Chapter 7: It's Party Time
The Heist that Started a War
New Arcadia
The sun was shining brightly on this new day in New Arcadia and people were going about their usual morning routines as Mark found himself standing over the stove in his apartment wearing a black shirt with a white wrap around his upper right arm, black jeans, and white shows while stirring the insides of a large pot of gumbo with the song Slippin' into Darkness by War playing in the background.
"I was slippin' into darkness, when they took my friend away." Mark sang with a chuckle while continuing to stir the pot. Despite his love for a lot of new age music he enjoyed this song the most because it reminded him a lot of his grandmother especially when he was in the kitchen cooking.
He also enjoyed the fact that it described his life because at the end of the day he was slipping into the darkness's of the world around him whether he was in Dockington, Sunbelt, or New Arcadia he was always in the darkness. Right now, he may have been cooking but he was still slipping into darkness because as he prepared the meal the other members of his faction of BSU were following his orders and slipping into their own darkness.
"Yeah four packs for twenty with two singles." Said Miller as he stood across from a park in New Arcadia wearing a black leather jacket over a white t-shirt, a black beanie over his head, and black boots while a white woman with designer shades and long blonde hair stood in front of him.
"Brother!" he said before watching as Victor approached the duo with four cartons and two loose cigarettes before handing them to Miller who gave them to the woman in exchange for twenty dollars.
"You come back now." The young man said with a chuckle before bumping fist with Victor just as Link and Lee pulled up in Mark's Buccaneer and quickly took the money from the boys.
A similar scene was taken place across New Arcadia as the members of hardcore gang found themselves posted up in various areas selling cigarettes left and right. Many people didn't realize it but selling cigarettes the same as someone would sell recreational drugs like Weed, Ecstasy, or Xanax one could make a killing, A science proved that one truck of cigarettes sold on the street can make as much as two million dollars.. The Mob in Liberty were smart in their scheme of selling stolen cigarettes and Mark knew that if most gangs decided to change up their rackets from selling crack and heroin to cigarettes they'd make less money a day but have a larger customer base along with a smaller risk of going to prison.
Unfortunately for Mark he wasn't in Liberty where the average price of cigarettes was fourteen dollars, or Maryland or Texas where the price was almost eight dollars. Louisiana had one of the smallest prices on cigarettes with the average price being just a little over five dollars, so to make a profit they had to sell cartons at four dollars and singles out the pack so people won't feel cheated. Collectively they were making money just not as much as they normally make.
One of the core rules of BSU was that they would never sell drugs, but in the last few years members across the country have been arrested for selling or using drugs and to make it worse they were becoming what they never wanted to be…The Bastards of the Party.
There were many fights Mark could remember that took place at the various hardcore shows across central Texas, and most of which involved BSU being the aggressors. To Mark the group was built on good morals of protecting each other and being friends but so had many before them such as the Families, Ballas, and even Mara Bunta but everyone knows what those group have become and at the rate it was going BSU…was going down the same route.
As Mark continued to stir the pot he was quickly interrupted by a knock at his front door causing him to quickly open it and see a familiar woman standing on the otherside.
"Hey, whoa-!" Alison started before her eyes widened at the sight of the youngest Roman before her.
"What?" Mark asked with a raised eyebrow.
"You look different." She said earning a confused look from Mark before he put his hand on his head and rubbed his hair that had been cut-down to a low buzz-cut.
"Oh yeah I had to get my haircut for my sisters party." He said while rubbing his scalp while Alison looked at the bandage on his arm.
"What happened there?" she asked causing Mark to look at his arm.
"Something I had to get to show my loyalty." Said Mark as he moved from the door to allow Alison to step inside where she noticed him pull the bandage away from his shoulder and revealed to her a tattoo of the state of Louisiana with a small Fleur Di Lis where New Arcadia would be located on a map and an alligator on the lower right with the numbers 504 next to it.
"When you start arresting drug dealers you'll see that tattoos of New Arcadia, the Fleur Di Lis, Alligators, and the state itself is big here." He stated to Alison's confusion.
"Why is that?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Pride in where you come from is really big down here, even somewhat more than places like Los Santos and Liberty, because there they have might be separated miles, if you live in the Valleys or East Beach you are not really in the LS area and there are so many parts to LS it got a diverse crowd." He started in a serious manner. "A dude living in Davis can't relate to a dude in Vinewood or Rockford, but here in New Arcadia everyone the same and they from where you from. Your city is your church, your ward defines who you are, and the area code is branded everywhere." He finished earning a nod from Alison.
"Even though most of this don't apply to me since I'm Red Stick." He said earning a slight chuckle from Alison. "Hey our crime rate just as bad we just don't get as many bodies as New Arcadia, and since we the capital of the state we cleaner and our housing projects ain't as rough." He added.
"I'll take your word for it, since I've been here I haven't been to Red Stick." She said with a chuckle.
"I would say really, but it works like this here. A lot of people leave Red Stick go come here, but not a lot of people leave here to go to Red Stick unless it's for college football." Said Mark earning a chuckle from the woman.
"You're laughing but there really is nothing there unless you want to go to a football game, a waterpark, or plantation ain't no reason to be there." Said Mark earning a louder laugh from Alison before she watched him roll his eyes before smelling the air and moving for the kitchen.
"Phew right in time." He said before going back to stirring the pot while Alison entered the kitchen.
"What are you making it smells nice?" she asked while watching Mark grab a small bowl and putting a spoon of rice inside it.
"Seafood gumbo with crabs, shrimp, and sausage." Said Mark as Alison watched him use a dipper to fill the bowl with the soup with a few chopped sausage, shrimp, and a crab before passing it to Alison and giving her spoon.
"Tell me how it is." He ordered with a smile earning a surprised look from Alison who sent him a look before scooping a spoonful of the stew and blowing it before putting it in her mouth where Mark noticed a smile instantly form on her face.
"Wow this is really good I see why people are always coming here for this." She said before taking another bite.
"You really like it?" he asked earning a nod from Alison as Mark who watched her closely as she sucked the juices off the spoon.
"I'll fix you some to take with you to work." He said to her surprise.
"Really thank you!" she said with a smile.
"Don't worry about It you bought the dinner the other night now it's my turn for lunch." Said Mark earning a chuckle from Alison. Even though she was laughing there was some truth to her words these last couple of days she had gone out with Mark numerous times. They had met each other for coffee in the morning, went about their days with Mark feeding her information from streets that kept her eyes off him, and either went out to dinner at night or ate at his place.
"I may not be able to make it for dinner tonight." He said to her surprise.
"Don't worry about it, it's your sisters birthday have fun." She said earning a roll of the eyes from Mark. Despite going to numerous hardcore shows in his lifetime, he wasn't a fan of parties…or really anywhere there was a lot of people. He can tolerate a hardcore show mostly for the music and the fight the happened afterwards but not the people there.
"I'll try unless my father's there and I have a feeling he's gonna make his presence felt." Mark replied with venom in his tone.
"Hey!" she said before taking his hands into her own earning a surprised look from the youngest Roman. "I know you don't like him, but remember why you're doing this." She added earning a nod from Mark.
"What if I become like him, you know like those stories about guys who go undercover and covert to the side they're trying to bring down?" he asked as Alison gently rubbed his tattooed arm.
"You won't change because I won't let that happen…l like you." She said causing Mark's eyes to widen at her statement. "I mean I like who you are now and I wouldn't change that." She replied earning a chuckle from Mark.
"I like you to, and I also wouldn't change a thing." Said Mark as he gripped Alison's hand tighter and rubbed her knuckles.
"Just be careful, I got a call a few minutes ago about someone being shot and killed with ties to your father." She said earning a nod from Mark who planted a kiss on the woman's palm causing her face to brighten up even more from the feel of his lips on her hard knuckles. She couldn't see her face but she guessed that it must have been red as a tomato.
He didn't know it but Mark had just caused a series of feelings to run through Alison that she hadn't felt in a long time. It's been a while since she's been touched or let alone felt the lips of someone on any part of her body and having him do it left her in a small state of shock and happiness.
The duo's silent moment of happiness and smiles was quickly interrupted though by a loud crashing sound as Mark's front door exploded open causing the duo to turn their heads and notice Lee, Link, Felix, and Manfred rushing inside while Buck slowly brought up the rear moving in a slow stride.
"We came as soon as possible." Said Lee as the group made their way to the kitchen where they noticed Mark and Alison.
"Are we interrupting something?' asked Link earning a remark in Creole from Mark.
"The hell did y'all run all the red lights to get here?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes we did." Said Lee.
"You can't say that in front of her she's a cop." Stated Felix.
"She works Narcotics not the streets." Said Link with a chuckle as the group took seats at Mark's cabinet earning a roll of the eyes from the duo.
"I guess I'm not the only one who likes your cooking." She said earning a chuckle from Mark.
"Yeah I have a gift." He replied before turning to the pot while Alison's eyes quickly fell upon Buck, who was sitting in the living on Mark's couch in silence.
"Who's that one?" she asked causing the group to look to Buck who was staring off into space.
"Aye that's Bucky he was with us in Sunbelt, but followed us here." Said Mark as he fixed Lee, Link, and Felix's food while Alison continued to look at Bucky who was staring into space.
"Don't worry about him, he just hasn't been feeling well these last couple of days." Mark lied causing Alison to look at him and notice him extending a plastic container of gumbo to her.
"Thank you!" she said with a smile before making her way to the door with Mark following after her as she made her way to her car just as Mark held the door open for her.
"Thanks!" she said while climbing inside.
"So…why did you cancel dinner with me last night?" he asked earning a surprised look from Alison.
"I had a lot of paperwork so I had to stay late at the office." She replied earning a nod from Mark, who could easily spot her lie. There were dozens of possibilities as to what she was truly doing, but Mark really didn't care because he didn't do anything himself last night that would be seen as illegal.
"Try not to have too much tonight." He said before patting the door and stepping away from the car while Alison gave him a goodbye before finally driving off.
"She has secrets, well I guess it's good I have my own." Mark said out loud before making his way upstairs and back into his apartment where he quickly slapped Buck in the back of the head to break him from his trance.
"Stop looking like a helpless puppy brother you're getting unwanted attention and that's something you do not need." Ordered Mark earning the attention of Lee, Link, and Felix.
"But I keep thinking about that guy-." Buck started before Mark interrupted him.
"Well then stop thinking about that guy." Mark yelled before taking a seat on the couch next to the young man. "Listen to me you didn't know that guy not his name, his family, or his life story so you need to just write him off like you just killed a fly that was constantly buzzing in your ear." He finished his rant before rising up and making his way back in the kitchen.
"You should go easy on him brother, it was his first." Said Link as he watched Mark fix another bowl of gumbo before taking a spoon and digging into it.
"We were older than he was when we got our first kill." Mark replied before taking a bite of the stew. His statement may have seen off, but it had some truth to it. The younger you are the easier it is to kill because the line between right and wrong is almost nonexistent to them, the same could be said for someone who grew up with people often boast of killing.
"Yeah we were older, but we had a damn good reason to kill." Stated Lee with venom in his tone as he violently stabbed a sausage.
"You know you guys never talk about who your first kill was, you mind elaborating?" asked Manfred as the trio ate in silence.
"We don't like to talk about it, just know that…who we killed really really really deserved to die." Said Link with anger in his tone as the group continued to eat for a few seconds before Manfred broke the silence.
"Hey Mark since when did you start liking white girls?" the Indian asked to Mark's confusion.
"Hell you talking about I used to fuck white girls at hardcore shows all the time." The Creole replied.
"He means when you started falling for white girls, we know you can fuck um, but when did you start wanting a relationship with one." Stated Link earning a roll of the eyes from Mark.
"I'm not falling for Alison, we're just two people who are using the other as a means to an end." Mark replied.
"Keep telling yourself that, just know I don't have a problem with you being with her just don't become an Uncle Tom." Said Lee earning a middle finger from Mark.
"Fuck you!" he said before turning away from the group who couldn't notice him lick his lips to take in the taste of Alison's knuckles that were coated with the scent of her strawberry perfume while the memories of pressing his lips to her porcelain skin seemed to flash through his mind.
"Shit!" Mark said in a low tone before shaking off the thoughts.
"Come on we should get going." Said Mark as the group rose from their seats and made their way out of Mark's apartment.
Down by the Creek Royal Casino
Just a few miles outside of Liddell there was a famous Casino almost right on levee overseeing the lake. The name of the casino was the Down by the Creek Royal Casino, the name gave the air of nice casino that flaunted southern pride, but in actuality it wasn't. The casino was actually run by Native Americans mostly from the Muskogee tribe but there were also a few Choctaw, Natchez, and Chickasaw as employees there and the name mostly showed homage to the Muskogee who were referred to as the Creek people.
As Task and Adahy walked through the front door of the casino they were instantly met with the cold breeze of air and sound of war drums that constantly banged throughout the casino along with loud chatter of the people playing the games inside.
"Come on!" said Adahy as he led Task deep into the casino. Despite coming to the casino almost once a month Task was always amazed by the lights and sounds that came with the machines. There wasn't things like this back on the reservation, he didn't even have a fully working television growing up so to come here and see everything around him made him feel almost like a person who just stepped out of prison after a twenty-year sentence.
"Easy Chayton." Said Adahy as he continued to lead Task through the casino. Unlike his partner he wasn't too astounded by the machines. His mother used to work as a bar tender at a similar casino and because of so he's held a dislike for them. To him Native run casinos were nothing more than places that degraded his people and made them serve the white man for chump change. Sure just one casino can bring in millions of dollars, but money can't take away over a hundred years of theft, rape, and murder.
As the duo finally made their way to the back of the casino they quickly climbed a flight of stairs and made their way to a black door that was being guarded by two muscular Native men who quickly opened the door for the duo and allowed them to enter a large room that was filled with tribal decorations and a black desk and spinning chair at the end with reflective glass behind it that gave those inside the perfect view of the casino floor.
"Mr, Johnson!" said Task earning a low growl from the other side of the chair.
"What have I told you about calling me that Chayton?" came a voice from behind the chair as the duo quickly watched it spin around to reveal an elderly Native American man with long hair that almost seemed white in his old age and wearing a white collared shirt under a denim jacket, brown pants, and brown boots.
"Excuse me Mekko Meska." The Lakota corrected earning a nod from the Creek elder.
"He's very particular about being called that." Came a new voice as the duo noticed another Native American man who looked to be in his early thirties walk into the room wearing an all-black suit with a black tie and black shades.
"Right you're the one who likes to be called by his slave name Mr. Hill." Said Task earning a chuckle from the man.
"It's not that I like to be called Clay Hill, it's more so that I get tired of people asking me how to pronounce my name." he replied with venom in his tone.
"Ahtunowhiho, it's not that hard to pronounce." Task replied.
"Easy for you to say." He replied before making his way over to Meska.
"So do you have the money?" he asked as Adahy rested the duffel bag of money on the man's desk where he quickly began to rummage through it.
"This is good, what you boys are doing is really helping our people." Said Meska earning a low chuckle from Adahy.
"Really because I feel like we're just lining your pockets with more money." He stated with anger in his tone.
"Adahy, you know as well as anyone more than that I don't take a cent out of what's in this bag and that most of the money you bring in from selling those guns goes to improving the reservations here in Louisiana as well as other reservations across the country." Meska replied. "With this money we've fixed schools, built homes, provide medicine to those cursed with diabetes. I don't like the things you boys have to do to help our people survive on our own land, but in a country that was stolen from us by people who don't even appreciate it…I'd rather take advantage of their mistakes and thrive to help our people."
"How is degrading our people and our culture by having them on display here helping us?" Adahy asked with venom in his tone.
"It helps our people bring an income in their homes. Long before the white man set foot on this land our people survived because we worked together to survive, and that's what we're doing now because we all know how hard it is for our people to survive in this world on nothing." He continued. "You know in some states in the north it is illegal to ice fish. Tribes have been ice fishing for centuries to feed their families, and they just wake up one day and make it illegal for them and don't even give an adequate excuse but a smart man can easily see that they don't want them to eat their way…they want them to eat like them." He said before rising from his seat.
"They want us to either become them…or starve to death." He finished. "Having our people and culture on display here is wrong, but to me it's a show of power. They can kill us, rape us, and even assimilate us but as long as we can take care of each other and show that our culture is still as strong as it ever was…they know that they haven't beaten us." He finished earning a slight nod from Task who couldn't help but smile at the man.
Even though he wasn't Creek, he can understand how Meska rose to power over the Creeks on this reservation. He had power in his tone, wisdom in his words, and the leadership ability that he strived to have someday.
"Now that you've taken care of that I have something for you boys to do, not for our people, but as a personal favor to me and I will be forever in your debt if you can do it." He said earning a raised eyebrow from Task and Adahy.
"What is it?" asked Task.
"As you both know my daughter Marisa runs a small store off the reservation and for the last couple of weeks she's been the victim of these men damaging the store, stealing, and the other night they pulled a gun on her." Meska started to the duo's surprise. "I worry about her being off the reservation already and-." Meska started before Task interrupted him.
"No need to say anymore we're there." He said earning a smile from the man who noticed the fire in the boy's eyes.
"Thank you Chayton!" Meska said as Task nodded his head before turning to walk out of the room with Adahy following behind him.
Liddell
Things seemed to be going slow for Mark as he sat at a table in the backyard of Gwen's house watching as her friends danced across the backyard and mingled with each other including Lee, Felix, and Manfred while Buck sat away from the group. They hadn't been there long but just long enough for Gwen to introduce the group to her friends who seemed shocked she had another brother.
As Mark watched the group dance to the song Wipe Me Down by Lil Boosie he couldn't help but chuckle. Most of Gwen's friends were white and looked like they belonged on a television show about kids trying to survive the challenges of high school and life and didn't know anything about the streets let alone Trap Music.
"You know the thing with parties is that you're supposed to actually socialize with people." Came a familiar voice that caused Mark to turn his head and notice Martin taking a seat beside him.
"You know I had problems socializing when I was young and old habits don't just die." He replied earning a chuckle from Martin.
"Yeah!" Martin said before the duo sat in silence before Mark interrupted him.
"So have you talked to the old man?" Mark asked.
"Not in a while, but I have a feeling he's gonna make an appearance despite Gwen not wanting him to." Martin replied with a low chuckle. "And thanks for having me bring you there just so you can beat up Marrick really thanks." He added with sarcasm in his tone.
"Yeah sorry for that but I think they wouldn't have opened the door if I went in alone." Said Mark as he took a sip of his punch.
"To say Marrick's bigger then you I gotta admit you handled yourself well against him." Martin replied earning a chuckle from Martin.
"You gotta learn real fast to defend yourself if you want to survive on the streets." Mark stated earning a nod from Martin.
"If you want to learn some boxing I can teach you. Me and the guys trained in Dockington with a former boxer so I can show you a few thing?" he asked earning a chuckle from Martin.
"No I don't think I'll ever need to use them in my lifetime." The eldest Roman replied with a chuckle before the duo was interrupted by the only female Roman approaching them.
"There you are Marcus I've been looking for you." Said Gwen as she approached the young Roman.
"If it's to get me to sit down and have a long conversation with your friends count me out. I came here for you and only you not them." Mark replied earning a slight chuckle from Gwen.
"Well that's sweet of you to say." She said.
"Yeah I'm an all-around nice guy but don't tell anyone I got a reputation to keep." He replied earning a chuckle from the trio before they heard a series of cheers erupt in the crowd.
"It sounds like Hakeem is here." Said Gwen as the three Roman looked through the crowd and noticed an African American man with short black hair cut into a flattop, bright brown eyes behind a pair of black shades, and wearing a white designer t-shirt, black jeans, and all white shoes Alongside him was a woman of Puerto Rican descent with long black hair, bright brown eyes, and wearing a nice white dress that showed off her bust and curves.
"Hey Mark that's your brother?" Link asked as he, Lee, Felix, and Manfred approached him.
"I don't know I don't want to claim him." Mark replied earning a elbow in the side from Gwen.
"I see why he's everything you hate." Lee stated with a nod.
"Who's the girl?" Mark asked.
"His girlfriend Alana." Gwen replied.
"She's from El Barrio!" said Martin jokingly.
"If she from El Barrio then I was born white because she's Puerto Rican." said Felix in a matter-of-fact tone.
"She from Liberty City." Gwen added.
"That don't help her case." Felix replied just as Hakeem walked over to Gwen and greeted his sister with a smile and a hug.
"Good to see you." She said earning a nod from Hakeem.
"Yeah I would have called but I've been in the studio a lot." He replied earning a low scoff from Mark, Lee, and Felix upon realizing that he's just another pretty boy rapper who's more than likely portraying the role of gangster.
"Yeah when that next album coming?" Martin asked with a chuckle.
"It's coming soon big brother soon." Hakeem replied before his eyes quickly fell on Mark.
"Who this be?" he asked in a matter-of-fact like tone.
"Marcus Roman thanks for asking." Mark replied earning a surprised look from Hakeem.
"I heard you was back but I didn't believe it because they said you beat up Marrick and I know that can't happen." He replied earning a slight chuckle from Mark.
"You'd be surprised brother." Said Mark as he took a sip of his drink.
"Speaking of which Martin, father wanted you to bring him down to the tower." Hakeem said to Martin and Gwen's surprise.
"To the towers why?" Gwen asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Don't know he just said he'd meet you there." Hakeem replied causing Mark to rise to his feet.
"Well then I best not keep him waiting." Said Mark as he turned to Martin.
"Mark do you even remember what goes on at the towers?" Martin asked.
"Yeah I know that's why I expected him to call me there." Said Mark. "You don't have to take me I can go on my own."
"Nah I'll feel better if I'm with you." Said Martin as he rose to his feet.
"Link you're in charge." Said Mark to the groups surprise.
"You don't want backup?" Lee asked.
"Nah keep my sister company." Mark replied earning a smile from Lee.
"Say no more." He said while winking at Gwen who rolled her eyes at him before turning and watching Mark and Martin walk out of the backyard.
New Arcadia
The drive to the police station wasn't long for Alison as she found herself sitting at her desk looking over the file of the dead man who was found in the third ward. His name was Jamil Harris, but on the streets he was known as Peanut, he was only twenty three years old and didn't have a high school diploma which he had in common with many dealers.
What made Alison's job just a little easier for her though was the fact that he was affiliated with the Roman Boyz and therefore wouldn't be hard to find the reason for his death with Mark on the streets. As she thought about the young Roman she couldn't help but smile before sending a look to the container of food he'd given her for lunch.
"Thinking about dinner last night." Came a familiar voice as Alison turned her head and noticed Tavon standing behind her with a smile.
"Maybe!" she lied with a smile which seemed to be going strong today. She told Mark that she was busy with paperwork and couldn't make dinner with him, but in reality it was because she had already made plans with Tavon.
"Maybe we can do it again tonight?" he asked earning a chuckle from Alison while Regina rolled her eyes with a smile but before she could say anything the group was interrupted by Lieutenant Locke.
"Alison, Tavon, Regina I need you three to come with me and Sawyer." He said to the group's surprise.
"Where are we going?" asked Regina with a raised eyebrow.
"To pay the Roman Boyz a visit." He replied to Alison's shock as she felt her heart skip a beat at the idea of seeing Mark and his family.
New Arcadia
The drive to New Arcadia wasn't long for Task and Adahy as they stepped out of their truck in front of a small store before making their way inside and noticing that it was filled with somewhat traditional Native American craft works like dream-catchers, necklaces, headbands, potteries, hair ties, and other things.
"Can I help you?" came a soft almost angelic voice to Task as he turned around and was quickly met by the sight of a Native American girl with long black hair, bright brown skin, black eyes, and wearing a black collar shirt, black jeans, and black low top shoes.
"Yeah are you Marisa?" Task asked earning a nod from the girl.
"Your father sent us here to watch over you." Adahy added earning a loud scoff from the woman.
"Great he sends the reservations thugs to protect me, I feel so safe now." She replied in a sarcastic tone to Task's surprise.
"What was that?" he asked while turning to Adahy who only took a seat behind the counter and sat in silence.
While the duo were settling in at the shop Mark and Martin had finally arrived at the Gust Housing Projects in the third ward. To ensure his car wasn't broken into while there Martin had parked the vehicle a few blocks away so he and Mark had to walk the rest of the way. The young Creole didn't mind it he knew around this area car thefts and getting mugged were at an all-time high which is why he had his knife tucked in his pants.
As the duo made their way around the front of the high rise they quickly noticed that they were being watched by almost everyone outside from the lookouts, to the drug dealers, the addicts, and even the prostitutes the duo were seen as outsiders and the moment they reached the door to the towers they quickly noticed an African American man with dreadlocks wearing an all-white t-shirt, baggy blue jean pants that fell off his waist, and a pair of white shoes waiting for them.
"We here for our father." Said Martin as the man nodded his head before leading the duo to the elevators where they quickly got inside and watched as the man pushed a button before the doors closed and the elevator rocketed to the top floor earning a slight chuckle from Mark.
"What?" Martin asked.
"You ever watched those old action movies and whenever the hero goes for the bad guy he's always on the top floor of the building?" Mark asked earning a slight nod from Martin who seemed to be too afraid to laugh at anything because of his current situation.
As the doors to the elevator slid open the man quickly led the group down a corridor with doors on both sides and a room at the end of the hall that he stopped in front of before knocking on it and watching as it slide open.
"Come on!" he said before leading Martin and Mark into the room where they were quickly met with the strong smell of Marijuana and loud rap music. As they entered the living room the trio was quickly met with the sight of eleven African American men standing about talking amongst each other with a few females and Marrick in the middle of them, but upon seeing the other two Romans they instantly fell silent and turned to them.
"Well look who finally arrived." Came a familiar voice as Mark and Martin turned their heads and noticed Maurice enter the room chewing on a toothpick and wearing a black collar shirt, khaki pants, and brown shoes.
"You tore us away from Gwen's party, so cut to the chase and tell us why you brought us here?" Mark asked with venom in his tone.
"Are you always this hostile?" Maurice asked as Mark watched the man pick up a bottle of beer before passing it to Mark who refused him.
"I don't drink or smoke." The youngest Roman replied earning a nod from his father.
"Alright then, since you want to get this over with I'll get down to business then." He started. "I want you to work for me Marcus." He finished to Martin's shock while Mark gave a low scoff. He figured it was only a matter of time before his father tried to recruit him.
"I don't sell drugs." Mark replied.
"You ain't gotta sell drugs that's the beauty to this Mark." Maurice replied before turning to the other men. "That's my boy Slim he one of my shooters." He said before pointing to a Muscular heavyset African American man with short brown hair, a brown beard with sideburns, and wearing a black t-shirt, black pants, and white shoes.
"Smurf and Termite they Stick-up boys." He continued before pointing to an African American man wearing a black collar shirt, black pants, and a white hat and another man with long black dreadlocks and wearing an Angels Jersey with black jeans and white shoes.
"Tio collects money for me from people across the city." He said before pointing to a muscular African American man with a shaved head, brown eyes, and wearing a white t-shirt, black jeans, and white shoes.
"I even got a few working girls who paying me for protection. There are a lot of things you can do for me Marcus and at the end of the day you can make yourself a lot of money." He said earning a slight chuckle from Mark who started to rub his chin.
"Give me some time to think on this, after hearing about how you guys offed one of your own earlier this morning I'm hesitant." Said Mark to Martin's shock.
"Well Peanut shouldn't have been skimming money off the top ain't that right Slim?" Maurice asked as the group watched the man start to smile while Mark took in the sight of the gun tucked in the man's waistband.
"You can't be serious?" Martin asked while Maurice started to smile.
"I'll do that." Said Maurice as he swallowed down his drank just as a child came bursting through the door.
"One-time coming!" he said earning a nod from Maurice.
"How many?" the Roman asked.
"Two cars!" he replied earning a nod from Maurice.
"It's not a bust I guess they just want to talk." He stated with a chuckle before turning to Mark. "Watch this boy!" he said before making his way out of the room with Marrick, Martin, Mark, and a few of the Roman Boyz following after him.
As the group made their way out of the building they quickly noticed five officers standing out front with mixed looks and amongst them Mark was easily able to spot Alison whose eyes widened at the sight of him.
"Officer Locke it's been a while since I've seen you." Maurice said with a smile earning a smile from the elderly man.
"Yeah it's been a while since I was working narcotics so I haven't been able to come down here to bust you and your boys over their heads." Locke replied as Mark continued to look to Alison who locked eyes with before he turned to Martin and noticed the man starting to shake.
"Calm down brother, there's no need to be worried here." Mark replied earning a slight nod from Martin.
"Hey Alison ain't that the boy from the diner, the one that gave you his jacket?" Regina asked in the form of a whisper that was only heard by Alison and Tavon.
"Yeah we'll talk about that later." She said to the woman's confusion.
"So he's got all three of his sons here." Tavon said in a hushed tone while looking between Martin, Marrick, and Marcus.
"Looks like it." Alison replied before sending a look back to Mark who she noticed moving his eyes to his left where a few of the Roman Boyz were standing. In response she nonchalantly nodded her head earning a smile from Mark who then pinched his shirt earning a confused look from Alison.
"Shirt…what are you telling me?" she asked herself in a hushed tone.
"If you're here wanting answers about the body from this morning you outta luck none my boys know what happened." Maurice replied earning a smile from Locke.
"I bet you don't." he said.
"Shirt, t-shirt, tight shirt." Alison continued to think amongst herself while watching Mark continue to pinch his shirt. She then sent a look to the group of Roman Boyz who were watching Maurice and Locke closely.
"This ain't getting anywhere." Sawyer stated while folding his arms over his chest.
"Shirt shirt shirt." She kept saying before noticing that only one of the men was wearing a black t-shirt like Mark causing Alison's eyes to widen as she sent a look to Slim earning a nod from Mark. She then watched him put his right hand to his side and make it in the shape of a gun.
"So he's the shooter." She whispered before nodding her head and watching as Mark slid the gun into his pants.
"The gun is in his-." She started before turning to Slim.
"Hey you!" she said earning everyone's attention as they all turned to her and noticed her looking at Slim.
"What are you hiding in your pants?" she asked before the group sent a look to Slim before the man turned on his heels and started to run away.
"Hey stop!" yelled Tavon as he, Alison, Regina, and Sawyer started to run after the man with Alison taking the lead as everyone watched her quickly gain on Slim.
"On the ground!" she said before tackling the man from behind and knocking him to the ground.
"Damn white girl got legs." Said Marrick as Mark gave a slight smile as the group watched closely as Alison pulled the pistol from Slim's pants while Tavon handcuffed him.
"Good eyes girl." He said with a smile while Regina nodded her head.
"Thanks for the catch Maurice." Said Locke as he started to walk away with other Task Force members while Maurice angrily gritted his teeth.
"I got to say you're not convincing me father." Said Mark with a chuckle before his cellphone started to ring from a number that he quickly recognized as Heavy Joe's.
Liddell
It had been almost two hours since Mark and Martin left the party and things didn't seem to have shift since they left. Lee was trying to talk to Gwen, Manfred and Felix were talking with a few people, and Buck was sitting in a corner away from everyone in silence.
As he sat his mind continued to think about the man he killed and whenever he blinked he could get these faint visions of the same man before him staring at him with soulless eyes that could almost see into Buck's soul.
"Damnit!" said the young man as he lowered his head and looked to the ground with beads of sweat falling from his brow.
"Just stop already." Buck whispered in almost a pleading tone before he felt someone place their hand on his shoulder causing him to look up and notice Link staring down at him with a worried look.
"You're talking out loud." Link stated before taking a seat next to Buck.
"Sorry it's just…I keep seeing that guys face and-." Buck started earning a nod from Buck.
"I know what you're going through, and do you want to know a way to make it stop?" Link asked earning a nod from Buck.
"Yeah tell me." Buck replied earning a few seconds of silence from Link but before he could speak the blonde haired man was quickly interrupted as a familiar man bumped into him.
"Shit!" said Hakeem as he quickly noticed he spilled his drink on his shirt. "Fucking bitch you made me fuck up my shirt." He said eyeing Link angrily.
"Sorry." Link replied to Hakeem's anger.
"Sorry bitch this shirt cost me over three hundred dollars." He said to Link's surprise.
"Really it looks just like a regular t-shirt to me." Link replied to Hakeem's surprise.
"Motherfucker you wish this a regular t-shirt and you're gonna pay me for it." He said with some bass in his tone earning the attention of a few people at the party as well as Lee, Felix, Manfred, and Gwen.
"Excuse me right quick." Said Lee to Gwen's confusion as she watched him make his way over to the BSU members in distress.
"Well I ain't paying you for a shirt." Said Link with a chuckle earning a slight smile from Hakeem before he slapped the blonde haired man across the face earning loud "OOOHHH'S" from everyone.
"Hey asshole!" came a new voice as Hakeem turned around and was met by Lee who quickly spun around and hit Hakeem with a spinning roundhouse kick that collided with the boys jaw and actually sent him flying backwards before hitting the ground face first with blood leaking from his mouth and nose.
"You good?" Lee asked turning to Link who nodded his head with tears of anger forming in his eyes.
"Yeah!" he replied.
"Motherfucker." Said Hakeem as he turned to look at the group. "Do you know who I am?" he asked earning a chuckle from Lee.
"Yeah and I don't care who you are, nobody puts their hands on any of my brothers." Said Lee as he slapped Link on the chest.
"Let's go brother!" he said earning a nod from Link as he, Buck, Felix, and Manfred started to follow the Chinese man out of the party while Gwen ran to Hakeem.
New Arcadia
The sun was beginning to set on this day as Task and Adahy found themselves still sitting at the Marisa's store awaiting the arrival of anyone that would do her harm or take money away from her. As Task sat in silence he couldn't help but look over at the girl and watch her as she put items on her shelf. His eyes then soon started to wander her body and he found himself taking in the girls beautiful curves.
"It's not good to stare." Said Adahy breaking Task from his trance as he turned to look at her.
"Yeah well, it's kinda hard not to." Task replied.
"If you like her then go and talk to her don't be the creep in the window." Adahy stated earning silence from Task. "Don't tell me you're afraid?" he added.
"I'm not afraid." Task replied before looking back at Marisa before taking a deep breath then approaching her.
"Would you like some help?" he asked causing the girl to look at him and notice the half-smile on his face.
"Other then what you two are here for, I really don't need your help." She replied earning a confused look from Task.
"Why are you so hostile to me?" he asked.
"Why colors you bang or what hood you from?" she asked to Task confusion.
"You know I always thought that being on reservations would stop gangs from affecting our community but I was wrong because I always see kids throwing up dressed in purple or green and sagging their pants." She said in a matter of fact tone earning a chuckle from Task.
"I'm not affiliated with the Ballas or the Families, I have a problem with seeing my own people dressing and acting like them." He replied.
"Yet you're still a criminal, you know in the old days tribes would banish people like you." She said earning a nod from Task.
"I'm aware but the difference between me and those guys is that everything I do is meant to help our people." He replied.
"Right selling guns and killing people that helps our people." She said with venom in her tone.
"If the ends justify the means then so be it." Said Adahy earning the duo's attention.
"This is our land, yet we are living in a white man's world and do you know how many of them get ahead in life?" he asked. "They get ahead by being corrupt, crooked, and ready to stab each other in the back at the first chance they get. If we want to survive in there world, we have to play by their rules, but the difference between us and them is that we aren't gonna screw everyone around us over." He stated.
"If they do that then why should we become them?" she asked with venom in her tone.
"There's a difference in becoming them and playing their games, as long as we keep our identity and who we are…we're still us and not them." Adahy replied but as Marisa went to speak the trio was interrupted by the sound of the front door opening and three muscular Caucasian men stepping inside talking loudly.
"Where the bitch at?" one of the men asked as Task and Adahy sent each other a look before approaching the group.
New Arcadia
"So you mind telling me why the boy from the diner was with Maurice Roman?" asked Regina as she Alison walked out of the police department building after processing Slim.
"He's Maurice's son." She said to Regina's surprise. "He also stays next door to me." She added earning wide eyes from Regina.
"But he isn't involved with his father, in fact he really hates him." She stated.
"He didn't seem to hate him much when we saw him earlier." Regina replied while folding her arms over her chest.
"I know his father is trying to worm his way back into his life, but I can promise you…Marcus isn't involved." She said earning a few seconds of silence from Regina.
"Alright I'll take your word for it, but I will be keeping an eye on him." She said earning a silent sigh of relief from Alison.
"Thank you, he already feels like I've wire-tapped his phone just because of his father and all he does is go to school and work." She said earning a nod from Regina.
"Alright then, but just remember who he is before you start falling for those words in Creole." The Narcotics officer added before the duo made it to their cars before sliding inside and driving away from the building.
After a short drive home, Alison quickly made her way to her apartment door but before she could open it she noticed Mark's Buccaneer pull into its usual place followed by her cellphone vibrating.
"Damn it!" she said before pulling it out and noticing that she had a text message from Tavon asking her to go out for a drink. As she went to respond with a yes, she lifted her gaze and watched as Lee, Link, Manfred, Felix, and Buck finally made their way up the stairs and started to enter Mark's apartment.
"Hey where's Mark?" she asked earning their attention.
"He ain't with us." Manfred replied.
"He's probably still with his people." Said Lee as he opened Mark's door before making his way inside with Manfred, Felix, and Buck.
"Still it's almost eleven o'clock." Alison said in a worried tone.
"Hey don't worry about Mark, he probably just lost track of time he'll be here." Link replied before making his way inside of Mark's apartment and closing the door behind him while Alison found herself going through almost a million variables in her mind.
"God what if they saw him singling out that guy." She said with a worried tone before she noticed she still had her cellphone in her hand with Tavon's message before.
"Damn!" she said before sending the man a "No" and then sending a "Where are you" to Mark's phone.
As she stood on the upper walkway of the a few miles away from her on the other end of New Arcadia a simple card game was going on. The game of cards itself wasn't didn't seem like much and was more than likely just one of the hundreds of other games going on at this time. What was important that made this game different from the others was that those playing were high-ranking members of the Ballas and their ally largest ally within the Soul Nation the Almighty Black King Nation or Black Kings for short.
They were the oldest and second largest gang within Carcer City and was one of the most rapidly expanding gangs in America. They were a gang with a rich history of starting from humble beginning but like all Carcer City gangs found their downfall in an internal beef. Over the last few years they've been establishing themselves within the state but have found difficulty in pushing into New Arcadia with the local gangs keeping them at bay. So when it came to things in New Arcadia they had to ally themselves with the Ballas to fight the local gangs, but tonight was different they were just kicking back and gambling amongst each other.
"Flush of a queen." Said Black King member who was in his mid-thirties with cornrows under a black do-rag and wearing a red and gold button-up shirt, black jeans, and white shoes with a tattoo of a hat cocked to the left side on the left side of his neck as he dropped his cards on the table.
"Full house." Replied a heavy set Balla member who was wearing a purple shirt that buttoned up the front, black jeans, and purple shoes as he dropped his cards on the table. As he dropped the cards on the table a chorus of remarks could be heard from the Ballas and Black Kings watching the group as the Balla member grabbed a handful of gambling chips and dragged them over to him.
Before anyone can get another word though the sound a gunshot caught everyone's attention followed by the splintering of wood as they noticed a masked figure wearing a black jacket that zipped up the front with the hood over his head, black gloves, pants, and whites shoes kick in the door of the room and walk inside pointing two Glock 17's at the group.
"Alright everybody let me see them hands yo." Said Mark as the group turned to look at him before noticing another masked man walk in through another door with a Balla held at gunpoint with a Mossberg 500 Shotgun to his back.
"Hands!" Mark yelled as another man walked in with a Pistol to the back of the head of a Black King.
"Hey yo big man backup!" Mark yelled causing a large Black King to take a few steps back as Mark pointed his weapon at him.
"I don't know about cards but I think these nine millimeters be a full house." The young Creole said with a chuckle while the group remained silent.
"Hey banker cash me out." Mark yelled before tossing a Balla member a duffel bag.
"You better hop to it before I get trigger happy!" he added before watching as the man started to fill the bag with the money the men had exchanged for chips.
"That's my money." Said heavyset Balla earning Mark's attention.
"Money ain't got no owners ball-sack, only spenders." Mark replied with a low chuckle.
"I'll tell you something else, I like your chain." Said Mark as everyone turned their eyes and noticed the man wearing a chain around his neck with a purple five-point star hanging off it.
As soon as those words left Mark's mouth the Balla turned his gaze away from him forcing the youngest Roman to put both barrels of his guns to the right side of the man's head before sliding the gun in his right hand under the man's chin and forcing him to look up at him.
"Boy you got me confused with a nigga that repeats himself." He stated causing the man to look at him angrily before slowly removing his chain and setting it on the table where Mark quickly snatched it up.
"This ain't over." He said earning a chuckle from Mark.
"That's how you carrying it lil brother, because I can find your people a whole lot quicker than you can find me." The Creole stated in a matter of fact tone.
"Guess we'll find out then." Said the Black King member earning another chuckle from Mark.
"Oh in deed!" Mark replied before sending a look to Smurf and Termite who followed him out of the room and quickly out of the building.
"Damn that was intense son." Said Termite with a chuckle as he quickly handed the bag to Mark after they made it far enough from the building.
"It always is." Said Mark as he reached in the bag before pulling out two stacks of money that both measured to five g's each.
"Here's your cut!" he said before handing the duo the money to their surprise.
"This more than we agreed on." Said Smurf earning a nod from Mark.
"Well I'm a generous guy." Said Mark earning a nod from the duo.
"You guys better get off the streets I have a feeling those dumbasses are about to go on the war path." Said Mark earning a nod from both men.
"Catch you around little Roman." Said Smurf.
"And do me a favor, tell my father he can shove his offer up his ass." Mark replied to the duo's surprise.
"You sure you want to do that Mark, it ain't smart to walk around on these streets starting shit and flying solo?" asked Smurf.
"Who said I was flying solo?" Mark asked with a chuckle. "Heavy Joe gave me a better deal." Mark replied before turning to walk away to the duo's surprise.
"Heavy Joe, then that means-." Started Termite before Smurf interrupted him.
"Mark is higher on the ladder then Maurice." he finished.
Lake Phélypeaux
The lunar glow of the moon seemed to be reflecting rather brightly over the waters of Lake Phélypeaux as it seemed to sparkle in the night just as a stolen black car pulled on the levee surrounding the river.
"Let's get this over with." Said Adahy as he stepped out of the passenger seat while Task stepped out of the driver's seat. The duo then made their way to the back of the truck where they opened the trunk and noticed the three Caucasian men hog tied like pigs with bruises covering their bodies.
"I guess you pricks can't fight guys your own size can you." Said Task with an evil chuckle.
"Just wait til the others hear about this and all of you Dirt-Worshippers are dead." Said one man earning a chuckle from Adahy.
"Yeah but you're dead now." He said before closing the trunk followed by shooting out the tires.
"Let's do this!" said Task as the duo got behind the car and started to push it down the levee where they quickly watched in delight as it splashed into the lake before starting to sink below the waters.
"You know what who cares what Marisa said, if there's one thing I know I'm doing that is right…helping our people is one of them." Task said earning a nod from Adahy.
New Arcadia
The drive back home wasn't long for Mark, and upon walking up the stairs to the upper apartments he was quickly greeted by the sight of Alison sitting in a plastic chair outside her door.
"What are you doing up so late?" he asked while approaching the woman who looked up at him with a mixed look.
"Waiting on you." She replied before standing up. "So how was your day it must have been good if you stayed out most of the night." She stated earning a low scoff from Mark.
"Yeah being with my father and brother it was a day in the park." He replied in a sarcastic tone. "Did the guy I give you check out?" he asked earning a nod and a smile from Alison.
"Yeah he did the gun he had on him was the same gun used in the murder." She replied with a smile. "We did a good thing today, we took a murderer off the street." She stated earning a nod from Mark.
"Yeah one down a quarter of the city to go." Mark said in a sarcastic tone while looking away from Alison.
"You had me worried." She said to Mark's confusion as he turned to look at her.
"What?" he asked.
"You had me worried, you weren't answering your phone and I was beginning to think that they had seen you singling out that guy and that something bad had happened." She said while looking away from Mark who gave a low sigh before approaching the woman and taking her hands in his own in a gesture that was surprising to her and caused her to look up at Mark who smiled at her before planting his lips against her forehead and giving her a gentle kiss.
As his lips touched her skin Alison felt the same burning sensation that washed over her earlier again but more intense this time. She couldn't see it but she guessed that her face was as red as a tomato on top of shuddering and letting out a low breath of air followed by moving her hands to Mark's arms as he pulled away from her.
"You got nothing to worry about on my end, if there's one thing growing up on the streets has taught me…is how to survive." He stated earning a nod from Alison who smiled at Mark who pressed his forehead against hers.
"…But there is something I heard today that may make this city…battle zone." He added earning Alison's attention as she lifted her head and looked at Mark with confusion in her gaze.
As she went to speak she was quickly cutoff by the sound of gunshots coming from down the street. The bang of the shots caused Mark to whip his head around in their direction and count them off while Alison did the same.
"That was close." She said.
"Eighteen shots two different type of guns." Mark whispered under his breath before turning away from Alison and making his way downstairs.
"Mark wait!" she said before running after the youngest Roman as he ran away from the apartment complex and down the street.
"Wait up!" she said before watching as Mark stopped in his tracks causing her to do the same. As she stopped to catch her breath she was quickly left wide eyed and speechless at the sight of four men lying dead on the streets with bullets riddling their bodies.
"Jesus Christ." Said Alison as she watched Mark slowly approach two of the men and quickly recognize them as Termite and Smurf.
"And a war just started." Mark said under his breath with a low growl.
Authors Note: And there you have it everyone I hope you enjoyed this chapter, it was one of my more slower chapters but I can promise next chapter will be a lot more action packed and bloody.
The Black Kings Street Gang is Afro Spirits parody on the Vice Lords Street Gang from Chicago. In Louisiana seeing a Vice Lord is kinda like seeing Crip or a Blood but they do have guys down here claiming to be Vice Lords but they don't really control anything.
I introduced Mark's brother Hakeem in this chapter who is visually based off and shares the same name as Bryshere Y. Gray character Hakeem on Empire and he will sorta act like him. I don't care how people feel about this but I can honestly say I don't like Hakeem and I think he can't rap for shit he just look good doing it like Iggy Azalea, so there I said it. Originally Mark was gonna be the one to kick him in the mouth but I think Lee adds a bigger insult to injury.
I also introduced members of the Roman Boyz and got rid of three members of the Roman Boyz. Next chapter will feature more high ranking members of the gang including Maurice's right hand man after Marrick.
The robbery Mark pulled on the Ballas and Black Kings was based on when Omar robbed Marlo on the Wire. The scene where Task and Adahy pushed the car with the Rednecks in the back off the levee and into the lake it was taken from my other New Orleans story. If it ain't broke don't throw it away.
I also want to thank Onkwehonweneha for giving me some advice on Native Americans and how they feel on certain topics that relate to them. So with his help I was able to make a lot of the dialogue between the Natives.
The character Mekko Meska is based off actor Will Simpson, while Clay Hill is based off Russell Means, and Marisa is based off Julia Jones and they will be featured again next chapter.
What Marisa said about gangs being a disease of America is based on what many people think today. The Bloods, Crips, Latin Kings, MS-13, and Surenos can be found on damn near every country. I just learned there are Bloods and Crips in Italy and Germany as well as the Philippines, Thailand, and even Russia. American gangs can be counted as a virus that spread to other parts of the world and you would think a Native American Reservation would be safe from gangs or have their own but that's not the case.
Also you can't really have a story set in Louisiana without having Gumbo it's one of the most known things about the state and is one of the main reasons people come here. A lot of people don't know it but there are actually two types of Gumbo Cajun and Creole if you want to know the difference Cajun is darker and has a lot of vegetables while Creole is lighter. Also a lot of people wonder how Gumbo was created so I'll fill you in Gumbo is basically a stew with anything in it and when the slaves or people had food they wanted to get rid of they just stuck it into a stew and that's how you got gumbo.
Stick around for next chapter as the war with the local gangs and the Ballas and Black Kings gets heated and Mark and Alison find themselves in the middle while Task and Adahy deal with the fallout of killing those Rednecks.
Thank you all for reading have a nice day.
