Da Realiza Famila

Sky

It was 3am in the morning and she was just making it home. She’d thought that nobody heard her coming into the house, as she crept up the stairs, removing her heels off of each foot to further eliminate any noise.

Sky!... what’d I tell you about coming in here this late? her mother yelled out to her from the couch, flicking the lights on.

Her mother had a thick and heavy Jamaican accent, which always sent chills down her spine when she scolded her. You could actually feel the vibes of the anger contained inside of her voice.

Sky sucked her teeth in irritation.

Ma please, I was just out with my friends. I didn't even pay at... she started to explain, before she was cut off by her mother.

Attention to the time huh? Is that what you were gonna say Sky?... Mi yuh mudda yuh respek mi, got it? Don’t lie, be honest, Charm admonished her daughter.

She didn’t utter a word, nor moved a muscle, just stood there and listened to her mother’s words.

Come here gyal and leh mi tell yuh something. These streets ain’t fah everybody. Being with the wrong crowd will cause plenty of problems. Yuh kno yah fadda, she explained to her, trying to give her some good advice.

Sky nodded her head that she understood, heading on upstairs after her mother signaled for her to go to her room. She absolutely hated when her mother lectured her, though she always took to heart what she said. No matter how coldhearted she might be, she never argued with or disrespected her mother or father.

Once inside of the bedroom she stripped out of her street clothing, dropping them into her dirty laundry basket. She then made her way into her personal bathroom, which was just one of the many features inside of the big, spacious room. As she ran a hot bath with bubbles, she grabbed her wash rag and stepped off into the hot steamy water. She closed her eyes as her body began to relax.

7 years back...

It was a cool and breezy morning in Jamaica, when my father came to visit me. I was only 13 years old at the time.

I really can’t say why, but I’ve always had this fascination with guns and other type of weapons. On this particular day, I walked into my mom’s foyer, admiring all of daddy’s guns and knives that hung on the wall. She always told me not to play with them, but of course I never listened.

I reached out and grabbed his Glock .45 off of the wall. It was absolutely beautiful, and I rubbed my hands all over every piece of it. Turning to face the mirror to my left, I pointed it straight forward.

When my Daddy walked in on me, I didn’t even notice that he was there, until he chuckled.

Sky mija, come here. Follow me and bring the gun with you,

I followed my daddy into the backyard, where there was a target already in place. I smiled and aimed at it, already knowing what he wanted me to do. I gripped the gun tightly and squeezed the trigger, hitting it with a perfect shot.

Good job mija, but you have to move quicker than that, he advised me.

But papa, I pulled as quick as I could, I defended.

Papi chuckled as he took the gun from me. He then stood in his stance and showed me what to do, squeezing the trigger with swiftness and precision.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The three rounds landed square into the head and chest area of the target. Meanwhile, mom is coming up behind us, clearly displeased with what’s going down.

Juan, wuh mi tell yuh bout lettin ha play with guns? Yuh nuh wuh raise ah a thug gyal no. Tuh, Sky gweh take yuh ah shower and get ready for school chile.

I rolled my eyes, giving my daddy a kiss before I go.

As long as I live I will always put my baby girl on game, he tells me.

I smile, then turn and go do as I was told.

As she reminisced about that day, she realized that her father had infused the street mentality into her a long, long time ago. It wasn’t that he’d wanted to mould her into that type of a person, just that he felt a need for her to possess the knowledge.

She loved her father for it, and if it ever came down to it, she’d have no problem at all living the life of a hustler.

Lola

"Lola!... Lola!... Get your lazy ass up. It’s time to go... now!" her mother hollered at her, trying to shake her awake.

Groaning in protest, she groggily climbed out of her bed and went into the bathroom to take a shower. About forty five minutes later she was dressed and ready to go.

Damn , you’re so fucking slow girl. Why wasn’t you ready to go anyway? You knew we had shit to do today Lola, Sky told her, pulling away from the house.

She rolled her eyes, clearly not up for her younger sister’s bullshit right now.

Maybe because I had a long ass night, she responded with quick sarcasm.

Mmhmm, I bet you did. Sky shot back, laughing at her.

Shut up and drive, she responded, playfully mushing her sister in the side of the face.

About twenty minutes later they pulled up at the designated, remote location, where all the sisters had now arrived, the private jet awaiting them. Everyone greeted each other and said their goodbyes to the mothers, who had all come to send them off. They were leaving Atlanta to head down to Miami.

Lola and her three sisters boarded the jet, and then got seated inside of their preferred area. Her mind suddenly drifted back to a conversation that she’d had with her mother, as the jet lifted up into the morning sky.

4 years ago...

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Who is it? Lola called out.

It’s me, can I come in? Treasure asked her daughter, always respectful of her privacy.

Yeah mom mom, it’s already open.

Hey sweetie, what you doing in here? her mother asked as she stepped off into the bedroom.

Nothing much mom, just thinking about graduation and Papi, she let her know, yet never turned to face her.

Baby girl, let me ask you something. What are your plans after graduation? Treasure inquired, which gained her daughter’s full attention now.

"To be honest mom, I really don’t even know yet. Papi is a well respected and known man out here, and I love him and the life that he’s provided for all of us.

"But mom, Papi makes it really hard for us to live a normal kind of life. It’s not like any of us can go out here and get a normal job, or go to a normal school. We have to be cautious with everything we do because of his lifestyle, so it’s hard to even think about a future.

"Sometimes, I just wish we lived like average people. It’s frustrating mom, and sometimes I want to escape from this life that we live now. At times I kind of regret having his last name, or even being his child.

I wanna live life like a normal person for a change, and have friends like everybody else, but I can't do that because we can’t even trust anybody right now. We are Realiza, which means that everybody is either an enemy to us, try to use us, or they want something from us, she vented to her mother, becoming irritated just at the mention of it.

Her mother shakes her head in understanding.

Baby girl I know exactly what you’re saying, but don’t think that because you can be a normal person and live life any way that you want to. You can even have friends Lola, you just have to be extra careful when dealing with people. You can become better than me or your Papi if you really put your mind to it, set goals for yourself, follow your dreams, accomplish everything that you’ve set your heart to do, and live your life with no remorse. Don’t let Papi or his empire stop you, do what makes you happy, she explained to her.

I love you so much mom and thanks for always being there for me. I actually needed to let that out, because I’ve been holding it in for too long.

Treasure smiled with affection, walking up to her and kissing her upon the cheek.

Lola!... Lola!... Bitch Hellllo...! Sky called out to her, jarring her out of her deep thoughts.

She sat up and looked out of the window, realizing that the jet was no longer moving. They’d now landed in Miami, Florida, and it was time to partake of everything that lay within its borders.

DOPE/PLUG

All I have in this world is my balls and my word, and I don't break them for no one. – Scarface

Lola

Lola was sitting inside of her new expansive home all by herself. After landing in Miami the pilot had given all of them a set of keys, letting them know that their father had purchased houses for them.

Wow, this has got to be the fucking life, thank you Papi! she screamed aloud, admiring the lavish home.

She then took a leisurely tour around its entire space for what seemed like forever, yet in all actuality was no more than a thirty minute span. She did her best to familiarize herself with everything, until the jet lag soon began to get the best of her.

Damn, I’m tired as hell, she voiced to herself, deciding that it was time to get some rest. She then went inside of the bathroom and ran herself a warm bath, to allow her mind and body to relax.

Two nights ago...

Hey there daddy’s favorite girl, Juan had called out to his daughter, making her jump.

She’d turned to see what he wanted.

Wassup daddy, where have you been all day? she’d asked him.

Oh, just out handling some business as usual. Where are your sisters? he’d inquired.

Well Shontriel said she was gonna lay down for a nap, and Torre said that she was about to go study. I really don't know where Sky is daddy, you know she’s always on the move, she’d answered, now beginning to wonder where her baby sister was herself.

Okay daddy’s princess. Well I’m about to go and chill out for a few, when all your sisters are here I want y’all to come see me. I need to talk to you guys about something he’d told her, walking away as she sat on the on the couch drifting back into her own little world.

12:00 a.m...

Lola and her sisters were all sitting around inside of her bedroom joking, laughing, and bonding; you know, doing their normal sisterly thing.

Ohhhh fuck! Lola had suddenly exclaimed, shaking her head at her forgetfulness.

Bitch, what’s wrong with you? Sky had asked, baffled by the outburst.

Daddy told me he needed to see us about something important earlier. It just totally slipped my mind, she’d let them know apologetically, looking stupid.

Well, come on y’all, let’s go see what he wants, Torre told them, getting up and heading towards the door.

Whatever it is, it’s gotta be important if he wants to talk to all of us, Shontriel had pointed out, as she filed in behind them.

They’d all entered quietly into the den, where their father was watching television sitting down inside of his recliner. On the count of three they’d all bellowed out in unison.

Heeyyy daddyyy!

Juan had laughed.

Hey there daddy’s fantastic four. I’m glad all of you guys are here.

So wassup daddy, what’s this about? Sky had asked him, deciding not to beat around the bush.

Well, as y’all know daddy got cancer, and I’ve been looking into expanding the business to Miami, Florida... he’d begun, studying his daughter’s face to see their reactions.

"Now, since I’m dealing with this damn cancer shit and won’t be able to move around as much, I’ve decided to pass the game down to the four of y’all.

Lola and Sky, I’m putting you two in charge of everything, and I’ll work hands on a little bit more with you both. Y’all have the most experience, so that’s why I’m choosing the two of you to run this, he’d continued.

Okay, so what does it mean daddy? Do we move, or run it here from Puerto Rico? Lola had asked curiously.

Y’all will all be moving to Miami in two days. I have everything already set up for y’all, so don’t worry about that part. Lola, make sure you call me when y’all get there, because there’s a few more things that will have to be done before y’all can get started, he’d explained to them.

Juan had then given them a brief schooling on the ins and outs of the business for about an hour. Afterwards, the girls had exited the den and closed the door to it behind them, heading on to bed. They all had known that he had cancer, yet not that it’d grown to a point where it was now a life and death battle. It’d pissed them all off a little bit that they were always the last to find shit out.

We’ll be okay y’all, Torre had assured them, breaking the awkward silence, though still wondering what the hell had just happened herself.

Ummm, I don’t know about y’all but I’m going to bed. I really don’t know what fuck just actually happened, but we’ll discuss it tomorrow. Love you guys.

Lola had started walking up the stairs to her bedroom. She’d never understood why her father had put them in this kind of position in the first place, though she always felt a sort of obligation to do whatever he called upon her to do. For the life her, she couldn’t figure out why, when all she’d wanted to do was live a normal life.

Wake up everyday and hustle my nigga/ that’s all I know... Ain't surprised by you hating my nigga/ that's all you...

The sound of her phone ringing had snapped her out of her train of thoughts. Ignoring it, she’d finished her bath, hopping out and preparing for bed. She slid on up under the blankets and was sleep in no time. She and her baby sister had a long day ahead of them tomorrow.

Sky

Today was a big day for Lola and Sky, as they were about to close a drug deal with some new guys who went by the names of Killa and King. All Juan had told them was that they were some Jamaican dudes that had the streets of Orlando on lock.

It was no secret that their father had the best cocaine in the city, hands down. He had the quality that men in America couldn’t even think of competing with, which is exactly why he was the one who hustlers wanted to connect with.

At 5:00 a.m. Sky made sure that she got up to get dressed, so that she’d be ready to handle the business transaction. Juan always told them that in order to make money, they had to dress and look like money, in the most professional way.

She searched through her closet looking for the perfect outfit for the occasion. Finding what she wanted, she then hopped into the shower for about thirty minutes. Once done, she was in the process of taking care of her hygiene when her phone suddenly rang out.

It was her sister Torre. 

Hellooo sissy love, she greeted her in her thickly accented tone. 

Good morning sis. Papi told me to call you and Lola just to make sure that y’all were getting ready to go and handle business, she told her.

Yeah sis, I’m up. I’m getting dressed as we speak. You know I stay on point anyway, but you might need to call Lolo sleepy headed ass to see if she up, she suggested.

Torre laughed.

Believe it or not her ass is up already, because I called her first. Go ahead and finished getting dressed girl, y’all driver will be there at 6:30 to get you.

Sky nodded her head out of reflex, as if her sister could actually see her.

A’ight mama Torre, love you. 

Sky hung up and finished getting ready, thinking to herself that Torre was always looking out for the rest of them. Once dressed she let her he finished hair down and flat ironed it into a bone straight style. Next, she did her make up; nothing too much, but just the right blend to compliment her natural skin tone.

She then looked herself over inside of the mirror, satisfied with her appearance. She had on a grey body romper with some black redbottom pumps, along with a black blazer and the necklace that her daddy gave her with the initialized medallion.

She grabbed her phone and then headed on out of the door, hopping into the back seat of the all black Mercedes, where her sister Lola was already sitting in silence. Their driver’s name was Felipe, and Julio, one of their father’s hired goons, was sitting on the passenger’s side.

"Papi wants us to FaceTime him before we go to the meeting spot," Lola told her, sighing.

Sky called their father to see what he wanted. After their brief video chat with him they pulled up to a secluded area. Both of them made sure that their guns were locked and loaded before shoving them down into their waistbands, then stepped out.

Felipe remained inside of the car, but Julio positioned himself in place by the trunk. Lola donned her Michael Kors glasses onto her face, and then we both headed over to where the two men whom appeared to be King and Killa stood.

Wah gwaan fellas. I’m Sky, and this is my sister Lola. What do you guys have for us? she asked.

They both looked at them with confused expressions, never thinking that they’d be doing business with two women.

Hey there ladies, I’m King. He shook their hands

And I’m Killa, the other one introduced himself, before shaking their hands also.

Well, we’re interested in copping 13 keys at 25 grand a piece. When we flip the profit we’ll hit y’all back up. We know y’all have the best cocaine in Miami and we need y’all to be our new plug, King explained to them.

As long as y’all have all of the money we got the product, Lola responded.

Killa then went to the trunk of his snow white Range Rover and pulled out a duffle bag. At the same time Sky signaled for Julio to come over and check it, to make sure that the money was all there. Julio checked the bag and nodded his head. Lola then walked back to the Benz and came out with the duffle bag that contained the kilos of pure Puerto Rican cocaine, returning and handing it over to King.

Thanks for doing business with us fellas, and I trust that all of our money is inside of that bag. Don’t let the pretty looks fool y’all, Lola smirked.

She felt a need to let them know that this was not a game, and if the money wasn’t on point then they’d have to deal with the wrath of a true Realiza.

Lola

Ohhh mi dios! ¡Perra! Lola exclaimed aloud, as soon as they were back inside of the car.

Sky looked over at her crazy.

Why the fuck is your dumb ass yelling like that? And can you please stop talking that Spanish shit like I know what the fuck you’re saying, Sky told her, shaking her head.

"Girl, you’re so fucking annoying. How in the hell you half Puerto Rican and can’t understand Spanish?... but bitch did you see him?

That nigga was so fucking fine. Lawd, those green eyes and pearly white teeth. Girl I’m telling you, that's about to be my new daddy, Lola declared, laughing but dead ass serious.

"Girl, daddy will fucking kill you mixing business with pleasure. But I got to admit, Killa was looking extra daddyish to a bitch.