Altered Destiny: A Hustler's Choice Read online

  “Your wrong choices on earth altered your destiny. Since your wrong choices affected your future many lives were affected as well. And I hold you accountable,” He said, while staring straight at me with his eyes that burned like fire.

  Those words struck a chord within me. I had heard that same phrase before. So many times on earth I was warned, but I turned away and shooed them off. I began to cry as the screen above us began to show my life on earth.

  Chapter 2

  “I told her. I just told her if she kept hanging with them and

  messing with them that one day she was going to get hurt. You can’t mess with those kind of people and expect to stay alive,” Bill said, pacing the room back and fourth angrily as his friend Michael told them what he saw.

  “I was in my room watching TV and I heard screams. They were deathly screams. I went to the window and looked outside and right in the park they had Marlena in a tight grip.” He grabbed the pillow showing how they held her.

  Everyone who came to be with Patricia during her time of grief was listening quietly while some cried. What he was telling them of what he witnessed was horrible. They could not believe what they were hearing. Some covered their ears to the gruesome details, while others listened intently.

  “They said something to her and she spat in his face.” Michael imitated what he saw that night. “He just laughed a laugh that only the devil himself would laugh. Then someone came and drenched her with gasoline and he continued to laugh. Then, he lit her on fire. She screamed louder than before.” Michael sat in the chair and began to twiddle with his thumbs in unbelief. What he saw was taking an affect on him. The screams of a dying friend haunted him. “I have never seen anything like it. Never.”

  Patricia wailed like never before. In between cries she cried out to God asking questions. She began to think about how her child had been burnt badly. She thought about her child’s last moments. How could someone do this? She thought. How could they take a life, make them unrecognizable, and bring so much pain to a family?

  Patricia was all in tears, crying her heart and eyes out. “Who did this? Which one?”

  “It was Mill and his crew.”

  “She wouldn’t listen to me. I warned h—her. I did,” Patricia said through more tears.

  “Mill? Who’s Mill?” A family member asked who was not from New York.

  “Mill is a top drug hustler here. He started when he was young. My uncle and him grew up together. My uncle got in the game with him too, but left after a fall out. It was over money and some girl.” Michael’s face scrunched up. “Anyway, Mill started hustling after seeing how much money it brought in and he’s rich now. I heard he has millions of dollars all from selling drugs. He’s powerful and untouchable because of the money he has. Law enforcement is at his feet and even politicians. I heard that he and the alderman are good buddies.”

  Patricia shook her head.

  “As long as he gives money to the police, politicians, and funds different causes, then they will protect him. He even funds money to the music industry. He funds the hottest label out now. He has more control than the mayor,” Michael said.

  He laughed a sarcastic laugh as he continued talking. “No one cares about his reputation as a drug dealer. If he supplies the money they always keep coming back and they always have his back. He does favors for them and they do favors for him. They make sure he stays out of jail and stays alive. If Mill went to jail or if his empire fell for some reason, then those he helped financially would fall too and no longer be on top. They wouldn’t have money either. No one could afford that or want that, you know. So they would protect him at all cost. They would do whatever he needed because he had the money. If word on the street was that someone wanted him dead or that someone was about to cross him the wrong way, they got to him first before he could get to Mill.”

  Bill looked around the room angrily. “Well, he will pay that’s my word.”

  Michael looked at Bill with a questioning look, but continued to speak. “Many people tried to get at Mill and have him killed. Some even tried to rob him. Remember, Bill, that guy who stuck him up in the car shop a few summers ago?”

  Bill shook his head. He was still angry. “Yeah, I remember.”

  “The guy didn’t know it was Mill he was robbing and boy was he sorry. He ended up with broken bones. Now, if you try to rob Mill you end up dead. After that one guy tried to rob him others started as well. The second guy that tried to rob him ended up dead. No one tried to rob him ever again after that. Everyone feared Mill, but for some reason Marlena felt that she could get him out of the way and kill him. She felt she knew everything about him and could catch him off guard.”

  “Ok, she was wrong for doing that, but he didn’t have to kill her. Not like that. That was wrong of him.” Bill was boiling mad. “I am serious he has to pay!” Bill clinched his fist, hit the wall, and walked out of the room.

  “Ma’am, Marlena started to rob Mill and his crew. Night after night Mill’s street crew was being robbed.” Michael laughed again. “When Mill found out that it was Marlena who was behind all of the robberies and missing money he told everyone he wanted her dead. Mill didn’t like to be played and he didn’t like it when anyone messed with his money. Marlena had played him and he put a hit out on her.”

  Patricia had warned her daughter numerous times to leave that lifestyle alone, but she did not listen. She told her to at least leave it alone for her daughter, Sasha, but Patricia chose the streets. Now, the streets took her life.

  “She went into hiding after she heard that Mill wanted her dead, but someone found her out in Jersey somewhere. Mill’s empire reaches further out than Brooklyn, you know. Well, he went looking for her himself and he found her. He brought her back to Brooklyn and they killed her. After she burned for a while and they saw that she wasn’t moving, they shot her all over her body. Every guy in the crew, maybe about four or five of them, shot her one by one. Mill was the last one and he shot her in the head and then he left. He never looked backed. He just smiled as he walked away like he conquered a great defeat or something. He wanted everyone to know that if they messed with him they would end up dead and unrecognizable. He made sure Marlena was an example. He made sure everyone knew that he was not the person to mess with. He made sure no one would cross him again. By doing what he did to Marlena, I am sure no one will bother him ever again.”

  “Go to the police since you know who did it.” An angry family member said.

  “No, can do. 5-0 is under Mill’s control. They were the ones that found out it was her.”

  “My baby,” Patricia said, “that doesn’t sound like her.”

  “Ma’am. She was bugging after they killed her boyfriend Paulo. She loved him dearly, you know. Mill and his crew killed Paulo a few months back for not handling business Mill’s way. Marlena wanted Mill out of the way because of that. She wanted his money, but most of all she wanted him D.O.A.”

  Marlena was the youngest child of Patricia. She had her later in life. Patricia had remarried and she and her husband had one child together. She never expected to have a child so late in life, but she did. She cared for Marlena and loved her deeply. She gave Marlena whatever she wanted within reason. Her father gave her all she asked for. She would truly miss her daughter.

  “Pat!” Someone came and held Patricia as she cried. “I know it’s been rough for you all these years. But, you’re going to make it through the rest.”

  “Growing up Marlena was a happy girl and she gave me no trouble whatsoever. Then when her father died she changed,” Patricia said. “She changed for the worst.”

  “I know. We all remember that. It was so sad, Arthur dying so mysteriously. I couldn’t believe it when I heard it and now Marlena.” Both the women cried together.

  “I had to break the news to her that her father was dead.” Patricia took a tissue and dabbed her eyes with it. “She was so young and she didn’t understand it all, but I explained it to her the b
est way that I could. We found out later that it was because of some gambling debt he owed. He never paid it back and they killed him. It tore her heart apart. Mines too. The death of Arthur changed her thought on life. That was when she took a turn for the worst.”

  The woman next to Patricia continued to hold her as she cried.

  “She started hanging with the wrong crowd, smoked weed, sold drugs, and did unthinkable things. Got pregnant at a young age. I tried to stop her, but she had her own thinking and went her own way. Everything I did…did not save her. I gave up. I shouldn’t have given up, but what else could I do. All I could do was pray for her. All I could do was let her go her own way and hope she would return. Now she’s dead. She can never return.”

  Patricia shook her head and cried some more as she thought of the times she warned her child and thought of the good times she did have with her. Everyone tried to calm her down, but they could not. She now had to break the news to a little girl whose life would change dramatically. How was she going to break it to her? How would she take it? Life as she knew it, which was happy and filled with joy, would now be turned to sorrow and questions. Patricia did not know if she could handle it all.

  “Sasha’s home!” Someone called out to Patricia.

  Sasha Miller was Marlena’s only child. She was nine years old at the time of her mother’s death and was just returning from school. The school bus had stopped in front of her grandmother’s brownstone building. It was an old home and in some areas it had worn out over the years. It was three stories high with many stairs leading to the front door. The brownstone sat connected to the other homes near it. It had brown bricks that needed some cleaning and the stairs were chipped in some areas. You didn’t notice it too much because there were flowers and bushes all around. Her grandmother loved to plant. You couldn’t do too much with the front yard because it was so small, but her grandmother made due with what she had.

  As Sasha was talking to her friend Stacey, she noticed her house was full of people. There were people on the stairs and crowding the doorway. What was going on? She thought.

  As she stepped off the bus her stomach dropped. Deep down inside she knew something was not right. She knew something had happened. She jumped off the last step of the bus and started running straight to the house leaving her friend behind.

  When she got to the stairs of her house her grandmother burst through the front door and grabbed her. She took her into her arms hugging her really tight. Patricia was crying and Sasha was trying to figure out what had happened. Why are all these people here? She thought, why is grandma crying?

  “What’s wrong, grandma?” she finally asked.

  Patricia continued to cry. “Oh, baby”. No words could come out to explain to this little girl what had happened. She tried to talk, but only tears and cries were heard. As everyone gathered at the door, she looked for answers. Finally, her cousin Bill grabbed her while Patricia ran into the house. Everyone followed after her trying to console and ease her pain.

  Bill sat her down on the steps. He placed his arm around her while Michael stood behind them. Bill had to break the news to her. “Sasha, I’m sorry to have to tell you this. It…it’s about your mother.”

  Bill was like an older brother to her. He was there when she was born. He took care of her when her mother had not. He loved her like a little sister and she loved him, too. When she needed comfort or help she would always turn to Bill. He always knew what to say and do, but this time it would be a lot harder for him.

  She looked up at Bill and asked, “She’s dead isn’t she?”

  Bill shook his head. She leaned on him and cried. She did not understand what was happening or why it was happening, but it had happened. She heard her grandmother and mother argue so many times about her mother being on the streets. She heard her grandmother say so many times, “you’re going to end up dead just like your father.” That, had stuck with Sasha since the time she heard it.

  With all the arguments and the warnings to Marlena nothing would be resolved. Marlena went her way doing her own thing. She would leave the house and would not return until the next day or maybe even weeks later. This hurt Sasha. She so desperately wanted her mother to change, but Marlena did not. She remembered the time she sat and spoke with her mother one day after not seeing her for days.

  “Do you love me?” she asked.

  “Yes, baby, I do,” Marlena replied.

  “Well, if you do, why do you leave me and forgot about me? Can’t you leave all that alone?” Even at a young age she was smart and knew things beyond her years.

  “Baby, I will never forget you. You just don’t understand. You’re too young. I can’t leave it alone right now. Soon baby, soon, everything will be just right, I promise.”

  From that point on, she had become distant from her mother and clung to her grandmother and Bill. They both showed her the love she needed. They helped her the best way they could. After some time her mother went to live with her boyfriend, Paulo, leaving her with her grandmother. From time to time she returned to see and give money to Sasha. Then months later, her mother’s boyfriend was killed by Mill over business and money. This made Marlena very bitter and very depressed. After her boyfriend’s death she decided to deal with it her own way. Dealing with it her way did not work. She was now dead leaving behind a girl who so desperately needed the love and care of her mother.

  “Sasha, are you okay?” Bill asked, trying to console her.

  She got up and ran as fast as she could out of the place that would now cause her so much pain and bad memories.

  “Sasha, come back here? Sasha!” Bill called out. She kept running down the street.

  Chapter 3

  T he funeral had a huge turnout. Everyone came to pay his respects. It was a sad day not just for the family, but also the neighborhood. Marlena lived a street life, but she was very popular and truly loved. She had a sweet spirit about her when she was not dealing with the streets. They would all truly miss her.

  “Bill, why is the casket closed?” Sasha asked.

  Bill did not want to answer her question, but he wanted to be honest and straightforward with her. “Because your mom was badly burned.”

  “Oh.” She sat back in her seat. She did not say another word. The thought of her momma being burned scared her. Now, after seeing that closed casket, she did not even want to know why.

  As the funeral continued she was in deep thought wondering how her mother could leave her like this. She was hurt and truly saddened, but she never shed a tear. She kept her head hung down low through the whole service. It was tough for a little girl to loose a mother. It affected her greatly.

  An hour later, after the service concluded, everyone went to Cypress Hills Cemetery where Marlena was to be buried next to her father. Near the burial ground, a green tent and a row of chairs were set up for the family. Sasha took a seat next to her grandmother while her cousin Bill sat on the other side of her grandmother. The Reverend gave his last words as everyone in attendance placed roses on the casket saying their final goodbyes.

  As a woman was singing “Amazing Grace” a man and his crew appeared at a distance. Everyone knew who it was. Mill and his crew had decided to attend. Everyone stopped and watched as Mill and his crew smiled at those in attendance. They were taunting them. They were trying to place fear in them. They were being very disrespectful. It hurt Patricia. It angered Bill.

  The Reverend noticed Mill and his crew and told the singer, “Go on. Keep singing.”

  The singer continued to sing louder than before and the goodbye’s continued. Patricia cried even more, but not once did she say a word to those that killed her precious daughter. Bill on the other hand looked Mill straight in the eyes, Mill looked back and smiled. Since Patricia was there Bill did not make a move, but he had set in his mind that later payback would come.

  Bill walked hand in hand with Patricia and Sasha and helped them get into the car. Before getting in he turned and faced Mill.
Neither said a word, but each knew what the other was thinking. After a few moments, Bill finally got in the car. As they drove off Sasha could not help but wonder who those men were.

  “Bill, who were those guys?”

  “Don’t worry about it Sasha. It is none of your concern.” Patricia wanted to shield her from it all. Bill thought otherwise.

  “Baby girl that was your mother’s killers.”

  “Oh.” From that day on she hated them. She wanted them dead.

  Many went back to Patricia’s house to give their condolences. As Sasha leaned on the wall near the front door and steps, she looked around smiling here and there at those who looked at her. From afar she heard people say, “poor little girl.” Some even came up to kiss and hug her.

  “Sasha, I’m so sorry,” said one woman. “You’re mother was so beautiful. So charming. We will all miss her. You look just like your mom when she was a little girl.”

  She looked at the woman as she continued to talk. She definitely did not want to be there at the repast, but her grandmother had insisted. This was too much for her. All she wanted to do was go and play and forget all that had happened. She did not want to talk. She did not want to be around anyone. Right now, she wanted to go and be a child with no cares in the world. She just wanted to make it like it use to be, but of course, things would not be the same for her ever again.

  She was getting tired of all the people who were just sorry for her and she was getting tired of hearing and seeing people cry with their many stories. Once the woman finished talking Sasha quickly moved away from the door and walked upstairs. She had had enough of everyone. She headed to her room. On her way to her room she overhead Bill talking. He was saying some things in a loud voice, but no one downstairs could hear him. Sasha tipped toed to where Bill and his friends were. She wanted to hear his conversation. The door was almost closed, but through the crack she could see and hear their every word. They were smoking weed and drinking alcohol. She knew they were drunk and extremely high.