, I didn’t want to chance it. It was too many bodies lying around for my comfort. I called the police and the gap between me and the young man that looked like he was in charge closed quickly. My guess, this was the infamous Chrome I was debriefed on about a minute ago.

My phone was snatched out my hand and tossed. I was in pure shock but was even more taken aback when this nigga gave me a onceover. His eyes didn’t show rage at all. It showed he liked what he saw and would very much take me down if he could. I couldn’t deny how easy it was for me to slip and take him in as well.

He didn’t have the height of my ex-husband at all. I was used to men towering over me, but he stood eye to eye, and I wasonly five foot seven inches. Even with the blood dripping from his hands, I didn’t hold any fear in my heart for him. He was charming in a way with his locs hanging loosely and a mouth full of grillz. The chains that hung around his neck complimented his entire ensemble regardless of it just being a black and gold vest and some black jeans. Chrome was as fine as Amy said.

“We don’t take too kind to threats, Fade. Don’t ever in yo’ life call them people on us again. You way too pretty to end up on an obituary,” he warned me.

And you are way too fine to be out here causing all this ruckus. Go home before I do something to you sweetheart. And nigga, did you call me bald in a polite way?

“Did you just threaten me?” I asked knowing exactly what he’d just done.

However, hearing his voice was pleasing to my ears. He wasn’t loud and disrespectful like someone else in his crew. He talked with a calmness, but what I witnessed said he was nothing to play with.

“That shit don’t feel good, do it? The only difference is, I meant what the fuck I said. BMG, you heard the lady. Let’s go!” he said with a smirk on his face.

I stood there watching him and his crew ride out leaving nothing but carnage behind. I was pissed that they beat them down behind my shop but for whatever reason, I was sure they deserved it. I knew what kind of world we lived in, and I knew better than to think it was because of anything outside of racism or some form of degrading to my people.

Shaking my head, I walked back inside and took a seat in my chair. I was over the day already and we had only been here for a few hours. My head fell back as I briefly closed my eyes. Peace and fuckin’ quiet was all I craved but I knew that wasn’t going to happen until I was in the comforts of my own home again.

“So, was it Chrome?” Amy inquired.

“If they’re in a biker gang full of young niggas, then yes, yes it was. And they left some rednecks behind. What the hell is up with that?”

“Oh, you must be talking ‘bout them Medieval muthafuckas. They’re the only ones that act like they can do any and everything they want no matter what side of town they on. If Chrome and them got a hold to them, they won’t be leaving the north side no time soon.”

“Huh? Henny, you got to remember I don’t have a clue as to what the fuck you’re talking about. Who’s the Medieval times and why did Chrome and his gang bring that shit to my shop?”

“Let me school you right quick, KoKo. Eastlake is like one big ass biker city. It’s like seven or eight crews out here but the only one that matter is the Black Metal Gang. Well, the only one us colored folk need to support anyway. BMG do a lot for our community and the kids look up to them. They not on all that rah-rah mess until someone else gets on that type of timing then they have to show them who the big dawgs are. Ain’t that right, Carter?” Henny tapped on her client’s shoulder.

“Yeah, I learned the hard way. Them young niggas almost tore me a new one all because I wouldn’t move my car. It was them twins. They ain’t got a lick of sense. Stay clear from them, Kosha.”

“I will, Mr. Carter. Daria, I’m ‘bout to head out and buy me a new phone. Chrome threw mine to who knows where.”

“Wait, he threw your phone? What the hell did you do? Record him?” Lauren finally chimed in.

“No, I called the police.”

The shop went quiet as a mouse. It was so fuckin’ quiet, you could hear the cars passing outside. Apparently, I did something wrong and now everyone was in shock. I got several glares and a few of the men didn’t even bother looking my way. All they did was shake their heads in disbelief. I did what I thought was best.

“KoKo, please tell me you’re joking.” Amy was the first to speak up.

“No, I’m not. If you saw what I saw, you would, too.”

“Don’t ever call the man on them boys. They’re the good ones. I know it may seem like whatever they did was a lot, but they care a lot about this community and always come through when others don’t. Let BMG handle business how they handle business and turn yo’ head. Kosha, you’re new and trying to protect what’s yours but please don’t do that again… not to them.”

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