Neighborhood Watches

The pain woke her up, and that’s when she got pissed. Jasmine wasn’t used to the pain anymore because typically her Indica would lull her into a fluffy cloud which she would float in as she thanked the good Lord above for keeping her and her loved ones safe and sound and for the many blessings He already has given her. But the pain would not go away. The pain was on one knee in front her face. The pain smelled like cognac, coffee and Dolce and Gabbana’s -Light Blue. She used to love the smell of that cologne, but now all it does is remind her that in a few minutes she’s gone be dealing with the pain in the royal ass who was otherwise known as Sticks Martin.

“Babe.”

He was shaking her.

“Jazzy.”

Then he gripped her.

“JASMINE!”

That’s when Jasmine slid her hand under her pillow, and sprung up like a panther holding pistol to Sticks’ temple.

“I fuckin heard you Samuel. Why in the entire hell are you waking me up?” She sat up and reached out for the extra- large to-go coffee cup sticks was holding out to her as a peace offering.

“Told you there was a family thing,” he replied.

“Youngin okay? Ms. Trudy?” Jasmine asked wiggling into a cross-legged position as she sipped her coffee.

Sticks was walking around the main floor of the house as if he misplaced something.

“Not that family. Speakin of fam, Soldier in dispose?

Jasmine’s head jerked to the other side of the sectional where she last saw Malik. Then her eyes darted over the impeccably cleaned up downstairs. Then to the patio where the trash bags had been doubled and secured the best they could have been without their accompanying cans. At first panic enveloped her.

Malik left?

Fuck?

Am I in trouble?

The fuck am I in trouble for, I’m fully dressed and Malik is a grown ass man twice my size.

The fuck was I supposed to do, stop him?

Then she calmed down.

Malik escaped.

Then she smiled, but feigned concern.

“I didn’t have time to slip a tracking device under his skin, Samuel. Fuck should I know. He could be takin a shower. Go upstairs. Find out!”

Sticks, dressed in a black and red winter track suit, took the other to-go cup of coffee that he had originally brought in for Malik, popped the lid, walked over to the refrigerator, opened it and grabbed the creamer.

“Man, go check the other levels.” Sticks ordered as Emmanuel appeared from the other side of the kitchen and made a beeline towards the staircase. Sticks called out after him,

“I’ll check the garage!” Sticks then began opening and then slamming kitchen drawers looking for the remote to the TV. As if she had been through this before, several times,Jasmine grabbed the remote from off of the cleared table, smirked again and turned on the monitors to the security cameras. She then toggled through the garage spaces.

Beamer.

Check.

Motorcycle.

Check.

Hummer.

Check.

But the garage that held the coal black Lexus Rx with the brand- new hitch was empty.

Sticks eyes widened. Then, he dropped his head. It was silent in the house for a minute, but the tension in the air was thick. It was almost as if it was begging to be shredded by Sticks yell which shook the whole house. The glass even vibrated in the windows.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me!!! Emmanuel!

Let’s fuckin go! I swear on everything I love when I find this motherfucker. He took the gat damn Lex too?! Mother fucker ain’t got no kinda loyalty.

Jasmine’s eyes and lips narrowed into the most sinister smile as she whispered,

“Good for you Lee, go find your life.”