Zero Degrees Part 1

Chapter 7



The next day Peaches drove me to Cross Creek Mall in the dark blue Mercedes SL 500 with 24 inch Giovanni rims that Buff gave her. I made a mental note to ask Zeus for some new rims like hers. The luxury car had beige leather interior, wood grain dash and a banging ass sound system.

“Damn, you’re putting it on Buff for real,” I said admiring the car.

“Shit, you got me beat. Zeus bought you a new car and you didn’t even give him any p-ssy. You don’t have any idea how much I have to suck his dick and do kinky shit. That nigga is a freak.” She smiled, put her Prada shades on, shrugged her shoulders and added confidently, “Just like any man Buff loves for a woman to cater to him and make him feel like he’s all that exists. That’s how I get what I want. You ass is gonna have to learn how to suck a dick if you really want to get that paper. What was the sex like the first time with you and Zeus? I heard ya’ll asses last night. It must’ve been good. You finally got that cherry broke in.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “I don’t know what’s up with us yet and it was good. Shit, if he wants me to suck his dick I don’t have a problem with that as long as he’s going to teach me.” I made a face, but I was dead ass serious.

She laughed as she reached inside of her purse for her cell phone. “Buff gets off on me sucking his dick and licking his balls. You best to believe I gets me first and I gets my p-ssy ate As far as all that screaming and moaning and shit, I just don’t hold back. He likes that over the top shit. Let me see if that bitch Teena’s gonna answer the phone.” She suddenly interrupted our sexy talk, dialed Teena’s number and put it on speaker phone.

“Hello,” Teena answered after about four rings.

“Hey Teena, it’s Peaches and Zero.”

“Oh shit, what’s up ya’ll? What’s going on Ze? Welcome home girl!”

“Hey Teena boo! I miss you.”

“I miss you too girl. I guess I gotta make a trip to the Ville. I don’t know how my bitches goin’ feel about that though,” she said.

Peaches rolled her eyes. “You got the same main bitch, or is it a different one now?”

“You know me. I change ‘em like I change my boxers.” Teena laughed. “I’ll probably be up there this weekend. I’ll check ya’ll out.” After that the conversation was over because she abruptly hung up.

“She always does that,” Peaches said putting the phone back in her purse. “Maybe her girls are jealous as hell or something.”

“I thought we were closer than that,” I said and shook my head. “I thought Teena was going to move down here with us. I guess getting bitches is more important.”

“I thought she was too,” Peaches agreed. “Look in the glove compartment. It’s a bag and a box of blunts in there. Roll up.”

“Damn, this is ‘bout two ounces. Why the hell you driving around with no license and all this weed?”

“I ain’t worried ‘bout that shit bitch. Just roll the damn blunt,” she said nonchalantly. “Live a little.”

I rolled my eyes at her. “What are your intentions Peaches?”

“What are you talking about Ze?” She asked with annoyance in her voice.

“Are you feeling Buff for real, or are you just getting what you can out of him? Is this just some fling?” I asked. “You got something I can throw these guts in?”

She pulled the car over so I could dump the tobacco out. I noticed she hadn’t answered my question.

“Hello? I did just ask you a question. Buff is my boy and if you’re going to play him I don’t want to be in the middle.”

Peaches took her shades off and looked at me. “I really care for Buff Ze, I do. I just don’t want to feel too much too fast.”

“Well he told me yesterday that he is thinking about making you wifee. He is really feeling you Peaches. He thinks you’re classy and he has a lot of respect for you. Don’t lead him on if you don’t want to take it there with him. Let him know what it is. He has a lot of respect for females and if you let him I’m sure he’ll treat you like a queen.”

I rolled the blunt like a pro.

“I hear you Ze and I have never been with anyone like Buff. He makes me feel like I’m the only woman in the world. It scares me. I don’t want to get hurt again,” she said sadly.

“I know, but you either take the chance, or you don’t. It’s up to you.” I lit the blunt, hit it a few times and passed it to her.

“Anyway, did you count the knot Zeus gave you?” She had a huge smile on her face. That girl loved money.

He’d given me a knot of hundreds that were wrapped in a rubber band. “Get you some nice shit baby. I’m taking you to the club tonight, so I can show my dime piece off,” he said before placing the money in my hand.

“Thanks,” was all that I said before he gave me a passionate kiss.

“Unt uhh. I haven’t counted it yet.”

“Well count it then. You have to know what you’re working with bitch. Damn, do I have to school you on the art of shopping too?” She put the blunt in the ashtray as we pulled into the mall’s parking lot. “We can finish that shit later.”

I took the knot out of the Gucci purse that Peaches had given me.

“We have to get you a cell phone too. Oh and please get that damn hair done,” she said with a frown on her face.

I rolled my eyes at her. “Damn, your ass is all brand new and shit. I haven’t even been home two days yet heifer.” I started counting the money and it was a hundred dollar bill after another.

“Shit, we need a money counter for that shit. How many stacks is that? The mall is gonna be closed when you finish,” she laughed.

I grinned. “This is like ten stacks,” I said breathlessly.

Peaches broke into a smile even bigger than mine. “Damn. I don’t know what you did to Buff and Zeus, but them niggaz be acting like they’re in debt to you.” She gave me a quizzical glance. I could tell that she was searching, but I left her hanging. When it was all said and done Buff and Zeus were my dudes. I couldn’t tell her that it was because of my mom that Buff and Zeus were big time hustlers and even before then we were tight. She quickly changed the subject.

“We can get you a few fits, some shoes, a couple purses, some hot glasses and get that hair done.”

“I don’t want a relaxer or nothing Peaches. I like my curls,” I protested as I stepped out of the car.

“That’s cool. Get some color or something though. It’ll look good red, or a light blonde like Beyonce’s.”

“Your ass must be crazy. I ain’t dying my hair. I’ll just settle for a shampoo and deep conditioning. It’s staying curly. Deal with it. I ain’t trying to be walking around looking like your clone. I have my own style,” I said throwing shade her way.

Peaches shrugged it off. “A’ight bitch damn, don’t attack me. I’m just trying to help.”

“Appreciated, but not needed. Thank you.”

* * *

After our shopping spree we returned to the apartment to put our things up before heading back to Zeus and Buff’s crib. When I saw Buff he was holding the picture that I’d given him. “Come here Zero,” he said.

We walked into an office with a mahogany desk and computer with a huge, wide screen. The decor was exquisite.

“I finally got something. They live in Miami and shit. My boy Chazz is from Miami and he’s tryin’ to get me connected to them. He got a Cuban connect named Donreco who might be able to get in there. Chazz owes me a favor, so you know how that goes. What they do? Kill your folks?” He asked with concern in his eyes as he took a step toward me.

I gave him a subtle shrug and turned away. I didn’t want my eyes to portray what I was feeling. I looked out of the window, but all I saw was a murky image of my reflection in the classroom that day as my mind took a trip down memory line. I thought about my dad and remembered the last day I saw him. He was so happy and full of life. For some reason I reached in my purse and pulled out the silver bracelet he had given me. On it was the pendent with his picture inside. I looked at it and felt my eyes well with tears. I pushed them back, turned to Buff and handed him the bracelet.

“This is why.”

He looked at it exclaimed with a smile on his face, “Damn who is he, your twin?”

“That’s my daddy.” I choked up and swallowed the dry lump in my throat.

“Wow, you look just like your old man.”

“I know. Everyone used to say that. He was my everything…everything I loved.” I felt my bottom lip tremble. I missed my dad terribly. Every once in a while I would go through bouts of longing for him.

Buff passed me the pendent. “You okay? You wanna tell me what happened?”

“Well, my mom has reason to believe that they killed him. I don’t know for sure, but from what she told me drugs were the motive. I just want them to die for what they did. They took something from me that I can never get back. I know I wasn’t locked up in the pen doing hard time, but while I was there I vowed to kill them. I owe that to my dad and myself; revenge. I used to read all kinds of books when I was in prison on how to torture and kill. These two snakes are first on my list.”

Buff nodded as if he understood. “A’ight sis, we can arrange that.”

I studied his face to see if he was serious. “We? I can do it myself. This is personal Buff,” I said passionately. Absentmindedly, I balled my fists up tightly.

“I’m sure it is Killa. You ain’t gonna be able to do it yourself though. These two Cuban f*cks got more security than the President. We have to come up with a fool proof plan.” He gave me the picture back. “We’ll talk about it later”.

Zeus went to handle some business. Another one of our trap houses got robbed. Then he got to go to the club ‘cause the zoning inspector is still giving us hell about the license permit. They hate to see two young niggas getting legit money. He should be back in a little while. Did Peaches get you a phone?” Buff asked and for the first time I saw the stress and strain on his face. That was the second time that month one of their traps had been robbed.

“Yeah, I left it at the crib on the charger. I don’t have anyone to call anyway.”

“Cool. Did you go see you moms?”

“Yeah, I went to see her first when I got out. I can’t live with her though. She’s a religious fanatic now.”

We laughed.

“It’s good to have you back around Killa. Shit the way shit lookin’ we might need you on the team. You’re the realest bitch I know,” he said.

“That’s a compliment coming from a real nigga like you. Zeus had mentioned that one of your workers got murked and robbed a month ago.”

“Yea, they didn’t even have to kill him over a couple ounces of hard and four grand.” Buff shook his head solemnly with his lips pressed into a tight formed line. He then changed the subject.

“Let me go check up on my girl,” he said and walked out of the room.

I followed him and we joined Peaches in the living room. She was watching an episode of Jerry Springer.

“Why the hell are you watching that bullshit baby?” Buff asked picking up the remote from the coffee table as he sat down.

“It’s funny babe. Don’t turn,” she whined.

“Listen, since I got both of y’all attention I’m gonna keep it one thousand wit’ you. This life style has been good to us. It’s how we’ve been able to eat and lace y’all with the finer thangs, but it comes with a cost. A nigga gotta watch out for the shady muhfackas that come with the territory. Whenever a nigga climb out the gutter you goin’ have niggas scheming for a nigga’s riches and bitches. It’s the nature of the beast in this cutthroat ass business”.

“So what you saying baby?” Peaches asked. Her face was rigid with apprehension.

“I’m saying enjoy this shit to the fullest, but sometimes a nigga bitch is the weak link, so keep your head up and your eyes open. Be conscious of your surroundings at all times. It’s been a lot of shit that’s been popin’ off.”

I just looked at him and chewed on my bottom lip. He didn’t have to tell me twice. I lost my father and uncles to the streets because of the dope game. In my heart and soul I knew that Buff was trying to tell us something. He was trying to warn us. I just hoped that Peaches was truly listening. If she was the weak link he was referring to time would tell and the streets would keep score.

Buff reached into his pockets and pulled out a chrome plated Beretta nine-millimeter and a .380-caliber Colt. He sat them down on the glass coffee table. The guns shimmered, looking beautiful, but threatening.

“Both of you are going to start packing heat until this shit blows over,” Buff said as he looked between Peaches and me. Instantly my stomach filled with the flurry of butterflies. That shit was part of being a dope boy’s chick. I didn’t know about that life, but I was prepared for it. On impulse I grabbed the nine and admired it. I loved the feel of the cold steel in my hands. I couldn’t help finger f*cking the trigger as I caressed it. Peaches picked up the .380 and we exchanged knowing glances. She smiled at me and winked.

A bitch was loving that gangsta shit.

* * *

About eight hours later everyone was asleep, but I just sat up in bed in the wee hours waiting for Zeus. All type of shit was going through my mind when he finally walked in. In the dim light he looked weary and worn, but still exuded that thuggish charisma that turned me on. He thought I was asleep as I sprawled on top of the silk covers of the enormous king size, canopied, oval-shaped bad. I was clad only in my pink Victoria’s Secret panties and bra set.

He placed a Gucci duffle bag full of money on the floor and then his 9mm and a 45. Smith & Wesson on the dresser. After taking off his red and white Roca Wear velour suit, white tee and white and red Air Ones, he piled all of his jewelry on the dresser beside his guns. That included a platinum chain with a huge iced out medallion, a Presidential Rolex and a diamond embezzled pinky ring. I had to admit, as I admired his chiseled chest and abs that he was the finest man I’d ever seen.

His dick swung from side to side as he walked toward the bed. I watched him with one eye open. He was trying to tiptoe. Instantly my p-ssy got wet. If he had come home earlier, I would have asked him to teach me how to please him. I really wanted to learn how to suck his dick. I wanted to feel him in my mouth and return the same pleasure he had been giving me every night.

He eased in bed next to me and began to run his fingers across the lacey, silk frills of my panties.

“Hmmm, hey babe,” I whispered sexily, catching him by surprise.

“Hey love, what you doing up?” He asked pulling me into his arms.

“Shit, you’re playing in my damn panties.”

He laughed and kissed my breast as he played with the nipple. Then he pushed my panties to the side and eased a finger inside my p-ssy. That sexy nigga began to stroke my kitty until I purred.

“Shit… damn.” I spread my legs wider giving him easy access. He eased another finger inside and stroked me faster.

“Let me eat that p-ssy. All day when I was out getting money I could taste you on my tongue. Mmm, I could smell your sweet scent when I closed my eyes.” Zeus kissed my neck and then his tongue slid back down to my breast. His hot, humid tongue stroked my nipple until it became erect as his finger f*cked me faster. My p-ssy was so dripping wet that it made that gushy sound as I moaned. He lowered his head as his tongue traveled across my body and I arched my back in anticipation. He stopped at my navel and drove me crazy as he licked, sucked and kissed it like he was savoring the moment. His passion was my sexual torment and I was caught up in the web of ecstasy that consumed me. Then he went lower, buried his tongue inside my p-ssy and lapped up my juices. I couldn’t help it. I grabbed the back of his head and grinded my pelvis against his face as I felt a powerful tremble. I began to cum in what seemed like rivers that he lovingly slurped up. He pushed his tongue deeper inside, ensuring that I cum again. That time it was in convulsions that rocked my body with miniature spasms.

“Ohhh! Shit! F*ck, humph!” I exclaimed as I rocked my hips, f*cking his face in a lustful rhythm. Then he stopped and suddenly pulled his face away. I felt a cool draft between my thighs in the absence of his tongue. I heard him groan when he reached to turn me over on my stomach as his dick rubbed against my legs. He was rock hard, about nine inches long and nearly as thick as my arm. I shuddered when he placed a pillow underneath my stomach and tooted my ass up in the air. He was kind of rough with it and I knew that it was his lust for me. Secretly, I liked when he got like that. I looked back over my shoulder. He grabbed the baby oil off the nightstand, squirted that shit all over my ass and began to palm and caress it.

“Damn you got a beautiful, fat round ass,” he muttered and slapped my ass, making it jiggle.

“Baby what you getting ready to do,” I cooed. “You know I’m tight… you have to go slow.” It was our first time trying that position. To my delight he ate my p-ssy from the back like I was a gourmet meal. That shit felt good as f*ck. Then he stopped and climbed on top of me from the back. His dick spread my lips as he eased deep inside of me. I clawed the bed because pain had never felt so good in my life. Thank God he had used the baby oil. He went deeper and I swore it felt like I could feel him in my chest cavity. He began to pound into me. The head board bumped against the wall, the bed squeaked in protest and I was on the verge of tears. Zeus f*cked me like he was trying to lose himself in the tight, wet confines of my vagina. It was as if he was trying to escape into the succulent folds of my flesh. He tried to beat my p-ssy to death and I enjoyed every inch of him loving me with his thug passion.

That night we fall asleep in each other arms like spoons in a silverware drawer. I knew something was seriously troubling him simply from the way he had made love to me. Call it a woman’s intuition, but I knew that it was something.



* * *

The next morning we were lounging around the front room in front of the TV. My coochie was all swollen and sore. Slyly Zeus gave me a knowing glance; like he just knew that he had beat the coochie up. I smiled back at him, because he had. It was one of those lazy, early Saturday mornings. I could tell by the way he was looking at me that he wanted to go another round.

Buff entered the living room followed by Peaches. I caught a whiff of the blunt that she was holding as she entered the room. They were both still in their pajamas. Like me, Peaches had on a night gown. It was like our version of a town hall meeting. Once Buff and Peaches were seated on the sofa across from us, Buff got straight to the point.

“You handle that business?” Buff asked Zeus. His expression was thoughtful.

“Uhh huh, I had to bust on some niggas last night. I didn’t make it in ‘til late”.

“What happened?” Buff asked with a scowl outlining his face.

“While me and Money was counting up, A. J. just happened to be coming back from the store when he spotted a mint green Chevy parked out back with some niggas inside, four deep. We could tell they was plotting because the engine was running and they had the lights off.”

“What did y’all do?” Buff asked. I thought I detected a glint of mischief in his eyes.

“I had some of the crew, Jimmy, Tony and Mike Dee with me. Money stayed behind to watch the dough and then the strangest thing happened. Just as we was creeping on them niggas through the short cut in Ms. Spencer’s yard, I heard the passenger answer his phone and then warn his dudes that we was coming.”

“What?” Buff asked suspiciously.

“But we was still able to bust on they f*ck asses. We shot hella heat up in that Chevy. I think I hit one of them niggas while they was burning rubber trying to get outta there.”

“That’s good, real good,” Buff said as he stroked his chin. “I can’t help it, but I’m thinking it’s an inside job. It’s one of the niggas we f*ck with.”

“Bruh, I was thinking the same damn thing. But who?” Zeus asked.

“I don’t know, but until we get down to the bottom of this, no mistakes allowed, na’mean. We gotta stay on alert mode and not get caught slipping.”

“Bitch, pass me the muhf*ckin’ blunt,” I said to Peaches as we sat on the couch watching the exchange of words. I knew that my intuition was never wrong. That was where his aggression in the bedroom had stemmed from the night before.

“Oh, shit.” She passed me the blunt. Her eyes were blood shot red and slanted as she looked at her watch. “We have hair appointments in an hour.”

“Babe, did you spend all that?” Zeus asked caressing my cheek. I’d never felt what I was feeling at that moment and it felt good.

I glanced over at Peaches. Her eyes were saying, “Bitch, you better say yes.” I didn’t want to seem greedy.

“I got a little bit left over…but…”

“It’s a Gucci duffle bag in the room on the dresser and there’s a hundred racks in there. Take what you need,” he said and kissed my cheek. His hand went under my gown and caressed my inner thigh. He had a smirk on his face when he said with a sly grin, “I’m tryna see you before you leave.”

I blew smoke in his face and said in a shocked voice, “Dayum, you want to beat the coochie up again? Let it heal.”

We all had a good laugh at that.

Then Buff commented with a straight face, “Y’all was making all that damn noise. I grabbed my gat at first. I thought a bitch was getting slaughtered or some shit.” They all cracked up again. I was so embarrassed.

“Bitch you know you can’t talk,” I chastised Peaches.

She made a face and stuck her tongue out at me as she laughed. “Let’s go get dressed and get to the salon early because I don’t want anybody other than LaWanda doing my hair.” She hopped up from the couch.

That morning Zeus and I made love in the shower standing up. The feeling was exhilarating. My feet never touched the floor as the exhilarating water rained down on our feverish bodies. The steam fogged us in a misty cocoon as he made love to me passionately for nearly an hour. After our session I was even sorer than before. Every time I took a step I couldn’t help but think of him and that big ass dick.

On my way out of the bedroom I took eight bands from the duffle bag as Zeus chilled in bed. He was all sleepy eyed as he asked, “Are you sure that’s gonna be enough?”

I kissed him on his cheek. “It’s more than enough,” I said happily as I stuffed the money into my purse next to the nine milliliter Buff had given me. Zeus dozed off and then woke back up like he’d remembered something

For some reason that morning he and Buff walked us to the car. They seemed to do a visual search of the landscape as they scanned the parking lot like secret service agents.

Zeus played with my curly ringlets and kissed me tenderly. “Don’t cut none of that pretty ass hair off. I like it curly like this too.”

I bent my wrist and pointed an accusing finger at Peaches. “See bitch. Told you ain’t shit wrong with my hair. This bitch told me to dye it red or blonde.”

Zeus pulled me closer to him and kissed the tip of my nose. “Unt huh. You don’t need all that. You’re beautiful just the way you are baby. I love a natural woman. Somebody I can wake up to who look the same way she did before we went to sleep.”

“That’s some real shit,” Buff agreed.

Peaches gave him a sideways look because her hair was dyed honey blonde.

“I love your hair baby. Just ‘cause you dyed your hair don’t mean you ain’t natural. Shit, you know you’re fine.” He offered her his lips for a kiss.

“Call me and shit baby. We gotta go to Raleigh to handle some shit,” Zeus said before opening the car door for me to step inside. That’s when I saw that someone had keyed my new car or took a knife to it. There was a long scratch running from the front bumper all the way back to the tail light. I was livid to say the least.

“What the f*ck is this!?” I yelled.

Both Buff and Zeus exchanged wary glances.

“This looks like some shit a jealous bitch would do,” I added as I walked around inspecting my car for any more signs of damage.

Then Peaches chimed in, “Uh huh. One of those hating ass hoes probably.

“Baby, it’s just a scratch. It’s insured. I’ll have it fixed by tomorrow,” Zeus said.

I was mad at his ass. I hoped he was not having hoe problems. I cut my eyes at him, giving him a silent threat that meant, ‘nigga don’t play me.’ I got in the car fuming. He kissed me on the cheek before closing the door. I started the ignition and pulled off without saying another word. Peaches couldn’t wait to start running her big ass mouth.

“That’s the way you do it bitch. Act like you the boss,” she said in a conspiratorial tone. “I like the way you act like you don’t want his money. Watch that nigga start throwing it at you. Most bitches always milking a nigga for his funds. It’s an art to this shit. You can still milk their asses. Just pretend like those ain’t your intentions. When you’re constantly asking for a nigga’s funds he gets suspicious. You played that shit cool though.”

“I wasn’t playing Peaches. I don’t want to use Zeus for his money.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’ve known him longer than me, but I seem to know him better than you. We got a chance to get rich off them niggas. They don’t care about the money Ze. They got enough to share the wealth. They are gonna burn that shit anyway. They have way more money than you think they do.”

“How do you know?”

“Didn’t you go inside that office today?”

“Yeah, so?”

“Did you see that huge bookshelf that looks like it’s built into the wall?”

“Uh huh.”

“Well, it’s a secret entrance into another room. It’s a button that makes the bookshelf turn around and shit. Only Buff and Zeus can open the door with their fingerprint. That’s where they stash their money. That shit is stacked from wall to wall, ceiling to ceiling. Buff said that they’re going to have to add another money room. I’m telling you that I saw that shit for myself and still couldn’t believe it,” she said.

“Damn, I knew they were getting it, but I don’t know it was like that.”

“Well, it’s like that and I want my cut. I’ve been thinking about some shit for the future.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I hoped she was not plotting on Buff and Zeus. I loved Peaches, but if she was up to some devious shit, I was not down for it and I had no problem putting her ass on blast in from of Buff.

“What do you mean you’ve been thinking ‘bout some shit for the future?” I asked trying to see where her head was at.

She glanced over at me and hesitated like she was considering her words carefully before she spoke. “I’m not trying to hurt or use Buff, but a bitch gotta eat too. My mother used to say, God bless the child that got his own. I’m dealing with Buff because he is good to me and yes, I love that nigga, but I am not in love with him. There is a difference”.

She had me a little baffled with that statement. “So what are you sayin?” I asked as I drove.

I cut my eyes at her trying to read her demeanor for any sign that she was not sincere.

Finally she huffed, “F*ck it Ze. You mean well. He was your friend before you met me. Don’t worry. He’ll probably hurt me before I hurt him.”

I didn’t know how to respond to that, so I turned the radio up. We rode to the hair salon in silence.