No Loyalty

by De'nesha Diamond

  Kayden chuckled along with them. “I’m for real. She know she too damn big to just plop down on my legs like that. She could have at least warned me, made that loud beeping noise as she backed up or something.”

  All of the friends shared constant laughs as they chilled with Aiden.

  “So what time your li’l party start?” Kayden asked Aiden.

  “They announce the winner around eight o’clock, so I’ve asked everybody to be there by eight. That way we can hang out and relax our nerves before it really gets going. The news channel should be there immediately after the polls close. I need to have everybody in place long before then.”

  “Bet.” Kayden stretched his long legs out in front of him. “I’ll slide through around eight-forty.”

  “Nigga, why? Didn’t you hear me say they announce around eight tonight?”

  “Yeah, which is why I’ma come after that. I already know you gon’ win, so I ain’t tripping on that. I just know y’all gon’ be taking all them pictures and shit afterward, and I don’t want my face to get caught in none of them and fuck up what you got going on.”

  Bronx looked at Kayden with a confused expression. “Kay, y’all have the same face.”

  “Mine is a little more thugged out than this nigga’s is. The city knows me. I ain’t about to embarrass my boy like that.”

  Aiden sat back in his chair, shaking his head at his brother. “Hell, nah. You be there at eight just like everybody else. I need you with me.”

  Kayden looked off for a minute, probably trying to decide whether or not he was actually going to come early. He made sure to look all around the office before landing his eyes on Aiden. Aiden’s gaze didn’t waver. He was serious when he said he needed his twin there with him. Kayden was his lifeline.

  “Ain’t no way I’m winning and you ain’t there with me.”

  Kayden sighed. “A’ight, man, damn.”

  Jessica was still seated on his lap, so she slapped him hard upside the back of his head. “You need to stop being like that. I told you ain’t nothing wrong with you, and I’ll slap anybody that thinks it is.”

  “I ain’t being like nothing. I just want to make sure I’m looking out for my brother at all times. Even if that means keeping my black ass out of the way.”

  “Chile, Kayden ain’t never played the victim in his life.” Bronx giggled while pointing her thumb at him. “This nigga just wants somebody to beg his ass.”

  None of them could keep a straight face after that; the twins especially. The four of them stayed and chilled together for a couple more hours, even ordering lunch and eating together before they parted ways. It was funny how God knew what a person needed before they even knew.

  From the time Aiden had awakened that morning, he had been on pins and needles about the results of his run. It wasn’t until Kayden had sent him the gift of song, and had hung out with him, that he’d noticed just how tense he had been.

  It was things like that that made Aiden wonder how people could not want to know Kayden. The nigga was really a very selfless and supportive individual who Aiden was lucky to have as a brother.

  “Mr. Lattimore, it’s time to head home and get dressed.” Silvia’s voice came over his office intercom.

  “Headed out now, love. Thank you.”

  “Welcome.”

  Aiden stood to grab his suit jacket and everything else he assumed he would need for later, and exited his office and law firm. After getting settled in his car, he looked across the street at the small building where he’d held all of his campaign meetings, and would host his announcement party that night. He took a deep breath.

  Prayerfully, all of his efforts in the city and in life would prove worthy tonight. If they didn’t, he wasn’t sure what he would do. He closed his eyes and sent up a quick prayer. Hopefully he wouldn’t have to find out.

  CHAPTER 4

  “Hey, I made it!” Jessica yelled at the top of her lungs.

  “I’m the world’s greatest!” Bronx followed her up as they both jumped on Aiden screaming and singing while tears rolled down their faces.

  “Congratulations, young nigga!” Kayden grabbed Aiden out of the grasps of the women. “I fucking knew it!” He hugged Aiden tighter than he’d ever hugged him before.

  Aiden didn’t even think he’d hugged him that tight at their parents’ funeral, but then again, neither of them had ever accomplished something so massive in their entire lives. Aiden had graduated from college and law school, and had even won numerous cases that held clout in the city, but nothing seemed as big as him becoming the city’s new mayor.

  “I love you, man! Thank you for everything.” Aiden squeezed Kayden’s neck so tight, he was surprised he hadn’t passed out yet.

  “You deserve it, bruh.” Kayden stepped back and hit Aiden in the chest with his fist. “You worked for this shit. It’s yours. All of it . . . the city . . . the world, my nigga. It’s yours.”

  Aiden nodded his head as he looked into the eyes that mirrored his. All of the passion, the pain, the struggles—everything that was in his eyes—were in Kayden’s, and he could see it. Aiden could recognize it all, and was happy that he had someone that shared his every feeling without having to open his mouth and utter one word.

  “Ours, twin . . . the world is ours!”

  Kayden smiled at him before embracing him again. They hugged for only a few moments longer before Kayden released him to the press to give interviews and have his photo taken. Aiden watched as Kayden, Jessica, and Bronx all walked off to the side to watch him in his element without getting in the way.

  They hadn’t been away from him for any longer than a few seconds before he was being swarmed by the press. Cameras and microphones coming from every which way were stuck in his face. It was what he’d asked for, so he made the best of it.

  The small room that had been neatly plastered with campaign posters, banners, and pictures of Aiden was now filled with flashing cameras, graffiti, and swarms of people there to celebrate his accomplishments. The energy in the room was exhilarating as the occupants screamed, hugged, and sipped from tall glasses of champagne.

  Boisterous laughter and excited praise buzzed around the room as Aiden’s friends and biggest supporters joined together to celebrate the biggest night of his life. Now that the moment they’d all been waiting for had arrived, it felt just as surreal as expected. To see continuous smiles and cheers in his honor brought great joy to Aiden, and he planned to bask in it for the rest of the night.

  With a large smile on his face, Aiden posed for pictures pretty much the rest of the evening. He was over the moon with happiness once he noticed the reporters and cameras beginning to exit the room. It had been a long couple of hours already, and they had been in his face the entire time.

  Aiden was famished and needed to sit down for a moment. He looked around the room in search of his family. They were in the corner near the front of the building, looking to be engaged in a playful argument of some sort. Jessica had just hit Kayden’s arm, while Bronx’s hand and mouth was going a mile a minute as she pointed at Kayden.

  Aiden smiled at them all, happy to have them in his corner. . . literally and figuratively. After sending one of the waitresses to round them all up some champagne and shots, he headed in their direction. As soon as Kayden looked up and saw him coming, he threw his hands up in the hair and started clapping.

  “It’s about time that my backup got here. Bruh, get me away from these damn women. They haven’t stopped talking yet.”

  “The hell y’all over here doing to my brother?” Aiden said to Jessica and Bronx. He looked around for a chair, but was stopped when Bronx stood up and told him he could have hers.

  As soon as Aiden sat down, she made herself comfortable in his lap. Although he knew there was nothing to it, and they were all pretty much family, the drinks he’d been consuming that night had him feeling otherwise. Bronx was a bad little chick and could definitely get the business if she rubbed her li’l ass
across his dick one more time.

  “Damn, Bronx, get your ass out my brother’s lap.” Kayden frowned at her. “You ain’t got no more manners than Jessica’s ass.” Kayden playfully pulled at her arm. “Didn’t ask or nothing. Just plopped your happy ass down. Get up off that nigga.”

  Bronx looked over her shoulder at Aiden and smiled. “You want me to move, Aiden?”

  Aiden’s hands went up immediately. “You ain’t bothering me none.”

  Kayden slapped his forehead just as the waitress walked up. “Ah, hell, nah, bruh. Don’t let her do it to you. You know she ain’t got no home training. You better get you one of these classy women up in here.” Kayden shook his head. “Don’t fool with Bronx’s ghetto ass.”

  Aiden laughed at Kayden as he passed him and Bronx glasses of champagne and shots of clear liquor in short glasses. The Coke and plate of cheese the waitress extended was given to Jessica.

  “Here, big girl, ain’t no drinking for you tonight.” Aiden laughed.

  Jessica pouted. “Why you ain’t have them bring me some wine? I can drink that as long as it’s red.”

  Aiden looked to the waitress for an answer.

  “I can check on that,” the waitress said. “I’ll be right back.

  As the waitress walked away, Aiden raised his glass. “Let’s make a toast.” The others followed suit in raising their glasses. “To family.”

  “To family,” the women said.

  “And loyalty,” Kayden added before they all took a drink from their glasses.

  A few minutes later, the waitress returned with a glass of red wine for Jessica before leaving them to enjoy one another. As always, their night was filled with talking and laughter. Before long, a couple of hours had passed and the party had begun to thin out.

  “Aye, my nigga. I think that’s enough for you. You don’t normally drink like this.” Kayden took the glass of Patrón and pineapple juice out of Aiden’s hand.

  “I’m good. I ain’t even drunk yet.” Aiden tried to take it back but failed. His hand dropped from the glass and proved Kayden’s point.

  “Like hell you ain’t. Your ass is tore up.”

  Aiden straightened his posture and washed his hands down his face. “All jokes aside. I’m good for real,” he told them with a straight face. “I don’t drink no more, but I’m straight right now.”

  Kayden and Jessica stared at him a little bit longer before accepting his answer and letting it go.

  “How much longer you plan on being here, Aiden?” Jessica looked at him. “I’m getting sleepy as hell.”

  Aiden nudged Jessica’s shoulder playfully. “I forgot your pregnant ass couldn’t hang with the big dogs tonight. Y’all go ahead. I have to wrap a few more things up before I can go home, but I’ll be right behind y’all.”

  Bronx and Jessica stood up with Aiden standing behind them, but Kayden didn’t. “Bronx can take her home. I’ll stay here and kick it with you.”

  Aiden looked at Kayden and saw right through him. He wasn’t staying because he wanted to, he was staying because he thought Aiden was drunk.

  “Man, Kay, I’m good. Go home with your girl. I’ll be straight.”

  Kayden shook his head. “Nah, I’m good right here. I’ma make sure you get home first, then I’ll get back with Jess.”

  “For real I’m good.”

  Kayden looked at Aiden as if he wasn’t paying attention to a word he was saying, and though he knew Kayden was doing it out of love, it was annoying him.

  “Kayden, take your ass home.”

  “Aiden, fuck no,” he bellowed back with just as much feeling as Aiden had in his words.

  The two men stood staring at each other in combative stances, neither of them shying away from the other.

  “Kayden, how about you go ahead home and I’ll stay with Aiden?” Bronx stepped between the brothers, turning her head so that she could look at them both. “I’ll make sure he gets home. I can take care of him.” The flirtatious way she’d said it gathered all of their attention. Especially Kayden’s.

  Aiden looked down at her and took a step closer to her so that his body touched hers. “You gon’ take care of me, Bronx?”

  She looked up at him and flashed a flirty smile. “Most definitely.”

  The two of them stared at each other for a few seconds, conveying their feelings through their eyes before Jessica interrupted them.

  “Okay, baby, she said she’s got him. Can we go now?” She grabbed Kayden’s hand and pulled him from the chair he had been sitting in. “Maybe she’ll give him some congratulatory pussy, too.”

  Bronx hit Jessica’s arm playfully as the four of them shared a brief laugh.

  “A’ight, but call me as soon as y’all get to Aiden’s spot.” He looked at Bronx then Aiden.

  “I got you,” Aiden told him before they dapped up and pulled each other into their thousandth hug for the night. “Thank you, man. I love you.”

  “Love you, too. I’m proud of you,” Kayden told his brother. “Take your ass straight home, and let Bronx drive.”

  “Bruh, I said I got you.”

  “Yeah, whatever.” Kayden pulled out of their embrace and grabbed Jessica’s hand. “I’ll hit y’all up once we make it to the house.”

  They all bid their goodbyes before parting ways. Aiden had a few more people to say goodbye to before leaving, so he instructed Bronx to wait for him at the door.

  Agreeing, Bronx headed over to the door.

  It took a little longer than he’d expected but after Aiden bid his goodbyes, he took a step back and looked around the room. He’d done it. He’d actually beat the odds of the little ghetto boy from the hood, and done it. The new mayor of Dallas County. He smiled to himself before going to grab his things.

  “You taking off, Mr. Lattimore?” Silvia met him at the door.

  “Indeed.”

  She leaned in for a hug before letting him go again. “Congratulations. I know you’re going to do great things.”

  “Let us all hope.” He winked at her before walking out of the door, stumbling a little along the way.

  He knew he’d been telling Kayden all along that he was fine, but it was as if all of his drinks were hitting him at one time. His vision was a little off and so was his balance. He knew for a fact that he was walking, but for some reason he felt as if he was floating instead.

  Because Aiden wasn’t a heavy drinker, the few drinks he’d had were really taking a toll on his body. He looked around the parking lot for Bronx, but didn’t see her. He squinted his eyes, looking everywhere, but she was nowhere in sight.

  “Where the hell this girl done took her ass to?” he asked himself as he surveyed the parking lot for her.

  He spent a few more seconds looking for her before assuming she must have left him. As he was on his way to the parking lot in search of his car, he heard his name being called. When he turned around, he noticed Bronx walking toward him.

  “Nigga, I know you weren’t about to leave me?”

  Aiden pulled out his keys while giving her the same smile that had won the campaign for him. “I thought about it when I didn’t see your ass.”

  Bronx shook her head and reached for his keys. “I can’t believe you would do me like that.” She shook her head. “I’ll drive.”

  Aiden grabbed her by her hand and pulled her to him. “I’ma do you even worse when we get back to my house.”

  Bronx’s brown skin seemed to glow when she smiled up at him. “You swear you’re smooth, Aiden.”

  He kissed along her jaw. “I’m not trying to be smooth. I’m just trying to make you feel good.”

  She giggled the entire time that he kissed her face and neck.

  “Man, come on. I’m not about to stand in the parking lot and play with you all night.” She backed out of his arms and snatched the keys out of his hand.

  Aiden watched her hop into the driver’s seat and close the door before he made his way to the passenger’s side. The time he’d spent playi
ng with her sobered him up a little and he was actually feeling like himself again.

  “Put your seat belt on,” she told him after sticking the key in the ignition.

  Aiden followed her directions and then relaxed back in his seat.

  “Oh, shit, Aiden,” Bronx cursed.

  He gave her a concerned look. “What?”

  “I don’t know how to drive a stick.”

  Aiden’s face softened as he unbuckled his seat belt. “It’s okay. I’m good to drive. Come on, let’s switch.”

  Bronx looked defeated as she took the seat belt off and opened the door. Aiden laughed to himself as he observed how down she looked about something so small. To cheer her up, he tapped her butt lightly as they passed each other. Like he figured she would, Bronx simply snickered before sliding into the passenger side.

  Once he’d scooted the seat back so that his legs could fit comfortably beneath the steering wheel, he looked over at her to make sure she was good. After confirming she was safely buckled, he pulled away. He could feel the effects of the liquor on him, but it wasn’t to the point where he couldn’t focus on what he was doing.

  “You okay?” Bronx touched the gearshift.

  Aiden rested his hand on top of hers. “I’m good. Stop worrying about me.”

  She laughed his comment off and looked out of the window, but turned right back around to face him. “So how do you feel? This is a big night for you. I know you’ve got to be excited.”

  The smile on Aiden’s face reached both of his ears as he thought about his accomplishments. “I don’t even know how I feel right now, honestly.” He turned his head to look at her. “I was nervous as hell earlier for real until y’all came. Y’all really helped to make the day easier.”

  Bronx moved her hand and touched his arm. “You know me and Jess love you, but it was really Kayden that put it all together. That nigga loves you. He’s been stressing all week trying to think of something special to do for you. He was happy as hell when he finally decided on those girls to sing for you.”