by India
“Naw, I haven’t talked to him, but I am going to reach out soon, don’t worry about it.” He said and brushed it off.
“Mario, make sure that you do because we don’t need that drama when he get out. Me and you have come too far to get messed up at the finish line.” I said it and I meant it from the bottom of my heart. I wasn’t no fool, we had beaten the odds so far and I often wondered every night as I laid my head down, when our time would be up.
“Nikki don’t worry, I’m gonna handle it, but baby I have to go. Gucci should be by there soon, be nice.” He said and we disconnected the call.
I went up the white semi-spiraled staircase and entered the spare bedroom that we used as our office and slid the black file cabinet over to reveal the floor safe. After carefully putting in the combination, I removed approximately four thousand in neat, crisp stacks. I slid the file cabinet back over the safe then headed into Rio Jr.’s room because I heard him wake up from his nap, letting out a huge wail. “What’s the matter with my big boy?” I asked as I entered the room. I picked him up and placed him on the changing table to dispose of the stinky diaper. I loved my son, he was beautiful just like his father. After his diaper change, I picked him up and placed him on my shoulder as he began to coo at me. “Awe Jr., mommy loves you too.”
Just as I made it back downstairs to retrieve the bottle that I’d prepared for Junior while doing the bills, I heard a car pull up bumping Trey songs as loud as possible. I didn’t have to check the security camera to know that it was Gucci, loud music was her trademark. I grabbed the bottle and headed to the door. “Hey come on in,” I said with a forced smile on my face. She looked fierce as always in her seven jeans and a pink halter top that barely covered her nipples. Her coal black hair was pulled up into a tight pony tail, her eyebrows and eye lashes were perfect, not to mention the fact that her makeup was flawless. To be honest, she was almost the picture of perfection. I say almost, because her ghetto ass was standing there chewing and smacking on her bubble gum like it was going out of style.
“What up doe… Hey little Mario!” She said as she entered patting Jr. on his back. We made our way into the informal living room. She took a seat on the black leather sectional and I sat next to her to feed the baby. “I love this house girl.” She admired the taupe room with the red accent wall. Adorning the walls were various pieces of African American art. Continuing she said, “as soon as I find Mr. Right, I’ll make sure that he gets me one and I’ll have you decorate it for me.” She smiled.
“Yeah that’s no problem. Just let me know when you find him and I will hook you up girl. You know that‘s one of our side businesses so whenever you need me I got you.” I said with more enthusiasm than I actually felt. We talked for about five more awkward minutes before she got right to the point.
“So you got that for me?” She looked at her pink Coach watch like she had somewhere else to be and I was glad.
“Oh yeah, I don’t want to hold you up, here it is.” I said pulling the money out of my back pocket and handing it over to her along with the check for Tonya.
“Cool. I guess I’ll go ahead and take care of this business. Where is Mario?” She asked looking around the house as if she didn’t already know that he wasn’t here. I mean why else would I have been the one to give her the money?
“He had to step out for a bit.” I said and stood with her. She bent down to kiss Jr. on his cheek and then told us bye. I knew I was still trippin’ but that girl had another side to her that had yet to be shown. I didn’t want beef with my husband by dissin’ his best friend so I tolerated her but kept her at a safe enough distance. I’d seen her damage plenty of homes over Detroit and its surrounding areas, and I’d be damned if I let her ruin mines. That bitch isn’t as slick as she thinks she is; I’m hip to her ass and she knows I’m not the one to be fucked with!
Chapter Seven
Chloe
“Damn baby you smell good.” Sam said as he walked up to me and hugged me from behind.
“You do too baby, where are you going?” I quizzed because just a few moments ago, I’d left him in the bed sleeping and now his ass was fully dressed and smelling good. Don’t judge me, but my man was fine so I had to keep tabs on him like that! I wanted to know everything, where he was going, what he was going to do while he was there, and of course who he was doing it with.
“Mario is on his way over here to scoop me up, we got some shit to handle.” He said as he adjusted the collar on his Black Label button up.
“What kind of business?” I wanted to know.
“Chloe you know I can’t tell you all that.” He said and then went into our cramped bathroom to brush his teeth. Both of us wouldn’t be able to fit in there together comfortably so I remained in the hall and went right into my next discussion.
“Sam,” I whined. “We need a bigger place, I mean shit, only one of us can fit in there at a time.” I pointed at the bathroom.
“Damn just chill, I ain’t trying to have beef with you today. Girl, we talked about this last night and we both agreed that it’s going to take some time before we can save enough money to get up out this two bedroom apartment.” He said in his usual calm manner. He was right about that. We had talked about it last night, but this morning was entirely different, so I continued.
“Sam look at this place, with the kind of money you makin’ now, we can afford to move into a big ol’ house or a condo. Matter of fact, I saw the most beautiful condo on Jefferson for sale in the paper.” I said and then turned to go and retrieve my newspaper clipping. Sam snatched my arm so hard that I flew backward and my back almost hit the wall.
“That’s your fuckin’ problem Chloe, you want shit done when you want it done! I guess you don’t give a fuck about what I’m tryin’ to say…do you?” He paused and took a breath then continued, “Hell no you don’t! All I’m sayin’ is that we need to save a little more money. Damn, as quick as I make a dollar, you think of ways to spend it. Just chill the fuck out! The little bit of doe that we did have saved is gone because one of us just had to go shopping!” He spat and then went back in the bathroom to rinse his mouth out. I couldn’t believe this nigga had just grabbed and yelled at me like that. Usually Sam was calm and laid back, which was part of the reason that I fell for him in the first place. Lately he has been gettin’ out of hand, yelling more, staying out late and I didn’t know what his problem was. Shit, I was somebody that he’d better hold on to. With my mindset and get em’ girl attitude, I could have another one in his place in a heartbeat. So fuckin’ what, I wanted a bigger house…I was worth it! Mario’s wife had a damn mega house in Bloomfield and all I wanted was a fraction of that.
I was about to give him an earful but that nigga was lucky that the intercom buzzed. “Yo, who dat’?” Sam pressed the talk button and asked.
“It’s me, I gotta piss, buzz me up.” I heard Mario’s sexy ass say and I panicked. I was so embarrassed that he was coming into our small-ass apartment and had to go into that tiny bathroom. On top of that, our house was decent but it was nothing like his and Nikki’s. Most of our stuff came from Wal-Mart, while their things were custom pieces.
I looked around the living room and tried to straighten up the magazines that I had thrown over my glass coffee table. Next, I made my way to the burnt orange sofa and loveseat, trying to fluff the pillows back up. I was on my way to check my appearance in the mirror that was hanging on the wall in the narrow hallway, but was interrupted by Mario’s knock on the door. I put on my best smile and swung the door open. “What up doe Chloe, where is your bathroom?” He asked looking as fine as ever with that jet black hair free falling down his back. His fine ass smelled good too, even better than Sam. He was draped up in a brown and tan Evisu hook-up with brown Nike socks and tan Nike flip flops. I could tell that he was high because his eyes were real tight and he smelled liked Cheech and Chong.
“Hey Mario, right this way.” I said leading him down the hallway, silently cursing Sam out in my head
.
“What up my nigga.” Mario said and nodded to Sam who was coming from the bedroom brushing his waves and applying his black du-rag. They dapped fists then he entered and closed the door. Sam didn’t even look my way the whole five minutes that Mario was in the bathroom because he knew that I was beyond pissed. As if I wasn’t already embarrassed enough, Mario made matters worse when he came out.
“Damn my nigga. That muthafucka is small! I barely had room to pull my dick out.” He said to Sam as he stood in the doorway drying his hands with a paper towel and let out a laugh. I looked at Sam and rolled my eyes as they left the apartment. That nigga better have my damn house by the end of the month or else!
Chapter Eight
Tonya
“You have a collect call from a Michigan inmate… Roscoe, press one to except.” I sat up in bed and followed the instructions. “Hello.” I said into the receiver.
“What’s up T, what’s going on in the D?” Roscoe asked just like he did every other day when he called me collect.
“Same old same baby, the kids are working on my last nerve as usual and I still ain’t got my money from Nikki and them so I’m going to be late on the rent again.” I said reiterating to him how bad we were being played.
“Not this shit again T, damn.” He complained like some punk.
“T, damn, my ass!” I mocked him, “If you are tired of hearing about how your family is struggling, then your jailbird, inmate ass need not call home no damn more.” I shouted and was about ready to hang up when he started talking again.
“So you being straight-up with me when you say they ain’t paid you shit since I been gone?” Roscoe asked with uncertainty in his voice.
“Not as much as I would’ve gotten if you were still here. The crumbs that I get is nothing compared to bread we had when you was here. With a few dollars here and there, I’m doing the best that I can on the rent and the car notes. It’s amazing the landlord ain’t put us out yet.” I snapped.
“T, you know that the money they give you while I’m locked up is only to keep you comfortable, not to have you living the glamorous life.” He said like he was playing for their team.
It was pissing me off so I yelled, “Muthafucka whose side are you on? I mean you should want your family to live the glamorous life while you’re locked up, that’s what we deserve! I’m the muthafucka putting money on your books, I’m the bitch feeding your kids and running this shit by myself, so you should want me to be on top.”
“Tonya, got damn, I ain’t trying to argue with yo’ ass. I know what you deserve and please believe I’m going to provide for you when I get out, but right now please just go with the flow of things. I’m going to set shit straight when I get out of here please believe that!” He pleaded with me.
“Alright, I hear you Roscoe but I get so mad thinking about them over there in that big ass house with money to blow and we over here trying to make ends meet.” I was getting madder by the second.
“Look I got chu’ and my kids as soon as I get out but right now I don’t need to be making waves with a nigga like Mario. I don’t want no more crazy talk in the hood from you about them. Because, if he think that we got problems, he can set it up to where my ass won’t never make it home, if you get my drift! Keep yo’ head up boo and kiss the kids for me…one!” He said and we ended the call.
I got up from the couch and headed into the kitchen to grab a cup of blue Kool-aid. Still charged up from my conversation with Roscoe I decided to fire up a blunt. I grabbed the swishers from the top of the refrigerator and began to break it down. As soon as I began to sprinkle the weed onto the paper, my door bell rung. “Shit!” I went to my side window and looked out to see a pink Dodge Charger, with chrome wheels and tinted windows in my driveway. I rolled my eyes because I knew it was Gucci, especially bumping that loud ass music. I didn’t say nothing, just opened the door and looked at her.
“Hoe what the fuck is your problem?” That bitch had the nerve to ask.
“Excuse me?” I asked for clarification because I know that I couldn’t have heard that heffa right.
“Tonya I ain’t here to play games. Here go yo’ funky ass check bitch.” Gucci said and basically threw my check into the door. We both watched it fall to the ground. Without saying a word, I reached down and picked it up then slammed my door shut. I couldn’t stand her ass and she knew it. She thought her shit didn’t stank and it irritated the hell out of me. That bitch was a wanna be, she wanted to be Mario’s wife so bad that she could taste it. I finished rolling my blunt and smoked it on the way to the mall. I was in a great mood, I was high, the kids were in school, and I had $5,000 to blow.
Chapter Nine
Mina
“Aye Mina, come here baby.” I heard Tre’ call from downstairs.
“What’s up?” I asked as I entered the basement where he was entertaining two guys, one with long black hair and a cute younger guy.
“Baby can you grab us a few beers?” I knew he was trippin’ ‘cause I know he didn’t just call me down here from way upstairs when he could’ve walked up there and got them his damn self. I must’ve had a certain look of disbelief on my face because the younger guy interjected, “you don’t have to go out of your way ma’am, I’m cool.” Did he just call me ma’am? I’m probably only five years older than him. “Yeah we’re cool.” The long-haired guy added. Just to be polite, I asked them if they were sure and they both said yes. As I walked back upstairs, I couldn’t help but check out the young guy again. His ass was fine!
I was moving around in the kitchen pulling things out for dinner when the younger guy came upstairs and startled me, causing me to drop a few potatoes that I had in my arm.
“My bad ma’am.” He apologized.
“How old are you?” I asked him, about to shut this ma’am business down.
“Twenty-two.” He said looking up with a boyish grin on his smooth baby face.
“I’m only twenty-seven so you can stop calling me ma’am.” I said and we both laughed.
“My bad, I didn’t mean to offend you I swear.” He said while placing my potatoes on the counter.
“It’s cool, what’s your name?” I openly flirted much to my own surprise. It was so unlike me, especially with my husband so close.
“I’m Sam and you are?” He extended a tattoo covered arm my way.
“Sam, I’m Mina nice to meet you.” I said as the hairs on my back stood up from his electrifying touch.
“Please believe the pleasure was all mine.” He winked. “Um Mina where is your bathroom at?” He asked as if finally remembering why he had come upstairs in the first place.
After I showed him the way, I stood there and watched his fine ass walk down the hallway to the guest bath! He was a very tall 6 ft. something, light skinned, kind of thin, but had a confidence about himself that was sexy than a mutha. Ol’ boy was all the way turned up and I was all the way turned on! Once he retreated back to the basement with Tre’ and the other guy, I tried to shake him off of my mind but it was useless.
It had been several hours since Tre’s company left and even though I sat at the dinner table with my husband, I couldn’t help but think about Sam. I couldn’t figure out why this young boy had me gone but he did and that was a fact. “Baby that nigga that was here earlier is going to make us rich!” Tre’ said taking a mouth full of steak and then a bite of the loaded potato.
“Oh yeah.” I said more for his amusement because obviously my mind was elsewhere.
“Yeah. Right now he is the one doing big thangs in the D’, he got the best product on the streets and nigga’s respect his gangsta.” Tre’ praised the stranger and I rolled my eyes.
“So where do you fit into that?” I asked hoping that he wasn’t going to tell me that he had gotten involved with these guys and their drugs.
“Well since I’m new with them, I gotta start at the bottom and work my way up baby, but that won’t take no time. You know how I roll.” He said patting my hand lik
e that was what I wanted to hear.
“Tre’ are you sure that you can handle being around drugs again?” I asked.
He looked up with a look of rage in his eyes and I instantly regretted my last question.
“What the fuck kind of question is that Amina?” Calling me by my government name. He stood up from the wooden dinette table.
“Baby sit back down, I’m just asking because…” was all I could get out of my mouth before he back-handed me and knocked me across the room like I was a flimsy rag doll. As soon as my ass hit the floor, I was thankful that I was bottom heavy for the cushion that it provided.
“Dang, you didn’t have to hit me.” I said madder than a mutha but I wasn’t stupid enough to fight back. I was 5 ft. 7 in., 178 lbs. and Tre’ was 5 ft. 11 in., 235 lbs. of solid muscle. I knew he could whoop me with one hand behind his back so I just stayed on the floor cowering in fear.
“You shouldn’t be asking stupid-ass questions then Mina. You are my wife and you should support me in whatever I choose to do.” He said tapping at his chest like he was King Kong.
Reluctantly, I got up off the floor and cleaned up the mess that was knocked over when I fell. I went into the kitchen and put some ice in a Ziploc bag then applied it to my face. This wasn’t my first time being hit but I swear on my deceased son this is the last time.
Chapter Ten
Gucci
