Dirty Little Angel

He was about to charge at Harlem but stopped when Harlem pointed the gun at his head.

“Yeah, nigga! Leap and see how far you’ll get,” Harlem gloated.

Magic wanted to rip Harlem’s chest open, but Harlem had the upper hand.

Both men stared at each other with hate and anger. Harlem kept his finger slightly on the trigger of his gun and toyed with Magic.

“You think you’re a big and badass nigga. A tough muthafucka wit’ all the bitches lovin’ him,” Harlem teased.

“I don’t think,” Magic retorted.

Harlem smiled. In a way, he had some respect for Magic. He was one man that you heard about in the streets and took shit from no one. Harlem was just as ruthless, but came up in a different generation. In a way, he felt bad that he had to kill the old man but it was his job and nothing personal.

“You know, I did have some respect for you. Even now, standing tall when you know you’re about to die. Do you fear death?” Harlem asked.

“Nigga, my soul died years ago and soon you’ll know what it will feel like to be on the other end of the gun,” Magic said.

Harlem didn’t pay attention to Magic’s words. “You will die the way you lived, old man.”

“As we all will do.” Magic continued to look death in the face.

Poot!

Harlem fired once into Magic’s head and watched the body collapse to the floor. He stared down at Magic’s lifeless corpse and fired another shot into his head.

The blood spilled from the back of Magic’s head onto the tiled floors. He died with his eyes open.

Harlem crouched over the body and dug through his pockets. He removed Magic’s cell phone, a set of keys, and a little notepad. He went down into the office and ransacked the place, looking for anything that would link back to YB or someone he loved. His efforts paid off: Harlem found the phone number and address of YB’s mother, Monica Toma. He’d done some internet research on YB earlier and found out that YB and this lady had the same last name: Toma was an uncommon last name for a black man or woman in Philly.

Harlem collected all the information he needed and left the office. He walked past the dead bodies without looking. One or two down, a lot more to go.

It would be a shock for everyone to find out that Magic had been killed. He was such a strong urban figure in the city of Philadelphia and his name did ring out. It would ring out even louder when word got out that he was murdered in his own club.

Harlem got into his truck and drove to Mrs. Toma’s address. She would be his next victim of revenge. He wanted to save Rufus for last.

34

YB was very supportive of Chaos’s pregnancy. He went down to the clinic with her and they talked to the doctor. She was in her second trimester and they found out that they were having a baby girl.

“Oh a girl. Damn!” YB was at a loss for words.

Chaos smiled. She hugged and kissed her man. She was finally happy. Day by day, she forgot about her past life in Philly. She had somehow convinced YB to stay in New York and they still had a life together. YB was still in the drug game but had decided to slow it down.

Chaos was making good money, doing hair at Wendy’s salon. Within two months, she had established a decent clientele and her career as a beautician was looking prosperous.

One night, the two were snuggled up on the couch and watching TV. Chaos said to YB, “You know what, baby? From now on, call me by my real name, Danielle.”

“What?” YB said in surprise.

“Chaos was that bitch in Philly who did what she had to do to survive and get paid. I wanna forget about them days and focus on us and our baby. I know our future is gonna get better and I don’t wanna continue to live in the Bronx with people callin’ me Chaos. I want to be called Danielle,” she proclaimed.

YB smiled. “Danielle. It’s got a ring to it. But you know I’m used to sayin’ Chaos.”

Chaos sucked her teeth and said, “Danielle. I’m gonna be a moth

er now and I wanna start acting like one. Chaos was my middle name, but my name life is no longer suitable for my life, and I want to change that. So from now on, baby, please try to call me Danielle and especially around other people.”

“Danielle, look, I promise I’ll try. But you know that other name is the one that I’m used to rollin’ off my tongue.”