A Dope Love Worth Fighting For: Me and My H-Town Hitta

By Ebony Diamonds

Life can be hard for any young girl growing up in the hood. However, when the daily struggles of life are made even more complicated by an absent father, a schizophrenic mother, and a drug-addicted uncle, better days can be hard to fathom. Ocean Barcellus gains the whole world and loses everything in one night. She finally gets her special moment with the boy who holds her heart, only to have him taken from her before love can be shared. Ocean plans to fulfill both of their dreams until he returns, but an act of betrayal causes her life to go in a direction that she never saw coming.

Onyx is on the threshold of greatness. His boxing career is on the rise, and he is at the top of his street game. One night changes everything when he sacrifices himself to save Ocean, the girl who could've been his first love. Now faced with a prison sentence, Onyx prepares to do his time and come home to his dream girl. Unfortunately, his brother, Bronte, has other plans, and he doesn't mind breaking hearts and ruining lives to get what he wants.

When Onyx and Ocean finally face each other again, years later, the pain, heartbreak, and bitterness quickly rise to the surface. However, the love that never got a chance to flourish rises as well. They are both in complicated romantic situations, but are they willing to risk it all for love? Ebony Diamonds is back with another twisted love story filled with envy, lust, betrayal, and her signature humor.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Leo Sullivan Presents
• Release date: Jul 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781648543869

Book preview

The Beginning

I’ll be gone til November

Ocean Barcellus

W hat you scared of?

Onyx was lying between my legs, and I was shaking like an ass cheek as he attempted to push his dick into me. I was a virgin and Onyx was the last nigga I needed to be fucking with. He was the Golden Gloves champ, and every girl in the neighborhood wanted some of him, but here I was with him in my mother’s basement, ready to ruin my fucking life for his fine ass.

I was seventeen, and he was nineteen, so in my mind, I was almost grown, and this shit was okay. He had that dark chocolate skin and a perfectly chiseled face with a nice, athletic body that couldn’t be ignored. Thinking about him made me ready to do it again, so I relaxed and prepared for it. A lot of girls at school say it only hurts for a minute, so maybe if I got it over with, I would be okay.

Stop it!!!

I jumped when I heard my mother scream, and I immediately started to feel embarrassed because I knew what was going on. My mother was schizophrenic, and she often had night terrors and woke up screaming through the house. She almost killed us a few times by turning on the gas without lighting the pilot. This was why I never wanted people to come over, but I thought since she was sleeping, we would be okay.

Onyx didn’t look bothered since he knew all about my family life. My uncle was his trainer, and that’s how I even got this close to him. I would watch him spar and work the bag. Man, I swore he was showing off for me or every other girl who watched him, but of course, in my mind, it was for me.

Nooo! I heard my mother scream again, and then I heard fumbling and thought she might have hurt herself again.

Let me up, I told him.

Onyx got up looking mad with his dick hard as a rock. I was scared all over after looking at it.

Ma, I called up and went toward the stairs.

I jumped when I heard the gunshot.

Shit, stay down here. Onyx when into his gym bag and pulled out a large, black gun.

I followed him up anyway.

Nigga, I need my fuckin’ money! I heard a loud, strong voice bark.

I ain’t got it, man. I can get at you tomorrow, I heard my uncle Lo begging.

My cousin Travis was sitting on the couch, crying behind his father.

Drop that shit, or I drop you. Onyx pointed the gun at the large man, who was now laughing.

Lil nigga, this grown man business. You need to go back to whatever you was doing with the lil’ bitch. He pointed at me.

Your mama a bitch. My mother threw her middle finger up at him.

Man, go keep that bitch quiet, the man said to a guy in the corner.

He started to walk toward my mother, and I lost it. I grabbed the gun from Onyx and shot two times to stop him from touching my mother.

Oh shit. The big dude who stood over my uncle tried to charge me, and Onyx started swinging. He knocked his ass out.

He’s dead.

My mother kicked the guy that I shot, and I dropped the gun in a panic.

Fuck. My uncle held his leg, which gushed blood. That must have been the gunshot we heard.

Somebody finna call the police. I know they heard the shit. Onyx went down and touched the dude.

I don’t wanna go to jail, I cried as I paced.

It’s self-defense. Uncle Lo tried to stand up.

The banging on the door started, and I saw the police lights outside through the window.

Just go back downstairs. I did it. Onyx pushed me toward the basement.

No, I ain’t about to let you do this.

What I say? He looked at me before grabbing the gun and wiping off the prints. When they ask you anything, tell them what happened, but tell them I did it, he said then surprised me by pulling me close and kissing me.

I felt like I was in love.

Go with her, Uncle Lo told Ma and Travis.

We went downstairs, and I continued to pace the floor, wondering what the hell was going on upstairs.

What you was doin’ with that boy down here? my mother asked, and I never responded.

You know these lil’ niggas ain’t shit. They just wanna fuck you. Focus on what you gonna do with your life, Ocean. That boy was bad news and was probably on the way to jail anyway.

Can you just be quiet? I snapped as I stared at the TV that sat on a crate in the corner.

After what seemed like forever, the basement door opened, and an officer came down. He announced that he needed statements from all of us. My mother started to bug out. I let them know she was sick, so they didn’t ask her anything, but Travis and I gave ours. I told them what Onyx instructed me to say, and they walked us up the steps. I thought I would see Onyx sitting with my uncle, but the look on my uncle’s face told me otherwise.

Where’s Onyx? I rushed out front and saw him in the back of the cruiser.

No, he had to do it, I cried.

I’m sorry, but the type of gun he had matches another homicide, and we have to question him. If he didn’t do anything, he’ll be fine, the young, white detective told me and walked off to get into his car.

Onyx looked at me through the window and gave me a smile then looked away as they pulled off with him.

That was Onyx, a girl in the crowd said.

I looked at everybody gathered around, staring at me and shit.

The fuckin’ show is over! I yelled and walked back into the house where Uncle Lo was being carried out on a stretcher.

I’m sorry about this, he told me before passing through the doorway.

My uncle was on PCP, and over the years, he had gotten worse. This was the second time someone had tried to kill him for money. He had made my cousin Travis’ mother’s life hell fucking with this shit. That’s why Uncle Lo lived with us now. Travis would just visit. He was my favorite cousin, and it was dope that we were the same age for a few months out of every year. He was older by two months.

At one point, Uncle Lo was training celebrity boxers, but once he got on the drugs, his work declined, and now he could only train local boxers. He didn’t lose his talent, but his will was gone.

I watched the ambulance leave, and I slammed the door.

Make me a grilled cheese. My mother sat on the couch like nothing happened.

I looked at her and just went upstairs to my room and cried. All I could hope was that I didn’t ruin Onyx’s life. In the middle of my pity party, my little brother, Rocko, burst in.

Why everybody saying Onyx killed a dude in here? He flopped on my bed.

Some niggas ran in here for Unc, and it just happened. I wiped my face.

Damn, that’s crazy. See, he gon’ get us killed fuckin’ with that shit, Rocko said. You okay? he asked.

No, I just need to smoke. I sat up.

I got some. He pulled out a big bag of weed.

Rocky was only fifteen, but no one could tell his ass that. He thought he was grown and didn’t know shit.

Twist up. I lay back, and we smoked until I cried again over Onyx.

The next day, I found out that I had every reason to feel guilty. They charged him with possession of an unregistered gun, and even though they couldn’t pin the murder on him, they charged him as an accessory for having the gun.

Onyx’s trial was a few months later, and he was found guilty. His lawyer got him seven years instead of the fifteen they wanted for him. He sent me one letter, and I read it over and over. I needed to hold on to him for some reason.

I ain’t mad at you, Ocean. Everything happens for a reason, and I guess it had to happen. I wish I could have still got in that pussy, so I could have something to remember you by. For real, though, I’d rather this be me than you. Prison ain’t no place for a smart shorty like you. I shouldn’t have had the gun, and now I gotta deal with the shit, but damn. All I ever wanted to do was fight, and now that shit is gone, and so are you.

If I see you again, you owe me some coochie, girl. They say I’m gone ’til November 2018. Maybe Ima see you then. Take care of yourself out there and keep that face pretty, so I can see it again, for real. Don’t let nobody fuck with you, so fight for us both. Come see me when you turn eighteen, Ocean. Don’t forget.

Onyx

---

I couldn’t help but think about Onyx day in and day out. He’d been locked down for three months, and every day, I felt guilty. He wrote me that one letter and I hadn’t heard from him again.

Say, baby, that lil’ ass poked out for a nigga.

I was coming from the corner store after grabbing some milk and bread for Mama when some greasy ass niggas tried to stop me. He snapped me out of my Onyx trance, and I frowned. I ignored him and kept walking but stopped short when I saw Wikia walk up with her gang of community coochie bitches. She hung around the gym a lot, and I knew for a fact that she was having sex with Onyx.

I had no idea that this day would change my whole life.

Bitch, we should beat your ass. Wikia pushed me, and another girl snatched my bag.

Gimme my shit, hoe.

I tried to take it back, and another girl pushed me.

You got Onyx locked up, bitch! Wikia pushed me again.

I didn’t do shit, I yelled back, feeling my anger start to heat up.

If he wasn’t at your dirty ass house, he wouldn’t be in jail, she spat.

It’s not my fault, Wikia! I shouted.

She didn’t know the guilt I felt on an everyday basis.

Bitch, why was he at your house anyway? You were trying to fuck my man, she accused, and my eyes widened.

I don’t have time for this. I tried to brush her off, but she wouldn’t let up.

She kept taunting me. Bitch, you got time today, ole weird ass. That’s why don’t nobody go around you or your crazy ass mother.

Wikia was a few inches taller than me, and she had that heaviness on her. She definitely outweighed me, and that’s what she banked on.

Yeah, that bitch be all outside with her dingy ass bra on. One of her friends laughed and started to act like she was crazy, bugging her eyes out and making stupid noises.

I got so mad that I didn’t even remember throwing the first punch.

Ooooh, she snuck your ass. Tangela, one of her friends, hyped her up.

Wikia swung back and hit me so hard that I fell down. They all started to hit and kick me, but I somehow got up and started to swing wildly. Slowly, they started backing they ass up.

Come on, bitch. I started to get the best of Wikia when they all jumped on me again.

That’s enough, Bronte’s voice rang out.

Fuck this bitch. She got Onyx locked up. You really on her side? Wikia tried to hit me, and Bronte pushed her back.

Go the fuck on, stupid bitches. Bronte mugged them.

Bronte was Onyx’s older brother. He was twenty-three and considered to be a bad ass dude around here. There were always stories about him killing people and shit. I hoped he didn’t think it was my fault that his brother was in jail and try to kill me too.

You okay? He looked down at me, and I could already feel my eye closing.

Yeah, I’m okay. I nodded, feeling the tears fall.

You handled that shit, though. I saw you in a stance like you was in a boxing match. He laughed.

I was, shit. I laughed and started to walk off.

I think you could have a strong right. You lead with it. He touched my arm to stop me.

My uncle says girls shouldn’t be fightin’, I told him.

That’s crazy. My brother told me how you be in there on the bag and shit. You should get up with that lady trainer. I can’t remember her name, but I’ll find out. You could do sum with them hands. He nodded.

Thanks. I gotta go, though.

Aight, I’m finna walk you home just in case them hoes come back for you.

Bronte lit a Black and Mild, and we started walking. He let me know how Onyx was doing and everything, and I realized he wasn’t that scary, not like people thought.

After that day, we kept in touch. He eventually found out the woman’s name and put me on with her. I started to train with her within a few weeks of me turning eighteen, and I was in the zone with the shit. I was gonna do exactly what Onyx told me to do and fight for both of us.

Onyx

Even when your Hustlin’ days are Gone

Sitting on my top bunk, I was irritated to the max. I had been locked up for six months, and the shit was only getting worse. Shit had gotten real. I took that charge for Ocean because she didn’t deserve to be locked up. She had her whole life ahead of her, and I’d be damned if I saw her go down for killing a bitch ass nigga.

Yo, Onyx. Big H wanna holla at cha, this nigga who went by the name of Fredo said as he came near my cell.

I looked at him, but I didn’t respond. I didn’t move or none of that shit.

Nigga, you ain’t gon’ move? he growled while staring at me, and I chuckled.

Ion move for no muthafucka. Fuck he want? I snapped

Like I said, he wants to holla at cha. If you don’t come and see what the nigga wants, you gon’ have some problems, mane, he stated, but I couldn’t care less.

At nineteen years old, I was a muthafucking boss, thanks to my Uncle Gary. He was killed in a head-on collision a couple months back, and that shit still fucked with me heavy.

Uncle Gary and Ocean’s uncle Lo were best homies. That’s how I met Lo and Ocean. Uncle Gary saw that I had hands when I was whupping niggas’ ass for fucking with me. He thought boxing would be a good activity for me to release some fucking rage. My moms was on that crack shit bad, and I was always angry. So, I started boxing. My dream was to become a world champion, but all that shit was a dream now. I pushed packs for Uncle Gary, and I boxed when I had my free time. I was tryna do it all.

North! the CO called out to me, and I looked up.

What?

Let’s go! he barked, and I was confused.

Fuck he want? The nigga Fredo eyed me with a smirk, and I mugged his ass. I hopped off the bunk, and the CO escorted me to a lower deck.

Where the fuck you taking me, mane? I asked.

Shut the fuck up and keep moving, he said.

I wanted to buck back, but I didn’t. I let that shit rock. I didn’t feel like being in solitary, so I kept it cool. We came upon a cell with about twenty-five niggas standing in the doorway.

Big H, the CO called out, and niggas parted like the Red Sea.

When I call, you come, lil’ nigga, the nigga I assumed was Big H said to me.

I laughed.

Ain’t shit funny. Aye, clear the room, he instructed them other niggas.

They all moved out the way. It was only him and me, and I stood in his room with arms crossed. I wanted to know what the fuck he wanted.

What’s up?

Put your chest back in, homie. If I was tryna do you any bodily harm, it would’ve been done already, he stated, sensing the tension I held for him.

Then whatchu want? I eyed him, curious as fuck

My Lil brother, Johno, told me you got locked down. I’ve heard some good thangs about you. I’m from the D, but everybody in the whole fucking state of Texas knows me.

I eyed him suspiciously because Johno ain’t have no fucking brother. That nigga been my best friend since we were in the fifth grade.

Johno ain’t got no brother, I spat, and he chuckled.

Yeah, he do. He actually got two. My twin died when he was sixteen, lil’ nigga. I’ve been getting money for a long fucking time, and I make it known that I have no family, so my moms and Johno remain safe at all times. Who you think keeps the lil’ nigga fresh as fuck? Nigga ain’t got no job. He laughed heartily.

I smirked. He did have a point. Whereas I had to hustle hard as fuck, Johno stayed laced with the latest shit, and money stayed in his pocket. His moms was only a cashier at the dollar store, so I knew she wasn’t buying that shit.

After a long pause, I finally smiled.

So, whatchu want with me? I asked.

For you to get this money in here, come and sit my nigga. Let’s talk business. Big H smiled, and I nodded my head.

Business was booming, and I never thought getting money in prison would be this fucking easy. Big H had all this shit mapped out. The shit ran smoothly. All I had to do was lay some dick on a couple of female Cos, and these bitches were at my fucking command. I was a cool nigga as long as nobody fucked with my paper. That’s what ended up happening, though. Somebody snitched and got our shit shut down, but I had another plan. Good dick and promises always got a bitch to do what I wanted.

Wikia was perfect for it. Nothing was stopping this money. I have never been good at being a broke ass nigga.

I stared at the latest letter that Ocean had sent me, and I didn’t even respond. I missed her lil’ ass so much. Hopping off the bunk, I left the cell and went to the phones. I grabbed the phone and dialed my mother’s house.

Hello. My little sister Doll picked up.

Wassup, muscle head? I teased her.

Shut up. I look better than you, she shot her lame comeback.

Where’s Bronte?

I don’t know. Probably with Ocean again, she said.

With Ocean? I came right back.

Yup, I saw him walking with her. They were laughing and stuff like they liked each other.

Nah, he must have been telling her something I said to tell her because he wouldn’t do that shit.

Well, why he was telling his friend that he was finna hit that? she asked.

I got pissed off and hung up.

I called Bronte’s phone, and it was still saying that there was some type of error. The whole day that