Carl Weber's Kingpins

by Brandi Johnson

  Ke’yoko was just about to drift off to sleep when the doorbell rang. “Shit! Who the fuck at the door?” she snapped as she struggled to roll over and get out of bed. Ke’yoko made her way into the hallway and wobbled down the stairs. She instantly got pissed because whoever was on the other side of the door was pressing the annoying doorbell over and over.

  “I’m comin’, shit! Stop ringin’ my damn doorbell!” she shouted while snatching the door open. Ke’yoko was surprised to see her mother standing there. “Mother?”

  “Can I come in?” she asked, wasting no time.

  “Is everything okay?” Ke’yoko asked, letting her mother enter the foyer, all while wondering how she knew where she lived.

  “Yes,” she said, stepping in.

  Ke’yoko and her mother both stood in silence. “Wassup?” Ke’yoko finally asked.

  “I just left the county jail from seeing your sister,” her mother said.

  “Okay,” Ke’yoko said uncaringly.

  “And I came over here to see if what she told me was true,” her mother asked, looking her daughter dead in the face to see if she was about to lie, just like she used to do when she was a little girl.

  Ke’yoko kind of felt intimidated as her mother stared at her just like she used to do when she was younger. “To see if what was true?” Ke’yoko asked, already knowing.

  “Come on, Ke’yoko, cut the shit,” her mother said.

  Ke’yoko was surprised because she had never heard her mother use that type of language. “What shit?” Ke’yoko asked.

  “Were you the one who killed Bob and blamed it on your sister?”

  “I ain’t killed nobody! And his name is Bo,” Ke’yoko said sternly.

  “I want to believe you so bad because I know I raised you better than that,” her mother said.

  That statement must have struck a nerve because Ke’yoko instantly got mad. “Raised me? Did you forget I raised myself?” Ke’yoko asked.

  “I did the best that I could, Rie! And you know that!” her mother said in a raised tone.

  “Well, your best wasn’t good enough.” Ke’yoko was hurt as all her childhood memories of her mother never being there to protect her from her stepfather came rushing back.

  “Look, I didn’t come over here to debate nor discuss what type of mother I was to y’all. All I came over here for was to find out if what Ka’yah was saying to me was true and to tell you that if it is, make it right. She’s your sister, for heaven’s sake!”

  “Sister? Well, sisters don’t fuck each other’s husbands and have babies by them!” Ke’yoko spat angrily, appalled that her mother had the audacity to come over here and tell her to do right on a situation when she didn’t even know what the situation was.

  Ke’yoko’s mother’s jaw nearly hit the floor.

  “Yeah, that’s right. Aiko is Ja’Rel’s son. I done a DNA test on him,” Ke’yoko snapped angrily. “I bet’chu she didn’t tell you that while she was up there tellin’ you everything else, did she?”

  All Ke’yoko’s mother could do was shake her head in disgust. “I didn’t know,” her mother said as tears filled her eyes.

  “I know you didn’t, but now you do so you can stay out of it! Yeah, I killed Bo and blamed it on her; is that what you wanted to hear? If so, you heard it. Now what? Are you gon’ testify against me?” Ke’yoko asked, as tears filled her eyes for the first time. Finally saying the words that her nephew was really her stepson hit her like a ton of bricks.

  Ke’yoko’s mother was speechless as tears freely flowed down her face. She knew she hadn’t been the best mother in the world, but she knew she hadn’t been the worst, either. For the life of her, she didn’t know where she’d gone wrong with her three children. She had such high hopes for all three of them, even after they all moved out or left on their own. She still wanted nothing but the best for them. She loved her children with all her heart, but she refused to let them disturb her peace any longer; she was done.

  “Look, I’m sorry that you had to endure that. But you’re a beautiful, strong young lady, and I’m quite sure you’ll figure it all out. I’ve already told your sister about me selling the house and moving back to Japan next week. I refuse to let my children humiliate me any more than you three already have.”

  Ke’yoko looked at her mother with hatred in her eyes. Yet again, when she needed that motherly love the most, she gave Ke’yoko her ass to kiss.

  “Get the fuck outta my house, you selfish-ass bitch! You’re the main reason why your children are fucked up the way that we are anyway,” Ke’yoko said harshly.

  Before Ke’yoko saw it coming, her mother’s tiny hand rested on the side of her face and before she realized it, she had quickly slapped her mother back. Her mother was in complete awe. Ja’Rel walked into the house as Ke’yoko’s mother stood in the foyer holding her burning face. The tension in the room was thick and it had him feeling uncomfortable in his own home. He had definitely walked in on something.

  “Hi,” he said, speaking to Ke’yoko’s mother.

  “Now get the fuck out like I said and don’t bother tellin’ me when you leave the country ’cause I don’t give a fuck. You been gone to me for years!” Ke’yoko looked at her mother and said.

  Without a word, Ke’yoko’s mother turned and walked out the door, never looking at Ja’Rel or responding to his greeting.

  Ja’Rel was in shock as he stood wondering what he’d missed. “What was that all about?” he finally asked.

  “Go to hell!” she looked at him and said, before going back upstairs and climbing in the bed, leaving Ja’Rel speechless.

  Chapter Thirty-six

  Ja’Rel had been walking on eggshells ever since Ke’yoko had told him about Ka’yah wanting to set him up. She had him so paranoid, he was always looking over his shoulder and thought everybody was out to get him, even Ke’yoko at times. Ja’Rel had gotten his cell phone number changed and had only given it to a couple of people. He wasn’t taking any chances on somebody giving Ka’yah his new number. He’d even decided to lay low and get out of the game for a minute, just until all of this blew over, leaving room for Ke’yoko and Nadia to swoop in on his customers and they’d done just that.

  “When is Mommy comin’ home?” Aiko asked Ke’yoko as they sat on the front porch on an unusually mild winter day, waiting for Nadia to bring A’Niyah over.

  “I already told you, baby, it’s gon’ be a long time before Mommy comes home.”

  “Why?” he asked.

  “Aiko, I already told you your mommy done somethin’ bad. And when you do bad things eventually you have to pay for it. And your mommy has to go to jail for what she did,” Ke’yoko explained for the hundredth time, the best she knew how.

  “So who gon’ take care of me?”

  “I’ma take care of you.”

  “Well, who gon’ take care of me when you have the baby?” Aiko inquired.

  “Again, me; who else?”

  “Well, how you gon’ take care of me and the baby?” Aiko asked.

  “Trust me, I’m capable of takin’ care of more than one child at a time,” Ke’yoko assured her inquisitive nephew.

  “Can I help you take care of the baby?” he looked over at his aunt and asked.

  “You sure can. I’m gon’ need your help. You can be somethin’ like a big brother,” Ke’yoko said.

  “Yesss,” Aiko said happily. “Can I feed him?”

  “Yep, and change his dirty diapers,” Ke’yoko joked.

  “Ewwwww, no way.” Aiko laughed while shaking his head no.

  “I’ll be back,” Ja’Rel walked out of the house and said.

  “Can I go wit’ you, Uncle Rel?” Aiko looked up at Ja’Rel and asked.

  “Not this time, li’l man. Unc got some business to take care of, so maybe next time,” Ja’Rel said while rubbing the top of Aiko’s head.

  “Awwww, man,” Aiko pouted.

  “I’ll tell you what, when I get back I’ll play the game wit’
you okay?”

  “Okay,” Aiko said happily.

  Ke’yoko watched as Nadia pulled up in the driveway and parked behind her car. She had hoped that she and Ja’Rel would miss one another. Nadia hadn’t seen Ja’Rel since she’d found out that A’Niyah was really his child, and Ke’yoko didn’t know how she would react seeing him face to face.

  “A’Niyah’s here!” Aiko jumped up from his seat and said, running down the stairs to meet them.

  “I’ll see you later on,” Ja’Rel looked at Ke’yoko and said.

  Ke’yoko quickly threw her hand up and waved bye and watched nervously as he headed down the stairs.

  “Wassup, Nadia?” Ja’Rel spoke.

  “Hey, Ja’Rel,” Nadia said, forcing herself to keep calm and continued up the walk. Ja’Rel being this close to her made her sick.

  “Dang, A’Niyah, you gettin’ so big.” Ja’Rel smiled while touching one of her long ponytails.

  Watching Ja’Rel touch her daughter made Nadia cringe. “Go play, ’Niyah,” Nadia said and continued walking.

  “Okay,” A’Niyah replied and started chasing Aiko around the yard.

  “Wassup, sis?” Nadia asked Ke’yoko as she walked up on the porch. Nadia rubbed Ke’yoko’s huge belly before taking a seat.

  “Nothin’ much. Sittin’ here miserable as hell,” Ke’yoko said.

  “You look like you ’bouta bust,” Nadia said, glancing over at Ke’yoko’s belly.

  “I feel like I’m about to. Oh, and I like how you handled yourself,” Ke’yoko said.

  “What you talkin’ about?” Nadia asked, confused.

  “When Ja’Rel spoke to you. I just knew you was about to serve that bitch-ass nigga.”

  “Naw, he ain’t even worth it. Plus, I already know what you got in store for his ass is gon’ give me way more satisfaction than cussin’ his ho-ass out! I did feel sick to my stomach, but I know there’s a bigger picture to keep in mind.”

  “You already know,” Ke’yoko said with a smile.

  Ke’yoko and Nadia both sat in silence while looking out toward the street at the passing cars.

  “When you gon’ get rid of that nigga anyway?” Nadia asked out the blue.

  “Trust me, I’m workin’ on it. I just hope what I got in mind goes as planned. If it does, it’s goin’ down! Or should I say he’s goin’ down!” Ke’yoko replied happily.

  “What plan? Fill me in,” Nadia said.

  Ke’yoko shot her best friend a “you know better” look.

  “Well, it don’t hurt to try.” Nadia laughed. “Have you heard anything else from Ka’yah?” Nadia asked.

  “Nope. She ain’t no fool. She better not call me. I heard through the grapevine that she had her court-appointed attorney try to get the tape pulled from the phone that she and I was talkin’ on when I went to visit her,” Ke’yoko said.

  “Whaaaat?” Nadia asked.

  “Yeah, girl. She told them I admitted to her that I killed Bo. So when they pulled the tape, it was so distorted they couldn’t make out none of our conversation,” Ke’yoko said. “Nice try.”

  “Wow, that bitch is devious!”

  “She’ll be a’iiiight. She might as well sit back, kick her feet up, and get prepared to do her time.”

  “Might as well. It sho’ll don’t look like she gon’ be goin’ nowhere no time soon,” Nadia agreed.

  Ke’yoko looked over at Nadia with a serious look on her face.

  “What’s on ya mind?” Nadia asked.

  “I need you to promise me somethin’.”

  “Promise you what?” Nadia asked, confused.

  “Promise me that if I ever need you you’ll always be here for me,” Ke’yoko said, feeling herself getting ready to get emotional. It had to be her hormones or the fact that after Ja’Rel was gone, she was only going to have her son and Aiko to lean on.

  “Sis, I promise you that I’ll always have your back, no matter what! I’ll drop everything to be by your side whenever you need me,” Nadia assured her best friend.

  Ke’yoko smiled. “Thank you.”

  “No need to thank me. Well, I’m about to head on home. I’ll be back later on to pick A’Niyah up.”

  “You might as well let her spend the night with her brother.” Ke’yoko smirked.

  Nadia playfully shot Ke’yoko the side-eye.

  “What? They are brother and sister.” Ke’yoko laughed.

  Nadia laughed too, before standing up from her chair. “True,” she replied. She leaned over and wrapped her arms around Ke’yoko. “Call me later.”

  “You know I will. I’m about to go to the Redbox, order these kids some pizza, and lie back and chill.”

  “Okay, well, call me if you need me,” Nadia said.

  “I will.” Ke’yoko smiled as Nadia headed down the stairs.

  Nadia walked over to A’Niyah, kissed her on the cheek, hugged Aiko, and headed to her car. She opened up the door and just stood there staring up at Ke’yoko. Ke’yoko waved good-bye. Nadia waved back before getting in her car, starting it up, and pulling off.

  Chapter Thirty-seven

  Ke’yoko ran into the grocery store to pick up a few things for dinner. Cooking for a picky five-year-old every day was something she definitely had to get used to. After getting a cart full of junk food for Aiko, Ke’yoko headed toward the register.

  “Shit, I forgot the Popsicles,” she said and made a U-turn toward the frozen food section, knowing it would be a war zone in her household if she went home without Aiko’s favorite snack.

  Ke’yoko smiled down at a little boy who was whining to his mother about getting some ice cream while pulling on her leg. She knew her mind had to have been playing tricks on her because she swore the cute little boy was the spitting image of Aiko.

  “I told you we not gettin’ no ice cream, Relly. Now stop pulling on my leg,” the mother said sternly.

  Relly? Noooo, it couldn’t be, Ke’yoko thought, quickly looking over at his pregnant mother, discreetly staring at her to make sure it wasn’t who she thought she was. A warm sensation came over Ke’yoko’s entire body and she felt nauseous.

  Ke’yoko’s heart nearly jumped in her throat when she realized this definitely was the broad from the pictures. Ke’yoko didn’t know what her next move would be so she played the situation by ear.

  “You got a cute little boy,” Ke’yoko said to the chick while checking her out to see what Ja’Rel saw in this broad. She wasn’t bad looking. Ke’yoko definitely had to give credit where credit was due, but no doubt about it, she wasn’t as fine as Ke’yoko was. You could tell this chick was used to the finer things and kept herself together.

  The chick looked over at Ke’yoko and smiled. “Thank you. He looks just like his daddy.”

  He sure does. “When are you due?” Ke’yoko asked, pointing at her huge stomach.

  “I got a month left and, girl, I cannot wait!” she replied, looking like she was ready to pop as well.

  “What a coincidence. I got a month left too,” Ke’yoko replied.

  “Oh, wow.” The lady smiled. “Is this your first one?”

  “Yeah, this my first one. I’ve had a few miscarriages in the past, so I’m kinda excited.”

  “I bet.”

  “Crazy thing is, my husband is even more excited than I am,” Ke’yoko said, wanting to bust Ja’Rel’s lying, cheating, no-good ass out, but didn’t.

  “Yeah, my fiancé is ecstatic too.”

  Fiancé? Bitch, please, get in line wit’ the other broads, Ke’yoko thought, wanting to laugh in this naïve broad’s face; but she kept it together.

  “He’s always wanted children but his ex-wife couldn’t give him any, so you can only imagine how happy he is to be a daddy for the second time,” the lady said.

  Ex? Bitch, I’m still Mrs. Barnes, Ke’yoko wanted to say badly, but didn’t. “Yeah, I bet,” Ke’yoko said slowly.

  Ke’yoko was on fire but decided to take the high road. That was the problem with this world tod
ay: bitches always wanted to attack the other female when they found some mess out, instead of dealing with the man. Ke’yoko refused to be a statistic; plus, this woman didn’t owe Ke’yoko anything. Ja’Rel did. She was married to his ass not the woman in front of her.

  “Well, congratulations and good luck on your delivery,” the lady said, smiling.

  “Same to you.” Ke’yoko smirked, before turning to walk away.

  Ke’yoko was happy about how she’d handled herself as she made her way to the car with her groceries. The old Ke’yoko would have confronted this chick before exposing Ja’Rel, but the new Ke’yoko didn’t have time for that nonsense; she had more important things on her mind. Plus, it wasn’t that chick’s fault that she’d gotten involved with a fraud-ass nigga. She would find out soon enough. Ke’yoko kinda felt sorry for this broad, because she was about to be in the same boat. She was going to be a single mother and didn’t even know it yet; she just hoped and prayed that the chick was strong enough to handle it like she was.

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  Ke’yoko was sitting on the sofa with her tablet looking at different properties while talking to Kailo on the phone.

  “You sure you don’t wanna go through with this?”

  “How many times are you gon’ ask me that question? Yes, I’m sure,” Ke’yoko said, clicking on a property that had really caught her eye.

  “Are you sure? I mean, even after everything you went through you want me to call my dogs off?” Kailo asked one last time just to make sure.

  “I said I’m cool, big head,” Ke’yoko said, laughing.

  “All right, it’s your call. I’m just making sure ’cause I know how pregnant people think with their hearts and not with their heads,” Kailo said.

  “Whatever,” Ke’yoko said. “And what pregnant person have you been around?”

  “Chad’s sister, Lauren. All she does is cry about everything. Ugggh, she gets on my nerves. The other day she was over here and we was sitting out on the porch and she saw a butterfly land on a flower and broke down. She said that was the most beautiful thing she’d seen in a long time,” Kailo said, making Ke’yoko laugh.