Payback With Ya Life (17 page)

“Punk, you ain’t gonna die from one in the shoulder. One.”

Skye heard the dial tone, and called Crystal.

“So you and New York going out tonight?” Crystal was on the phone talking to Janay. “Where y’all going? He’s coming over there?” Crystal was very surprised at that.

“I’m not sure where we are going. He just told me to be ready. I’m gonna meet him somewhere.”

“Oh, I was gettin’ ready to say. You invitin’ a nigga over to the crib, what’s really good? This y’all’s first real date, right?”

“Umm-hmm. You’ll be able to watch Marquis, right?”

“Sure, but I ain’t cooking. Can you stop and get some Pizza Hut first?”

“When do you ever cook?”

Crystal was getting ready to say something smart but someone clicking on her line stopped her. “Oh, that’s my line, I’ll see y’all later.” Crystal clicked over. “Hello.”

“Hey, it’s me. I was hoping that you was home. Mind if I stop by? I’m in a little bit of a jam. I’m right around the corner. You don’t have company, do you?”

“No, I don’t. C’mon on.” As soon as Crystal hung up, she pumped her fist and hurried into her bedroom to change into something sexy and freshen up.

Before she could apply some makeup her doorbell was ringing . . . and ringing. “I know that Skye is not ringing my bell like that!” She hurried up to the door and peeked out the curtain. She unlocked it with a puzzled look on her face. She opened the door prepared to cuss him out. “Why are you—” She closed her mouth as Skye pushed by her and she saw that his left shoulder and his shirt were a bloody mess. She closed the door and locked it.

“Sorry about this but I was in the area when this shit happened.”

She didn’t know what to say as she grabbed his elbow and led him to the kitchen. She was not going to allow him to bloody up her furniture or her carpet.

“I got somebody coming here to meet me and take care of this. You got a few clean towels? I’ll replace them.” He began to take off his jacket and the rest of his things.

She went to get some towels. When she came back, his jacket was on the floor and he was struggling to take off his T-shirt.

“Let me help you.” Together they managed to get it off. “Eeeew, that’s pretty deep.” She stared at the gunshot wound. “Aren’t you in pain?”

“I’ve endured worse.” The doorbell rang.

“Is that your people?”

“I hope so.”

Crystal went to the door and yelled, “Who is it?”

“It’s Tommy.”

She looked over at Skye.

“Yeah, that’s him.”

She opened the door and a scrawny brown-skinned dude with hazel eyes, dressed in G-Unit from head to toe, waltzed in. He quickly began unloading his backpack.

“What’s up?” He nodded at Crystal and went over to Skye. He immediately began laying out his supplies on top of the kitchen table and going to work.

“Damn, dude, what you do, fly over here?”

“Don’t worry about it, punk. Just know that I’m here. You know how I do it. Plus I didn’t want yo’ punk ass to die on me.”

“Fuck you, nigga. And hurry up, this shit hurt.”

An hour later Crystal was sitting on her couch with her legs curled under her as she watched Tommy clean up his mess.

Skye came out of the kitchen and sat next to her on the couch. His bare chest was glistening and Tommy had removed the bullet and bandaged up his shoulder. His sweatpants were dirty and had blood on them. “I appreciate this.”

“It’s cool. You just caught me by surprise.”

“The shit caught me by surprise too.” He looked her over and noticed that her hair was on point and that she had on a pair of hip-hugging Parasuco jeans, a blouse showing her belly button and a pair of cute little Nike sneakers. “Is that one of the outfits I brought?” he teased.

“No. I’m afraid not.”

Tommy came out of the kitchen. “Aiight, dude, that shot I gave you is going to have you feeling drowsy so don’t try to drive for a couple of hours. Other than that, yo’ punk ass will be aiight. But come see me or go to a hospital in a couple of days so that somebody can make sure you’re healing okay. I wouldn’t want you to die from an infection.”

“Gee thanks,” Skye said with much sarcasm.

Tommy tossed him a mesh bag. “Keep your dressing cleaned. That’s enough to last for a week. I’m out.”

“Thanks, man,” Skye said.

Crystal got up and saw Tommy out.

“Yo, I need another favor.” Skye hated to do this to her.

Crystal locked the door and folded her arms over her chest. “I’m listening.”

“Do you think you can run to a store and pick me out an outfit? I gotta take care of something.” He was determined to keep his date with the thug missus, Janay.

“I thought he said for you not to drive?”

“I ain’t thinking about that pussy. I just need an hour for a nap, some dro and I’ll be straight.”

“Y’all niggas are so hardheaded.”

“Can you help a brother out or what?” He went into his back pocket and pulled out a wad of bills. “Here you go. I owe you big-time.”

You sure do. Especially since I planned on getting some of that dick. And now you’re leaving?

She grabbed her purse, tossing the money inside. “Don’t die on my couch. If you start to feel like you’re getting ready to cash out, call me,” she teased.

He laid his head back onto the headrest. “Oh, so you’re a comedian now? I told you, all I need is an hour and I’ll be good.”

Crystal grabbed her cell phone and left. After she got into her car and started it up, her cell phone rang. It was her sister.

“Hello.” She turned down her radio.

“Bitch, you sound like you’re in the car! Your ass is supposed to be home. I know you’re not reneging on me.”

“Janay, shut the hell up. You got a key and I just need to make a quick run.”

“Where to?”

“To get this nigga something to wear.”

“What nigga?”

“Skye, girl. He got shot. Don’t ask me shit because I don’t know shit. But check it out. He’s at the crib and now is your chance to meet him. Where are you?”

“I just placed the order at Pizza Hut, then I’ll be headed over there. Bitch, don’t keep me waiting because I still need to go back and get dressed.”

“I won’t. Check him out and let me know what you think.”

“So he got shot?”

“Yeah.”

“And he came to your house? What kind of nigga is that? You need to find out something on this . . . Skye person.”

“Just wait for me at the house. We can run a background check on his dick if you want to.”

“Bitch, whatever! Just hurry yo’ ass up.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

S
han was standing on mainline with the gentleman who was her boss as well as the head of education, Gordon Wright. She had spent all morning with him and now here they were inside the FCI’s huge dining hall. Mainline in the federal prisons is where all the department heads, unit managers, counselors, warden, assistant warden and lieutenants stand around making themselves available for the inmates. If the inmates have any questions, concerns or problems they can come to mainline and address the appropriate staff member.

Gordon was also using this opportunity to introduce Shan to other staff members. She was anxious for Gordon to go on about his business because his bad breath was killing her.

She looked around the huge dining hall at the sea of khaki-clad men, labeled as inmates.

“What else do we have on the agenda for today, Mr. Wright?” Shan wanted to know.

“After we leave here, we’ll go to my office. I need to make sure we covered everything and then we’re done.”

“Mr. Wright, don’t be talking this pretty young lady to death. What’s wrong with you, man? And did you pop a breath mint?”

Shan and Mr. Wright both turned around. Mr. Wright broke into a wide grin. “Jackson, don’t try and show off just because you see me standing next to a pretty young lady. Ms. McKee, this is one of your workers. He sort of fits in wherever the education department needs him. He’s a GED tutor, computer tutor, floor waxer, librarian, errand runner, you name it. Jackson, meet Ms. McKee. Ms. McKee, this is Derick Jackson.” Jackson was a big, husky, brown-skinned, teddy-bear-looking brother.

The color drained from Shan’s face. “Hello, Mr. Jackson.”

“Nice to meet you, Ms. McKee. I’m at your service. Whenever and whatever you need, if I’m not around have them send for me or just page me, and I’ll come running.”

“I’ll do that,” she responded like a robot.

“Just don’t change my days off,” he joked. He turned to Mr. Wright. “Look, man, I want to introduce you to somebody who may be able to take my place if Unicor decides to give me that position I put in for. I’ll vouch for this guy here. Forever Thompson, this is Mr. Wright. We call him Professor Smurf behind his back. Mr. Wright, this is Forever Thompson. He just got here from FCI Memphis.”

“Good to meet you, Mr. Thompson. When you get a chance, look for my open-house hours and come and see me. We’ll talk then.”

As Mr. Wright continued to talk with Forever and Derick Jackson, Shan’s head was spinning. Out of the corner of her eye she felt Forever’s gaze piercing right through her.
How did this happen? Why the fuck is this nigga following me?

“Um, Ms. McKee,” Mr. Wright interrupted her thoughts. “Mr. Thompson here said he’s from FCI Memphis; you were there, weren’t you?”

“Yes, I was. I worked there for less than a year. However, his name rings a bell, like all the other troublemakers.” Shan wasted no time in putting him on blast. “I hope that won’t be the case here, Mr. Thompson.”

She looked at Forever and he had this beaming smirk on his face. She wanted to reach over and smack it off.

“I’m going to grab a bite to eat. I’ll catch you in your office, Mr. Wright.” Shan had to get out of there . . . ASAP. If she didn’t, she imagined herself turning into the Incredible Hulk and whipping Forever’s ass.

Back in her office with trembling hands she found some Tylenol and quickly popped two of them. What she really wanted was a drink. She picked up the phone and dialed Peanut.

“Who is this?” he barked into the phone.

“It’s me. You got a few minutes?” she groaned.

“Always for baby sis. What’s up?”

Shan sighed. “You are not going to believe this.”

“Try me.”

“Guess who I saw today?”

“Who?”

“The nigga who I ran away from.”

A few seconds of silence went by before Peanut said, “You mean the nigga you got pregnant by?”

“Yes,” she snapped. “I swear I wanted to fuck his ass up.”

“Damn. Too late for that, baby sis. So now what?”

“I don’t have the slightest idea. But I’m not quitting or running away.”

“He said something to you?”

“Not with his mouth, no.”

“You want me to arrange something?”

“No,” she snapped. “And watch what you say over these phones. I’ll call you tonight.” She immediately hung up.

Later that night Shan sat up in bed waiting on Briggen to come in. He had said he would be there by nine and it was now after eleven. Shan turned off the light and got under the covers and fell into a deep slumber.

Light, tingly kisses on her shoulder and down her arm woke Shan up. She opened her eyes and sleepily mumbled, “I tried to wait up for you.”

“I got tied up, got here fast as I could. How was your first real day of work?”

“When was the last time you spoke to your brother?”

“It’s been a minute. Why?”

“So you mean to tell me it’s no coincidence that you wanted me to move to Detroit and now all of a sudden he gets transferred here?”

“What are you talking about he got transferred?”

She sat up and turned the light on so that she could read his face. “He’s here, Briggen. He’s at the prison. I saw him today.”

“What did he say to you? You sure it was him?”

“Of course I’m sure it was him. He was talking to my boss,” she snapped.

“Hold up. Who you using that tone with? I didn’t get him moved here. I don’t know why you would even think that. You sure
you
didn’t get him moved here?”

“You know what? Fuck you, Briggen.” She got up out of bed, and he grabbed her arm, pulling her back down.

“I didn’t mean it like that, but you see how stupid that sounds? That’s all I wanted you to recognize. Quit that job. Fuck him and that prison. You don’t need to be around him or that environment.” As far as Briggen was concerned, Forever had come right on time. He didn’t want Shan working at the prison . . . period.

“Is that why you got him sent here, so that I could quit? So that I’ll be more inclined to run your beauty salon?”

“You trippin’ now. I’m just saying you don’t need to work. Yeah, I would like for you to run the beauty salon. You said you would give me an answer and I’m patiently waiting for it.”

“Briggen, let me go.” She snatched away from him. “I need some time to figure out just what the hell I’m doing here. Because right now, I don’t even know.”

Janay finally picked up the pizza and was on her way to KFC when her phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and recognized Skye’s—or rather New York’s—number.

“What’s up?” She couldn’t help but smile.

“You going out with me or not?”

“Yeah, I’m game,” she said.

“Is ten o’clock cool?” Now it was his turn to smile.

“That’s perfect.”

“So where are we going to meet?”

“Hold on a minute.”

Skye listened as she placed a food order. When she came back on the line he said, “We are going out to eat. I would suggest that you save your appetite.”

“Oh, I am. This is for my son and my sister. She’s babysitting and she doesn’t like to cook. So in order to get her to babysit I had to stop at Pizza Hut and KFC. Then I’ma head over to her house, drop my son and the food off and I’ll get back home to get ready. You want to meet at DunDee’s?”

Skye was still stuck on the part of the conversation where she said she was on her way over to her sister’s.

“New York, are you still there?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m here. I’ll call you at nine to let you know the meeting spot.”

“Just be sure you got that info for me.”

“I got you, Ma.”

“Bye.”

“I’m out.” He ended the call. “Fuck!” Skye was feeling drowsy but he got up and got his bloody jacket out of the trash and put it on.

When Janay, Marquis and Crystal arrived at the house, Skye or Mr. New York was gone.

Shan was on edge and was hoping that Briggen was going back to Memphis for the weekend. But he was still here and Peanut was on his way over. Finally they were going to meet up and Shan felt like a teenager bringing her boyfriend home for a very strict and old-fashioned father to meet.

Briggen got tired of Shan’s inability to sit still, her walking back and forth, constantly straightening up shit that didn’t need straightening up. “Why are you so nervous, girl? You act like your brother is gonna whip yo’ ass or something,” he teased.

“He can be an asshole. And I told you he didn’t want me to move out here. Plus, what if he doesn’t like you?”

“What’s not to like about me?” Briggen cheesed. “You like me. Isn’t that the only thing that matters?”

Before she could answer, Peanut was pulling up into the driveway. She jumped up and ran to the door and was very surprised to see Peanut accompanied by Karin, the real estate agent.

Shan stepped out onto the porch, “Hey, big brother. Karin.” Peanut smiled at her as he got out of the car.

“Hey, girl.” Karin beamed as she looked around at the forty-eight-hundred-square-foot property that she had sold. “It’s looking good, girl. The landscapers did an excellent job. I see y’all bossed up with the gingerbread roof and y’all had Pella Windows come through.”

Peanut came up the steps and gave his sister a bear hug. “How are you?”

She hugged him back. “Tired. Confused. It’s like I’m just going through the motions. But I’ll be all right.”

“Is this nigga inside who you’ve been trying to keep hidden from me? If not, you know I’ma camp out until he shows up.”

“Yeah, he’s in there.”

“You stay in trouble. Now do you see why I didn’t want you to move away?”

“I was in trouble and I was living right up under your nose, so what difference does it make? Trouble seems to come looking for me.”

They both turned around when Karin cleared her throat to get their attention that she was still standing there.

“C’mon in, Karin.” She grabbed her brother’s hand and led them both into the house. “Welcome to our humble abode.” She took them to the family room, where Briggen was seated, engrossed in a college basketball game.

When they stepped into the room he stood up, went over to Peanut and offered him a pound. “Peanut, I feel like I already know you, maine. I’m Briggen.”

“Briggen, I wish I could say the same. My sister has been keeping you a
big
secret, even down to your name.”

“Oh, has she?” Briggen peeked over at Shan.

“Calvin, you already know Karin. Boys, I gotta give Karin a tour, show her what the decorator did.”

“How come your brother doesn’t know about me, Shan?” Briggen wanted to see her squirm. But she acted as if she didn’t hear him, practically dragging Karin behind her.

“See how she do?” he hollered after her.

“We’ll be back,” Shan yelled, anxious to show off the house to Karin and to get away from being put on the spot.

Right away Karin noticed that once you got inside Briggen and Shan’s domain you would have thought you were inside
Metro Home
, the exclusive magazine for decorated homes. The vaulted ceiling commanded your attention with the open skylight that could have served for the home’s drop top, considering how large it was. The slate flooring that ran throughout the lower level led you into what Shan referred to as Briggen’s Chef’s Palace. The kitchen was like no other with glass cabinets and a built-in wine cooler that held twenty bottles of champagne and fifty bottles of wine and stayed fully stocked. The Sub-Zero refrigerator, flat grill stove with pancake griddle and granite countertops all had track lighting. All Karin could say was, “When do we eat?” causing Shan to burst into laughter.

Since Briggen was so private, Karin wasn’t allowed a full tour of the home. She thought that was ridiculous, especially since she was the one who had sold it to him. But Shan snuck her to the master bedroom, which spoke volumes about femininity and masculinity. How the two had been combined was beyond Karin. The bedroom was like a mini-apartment, the size of the room well over a thousand square feet. Karin’s mouth fell open when she saw that gold leaf marble covered every inch of the room. The only thing that did not have the marble floors was the walk-in his-and-hers closets that could have been a small boutique. They were covered with Berber carpeting, and the shelves were the same gold leaf marble that was on the bedroom floor. In the center of the room held the largest bed she had ever seen. It was a California extended king, where twelve people could sleep in comfort. She had to ask Shan: where in the hell do you buy sheets for that thing and how much do they cost? Another thing that she thought was absolutely fabulous was what she mistook for an armoire built into the wall was a minibar with a kitchen sink in it. But what blew her mind and had her green with envy was that once the bedroom was completely dim, the huge painting of a black man with a woman on his back lit up the room.
Gorgeous
. . . she had never seen anything like it. Whoever Shan hired to decorate . . . did the damn thang.

Briggen turned to Peanut. “Have a seat, man. What you drinking?”