The thugtress of harlem.., p.1
The Thugtress of Harlem 2, page 1
The Thugtress of Harlem 2
-Nadir
The Thugtress of Harlem 2
Copyright © by Nadir Simmonds
All rights reserved.
Published in the United States of America.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or person, living or dead, is coincidental.
In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without permission of the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at wordtovince@gmail.com. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Afterward
Also by Nadir
Chapter 1
Big Bear felt like a million bucks as he stepped out the courtroom. Given a full reversal on his case, he was a free man now. He could not stop smiling.
Thank you, God!
Spending nearly six years behind bars, a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders when the judge made his final decision on record.
“Mr. DuPont here was clearly not responsible for the crime he stood convicted of and deserves to be home with his family, also compensated for the time he spent away from his loved ones,” the judge ruled.
Big Bear was an actual participant in the murder he stood convicted of but had gotten away with the crime, scott free. He was framed, though, by corrupted police officers, and sent to rot in prison.
The victim was a worker for the DuPont’s who decided to steal from the family. Learning of the man’s thievery, Big Bear lured him to a vacant street and put a bullet in the center of his head. Out of eye and ear shot of anyone. Somehow the police caught wind of his involvement in the murder, brought him in for questioning, and eventually charged him for the crime. He denied involvement in the murder but was accused of writing a sworn statement implicating himself in the crime. This fictious statement, signed by a rogue officer using his signature, was the chief reason for his eventual 25-to-Life sentence.
However, foul play by the police eventually came to light and he was given a reversal.
Thank the lord!
“Mr. DuPont,” called the judge, “have a nice life,” was his final words.
Big Bear did not need to hear anymore. He walked out the courtroom in a hurry, even as his attorney called to him.
“One second, Mr. Dupont,” the attorney called.
But Big Bear kept it moving. If the lawyer wanted to talk, they could talk outside of the courtroom where he would have more of a chance to get away if the judge so happened to change his mind. Returning to prison was not an option. He would rather die. Fuck that. The years he spent behind the wall was a reminder that he’d better cherish his freedom. Maybe slow down a bit this time around. Especially now that he got a reversal.
“Congratulations, Mr. DuPont,” applauded his attorney once outside the courtroom.
“Yeah, yeah, whatever man,” said Big Bear, brushing the man off.
He went over to his wife, Cheryl, who was present throughout the entire proceedings and now stood outside the courtroom.
“What’s up, babe?” he greeted with a huge smile.
Opening her arms for an embrace, Cheryl waited to feel the love of her life, Big Bear. When he got within her grasped, he held onto to her like he never had before. It felt so good to feel her man after so many years. She really missed her Big Bear, a nickname she gave him years ago.
“Welcome home, baby.”
“Damn, I missed your scent,” said Big Bear, sinking his nose deep into Cheryl’s neck, sniffling aloud like a dog. Being able to hold his wife was a dream come true. He’d dreamt about this day for years. It finally came to reality.
“I missed yours, also, baby.”
Releasing his grip on Cheryl, Big Bear turned to his attorney.
He said, “I’ll be by to see you tomorrow. Family time now.”
“I understand, Mr. DuPont. I’ll be at the office when you’re ready.”
Big Bear turned to Cheryl.
“Let’s go,” he instructed.
Outside the courthouse, a chauffeured stretch Mercedes limousine, guarded by two bodyguards, awaited Big Bear and Cheryl.
Big Bear greeted the hulky men, family workers, before getting inside with Cheryl. Resting back in the comfy leather seats, he cracked a smile at his wife.
“I still can’t believe this shit. I was just in jail this morning, now I’m in a limousine,” he said, still in shock by how things played out in his case.
As Big Bear, Cheryl rested back in her seat.
“You better believe this shit. It’s real. You’re free like a bird,” she said.
Cheryl was right. He was free. He didn’t have to pinch himself to awaken from a dream. The powers that be had opened the cells of the penitentiary letting him out, a chance many had not received. He was blessed. The God up above granted him the opportunity to get back to business. And that he would do. Get back to business.
“You’re right, babe. It’s work time,” he said. “Driver,” he called to the chauffeur.
“Yes, Mr. DuPont.”
“Take us to the fanciest restaurant Manhattan has to offer.”
“No problem. I know just the spot.”
Pulling up to Mr. Chows in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood, Big Bear and Cheryl was let out the ride and ushered inside the trendy restaurant. The fancy joint was filled with whites, A-list celebrities, musicians, sports stars. All dining on expensive dishes.
Searching the room, Big Bear penetrated everyone. He was glad to be present inside one of the best restaurants instead of a prison cafeteria. Directed to a table, someone called to him as he strolled through the luxurious atmosphere. He stopped to see the caller.
It was a Harlem rapper who had become a superstar during his time away. He’d funded the man’s career at the beginning of his rise to fame.
“That’s you, Sport,” smiled Big Bear.
The rapper, known as Sport, got up to greet Big Bear, bowing before the man as if he were a king.
“Yeah, b. It’s me,” he said. “And you know I owe you a lot. I’m really glad to see you made it home.”
“Thanks.”
Giving Sport a few minutes of his time, he exchanged information with the rapper before going over to sit with Cheryl.
“That’s Sport from ’38th Street,” he said.
“I know. He used to stop by to see Kevin all the time,” Cheryl replied.
Hearing Kevin’s name dampened Big Bear’s mood. Cheryl, who had carried him for nine months, must have felt the same way. He still didn’t believe his son was gone. It still hurt every time he thought about Kevin. He should have still been around to hold down the family, thought Big Bear. He should have been there to see him released. But he wasn’t, and it hurt. Catching himself before he got emotional, he changed course in the conversation.
“How’s Drac doing? You heard from him?”
“Yeah. He should be calling me later. He usually calls during the night hours.”
“He’s holding up good?”
“You know that son of ours is a warrior. Just like his daddy.”
“He better be. No punks allowed in this family.”
“Trust me. He’s one boy you don’t have to worry about.”
“What am I hearing about this so-called wife of his. When did he get married?”
Word got to Big Bear that Drac put his wife in position to run the family, a blasphemous act, one he didn’t agree with one bit. When he got this information, he wished he had the opportunity to speak to Drac to give him a piece of his mind. The girl, Lady, as he was told she was named, was making raves in the streets in the name of the DuPont’s. He didn’t like this. Especially when he heard she and Mark, his nephew, was at war. This shouldn’t have been able to occur.
“She’s a good girl,” Cheryl spoke up for Lady. “I really like her. And she has Drac’s best interest at heart.”
“But she’s a bitch, and a bitch can’t control the family. You know that.”
Especially not an outside bitch.
This Lady should not have been allowed to get involved in family business. Regardless of Mark’s antics, she was not to intervene with what the DuPont’s had going on.
“When you meet her, I think you’ll think different about her,” said Cheryl, brushing off Big Bear.
She knew her husband like th
“I don’t really wanna know her. I’m home now, so I’ll bring back the family as one.”
Home now, Big Bear was sure his presence would tame the raging fire in Harlem. Afterall, he was the king of Harlem, the lord over all lords.
Cheryl left things how they were. Debating with Big Bear would prove nothing. He had always been an arrogant, sure man, who ignored opinions of others. Trying to explain Lady’s loyalty, business etiquette, and leadership skills would fall on deaf ears. Big Bear wouldn’t care about any of that. It was his way or the highway. Had always been that way.
“Let’s get in our order,” she said.
“Yeah, let’s do that.”
Chapter 2
The DuPont battle was the trending topic in the city. Daily, deadly gunbattles marred the streets of Harlem and the Bronx, back-and-forth bouts between Lady and Mark’s men. The world wind of violence seemed like it would never end.
The cat was out the hat. Mark now knew Lady was controlling the family on Drac’s side of things and was gunning for her.
On the other hand, Lady long had a target on Mark’s head, waiting for the day he slipped up so she could send a missile through his face. She was anxious to rid the world of the thorn in Harlem, Mark. His disloyalty toward the family made her hate his guts. He deserved a dirt nap, somewhere he would never be found ever again.
Being a part of the DuPont world taught Lady about investments. The amount of property and businesses the family owned was unbelievable. Hotel chains; farms; clubs; houses; food chain franchises. The list went on-and-on. Big Bear was surely a billionaire, Drac a millionaire. Neither had to participate in street activities. Nevertheless, that’s what they chose, and she was along for the ride. For the time being at least.
Polo Grounds was flaming hot, so Lady kept a low profile in Queens, pressing buttons from the circumference of her home. She moved her mother out the projects, literally forcing her to come and stay out in Queens.
“I don’t want to leave,” argued her mother, defiant about the move.
“Well, you’re gonna have to, or end up with a bullet in the head,” Lady warned.
This scared her mother. Lady revealed her newfound position, elaborating on the serious enemy forces hunting her.
“They won’t stop at nothing to get to me, even it means kidnapping you to use as bait. So you better pack your shit and let’s go.”
Shooter Sean checked in every day, keeping her abreast with what was going on in the neighborhood, daily operations.
It was something new every day. In the past week, two Young Gunners were killed, shot to death by Jamaican gunmen while standing on W. 155th.
“Shit is hotter than it’s ever been out here,” mentioned Shooter Sean.
Lady responded, “And it’s only gonna get hotter.”
Mark no longer kept his connection to the Jamaicans a secret. His plan of taking over the family was more evident now than ever before. This had always been his mission, but at first, he was trying to not be so blatant with his maneuvers. He first sent in the Jamaicans to Polo Grounds knowing Kevin wouldn’t accept their presence and would more than likely take on the political marksmen and be killed during the process. Though the Jamaicans were successful with killing Kevin, Mark didn’t know it would drag on for so long after the murder, revealing his deceit during the process. He figured they would eventually kill Kevin and that would be it. But Drac got involved, Jamie revealed his ties to the Jamaicans, and everything spiraled out of control. Mark was placed on the spot. Put in the hot seat. Exposed.
Instead of submitting to his death, though, he decided to fight it out for control of the family.
Preparing to go and see Drac, a phone rang in the background. Her mother answered, bringing the device to her.
“Some rude man wants to speak to you.”
Lady took the phone from her mother.
“Hello,” she said.
“Listen, I’m a get right to the point. Whatever you had going on, it’s over now. This Big Bear.”
“Big Bear?”
Lady looked at her mother, wide-eyed. She was surprised her mother didn’t recognize the man’s voice, seeing that the two were once an item. Clearly, Big Bear didn’t recognize her mother’s voice either.
“Yeah. Big Bear. I’m back around, so you can fall back.”
Drac informed Lady that Big Bear had gotten a reversal on his case and would be released soon, but she didn’t believe it would be so soon. The man’s aggressive tone threw her for the loop; she was surprised to hear from him.
“Okay,” was all she could think to say.
How could she argue with Big Bear? He was the head DuPont, over even Drac, and had to be respected as such. Though she had a personal vengeance for Mark, who played a key role in Jamie being murdered, she had no choice but to fall back.
Big Bear was home and had spoken.
Big Bear hung up in her ear.
“Big Bear is home,” she said to her mother right away.
“I’m surprised I didn’t recognize his voice,” said her mother.
“Me, too.”
Gathering her things, Lady hit the road to go and see Drac.
Making it to the jail in about an hour, she went through the usual process of being thoroughly searched before being let onto the visit floor. Once through with the process, she entered a noisy, packed room with family and friends who’d come to see jailers. Directed to a seat, she sat and waited on Drac.
Monitoring the room, her eyes came upon a man who ice grilled her. Quickly returning the gesture, she cracked a smirk before turning away. She was not going to be eye fighting with a nigga.
Fuck is his problem?
Drac eventually came down.
“Who’s that nigga?” Lady asked right away, gesturing at the man who was watching her.
Stealing a glimpse at the man, Drac recognized him right away. It was one of Mark’s soldiers who’d recently came to the jail. He had an eye fight with the man just the day before in the jail’s cafeteria.
“That’s one a Mark’s niggas.”
“Before you came down, that nigga was screwing me. I was wondering where the fuck he knows me from to be looking at me that way.”
Drac could tell Lady didn’t know she was making raves in the underworld of Harlem. Word had gotten back to him about missions she’d sent soldiers out on, daring ones that produced notable casualties. One of Mark’s top lieutenants, a Spanish man from the Bronx, became a victim to Lady’s wrath when she sent some Young Gunners to his house after finding out where he lived. Twenty shots later, he was all over the news. Dead. This was a big win for the team, a victory Drac praised Lady for. Her reputation was growing by the day, sounding off even in the cellblocks of jails.
“I don’t think you know how popular you’re becoming.” He smiled.
“But I don’t want to be popular, babe,” said Lady, giving Drac the puppy dog face. “I try to stay as low as possible, under the radar.”
“This is the life of a boss, babe. You gotta roll with the punches. It’s just how it is.”
Lady didn’t like that her name was getting out there. This put her in more danger than she was already in. Fighting a battle against seasoned vets as Mark wasn’t an easy job. Had she not had the heart to stand up to him, she would have been left New York as a whole.
“I just hope my name isn’t in the police mouth like they’re in everybody else’s.”
“I hope so, too.”
“Anyway, just keep an eye on that nigga over there.” Lady made a covert gesture to Mark’s soldier. “That nigga look mad about something.”
“That nigga better play his position before he ends up with a piece of metal through his face.”
Lady smiled, knowing that Drac meant every word he said. There was no doubt in her mind that Drac would kill the man if he got the chance. However, she hoped it didn’t reach such a level. He was already fighting two jail cases and two bodies. He didn’t need any extras on his plate.
