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Chapter Four

KOSHA

I t was both Melanie and I’s first day.

Her first in this new school and mine at the shop.

The way I wanted everything to go so smooth…

I prayed many times over for it.

A smooth transition and a smooth opening.

I didn’t know a thing about Eastlake, but I had family in Graceland Heights, and I was sure they could give me a tour soon.

Pulling in front of Mel’s school, I snagged a parking space, and we entered the building heading for the office.

The mixture of kids brought a smile to my face.

From what I saw so far, she would fit right in.

Looking over at my baby, she wore an attitude, but I gave it no attention.

This was our new life and something she would have to get used to.

“Hi, how can I help you?”

“Yes, I’m here to see Principal Sanders. My daughter is starting today, and he promised he would handle her this morning.”

“One second.” The receptionist stood and disappeared down a long hall.

When she returned, she had a short, mixed man behind her.

They both wore a smile as the gap between us was closed.

“Mrs. Jordan, welcome to Eastlake High. This must be Melanie Knowles.”

“Ms. Jordan, and yes, it is,” I corrected him.

I was no longer a wife so the Mrs.

could be dropped.

“Is my baby going to be alright here?” I questioned.

“Of course. We have cameras throughout the building and resource officers as well. At eight-thirty every morning, every exit locks and there are no entry’s unless we receive a phone call. Parents are given a link for the students that need early dismissal, and we don’t release after two-thirty p.m. We’re pretty secure here.”

I finally returned the smile.

I felt like Mel would do good here.

She only had a month left so she could make it do what it do.

I rubbed her back, and she shoved me off her.

I was sure she was upset with me, but I really didn’t give a fuck.

Before she knew it, she’d have her diploma and be off to NYU College of Arts & Science.

That was the best program in my opinion for her painting career.

“That works for me. Melanie, baby, I have to go. Call me if you need me. Thank you, Mr. Sanders. Y’all have a good day.”

I stepped away from it, hoping my baby made the best of the next month here.

Right now, I needed to rewire my brain and get into CEO mode.

K Blades was the new kid on the block as well and all I wanted was the same success it had in Atlanta.

I had many people speak on how my barbers there so I was hoping the ladies here could gain the same publicity.

Hopping in my ride, I backed out and headed downtown.

I chose a location where I thought the consumer rate was good.

With my brothers in the Heights, I figured they knew what was best.

After all, it was them who convinced me to come this way in the first place.

We had a love hate relationship, but it was mostly love.

Traffic was light as I cruised through the city.

Eastlake was nice and slow.

Atlanta was like a mini New York with the traffic and Los Angeles with the weather.

I would tell people all the time Georgia was a different kind of down south.

However, I was glad to be in a place where I could enjoy myself without fearing someone damaging my property and spirit.

K Blades was able to secure six female barbers including myself.

We were gender neutral around these parts and didn’t turn anyone away.

I was excited about this new journey.

The downtown area didn’t allow me to park in the front of the building without running them quarters because it was for the public, so I parked in the back alley.

The parking lot was small as it could be, but it was what I had to work with.

I owned a white Benz truck with my name written in the seats.

This was a gift to myself for being the woman I was.

I didn’t need anything or anyone to do a damn thing for me.

I knew what being a boss looked like and I never let anyone belittle my accomplishments.

Grabbing my purse, I checked my surroundings before stepping out, and locking my doors.

I sashayed across the lot and placed my key in the back door.

Entering, the smell of jasmine and vanilla filled my nostrils.

I smiled and hit the lights on the wall.

I quickly dropped my things off in my office and entered the main area.

I hit those lights as well and proceeded to open the shop.

I didn’t even realize two of my employees from Atlanta were waiting on me.

Once I got the doors opened, they filed in.

“Good morning, Kosha. Are you excited?” Daria asked with a smile on her face that stretched from ear to ear.

“That’s what I want to know. It’s your first day as a boss in the Lake. I know you feel nervous as hell.”

“I am nervous Sadie. I didn’t get a wink of sleep last night. This ain’t nothing like what we did in Atlanta. These girls don’t know us, and we don’t know them so let’s try and be friendly please,” I said.

They moved up a month in advance with me covering their expenses as they got the shop together and promoted the business.

I was proud of them and how far they came as well.

When K Blades opened in Atlanta, they were the first to cop a booth and stayed the entire time without any drama.

Them coming out here to make sure we maintained steady business was brave and nice of them.

We were a lil’ family at K Blades so I expected nothing less.

“We will. As long as they don’t start nothing it won’t be nothing. Now, which booth is ours?” Daria asked.

“I put you and Sadie on that wall. The first two from the back. I put this girl named Amy in the first chair. I’m taking the rear one on this wall, Henny’s beside me, and Lauren’s beside her in the front. They should be here any minute now. From what they say, the fellas are ready to sit in the chairs, so we’ll see. Go grab a locker and shit in the breakroom.”

“Cool beans. We taking turns on the aux or what?” Sadie inquired pulling out her phone.

“Nah, I got 90’s R&B spinning on Pandora. I’ll change it throughout the day but for now, something mellow,” I responded.

“Aight, Well, let’s do this shit.”

I shook my head at Daria and finished double checking everyone’s station.

Before I knew it, the rest of the girls came through and the men followed.

The morning was going smoothly with clients flowing and good vibes.

Nothing about the day could go wrong in my eyes.

I sat in my chair watching my shop do what it did back in Georgia and my smile couldn’t be snatched.

Out of all the late nights I put in to relocating, it was finally starting to seem worth it.

My emotions toward Houston hadn’t even settled yet and I was hoping they never did.

I cut ties when I found out about his infidelity but hadn’t dropped a tear or felt anything since then.

I was sure it was coming but for now I was coping the best way I knew how and that was throwing my all into my business.

“Boss lady, there’s something going on in the back alley. I think it’s Chrome and his crew!” Lauren shouted.

“Chrome? Oh, that nigga so fine with his young ass,” Amy chimed in.

“I’m telling you all I need is one night with that nigga and I might be the head of BMG by the morning.”

“Who’s Chrome?” I questioned standing from my chair.

“How you move to the Lake and don’t know the nigga in charge of these streets?” Henny asked.

“He took over Black Metal Gang from his fine ass daddy named Steel and uncle, Mercury. Him and his crew ain’t nothing like the old heads. They really be out here causing havoc.”

“I’m here to cut hair and live a quiet, drama free life. I’m not here to deal with that kind of shit.” I grabbed my phone and headed for the back door.

It was day fuckin’ one and still the morning might I add.

I wasn’t about to deal with this kind of shit so early on.

I was the new kid on the block no doubt but that didn’t mean you could bully me.

If you let a muthafucka slide once, they’d think they could do it again.

In Atlanta, the only way to clear shit was to call the cops.

I wasn’t no police ass chick, but I worked too hard to let it catch a bad rep.

Opening the back door, all I saw was niggas whooping on a group of older white men.

I was pro Black so…

do your thing but damn.

Do it down the street, not around my business.

“Hey. Hey! If y’all don’t leave, I’m calling the police,” I threatened.

I didn’t even think I was going to for real, but I needed them to think I would.

These were young Black men, and I knew how society probably viewed them already.

I wasn’t trying to cause them more trouble.

However, when I was called out my name, all bets were off.

“Call them then bitch!”

My head quickly turned in the direction it came from while anger began to course through my veins.

It was something about being disrespected by a man that turned me into someone else.

I would never hit a man, but I had enough clips with my words alone.

I went to tell him off when the one that was doing the most damage to one of the guys intervened.

“Who the fuck just called her a bitch?” At least he had some fuckin’ manners .

The disrespectful one owned up to it and was scolded.

“Don’t ever talk to a woman like that. You know how the fuck I am when it comes to that shit,” he corrected him.

It went in one ear and out the window ‘cause this individual was too hype to understand what was happening.

“Get away from my shop. I don’t need this kind of shit around my business!” I shouted.

Once again, I was called out my name but this time the young man didn’t try and correct his mouth.

Instead, he assured me they were about to leave.

However, I didn’t want to chance it.

It was too many bodies lying around for my comfort.

I called the police and the gap between me and the young man that looked like he was in charge closed quickly.

My guess, this was the infamous Chrome I was debriefed on about a minute ago.

My phone was snatched out my hand and tossed.

I was in pure shock but was even more taken aback when this nigga gave me a onceover.

His eyes didn’t show rage at all.

It showed he liked what he saw and would very much take me down if he could.

I couldn’t deny how easy it was for me to slip and take him in as well.

He didn’t have the height of my ex-husband at all.

I was used to men towering over me, but he stood eye to eye, and I was only five foot seven inches.

Even with the blood dripping from his hands, I didn’t hold any fear in my heart for him.

He was charming in a way with his locs hanging loosely and a mouth full of grillz.

The chains that hung around his neck complimented his entire ensemble regardless of it just being a black and gold vest and some black jeans.

Chrome was as fine as Amy said.

“We don’t take too kind to threats, Fade. Don’t ever in yo’ life call them people on us again. You way too pretty to end up on an obituary,” he warned me.

And you are way too fine to be out here causing all this ruckus.

Go home before I do something to you sweetheart.

And nigga, did you call me bald in a polite way?

“Did you just threaten me?” I asked knowing exactly what he’d just done.

However, hearing his voice was pleasing to my ears.

He wasn’t loud and disrespectful like someone else in his crew.

He talked with a calmness, but what I witnessed said he was nothing to play with.

“That shit don’t feel good, do it? The only difference is, I meant what the fuck I said. BMG, you heard the lady. Let’s go!” he said with a smirk on his face.

I stood there watching him and his crew ride out leaving nothing but carnage behind.

I was pissed that they beat them down behind my shop but for whatever reason, I was sure they deserved it.

I knew what kind of world we lived in, and I knew better than to think it was because of anything outside of racism or some form of degrading to my people.

Shaking my head, I walked back inside and took a seat in my chair.

I was over the day already and we had only been here for a few hours.

My head fell back as I briefly closed my eyes.

Peace and fuckin’ quiet was all I craved but I knew that wasn’t going to happen until I was in the comforts of my own home again.

“So, was it Chrome?” Amy inquired.

“If they’re in a biker gang full of young niggas, then yes, yes it was. And they left some rednecks behind. What the hell is up with that?”

“Oh, you must be talking ‘bout them Medieval muthafuckas. They’re the only ones that act like they can do any and everything they want no matter what side of town they on. If Chrome and them got a hold to them, they won’t be leaving the north side no time soon.”

“Huh? Henny, you got to remember I don’t have a clue as to what the fuck you’re talking about. Who’s the Medieval times and why did Chrome and his gang bring that shit to my shop?”

“Let me school you right quick, KoKo. Eastlake is like one big ass biker city. It’s like seven or eight crews out here but the only one that matter is the Black Metal Gang. Well, the only one us colored folk need to support anyway. BMG do a lot for our community and the kids look up to them. They not on all that rah-rah mess until someone else gets on that type of timing then they have to show them who the big dawgs are. Ain’t that right, Carter?” Henny tapped on her client’s shoulder.

“Yeah, I learned the hard way. Them young niggas almost tore me a new one all because I wouldn’t move my car. It was them twins. They ain’t got a lick of sense. Stay clear from them, Kosha.”

“I will, Mr. Carter. Daria, I’m ‘bout to head out and buy me a new phone. Chrome threw mine to who knows where.”

“Wait, he threw your phone? What the hell did you do? Record him?” Lauren finally chimed in.

“No, I called the police.”

The shop went quiet as a mouse. It was so fuckin’ quiet, you could hear the cars passing outside. Apparently, I did something wrong and now everyone was in shock. I got several glares and a few of the men didn’t even bother looking my way. All they did was shake their heads in disbelief. I did what I thought was best.

“KoKo, please tell me you’re joking.

” Amy was the first to speak up.

“No, I’m not. If you saw what I saw, you would, too.”

“Don’t ever call the man on them boys. They’re the good ones. I know it may seem like whatever they did was a lot, but they care a lot about this community and always come through when others don’t. Let BMG handle business how they handle business and turn yo’ head. Kosha, you’re new and trying to protect what’s yours but please don’t do that again… not to them.”

I heard her loud and clear.

Her and Henny.

Calling the police was never my intentions simply because I knew how hard Black men had it.

With everybody giving me the run down, I knew how to move better.

I got a whiff of the kind of person Chrome was, but I knew deep down there was more…

crazy to his young ass.

He had more dominance than any man I’d met so far and to have it over so many others was wild.

He controlled them young men with ease, and they all listened as if what he said was for the better.

None of them stepped up to him and when he said it was time to go, they left without question.

Chrome had it like that.

“Well, now I know. I guess from now on I need to check in with y’all first to make sure I’m abiding by BMG’s guidelines,” I said shaking my head.

“I’ll be back in like an hour until then, hold the place down. Oh, do I need to worry about these Medieval time ass crackers in my alley?”

“Hell no. If BMG got to them, all you got to do is ignore they ass. And stop parking in the alley. The hotel across the street allows us to park in their lot. It’s safer,” Henny stated.

“Got it. Thanks, y’all.”

I retrieved my purse from my office and made my way to my car.

The rednecks out back were still lingering around but they were no longer picking themselves up from the ground.

I did like Henny advised and ignored them.

My feet were moving a mile a second, but I made sure not to look their way or acknowledge any of them.

Once I was in my car, I hit the locks on the door releasing a deep sigh afterward.

What the hell have you gotten yourself into, Kosha?