In My Hood Read Online Free PDF Page A

doing the same ole shit. You can’t be out there in the mix of things. That’s how you catch them big figures doing time in the joint. You need to come on board. How do you think that I’ve manage to stay out of the joint all these years?”
    “I don’t know. I never really gave it any thought,” Ishmael responded.
    “Because I was smart. I used my head.”
    “I feel you, Leroy, but I ain’t for all that politic shit. I’m from the hood, and that’s where I’m comfortable.”
    “I’m from the hood, too, nigga. You think I was born rich? No, I had to get mine the hard way. But with politics the way they are, you ain’t gonna last long in this business, son.”
    “Leroy man, I know what I’m doing. When they bring the heat and rolled up on me, they never have nothing to stick on me,” Ishmael reasoned.
    “Yeah, youngblood, but you’re not listening. They want you bad. You don’t think they know what you’re doing, son? They know every move you make. All they got to do is get one of them little punks you got running for you to talk, and it’s all over for you, son.”
    “Naw, man, my peoples are loyal,” Ishmael assured.
    “Shit,” Leroy said, laughing, “these little sperm donors out here don’t know shit about being loyal. Have I ever steered you wrong?”
    “Naw.”
    “Well then hear me out. I can help you. I know a lot of people downtown. They can protect you. They can make it easy for you to keep your empire going.”
    “Yeah, but what I gotta do to get that?” Ishmael asked.
    “Shit, youngblood, ain’t nothing for free in this world,” Leroy said, lighting a Cuban cigar.
    Ishmael stared at the cigar as it protruded from Leroy’s mouth, looking like a huge tree trunk. The pinky ring he sported glistened, almost blinding him.
    Leroy was one of the big doggs. He was an original gangster with more than forty years in the game. He was well groomed and didn’t look a day over forty, although he was sixty-two. He owned most of the car washes, Laundromats, and Super food stores and had real estate all over the tri-states. He still had his hands in the drug game as one of the top suppliers, but for the most part, most of his businesses were legit.
    “What you getting outta the deal?” Ishmael asked, breaking the silence.
    Leroy laughed and continued to puff on the cigar. Huge clouds of smoke filled the air. Leroy cracked the window, and the smoke bellowed its way out into the night air.
    “Well, the kind of protection I’m gonna be giving you is worth some compensation. I gotta grease palms to get you that protection, so naturally my palm will need some greasing,” he said, looking over at Ishmael.
    Ishmael looked out the window as the hog cruised the streets. He liked the smooth ride of the car. He wasn’t a Caddy man, but he liked the way it felt.
    “So what do you say?” Leroy asked.
    “I’ll let you know. Let me think on it some more.”
    “Your dime and your time, youngun. Don’t be so stupid that you can’t see the forest for the trees.”
    Ishmael looked at Leroy, confused. Leroy bellowed out yet another hearty laugh. “Think about it and get back to me.”
    “A’ight.”
    The Caddy pulled up to the curb just two blocks from where it had picked up Ishmael. He got out of the car and watched the car trail down the street. Ishmael started the walk toward the corner where he left his friend Derrick standing.
    “So what was that about?” Derrick asked, handing him the Black and Mild.
    “About that shit I told you about before with them downtown mafuckas.”
    “Man, fuck that shit. We ain’t rolling over so those mafuckas can stick us in the ass,” Derrick retorted.
    “Word,” Ishmael stated as he began to shamp the Black and Mild.
    “Yo, anybody ever tell you that you look a little just like that mafucka Leroy?”
    “Yeah, man, all my life,” Ishmael said, popping a match, lighting the cigar.

Old Friend
Back across town
    “O kay, lady, this is your stop,” the