Chapter 1
WOOP-WOOP.
I looked in the mirror and saw the red and blue lights.
Goddamn. I ain’t got time for this bullshit. Profit and his nigga shit done got us pulled over. I’ma cuss this nigga out when we get home.
The cop checked the plate and did his cursory walk around the car. I looked over and Profit’s dumb ass was breathing hard. What the fuck he breathing hard for? He wasn’t doing that shit when he was tearing up that bitch’s house.
I caught Mars’s glance in the rearview mirror and he nodded. I know at least he won’t do anything stupid.
The window was already rolled down when he came over to the driver’s side.
“Good evening Ma’am.”
He shined the light in my face and probably hoped I would shield my eyes. Nah, bruh. I ain’t the one. They’re part of my secret weapon. Time to code switch.
“Good evening, officer. I have my license and registration ready for you.”
I passed it to him without attitude or hesitation. He stared into my eyes for just a second and smiled. Got’em. The hazel eyes always get’em.
“Um, thank you Ma’am.”
He looked at my license and smiled at it. Damn, that’s a fine ass white boy. I could do miracles with him.
“Do you know why I stopped you Ma’am?”
“Um, was I speeding? I don’t think I was,” I said in my most puzzled white-girl like voice.
“No. There was a report of a domestic altercation at a house a couple of blocks back. Your car fits the description of the fleeing vehicle.”
“Fleeing vehicle?”
Shit.
I know this snitch muthafucking bitch better not have given them my damn name.
“Man, this some ole bullshit,” Profit whispered under his breath.
Evidently he didn’t whisper soft enough because Officer Fine Ass White Boy responded, “Am I wasting your time, Sir?”
Goddamn. This how niggas get shot.
“Naw, man. I’m good.”
“Step out of the car. Slowly. Hands on your head,” he looked directly at me, “Are there any weapons in the car?”
“No sir.”
He opened the door to “help” Profit out.
Profit looked at me to protest. Nigga please. I had this under control. You the one that brought the cops to the car in the first damn place.
Mars leaned up and whispered, “Shy, I already told you he’s a loose cannon. We both know this shouldn’t even be happenin’.”
I didn’t respond. First of all because I knew Mars was right. But second of all, I really wanted to make things work with Profit. I met him when I was fifteen and he was my first. My only. But more about that later. . .
“Hands on the car, Sir. Don’t move.”
Officer Fine Ass White Boy walked backwards to his car. Damn. He was gonna run Profit’s name. I already know how this night is ending. I rolled down the window all the way so I could hear the conversation when he came back.
“Profit. Just go without an issue. You know I’ll have you out in 48 hours.”
“Yeah I know Bae. You done always held me down.”
And it gets old Profit. Sometimes a woman needs a man to hold her down.
“Sir. You have a warrant for a missed court date due to a DUI and a weapons violation.”
WOOP-WOOP! Another cop car.
Mars leaned back and put his hands on his knees. He exhaled. Damn, he knows how to follow protocol like a muthafucka. The officers traded positions.
The new cop started reading Profit his rights.
“Dalleon Hardges, you have the right to remain…” She was a petite chick but had no problem handling Profit as she led him away.
Officer Fine Ass White Boy came back to the driver’s side. “Ms. Cooper or is it Mrs?”
“It’s Ms.”
“Ma’am step out of the car please.”
“Yes, sir.”
He walked me to the opposite side of the street. I guess he felt the need to protect me.
“Your full name is Shylynn Cooper? You reside at 2204 Kaplan Way in the Trails?”
“Yeah, that’s me.”
What the fuck does he want?
“I looked you up. Don’t blow it with this guy. You have a friend who cared enough to call but her description was so erratic about what happened so we can’t really hold him for domestic violence.”
So that snitch bitch did tell. Yep. I got somethin’ for that big mouth bitch.
If she hadn’t been playing with me about my money and if Profit had just done what I told him to do, we wouldn’t be going through all this.
I told him: break her phone. Simple instruction. This dumbass busts out her windows and tears up her house. How she gone move merchandise and the bitch ain’t got no car?
“No, Officer it’s not like…”
“Ma’am. The more you defend an abuser, the more abuse you will suffer.”
I laughed to myself. The last thing I am is abused. The upside of looking like me, well is that I look like me. The other upside of looking like me, nobody takes me seriously as a threat. Big mistake. Profit always reminded me, “You a Stacey Dash looking ass bitch, you my secret weapon girl.”
Ha. I’m HIS secret weapon. Okay, Profit. I love him though.
Snowflakes started falling at the same time that everybody’s Christmas lights came on. This was not the season for bullshit.
“It’s cold Ma’am. Think about what I said. Do you want an order of protection?”
I took the blue card just to humor him and walked back to my car. Mars was in the backseat on the phone.
“Your Cash App went through,” he replied without looking up.
“Good. Bitch better’ve got me my money.”
“You gangsta as hell Shy.”
I laughed and responded, “Get in the front so you can drive. You know I hate driving. You staying over tonight?”
“Cool. We can get some more work done.”
“Bet.”
Mars turned the heat up full blast in the car and I drifted off to sleep, dreaming about the day when I could leave the game behind. No more late night visits to people who owed me money. No more bringing Profit along just to shut him up. No more watching Mars waste his talent. I just wanted peace–whatever the hell that looked like.
