The Black Diamond Trilogy

by Brittani Williams

  “So, how is your mom doing? I haven’t seen her in so long,” I asked, trying to make conversation.

  “My mom is strung out, girl; you probably wouldn’t know her if you saw her.”

  “Are you serious? Damn, I’m sorry to hear that. Do you remember my cousin Deidra?”

  “Deidra . . . Yeah, I remember her. What’s up with her?”

  “She was messed up on drugs too but I finally got her into a rehab and she’s doing so much better now. Have you tried to get your mom into a program?”

  “She’s hard to find and when you do find her she doesn’t stay long and she will tell you she’s not going to a rehab. I don’t know what else to do so I see her when I see her and I give her a few dollars and keep it moving. I got my own problems. I can’t be chasing her around. Shit, she’s a grown-ass woman,” she spat, as she dug into her salad.

  Damn, I thought, that was cold. I knew how hard it was to get a drug addict to a rehab but that’s what you do for your family. How could you just give up on your mom like that? I decided to change the subject since I could feel myself saying something that would most likely cause an argument.

  “Is that all you’re going to eat?” I asked, looking at her soup and salad. She had a perfect figure so it wasn’t like she needed a diet or anything.

  “Yeah, this is pretty much all I eat, girl. How you think I stay this size?”

  I laughed, since I knew she would say that. It’s always the small chicks that swear they need to lose some weight. I was happy with my size-eight frame.

  “So what’s up with your mom, last time I saw her y’all were packing up a U-Haul truck,” she asked.

  “She’s doing okay now, but she was depressed for years. Shit, I had to get a job to help her with the bills because she couldn’t handle them alone. I feel like I never got a chance to be a kid. I don’t regret helping keep us afloat, but I wished that my father would have been alive to take care of us. That’s why I fell in love with Tyson, because he kept my mom straight.” I got sad just saying his name. I was definitely going to miss him.

  “I know you miss him, girl, but you’ll be okay. Women are born to survive tragedy. Just like you took ahold of the situation when your dad died you’ll do it again. Don’t ever feel defeated, because it’s not becoming. You’ll never get anywhere in life like that. Believe me when I tell you I’ve been through some things but I never let any of it get me down. I kept it moving and I won’t stop until I get enough. You feel me?”

  “Yeah, I know exactly where you’re coming from.” Okay, now I had a newfound respect for her. What she said was so true and I believe that I once felt defeated. I had actually felt that way on more than one occasion. From the time I sat and begged my brother not to shoot and watched him pull the trigger. Or the time that I was forced to lose my virginity and I kept it to myself. Or when I focused so much of my attention on a no-good man that I forgot about my family. I had lived a lie for these last few years of my life. Tyson couldn’t love me the way that I loved him and it wasn’t until that very second that I realized it.

  “I learned a lot from my last relationship, girl. I had to sit in jail for nine months for some shit that he got me into. After that shit, I promised myself that I would never ever love a nigga more than I love myself. It’s not feasible for me, fuck getting a nigga with money. I’m about getting a nigga but I need my own money!”

  “I know that’s right!” I agreed. Everything that she said made perfect sense. You had to be a fool not to understand it. “I can’t believe that you went to jail, that shit is crazy, girl. What happened?”

  “I really even hate to talk about it but in a nutshell, he sent me over to Jersey with drugs to drop off and the nigga I was supposed to meet up with set me up. I was sick, girl, I thought I was gonna lose my fucking mind. When I got out, I saw him and he tried to apologize. It wasn’t that much apologizing in the world. I never wanted to get wrapped up in his world. I loved him too much and I would do anything for him. Each time he talked me into doing something it was worse than the time before. I don’t know if he was testing me to see how far I would go or what. The bottom line was that I had to walk away or end up in jail for murder because I was surely ready to blow his ass away!” She laughed, trying to bring humor to a serious situation. I didn’t know what I would do in jail—she was definitely stronger than I would ever be.

  “You’re strong, girl, I couldn’t have survived!”

  “A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do!”

  I smiled at that comment. She had grown so much mentally to a level that I wanted to reach. I guess you have to experience something devastating to learn and to overcome it. I had learned a valuable lesson today and I was going to hold onto it for life. After we finished eating we got back on the road. All the food I ate along with the one drink had me ready to take a nap. Before I knew it I was snoring. I woke up just as we were parking at a day spa.

  “Hey sleeping beauty, let’s go get our nails done.”

  “Okay,” I agreed, trying to focus. That nap was much needed. I hadn’t slept that good in weeks. We were treated like queens in the salon. The Asian culture was definitely serious when it came to business. They treated you so good you almost never wanted to leave. I enjoyed every minute of my foot massage, pedicure, and manicure. I hadn’t been that relaxed in a while. We were in there all of an hour and change before we left to head to out final destination, the Dominican hair salon.

  I came out of there looking like a new woman. I damn near didn’t recognize myself. On the way back to the apartment Kemp called her cell phone. I was surprised that he hadn’t called all day.

  “What? . . . She’s right here . . . I took her shopping, Kemp, she couldn’t stay in there with no clothes . . . Who are you yelling at? . . . I hear you . . . I just said I hear you, Kemp . . . I’ll see you when you get there then . . . Goodbye!” Click.

  “What did he say?” I asked nervously. I knew he wouldn’t be happy about me coming out of the apartment.

  “He’s only talking shit, he’s mad, but trust me, he’ll get over it,” she replied nonchalantly. She wasn’t afraid but I sure as hell was.

  “What is he going to do to me?”

  “Nothing, don’t worry about him. All you need to worry about is getting ready to hang out and party tonight. I’ll take care of him, trust me,” she reassured me.

  “Is he coming to the apartment?”

  “No, he’s going home.”

  We pulled into the lot of the apartment building within a few minutes of her ending the call. She walked me into the apartment because I was afraid that he would have someone waiting in there for me. She was cracking up the whole time. I didn’t think anything was funny. I had witnessed firsthand how he handled business. After opening the door she checked the rooms.

  “Okay, there is no one here. Satisfied?”

  “A little. What time are you coming back?”

  “Be ready by ten.”

  “Okay, I’ll be ready.”

  “Come behind me and lock up.”

  I followed her and put every lock on the door. I didn’t want him to catch me off guard. I should have told her to call me and let me know what he said. Hell, she couldn’t call me—she didn’t even know my cell number. I did a quick search of the apartment myself. I looked under the beds, in the closets, I even checked the shower. I couldn’t get comfortable till I was absolutely positive that he wasn’t there. I had just got on his good side so I hoped her game was as good as she said it was. If not, I would have to hope for a miracle, praying that he would forgive me for going out when he told me not to.

  My view of a new horizon was slowly getting dim. I needed conformation that it wasn’t a big deal. I decided to take a bath to calm my nerves but first I had to pin-curl my hair since I’d just got it done. The steam from the hot tub would ruin it. I put on some smooth R&B, dropped some bath salt in the water, got in, and relaxed. It was just what I needed. I planned on being ready at ten, and I
was going to turn heads tonight. I had a new attitude and tonight was the premiere.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Diamond: Hook, Line and Sinker

  I couldn’t wait to get home. I was doing damn near sixty MPH on neighborhood streets. If there was one thing that I couldn’t deal with it was a man thinking he ruled me. I was a grown-ass woman, and it was about time he realized it. He was not my superior, he was my husband and that didn’t mean he could disrespect me. I got out of the car and walked fast toward the door. I opened it and Kemp was in the living room with his best friend, Black. I didn’t have a thing for dark-skinned dudes but I swear he was the finest dark-skinned man I’d ever seen in my life. He had bright white teeth and some juicy-ass lips. He looked like he could do some things in the bed. Anyway, back to the problem at hand. I walked straight in and interrupted their conversation.

  “I need to talk to you, now!” I pointed toward the kitchen so Kemp would follow me. I was on fire and ready to explode. He got up from the chair, gave Black a devilish grin, and followed me out of the room.

  “Yo, what the fuck is your problem?” he asked as soon as he stepped over the threshold of the kitchen.

  “No, what the fuck is your problem? How dare you call me out of my name? I am not now nor have I ever been so degraded. I am your wife, not some trick you’re fucking on the side. Don’t you ever do that shit to me again.”

  “Are you finished?”

  “No, I’m not finished. I’m upset. I can’t believe that you did that.”

  “Babe, I was mad because you know I told her to stay in. I’m not saying I was right for disrespecting you, but she can fuck shit up for me.”

  “First of all, keeping her in hiding is gonna seem suspicious. What the hell is she on the run for? If the cops want to talk to her, so what, she ain’t gonna tell them nothing, Kemp. She’s too fucking scared. She had me checking the closets and shit to make sure you didn’t send nobody there to kill her.”

  “Word?”

  “Yes. You can’t leave her stuck up in that apartment. What’s wrong with her hanging out with me?”

  “You know I don’t trust people and I don’t want to have to murk her, but I will if I have to.”

  “Listen, she’s not going to mess up.”

  “Look, I’m sorry for what I said, okay?”

  “You should be.”

  “Do you forgive me?”

  I didn’t answer. I was still mad but I admit I had a weak spot for a man begging me for another chance. He moved in to hug me but I didn’t budge.

  “Stop being so damn stubborn and give me a hug,” he said, grabbing ahold of my arm and pulling me close to him. “I’m sorry, okay, for real, I won’t do it again.”

  I hugged him back. “I’m taking her out to the club tonight. She needs to get out and have some fun.”

  “All right, what club? I’m coming out too.”

  “Solo. What, you trying to spy on me or something?”

  “Come on now, you know better than that. I just want to go out, buy a couple bottles, and have some fun. Is there anything wrong with that?”

  “Naw, it’s cool. Make sure you have those bottles poppin’!”

  “Most definitely.” He slapped me on my ass as I was walking out of the kitchen.

  “Watch that, you gonna get yourself in trouble.” I laughed.

  “Trouble? Yeah, whatever!” He joined in the laughter.

  Black looked at us and shook his head. He was probably thinking we were crazy as hell. We weren’t crazy, we were married and all married couples have their ups and downs. I had figured out how to stand my ground when it came to men. Kemp was a ruthless killer but when it came to me I could always get him to back down. I was still mad about what he’d said but I let it go once I thought about all the money and power I’d have once he was gone. I smiled at Black before going upstairs. He smiled back at me but played it off with a laugh when Kemp noticed him looking at me.

  I knew that dealing with Black was out of the question—for now, anyway. Hell, once Kemp was out of the way I could deal with whomever I chose to. Yeah, I had my eye on him but isn’t that how men work? Was it wrong to be attracted to him? I didn’t think so. It was harmless.

  I got dressed in record time. Kemp and Black were still sitting downstairs playing Madden on the PlayStation. I had on a tight-fitting sateen black dress with spaghetti straps. The top of the dress was shaped like a corset so my breasts were popping out of the top of it. My ass looked perfectly round and my shoes were animal-print wedges with a gold buckle on top. I didn’t expect them to still be here but, hey, and least I could get a man’s opinion on my outfit before going out.

  “So, how do I look?” I said, turning around so they could get a 360-degree view. Kemp barely looked but said I looked good. He was too busy in the damn game to pay me any attention. Black, on the other hand, had his eyes glued to me like a magnet. He didn’t say anything, at least not verbally; his expression said it all for him. Satisfied, I kissed Kemp and left the house.

  Mica was ready once I got there. I was glad that I didn’t have to sit and wait. I hated to be dressed for hours waiting on someone and they are fresh to death when we get in the club because they just got dressed. Kiki was good for that. Oh, shit, Kiki. I had gotten so tied up with Mica that I hadn’t talked to her all week. I didn’t know if she was working tonight or not. I felt bad; Kiki and I normally talked every day. She was probably worried about me and here I was trying to swindle Mica.

  Once we got to the club, the line was ridiculous. I was glad that I never had to wait in lines. I knew pretty much every security guard at the clubs so they always let me skip the line. The music was on point and it was full of players and wannabe video chicks. I scoped the club trying to see who was there. I didn’t see Kiki, so she must have been off or hadn’t gotten here yet.

  About an hour after I got there, Kemp and his crew made their grand entrance. I saw all the hoes running up to give him a hug. It didn’t bother me until one of them was hanging on him a little too long. I grabbed Mica by the hand and walked over to where he was standing to make my presence known. I wasn’t trying to go to jail again but I would whoop someone’s ass for messing with my money. “Hey babe,” I said, hugging him and making sure I flashed my four-karat wedding-ring set. The girl turned her nose up and waved goodbye. I returned the gesture, adding a middle-finger move.

  “You’re crazy, you know that? That’s why I fucking love you,” he laughed. “Now let’s go to the VIP and get these bottles poppin’.”

  The VIP was crazy packed. There were some local celebrities in there along with some basketball players. We were drinking Moët like it was water. We were dancing and having tons of fun. I stepped out for a minute to go check my makeup in the ladies’ room. I ran into Black on the way.

  “You’re looking extra sexy in that dress tonight. I had to let you know since your husband didn’t,” he said, looking me up and down, licking his lips like he wanted to eat me. Shit, I wouldn’t mind getting my salad tossed by his fine ass. Too bad he was Kemp’s best friend, because I would have given him a piece.

  “Thanks,” I said, keeping it simple.

  “Don’t get too drunk you might end up in somebody else’s bed,” he laughed.

  “Oh, I won’t, trust me.”

  “Just warning you,” he said, smiling, and walked away.

  What was that about? He might as well just have come out and said he wanted some. I wouldn’t have said yes, but damn, we’re both grown and he could have kept it funky with me. I went into the bathroom and fixed my makeup while getting strange looks. I tipped the lady who gives you the paper towel and grabbed some gum out of her basket. I went back out and pushed through the crowd to get to the VIP room in the back. I was getting pulled in too many directions by different men but I managed to get my arms free each time. I still hadn’t made it through yet, but felt a grip too strong for me to get loose.

  I turned to find out who it was because I wa
s just a few seconds away from snapping and smacking the shit out of somebody. Could these men be that ignorant that the only way to get a girl’s attention was to grab her? What has happened to the days of the mack or smooth operators? Once I realized that it was Black, a little bit of steam wore off. He didn’t say anything—he just pulled me close with my back facing him and made me dance with him. Was he crazy? Kemp was just a few feet away and here he was grinding on my ass. I was drunk as hell so of course I moved to the beat of the song. After the song was over, he turned me loose. I went back into the VIP section as if nothing happened. Realistically, nothing did happen but you never know how other people would react.

  Kemp was drunk as hell, he was even dancing and that was extremely unusual. I joined in the fun. I noticed Black coming back in, standing off to the side making sure I was in full view. I was putting on a show, dancing all around Kemp like he was a stripper’s pole. I continued to make eye contact with Black and for some reason I was getting turned on. Kemp was going to be in for a treat when we got home. I just hoped that he wouldn’t get too drunk and fall asleep on me. When I was drunk I was always horny. Half of the time, Kemp wasn’t even home so I had to play with my toys or just go to sleep and forget about it. A girl needs that hunger to be fed sometimes. I was always too afraid to go out and get me a piece on the side. Kemp knew pretty much everyone in the city, so any little slipup could screw up all of my plans.