How I Tamed a Hood Boss ( An Urban Romance Book)

By Tia Miller

In the hood, death is easier than falling in love.

Tasha doesn't take backtalk from anyone, especially not some street thug like Adrien.

Her club, her rules.

And he better start playing along, because she's about to kick his butt out the door.

Just one problem.

She's in love with the fool.

Adrien loves being a DJ, but it's slinging coke that brings in the money.

So what if some hood boss wants him dead?

He's got it under control.

Except now Tasha's in trouble because of him.

And he's only got one chance to make things right.

Anita's addiction is a constant struggle.

She never thought she'd meet the love of her life in her darkest hour.

Renzo knows her past and doesn't care.

She's not sure she can let the pain go, but for him she'll try.

Renzo's not playing around.

The stuff Adrien's doing could get Anita and her sister hurt, and he ain't gonna have that.

Anita stole his heart and soul, and he protects what's his.

No more Mr. Nice Guy, time to unleash his inner thug.

Can they make it out with their lives and their hearts still intact?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tia Miller
• Release date: Feb 21, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393869818

Tia Miller

Tia Miller is the author of A Hood Boss Caught My Soul. Tia had an extreme love for urban fiction at a very young age. She lives in New Jersey with her husbandand two children. Connect with her now! https://www.facebook.com/tiamillerbooks [e-mail]

Book preview

prologue

*   *   *

Anita

I watched Amp burn the mountain of white powder in the serving spoon. The syringes were ready in his other hand to drink up the liquefied drug that would soon be in our veins.

Baby, is the needles clean? His short dreads covered his face as he focused on the heroin.

Yeah, they’re ready for you on the table, I said. My coffee table was covered in paraphernalia, empty food containers and forgotten textbooks stuffed with homework that I gave up on weeks ago. I didn’t even know what fucking day it was. All I knew was the moment of bliss I’d soon get, and that’s all I wanted.

My cell vibrated on my lap for the tenth time that afternoon. I glanced at the caller ID. Tasha. My sister had been harassing me nonstop. I just wanted to be left alone. I let the call go. A minute later, my phone alerted me to a voicemail.

Help me out wit dis, boo, Amp said. I held the spoon as he filled the small syringes with the liquid. Amp had just gotten some pristine white powder from a new connect and we were about to shoot to Cloud Nine. I could feel it. My hand trembled with excitement. I held the spoon with both hands to keep it steady.

Hurry up, baby. I can’t wait to try this out.

Don’t worry, don’t worry, good things are comin’, he grinned. His green eyes were dull and shadowed, his cute light-skinned face was a little drawn out. We’d both been losing weight. He filled the syringes and quickly attached the needles to them. Amp didn’t waste time. I watched as he found the thick vein in the crook of his elbow and pushed the needle in.

"Shit!" He grinned at me again.

I laughed and took my needle. Unlike him, I skin popped, choosing to inject the H just under my skin so it would last a little longer. Amp laughed in slow motion. His syringe fell to the floor beside him and he leaned back against the couch, his head hit the cushions and that grin stayed on his face. I laughed at him again and kissed his plump lips. I paced around my living room to get my high going.

My phone was still in my hand. I went ahead and played the voicemail. My sister’s voice—so much like mine—came blaring through the small speaker. Anita. This is the fifth time I’m tryna get to you! This shit is not okay! Auntie Nay is worried sick about you. She said you haven’t called, texted...none of that!

The H started to seep into my system and suddenly Tasha’s voice didn’t sound so upset. Actually, she sounded funny as fuck yelling at a voicemail box. Ever since you told me about the nightmares you’ve been AWOL and I’m startin’ to get scared that you might’ve done some stupid shit to yourself, she continued, Anyway, fucking call me back or Imma have to pull up on yo ass.

Damn, boo, cut that noise. Too much yellin’. Amp came up behind me and turned off my phone. I felt warm and happy, lost in euphoria. Amp put his arms around me and I fell back against his chest, then we both fell onto the couch and started dying laughing.

Amp rolled us over and we hit the floor. The table bumped over and he slid his leg between mine. I felt his dick thickening against my cleft and I rubbed against it.

I know you want this. I’m all you want. Me and H, we all you need, boo, he whispered hoarsely. I moaned and turned my head. He sucked on my neck and my nipples pebbled. Everything felt warm and cozy and safe. Amp was right, there was nothing that could hurt me or bring me down as long as I had the H to make me feel better and Amp to distract me from the past and those dreams that still haunted me.

Amp pushed my leg higher with his and he rubbed my clit through my tights. My limbs felt heavy and tired. Breathing was kinda hard, but I was used to the weight heroin put on your chest as it started to fade. The high was always so quick.

Baby, I’m tired, I sighed.

Un-uh, not yet. My body didn’t care that he wanted to keep going, I was sleepy. I heard vague banging on the door. It must’ve been my imagination ‘cuz Amp kept kissing my neck and rolling his hips between my legs. The banging got louder and louder until we both heard a distinct crash.

Yo, what the fuck! Amp was snatched off me as if he weighed nothing. I stared up, stunned silent, at a huge linebacker looking nigga. His arms were thick and he had square features that were twisted up in rage.

What the fuck you doin’ to her nigga! the linebacker roared.

Anita! I heard my sister’s voice and tried to look around for her but my body was moving too damn slow. Tasha’s heart-shaped face filled my vision. Her brown eyes were filled with panic and worry. Anita, say somethin’, she begged.

Was I trying to talk? I was trying to move, that was for sure, but the H was settling in and my body wanted to hibernate. Tasha hoisted me up into a sitting position, and I saw Amp getting his ass beat in full view. The linebacker had him by the scruff and was knocking his head back with heavy punches.

Stop! Stop, you gon’ kill him!

Ferg, we don’t got time for that mess. Let’s go! Ferg let Amp fall to the ground then he came and picked me up. Tasha was by my side as they took me out of the apartment. Don’t worry, sis, we gon’ get you help. This ain’t you, this ain’t you.

Little did she know that this was me. This was what I wanted over being sober and forced to remember everything that had ever happened to me. I’d rather be in my dope-induced dream than stuck in a nightmare I couldn’t escape.

*   *   *

chapter 0 1

*   *   *

Tasha

Five years later

You know the party is always in Miami. In his time off, he could bop to South Beach and you can book him plenty other gigs. It’s a good deal, Renzo.

I sat across from Renzo on the second-floor balcony of B Word restaurant. We were right on the strip of South Beach, overlooking the ocean. Women showing off their ass and boobs in skimpy bikinis were all around us. I’d chosen a good venue to make sure I booked my club’s next talent.

Yeah, I can’t front you, Tash. I was real surprised when you flew me out here and all. You really ‘bout your business, huh? Renzo picked up his cocktail and took a sip. His eyes shifted to the right as a couple of women passed our table. They had nothing but thong bikinis on and sheer coverups.

Of course. Look, Wave has been rakin’ in cash since we opened a few weeks ago. We pride ourselves on having the best music and hottest artists performing. I know how big of a splash your boy has been makin’ all over Georgia. He can do ten times that in Miami. Easy.

Renzo scratched the scruff on his chin and smoothed his hand over his brush cut. You know DJ Addy don’t really do residencies. We like to keep it movin’, he’s got that travel bug about him. Can’t settle nowhere for longer than a couple weekends. Three months is askin’ for kind of a lot, he said.

Cut the bullshit. Just tell me what price will make him down wit stayin’ cuz nobody in their right mind will skip over an opportunity to work in Miami.

If you could get him the opportunity to DJ for a couple of the rappers you mentioned, I can get him on board for around two hundred K, he said. I was prepared for a higher number. DJ Addy is well known around the country and he’s worked with a ton of artists, making singles.

That’s easy. So we have a deal then? Two hundred thousand?

Renzo stretched his hand across the table and we shook. Yes Ma’am. Can’t wait to get started, he said.

When can he be down here?

We’ll do our first set this weekend. Everything is wrapped up in Georgia, Addy is just waitin’ on the next move.

Alright, that’s what I like to hear, I said, smiling. Renzo gestured for the check and I picked up my phone to mobilize my promoters. I needed the club packed for Addy’s opening night.

* * *

DJ Addy had tapped into the fast Miami music vibe of the hood. The fast version of Swervin Down by Skippa Da Flippa and Quavo thumped through the club speakers. Addy was killing it from the booth. His head down, one side of his headphones was on his ear and one arm outstretched to the dancefloor as he mixed the song.

I smiled from the second-floor balcony just outside my office. Wave was packed, wall to wall. Addy was definitely gonna get me a good return on my investment.

This was the move, Tash! Ferg passed the bouncer strictly assigned to my balcony. He walked with a limp and had that swag about him that drew people in instantly.

He was always grinning and even though he had a baby face, he was big as a football player. We had a thing a while ago but that was done and over with. We were much better just workin’ together, he was my head of security.

He’s good, ain’t he? I said and slid my hands along the balcony railing.

Everything he played so far slaps! Have you met him yet or just the manager?

Just Renzo. He’s mad cool so hopefully Addy is the same. What’s goin’ on down there?

Nothin’ crazy. The girls are takin’ care of Anita just like you asked. The trainin’ wheels aren’t quite off yet but she seems fine. She’s pullin’ in some tips, he said. Oh, and D is here. He said he was gon’ holla at you but I think he’s hollerin’ at someone else right now.

I glanced over at the balcony and scanned the main floor looking for my partner, the co-owner of the club. Dick’s Puerto Rican ass was feeling on some chick’s booty and whispering in her ear at the bar.

Yeah, he might now come up here tonight, I said, making Ferg laugh.

Why don’t you go down and get you some dick? he teased.

Man shut the fuck up, I laughed. I don’t chase no nigga. I’m too classy for that.

I should know, huh? Ferg said while backing towards the stairs, a lopsided grin on his lips.

Boy, bye, I chuckled. That was long done and over with. I’d much rather be friends with Ferg than his girl, because that was a whole can of worms when we used to be in the streets together.

Ferg disappeared down the steps and I took a deep breath. I needed to check on my sister. She was fragile and just starting to get on her feet again. We lived together, but she’d just moved out of Auntie Nay’s place to try and be a little more independent. I was happy for her that she was trying, but I knew how dark of a place she was still in.

Anita was waiting the tables on the club’s second level, that’s where all the VIP sections and the tables were. Wave used to be a huge restaurant that D and I bought out and renovated. There was a full service kitchen, which only meant more money for us. The longer a customer stayed in the club, the more money they spent.

I walked over to my sister at the bussing station. She was talking to one of the other waitresses, Nora. Hey, everything good? I asked.

Yeah, Anita pretty much has the hang of everything. We’re just working on her big girl voice a little, Nora said. I blinked at the bitch, not trying to gloss over that snide comment. Sure, Anita was soft spoken, but Nora ain’t have to put it like that.

And you should work on your resting bitch attitude, Nora. Watch how you talk about people.

Aight, aight. She ain’t mean it like that, sis, Anita said. Nora walked away quickly and I watched her go.

She ain’t bein’ mean to you, is she? I asked. My sister and I looked a lot alike but not identical. We were fraternal twins. She was the prettier one. Slender, that good curly hair, and light brown skin.

She had big eyes and looked like someone you just wanted to protect. Anita was supposed to have been the good one, too. Gone to college and made somethin’ legit of herself while I chose to sell crack and rake up cash on the streets. But she fumbled in her first year and had a lot of setbacks. We were twenty-three and she was just now starting to get a hold on things.

"Of course not. All the other waitresses are great. Just chill. I’m fine. She picked up her tablet for taking orders and then nodded to a table in her section. I gotta go make some tips. Don’t worry too much," she said. I watched her go and couldn’t help but to worry. In a lot of ways, I was my sister’s keeper.

*   *   *

chapter 0 2

*   *   *

Adrien

Everything ready 4 tonite. Renzo’s text put a smug grin on my face. First night at Wave was a hit. My boys scoped the joint while I had the club going crazy. It was my second night and we were about to start handling business.

Ay, uh... I tried to remember the names of those females I took home last night. They was still at my condo even though it was pushing one in the afternoon. I needed to get my set ready for the night, so they needed to get the fuck out.

Ladies, I said instead of trying to remember names. I walked into the bedroom and I ooped at the door. Straight up, the light skinned honey was making out with the Jhene Aiko lookin’ chick.

Oh y’all tryna stay, huh? I took off my shirt and grabbed my dick which was already getting hard.

Light Skin turned around and bit her lip. We don’t want you to forget us before we leave, she said.

Ay, well by all means then, make y’all mark.

Light Skin was quick to get off the bed. She knelt in front of me, pulled my dick out and got to work. Her mouth was warm and silky. I held her head and pushed my cock to the back of her throat.

She gagged around the head but didn’t pull back. I was rock hard. Little miss Jhene Aiko came off the bed and started kissing me. I grabbed a handful of her ass and she took Light Skin’s hand and made that bitch play with her pussy.

Damn, y’all, fuck... I said. Light Skin pulled back and then they pushed me to the bed. I almost didn’t get the condom on in time before Light Skin sat on my dick and started riding. Girl spelled Coconut with her hips. Miss Jhene straddled my head and I tore that pussy down with my tongue. I sucked and nibbled at her clit, thrust my tongue in her soaking pussy and soon had her shaking and cursing on top of me.

Meanwhile, I felt Light Skin’s core tightening and spasming around my dick. She cried out and started milking me. My balls drew up and I held onto Miss Jhene’s waist while I got ready to bust. I held onto the base of the condom and let my release shoot out. Miss Jhene got off of me. Light Skin lifted her hips and I slid out of her.

Shit... I said, hella impressed. I think I’m a little dizzy, I lied. I wanted to flatter them so they could get the fuck out already. I appreciated the sex, but I had work to do.

Why don’t you call us tonight? We’ll be at Wave again, Light Skin said.

Word, I’ll definitely be seein’ y’all again. I got off the bed and quickly tied off the condom. Let me know if I could get you an Uber, I said while walking to the bathroom.

I flushed the condom and grabbed a couple of towels for them. I was trying to be nice and all but they took forever to get ready and up out of the condo. Once they finally did, I tossed both their numbers and walked to my equipment set up on the dining room table. I needed the whole club jumping so my boys could work. That coke wasn’t gon’ slang itself, and with a frenetic crowd the bouncers would be plenty busy trying to keep order.

* * *

It wasn’t hard to tell when I was killing a mix. On stage, I had a vantage of almost the entire club. People were dancing, grinding, hooking up and all kinds of shit on the dance floor. I was in my zone, my element. With my headphones on and my hands on the controls of the spin table, everything was second nature to me. The flashing blue, green, and red lights made everything look like a movie.

I sped up the new Kodak Black joint and scratched in flashes of Sicko Mode. I switched up the track halfway through and let Sicko play then started blending in a throwback Drake banger. The club went stupid. I grinned and held my hand out to the crowd. Their cheers reached my ears and I jumped to the beat just like them. That exchange of energy was unmatched. It was like a high you just couldn’t replicate or get anywhere else.

I spotted one of my boys, Bugga, about to make a deal on the corner of the dancefloor. Nigga was stupid because he knew bouncers would be scanning that area.

I grabbed the mic and said, "Ay, y’all it’s about that time of the night. You know what I’m talkin’ bout. Ladies! Go ‘head and get yo twerk on," I said and spun to the next track, a City Girls joint. A wide circle was made in the center of the dancefloor and I managed to obscure my man, securing the transaction with the flow of people. Bugga was a recent addition to the posse, I’d need to have words with him later.

I focused on hyping up the crowd and keeping the twerk mix going. The dancefloor cheered when one chick made her way to the center of the circle. Like even the other girls twerkin’ stepped aside for her. I glanced behind me and gestured for Renzo to come forward, he’d been chilling by the stage steps with one of the bouncers.

"Yo Renz, who is that?" Shorty was tossing that ass, it moved like Jell-O in her tights. Her brown skin was all shea buttered up and glowed under the lights. Her waist had that perfect natural curve for any man’s hands and she rocked a natural curly fro that came out to her shoulders and back. Shorty looked like Megan Good in all the right ways.

You must be stupid. That’s the other owner of the bar, Tasha, he yelled in my ear. I watched, jealous as some of the niggas around her brushed her ass with stacks. Hell, and she took the tips too.

Damn, she won. Everybody go home, I said into the mic, making some of the people laugh as the song changed. I switched up the music and the dance floor filled in with niggas trying to capitalize on all the women who showed they knew how to dance. My eyes followed Tasha as people practically parted like the Red Sea for her to get off the dance floor. Apparently shorty had much respect in her club.

Hell, if she was the manager and I got her to twerk to my mixes every night? My boys would have no problem moving product. It’d be easier than selling coke to a crackhead. I finished out the night with just as much energy as I started. People was dancing out the doors. Usually, I’d be outside trying to reel in a catch of the night, but I had my eyes on Tasha.

You ain’t goin’ home? Renzo asked me as I unplugged my laptop and took off my headphones.

"Nah, I thought I’d stay to collect tips from Miss Tasha. Then I gotta have a word with Bugga. He was actin’ stupid, making a deal at the edge of the dancefloor, and a bouncer was scanning that lane."

Damn, don’t worry ‘bout it. I’ll talk to little homie. He’s still getting’ the hang of things, Renzo said.

Please do ‘cuz you know I don’t play that. I’ll beat the shit out of him if I have to, just to get my point across.

Yeah, yeah, chill man. Go get your tips. Renzo pointed to the bar where Tasha had walked out with the head of her security, Ferg. He was forever shadowing her. I wondered if they had a thing. It didn’t really matter, though. I’d slide in that even if they did.

"Hey, DJ Addy. You had the club legit jumpin’ tonight!" One of the bartenders that’s been peeping me out since I started was quick to my side. She was tiny and too skinny for my liking. Plus, she was nothing compared to Tasha, who stood right next to her counting out tips in stacks along the bar.

Looks like we made a killing tonight, huh Tasha? I said. She glanced at me over the bartender’s head and smiled. The way she sized me, as if she thought I was cute or something, boosted my confidence. Hell yeah she was going home with me that night.

Something like it. Nice to meet you by the way, DJ Addy, she said.

Oh I’m sorry, Ma’am. Nice to meet you. You can call me Adrien, I said and stepped around the thirsty bartender to shake Tasha’s hand. Her palm was smoother than a baby’s. Instantly, I imagined her hand jacking my dick and caught a softie.

Don’t be callin’ me ma’am. That’s what you call old people. I’m just Tasha, she said.

Shit, I know you ain’t old from the way you was twerkin’ earlier. That made her smile.

Whatever, that was my song. I had to show ‘em how it’s done, she said and laughed with one of the waitresses. Tasha finished counting out tips and handed them off to everybody, getting to me last. She met my eyes and I