Simmy rolled her eyes and blew out a windstorm of breath. “I told you, he said that you can’t keep biting the hand that feeds you and getting away with it. He said they’re everywhere and they’re not going to stop until you do right by everybody,” Simmy paraphrased and repeated for the fifth time.
Alex rubbed his chin, his eyebrows dipping low on his face. He was in deep thought.
“I want to go to sleep,” Simmy grumbled.
“Here. I got these for you. They’ll ease your mind,” Alex said, pulling a pharmacy pill bottle out of his pocket and extending it toward Simmy.
She crinkled her nose. “What’s that?”
“Percs. Harmless shit. It’ll help you relax, though,” Alex said. This time he opened the bottle and dumped two into his hand and extended them toward her. “Take the fucking pills, Simone.” He raised his voice. “I don’t have time to sit around here listening to you moan and groan about all the fucking bad luck we’re having. This will shut you the fuck up,” Alex said, grabbing her hand and forcing the pills into them.
Simmy had seen that look in his eyes before. Her heart throttled up. She knew better than to go against him right now. She threw the pills into her mouth, grabbed a bottle of water from the nightstand, and swallowed them.
* * *
Some hours later Alex was shaking Simmy awake. The pills had definitely relaxed her, so much so she could barely lift her head.
“How long have I been sleeping?” Simmy asked as her eyes tried to adjust to the light.
“We don’t have time for stupid questions. Simone, get dressed. I need you to come with me,” Alex said, rushing his words out.
“I’m tired,” Simmy groaned. “It’s the middle of the night.”
“I know. But, you have to do something for me,” he panted. “Now put these on and hurry up,” he said, throwing a pair of sweatpants on the bed.
Simmy reluctantly sat up and wiped the sleep from her eyes. Her head swam, and her vision was slightly blurred. It had to be the aftereffects of those pills.
“Hurry the fuck up!” Alex boomed.
Simmy was startled. She slid into the pants and stood up.
“Good, now let’s go.”
Simmy rode in the back of a black Suburban with Alex while one of his boys drove and another one sat in the front passenger seat. They didn’t speak to one another. They didn’t play any music, nothing. The mood was completely dark and ominous. Simmy felt a sinking in the pit of her stomach, like what she imagined a person walking down death row on their day of reckoning must feel like.
Simmy tried to figure out where they were going, but the driver cut through so many Brooklyn side and back streets, she got dizzy trying to keep up. Finally, the SUV stopped at a double chain-link fence. The front passenger got out and moved the gates aside to allow the SUV inside.
Simmy heard the crunch of gravel under the tires, and she craned her neck to see out of the windows. There was a three-story, plain red brick warehouse-style building directly in front of them.
“C’mon,” Alex demanded, opening her door.
Simmy followed Alex and his boys into the building. Goosebumps immediately cropped up all over her body once she was inside. She could hear voices, but she couldn’t see the source.
“You niggas thought it was a good idea to run up? How fucking stupid are y’all?” Simmy heard a dude’s voice. “What do you think he gon’ do to y’all knowing y’all niggas fronted on his girl?”
“I don’t want to die. I can’t leave my kids behind like this,” Simmy heard another dude cry. From what she could hear, he could barely get his words out between sobs.
Alex, Simmy, and the other guys from the SUV finally walked into the room. Simmy’s teeth were chattering together so badly she was getting a headache again. The warehouse was freezing, the kind of freezing that made Simmy feel like she was standing inside of a huge meat locker. She could even see puffs of frosty air as she breathed out. The smell of sawdust and industrial chemicals was also so strong that the combination was making her stomach churn. The two young dudes who were tied up flexed their backs against each other and turned their heads as much as the ropes that bound them together allowed. Both were trembling from the subzero conditions in the room.
“Yo, King Alex,” one of the young dudes said pleadingly.
King Alex! Simmy screamed in her head.
“We ain’t do it. I swear, man, it wasn’t us. You got the wrong dudes,” the dude begged.
“Oh, yeah, nigga? That’s why I brought my girl out here. She gon’ identify y’all punk asses and then it’s going to be over,” Alex growled.
“He’s telling the truth,” the other tied-up victim whispered calmly in response through his battered lips.
Simmy didn’t know how he was staying so calm being tied up, damn near buck-naked, freezing, and obviously already beaten. It was like the young guy had no emotion behind what was happening or like he had already resigned himself to the fact that he was going to die.
“Simone,” Alex called.
Simmy stumbled forward, her body quaking like a leaf in a wild storm.
“These the niggas who shot at you?” Alex asked.
One of Alex’s boys walked over and lifted the two young dudes’ downturned heads so Simmy could look at their faces.
“I . . . didn’t really . . .” Simmy stammered. She couldn’t remember their faces. She would only be able to recognize their voices, but she could feel the heat of all of Alex’s crew’s glares on her. She would have to let Alex exact his own form of justice, or he’d take it out on her for sure.
“I think so,” Simmy lied. She didn’t know at all if those were the guys responsible.
“Good. Now you stay here and watch what I do to them. It’s all for you, baby girl. Nobody fucks with you,” Alex growled. “Get those niggas up.”
“King Alex, man. Listen, I can explain,” one of the young dudes stammered. “You . . . you know how this trappin’ shit is, man. A lot of jealousy and niggas just want to be treated fairly.”
Alex seemed to grow more and more agitated by the minute. There was something about the begging and pleading that seemed to send him over the top.
“Shut the fuck up!” Alex boomed. “You wanted to make power moves on my girl? You bitch-ass nigga. Now you in here, assed out and begging? Nah, nigga, keep them crocodile tears.”
“Yo, King Alex. Mad niggas in your camp wanted you gone. It wasn’t just us. The ones you think is closest to you really ain’t got your back, man! We can help you root them niggas out. Just give us another chance. That nigga RayShawn is the one trying to make deals to get the powder behind your back,” the second young dude cried out, snitching on his crew while his voice quivered like an old lady’s.
Simmy couldn’t believe what was happening in front of her. That meant all along, like Kyan had said, Alex was heavy in the drug business. Simmy felt stupid for ever believing that he had financed his lavish lifestyle off of just counterfeit credit cards, kiting checks, and money order scams. She shifted on her legs. If she could run away and never come back, at that moment, she would’ve taken off out of that scary place and kept running until her legs gave out.
“Niggas scheming on me, huh? That’s too bad, because I am the fucking boss now, and always. I gave all y’all dirty rat bastards a job, and picked y’all stupid asses up off them streets from being hungry, dirty, and broke. This is the thanks I get? Niggas complaining and moaning like bitches. Niggas tryin’a cut deals behind my back. Niggas running up on my girl and robbing her like she some basic bitch? Nah, ain’t no coming back from none of that,” Alex growled, flames flashing in his eyes. Alex rushed over, raised his gun, and ground the end of it at the first young dude’s temple.
Simmy felt nauseated. She squeezed her eyes shut.
“Please, don’t kill me,” the young dude begged. “I got kids. I take care of my whole family. My moms already lost two sons. Please, King Alex, give me another chance.”
�
��Shut the fuck up! Don’t say shit about your mother and your fucking kids! You wasn’t thinking about them when you was out here playing bad boy, nigga!” Alex growled, grinding his gun into the dude’s head even harder.
Simmy opened her eyes and immediately regretted it. She turned away so no one could see the tears rimming her eyes. She had been upset about getting robbed, but she didn’t want to see anyone die behind it. Especially right in front of her face.
“Should’ve thought twice before fucking with my family,” he said through gritted teeth, putting pressure on the trigger. “See you in hell, nigga.”
One powerful blast to the dome dropped the young dude like a sack of potatoes. Simmy jumped hard and shrieked. She clutched her stomach at the sight of the spray of his blood and the sight of gray brain matter that splattered. The thick, metallic scent of blood mixed with the grit of gunpowder overwhelmed Simmy’s senses. She didn’t want to watch Alex do it to the second young dude.
“I gotta get out of here,” Simmy huffed.
“Nah, you gotta watch. You need to know I have another side to me. You need to know who I really am,” Alex replied.
More shots and the second dude went down. Simmy could barely stand up with her knees knocking together so hard. She gripped her stomach and doubled over. Vomit spewed from her lips, just missing her feet.
“I’m not to be fucked with,” Alex said, his chest heaving like a beast in the wild after a fresh kill.
Something inside of Simmy shivered. She knew all too well how violence could be just as deep and intimate as love and even worse how obsession could turn into death. In that moment, Simmy embraced the feeling. It was fear. She had finally admitted to herself that everything about Alex had her in constant fear.
I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you sooner. You were right all along. Simmy made a silent apology to her mother.
Chapter 19
Growing Up, Growing Apart
Simmy used Mummy Pat’s deteriorating condition as an excuse to stay at Mummy Pat’s house and get away from Alex as much as she could. She’d had constant nightmares after watching him torture and kill the dudes he thought robbed her. Alex reluctantly agreed to Simmy staying at Mummy Pat’s, so long as Simmy still went out there and worked. She did anything he asked, just so he wouldn’t ask her to come home to the new condo he’d purchased for them.
The day Simmy got the call about Jayla’s release, she couldn’t keep still. She couldn’t wait to see Jayla. She’d missed her cousin so much. There was so much to tell and so many things they had to do.
Simmy drummed her nails on the steering wheel as she waited outside of the jail for Jayla. She looked down at her watch for the tenth time and realized only six minutes had passed since the last time she’d checked. It seemed like Simmy had been waiting an eternity before she finally saw Jayla in the distance. Jayla still had that swagger about her, even wearing the same clothes she’d had on just about a year ago. That was what Simmy admired most about Jayla, she was the epitome of “can’t keep a good woman down.” Simmy sat up straight and checked herself out in the visor mirror. Her heart drummed with excitement as she got out of her new whip to greet her cousin.
“Baby cuz!” Jayla squealed, damn near breaking into a run.
Simmy opened her arms and scooped Jayla into them. They hugged each other tight and spun around a few times.
“Ohh, my Gawd! I missed your ass so much, Simmy,” Jayla sang as they held on to each other. Simmy had visited her often at first but, over the last six months, she hadn’t been able to get away from Alex long enough to go see her cousin. She still made sure to keep money on Jayla’s books, and she always took Jayla’s calls so, even though they hadn’t seen each other, they had still been keeping in touch.
“I missed you more. You have no idea,” Simmy said, squeezing Jayla like she never wanted to let go. “C’mon. Let’s get out of this godforsaken-ass dump New Jersey,” Simmy said, leading Jayla to the passenger side door.
“Mmm, mmm. I must say, Simmy, you look hella good. From head to toe you have made me proud,” Jayla said, giving Simmy a good once-over. “A bitch can certainly appreciate those Jimmy Choo pumps you rocking.”
“Thanks,” Simmy said, blushing and smiling. “You know fashion even if your ass been missing in action for almost a year, huh?”
“Oh, you already know.” Jayla laughed. “You still working the business?” Jayla asked, getting right to it.
“Something like that,” Simmy answered. “But, we can talk about all that in time. Turn around and look in the back,” Simmy said, quickly changing the subject. Truth was, Simmy hadn’t told Jayla what she had been up to since her arrest. Whenever Jayla would start to ask questions, she would change the subject or rush herself off of the phone.
Jayla loosened her seat belt and leaned between the front seats to look into the back. “Girl! What the hell?” Jayla said, her voice rising at the sight of the entire back seat filled with shopping bags from Neiman Marcus, Gucci, Prada, Fendi, and Chanel.
“That’s all you,” Simmy said proudly. “You know I wasn’t going to let you come home after almost a year without the right kind of welcome home gifts.”
“Bitch, you the best!” Jayla squealed, leaning over and kissing Simmy on her cheek.
Simmy laughed. “Don’t make me crash or our asses won’t even make it home.”
* * *
When Jayla walked into her apartment, her mouth fell open at the sight of all of the roses and balloons that read: WELCOME HOME. She turned to Simmy with tears in her eyes. “Simmy. I love you so much. Thank you for holding my shit down all that time. There are not many people like you out there. Anybody else would’ve just let my shit fall by the wayside and said fuck it. I really appreciate it,” Jayla proclaimed, hugging Simmy tight.
“This ain’t shit, Jay. You did so much for me when I needed you the most. I wanted you to know that I’d always hold you down and I still stick to that,” Simmy said with feeling.
Jayla swiped away her tears. “Look, chick. I ain’t come out here to be all weepy and shit. I can’t wait to sleep in my own bed,” Jayla said, rushing toward her bedroom. Simmy was right on her heels.
Jayla flopped down on her bed and stretched her arms and legs as far and wide as they could go. “Ahh. Nothing like the feel of your own shit.”
“I know,” Simmy said. “That’s how I feel about mine.”
Jayla sat up. “Wait. You haven’t been staying here?”
Simmy’s cheeks flushed, and she broke eye contact with Jayla. She shook her head. “I kind of have my own place,” Simmy said shyly.
“Your own place? Oh, shit, my cousin done grew up on me!” Jayla began clapping at Simmy in approval.
“Well, yes. Kinda. Not exactly.” Simmy struggled to get her words out. “I live with somebody.”
“Okay, and who is it? Kyan? Shit, I want to know everything,” Jayla pressed.
Simmy sat down next to Jayla on the bed. “No. It’s not Kyan,” Simmy said, her voice trailing off.
“Wait, don’t tell me you and Kyan not together anymore. I thought he was ‘so perfect’ for you.” Jayla tried to mimic Simmy’s voice.
“No, we’re not together anymore. He got locked up not long after you got arrested. Things were okay at first but then he flipped on me getting all jealous and shit, so I’m done with that.” Jayla summed things up for Jayla.
“Well, shit, girl. Then who you living with?” Jayla asked, banging on the bed. “Who, dammit?”
“Okay. Okay. I’ll tell you,” Simmy said, still hesitating. “It’s Alex.”
Jayla looked at her quizzically. “Alex who?”
“Alexander Kennedy. Used to live up here in Harlem but moved to Brooklyn.”
Jayla stood up, her hands instinctively folding into fists and resting on her hips. “Uptown Alex? Always driving a Range Rover? Tan skin? Nice-ass hair?” Jayla interrogated.
“Yeah,” Simmy answered, her left eyebrow going up at Jayla’s reac
tion. “When I met him he said he knew you. He never said how though.”
“Motherfucker,” Jayla blurted, almost under her breath.
“What? So you do know him?” Simmy asked, her face completely folded into a frown now.
“What he got you out there doing, Simmy?” Jayla was moving on her feet.
“I work a few angles with him,” Simmy replied tentatively. “Why are you acting like that? You mad?”
Jayla shook her head. “So he’s your come up?”
“Okay, Jay. You’re acting really weird and shit. Is there something you want to tell me? I mean, he already said he knew you. That’s the only reason I even met him.”
“Wait, what you mean by that?”
“Yeah, I got knocked trying to boost some stuff for Cassandra so I could make some money and he happened to be in the store. He said he recognized me from being with you at some club so he paid the fine and I was able to get out,” Simmy said.
“Are you fucking serious, Simone? You can’t be that naïve. He’s probably the one who got you knocked and then paid the fine so you would think he was your savior. That’s the type of shit snake niggas like Alex do. And, obviously, it worked,” Jayla said honestly.
Simmy’s body grew hot. “It sounds like you’re being a little paranoid or maybe even jealous, Jay. And, it is your first day home, so let’s not do this now. I want you to relax and just be happy to be home. Plus, like I told you on the way here, Mummy Pat is real sick. You need to go see here before . . .”
“You’re right. Let’s not fight on my first day back in the world,” Jayla agreed.
Simmy could tell that the topic wasn’t dead but, at least for that moment, they both played like it was.
* * *
It only took two weeks for Jayla to press Simmy about working. Simmy knew that the day was coming, but she couldn’t do anything without permission from Alex. Jayla couldn’t wait to see Alex in person again.
Simmy’s nerves were on a wire’s edge when she pulled up to the tattoo spot Alex owned. He had told her early in the morning that he’d be hanging out there for most of the day.
Magic Touch Page 19
