Da Truth: Da Truth Shall Set You Free!!

By Carlos “Polo” Hinks

Tez grew up in a world he knew nothing about. Yet, he was exposed to the effects that the streets had on the people who chose to live it. Losing his mother at a young age changed Tez. It took away his heart, leaving him heartless. He was mad at the world and anger ran through his veins.
By the time Tez grew up he had inherited the hustle that he once saw his parents have. The only difference was, that Tez was not quite prepared for the twist and turns that the game was about to take him through. Finding his mother's killer wasn't an agenda for Tez, but what would he do when the killer falls into his lap? The streets of Atlanta were about to find out.

Hammer was a cold character with plenty finesse. Being able to know when to grasp an opportunity takes you a long way. Hammer had become an expert in taking advantage of an opportunity. Just like he did when he was young which now had him at the top. Not to mention Sasha which is the queen of Hammer's castle. Hammer never let an opportunity go. That may one day cost him more than he is willing to pay.





"CUBAN AFFILIATED"
~LCN~

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jul 30, 2013
• ISBN: 9781481774642

Carlos “Polo” Hinks

Carlos "Polo" Hinks was born and raised in Atlanta GA. His unique writing techniques, has allowed him to pull his readers right into the book and into every scene. His claim is being more than just a writer, but also an inspiration to all. Not only through his work, but also his own personal accomplishments. Mr. Hinks is not oblivious to the life he writes about. Through his own personal experiences he is able to paint vivid pictures through his words. In the end he hopes that his work will shed light of an underworld that could ravish through anyone's life if they choose to dabble in the lifestyle.

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© 2013 by Carlos Polo Hinks. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Author’s Notes:

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locals, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Published by AuthorHouse 07/23/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4817-7466-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-7465-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-7464-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013912431

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Dedicated to: I dedicate this book to my loving mother Onelia B. Hammond R.I.P. July 14, 1943-June 28, 1987

Da Truth

Man, this some bullshit!! Why in the fuck are these folks playing with me. Cut out the lights so I can tell yall, Da truth. I need you to hear me without being distracted and in the dark you can’t do nothing but listen and that’s what I need you to do. See, when you’re born, you don’t know all the bullshit twist and turns that life is going to take you through. You basically just got to go through the shit to find out what life got for you… . or what you got for life!! So what I’m gone do is run you through my shit—my life. You are the judge because not every book ends how you want it to… .

Meet me, Martez Cali Holmes! I’m a rare nigga in many aspects. Some aspects that many are to blind to see, because they don’t understand. I can’t say that I’m a gangsta, I’m a thug, goon, or none of that shit—I’M ME!! Born in Atlanta, GA in 1980 when shit was still hard for black people. Shit, now its 2013 and my president is black!! But to get to where I am today I had to go through a lot. It was me, my mom Nell, my dad Jesse, and my three sisters, Jackie, Kita, and Nasha. I guess I’ll start by taking you back to 1987, the events that formed my mental mind state. This is the year I lost my mother—the coldest day I’ve ever felt in June. I think my dad, and three sisters may feel the same.

Chapter 1

1987 "COLD JUNE’’

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My family and I had a four bedroom two story house. Yeah, we were doing alright!! My mom was from Havana, Cuba and my dad was from Atlanta, GA where they met at. With that meeting came me and my three sisters. I was a lil nigga but I knew a lil something! I knew enough to figure out what was going on around me. I knew enough for my age, green was something I was not. Late night phone calls, sacks of money, to many trips to the corner store, feel me. For some reason I’ve always tried to figure everything out. And with that, I think my parents sold dope—straight up. I would always just watch their moves and always wonder. My dad was that nigga in my eyes! He ain’t take no shit and er’body knew that. His name was Jesse, but he was known by er’body as Jesse James. Tonight was like any other as we sat around cracking jokes and laughing. The phone ringing was like thunder roaring in the middle of a storm—all attention was given. My dad went and answered the ringing phone. Like clockwork, he hung up, grabbed his bag, keys, and his tool. Out the door he went, but one thing I knew for sho was that he would be back before dinner. My mom cooked, cleaned, and washed clothes as the clock kept ticking. Two hours later my dad was still gone and he had only one time in the past left for a run and was gone more than two hours. I told you, I be watching er,thing and missing nothing. My sisters and I just watched T.V. as we waited. The phone rang again and I hoped it was my daddy. As I listened to my mom talking, I could tell it wasn’t him. It sounded like someone was rushing her to come on. When she got off the phone I could tell she was frustrated. She walked off to her room shaking her head talking in Spanish. A few minutes later she came out with her coat in hand, a bag, and her keys. My mom gave all of us a kiss and said she would be right back. As she walked out the front door I called out to her and said, I love you. She said she loved me too.

Last Run

My mom walked across the driveway to her car. She hated leaving us in the house alone but she did every—blue moon. Nell as they called her, didn’t want any of her kids to know what she was doing. She didn’t want to lose their respect nor their love. As she rode down Glenwood Ave. she thought to herself about the day she would be able to make her last run. She didn’t make many runs because my dad wouldn’t let her. I guess you can say he was protective of all of us. Nell became distracted by her deep thoughts and all most ran a red light—she smashed on brakes skidding to a stop. She laid back in relief and relaxed from her close call. She regained her focus and when the light turned green she slowly pulled off. Five minutes later she pulled into her destination… . the meeting spot. Things looked the same as always except for a car parked in the corner. Nell brushed it off as just an abandoned car. She waited and ten minutes later she saw Boss her buyer. Boss was a 20 year old fat cocky nigga who had tried to hit on Nell a few times. She never told my dad because she knew that he would kill him and she needed her husband home not in prison. Just as Boss got out the car, so did Nell. She stepped out with bag in hand—two bricks. Nell handed Boss the bag as she always did. As he checked the product she waited for the money. Boss threw the bag in his car and jumped in. Nell yelled, screamed, and threw threats that she knew would be carried out. My husband is going to kill your fat ass. Boss thought to himself, If I don’t kill him first, as he flashed his headlights. Nell started towards her car. No matter how much weight your name holds, there will always be someone willing to try their luck. Nell was so mad words couldn’t explain her anger because 38 hot wasn’t even close to how she felt at that moment. As she got near the car door she heard the abandoned car come alive. It sped towards her and before she could react five bullets tore through her face, arms, and heart. That would officially make this her last run!!!

Sad part about it is—my dad didn’t find out about my mother’s murder through the police or news station. The streets told him and made sure that he got the news fast. The news came so fast that he was able to make it to the scene before they could even take her body away. They couldn’t tell my dad anything except that she was dead. They asked him why she would be in this dark parking lot so late. That is when it hit him and he blamed himself. They only had four buyers who they met at this spot—Tone, Boss, Teeny, and Vice. He knew in his mind that he would hunt them all down one by one. Even if it took until he rested in peace. I can only figure that this was a breaking point for my dad. He no longer made runs to the store, no more late night calls, and definitely no more stacks of money. My dad changed into a 9 to 5 working man, and I changed into a heartless beast.

Understood

We all dressed for the funeral and loaded up into the limo. We headed to the church and my young mind was at work. My mama was gone and I was mad at the world, in due time the world will know my pain. We got to the church and it was packed. Our whole family was there only confirming that my mom was loved. My family had come from New York, Florida, and even from across the water. We piled into the church and the service started.

I couldn’t cry. I don’t know why, but it seemed that my pain was beyond tears. I just looked and listened, but really—I was in another world. Almost like an outer body experience. People spoke of my mother and how much of a wonderful woman she was. She had escaped Cuba, and made a life and family successfully. She was loved by many, but I don’t think anyone loved her as much as me. When the service was dismissed we were lead to the dining area and I couldn’t believe my eyes. Food was everywhere in the room, I was instantly mad. All I could keep thinking was that we didn’t come here to eat, and anyway, who can eat at a time like this. By the looks of things everybody could eat, but me. I walked back to where my mother laid in her casket.

Martez, boy get down from there! My aunt had caught me trying to climb in the casket with my mom. I just wanted to go wherever my mom was going. My aunt was on me before I knew it. She took me to my dad was and told him what I had done. When I looked at him and he looked at me, I knew he understood.

Growing Pains

After the funeral, I looked at the world differently. We still stayed in the same house. A year had passed since my mother had been murdered and it was still just as hard to cope with. I knew all three of my sisters felt the same, because we sometimes talked about it. My dad… . ah man! I knew his heart was broke into a million pieces. He never talked about what happened and I guess it was a protection thing when it came to us. We still were young and I can only figure he didn’t like to talk about it. He talked about it one time and when he did er’body left the house. My uncles, cousins, aunts… . er’body dipped! The anger is just as hard to hide as the pain is… . trust me, I know. My dad still maintained a good composure because he knew all four of his kids depended on him. We were still well taken care of, but my dad only worked his 9 to 5. The only thing about that was he wasn’t around much.

Kids come here!! My dad had an amplifier in his throat.

Yes daddy! That’s my oldest sister Jackie; she was always trying to sound angelic. I and my other two sisters Kita and Nasha were right behind Jackie.

I’m taking yall to yall grandma house so get ready to go. I loved going to my Spanish grandma house, she was the sweetest woman I knew. She didn’t speak any English which was fine with me. I loved to practice my Spanish and I had no choice but to with mi abuela (my grandma). We ran to our rooms and got our things together. As I was putting my clothes in my bag I got this feeling. It was something about how my dad spoke, it was different. I remember his eyes looking like they are now only two times before. The night my mother was killed, and the day he talked about it running the whole family off. Yeah, I still analyze er’thing. I wasn’t in any position to question my daddy so I brushed it off. We jumped in my dad’s 83 Pontiac Grand Prix and headed towards Cheshire Bridge Rd. My grandma stayed in a high rise out there. It was cool, because I always played on the elevators going to different floors. Sometimes I even rode it up to the roof. I was excited when we pulled into the high rise and I saw my grandma. My dad spoke to my grandma through my sister Jackie. My dad really didn’t need her because my grandma understood a lot even though she couldn’t speak English. I watched Jesse pull off and prayed that he would just make it back home ok. We rode the elevator to the sixth floor and went into my grandma’s apartment. It was already late so we took showers, ate, and found our spots on the floor. We watched as the roaches ran across the ceiling in the living room. It was dark except for the candles my grandma was burning.

A Nasha, I bet you won’t burn one them roaches off the ceiling? I knew she wouldn’t do it because she was scared of everything.

Kita had to butt in, why don’t you do it ugly always trying to bet somebody! That’s all she had to say, like I was scared to do anything I tried to bet on. I grabbed the candle and stood up on our cot. I started burning roaches left and right as they fell into the fire or towards the floor. As they fell, Nasha, Kita, and Jackie screamed. I hurried and got down before my sisters screaming made my grandma come out. I looked in the candle were some roaches were floating in the wax and others were burning in the fire. I put the candle back down and we all got back in our spots. We laughed and talked for about another hour before er’body was sleep, but me. I walked to my grandma’s wall sized window and stared out of it. I looked at all the city lights and just drifted into my own thoughts. I thought, I fought myself mentally, and I thought some more. My blood was like fire in my veins. How could I be this young and feel this bad? Anger was growing inside of me and I knew somehow some way… . it had to come out one day. I guess until then I have to deal with my growing pains!!!!

Chapter 2

1994 The Beginning of the End

Everybody calling me Tez now!! I done got a lil older, I’m 14 now, but my mind frame hasn’t changed much from 8 years ago. I still don’t give a fuck, and that is never a good thing. I can’t take anything away from my dad. He tried to raise me right, but my mind had loose screws that he couldn’t tighten. My dad was what I could call a real man. He did what a lot of niggaz probably wouldn’t do, and that’s raise four kids… . alone. I can admit that I gave my dad hell and ran the streets of Atlanta with a vengeance. The whole world was my enemy and only one thing could change that hate. The death of all those involved in my mother’s murder would be the only thing to calm the beast.

Lil Tez, come here nigga!!

That’s my old school partna right there. Er’body call him Man-Man, he been out here in the hood since he was a kid.

Yea—what it do old man? I screamed out

Lil Tez, what the hell you doing out here, you turn’n stones young nigga. He said with his usual low but forceful tone.

Man-Man was cool as hell, and always looked out for me. He put me up on a lot of game. I was slowly receiving the knowledge I needed to survive in this dog eat dog world.

Come here lil nigga, sit down and politic with me for a minute.

What’s up Man-Man? I said dryly.

Look Tez, you out here doing what you do cool. Now, let me ask you… . what you toting for your protection. I didn’t know whether to tell him about the 9mm poking me in my side or keep it unknown to everybody including him like I always have. See Man-Man taught me that not even your best friend needs to know everything. You might need the element of surprise on your side because friends sometimes become your enemy. So in my mind this was a test and I had to pass.

Shit Man-Man I can’t find nobody to sell me one. I knew it was a lie, but not all lies are bad lies.

Damn lil nigga, I’d hate to see you get caught slipping and you can’t defend yourself. There are eyes always watching you, that’s just how it is in the hood. I tell you what, how much money you got on you?

Once again, not even your best friend is to know everything. So the $300 that took me two days to make is gone stay my secret.

Man, I ain’t got nothing but ten bucks on me, shit been slow today. I said with a convincing look on my face.

Ok Tez, I’m gone look out for you and give you this 40cal, because I like you lil nigga. If you plan to be out here, you might as well have the necessary tools. But, remember that nothing comes without a price so you owe me lil nigga. He said with a smile.

Damn Man-Man, that’s some real shit!!! As soon as he pulled it out I reached for it.

Hold up lil nigga you moving too fast—you don’t even know how to use this shit. Fuck around and kill both of us out here. I snatched the Glock .40 from Man-Man, dropped the clip, checked it, slid the clip back in, and cocked it. Yea I knew what I was doing, I wasn’t that green. Man-Man folded over laughing leaving me confused and a lil agitated.

"Damn, you a gangsta lil nigga—that’s why I like you. Nigga I’m outta here—you be safe out here. Remember; always stay focused with ten toes posted. With that, he was gone up the block. He left me walking the other way with two guns tucked under in my belt.

I Think I’m The Shit

The sun shined on me differently today. It warmed my skin just enough where it wasn’t hot. The slight breeze complimented the day very well. My swag was on a million and it was evident. I was Polo down from head to toe. On my head was my A fitted hat and on my hip were both my straps. I had been posted at the store for about an hour now. Shit was rolling and I didn’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon. Just as I made a quick play for the fifty, I saw my dad turn on the block. He spotted me quick and pulled into the store. My dad was still a cool ass nigga just more humble.

Tez, come here son!