So Gone - By Jennifer Luckett Page 0,47
mine had been.
“I'm afraid.”
“Don't be, they aren't paying us any attention yet,” Rocco coached. His tone steeled my nerves enough for me to follow his instructions, but I was still afraid.
I eased my hands under the table and removed my eight thousand dollar ring along with my diamond tennis bracelet. Shaking like a leaf on a tree, I slipped the jewelry in my bra. I remembered that I had on the diamond earrings that Blunt purchased for me two years ago for my birthday.
“Rocco, what about these?” I pointed to my earrings.
“You good,” he said, watching the robbers as I deftly removed the diamonds from my ear. My hand was trembling like a washing machine on the spin cycle.
“Old Lady, come up off yo’ jewels right now or I’ma blast yo’ ass.” The shortest gunman barked.
I almost fainted until I realized that he was not talking to me. He pressed the end of his shotgun to an elderly Caucasian woman's head. She was bejeweled to the teeth.
The woman wisely handed over her necklace and diamond rings.
“Er’body start emptying yo’ purses and wallets. I want all yo’ jewelry and dough, and y’all better not play wit’ me! If I check and see that one of you ain’t put all ya shit on the table, I’m deading you right on the spot!” another of the robbers barked.
The patrons dug deep in their pockets and handbags. I placed a one hundred dollar bill on the table. I looked at Rocco who was just sitting there emotionless and didn’t budge. “Aren’t you going to do what they asked?” I questioned him in a low whisper.
He shook his head. “I ain’t got shit on me, but a debit card. They ain’t gon’ get it.”
Two of the robbers were running around snatching up whatever loot that had been placed on the tables. The third one watched the door.
I turned my head towards the two young white girls in the booth next to us. One of them was wiping sweat from her forehead and gasping as if she was having a panic attack. The shortest of the robbers snatched her possessions from the table and aimed the shotgun at her head.
“Bitch, you must be deaf and dumb? You kno’ you gotta give me that necklace from ‘round yo’ neck.”
“I’m sorry, I forgot that I had a necklace on,” she stuttered.
“I should blow yo’ dome back. Now think it’s a game and watch how fast you’ll be posted up in a funeral home. I’m the wrong mothafucka for you to be playing wit’.” He reached out and snatched the chain from around her neck.
“Sir, I’m getting married next weekend, could you please let me have my engagement ring back,” she pleaded.
“What?” He chuckled at her obvious naiveté. “Bitch, I don’t give a fuck ‘bout you getting married.” He slapped her across the face with the butt of the gun, knocking her to the floor.
He came over to our table and grabbed the one hundred dollar bill. He looked at Rocco for a long moment, then said, “Sup, my nigga? Zone One fa life.” He dropped our money back down on the table and moved on.
The heavy scent of marijuana and liquor lingered behind.
“Let’s bounce!” yelled the lookout by the door, clutching a bag that contained the money from the register.
The three of them ran out the door and vanished. Once they were gone, I realized that my knees were shaking. Rocco came around to my side of the booth and wrapped his arms around my shoulders. All I wanted to do was go home. We didn’t even stick around to give a statement to the police.
When we got home, Rocco walked me to my front door and gave me a tight comforting hug. I assured him that I was okay and, we said our goodbyes. I went inside and made myself a drink before going to bed.
I slept fitfully. In the middle of the night, I heard my name being called. I startled awake and glanced over at the alarm clock. It was past two a.m. in the morning. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and sat straight up in the bed. I planted my foot on the floor and paced across the room, over to the window where the familiar voice was coming from. I snatched the blinds back and glared into Blunt's face.
“Blunt, what the hell do you want at this time of the morning? Go layup with one of your bitches and leave me