Loyal to His Lies

by T. C. Littles

  “Where did you disappear to, dude?” My question was slurred as Izzi finally approached the table.

  I was not sure if it was me or not because of the buzz that had control of my body, but I swore that I saw Izzi’s eyes move upward like he was trying to think of a story to tell. Me and his ass had been running as boys for so long that I knew quirks about him that he probably did not know about himself.

  “You know me, my dude. I was outside tricking off some cash with one of these strippers. Shorty gave me some mad ass skull for a fifty.” He was trying to sell me his tale.

  I couldn’t even calculate really what bag he was coming out of because I was feeling strangely buzzed. The several drinks I’d downed had taken a serious toll on a guy. “Was she tight, man?”

  “Yeah, Nardo, her head game was on point. The bitch even swallowed. How was ol’ girl in the back?”

  “I wouldn’t mind getting up in that again.”

  “Well, who said you had to stop?” the young dancer said, coming up behind me.

  I couldn’t believe all this touchy-feely stuff was going on. Usually that was not allowed. “Damn, is it like that?”

  “Yeah, and maybe it can be with you and your boy.” She sized Izzi up.

  I was not usually down for that gang-bang mess, but I was not myself. I was fucked up, and her tight pussy was just that good that I wanted seconds on it.

  “Well, get yo’ hot box back to that private room,” Izzi demanded, smacking her ass, still looking frantic as he kept turning back toward the entrance.

  I had to remember to check him later. He seriously had to calm down with all that rough moving if we were gonna continue being partners. But for now, I just made my way back down the hallway as my dick rose to the thought of beating Nubian Delight’s guts again.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Zaria

  The air within Nardo’s room and closet was still, stale, and starting to suffocate me. The walk-in closet all of a sudden didn’t feel so big anymore as the walls were closing in. It felt like I was having an anxiety attack as my eyes scanned the floor, looking at all the freak-nasty pictures of various women he had put before me while I was busy being loyal to him and our relationship. My heart was pounding, my chest felt heavy, and my breathing was in pants. Feeling queasy like I was about to pass out from the nausea, I knelt down and picked up a few of the pictures and actually did spit up in my mouth.

  The pictures were of Melanie in a bunch of different kinky positions, looking like a bootleg ghetto version of a Playboy bunny playing dress up. There were even some pictures of her sucking Renard’s dick and of him actually penetrating her. Although I knew they’d slept around, I hadn’t wanted the visuals embedded in my head.

  “Ugh, I can’t believe he actually has evidence of himself running up in this ran-through mule.” I stared at her repulsive-looking, stretched-out vagina like I was into girls. I couldn’t help but stare and wonder why Nardo would continuously cheat with someone beneath me. Nothing about Melanie was sexy. Hell, it looked like she was the one who’d popped a baby out of her coochie and not me. I was not even sure if Kegel exercises could help her bounce back.

  “Don’t get caught up on this shit, Zaria,” I spoke out loud to myself, trying not to get distracted or sidetracked by the pictures. Dropping them to the floor, I kicked the box they had fallen out of out and got ready to go back into a full-blown tyrant until I saw some folded sheets of paper underneath the box. As soon as I opened it up, I knew the letter was from Melanie too. I know her handwriting from when we used to be friends writing letters back and forth to one another.

  Sliding down to the floor and sitting Indian style, I clutched the letter as my eyes read the words Melanie had written:

  Nardo, you know I don’t have nothing but love for you. I would do anything for you, but you keep hurting me. I can’t believe you would sleep with my girl. She ain’t right for you, but I am. Trust me, she ain’t gonna do shit but drag you down and mess over you. Zaria ain’t nothing more than an opportunist and a gold digger that is looking for a meal ticket, but my love is real. I think you know that, and that’s why you come and go like you do.

  I guess I could count myself lucky that at least you come home to me too. The girls I call friends, they think I’m dumb for letting you have your cake and eat it too, but I don’t care. If I can’t have all of you, at least I can have some of you. And I know there’s a reason you can’t stop selling me a dream. I know you, Nardo . . . before the money, cars, and fame you have in the hood. I know how you’ll make good on your word. I used to hear you tell me you’d be the boss every single day, and you did it. So, I know you’ll one day make good on your word and be with me.

  Every time you’re in this pussy, I know it’s bringing you closer back to me and tearing you away from Zaria. I know all the stuff you tell me about you not really wanting to be with her is real. I know her ass can’t cook, stays in your pockets, and be bitching all the time. You wouldn’t even had to have bought me a house because I keeps a Section 8 voucher on deck. I can add to your worth because I’m not coming for nothing but your heart, baby. What other bitch would’ve taken all that you’ve done and still do all that I do for you?

  Zaria’s probably sitting at home thinking that bastard baby mistake she carried in her sperm-polluted womb is gonna make you two a family, but she don’t know that our baby is gonna bring me and you together.

  I could not keep reading the letter. Not after reading her last written line. I let the pieces of paper slip from my fingers and fall to the floor.

  “That stankin’ ho.” I staggered to my feet, blind with rage and anger. “That trick-ass slut!”

  Fuck all truces, me and this female were getting ready to throw blows. I fumed out of control as I paced the floor with streams of tears flowing down from my already burning eyes. I couldn’t stop thinking about Melanie probably still having his seed inside of her. Especially since she mentioned Cidney. Make no mistake about it, I wanted Melanie’s head on the floor and for me to be the person to cut it off. Her being dead was the only way I could see her never being a factor in my life again. I had come too far not to want absolute revenge.

  Darting over to Nardo’s bedside, I fell to my knees and went straight to the lock box I knew he kept underneath it. I was determined to get satisfaction.

  “What you tearing up in here, girl?” Melanie creeped into Nardo’s bedroom as I started fumbling in the nightstand drawer for the key to the box.

  “Melanie, don’t say shit to me, ho.” I was blunt and cold with my response.

  “Whoa!” Melanie was thrown off by my response. “What the fuck is your problem now? Are you a manic depressive or a schizophrenic person? Why do you keep having highs and lows?” She thought she was being funny.

  “You ain’t shit but a little dirty wannabe-me,” I shouted furiously, finally finding the key that could unlock the box where Nardo’s pistol was hidden.

  Melanie sighed. “A dirty wannabe-you? Um, who are you again? Why do you keep wanting to overplay your position like I don’t know what position it is you really have with Nardo? I am so tired of you coming for me.”

  “And? So? What are you going to do about it?” I questioned her like I was ready to attack.

  “Once again, you are on some nutty bullshit that I cannot vibe with or understand. I tried to be cool with you for the sake of getting back at a nigga who has done us both wrong, but forget about making amends with you or taking the fall with you. You want to keep threatening me like I don’t have free will, bitch? You want to know what I’m going to do about you it? Call Nardo and tell him what is up and who threw this whole plan together, so he’ll know exactly how your petty ass is stitched together. How about that?”

  I went from smirking to grinning. My cheeks were actually aching from smiling so hard after Melanie’s rant. She was not scaring me; she was actually adding fuel to the fire.

  “You’re going to call who? And tell him what? I bet you will
not.”

  Without thinking about the consequences, or even so much as a second thought, I grabbed the pistol from its resting place then jumped up and knocked Melanie upside her watermelon-shaped head. Big shit-talking Mel didn’t expect me to actually pistol whip her, and she fell to the floor. As on cue, I started kicking the brakes off the tramp and literally trying to stomp any thought of my baby daddy from her distorted-thinking brain.

  Blood was gushing from the open wound on the left side of her skull and trickling out her nostril, but intent on my mission, I kept on stomping. I was paying close attention to her stomach area and that rotten, troublemaking baby her letter claimed she was carrying.

  “I can’t hear you, ho!” I shouted down into Melanie’s face then spat on her. “Instead of giving me that long-ass speech, you should have been bracing yourself for that mighty blow that came your way. You still haven’t learned the game, even after I snuck you and took Nardo from you all those years ago. Keep yo’ guards up around me.”

  Squirming around the floor in agony, she kept trying to ball herself up in the fetal position. I took that to mean she really was pregnant and trying to protect her unborn child. That was when I swiftly kicked her in the stomach with all my strength to finish whatever job I started.

  “Yeah, bitch. I’m the only one that’s gonna have a kid with Nardo. Cidney does not need a little brother or sister,” I taunted her, though she didn’t whimper, cry out, or squirm around the floor with painful moans. Melanie was out cold, with a puddle of blood underneath her lower back and booty.

  “I dare you to get up and talk shit after that beatdown,” I mocked her, wishing she actually would get up so I could let out frustration on her.

  I stepped over Melanie’s body and ran toward the window when I heard the tow truck outside. I got there right when he was letting Nardo’s truck down off the flatbed. My adrenaline was rushing like I’d experienced back to back orgasms. I had to move quickly but cautiously. I snatched the spare set of keys Nardo kept on the dresser and let Melanie bleed out on his floor so I could finish carrying out my plan. I was on a roll, too afraid to slow down.

  I trotted down the stairs and opened the garage, then reversed my rental out onto the street and pulled Nardo’s truck into its normal spot. I ended up giving the tow truck guy a hundred-dollar tip for him being so quick and convenient. I wanted him to remember me yet have a reason to forget me if someone asked him if he picked up a vehicle matching Nardo’s from the club.

  Once my tracks were covered with him, I nonchalantly strolled back into the house like Melanie wasn’t upstairs passed out and I wasn’t trespassing. I was out of my mind but in full control. Moving throughout Nardo’s condo, I surveyed the destruction Melanie had caused before I dismantled her.

  “Good job, Mel,” I gave her praise, though I knew she couldn’t hear me. “But if you up off that floor, round two.” I climbed the stairs.

  When I bent the corner, I was strangely amused to find Melanie fidgeting around. She wasn’t making a lot of movement, but some was too much. I approached her body, and her eyes slightly opened, seeming to beg for mercy.

  “Shhh, take it like a woman.” I was ruthless, letting her know I was not about to show her a pint of pity. Picking up one of Nardo’s old shopping bags, I lifted her head up and placed the plastic bag over it. She tried reaching her hands up to snatch it off but was too weak and ended up giving up. After gathering the ends and tying them into a tight double knot, I stood victoriously, with blood on my hands, and watched the bag go in and out as my once-best-friend-in-the-world struggled to breathe.

  It was obvious that I’d lost my mind as I calmly finished destroying the rest of the room as a person lay there fighting for her life. The game plan had changed drastically. I was now gonna leave Mel’s ass there dying, and she could take the rap for this bullshit when Nardo found her.

  “You big dummy,” I addressed a dying Melanie. “Did you really think my baby daddy was going to make you wifey? I know you couldn’t have thought that, but then again, you always did overplay your pussy. I can’t believe I wasted money getting your crappy ass out of jail,” I ranted as I worked. I was feeding off her weakness.

  My long weave, courtesy of Sue Lee, was starting to tangle, and my clothes looked a hot fire mess. I took notice of it as I pranced back and forth, seeing my reflection in the mirror.

  “Fuck seven years of bad luck.” I shrugged.

  My cell phone’s ringtone filled the air. As I was stepping over Mel to get to my ringing phone, somehow she must’ve been touched by an angel, because she found the inner strength to grab my ankle, causing me to stumble and fall. I was now face-to-face with Melanie. Through the sweaty, blood-filled plastic bag, I could see her desperate expression watching me, begging me to live.

  I didn’t think twice about my next actions. This trick had sucked my baby daddy’s dick for the last time. It was my only alternative, and I took it. My manicured hands were shaking uncontrollably as I gripped Melanie tightly by the throat. She once again tried to struggle, but that attempt was soon cut short. After squeezing and squeezing and freaking squeezing until the plastic stopped moving and it was plastered to her face like a Halloween mask, indicating that she’d stopped breathing, I started to panic.

  “Oh my God!” I shrieked out. “What did you do, Zaria? What are you going to do to fix this?” I questioned myself. Nervously leaping to my feet, I started shaking violently.

  My cell phone’s ringtone filled the air again. It was Izzi calling.

  “Baby! Oh, shit, help!” I begged Izzi.

  “What the fuck is going on?”

  “I can’t talk,” I said, stuttering. “But I fucked up big time. I really went too far.”

  “Zaria, slow the fuck down and tell me what the hell is the matter?” he begged.

  “Izzi, help me,” I whimpered, coming to the awful realization that I was now a murderer. “Please.”

  “Zaria, listen to me,” he demanded. “I don’t know what you have done, but get the hell from in his crib and go home. I know you know Nardo’s truck got towed, and I know you know we on our way out the club and that nigga is about to nut up. Go home, and I will meet you there as soon as I can.”

  “O . . . o . . . okay,” I stuttered. Hyperventilating, I finally made my words form sentences. I ain’t gonna front; I was petrified. My adrenaline was pumped up again. I was shook. “I need a little more time to finish.”

  “Time is up, Zaria,” Izzi warned loudly.

  Hanging up from Izzi, I gathered my thoughts together. I know I was not thinking clearly, but I dumbly decided to take Melanie with me until I could figure out what to do next. I clutched her arms together and dragged her out of the room. This chick was mad heavy. When I finally got her in the hallway, I was completely out of breath. Exhausted from the weight of her lifeless body, I gave her one good, hard kick in the ribs at the top edge of the stairs. Tumbling like an old rag doll, her battered torso hit the bottom landing face first, knocking out her two front teeth.

  Sweat was pouring down in my eyes as I dragged her into the garage and up into the truck’s rear hatch by her arms, probably ripping them out of the sockets, judging from the bone-snapping noises I was hearing. Swiftly, I ran back inside to remove any items from Nardo’s house I might have left that would implicate me in this sordid mess, and then I went back in the garage.

  Concealing my victim’s body with the aid of an old oil-stained blanket, I was set to take off. I hit the garage door switch, cautiously peeking out. When I made sure the coast was clear, I turned the water hose on, washed my hands, then drank a small amount like a tiny child on a scorching hot summer day. Collecting my weave into a nappy ponytail and out of my face, I started Nardo’s truck and slowly backed out.

  As I sped up Jefferson Avenue to get home and meet Izzi, I looked over my shoulder toward the rear of the vehicle and started violently shaking all over again. It takes a different type of bitch to ride out with a corpse.

&nb
sp; Nardo

  That bitch was truly official. It slapped and was turned up fa sho’. I’d have to visit All-Stars more frequently for that head game she gave a brotha. “That was tight,” I boasted to Izzi as we walked out the door of the still-crowed club.

  “Yeah, man, homegirl was bad, wasn’t she?” he agreed and grabbed his nuts.

  “Where the fuck is my truck?” I fumed, realizing my ride was not where I’d left it. “What the fuck!”

  “Man, you sure you parked it there?” Izzi dumbly questioned. “Maybe yo’ cheap ass should’ve got valet.”

  “Yeah, dude, I’m sure, and now it’s not here.” I ran from one side of the parking lot to the next. “Somebody done took my shit. When I find out who stole my new truck, they gonna pay with they life!”

  Finally, when I calmed down, I opened my cell to call the police and report my ride stolen. I noticed Spice had called more than a dozen times and left several messages, warning that she was waiting on Zaria to come home and had intentions of whooping her ass. Damn! I couldn’t even take the time to call the police and make the report because I had to get to Spice before Zaria finally got home for the night and the real pandemonium started. I didn’t need any more trouble for the evening.

  “Izzi, Spice is over at Zaria’s. Do me a solid and swing me by there. Them two chicks about to wild out!”

  “Naw, dude, I wanna work with ya, but I ain’t gonna be able to do it. I’m not going to be part of your circus of hoes. You on yo’ own with that one, playboy.” He nodded as he flipped open his phone, getting in his car.

  “Nigga, did you hear me? I said I need to go by Zaria’s, and you punkin’ up on me? Now, come on; let’s roll! I ain’t gonna ask you no more.”

  “Man, fuck you, nigga! I ain’t yo’ damn flunkey! I’ve been banging that kitty cat anyway, and it’s about damn time you found out. Now, you wanna go to Zaria’s house, that’s on you, but I ain’t helping you do a muthafuckin’ thing, so charge it to the game!”