Dirty Little Angel

Rufus was the hard part. He knew he had to tell his mother and Magic that he was leaving town and while he didn’t want to do it, he knew they would be easier to deal with.

YB pulled up to his mother’s house and saw her Benz truck parked in the driveway. He got out of his ride carrying a bulky envelope in his hand. He walked into the house and found his mother in the kitchen making lunch.

“Hey baby,” his mother greeted without turning to face her son as she chopped tomatoes.

“Hey, Ma.” YB gave his mother a hug from the back and then kissed her on the cheek.

“What was that for?” she asked with a smile on her face.

“I love you, Ma.”

She continued to smile while YB handed her the envelope.

“What is this?” she asked, drying her hands on a dishtowel and opening the envelope.

“I want you to take a long vacation somewhere and there’s $15,000 to help you get started,” he suggested.

“Vacation?”

“Yeah just leave town for a while and enjoy yourself.”

“Why?”

YB stared at his mother. By the look he gave her, Mrs. Toma already knew that something was up. “What’s going on, Yvonne? What happened? Is everything okay?” she asked with concern.

“Some shit popped off the other night wit’ me and Rufus,” he began to explain.

“Shit like what?”

“Three people are dead and one of the dead was a heavy hitter here in Philly. I know his peoples are gonna come at me and Rufus. I can handle myself, but you . . . I can’t have anything happening to you, Ma,” YB held his mother’s wrist gently as he looked into her eyes.

“Shit, Yvonne,” Mrs. Toma cursed.

“I need you to take a long vacation. I need you to be safe while I’m gone.”

“Gone? Where are you off to?”

“Somewhere far from here and I don’t wanna tell you where. But I promise I’ll call you when I get there.”

“I already been through this shit with your father and Magic. I know how to handle myself, Yvonne. I can look after myself.”

“I know, but I would feel much better if you left town for a minute, at least until everything blows over.”

Monica stared at the bulky envelope in her hand and let out a deep sigh. She looked back at her son and joked, “Mexico is good this time of the year.”

YB smiled and felt better that his mother was taking his advice. With his mother taken care of, he went to see Magic at the club.

When YB walked in Magic was behind the counter, tallying the sales receipts from the bar. The place was quiet and empty and Magic seemed to be at peace for once.

“What you want, nigga?” Magic asked.

“I’m out for a minute,” YB replied.

“You had anything to do with that home invasion at Crown’s place the other night?” Magic stared at YB.

YB stared back. “Yeah. You know we did, Magic.”

“Streets is hot right now, nigga. Harlem came into my place the night it happened and scooped up the girls and then issued me with a warning,” Magic stated. “I figured y’all had set some shit up the way Sweet beat down one of my girls on the same night and Crown dragged her out of here in a hurry. Then I heard the news a few hours later.”