Carl Weber's Kingpins

Carl Weber presents the second installment of an eight book series, Kingpin. Carl Weber brings the best of Urban street lit authors together, each telling their own dramatic tale of life in the streets in known cities across the USA. The second installment continues with Treasure Hernandez telling the tale of the Dirty South.

Come follow Blake Karrington as he once again takes you on a ride through the gritty dirt roads of the South. In this suspenseful Southern tale, we are introduced to King, a southern born and bred hustler who is determined to take the drug empire handed to him by his father into the legitimate world of the music industry. Little does he know that when the streets birth you, trying to leave can be deadly. King's life is looking good when he meets a beautiful, classy queen. Sloan is a college-educated, hardworking Neo soul singer. She has always tried to do the right thing, but when something from her past comes back to haunt her, it could destroy the love she and King are building. Hang on, while Blake Karrington shows you what has made him the king of Southern street tales.

When a kingpin is betrayed by his friend, the whole city will turn upside down as they go head-to-head. When he was young, Curtis Griffin, a.k.a. Cane, formed a clique called the CMB. As a young boy, Curtis Griffin, a.k.a. Cane, had street knowledge beyond his years, gained from his family-some of the biggest drug dealers in the area. While most adolescents were playing Nintendo, Cane was hanging with big-time hustlers, earning his way and making his keep. When Cane forms a clique called the CMB, his best friend Travis, a.k.a. Trapp, joins him. They are getting money, women, and notoriety, until jealousy gets in the way. Trapp betrays the clique and joins forces with their archrivals from the west side: the Poison Clan. They become the Jack Boys, robbing everyone who crosses their path by any means necessary. Once best friends and now members of rival gangs, Cane and Trapp's conflict will create chaos in the streets of Greenville.

Young and naive, Tiara Rogers learns the hard way what happens when you are green in the game. She has everything a girl could ever want, except a normal life. Not understanding that being the daughter of Dallas, Texas kingpin makes her a walking target, she does everything she can to defy her father, including losing her virginity when she falls hard for the charm of a boy she barely knows. She's unaware of the boy's true plans for her, and truths soon turn to deadly lies. Before she knows it, she is left alone, with nowhere to go. She is tossed into a world that she knows nothing about, and the cruelties are unimaginable. Lost in the underworld, with no friends or family, she realizes that her father hadn't done her any favors by keeping her sheltered. He came up from the mud, and she wishes he would have shown her how messy it could get. But now it is too late. With his empire up for grabs, it turns the people that she once trusted into bloodthirsty hounds. Will she be able to reclaim what is rightfully hers, or will she be too broken to even stand up on her own two feet? Follow Treasure Hernandez as she gives you the heartwrenching story of love . . . and blood.

Life is perfect for Donna and Kim Boon when they move in with their Aunt, until her murder unearths a secret that will alter everything they've ever known. Donna and Kim Boon moved to Houston, Texas with their aunt Lisa when they were orphaned at ten years old. Lisa raised the girls as her own, showering them with everything a young woman could want. The girls have grown up into beautiful and privileged Houstonites and are two of the most eligible bachelorettes in the city, with more suitors than they know how to handle. Life seems perfect, but when Aunt Lisa is gunned down in cold blood, the girls discover a family secret that will change their lives forever.

The Kingpins of Oklahoma City, one from the north side and one from the south side, push pounds of weed, gallons of PCP, and kilos of cocaine through the corridors of the OKC, using very different methods to keep their people in line. King is the leader of the north side crew. Along with his protégé, Tippi, he runs his crew with deadly force. Each member knows there is no room for error when it comes to getting money on the north side. Flamboyant, the leader of the south side crew, is the opposite. His crew is tight out of loyalty, not fear. King and Flamboyant know nothing of each other, especially the fact that they are both doing business with the same connect. The money is good for all involved, and it's a win-win situation for Charli and Toni, the suppliers. They keep the reins tight on both leaders, because a war on the streets would be detrimental to their thriving business in Oklahoma City. Everything goes awry when Flamboyant's woman, Shayla, becomes torn between her current man and the one who used to rule her universe-King. Once the lines are crossed, there's no going back, and the war that Charli and Toni are trying to avoid becomes a reality. A love triangle fueled by two men who would gladly give their lives for the woman they love is causing death at an alarming rate. Is Shayla worth losing what these two men have built? In the end, which kingpin of Oklahoma City will remain standing?

There can only be one: one man with two loyal friends and secrets from the past that will ultimately shake up the entire hood in Chicago; one man on a mission to destroy anyone who doesn't abide by his rules, including tricky bitches who drop to their knees behind closed doors, yet stand tall against him when the time comes to collect the almighty dollar; one man with enough swagger in his walk, confidence in his talk, and the skills and mindset to build an empire. There is only one man bold enough to deliver multiple orgasms yet never tell a soul his real name. He has overpowering strength, a top-notch reputation, power like no other, and a bite that will hurt more than a dog. Who is this man? The streets of Chicago know him as the One and Only. . .

Ke'yoko and Ka'yah are identical twins with two totally different personalities. As young girls they formed a bond that could not be broken. It isn't until they become grown women that their loyalty is tested by secrets, deception, and lies. Growing up with a strict and controlling father and a weak and sniveling mother, Ke'yoko's only goal is to get as far away from them as possible, even if it means leaving Ka'yah behind. Being rescued by Ja'Rel is like a dream come true. Ke'yoko thinks her world with Ja'Rel is perfect until she starts unraveling the truth behind it. To secure her future, Ke'yoko decides to get into the dope game with her best friend Nadia, who is the breath of fresh air Ke'yoko needs to escape the harsh reality of the fake life she's been living. Ke'yoko puts together a crew, all while trying to keep her squeaky clean image. Ka'yah, the more laid back of the twins, always has her sister's back, even if it means putting herself and her son last. Having her hands full raising her young son on her own, she always seems to be in Ke'yoko's shadow. Just once she wants to come out ahead of her sister, to have something or someone for herself. How far is she willing to go to have that? In a chain of shocking events, Ke'yoko finds out the hard way that everyone is suspect. Family and friends mean nothing, and loyalty is just a word. However, Ke'yoko refuses to let 'em see her sweat. She is determined to put on her game face and keep it moving, but that definitely doesn't mean things will be business as usual.

When his name surfaces on a list of the most notorious kingpins of all times, will Ethan's past land him in a jail cell or a casket? Can he escape the fate of so many kingpins before him? Type Kingpins of Memphis in any search engine and you'll see images of Craig Pettis and his alleged crew, and that's how Ethan Wade Carruthers prayed it remained. Though he had never met the youthful-faced man covered in diamonds, he knew the information he found wasn't completely accurate, because he should have discovered his own face and crew. Not that he expected to pull up any results under the name Ethan Wade Carruthers besides an old missing person's report on a 16-year-old boy from the south side of Chicago. Why would he, when Ethan didn't have a life, nor a past, worth reading or writing about? His intellect had him rejected from the deadly Chicago gang life before he could decide if he wanted to be accepted or not, and with both parents in love with their addiction to freebasing cocaine, he found it easier to pack up and leave. It took many years and miles to impregnate his mind with thoughts of survival. With self-preservation growing inside of him, he birthed the deadliest Kingpin to walk the width of the United States. He named him Joe and released him onto the streets of Memphis. With everyone's eyes stuck on what they can see, Joe made moves that could only be traced back to a ghost whose origin, location, and moves were no more than urban legend. With his name gracing the list of the most notorious Kingpins of all times, will Ethan's rebirth lead him to a fate in a jail cell or a casket, as it had many before him? Or will Joe be the mastermind to construct an exit plan so well thought out that it will give him a way out as quietly as he arrived? Trust, he's not your 'average Joe.'

Join in as C. N. Phillips paints a kingpin story the way it has never been done before. To some it will be a beautiful mural; to others it will be a brutal massacre. Ever since he was a child, the only thing Cyril Anderson wanted was to be down with his brother Cane's crew. Cane Anderson, leader of the notorious Bankroll Crips, was invincible--or so Cyril thought. On the night of Cyril's initiation, things take a terrible turn and leave Cane lying dead in a pool of his own blood. Now the leader of a blood-thirsty gang, there is only one thing that Cyril wants to do: seek revenge. When he learns that the man behind Cane's death is none other than Arnell "Dubb" Lewis, the current kingpin of Los Angeles, it is up to Cyril to figure out why. He begins a bloody journey to redemption with a heart as black as the night sky and a team of loyal hitters behind him.

All hail to the West Coast, where its natural resources of breathtaking beaches, smokable trees, and beautiful women are unlimited. From the freezing top of Mt. Denali in Alaska to the fly-ass architectural marvel of California's Golden Gate Bridge, the region is one of the most desirable places to visit on Earth. But for a problematic girl like Temper Chey, it's a prison, and she's dying to be freed. Perhaps Temper's longing to escape is a result of being raised on a road less traveled in an area of South Central Los Angeles, where tourism is obsolete and gang banging and dope slanging reign supreme. Or maybe it's because of the widespread enigma of "the only way out the hood is over a thirty-foot wall." If this hood proverb is true, then being born half black and half Asian should've given her a ten-foot ladder as a head start. Will her brief escapade with one of the most infamous Crip kingpins force her to twist, toss, and burn her exit plans? Will she give up on the promise she made to her uncle to "bust her ass" to get those missing twenty feet? Or will the chaos be the defibrillator that revives her and provides an escalator ride to freedom?

Gaza was born and raised in McGregor Gully, one of Jamaica's grittiest housing projects in the slums of East Kingston. Growing up in poverty, he was exposed to robbery and murder at a tender age. In order to stay alive, he quickly adapted to a life of crime. Now he is one of the coldest killers and richest kingpins to ever walk the streets of Kingston. Whoever comes into contact with him and his crew either loves them, fears them, or wants to see them dead. The entrance of Catherine into his life just might change everything. Catherine, a young and determined federal agent, is rapidly climbing the chain of command. When she crosses paths with this deadly, charismatic stranger on one of her assignments, she's enchanted by his jovial ways. Soon she forgets one of the most important law enforcement lessons: Trust no one. Camille is a young Jamaican beauty who is hot on the dancehall scene. With a banging body and a good mouthpiece, she has no problem getting whatever she wants, including Gaza. She is not about to let Catherine come in and take over her spot. Betrayal and backstabbing is at a high level, and Gaza is determined to wreak havoc on anyone who stands in his way. No one is safe, not even the people closest to him. Will this young thug risk it all to maintain his power, or will he be blinded by love for the woman who was hired to bring him down?

Anissa Burke has one goal, and that's to be the baddest bitch to ever walk the earth. Using seduction to her advantage, she stays laced in designer clothes, in the best homes, and behind the wheel of fancy cars. Things are good, and when Anissa meets a pimp named Leon, he promises to make them even better. At first Leon treats her like royalty. He tells her she's better than his other girls and even shows her the game. Soon, though, she begins to see the evil in him take root, and his love turns to brutal blows. Tired of seeing bruises on her skin and giving him all her money, Anissa can't take it anymore. After witnessing Leon commit a murder, she calls in an anonymous tip that leads to his arrest. With Leon gone, his spot is up for grabs, and Anissa knows she's the only one who can step into it. The girls trust her, and under her wing, they become the highest paid underground escort business in South Beach. However, sometimes the things buried in the past can dig themselves up. When escorts start turning up dead around the city and an attempt is made on her life, Anissa discovers that Leon has been released from prison. With vengeance in his heart, he wants back what he's started, and he won't stop until there is no more breath in Anissa's body.

Carl Weber brings the best of Urban street lit authors together, each telling their own dramatic tale of life in the streets in cities across the USA. The third installment continues with veteran Urban Books author Brittani Williams. Dontay had it rough growing up in the projects with a mother who forced him to become a man at the young age of fifteen. His father was a rolling stone, having multiple children with many women. He always fought for his father's attention, until taking his spot became more important than gaining his love. Now Dontay is the leader of one of the most successful and most feared drug organizations in the city of Philadelphia. From the outside looking in, he appears to have it all-tons of money, respect, and women falling at his feet-but it all comes with a hefty price. He meets Desire, a biracial beauty, and instantly vows to make her his queen. Unfortunately, trouble is lurking, and Desire may not be the woman she claims to be. A war ensues with a rival drug gang, and Dontay reigns supreme, but he begins to lose the tight grip that he has on his organization as he struggles to find the person responsible for leaking details of his activities to the feds. With jealousy, envy, and revenge as motives, one of his most trusted understudies moves forward with a plan of takeover that quickly leaves Dontay without the things that he's worked his whole life to attain. In this fast-paced tale of deceit, nothing is what it seems, and Dontay learns that even his own family can't be trusted. Filled with drama, lies, sex, and police corruption, Carl Weber's Kingpins: Philadelphia makes it clear that even for a kingpin, more money means more problems.

Antonio Roberts and Paige Tillary are from vastly different backgrounds, so when they meet and fall in love, it won't be easy. Antonio, born of an affair between a beautiful actress and a notorious crime boss, lost his mother to drugs and was forced to navigate foster care and survive on the streets of the Bronx. He is ignored by his father, the infamous head of a powerful crime syndicate, and his half-brothers are living the life Antonio used to dream about. Antonio has turned his struggles into a career in the NBA, but when a devastating injury sidelines his basketball career and he finds out he has been duped out of millions by his best friend, Antonio is forced to turn to the father who never claimed him. Paige came from money. Private schools, trips around the world, and extravagant shopping sprees were all part of her upbringing. Her father is a well-respected politician who is not happy when his daughter falls in love with a man who represents everything the senator despises. But Paige's father harbors many secrets of his own, including one that will soon rock his family to the core. In spite of their own marital issues, Paige's parents try to exert pressure on her to leave Antonio. She lets love guide her, and despite her parents' threats to disinherit her, she marries Antonio anyway. When secrets, lies, and ties to a dangerous criminal underworld cause their opposing worlds to collide, the young couple is torn between their love for one another and their competing family loyalties. Family secrets, power, money, fame, and love are the ties that bind in this emotionally charged street tale.

Kleigh never wanted Tron to fall in love with her, or vice versa. She isn't who he thinks she is, but how can she tell him that the kingpin he is gunning for, Kevin "Klax" Turner, is her big brother? She is the water to his fire and the calm to his storm. Never in his 26 years of life did Tron think he would find his equal, but Kleigh is exactly that. Her beauty speaks to his eyes, while her mind whispers to his soul. He can't imagine anybody else wearing the crown as queen after he kills the king of Harlem and takes over the throne. When push comes to shove and her secret comes to light, Kleigh is forced to pick a side. That choice is what ignites the fire to a war of savages ... a fire that can only be put out by blood.

The untimely death of St. Louis Kingpin, King David, has left a vacuum in the underworld. He leaves behind his vast empire to his surviving heirs, David Jr. and Davita. Born barely one year apart, they were raised in very different worlds. David Jr. is college educated. His mother always pushed him to do the best he could so he could one day legitimize and run the East St. Louis crime family. She thinks she's above and beyond the game. All she wants is the money that she believes she and her son are due. Davita, born to and of the streets, was also raised by a money-loving momma, but her mother taught her a different set of rules. Davita has been raised to use anybody and everything to get that money by any means necessary. She has embraced the business of the streets, and she is ready to ascend to the throne that her father has unexpectedly left behind. The question remains: will the family ties that bind keep the families together, or will sex, greed, drugs, and their mothers' divisive ways tear it all to hell, bringing St. Louis down with them? David Jr. and Davita have decisions to make!

New York Times bestselling author Carl Weber has brought together eight of the best Urban Street writers to participate in the most highly anticipated series of 2015, the Kingpin series. Every city has an underworld leader. In the Kingpin series, we will visit eight cities and ride along with that city's kingpin as he rules the streets. The story starts out in Miami with Nikki Turner, and will end with a compilation of all kingpins, written by New York Times bestselling author Carl Weber.

Kalif is everything his adoptive family wanted him not to be: treacherous, conniving, and coldhearted. As much as he wishes to please them, he can't deny who and what he is destined to be. The hot-tempered young man is indeed his father's son. While off his meds, Kalif discovers the circumstances surrounding the brutal murder of his birth parents. In a matter of seconds, he totally snaps, ignoring the possible consequences. His rage and thirst for power increases. Deep off into the zone, Kalif develops zero tolerance for nonsense. Quickly, he rises through the ranks of the Motor City crime underworld, proving to everyone, including himself, he deserved the hard-earned title of kingpin of Detroit.

The saying goes you shouldn't bite the hand that feeds you, but maybe you should if that same hand prevents you from feeding yourself. Every territory has a king, and Metro Atlanta is no exception. Gang lords Blanket and Guerilla have been growing their numbers, never beefing until Guerilla decides to expand, thanks to the help of his enemy's own rook. Caught in the middle of this battle from different sides of the track are London and Saint. Spoiled rich Roanoke girl London Royal is no exception to the old saying that every girl loves a bad boy and his ways. When she visits the downtrodden Jonesboro neighborhood of Goodman with her best friends, her privileged world changes drastically with one party and later, a tow-truck pickup by bad boy Santana Black. Santana "Saint" Black is anything but a saint. Caught up in the drug game, Saint is a runner and enforcer for Blanket-not to mention he's from the wrong side of the tracks to have his sights set on London. Can they find love in the middle of a kingpin war, or will both fall to the game of the streets?