Authors: Jahquel J.
Tags: #United States, #African American, #Urban, #Romance
“Word is bond.” I gave him dap and looked out the window.
23
Minka
Football season was over and now our daughter was seven months old. The tension in the house was building now that Sasha was eight months pregnant. Everyone was waiting for her to have the baby so it could be tested. Nobody had seen or heard from her but my car had been vandalized three times and my license plate had been stolen again.
I honestly wanted to go back to being normal; I just wanted to live my life without looking over my shoulder. The main thing that wasn’t sitting right with me was Sasha’s fiancé being found dead in his house. According to the reports he and Sasha had broken up a month before he was killed. Some way or another I knew Sasha had something to do with and I was next on her list.
I pulled the covers off of me and got out the bed. Miya was already up screaming her head off so I followed her yell to her room. When I got to her room, I noticed she was already dressed and had a bib on and her hair was comb. I panicked immediately and looked around the house while cradling my child. The nanny wasn’t here and Micah was at a meeting. I called the police and sat in front the house while waiting for them to arrive. It was things like this that made me feel like I was a sitting duck. I called Micah next and he said he was on his way.
When the cops arrived, they looked around the house and checked the doors and basement. When they were finished they came and talked to me.
“Miss. Santos, we don’t believe there was any forced entry. Why do you believe someone was in your house?” the white officer asked with a smirk on his face.
“Because my daughter was fully clothed, fed and her hair was comb. In case you didn’t notice, it is nine in the morning and I am still in my robe,” I snapped, his partner saw the panic in my face and intervened.
“Is it possible a Nanny or the father could have did it before he left?”
“No, because the nanny isn’t here and her father is on his way now.” I shifted my weight while holding my daughter closely to me.
“How do you know that he maybe changed his daughter to help you out a bit,” he replied.
“My fiancé wouldn’t know how to color coordinate this damn outfit and comb her damn hair into neat ponytails.
“Baby, where you at?” Micah called out from the front door.”
“In the kitchen, baby.” He came into the kitchen and loosened his tie.
“Mr. Jackson, your fiancé seems to think someone broke into your house… I’m sure you have a surveillance system?”
“I actually don’t but I will work on getting it done today. Thank you for you time,” he said rushing the cops out the front door.
“I still hate fucking pigs Bae, what happened?”
“Your daughter is fully dressed with her hair done and I didn’t do it. Weird shit has been going on, Micah,” I whined. He hugged me and Miya reached for him. He kissed me on the forehead and held on to me.
“I’m going to work on getting this taken care of, baby. And I’m getting the cameras up and working today. I want you to go out tonight and have a good time.” He took Miya and went upstairs.
*
I flipped myself on the couch and watched the news. I quickly turned around because I felt like someone was behind me but realized it was my mind playing with me. I looked back at the TV and thought about the good times when I didn’t have to worry about the crazy shit that came with being Micah’s girl. How could someone hate me for just being myself? I didn’t do anything wrong but be me.
I thought into what Micah said and I agreed. I hadn’t had a night out since Meghan’s party. I needed to let my hair down and enjoy some company. I knew Milan needed some time, also. She and Donovan were going through one of their many problems. She wanted to pursue her singing career again and he didn’t want her to. He wanted her to be his wife and that only. So, now they were staying at separate places and ignoring each other. I called her and Ashley on three way.
24
Milan
“Hello,” I groggily answered. I looked at the phone to make sure I wasn’t seeing things. Yep, it was in fact Minka calling me this early.
“What you doing, Milan?” she had the nerve to ask. I rolled my eyes and got deeper under my covers.
“Sleep, bitch. Something you should be doing with your screaming ass baby,” I snapped, she laughed and turned down the TV that was blaring in the background.
“Hey Milan, it’s your favorite bitch,” Ashley’s loud ass announced. I sat up on the bed while shielding my eyes from the sun.
“Why the fuck are y’all so loud in the morning?” I got out the bed still in my bra and panties. I checked myself out in the mirror and admired my new ass.
“I called both of you bitches so we could go out tonight. I know Kyree got you over there dogging your back out.” Minka laughed. She sounded excited so I perked up a little bit.
“You don’t even know the half. He got some good dick with his young ass,” Ashley responded, I rolled my eyes. Her ass moved too quickly, that’s why she was always getting fucked in the end, literally.
“I’m down, let me get some more sleep, It’s just me since Donovan left so I like to sleep,” I whispered. I looked down at the floor to stop the tears that were coming.
“I’ll see you tonight. Love you, Milan.”
“Love y’all too.”
*
I sat on the edge of my bed unable to go back to sleep. Since Donovan left shit hadn’t been the same. I was lonely and I was just wanted my husband. Hell, I would give back the ring to have Donovan back. It was crazy how we got to this place. I accepted his past and his daughter even though I shouldn’t have. He hid it from me but I put that behind me. It didn’t ease my pain that I had to read about his baby mother in the tabloids.
I wanted to sing, and that’s all I wanted to do. It wasn’t about money with me. I just wanted to be back in the studio with my notebook and headphones on going over beats. That was the Donovan I use to know. We would sit in the studio until the next morning looking for that right beat. Since I took his last name, he didn’t want to invest in my career anymore. It was about his other clients. Even when he had the time, I would ask him to come into our home studio to lay down some tracks. He would refuse and we would get in an argument and fuck. I would forget about it until it passed my mind again.
This time he was serious when he left the house. He was upset because I put a new single out without him. He wasn’t doing anything for me so I took matters in my own hands. That wasn’t how he saw it. He said I was being shady and sneaky. All a bitch just wanted to do was sing and he was about to ruin a marriage because of it. When Kareema called me Joseline, I really felt like her. Only difference was I could sing and her non-English ass couldn’t.
*
Minka, Ashley and I strutted inside one of the hottest clubs, we heard some new rapper was throwing his album release party here and decided to crash. We entered the VIP section and took a seat while we waited for the bottle girl to do her damn job. Once she finally came over and took our order I got up and started shaking my hips to Chris Brown’s hit
These Hoes Ain’t Loyal
. Minka and Ashley sipped their drink while looking around the room. They looked like a bunch of off the market bitches. Me, on the other hand, I had my wedding ring off and was dancing and drinking.
I noticed a man kept waving me over and licking his lips. I pointed at myself to make sure he was talking to me. Once he confirmed he was talking to me I walked over to his section and looked at the fine specimen of a man. He was 6’5 and had golden brown skin with a thick beard and dreads braided up in a style. His Rolex and mouth was damn near blinding me with all the jewels that were between them. A lot of the guys in his VIP were eye balling me so he pulled me to the side.
“What’s your name, shawty?” he asked in his thick southern drawl. I licked my lips because I loved a southern man.
“My name is Milan. Yours?” I shot back. He looked down at me while licking his lips.
“Amadi. You’re so beautiful when I saw you and your sisters walk in I had to approach you.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“Come chill in my private VIP area,” he suggested and pulled me over to an empty booth. He had bottles for days and some honey wings.
“Now where the hell did you get honey wings in the club?” I laughed.
“When you own the club, anything is possible. So tell me about yourself, Milan.” The way he looked me in the eyes made me so nervous. It was like he was looking inside of me. I crossed my legs and spoke.
“I am married, 19 and a inspiring singer.” I kept it short and sweet.
“If you’re married, why your husband let in the club looking like that? If you were mine I would have you locked up somewhere. Nineteen seems too young to be married.” He moved closer into my ear. His cool breath and the sent of winter fresh chewing gum sent me over the edge.
“It is but when you know, you know. We’re currently separated right now,” I sighed.
“It’s his lost, lil’ mama. If he can’t see he got a diamond right here than he don’t need you. Now for aspiring singer, I just so happen to be the owner of a record label,” he announced, my ears perked up. I had been dying to get back into the studio.
“You have a club, record label…. What else you got?” I giggled,
“That’s all for now, I plan on expanding but not right now, I’m more interested in you and your singing. Maybe I can convince you to sign with me and release an album. I give pretty dope advances.” He took a shot of vodka to the head.
“It’s not about the money with me. Can you make sure I will be a success? I have the talent but I need the backing for it, if you can do that I will most definitely talk numbers with you,” I said leaning in. I looked over and Minka and Ashley talking to a guy. I couldn’t explain the look on their face but I was more interested in what Amadi was taking about. Donovan who?
25
Ashley
My heart was beating out my chest and I tried to maintain it as best as I could. I was Staring Kirk in the face as he spoke to us. Did he know we killed his brother? Would he tell my sister? A million thoughts were running through my mind as I watched him speak. I didn’t have a clue as to what he was talking about. I felt like the thumping my heart was doing was louder than him and the music in the club. Minka seemed to be handling it cool, calm and collective. I was sweating bullets and she looked unbothered by the whole situation. Maybe because she was actually listening to what he was saying and I was over here listening to the sound track of my heart.
“I didn’t have a choice and I am sorry it had to end like that. I’m sure you would do the same for you brother, if he was here,” she said. My eyes got wide with panic. Was this bitch admitting we killed Snuff and Juelz?
“I..I think she has had too many drinks. We had nothing to do with your brother,” I interjected. He looked at me with a scowl on his face and I felt like my heart had actually left my body.
“Ashley, he knows… we can lie about it and die or be honest and help his ass. It’s your choice, I have a daughter and you have a son.” She stood up and sat me back down. I was stuck in place.
“Minka, Lace sends his warm wishes… as I was about to say before the liar spoke, if you can do that for me, Minka. You’re good.” He drank straight out our bottle. The damn animal. I looked around for Milan and her ass was in the corner hugged up with some fine ass man.
“Kirk, money isn’t a problem to me. I can easily write a check for what you want… but will you go back on your word and kill us… nevermind. I know you wouldn’t. Just by you mentioning Lace, I know you wouldn’t.” she signed a check and handed it to him. He looked and nodded at the numbers.
“Why couldn’t we work out? You a bad bitch, Minky Minks,” he laughed, she got up and hugged him.
“That is until I can have the rest of the money wired. Be safe, Kirk,” she whispered in his ear.
Minka and Kirk use to fuck around? Who the fuck hasn’t she been with? I swear one way or another she has fucked, sucked or dated someone we come across. This time I was happy because her knowing Kirk and having money saved us from dying. It would probably be a horrible death, knowing Kirk. I was curious as to how he knew it was us who killed Juelz and Snuff. I pushed the thought aside when Minka hit me to get my attention. I saw Kirk walking away.
“When I’m handling something, shut your mouth and nod.” She looked at me sideways.
“I thought you were drunk. How did he know it was us?”
“That is Kirk Moore, you don’t think he has his ways? I’m not questioning it. He said all he wants is some money to help him start his empire again, the Feds seized all his shit. I gave him ten grand just now and I’ll transfer the other three hundred thousand tomorrow,” she said nonchalantly.