Chapter Two

Hassan ‘Haze' Ashby

"So when you gonna talk to that nigga Knas about continuing to use the ports? It's almost time for the next group to come in."

Me and my brother, Rakeem or Rock, were sitting in my office at the freight yard. This was just one of our businesses…the legal one, anyway. We were a part of the Ashby Crime Family here in Wood Haven. Our pops was currently the head of our family, with me being the heir apparent. Even though we were our own family, everyone knew The Richmonds ran every damn thing. With this change, I would need to sit down with Knasim and come up with our own agreement outside of the one they had with my pops.

My family ran an illegal immigration operation. We had ports set up all over the Caribbean, Mexico, South America, and Western Africa. Our vessels made it possible for immigrants to come to the United States undetected and attain the proper documentation to live a prosperous life in a new country. We provided documents, a place to stay, a vehicle, and a job to maintain their lifestyles. It didn't get any better than that. It was only our job to get them started; they had to do the legwork themselves to be able to stay afloat. For years we used the ports owned by The RCF to transport the families, and in return, our family allowed The RCF to use our vessels to transport their bodies that held drugs and weapons. It was a win-win for everybody. This sit down was only to assure that things would still run as usual. We also handled loans for those who couldn't get approved at the banks. For a higher interest rate, you could get a loan from us. However, if you can't pay and try to play in our faces about it, the penalties are much harsher and inhumane than those of a traditional bank. But hey, that's the risk that you take when you get into business with The Ashby's.

"I'm waiting for him to call and confirm the meeting. We'll settle everything then."

My brother nodded.

"Aight bet. Shoot me the time and you know I'll be there." My brother was my right and left hand. We did everything together when it came to business. Even though I was appointed to take over since I was the oldest; we still would run this shit side by side. I wasn't having it any other way, and my pops knew that. I hope that nigga Knasim knew shit wasn't gon' change either.

"You out?"

Rising out of the chair he was sitting in, he responded, "Yeah. I need to go check on Lu and pick Peace up from Ma."

I nodded.

"Aight. I'm gonna finish up here and go holla at Pops before I go home." I stood to dap my brother up and walk him to the door.

"I'll probably still be there, especially if Ma cooked."

"You know she did."

"Then I'll see you when I get there."

We shared a laugh, and my brother left, leaving me to finish up here. I didn't mind because this was my forte, like collections were his.

It took me close to three hours to finish looking over the latest profiles and making sure they had all the documents that they needed. I wasted no time shutting my computer down and locking up my office. No one ever came here besides my brother. We didn't even have workers at this location, and I preferred it that way. I needed to be able to work in peace. That's why I had people in place to handle the small shit for me instead of me having to do it. When I looked at my watch, I saw it was close to six o'clock. By the time I left here and fought through traffic, it would be close to seven when I got to my parents' house. As I got into my truck, my phone rang like clockwork, and it was Kari. Kari was a chick that claimed she knew how to handle her feelings when it came to us fucking around, but that turned out to be a gah damn lie. Every time I turned around, she was in her fucking feelings. That didn't stop me from fucking her, though. Her pussy was okay, but her head made up for that shit.

"Wassup?" I answered.

"Wassup? That's how you answer for me?" she sassed.

"I could've ignored the shit," I spat.

"Don't get smart Haze. You know what I meant."

"Nah, I didn't, but wassup?"

"You coming through?" she asked. I knew this was the reason for her call and shit, I needed to bust a nut. So, why not?

"Yeah. Let me go holla at my folks first and I'll come through."

"Okay, baby. I'll see you when you get here," she cooed.

"Yep," was my only response before I hung up.

I kept navigating in traffic until I got to my parents' house. Like I knew it would be. My brother's truck was still here. He probably was staying here tonight. He did that most nights if he didn't want to take his daughter out too late. Letting myself in, I followed the savory scent of whatever it was my mother cooked. I found the rest of my family already sitting at the table eating.

"Wassup, family?" I greeted. I kissed my mother on her temple before squeezing my father's shoulder. When I got close, my niece started going crazy.

"Uncle Hayzie!"

"Wassup Princess Pea?" I picked her up and kissed her greasy face, making her giggle and squirm in my arms. I placed her back into her booster seat and took a seat by my brother. My mother did her damn thing in the kitchen today. She had prepared braised beef ribs, lima beans, candied yams, macaroni and honey cornbread. I was definitely smashing this shit and taking a to-go plate.

"Have you touched bases with Knasim yet, son?" my pops asked as I fixed my plate. He knew my mother hated talking about business at the table, but he also hated being ignored, so I kept my answer short.

"I'm just waiting for his call." He nodded.

"Baby, how is Kari?" my mother asked. For whatever reason, she liked her, but she knew we weren't together.

"Straight I guess." I shrugged.

"You guess? You haven't talked to her?"

"I did."

"Yet, you don't know how she's doing?" She now her pretty faced frowned up.

"We don't actually talk, Ma, so I don't know what to tell you," I stated honestly. All she did was shake her head in response.

"Rock, how's Lu doing?"

"'Bout the same. I'm going to take Peace home so that she can see her. She's been asking for her."

"That's wassup. I'll come through and lay eyes on her too." Rock and his baby mama had some complicated shit going on, but I'll let him tell his own story.

We finished our dinner, holding an idle conversation about a little bit of everything. When we were done, I grabbed the to-go plate my mother fixed for me and headed out with Rock and Peace trailing behind me. I kissed my niece and told her I would see her later and told my brother the same.

Kari stayed en route to my house so not having to go out of my way was a plus. When I pulled up, it was a car in her driveway parked behind hers. She knew I hated coming over here when she had fucking company. Those bitches she called her friends got on my last damn nerves. They were either trying to fuck me or telling her to leave me alone since I wouldn't give her a commitment. By the car, it looked like Giselle was her visitor and she was one that was down to fuck. Getting out of my truck, I trekked up the small concrete path until I made it to her front door. I knocked and waited until she came to open it.

"Hey, baby," she cooed when she saw me. She tried throwing her arms around me to kiss me, and I dodged that shit.

"Watch out." I stopped her from circling my neck.

"What's wrong?" she asked, dumfounded.

"I thought you called me over here for some dick? The fuck she doing here?"

"Excuse you, nigga?" Giselle spat.

"Aye, watch that." I shot her a glare. "Don't be sitting over there like you don't want the dick, too. Be lucky I ain't no dog ass nigga or I'll give you just what you're looking for with your face buried in her pussy. Stop playing with me." I looked back at Kari, who was standing there looking crazy in the face. I side stepped her and headed toward her bedroom. I didn't come here to entertain that shit.

It didn't take long for me to hear them talking and the door shutting. Moments later, Kari entered the room, closing the door behind her. I had already stripped down to my boxers, and lying back on the bed with my arm covering my eyes. I felt the bed dip, then Kari fishing my dick out of my briefs.

"I ain't come here for you to play with my shit, shorty. Either suck that muthafucka, or sit on it." I didn't even bother to look up and see if she was about to do what I requested. I knew she was. When I felt her slick lips wrap around my dick, I sunk my head deeper into the pillow, relishing in the feeling.

"Stop playing, Kay. Suck that dick like you miss it." I knew by telling her that she would suck my dick like a maniac.

Slurp…Slurp…Gawk

"Hell yeah. Just like that. Shit."

She must've really missed the dick because I was already on the verge of cumming. Grabbing her head, I thrusted upward to fuck her mouth a few times before telling her to get up. Reaching for my jeans, I pulled a condom out of the pocket and slipped it onto my throbbing member.

Grabbing her leg by the cuff of her knee, I flipped her over onto her stomach. She knew it wasn't no missionary shit going on.

Slap!

"Stop playing and get that ass in the air," I commanded.

She wasted no time doing as I said, and I wasted no time plunging inside of her.

"Ooh, baby," she moaned out.

"Throw that shit back."

I watched in amazement as her voluptuous ass rippled against my pelvis. I would never be vocal with a woman that wasn't mine, so I bit down on my bottom lip as I enjoyed the feeling she was currently providing. I felt my nut rising, so I increased the speed and impact of my strokes.

"Oh God, Haze! I-I'm about to…shit!" She was trying to tell me she was about to cum again, but I felt that shit and was right behind her. Quickly, I pulled out as I came inside of the condom. I left her on the bed to recover while I went to flush the condom and wash my dick off. When I came out of the bathroom, she was still in the same spot. I didn't even bother saying anything. The only thing on my mind was going home, washing my ass, smoking my blunt, and eating my food. When I accomplished all of those things, I was taking my black ass to bed. I was finally redressed and snatched my keys off of the dresser to head out.

"You're not staying?"

"Nah, I got shit to do."

"Since when has that ever stopped you?" She was now sitting up with the only thing covering her was the afterglow that this dick provided her.

"Since when did I ever fucking explain myself to you? Aye, I'm out." I snatched my phone and stalked to the front door. I made sure I locked her shit and got in my truck and went the fuck home. This was the exact reason why I didn't do this shit with her.

I lit the blunt that I had in the ashtray and took a pull from it as soon as I pulled out. I was pulling into my driveway when my phone rang. I looked at the screen display and saw that it was the very person I was waiting to hear from.

"Hello?" I answered, as I blew out the smoke.

"Two o'clock at the house in The Valley," was all he said.

"Bet." I hung up because there were no more words to be said. I got the meeting, so now all we had to do was come up with terms that fit us. We weren't our fathers, and I wasn't doing everything the same way that my pops did, and I know he wasn't I'll just have to wait until Friday to see what that was. Right now, I was taking my ass in here and do what I said. I'll take care of the other shit when it's time.