CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Tan’s one-year memorial service was bright—everyone at the Mendoza estate was dressed in their finest. The smell of barbeque chicken, ribs and other delectables permeated the air as children ran across the spacious living room Tan used to call home.
It had been a year since Justice had gotten her revenge and Papa Mendoza had finally decided that he would call the family and friends together so they could help him celebrate her life. The funeral and subsequent cremation had been private as Tan had chosen to be cremated before death. Her ashes were sprinkled all over the flowerbed that lied south of the estate.
Within days after Tan’s death, her family had completely renovated the house and was looking to convert it to the likings of Papa Mendoza, the true owner of the house. Pictures of Tan when she was young lined the walls and some of her favorite childhood toys and games were kept in various rooms. Papa Mendoza never spent much time in Charlotte but in his grieving, he’d come to develop a fondness for the Queen City—and he didn’t mind making her old house his new home. And after a year, he’d come to visit the place often as he felt this was the only way he’d get to spend time with his daughter.
As Papa Mendoza passed the plate for everyone to get their helpings, To’Wanda sat next to Papa Mendoza in her rightful place as Tan’s lover. Next to her sat Chico, Fontaine and Tico—the three cousins who had attempted to help Tan on her mission to kill Justice. Marques attended but kept his distance as he too had come to pay respects to the family. Tan’s cousins’ hearts were heavy because even though they delivered the gun to Tan and followed her instructions to a tee, they felt they had failed their older cousin by not staying with her or even watching her from a distance to make sure that the job was done.
“I hate them Asian fucks!” Chico gritted through closed teeth as he pounded his fist on the table. The teardrops were newly tatted on his face and had a double meaning besides their obvious implication. He towered over his other two cousins by at least six inches.
“No son,” Papa Mendoza spoke softly—contrast to the man that they’d known him to be. “It is not a race of people you hate; it is a person who happens to be of that race.”
“Justice is a dead bitch!” Chico vowed.
“No!” To’Wanda said weakly. Her place as Tan’s lover had been respected and she felt the courage to speak up as if she were blood. “No more killing. Killing Justice is not going to bring Tan back just like I’m sure when she murdered my baby it didn’t bring her brother back.”
Papa Mendoza took off the shades that had been concealing his tears and his own passion for revenge. He was shocked because in all of the years he’d known To’Wanda, he’d never heard her speak up like that. Even though he knew that To’Wanda was developing a fondness for Marques and he’d given her his blessing to move on, a part of him was happy that she’d made Tan happy in her last years. However, a small part of him wanted to slap the shit out of her because after all, he had buried his daughter and not the other way around. Nevertheless, because of his love for Tan, he would behave.
To’Wanda looked into the older man’s eyes and she knew she’d said something foul that he didn’t agree with—her first in all the years she’d known him. She reached up with a glove-covered hand and forcefully wiped the tears from her face. “I loved Tan,” she said barely above a whisper and forced her opinions through her tears, “I don’t want this no more.”
Papa Mendoza slowly nodded his head. To’Wanda reached over and kissed the salt and peppered man on the cheek. In return, he hugged her in the manner in which he hugged Tan and in To’Wanda’s heart, she knew that regardless of what she said, she was safe.
“I want you to go to Paris,” Papa Mendoza said as he pulled out the tickets that he’d just purchased the day before. “And take Marques with you.”
“What?” To’Wanda looked on confused.
“My once daughter told you to go to Paris and to take Marques with you. A year has passed and you haven’t honored her wishes,” “Papa?”
Before To’Wanda could get the final thought out, Papa had shaken his head no and To’Wanda knew it was wise for her to keep her mouth shut. “Go” He ordered.
To’Wanda took the tickets out of his hands and found that she and Marques would be boarding the plane tomorrow morning. Her eyes popped, wide. “Thank you.”
She reached over and hugged the man. To’Wanda got up out of her seat and she went to Marques to share the news. Chico scooted down to her seat. He’d wanted to sit next to his beloved uncle and this was finally the moment he’d get a chance to speak his piece.
“Are you really gonna let that Justice chick ride like that?” He asked boldly, knowing that To’Wanda was not within earshot.
“I have something special planned for Justice—and that maricon traitor.” Papa Mendoza almost spoke Carlos’ name but couldn’t bring himself to say it. He knew in his heart that Carlos had somehow helped Justice with the murder and part of the confirmation were the phone records indicating that Tan had talked to Carlos when she’d arrived in Chicago.
Papa Mendoza seethed every time he thought about Carolos living and breathing while his daughter was scattered out back like fertilizer. This motherfucker was enjoying a legitimate life out of the game as if everthing was all-good. If it weren’t for Papa Mendoza and his steady supply of cocaine through his daughter, Carlos wouldn’t have anything to enjoy. Nevertheless, given the number of years Papa Mendoza had been at the top, he knew that in time, all major problems took care of themselves one way or another. As he looked around at his nephews, he hoped that Chico, Fontaine and Tico lived long enough to understand that concept.
CHAPTER THIRTY- EIGHT
When you gonna take this blindfold off of me?” Justice asked, wanting to reach up and pull the cloth from her face.
“When I get ready,” Carlos said sarcastically as he pulled into the shopping center. He found the parking space that had been reserved for him for the day and he cut off the ignition. He opened the door, walked around and opened Justice’s door and he helped her step out of the Tahoe. Carlos silently oooh’d and ahh’d at the tight, form-fitting dress that he had specially designed for her. He was looking dapper with a new Prada suite with a matching fedora. “We almost here.” Carlos whispered in her ear as he led her into the shopping center. As he approached the door, he looked out over the parking lot and saw two men parked in an Impala, the same two Hispanic men he’d seen earlier at the mall while picking up his shoes from Neiman Marcus. He didn’t think much of it as he proceeded with his date.
Carlos had Justice blindfolded, as he wanted to surprise her for their dinner date. He had gotten War and Luther to help him arrange to have Amélie’s cater a special dinner and desert in the atrium of the NoDa @ 28
th
building. At first, the owners of the building weren’t feeling the idea of shutting down the whole building to set up a romantic candlelight dinner, but once Carlos wrote a five figure check paying all the tenants’ rent for the next month, needless to say that all the business owners were happy to take a day off.
Once Carlos opened the door, he escorted Justice inside and he slowly lifted off her blindfold. Justice saw small white candles burning brightly in a single line that led to a trail where their table sat. In the middle of the table was a bucket of chilled Rosẻ.
“Oh wow!” Justice exclaimed. “I didn’t expect this.”
“With me, learn to expect the unexpected.” Carlos boasted confidently as he walked hand and hand with her to their table. He pulled out her chair and helped her sit down comfortably. As he went to his seat, a waiter appeared with a single rose in his hand.
“For the beautiful lady,” he handed her the rose and bowed. He left and reappeared with a pad to take their order. Carlos ordered two steak and lobster plates along with vegetable soup. The waiter then put the pad back in his pocket, uncorked the champagne, and poured their glasses.
“This is really nice.” Justice complimented. She watched the waiter disappear and a live band started playing a medley of Sade’s greatest hits off in the distance. It had been a minute since she’d heard any of her songs and knowing that her mother was a huge Sade fan, she definitely appreciated the gesture.
While enjoying the music, the waiter returned with their food and they took turns feeding each other. After eating their meal and enjoying their drink, Carlos got on his knee and pulled out an engagement ring from his pocket.
“Justice, we’ve been through a lot together—as friends and as enemies—but from this moment forward, I know in my mind and in my soul that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. They say you never know what you have until it’s gone. But I say I knew exactly what I had when I had you. I just never thought I’d lose it. They also say if you love something, set it free. If it comes back it’s yours to keep. If not, it was never meant to be. Well, here we are baby. I don’t wanna lose you again for no reason whatsoever.” He paused, and then asked, “Would you do me the honor of being my wife?”
With tears in her eyes, Justice quickly nodded her head yes before verbally indicating her answer. Carlos got off his knees and he hugged Justice tightly before kissing her passionately. The band began to play “Spend My Life” by Eric Benet and Tamia and that was the perfect song to define how Justice and Carlos intended to spend the rest of their days.
EPILOGUE
It was a beautiful Sunday evening and Justice and Carlos lay side by side in the hammock Carlos had assembled in the backyard two days prior. The sun had set and they were enjoying the cool summer breeze. It had been exactly one month since Carlos had proposed, and Justice was relishing in the thought of finally becoming his wife. After all the trials and tribulations she had endured, she finally felt like her life was meaning something.
“Did you ever think the day would come where we would be here? When I say ‘here,’ I mean right here in this day and time together. I mean, we done been through a lotta shit.” Carlos gently traced with his forefinger, the fading scar on Justice’s shoulder from where Tan’s bullet had grazed her. He was gazing in her slanted eyes while he waited for her response.
Justice took a deep breath and looked towards the sky, “Honestly?”
“I’m almost scared to say, but yeah,
honestly
.” He chuckled.
“Hell no!”
They both laughed at her truth.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
“Damn, saved by the bell,” Carlos muttered while slowly climbing out of the hammock so it wouldn’t flip.
“You expecting company?” Justice was disappointed. She had just gotten comfortable lying next to Carlos a few feet in the air.
“Yeah, I finally caught up with a nigga I need to holla at. I need to dead a issue. I’m tryna make amends with old friends.” Carlos looked at his watch.
Joe right on time, too,
Carlos thought. Sapphire had contacted him and told him that Joe was back in town and he was willing to meet him. Carlos wanted to let him know that he didn’t care about what had happened in the past and all that bullshit was behind them now. At this point, he honestly didn’t give a damn about what was going on in the streets anymore. He just wanted peace. Reconciliation was going to start with this meeting with Joe. “I’ll be back in a few minutes aiight?”
Carlos leaned in and kissed Justice on the cheek. She watched with admiration as Carlos walked toward the back door and disappeared into the kitchen, headed toward the front door. While lying back in the hammock, Justice closed her eyes and began to reflect on her life. It is said that everything in life comes full circle. And at that moment, Justice truly believed every word of that proverb with all her heart. Just a few years earlier, she was living in Charlotte, and in an on-off relationship with Carlos. After running to Chicago, she ended up right back in Charlotte with the same man she had subsequently run away from.
Hmmm, I could get used to this,
Justice thought, relishing in the fact that she was in love and it felt oh, so, sweet. After a few minutes without Carlos returning, Justice was wondering what was keeping him. She sat up in the hammock and called out, “Carlos! Who was at the door?”
No answer.
Fuck they in there doing?
She thought to herself while climbing out of the hammock to be nosey.
Justice entered the kitchen through the back door and noticed the house was eerily silent. She assumed Carlos had stepped out onto the front porch or out in the driveway to speak with whoever was at the door. “Carlos,” she called out while walking through the living room. Still no answer.
Once she entered the foyer, she noticed the front door was open. She started to approach the door, but a guttural sound to her right caught her attention. She couldn’t make out the noise, but it resembled a wounded animal struggling to breathe.
She followed the sound toward the dining room and saw what appeared to be blood smeared on the wooden tiled floor. Immediately, her hand flew up to her mouth to cover whatever sound was trying to escape her lips. Being so keen to violence, her mind instinctively clicked into survival mode. If someone had hurt her man and was still in the house, she was damned if they were getting out alive! She had already lost too many people in her life. There was no way she was letting someone rob her of the only joy she’d ever really had. She ran to the bedroom where she knew Carlos had one of his many pistols stashed. After retrieving the gun she slipped back downstairs, slowly approached the dining room, and saw a trail of blood so thick that she was almost sure no one could have survived whatever had taken place. She dry heaved from nausea because the smell of blood was so overwhelming. Tears of confusion and rage clouded her eyes as she slowly entered the dining room with the pistol cocked and loaded.
She was shaking so badly she could barely keep the pistol steady. As she entered the dining room in a blind rage, she couldn’t believe her eyes!