Free Christmas in the Hood by Nikki Turner Page B

shoving her forward. “Let’s clear the house ’fore we all end up back in jail.”
    As Andrew’s words sunk in, the trio rushed into the apartment and tossed all the drugs, money, and guns into two book bags.
    Gigi grabbed both bags and hurried out of the apartment, running up one flight to her friend’s place. She pounded on the door, her leg shaking nervously as she waited. Finally she heard footsteps growing closer.
    “Who is it?” a woman asked through the door.
    “It’s me,” Gigi said, trying not to shout.
    Gigi heard a series of latches being unlocked before the door swung open.
    “What’s wrong, girl?” a slender female asked as Gigi rushed into the apartment. “Is everything okay? I thought I heard gunshots.”
    Gigi didn’t answer until she reached the living room and made sure no one else was around. “Someone tried to rob us, Tiffany. My cousin got grazed, but he’s all right.”
    “Oh shit,” Tiffany replied, dumbfounded.
    “I need you to stash this,” Gigi said, dropping both book bags on the couch.
    “What’s in the bags?”
    “Trust me, you don’t wanna know,” Gigi replied, before turning on her heels and heading for the door. “I’ll be back for them later.”
    No sooner than Gigi returned to the apartment, the police were ringing the bell. Answering the door, Gigi recognized the two detectives standing in the hallway with four uniformed cops. The same two detectives that had questioned her at the precinct the day Grandma’s apartment was raided. The two plainclothes narcs invited themselves inside.
    Minutes later, EMS arrived and attended to Andrew’s wound in the living room while the detectives questioned Gigi and Grandma in the hallway.
    “Way I figure, word must’ve leaked Grandma has large sums of cash and drugs stashed in the apartment,” the white detective said, staring at Grandma before turning his cold blue gaze on Gigi. “Why else would someone break in?”
    “It definitely wasn’t for the fine art,” the black detective added.
    “Grandma already told you, my cousin stopped selling drugs,” Gigi snapped, glaring right back at the white detective, showing no signs of fear. “Andrew almost died, and y’all treating us like the criminals. There ain’t no drugs in the house. You and your dumb-ass partner can look.”
    The black detective’s nostrils flared as he spoke up.“You got such a fresh mouth for a young lady.”
    “Damn right,” Gigi replied, rolling her eyes.
    “I can’t help people who refuse to help themselves,” the white detective said, shaking his head in frustration as he glanced over at his angered partner. “Let’s get outta here.”
    “Yeah, good idea,” Gigi said, as the two detectives made a bee-line for the staircase.
    *  *  *
    When the Diaz brothers found out about the home invasion, both drug dealers were livid. Chico and Joe couldn’t believe someone had had the balls to fuck with Grandma and her family.
    Grandma pounded the coffee table with her fist. “Nobody fucks with my blood,” she said, through clenched teeth. “I want y’all to find that bastard and make him pay.”
    “We got you,” Chico said, rubbing his palms together. “We gonna make an example outta this muthafucka.”
    Joe cut in. “Only problem, we don’t have the slightest idea who the hell we looking for.”
    “It’s only a matter of time before the ’hood starts talking,” Chico replied.
    In Grandma’s bedroom, Gigi and Andrew had their earspressed to the closed door, eavesdropping on the conversation taking place in the living room. They had never heard Grandma curse before. Matter of fact, they had never seen her lose her cool. But that night, they saw a side of Grandma they’d never expected.

Chapter Six
    O n Christmas Eve, Gigi sat counting all the money she had made. She couldn’t believe she had actually managed to make close to twenty-eight thousand dollars in such a short time. She would be able to give Grandma just what she