A Gangsta Twist Saga (12 page)

“Come on, nigga. Since when did you have to be twenty-one to get into any club in the City?” Keno pointed out honestly.

“Yeah, I know, huh? Man, go get her ass and bring her over here for me, gee.”

“Gotcha,” said Keno as he went over toward the bar.

“Who are you guys talking about, Taz?” Sacha asked as she tried to see who they were talking about.

Before Taz could answer her, Gwen and Bob came to their table and sat down. Bob smiled and said, “Sacha, I guess I owe you one, 'cause I think I'm in love!” They all started laughing.

Gwen shook her head and said, “Uh-uh, nigga! You ain't in love . . . yet. Wait 'til I put this thang on your ass! Then, you'll be in love!”

Taz shook his head and laughed. “So, I guess you're going to go on and take Gwen home for us, then, huh?”

“Nah, my nigga, I ain't taking her home. She's coming home with me!”

Taz stared at Bob as if he'd lost his mind. They normally didn't get down like that until after they were sure the females they were fucking with were straight. That usually took at least a month or so. That's why it had taken Taz so long to let Sacha know where he lived. Caution was a must with them. Taz was shocked at Bob's words, but he felt comfortable that Gwen was all good, so he didn't speak on it.

Keno brought Tazneema and Lyla over to the table and said, “Taz, guess who I've found?”

Taz turned and smiled at Tazneema and said, “So, you're hangin' in clubs now, huh?”

“I'm grown, Taz,” Tazneema said with a smile on her face.

“Hi, Taz. I told your sister that you might be up in here, but she said that the club wasn't your thing,” Lyla said, smiling at him.

Taz smiled and said, “Don't worry about it. It ain't no thang. 'Neema, I want you to meet someone. Sacha, this is Tazneema. 'Neema, this is Sacha.”

Sacha smiled and said, “It's nice to meet you, Tazneema.”

After they had shaken hands, Tazneema said, “Please, call me 'Neema.” She stared at Sacha briefly and realized just like Mama-Mama had that they were in love with each other. It was written all over both of their faces. She smiled and said, “Ooh, she's your girlfriend!”

Taz started laughing and said, “Yeah, she's my Li'l Mama. Do you approve?”

Smiling brightly, she said, “Yeah, she's cool. But what about Tari? Oops! I mean . . . you . . . you know what . . . I . . . never mind. Look, I'm about to go over and get me something to drink, okay?”

With a frown on his face, Taz said, “Yeah, you go on and do that. Oh, before you go, I spoke with Mama-Mama. You can go spend the holidays with Lyla and her family.”

“For real? Thank you, Taz!” She gave him a hug and a kiss on his cheek, said good-bye to Sacha, and led Lyla toward the bar.

Sacha, who had caught what Tazneema had said, was frowning at Taz, who was trying to avoid eye contact with her. He looked up at Keno and said, “Dog, I'm goin' to need you to stay until the club lets out. Keep an eye on her for me, gee.”

“Don't trip, dog. You know we got her. Go on and do you. See ya later, Sacha,” Keno said as he left them alone.

Sacha tapped Taz lightly on his hand and asked, “Who's Tari, Taz?”

Taz sighed and said, “Somebody that you're about to meet. Come on.”

When Taz and Sacha left the club, neither of them saw Clifford watching them from inside of his car as they climbed inside of Taz's truck. “Gotcha!” Clifford said as he quickly wrote down Taz's license plate number. Once they pulled out of the parking lot of the club, he smiled and started his car and went home feeling confident again about his and Sacha's future together.

 

 

Sacha was silent as she listened to Taz talk to someone on his cell phone. “Wake up, girl. I told you I'm on my way.”

“Taz, why do you insist on waking me every time you choose to come over here?” whined Tari. “I do work, you know.”

“Yeah, I know, but I need you to be up when I get there. I'm bringing someone for you to meet. And it . . . it's kind of important.”

That statement grabbed Tari's attention. She sat up in her bed and asked, “A woman, Taz?”

He sighed and said, “Yeah.”

Her tone changed to a more businesslike one when she said, “Okay, I'll be up by the time you get here. Good-bye.”

After hanging up with Tari, Taz felt like his heart was going to pop outside of his chest. He couldn't remember the last time that he was this nervous
. Man, she's hot! I can tell,
he thought as he turned onto the highway, headed toward the city of Moore.

Sacha noticed that Taz was uncomfortable, and that made her all the more curious, but she chose to remain silent as long as he did.

After about twenty minutes or so, Taz said, “We're almost there. I'd rather have to say this once, because this shit is kinda hard for me, Li'l Mama. And please, don't trip out. This is something that I've been dreading since I realized how deeply I care about you. I've never lied, Li'l Mama, I just didn't exactly come completely clean with you. I hope that this won't hurt us or get in the way of our future,” he said as he pulled into Tari's driveway.

“Well, I guess we're about to find out, Taz,” Sacha replied with more attitude than she intended to.

Tari was standing at her front door as she watched Taz and Sacha get out of his truck.
Well, I'll be! He's finally found someone he can really love. Now ain't that somethin'!

Taz stepped onto Tari's porch with Sacha's hand in his and said, “What's up, Tee?”

“It's late, Taz. Come on inside so we can get this over with.” Tari turned her back to them and went back inside of her house. She was smiling as she entered her home—smiling because of how nervous Taz looked. She couldn't remember the last time she had seen him look so cute.
Ahh, my baby is nervous because he thinks he's going to hurt my feelings! That's so special!
she thought to herself. She turned and motioned for them to have a seat on her sofa and said, “I'd offer you both something to drink, but I have a feeling that Taz really wants to get whatever off of his chest. So, the floor is yours, babe.” She sat down on the floor in front of her floor model sixty-inch big-screen television.

Taz got to his feet and said, “Tari, this is Sacha, and Sacha, this is Tari. I really don't know how to say this shit without it upsetting either of you, so I'm just gon' spit it out.” Turning toward Tari, he said, “Tee, I love this woman, and if she lets me, I want to be with her for the rest of my life.”

Before Tari could respond, he turned toward Sacha and said, “Li'l Mama, Tari's been my friend, my confidante, as well as my lover, for a very long time. She will always be a major part of my life . . . always. But since we've hooked up, I've realized that it's you that I want in my life in that very special way. I love you, Li'l Mama. Now, I'll take a seat and let the both of you rip me apart,” he said as he went and sat down next to Sacha, praying that this soap opera shit worked out in his favor.

Tari and Sacha smiled at one another. Sacha spoke first. “Tari, I want you to know that it is a pleasure to meet you. I have no ill feelings toward you or your relationship with Taz. I love him just as deeply, and if you are a major factor in his life, then I want you to know that you will mean just as much to me.”

Intelligent, pretty, and sincere. I like that, Taz. I really do. You done good, babe. You done damn good!
Tari said to herself. She smiled and said, “Thank you for that, Sacha. I do love this man, and I know for a fact that I always will. I don't know why he's so damn nervous, but I think it's so cute that he is. That shows me that he cares for me just as much as I've always figured he did. I've waited for years for this day to come. I've always known that I was not the woman for him. I am surprised that it has finally happened, though. For a minute there I thought our relationship, however strange it is, might just be able to make it. But now, I see the love you have for each other in the both of your eyes. I feel so happy for the both of you.”

Taz sighed in relief, and Sacha smiled.

Tari continued, “I have only one thing to say to you, Sacha, and please don't take offense, because I'm speaking from my heart here. Don't ever hurt this man, whatever you do. Don't you ever cause him any pain. Because if you do, then you will see how unruly a white woman can be.”

Sacha smiled and said, “Well, that's something that I'm really not looking forward to.” They both laughed, and then Sacha said, “I respect everything you've said, Tari, and I give you my word that I'll love this man with all of my heart as long as he'll let me. And I'll never, and I mean
never,
hurt him.” Turning toward Taz, she said, “But if you ever keep anything from me that is as important as this is, I might break your neck, mister!”

They all laughed, and Taz felt the tension leave his body in waves. He smiled at the both of them and said, “I love you two more than you both will ever know. Thank you, Tari, for not trippin' the fuck out on me. And thank you, Li'l Mama, for understanding. I didn't know how to tell you about Tari without pissing you off. That's why I had been procrastinating.”

“So, what made you decide to get it over with?” asked Tari.

Before he could answer Tari's question, Sacha said, “His little sister let it slip at the club earlier.”

Tari and Taz stared at each other momentarily, and then Tari said, “Ahh, so you've had the pleasure of meeting Tazneema, I see.”

“Yes, I have, and she seems like a very sweet girl. She looks so much like this joker that they could pass for twins.”

Taz smiled and said, “Well, I guess we'll be getting outta here now, Tee. I know you gots to get some rest for work in the morning.”

“Yeah, I do. Umm, excuse me, Sacha, but could I have a moment alone with Taz before y'all leave?”

“Sure. I'll be in the truck, baby. And once again, it was very nice meeting you, Tari.”

“Same here, girl. Don't worry, we'll be seeing a lot of each other.” Tari waited for Sacha to leave her home before she spoke. After the front door was closed, she said, “Love is a wonderful thing, isn't it?”

“Yeah, I guess it is. But to tell you the truth, I never thought it was for me. That is until I met Sacha. I'm tellin' you, Tee, the first time I laid eyes on her I knew that she was the one.”

“That's good, baby. I meant what I said earlier, that if she ever hurts you, I'm going to hurt her something awful.”

Taz laughed and said, “I don't think she'll ever get down like that, Tee. But it's good to know that you still got my back.”

“Always. How much have you told her about your lifestyle?”

“Not much.”

Laughing, she said, “Yeah, I can tell.”

“She knows about the IHOPs, the rental houses, as well as the Popeye spots. But that's about it.”

“Everything that's in the dark will sooner or later come to the light, Taz. If you love her, you're going to have to trust her.”

“I know. But she's a lawyer. She can't afford to know what my real bread and butter is, at least not right now.”

“True. Don't wait too long on telling her everything that's vital in your life, Taz. Or you'll risk losing her. It's been way too long since you've been able to love like this, so don't fuck it up,” Tari said seriously.

“I won't. Now, give me a kiss so I can get the fuck up outta here,” he said as he wrapped his arms around her waist and they shared a quick kiss.

“Damn! I guess that means you can't even come and break me off from time to time, huh?” Before he could answer, she smiled and said, “Don't worry about me, boy. I'm going to be all right.”

Staring directly into Tari's eyes, he said, “I know, 'cause I'm always going to make sure that you're straight. Always. I don't think we're doing any traveling for the rest of the year, so everything is everything. I'll get at ya before we do bounce, though.”

Tari yawned and stretched and said, “All right. I hope my babies like Sacha, 'cause if they don't, she's in some big trouble, and so are you, for that matter.” They both started laughing as Tari walked Taz to the door.

When Taz got inside of the truck, he smiled and said, “That lady is truly something special.”

“I can tell that you two are really close. How long have you been . . . you know?”

He smiled and said, “From the days when I just didn't give a fuck.”

“What's that supposed to mean, baby?”

Taz smiled and said, “Nothin'. I guess it's time for us to go touch those rooms, huh?” he asked, hoping she would let it go.

Smiling seductively, Sacha said, “Yes, I guess it is.”

They arrived at Taz's home a little after three in the morning. During the drive back toward the City, Sacha decided that they'd better stop and get something to eat, so they had a quick breakfast at a local Waffle House.

Now that they were at home, Taz was excited. He was excited because his life finally seemed to have a purpose again; excited about being able to make love to a woman other than Tari at his home; and excited to actually feel alive again
. Damn! And it feels real good!
Taz thought as he showed Sacha around his home.

By the time they made it downstairs to the gym area, Sacha felt as if she was watching the
Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous
television show.
This nigga is living larger than I thought,
she said to herself as she dipped her foot into the Olympic-sized swimming pool. She frowned for a moment and said, “I thought you told me that you went to a gym when you worked out.”

Smiling, he said, “I did. I just didn't tell you that it was inside of my home.”

She punched him lightly on his arm and said, “All right, mister, what else do you have in store for me?”

He grabbed her by her slender arms, pulled her close to him, and said, “First, you have to meet two more of my special loved ones. And after that, it's time for some of the wildest lovemaking you've ever had in your life.”

Smiling, Sacha said, “I'm ready whenever you are, baby. Now, who are these two other special loved ones?”

Taz smiled and said, “Whether you believe me or not, they've been watching you ever since we came into the house.”

“What are you talking about?”

He smiled and said, “Heaven and Precious, come meet Li'l Mama.”

Taz's two prized Dobermans came trotting out of the gym area as if they had been a part of the gym equipment. They had been observing their master and guest from a distance when they had first entered the house. Taz had them trained especially for stealth and stalking tactics. They were trained to kill at the slightest sign of danger to Taz, and anyone he deemed friendly. Both Heaven and Precious stopped in front of Sacha and raised their wet noses toward her hands.

Sacha was fascinated yet terrified. She couldn't believe that these dogs had been watching them the entire time they had been inside of the house. She reached down and patted them both on their heads and said, “Hey, Heaven! Hey, Precious!”

Taz laughed and said, “Heaven is on your left, and Precious is on the right.”

“Oh, I'm sorry,” she said as she turned to her left and said, “I'm sorry, Heaven.” Then to her right she said, “Forgive me, Precious.” She then rubbed both of them gently under their chins.

The Dobermans seemed to like Sacha, because the both of them began licking her hands and tried their best to keep her attention.

Taz smiled and said, “Well, it looks like you're a hit. Now that that's out of the way, are you ready to do the damn thang?”

Sacha looked toward Taz and said, “Whenever you are, lover! Whenever you are!”

Taz shook his head and said, “Protect us, Heaven. Protect us, Precious.” Both of the Dobermans' ears became alert as they trotted out of the room. Taz said, “Come on, Li'l Mama. We're completely safe now, so let's go play!”

“Let the games begin!”