Grown Little Girl 2: Taking Over the Reigns

By Alicia Reynolds

After trying to bounce back from a horrible attack against her crew/family, Nyla is thrown into a downward spiral when their family is attacked yet again and someone even closer to her then before is taken away from her. Nyla and her family, without any hesitation, jump in with both feet to do any and everything they can to try to handle the situation, but when things get really tough, the family and crew start to clash with one another, and things start to break down from the inside out. Nyla will be tested, and there will be a test for others as their story unfolds.

The once timid, shy little girl that everyone knew her to be was long gone, and the ruthless beast of a woman was now and forever present and ready for whatever came her way. The time span from when Nyla was first thrusted into this life hasn't been long at all, but the knowledge and street smarts that she's learned in that short amount of time has forced her to grow up and act well beyond her years. Gone are the ways of her childhood phase and to stay are the days where her womanhood reigns.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: May 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9781662417719

Book preview

Nyla

"S o after being our most wonderful VIP guest here at the hospital for the last month and a half, and keeping us all on our toes that whole time. I’m finally coming in here, not to bug you, but to give you your discharge papers, and the appointment cards for the babies’ first follow-up appointments.

"Now I’ll be seeing them at my private practice at least until I get them past six months of age, and after that, you may decide to keep them there and I see them for however long you like, or you can transfer them to a doctor of your choosing, it’s totally up to you.

I also have some very strict instructions for you, Ms. Nyla. I need you to get as much rest as you can. Make sure you eat a well-balanced meal at least two to three times a day. Oh, and I know how much you love your pop, but you have to drink at least eight glasses of water a day, okay? Okay? Dr. Davis bucked his eyes at me.

Okay, Dr. Davis, I hear you! I said, looking at him with shame written all over my face, because I knew how horrible I was with drinking water.

I hope you do hear me, because your body is still trying to bounce back from such a hard surgery, so you have to do your part and help it along the way by staying healthy and hydrated. This is not going to be an easy task, Nyla, especially being a new mom, and with their dad still being in recovery himself, you are going to be somewhat overwhelmed, he said, tapping my knee with the folder in his hand as I sat in the wheelchair.

I know, Dr. Davis, but I promise you I got this! My Prince and Princess are my world, and I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure they get the absolute best care possible. Oh and I do have a small village of helpers to assist me, so we’re all going to be just fine. I smiled, just thinking about the crew and how they will be there to help me and Jamal with the babies.

As if on cue, the door to my room swung open, and in walked my mama, Shay, and my fine ass fiancé and father of my children, Jamal. I looked up at my baby and just burst into tears. My baby was walking upright like a champ. He wasn’t slouched over or anything. The last time I saw him in person was the day I was admitted in the hospital, and he was still doubled over in a lot of pain and still using the walker to help him get around.

Oh my god, baby, look at you! You walking on your own and everything! I said through my sobs.

Oh you thought I was gonna meet my babies for the first time on a walker? Shiiiiid, not me! he said, leaning over to kiss me.

I boo-hooed even more just knowing how hard he must have worked in rehab just to be able to walk in here today to meet our babies. I didn’t think I could love him any more than I already did, but this just made me feel something so deep and real on the inside that I knew he was truly my soul mate.

Stop all that crying, Ma! You my G, right? he said, giving me that sexy squint he be doing, which was even sexier now because of his new dimples he got from the bullet that hit him in one cheek and went out the other.

Yes, Dimples. I’m your G, I said, looking at him like I wanted to eat him up.

Dimples, huh?

Yaaassssss, Zaddy, that’s your new nickname.

Yeah, okay, but only you can call me that soft ass shit, nobody else! he said, looking around the room at my mama and Shay, who were now laughing at him.

Nigga, knock it off! You’ve been big bra this whole time, why would I wanna change it now? Shay said, cocking her head to the side, looking at Jamal like he was crazy.

Don’t get smart just because I can’t put yo ass in a headlock yet, sis! I’m, like, 75 percent back to my old self. Just give me, like, two more weeks and I’ll be hemming you up again. He burst out laughing, because he knew how much Shay hated to be restrained.

Whatever, punk, she said, rolling her eyes.

Okay, so, Dr. Davis, is she ready to go? my mama asked, in a kind of rushed tone.

I knew she wasn’t trying to be rude, but she’d been so super busy lately, and all this small talk that Dr. Davis, Shay, and Jamal were doing was zoning her out.

When I say my mama’s time is literally money, I mean just that! She had so much other pressing shit that she needed to be handling that no one else could handle for her, so she needed to manage her time wisely.

"Yes, ma’am, they are all yours. The nurse will be bringing the babies in, in just a minute, and you all will be good to go. Now don’t forget what I said about taking care of yourself, young lady. Your health is just as important as those babies.

Now does either of you have any last questions before you leave? Dr. Davis said as he walked over to the door to exit my room.

No, I think we’re good, Doc, Jamal said.

Oh wait! It is one thing I need to know. Close yo ears, Ms. Nesha, Jamal said, looking at my mama, laughing. When can I put this monster back in her life, Doc? Jamal laughed but was serious as hell. He was waiting for Dr. Davis’s answer like his life depended on it.

Well, technically she’s at the six weeks that we recommend, so if she’s comfortable, you should be fine to engage in intercourse, as long as it doesn’t cause her any discomfort, which is possible due to the amount of stitches that we had to use during the surgery, but it’s 100 percent up to Nyla, Dr. Davis said, looking at Jamal over his glasses.

I gotcha, Doc. I won’t bother her for another week or so, but after that, I’m all in that WAP! Jamal said, pumping the air like he was having sex.

Boy, if you don’t stop acting so thirsty! You can, and will wait, for however long it takes! I said, looking at him with my You betta get cha life face!

Knock, knock, the babies are here, the nurse said as she pushed the extrawide wheelchair holding both babies in their car seats, inside of the room.

There go my babies. Hi mama stinka butts. Are y’all ready to go home? I said, lifting the pink and blue blankets off the twins.

Hell yeah. they ready, Ma! Shit, that titty milk got both their weight up. Jay is seven pounds now, and Kiersten is six pounds and nine ounces, so yeah, they good and ready to go! Jamal said, looking over my shoulder at the twins.

Okay, let’s go! My mama yelled as she started pushing me down the hallway.

See you all later. Have a great first day home, Dr. Davis said as he walked down the opposite end of the hallway.

Bye! we all said in unison.

Welcome Home Party

S urprise!

Everybody yelled as soon as Jamal opened the front door to our house. I was so shocked that I dropped my purse on the floor. I’m glad my mama and Shay were holding the babies because I might have dropped them too!

Awe, thanks, everybody. This is so nice of y’all, I said, walking around hugging all the crew.

As I came to the end of the circle of hugs, I saw someone holding up a really large picture frame that was wrapped in plain white paper. It was so big that I couldn’t tell who was holding it. I stopped in front of it and read the words that were written on it.

Open Me.

I pulled the paper back and instantly started crying. The person holding the frame hands were starting to shake as they slowly lowered it to reveal himself to me. It was Quan! I was so happy to see him up and moving around that I just hugged him as tight as I could without hurting him and let the tears continue to fall.

Oh my god! I’m so happy to see you! I said through my tears.

I’m even happier to be seen, baby girl, he said in a raspy voice.

The portrait that he was holding was of Jay, whom we’d lost in that ambush at the White Spot. Jay was going to be the godfather of the twins, until that shit happened, so we decided to honor him in another way.

Well, I guess now is a better time as any to tell you all the news, I said, looking around the room at everyone. I would like for you all to meet our baby boy Jay Zolo Whitmore, and baby girl Kiersten Shay Whitmore. I removed the babies’ blankets so everybody could see them. As they all ooooohhhhhed and ahhhhhhhed, Quan grabbed me again, hugging me tight as hell as he whispered in my ear.

Baby girl, this is the best gift I could have ever gotten, and it’s not even my birthday! This means so much to the family that you and Jamal would pay homage to Zo and Jay by naming y’all’s baby boy after them. Wow! This is so fuckin’ dope! Quan said as he released me from our embrace and walked over to my mom, who was now holding baby Jay.

As I was walking into the kitchen to get me a drink of water, Shay jumped on me like white on rice.

Okay, bitch, I let Quan have his moment first, but, big booty Judy, did you really name my niece after me? Shay said, smacking me on my ass, which had gotten real fat since my pregnancy. Everybody had been asking your mom what their names were, but she wouldn’t tell us shit! All she said was they were healthy and beautiful.

Yes, Shay, I most certainly did! You’re my best friend, and you’ve been riding with me through all my bullshit, so it was only right that I give her your name. All I can hope and pray for is that she’s as fearless as you when she grows up, I said as I leaned in and hugged my friend, who was now trying to blink back her tears.

Man, Quan was right! This shit is dope as fuck! Thank you so much, Nyla. I’m going to be the best auntie in the world, bitch! Shay said as she was about to walk away, but I grabbed her hand and stopped her.

Well, Jamal and I were kind of hoping that you and Diesel would be more than just their aunt and uncle. We want y’all to be their godparents, I said with my eyebrows raised and eyes bucked.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Shay screamed, snatching her hand from mine, as she jumped all around. Everybody in the house looked over at us and asked us what was wrong.

Nothing’s wrong. I just officially asked Shay if she would be the babies’ godmother.

Oh word, because I just asked Diesel to be their godfather too! Jamal said.

Shay ran over to Jamal and hugged him, then she hugged Diesel, who was sitting right next to him on the couch.

Be careful, bae, I don’t have my brace fastened, Diesel said as he sat back up against the pillow.

And why the hell not? Nigga, you done had yo whole back cut open, and you talking ’bout ‘I don’t have my brace on’! Don’t be trying to show out for everybody like your ass is 100 percent and you not even 60 percent yet! Come on, stand up so I can fix it. Shit, we gotta make sure you heal properly because we have two beautiful babies that may need us one day, Shay said, helping to pull Diesel up off the couch.

Wait a minute with cha bossy ass! I need to chill for a second, I’m winded like a big bitch running track, Diesel said, causing everybody to fall the fuck out laughing.

Shay gave him the stank face and walked away.

Keep it cute, sis, I said, looking at Shay.

Quan walked over to the middle of our living room and cleared his throat, getting everyone’s attention.

Excuse me, everybody. I would like to make a toast to Jamal and Nyla for blessing the family with two of the most beautiful babies I’ve ever seen. We wish y’all nothing but health, wealth, and happiness.

That part! everybody yelled.

Oh, and one more thing. Nesha baby, if you will be so kind and bring in the bags.

My mama ran outside to Quan’s truck and came back in with two huge bags with caps and gowns on them.

What’s all this? I asked, looking over at Quan.

Like I said, it’s one more thing that the crew has to celebrate. Now, Shay and Nyla, if y’all will come over here, please and thank you. These are from the whole family. We all are so proud of y’all for bossing up and still finishing school on time in spite of the devastating situation that took place. Y’all not only took care of y’alls schoolwork, y’all also took care of all the injured members of the crew, and without any complaints at that! So with that being said, this one is for you, Shay, and this one is for you, Nyla. Enjoy, and congratulations.

Congratulations! everybody yelled.

Me and Shay tore into those bags like two little kids. Once we got past all the Louis Vuitton and Fendi purses, scarves, and watches, we both had a black box at the bottom of our bag.

We both looked at each other. Okay, on the count of three. One, two, three. We both flipped the lids to the boxes up and damn near passed out!

"Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

We both screamed at the top of our lungs because never in a million years did we ever think we would have a fuckin’ Range Rover!

We both took off running outside and burst out crying when we saw them. Mine was Shaysha blue with black-and-blue interior and black rims, and Shay’s was cocaine white with purple-and-white interior with white rims.

The crew was all yelling at us to get in the trucks, so we both hit our key fobs and jumped up in our new whips.

How do we look? Shay yelled, leaning to the side, holding the wheel like she was really driving.

Like the bosses that y’all are! Now get on back in here and put these babies down for a nap! my mama said waving us back inside the house.

Okay, here we come.

Beep! Beep!

I blew my horn, being petty, and Shay crazy ass did the same thing. We both fell out laughing as we got out of the trucks and walked back inside to enjoy the rest of the celebration.

Quan

As I was trying to get back into the swing of things, setting up business deals for the family, touching down on a few of the trap spots, getting back in touch with my customers, I noticed that a lot of our customers and contacts now only wanted to deal and make moves with Nesha. At first I didn’t mind it because I knew that I wasn’t able to jump back in it full tilt at the time, but now it was actually starting to piss me off! I hoped these niggas didn’t think for one second that just because Jay was gone that a nigga like me done got soft, because I will run through this city burning shit down until they understood that I ain’t to be fucked with. I won’t tolerate any form of disrespect from nobody! Especially not when I was the fuckin’ one that was allowing these niggas to eat out here.

I was putting pressure on these niggas today!

After I thought about all the possible reasons why these fuck nigga’s only wanted to deal with Nesha, I called her, telling her that I needed to meet up with her at the White Spot around six this evening. I was gonna let her know that I would be pulling her back a bit until this little issue of respect was resolved. I wasn’t too sure how she would react being that she’d been holding us down for so long, and I truly owe her everything for that, but I was still the boss, and these niggas in the streets needed to know that.

I was hoping that she would understand and let me take my rightful place without any lip. I mean, I was the fucking HNIC!

What’s up, baby? I said as Nesha answered the phone.

Hey, babe, I’m in the middle of something right now, can I call you back in, like, five minutes?

Actually I just needed to tell you to meet me at the White Spot at six. That’s it, nothing too pressing, I said in a real neutral tone.

Okay, I’ll be there at six. Love you. Bye.

Love you too. Bye.

I hung up the phone and light weight got in my feelings. I knew Nesha was a street-savvy woman, but I never thought that she would push me out of my spot. The thoughts that were now running through my mind had me all fucked up! I loved Nesha and wanted nothing but the best for her, but on the other hand, I was starting to think she was against me being back on top in my rightful spot.

Man, I need a drink or something, I’m over this muthafucka big tripping, I said out loud to myself.

I picked up my phone and called Jamal and asked him to come over and kick it with a nigga for a minute. Maybe if I ran this shit by him, he could let me know if I was way off the mark, or if I potentially had a problem on my hands.

What’s up, nigga? I need to holla at you. Can you swing by the crib for a minute?

Yeah, fa sho. I was just helping Nyla get the babies out of the car. They just had their first follow-up appointment at the doctor.

I could hear Jamal’s smile through the phone. He was in such a happy place right now with Nyla and the babies being home. I was actually seeing the nigga smile, which was something he rarely ever did before. I hated to admit it, but I think I was a little envious of his and Nyla’s relationship, because Nyla still allowed Jamal to be the man. She knew what she had, and she appreciated him for that. Unlike her mama, who was walking around here like she had a whole dick between her legs.

Okay, cool, I’ll see you in a minute then.

Bet that, Jamal said as he hung up the phone.

I walked into my office where I had been going through the list of clients that I had spoken to, but didn’t receive the warmest welcome from, and was making a mental note to for sure keep a close eye on them niggas because money, power, and respect all ran together, and if I didn’t get the respect that I deserved, then them niggas wouldn’t be getting no money out here either, and it’s a big fact that I damn sure had the power to make that happen!

I looked at a folder on my desk that I had never seen before, and I knew I hadn’t because all my folders were manila in color, and this one was a dark blue. I opened it and started looking through its contents and came across a wire transfer code to an offshore account.

What the fuck is this? I yelled out.

"I know ain’t nobody stupid enough to be stealing money from my muthafuckin’ family! And who the fuck is Carson Levy? I sat there for the next fifteen minutes, looking over every fuckin’ word and number on the pages. At this point I was really starting to have some fucked-up thoughts.

I was already in a bad fucking headspace with Nesha, but now I was in straight panic mode.

Knock, knock.

Come in! I yelled.

Damn, nigga, what you yelling for? Jamal said, looking at me sideways.

My bad, man. I just got a lot of shit going on that I gotta figure out, like yesterday! I said, closing up the folder and putting it in my safe.

I hear you, but what did you want to talk to me about?

I need to run some shit by you to see if maybe I’m overthinking some shit or could it be some validity to it, I said, looking up at Jamal with hooded eyes.

Well, shit, what’s up?

Okay, look, before you say anything, just let me get everything out, and then you can respond, bet?

Bet.

"Okay, so I’ve been trying to jump back out here on my boss man shit, you know, handling business meetings, hitting up the traps, as well as linking up with my customers and shit. right? Well, not one, not two, but damn near all them niggas said that they would rather deal with Nesha instead of me.

Now don’t get me wrong, I know Nesha been holding shit down in my absence, and she’s done a hell of a job, no doubt, but I’m still the muthafuckin’ boss! You feel me?

Oh, that’s big muthafuckin’ facts, my nigga! See, them niggas probably only want to deal with Nesha because they think she ain’t really out there to regulate shit like you do. They got it easy as long as she’s the one making the moves, because she don’t want no issues. She just passing out product and collecting the money, that’s it. She’s don’t understand the political slash hierarchy side of this shit for real! Jamal said as he walked over to the window and just stared out.

Okay, so I’m not tripping then?

Hell nah! At least I don’t think so anyway, but you know Nesha might see this shit a little differently, Jamal said, looking at me with a look of worry on his face.

"I