Milk: The Rumble Continues: The Rumble Series, #5

By Rayven Skyy

Just when things were looking up for the King of VA life happens to shake things around. After going through the rigmarole of leaving the streets behind, Milton “Milk” Woodhouse yet again finds himself knee deep in turmoil. A misunderstanding with a business partner resulting in his brother being shot ultimately sends Milk over the edge to the point of no return. Moreover, the threat of a new baby from a previous relationship may possibly damage the bond Milk has desperately tried to repair with the love of his life, Sabrina. Unbeknownst to Milk he is encircled by snakes disguised as friends, and it's unclear if he will be able to come out on top again . . . as the rumble continues.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rayven Skyy
• Release date: Oct 7, 2014
• ISBN: 9781502277701

Book preview

This book is dedicated to each one of you that followed this series from beginning to end. This is somewhat bittersweet to be ending the series because I grew to love the characters just as much as you did. However, . . . as the saying goes; all good things must come to an end.

Thanks for RUMBLING with me!

Rayven

Acknowledgments

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I want to thank the Usual Suspects for helping me bring Milk; The Rumble Continues to life! To my editor, Shannon Fields, proofreader, Stesha Manning, graphic designer, Andre Smith and as always, the cover model, Lovell Wilder Sr., thank you so much and I really appreciate each one of you! To my daughter Saysha, thanks again for holding me down with the meals while I was writing Milk. You’re the best daughter any mother could have. To all of the Rumblers in The Rumble Room a.k.a., The Rayven Skyy Fan Club on Facebook, and all of the other readers who supported this series, we’ll always have Milk!

"They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. They say time heals all wounds. They say that you’re not supposed to question God. They say this; they say that. You know what I say—fuck they because they don’t know shit!"

Milk

The Rumble Continues

Got To Be More Careful . . . continued!

Two months ago . . .

So whatchu trying to say, Farryn?

I’m not trying to say anything, Milk, I just said it. I’m pregnant.

Farryn got into her car, started the engine, and backed out of the driveway without saying anything else to me. The first thing that came to mind was Sabrina. There ain’t no way in hell she’s going to have any understanding about me having a baby with another broad like she did when I told her Nicole was pregnant.

‘Damn! Got to be more careful!’ I thought as I threw my head back and closed my eyes.

After a brief moment of silence, I opened my eyes to find a full moon staring back at me. Now I’ve never believed in all that Friday the 13th shit or any other myths about what a full moon was supposed to represent, but there was something eerie about this moon. It had a burnt orange color to it almost as if it was on fire. I tried to take my eyes away from it—but I couldn’t. It was as if it was trying to tell me something.

The sound of a car burning up the road was what finally broke the spell it had on me. As I watched the car wildly driving in reverse I assumed the person behind the wheel was just drunk until I realized whose car it was. "Aww shit . . . here we go," I mumbled under my breath. I reached inside of my truck, turned the ignition off, and removed the keys.

I tell you I’m pregnant and you don’t have anything to say? Farryn asked, slamming the car door and walking up the driveway toward me.

You ain’t give me a chance to say shit. You made yo’ announcement and carried yo’ ass, I politely stated. I was in no mood to argue with her right then. Rell was waiting on me and I still had to meet up with Burris.

And you ain’t try and stop me either! she yelled, pointing her index finger in my face which was a little bit too close for my comfort. I gradually moved her hand to the side and I took a few steps back.

I can’t stop grown people from doing what they want to do.

Well? she asked as she fixed her eyes on me while closing the gap between us.

Farryn, I told you when we talked ‘bout this shit a month ago that I won’t trying to have no more kids right now, but it is what it is. If you gon’ have the baby then I’ma do what I’m supposed to do. It really ain’t a whole lot to it, I replied nonchalantly.

"What do you mean if I’m going to have the baby? What do you expect me to do, have an abortion?" she asked with narrowed eyes as if she was offended by my statement.

Look, ain’t nothing good gon’ come from this conversation right now while you this upset and I got somewhere to be, so. . .

So what was I to you? she asked, folding her arms across her chest. Somebody for you to pass your time with until Sabrina came back? 

Not at all, I calmly told her.

Then don’t treat me like an old pair of shoes that you don’t want to wear anymore after all I’ve done for you and your son!

With that she hit a nerve. My son ain’t got shit to do with this.

"What the fuck you mean all you did for me and my son?" I asked, raising my voice.

How many of my nights did I sacrifice watching MJ for you so that you could focus on your business? she boldly asked, but it was more like a statement.

Oh, the business I had before I met you? I said sarcastically. That’s the one you talking ‘bout? Man, this conversation is going nowhere real fast. I turned and headed toward the front door.

Don’t walk away from me! she shouted as she grabbed my arm.

I snatched away, but turned back around when I felt her hand on my shoulder. Aye, Farryn . . . yo, go ‘head on with that shit. For real! Farryn and I have had a few heated disagreements before, but never have I seen her this mad.

Who kept the both of you in clean clothes, cooked your meals, and cleaned up your fucking house on a regular basis? Because it damn sure wasn’t Sabrina!

I swear y’all broads kill me, I said, shaking my head. Y’all so quick to throw the shit you did up in a nigga’s face. You did what you did for me ‘cause I made you want to do it. I was just as good to you as you think you were to me. If I was a fucked up ass nigga you and me wouldn’t have gotten as far as we did, so don’t come at me with that bullshit!

Where were you last night? she asked, changing the subject.

What? I said, trying to avoid answering her question.

You heard what I said. Where did you sleep at last night? Because it damn sure wasn’t here! She pointed at the house.

Let’s not play games ‘cause you already know where I was, I replied without admitting to anything.

I want to hear you say it! She now had a cold smirk on her face.

You want to hear me say what?

I want to hear you say you fucked Sabrina last night, you fucking bastard!

Man, I’m not gon’ do this with yo’ ass right now. I began to sort through my keys to open the front door.

Oh, you’re not going to answer my question? she asked with agitation in her voice as she knocked the keys out of my hands aggressively.

A’ight then . . ., I gripped my bottom lip with my teeth, I fucked Sabrina last night and this morning, too! You happy now? I bent down and scooped my keys up in my hand. I was trying to be considerate of her feelings at first, but she brought that shit on herself. Look, just let me know whatchu gon’ do, I told her, hoping she would take it as her queue to leave.

Do about what? She scrunched up her face.

Do about what? I asked with my head tilted, clearly onto her game. Didn’t you just tell me you was eating for two now? I reminded her.

Did you ever love me, Milk? she asked, ignoring my question about the baby and softening her tone.

Does it really matter at this point, Farryn? I inserted the key into the lock.

I want to know. Did you? I turned back around to face her because I didn’t want her to follow me into my house.

If you have to ask then I guess it’s a no, I replied frankly, and in classic angry black woman style, she slapped me across my face.

Just who the fuck do you think you are! she shouted.

Typical bitch, I said with a faint laugh as I rubbed my jawline. She only did that shit because she knew I wasn’t going to hit her ass back.

Bitch? she asked as she attached both hands to her hips.

Yeah, that’s what the fuck I called you . . . bitch! I yelled directly in her face. Now I was hot. "You done had yo’ love should’ve brought you home last night moment, if that was yo’ purpose for coming back. Now get the fuck off my got damn porch, Farryn!"

You deserve everything that happens to you! she declared coldly before she trotted back down the driveway to leave.

Do what you gotta do, I replied, assuming that she was referring to some child support shit.

I went inside the house, closed the door, and immediately glued one eye to the peephole to see if she was going to take her frustrations out on my truck next. You know how y’all broads do. When she finally pulled off, I went into the kitchen, got a plastic bag from underneath the sink, and marched up the stairs to the second floor. I stopped and grabbed a towel out of the linen closet and then went into MJ’s room. I flicked on the light switch and laid the towel out on the floor in front of the fish tank. I then pulled the sleeve of my shirt up to my shoulder and as soon as my arm hit the water, all of the fish ran for cover.

One by one I tossed stacks of money wrapped tightly in plastic hidden under thick layers of multi-colored rocks onto the towel until I had what I needed to pay Burris. I thought about tearing the plastic off but that would’ve only wasted more of my time, so I dried it off and placed the money inside the plastic bag. After activating the alarm, I turned off the lights, walked out the door, and locked it behind me. I tossed the money on the floorboard of the passenger side once I got in my truck and noticed that my cell phone was lit up. I entered my password and saw that I had two missed calls. One of the calls was from Saysha and the other from Sabrina. I waited until I was mobile before I called her back.

What’s up, bae?

Your daughter is trying to get in touch with you. She giggled.

I know I’m in trouble! I laughed, too. Saysha hated when I didn’t answer the phone when she called. What she want?

For you to pick her up, she replied.

Pick her up for what? I thought Ms. Neicy was taking all of them to the beach tomorrow?

She said she doesn’t want to go to the beach.

Well, shame on her ‘cause I damn sure ain’t going back to get her tonight. She’ll be a’ight.

Well, you call her and tell her that then, she said playfully.

You said that like I’m supposed to be scared of her lil’ ass or something. Saysha run you not me, I threw back to keep the chuckles going. It felt good to laugh and crack jokes with Sabrina again. 

Whatever! I could hear her smiling through the phone.

You want me to bring you anything on my way back over there?

Some ice cream would be nice, Sabrina said in a soft tone.

Butter pecan, right? I asked to be sure.

You know it. How long are you going to be?

No more than an hour or so. I got some business to take care of real quick. After that I’m coming straight to you, so get naked!

I haven’t even gotten out of the bed since you left, she said in a low seductive tone.

Good, stay just like that ‘cause I’ma fuck the shit out of you when I get there, I let her know and I could hear her giggling again.

Are you going to call Saysha back?

Yeah, I’ma call her.

Alright, I’ll see you when you get here. Bye.

Sabrina? I called out to catch her before she hung up.

I’m still here . . .

I love you, I sincerely said.

I love you, too, Milk, Sabrina softly responded.

Bye, baby.

I was about to call Rell’s phone when I turned into the Hardees parking lot and didn’t see his car, but something told me to drive around to the back of the restaurant first. I had to slam on my brakes because I almost ran into a car that was speeding through the parking lot. No sooner than he moved out of the way, there came another reckless driving mothafucka! I veered to the right to avoid hitting him, too.

What the fuck is going on out here? I said aloud, looking around.

Once I drove up a little further I was able to see and hear what all of the commotion was about. Somebody wearing a ski mask was out there shooting. I wasn’t able to see who he was shooting at, nor did I care to, because now I was the one trying to make my way out of the parking lot! I just so happened to glance over in my rearview mirror and that’s when I saw Rell’s car over by the menu board and saw him on the ground. I shoved the gear in park while simultaneously reaching under the seat for my gun and opened the door. Before my feet could touch the ground, I was already shooting at the masked assailant.

Rell, stay down! I shouted as I walked right in the line of fire. I would take a bullet first before I let the assailant pump another one into my brother.

With the shooter’s attention now on me, he let off a few more shots and then took off running toward the gas station next to Hardees. Car horns and screams were all I heard now that the gunplay was over.

Somebody call an ambulance! I hollered out as I raced over to Rell. I dropped to my knees and carefully turned him over on his back. Shit! His pant leg was stained with blood and so was his chest. Just breathe! You hear me, Rell? He nodded his head slowly without opening his eyes. Look at me, Rell! Open yo’ eyes, man! They didn’t move. Come on, Rell . . . man, don’t you do this shit to me, man . . . open yo’ mothafucking eyes! My first instinct was to pull him to me, but I knew that could possibly disturb the bullets. Hold on man, they coming, I told him after hearing a medley of sirens.

Police! Drop the gun and put your hands up! a voice behind me shouted.

I didn’t even realize I still had the gun in my hand.

My brother needs an ambulance. He’s been shot, I hollered over my shoulder, placing the gun on the ground while being careful not to make any sudden moves.

Lie down on the ground and put your hands up, he commanded next.

I followed those instructions, too, but as soon as I stretched out alongside Rell, I immediately felt a knee grinding into my spine.

Stop resisting, the officer yelled in my ear and threw a forearm to the back of my head.

Man, ain’t nobody resisting! I growled with the side of my face now buried in mulch.

Put your hands behind your back!

I merged my wrists together expecting him to put handcuffs on me next but he didn’t. I raised my head as far up as I could and saw that the white man posted up on my back wasn’t in uniform, but he did have a gun pointed at my head. Had he not, I would’ve flipped his ass over and beat the shit out of him with my bare hands. Then I heard several car doors slam and the voices of two actual police officers warning bystanders to move out of the way.

This is one of the shooters, the guy with his knee in my back announced to one of the police officers walking toward us. I need your handcuffs. Once he clamped them around my wrists, the uniformed officers helped raise me up on my feet.

What the fuck y’all looking at? I shouted out to the crowd of spectators gawking as if they were watching a live football game.

Girl, that’s Milk, I heard a female voice say as I was swiftly ushered passed the crowd.

Keep walking! the white man dressed in plain clothes yelled and jerked me by my arm.

Get the fuck off me you white piece of shit! I tried my best to yank my arm out of his grip, which only caused him to latch on tighter.

I was guided inside the police car head first, but before he could close the door I tried to kick that bitch off the hinges, and I paid for it, too. After that, just about every police officer on the scene took turns throwing punches at me until they were able to get my legs inside of the car and close the door. When I looked over to where Rell was I saw that he was on a stretcher being lifted into the back of an ambulance.

Hustle and War!

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Later that night . . .

Hello? I answered my cell phone.

Where you at, Tyke?

I’m coming down Northampton Boulevard now, I told her.

You said you was on your way an hour ago! she replied with an attitude.

I know I did, but I got held up.

See, now you bullshitting.

I promise you I’m not, I assured her. I was just as eager to get to her as she was for me to get there. What’s the room number?

211.

You at the American Value Suites, right? The one right next to Bojangles?

Ain’t that where you told me to get the room at? she asked.

Yeah. You drove or got dropped off?

I drove my car, why?

I could hear the irritation in her voice. I was just asking. Damn, shorty, calm down. I’m ‘bout to bring this dick to you right now so you can sit yo’ ass on it.

Shut the fuck up! She laughed. You got some blunts?

"Shit, I already got two