Shyt List 4: Children of the Wronged (The Cartel Publications Presents)

by (T. Styles), Reign

  “He’s a punk.” One person proclaimed. “That Greggs kid.”

  “I told my husband he couldn’t beat shit but his dick!” Yelled another.

  “Mommy, what’s a dick?” Delilah asked.

  “Something I’ma bust you in the mouth for if you say again.” Delilah shielded her lips thinking the blow would come any minute. “It’s a nasty word and a nasty thing.” She paused as if she didn’t have a mouth full of dick a few hours earlier at the pool. “Now, how’s your breakfast?” Yvonna sliced her pancakes with the knife. “Your pancakes aren’t too cold are they?”

  “They fine, mommy.”

  Thinking the dick thing was still on her baby’s mind she said, “What’s bothering you?”

  “A few things.”

  “Give me the first.” Yvonna stirred the coffee on her table.

  “I’m saw the two scary lines again. When Quita took me to the bathroom at the bottom of the hotel. Right in front of the door.”

  “Delilah, stop it! You don’t see scary lines because it’s impossible for lines to be scary!” Yvonna paused. “Now tell me what else is bothering you.”

  Delilah frowned. “I’ve decided that I’m going to kill my co-daycare person tomorrow. I’ve decided that I can’t deal with him anymore, and neither can my friends.”

  “Okay…let me ask the first question, how do you plan on killing this kid?”

  “I have my ways.”

  “And what did I tell you about killing? Didn’t I say it was wrong?”

  “Ma, you didn’t want to talk about it at all, but I’m tired of him bothering me. And I’m tired of him talking about you.”

  “Would you ladies like anything else?” The waitress interrupted.

  “What?”

  “Would you like anything else, honey?”

  When Yvonna turned to Delilah she was busy doing something. “What were you just doing?”

  “Nothing, mommy.” Yvonna didn’t believe her. “You want anything else, to eat?”

  “No, mama.”

  “Okay here is the check.” The waitress said tearing a piece of paper off her pad before setting it on the table. “And did you hear about Urban Greggs? They can’t find him.”

  “Bitch, get the fuck away from my table! I’m trying to talk to my daughter.”

  “With that language?” The woman frowned stomping away.

  “That wasn’t nice mommy. The lady was only being nice.”

  “Forget all that,” Yvonna said. “Listen, you can’t talk about killing that little boy, okay? It’s not nice and it’s not good.”

  “Well what am I supposed to do? Let him keep messing with me?”

  “I’ll take care of it, okay? Don’t you worry about a thing.”

  “If you say so, mama.”

  “I do say so. Now who are your friends?”

  “What friends?”

  “The ones you were talking about. The ones who you told you were going to take care of the kid?” Delilah didn’t want to say it because she knew how mad Yvonna would get. “Delilah…I asked you a question.”

  Delilah swallowed hard and said, “Ra Ra.”

  Feeling like she couldn’t avoid the inevitable too long, she decided to ask the tough questions. “Baby, do you actually…can you really see…”

  “Yes, mama. I can see Ra Ra and my other friends. They are so nice, mommy.”

  “What do they look like?”

  “Different people. Why, mama?”

  “Baby, I don’t want you to see people. I don’t want you to be like me.”

  “You see people, mama?” Her eyes widened in hopefulness. Here it was after all this time, she thought she was all alone, and now her mother said she too could see people that weren’t there.

  “Sometimes,” Yvonna said wanting to cry.

  “Well I even see people I’ve seen before.”

  Yvonna was trying to get her mind straight before she said anything else. Delilah suffering with her condition was enough to make her wanna go ballistic and kill everyone who ever sexually abused kids. But now she wanted to get Delilah to stop talking like that, until she could get some private help for her. Even if it meant scaring her to death. “Delilah, I don’t like when you talk about stuff like that.”

  “It’s true, mama. I saw the lady that use to…”

  “Delilah, stop it! People may think you are crazy and wanna take you away from me. Do you want that?”

  “No, mama,” she cried. “I wanna be with you always. I would be so sad if someone took me away from you.”

  “And so would I. That’s why you can’t tell anybody that. Or else they…” Yvonna’s heart stopped along with her words, because in the hotel walked someone she hadn’t seen in years. She had loved when she was a kid, yet here he was now, with the same face he had before she killed him. Sure it was a little bruised, but it was him all the same. But how could it be?

  Rummaging through her purse to find her medicine she took out her makeup bag and the key to her room. She still didn’t find what she was looking for until she saw the orange pill bottle. It was empty and she realized she still didn’t know what happened to her pills.

  “Yvonna, are you okay?” Onik asked.

  Not wanting him or Yao to know she was crazy she said, “Yes, I’m fine.” Then she focused her attention on Delilah. “Baby, I want you to do something for me.” She paused. “Put down your fork and look over there for me.” She pointed. “Behind you.”

  “Where, mama?”

  “On your right.” Delilah looked. “Do you see that boy over there, in the blue jeans and black top?”

  “The one with the curly hair?” Yvonna exhaled having gotten her answer. “Yes, mama. I see him. And he’s looking straight at you.”

  “Thank you, baby.”

  “But, mama, why is he so mad?”

  Bilal Jr. walked slowly in her direction and stopped a few feet from the table. Onik blocked him until Yvonna said, “It’s okay.”

  He was tired of hearing those words, either he was there to protect her or not. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.”

  Bilal’s eyes were bloodshot red and he looked angry. “I remember you. You gave me a soda when I was a kid that made me sick. Why you do that?”

  “Look, I think you got me mixed up with someone else.” She turned to her daughter. “Delilah, hurry up and finish eating. We’re about to go, baby.” Yvonna gathered her makeup bag off the table and threw it back in her MCM purse.

  “So you won’t even talk to me?” He stepped closer. “And tell me why you would do something like that? You won’t even give me that much.”

  “Bilal…look…”

  “So you do know me.” he interrupted.

  “Yes, I knew your father.”

  “Mommy, who is this?”

  “Nobody you need to concern yourself with. Now hurry up we’re getting ready to go.”

  “I know you’re busy, but when I saw you I couldn’t believe you were really here.” Bilal interrupted. “I came with my friend’s parents and I left them because I needed to see you up close. Can you at least talk to me later? Alone?”

  Yvonna had changed since the last time she poisoned him. She wasn’t the same person. Having a child made her have slight consideration for other people’s children and she never forgave herself for what she did to him. After killing both of his parents, and his grandmother, she felt she owed him at least a fifteen-minute private conversation, just as long as it was away from her own child.

  “Aw, help him, mommy. He seems sad.”

  Yvonna sighed and said, “Not sure what I can say to you, but if my words will make you feel better, I’ll talk to you later.”

  “When?”

  “Let’s say tonight. About 7:00pm.”

  “That’s around the time of the fight.”

  “Do you want to meet me or not?”

  “Yes.” He paused. “Where?”

  Taking a pen and piece of paper out of her purse she said,
“Here is my room number. And here is my cell. I’ll meet you there at 7:00, but don’t be late. If you’re even one minute late, even if I’m there, I won’t talk to you.”

  “I won’t be late. Thank you.”

  When Bilal walked away, her phone rang. It was Ming. “Hello.”

  “Please come back to the room. Uncle Yao is here, and he’s very upset.”

  Her heart rate sped up. “Why?”

  “I don’t know…something about Urban Greggs.”

  Quita’s Room

  Yvonna knocked on the door once and Quita swung the door open. “Quita, I’ma need you to keep Delilah now.”

  “Okay, but, did you see Bricks? I been trying to reach him to find out if he’s bringing Chomps by or not.”

  “Why wouldn’t he?” She said as she ushered Delilah into the room.

  “Mama, please don’t push me. I can walk just fine if you let me.”

  When Delilah dropped her purse Yvonna picked it up, handed it to her and said, “Delilah, I don’t have time for your sassiness. Now be good and I’ma be back when I can.”

  “Can we go see Kelsi today, Quita?” Delilah asked. “I gotta see him bad.

  “Girl, what did I tell you about him? Stop being fast! That’s a grown ass man!”

  Delilah walked in and flopped down on the sofa without another word. “Bricks wouldn’t answer the phone.” Quita continued. “I mean, I know the fight is tonight so I’m just wondering.”

  “Is everything okay with you in general? And with Bricks? You been acting weird lately.”

  A half smile presented on Quita’s face and she said, “Yeah…why wouldn’t it be?”

  Yvonna stepped to her and said, “Because the nigga belongs to me, whether he knows it or not. So if you got him in your mind, you need to get him the fuck off of it. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Yeah, Yvonna.”

  She was about to leave when she remembered Little Davie. “Where’s the kid name Little Davie?”

  “Over there.”

  Yvonna walked up to the kid who was sitting on the couch playing a portable game player. She snatched it out of his hands, dropped it on the floor and slammed her foot on it breaking it into many pieces. Then she bent down and got into his face, the child was so scared he couldn’t stop shaking. Giving him an evil look, she moved her mouth closely to his ear so no one else could hear her words.

  “Everything you heard about me is true.” She whispered. “And if you fuck with my daughter or mention my name again, I will kill you.” Then she looked into his eyes. “You understand me, little fucker?” He nodded yes. “Cool.” She walked toward the door. “Quita, I’ll be back when I can.”

  Sin City

  YBM

  Swoopes walked into the YBM hotel room and was greeted by his gang members. It had been months since he’d been around them and he couldn’t lie, it felt good that they finally set their feelings aside about the whole matter to help him get Yvonna.

  They were in the living room drinking Hennessey when Growl said, “We glad you back, nigga.” He raised a glass in the air. “Shit ain’t been the same since you been gone.”

  Crystal ran her hand up and down his arm as all of the members stood around. “Once I get this bitch, shit will be back to normal. Trust me.” He paused. “So, ya’ll got any information on her?”

  “We think she at the Aria but it’s hard to find her.” Mike said.

  “You know if we don’t get her this weekend, we may not ever catch this bitch.” He paused. “But I got a plan I’m working on now, using Bilal’s kid. He downstairs talking to this bitch now.”

  “Why you ain’t tell me?” Growl said. “We could’ve grabbed her.”

  “Naw, she always got one of Yao’s guards with her.”

  “So you sure your plan gonna work?” Mike asked.

  “Trust me. I think this may be it.” Swoopes said.

  “Well if it don’t work, we got a plan in the works that is guaranteed to bring this bitch to us.”

  Sin City

  Yvonna

  Perspiration formed on Yvonna’s head as she moved toward the door. Does Yao know I killed Urban? She thought. Taking a deep breath she was surprised when Ming swung the door open. Onik was on guard as usual.

  “Stay out here, Onik.” She walked into the suite and inside was Gabriella, Terrell and Bricks.

  Terrell and Gabriella immediately jumped up and said, “We have to talk.”

  “Actually I was waiting to talk to her first,” Bricks said stepping in front of them.

  “This ain’t about you and the fact that you been trying to fuck her. What we got to say is serious.” Terrell said.

  “Nigga, who the fuck is you talking to?” Bricks said running up to him.

  “WAIT!!!!!” Yvonna screamed stepping between them. “I don’t have time for this shit right now!” Then she turned to Gabriella and Terrell and said, “Is this about the both of you? Being together?”

  “Yes.” Gabriella replied.

  “Then I don’t want to hear it.” Then she turned to Bricks and said, “Come in my room.”

  “Yvonna, this is important.” Gabriella demanded. “And we have to do it now. You can’t be mad at me forever!”

  Yvonna stopped, turned around and said, “Why are you so incessant upon involving me in your relationship? You’re fucking each other, so be happy.”

  “Wait…they together?” Bricks asked.

  “It’s not that we are incessant, Yvonna, we just don’t want to lose your friendship.” Gabriella replied.

  “It’s a little too late for that isn’t it?”

  “Come on, Bricks.”

  Stopping her again Ming said, “Yvonna, before you go just give Ming five minutes of your time. It’s about Yao.”

  Yvonna looked at Bricks and said, “Wait in my room. I’m coming.”

  When Bricks walked into the room and closed the door Ming grabbed Yvonna by the hand and carried her into the kitchen part of the suite. She wanted to get away from Gabriella and Terrell. “Uncle Yao wants you to meet him in his room. He says it’s about Urban and it’s very important.” Yvonna sighed. “What happened, Yvonna?”

  “I’ll tell you everything. I promise.” She paused. “Now let me talk to Bricks.”

  She was preparing to leave until Ming spoke in Chinese. “Ming, I don’t know fucking Chinese. Stop being stupid.”

  With seriousness in her eyes that Yvonna hadn’t seen in a while she said, “I snooped around Gabriella’s room. And I don’t trust her.”

  “Why you say that? Because she fucked Terrell?”

  “No. Ming saw the pastor’s number in her jacket pocket, along with Penny’s number.”

  “Penny?” Yvonna was confused. “How? Why?”

  “Ming doesn’t know.”

  Yvonna felt the room spin. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. Ming is.”

  Rubbing her temples she said, “So what does what you said in Chinese mean in English?”

  “It means, ‘be careful. Because those who really do not want to be found, can not be found.’”

  “Ming, I have a long day ahead of me. Just give it to me straight.”

  “Ming thinks you need to watch her.” Yvonna seemed uneasy. “Think, Yvonna, it doesn’t seem right that all of a sudden she could be found so easily. People have been trying to find her for years, since she was a kid, yet Terrell walks into the church one day, steals a piece of paper and finds her.”

  What Ming said resonated with her, but too much other shit was happening at the moment. In less than forty-eight hours she had killed three people, scared the hell out of a kid and fucked Bricks’ best friend. She really needed a mental break. So instead of discussing the matter at that moment, she said, “Ming, I’ll talk to you later. But don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

  Looking at Gabriella sitting on the couch she said, “Ming hopes so.”

  Yvonna’s Room

  “What’s up, Bricks?” Yvonna said sitting on the b
ed next to him. “You still mad at me?”

  He stood up and walked to the dresser. “I’m not here to talk about that.”

  “Well unless you wanna talk about that,” she walked over to him and stared him into his eyes, “then I’m not willing to discuss anything at all.”

  “What is there to talk about? You fucked my mans.”

  “But I thought it was you, Bricks.” She grabbed his hand. He snatched it away and walked back to the bed to sit down but she was on his heels. “Please, believe me I would never have given my body to your friend. You know that.”

  In his heart of hearts Bricks knew she would never violate like that purposefully, but he couldn’t shake the feeling. “I do believe you, but it don’t make what I think about the shit any different.” He stood up, walked back to the dresser and sat on the edge. “I mean, how could you fuck this nigga and think it was me? What about all the nights I held you in my arms because you couldn’t get to sleep? Don’t you know what my body feels like against yours?”

  She felt lower than low, so she walked over to him. “I was drunk, baby. And we didn’t say anything when we were fucking because we didn’t want people outside of the party to know what we were doing.” She rested her head on his chest. “But I love you, Bricks. Do you hear what I’m saying? I love you.”