by Jahquel J.
“What the hell now we gotta move back to Miami. My babe is not going to like this.” Sasha talked to herself like she and Micah actually had a relationship. Sasha pulled her cellphone out and dialed Meghan. She needed to talk. She let the phone ring and go to voice mail before she sat it down and continued watching the news.
Her phone started to ring and she picked it up on the first ring.
“Hey, Meg?” she sang in the phone.
“What’s up, Sass? I’m in a meeting right now so tell me you’re alright.”
“Damn, I’m fine. I’m just happy and wanted to check on my other half. I’m coming back to Miami.” She yelled even louder.
“When? And where you staying I got a man now and I don’t need my sis crowding our space.”
“Probably tomorrow. But I’ll get my own shit plus I might be moving in with Mr. Right. We’re back on again.” Meghan paused for a second she was hoping her sister wasn’t having the delusions like when they were a younger. Sasha would have these imaginary boyfriends, to the point she lost her virginity by dildo to convince Meghan she had a real boyfriend.
“Well, I’m happy for you sis. Make sure you come by and see me when you come back. And come spend some time at your business.” She laughed ending the call, she was in the middle of a business meeting to ensure she was promoting Busta Rhymes’ all white party this year and even though her sister didn’t care, she damn sure did.
That bitch never got time for me anymore, fuck her, Sasha thought as she finished watching the news.
Chapter Twenty
Micah stormed in his house outraged. It was a miracle he made it home. All he was seeing was red. He couldn’t believe Minka would play him like that. He didn’t want to marry a fucking prostitute. He ran up the stairs and stormed into the master bedroom in search for Minka. He located her in the bathroom brushing her hair with a face mask on.
“Who the fuck baby you carrying, Minka?” Micah asked balling his fist up. He never understood how men hit woman but now the understanding was clear.
“What do you mean? This is your baby I haven’t slept with anyone since we’ve got engaged.” She put her brush down and walked to Micah.
“Bitch, don’t fucking lie to me. I know that’s fucking Austin’s baby and I heard you on the phone with him earlier,” He screamed causing Sharlean to come in the room.
“Boy, I know you lost your mind screaming at a woman like that. Did you see the news they traded you to the Dolphins,” Sharlean asked looking at her son like he lost his mind.
“Ma, right now is not good. I got people who handle that. I need a moment with this bitch here.”
“I’ll give you a moment but don’t disrespect that woman like that while she and I are standing in your face. I taught you better than that.” Sharlean warned and left the room.
Minka washed her face and brushed her hair in a ponytail, she didn’t know what was going on and she didn’t know what was about to go down with the look in Micah’s eyes. She pushed passed him and went into the closet to put on some clothes. She had changed into something sexy so she could give her man what he been asking for but he came in on left field.
“I don’t know what you are talking about Micah! Yes, I used to have sex with Austin but we weren’t together. Emotionally, it was a business deal. I had sex with him and he paid me money; as far as him having any parts of this baby is false and I don’t know where you got your info from. I stopped messing with Austin before we even got together.” She was trying so hard to figure out who could have told him about Austin. She knew it wasn’t Ashley because she didn’t know who Micah was.
“That’s not my fucking baby, so don’t try to push it on me with that shit. I knew I should of used a condom on your hoe ass. Only thing you is that you were disguised and I couldn’t see who you really were, slut, but I know now.” Micah made sure to use low blows. It helped soothe the pain he felt.
“Really, Micah? I’m not a slut I did that so I could survive. I like the better things, is that so wrong? My mother left me when I was a newborn so she could live her nice life and left me to grow up in Brooklyn with nothing to my name. I had to step up and use what I had to get where I wanted to be. Yeah, it’s wrong and it seems shallow but I am the person I am because of it. This is your baby. I cut everyone off when I met you and been living off my savings. I’m damn near broke paying out of pocket for my sister’s college and leasing a car for her. I love you and not what you can give me. Baby, please believe me.” Minka cried with tears falling down her face. She was so hurt at the stuff Micah was saying.
“Please, get a damn job. The famous hoe line ‘is I did what I had to do’. It’s time for me to do what I have to do. Get the fuck out and don’t take shit. I’ll send your shit.” Micah shouted. He looked at her face and could tell she was hurt. It hurt him to say them words to her but his pride wouldn’t allow him to take them back.
“I love you and I know you’re mad but if and when you’re ready I’ll be here for you. You told me that I have to believe in something, I do… us.” Minka wiped her face then she grabbed her bag and keys and turned to leave without saying another word. If he didn’t believe it was his baby than she would prove him wrong. She wasn’t going to kill another innocent child because of her reckless living. Minka walked passed Sharlean and out the door to her rental car. She started the car and pulled out looking back at the house she thought she was going to start her future in.
***
Minka was in Milan’s dorm feeling like a piece of shit. Milan accepted her with open hands. Minka had no place to stay in California and she had about fifty-thousand dollars left in savings after paying all Milan’s college fees. She was truly regretting all the shopping sprees and the useless spending on things she didn’t need. She had a baby coming and needed a way to live and raise her child.
“Now what happened?” Milan asked still getting ready for her date with Donovan.
“He found out about my past and now he thinks the baby isn’t his. But it is. I left everyone alone when I met him. I love him.”
“What exactly do you mean by past?”
“I fuck wealthy men. I fucked your god-father William and his father and other married men.”
“Damn, Minka. You getting down with mom flow now. I’m not judging but how do you know you’re not pregnant with any of the other men, baby.” She questioned.
“I used a condom every time. When I got with Micah I cut everybody off. The only thing I did was go to a gala with George but I didn’t fuck him, in fact, I told him about the engagement, I was done and he respected that.” Minka sobbed.
Milan put her arms around her big sister and rocked her. She felt so bad and didn’t wish this on anyone. To finally find happiness and to have it ripped from under you had to be the worst feeling.
“Minka, I feel for you. You don’t deserve any of this and I wish it was me. Do you want me to stay in tonight? We could rent a movie and order food.” Milan offered running her hands through Minka’s hair.
“No, you go have fun. I’ll order me something and see you tomorrow.”
“Alright, call me if you need me.” Milan left out the door making sure to lock it behind her. Minka laid on the bed watching Coming to America and recapping on what went down earlier. Suddenly, she felt her phone buzz indicating she had a message.
Where are you?
Milan’s dorm room. 212.
I’m on my way. You want something to eat?
A ginger ale.
Alright, I’ll be there in twenty minutes.
Twenty minutes later, Minka dragged herself to open the door. She opened the door and Sharlean burst in the dorm and put down the 3 liter ginger ale she was carrying.
“What is going on? Micah won’t tell me shit and I want to hear it from the horse’s mouth.” Sharlean stood with her hands on her hips.
“I sleep with men for money, well, I use to. That’s how I made a living. Yeah, I could have went and used my degree but I didn’t.
When I met Micah, I stopped and was committed to him. Now I’m pregnant and he thinks it’s not his and I cheated on him. I’ll be fine. I don’t need a man to raise my child so we will be good.” Minka held back her tears.
“If I thought that grandbaby wasn’t mine I wouldn’t be here. I see the way you look at my son with pure love and bliss in your eyes. My grandbaby will be fine because she or he is a Jackson. My son is stubborn as hell and he gets that from his daddy, God bless his soul, but I will remain here for you and the baby if he wants to be a part or not. When you have that baby, we will slap the hell out of him with the results to the DNA test.” Sharlean chuckled.
Minka hugged Sharlean and held on to her, letting the tears she held on to fall freely. She didn’t want to let go but she knew she had to be strong and hold her own like she had been doing for the longest. Edna didn’t raise a quitter and she damn sure wasn’t about to become one now.
Chapter Twenty-One
It had been a couple weeks since Ashley and Aaron hooked up at his listening party. Aaron was back in California and Ashley was back to her regular routine with Juelz and Ashland. She couldn’t lie; after their sexual encounter she been feeling Aaron all over again. All the old feelings she buried were coming back again, however, this time they were stronger. When she wasn’t texting him, she was on the phone with him. Juelz was back being typical Juelz, hiding things and keeping late hours so she didn’t know if he was coming or going but she didn’t care. She got to talk to Aaron more on the phone and she could hear his voice before she went to sleep.
Aaron had been pressuring her to come to California and she was tempted to do it. The trip to Disney World was canceled because Juelz had business to take care of the whole weekend of the trip and he didn’t want to go if he couldn’t make it. Ashley had to pick back up more hours at the hospital because of Juelz slacking on the bills. She would asked him where his money was and he always claimed it was tied up. Ashley ended up getting rid of the Mercedes truck and getting back her old car. Things were changing with her and Juelz and she hated to think he was out cheating when she was doing the same thing.
“Mommy, is Daddy going to come home, tonight? I miss him,” Ashland asked.
“Baby, I don’t know what’s going on with Daddy. Maybe he will call when he takes a break from work.” Ashley lied. She was tired of lying to her son about his father’s whereabouts.
Ashley pulled into her regular spot, happy it was still available. She helped Ashland out the car and grabbed her bags, then proceeded up the stairs to her apartment.
“Ashland, go to your room to clean up for dinner,” she ordered. She slipped her crocs off and pulled her hair out of its ponytail before going to her room.
When she opened her bedroom door, nothing could have prepared her for what she saw. Juelz had Kola bent over her bed, pounding her insides out like a meat clever. Ashley was disgusted and what made her even more fed up was the glass crack pipe laying on her dresser next to a picture of Ashland.
“WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON!?” she screamed, forgetting Ashland was in the house. Kola jumped up but Juelz pinned her down and kept going looking at Ashley, glossy eyed.
“Juelz, you better get the fuck out my house right now and take this bitch with you,” Ashley squealed. She threw her perfume bottles at Juelz and Kola. Juelz was too high to care Ashley was there and he didn’t care if she wasn’t. Crack had taken over his life and now that he was on a high, he never wanted to come down.
Juelz had started using a year ago. He got his habit under control and only indulged occasionally and socially. He kept his appearance up and still drove his Range but his money was getting lower and lower and now he was falling deeper in the hole, which lead him to working with the Feds to take down the Moore brothers. People mistook him for a dust head when, in fact, he did sell dust and occasionally used it. However, crack was his drug of choice.
“Shut the fuck up, Ashley. When I’m done, we will leave,” Juelz slurred while still fucking Kola who was trying her hardest to get away from him. She was on the receiving side of Ashley’s beat downs in the past and she wasn’t trying to be again.
“Help me, Ashley. Please, get this crack head off of me,” Kola screamed realizing Juelz had entered her asshole and wasn’t having any mercy on it.
“He wasn’t a crack head when you was fucking him in my bed, bitch. That’s what happens when you try to be petty bitch,” Ashley smirked walking out the room.
“Ashland get your backpack and let’s go.” Ashley grabbed her bags and slipped her shoes back on. She couldn’t sleep in her bed ever again.
***
“You don’t even know the half of it. That nigga a crack head now and I saw the shit with my own eyes, I don’t know what that bitch, Kola, on but I really didn’t care.” Ashley confirmed talking to her sister. She called her over when she got to Minka’s condo in Manhattan and Tamia wasted no time rushing over, since she had some news to break to Ashley anyway.
“I didn’t want to say nothing but Snuff been supplying him for a while before he realized it was for his personal reasons. Snuff didn’t care because money was money but now he owe Snuff some money and he gunning for his ass.”
“How much he owe him? You not once considered to tell me what Juelz was involved in. You didn’t think about your nephew? Where does your loyalty lie?” Ashley questioned. She knew Snuff didn’t play when it came to his money and if he didn’t get it from Juelz he was gonna come looking for her to pay it; he didn’t care if he was with her sister. Business was business when it came to Snuff.
“He owe that nigga about thirty thou, that’s why I came over here so damn quick you know how Snuff operate and I don’t want to see you in the cross-fire. Your ass needs to make it clear you’re over with Juelz and you’re willing to do whatever to set that nigga up. That’s the only way Snuff is gonna spare you. Ash, it wasn’t my business to tell.”
“This shit is so fucked up. I can’t be involved in this, I’m a fucking nurse. I swear I should of listened to Minka when she said he was up to something shit was too good to be true and now I’m seeing the shitty part,” Ashley sighed. She looked at Tamia with hate. If the situation were reversed, she would have warned her sister. Ashley and Tamia talked for a little while longer before Snuff called her to come home and watch the kids. Tamia promised to talk to Snuff about it and left Ashley to worry about the safety of her and Ashland’s life.
***
“Babe, you know that’s my sister. Why are you holding her accountable for what Juelz did? She and my nephew had nothing to do with it.” Tamia pleaded on deaf ears. Snuff mind was made up.
“Tamia where the fuck was your sister when I was locked up in South Carolina and you called her for bus tickets for you and the kids to come back to New York? She hung up and told ya ass to stop following my bum ass around and she wasn’t sending shit, even when she was getting bread from her little hoe ass friend. Now you want me to be sympathetic to Ashley and her man? Please that bitch better get the bread together. I know she got it.” He sat rocking his son on his lap.
“She’s done with him. I swear, babe, she is.”
“Prove it. Make her murk that nigga and I want it done in front of me. If she do it, her debt is cleared and we good.” Snuff rubbed his hands together. He really didn’t care about Juelz’s debt because he found out that nigga was a snitch and he needed him taken care of. His brother’s freedom depended on it. Tamia sat and absorbed what he had just said. She knew her sister could whoop a bitch ass in a quick minute but could she really bust her guns that quick?
Chapter Twenty-Two
Minka sat behind the wheel of her BMW feeling blessed. She missed her truck and she missed New York. Nothing was better than spending some much needed time in the city that never slept. She hadn’t heard from Micah and she knew she wouldn’t. She had watched the news and saw he was traded to the Miami Dolphins and wished him the best. Minka believed he was a good man and her past could make any good man r
eact how Micah did. Sharlean went back home to Florida and reunited with Charles since Micah was traded.
Minka spent Christmas and New Year’s with both Milan and Donovan. She didn’t want to intrude on them, so she ended up going back to her hotel and counting down the New Year with her hands in her pants missing Micah’s touch. Milan was doing well in school. She also spent a lot of time with Donovan. Minka didn’t know the extent of their relationship was but she hoped he treated her well and made sure she got her work done in college. Minka helped her move into a condo before she left California and she made Milan promise to get a job and not use the money Minka left her to splurge on clothes.
Minka told Edna and Harry about the pregnancy and the break up. They were both happy and sad. They didn’t want their grand-daughter going through parenthood alone and hoped she remained happy with whatever decision she made. Minka also told them about Milan and promised she would bring her to Florida to meet them soon. They were excited to meet their other great grand-daughter.
Minka hadn’t heard from Sasha but she spoke to Meghan and was thrilled to find out she was getting married and Minka was in the wedding. Minka told her about the pregnancy and Meghan was over the moon until Minka told her Micah and her were broken up. The wedding was set for May.
Minka pulled into her condo parking lot and parked her car in her designated parking spot; it felt great to be home. She took the elevator up to her floor. She put her key in the door and walked in to the aroma of weed and liquor polluting the air. She looked around the condo, not worried, but upset because someone was smoking where she had expensive shit that she didn’t want smelling like smoke. Minka walked into the living room to Ashley laid across the couch with a blunt in one hand and her remote in the other.
“What the fuck is going on, Ash? Why are you in my house?” Minka yelled scaring Ashley, who wasn’t nowhere near high. She didn’t know how to inhale.
