“Rachel Richards do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love, and to cherish, in sickness and in health, in good times and bad for as long as you may live?”
“I DO!”
“Alton Allen, do you take Rachel to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, for as long as you both shall live?”
Just as Alton opened his mouth to say “I do!” There was a loud commotion at the back of the church like a bomb had gone off. We were all trying to see what the hell was going on. All of a sudden the back doors of the church flew open and 4 police officers came rushing down the aisle. When they reached the altar, one officer asked Alton,
“Are you Alton Allen?”
“Yes, I am. What do you think you are doing? You are ruining my wedding!”
“Sir, you are under arrest for the attempted rape of Nadiah Allen. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.”
“Wait what are you talking about? I didn’t try to rape anybody. There is a big mistake!”
“Come with me sir.”
“Wait a minute. I am not going anywhere until I say I Do.”
Alton bristled his body and with his shoulders erect he only got the “I” out before the officer spayed him in the face with pepper spray. The officer immediately cuffed him and began dragging him down the aisle. That’s when Jazz punched the officers then the whole wedding party jumped in.
“I do! I do! I do Rachel! I can’t believe this is happening to me!” Alton yelled to me as he was being dragged down the aisle.
I couldn’t believe my eyes. I was too mad and shocked to cry. I ran out of the church behind the officers, Randall was behind me, and Zeke and Jazz were bringing up the rear.
Of all days that could have happened, it had to happen on my wedding day. Nadiah had an ass-whipping coming from me that was long overdue. That bitch’s ass was grass and I was John Deere! There was no doubt in my mind that Alton was innocent. She found out we were getting married and planned to sabotage the whole thing.
I went to the police station still wearing my wedding dress. “Don’t worry Rachel I’ll have him out of here in no time. This is some bullshit. Nadiah’s gonna regret this when I get through with her.” Randall fumed.
After about 2 hours Randall was able to go see Alton. He came out after only 30 minutes.
“That was quick. What happened?” I asked.
‘This is a real simple case if we can get one thing. She is saying that he tried to rape her when she came to his office last week to talk to him. He told me what happened. All we need to do is get the video from the surveillance camera in the office and it’s a done deal.”
“She is such a bitter, mean, evil bitch.”
“Well go to his office and see if you can find the video. He said you should know where he keeps them.”
“Okay. I will change and go over there.”
Zeke took me home in his car and Randall stayed at the jail.
Zeke and I went on to Alton’s office. When we got there the door was open and the light was on.
“Shh, someone is in here. It can’t be anybody but Nadiah.” He whispered.
We tiptoed into the office undetected. I went to the closet where I knew he kept the surveillance videos. Sure enough there was Nadiah rummaging through the file cabinet looking for the video.
“Bitch! You got a lot of nerve.” I said.
“You better get out of my way before I hurt you.”
“You messed up my wedding! Bitch I’m gonna kick your ass till hell won’t even have it!” I told her.
“Bring it then!”
I went in on that bitch like a hurricane! She caught me in the face one good time but that was the only lick she got because I whipped her ass at warp speed. Zeke just stood and watched.
“That’s right! Whup….Her…. ass!” He shouted.
I hemmed her up between the file cabinets and wore her out hood style. All of a sudden I heard a crash and saw Zeke standing over another woman.
Nadiah managed to get free and run out of the office.
“Zeke who is she?”
“This is Ingrid. She is forever jumping up in some man’s face. You shouldn’t try to do smart things when you are a dumb ass!” He shouted at her.
“Get your ass out of here while it’s still intact.”
As soon as they left, Randall called to tell us that Alton remembered that he didn’t file the disc. He took it home. So it wasn’t in the office after all. Randall had us to just meet him back at the house so he could get the disc for court. He’d been granted an emergency hearing with a judge.
Jazz
What Randall said to me at the police station dominated my thoughts for days. No matter how much I tried not to think about it, my mind kept going back to it. I hated to admit it, but there was some validity to what he’d said. Zeke and I are from two completely different worlds. He is intelligent; college educated, and has his life together and figured out. I on the other hand have hustling in my blood. All I’ve ever known was street life. It is so much a part of me that I don’t think I can ever be anything more than a street nigga.
Words can’t describe how much I love Zeke. He is the first person in my life I’ve ever cared so much about. That’s why I keep asking myself “Am I good for him?” I would never want to hold him back. Things seemed normal for a minute the week leading up to Alton’s wedding. Zeke and I were groomsmen. I’d never even been to a wedding let alone been in one. The wedding began nicely and Rachel looked amazing. The duet Zeke and his friend sung was the business!
The wedding was almost over when shit went left. Alton was about to say “I Do” when the police stormed in and messed the whole wedding up. They arrested my man at his own wedding. That was some tacky shit. I mean they coulda waited until he finished, but they were intent on embarrassing him. Then to make it worse when he tried to say “I Do” a second time the motherfuckers sprayed him with pepper spray. That pissed me off. When they did that the whole wedding party got involved.
The bridesmaids were coughing because of the mist from the spray. I got a good couple of punches on three of the officers. So much was going on they didn’t know where the punches came from. They didn’t arrest anyone but Alton. I felt sorry for dude because he is a good guy and that shouldn’t have happened to him. That dude didn’t deserve that. Besides, anybody that knows him knows he isn’t capable of raping any woman. He got mad respect for females, even that broad he was married to, so I know he didn’t do what they said he did. That bastard Randall was in the wedding too. I put my differences aside for that day because I didn’t want to cause any problems on Alton and Rachel’s big day. When I got him in another setting I was gonna deal with his ass, please believe.
All of the turmoil and chaos finally died down after a couple of days. Marlena finally called me with some good news. Two of my tracks were sold. There were also three other artists requesting to meet with me. As I drove to my meeting with Marlena I couldn’t shut my brain off. Pressure was coming from all sides and taking its toll on me. I finally got to my destination and hesitated a bit before going in.
“Hi Marlena, sorry I’m late. Things have been hectic for a minute. You had a sense of urgency on the phone. Is everything ok?”
“Things are better than okay. The track for Ice-D is skyrocketing up the charts. If it continues at this rate you are gonna have a number one hit under your belt. How does that feel?”
“That’s what’s up! You really think it’s gonna get to number one?”
“Well the single is on fire and it’s in heavy rotation in all of the major markets.”
“Maybe I’m about to blow up.”
“Too bad you are gonna fuck it up!”
“What? Fuck it up how?
“When were you gonna tell me about your little jail incident?”
“You know about that?”
“I know about everything. Your arrest is
not the problem.”
“Then what?”
“You need to keep in mind the image you want to project. In hip hop certain things are career suicide.”
“What are you talking about?”
“It seems there is a buzz about you having a boyfriend. Luckily it’s not too late to do damage control. If you are serious about eventually being an artist in Hip Hop then you are gonna have to make a few sacrifices. It’s better to stop the rumors now.”
“Marlena I don’t know what you heard but you heard wrong. I ain’t no fag.”
“Well does Ezekiel Nelson know that?”
“What about my homeboy Zeke?”
“Jazz save it for someone who’s gullible enough to believe that.”
“I don’t know what the hell you trying to get at but……..”
“Like I said, you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.” She interrupted.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I’d hate for someone to blow the lid off of your secret just as you are gaining momentum.”
“Blow the lid off what? Zeke is my homeboy. I told you already, I ain’t no faggot.”
“Well prove it then.”
“I’m outta here. You on some straight bullshit.”
As I grabbed my keys, Marlena reached into her desk drawer and pulled out a large envelope and slammed it on the table.
“You might want to take a look at what’s in that envelope.”
When I reached into the envelope I got the shock of my life. There was a stack of pictures. I immediately realized they were pictures of Zeke and me. The first one showed us kissing. Then there was picture after picture of Zeke and I having sex. I recognized the bed as our own, so somebody musta planted a camera in our bedroom, or was outside the window watching us.
“Where the fuck did you get these?”
“Never mind that. Now I can make these and the others disappear or they could accidentally slip into the hands of the press at the worst time if I don’t get what I want.”
“You would do that? You would sabotage your own artist?”
“You don’t seem to understand. When I want something I get it. If I don’t then I have no problem destroying it.”
“What do you want from me?”
“Oh I think you know quite well what I want.” She said as she moved closer to me.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Because I get what I want and I want you.” She said before she grabbed my dick.
Normally I would have pushed her away and left but she had me between a rock and a hard place.
“Mmmm feel’s nice. Let me see it.”
“Come on Marlena don’t do this.”
“Don’t be shy out with it.”
Reluctantly I unzipped my slacks and pulled it out. Marlena immediately grabbed it and started stroking it. Naturally my dick began to harden. Once she’d succeeded in making me feel as cheap as she could she was satisfied.
“So nice oh so very, very nice. I’m tired of wasting time with you. I can kill this single like that.” She said while snapping her fingers.
“You are an evil woman. What satisfaction do you get out of blackmailing someone into sleeping with you who is obviously not attracted to you?”
“I don’t care if you want to or not as long as I get what I want. No one is allowed to say no to me. You’d better come to your senses before I have to destroy your career before it even starts. By the way isn’t Ezekiel supposed to star in a big budget movie soon? Just remember my reach is far and I have friends everywhere.”
“Evil minions you mean.”
“You just build up your stamina you’re gonna need it. Since you’re hung like a horse I’m gonna work you like one!”
I cringed as she compared my anatomy to an animal as if I belonged on a fuckin’ pasture grazing or something.
“Oh cheer up. You can go now.”
I got out of there as fast as I could. When I got in my truck I looked in the mirror in disgust. Steaming tears burst forward as I gnashed my teeth in anger at what that bitch was doing to me.
All I wanted to do was go home. Well, I thought all I wanted to do was go home. When I got there I noticed a black Maybach sitting in the driveway and got pissed off. I went inside with nothing but attitude. I didn’t want any explanations. I didn’t want to hear shit.
“Hey Jazz how did the meeting go?”
“Fuck a meeting! What the hell is that bastard doing here? Huh? Where is he? I don’t give a damn I’m kicking his ass. I’ll just have to go to jail. He ain’t gonna disrespect me and get away with it!”
“Jazz what are you talking about.”
“Don’t play with me Zeke. I see the nigga’s car outside!”
“Jazz will you please calm down!”
“Why are you trying to protect that nigga? Huh?”
“I am not protecting anyone. Forget this I can’t talk to you when you are like this.”
“Oh so you gonna just walk away? So it must be true then. You messing with him?”
“If you think I am then whatever. I am not singing this song with you again, Jazz.”
Before I knew it I’d grabbed Zeke by his arm. I didn’t mean to. Then again I’d never been under the threat of losing him to somebody else.
“Jazz let me go. You’re hurting me. Please Jazz!” Zeke said.
“Damn, I’m sorry baby. I didn’t mean to do that.”
Just as I was rubbing Zeke’s arm trying to apologize, that snake Randall walked into the living room. I forgot all about Zeke and my anger returned when I saw that bastard. It all happened so fast. Zeke was still standing in front of me. He was between Randall and me and when I rushed forward, I knocked Zeke down in the process of trying to get to Randall. Zeke fell, hitting his head on the edge of the coffee table. I immediately went to his aid. While I was trying to see if my baby was okay, Randall hit me in the back of my head. Still on the ground, I grabbed his legs and pulled them from under him. Randall landed on his ass and I went to work on his face.
“Jazz! Stop!”
“Shut up.”
“Please stop, Jazz!” Zeke begged.
“After all the problems this fool has caused you wanna take up for him? If this who you want, I can get my shit and leave.”
“Jazz I don’t want to be with him.”
“Well you act like it. Why he is here?”
“He and Alton came here from court that is all.”
“I been thinking a lot about what he said Zeke.”
“It was a lie.”
“He was right Zeke. I ain’t no good for you. He got money, a good career, he can give you all the shit you deserve. I’m still struggling trying to make a name for myself. I don’t want you to look at me a few years down the road from now and resent me for holding you back.”
“You are not holding me back Jazz. After all we have meant to each other you are not breaking up with me, are you?”
“We need a break.”
“Jazz don’t do this. Not right now. I love you Jazz, please don’t leave. Please Jazz.”
“I think it’s best Zeke. Your future is bright. I don’t want to see it get messed up because of me.”
“Jazz what are you talking about?”
“I have to go Zeke you just can’t understand right now.
“Jazz please don’t do this. I can’t take this right now. Please Jazz.” He pleaded with tears spilling down his face.
I had to turn away from him because his crying was killing me. With Marlena on my ass threatening me I couldn’t live with myself if I let Zeke’s career get messed up by Marlena all because of me.
“But Jazz, I need you.” Zeke said softly, sobbing as I walked away. I refused to wipe away my own tears, tears he couldn’t see.
“I need you Jazz.” Those words felt like a dagger in my heart and they played in my head over and over.
Alton
After the stunt Nadiah pulled at my wedding, I didn’t want to ever see
her again. True to character she blatantly lied on me she was the one who came into my office and tried to seduce me. The more she shows her true colors, the more I am amazed that I stayed with her as long as I did. I am glad I wasn’t a fool forever. I wanted the day to be beautiful for Rachel and it was destroyed!
Court was a breeze. Nadiah ran to my office after the wedding to find the surveillance video. I knew her like a book. So just in case she tried something I had the good sense to take the video home that night. Once it was introduced in court Nadiah’s lawyer filed a motion to have the whole case dismissed because he learned that she lied to him about what happened. In my anger, I pressed the issue because I wanted her punished that time. The surveillance video had sound so everything that took place could be seen and heard. When the video was played in the judge’s chambers Nadiah could only cover her face in shame. The prosecutor was embarrassed as well after trying to prejudge me as a maniac rapist.
Randall asked if I wanted to file a civil suit against her for the false police report and ruining the wedding. I just wanted to be rid of her for good. She was charged with filing a false police report, battery, and making terrorist threats.
After court Randall and I went by Zeke’s because I was exhausted. I took a nap so I didn’t hear any of the commotion that took place with Jazz and Randall. When I woke up my cousin was crying his heart out. I recognized his cries as the sound of heartbreak because I had cried those same tears many times and I knew all too well what heartbreak sounds like.
When Zeke told me what happened I was furious. I had the discussion with Jazz about dragging Zeke through a lot of drama because I knew he wouldn’t be able to handle it if things didn’t work out. Damn if he didn’t do just that! Zeke is a lot like me when it comes to love. He loves hard with everything he has. That kind of love is great when it’s appreciated and returned. That kind of love is also dangerous because it can be destructive to the one who holds the feelings. Jazz’s actions really confused me though because I know he loves Zeke with all his heart, so for him to just break it off like that just didn’t make sense.
Get Somebody New Page 21
