I held on to the doorframe before I reached for the doorknob. I knew if I saw the image that was in my head, I would be violently sick. In my head, Chyna was riding Jyme as if she was competing in the Kentucky Derby. They would both stop when I opened the door, and they would try to explain everything to me. I shook that image out of head and turned the knob. The knob didn’t budge; it was locked. I ran back to the kitchen and opened the key drawer. I pulled the bedroom key out and ran back to the bedroom. I unlocked the door quietly, and Walt moved my shaking hands and turned the knob for me.
“Cricket it’s not him, he’s at the club and he would never do that to you.” Walt assured me; I nodded back at him and swallowed hard.
Chyna was on top, and she was riding like she was in the Derby. But she wasn’t on top of Jyme. Her guest was handcuffed to the bed and blindfolded. He was yelling for her to stick a finger in his ass. I gasped, and she whipped her head around. Chyna grinned from ear to ear at us and then he went back to work. I wasn’t looking at my sister; this was someone else. This woman came here to kill, and I could see the hunger for blood in her eyes.
“Oh no, baby. I have a toy for you, instead. Don’t you want me to stick my toy in your ass?” she teased him.
“Do it. Do it, baby; please. I want it, Chyna. Give it to me hard. Give it to me!” Troy spread his legs as far as they would go, and Chyna reached back to her clutch and pulled the gun out. She pulled out a small tube of lube and then she squeezed half of the contents into Troy’s arched up ass hole.
“Are you ready for it, baby?” she asked.
“Yes, right fuckin’ now, Chyna! Stop fuckin’ teasing me. Give it to me!”
Chyna slammed the gun inside of Troy’s ass. He screamed and bucked up off the bed. He slammed back down on the bed and Chyna slid the gun in and out three times slowly. Troy was going fuckin’ crazy, and he was begging Chyna to go faster.
“I love you, Troy.”
“I love you, too, baby.”
“Do you love Michael, Troy?”
“Faster Chyna. Give it to me faster.”
“Do you love Michael, Troy?” she asked him again.
“Yeah, I love Mikey.”
“His name is Michael, Troy. It is Michael!”
“Yeah…Michael. Give it to me faster, Chyna. Shit!”
Chyna’s face changed, and she slammed the gun into Troy again and pulled the trigger. There was a guttering sound, and Troy’s body went limp. Chyna pulled the gun out and shot Troy twice in the head and twice in the chest.
She got up off the bed and pulled her dress down, then reached back into her clutch and pulled out a small tin container. She squirted some liquid over the bed then she pulled out a lighter and lit the bed on fire. She walked passed me and Walt without even looking at us.
I ran down the hall to my bedroom where I opened the safe and emptied all the contents into my purse. I ran back to the main room, and we bolted out of the suite. Walt told us to follow him to the freight elevator. We went down to the basement floor, and as soon as the doors opened, we were nearly tackled by employees trying to exit the building from the main lobby. We had to fight our way off the elevator. We ran down the hall to the freight area. Walt opened a side door into the surveillance room. We ran over to another side door and entered into a room full of bodyguards. Jyme was sitting at a table next to Korliss, and everyone else stood.
Jyme ran to me and stared at Chyna wide-eyed.
“Cricket, what the fuck is going on?”
Korliss and I nodded at each other. Then, someone behind us said we needed to go. There were two elevators that led to the secret shuttle underground. We split the groups up and got on the elevators. Korliss, Walt, Jyme, Chyna, four more other bodyguards, and I got on one elevator together.
“Korliss, where’s Trey?” I asked.
“Last I saw of him, he was in the boiler room unconscious.”
I stared into Korliss eyes and he looked down, not wanting to keep eye contact with me. I turned away, and Jyme pulled me tighter into his side.
“What about Troy?” Jyme asked Korliss.
“Dead,” Chyna answered.
Everyone looked over at her and Chyna stared straight ahead.
“Cricket, I didn’t have a gun on me. If I did, I would have killed the bastard,” Korliss said.
I turned to face Korliss, and he was staring at the back of Jyme’s head. I turned back around, and Chyna watched me now. I knew what had to be done; and I knew who had to do it.
The elevator doors opened, and we ran over to the shuttle. It was almost full; but not quite. The shuttle countdown was ninety seconds, and everyone was buckling up. I looked over at Korliss, and he stared right back at me. He stood up, and the two bodyguards followed his stance. I got up and walked over to Chyna, helping her buckle up her seat belt. I gave her a hug and whispered in her ear.
“I love you, and I need you to watch over them for me.”
Chyna nodded. The clock dinged. Sixty seconds before the door closed. I walked back over to Jyme, sat down, and looked at him straight on.
“You were my first, and you’re my last.”
He smiled at me, and I kissed him with everything I had. I fisted my hands into his hair and let his tongue caress mine. “I love you,” I breathed through the kiss.
The clock dinged, twenty seconds left.
“What your best?” I asked him smiling.
“Right now.”
“Why?”
“Because we’re free and we can go get our babies and go home to our safe house.”
I nodded back at Jyme. I looked at Korliss then I stared at Jyme. Korliss nodded back at me. I pulled away from Jyme and jumped up. I knew Korliss and the other bodyguards would catch him before he reached me. Jyme was screaming and shouting my name, but I didn’t stop. I ran off the shuttle and stood outside the doorway with my back to it. I couldn’t look at him while I still had a chance to get back on. When the shuttle door closed, I turned to face the door. Korliss and the other bodyguards let him go then. He ran to the door and tried to beat it down.
“I have to do this; we’ll never be safe with Trey still alive. You know this. Take care of the babies, and don’t let Babe forget me.”
“Cricket, please don’t leave me. Don’t do this!”
I put a hand up to the window. “I love you, Jyme!”
“I love you, too!”
The shuttle started moving.
“What’s your best?” he yelled over the subway noises. I stood there thinking for a moment and then it hit me. Jyme ran from window to window frantically. I just stood there in that one spot, watching him. He got to the last one.
“The day I got stuck in the mud.”
I gave him a small smile, knowing I’d never see him again. He smiled back at me pressing both of his palms on the glass.
“I love you, Cricket,” he told me with tears streaming down his face.
I had to fight back my meltdown, and I forced a smile. “Not as much as I love you,” I told him.
I had to do this; I had to make sure he and the kids would be safe. He banged and rammed on the glass, and then they were gone.
I took off, running back toward the elevators. I knew Jyme would come back, but I planned to be long gone by then. I knew I had to be the one to take the blame for Troy’s death; Chyna shouldn’t have to carry that burden. She was a great mother to Michael, and he deserved to have her. He had now lost his other parent.
Jyme was a better parent, and he deserved to have the family he always wanted. He would find someone to love him and the kids. Just thinking about this made my stomach turn.
I got on the elevator and pressed B. The doors were shutting, and then they opened right back up. Aston stood there with a hungry look in her eyes. She stepped into the elevator, and the doors shut. I knew me and this bitch were going to have to dance, and that time was now. She walked up to me, and I kicked her hard. She rammed into me, and both of us tumbled to the floor of the elevator.
She spread my legs wide, and I kicked her in the face. She fell back, and I tried to get to my feet, but she yanked me back down. We tussled and tossed until she finally got on top of me. She held both of my hands with one of hers. I kicked and screamed, but nothing helped. She yanked out one of my breast and started sucking it.
“Get the fuck off me, bitch!”
“Oh, no; I’m fucking your pretty ass right here. I got some wire in my purse I can tie you up with it. I’m going to make you cum on my tongue.”
“You twisted fuck. I’m going to fuckin’ kill you.”
“And I’m going to eat you until you scream.”
She reached over to her purse and I kneed her in the puss. She screamed and cupped herself, rolling over to the floor. I got up quickly, reaching into my purse and pulling out the gun. I pointed it at her head, and she yelled for me to stop. I pulled the trigger, shooting her in the leg. She writhed and wailed. I pressed B, and when the doors opened, I pushed all the buttons.
When I got to the basement doors, I had to go down another flight of stairs to the boiler room. I had to really ram into the door because it was jammed shut, but I was able to get it wide enough for me to get in. I looked all over the place and didn’t see him. I finally started yelling his name and heard some shifting and muffling in the far right corner. I pulled my gun out and walked over to the corner slowly. Trey laid there with his hand raised up for someone to find him. I fell down right on top of him, and he moaned from the pain. I put the gun right between his eyes. I made sure he saw my face clearly, and then I squeezed the trigger.
Epilogue
I stand alone in a dark room, looking at Puget Sound. I think of nothing but her. It has been four long years, and I haven’t seen her. Nothing of hers has been removed, and I make sure everything stays the same. The kids are sound asleep in their warm beds, just like she wanted. I have pictures of her all through the house. Our bedroom looks like a shrine just for her. The only thing that keeps me from giving up and leaving it all is the resemblance of her in all three of their faces. Babe is a spitting image of her; inside and out. She loves everything that sparkles, just like her mother did. She plays dress up in her mother’s clothes almost every single day. And the few pieces that she adores and cherishes are her mother’s favorites as well. I received an envelope a month after the casino takeover. It had banking and safe deposit information with a key. The account had over two million dollars in it. I had access and was the sole benefactor of it. The key belonged to a safe deposit box in Seattle’s Trust Bank. I went to the bank the next morning and I was taken to a small room with the box. I opened it as soon as I was alone. There were two pairs of diamond earrings and the cricket ring I had given to her so long ago; she had it restored and it sparkled like new. A small black box, three birth certificates, two hundred savings bonds, a DVD, and two letters; one addressed to my mother and the other to me. That is all she left the kids and me. I took everything from the box and paid for another year on it just in case.
I didn’t open anything until I got back home. I did something I’d never done before. I pulled out one of her wine glasses and poured a glass of her favorite Pinot. I took a couple of sips, and it wasn’t that bad. I waited another fifteen minutes and then opened the letter addressed to me.
“Jyme, My Love, My Soul mate, The father of my children, My Everything, My First, And the absolute BEST thing that’s EVER happened to Me,
I love you so much; and I am so sorry for all of this. If you’re reading this, then things didn’t turn out the way we had expected. First things first; the contents of the safe deposit box. I have the account set up for the next ten years, so there will be monthly deposits. I know you’re well off and I hope that continues, but if it doesn’t, I have a backup plan for you. I’ve made a DVD for the children. I just wanted them to see my face and to hear my voice. It’s only about thirty minutes or so, but I wanted them to know me. Give Babe a pair of the diamonds on her sixteenth birthday and then the other pair on her wedding day. As for the cricket ring, I can’t tell you what that ring means to me. Troy knew I wanted it and he had it repaired with the original diamonds. I can’t tell you what to do with it because you gave it to me. So, I’m giving it back to you. I know I can’t take it wherever I am now. As for the children’s savings bonds, I’m sure you know what to do with them.
Now, the black box…”
I opened the small black box. It was a thick, dark gray band covered in tiny small-engraved crickets. The inside of the band read, “You’re my best”. I turned the ring around and around in my hand. I picked the letter back up.
This was supposed to be your wedding ring, but I never had a chance to give it to you. The engrave inside… well, I’m sure you know by now that you are the best thing that ever happened to me. I’m sorry I couldn’t be everything you wanted. I tried my best, I really did;, but once wounded I guess always wounded.
Jyme, I know I am not in a situation to ask you for any favors, but I beg of you for this. I would like for Chelle and Ayashe to be the children’s godmothers and D’Artagnan to be their godfather. I know you never cared for him, but he’s saved me more than once and I owe him so much. Please let him know the children. I want him to be a part of their lives. I want you two to be friends, if that’s possible. I love you both for two very different reasons.
It should be safe for you to go and get the children now. If you’ve tried already, I’m sure you know now. But you aren’t allowed to get them until you have this letter. I have also enclosed the codes for the children at pickup. Nan will not… and possibly did not, let you have them without this.
0012000200140002, 1198883245111009, 3331299878000221.
Please ask Chelle, Ayashe, and your mother for help if you need it. I’m sorry I can’t help you raise them. I don’t really remember my parents, so I don’t know the first thing about it. But babe, you grew up in a loving home and a caring community. You taught me how to love; there isn’t a doubt in my mind that you can do this. Tell them all the good things about me, and when little Babe is grown, tell her the absolute truth and leave nothing out. If Michael ever has to come to you for help, please Jyme, help him anyway you can. We both owe him. Your mother raised a fabulous man. I hope and pray you teach the children to be just like you. I know you’re not a churchgoer, but please take the children to church. I don’t know what denomination I am; but I’ve always liked the Catholic Churches.
Jyme, please find them a mother; find them someone who can teach them all the motherly things I could not. You’re beautiful inside and out. Long or short hair, it doesn’t matter, I always liked them both; but I loved you more. I’m sure I’ll be watching over you guys no matter where I am; heaven or hell, or maybe God will let me sit in between the lines. I love you and I never stopped loving you. Take care of our babies; hug, and kiss them every single day. I’ve done all that I could to make you guys safe; but if you need a safe haven, you know where to go.
Forever Yours,
Cricket
Thank You For Finding Me and Keeping Me Safe.
I sat there at the kitchen table and cried for a few hours. I watched Puget Sound from the kitchen window. I let my mind reminisce about the time when everyone came over and we all played outside like kids. That was one of the happiest moments in my life. I had tried three times to get the kids, but Nan told me each and every time, they weren’t ready yet. She promised me I would get instructions on when they would be, and I now had confirmation; I knew Cricket had a plan for us. I pulled the DVD out and placed it into the laptop tray. Cricket’s smiling face popped on the screen, and I was enchanted by her instantly all over again. She spoke to all three children calling them by their full names. She told them how we met and described their births. I noticed how she was fair with the storytelling of all three; even the twins. She made each story important, and she had the same animated excitement for all three. She ended the DVD by telling them she was sorry for not being there with them, but that she’d left them
in good hands. She told Babe if she needed girly stuff to go to Aunt Chelle, Aunt Ayashe, Aunt Patty, and Grandma. She told the boys they had plenty of men to help them with stuff so just to pick one. She told them she loved them very much and if they ever wanted to talk to her, that they should. She told them she would be listening to them no matter where she was. She closed her eyes and then she said, “Take care of the babies, Jyme. I love you,” and then the screen went black. I didn’t get out of bed for the next three days.
Mom and I arrived in Nashville on that fourth evening after I read her letter. We rented a van and went straight to Aunt Nans. Cricket left me the codes I was to punch in on the back of her letter she wrote to me. We made it through the gates and then through the doors. The compound was heavily secured. We went through the same exact procedures as before. We were taken to a room, and we waited. They brought little Babe in first, and she ran straight to the blocks. Her attendant went and sat in the corner. I went over and sat on the floor next to her. She was giggling and talking with herself. Mom followed me and sat right beside me. Babe handed me a block and told me to share. I handed the block over to mom and then Babe handed me another block and told me I was a good boy. I guessed they had been learning how to share in her classes.
Her hair swayed down her back, and I noticed it was the texture of mine, but thick like her mother’s. Her skin was darker than mine was, but not as dark as her mother’s. When she smiled, it tugged at my heart.
“She looks just like her,” mom whispered.
The door opened again, and Chyna and Cinnamon walked in holding the boys. They looked the room over expectantly and then faded. I saw the disappointment in their eyes. They were looking for her and so was I. Deep down inside, I always thought she was here, but with those looks, I realized she was gone.
Chyna handed me my son, who was wearing blue, and Cinnamon handed mom the boy in red. They went and sat on the cushion blocks silently.
“Which is which?” I whispered.
Wounded Love (G Street Chronicles Presents From Love to Loathe Series) Page 23
