Payback With Ya Life (4 page)

“Where she stay?”

“In Germantown.”

“Germantown? How the fuck a guard can afford to stay in Germantown?”

“Who said she was a guard? And for your info she lives with her parents.”

“I still ain’t feelin’ you going with some strangers. Fuck that shit, you need to come with me.”

“Come with you where? All your shit is in storage. And you need to get yourself together. Where are
you
going? Because the last time I checked your bitch Keke had a nigga all up in your spot and them other bitches you was fuckin’ caught amnesia. I suggest you focus on getting yourself together and don’t worry about me.”

“Oh, so you got advice for big brother now?” He smirked as he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “Aiight then. I’ma go ahead and dip.”

Thank God. Second time today I was saved by a phone call
. “I’ll call you later.”

“Oh, and by the way, Cali ain’t a good look. Don’t run ’cause you slipped and fucked an inmate then got pregnant with his seed. We all fuck up, sis.”

“Please tell me that you are not going to keep throwing that shit up in my face?”

“Sheeit, I’m not even sure if I should be calling you Shan anymore. Your name should be Vicky with all the secrets you got.”

“Ha ha ha. Very funny. Bye, nigga. We’ll discuss this when I’m feeling better.” She let out a sigh of relief as she watched him rush out the double doors and walk right past Briggen’s truck. She had been beginning to believe that he wasn’t going to leave. She waited until he pulled out of the parking lot and decided to leave the miscarriage behind her.

As soon as Briggen saw her he jumped out of his truck. “You straight, shawty? You look a little weak for somebody only having a physical.” He opened the passenger door and helped her inside, while eyeing her skeptically.

“I’m fine. Tired but fine.” She leaned back into the soft buttery leather, reclined the seat all the way back and closed her eyes. The inside of his ride smelled like Lacoste.

When he jumped into the driver’s seat and pulled off, he started to grill her. But when he saw how tired she looked he decided to wait. They drove to his house in complete silence. No conversation, music . . . nothing. She gave him a cool point for that. She had a bunch of shit to mull over. Right now she was supposed to be enjoying a nice long ride out West, starting brand-new, her and Brianna leaving the city of Memphis behind. She had been looking forward to it. Without B to keep her company, she was actually having second thoughts.

Brianna . . . she was really gone.

Peanut. She shouldn’t have given him Forever’s package. Now he was going to hit the streets with a vengeance. But then why was she fooling herself? If it hadn’t been Forever’s package, it would have been someone else’s because he was going to get his hustle on . . . regardless. But if Nyla, Forever’s wife, would of had her way, that package would have been the Feds’ package.

Forever. She was feeling that it was a blessing in disguise that she lost the baby. A new job, a new state, by herself and with a baby? A baby by a nigga who told her to get an abortion? What in the hell was she thinking?

Then there was Briggen. How did she fall into his web . . . once again? She recalled the day that they met. She had taken her car to get some work done on it. It was his shop. He introduced himself as Calvin. He was a businessman. A legit businessman. They started kickin’ it over the phone for about two months straight. He took her to Las Vegas for her birthday and that was the first time that they fucked. After that she didn’t hear from him again. He didn’t even return her messages. Then there was that night at the club . . . his club. She and Brianna went out to celebrate her new job at the prison. When she saw him she didn’t know if she wanted to embrace him or spit on him. When Brianna explained to her that he wasn’t Calvin the businessman but Briggen the dope dealer, she had heard enough and decided to leave. However, he managed to talk her into sticking around so that he could explain his disappearing act. She reluctantly agreed, which resulted in her getting her ass beat by not one but two of his bitches. What were the odds of her running into him on this very day?

Entering the gated community, Briggen coasted to a stop in front of his condo and jumped out to take the mail out of his box, then pulled up into the driveway. Shan’s car was already parked.

“Welcome to my humble abode.”

She cracked a smile as she followed him inside. The first thing she noticed was the large chess coffee table with pieces the size of hot-sauce bottles. “Where did you get this from? This is amazing.” The pieces were obviously handcrafted. The queen looked like a real queen and the knights were covered with authentic horsehair. “Impressive,” she mumbled.

Then she took in the rest of her surroundings. The color gold overwhelmed her senses. Next was a pair of carved wooden seahorses that caught her eye. Even the living room furniture was gold with splashes of olive.

“Oh my God! Are those real?” She went over to an open glass frame that held about ten seahorses suspended on fine wires.

“Yeah.”

She snickered. “Why do I get the feeling that I’m at the beach?” She twirled around and her gaze fell on the huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling. “That chandelier looks like a giant octopus. You got real seahorses in a frame, carved wooden seahorses over there, huge wooden seahorses on the desk, the seashell lamp and the colors? What the fuck?”

Briggen laughed. “Why are you insulting my taste? I love the beach. This is my own little private beach house. I know you gonna let me have that.”

“I’m not insulting you. But—”

“But what?”

“Why don’t you move somewhere where there is an actual beach or an ocean?” She couldn’t stop giggling.

“I will one day. But for now, this is it.”

“Let me guess. You brought this house from a clucker for a couple of rocks?”

“Oh, you really got jokes, Shan. You really got jokes.”

“So you said private. Does that mean that none of your hoes will be running up in here?”

“You have nothing to worry about. Trust me. No hoes will be running up in here. So you can get comfortable and chill here as long as you like.”

“Can I see the kitchen?”

“Not if you’re gonna be insulting me and laughing in my face.”

“Where is the kitchen?”

“Just turn to your left.”

She headed for the kitchen. It looked like an old ship. It had ship-replicated windows, an anchor and fishnets. It was very spacious and even with the stainless steel appliances it was still beachy and ocean-like. Even down to the wallpaper. “Aye, aye, Captain,” she joked. It was definitely beyond Shan’s imagination. “This is . . . so not you, Briggen,” she mumbled.

Leaving the kitchen, she went to inspect the bedrooms. The master bedroom was olive green and had an impressive Gregorius-Pineo Moragas four-poster bed. The linen drapes went around the entire room. He had a La-Z-Boy, ottoman and huge flat-screen TV. The carpet was linen and olive. It was obvious that he hardly stayed here. She didn’t want to believe that this was his house. It had to belong to a couple of white yuppies.

She ventured off to what appeared to be the guest bedroom. The walls were cream-colored, and the geometric espresso drapes made her dizzy. The bedspread was Horizon in espresso. A few pictures on the wall. Simple. Very different. The bathroom was old-fashioned with freestanding bowl sinks, something she had never seen outside a magazine. She backtracked to the master bath, which was huge. The shower was all glass. He could lie in the bed and watch whatever ho he had over for the night take a shower.

“I brung most of your things in,” he said, startling her.

“Thanks. I would love to take a nice hot shower, eat something and go to bed. You think you can accommodate a sister?”

“I’m at your beck and call. I just want you to enjoy your stay at the beach house.”

“Since you got jokes, you can take my bags to the guest room.”

He smiled. “Just make yourself at home.”

She called Peanut and left him a message on his voice mail, then she was finally able to indulge in a hot, steamy, relaxing shower. By the time she finished and threw on something comfortable the house smelled good. Her toes gripped the thick carpet as she followed her nose.

“A brother that can cook. At least it smells like you can cook,” she teased.

“Maine, you looking at a master chef.” He pulled off his apron and went to pull out a chair for her. She had slipped into a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. And so had he.

He fixed a plate and set it in front of her.

“What do we have here?” Shan licked her lips.

“Briggen’s famous crab cakes, glazed carrots, roasted parsley potato wedges, and”—he went to the refrigerator and pulled out a huge bowl of spinach salad and placed it in the middle of the table—“to drink, your choice of vintage white or red wine.”

“Impressive. Very impressive.” She poured a glass of the red wine. “Are you going to allow me to dine alone?”

“Nah. I’m just making sure you’re straight before I sit down.”

“I’m straight. Come on. I’m hungry.”

He laughed, fixed himself a plate and sat down to join her. Her mouth hung open as he said grace.

“Oh my God,” she mumbled. “How many faces of Calvin aka Briggen are there?”

“Stick around if you really want to find out.”

“I’ma stick my fork in this crab cake first.” And she did. “Oh . . . oh . . . Briggen. I love you.” She closed her eyes and savored the spicy seasoning. “Ohmygosh, these are so good. Look at me with a straight face and tell me you cooked these.”

“I cooked them, girl.”

“You are scaring me.”

“I don’t know why you trippin’, brothers can cook.”

“But—”

“But what?”

“Nothing.”

“Enjoy the dinner, Shan, and stop insinuating that a baller can’t cook.”

She started laughing. “I didn’t say that.”

“Because I didn’t give you a chance to. Am I right?”

“Okay. Okay. You got me.”

“Umm-hmmm. Just enjoy your meal.”

Shan had been chillin’ up at Briggen’s crib for the past week. At first he was in and out, basically stopping by to see if she was okay and to cook her dinner. She spent her time relaxing and getting her mind right as well as healing from the D&C. He eventually went to Detroit for four days.

She was lying across his bed watching TV One on his flat screen, which was the only TV in the house, when she heard his Denali pull up. She glanced over at the clock and it read 1:48 a.m. She hadn’t seen him for a couple of days.

He stood in the bedroom doorway staring at her. She pressed the mute button and tried to read his facial expression. They gazed at each other for several minutes before Briggen broke the silence.

“You done fuckin’ with Forever?”

That caught her off guard. “Where did that come from?”

“I need to know. I mean I’m feelin’ you. Plus, we really haven’t taken time out to talk.”

“Well, yes I am finished with your brother. I would have never—”

Briggen cut her off. “I don’t need an explanation. All I needed to hear was yes.”

He walked slowly over to the bed as he tossed his Detroit fitted cap over to the dresser and dropped the Al Wissam leather jacket onto the ottoman. He lowered himself on top of her and began playing with her nipples and gently planting kisses all over her face, shoulders and neck.

“I missed you,” he whispered into her ear. “I’m glad you decided to stay.”

She moaned as she wrapped her legs around his waist and began stroking the back of his neck. “You’re . . . so . . . tense,” she whispered in between moans.

He paused with the kisses and playing with her nipples to look into her eyes. He eased up, kissed her chin and then went for her lips. She opened her mouth to play with his tongue. “Mmumm,” she moaned as she pressed up against his hard dick and continued to massage his neck. He gently slid her silk tee over her breast and began sucking on her nipple.

“Briggen,” she whimpered. His mouth was now taking in as much of her tatas as he wanted to taste. “Briggen, hold up, baby.”

He slowly allowed her breast to ease out of his mouth. Planting kisses along her shoulder and neck, nibbling on her earlobe and finally landing his lips on hers. “You’ve . . . got . . . the sweet . . . est lips,” he groaned in between kisses as she slowly ground her pussy onto his strong thighs. Her breathing was getting faster and their grinds more intense as Shan dry-fucked herself to a quick orgasm. Briggen’s dick was about to break as she trembled beneath him with her eyes closed. His huge hand massaged her ass, and then tugged at her shorts.

“No, Briggen,” she purred.

“No what?” He was still tugging on her tight shorts.

“Briggen, what do you want from me?”

“Oh, you done got yours, so now you want to talk? I want to fuck, that’s what I want.”

“We can’t.”

“Why not?”

“I’m on my period.” She was still bleeding from the miscarriage.

He looked down to her face to see if she was playing. “Awww damn.” He rolled off her onto his back.