by Belleza
Uncle Ern was right after all.
Out of anger I gripped the woman up by the hair and pulled her up off the bed.
“Ahhhhh!” she yelled.
“Where the fuck is Ernestine?”
“I … I …. I don’t know can you let my hair go?!”
I threw her back on the bed and pointed my gun at her. She yelped out again and scurried to the end of the bed as if it was going to do her any better by creating distance.
“Don’t make me ask you again.”
“I swear I really don’t know. She hasn’t been home in days and left her phone here. I have no way of contacting her.”
Assuming this woman was her bitch I was ready to send a bullet through her head just to send a message before a phone started to ring.
“Go get the phone,” I instructed her.
Zayne stepped into the room. “She ain’t in here bro.”
I had my eyes trained on the woman just in case she was a part of this plan too. She got the phone which was under a pillow and handed it to me.
“Answer it. Put it on speaker phone.
“Hello,” she mumbled.
“Put them on the phone,” Ernestine’s voice boomed through the speaker.
“Where you at bitch?!” I hissed mad as fuck I literally wasted my time. Had she been a little smarter Zayne and I probably would’ve been dead by now.
“Now why would I give you that information?” she asked laughing.
“You tried to kill my aunt!”
“Oh! So she is alive? I actually didn’t shoot her.”
“Man, just hang the fuck up. She wants to be playing games and shit,” Zayne said in a pissed off tone.
“Nah, don’t hang up nephew. Hear me out.”
“Bitch fuck you! When I see you, I’m killing you! Just know that I’m shooting everyone that’s tied to you until I get my hands on your dike ass.”
Ernestine laughed loudly. “Damn nephew, it’s like that? We’re family. We can actually let bygones be bygones. Ern sent you to look for me? That’s fucked up he has his son handling his light work. My beef ain’t with you nephew.”
“Stop calling me that shit. I ain’t related to you.”
“Damn, so he’s been deceiving you as well. Y’all were so busy praising that man and ain’t realize the similarities. Think about Ernest and take a good look at yourself. Your eyes, your nose, your lips, shit, even your mentality is all that fucking man.”
I got quiet and looked over at Zayne. Was this bitch trying to get into my head?
“Listen, ain’t no man gonna take in three boys out the kindness of his goddamn heart. Shirley is a weak bitch for even accepting a child he made outside of his marriage, but she did, and I guess she gets a pat on the back for that. She’s just as bad because she kept that secret for him from you. While y’all starved he was eating and only took y’all in from obligation because he was the one that helped in your mother’s demise. Yet, you hate me? Ernest uses everyone around him and then tries to repay out of guilt.”
Pow!
The woman’s body went limp, and the phone dropped on the bed. I was too busy listening to the shit Ernestine was saying I didn’t realize that she was pulling out a gun.
Zayne took the phone from out of her hand and hung it up.
“This is why Ern ain’t want us doing nothing. That bitch is setting us up.”
“Or he ain’t want his fucking secret out in the open!” I shouted. I stormed out of the loft and Zayne was right behind making a phone call to get the body removed along with the surveillance that was in there.
The thought that the situation could’ve ended up more fatally didn’t bother me. The bomb Ernestine dropped on me cut me deep. All this time Ern was my fucking father.
ZAYNE
“What happened to yesterday?”
“Some things came up.”
Qwinae moved her head from side to side and crossed her arms over her chest.
“So you don’t see why I need custody? Me playing by your rules isn’t going to work, you’re stopping me from being a mother.”
“You can start by acknowledging our daughter.”
Qwinae was pushing this being a mother speech far when her actions displayed something totally different. She had my number and Za’naa’s, and she never tried to reach out unless it was to confirm the days we were meeting up for visits. Even when we were together, it was never really her spending time with Za’naa. Majority of the time was spent complaining, singing the same sad song, or attempting to make demands she knew I wasn’t going to bend on.
“Hey, Za’naa.”
Za’naa waved and asked me if she was able to go play some games. I handed her some tokens, and she ran off.
Till this day she wasn’t feeling Qwinae and Qwinae wasn’t doing a thing to make sure her and her daughter had a bond.
“You’re not making this no easier for us if you haven’t noticed. I need time alone with Za’naa.”
“She doesn’t care for you when I’m around. I wouldn’t dare leave her with you. It takes time, and if you really want to be a parent, you will put in the work.”
“You ain’t change I see. You’re still the same ol’ Zayne. Everything gotta be your way.”
“It doesn’t.”
“Well, why couldn’t we meet yesterday? I had to clear my schedule today just for this.”
“I had a few emergencies.”
“Involving your girlfriend?”
“What does it matter if it was? Your only concern should be about her,” I reminded her pointing at Za’naa who was playing a game alone.
“It is but if I have so many people in the way of me being a mother then what do I do?”
Instead of responding I took out my phone and responded to the text from Keira. She’s been quiet, and I didn’t want to leave her alone even though she assured me she was fine.
“I don’t want to go to court against you. You can have custody, but there are some things that I want to ensure that you can be the mother Za’naa needs.”
I sent the text message and placed my phone back down giving her my undivided attention. She pushed a paper my way, and it was a typed up list of things she wanted.
I was ok with it until I stumbled across the $1,000 she wanted every two weeks. Pointing at the line, I directed my attention towards her.
“What the fuck is this?”
“If you’re going to allow me to take care of Na, I will need support. I agree not to go through the courts and I’m letting you have full custody, so it’s the least you can do.”
I stared at Qwinae as if she had two heads. She had to be tripping, yet her face was serious, and she didn’t bat an eye.
“So you expect me to pay you to be a mother.”
“Don’t say it like that because there are so many women collecting child support and a measly $2,000 a month ain’t nothing to you considering all the property you own along with your other business.”
“I’m not giving you a penny,” I responded sliding the paper back her way. “If I even thought about Naa going with you it would be for the weekend. You don’t need $2,000 to care for a child four days out the month.”
“I do have to get a home and maintain it. You can’t expect me to raise four of my children at my parent's house. It’s not fair to them.”
“Who fault is that? You’re a grown ass woman, Qwinae. This shit isn’t about you being a parent, and I’m tired of you wasting my and Za’naa’s fucking time. So what is it?”
Qwinae propped her elbows on the table and ran her fingers through her hair before she finally said what was really up with her.
“I’m in a bind, and I can use some money until I get back on my feet.”
“It’s called get a job.”
“And you think I haven’t been trying to do that? My parents really don’t want to sit in the house all day with a bunch of toddlers, so I can’t find a job. I don’t have money for daycare. Since their father passed away and I moved
from a California shit have been really tough and honestly, you ain’t making it any better.”
“How you putting this shit on me? You could’ve kept your ass in California or away from Za’naa and me for all I care. We were good.”
“That’s not the point.”
“So what is it?”
“My point is we have history, and regardless of what happened in the past, I’m back. You were my first love, and you told me you would always have my back.”
“Don’t even try to bring that shit the fuck up. Six years ago you bounced and didn’t communicate with us for five of them years. You were good. I’m sorry your kids have to grow up without a father, but they’re not my responsibility. If you really wanted to be in Za’naa’s life, you would’ve gone about this differently. She’s just a money bag to you, and I ain’t got shit to give. Figure that part of ya life out, and if you want to get to know her, you’re free to always reach out to me.”
I stood to my feet and walked over to Za’naa who just got off the carousel. I took her hand, and we walked out of the doors of Chuck E Cheese. If she never saw Qwinae again, I knew she was going to be fine. Over a month went past, and she has yet to spend any real time with her. I should’ve seen this shit coming from a mile away, but now that I knew I was going to handle my paperwork legally so we won’t go through this merry go round again.
***
Later that night…
Pulling on the blunt, I allowed the smoke of the weed to rush into my lungs and held it blew it out into the air. Za’naa was sleep, and from what I knew Keira was as well.
My mind was tied up with all the events that occurred. First, we took a major loss at one our traps and haven't gotten a lead yet, Keira loses the baby, but my aunt is alive, and Ern isn’t allowing us to see her still. Meanwhile, Ernestine was missing in action, he was right that she was going to go ghost, but I didn’t think it would be this soon.
Asahd wasn’t fucking with no one. The more I thought about it, the more I realized him and Unc damn sure did look alike. I understood his anger, but I’m sure it was more to the story. I was just giving him is space to collect his thoughts. This shit wasn’t what we needed right now, but it was out in the open, so we had to deal with it eventually.
“Why aren’t you in bed?” Keira asked straddling my lap. I placed the blunt in the ashtray and wrapped my arms around her waist. For the past few days, I could barely get a word out of her, so hearing her voice was the melody I needed to ease my mind. It did more for me than the weed.
“I needed to smoke.”
“This late? And this is like the third blunt. How high can you get?” she questioned me.
“Shut up,” I told her forcing her to lay her big ass head on my shoulders. “You spoke to Camille?”
“Earlier, she said Asahd’s been gone, and she’s worried about him. He better not be cheating on her.”
Keira lifted her head and screwed her face up at me as if I was cheating on her. Sadly, that was the only sign that she was back to normal because she was on “go” for her friend.
“From what I know he’s going through some shit and he just needs his space.”
“So that’s how he handles it? He leaves Camille in the dark? That’s not how relationships work.”
I sighed because I really ain’t want to go through this with Keira. It wasn’t necessarily our battle. I was involved to an extent, but I ain’t need that shit causing no rift between me and my girl.
“Look, Asahd is grown, and he’s going to do what he wants. I’m pretty sure he’s somewhere with a gun on his lap smoking a blunt processing whatever is on his mind. What he needs is time, and I’m sure when he’s ready he will let Camille know what’s going on.”
“Or you can just tell me, and I’ll let her know.”
“That’s not happening. I like Camille and look at her as a little sister but it ain’t my place or yours. If she thinks Asahd is cheating, I’ll explain to her that he’s not, but that’s about it,” I told her with finality. “Just stay out of it.”
“That’s my friend. If she needs me, I’ma be there for her.”
“That’s cool too, but don’t bring that shit over here. Fix your face.”
Keira pouted harder and leaned in for a kiss.
“Stop being such a big baby,” I teased her, and she kissed me again.
We sat on the couch in silence. It felt good to have her so close and back to normal even if that meant she was going to annoy me.
My phone vibrated on the arm of the couch, and she reached for it and answered it further irritating me. I don’t know why she was on one right now, but she was going to get this last pass before I had to remind her of who I was.
“Hello,” she said and then cocking her head back once she heard it was a female's voice. “Who the fuck is this?”
I took the phone from her and put it to my ear.
“Who is this?”
“Zayne, this is Nina. I need to see you ASAP. I was trying to get in contact with Asahd, and he’s not answering.”
“You good?” I questioned her.
“Yes, I have something that belongs to you.”
NINA
I was pacing the floor a hole through the floor literally sick to my stomach after doing what I did. As much as I kept telling myself it wasn’t my business I still had to interfere which is why I had bricks of cocaine in my living room and dirty money.
Shit! Shit! Shit!
My underarms were so sweaty I can literally pull my shirt over my head and ring it out like a washcloth.
Any little noise startled me. My condo was so quiet besides my feet walking back and forth on my carpeted floor, I can hear my heart beating as if it was outside of my chest.
I had to be overthinking. Burge wasn’t home and more than likely wouldn’t return. That night we got into it I gave him back his key but any smart woman kept a lot of shit in handy for just in case moments and this was the one.
Was I doing this as get back or because my heart still beat for Asahd? That was a question I have yet to answer only because if it was the latter my mind wouldn’t be telling my heart how stupid it was.
I was nervous as fuck. I was too busy in my internal tug of war to realize someone was knocking at my door until they started to bang. I got a sinking feeling inside my stomach staring at the door hoping it wasn’t Burge until I heard Zayne’s voice.
“Nina, it’s me.”
Blowing out a sigh of relief, I rushed over to the door and undid my locks. He stepped inside of my condo with his gun in hand. Eyeing the chrome pistol didn’t help my turning stomach at all.
“What is it that you have?”
I lifted my arm and pointed to everything I collected out of Burge house. Zayne looked from me and back at the drugs suspiciously and walked over to it. Inspecting the packs I stood near the door almost afraid to get closer to him.
“I swear I had nothing to do with that.”
“Then how did you get it?” he questioned me with a look of death in his eyes.
I opened my mouth to explain and then my door flew back trapping me in the corner.
“So you fucking this bitch too?!”
“Why the fuck are you here? Didn’t I tell you I was going to be right back?”
“Nigga! You just ain’t gonna rush out the house to go to another bitch house and think you ain’t gonna explain.”
Oh my God!
“Keira let me explain.”
When I finally shut the door and locked it. I swallowed a lump the size of a walnut seeing her dressed in sweats with a scarf covering her hair. I swear this had to been the third time she was ready to fight me and I was sure I was not going to get away from this brawl.
Keira spun around so fast and pointed her manicured finger in my face. “You got five seconds or I’m bashing your face in bitch!”
I held my hands up. I was in no shape to be throwing hands with anyone, especially not in this instance because this situation between Zay
ne and I was innocent.
“I was trying to get in contact with Asahd to let him know I knew who robbed their trap house. I couldn’t get incontact with him so I called Zayne,” I spewed out my mouth so fast because she was clenching her fist ready to swing.
“Where did you get it from?”
“Burge. Him and his brother robbed the trap and they were the ones that shot at Camille.”
Zayne expression softened while Keira still had her face screwed up.
“How we suppose to know you ain’t lying? You were just fucking Burge and now you’re turning on him? For all we know you could’ve been right there with him.”
“I was fucking Asahd too and I don’t have no reason to steal money or fucking drugs I don’t sell or use!”
Keira was trying me right now. Here I was trying to do a good deed and she was testing me. Yes, it may looked shady as fuck being as though these past months I’ve been kicking it with Burge but it’s only out of familiarity. Nothing more nothing less. There wasn’t anything he could do for me that I couldn’t do for myself.
“Go back to the house,” Zayne instructed Keira. She opened her mouth to protest but shut it when she looked into his face. I swear them Moseley men had a mean streak.
Without saying another word she left out of my condo and I rubbed my hands over my face. I just wanted this money and drugs far away from me.
“My bad about that,” he apologized.
“It’s all good. I understand to an extent.”
“So where is he at?”
“As far as I knew he was at Dynasty. I believe he started spending money from there. I don’t know how much but I can assure you I didn’t touch anything.”
“The money is yours.”
My eyes bugged. “Really?”
“Yeah, it’s the least I can do. You really looked out with this one. You think he gonna know it was you?”
I shook my head almost confident that he wouldn’t suspect it was me. Burge was so sloppy and allowed anyone in his house I see him blaming someone in his crew for the shit. It was bad that I could’ve possibly be creating a war within his crew but it served his ass right.
