Heart of a Gangster: A Broken Glass Novel

By AJ Mosely Sr.

Welcome to south Florida where things for a high school drop out gets worse when he finds himself homeless with nowhere to go but as the night moves on, he finds shelter from an old middle school friend, only to find out that things aren't always what they seem. The Heart Of A Gangster , takes you on a ride through the city streets of Fort Pierce Florida, through the eyes of a young hustler with everything to lose and nothing to gain. During it all he finds out that he has become part of a plan that he didnt know anything about. after the smoke clears there will only be one left standing but is it worth it?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 16, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664135833

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Copyright © 2020 by AJ Mosely Sr..

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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

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

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 10/30/2020

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

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CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 39

Acknowledgments

CHAPTER 1

F uck death. The same two words that escaped my mouth whenever I was presented with the thought of dying. Dying. Huh! I always said that dying was just the beginning to an end that has yet to come. Somehow that may be true. In the meantime, All good things must come to an end. That’s something my uncle said to me when he was told he had cancer. My uncle was my mentor, my guide, and my father figure. My father was never around. My uncle was my father. He gave me the love that any good father would give to a son. We were very close. He made sure that I understood all of life’s subliminal messages.

I was seventeen when my uncle died. I knew that he suffered before he took his last breath because he grunted before he inhaled every breath. I knew he was in pain, but he tried his hardest not to show it. I silently prayed that the pain would go away and he’ll start laughing saying that he was just joking, but I knew that wasn’t going to happen.

When he took his last breath, all my hopes and dreams started to cave in on me. I couldn’t sleep. I started feeling like everything around me was a sugar-coated shell to what life really meant and it just rained hot water. That’s what sent me over the edge. Having someone you care for so deeply taken away from you in the blink of an eye is painful. If you don’t find a way to express those emotions, you may just find yourself in my shoes

CHAPTER 2

I had just left home because my mom and I had gotten into an argument about me getting kicked out of school. My mom told me since I thought I was a man, maybe it’s time for me to get my shit and find myself someplace else to live. So that’s what I did. I got my shit and left. That’s the day my life changed. I was a man. I walked past a group of kids around my age. I recognized one of them whose name I could not remember right off the top of my head, so I quickly pushed the thought of remembering his name out of my head. The thought of being chewed out by me momma had me boiling hot with anger.

Hey, one of the guys yelled.

Hey you, another one of the guys yelled.

I stopped, turned around, and looked at them both as if they were lunch and I was a hungry pit bull. What? I asked.

Aren’t you Devan Halt, the defensive end for Central High? asked the shorter of the two guys.

I don’t play football anymore, I said, trying to keep the hint of bitch out of my voice. After all I am a man.

The shorter one looked at me and asked, Why not? I just shrugged my shoulders.

Man, are you, all right? he asked me. Before I could answer that, he said. You remember me?

I said, You look familiar, but I don’t remember your name.

Man, it’s me, Drano, like the plumber liquid, he said, hoping I’d remember him. Mind was really preoccupied. Man, we went to Forest Grove Middle School together. Remember when the elevator caught fire and the midterms were delayed for a week? he asked with pride in his voice.

Then all of a sudden, his face became clear to me. Yeah, I remember you now. The police officer brought you in the office in handcuffs. You kicked a hole in the wall because he wouldn’t let you use the bathroom.

He got excited at the thought of being remembered for his handiwork. Yeah, that was me. I bet that asshole wished he would have let me go to the bathroom now. So what’s been going on with you? I thought you’d be sitting home making up football plays or looking at different colleges.

No, man, I don’t have a home to go to. My old girl just kicked me out, I said, trying not to sound like I really felt.

No shit! he said as he looked at me with pity in his eyes.

No shit, I said, sounding as sad as I probably looked.

Damn, man. So where are you heading? I couldn’t hide the sadness in my eyes as I thought about the seriousness of the question he just asked. Hell, I didn’t think about that before I left the house that I used to call home. I don’t know, I said. The truth of the matter is, I really didn’t know. I could have gon’ to my dad’s house, but what’s the use. He would rather feed a stray dog a box of chicken than to put food in my mouth.

Well, you can crash at my spot till you figure out what it is you want to do, he said, pulling me out of a daze.

Man, you know that Drake and Killa P. don’t like niggas they don’t know associating with BMG, the shortest one said with the fear for his life in his voice.

Man, he straight, people, plus he ain’t got nowhere to go, Drano said.

That’s yo ass! You ’bout to get chewed the fuck out! the shorter of the two said.

Drano looked at him with hatred in his eyes. What? You violating my rank, foot soldier.

The shortest one just stood there looking like a five-year-old being scolded by his mommy. No man, I was just …, he started in a more submissive tone.

You just were what? Drano said, cutting him off with fire in his eyes.

Nothing, he said, looking at the ground.

That’s what I thought. Come on, Devan, you can chill with us. We are our own family; we look out for each other through thick and thin, Drano told me. Something in my head told me to go back home and make peace with my old girl, but my pride wouldn’t let me. So I held my head up and started walking with Drano and his partner. Welcome to manhood.

CHAPTER 3

W e walked about four blocks down Avenue M. As we approached Thirteenth Street, I knew where we were going: the basketball court. It was said that only warriors played on that court. Well, at least that’s what they say.

Drano, what they be ’bout? one of the guys yelled our way. He looked like the type of person who wouldn’t have a problem getting anything he wanted. He was tall and built like Debo. Well, maybe not as big, but close enough. He walked like he wasn’t afraid of anything and spoke with authority. Drano!

Hold up, Devan. Let me go and holla at Drake. Just chill right here, he said in a somewhat hushed tone.

All right, was all I managed to say as I gawked at this human diesel as he approached Drano as if he himself is the one true Messiah. Before Drano could answer the question he knew he would be asked, Drake drew back his hand and slapped the shit out of Drano. Who the fuck that nigga is? he yelled at Drano as he looked at me with disgust.

Drano then made an attempt to explain but was cut short by a kick that Drake delivered to his abdomen. Damn, man, that’s my dawg from Garden Terrace, Drano finally managed to say.

Shut up! You know this is the night of the people in red uniforms, Drake said as he kicked Drano again.

Man, he ain’t got no family and his old girl just kicked him out. He is homeless, Drano said through clenched teeth.

Drake stopped kicking Drano instantly and looked me directly in his eyes and asked. Are you a man or boy?

I looked past Drake to see Drano still on the ground, trying to catch his breath. I stared at him so that he wouldn’t mistake me for some type of bitch and said, I’m a man. I ain’t never been a boy.

Oh yeah! How much of a man are you? he asked as if it were a challenge. Before I could answer, he asked me, Are you man enough to take an ass whipping like ya boy Drano just did?

I looked down at Drano. He was still coughing and sucking in air like he was about to die. He looked me in the eyes and shook his head up and down. I stood up straight and stuck out my chest. It was as if something else had taken over my body. It’s gon’ take more than a slap to knock me down, I said to him, looking him in the eyes.

Oh, so you think you a gangster, huh? Drake said.

I kept my eyes locked on Drake’s eyes. I was waiting for him to take a swing at me. My uncle always said that you should never show a man your weakness if he challenges you, and it’s very important to always keep eye contact with him. That shows your opponent that no fear lies in your heart.

So you think you can stand up in the paint with BG? he said as he continued to pace back and forth in front of Drano.

No further words came from my lips. I just stared at him to let him know that I was going to stand my ground. I ain’t no bitch and I ain’t running.

Okay. So you a man? he asked. We’ll see how much of a man you really are. He turned around and yelled toward five other dudes on the basketball court, Hey, Tyreese, Peewee, Nek Nek, check this out! The three of the dudes stopped playing basketball and was standing beside Drake within seconds of his summons. They were all shirtless and sweaty, and they all looked like they were in top shape. As they stood at his side, he stood there looking at me with a wicked grin spread across his face that revealed a mouth full of gold teeth.

What’s up, BG? asked the tallest one of the trios. He stood about 5’10 and weighed about two hundred and thirty pounds. He had a tattoo on his chest that read, Fear me because God can’t help you," with a burning AK-47 on the right side of the quote.

I weighed about one hundred eighty-five pounds and stood at 5’6, but I always had the heart of an animal when provoked. With my eyes on the four of them, I was prepared for anything. Hell, it won’t be the first time I got my ass whipped. My uncle used to say, Make them kill you and at the same time make them respect.

Drake looked at me and said to Nek Nek, This lil nigga talk like he a bonified gangster or something. He thinks he can whip my ass. He said I would have to more than slap him to knock him down. What that be ’bout? he asked Nek Nek as he rested his arm on his shoulder and spoke about me like I was nothing but a piece of shit that stained their street corner.

I don’t know, Nek Nek said as he looked at me from head to toe, trying to find a slight hint of a weakness. Maybe he needs to know who he fuckin’ with, he said like he was the enforcer.

Yeah, I think he need to be taught a lesson about who he fuckin’ with, Drake said to Nek Nek. My eyes were on the both of them as Nek Nek started walking toward me. I waited until he moved within striking distance before I swung.

CHAPTER 4

I remember waking up the next day in a room that I thought was mine for a split second. That’s when I felt it, the pain. Hit me hard like a bat to the head. I was in so much pain I could barely move. My ribs felt like they’d been removed with a chainsaw. I rolled out of bed and almost fell before I could catch my balance on the nightstand. I was busy trying to figure out where I was. The noise in my head was so loud, and my head was hurting so bad that my whole body was shaking. I forced myself to stand and walked to the door. As I approached the living room from the hallway, all I heard was the sound of people laughing and arguing in the living room and the sound of a police siren.

Man, get the fuck out the car and run on foot. They gon’ catch yo ass then it’s gon’ be my turn. It’s only been five minutes; bet you can’t last five more, said one of the three guys that was surrounding a big screen TV playing a video game. I didn’t recognize either one of them from the basketball courts.

Just as I was about to fall, a pair of soft hands caught me from behind. I got you, baby, she whispered. She had the softest voice I’d ever heard. She called out to the three guys that were playing the PlayStation to come and help her carry me to the couch. What happened to him? she asked them as she laid her hand on my forehead like my mother did so many times when I was sick at home with a fever. She told one of them to get some ice out of the freezer.

One of the guys who was playing the video game said, Nek Nek—that’s what happened him.

Why did they bring him here if they did all this to him?

Man, I don’t know, you asking the wrong nigga. I was at the house last night when they brought him here. I thought they had done killed him, all the blood that was on his shirt, he explained to her.

She exhaled. Damn! Where the fuck Drake at? she asked him.

Shit! I don’t know. He looked at her. You better ask Chop. Here’s the ice.

She turned her attention to Chop and asked him with the look of real concern, like the kind of concern that will have you stressed out over a complete stranger. Stressed and concerned about their well-being. Where Drake at? she asked him.

He went to go handle something. He will be right back in a few minutes, he told her.

She turned and looked at everyone that was in her eyesight with a look of pure rage. I am so tired of him beating people up and bringing them home and expecting me to doctor them back to good health. She dropped her head down to look at my swollen and disfigured face. She held me so close to her body. I felt her heartbeat in a panic rage as her body trembled in fear.

Just chill out, Aniyah. Ain’t nobody expecting you to do nothing for no body, you do it on your own, he told her as they all started to laugh.

Well, maybe I do, she told them. They all stopped laughing. This shit still doesn’t make no sense, how they putting they hands on other people children; he ain’t got no kids from me or nobody else to be hitting on, she yelled.

Well, that’s between you two. I’m out of here, Chop told her as he walked out the door.

Yeah, man, me too, the other one said.

Tell Drake and Drano when they get back that I said I will be back later tonight, Chop yelled as he and one of the guys walked out the front door.

Gum! Aniyah yelled. This big dude comes walking through front door. Where Drake at? she asked him as he walked down the hall toward her cry.

He went to go handle something. He will be right back at about three o’clock, he explained to her.

That’s six hours from now, she whispered as she rubbed my swollen face. She looked up at Gum who was still standing there like a soldier ready for her command. So where the fuck did he go? she asked him.

Look, all he said was to tell you that he would be back home at three o’clock.

Well, who the fuck is this? she asked, holding me in her arms.

Oh, that’s that nigga Nek Nek scrubbed last night, he told her as he stood there as if he was watching it all over in his head.

For what? she asked. Why did they beat this boy up like that?

Look, all I know is when they came home last night, they brought him with them, he explained. Drake must like the nigga, otherwise he wouldn’t be here.

Damn, she whispered. Nek Nek messed this boy up, she whispered to herself as she looked at Nek Nek’s handiwork printed all over my face.

Yep! Gum said as he laughed. But I got to say that lil nigga got heart, Gum explained.

Why you say that? Aniyah asked.

Gum looked at her and smiled. Wait till you see Nek Nek’s face, Gum told her as he walked off, laughing out loud.

CHAPTER 5

W hen I regained consciousness, I was lying in a bed that smelled like Hennessy and weed. The pain was still a fact, but I had enough energy to pull myself past the pain. As I walked down the hall that looked so familiar, toward the living room I heard Drano talking to Nek Nek about me.

Yo lil homeboy got a mean left hook, he told Drano as he rubbed the side of his face. That lil motherfucker got my eye swollen; you see this shit.

Drano laughed. It look like Mike Tyson hit yo ass with a crowbar. No, no, it looks like somebody pistol-whipped yo ass, Drano told him as he continued to laugh at Nek Nek.

So nigga, at least I ain’t get bitch slapped back to yo mama titties soft-ass young man, Nek Nek snapped at him.

Drano stopped laughing. Hey, man, that shit.

What, that shit ain’t funny no more, is it? Nek Nek told him.

Well, that shit dead, Drano said in a low tone as if he was hurt by what he had said.

"Yeah, look, man, we boys and your homeboy