Lil' Baby Fell for a Certified Hustla

By Juliet Avenue

Life has many ways of testing someone’s sanity with either nothing happening at all or everything happening at once. Every test in life can leave you either feeling bitter or better.

As a child, El lived in different foster homes, trying to survive mental and physical abuse. It almost took her life while she fought to live, and as always, someone was there to save her. By the age of thirteen, she was adopted, and that’s when she met her best friend, Yara.

Being the black sheep of her family, Yara decided that she wanted more in her life instead of constantly disappointing her parents. Traveling was what El and Yara did to clear their mind from the world. During one of their trips, they stumbled upon men that would change their lives forever.

With Seven being kicked out at the age of seventeen by his father, he fought to survive in the streets. The streets are grimy to those who weren’t raised in them, and Seven was learning that the hard way until he met his right-hand man, Tone.
Tone was a loner all his life, and Seven was just who he needed to break out of his shell. Several years later, after they rose to the top of the game, Seven and Tone received devastating news that rocked both of their business and personal life to the core. Someone was threatening their empire and caused them to escape the madness on an island, right into the arms of Yara and El.

Ever had a brief chance meeting with some that left you wondering “what if”? Seven and El realized that it’s hard to cure loneliness when deceit and lies are their only medicine. Everyone wants happiness, but at what price?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Royalty Publishing House
• Release date: Oct 31, 2017
• ISBN: 9781648400735

Book preview

Prologue

Let me out! Somebody help me, please! El screamed to the top of her lungs.

She had been sitting in her closet since the other kids left for school, and it felt like she was dying. Her foster brothers and sisters put her in there before they left for school, and she had missed another day.

The social worker was going to come to the house, and she was going to have to make up a lie. She was tired of moving from home to home. Her foster parents were good to her, and she didn’t want them to get in trouble.

Help! Hel—

Ariel, a familiar voice whispered to her. It was the only person that would help her in when they would do things like that to her.

Benjamin? El whispered back.

I’m going to get you out of there before they come. You’re going to have to either tell the social worker or run away. I can’t keep doing this, he replied as he removed whatever the kids had placed in front of the door out the way.

I know, I know, but I can’t do that to them. They might get in trouble.

The door opened, and a small, pale body stood in front of her. Ben had been looking sick lately, but maybe that was El thinking too hard.

She looked around the room and noticed that the person who put her in there had placed her dresser in front of the closet door to keep her in there. That was why she couldn’t move the door.

I’m tired, El. They try to fight me, and I can’t fight back half of the time. Our parents—

Who in the hell let you out, nigger! Mason yelled loudly. Ben and El jumped in shock that the other kids had made it home early. Mason was the oldest of the clan, and he had so much hate in his heart. El didn’t understand where it had come from.

Ben grabbed El because she knew how to fight back.

The other four kids piled into the room, and El got nervous. She could whoop all their asses in a one on one fight, but all of them had a vendetta against her.

Maybe it was that she was the only black child in the house.

Don’t call me that again! El screamed back and pushed Ben out the way.

Nigger! Nigger! Nigger! I said it! What are you going to do about it? Mason antagonized El, and the rest of the kids laughed.

I’m going to beat your ass; that’s what I’m going to do!

El punched him so hard that he stumbled on top of the other children. He sat there for a minute and thought about what he wanted to do.

You’re going to die today! Say your prayers, you black bitch! Mason got up and rushed toward El and tackled her. He rained punches on her, but she fought back like she had trained herself to do. The only problem she had was the three other people in the room that didn’t like her. They all jumped on her, stomping on her head and kicking her in the side.

Go get some bleach! We’re going to clean this nigger white! Mason yelled, and one of the girls named Mallory ran and got the bleach.

El was in and out of consciousness, and her only thought was where Ben was. He was quiet, and she hoped he had gotten away.

Mason held her down as Mallory poured the bleach on her clothes. Let’s set her on fire, Mallory whispered to Mason, and they laughed.

Good idea!

Mallory already had a matchbox in her hand, and she struck one of the matches.

Any last words, whore? Mason asked and punched El’s face hard.

That was the last she remembered before she woke up in the hospital. El looked around, and there was a woman that she didn’t know sitting on the couch.

Who are you? El asked, and the voice that came out wasn’t familiar to her.

Ariel! Oh my gosh! You’re finally up! It’s been three days! The woman shot up out of her seat and came to her bedside.

Why am I here? Where’s Ben? Did he make it? El questioned the woman, but she called the nurse in to check on her.

El, what was the last thing that you remember? the woman asked.

First of all, what’s your name?

The woman eyes widened, and she chuckled at El’s feistiness. Trisha. It’s nice to meet you, Ariel. I’m a social worker.

Closing her eyes, El went back to what happened that day.

Okay, Trisha, the last thing I can remember is them pouring bleach on me. Did they go to jail? Where’s Ben? Where’s my parents?

Trisha waited for a second while the nurse walked in with two men. El wasn’t dumb, so she knew it was the police.

They are in a juvenile detention center, and these detectives are going to take some notes, so start from the beginning.

El started from the when she was put in the home until the present. Trisha was in tears at all the hurt that El went through. She was a strong little girl, and Trisha didn’t know how she survived in that environment.

Your parents are in custody as well. They confessed that they knew what was happening and did nothing about it, Trish explained to El.

That was a hard blow in the gut for El. All this time, she was looking out for them, and they couldn’t have cared less.

Ben? El asked for the last time.

He’s in… a great home, Trish stammered that lie out. He’s the one that called the police to save you.

Good. One day, I will find him, and we’re going to catch up, El said confidently and smiled at Trisha.

Hopefully, you will… Ariel, we’ve found a woman willing to adopt you, and when you get out, she’ll be waiting.

Trisha smiled at El and turned to talk to the police.

El knew her life was going to change from that moment forward. God allowed her to live, and that said something to her even at a young age.

Chapter One

Nigga, if you leave here, don’t think about bringing your punk ass back! I’on know who the fuck you think you are, but you got the wrong muthafuckin’ one! Tristan yelled as he paced behind Seven, ready to fuck him up.

Seven and his father had been having fights and arguments since his mother passed. They were getting into physical altercations often, and Seven didn’t know how much he could handle anymore.

Man, fuck you, Daddy! Shit ain’t been the same since my momma died. You a ole fuck nigga for doing me like this! Seven yelled and continued to pack his clothes. These days, his father seemed to not understand the stress Seven had been under lately without the woman he loved the most—his mother.

At seventeen, he was trying to make his mark in the world, and the person who was supposed to have his back was failing him. The liquor bottle had taken over his life.

What you say, nigga? I promise you, I didn’t hear you correctly! I think you’re trying me! Tristan walked up behind Seven, and they were basically the same height and size.

Instantly, Seven stopped packing and got ready for whatever came next. A fight was liable to break out at any second with his father.

I said fuck yo—

Tristan threw a punch, and all hell broke loose. They were fighting like enemies on the streets. Seven had one up on him because Tristan had been drinking from the time he woke up.

Yeah, Lucky! You’re fightin’ like a bitch, nigga! I raised you to be that way, though! Tristan screamed, talking shit until Seven landed a punch on him that left him dazed.

Say some mo’ shit, Pops! You ain’t about that life either! I’m gone before I have to kill yo’ ass, man! I love you, but I can’t stay! Seven grabbed what he had in his suitcase, but Tristan stopped him.

If you plannin’ on leaving, you ain’t takin’ shit with you. The clothes on your back is all you need. You ungrateful son of a bitch!

Tristan stumbled to Seven’s bed and sat down. He had popped some pills, and he was on another level right now. His wife’s death had taken a toll on his mental, and he wasn’t so sure he could survive without her.

That’s straight with me, bruh. I can’t stay here any longer for you can continue to treat me like this. I don’t deserve that shit, Daddy! Seven made his way to the front door, and he heard his father as he stumbled behind him.

You gon’ leave me too? Tristan asked, watching the only person he had left in this world walk out of his life. His face was filled with hurt like he just didn’t have a fight with his son. Yo’ momma left me, now you. She left me here, knowin’ that I needed her to survive! I love her so much! Do you hear me, Seven? That woman is my world, and I don’t know what to do now that she’s gone! I want to kill myself!

Tristan fell on the floor and cried like a baby. His world was flipped upside down when his beloved left this earth. Liquor had become his way of coping, and he didn’t want to live anymore.

Pops, I—

No! Get the fuck out before I kill yo’ ass, nigga! And just like that, the devil came back out of Tristan. He got off the floor and pulled out his gun he had hidden in his pants.

So you gon’ shoot you son? Yo’ own flesh and blood? Seven asked, hurt by his father’s actions. He knew if he walked out the door alive that day, he was never coming back to his house.

Fuck you thought this was? A game? Them niggas on the streets will teach you better if you survive! Now get the fuck out!

Both men stood there and stared at each other.

Seven contemplated on just staying until he was eighteen, but his heart couldn’t endure his father anymore. A bullet whizzed by Seven’s head, and he stood there in shock. His father had shot at him.

Get yo’ ass out of here, lil’ nigga, Tristan said in a menacing tone. He was out of his mind right now, so he wasn’t thinking straight.

Aight, Seven said as he opened the front door and made his way out. Don’t look for me when shit in yo’ life goes bad, because it is going to eventually. Seven closed the door behind himself and almost broke down. His father wasn’t going to see him sweat. He was now a homeless teen, being sent out into the world to fend for himself. He knew the streets were nothing to play with, and he knew what he had to do to survive.

That day, his father taught him two valuable lessons. He was never going to turn his back on his seed, and the only person he was going to love was himself.

Six years later…

Seven read the letter repeatedly, trying to process it. He didn’t know how to feel at this moment. His mind was telling him not to care, but his heart cried tears of sorrow. The man that raised him was dead, and he had a five-year-old little sister. He’d always thought they would have a chance meeting one day and squash the beef, but his father didn’t give him a chance to even see him before he passed, because of pride.

Seven’s father was one of the most prideful individuals he had encountered. It had been seven years since Seven left his home and embarked on his on journey into adulthood by himself. At the tender age of seventeen years old, he left on his own. That was one of the hardest obstacles that he’d ever had to endure in his twenty-five years of life.

Seven loved his pops, but he was just set in his ways, and that wasn’t cool with him. His father became a person that he didn’t know after his mother died, and that showed him one thing about love. You can’t be wise and in love at the same time.

Everyone grieved differently, but Seven wasn’t sticking around to watch. Tristan let him run and assumed that he would run back to him, but Seven didn’t.

Now he was reading a letter his father wrote on his deathbed since Tristan was too selfish and stubborn to let him know he was sick.

Seven? What’s wrong? Are you crying? a voice full of lust asked, knocking Seven out of his daydream. He ignored her, trying to gather his thoughts.

He wasn’t crying at all, just disappointed.

Seven thought she was still sleep on the couch from the pounding he put on that pussy. Since Theresa was up, she needed to be heading out for this job they had later today.

Get your shit and go get ready for the night.

She didn’t move from her position she was in. Why? I don’t think we should do this tonight. Obviously, you’re not in the right mainframe.

Seven continued to be silent as he got up from the desk and walked to grab his gun. He wasn’t in the mood for her bullshit.

Theresa sat her naked body up and stretched her arms over her head like he didn’t have his gun.

What are you doing? So you’re just going to ignore me while I’m talking to you? She stood up and placed her hand on her hips as her weight shifted to on leg.

He looked her up and down, contemplating what he was going to with her after her last job. I fuckin’ hear you, Theresa. I’m just not listening. Now go! Seven threw her clothes and turned his back to her. She was getting on his damn nerves. He heard her sigh as she walked out and closed the door.

Seven waited a couple minutes and pulled out his phone to call his partner Tone. The phone rang a couple of times and went to voicemail. Seven knew exactly what he was doing, so he called back to back until Tone answered on the tenth call.

Nigga, what! Tone was breathing hard over the phone.

Answer the phone then. I know what you’re doing, and I can bet that pussy’s garbage, bitch, Seven said calmly just to fuck with him.

Naw! Your bitches’ pussies be fuckin’ trash. Now what the hell do you want? I got shit to do.

I’m letting Sa’s thot ass go! You know I’ve been holdin’ my tongue when it comes to that bitch. She’s getting too attached, and you know I hate that bullshit.

I’ve been told yo’ ass to let her go. It’s all about money over here, and she’s fuckin’ with our money by turning down jobs. She works for you and not the other way around. Handle that! Tone hollered over the phone.

I know. I just needed yo’ conformation. Nigga, we work together. Then she had the nerve to be picky with some dick. Bitch, you sell cat for a livin’. All dick is good dick for yo’ ass.

Well, you got it. I’ll see you tonight, man. There was a long pause as silence took over the phone. What’s going on, bruh? Tone asked, and Seven heard him moving around.

On the other end of the phone, Tone had been with his day one, Taphne. She had been on his back about them being together, but right now, he just wasn’t ready for that.

The pacifying her days were gone, and even though he loved her, he didn’t know if they were going to make it.

Where are you going? Seven heard a female voice ask over the phone.

To mind my fuckin’ business! Tone replied.

The phone shuffled, and all Seven heard were muffled words. Now what you were saying, Seven?

My ole man’s gone, and I have a little sister. Seven’s voice cracked as he looked up in the air, blinking fast to keep the tears at bay. The thought of him having a sibling was crazy.

Big dawg, you’re serious? I’m on my way! How did you find out?

I’m good, man. I’m just trying to process this whole shit. Do you know his stubborn ass wrote me a letter? I can’t even say I’m surprised, because this is right up his alley. Ole pussy ass bitch, Seven chuckled.

Hell yeah! Well, I know when you say you’re good, just to leave it alone. Yo’ ass going to work tonight? I can go in for you if you need me to, Tone said in code. They never knew who was listening in this line of work.

I was going to, but I think I’m going to send Kill’s trifling ass. He’s been wanting to put in overtime, so I’m going to give him a shot.

Ok, that’s a good idea. I think he’s ready. Take less stress off the both of us, Tone replied.

Seven nodded his head as he paced the floor like he could see me. Quietness took over the phone once again.

You want to go to the club and fuck some bitches tonight? I’ll have to give them women something to do while I’m gone. You know they get into shit if they’re not preoccupied.

I think that’s just what I need. That Hennessy’s calling my name, fool, Seven said.

Aight, I’ll call you later, nigga.

Bet.

Seven hung up and put his phone back in his pocket. He walked toward the big window in the hotel and started to reminisce about how he became the person he was today.

When he was a kid, he never thought his life would turn into this, but life hit him hard at a young age, so he had to do what was best to stay alive.

The money and women came with it, so he was content. Born a saint and gon’ die a sinner.

After Seven left his father and went to a city across country, he didn’t have a place to eat, sleep, or take a bath. All his friends didn’t answer his calls, because their parents didn’t want him being a bad influence on them.

Living on the streets taught him how to fend for himself by any means. He almost gave up until Tone walked up to him one day and asked him if he wanted to work for some money at a construction company. That nigga said he had been watching him for about a month and saw Seven steal and kill to try to stay alive. Just like a real one, he didn’t want to see him like that.

Tone had been shy and closed off for most of his life. He knew there was something that was missing in his life, but it didn’t come together until he saw Seven.

The first thought that crossed Seven’s mind was to kill Tone since that nigga had seen him commit a few crimes. This life wasn’t for him, but he did what was necessary to survive. By that point, Seven was going to take anything available. It worked out well for about six months until the company laid Tone and Seven off. They had just gotten a car and apartment, so they