by Mz. Lady P
"I knew you would be coming sooner or later," Quaadir said as he turned the TV off and turned to face me. I pulled my hood off of my head and sat down in the chair. I placed my gun on my lap so this nigga would know this shit wasn't a social call. There was no need for pleasantries.
"Let me cut straight to the fucking chase. Don't ever in your fucking life look at my wife or contact her for that matter. Whatever the fuck y'all had going on, that shit is a dead ass issue."
"Let me stop you right there. There is nothing going on between us. I admit I was feeling the shit out of her. She's beautiful as hell. What real nigga wouldn't want to fuck with her? She loves you and has made that perfectly clear. Even when you were supposedly dead."
I didn't feel the need to go in depth about their sexual encounter. Tahari had already told me enough. Plus, I would definitely blow his brains out if he got to describing her pussy and what it felt like.
"I'm glad you brought that up. Were you the trigger man in my shooting?"
"Yeah, that was me. I guess we're even since you hit me up." As I sat and looked at this nigga, I was starting to see a lot of Malik and myself in him.
"Actually, we're not even. I have a way of reading people and I know that you had no idea who I was. The only thing that's keeping me from finishing you off is my mother. It would break my heart if I had to break hers. So, I want to know who the fuck sent you at me and my family?"
As soon as the words left my mouth, the sound of gunfire erupting outside the door caused me to jump up and peep out the door. I watched as a tall white guy dressed in all black pinstriped suit held a gun to the nurse's head who helped me get in the hospital. I couldn't make out the words, but evidently she didn't tell him what he wanted to hear. He shot her right between the eyes. Her body instantly dropped to the floor. At that point, I noticed three more gunmen appear with guns in hand.
"What the fuck going on out there?" Quaadir asked. I turned around to look at him and he was now trying to stand up. The sound of another gunshot made me sprang into action. The gunshots were now in the distance. My antennas went up when I heard the gunmen going to other patients' room. I knew they were either looking for him or me. I wasn't in the mood to die tonight. I was about to do something I didn't come here to do and that was look out for my long lost twin brother. I needed this nigga alive in order to find out who was behind all the bullshit.
"Come on we got to get out of here!" At this point, he was already standing to his feet and ready to go.
"Damn! This shit hurt like a bitch." Quaadir was holding his chest and I started laughing like a motherfucker. I knew exactly how that shit felt.
"I guess I deserved that. All bull shit to the side though. How the fuck are we going to get out here without being noticed?"
"There is a exit door right next to this room. The sooner we get out of here the better."
We both slowly crept out of the door and headed towards the exit. The sound of gunshots in the distance could still be heard. As soon as we hit the stairs, the sound of security rushing the hospital floor could be heard. I looked back and Quaadir's ass was slow dragging. I wanted to leave his ass so bad, but I knew I couldn't. At any moment, the fucking hospital was about to be surrounded by Chicago's Finest. I was already out on bond and didn't have no time for this shit.
"You can't stop right now. I know that shit painful." Quaadir's ass had completely stopped running and looked like he was about to pass out. I was glad when we made it down to the first floor. I was thanking my lucky stars that I had parked in the space that I did. The police was starting to pull up in the front entrance. As soon as I lifted Quaadir into the passenger seat, I hopped in and got the fuck out of dodge.
"Nigga you look like you're about to die. I think I need to take you to another hospital," I said as I looked over at Quaadir; he was looking pale as hell and his bullet wounds were starting to bleed.
"Hell nah! That's the first place these motherfuckers gone look. Take me to my crib, so I can grab some clothes. Then you can drop me off at the Essex Inn on Michigan. That's where my wife and daughters are."
"Here call your wife and tell her we're on our way to pick her up. I can take y'all to one of our safe houses." This nigga had a whole family at home and was trying to take mine away from me. His bitch must be ugly as hell; I thought to myself.
"Thanks man."
"Don't thank me. Thank Peaches. Our mother saved your life. Plus, we still have unfinished business." The car was silent after that. I took Quaadir over to his crib and he grabbed some clothes. From there, I took him to pick up his wife and daughters. I was in shock when I saw his family. His wife was beautiful and stacked in all the right places. The thing that baffled me the most was that his twin daughter's looked like Ka'Jairea and Ta'Jay. That was really all the confirmation I needed that we were in fact twin brothers. I took them out to our vacation house on the Lake and got them settled.
"Nobody knows y'all are out here. I'll bring Peaches over in the morning to look after you. Don't try no bullshit. I got eyes on you." I had to let this nigga know don't try to pull a stunt like leaving town. Who ever wanted him to kill me now wanted his ass dead. I highly doubted he was going anywhere. Now, I just needed to put the family up on what the fuck is going on. I needed to go and see my wife and kids. I needed to make things right with Ta-Baby. I was missing the shit out of her.
Chapter Six-Tahari
Pieces of Me
It had been two weeks since Ka'Jaire left me all alone. The next morning after he walked out, I woke up in the same place he had left me. I had the worst headache ever. I struggled to stand to my feet. I knew that I couldn't lay around all day. Pretty soon my babies would be up and the last thing I needed was for them to see me crying and shit. I hopped in the shower and let the hot steaming waterfall all over my body. I wanted to cry so badly, but I didn't have any tears left.
"Momma eat-eat!" I pulled back the shower curtain and Kaine was standing there.
"Hey Baby. Momma will fix you breakfast in a minute." He sat on the floor and waited for me. Not long after, the whole gang was in my bed waiting for me. I couldn't do nothing but laugh as I stepped out of the shower and saw all of them. I got dressed in a hurry. I knew in a minute they would be going crazy due to being hungry.
It was a Sunday so I knew that we would be staying in the house for the day. Sundays were family day for us. We usually would go over to Malik or Ta'Jay's house for Sunday dinner, but I was too ashamed and embarrassed to be around the family. I knew that sooner or later I would have to face them. Today just wasn't one of those days.
All I wanted to do was spend time with my kids. We were going to eat junk food and watch movies all day. My kids were what I needed to take my mind off of Thug. Once they laid down for their naps, I had a minute to myself. I laid in bed and reflected on my entire relationship with Thug. He met me in my time of need and here it was three years later. I couldn't help but feel like he thinks I need him. My thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of Kaia and Kahari crying. They always woke up at the same time.
For the rest of the day, I catered to my kids and we enjoyed ourselves. I just hated that they kept asking for their father. I tried calling him several times and he never answered.
The next day I took Kaine to get his cast off. I was happy that everything had healed properly. I looked like the little old lady in the shoe with all these damn kids with me. I was glad that they were well behaved and dressed to the nines. Yes, my kids were dressed to impress whenever they stepped on the scene.
"Momma! I need to use the bathroom," Ka'Jaire Jr. said.
"Okay baby. Come on in the ladies room with me."
"I'm a boy. I'm not supposed to go in the girls' bathroom." He was fighting me to keep from going in the ladies room.
"You're definitely not going in the men's bathroom alone." I yanked his ass right in the bathroom with me. I didn't trust these sick ass people these days. When we entered the bathroom, there was a woman standing in fro
nt of the vanity crying.
"Is everything okay," I asked as I handed her some tissue to wipe her face.
"Thanks. I've been better."
"I hope everything works out for you."
"For the sake of my marriage. I hope everything works out, too."
"My marriage is struggling as well. My husband and me are going through some changes. I'm Tahari nice to meet you."
"Hey, I'm Keesha nice to meet you as well." We shook each other hands and continued to make small talk. The more we talked; I learned that she was at the hospital waiting on her husband's medicine. He had recently been released after being shot. I guess she became so overwhelmed that she had to go in the bathroom and let it all out.
"Momma, I'm finished."
"Okay. Wash your hands.'
"He's handsome. Is he your only one?"
"Girl no. I have six more in the lobby. Let me get out of here and get them home. It was nice meeting you, Keesha.
"Same here."
I rushed out of the bathroom and gathered up my babies. I needed to hurry up and get home. Trish was coming over for dinner and I hadn't prepared anything. Momma Peaches called me on the way home and told me that I could bring the kids to her house. Ever since Vinny had been called back to Miami on business, Peaches had been so lonely. I felt so sorry for Peaches when I dropped the kids off to her. With Vinny being so far away and the Quaadir situation, Peaches had become overwhelmed. I knew that her and me needed to sit down and talk about things. Peaches was putting on a brave front, but Thug not talking to her was breaking her heart.
*****
The soulful sounds of Mary J. Blige's My Life CD played throughout the house. I loved the fact that you could play that CD in its entirety. Mary J. Blige would have a bitch all in her feelings crying and shit. I sang along with Mary as I checked the Crab Legs I had boiling and the Shrimp that I had sautéing. I was so happy when Trish called and told me she was coming over. I definitely needed to talk to someone who had been through some things in their marriage.
Once the food was finished, I set the table and made sure our wine was on chill. Trish loved her some Sunset Blush wine. She had started me to drinking it and I was addicted. Once I changed into some jeans and a cut off shirt, Trish was calling me from the front gate letting me know that she had arrived. I typed in the code and met her out in the driveway.
"Hey Boo. What's up!" I said as we hugged each other and I escorted her inside.
"Damn! This shit is nice." I showed Trish around the house before sat down to eat. I poured each of us a tall glass of wine. We both started cracking open the crab legs and dipping them in the hot garlic butter.
"So, what's been up with you, Trish?"
"Same ole. Same ole. Keeping my shop running and of course being a wife and mother." I took a long gulp from my drink and zoned out for a minute. "Tahari! What are you thinking about over there?"
"I'm sorry girl. My life is falling apart. I hate to put a damper on our chill time, but Thug left me." I hurried up and wiped the tears before they fell.
"Oh, my God! I know he didn't leave because of this Quaadir situation. If he did he has a lot of fucking nerve."
"You know about me and Quaadir?" I was in shock because I thought no one knew.
"I hate to tell you this, but that shit is the talk of the family. Peaches called Gail crying and Gail can't hold hot water." I placed my head in my hands and I started to cry.
"I fucked up big time, Trish. How could I embarrass Thug like this? I don't know what I'm going to do. How can I look in his family's face knowing I fucked his brother?" Trish got up from her seat and came over to sit next to me."
"I'm going to keep this shit all the way one hundred with you. Tahari, the biggest mistake you're making right now is being worried about what they think. You're going to drive yourself crazy with guilt over something you shouldn't feel guilty about. You don't have no reason to be ashamed or embarrassed. You had no idea who he was."
"I just want to die Trish. I don't even think that you understand?"
"There's a lot about me that you don't know about. I been in your shoes before, so I know how you feel. Hell shit got so bad for me that I actually did try to kill myself. The problem is that we become so engrossed with who our husband's are ,that we forget who we are. That's why I grind so hard. I don't want to just be Markese's wife. I'm Trish that's it and that's all."
"It's funny you say that because I've been thinking that. All I am is Thug's wife. Since the day he picked me up battered and bruised, I've been up under him like a newborn baby. He has given me the world and I'm happy to be the mother of his children. Everyone looks at Thug like he's this great guy. Don't get me wrong, my husband is the total package.
He's every bitch's dream come true, but he's a typical nigga that does typical nigga shit. I swear when I walked in that room and saw him fucking that bitch, a part of my heart died. I never felt that I was capable of losing him to another woman. It doesn't matter that I go hard for him in these streets. I know now I'm not exempt from anything when it comes to our relationship. I came clean and told him that I fucked Quaadir. You should have seen his face. He looked at me with pure hatred in his eyes. I really think it's over."
The wine wasn't strong enough for me, so I got up and grabbed a bottle of Patron. We both started knocking shots back.
"Girl please, Thug ass ain't going nowhere. He somewhere kicking his own ass about you fucking Quaadir. The problem with men is they can fuck anything moving, but once we do it, it's the end of the world. He'll be home once he's over being mad, maybe even sooner. I know that Thug loves you. The last thing he wants is to see you with another nigga. Listen to me and listen to me good, stop crying and showing him you're weak for his ass. I know for a fact your ass ain't weak. All these bitches you've been bodying. You're more than just his ride or die bitch. You're his wife and the mother of his children. You have to give that nigga some act right and let him know you ain't playing with his ass."
For the rest of the night, we talked and laughed. I felt so much better after our talk. I was so fucked up from mixing that wine with Patron. I laid across my bed and went straight to sleep.
Chapter Seven- Thug
Putting Shit In Perspective
I dreaded going to talk to Peaches. I had put the shit off for so long that a part of me didn't want to face her. I still couldn't believe that I helped Quaadir out. I know for a fact I was about to get a lot of backlash from my crew. I did what I thought was best for everyone involved. Trust and believe me they would thank me later. I used my key and walked inside of Peaches' house. I found her in her favorite place; at the bar knocking back shots of Patron.
"Hey Ma." I walked over and kissed her on the cheek. I walked behind the bar and grabbed some Remy and a shot glass. Peaches never spoke back, so that meant she was mad at me.
"Ma. I know that you're mad at me for not answering your calls, but this shit fucked me up."
"Shut the fuck up, Ka'Jaire. You're so damn selfish. Did you ever stop and think about how this shit fucked the rest of us up? Yes, I kept another secret from my kids and that's something I have to deal with. I love all of my kids the same. I don't think you know it or not, but you're my rock Thug. You're the strongest out of all of us. Without you, I can't function. I hate myself for never telling you that you had a twin."
"Don't worry about it Ma. All that shit is water under the bridge." Peaches narrowed her eyes at me as I spoke.
"Please tell me you didn't kill your brother, Thug." I saw her eyes get glossy like she was about to cry. That shit let me know that I couldn't kill his ass even if I wanted to.
"No, I didn't. That's actually why I'm here. I need you to pack some clothes and head over to the vacation house. Quaadir and his family are out there. I moved him from the hospital. Don't ask any questions. Just please go pack for me. I already hollered at Malik, Dro, and Sarge and they're aware of things." Peaches started shedding tears and hugged me so hard. She ran upstairs and
got packed in no time. As we drove out to the vacation house, we made small talk and enjoyed each other's company.
"Have you talked to Tahari?"
"I really can't even look at her right now." I kept my eyes on the road because I could feel Peaches staring a hole through me.
"Go home to your family son. I know that it's hard knowing that your wife had sex with your brother, but the facts remains the same; neither one of them knew. Plus, Tahari is so heartbroken at home without you. I also know that you miss her and those kids."
"I miss her, Ma. I'm just having a hard time dealing with the fact that she slept with my someone else."
"I understand that you're hurt baby. How do you think she feels? She caught you having sex with another woman. When we all thought you were dead you were alive and fucking someone else. Let's not forget about the bitch Sabrina who was actually your cousin." Peaches grabbed the blunt from the ashtray and flamed it up. I swear my momma was a woman in a nigga's body.
"Please don't remind me." The last thing I wanted to think about was my dirt.
"I think that you need to be reminded. Mainly, because Tahari has taken a lot off of your ass. She deserves better from you than you to just walk out on her for one mistake." I never responded because I was letting my mother's words marinate in my mind. Once I dropped Peaches off, I headed straight home to see Tahari and my kids.
*****
I sat outside in my car before I went inside of the house. I looked up at our bedroom window and the light was still on. That meant Tahari was still awake. I laid my head back and thought about what I was going to say when I went inside. I smoked a whole blunt to the face and still had no idea what to say to her.
After about another thirty minutes, I gathered the courage and went inside. I headed straight upstairs. My first stop was to check in on my kids. They were all sleeping so soundly. The door to our bedroom was slightly cracked open. I pushed it open and walked in. Tahari was sitting up in bed with her upper body leaned against the headboard. As usual she was reading on her Kindle Fire. I noticed that she never even looked up at me. I went straight to the bathroom and took a shower. I was tired and all I wanted to do was climb in bed under Tahari. Maybe we could just talk about everything in the morning. Once I was done in the shower, I dried off and threw on a pair of basketball shorts. I grabbed the remote and cut on the TV to watch ESPN.
