by Jahquel J
The doorbell rang; Moses answered the door. Epiphany and Promise walked in with their keys to the rental. They were dropping Moses and Tyrisha off at the airport and driving the rest of the way to New York.
“Y’all ready to roll? After this vacation, things will never remain the same,” Moses warned. What they planned to do couldn’t be taken back and even if it could, no one would.
*
Moses stepped out the candy apple Benz he rented for his stay in New York. He hadn’t been back to New York in years. It was the same hustle and bustle he remembered, people running and walking with many devices in their hands never paying attention to their surroundings. Moses couldn’t stand the city, he’d rather live where people vacationed. Miami.
Moses clicked the alarm and crossed the street. Reshawn still had one trap house in all of New York. The Trap was a two story house located in the heart of Brownsville, Brooklyn. Reshawn bought the house back when he was getting it in New York. Moses knocked on the door three times. A big burly man opened the door with his ‘screw face’ on. Moses stared back at him with the same face.
“Who the fuck are you, bitch nigga?” The man said with a deep rough voice,
“Nigga, if you don’t come embrace a nigga I will lay you out, Charles.” Moses reached for a pound. The big man pulled him into a hug and pulled him inside the house. Moses and Charles went back years. Charles was one of Moses’ right hands before he moved to Miami. Charles ran one of the most paid trap houses. When Moses moved to Miami, Charles refused to come. He knew Moses could handle himself; but he wasn’t so sure about Reshawn. He was right.
Moses took his jacket off and hung it on the kitchen chair. The house was laid out nice but it wasn’t up to Moses liking. He felt things should have been more mapped out for the house. The house had one way in and one way out which was a bad thing. Moses went down in the basement and smiled in approval; only a trained eye could notice the trap door Reshawn had installed.
“Rah should be coming in tonight,” Moses informed Charles.
“I’m guessing he brought some shit with him, right?”
“Correct, this trap house is just a hang out when it should be generating income. Reshawn got some of the best pills and you know me, Charles. Pure and uncut,” Moses bragged. He had business to tend to with Tone but that didn’t mean he couldn’t make some money while doing so. Charles had an uneasy look on his face and Moses noticed. He didn’t understand why he was being a little distant.
“Charles, I'm not one to hold shit in so let the shit out!” Moses raised his voice; it was nothing he hated more than a nigga who couldn’t speak his mind.
“It’s nothing personal boss, all business,” Charles started.
“So what’s business?”
“I’ve been working with that nigga, Tone. He making that chicken out here and I’m trying to be fed. I got a baby on the way and two little girls. Reshawn left with nothing to re up on and I was starving. You can fault me all day but my loyalty remains with you.”
“How the fuck can you say your loyalty remains with me?”
“First off, I didn’t know he did all that fucked up shit before Reshawn called me and told me to get the house back up and running. He schooled me to what he did and I’m here, right? That nigga called me to make a drop in Philly for six grand and I’m standing here for free. My loyalty remains here, don’t confuse my financial with my loyalty.”
“Nigga, money will make the most loyal nigga turn unloyal. The fact you’re standing here speaks volumes. I got my eye on you. I’m warning you if I find out you’re fucking me over I will end your life,” Moses notified Charles who stood firm in his decision.
“Boss, I’ve been riding with you forever. I’m down,” Charles said without hesitation.
“Go get me some of your best men. It’s time to make some money out this bitch.” Moses left back out while Charles rubbed his hands together. He couldn’t wait to make the money he was making with Moses.
Chapter Six
Tone sat in the VIP section of his newly built club located in Harlem. The previous club owners owed him money so he took it over as collateral. Tone’s wife, Kim, sat waiting by the bar for Tone. She was annoyed waiting for him while he sat and looked at the woman he had working for him. Kim and Tone had been married for ten years. They both separated a year before Tone and Tyrisha got together. Kim wanted to pursue her career in medicine while Tone wanted to play street pharmacist.
Kim sat back in the shadows always keeping an eye on her husband. Wherever Tone moved, she moved, but kept her distance. She recently stepped back in when she saw he was on a downhill spiral. Once Tone mentioned moving back to New York, Kim jumped on the chance. She missed being in her city. Kim only moved under one condition: Tone had to stop using drugs. Tone stopped doing coke but his new poison was molly. Kim took a hiatus on practicing medicine. She was on call as Tone’s personal doctor for his team to avoid visiting a hospital.
“You ready, Sweets?” Kim asked, with her hand on her hips.
“Just a minute. Where we going anyway?” Tone snapped. His ego remained; if anything, it was bigger.
“My parents’ house. You know I told you about this last week,” Kim whined. She was a strong woman but when around Tone, he had a way that made her feel like the smallest person. This was one of the reasons for their separation.
“Aight, go run the car and I’ll be out in a few,” Tone demanded. Kim rushed off to start the car.
Kim sought her keys out the Hermes birkin that sat on her arm. She chirped the alarm and got into the driver side. It started to rain so she kept the windows rolled up. She sat her head back and thought about her past with Tone. She loved Tone with all her heart, her heart was still in the marriage while her mind told her something different. Kim thought back to the first day she met Tone:
Kim had just graduated from medical school with a position in her father’s practice. Kim’s best friend Anna took her out to a club in Brooklyn called the Motions. Kim had never been to a club in Brooklyn and was excited. Men kept giving her winks and licking her lips but she never paid them any attention. Kim was full Italian with hips and thighs for days from all the pasta. Her sea green eyes were wide and filled with innocence and her blonde curly hair cascaded down her back.
Kim sat in the VIP sipping only ginger ale, even though she was twenty-three. A man came and sat down next to her. He didn’t speak nor give her the notion he was feeling her. Kim continued to whine her hips the best she knew how while watching her best friend, Anna, get down on the dance floor.
“You from around here?” The man asked smiling, his grey eyes gleaming.
“I'm from Franklin Lakes.”
“That’s Jersey, ain’t it? Shit, what are your family? All doctors?” The man teased, Franklin Lakes was a prominent and upscale part of Jersey.
“My father is and I am also. Just graduated school last week,” Kim boasted, proud she would be working alongside her father.
“My name is Antonio but everyone calls me Tone.” Tone extended his hand.
“My name is Kimbree but everyone calls me Kim,” Kim shook Tone’s hand.
That was the night that started the love between Kim and Tone. A couple months later Kim ended up pregnant. Being she was from an old school Italian family, Tone was forced to marry Kim.
After getting married, Tone continued to play the single life while he had a pregnant wife at home. Kim kept everything she and Tone went through behind closed doors like her mother taught her. She kept the façade of having a happy marriage. One night while Tone was on his usual late night disappearances Kim went into labor. Kim being a doctor didn’t panic she called Tone and drove herself to the hospital. Kim gave birth to a baby boy name Anthony Christian. Four months into the blissful time of motherhood, Kim’s son died of SIDS. Tone being gone, as always, meant that he wasn’t there for Kim the way she needed him to be.
After the passing of their son, Tone became physical and mentally abusi
ve. Kim didn’t know if Tone was lashing out from the pain of their lost son or just being cruel. She was also hurting and wished he would reach out to her like a husband should.
Years later, the abuse from Tone continued, and Kim knew she deserved better. She worked all day and came home to an empty house with a husband out, not bothering to hide his infidelities. The straw that broke the camel’s back, was when Tone hooked up with Tyrisha. Kim realized she wasn’t a side bitch; he was actually in love with her. He took her on trips across the country and show-boated her around like his wife. That was what made Kim decide to file for a separation.
“Damn, Kim, open the fucking door,” Tone barked, Kim rolled her eyes and opened the door. Now she was back in the same situation.
“You ready, love?” Kim plastered a smile on her face.
“Hell no, your pops always has something foul to say. I'm gonna murk that nigga one day,” Tone mumbled.
“Stop talking like that. Remember your ass is the one with the money on his head,” Kim laughed until Tone’s fist collided with her jaw, causing her to stop short.
“What the fuck, Antonio? You really need to keep your hands to yourself,” Kim pressed the gas and rubbed her jaw. Tone sat back satisfied while Kim cursed him out in her head.
*
The two pulled into Kim’s parent’s driveway. Tone sucked his teeth taking in the fresh manicured lawn, trimmed bushes and porcelain statues. His Gucci loafers stepped onto the crushed gravel in the driveway. Tone peeped Kim’s father watching from the front door so he swiftly opened Kim’s door which shocked the hell out of her. Kim stepped out and Tone swept her into his arms for a kiss. Kim spotted her father and mean mugged Tone for being phony.
“Stop being phony, it’s not a good look,” Kim whispered and pulled away. Tone caught her ear lobe and bit down.
“Don’t start,” Tone whispered. Kim rolled her eyes. She proceeded to her father’s warm embrace. Tone staggered behind her wanting to be anywhere but there.
Chapter Seven
“Madison and AJ I will whip both y’all asses if y’all don’t stop running,” Mezzie scolded, while juggling the baby and her luggage. Tiffany giggled. She found the kids funny. She enjoyed the simple things in life after almost having it ripped away.
“I don’t know why you find this funny. Ray is too damn heavy and AJ is too damn bad. He’s sabotaging Madison, the sweet one,” Mezzie joked.
One would think being the two baby mothers of Reshawn Ellis there would be problems. In actuality, Mezzie and Tiffany got along great. Tiffany was grateful for Mezzie being there to save her and Tyrisha’s life. Tyrisha didn’t feel the same way she constantly snubbed Mezzie whenever she or her children were around.
“They are excited to be out of Florida, I am too. I’m back in my town.” Tiffany smiled.
“Just remember why we are here.”
“I feel you. Marquise thinks I’m out here taking care of a relative. I know I shouldn’t lie to him but I don’t trust he can keep something this big a secret,” Tiffany reveled. Mezzie nodded her head in agreement.
Moses pulled up in an all-black Yukon Denali, dressed to the nine, as usual. Mezzie grabbed Madison’s hand while Tiffany grabbed AJ’s. Moses took baby Ray from Mezzie so she could help Tiffany strapped the children in.
“Uncle Mo, can we get ice cream?” AJ asked.
“Yeah, ice cream! Ice cream!” Madison cheered. Moses loved his niece and nephew. AJ wasn’t his nephew biologically but he still treated him just as he did Madison.
“How about we get settled and then we will have some ice cream,” Moses suggested, both children lit up and screamed.
*
“I don’t know why this bitch is even here. Why do we have to stay in the same house? I feel like some kind of fucking sister wives. What kind of shit is this, Moses?” Tyrisha bitched, not bothering to lower her voice.
“Tee, you the only one complaining about the living quarters. The house is big enough where everyone has their own space,” Moses barked. Sometimes he didn’t know what to do with Tyrisha. At one time, he worshipped the ground she walked on now she was just a thorn in his side. Moses left Tyrisha to be negative alone.
“I’m going out tonight,” Tyrisha mumbled, behind Moses back.
*
Tiffany unpacked her and Madison’s clothes into the closet. Moses rented a four bedroom brownstone in Harlem. The brownstone was beautiful and everyone got their own room. Mezzie came into Tiffany’s room with baby Ray then sat on the bed and huffed.
“What’s the matter, Mez?” Tiffany asked.
“I know I fucked around. I got AJ by Tone and now I got Ray by Reshawn which are both of you guys’ baby fathers. I don’t expect for Tee to be nice and welcome me with warm arms but I do expect for her to respect me at least. I just over heard her talking mad shit to Moses about me. Tone hurt me just as bad,” Mezzie sighed again.
“Tone is not her baby father. If she don’t have your back, you know I do. Don’t worry about it. Ain’t nobody tripping about you being a hoe,” Tiffany cracked up laughing, Mezzie joined because she knew it was true.
“On the real Moses Jr. looks just like AJ. Who gonna finally sit home girl down and explain to her that she named her baby the wrong name,” Mezzie laughed. Tiffany knew she shouldn’t have been laughing but she did. Her girl was tripping and she was just waiting for Tyrisha to realize Moses Jr. was Tone’s baby. Mezzie and Tiffany talked for the next hour while Tiffany finished unpacking.
Later that night …
Tyrisha sat at the bar sipping an amaretto sour and smoking a cigarette. Tonight was one of the many nights she needed to be alone time to collect her thoughts. Tiffany and Mezzie went to bed early; Tiffany was helping Mezzie out with her kids until Reshawn came in tomorrow night.
Tyrisha flicked the cigarette buds in the ash tray and sipped her drink. The lounge was a couple blocks up from where they all were staying, so she figured she would enjoy some of what Harlem had to offer. “Na Na”, by Trey Songz, blared thru the speakers of the club which caused Tyrisha to nod her head to the hit song. Her cellphone vibrated, yet Tyrisha declined the call. This was her time: No big headed babies, ungrateful boyfriends and sister wives who made her sick.
Tiffany and Mezzie relationship sickened her; she didn’t see how Tiffany accepted her with open arms. It was one thing they had to tolerate each other for their stay in New York. To Tyrisha, it seemed Tiffany enjoyed it and she was slowly replacing her as her best friend. Before coming to New York, Mezzie and Tiffany would hang out on the regular while Tyrisha was always left behind. Little did she know it was because of the sour attitude she had developed.
Tyrisha was interrupted by a man who swiped past her causing the leather jacket that was draped on her chair to fall. Tyrisha looked at the man then back at her two thousand dollar Céline jacket.
“You going to pick it up? That jacket isn’t cheap and I might have to charge you to dry clean my shit,” Tyrisha lectured. The Lloyd Banks look-alike licked his thick pink lips and cracked a smile.
“My bad ma’. Let me buy you another drink to compensate for the pain I’ve cause your jacket.”
“I wouldn’t mind that; make it two while you’re at it.” Tyrisha shimmed her jacket back onto the back of her chair.
“No problem, the second drink requires me to sit and talk to you while I catch the ending of this game. Brooklyn is up by 22 points Miami ain’t got a chance.”
“Come sit down, I’m more of a Miami Heat fan since Wade is my next door neighbor,” Tyrisha just had to brag.
“That’s what up. What’s your name?”
“Tyrisha, but you can call me Tee.”
“Nice to meet you Tee. My Name is Lace.” Lace shook Tyrisha’s hand. He then signaled the bartender for another round.
“What brings you to New York? Its winter time. People go to Florida during this weather.” Lace licked his lips and looked at his iced out Rolex.
“I came for a little bus
iness. Once business is taken care of, I will be back in sunny Miami.” Tyrisha sipped her drink and lit another cigarette, a new habit she picked up.
An hour into meeting Tyrisha and Lace were cuddled up in the corner on their third round of drinks. Lace was feeling Tyrisha. It was something about a feisty woman that he appreciated. Tyrisha basically bossed him around since meeting. When she requested more drinks and cigarettes he pulled his money out to order more.
Tyrisha, on the other hand, felt Lace was cute but she just used him to provide her drinks for the night. When she saw how much money he was spending, her panties got wet. Moses had more than enough money and so did she. Tyrisha was never hurting for money. It was something about a new nigga paying her attention and lacing her pockets with money.
Tyrisha whispered into Lace’s ear as she was leaving. He pulled his phone out and she punched in her digits for him to call her. The two made plans to meet up tomorrow for lunch and some more drinks.
*
Tyrisha stumbled into the house, unaware she was fucked up. In her mind she felt she was walking regular but in reality she looked like a drunk hooker running from a john with a gun: messy. Tiffany was in the living room with Moses watching criminal minds. Moses looked up and shook his head. He gave Tiffany a peck on the cheek and retreated upstairs. He needed to be up to see she got home safe, especially after he told her they were laying low for a couple days and she went out anyway.
“You want to fuck her too? That’s what my last man did. Fucked right around on me,” Tyrisha slurred. Tiffany’s face turned red with embarrassment. Moses continued upstairs without a word.
“You tripping Tee, why would you say some shit like that about me and Moses? I understand you’re drunk but, come on, you coming in here at midnight drunk and dressed like that. He’s going to get tired of your ass and leave,” Tiffany harshly advised. Tyrisha sucked her teeth and rolled her neck like a teenage girl sassing her mother.
