Reno's Way

By LeRico Kearney

Meet Reno, a young hustler who is street savvy and has experienced the pitfalls that come with the street life. A page-turner that will have you on the edge of your seat, Reno's Way is as real as it gets. It's a powerful and captivating story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fulton Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9798885056847

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

About the Author

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Reno's Way

LeRico Kearney

Copyright © 2023 LeRico Kearney

All rights reserved

First Edition

Fulton Books

Meadville, PA

Published by Fulton Books 2023

ISBN 979-8-88505-683-0 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88505-684-7 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Acknowledgments

First, I would like to thank God for giving me a creative mind to put Reno's Way together. I would like to thank my family, who has been so supportive. Thank you to Shameika for the support and motivation. Without her, there would have been no Reno's Way. Special thanks to my aunt Hope for the help and dedication to Reno's Way as well as all the positive and spiritual advice along the way. To both of my grandfathers, who are no longer here, you both had a huge impact on my life. I miss you both dearly. Shout-out to my mom, my dad, my brother, my daughter, my son, my two sisters, Aunt Lisa, Grandma Odessa, Alecia, Dontae, and Tone'. There are too many to name. If you have been in my corner, you know who you are. If your name was left out, know that it wasn't intentional. To every Reno that will get the opportunity to read this book, you will be faced with a lot of decisions in life. Make the right ones. One wrong move can cost you your life or your freedom. There's always a better way. Thank you to everyone that kept me going through difficult times. You all always came at the right time. Thank you to everyone who wrote a support letter or signed the Change.org petition on my behalf. May God bless you.

Chapter 1

Why don't you get your lazy black ass up and go look for a job? Granddaddy Sam asked.

I'm gonna go out and look for one today, answered Reno.

Now in the back of Reno's mind, he had no intentions of looking for a job. He was doing pretty good in the streets in his own eyes. Granddaddy Sam was an honest, hardworking man. He put in several years working for the Coca-Cola Company and had never once stolen a dime. Truth be told, Granddaddy Sam never even had a speeding ticket. Granddaddy Sam was a very funny old man. He could make anybody laugh. He had a joke or something humorous to say for any situation.

I don't know where you and your daddy got y'all ways from. Yo' grandmomma and I ain't never did anything illegal. I just don't understand this shit. Granddaddy Sam gave Reno a cold stare.

He could tell Reno was lying to him and had no intentions of looking for a job. Reno's father was serving a twenty-year prison sentence on drug charges.

Grandda, I told you I was gonna get a job.

Reno, I'm telling you, at the end of the day, nothing beats that working man's dollar. You have a head start over a lot of young people your age. You have a nice car, a nice place to lay your head, and a little bit of money saved up. The smart thing to do is stop doing whatever it is you're doing and get a job. The word for today, J-O-B.

This ain't Friday, Grandda. Reno laughed.

Granddaddy Sam went on about his business, and in the back of Reno's mind, he was thinking, only if Granddaddy Sam knew the half.

Reno went into his bedroom where it looked like a footlocker. There were sneakers lined up everywhere.

He went under the bed and pulled out a shoe box, which contained a kilo of crack cocaine. The crack had already been weighed and bagged in ounces. Reno's main man D was coming to his crib in about an hour to get the nine ounces Reno had for him. It was Friday, and the money would definitely be flowing. D liked to get an early start on things. When Reno looked out the window, he saw D's black Grand Cherokee pulling up in the driveway.

D thought he was the smoothest nigga on the planet. He was five feet and eight inches, about 155 pounds, and can put you in the mind frame of Drag-On from the Ruff Ryders crew. D had madflow himself. Reno was on the front porch waiting to greet his man D as he came toward the house.

What's up, my nigga? Reno asked D.

Same shit, different day, replied D.

What did you get into last night?

Nothing much. I made a few dollars and took some white bitches to Econo Lodge. Reno started smiling. That's fucked up, D. You didn't have to invite me in on the action.

D laughed. I know you are not into snow bunnies. Besides, Meka would've kicked your ass anyway. They both started laughing. Meka don't run shit, nigga!

They wrapped up the small talk and went into the house. Out of habit, Reno made sure the front door was locked, and they proceeded with business.

He felt like he could trust his man D with his life. He left thousands of dollars of uncounted money unattended in D's presence. He felt in his heart that D wouldn't steal a dollar from him.

Yeah, this that ‘Doo-Doo Brown.' The fiends love this shit, Reno told D. You know it doesn't matter, Reno. I can sell ice to an Eskimo.

How much do you want for this, nina? D asked.

Give me five grands, nigga. I haven't forgotten about that $650 you owe me from about a month ago. Reno chuckled. Come on, my nigga. You still thinking 'bout that? I got you when I hit you with the five for this.

Aight, D. It's about time you carry your ass on man. I know you wanna chill up under me all day, but you can't get no money like that.

When's the next time you tryna meet up? D asked. I'll holla at you in about a week.

A week? Goddamn, man. A week is a long time to go without seeing my nigga, D responded.

D, you gotta hold shit down on your side of town. We ain't gotta always be together. You need to be getting that money that old man getting over there. We're supposed to be running this city!

You're right, Reno. That old head is making major money on Smith Avenue. He got hella clientele too.

They were about to part ways. D was heading back to his Cherokee with the product Reno had just hit him with. Before he could get to the truck, he stopped and looked back at Reno. Nigga, I'ma holla at you tomorrow. Fuck that week shit. Reno gave him a gesture, which let him know everything was all good. D got in the truck and drove off.

Reno went back to the crib to contemplate what he had to do this Friday. He brought his safe into the front room to count the money that he had in it. Reno kept his money rubber banned and separated in grands. The safe was small, but it could hold over $20,000 easily. He kept his bigger safe at Meka's house.

While he was counting his money, he heard a car door shutting in his driveway. Reno looked out the window and saw Mel B, Joe Joe, and Harold coming toward his front porch. Reno opened the wooden door so when they got on the porch, they could see the house through the storm door. Mel B looked in first and saw Reno sitting in the front room with the safe open, counting money. Reno waved his hand, signaling them to come in.

Chapter 2

Mel B was a bricklayer getting money in a few cities and small counties. He was older than Reno, who was almost eighteen. Mel B was twenty-seven, dark-skinned, and overweight. He could pass for the twin brother of the late rapper Biggie Smalls. Whenever he was dressed up with his Versace shades, people always thought he was Biggie. Mel B thought he was a