The Streets Watching by Ashon Thadon (classic romance novels TXT) 📕

keep or expand their own territories but now it was different. Adversity makes strange bedfellows. If that statement ever held true, looking around at that table proved it without a shadow of a doubt. Big Luke would never in a million years link up with such drivel conspirators as the ones before him but he had no choice. They were a means to an end. And when he got rid of the Street family, he wouldn’t need them, either.

Big Luke smiled at the possibility of that day, a day without Street interference.

“Ok, meeting is adjourned,” Big Luke said then got up from his chair. “We all got other business to attend to.”

The rest of the union got up and proceeded to leave except Lucky who stayed because it was his establishment. As they crowded out, all headed to their respective rides, they never noticed a dark sedan parked two block down. They drove right past it as if it was another vehicle by the curb. Little did they know inside that car was a man more treacherous than all his brothers combined and yet he was one of the quietest. He was the one that made it easy for all his siblings to flourish in all their endeavors by keeping up abreast and up to date and all that was out to get them. He know now there was a new threat gunning for his brothers, a committee in fact, dedicated to his family’s demise. Thanks to the recording device one of the members was wearing, he heard every word and made a mental note to add more protection to his little sister. But first he would make an example.

 

 

 

“And they said they were looking for me?”

Larenz looked at his lieutenant in charge of street distribution, Jacob Myers, street alias Jae Millions. Larenz used to laugh at the way dealers called their top workers ‘lieutenants’ like they were in the military or something. He thought that idea was so stupid plus it disgraces the integrity of the military by associating the type of lifestyle to it. Thugs weren’t soldiers. He seen soldiers and stood next to real soldiers. Soldiers that defended their country and purpose with honor. Hoodlums didn’t give a fuck about principles, honor, or loyalty. They only respected and fought for money. Lieutenant meant you was a leader. Larenz knew that because he actually was a real Lieutenant in the Navy. So he never gave that title loosely. Jae Millions, or Mills for short, was about the only person Larenz even gave credit enough to be named something close to that respective title.

Jacob had been trying to get in connect with him all day about some people coming around the block asking for Larenz by name. Now Larenz knew his name rang bells. Not only was he a neighborhood legend, he was a war hero as well with many decorations and medals to show for it. But in the line of work he was in now, your name ranging bells is not always a good thing. Your name is always being challenged. Your name is always put in the limelight to see if you can stand the heat. Larenz was used to it. It came with the territory and he ran the territory.

Larenz, when he finally responded back to Jacob, told Jacob to meet him in the parking lot in front of a diner that he frequents. Larenz showed up early and waited patiently in a little Toyota Corolla that looked like something one of his little sisters would drive. Larenz liked the vehicle because it looked inconspicuous. You saw the car and you wouldn’t think this guy is into illegal activity. The driver of the car must just be a working stiff that never gets into trouble. And that’s what Larenz wanted people to think about him, sometimes.

Jacob arrived in his all black Ford Expedition blasting music from the subwoofers he had installed in the trunk. Larenz shook his head. Sometimes Jacob just spelled the perfect stereotype for drug dealer. Jacob knew how police profile criminals. His brothers in law enforcement trained him well and that was how he was always able to stay under the radar and he tried to spread that knowledge towards his following but they just didn’t get it. Larenz flashed his taillights. Jacob parked his jeep on the far end of the parking lot and turned off his music. Jacob got out, looked around and walked towards the car Larenz was in. Jacob got in the passenger seat of the car and told Larenz about the people visiting the block looking for him.

“Yes, they said they had business to discuss,” Jacob replied and reached in his pocket. “They even gave me a business card with a number on it.”

Jacob gave Larenz the card that he had in his pocket. Larenz looked at the name then the number.

“You never heard of them?” Larenz asked.

“No, you?” Jacob said.

Larenz looked at the card again.

“Open your shirt,” Larenz finally said after another minute of silence.

“What?” Jacob asked with a puzzled look on his face.

“Open your shirt,” Larenz repeated.

“Why?” Jacob questioned.

“Because I told you to,” Larenz simply replied. “Just open your shirt.”

Jacob had on a polo shirt which struck Larenz as odd since Jacob mostly only wore team jerseys. 

“That’s crazy,” Jacob laughed.

“What’s going to be crazy as what I’m going to have to explain to your mother about her son’s brain being all over the sidewalk because he wouldn’t lift up his shirt,” Larenz looked Jacob straight in the eye as he spoke.

“Okay, okay, fine, but you know me, boss,” Jacob said lifting up his shirt to reveal a tank top underneath.

Jacob pulled up the tank top too to show nothing but his bare chest.

“Cool,” Larenz said.

Jacob pulled down his polo shirt.

“Now, take off your jeans,” Larenz said.

“What is this?” Jacob asked. “You think I’m wearing a wire? That’s some bullshit. I’m going around town looking for you to give you a message and…”

“Yeah, that’s what’s getting me,” Larenz said. “You looking for me to give me a piece of shit card. You could have waited to give me this. You made this urgent. Negroes look for me all the time on the block and it’s never been urgent. I got enemies all over because I shut half of their operations down. Why is this one so important you had to look for me?”

“They looked like they meant business,” Jacob replied.

“They all looked like they mean business,” Larenz retorted.

He flung the card at Jacob.

“I said to take off this jeans,” Larenz ordered again. “Or do I have to have a conversation with your mother about that too.”

“I thought we was cool,” Jacob said unzipping his jeans and pulling them down to the ankles.

“We are cool and if you want us to continue to be cool, you’ll do what I say,” Larenz said calmly.

Larenz saw nothing but Jacob’s boxer briefs.

“Okay,” Larenz said satisfied. “Put your clothes on, you look like a trick.”

Larenz laughed. Jacob got his clothing together and looked a little angry about the whole encounter.

“Listen, let me explain something to you and once,” Larenz said looking out the back window, then the rear view and then vanity mirror above the dashboard.

Jacob started looking around too.

Larenz stopped looking at all the mirrors and brought his attention back to Jacob.

“Here goes,” Larenz said. “I like you, dogs. I think you a good worker and a good money maker. Unfortunately you’ve been compromised.”

“Wha…what?” Jacob looked baffled.

“Look, I know how it is,” Larenz continued. “We all go through it. We want to be bigger than the hand that feed us. I’m with that.”

“Renz…Renz…”Jacob was about to talk but Larenz put his finger up gesturing silence.

“Give me your phone,” Larenz said.

Jacob was going to object but saw the killer look in Larenz’ eyes and handed Larenz the cell phone that was in his side pocket.

Larenz strolled through Jacob’s recent call log and saw what he was looking for. He tapped the number a message and tossed Jacob the phone.

“It’s going to be hard to replace you but I think what’s his name…um…you know the kid with the limp?” Larenz said.

“Sid…Sideway Willy,” Jacob answered.

“Yeah, that’s him,” Larenz said then grabbed Jacob by the back of the head and slammed Jacob’s forehead into the dashboard.

Larenz leaned in real close to Jacob so he could whisper in Jacob’s ear.

“Tell your boys tonight was a bad night to set me up,” Larenz half whispered in Jacob’s ear.

“What…what…what?’ Jacob stammered.

Larenz pressed Jacob’s head into the dashboard.

“I’m Larenz Street,” Larenz stated and spat in Jacob’s face. “I want you to remember the name when you and your boys are talking about how you ended up in hell.”

 

 

The three man that was in the purple Roadrunner all sat patiently in the car waiting for the text to come through that was going to make them rich.

They couldn’t believe the concept when their boss brought it to them. It was a way to get rid of Larenz Street. They thought it couldn’t be possible but here it was, an opportunity of a lifetime. However, Larenz was hard to tail. He was too crafty. You just had to know where he was at.

And you couldn’t just arrange a meeting with Larenz Street. He came to you, it wasn’t the other way around.

Their boss had the perfect person that could arrange such a meeting. Now all they had to do was wait until that person texted them when and where.

The driver of the vehicle had his phone on the dashboard that started to vibrate. The driver picked up the cell phone and looked at it. A text had popped up. The driver read it and smiled.

“He’s in the parking lot. Our boy coming out first and heading straight in the other direction. Then that bitch is going to wait and come out later. That’s when we blaze him,” the driver said to his passengers after reading the text.

“Good, I can’t wait,” said the man on the passenger said cleaning off his Uzi with a rag cloth. “I’ve been waiting to spark that fool.”

“Me too,” said the driver with a smile.

They were a block away from the parking lot where they saw Jacob’s Ford Expedition go on. They waited a couple of more minutes and saw Jacob’s jeep coming out of the parking lot then head in the direction away from them.

“That’s our cue,” the driver said starting up the engine.

The phone vibrated again. The driver picked up his cell phone again.

The message read: Do it now! If he leaves that parking lot, you might not get him! He’s in a blue Toyota Corolla!

 “Fuck it, change of plans,” the driver said pulling off the curb. “We going for the bitch ass nigga now while we got the element of surprise.”

The driver drove the Roadrunner right into the parking lot and spotted the Corolla right away. The individuals in the car knew Larenz was known for driving low model cars as a way of sneaking up on people. The car fit the profile. They all saw there was a man inside the car. They didn’t hesitate. They jumped out the car, Uzis in hands and lit the car with an onslaught full of bullets. Then they jumped in their vehicle and pulled off. In their mind, that was they had just slayed the great beast. It was all going to be smooth sailing from now on.