by Anna J.
I thought about my husband for all of four seconds before the next wave of orgasms came crashing down and wiped him from my memory. We tossed and turned and climbed all over each other for hours, causing me to miss my curfew.
When I returned home it was obvious that Marcus had been drinking. He staggered into the living room when I opened the front door. An empty Hennessy bottle was on the table. I moved to check on the baby, but he grabbed me by my neck and pinned me against the wall. The smell of his breath made me want to vomit, but I forced it down while trying to catch my breath at the same time.
“You were supposed to be in this house. Where were you, and why did you walk through my door by yourself?”
“I . . . I can’t,” I attempted to answer him, but the tightening of his fist around my throat made it difficult to breathe and talk at the same time. At the very moment I thought I would black out, he let me go. I fell to the floor on my knees, gasping for air. The room spun around in circles for a while. I barely had time to recover when I saw stars from the impact of his fist connecting fiercely with the side of my face.
“Get on your knees,” he demanded, pulling me up by my hair. I obliged, if only to stop the stabbing pain shooting into my head from the grip he had on my roots. I didn’t know how much longer I could take this abuse. Something had to give, and soon.
“Marcus, can you please let go of my head? I can’t see.”
“You don’t need to see to suck a dick. Just open your mouth.” I had no other choice but to do what he said. He forced his dick into my mouth repeatedly, causing me to gag on several occasions.
I did the best I could for the three minutes it took him to explode. He came so much a good amount of it shot out of my nose, and the rest I either swallowed or spit out. I spent the next minute or so sputtering on the floor trying to catch my breath. He left me there for dead, warning me not to come in late next time, and especially by myself. That was just one of the scenarios that pushed me closer to Monica, and ultimately led to his demise.
I saw Monica a few times after that, and once we had the threesome we started hooking up even more. Of course, Marcus didn’t like it, not believing the story I gave him about us just being shopping buddies. He would whip my ass, and she would heal my wounds. This went on for a few months until finally she got tired.
We had decided that my son and I would move in with her and be a family. By this time Marcus had already cracked one of my ribs, tried to slit my wrist, and had pulled a patch of hair out from the side of my head that I now covered with a weave track. They were threatening to fire me from The French Quarters. Between Marcus calling there a million times a day for absolutely nothing, and me missing days from work because I was hiding injuries, it just wasn’t working out, and my life was spiraling downhill quickly.
Three more weeks went by and he punched me in my face for not having dinner done, breaking my nose in the process. That night Monica decided I would leave him. I went home to pack my stuff while he was at work, but he came home in the middle of me packing my son’s stuff.
We were in the living room arguing back and forth because I was trying to leave. I had more than enough money in my checking account to start over, and decided I would just leave whatever belongings I had there. He wouldn’t let me leave, and even after I grabbed my son to keep him from hitting me, he still continued to batter my body with wild blows from his heavy hands. I balled up in the corner to cover my face and the baby, and just when I moved to punch him in his private area, Monica burst in through the front door.
I can’t remember what she said to him, all I knew was he moved in her direction to swing at her and she unloaded her gun into his face, afterward reloading and finishing him off. When she was done there was nothing left of his head.
I was devastated. Yes, I wanted him gone, but damn. I was stuck, literally. I couldn’t move at first. The cries from my son brought me back to reality. I held his small body close to mine in an effort to quiet him as I stepped closer to my husband’s dead body. The tears were uncontrollable as the reality of what happened set in.
“What did you do? Monica, what did you do?” I screamed after I sat the baby down in the crib. I couldn’t believe he was gone. Now what would my son do for a father?
“What did I do? Bitch, I took you out of your misery.”
“Monica, you just killed a person. Do you know how much time you get for murder?”
“Tanya, you won’t be in there long. I have connections who will have you out in no time. Just tell the police it was a break-in that went bad.”
“What do you mean I won’t be in there long? I am not taking the rap for this. Fuck what you heard!” I was back on my feet and ready to beat Monica’s ass. I wasn’t doing time for anyone, damn the jokes. Who I look like, Boo Boo the Fool?
“Tanya, listen to what I’m saying to you. If I do the time, how can I take care of you? The most you’ll spend is a few hours at the precinct for questioning. Call me when you get down there and I’ll come get you. OK?”
For some strange reason I believed her, and followed her instructions. I should have known she wasn’t shit. When I got down to the precinct and tried to call, she didn’t answer her phone. Yeah, she got me a bomb-ass lawyer, but I spent damn near four years in the bricks before she came for me. I was in there fighting bitches off, ending up with a damn scar on my face from some of them creeping up on me late at night trying to rape me.
When I got out she laced me, but by then Shaneka told me she had a lot to do with Rico getting axed.
As Shaneka drove us home from Jazz’s house that night I let my head rest on the seat while I tried to get my thoughts together. We’d lay low for a while until Monica had her baby. It was only right.
I looked over at Shaneka and watched her as she concentrated on the road. She had held me down from the first day we met, and I wasn’t sure I would have made it without her. I owed my very sanity to her, and her patience. She made me complete, and her love was unconditional. She gave me exactly what I thought I got from Monica—love and attention. Monica’s day was coming, and soon.
When we pulled up to the house I waited until she opened the door. We held hands as we walked up to the house, and once inside we connected as one in front of the fireplace. She scratched my itch and I scratched hers until the sun rose. Love definitely made things happen.
Carlos
Flash Forward
“Bring that nigga in here. It’s time to end all of this right now.”
Jesus, Hector, and I had set up the block about three months ago to see what Arturo was up to. And now we finally had him where we wanted him. When we met back up that night, I have to say my feelings were hurt to find out that Rico trusted Arturo more than me, even though I was supposed to be his right hand man. I had asked Rico on many occasions to introduce me to his connect, just in case some shit went down, but he never did. Then I found out that this nigga, Arturo, done been to see him at least five times since Rico was done in.
Jesus and Hector had spent the last hour beating Arturo nearly to death. Killing him wouldn’t get me the information I needed, so I had to keep him alive for at least a little while. They brought his bloodied body into the living room, sitting him in one of the kitchen chairs and securing his hands and feet to the arms and legs. Honestly, I don’t think Arturo would’ve taken such a harsh beating had he gone one-on-one with them. Hector would have been an easy win for him, but Jesus would have definitely taken his life.
“So, Arturo, what do you have to say for yourself?”
It took him a minute to focus on me. I’m sure the room was spinning, no doubt from the multiple blows to his head. I’d decide later if I wanted him around. Dishonor meant death—no more, no less.
“Listen, Carlos, all I did was what Rico told me to do.”
“What did he tell you?”
“He told me to make sure that chick he was fucking with took care of his shit. I think her name was Monique or Monica or some shit like
that. We went ring shopping and everything for her, man. He was really in love with her, and he was leaving Shaneka to the birds.”
“What did that have to do with his connect? How did you get to meet him?”
I was trying to put two and two together, but it wasn’t making sense. I knew Rico had it bad for Monica from back in the day, and Shaneka was supposed to take her place, but I didn’t think it was that serious. Yeah, he started to slip a little with the spending, but I knew Monica kept the jakes off him for a little while because she had connections. This nigga was riding around town like he was the fucking President of the United States or something, like his ass was untouchable. But I knew something had to be going down, so that’s why I started to investigate as soon as shit started looking suspicious.
“Well, one time we went out shopping for a house for Monica and he told me how it was better to put a safe in her house and keep the money there, so if the cops ever searched the apartment they wouldn’t find anything. That’s how she got the cash, and all his shit. The day after he got locked up, she told me to help her move all of the stuff out before the cops came back, and as payback for helping her she’d take me to the connect to re-up on the supply.”
“So, she knows who the connect is?”
“Yeah, she directed me to the house and waited in the car while I handled business in his mansion. Rico said he couldn’t trust you, that’s why he never took you over there. He felt you were always trying to stick him.”
That hurt like hell to hear those words spoken out loud. Rico and I have been to hell and back. I shot dudes dead for him on more than one occasion. Before all of that we came from grade school together, sharing clothes and barely eating. I loved him like a brother, even though I felt like I needed to take charge, but I would’ve never brought harm to his doorstep.
“What happened when Rico got to jail?”
Arturo broke it down how once word was out that Rico got knocked, Juan had his boy who was on the same block as Rico set shit up while everyone was at dinner. Rico was sleeping with one of the guards for phone privileges, and he called me to find out what the word was on the street. He had suspicions that Monica had set him up, and I remember vividly the day he called me with his concerns.
“State ya purpose,” I spoke into the phone as I made my way down the avenue. The block had been hot since the day Rico was got, and they were sweeping niggas up off the street left and right. Three of my boys had gone down, and all I could do was wait to see who started singing. Time would definitely make a man confess. Believe that.
“Hey wassup, C, it’s Rico.”
“Rico, my man. What happened? I was on my way to ya crib when I saw the jakes out there. What went down?”
“I’m not sure really, but listen, I need you to put your ear to the street. I smell a setup, and I think that bitch Monica had a lot to do with it. The cops ran up in my shit too easily, and I haven’t heard shit from her since. I had one of my peeps check for her number, but she’s not in the system.”
“Yo, Rico, I’m on it, man. Hold your head up in there, man. I’ll get back to you soon. Juan still in there?”
“Yeah, he still here, just send word and quickly. I need to know if her ass should be murked or not.”
“I’m on it. Hasta la muerte, que exista honor.”
“Till death, get at me soon.”
I believed every word Arturo said because that was exactly how it went down. Now all I had to do was get him to take me to the connect and he could be done with. I was considering sparing his life, but I wasn’t sure yet. After all, he just did what the boss told him to do, but now he needed to understand that there was a new sheriff in town, and things were about to change.
“So, where is the connect?”
“In D.C., right outside the White House. He works for the President. His coke is flown directly to him without any interruptions. The staff says nothing. It’s like everyone is in on it.”
“Arturo, this is what I’m going to do for you. If you are willing to work with me I’ll spare your life. Understood?”
All he could do was nod. He was badly beaten, and I knew a good sleep would do him justice. I walked over and stood directly in front of him so he could see that I meant business. Hector and Jesus completed the circle around him. We all looked at each other before I spoke again.
“OK, Hector and Jesus will take you to the hospital. I will give you a few days to get yourself together. Come see me Friday morning. We’ll go see the connect and get down to business. Understood?”
“Understood.”
“Oh, and Arturo, I have the world watching you right now. Don’t try to skip town or you really will end up missing.”
I left while Hector and Jesus cleaned Arturo up to take him to the hospital. I wasn’t really concerned about him running off. He didn’t want the dogs on him. I drove around the block a couple of times, stopping to talk to a few of my workers to ensure that an eye was kept on Arturo, then I made my way over to Yolanda’s house. She was supposed to get information for me from Monica, and since I hadn’t heard a peep from her, I took it as she wasn’t moving until I came up off that shopping spree.
Turning my car toward South Philadelphia, I got to Yoyo’s house a half hour later. I didn’t call beforehand, so I was hoping she wasn’t in there with some nut-ass nigga. I didn’t feel like bustin’ a cap in someone’s ass, but I would if I had to. These Tasker niggas thought they had shit on lock, and they hated when I came down this way, but they knew they could get it, and they ain’t want that kind of heat. Yet and still, there’s always a busta who wants to try you, you know?
Checking my hip to make sure my heat was secure, I parked my car in front of Yoyo’s apartment and moved to her door swiftly, looking over my shoulder on the way up the path. No telling who was watching. Even your own will do you in. I knocked on her door like I was the police, and turned my back to it just in case someone tried to walk up on me. Since Rico’s demise, fools had been testing me.
“Who is it knocking on my door like the damn police?” Yolanda yelled from the other side of the door, obviously upset. I didn’t give a fuck.
“It’s C-Dogg, mami. Open the door.”
I heard some movement on the other side, and a few minutes later she came to the door dressed in a cut off tank top and boy shorts. My mouth dropped open at the sight of her ass bouncing as she made her way back to the couch. Yoyo had a lot of legs, and I wanted to dive between them.
“Carlos, when did you start popping up unexpected? Did you lose your phone or break your finger?” Yolanda knew she looked good, and I could tell from the look on her face that she was really feeling herself. Her hair was laid, so she must have just gotten it done. And the polish on her fingers and toes looked fresh. I acted like I didn’t notice either as I took a seat on the couch across from her and turned up the television.
“It’s nothing like that, ma. I was just wondering what was up with you since I haven’t heard anything from you in a while. Did you get that information I asked for?”
“That would be no.”
“Why not? Yoyo, you know how important this is to me.”
“Did you come up off that shopping spree? I think not, because I don’t see any new boots in my closet.”
“Come on now, mami. You know it’s never that serious with me coming up off a few thousand dollars. I just need to know that you’re going to ride for me, that’s all.”
“You know I’ll ride for you, C. I just don’t think I feel the same love coming from your end.”
“Yolanda, you’re killing me. Tell me, what I need to do to make this happen. Tell papi what to do.”
“Take me to get those Manolo boots I saw, and maybe we can talk.”
“Damn, Yoyo, is it like that?”
“Oh, it’s like that.”
“OK, listen to me. We can go out right now if you’d like. I just need you to call your sister.”
“You know damn well by the time I get dressed and
make a call the malls will be closed, and you ain’t taking me all the way to New York on a Tuesday night, and you ain’t fuckin’, so no.”
I got up off the couch and walked over to her, dropping to my knees in front of her. She kept eye contact, refusing to be the first to turn away. She was looking good. Her lips were all shined up the way I liked them, and her nipples stood at attention through her cutoff tank top, the skin on her belly was smooth like a baby’s ass. Forcing myself to stay focused, I made my eyes connect with her eyes and tried to talk to her sensibly. I could definitely see myself making Yoyo a steady, but she had to clean herself up. I couldn’t have her around me, knowing she was liable to sniff up half a brick at any given moment.
“Yolanda, listen to what I’m saying. If you call your sister right now and see what’s up, I’ll take you anywhere you want to go this week. We can leave in the morning, but we have to be back by Friday. I have some things I need to take care of.”
“So, what will you do for me right now?”
I said nothing. I just simply moved the crotch of her panties to the side and began making my acquaintance with her clit. I had to hold her down by her legs to keep her still after she eventually took one of her legs out of her panties. I had Yolanda’s legs trapped under me so she couldn’t move, and she was trying hard to get away. Switching between sucking on her clit and pushing my tongue in and out of her she was losing her damn mind. She begged for the dick, but I refused to give it to her. I needed her to handle business for me, and she could get broke off after that. A half hour later she was on the phone with Monica getting the scoop.
“Listen, before I dial her number I need you to promise me one thing.”
“What now, Yoyo?” I asked her while I washed her essence off my face. She was a wet one.
“I know Monica has probably gotten into some shit she had no business being in, but you have to promise me one thing.”
