Rent Money

by Natavia

  I heard the sounds of heels clicking up the stairs then the hallway light came on. My heart was beating fast as I turned on lamp on the night stand.

  “Nucci!” I whispered louder when the heels were getting closer. He sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes.

  “Someone is in here!” I panicked.

  Nucci jumped out of bed naked. He reached underneath the mattress, but it was too late. A woman was standing in the bedroom with a gun pointed at Nucci. She was dressed in jeans with an off-the-shoulder black leather motorcycle jacket and on her feet were spike YSL pumps. Her hair was braided into two feed-in braids that stopped at her hips, the ends of her braids had bushy curly ends. She was on the heavy side, but she was very curvy. She was also pretty with smooth dark skin, reminding me of Porsha from The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

  “This ain’t it, Kayonna. Yo, just go home and we can talk later,” Nucci said. She pulled the trigger and he ducked. The bullet broke the vase behind him.

  “So, this is why you can’t come home?” she asked, looking at me.

  “I have nothing to do wit’ this!” I said.

  “My issue is wit’ him but, bitch, it takes two to cheat. Sit back and shut the fuck up while I talk to MY husband,” Kayonna said.

  “You left my kids home, so you can stalk me?” Nucci asked.

  “They are at my mother’s house, but I didn’t come here to talk about them. You’d bring your ass home if you were concerned about them,” she replied. I pulled the sheet up to my neck to cover my breasts.

  “This is that dumb shit. You’re scarin’ my shorty!” Nucci said.

  That’s right, baby. Stick up for your bitch!

  “I can’t believe you. After all I’ve been through wit’ you and this is how you do me? Eleven years I wasted on you when I could’ve been with a decent man. But I just had to fall for your sorry ass!” she cried. I wanted to tell her to get over it. After looking at Nucci then looking at his wife, I understood why he cheated. They didn’t belong together. He was too fine for her. But I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of jealousy because they reminded me of Essa and Governor.

  “Put the gun down,” Nucci said. His voice softened up for her.

  “Naw, I can’t do that. I want you tell me why,” she said.

  “Maybe I should leave so y’all can talk,” I said.

  “Bitch, shut up!” she yelled, pointing the gun at me.

  “Chill the fuck out before you shoot her!” Nucci said. Kayonna pointed the gun at Nucci then pulled the trigger. The bullet went through his shoulder. Nucci fell onto the bed and blood seeped through the sheets. I pissed on myself.

  “You wanna protect her?” Kayonna yelled at him.

  “You fuckin’ shot me!” Nucci yelled back. She started hitting him, demanding why he fell out of love with her. Nucci tried to stop her with his good arm but it wasn’t good enough. She punched him in the face and busted his nose.

  “You think that hoe better than me? I gave you kids! I gave you my soul! Bitch, I gave you all of me and this is what you do to me?” she screamed.

  “Baby, I’m sorry!” Nucci said, trying to grab her arm. Once he got a good hold on her, he pulled her down on the bed and straddled her. The gun went off, shooting Nucci in the forearm. Kayonna slid from underneath him then aimed the gun at his head.

  “This hoe will never be me! Stay here wit’ her so I can fuck all through the house you paid for,” she said, backing away.

  “He’s gonna do to you the same thing he did to me. Mark my words. He’s gonna ruin your life but from what I heard about your slut ass, y’all might be good for each other. Just remember, they always try to come back,” she said. I didn’t breathe until I heard the front door slam downstairs. Nucci was on the floor bleeding out. I got out of bed and rushed to him.

  “We gotta go to the hospital!”

  “Get dressed and hand me my clothes. You gotta take me,” he said.

  I washed off, got dressed in mix-matched clothes then helped Nucci get dressed. Blood was everywhere, and his face was bruised from her fighting him. He winced in pain when he stood up.

  “Yo, don’t say shit when we get there. That’s still my kids’ mother and I don’t wanna see her locked up. So, let me do the talkin’,” he said.

  “Are you serious? She could’ve killed us!”

  “But she didn’t, so get over it,” he said, wincing in pain.

  “Fine. I won’t say nothing.”

  Nucci walked out the bedroom holding his shoulder. I was still looking around at the bedroom, not believing what had just occurred.

  Well, at least the nigga paid, and we won’t have to worry about her anymore. He’d be a fool to go back after what she did to him. Fuck it, he’s mine now.

  “Hurry the fuck up!” Nucci yelled from downstairs.

  “I’m coming!”

  My money was running low and Governor made it clear he was done paying my bills and taking care of me. So what else was I supposed to do? With money comes love. I didn’t care what anyone said, it was my life and my rules. Plus, I was still in my early twenties, what did I need to work for? I’d be a fool if I wasted my body and good looks for checks I could wipe my ass with. Like my mother said, “The most important thing is keepin’ a roof over your head.”

  Sinna

  The next day…

  Ranira was still with my parents because I told them I was sick, which I was because of depression. Not only did I have an STD, but I was pregnant too. I didn’t think pregnancy could be detected that early but apparently it can be when they draw blood. Then on top of that I had Chlamydia.

  “Your son is in the trash can again.”

  “Get him then,” Chelsie replied while smoking a cigarette.

  “I look like a slave to you. Matter of fact, don’t answer that. I might dot your other eye.”

  Chelsie got up and snatched her son off the floor by his arm and smacked him.

  “Stay out of the trash!” she yelled at him.

  Dijon laughed then ran into the bedroom. She didn’t know what to do with him and his behavior was getting worse. I grabbed an Angry Orchard out of the fridge then took a seat on the other end of the couch. Chelsie was watching a movie on Netflix.

  “Have you talked to Governor yet?” she asked.

  “No, why?”

  “Cause everyone in the building is sayin’ that you’re lyin’. I don’t believe you neither anymore. You’ve caused a lot of trouble behind Governor and he doesn’t answer your calls or texts. He also doesn’t come into the building like he used to,” she said.

  “You need to be on my side or you can get out of my apartment!”

  “You need to apologize to Governor before you get evicted! He’s been nice to you and you’re ruinin’ his fuckin’ name because he’s fuckin’ someone down the hall! Get over it! I got my ass whipped behind the mess you created wit’ Rochelle and my car is gone! I can’t make any money wit’ a fucked-up face, Sinna. You’re not workin’ and neither am I!” she said.

  “I have a voucher. I’ll always be straight. You on the other end will be a homeless prostitute,” I laughed.

  Our friendship went downhill since the moment she moved in with me. We didn’t like each other but we tolerated it because she needed a home and I needed a few bucks.

  “A paid one,” she said.

  Chelsie was also in her feelings because her car was towed, and she didn’t have the money to get it back. Someone knocked on the door and I told Chelsie to get it. She got up with an attitude and snatched the door open. Dade walked into my apartment wearing a suit. He actually looked clean and had a haircut. I forgot all about him.

  “What are you doin’ here? Governor said you’re not allowed back.”

  “I’m here to see my daughter,” he said.

  “You haven’t checked on her in months!”

  “I’m here now. Now, go get her so I can be on my way. Oh, and here is my list,” he said going into his baggy dress pants. He handed me a piece of pa
per and I snatched it from him.

  “Are you fuckin’ serious? I have to pay you back for all of this when you were stayin’ here rent-free and smellin’ up my apartment.”

  “Pay me back or go to court. And that was the back of your ears smellin’ like that,” he said. Dade walked past me then went into my fridge. He grabbed my soda and took a huge gulp from it. He burped and farted at the same time.

  “What’s up, Chelsie? Your pimp beat you up again?” Dade laughed.

  “You knew, too?” I asked him.

  “Yeah, I paid fifty bucks for that pussy a year ago. Oh, add that on the list so I can get reimbursed,” Dade said. I looked at Chelsie and she pretended like she didn’t hear it.

  “You fucked my baby father and didn’t tell me?”

  “It was before you got pregnant and, plus, it was just business. It only lasted for a minute,” she said nonchalantly.

  “I gave you the best mandingo dick you ever had in your life. What happened to you anyway? Over there lookin’ like Hilary Clinton. You on that shit?” Dade asked. Chelsie gave him the finger and Dade sat on my couch and changed the channel.

  “Whose funeral you went to?” I asked him.

  “I worked today. That’s right. I’m the owner of a car wash now,” he said, and I rolled my eyes.

  “Why are you always lyin?”

  “I’m not. Where is my daughter?” he asked.

  “Wit’ my parents.”

  “Can I spend the night?” Dade asked like he was a little kid.

  “No, you cannot. But you can get out of my apartment. I’m putting you on child support since you’re workin’ now.”

  “You have to prove I work first,” he chuckled.

  “Get out of my apartment!”

  “Pay me my money first!” he said.

  “I’m not payin’ you shit!”

  “Let me sell some of your food stamps then,” he replied.

  “I’m callin’ the police.”

  “Call them! My clothes are still here,” he replied.

  “You only had three outfits! They dry rotted cause you wore them so much. Listen, I’m not for your mess today. I’m goin’ through enough and I don’t need your shit!” Dade needed to die a slow and horrible death. Not once did he show any affection towards Ranira. He was a horrible father.

  “Where are my Jordans? Did you sell them?” he asked.

  “You never had a pair of Jordans, Dade.”

  “The ones I bought for Ranira. I’m sure she can’t fit them anymore,” he said. That was probably the only thing he bought her, and I don’t think they were real.

  “She said leave!” Chelsie said.

  “Bitch, if you don’t sit your ass down! This ain’t Roots!” Dade stood up and said.

  “I’m callin’ Governor,” I replied.

  Dade went into my bedroom and I could hear him opening up my closest. I figured he was looking for his holey clothes. He came out of my bedroom with my perfumes and lotions.

  “Put my shit back!” I yelled.

  “Let me have these and you won’t have to worry about payin’ me back,” he said. I tried to stop him, but he was already out of my apartment. Dade only came over to steal from me.

  “URRGGHHHHHH!” I screamed out in frustration.

  “Dade must be on drugs,” Chelsie said.

  “I’m sure he’s on sumthin.”

  I went into my bedroom and Dade took all my smell-good things. He only left me with off-brand baby wash and lotion.

  “I’m gonna put him on child support!” I yelled out when I noticed Dade took my Gucci slides. I bought them at a time in my life where I had nice things.

  “Someone is at the door again!” Chelsie said.

  I stormed out of my bedroom in frustration. When I opened the door, the property manager was standing in front of me.

  “Good afternoon, Ms. Linda. Is everything okay?”

  “Dade is banned from this property. Why was he here?” she asked.

  “To see his daughter but I promise it won’t happen again.”

  Ms. Linda was strict and didn’t take no crap. People hated when she came to work because she’d knock on your door for every little thing or send you a notice. I cursed under my breath thinking about the notice I was about to get.

  “Do you have a minute to come down to my office? It’s very important,” she said.

  “Sure, give me a few minutes and I’ll be there.”

  “I’ll see you soon,” she said.

  I closed the door and Chelsie was spraying air freshener to hide the cigarette smoke.

  “I’m sure she smelled it which is why I have to go to her office.”

  “Dang, what can I do?” Chelsie asked.

  “Smoke outside!”

  I went into my bedroom to put on pajama pants and a hoodie. I brushed my hair into a ponytail before leaving out the door. On my way to the rental office, I saw Governor’s truck parked on the strip. I loved and hated him. He did me wrong, but I was willing to forgive him if he apologized. Everyone thought I was lying about us sleeping together.

  We’re gonna talk about this baby today! Soon as I finish wit’ Ms. Linda’s tired ass.

  The smell of lavender hit me when I opened the door to the rental office. Ms. Linda was sitting behind her desk laughing at something with Governor. My knees almost buckled when he looked at me. He was dressed in a pair of jeans, Timbs and a long-sleeve shirt. The fitted cap he had on his head covered his eyes. I wanted to feel those thick arms wrapped around me again.

  “Have a seat, Sinna,” Ms. Linda said.

  I sat across from her and next to Governor.

  “What is this about?”

  “All the trouble you’ve caused in the building with your false allegations. You have thirty notices and haven’t been in your apartment for a year yet. Now, Governor has been very nice in letting you remain in your apartment, so let’s start there,” she said.

  “Where is this comin’ from? Me and him slept together! Fuck all the other stuff! I apologized for disturbin’ the peace many times, but you will not sit here and tell me what the fuck I did wit’ my pussy!”

  “Yo, have some fuckin’ respect!” Governor said.

  “Nigga, fuck you! You came into my bedroom the night you fixed my toilet. We had sex, you gave me an STD and knocked me up. I tried to call you and text you, but you blocked me. You’re tryin’ to cover your ass because you’re fuckin’ Essa now! Does Ms. Linda know about that?”

  “Can we show her the camera footage and get this over wit’? This broad is on one,” Governor said. Ms. Linda turned the computer screen around, so I could see. I didn’t know we had cameras in the building.

  “We have cameras?”

  “Just by the entrance to see who comes and goes. This is the night Governor came to fix your toilet,” she said. The date was at the bottom of the screen along with the time. I sat and watched for ten minutes before I saw Governor come into the building with the tools to fix the toilet. Six minutes later, Governor was seen leaving out the building.

  “This doesn’t prove anything,” I said, and he shook his head.

  “Keep watching,” Ms. Linda said.

  I crossed my arms and kept watching the computer screen. My eyes watered when I saw Wayne come into the building two minutes after Governor left. Then a few seconds later, Chelsie left out of the building. My roommate, my best friend, let her man take advantage of me. That’s probably why he smiled at me when I caught him and Chelsie inside my apartment.

  “Do you know that nigga? Don’t lie to me neither, shorty. I’m not even mad at you but you got me out here lookin’ like I prey on women and shit,” Governor said.

  “I don’t know him,” I lied.

  “Oh, you don’t? Why you started cryin’ when you saw him then?” Governor asked.

  “This proves nothing!”

  I was too distraught so why not continue on with it? I’d rather live a lie than face the truth. My mother been warned me about
my ways and she was right, I fell in love too easily but what I had with Governor seemed so real. It didn’t matter if it was all in my head because I know what I felt. I made love to him that night and we created a child together.

  “Aight, I’m out then. We can settle this in court or however you want to. I’ll have all my medical records pulled to show I have never had or been treated for an STD,” he said, standing up.