Trife Life To Lavish Part 2 Genesis & Genevieve...Am I My Brother's Keeper (19 page)

"Yeah, especially since Renny told me you were dead."

"That's what he told you?" Tierra asked, somewhat
dumbfounded.

"Yes, he did." Nichelle stood and looked at Tierra for
a brief moment as if taking in the fact that what she was
seeing in front of her eyes was real. "Oh, Tierra, I'm so
happy you're alive," Nichelle finally said and hugged her
best friend tightly. "I was so worried about you."

"I worried everyday about you. It was killing me to stay away from you but with all the craziness going on it
was for the best."

"So what happened? Where have you been and why
did Renny tell me you were dead?"

"Girl, where do I start? How `bout wit' that fool ass
nigga Arnez. Him and that ruthless Chanel really left me
on the sidewalk for dead. If Renny hadn't showed up I
would've bleed to death right there in the Queens projects."

"So Renny saved your life?"

"Yep. After he took me to the hospital, I was there
for a few weeks. Then when they was ready to release me
he stashed me at one of his other cribs in Jersey so Arnez
couldn't find me. He didn't want Arnez to know I was still
alive."

"Why, because he was afraid that Arnez would try to
finish you off?"

"That, and if Arnez knew Renny saved me then he
would also know Renny knew about what he did to your
mother and that he was trying to get you. Renny wanted
Arnez to think he was in the dark about all that while he
plotted to make his move."

"So Renny was telling me the truth when he said he
wanted to get rid of Arnez?"

"Definitely! I mean that is his cousin and they do a lot
of business together but Renny mos def want Arnez out
the picture. He just tryna figure out how and the right time
to make it happen."

"So you've being keeping a low profile all this time?"

"Yeah, and the shit has been driving me crazy. I've
only seen my mom a few times. But she understand I'm damn near under the witness protection program right
now," Tierra joked.

"But why did Renny want me to believe you were
dead? I wouldn't have told anybody what was going on."

"I know. I was a tad stunned when you told me that,"
Tierra explained shrugging her arms. "But he didn't even
want me to know he had made contact with you."

"What do you mean?"

"I knew he always had some people watching out
for you. You know to make sure Arnez was never able to
snatch you up. But when I would ask about you, he always
said, he hadn't spoken to you."

"That was true. The first time I actually heard from
him was a few weeks ago."

"Yeah, he told me after I saw your bracelet. At first
he denied it but I knew it was yours. It was the canary and
white diamond bracelet Carmelo gave you for your birthday.
I never saw nobody else with a bracelet like that."

"I left it over here the other day. Renny said he would
give it to me next time I saw him. Is it here?"

"No, I think Renny has it with him."

"I thought he would be here, he sent me a text."

"Actually I sent you the text from his phone. Of course
he don't know that," Tierra smirked. "When he told me he
talked to you, I went through his phone while he was in the
shower. When I sent you the text I was happy you hit me
right back because of course I had to delete both of them."

"I see you still slick as hell! You better be lucky, I didn't
call him or text again before I got here."

"Who you telling! Renny would have a fit if he knew we were talking right now"

"Maybe, but he had to know that eventually he would
have to come clean. I mean he can't pretend that you're
dead forever."

"True. Because as soon as this shit is handled with
Arnez I'm breaking free. I feel like a prisoner."

"I know what you mean!"

"Yeah, but at least you able to be out and about. I want
to go shopping and rock some fly shit!"

"You will, but you maintaining. You still look official.
I see you put on a little weight but it look good on you."

"Yep, I did but that's because..." right before Tierra
could finish her sentence Nichelle heard what sounded
like crying. She looked around to see where the noise was
coming from and noticed a baby monitor.

"There's a baby here?"

"Hun huh, I'll be right back," Tierra said and disappeared upstairs. When she came back a few minutes later
she was holding what looked to be a newborn.

"Is that your baby?" Nichelle's question was filled with
astonishment.

"Yes, his name is Elijah."

"That's Renny's middle name. Wait, please don't tell
me that's Renny's baby" Nichelle started backing away;
shaking her head in complete confusion.

"I didn't want you to find out this way. But when Elijah
woke up I really couldn't keep the secret anymore."

"So all that time when you and Renny were keeping
secrets from me about what happened to Carmelo you
were also having sex the entire time!"

"No! I swear, Nichelle. We didn't become intimate
until after I got shot. After I started staying at his crib and
I got better, one day it just happened."

Nichelle slumped down on the sofa as if defeated.
"You've been playing house with my boyfriend and now
you all have a baby together and you want to say one day
it just happened. Wow, only you Tierra. Only you can say
some bullshit like that with a straight face."

"Technically, Nichelle, he wasn't your boyfriend."

"But you knew I was still in love with him."

"No I didn't. When you found out that he was
responsible for Carmelo's death you left that hotel room
saying you wanted nothing else to do with him."

"So of course being the hoochie you are, you felt it
was open season to get at my man, because whether we
were together or not he was still my man and should've
been off limits to you!"

"Nichelle, I was alone and stuck in the house. Renny
was the only man available to me. I'm not trying to excuse
what I did but my circumstances left me with little to no
options."

"A baby," Nichelle said trying to contain her sniffles.
"I lost a baby by a man I loved and now you have a baby by
a man I'm in love with. How fuckin' unlucky am I."

"Nichelle, I'm so sorry," Tierra said sitting down next
to her on the couch holding Elijah. As beautiful as the baby
was, it was breaking Nichelle's heart to be next to him.

"I can't do this," Nichelle admitted, standing up from
the couch and grabbing her purse.

"You're leaving?"

"Yes. I found my best friend and lost her again all in
the same day."

"Nichelle, don't say that. We can get past this like we
have everything else."

Right when Nichelle was about to respond both ladies
turned their heads as they heard the front door opening.
Renny came inside, noticed both women and calmly closed
the door. When he walked up to them, with unruffled
composure he took his son out of Tierra's hands and
cradled him in his strong arms.

Nichelle kept the silence going and kept to her original
plan which was to leave.

"Where are you going?" Renny directed his question
to Nichelle with such ease as if she hadn't just found out he
made a baby with her best friend.

"I'm going home."

"I'll take you," he responded, handing Elijah back over
to Tierra.

"That's okay. You need to stay here and be with your
baby."

"I said I would take you home." Renny reached out
and grabbed Nichelle's arm, freezing her movement.

"Let go of me!" She belted trying to free her arm but
his grasp was too firm. Renny gave Nichelle a glare that
sent a shiver through her body. After all this time his hold
over her was as powerful as ever.

"Come sit down." Renny gently released Nichelle's
arm and guided her back over to the couch. "I see Tierra
took it upon herself to get you over here and tell you about
our baby," he said not once looking in Tierra's direction.

"Why didn't you tell me, or were you just going to
continue making me believe that Tierra was dead?"

"I was going to tell you everything at the right time."

"When was the right time gonna be? I'm almost numb
to you at this fuckin' point, Renny!"

"You know I hate when you raise your voice at me."

"And I hate that you put your dick in my best friend's
pussy, how about that."

"It only happened a couple of times."

"And I'm supposed to believe that."

"Tierra, tell Nichelle how many times we had sex."

"Like twice," Tierra answered putting her head down.

"It doesn't matter; it was enough for you all to make
a baby together. And the more I think about it you two
are a much better fit than we ever was. You're completely
ruthless and Tierra is the definition of trifling-a perfect
match."

"Tierra, take Elijah upstairs."

"I need to set some things straight with Nichelle
before I go anywhere," Tierra popped.

"What did I say?" Tierra rolled her eyes and then did
as Renny directed.

"I understand you're upset. I made a mistake one that
I regret but that doesn't change my feelings for you."

"It amazes me how you're able to switch shit up like
it isn't a big deal. You have a baby with my best friend,
everything has changed!"

"Are you saying because of the baby I have with Tierra,
you're no longer in love with me?"

"What I'm saying is that I should've been done with you when I found out all the fucked up shit you did. But
if that wasn't enough to make me stay away from you, this
surly is. I'm done for good this time and my only regret is
wasting this past year wishing we were back together."

"I can't let you leave me."

"You don't have a choice. I don't care what I have to
do but I will get you out of my system once and for all
because you're poison."

Veronica was looking forward to having dinner with
Arnez. She hadn't been able to see him the last few days due
to Delondo's unexpected visit. When he had to abruptly cut
his trip short due to a business emergency that was taking him
to Memphis, the first thing Veronica did was call Arnez.

"Baby, I missed you," Arnez said, giving Veronica a
kiss on the lips when she arrived.

"I missed you more," she smiled. "Thank you for
meeting me for dinner at such short notice."

"Of course. I was surprised you called since you said
you would be out of town for the next few days."

"My trip was cut short and you were the first person I
wanted to see when I got back."

"That's perfectly fine with me because like I said, I
missed you. I didn't realize how much until seeing you
again." Veronica couldn't stop herself from blushing as she
took in Arnez's bullshit.

"What are you doing next Wednesday?"

"Wednesday. . .1 think I'm supposed to be going out
of town. If I'm not mistaken I have to go to Atlanta and handle some business."

"That's too bad. I wanted you to attend this launch
party for one of my clients with me."

"Launch party, for what client?" Arnez asked, trying
not to sound too interested although he was.

"Oh, a young lady who is doing a campaign for a new
perfume line. The party should be nice. T-Roc is giving it
and his extravagance is legendary in the industry."

"Hate that I have to miss it. Where is this extravagant
party going to take place?"

"The Plaza Hotel in the Grand Ballroom, like I said
T-Roc is going all out. It's actually very smart marketing.
He's using it as a tool to introduce Nichelle and get buzz
and a ton of press for his new perfume line. I apologize;
I'm talking about these people as if you know them. I'm
sure you've heard of the multi-media mogul T-Roc and
Nichelle is the client I was telling you about."

"I see. The Plaza, that's over there on Fifth Avenue
and Central Park South-right?"

"The one and only."

"That should be quite a party. I wish I could be there."

"Me too. I'm ready to show you off."

"We have plenty of time for that. I'm not going
anywhere," he said reaching across the table and stroking
Veronica's hand. Arnez felt that sniffing up under Veronica's
ass for all these weeks had finally paid off. With the
information she revealed, Veronica had basically handed
Nichelle over to Arnez on a silver platter. He would no
doubt use it to his full advantage and as he held Veronica's
hand the plotting began.