by Dior, London
Chapter Thirty
Milan
I laid curled up in my bed, staring at the ceiling. It felt so surreal to know that Jabari was gone. I hated the person that he had become, however, I didn’t necessarily know if I wanted to be preparing for his funeral.
Tears began to stream down my face. What was I supposed to tell the kids when they asked about their father? Jabari had already been taken from Jabari Jr. once, he was just getting used to having him around again, and now he was gone for good.
It was all my fault. If I had never allowed my feelings for Wise to resurface, this would have never happened. Jabari only went after Wise when he found out that we were messing around at the party.
I let out a sigh, suffering in a lonely pity-party. I couldn’t go be around the kids, so I drove back to my house. My cell phone had beeped a few times, but I turned it off. I knew that it was either Wise or Chanel, and I didn’t want to talk to either of them.
I didn’t need anyone to comfort me. I needed peace and silence. I needed to sit in the dark, alone with my thoughts.
I was hating Jabari right now. He cheated, he didn’t handle his responsibility as a man, but when I tried to walk away, he turned into a fatal attraction. “Jesus Jabari! You did this.” I whispered to the sky, talking to him as if he could actually hear me.
I got so worked up that I just took a nap. My eyes were heavy. I don’t know how long I was asleep for, but the loud banging at my front door definitely woke me up. I jumped out of my bed and ran to the closet to grab my bat. It sounded as if someone was trying to kick the door in, and my heart got to racing. After all that I had been through these past couple of days, I didn’t know what was going on.
The door was definitely about to give, so I ran and hid in the closet. I was going to bat the shit out of whoever it was, and hope that they didn’t shoot me first.
The door came crashing open. I had to place my hand to my mouth so that I wouldn’t scream, and I prayed that they couldn’t hear the loud thumping of my heartbeat; because it was beating hard as hell.
I heard footsteps. “Milan! Milan, baby are you here?” It was Wise’s voice. He sounded concerned. Shit, I had forgotten that I turned my phone off before I dozed off, he was probably worried sick.
I crawled out of the closet, just as he made it into the room. His face looked relieved, but it quickly turned to anger. “Why the fuck you ain’t been answering your phone, man? Didn’t you hear me knocking? You had me scared as fuck, Milan. That shit ain’t cool!”
I focused my attention on the ground. “I fell asleep, Wise. And I just needed to be alone.”
I heard as he walked toward me, and I felt his arms wrap around my body. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe I didn’t need to be alone, because my body melted into his and it felt so good. I really broke down and he just held me.
“It’s gone be alright, ma. I got you. I swear, I got you and all three of them babies. Just trust me.” He promised. I did, I trusted him wholeheartedly. However, I had to put my big girl panties on and get over the fact that Jabari was dead.
Chapter Thirty-One
Carter
I’m not even going to front, Selena threw me all the way off. I couldn’t believe that she was trying to pull that weak shit with me. I kept it trill with her, if I never did anything else. She knew what type of life I lived when she jumped in the bed with me.
I looked at the new phone that I grabbed from the T-Mobile store after we left the mall, deciding to call Selena. I cursed myself when I realized that I didn’t even remember my phone number. I never had to dial it. Technology was a ma’fucka. Shit, I didn’t remember nobody’s number by heart. Yeah, I had to go get my shit back from her, I thought to myself, tapping Adonnis.
“Aye, what’s my number, bro?” I asked, causing him to chuckle.
“How the fuck you don’t know yo’ own number? You so busy trying to pull a boss move and done fucked up.” He thought that shit was so funny.
I kissed my teeth, “Fuck you, what’s the number man?”
We were sitting at Wise’s crib waiting for him to get back. Milan went M.I.A and the nigga damn near lost it. I always knew that she was gone end up being that nigga’s wife. I used to see it n his eyes, I still see it, he loves the fuck out of her.
“Nah, fuck you. You need me. And why you give that girl yo’ phone? What if one of yo’ hoes call the phone. You know she going through yo’ shit right now?”
“You saying that shit like I give a fuck. Selena know she better answer that phone when I call. I’m dragging her ass right back to the A when we go back. I told her that this shit is forever. I’m not letting her go.” I meant that. I was going to try my best to prove to her that I wanted us. If she didn’t want to fuck with me no more, I had to respect it. But, I already knew that I had her heart.
I just didn’t like the control that she had over me. That love shit was something else. It’ll have you doing shit you never thought you would do. I never been a sucka for love-ass nigga, and I didn’t like this shit one bit.
Adonnis fixed his lips to say something else, and I cut him off. “Man, if you don’t give me that got damn number!”
I dialed Selena up, as Adonnis read off the number. She answered right before it went to voicemail. “Yes Adonnis?” She sighed.
I paused for a second, savoring her voice. I hadn’t heard it in two months and that shit was terrible.
“Where you staying at, and who was that Tevin Campbell lookin’ nigga you was with?”I got straight to it.
Selena blew out a breath of air into the phone. “I should have known that you would be coming. You’re here in Detroit, so I already know that you know where I’m staying. I’m not stupid Carter.” She sassed.
“Actually I don’t. I’m here handling other business. I didn’t even know that you was here. You just disappeared. That shit wasn’t right!”
“Other business? Let me guess, you’re up to no good. Why can’t you leave the streets alone, Carter? That’s all I ever wanted. I never wanted the fancy cars, and the big house. All I want is you. What happens when the streets catch up to you? All that money won’t mean shit, if you’re not here to share it with me.” She began to sniffle into the phone. Her words were touching home, I had thought about dying by the sword. I lived by it for so long that I couldn’t say shit if karma found me.
“See here you go.” I shot, then I paused for a second, thinking about my next words. “Real talk, fuck that street shit. I want you to come home so that we can raise my Jr. If you do, I won’t fuck you up for stressing me the fuck out.” I added with a chuckle.
I heard her let out a small laugh. “Whatever, you had Tish and Brittanie, keeping you company. You didn’t miss me too much.” She shot sarcastically.
I knew that she was going to go through my phone, and I didn’t give a fuck. I always kept it trill with her. “And they still wasn’t you. Straight up, if you come home, I’ll leave all that bullshit in the past.”
“We’ll see. Come meet me somewhere tomorrow and we’ll talk and make some rules.”
A smile actually crept across my face. “You got it. Text yo’ address.”
“Nope, I’ll meet you somewhere. If you’re not talking right, I’m done Carter… And by the way, I missed you so much. You better had of came for me, or I would have been the one fucking you up!” With that, she hung up and I felt like I hit the lottery. I was bringing my family home. After I handled this shit for Wise, I was out. It was past time for me to retire anyways. Damn, Carter as a blue collar-square nigga, picture that.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Keem
I had been calling Jabari’s crazy ass all day, I had the perfect plan to get him a few dollars, then send him out of dodge. I knew that fucking with him was like making a deal with the devil. However, it all was going to work out for the better. If things didn’t go right, it would fall back to him and I would still be in the clear.
Wise had always been my nigga, but I was tired o
f following in his shadows. We were supposed to be partners, yet that nigga be barkin’ orders like he the fucking king. Like right now, he done called an emergency meeting at the tittie bar, and his ass ain’t even here. I watched as the whole crew piled in, some came and slapped fives, and others disregarded me like I wasn’t half of the reason that they got paid every week. I pretty much knew who I was going to tell to kick rocks and who was going to stay on the team.
I watched as a thick red-bone walked pass the table in a gold thong and bra-set. She was giving a nigga the eye, but I wasn’t thinking about her until I figured out what Wise had up his sleeve. I wondered if Sasha’s dumb ass told him about us kicking it on the low. The way he came at me at his crib was another reason that nigga had to go. I ain’t never been a yes-man, and that nigga was letting the power get to his head.
I let out another sigh, calling Jabari’s phone again, only for the voicemail to pick it up. I didn’t even want to think about what he was out doing. Ever since he started sniffing that powder, his mind was bad as fuck. I told his ass that he needed to get his mind right. Going about shit the way that he was doing was going to get his picture on a milk carton… maybe that was a good idea.
An hour after the time that Wise told us to meet him at the club, he finally came walking through with a couple of cats that I had never seen before. One of them looked like he could be his twin, so I assumed that it was his brother, Carter.
I never met Carter, but I had heard so much shit about him from back in the day. Word was, he was a fuckin’ monster, and for him to be here had me feeling some type of way. Especially since Wise never told me that he was back in town. I hope that Wise wasn’t planning to bring him in on the team. I wasn’t playing backseat to not another nigga. He’d be hitting the block like the rest of the workers.
Wise made his way over to where I was sitting. If he was mad about earlier, he didn’t show it. He spoke before giving me dap, then turned to the two cats that were with him. “Aye, this my brother Carter, and his boy Adonnis.” He introduced them.
I held out my hand to slap fives, but the nigga who he introduced as Carter just looked at me like I was a piece of shit stuck to his shoe. Then him and his friend sat down in the booth, calling the waitress over.
Fuck him! I looked over at Wise holding up my hands as if to say, ‘what the fuck was that’, but, he just shrugged and sat down too. This was going to be a long fucking night and I could already see it.
A few drinks later, everyone was mingling and enjoying the strippers. Not me though, I was anxious to know why the fuck Wise called us here, like it was some important meeting, yet everybody was just sitting around fucking with hoes.
I tapped Wise. “Aye bro, what’s up? I thought we was having a meeting.” I yelled over the music. Carter and I caught eyes, he still had that grim look and quite frankly, I was tired of him looking at me like I was some peon. These other ma’fuckas may have respected him, but I didn’t give a fuck. He bled the same red blood that I did.
I jumped up, “Say man, you got a problem with me or something?” I gritted, throwing back that same grim look that he gave me. He jumped up and so did Wise and that Adonnis cat.
Wise stood between us. “Chill Keem. I promise that’s not what you want.” He said that shit kind of sly. It had me looking at him funny too.
“Yeah, nigga this for damn sho’ ain’t what you want. I suggest you sit yo’ wannabe tough ass back down.” Carter shot with a smirk.
I turned to Wise. “Get yo’ brother man, real talk. I fuck with you, but you know how I get down.” I warned.
Carter chuckled. “How you get down, fuck boy? You making threats, you better be able to back that shit up.”
In that instance, I knew that the cards wasn’t stacked in my favor, and as much as it killed me, I decided to remove myself from the situation. But, I was going to see that ma’fucka again. He started a beef for no ma’fuckin reason at all!
***
Wise
I watched as Keem walked off, I knew that he was pissed. I didn’t give a fuck though. What I wanted to know was why he was blowing Jabari’s phone up. I knew that they were cool, but I wasn’t trusting shit. Even though I didn’t find nothing out the way between them, I still didn’t know if Keem was plotting.
That bitch Sasha was history though. I found all types of texts between them in his phone. That hoe was fucking that nigga while she was coming home to me. I saw several texts where she was telling him that it was his baby. I started to get pissed, but, then I realized what I had at home. Milan was the shit, so it wasn’t no need in sweating the small stuff.
After Keem disappeared, I turned to Carter, shaking my head. “Bro, I told you to hold off until I figured out what was what. Why you do that nigga like that?”
Carter waved me off. “Fuck him. He a snake-ass nigga. I know a fuck boy when I see one.” He said it all nonchalant and all I could do was shake my head. Carter had no chill. That was always his problem. He reacted before knowing facts.
“You don’t know that.” I countered, not really knowing what to think. I didn’t like having to second guess nobody’s loyalty. However, Keem had kept it real with me in the past, so I was giving him the benefit of doubt.
“Man, Wise, you need to wake the fuck up. You acting naïve as fuck. That man don’t fuck with you for real. He got you fooled, but not me. I’m gone treat him like the fuck boy that he is, and if he get out of line, I’m bodying his ass.” Carter’s face turned grim.
Carter and I were so different. I could be an asshole, but he wore the crown. I didn’t agree with how he did shit, however, at the end of the day, I was always going to ride with my brother. I knew that he was only looking out for me.
“We’ll see.” I muttered, taking a sip from my drink, and staring out onto the stage as one of the dancers hung upside down from the pole. She was cool, but this shit really wasn’t doing it for me. Milan had my ass gone and I felt like I was on cloud nine since I had my baby back. I wanted her to come out with us, but she wasn’t feeling it. Shit, I wasn’t either and I couldn’t wait to wrap it up here to get back home to her.
“I don’t have to see shit. But, I see you one of those ma’fuckas that don’t believe the fire hot until you get burned. Watch this,” He reached out his hand. “Gimme ol’ boy’s phone. I’m about to show you.”
I still had Jabari’s phone in my pocket, waiting to see if he was plotting with someone. I passed Carter the phone and he got to doing something with the screen. I sat there and just watched him.
Seconds later, the phone buzzed. Carter went back and forth for a couple of minutes, then he tossed the phone into my lap. “Like I said, that ma’fucka is a snake. I’m gone slap his bitch ass, right before I send a slug to his head. You better step yo’ shit up nigga!” Carter got up and walked off with Adonnis into the crowd.
Curious, I picked up the phone to see what he was talking about. My chest got tight as fuck. I didn’t need Carter to do shit, I was going to body that slime-ball ass nigga myself. I read the back and forth conversation about how Keem was ready to make that move on me, and how he was gone murder my fucking brother. I ain’t gone lie, I was feeling some type of way. His dumbass didn’t even know that he signed his own death certificate.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Sasha
I looked in the mirror at my belly and began to smile, imagining me all fat and pregnant with Wise’s baby. This baby was the connection that I needed to get my man back. I just had to figure out a way to get rid of Milan! Jabari had a plan, however, I had an even better one. I wanted to completely rid myself of that crazy bastard. I hated that I allowed Jabari to talk me out of my panties. He was just so fine to me… and he sexed me so damn good!
Shit! I had to force myself to think about something else. He hadn’t called me all day, and I hoped that he stayed away. He was heading for a path of destruction and so was Keem, messing around with Wise.
“Did you tell Carter that I was here i
n Detroit?” My cousin, Selena, looked at me and asked. I gave her the side-eye, as if she had asked me the stupidest thing in the world.
“No! I don’t even know Carter like that, nor did I know that he was in town. Besides, I have too many of my own problems to be worried about you boo.” I told her smartly. I couldn’t believe that she called me over to her house to check me about such bullshit.
I didn’t want her and Carter to be together. She was all buddy-buddy with that bitch Milan. I hated it! There were times that my man went to Atlanta to visit Carter, and that bitch Milan would just so happen to be in Atlanta at the same time. I knew that Milan was around because Selena would post Instagram pictures talking about ‘Chillin with my Sis’. I wanted to tell her, bitch that is not your sister! I am your real family!
Selena let out a sigh, plopping down on her couch. “Well he knows, and now he’s not going to stop until he gets me back. I was doing so good not seeing him, but once I laid eyes on him, everything in me wanted him. I love that man so much! Gosh, I hate the hold that he has over.”
“I don’t know what to tell you boo.” I shrugged. “I can’t give you advice when I’m going through shit myself. Hell, your sister,” I made the quote unquote gesture, “is trying to step on my toes and take my man. She knows that I’m pregnant with Wise’s baby and I’m about ready to give her the business.” I threw out there, just to see where her head was and her loyalty lies.
Selena’s eyes bulged. “Awwww, you’re preggo too? Wow, a baby Wise. Milan is my boo, but she needs to step back. Isn’t she with Jabari?”
