by Jade Jones
“I know you, Jude. You wouldn’t dare…” Ericka said defiantly. Tears formed in her gray eyes. She said those words with such certainty, but there was terror in her eyes. She’d never seen that side of Jude before.
Jude leaned incredibly close to Ericka. For a second she thought he was going to kiss her. Instead he whispered, “You don’t know what I’m capable of.”
***
“I wanna go out,” Cameron told Jag. It was nearing 11 p.m., and she was becoming more restless by the minute.
Cam didn’t mind the role of being a stay-at-home mom and boutique owner, but at the end of the day she was only twenty-two. Oftentimes she felt the need to get out and enjoy herself, especially since Jude did.
“What about Justin?” Jag asked. Honestly, it didn’t matter to him either way. Being in Cameron’s presence was satisfying enough for him. Unknown to her husband, Jag had grown extremely comfortable being around her.
“I can call Elyse,” Cameron said anxiously. “Look, I’m tired of living in ATL, and not experiencing the full potential of this city. It’s Saturday! We should be out turning up. Not cooped up in the house like an old married couple.
Truth be told, Jag didn’t mind the comparison. “I took you downtown for ice-cream earlier. What about asking me what I wanna do sometimes?” he teased.
“Last time I checked you were my bodyguard. You have no say so,” Cameron said playfully. “But on a serious note, we do need to get out.”
“How you think Jude gon’ feel about that?”
Cameron erupted in laughter. “Jaguar, Jude is my husband. Not my father,” she reminded him.
“Yeah, but he also signs my checks,” Jag reminded her.
“King was killed over a month ago,” Cameron said. “At some point in time he’s gotta learn to let go—”
“He just wants to protect you,” Jag said in Jude’s defense. “If you were mine, I’d do the same.”
Cameron gave him a sideways look, and Jag immediately regretted what he’d said. “That came out wrong.”
“I know what you meant, Jag,” Cameron smiled.
Seeing him get nervous was actually kind of cute to her; flattering in a sense. Since Jude’s new position, he hadn’t been as intimate and close to Cam as he usually was. Of course, she was more than understanding. After all, Jude was holding shit down for them. However, secretly, Cameron enjoyed Jag’s company because he filled the empty void of loneliness.
Jag stood up from the sectional and stretched his long legs. Honestly, he could use the fresh air and entertainment. “So where you tryin’ to go?” he asked.
***
“Please tell me you ain’t at work,” Jude said into the phone receiver. He was alone inside his BMW. He’d left his boys inside the Compound so that he could have some time alone to think. During his brief solitude, Jude decided to call Essence.
“No. I was actually on my way to meet my girl—”
“Tell her ya’ll gotta reschedule,” Jude cut her off. “I need you right now…”
Essence sighed deeply. Hearing him say those words made her melt, but he was still a married man. “Jude…you know we can’t…”
“I ain’t tryin’ to smash or no shit like that, ma. I just wanna talk,” Jude said. “Gotta lot of shit on my mind.”
There was silence on Essence’s end.
“You there?” Jude asked.
“Yes,” Essence whispered. “Where do you wanna meet?”
***
Joaquin wasn’t enjoying his night like he’d intended; mainly because he was forced to watch Roxie dance on some non-descript dude on the dance floor. She had no idea that Joaquin was in the same club as her, so she didn’t notice him mugging from afar.
Joaquin quickly tossed back another round and tried to play it cool. He could feel a black out coming on. Tipsy and filled with envy, Joaquin finally approached her.
Roxie was gyrating against her admirer’s groin when Joaquin interrupted them. “I forgot to tell you I’m the jealous type.”
Roxie’s mouth immediately fell open. He was the last person she expected to see.
“We really gotta stop meetin’ like this,” Joaquin slurred. “There’s always some lame ass dude between us.”
“Mothafucka, what?!” Roxie male friend started to go in until Roxie quickly stepped between them.
“Joaquin, what are you doing?” she asked.
“This drunk mothafucka ‘bout to get his ass whupped.”
“Don’t piss me off, dawg!” Joaquin was just about to spaz out when Roxie softly touched his forearm.
“Joaquin, let’s just go! Okay? Let’s just go,” Roxie said. She figured if she left with him that would keep them from tearing each other’s heads off. She belonged to neither one of them, and yet they were prepared to kill each other over her.
Joaquin followed Roxie outside and waited with her while valet fetched her car. He was impressed when the driver pulled up to them in a pearl white Audi R8. He knew without a doubt that her dude paid the ticket. Because of that he lightweight didn’t want to get in the car.
When they were inside, Rumor turned to Joaquin. “You know you ain’t my nigga. You can’t be doing shit like that.”
“Well, should you be?” Joaquin countered. “I mean, I ain’t yo’ nigga but you still got one.”
“I told you already!” Roxie hissed. “Me and my dude gotta understanding.”
“With him. Not with me,” Joaquin retorted.
***
Cosmo Lava was Cameron and Jag’s bar of choice. The upscale bar was located in Midtown, and filled with professionals from every business field. Cam looked both sexy and mature in a white chiffon wrap dress and a pair of Anthony Vaccarello sandals. Her shoulder length hair was flat ironed to perfection and her makeup was flawless.
There were dozens of beautiful women inside Cosmo Lava, but Jag couldn’t take his eyes of Cam long enough to notice. He felt privileged that fellas assumed he was her man. He’d even gone out his way to open doors for her and pull her seat out.
“You don’t have to do all that,” Cam smiled, taking a seat at the bar. “I’m sure Jude ain’t paying you to be a gentleman.”
“Nah. But I wanna be.”
Jag took a seat beside Cameron. He was just about to ask her what she wanted to drink when he noticed his boss coupled up with some chick in a booth.
18
“I don’t know what it is about you…but I just feel like I can talk to you,” Jude told Essence. “And the fact that you really listen is a bonus.”
Jude and Essence were in close proximity of one another inside a booth. He’d ditched his boys at The Compound, and met up with her at Cosmo Lava since she was already on that side of town. Too busy enjoying his conversation, Jude didn’t even notice his wife sitting several feet away with Jag.
Essence looked beautiful that evening in a baby pink cut out Bodycon dress, and silver Jeffrey Campbell single sole heels. Her long hair was styled with wand curls, and her makeup was subtle yet flawless.
“Can you not talk to your wife?” Essence asked him. She took a sip of her Dirty Martini and waited for a response.
Jude hesitated. “To keep it real, I don’t feel like she gets me lately. Sometimes I think she’s just goin’ through the motions with me. Stayin’ ‘cuz she feels obligated to. Yesterday I came home with a busted lip…she didn’t even ask about it.”
Essence looked surprised by that bit of news. Jude never took her for the violent type. “What happened?” she asked with concern in her tone.
“See,” Jude said. “That’s what should’ve been comin’ from her…but lately…I don’t know. Shit feels distant—and I ain’t sayin’ it’s her,” he quickly added. “It could very well be me. I just wish things could go back to how they used to be…but so much has happened, I doubt that’s possible.”
“I’m sure it is,” Essence said.
Jude hadn’t filled her in on everything. He didn’t know if he could trust her enou
gh to do that. More than anything he just wanted someone to talk to…someone beautiful that would listen. Reaching over, Jude gently ran his thumb along Essence’s jawline. “You look amazin’ tonight, by the way.”
A mild jolt of displeasure shot over Jag as he watched Jude and Essence interact. He’s got this bad ass wife and yet he chooses to fuck around. I don’t get it, he thought. “You know what, Cam?” Jag began. “To be honest, this ain’t even really my scene. Can we go somewhere a lil’ more laid back?”
Cameron looked confused. “Are you sure?” she asked. “We just got here.”
Not only was Jag looking out for Jude, he was also saving Cam the pain of seeing her husband booed up with some random female. He cared about her far too much to see her hurt.
“I’m positive.” Jag ushered her out the crowded bar before she turned around and saw Jude.
***
Joaquin watched as Roxie poured him a generous amount of peach Ciroc. As they sat inside her kitchen, she prayed O’ Zone wouldn’t show up unannounced like he usually did. She hadn’t seen or spoken to him since he showed up with another broad at her job. Roxie had even left work early because of how upset she was. She had no idea about his bathroom altercation.
He would be pissed if he comes home and finds another nigga inside my crib, Roxie thought to herself.
Following the fiasco at The Compound, Joaquin and Roxie grabbed a bite to eat at Gladys Knight’s Chicken and Waffles on Peachtree. A hearty meal and good conversation ended up with the pair at Roxie’s two bedroom apartment.
She couldn’t deny that she was drawn to Joaquin. His style and personality was far different than any guy she’d ever dated. Truthfully, he was the first man she’d ever met at her job and taken home. Roxie didn’t trust the thirsty motherfuckers at her job to let them know where she laid her head. However, Joaquin was different; and that was mainly why she was feeling him on the low.
“So how long have you and ole boy had this understanding?” Joaquin asked, emphasizing the last word.
Roxie poured herself a drink before sliding him a shot glass. They weren’t of legal drinking age, and yet they were tossing shots back like middle-aged alcoholics. “I know what you’re thinking,” she said. “But it’s deeper than that.”
Joaquin tossed his drink back. He’d been drinking heavily since the tender age of fourteen. It started off with him drinking a few beers with Matteo. When his father died, his habit became worse, but luckily he wasn’t too out of control. “How deep?” Joaquin asked.
Roxie nursed her shot through a small black straw. She had an extremely low tolerance. “How can I put it?” she sighed deeply. “When you love someone you’re willing to compromise.”
“Willing to compromise or willing to settle?”
Roxie cut her eyes at Joaquin. He really thought he knew her, and that’s what ultimately got under her skin about him. “You don’t know our history, aight?” she spat.
Joaquin held his hands up in mock surrender. “I only go by what you tell me, babe.”
“I’m not your babe,” Roxie checked him. A playful smirk tugged at her plump lips. She wanted to say it and mean it, but she couldn’t.
Joaquin yearned to know what it felt like to kiss Roxie. Her heart-shaped lips were full and looked soft to the touch. He didn’t want to push his luck so instead he said, “That can be arranged though.”
“I’m sure it could be,” Roxie said. “But you know as well as I do that I have someone.”
Joaquin exhaled deeply, and ran a hand over his hair. “I don’t get it. You claim you have an understandin’…but to me it just looks like you’re used to the disrespect. I mean, are you settlin’? On the real, you bad as fuck. You more than enough for any man. You sure as hell would be enough for me.”
“You don’t know ‘Zone like I do,” Roxie said in his defense. “He may come off as arrogant to others, but I know the real him. He’s a really good guy.”
***
“I want this mufucka handled!” O’ Zone demanded. He watched as four young, heartless killers passed around his iPhone.
Havoc and Chaos both got a good look at the picture O’ Zone had taken at the club. Together they sat in Zeus’ basement studio; the same studio that had been ransacked a few months earlier. Zeus called on the four enforcers to handle the motherfuckers who trashed his home and robbed him.
Hailing from Baton Rouge, Louisiana both men were ready and willing to do what it took to make a quick buck.
“Handling mothafuckas is our specialty,” Havoc spoke up, handing O’ Zone back his cellphone. He was the one who ultimately called the shots. His dreads were short and similar to Chi-town rapper, Chief Keef’s. He even looked like him somewhat except he was taller and muscular in frame.
“Just tell us when and how you want it handled, and it’s done,” Chaos added. Ironically, his name didn’t fit his appearance in the least. He was 5”4, and couldn’t have weighed more than 150 lb. soaking wet. Nevertheless, O’ Zone didn’t doubt what the small guy was capable of. His name had to be Chaos for a reason.
O’ Zone had discovered the young killers through a mutual friend’s recommendation. Normally they worked as a quartet, but O’ Zone figured he only needed two men for the job. Not only had they been highly recommended to him, but he’d also seen, firsthand, how they dealt with Zeus’ ‘problem’.
“I don’t care how ya’ll do it,” O’ Zone told them. “As long as it’s done.”
19
After a light dinner at Glenn’s Kitchen, Cameron and Jag went upstairs to the Sky Lounge.The classy rooftop bar offered breathtaking, panoramic views of downtown Atlanta's skyline. Masterfully crafted cocktails coupled with good conversation made for an awesome evening between the two friends. Standing against the railing Cam and Jag took in the beautiful nighttime view.
“Are you happy?” Jag suddenly asked.
Cameron was caught off guard with his unexpected question. “What do you mean?”
“It’s a general question, Cam,” Jag said. “Are you happy? Bein’ here…with Jude…in the middle of all this shit?”
Cameron released a deep breath. “I don’t know, Jag…I should be saying ‘yes’. I mean, after all, I am blessed. I’m alive, my son is healthy, my husband makes great money…but…” Her voice trailed off.
“But what?”
Cameron looked away from Jag, and back at the stunning skyline. Her brown-eyed gaze settled on the 200-foot tall Ferris wheel strategically located in Centennial Olympic Park.
“I shouldn’t be talking to you about this,” Cameron said dismissively. “Jude doesn’t pay you to be my therapist.”
“He doesn’t have to…” Jag said with a serious expression. “I want you to talk to me, Cam…”
When Cameron turned around to face Jag she had tears in her eyes. “I don’t even care about the money…I just want my husband…”
***
Jude gently rubbed his thumb over Essence’s knuckles. They sat inside his BMW with the music and heat turned low. They were in Cosmo Lava’s parking lot, and Jude honestly wasn’t ready to let her go yet.
“I really enjoy your company,” he admitted in a low tone.
Essence smiled, and moved her hair over her shoulder. “Is that it?” she teased.
Jude gazed at her neck’s smooth flesh. He knew he was a married man, and he was fighting with himself to keep his composure. “You also ain’t bad to look at…”
Essence laughed and shook her head. “Jude, you should be getting back home to your wife,” she said. “Besides, I gotta get up in the morning for w—”
Essence’s sentence was cut short after Jude leaned in and pressed his mouth against hers. No longer able to contain his attraction, he gently grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her closer. His tongue eagerly parted her lips and mated with hers.
Initially, Essence was with it but when she remembered he had a wife she quickly pulled away. “Jude…we shouldn’t,” she said breathlessly.
/> Jude placed his hands on her small waist and slowly pulled him towards her again. “I know we shouldn’t…but shit, I want to…”
A soft whimper escape from Essence when Jude began placing delicate kisses on her neck. “Jude…you know we can’t be doing this…” She moaned when she felt his tongue glide along her skin. Her mouth told him to stop, but her body commanded him to continue.
“Lemme chill,” Jude said winded. He wanted Essence so badly that his dick strained against his jeans. However, he didn’t want to do something that he would later regret.
“I have to go,” Essence whispered. She needed to get away from him before he made her devalue herself by sleeping with him. Seeing the vulnerability in his eyes almost made her want to stay and straddle him in the car—but she respected herself way too much to lay with a married man.
Jude watched as Essence hastily climbed out his car. She was just about to close the passenger door when he stopped her. “Yo, Essence, if you need anything—anything at all—lemme know. Aight? I’m in ya corner…regardless of anything.”
Essence nodded her head in understanding.
“I’ll hit you up later,” Jude told her. He stayed parked until he made sure she got to her vehicle safely. Heading home, he hoped he could hop in the shower before Cameron smelled Essence’s perfume on him.
***
“What’s up with you?” Flint asked Elyse. They parked in their favorite alley, a few blocks from where she lived. “Why you actin’ all stiff and shit? Ya head was even lackluster.”
Elyse ignored Flint’s offhanded comment. The time she spent with him had become scarce after what happened a few weeks ago in the alley. She was still a bit shaken up behind the ordeal. But fear wasn’t what Elyse acting unusually quiet that night. She’d been stressed lately due to finances.
