Free URBAN: Chosen By A Kingpin by Shantel Johnson Page A

other night in some guy’s arms. I was shocked to see her, but what I didn’t know was who was that guy with her. Was that her boyfriend? Or her husband? I doubt that she’s taken because she was so insistent on me being single so she probably is the same. Maybe this is just some random guy that came up to her, but the way they were looking at each other, you could tell that they had history.
    “What are you looking at man?” Black asked me. “Your eyes been locked on something.”
    “Just this woman.”
    “Some chick you used to mess with?” He nodded at some women that were throwing him the look.
    “Once, but I never got her name.” I pointed her out.
    “So go over there and talk to her. Work up the nerve.”
    “I know.”
    “And do it before we take over VIP.” Black suggested as he made his way over to the bar.
    I shrugged my shoulders and made my way over there. The closer I got to her, I could remember that night. She was so bold and sexy. There is just something about her. If any other woman told me that we were going to just have sex, not exchange names, and that’s it, I would have been cool with it. That type of arrangement is ideal for me, but she is different.
    They were still dancing when I got to them. I wanted to tap on her shoulder, but I decided against it.
    “You mind if I cut in?” I asked him. The guy looked at me like he had a problem, but I wasn’t there for him. She finally turned around and looked at me. Her eyes opened wide and then she smiled.
    “So, we meet again.” She stopped dancing with him.
    “You said if we saw each other again, it would be fate.”
    “I did say that.” Her smile was bright and as I looked at her all dressed up, I couldn’t believe that she was even more beautiful than before.
    “I guess it was meant to be.”
    We started moving towards each other but then all that was heard was..
    “He’s got a fucking gun!” Then the shots rang out.

HOOD LOVE
    A Thug’s Destiny
    Shantel Johnson
    © 2015 Sensual Ink Publishing

“Mommy, who’s that nappy headed boy across the street?” I asked, staring out the gated window of the one bedroom apartment I shared with my mother. She was too busy in the kitchen and talking on the phone to pay any attention to me. The smell of chicken filled the stuffy apartment and made my mouth water, but I was still too focused on the boy next door. It had been awhile since anyone new came to the block. Most everyone knew each other through gossip and grapevine rumors, and the kids all played together at the park. Someone new was kind of…exciting. My hair was standing on end as i gripped the gate tightly, trying to get my face closer to see the boy more clearly.
    All I saw was an untamed afro, some cheap basketball shorts and a sweat covered wifebeater. He wasn’t much to look at but curiosity got the best of me. Looking it back on it now, I can say that this was probably my first crush. I was nothing but a little girl trying to act like a grown woman with a kid I knew nothing about.
    It was summer when he first moved in. School had just let out and I needed something to keep me occupied and out of momma’s hair. She didn’t like me around when she was doing her client’s hair at home. Said I fussed too much. But that was only because there was nothing to do in the projects ‘cept go to the corner store, watch the older boys play Basketball, and wait until someone busted open a fire hydrant so we could play in it. Seeing this new boy could mean something else for me to do. So i watched closely as he struggled to pull boxes out from the back of a nice van. Another man came out the driver’s side looking scary as all hell. I remember his muscles and the way his Jordan’s seemed to gleam in the afternoon sun. The gold chain around his neck served as a beam of light, calling out all the mothers around the block to go talk to him. It was almost as if they smelled money, and it wasn’t everyday that a father would be taking