Mesmerized By A Street King 3

by Belleza

  “Damn, really? Where’s all that confidence you had when you took her from me?”

  “Fuck you.”

  “Yeah, I bet. So what you want to do? We don’t even have to go to the mediator. I can get my peoples to draw up the paperwork, and we can do split custody if that makes you feel better about it, but everything that’s stated in the paperwork will still stand.”

  “This isn’t fair at all,” she replied. “You see I’m trying to be in my daughter's life and you’re making it difficult.”

  “Actually I’m not. Za’naa doesn’t care to be here if you want me to be honest. I’m doing this for you.”

  “So you’re turning my child against me? Is it because you have your little girlfriend and a baby on the way?”

  “How do you know?”

  She laughed. “It ain’t hard to find out about you and your new bitch.”

  “Refer to her as another bitch and see what will happen to you.”

  Qwinae shut her mouth and narrowed her eyes at me. I bet she ain’t say that shit again because I would see to it that it’d be sometime before she is able to even say her children’s name.

  “My girl doesn’t have shit to do with your ability or care to be a parent. You’re not a factor to her, so leave her out of it.”

  “Wow. Do you love her?”

  “Yes, I do, but again that don’t have shit to do with you. Let’s focus on this paperwork though.”

  Qwinae got up from the table and forcibly stuffed the papers and envelope back into her bag.

  “I’ll see you in court,” she snapped marching away from me, and I laughed. She wanted to make shit more difficult for herself, but I already had shit lined up. In or out of court I was going to win regardless. For Za’naa, I’ll put my life on the line.

  ***

  After Qwinae left with her kids, Za’naa and I went to go chill with the family. Uncle Ern was still up at the hospital with aunt Shirley. They ran through a few complications with infections, and she was still on life support. At this time he was shutting the world out and didn’t really want us at the hospital with him. He kept telling us we had to be with the rest of the family and had a business to run, but how could we focus when our Queen was possibly on her deathbed?

  Keira and Camille were out doing their own thing, so we stopped past Johan’s crib since Asahd was already there chilling with him. Za’naa went to go play with her cousins in the basement which was turned into a game room while I fell back with my brothers. I grabbed an ice cold beer from out of the fridge and Asahd had a blunt sparked ready for our rotation.

  “Everything cool?” I asked taking a seat on the couch. I extended my hand for the blunt and Asahd passed it to me.

  “Tabitha is in the hospital. She tried to kill herself,” Johan informed me.

  “Damn, what you do to her?” I joked and even I had to laugh.

  “I ain’t do shit to her ass. Apparently, Ernestine found her in her bathtub bleeding out and now she’s on suicide watch and might have to get put away for mental help. She hasn’t eaten a thing, and she keeps saying she wants to see me and the boys.”

  “Go up there. It may help her out,” I suggested.

  “One of these days, but I’m not running after her when she calls for help. She’s no longer my problem. Can’t play victim over a situation you created.”

  “I agree with that shit 10 percent,” Asahd added, and I looked over at him.

  “No jokes from you today?”

  “The woman almost killed herself, that ain’t a joking matter,” he responded trying his best to stay serious, but then he busts out laughing. “Nah, really it’s fucked up, but like Johan said, she’s not his responsibility. Let Easy deal with that shit.”

  “Still no word about the shooting?”

  “Fuck no. Spence is across seas right now, so he said once he gets back he will look into it for us. It’s been quiet as fuck tho. Whoever was bold enough to do some shit like that is in hiding,” Asahd responded. “I expect some other shit to pop off like a couple spots being robbed, or shit, someone trying to come at us, but it’s nothing. Business is still booming.”

  “What about Easy and Nyzie?”

  “They still copping their work with no questions asked,” Johan replied.

  I nodded my head and blew out the smoke from my mouth. “If it ain’t about the drugs, what is it about?”

  “Asahd probably fucking someone’s girl again.”

  “Fuck no!” he spat shooting a hard glare at Johan. I guess he didn’t like being on the receiving end of a joke because he definitely was in his feelings.

  “Lighten up, baby brother,” I laughed choking on the smoke that involuntarily escaped my lips.

  “Nah, I don’t play about that shit. I’ve been faithful to Camille. I put that on everything I love.”

  I studied him and could only agree that he was telling the truth. This was the first time I could see he had feelings for someone and I was glad his hard-headed ass finally fell the fuck back. He didn’t hide the fact that Camille being shot at had shaken him up a bit.

  “You’re in love.”

  “So what are you saying?” he shot back.

  “I’m just throwing it out there. You love that girl, and that’s cool. It’s just fucked up you have to experience your first love being shot at.”

  “This not my first love,” he said snatching the blunt from me.

  “Who ya first love then? Please don’t say, Nina,” Johan begged.

  “Nah. I was in love with pussy. Damn, I forgot that bitch existed.”

  “A fucking shame,” Johan cackled and shook his head.

  “Speaking of her, what’s up with her and your baby?”

  Asahd glared at me, and I laughed harder.

  “That hoe wasn’t pregnant by me. Can we stick to the topic here? We should be talking about business and eliminating our enemies not my love life with y’all nosey asses.”

  Just as I was going to continue fucking with him, the doorbell rung and Johan got up to answer the door. What caught my attention was that it was a woman I heard speaking with my brother. I knew it wasn’t Tabitha since she was probably chained to a hospital bed.

  JOHAN

  “Thank you for allowing him to come over,” Natavia said to me with a weak smile.

  I couldn’t help but stare at her. Even with her all-black uniform and her hair pulled back into a ponytail she was a sight for sore eyes. It’s been over a week since I’ve seen her at the basketball game, and she didn’t bother returning none of my calls or text messages. I gave her so many opportunities to come to my office so we could get her in the system and started at a job that worked better for her life, but she wasn’t budging. Whatever Tabitha tried to implant in her head worked.

  It was just my luck Jace asked me if her son could come over. I thought it was only for them to chill but Jeremy made it known his mother got called into work for overtime, and she had to take it. It made me feel bad. I wanted to let her know she ain’t even have to go into work and I’d pay her double of her pay for the day but by the time she pulled up, Jeremy was out the car, and she was pulling off because she was already late.

  “No problem, you can come inside, and I’ll let Jeremy know you’re here.”

  I closed the door behind her, and I told her to get comfortable where she sat at the kitchen island, and I went to go get her son. When I returned from the basement Asahd, and Zayne’s annoying asses found their way into the kitchen keeping her company.

  “Mom, I’m not ready to go yet,” Jeremy whined right away.

  “Jeremy, I’m tired, and you know tomorrow is my only day off. I’m ready to go home and rest.”

  “Where you live? One of us can drop him off if you’re cool with that,” Zayne offered.

  “I wouldn’t have you go out of your way. Thank you though.”

  “Mr. Johan can bring me back home mom. It will be so boring at the house. All you gonna do is sleep.”

  I watched
Natavia’s face turn from light brown to beet red in seconds.

  “Go finish playing with the boys Jeremy and the two of y’all get out,” I instructed my brothers after Jeremy wasted no time leaving.

  “Can we get to know the nice lady?” Asahd questioned me with a goofy grin.

  “No, leave before I kick your black ass out,” I said and him and his partner Zayne left out laughing which actually put a smile back on Natavia’s pretty face.

  “I’m sorry about that,” I apologized.

  “Don’t be. They’re very entertaining. How you gonna call them black when you’re just as dark?”

  “I don’t know,” I laughed knowing my skin was just as jet black as the both of them. “Asahd just has a way of getting under my skin. I’m sure once you leave he’ll have a mouthful to say. Would you like anything to eat or drink?”

  “What do you have to eat? Do you have wine?”

  “Last night I made some food, and I have leftovers. I don’t drink, but I have a full bar down the hall.”

  “You don’t drink?”

  I shook my head. “Nah, I gotta keep a clear head. You see I have two younger knucklehead brothers I have to keep an eye on.”

  “They’re not that bad,” she giggled. “I’ll take the food and white wine. Something sweet.”

  “You don’t know the half of it,” I assured her and went to the fridge to get the food I packed away which was last night's meal.

  After fixing her plate and putting it in the microwave. I went to go get the wine that was in the fridge part of the bar. I had to pass the living room where Asahd and Zayne both gave me a thumbs up with stupid ass smirks on their faces, and I shot them a bird.

  By the time I got back to the kitchen Natavia already had her plate out of the microwave and was scarfing down her food.

  I got a clean glass and popped open the bottle of Moscato I had on hand and poured it into the glass before placing it in front of her.

  “Thank you,” she said lifting the paper towel I sat by her plate as well and wiping her mouth. “I was starving.”

  “You good. You don’t get to eat at work?”

  “I wish. But if I do it’s a bite here and there of food. It’s always so busy I rarely have time to breathe let alone eat.”

  “That shit ain’t good. You gonna be walking around looking skinny and sickly.”

  Natavia lifted her fork and played around with her food. “I can shed a few pounds, so I guess it’s worth it.”

  “Nah, you good the way you are.”

  She lifted her eyes up to meet mine and mumbled thanks. I figured she was ashamed of her body but even being as curvy as she was she was truly beautiful. I saw no issues with her body, and she had me wanting to explore every inch of her.

  My dick got hard thinking about it, so I turned away and started placing everything back in the fridge.

  “You have a really nice house. I dreamed of having a place like this.”

  “It’s cool. It doesn’t have to be a dream though. If you listen to me and stop working at a company that already exceeded their own dreams you can have this.”

  “You still think I’m going to come to work for you? Your wife wouldn’t like that.”

  “That’s why you haven’t returned my text messages?” She nodded her head, and I sat across from her at the island.

  “Let’s get this straight. I’m no longer married. Tabitha is just going through her bitter stage, and I apologize for that. I’ve been with her for a very long time, and she hasn’t gotten used to us being apart.”

  “What’s a very long time?”

  “Over ten years.”

  “Y’all are young. I’m sorry about the divorce.”

  “Don’t be. It’s what we needed. There was no way I could be with a woman that was sleeping with a woman I considered my aunt.”

  Natavia’s eyes bugged, and I laughed at her reaction.

  “Yikes,” she said.

  “Yup. We good tho. Wouldn’t that be disrespectful to have a relationship and another woman eating in my kitchen?”

  “It would be,” she agreed.

  “Exactly. So now that we both know what’s really the deal can we talk about the job offer? You won’t be as tired, and you’ll have time to spend with Jeremy.”

  Natavia shook her head with her lips turned up in a smile. “No, I just ran a business for ten hours, and I’m enjoying this good ass food. I’ll hear you out tomorrow.”

  “Shit, I won’t argue with that. I’m glad you’re able to hear me out. Let Jeremy stay, and we can meet tomorrow.”

  “He will need clothes.”

  “I have three sons that have a ton of new clothes and underclothes. He’s good. You can go when you’re ready and just text me what time works best for you.”

  “I appreciate you, Johan. You’re not so bad after all.”

  I put my hand to my chest playfull acting appalled. “I never portrayed myself to be the bad guy.”

  “Time will tell,” she shot back still smiling.

  ***

  Sitting behind my desk, I watched the surveillance screen as my coordinator gave Natavia a tour of the building. Since she was dealing with food already I thought it was a good idea to have her as the second lead of the kitchen staff. As promised she only had to work three days a week with better pay and benefits.

  Regardless of how much I was attracted to her, this was an offer everyone from my job received. I was just grateful that I was able to make her life a little easier.

  Jeremy was a very outgoing child, and he made it clear he didn’t like his mother’s job. Mainly because they made her work so hard to still be poor. That broke my heart. The salary I was offering her wouldn’t necessarily make her rich, but I knew it would make a difference in her living situation.

  There was a knock at the door, and I knew it was my coordinator and Natavia. I told them to come in, and she allowed Natavia to step into my office and closed the door behind her.

  As she neared me, I took the time to admire her frame. I found myself moving around in my chair again because she always had me reacting. It could be the fact the last woman I touched was my ex-wife and that was some time ago. Either way, Natavia had me drawn to her. “There was no doubt about it.

  “So what do you think?” I asked pulling my eyes from her thick thighs.

  “Too good to be true,” she said. “What’s in it for you?”

  “Me?”

  “Yes, and be honest.”

  “I get a real reason to see you more. I don’t gotta bribe, my sons, to ask for Jeremy to come over,” I said playfully.

  “Do you really?”

  “Nah, from what I knew they were friends before the basketball game,” I shrugged. “But if I had to I probably would’ve.”

  “Why?”

  “You didn’t hear me the first time? I want to see you more. That’s the only way we can get to know each other, correct?”

  Natavia smiled hard and passed me the folder where she filled out the information that needed to be put into the system.

  “She completed my I-9 already.”

  “Cool.”

  “So when do I start?”

  “Let me know when you put in your two weeks notice, and you can let me know when you want to start. Take a break before you jump right back into work.”

  “I have bills to pay.”

  “How much are they?”

  She shook her head. “No! You’ve done enough Johan, and I really appreciate it.”

  I rose from my seat placing the folder on the desk and made my way to her. She was only a few inches shorter than Tabitha which let me know that I was able to lift her up and do all the crazy things to her body that ran through my head.

  “You ok?” I asked once I realized her breathing had changed and she almost looked like she was suffocating herself.

  Her pouty lips moved, but nothing came out. I don’t know what overcame me but I hooked her chin in my fingers and did what I always wanted to
do every time I stared into her spell bounding face. I pressed my lips against hers and gave her a slow sensual kiss. She moaned against my lips once she released the breath she was desperately trying to exhale.

  I let go but wrapped my arms around her waist just to keep her near. I was crossing lines, but I needed this like we both needed the air to breathe.

  “Oh my goodness,” she mumbled, and I chuckled.

  “Is that all you have to say?”

  She moved her head from side to side. “As good as this feels, you are now my boss. We can’t be doing this.”

  “Says who?” I questioned her, and she shrugged.

  “I don’t want to mix business with pleasure.”

  “I’m barely at this place for real for real. So it won’t be that. I want you Natavia, and I’m not letting anything stop that from happening,” I told her with finality, and she didn’t protest which I was glad about.

  My phone ringing broke me out of my daze, and I let her go to see who was calling.

  “Yo,” I answered once I saw it was Unc calling. Had it been Zayne or Asahd I may have gotten back to them a little later but Unc been so distant lately to hear from him I would drop any and everything.

  ASHAD

  “Finally,” Zayne said as I stepped into the cafeteria and walked over to where I saw everyone was seated.

  “Fuck outta here. I got here as fast as I could.”

  I pulled the chair out from under the table and sat down. They all looked as if they were waiting for me but I was literally tied the fuck up in Camille. I had to get myself together, take a shower and try my hardest to leave out the crib because I was thinking about climbing back in between her legs.

  “What’s going on Unc?”

  I peered at him, and it looked like he aged overnight. He always had a salt and pepper look to his hair, but it seemed as if they gray was taking over. His facial hair and hair was always on point and lined up, but now he looked like a caveman the way his hair sprouted all over his head and face. I can imagine him sitting up in my aunt's room just staring at her hoping she’ll pull out of the coma.

  Unc cleared his throat and pulled out his phone. He punched at his screen and then slid the phone to me and to my surprise I didn’t expect to see the shooting that took place almost a week ago. It was clear footage too. I’m sure if Spence were in the states he would’ve been able to handle it, but Unc did. How the fuck did he get this shit?