Free Working Girls by Treasure Hernandez Page B

suspiciously.
    â€œI don’t know.” Jamaica Joe turned to Sweets. “Is everything all right?”
    â€œYeah, everything’s cool, officer,” Sweets responded. “Just a small gathering amongst friends, you know.”
    â€œWell, your gathering is disturbing your neighbors. We got a noise complaint, and it looks like we came just in time,” one of the officers stated. The officers began their routine, separating Sweets and Jamaica Joe and questioning them to get to the bottom of the situation.
    Jamaica Joe stared into the eyes of the white man as he used his shirt to wipe the blood from his nose.
    â€œNow, if there is something going on here, you can tell me. If you need our assistance, all you have to do is nod your head,” the officer stated.
    â€œNo, sir, our party just got a little out of control. I’m not feeling too well, though. I would appreciate it if you and your partner could clear this out for me.” Joe stared intently across the room at Sweets and his crew. He was heated that they had the audacity to run up on him in his crib. The situation could have easily ended badly for him, so he was grateful for the lawful interruption.
    â€œAll right, it’s time to clear this out. Party’s over!” the officer yelled.
    Joe’s guests flew up the steps as quickly as possible. Nobody was trying to be a part of the bloodbath. Joe was so infuriated, he didn’t realize that he was standing with his fists balled at his side.
    The police officers stood and watched as Jamaica Joe walked over to Sweets and held up his hand, as if he were showing him love. Sweets looked at Joe’s hand and then at the cops and decided that he would play along with Joe’s little game. Nigga, you got lucky this time, but next time I’ma make sure there are no interruptions. He slapped Joe’s hand.
    Joe pulled Sweets toward him discreetly, but with force. “You niggas is dead.”
    Sweets and Joe stared each other down as they came out of their embrace. Sweets nodded his head to his crew, who were scared shitless. They all walked up the basement steps, while Joe remained in the basement, a cop on either side of him.
    Rage overcame Joe as he witnessed Sweets and his crew walking out of his home with his bricks. He wasn’t in a position to try to stop them, and his insides were boiling. He knew that he couldn’t protest because of the cops’ presence. Sweets gave Joe a small smirk like, Yeah, I’m walking out with yo’ shit and you can’t do anything about it. It took all of Joe’s willpower not to grab Sweets up and take back what was his.
    The cops were too busy directing people out of the house. They didn’t notice the evil stares that Sweets and Joe were exchanging. If looks could kill, Joe and Sweets would both be circled in chalk.
    As Sweets and his crew exited the door, Sweets looked back and held up the bags. “Yo, Joe, thanks for the party favors. That was very nice of you, buddy. Appreciate the hospitality,” he said sarcastically as he made his way out of the door.
    Just as Sweets, Manolo, and the Shottah Boyz reached the top of the steps, Malek and Halleigh walked out of the bedroom and through Joe’s kitchen. With the loud music playing and their deep conversation, they hadn’t heard the initial chaos and were clueless to the fact that robbery and murder had been about to go down.
    Malek and Halleigh were prepared to exit through the back door when they bumped into Sweets, Manolo, and the Shottah Boyz. Halleigh stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Manolo’s face. She tried to turn around, but it was too late.
    â€œWhat the fuck are you doing here?” Manolo asked Halleigh, trying to disguise his anger because he knew the police were within earshot. He attempted to snatch Halleigh up.
    But Malek slapped his hand with force. “Whoa, homeboy, you might want to calm that down if you know