BETRAYAL
Sends a ghetto-Prince after Shantell’s heart, and her baby-father to prison where men get degree’s in patience & revenge! To get back what he lost, Markio & Say-la must piece together the ruins of their live’s while playing the most dangerous game of them all, a game few will ever MASTER!
ONLY MEANS
Mo’nique was ambitious, smart, and possessed the body of a Video Vixen. She knew her beauty would get her far in life, unfortunately, Mo’nique had one small flaw. . .she was torn between the man she needed, and the one she still loved! Now, every challenge will bring them closer together with only one guarantee; THE WORST THING IN THE WORLD IS A PLAYA SCORN!
THE “GAME” IS REAL!!!
A crafty street tale saturated with “SEX”, “DECEPTION”, “DYME-BRED WOMEN”, and “THUGS” that play for keeps.
Meet F. Gee Heyward, the NEW KID on the writer''s block bringing the incisive power and realism missing from many of todays street-lit novels. He is a man of vision and many talents, with characters that are true to life, pithy dialogue, and the depth & tone befitting urban America - He offers a uniquely vivid glimpse into the oftentimes painful inner city experience.
His ability to capture the true essence of the urban genre is no coincidence—he has the credentials. Tempered on the mean, tumultuous New York fast track, by the age of 16, and already a father, he earned himself a 22 year — if not permanent—stay in the infamous Mew York State Prison System. A system which seeks to hide its festering sores and viciousness behind an elaborate form of camouflage. The unvarnished truth is that, it is more atrocious & depraved than the penal systems in Louisiana or Mississippi.
After several years languishing in this hellish environment, F. Gee Heyward had a critical awakening; he became an insatiable reader, and as part of this process, pursued his formal education, obtaining a college degree. Along the way, he married, divorced and started all over again. Regardless of the constraints of circumstance, he remained determined to carve out of the chaos a pinch of normalcy for his life. As part of this normalization process, the dynamic element of writing became his therapy & cure, and through the medium of creative writing, he is able to control his milieu, and thus, indirectly enjoy the freedom denied him. F. Gee Heyward is currently at work on his next novel.
Reaching their table, she flopped down on the cushioned seat, exhausted as though she''d been the one performing for hundreds.
The song: (There You Go) "Tellin'' Me No Again" by Keith Sweat was playing in the background. Several eyes glanced their way, and Shan was certain they were conversating about her part in the show. She hugged Karen & then Gabriel, reveling in her newfound stardom.
"Thanks guys for the best birthday ever!"
"Oh you''re good". Karen laughed, moving around to the opposite side of the table. She wanted to study Shan''s face. She could always tell when her friend was lying.
Someone screamed that John Starks was in da house.
"He''s cute". Shan said, turning away from the 6''5" New York Knick Guard, to peek down at her watch. The time made her think of the argument she''d be facing when she got home; then just as fast she dismissed the thought from her mind. Tonight was her night, and she was going to enjoy it whether Ja''sheim liked it or not!
She often wondered what she saw in him in the first place. Wait, that wasn''t entirely the truth. Derrick had chased her ex-boyfriend Corey away and interfered in two other potential relationships, that she''d literally thrown herself on the thuggish Ja''sheim. He wasn''t afraid to date her like most men were after learning that D.B.C.''s own Derrick, was little Mark''s Godfather. There had been so many rumors about Derrick''s activities. Rumors of him robbing people, shooting, killing his own cousin Preston over a bet. Shan didn''t believe a word of it! Yes, he sold drugs & had a few people working for him, but other than the day when he hung up on Corey, she''d never seen him get upset about anything. If anyone had to be feared, she told herself, it was Ja''sheim!
"Well?" Karen said, "how long have you known Ebony Steel?"
"Ebony who?!"
Gabriel glared at her. "You know damnwell who we talkin'' about!"
"No I don''t!" Shan said immediately, then started laughing. "Okay, y''all want the truth?" She said, not at all convinced her friend''s didn''t plan for the stripper to select her. How else would he have known her name & who she dated?
"The whole truth!" Karen stated.
"I was hoping y''all could tell me who he is? Remember, it was you two who planned this night for me...Ms. K. Washington". She slanted over the table and read the reservation. "So, it''s really over between you & Vincent huh?"
Karen frowned, "Don''t try changing the subject, you already know it''s over with me & Vince, we''re talkin'' ''bout you now!"
Gabriel leaned closer to the table. "And just because we planned the evening don''t mean shit, ''cause you sure as hell didn''t let Ja''sheim stop you, like you normally do, when you heard ''Gemini'' was performing!"
"HellOOO!" Karen said, agreeing with Gabriel.
Shantell grinned & shook her head, "this is a totally different occasion".
Karen looked doubtful. "So, you want us to believe that this fine-ass brother just happened to come up with a song with you & Ja''sheim in it, pull you up on stage, and you don''t know him?!"
Shantell shrugged. "Believe what you want, but I swear on my life I don''t know who he is! Which means, if neither of you bitches arranged it, then I don''t know what to think!" For a few seconds they did nothing but stare at each other. Gabriel was about to say something, when the lounge exploded with cheers & applause.
"It''s Gemini". Someone shouted, and Shantell felt her heart skip.