by India
Things ended up coming full circle when my boss came in one afternoon and requested that I go undercover on one of the biggest drug cases in Michigan’s history since the indictment of some old dude named, Lavelle Lucifer Brown. I jumped on it with no hesitation. I was originally assigned to Mario Wallace. I did research and learned that he was committed to his wife and loyal to the streets, which in turn were loyal to him. Infiltrating his circle was nearly impossible until Sam unknowingly got me in. Events went off without a hitch and even better than I expected. No one knew I was cop or that I was even Roscoe’s sister. As time went on, Sam moved up the ranks and I moved with him.
One day my superiors called me in and told me we had to switch focus from Mario to this Zion. They later found out Zion was indeed the ring leader. That shit was going to be tough but I knew I would eventually pull it off. Well, much to my surprise, my brother ended up reaching out to me from behind the wall, stating he was ready to make a change. After some careful consideration, I pulled some strings and got him released early in exchange for his help in bringing down the crime boss. Hell, Roscoe was Mario’s old partner in crime so who better to get info from than him? He agreed. The shit was going smooth until Tonya started talking that shit in his ear and got him all confused. I had never met her personally but from what I heard about her in the streets and from Nikki, I could tell she had my brother wrapped around her baby finger like an iced out pinky ring. Anyway, I almost blew my cover on the day she and Nikki had a run-in at the nail shop. She was so focused on Nikki, she wasn’t studdin’ me though. I used additional precaution today by wearing colored contact lenses, dark shades and a wig. Therefore, I wasn’t worried at all about her recognizing me. As many years as she and my brother were together she didn’t even know he had a sister. Roscoe told me he never mentioned it. As a matter of fact, he said he was done with her. He promised that once he was released he would help me out, collect his kids, then bounce. But, like I said before, she fucked with his head and he began to get shit twisted. I put him up on game about the details surrounding various matters of my case. Which included Zion’s truck full of dope. I thought he had changed and could be trusted. Boy was I wrong, dead wrong! Can you believe his dumb ass was really going to try to take the fucking eighteen wheeler and kill Mario like I wasn’t on to him. I had to cut his retarded ass off A.S.A.P., dumb muthafucka.
I had to pull his ass off the case and put him into protective custody overnight. The shoot out at the club was beautiful, It couldn’t have happened at a better time. My team and I had planted eyes and ears on him. They followed him throughout that night. During the commotion, we figured nobody would question his death if we made it appear like he had been shot at the club that night. After the crime scene was cleared of all the local police, news reporters, and on-lookers, my team got inside and went to work. We pulled a John Doe from the morgue that fit my brother’s description, minus a head of course. Staged the body and dressed him like Roscoe. Meanwhile, the real Roscoe was on the next thing smokin’ out of the city.
I patted myself on the back for a job well done then moved on to the next phase of my plan, not even missing a beat. Mario was next on my list. I was sick of these scum-ass niggas giving crack to pregnant women and guns to children. It was time for me to take the law into my own hands and do something about it. Hell, everybody knew that street justice is way better than watching a nigga’s lawyer get him off with probation or a punk-ass light sentence. I had no regrets for planning an attack on Mario.
I do however, wish that I would’ve done something with Tonya’s ass after she tried to shoot Mario that night at the warehouse. Yes, I said tried to shoot, because I know she didn’t pull the trigger…I did! The way I figured it was if I shot Mario that would be one less dope dealer on the street. He was no longer the target of my investigation so who would care? I planned to snipe him, then catch Zion and his men as they came to retrieve the truck. I would take them all out if I had to, leaving his ass holding the gun. Everyone would think it was just another drug deal gone bad and that would be all she wrote. I didn’t care that Mario was about to retire or that he had a family. Shit, we all have families. I didn’t know that Nikki was in that truck instead, but oh well. She made the choice to get behind the wheel; so she must live or die with the consequences. I thought as I started up my engine. Some people will risk their lives and their freedom just for a taste of the lavish life and that’s pathetic!”
“Hello.” I answered my business cell which had just snapped me out of my daze.
“Jones, it’s Mitch. Did you make contact with Ms. Carter?” My boss asked.
“Yes. I’m leaving the memorial service now and all is good. Those tears people were crying were real. No one will question a thing. The envelope I gave Ms. Carter will have her singing like a canary in no time.” Again, I smirked at a job well done.
“Good job Jones, I’ll be in touch. Watch your back okay. This case may be over real soon and you can finally come on home.”
Chapter Forty-Eight
Gucci
7 Months Later
“So when are you coming home?” I asked Mario with tears in my eyes. Nikki had been in a coma for almost eight months now. Even though it was my bed that he ran to when his flesh was weak and hungry for lust and passion, he still couldn’t let her go. He would come in at night and make mind-blowing love to me but then he’s gone before the sun rises. Making sure he was at her bedside in case she woke up. The first few months of our arrangement were great. I was a love ‘em then put ‘em out type of woman anyway. However, after sleeping in my bed night after night, I let my guard down and got attached. To make matters worse, I was even more confused when my gynecologist told me I was pregnant. I was scared as hell. I didn’t tell him for three months, not until it became noticeable. I thought he would fly off the hinges and accuse me of trying to trap him but to my surprise he didn’t. He rubbed my belly and told me he could never ask me to kill any life that he had created. Part of me was ashamed of what we had done, but then again part of me was relieved. I found comfort in knowing this baby would make things right with the universe. I felt like I had been given a second chance to be the mother of Mario’s child. I would die before I got another abortion.
A month or so later, he swore he would make peace with Nikki and finally send her to heaven. In spite of that, here we are four months later and he hasn’t let her soul rest yet. The doctor told him that her waking up would be a miracle. His reply was, “Jesus makes miracles everyday.” I knew he was desperate for his wife to wake up. Silently I prayed she wouldn’t because where would that leave me and my baby?
“G, don’t start okay. I’ll be there later like I always am!” He snapped and I damn near jumped out of my skin.
“Don’t start what? I need you.” I began to cry after I‘d promised myself that I wouldn’t.
“My wife needs me more.” He said through gritted teeth. I hung up the phone on him and continued to cry. I wasn’t crying because my feelings were hurt, I was crying because at that moment I knew that whenever Nikki did pass away, he would die too.
He called back several times but I ignored the calls. I decided that no one would have my back like me. I was tired of sitting around waiting on a man to decide if I was the woman he wanted or not. Pregnant or not, I wasn’t no slob! I’m Gucci Maria Robinson Bitch! I shouted to the phone as his number flashed on the caller I.D. again. I got up, got dressed and headed to the only place that never disappointed me, the Doll House.
“Oh shit ya’ll, we got royalty in the place tonight and is that a baby bump I see?” The DJ shouted me out. I waved my hand in the air to acknowledge all the familiar faces. One in particular caught my eye. I had to do a double take.
“Gucci girl look at you.” Mina screamed as she ran over to me looking like Detroit’s Next Top Model. Her confidence level was through the roof. I was really impressed with her. She was all decked out in her grey spandex Dior dress, dripping with diamonds, and the m
atching grey Jimmy Choo shoes. They weren’t meant for dancing on any poles but they did look fierce. Damn, she put my simple black skinny jeans, black cashmere sweater, and Prada boots to shame.
“Look at you girl. You’re looking good boo.” I winked and she spent around doing a three hundred and sixty degree turn.
“Thank you Gucci. I been trying. The girls around here have been helping me out, especially your friend Satin. But any who, look at your belly! I knew you must’ve had a good reason for not being here.”
“Yeah, I’m just trying to take it easy ya’ know. What’s going on with you and your husband? You leave him yet or did he get his shit together? It has to be one of the two because you look happy as a mutha.” I acknowledged and she blushed.
“No. I didn’t leave yet but there is a new guy in my life. Before you ask, I can’t tell you his name but I might be falling in love girl.” She smiled.
“That’s good. I’m happy for you girl.” I said as Satin walked up.
“Damn bitch, I ain’t seen or heard from you in a month of Sundays. What’s good, I thought we was better than that!” She half joked. I told Mina I would kick-it with her later. Then pulled Satin towards my office. We went inside and closed the door.
“Satin girl, I fucked up and I don’t know what to do.” I began to cry which had become a frequent thing for me to do since I had become pregnant. She looked at me genuinely concerned.
“Girl calm down, what’s the matter.” She took a seat in the chair across from my desk as I continued to stand and pace back and forth.
“I fucked around and slept with Mario and this is what happened.” I pointed to my stomach. “I thought this was just a once-in-a while thing. Nikki was in a coma and all, but when he kept crawling into my bed more and more, I became attached and got pregnant.” I reached for Kleenex and blew my nose while Satin stared at me. “Everyday it seems like I lose more and more of him. He leaves early in the morning and doesn’t come back ‘til late at night! He keeps saying he’s going to pull the plug on her. It’s been so long and the doctor says she’s basically a vegetable but he still hasn’t done it yet.” I paused for a moment. “Satin I can’t compete with her!” I sobbed even more and reached for more tissue in order to blow my nose again.
“Gucci, don’t take this the wrong way but regardless if Nikki was in a coma or not that’s still his wife. Even if she died tomorrow, you’ll still be living in her shadow.” Her words hit me like a right hook. “You know that you both crossed that line by letting him into your bed. He was weak and vulnerable but you” she pointed an accusing finger at me. “Shit Gucci, you were closed in your right mind. You knew exactly what you were doing.”
I couldn’t believe she wasn’t on my side. Damn, nobody feels for me, not Mario, not Satin, and especially not Ms. Claudia. She was beyond pissed and I knew it even though she hadn’t said anything to me about it personally. I heard her one night yelling and telling Mario how big of a fool he was and how he fell right into my trap. “That damn girl couldn’t wait to get her hands on you and you fell right into her arms. Your wife is on her death bed. Your son has been taken out of his element and away from his mother while you over here playing house!”
“Mom chill out aiight, Gucci has never come after me! I had a weak moment and I went after her.” Mario admitted.
“I bet she didn’t put up a fuss either! Hell, she probably never said no. She just slid right over and let you in.” She yelled. Son, let me school you real quick! See a woman will chase you until you catch her! Do you get my drift son?” She left on that note but her words lingered on long after she was gone. She also took Mario Jr. with her and he hasn’t been back.
“Ugh, Gucci don’t ignore me!” Satin snapped me back to reality.
“I wasn’t ignoring you, my bad girl. I just wish I could turn back the hands of time and…” She cut me off.
“Don’t have regrets about anything that you did. It’s exactly what you wanted to do at that moment…believe that!”
Chapter Forty-Nine
Mina
“What’s up ma?” Sam walked into the hotel suite at the MGM Casino that he had rented for me two weeks ago. I needed to get away from Tre who was becoming more abusive whenever he was at home. A few times he had even come up to the Doll House threatening to kill me. I took his word for it. I didn’t know what he was capable of anymore and I wasn’t one to take chances.
I watched him as he stood there eyeing me seductively. I was laying across the plush California King bed reading Still Deceiving, another book by India. I picked it up at a book signing the other day.
“Hey you.” I flirted and put my book down on the nightstand. He was standing there with a dozen red roses and a bottle of champagne. I smiled. Sam was the man of my dreams and until recently, I never knew I could be treated so good by anyone. About a month or two back, he began coming to the Doll House more frequently than his usual once in awhile visit. In between my turns on stage and dancing with other customers, I would sit and talk with him. He vented to me about the change in Chloe and how not having Mario around so much was really hard on business.
“I want something more with my life Mina. All of this shit was for Chloe.” He pointed to the jewelz that he was flossin’ then nodded to his team of niggas who were standing around us.
“ Like what? If you could go back in time and change your situation, what would you have done differently?” I quizzed.
“Man, I don’t really know about changing shit. Erasing what I’ve been through only changes who I am.” He took a gulp of the Jack and Coke that was in his glass. “I ain’t the would’ve, should’ve, could’ve type of cat. I was thinking that moving forward I could do something to give back to the hood or go back to school or something. I always wanted to own a restaurant but in the ghetto, dreams like that don’t come true. For niggas like me, you either gotta be a ball player or a dope dealer to live a better life and put food on the table for your family and that’s real talk.”
I looked at him and saw the conflict in his eyes regarding the lifestyle he desired to have versus the one he had chosen.
“You still have time to change your life. Not to mention the money that you have already won’t hurt. You should leave the game and get away; go somewhere far and start over.” I fantasized more about me and my life than his.
“It ain’t that easy Mina. There’s rules to this shit and consequences if you don’t follow them.” He smiled and I knew he was about to change the subject as he so often did. “You got my money?” He asked to lighten the mood. We both laughed. I pulled bills from my garter belt and off my arm bands. I counted it then handed him four hundred dollars.
I smiled at the thoughts of the past just as Sam slipped off his Mauri gator boots, sat down on the bed, and began kissing me on the cheek.
“What were you reading?” He looked down at the book on the nightstand.
“The sequel to Dope, Death and Deception. You should read it; it’s really good!”
“Is that so? Well one day I just might.” I saw that he was tense, so I moved over behind him in the bed and began to massage his neck.
“What’s wrong?”
He didn’t speak at first, just exhaled. “I know you might not want to hear this but it’s Chloe. She’s up to something but I can’t put my finger on it. She ain’t never home. When she is there, she does nothing but question me about what I’ve been doing all day then complains when I don’t answer. She knows I can’t tell her certain things but she keeps pushing and pushing. My grandfather told me a long time ago, never trust a person that asks too many questions.” I rolled his neck from side to side.
“Well Sam, maybe she just wants to know where her man is. You can’t blame a woman for that.” I stood up and grabbed the bottle of champagne, filled two glasses from the bar, and came back over to Sam who had moved over to the couch. He looked so sexy. It was getting harder and harder not to come on to him. He and I had not had sex. Although I wanted to, I did
n’t try because he was incredibly committed to Chloe. Our relationship was nothing more than being each other’s shoulder to lean on and as well as an ear to listen.
“I’ve been thinking. I’m ready for change. Pretty soon when I finish paying you off I’m out of here.”
He looked up at me and took the glass that I was handing him. “Where you going?” He sipped and I sat on the sofa across from him.
“I was thinking ATL. Big things are happening there and I need a new start. Thanks to you, I’m finally away from Tre’. I feel like I can really start fresh.” I sipped and placed the glass on the coffee table.
“Where will you go when you get down there and what will you do?” He leaned forward.
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “I would like to open a clothing store like the one we had here before my son died. I really like fashion. I have a little money saved from the club. I figure in a year or two, I’ll be able to get out of here.” I threw my hand in the air.
