Pulling into the parking structure of my apartment in Downtown, I quickly shut off the engine and grabbed the Tupperware that Tatiana gave me. I loved her chicken salads, so she made sure to make a whole lot so I could take some home.
Looking at the salad made me think about her situation. Yeah, I had a weak ass nigga that I couldn’t let go, but my man didn’t hit me. Tatiana was little, I mean so was I, but she was smaller than I was and Brevin was huge. He was over six feet and muscular as fuck, and I didn’t like that he manhandled her like they were the same damn size. I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if something happened to her, so I just had to say something when I could. I prayed that she got away and soon.
“Hey,” I walked into my apartment to see my boyfriend Russell pulling a beer from the fridge.
“Sup shorty, when are you going grocery shopping?” he had the nerve to ask me.
“I planned on going tomorrow. I go every Saturday Russell; you know that. And we should have some food in there.” I frowned at his ass.
Russell was only good for eating pussy and fucking. He had jobs here and there but the nigga could never keep them. Every time I looked up his ass was getting fired and claiming that it was the manager’s fault and not his. The only reason I was with him was because I was lazy.
See I met him when I was twenty-three and we’d been together ever since then. I put a lot into my relationship with him; I was used to him and comfortable. I knew there were much better niggas out there, but I didn’t feel like going out, getting to know someone, and all that bullshit. I was content, so why go looking for something new.
“You cooking?” He cracked the beer open.
“Dinner yes, but I just ate lunch with Tatiana already.”
“Damn, do you ever have time for a nigga? All you do is go chill with Tatiana and work? Where do I fucking fit in? I’m your man!”
“Oh my gosh,” I sighed.
“You damn right oh my gosh! I wouldn’t be surprised if you were eating her damn pussy all the damn time y’all spend together.”
“And on that note, I will be in the back taking a nap.”
“I’ll be back some time later then.”
“Where are you going? I swear I’m gonna change the locks on your ass, that will teach you to stop staying out all night for no reason!”
“You don’t worry about where the fuck I’m going, Jadynn. When you learn to make time for a nigga, maybe then I will answer yo’ fucking questions!” he barked before leaving.
As soon as he left, I went to my bedroom and dialed AT&T. As the line trilled, I began gathering my stuff to take a hot shower since I was in for the rest of the day. The representative finally answered, and after verifying the necessary information, she asked me what I needed help with.
“Yes, I’d like to cut one of the lines off please.”
“Okay, which one would that be?” she asked.
“The one ending in 3112.”
This nigga had me fucked up. I was not in the business of raising a man and since he’d rather stay out all night instead of hitting the computer keys to apply for some jobs, I was gonna start cutting him off slowly; monetary wise. I was tired of buying him phones, clothes, shoes, and other material things.
“There is a disconnection fee since you’re in the middle of the contract Ms. Davidsen. Is that alright?”
“That’s fine.” The money would be well worth it. If he had any hoes, he’d better hope they could get his ass a phone because this one was no longer.
“You’re all set!”
“Great, thank you.” I hung up the phone and proceeded to take my shower and lie down.
A few hours later…
“Hey, hey,” someone shook me. I opened my eyes to see my sister Paige staring down into my face.
“What time is it?” I sat up, pushing my auburn colored hair behind my ears.
“It’s like 7:30. Your man sent me back here to wake you up to cook, bitch. I thought your ass was dead.”
“Girl, I totally forgot about going to the beauty supply with you, I’m sorry.” I stood up and stretched a little, trying to wake the fuck up so I could make this bum and myself some food.
“It’s cool. So how long are you gonna let that nigga live off of you?”
“He doesn’t really live off of me, Paige. The only thing I do for him is pay his cellphone, cook, buy groceries, and a few electronics and wardrobe items for him. He helps with rent and utilities.”
“How? He doesn’t even have a fucking job!”
“Lower your voice! He gets the money from his mother. But that’s the least of our problems, he has no fucking ambition. I like a man with goals, a nigga who gets his bread by any means. Russell is just a bum. But we have history.”
“And you say Tatiana has it bad,” she scoffed.
“She does and so do I. I’ve never said my relationship was better than hers, Paige. I don’t see you with a man though.”
“Look I’m good. I have a great job, doing what I love so I couldn’t care less about what these weak ass Cleveland niggas have to offer. All of them are the same anyway. Either they’re broke, cheaters, or they whoop your ass. I’m good on all three!”
My sister and I were close, very close. She was my best friend outside of Tatiana, even though she and I thought very differently. For as long as I’d known Paige she had always been hard on the opposite sex. Any little thing a nigga did, she was ready to drop their ass, and she tried to make Tatiana and I be the same way. Tatiana was a hopeless romantic though so she always tries to find the good in these trash ass niggas like Brevin. But me on the other hand, well you already know.
“Hopefully one day Tatiana and I will move on.” I smiled.
“I hope so. I mean Brevin is that nigga out here in Ohio, but he ain’t worth the headache.”
“I do remember someone being interested in him before he got with Tati.”
“That was before I knew how he was and once I found out, my crush ended like that!” she snapped her fingers and fixed her jeans.
Paige was beautiful and unlike me, she was thicker than a snicker. She had hips, ass, thighs, and big titties. Her stomach wasn’t flat, but it didn’t matter because she was still bad. She had a light golden complexion like me, and we looked a lot alike. The only difference was that she had the body of a video vixen and I didn’t, at all. We had the same parents, but somehow I didn’t get blessed like her. It didn’t stop the niggas from trying to holler at me though.
Anyway, when Brevin first started making waves as owning Cleveland in a sense, Paige, like every other bitch out here was on him. She couldn’t get close to him though, and when she finally lucked up, he dissed her ass for Tatiana. She liked to pretend that she never wanted him like that, but there was a time when all she talked about was him. If I didn’t know her so well, I would definitely think she was jealous of Tatiana.
“We all know why your crush on Brevin is no longer.”
“He ain’t curve no damn body, aight? He actually tried to get at me on the low, but I turned him down out of respect for Tatiana.”
“Yeah right! He barely even noticed you then and he damn sure doesn’t now that there are three million females in his face every day.”
“Look if you’re gonna cook go do it. If Russell looks at me like I’m a meal one more time I’m gonna smack his ass! You need to do better with him.”
“Wait, weren’t you just telling me to move on?” I frowned.
“Yes, but if you’re gonna be with the nigga at least be a good damn girlfriend. He’s out there looking like a starved dog!”
“Whatever, Paige.”
My sister walked, talked, moved, and looked like a hater, but something was stopping me from believing that she was one. I mean she had nothing to be jealous of… right.
6
Teflon
I woke up in the hotel bed feeling well rested. I had some shit to take care of later today, but for now I needed to clean up and get some food. Aft
er laying there for a couple of minutes, I grabbed my phone to see a plethora of calls from Kayla, Promise, Merce, a couple un-stored numbers, and a text in WhatsApp from Thomas. I wanted to get myself together before returning anything though.
Climbing out of the bed, I brushed my teeth with the toothbrush and paste the hotel gave you, and then hopped into the shower. I planned to take another one when I got home, but I didn’t want to risk Kayla being extra and detecting some shit. Once I was all cleaned up, I threw on what I wore the day before and left out, headed home.
When I got into my car, I dialed Merce back to find out why he’d called me after texting Thomas back in the app. It felt so weird using an app to text, but since Thomas was over in Europe, this was the only way he and I could communicate.
“What did you want?” I asked Merce once he picked up, as I pulled out of the parking lot.
“Nigga, they got Luis.”
“Fuck you mean they got Luis?” I frowned, almost running a damn red light because I was beyond perplexed.
“Nigga, Diego just called me and said the warehouse was blown up. Luis was inside waiting for us to come to the meeting.”
“Why? We’re not supposed to meet for another fucking hour. Shit! So what now?”
“I don’t know man. Diego wants to talk though and see how we can work through this shit you know.”
“Diego? Don’t nobody wanna fuck with Diego. He don’t know shit, which is why Luis was in charge. I don’t have time for this bullshit man.”
“I know, Tef, but chill. Let’s just hear the man out and see what he has to say before we write him off aight? We meet him in two hours.”
“Aight,” I sighed before hanging up, just as I was pulling into my condo in Torrance.
I grabbed my phone and keys, then exited the car so I could go inside and get ready for this meeting. I saw Kayla’s car parked in the driveway, so she clearly wasn’t going into work today. When I opened the front door I saw three brown boxes sitting in the middle of the living room. Peeking into one, I realized it was full of my clothes, shoes, boxers, and socks.
“Kayla!” I hollered to the back and she came walking into the living room with her eyebrow raised. I hated when she did that shit because I knew that meant she was ready to go at it.
“Yes?” she folded her arms.
“Why are you packing my shit up?”
“Because it’s time for you to go Tre’Wayne,” she replied, using my government. Here we fucking go with this shit.
“Time for me to go? I pay the fucking bills so if anybody should be getting out it’s yo’ ass!” I grabbed what I needed from some of the boxes so I could go shower. I was already upset about this Luis shit and this right here was not making it any better.
“Oh I am leaving, but you’re leaving first until I find a new place. I expect you to continue to pay the bills until I go.”
I burst into laughter before she even finished talking and slammed the bathroom door in her face so I could get a good ass scrub down. Once I was clean to my liking, I re-brushed my teeth, flossed, and then rinsed with some mouthwash. I walked out of the bathroom, taking what I’d collected from the boxes, and entered the bedroom we shared to see Kayla sobbing.
“Kayla, what’s the damn problem?”
“What’s the problem?” she looked up at me with tears in her eyes and confusion written all over her face. Her light complexion was flushed. Pushing her dark hair to the back she said, “You stayed out all night! You think I don’t know what the fuck you were doing?” her eyelids lowered.
“I was working—“
“You were not working, Tre’Wayne German! My friend already told me she saw you at the strip club on Western! She also said she saw you leave with two of the fucking strippers!”
“What you want me to do shorty? I told you that I love you and I do, but I just can’t be what you want me to be. I will move out, okay?” I was gonna continue to lie but I was exhausted and caught anyway.
“Why can’t you, Teflon?” she whimpered.
“I don’t have the discipline I guess.” I slipped my boxers up and then grabbed my jeans. “I have tried, you know I have but I haven’t been able to fight the temptation.”
“It’s because you need to stop hanging with Merce.”
“It ain’t his fault what I do, Kayla, and you know that. I’m a grown ass man; I can’t be blaming another nigga for how I act.” I sighed, trying to calm myself down before saying, “Baby I’m sorry and I love you. I love you enough to allow you to move on if you feel like this ain’t what you want.”
“I want you, but not this way,” she sniffled.
“I know.” I took her hands into mine. “Maybe I need some time. We may need some time apart and then come back to one another.” I pulled her into me after slipping my jeans on.
“I don’t want to be apart from you Tef, but I can’t do this anymore. I need you to be faithful to me and if you can’t I have to go. It’s been too long and too many chances given.”
“I hear you,” I said in a low tone.
I loved Kayla, I really did. There was no reason not to love her. Not to mention the fact that she actually loved a nigga. I didn’t want her to leave, but she was right, I’d been given too many chances. She and I had been together for years and we’d been bickering over my fidelity issues since day one. Believe me I wanted to be better and every time that she forgave me I felt like I could. Then a week later, I would run into a pretty ass bitch that I just couldn’t pass up. I could control myself I guess, but the problem seemed to be that I didn’t want to.
“Promise me you will focus on getting yourself together and not being in another relationship.” She smiled.
“I promise. Do you honestly think I would make someone else my woman, Kayla? Only person that I’ve ever wanted to be in a relationship with is you.”
She blushed and smiled before nodding her head.
“I love you, Teflon.”
“I love you too Kayla. And I promise a nigga is gonna get it together. Don’t give my pussy away.” I bit my lip before kissing her sensually. My dick came to life instantly, prompting my hands to rub up under her shirt.
“No, Tef,” she whispered.
“Just one more time, baby, please.” I sucked on her neck as I played with her nipples.
“No, Tef, go.” She shoved me back lightly, fixing her clothes in the process. I could see that she was on the verge of crying so I just decided to leave her alone.
I pecked her lips once more, and then pulled my shirt over my head.
“I’m gonna sleep in the guest room tonight, but tomorrow I will go to a hotel, aight?” I stared down into her face and she nodded before wiping her nose.
I kissed her forehead gently and then left the condo to meet with Diego. Today was just not my fucking day.
7
Calvin “Merce” Capers
“I really don’t wanna hear anything this nigga has to say.” Teflon shook his head as soon as I got into his car.
“Well you should want to because we need to make money. How the fuck we gon’ eat if we don’t continue on without Luis?” I frowned.
“It’ll be hard to do.”
We started working for Luis, a couple years back, which is why Teflon and I moved from Ohio to California. We weren’t getting money like we wanted to in Cleveland, so when Luis offered for us to come out here and be his killers, we agreed.
We made about one hundred thousand dollars per job at the most, depending on whom we had to kill or take down and how dangerous it was. Now that Luis was gone, we still needed to make sure that our money flow wouldn’t slow up at all. I admit, like Teflon I was worried that Diego would be on some bullshit. Luis told us many times how his brother was incompetent and only allowed to roll with him because he was his blood. I wasn’t too fond of the idea of him being in charge, but I wanted to be optimistic because I loved the cash I was getting.
We made it to the Hilton Hotel where Diego asked us to meet
him. We secured our heat in our waists and then got out of the car. We spotted him sitting in the plush ass lobby holding a drink and he smiled when he saw us. That was an odd reaction to have since his brother had just been killed earlier today. Something was off about this nigga. I erased the thoughts from my mind because I only wanted to focus on getting paid and nothing else.
“What happened?” Teflon frowned as he and I both took a seat after greeting Diego and some of Luis’ men.
“I am not sure. Some of Luis’ security said they were sitting outside watching the warehouse, when all of a sudden it caught on fire.”
“Is there a body?” I asked because I was suspicious.
Diego stared at me before chuckling lightly. He then pulled his phone out, tapped the screen a few times, and then showed me a picture of Luis’ burnt ass body. Somehow, his ring had survived the whole fire, but it was obvious that it was him because of it. He offered to show Teflon, but he waved it off, not interested.
“So what’s the deal now?” Teflon questioned.
“Things will continue as planned boys. When someone needs to be taken out I will let you know and you will be paid your regular fee.”
“Shouldn’t we start finding out who set the fire then? I didn’t know of any enemies that Luis had, that were aware of his warehouse.”
“No, I will call you when I need you to do anything, okay?” Diego polished off his drink and stood up, fixing his tuxedo coat.
Teflon and I just nodded in response and watched him leave. We went ahead and ordered a drink from the waitress and then sat in silence for a few.
“So what are you thinking?” I quizzed.
“I don’t even know. Something ain’t right with this shit. He’s smiling and upbeat as if his brother didn’t just die this morning. I ain’t got time for the snake shit.”
“Me either my nigga. But right now we don’t really have any choices other than him so we need to make the best of the bullshit until we do.”
I Got Your Back- Teflon & Tatiana’s Love Story Page 3
