Jazmine's POV
Sirens sounded and I shook my head knowing it was the sign of another lost life as I walked into the store, sad as it was, it was reality, men died every day by the very object they praised, the gun.
The same thing that granted them power left them weak and in need of breath. Many of them got too caught up in the lifestyle, bragging and waving their egos around too blind to see that someone would stomp it to prove their own power and dominance one day.
I sighed as I grabbed a can of Arizona before moving over to the shelf that held the snacks, scanning it for a bag of Cheetos frowning when I came up empty.
"Devin are you out of Cheetos?" I asked speaking to the cashier.
"Yeah, but we're getting some more tomorrow," he announced and I shook my head in disbelief looking for replacements.
"Got an entire store with no Cheetos, shit don't make no goddamn sense," I mumbled grabbing two bags of Doritos.
The small ding that sounded whenever the door opened echoed and I looked up immediately going on guard, my body relaxing when I saw a woman step inside and I couldn't help but stare, a frown taking over my features since I didn't recognize her face, paranoia always made sure I was aware of small details like these, a pair of observant eyes was a mean of survival.
My gaze moved off her going to Devin as I walked towards him placing the things on the counter, reaching into my pocket quickly realizing my dumbass didn't walk with any change.
"Just take payment for me and her, and keep the change if there is any left," I announced handing him a 100 hoping for some good karma from the universe especially after the day I had.
He nodded bagging my things before handing them to me. I took it walking out of the store, dreaming of my bed, my entire body feeling drained.
I watched as a car pulled up a frown greeting my face as the horn sounded, my hand moved to my waist as the window began going down not planning to be the next cause of sirens tonight.
"What's up you short motherfucker?" Dice called out and I chuckled lowering my guard walking over to the car.
"Whose car did you steal?" I joked
"You got jokes huh?" he asked and I smiled.
"Whose car is that?" He asked eyeing the vehicle parked beside mine.
"A woman,"
"A woman, do she got a name?"
"Do I look like the fucking yellow pages?" I asked amused and he laughed slightly as I turned away from him, the sound of the door opening grabbing my attention.
"Is that her?" He asked and I nodded watching as she moved to her car, the tracksuit she was wearing displaying her figure perfectly.
"I've never seen her around here before," he announced his gaze following her and I silently agreed. I turned back to him watching as he drove up blocking her car in.
"Dice chill" I warned since she didn't look like the type to tolerate bullshit.
"Give me your number and I'll let you pass," he called out and she rolled her eyes, letting me know she wasn't in the mood for whatever he was doing.
"Dice," I called out after him as she got in her car. I began walking over to them as she blew her horn resulting in him pressing his as well.
"I got one too," he called out.
"Get out of the way" I ordered hating how childish he could be sometimes, as smart as he was he didn't know how to read the room when it mattered and as a woman I understood the annoyance she was probably feeling at the moment.
Her horn sounded once more and he frowned turning to look in front of him.
"Alright bitch I'm backing up" he replied loud enough for her to hear every word, pressing his horn as he reversed.
"Chill out," I told him firmly before moving over to my car surprised that she didn't drive off yet.
"Thank you," she called out and I turned to see her window winded down and I nodded, actually spending time to appreciate her features finding her quite attractive.
"No problem he can be childish sometimes"
"Let me repay you" she offered out, and I frowned confused since she didn't look like the type to fuck somebody she barely knew, but then again you can never be-
"For inside, the cashier said you took care of it, you didn't have to," she clarified and I chuckled.
"No that's okay, my friend ruined your night anyway so we're even, " I replied getting into my car.
"Are you sure?" She asked and I nodded starting my car.
"Yeah I'm sure, drive safe and welcome to the neighbourhood" I replied driving off, blowing my horn at Dice in warning as I left.
I sighed exhausted knowing I had to get some rest since I had to be at my family's cookout early tomorrow.
If my mother could see me now, she would be stuck between disappointment and pride, because even though I did what she feared my brothers getting into, I was different from the other people who pushed drugs in the neighbourhood, for one I actually gave back to the community and played it smart, I only did it for two years and stopped the moment I had enough to get on my feet and stay there.
Two I never supplied hard drugs to my people only marijuana, so in ways, I wasn't as bad as everybody else pushing drugs, or at least that's what I told myself to help me sleep at night.
I never planned on this being my future, but life happened, and with life came sacrifice.
My mother died when I was only eight, three bullets to the chest, as a warning to my father, it just comes to show that loving the wrong person will always be your biggest downfall.
Shortly after that, my father went to prison for the same thing I was involved in, it's funny how the world works, but the difference is I never let my pride lead me astray.
I made decisions from a place of logic and not greed and got out the minute I could, I saw beyond that life and never got comfortable.
With the loss of both my parents, my siblings and I were left to live with my grandmother who already had six grandkids to take care of, so you know how that went.
But in life, nothing goes as planned you got to do what you have to to survive.
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Thanks for reading ❤️‼️Hope you enjoyed the chapter ❤️‼️
Please let me know what you think so far❤️‼️
Jazmine's POVI continued to walk towards the house the music getting louder with each step. I pushed open the gate to the backyard my entire family insight along with a few friends."Jazmine," a voice I loved called out and I smiled walking over to my grandmother pulling her into a hug, placing a kiss on her cheek."Are you hungry?" She asked pulling out of my hold."No grandma I'm fine," I replied and she frowned."Did you eat already?""No, I-""Go find a seat I'll have someone bring you a plate," she said walking off leaving no room to argue and I smiled moving
Jazmine's POVI turned on Crimson street slowing down as I got closer to the store, I quickly parked the car beside Spain getting out.Loyalty was rare so I really appreciated the friendship we had, we've been friends since Middle School building a bond that was more solid than blood. He was my right hand in everything, the only one I could actually trust, I would give my life for him and he would do the same.I closed the door going around the car sitting on the hood as he moved over to me, we actually started everything together and the moment I left he did too."What's up Ice?" he greeted and I smile hating and loving that his dumbass nickname stuck."Anythi
Jazmine's POV"Ice" Taj called out his body language letting me know it was serious."Spain bring them up and get them settled" I ordered and he nodded walking off with Michael, Terrell, and Dice as I moved over to Taj."What's up?" I asked"Another body was found, same Vipers, gang shit, but this one is in your neighbourhood a drive-by, close to your crib so the cops are swarming I recommend you staying somewhere else in the meantime" he explained and I frowned the information irritating me slightly. It wasn't that I was doing anything illegal, I just didn't really feel comfortable or safe driving around my neighbourhood when it is flooded with cops."Alright
Jazmine's POVI pulled over allowing him to get into the car, scanning the area as he closed the door."Dragos were on our block last night" Spain announced as we drove off and I frowned glancing over to him."How many of them?""About six, seven, they were on 23rd" he informed me and shook my head, not liking that shit since my sister was going to be there tomorrow and they were in war with the Vipers over some dumb shit."Now Antonio knows better than that" I mumbled referring to their Don."Seems he forgot" Spain replied the hard look on his face clueing me into his thoughts.
Jazmine's POVI sat in the car waiting in the parking lot of the hospital for him, scrolling through Instagram as I did, a yawn leaving me. I had stayed at the club last night until everything was over and I was slowly regretting it now.I turned off my phone putting it away, my gaze going to the entrance as I grew impatient, I was about to call him when a similar face had me pausing, I blew my horn twice and I watched as she looked over to my car. I sent down the window gazing as she walked over to me."I'm surprised you remember me" I announced and she smiled."Listen before this goes any further you should know I have a three-year-old daughter" She pointed out and I smiled my eyes running over her.
Four Days LaterJazmine's POVI walked down the hall, knocking on the door waiting for seconds before it was finally pulled open by a female I assumed to be Terrell's girlfriend, the sound of the baby crying in the background."Good morning is Terrell here?" I asked as her eyes ran over me."No, he's on his morning jog" She replied and I checked my watch, the tenseness of her figure letting me know that she knew who I was."Do you mind if I wait here until he comes back?" I asked"No, come in" she replied hesitantly before stepping to the side allowing me to move into the apartment.
Jazmine's POVI stepped into the building my gaze immediately greeting her, a smile on my face as I walked over to the table she was seated at."I'm surprised you asked me out" I pointed out smiling as she motioned for me to sit and I complied sitting down facing her."Do you want to order something to drink?" she asked"I don't drink coffee" I confessed"So why did you agree to meet here?" she asked laughing slightly."Because I wanted to see you, and since you're on your lunch break I assumed you needed the caffeine" I explained and she smiled, she was about to reply when her phone started ringing cutting her off,
Jasmine's POVI sat around the bar watching as she moved towards me gracefully."On time," she stated and I smiled."You came," I fired back and she laughed, a sound so sweet it had me smiling."You ready?" I asked referring to heading inside and she nodded wordlessly saying yes resulting in me standing.My eyes ran over her as I led her to the dining area of the restaurant, the navy blue dress she wore making it hard to look away, I pulled out her chair and she sat down saying a small thank you as I moved over to my own seat doing the same facing her."You look beautiful," I complimented earning the same look of di