No Loyalty

by De'nesha Diamond

  “You know it,” Kayden told him.

  It was no secret who Kayden was. Not only had he been in and out of jail for years, but his name rang bells in the streets, and with Aiden’s new position in office, things only got better. It was only right that his street credibility carried over into the pen as well.

  “You already know all you have to do is holla if you need me.”

  Kayden nodded as they stopped at the door of the visitation room. He could already see Aiden sitting there at the table looking over the papers scattered in front of him. The waves on the top of his head were spinning and on full display as he held his head down as he read.

  The tailored gray suit and pink shirt fit every corner of his brother’s rather large physique, making him look much bigger than he really was. Kayden smiled as he took in Aiden’s full appearance. He looked like money, and that made Kayden feel like a proud father.

  When the guard finally opened the door, Aiden’s head shot up and he was out of his seat instantly. He moved quickly and smoothly across the floor until he was directly in front of Kayden. They hugged briefly before stepping back and looking at each other as if it hadn’t only been two days since they’d last seen each other.

  “Look at your li’l rich ass,” Kayden joked with his twin.

  Aiden flapped the lapels of his jacket before looking down at his shoes. “Don’t act like you don’t know how I do, young nigga.”

  They laughed before taking their seats. “You must have had court today?”

  “Yeah. Just got out, but you know I had to come through before I headed to the house.”

  “You gon’ pull up on Jess and Jayden?”

  Aiden nodded his head. “You know it. Jessica hit me up earlier saying something about Jayden being constipated, so I got to stop by the store and grab her something.”

  “Ah, damn. I know her li’l stomach probably tore the fuck up. Drinking all that milk and can’t even use the bathroom.”

  Aiden’s smile reappeared. “Boy, you stupid as hell.”

  They laughed for a moment before Kayden brought up something that had been on his mind for the past few days. He’d avoided talking about it their last visit because Aiden hadn’t been in good spirits. Every so often he would get into his feelings about their arrangement, and Kayden would have to do his best to cheer him back up. Luckily for him, that didn’t seem to be the case today.

  “Aye, so have they picked a court date yet?” Kayden asked.

  “Yeah, it’s set for February twelfth. That was the main reason for my visit today, to tell you about your court date. I’ve been pushing for an autopsy, but the family is doing everything they can to fight it. They’re saying they don’t want to cut her up and a bunch of other stuff, but I’m going to do my best to get it.”

  “Damn. That’s in six months.” Though it was a bit further off than Kayden had been hoping, it was better than nothing. He’d seen cats sit in jail for a year or more waiting to get a court date. “You think we gon’ be ready by then? Especially with all the stuff the family is trying to pull right now?”

  The thick hair above Aiden’s eyebrows scrunched together as the lines in his nose appeared. The way he frowned at Kayden had him laughing before Aiden could even answer.

  “Boy, fix your damn face. You look just like Daddy’s ugly ass when you look like that.”

  Aiden unfrowned his face and tittered a little. “That’s because I don’t appreciate you trying me like that, li’l nigga. Talking about will we be ready? Hell, yeah, nigga. The fuck you mean? I stay ready and you . . . well . . . you know how you do.”

  The boisterous laughter of the twins filled the small visiting room as they continued to make light of their current situation and all of the things surrounding it.

  “So what Jessica been up to? How’s school for her? She ain’t been stressed out with studying and the baby, has she?” Kayden leaned closer to his brother so he didn’t have to talk so loud. “You know she’ll lose her cool quick. Especially given the situation.”

  Though Aiden had set aside a few minutes before Kayden was booked for him to talk to Jessica and tell her everything, he had still been extremely worried about her. She hadn’t handled that news well at all. Out of all the people they’d had to explain that night to, she had taken it the hardest. For days, she cried and wailed about Kayden being selfish and leaving her and the baby before letting it go and accepting what had to be done.

  “She’s cool. She was stressed out about taking some test the other week, but other than that, she seems okay. I try to help as much as I can with Jayden when I’m not working, or when Bronx can’t keep her.”

  Bronx.

  Kayden hadn’t talked to her at all since the whole incident. After she’d been released from the hospital, she had been keeping her distance. Neither of the twins had given her the details on the switch-up, but Kayden didn’t feel the need to. She was a smart girl. He was more than positive she already knew what had been done. The fact that she hadn’t spoken on it to anyone was solid as hell in his eyes, and he was waiting for the right time to thank her for it.

  “Cool, just keep an eye on her. Take her out to get some ice cream or something. She loves little shit like that. Just make her feel special for me. I know she’s probably a little overwhelmed after the baby, so let her dress up and all that other shit women like, then take her somewhere. She thinks I don’t pay enough attention to her, so make sure you listen to whatever shit she be talking about. Act interested even if you ain’t.” Kayden maintained eye contact with Aiden to make sure he was listening as he spoke. “The last thing we need is for her to start acting like she ain’t got no sense and get to running her mouth and shit.”

  Aiden nodded his understanding.

  “What about li’l Bronx? She still ain’t speaking to you?” A smirk accompanied Kayden’s question.

  “Hell, nah. She’ll be right at Jessica’s house with me and won’t open her damn mouth.” Aiden looked confused as he talked about Bronx. “She acts like the accident was on purpose or something.”

  “She’ll be cool. She probably just don’t know what to say. Give her some time. She’ll probably warm back up to you.”

  “Hopefully. Because a nigga like me needs some pussy. I’ve been so busy seeing about your family for you, I haven’t had any time for myself.”

  Kayden groaned loudly and leaned back in his chair. “Nigga, you? I’m used to being up in Jess’s ass morning, noon, and night. Now I’m stuck on this hard-ass bed with all these stinking-ass niggas.” Kayden shook his head and sighed. “At least you got ass to look at. I ain’t got shit but a bunch of hard legs up in here.”

  “The only ass I got to look at belongs to you, so I’m still fucked.”

  Kayden sucked his teeth. “Man, please. Jessica has so much ass you can’t help but to see that muthafucka, even when you ain’t trying to.”

  Aiden and Kayden were laughing again as they dapped each other up.

  “I ain’t saying look at the shit, I’m just saying don’t sit here and act like you don’t see it.” He ran his hand over his mouth. “Then Bronx’s li’l sexy ass.” He shook his head. “Boy, you good. You better get out here and get you some ass. Stop acting like you can’t get bitches. Hell, that li’l secretary you got is fine as shit. I don’t know how you ain’t been tapped that.”

  “I don’t mix business with pleasure. Women get too far in their feelings. I ain’t got time for that shit. I just want to live a stress-free life with my girl and maybe have some kids.” He smiled. “Jayden’s li’l ass got me having baby fever and shit.”

  Kayden sighed as he looked off toward the wall behind Aiden’s head. He wanted the same thing. Jessica, Jayden, and him. All under one roof living a happy life. Though he’d always been serious about Jessica, being away from her was bothering something inside of him. Not being able to touch her, hold her, kiss her . . . just be with her was killing him and bringing him back to life at the same time. He could finally see wha
t was important.

  “You straight, kid?” Aiden’s voice brought him out of his thoughts.

  When he looked at Aiden’s face, for some reason, Kayden got emotional. His eyes felt like they wanted to water, but he held it back. One long, hard sniff and a quick swipe of his hand across his face, and he was back to himself.

  “Yeah. Just thinking about the important stuff, you know? When I get out, I think I might have to straighten up a little. Try to do the right shit.”

  “You can do it.” Aiden grabbed his brother’s hand and squeezed it. “You will do it.”

  Kayden nodded and moved on to another topic. That one was too much for him, and he wasn’t really in the mood to get too emotional and have to go right back to his cell. Too many eyes were on him at all times. He didn’t want to give not one sign of weakness. The last thing he needed was to have a nigga try him and he have to beat their ass to sleep. More trouble equaled more time, and he wanted no parts of either.

  When it was time for him to go back to his cell, he and Aiden stood and hugged again before Aiden told him that he would be back in a few days. Kayden expressed his gratitude for Aiden’s hard work with the case and his family before they left each other to go back to their lives.

  “Had a good visit?” Kayden’s cellmate asked him as soon as he walked back in the cell.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Good. Good. They left you some mail down there.”

  Kayden saw the two envelopes with the purple flower stamp in the corner on his bed. He knew then that they were from Jessica. She had been using the same stamp on every letter she’d sent since he’d been locked up. Eager to see more pictures and read more of her sweet words, Kayden lay down on his stomach and picked them up.

  He was shocked to see that only one of them was from Jessica. The other was from Bronx. That threw him for a loop, because he hadn’t heard from her since that night. Judging by the way Aiden talked, she wasn’t really fucking with either one of them like that.

  Since he’d been hearing from Jessica, he chose to read Bronx’s letter first. He admired her pretty handwriting before ripping the envelope open. As soon as he did, the smell of her perfume permeated the air. Kayden closed his eyes and smiled, because that was the closest he’d been to a woman in weeks, and though it was a small gesture, it was just what he’d needed.

  Kay,

  What’s going on, homie? I know you’re probably like what the hell this bitch writing me for. Lol! I already know how you talk, so don’t act like you wouldn’t call me a bitch in your head. Lol! Anyways, it has taken me a minute to reach out to you because I honestly didn’t know what I wanted to say. All of this is crazy, and I can hardly wrap my mind around any of it. I’ve always known the love you and Aiden had for each other was out of this world, but I had no idea it was this deep until now. Even though I don’t know how you all are doing it, I respect it. It’s real and I won’t hate on you for it. What I will say is that you need to hurry home, because all Jess does is complain about you being selfish and leaving her and the baby and a bunch of other shit I know you don’t want to hear. But I feel her. It’s tough, you know? Just hurry home. I’m not sure if I’m on your visitation list or not, but if you need anything, hit me up. I’ve already put money on your books, so go get you some noodles and honeybuns, li’l nigga. Lol. I know your lame ass is smiling, too.

  Kayden looked away from the letter for a moment to wipe the smile off his face. Bronx swore she knew him. Once he’d made himself stop smiling, he went back to her letter.

  It’s hard out here for the people that love you the most, so while you’re in there, make sure you keep your head up and handle things like the boss I know you are. I got Jess and Jayden’s li’l cute butt, so don’t stress about that. I want to kick Aiden in the face every time I see him, but I got his ass, too. Only because I know you would want me to look out for him too. *rolling eyes*! Let me know if you need anything, Kay. I’m here.

  Love, B!

  Kayden sat staring at the letter before reading it once again. He’d always known Bronx was solid, but if he hadn’t known for real then, he knew it now. She knew their secret and had kept it to herself. He could definitely appreciate having a friend like her. Whether she agreed with them or not, she was rocking with it, and that was a lot more than he could say for Jessica.

  Even with him understanding where she was coming from, Jessica hadn’t given him anything other than grief every time she talked to him. No encouragement, no laughs, nothing that would give him the push he needed to carry this situation out. Kayden shook his head while looking at Bronx’s letter again. He looked at Jessica’s letter and decided to open it later. For now, he needed to write Bronx back.

  CHAPTER 7

  The water from the faucet dripped slowly, making just enough noise to ease Bronx’s mind. She had been sitting in the same spot for the past twenty minutes trying to figure out what was next. She’d just finished reading Kayden’s letter, and although she wanted to write him back, she didn’t think she would.

  He needed to sweat a little. She’d done her job by getting his interest; now all he needed was some time to miss her. After waiting to hear from her for a little while, whenever he finally did, he’d be ready for what she was ready for. The only way Bronx could get through to him was to rid his mind of Jessica’s dumb ass, and as long as he didn’t get a response from her, she’d be the one on his mind.

  Judging from his letter, Bronx didn’t have much waiting to do, because she was already there. In his letter he’d disclosed how appreciative he was for her loyalty and genuine concern about his well-being. He’d gone on to tell her how much he cared for her and valued the loving friendship that they shared.

  In one part, he’d even mentioned how he’d contemplated on many occasions what it would be like if they were together. That had sealed the deal. From that moment on, she’d been on cloud nine, because that had been exactly what she’d been hoping to hear.

  She had been loving Kayden for pretty much his and Jessica’s entire relationship, but had kept it to herself for obvious reasons. With him being in a committed relationship with her cousin, Bronx had hidden her feelings out of loyalty. But now that he was jammed up and Jessica did nothing but gripe and complain about it every day, it gave her a new outlook on things.

  Jessica didn’t care about Kayden’s feelings, so why should Bronx care about hers? Fuck her. Cousin or not, Jessica’s behavior had really been getting on Bronx’s last nerve. One would think she’d never been in love with Kayden, or that she hadn’t known he was a street nigga when she got involved with him. All day she talked negative, and Bronx was tired of it. Which was why, when and if the time ever came, she wouldn’t hide her feelings for Kayden anymore.

  “Hey, girl, why are you sitting in here like this?” Jessica’s voice caught her attention.

  Bronx jumped as Jessica’s voice startled her. “Heffa, that key is for emergencies. Not for you to just waltz in here whenever you feel like it.” Bronx stood up from the table with Kayden’s letter in her hand and walked to the small table in the corner of the room. “I could have been in here fucking.”

  Jessica laughed as she sat Jayden’s car seat on the floor. “Bitch, you ain’t fucking no damn body. You need to be, but you ain’t.”

  They laughed together as Bronx slid the letter into the small table drawer. “Don’t worry about me and who I’m fucking. Worry about your dick-deprived ass.”

  “Girl.” Jessica sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes. “Who are you telling? It’s Kayden’s fault with his stupid self. I should fuck off just because.”

  “Why would you do that, Jess? That’s not right.”

  “What he did wasn’t right. So”—she shrugged her shoulders—“we’re even.”

  That remark caught Bronx’s attention. “Hold on, what do you mean y’all are even? You been messing around with somebody else?”

  Jessica smiled and shook her head as she patted Jayden’s back. “Not yet, but I
’ve thought about it. All these fine men at my school, then Aiden’s sexy ass walking around me all day every day, it’s just pure torture.”

  Thirsty ass.

  Bronx looked away to keep herself from rolling her eyes at that bitch. She was starting to like Jessica a little less every day. Maybe it was because she was in love with Kayden, or maybe it was the loyalty that had been embedded in them growing up. Jessica may have forgotten about it, but she hadn’t.

  “Eww, Jess, you’re such a thot.”

  Laughter erupted from Jessica’s mouth as she shrugged her shoulders again. “I’ll be that. Kayden is one, too, hell. He’s probably got all kinds of bitches writing him while he’s in there. Hoes probably been waiting on their chance to move in on his ass all along, and you know what?” She looked at Bronx. “I don’t even care.”

  “Why not? That’s your man. You’re supposed to stay down for him through this, Jessica. If you don’t, then it’ll be easy for another one of those women to catch his attention, and keep it.” Bronx thought about herself. She’d be the first woman in line to take him.

  “You know what, B, when all of this first happened I was ready to ride, and be there for him. You know, all that girlfriend shit. But now? Kayden should have thought about me more than what he did, and since he didn’t, I won’t think about his ass, either.”

  “Jessica, that’s not right. Kayden loves you. It would probably tear him up if he heard the shit you’re saying right now. He’s a street nigga, but he loves your mean ass.”

  When Jessica spun around and looked at Bronx, Bronx could see the fading feelings that she had for Kayden. It was all over her face and posture. She didn’t look like she normally did when speaking about Kayden. Kayden’s name alone used to make her face light up; it was dim as hell right then.

  “Well, if you care so much about the nigga, you stay down for his ass then.”

  Trust me, I will. Bronx smirked while walking back to the table where she’d been sitting. “All right now, don’t try me. I ain’t had no dick in I don’t know how long. I’ll been done bust this pussy open for that nigga and give Jayden a sister-cousin.”