“Why are you so quiet? What’s on your mind?” I said as I turned on my side and rubbed my hand across his chest.
“Just thinking about this dude named Money JB recommended to me.”
“Money? That name sounds familiar.”
“Familiar how?” He turned to look at me.
“I don’t know, it just sounds like I heard it before.”
“Well, he’s trying to partner up with me and I’m leaning toward doing just that.”
“Partner? Why would you need a partner?”
“I don’t need a partner technically but he has some connections that will only benefit us in the long run.”
“What’s wrong with the connections that we already have? I mean, with this Kemp shit still lingering do you really trust dealing with somebody new?”
“I’m not worried about Kemp and this doesn’t have anything to do with him and whoever is out here trying to scare us the shit ain’t working. I’m not about to stop my money because of that shit. This can only put more money in both of our pockets. I know that you love money so what’s the problem?”
“There isn’t a problem. I just want you to be safe. I’d die if something happened to you.”
“Nothing’s going to happen to me.” He turned on his side and was now staring me in the eyes. This was one of those sensitive moments that I treasured. He placed his hand on the side of my face and rubbed it gently. “I love you, okay. I’m not about to go down that easily.”
I smiled and kissed him. I knew that he loved me and I had him where I wanted him. The pregnancy would seal the deal. With that, I’d permanently have his love locked down.
Chapter Thirty-nine
Black
More Drama
“Why the hell do I have to argue with you all the time? It’s not like you want for anything!” I yelled. Trice was standing on the opposite side of the room with her hands on her hips and her face frowned up.
“Who said I didn’t want for anything? I want us. I want things to be the way they used to be. I don’t know what’s so special about her. I tried to hang around hoping that you’d see her true colors and dump her ass but I can’t do this anymore.”
“What colors? You don’t even know her.”
“Not personally but I know all about her. How could you be with someone like her?”
“I’m not going to explain that, Trice. The bottom line is I’m with her and that’s that.”
She sat there with a sad look on her face. I never wanted to hurt her but what the hell was I supposed to do. Don’t get me wrong I did love Trice but not enough to go back. That’s partly what made me look at her as if she were just a piece of ass when I needed some. I could admit that her actions were partly my fault since I never told her how deep my relationship with Diamond really was. I was going to marry her and it was probably about time I told her.
“I can’t accept that.”
“Well, you’ll have to because soon I’m going to marry her.”
She stared at me as if she was ready to cry. I’d just broken her heart in a million pieces. How did things get this way? I still couldn’t figure it out. As men, we make some of the dumbest choices when it comes to dealing with women. Not saying that being with Diamond wasn’t the right choice, just saying that leading Trice on was. Unexpectedly she grabbed a vase off the table and threw it at me. It just missed my head by inches and crashed against the wall behind me, breaking into pieces. Tears were pouring out of her eyes.
“Get the fuck out!” she screamed.
“Trice, I’m . . .”
“Just get out, please. I can’t stand to look at you right now.”
I turned to walk toward the door without a fight. She’d come back around eventually, she always did. I opened the door and said, “I’m sorry,” before walking out. Once I got inside the car I reached in the glove compartment and pulled out the little black box that I’d just picked up from jewelers row. Inside was the five-karat engagement ring that I bought for Diamond. I didn’t think that the time was right to propose to her because if Kemp was in fact still alive, she couldn’t marry me anyway. I took the ring out the box, glanced at it for a few seconds, and put it back inside. What was I going to do? My mind was going in circles as I looked up at Trice standing in the window. We made eye contact for a few seconds before I turned on the car and backed out of the driveway.
Kemp was now on my mind more than ever. Almost three months had passed since the car bomb. Not that I wanted something else to happen but I was ready for war. I was tired of waiting around like a sitting duck for him to sneak up on me. I was ready to go to war and get the shit over with. I pulled my cell phone from my jacket pocket and dialed Tommy. I hadn’t seen him much in the past few weeks. Kenyon was his right hand, so with him missing I knew he’d probably blame me.
“Hello!” he yelled over the loud music in the background.
“Yo’ it’s Black, what’s the deal?”
He turned down the radio. “Nothing, man, what’s up?”
“I should be asking you that question, where you been? I ain’t seen you in a minute. You got that much dough you ain’t gotta work no more?”
“Naw man, I was just feeling under the weather. Had to take some time to get myself together that’s all. I’m gonna get back on my job this week.”
“Is that right?”
“Yeah, I wouldn’t bullshit you.”
“For as long as I’ve known you, you’ve been about money, so this disappearing act seems pretty strange to me. This wouldn’t have anything to do with Kemp would it?”
“Kemp? Hell no, I don’t believe everything I hear in the streets. I really don’t believe he’s alive. If he were alive he would have showed his face by now.”
He was right; Kemp wasn’t afraid of no one. I couldn’t see him doing all this shit and hiding in the background. Kemp was more on point too—shit, if he wanted me dead I would have been dead by now. My mind was seriously playing tricks on me.
“All right man, just get with me this week.”
“I will, yo’, have you heard from Kenyon? I’ve been calling him and I ain’t get no answer.”
“No, I haven’t. I was just about to call him too,” I lied.
“Last time I spoke to him he was on his way to see you.”
“Damn, well, I ain’t never see him. Did you stop by his crib?”
“Yup, his car ain’t even there.”
“Well, I’ll ask around too, if you hear anything let me know,” I said, acting as if I was concerned. I knew exactly where he was, in the damn river where he belonged. That nigga should have been more loyal and the way Tommy was acting he’d probably end up right there with his ass.
“Cool,” he replied before ending the call.
I had one more stop to make before going home. I looked in my rearview mirror and noticed a black Lincoln behind me. It was almost eight o’clock so it was dark outside. I could see that there was just one person in the car, the driver. I felt like I was being followed because each time I switched lanes or made a turn they did the same thing. When I’d speed up they would be right on my bumper. I was getting angry. I got on the highway to head to South Philly rather than taking the streets. It was Saturday so the roads wouldn’t be so empty. If someone was in fact following me I didn’t think they’d be bold enough to do something in front of all of those cars.
I got on and merged into traffic. The black car followed right behind me. I knew for a fact they were following me at that point. I drove at a steady speed until I reached my exit and as I was going off I was hit in the back. I almost lost control but I got it together quickly. Glancing in my mirror I now saw two people when there had only been one the last time I looked back. I sped off, even going through red lights and all. I was nearing one of my stores when the passenger leaned out of the window and began firing shots. One pierced the back window then a few more hit the body.
“Fuck,” I yelled. I grabbed my cell phone off the seat while trying
to speed through traffic. I dialed JB. I was close by the block that he ran so I knew he’d be around. He picked up on the second ring.
“Hello.”
“These niggas is shooting at me. I’m coming around the block now.” I dropped the phone. I knocked my driver-side mirror off. I was making it through small streets while they were still following behind me. Where the fuck were the cops when you needed them? As I neared the block I looked behind me and noticed the car was gone. I didn’t even notice that they had turned off. My heart was racing. Just when I thought this shit was dying down it comes right back. JB and a few niggas were standing on the corner when I pulled up. You could smell burning rubber from the tires. I jumped out of the car as they all ran over to examine it.
“What the fuck happened? Who was following you?”
“Hell if I know. When I first noticed the car it was one nigga. I get hit in the back, lose control for a second and look back it’s two niggas in there.” I was pacing and yelling. I was so mad. I could’ve been shot that time. It could’ve been all over for me. I wasn’t even about to tell Diamond what happened so she could get all upset.
“Damn man, you gotta start riding with someone until this shit gets straight. Did you see what kind of car it was?” JB asked, now angry himself.
“It was a black Caddy. I’m so fucking mad right now. I’m going to need to use someone’s car. I can’t drive this shit home like that. D will have a fit.”
“Take mine. I’ll get that shit fixed for you in the A.M.”
“All right, I’ll get up with you in a few hours. I have to take care of something real quick.”
“All right,” he responded before shaking my hand.
I jumped in his car and quickly sped off. I was pissed. What the hell were they going to do next? How many times would I be able to escape death? I’d been lucky so far but maybe JB was right, I needed to have someone riding with me at all times. I felt like a sucker needing a bodyguard but I wasn’t ready to die. I wasn’t going down that easily. I couldn’t even think straight; I completely forgot about the stop, but fuck it, I’d just get to it later. I had to go regroup. I was paranoid, looking in the rearview mirror every few seconds. I pulled up in front of the house and sat there for a minute or two to get myself together. I didn’t want Diamond to know something was wrong. I had always been pretty good at hiding things from women but lately it hadn’t been working out that way. Before I could get out the car and up to the door she was standing there with the door wide open, tapping her feet on the ground.
“What’s wrong with you? Why are you sitting out here like that?”
“Nothing is wrong, I was coming in.”
“You never sit out here like that unless something is wrong. What’s going on, Black?”
“I said nothing, D, chill out.”
“I’m not going to chill out until you tell me what’s going on. Did Kemp try to get at you again?”
“What? What the hell would make you say that?” I tried to fake it, hoping that sooner or later she’d give up or believe me. At least that was what I was hoping for.
“First of all, you’re in JB’s car and you were sitting out here with your head down like something heavy was weighing on your mind. I’m not a fool, Black.”
“I got a flat so JB let me hold his car until the morning, okay? Stop reading so much into everything. I said that there wasn’t anything wrong.” By this time I had brushed past her and made it into the house. She was still standing there with the door open. “Could you get in here and close the door, please?”
She closed the door but still kept a frown on her face. I walked over to the sofa and sat down. I wasn’t going to give in and tell her what had gone down. I’d have to hear her mouth all night if I did.
“I’m not slow, Black, I know you too well,” she said before coming over to the sofa and sitting beside me. I was sitting there with my head back and my eyes closed. I loved Diamond but I hated the fact that she could never leave well enough alone.
“Diamond, please, I have a headache and you’re not making it any better.”
“Well, let me go get you some aspirin,” she said getting up.
“Thank you,” I replied.
She returned to the room a few seconds later. I soon felt cold water and a bottle of aspirin hitting my face.
“I’m not an asshole, and just ’cause you get in some fight with your little bitch out there you don’t have to act all funny with me.”
“What the hell is wrong with you, Diamond?” I yelled, sitting up and wiping the water off of my face. Where the hell did she get that? “This doesn’t have anything to do with anyone, Diamond, my fucking head is hurting and I thought I could lay my head down for a little while. Obviously I was wrong when a nigga can’t rest in his own fucking house,” I yelled. “And thanks for the aspirin,” I said before throwing them back at her and heading toward the steps. I turned back to look at her before I walked upstairs. She was standing there still angry. I sighed and shook my head as I took the steps. I felt bad for snapping but not bad enough to apologize. She had to stop being so damn persistent before she got an answer that she didn’t want to hear. I went up to the bedroom, shut the door, and lay down. I was trying to clear all of the drama out of my mind at least for an hour or two. Surprisingly, Diamond allowed me to rest without bothering me. When I woke up to head back out to the house she was asleep on the living room sofa. I left her untouched and snuck out the door. It was time to get back to work and it was also time to finish this war that had begun. I wasn’t going to hide and I damn sure wasn’t going to run. I’d get at him and whoever was down for him. Just like Kenyon, Kemp and his help were going down.
Chapter Forty
Diamond
Emotional
My moods were so up and down. One minute I was laughing and shedding tears the next. It was like something out of a horror film. I felt like one of those psychiatric patients that you see on TV. I was sitting in the tub relaxing. Black was out working as usual and lately we’d argued more than usual. I wasn’t sure if it was the stress or if it was someone else. I mean, I knew he fucked around but it seemed like this situation was weighing him down. I had to do something to get his mind back on me, which is where it belonged. Then I thought about it, I hadn’t gotten my period yet. I hurried and washed up and got dressed quickly so I could drive to the CVS and grab a pregnancy test. With all of the arguing I had completely forgotten that I was trying to get pregnant. Plus, I’d been unsuccessful for so long that I thought it wouldn’t work anyway. I had a big smile on my face as I went to the counter to pay for it. The chick at the register gave me a funny look. Instead of snapping like I normally would I killed her with kindness.
I couldn’t get home fast enough I was so excited. I dropped my purse downstairs and hurried up to the bathroom. I paced for the few minutes it took to show the answer that I was hoping for: pregnant. Though I had been waiting for this moment for the last few months I never knew how I’d feel once I found out. I hadn’t prepared that part of the plan. How could you really prepare yourself mentally for something like this? Within five minutes I’d went from anxious to happy to nervous. What the hell was going on with me? I thought. I had to pull myself together. I was always a fighter. I always stuck to my plans no matter how crazy they might have seemed.
I had to let it sink in for a few more days before telling Black. I decided to run by Kiki’s to let her in on the news. As I was leaving out of the house, my cell phone rang. It almost startled me. It was a number that I didn’t recognize. I almost didn’t answer it but I said what the hell and picked up.
“Hello.”
“Can I speak with Diamond?”
“Speaking, who’s this?”
“This is Trice,” she said loudly. How the hell did she get my number? I thought. I damn sure wasn’t in the mood to be fighting with this chick.
“How can I help you?”
“Look, I know that we haven’t gotten along in the past
but I wanted to know if we could meet somewhere and sit down and talk.”
“Talk? About what? Any other time you’re jumping down my throat or screaming obscenities.”
“And I’m trying to move past that.”
I didn’t trust her one bit but with all of the other shit going on in my life I could stand to lose one enemy. I wondered if this reconciliation was an act or was it truly genuine.
“Well, I’m pretty busy this week but maybe one day next week.”
“Are you sure that you can’t squeeze it in this week?”
What the fuck was the rush? I felt like she was up to something. I didn’t know Trice too well but she seemed desperate and I wasn’t in the mood for any tricks.
“No, I can’t,” I replied sternly. Shit, if she wanted to meet it would be on my time.
“All right then, I’ll give you a call back next week. Oh, and could we keep this between us? Black will swear I’m up to something.” She gave a girlish giggle.
Was she serious? Don’t tell Black? She was definitely up to something now. She’d just confirmed it for sure. “Okay, no problem,” I lied. I was damn sure going to tell him. I wasn’t a fool. I hung up and shook my head. I couldn’t even wrap my mind around what had just happened. Now she’s trying to be all friendly. A week ago we would have been in a full-blown argument before I got a chance to say hello. Thinking back, her hatred never had anything to do with me. I definitely believed that Black was dipping and dabbing though he’d swear to God he wasn’t. I mean, unless you were a total nutcase you wouldn’t bring so much drama for nothing.
When Black and me first got together I made sure that everything was on the table. If there was one thing I hated, it was surprises. He told me that he didn’t have a woman but his son’s mom was one of those die-hard women that wouldn’t let go. Of course I was cocky and I felt that even if he was going back and forth what I had would keep him with me. Besides, when they were together she went and had a baby by another dude. I thought for sure he’d never want her. The more she called and tried to cause drama between us the more I saw how much she cared about him. It didn’t matter how many times he’d cuss her out or throw me in her face, she’d keep coming back for more.
The Black Diamond Trilogy Page 27
