by Tee Jae
Chapter 23
Khadi
I would personally kill Khaza with my bare hands if he went against the family after Brooklyn had him released. I’d hate to think like that but with no one answering their phones, I didn’t know what to think. I called his phone for the tenth time.
“What the fuck going on lil bro?” I barked into the phone once Khaza picked up. “I can’t get in touch with nobody and where the fuck is my wife?”
“Kha, man, I don’t know what’s going on back home. I’m out of pocket right now trying to take care of one our problems.”
Kha? Now I knew this nigga was lying about something he never called me Kha. I hung up in his face and dialed Brooklyn’s number for the hundredth time today and got her voicemail.
“Ock, everything ok?” Zilla pulled my privacy curtain back walking into my cell.
“Fuck no, Zilla something up, I can’t get nobody at home on the line man. Imma lose my fucking cool if something happened to my family while we on the inside.” I paced my cell back and forth impatiently trying Khali’s number this time as it rung out to voicemail too.
“Stay calm, man, how long you been calling home?”
“Since last night nigga it’s a whole ‘nother day. I can’t even get in touch with Biggs.” I threw the phone on the bunk and walked out of the pods heading to the pay phones. “Hello?” I spoke into the phone as soon as Cooper accepted the collect call.
“What’s wrong Santana?” He worriedly spoke into the phone picking up on the tone in my voice.
“Everybody’s off the grid? You know anything about that?” I asked in hopes that he knew what was going on.
“I haven’t heard from anyone. What you need me to do?” he asked willing to go the extra mile for the amount of money I was paying his ass.
“Just get to the estate as fast as you can man and find out where the hell my family is. And Cooper, make sure you lay eyes on my wife and my son. I’ll be calling you back in the next two to three hours.” I hung the phone up and headed to look for Khaddo to see if he’d talk to anyone. I wasn’t in control and I didn’t like that shit; something was up and a boss like me should never be left in the dark about shit. We had court in two days and I could not imagine coming home to nothing. I walked right past a gang fight unfazed at what was going on around me. I wasn’t in tune with shit until I found out where everyone was.
“Whats good bro?” Khaddo asked seeing the fucked up look on my face.
“You talk to anyone at home?” I asked cutting the bullshit.
“Nah, I ain’t used the phones since I been here, you know everybody mad with me. “Something wrong?” he asked looking up from the book he was reading worriedly.
“I hope not, I haven’t been able to get anyone on the phone but Khaza and he really not giving me anything.” I sighed taking a seat next to him. “Forty-Eight Laws of Power?” I grabbed the book out of his hand, “How many times you read this shit?” I asked while flipping through the pages. I made sure we all read this book when we were coming up so we weren’t left in the dark about anything when it comes to our rights and laws.
“This my third time but every time I read it I find something I looked over the last time.” He looked at me smiling.
I closed the book and handed it back to him, “Imma try and go lay down and relax myself before I go crazy in here.” I pulled him in for a brotherly hug before heading back to my cell to gather my thoughts.
*****
“Santanas and Mitchell, up now, let’s go.” The guard called out walking into the pod. I hadn’t even noticed I slept into the early hours of the a.m. I sat up on my cot and put some socks on my feet before sliding them in my Nike slippers. I had no idea what was going on. We didn’t have court until tomorrow morning so I was confused as ever.
“What’s going on Johnson?” I asked the guard who seemed like the only one who had regards for human kind around here.
He looked around before leaning into me, “From what I hear, trial dismissal.” He smirked.
I kept my poker face on as they transported us from the federal camp to the courthouse while Zilla and Khaddo kept trying to gain eye contact with me the entire ride but I avoided them. If what Johnson said was true, then a nigga was more than grateful but the feeling in the pit of my stomach was telling me that all wasn’t well at home.
“What’s good, Cooper?” I asked sitting down next to him with Zilla and Khaddo sitting next to me.
“The witness they had died last night so now they are dismissing the case. Natural causes they said. I think from her third degree burns.” He smiled. Everything working out for us. I couldn’t lie, the look on the D. A.’s face was priceless and I know this would be another great notch under Cooper’s lawyer belt.
“You laid eyes on all my family members back at home?” I asked him, wiping the smile right off his face.
“I laid eyes on everyone except Brooklyn.” He sighed looking at me. “Something’s not right at home Khadi but let’s knock this out the way so you can get home and find your wife.” He patted me on my shoulder before walking away and heading to the district attorney’s table with a folder in his hand.
Find my wife… what the hell he meant by find my wife? This shit had me wondering what the fuck was going on. Like was my wife missing or was she pissed and taking a breather from all this shit that happened with Toi?
“All rise.” The bailiff called out bringing the very few people in the court room to their feet. “Judge Aymond residing.” Everyone sat down shortly after the judge.
“Good morning, let’s get this over with fellas.” He sat down.
Cooper stood up and straightened out the jacket on his navy blue Italian leather suit. “Your honor, I called for this emergency trial for all charges against my clients to be dismissed upon learning the death of witness who falsely accused these gentlemen of not one but two gruesome murders. My clients have been locked away from their family all because of a scorned side chick who wanted anyone, innocent people, to pay for her pain. I ask that my clients be released immediately while this court still has some dignity.” Cooper unbuttoned his coat and sat back down next to me.
“Counsel?” the judge looked over the rim of his glasses at the district attorney. “Any rebuttal argument?”
“I have nothing your honor.” He threw his hands in the air defeated.
“WHAT??? You have got to be kidding me. What about justice for Amy? These thugs had to have something to do with her disappearance and you’re just going to let them walk?” I turned around looking at a young white man dressed in a Men In Black suit.
“Quiet in my courtroom. I will not have any outbursts from anyone, especially those behind the bench. Now sit down young man.” The judge banged his gavel and waited for the commotion to quiet down. “Well then, let’s get these gentlemen processed to be released and both Mr. Santana and Mr. Mitchell on behalf of the state, I would like to apologize for any inconvenience the officers or anyone working against you on the case may have caused. Case dismissed.” He banged his gavel again before exiting and heading to his chambers.
I looked back at Zilla and Khaddo and they had the look of relief on their face.
“Let’s get you fellas home.” Cooper stood up as the officers lead us back to the police station to be released.
Once we made it outside it felt good being blinded by the sun but nothing felt better than seeing maman standing by the truck with KJ at her side. She pointed toward me and he took off running in my direction. I couldn’t walk anymore, my feet felt like they were being held down by cinderblocks as I just stood there. I was nervous as hell and that was a first for Khadi Santana.
“Dad!!!” he hollered jumping into my arms with the biggest smile mixed with tears running down his face.
The feeling of holding my son in my arms for the first time forced a tear out of a nigga eye. I held on to him so tight for so long maman came and pulled us apart, “Don’t suffocate the child, Khadi, we just got hi
m.” She laughed.
I stood back and look at a little Toi standing in front of me. His curly hair was nicely cut and his swag was already on point. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face if I wanted too.
“Dad, say something.” His little voice challenged me.
I picked his small body back up and hugged him again, “I’m sorry.” I finally exhaled. “I’m sorry I didn’t know you were out there living with my enemy. You okay? Diesel never hurt you did he?” I placed him back on his feet and stared down at him.
“No sir.” He answered well mannered.
I grabbed his hand and headed toward the waiting vehicles where Khaza was leaned up against the car with some beautiful woman. “You did it again you motherfucker you.” I smiled pulling him in for a hug. I was proud of my family for stepping up and doing whatever it took to free us.
“Don’t thank me… you know who to thank.” He hugged Zilla and Khaddo’s before they opened the back door and slid in the backseat. I opened the passenger door but Khaza closed it back.
“I got some shit to tell you now that this case is out the way.” He sighed deeply so I knew he was getting ready to tell me some shit I didn’t want to hear. “Brooklyn is missing.” He looked at me trying to read my face.
“Yeah, I know she on some trip shit since Toi came back.”
The look he gave me was letting me know I didn’t know what I was talking about. “No, Khadi like missing missing, we found her truck wrecked into a pole and her dog was found dead in her front seat.”
The news he delivered damn near knocked my off my feet. I grabbed him up and slammed him against his truck, “Motherfucker my wife releases you to come home and you let this shit happen?” Khaddo and Zilla jumped out the truck and tried to pull me off of him.
“I’m sorry man, I asked everyone not to tell you until we got past the dismissal.” He tried to speak as much as he could under my hold.
After about another minute or two I let him go and pushed Khaddo and Zilla off me, “Get me home now so I can find my wife.”
Chapter 24
Brooklyn
The elevator doors opened up and Yani’s coked up ass came through the door with a smile on her face. For the past day or so she had been getting a kick out of beating my ass until I was damn near unconscious but for some reason, she’d never killed me. I no longer held my head down when she stepped into the room. At this point, I didn’t feel like anyone was coming for me, so I was ready to meet my maker. Maybe this was my karma for not stopping Khadi from killing Gator.
“Got some good news.” She walked around me stepping in the puddle of my urine that was at the bottom of the chair. Being tied up for the last two days without anyone bringing me to the bathroom I had to go in my clothes, luckily for me I hadn’t shitted yet. “Your husband was released early this morning.” I kept a straight face afraid if I showed any emotion she would continue to terrorize me. “So now give me his phone number so I can FaceTime him so he can watch you die like you watched my husband die.” She pulled her iPhone from her purse unlocking it and waited for me to call out his phone number.
I had to think hard about this. Was this really the way I wanted Khadi to have his last memories of me? I closed my eyes as I thought about all the good and bad times that we had in this rollercoaster of a relationship and smiled to myself but that smile quickly turned into a frown as I thought about Toi. She just came back into our lives with the very one thing my husband was banking on me to give him… A SON! I hadn’t noticed but tears were finding their way down my face as I silently cried on the inside.
“What the fuck you crying about? Huh, bitch?” Yani walked up to me slapping the tears right off my face. “You wasn’t crying after your disloyal ass had Chris killed. Nooooooooooooo, you were out here living your best fucking life.” She spat and I could smell the liquor on her breath.
I noticed her sidekick Raul wasn’t with her and it had me thinking that she left him somewhere because he was my voice of reason. Many times, he would stop her from hitting on me and he refused to give her any of the tools she wanted to use to torture me.
“Gator was no good Yani, you and I both know that. Your coke problem is so out of control you are willing to kill me for a man that didn’t give two shits about you.” I spoke through my busted lip.
“Don’t you say that shit out of your mouth again you snobby bitch!!!” she screamed at me like a mad woman. “Besides, I’ve killed people for less.” She walked over to the table and dipped her nose in a line of coke. “And my coke problem shouldn’t be your concern bitch I been doing this. Now give me that number before I don’t let you have any last words with your bastard of a husband. I’ll just kill you and be on the first thing smoking to Cuba.”
Last words? I never thought about it that way. Maybe I needed to give her Khadi’s number and let him know all the things that were running through my mind these past few days.
“You’re right, Yani.” I told her as I called out Khadi’s number and watched her punch in the numbers to face time him.
She held the phone out while standing behind it so that I was the only one in the camera.
“Brooklyn.” He called my name in a voice I didn’t recognize. It was a voice filled with guilt when in actuality he had nothing to be guilty for. All he did was love me and I continued to bring danger to our doorstep. “Brooklyn, baby, where are you?”
“Khadi.” I tried to smile but it hurt too bad. “I’m so glad you are home. Khaza came home and did what he was supposed to do.” I felt good about making that decision for the family. “Kha-…”
“Brooklyn, where are you?” his stern voice interrupted me. This time it was more of a demand than a question.
“Khadi, I’m sorry for being mad at you about Toi. It was selfish of me just the thought of another woman giving you what I wanted to give you first had me emotionally disturbed. I thought…” I started to cry again, “I thought you would leave me for her but-…”
“Brooklyn, there isn’t another woman walking on God’s green earth that would I would leave you for, now who did this to you?” he asked me again getting upset. “Is it the Ortiz’s?” he asked eagerly.
“Khadi, LISTEN TO ME. I need you to hear me out. Hear out my last words.” I shouted getting frustrated with him. “I love you baby from the first time I woke up in your home and heard you talking to Biggs about me while I was out on the balcony.” I smiled and so did he. “I loved how you were overprotective of Khali and I knew you would be that same man for me. You took my heart and loved it through the pain while exalting any harm coming my way and I love you for that.”
“Don’t say that shit to me baby, tell me where you at right now. Let me prove to you again that I can protect you.” I could see movement but I couldn’t see what he was doing. “Are you high?” he asked me and it took me a minute before I realized that he was asking me if I was up in the air.
“High off of your love for me.” I responded.
“It feels good?” he asked which was code for was it nice or abandoned.
“Yes baby.” I replied trying not to indicate to Yani that we were talking in codes. She stood behind the phone nervously holding on to it with one hand and biting her nails on the other.
“I know it do.”
I could hear his voice but the screen was black so I just continued to talk, “I felt so alone without you.” I cried letting him know that Yani was alone.
“Enough of this lovey dovey shit.” She finally spoke up before placing the phone up against a centerpiece on the coffee table so that it was in view of me and her. “Come back on the phone you piece of shit.” She stared at the black screen on the phone before walking away to the room and coming back out with a gun in her hand, “He’s still not on the phone.” She laughed at the blacked-out screen, “He doesn’t even care about you. Nobody doesn’t even want to see you die. How does it feel to know that someone doesn’t give two fucks about you?” she raised her gun and aimed it at my head, “As
k God for forgiveness bitch cause you going to meet y-…”
Ding!
The doors to the elevator slid open but neither of us looked up, “Raul you’re just in time. I’m about to blow this bitch’s brains out and we gon’ fuck real good before we get rid of her body.” She laughed turning around and got struck so hard she fell to the floor and her gun flew across the room.
“Khadi! Baby oh my goddddddd!” he grabbed my swollen face and kissed me.
“You mine, you hear me?” he kissed me again. “I’ll never let someone else hurt you and I mean that shit.” He quickly moved around the chair to untie my hands and stepped in my urine. “I’m so sorry baby.” He looked down at my piss on the floor in shame. The elevator door dinged again, “Stand downnnnnn. I don’t want anyone to see my wife like this!” he hollered at Khaza, Biggs and Zilla.
I started crying, “You’re ashamed of me!” I rubbed my wrists once they were free.
“What?” he stopped and stared at me, “Brooklyn I’m never ashamed of you but I’ll never let anyone around me see you in such a vulnerable state. You are a reflection of me, they see my bitch weak they think they can penetrate.” He kissed my forehead before running to the room to find a sheet to cover me with.
I could see Yani trying to come to on the floor. I tried to stand up but fell down to the floor.
“Babeeeeeee!” I hollered. He ran from the back with the sheet and picked me up from the floor, “Khadi she’s waking up.” I whispered in his ear as he carried me in his arms toward the elevator.
“She’s not even worth your nightmares baby.” He pressed the elevator button and the doors opened immediately with Khaza still on the elevator waiting for us.
I wrapped my arms around Khadi’s neck and looked over his shoulder and hollered, “Khadiiiiiiiiiiiii!”
Yani was standing with her gun in her hand pointing it at Khadi. Khaza pushed us out the way and let a round off, killing Yani instantly but not before she let one off dropping Khaza to the floor.
