The Deception of Love

Chapter 1

Nylah

Ringggg!
Ugh, as soon as I lay down, the phone wants to ring.  That would be just my luck.

“
Hello?” I said with much attitude in my voice.

“
Eww, bitch, get that attitude out your voice,” my best friend, Brielle, yelled into the phone.

“
Whatever, you called to wake me up because?”

“
I called to see if you wanted to kick it at that new club that's opening up in downtown Brooklyn.”

“
Yea, I'm down, but since you woke me up, you're driving.”

“
Yea, whatever, just be ready by ten,” she replied and hung up.

All I could do was shake my head at Brielle. She was really a piece of work, but I loved her none the less.  Me and Brielle have been cool since we was five. She grew up next door to me and my mother.  We went to school together; we even got our
periods at the same time.  But most importantly she was there for me when my mom died my junior year of high school.  My mom was in a horrible car accident, and Brielle was there for me every step of the way.  For that I could not be any more grateful.

Aft
er that walk down memory lane I was ready to get my night started.  I looked at the clock, and it was already eight.  I had to think of something to wear and fast ‘cause knowing Brielle, even though she said be ready at ten, she would be here at 9:30 rushing me.

When I got out of the shower I stood in front of the mirror and just admired myself.  I was 5'3 140 pounds, but it was in all the right places.  With caramel brown skin, chinky green hazel eyes and head full of wild curly hair, one would wonder why
I was single.  But I was a sophomore at NYU, and boys was the last thing on my mind.  Love was just not in the heart of cards for me, and I was just fine with that.

I decided to wear high waisted shorts with fishnet stockings, a bra and a blazer.  To top i
t off, I put on some combat boots, threw my curly hair in to a messy bun and put on some lips gloss, and I was ready to go.  As soon as I walked down the stairs to the living room, a car started to beep their horn.  I looked out the window, saw that it was a Brielle, grabbed my purse and was out the door.

“
Wassup, bitch,” Brielle yelled as soon as I got in the car.

“
I'm ready to party.  School was frustrating this week, and I just want to unwind.”

“
Well, then let’s go and have some fun then.”

When we pulled
up to the club the line was wrapped around the corner, but being the ladies that we were, we walked right up to the bouncer.

“
Hey, Eric, wassup,” I said ready to get my night started.

“
Nyla, is that you?  Damn girl, you look good. You know your boy been asking about you?”

“
Thanks, but I'm not even trying to here that right now.  I was just wondering if you could let us in.”

“
Of course, you know you’re like family.  Come on!”

And with that, we was in.  I could not understand why Jacob was asking about me af
ter what he put me through.  I thought he understood the fact that I was done with him.

“
Nyla, you okay?  We can just go home if you don't feel like staying,” Elle asked with a concerned look on her face.

“
Nah, I'm good, Elle, let’s just have a good time.” I replied.

I wasn't going to let this little situation mess up my night.  We made our way over to the bar and ordered shots.  Beyonce's song “Yonce” was playing, and I was ready to hit the dance floor.

“I see you ma, you wanna dance?” said a handsome stranger.

“
Yea, why not.” I said as I got up and straightened out my shorts.

I tapped Brielle on the shoulder to let her know I was going out on to the dance floor.  By the time we made it to the dance floor “Drunk in Love” was playing, and if anyone knew me,
they knew that I was a big Beyonce fan.  I started winding my hips to the music, and I was surprised that he was keeping up.  I could not even lie this brother was fine.  The way his hands felt on me while we was dancing was making me feel some type of way.  We danced for 3 more songs before we made our way back to the bar.

“
Ma, I see you got moves,” the stranger said.

“
You haven't seen nothing yet!” I said, surprised that my response came out so seductive.

Fuck it; I’ll just blame it on the alcohol.

“Oh really, well, let me get your number then,” he said as he licked the softest lips I have seen on a man.

“
It's 3 – 4 – 7 – 9 – 2 – 2 – 5 – 5 .....Oh shit!” I yelled.

Gun shots were flying all over the club, and people were running and pushing each other.  All
I could think about was Elle.

“
We have to go find Elle!”

“
Let me get you some where safe first, and then I will go find your girl.”

I allowed him to lead me to the front of the club.  In the midst of the moment, something told me to look back, and I could
n't believe what I saw.

“
Yo, ma, you good?  You look like you just seen a ghost.”

“
I'm fine, I just have to find Elle.”

I felt like my eyes were playing tricks on me.  That couldn't have been who I thought it was.

“Ma, let me take you to your car.”

“
Okay.”

I know that I should have went looking for Elle, but I could not believe that I just saw my mother shooting up a club when she is supposed to be dead.  When we got to the car Elle was already there, so we hopped into the car.  Before we left I gave the st
ranger my number again, and we went home.  For the life of me I could not believe that I just saw my dead mother.

Nick

Since that night at the club I couldn’t get shawty off of my mind.  I had her number, but I wasn't trying to seem thirsty, so I fell back some.

“
Yo, my nigga, are you even listening to anything I'm saying to you?”

“
Yea, I heard you, nigga.”

I had to laugh cause I didn't hear shit that he said to me.

“Yea right, my nigga, what got you so caught up”

“
Nothing.  I'm just hoping this new connect is about their shit.”

“
Am I my brother’s keeper?”

“
Yea.”

“
Iight, so chill out, I got you”

Trey has been my nigga since the playground days.  He is the closest thing to a brother I got.  He is as real as they come.  He bout the only nigga I trust, that's
why I’m taking this trip to go meet this new connect with him.  We pulled up to the house and rang the bell.  A fine older lady came to the door, but she didn't look no more than 35.

“
Um, hi, we looking for Jay,” Trey said sounding a bit confused.

“
I'm her.  How can I help you?”

“
We have a business meeting with you.  Trey's father sent us.” I said trying to clear up the issue that was at hand.

“
Ohhhhh, you must be Nick, and you are definitely Trey.  You look just like your father. Come in. Come in.  And let's get down to business.”

We followed her into the house and was amazed at how beautiful and large the mansion was.  But what caught our attention was the fact that there was no body guards or security around.

“Have a seat, and let’s talk.  Trey, your father has told me a lot about the both of you, but I’m pretty sure he told y’all little about me.”

“
I mean, I’m not gonna lie, we was expecting a dude.” Trey said with a chuckle.

I had to laugh at Trey cause only he would say some shit like that.

“I get that a lot.  But even though I am a woman, do not underestimate me.  As you can see there is no security in or around my house, but do not be mistaken, you are being watched.  Just because you cannot see them, does not mean they are not there.  Now that, that is out the way, let’s talk business.  From what I hear y’all got Brooklyn on lock, and y’all are looking to expand, but your last connect couldn't supply you with the amount of work that you needed.  Now I am gonna take a chance with y’all off of the strength of Trey's dad.  I will give you 20 keys on consignment, and when you come to pick up your next shipment you will have to pay $100,000, and from then on you will have to pay me 14 for each key.”

“
That's cool.”

“
Yea, I can fucks with it,” Trey said.

“
Alright then, when y’all go back to your car, there will be instructions on where to pick up your shipment.  It was nice meeting you gentlemen, but I have other business to conduct, so if you don't mind, you can find your own way out.”

And with that she just
got up and left.  Me and Trey went back to the car, and the instructions were there just like Jay said.

“
Yo, that lady is the truth, and I wouldn't mind hitting that either,” Trey said while getting in the car.

“
Trey, you a fool, but forreal, forreal, I would hit that too.”

We laughed and talked a little more about our plans, and how we was gonna take over.  We agreed to have a meeting later on in the week, so when we got back to Brooklyn I had Trey drop me off at home.  For some reason being around Jay had
me thinking about Nylah, so I decided to finally call her.

“
Hello?  Hello?”

For some reason just hearing her voice had me stuck.

“Ummm, yea, is this shawty from the club?”

“
My name is Nylah, not ‘shawty from the club’, but wassup?” she said a little hesitant.

“
My bad ma, I was just checking up on you and seeing how you was doing.  You looked a little shaken up when we left the club.” I said.

I was truly concerned cause she looked like she seen someone that was supposed to be dead.

“So, you check up on me a whole week later?  Nah, but I'm cool.  It was nothing,” she said with much attitude in her voice.

Miss Nylah had a smart mouth.  I see I'ma have to put her ass in check.

“I see you got jokes, and I was always told better late than never.  But what you doing for the night.”

“
Nothing really was gonna chill with Brielle and just sit at home.”

“
Well, if you wanna get out, let me take you out.” I told her.

“
Where you wanna go?” she asked, sounding like she was smiling.

“
I'm in the mood for cheese cake, so let's go to Junior's.”

“
I love cheese cake, so I'm with it.  I’ll meet you there.” she said.

“
That's cool, so I’ll meet you there at 9?”

“
Okay.”

“
Ight, I’ll see you soon, Ny.”

“
Ny?  Really?  Givin’ me nicknames already?”

“
Shit, you can have my last name if you want it,” I said while laughing.

Even though I laughed, I was kind of serious.

“You got jokes.  I’ll see you soon.  Bye.”

And with that, she hung up.  It was something about her that was intriguing to me.  I was gonna find out what it is cause Ms. Ny seeme
d like she was keeper.

Nylah

After getting off the phone I rushed to get in the shower.  With all that happened that night, I forgot all about him.  The only thing that was on my mind was the fact that I thought I saw my mom.  I didn't tell anyone what I saw; I just kept it to myself.  The liquor could have just been playing tricks on me, so I chalked it up to it just being a hectic night.  I was kind of excited to be going out with someone of the opposite sex.  Besides going out with Elle and going to school, I really didn't get out much.  I mean I wasn't looking for love, but I could use some male company.  As soon as I grabbed my keys to walk out the door, Brielle was coming in.

“
Damn, bitch, where you going looking like someone's wife?”

I had to laugh
at her, but she was telling the truth.  I had on a black Chanel form fitting dress with red pumps to match.  My hair was bone straight with a part in the middle.  I never wear makeup, I only wore lip gloss, and tonight I had my favorite cherry one from Mac.

“
My bad, Elle, I forgot to call you and tell you that I'm going out with ummm....damn, the guy from the club that I met.” I said a little embarrassed that I didn't know his name.

“
He must be something for you to be going out with a guy who you don't even know his name.” she said with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.