by A'zayler
Danna ran straight through the door he opened for her. “Maybe I should, that way you’ll have all the time you need to be with your Totiana and y’all kids.”
The anger in Don’s eyes retreated some upon hearing her statement. When she’d first mentioned being with Quay, that nigga looked like he was seconds away from jumping across the table, but he looked pretty rooted in that chair then. Danna sucked her teeth and leaned her elbow on the table.
“Cat got your tongue?” Danna rested her chin on her fist. “Oh, wait. Maybe Totiana took that shit back out of here with her, because she sure as hell had a lot to say to me.”
Don’s agitated demeanor was a clear sign of guilt, but he was holding it together. “What she say?”
See, that was the one thing Danna could appreciate. The nigga knew better than to lie to her. That was one of the main reasons anything the streets had to say about him didn’t mean much to her. If it didn’t come out of his mouth, it didn’t matter.
“She told me that y’all about to be family.” Lies slid through Danna’s teeth as she sat stone-faced in front of him.
A quick pop of his neck ruined the silence between them, but as soon as he was still again, it returned. “That’s it?”
“That’s the most important part.”
Don nodded once. “You believe her?”
“Should I?”
“Not really.”
Danna blew out a frustrated breath. “Look, I ain’t got time to play with you, Don. You’re just sitting here trying to buy yourself some time and I ain’t about to do that shit with you. Is that your damn baby that girl is carrying?”
The cool rigid air between the two of them set off so many alarms in the back of Danna’s mind that she could barely hear herself think. All she saw was his lying face and how big of a fool she was.
“Yeah.”
Fuck!
Danna’s insides trembled at the thought. Her stomach weakened at the same time as her mouth began to water again. Surely, she was going to throw up. With one hand, she covered her stomach and held it. With the other hand that had just been holding her chin up, she grabbed her forehead and allowed it to drop into her open palm.
“Danna—”
“Shut up, that’s what the damn test was for. You knew this shit and still tried to play me like a fool.”
“Just let me explain.”
Danna’s head finally raised. “Save it. I’m done.”
Don finally lost his composure. “Danna, come on. It ain’t like that. I’m not about to be with that girl.”
“You might as well, because you sure as hell ain’t about to be with me. I’ve been up here fucking you the entire time you’ve been here. There’s no excuse for this shit.” Danna sat back roughly in her chair before crossing her arms over her chest. “I can’t believe you. Got me up here flouncing around like I’m the only bitch you be seeing. I knew you ain’t keep them damn uniforms that white for no reason.” Danna’s heart was overflowing with hurt. “You know what, I’m out. Fuck you.”
Danna was out of her seat preparing to leave, but Don stood to his feet and caught her arm. “Danna, sit down. Just let me tell you what happened.”
“Fuck you,” she spat.
“Tot don’t mean shit to me. I just messed up.”
“You sure did.” Danna snatched her arm from him just as the guard came to their table.
“You two need to take your seats.”
“Nah,” Danna looked at him with water in her eyes. “I’m good. I’m leaving.”
Danna walked away without looking back. She was out of the main visitation room and marching down the hallway when she caught sight of Quay, pushing the mopping bucket up the hallway. He stopped when he saw how upset she was. Danna held her head down, attempting to shield the tears that were about to run down her face.
“Yooo, Danna, chill.” Embarrassed, past words, Danna tried to keep walking but he wouldn’t let her. “Tell me why you’re crying.”
She shook her head. “I’m good.”
“Nah,” Quay shook his head and grabbed her chin.
The plastic glove on his hand made her think of how many toilets he’d cleaned that day, but she didn’t say anything. Instead she pulled away and just kept her gaze on him. She was sure she looked a mess crying behind a nigga, but she couldn’t even think enough to feel at that moment. The hurt stung too bad.
“You ain’t good right now, but you will be,” he told her with a straight face.
The gold that she’d grown so infatuated with shone between his lips. His hair had gotten longer, and he was still just as self-assured as he’d always been. Even in the dingy white prison uniform, his confidence was on one thousand.
“How you know?”
“Because you made for this shit. Don’t let that nigga get you down.”
Danna’s bottom lip began to tremble at his thugged out sympathy. She cleared her throat and even began to bounce her leg trying to gain control of herself.
“Quayyy,” she whimpered and held her head down when she couldn’t make herself say anything else.
The wooden mop stick was out of his hand instantly, and she was once again wrapped in his warm embrace.
“Quit this shit, Danna. You’re grade fucking A, and if that nigga can’t see that, then fuck him.” Quay gave her another light squeeze just as jingling keys could be heard at the other end of the hallway.
Danna pulled away and looked toward the sound. Don and the male guard from visitation were coming through the double doors she’d come through. His face showed his disapproval for her and Quay. Danna, already knowing his anger would be focused on Quay, snatched out of Quay’s embrace and tried to lean against the wall instead. Quay, on the other hand, didn’t look like he gave two fucks. He even went as far as grabbing Danna’s hand back in his.
“Write me.”
Danna finally looked away from Don and nodded at Quay before practically running out of the prison. She wasn’t sure what was going to happen between the two of them, but for Quay’s sake, she hoped it wasn’t much. She’d feel horrible if he got caught up in some mess on her part.
The rest of her day went by in a blur. By the time she was able to get her thoughts together and focus on her next move, it was a little after one o’clock in the afternoon. She’d been riding around thinking all day and was ready to go home, but had one last stop to make.
The strip mall was crazy packed with people, and it seemed as if the sun was at its hottest hour. The rays were beaming and sizzling everything resting beneath them. Heat radiated from the ground and disappearing into the still air. It was the middle of the summer and if Danna had forgotten, she was quickly reminded the moment she stepped out of her ride.
Nothing caught her eye at the mall, so after soaking up the air conditioning and a lemonade, she headed toward the exit. In a hurry and not paying attention, Danna raised her hand to put her sunglasses on while she walked to her car, but inadvertently bumped into a mom and her baby. The things that had been in the lady’s hand hit the ground and rolled along the cement in a mess.
“I’m sorry, excuse me.” Danna bent down to pick up the baby bottle, cell phone, and diaper cloth that she’d just knocked to the ground.
The mother of the pretty baby girl smiled with her hand outstretched to retrieve her things.
“You’re fine. I shouldn’t have been trying to carry all of this stuff anyway.” The clearly flustered mother admitted, as she switched the baby from one hip to the other.
“No, it was really my fault. I don’t even know where my mind is right now,” Danna expressed truthfully.
The water in Danna’s eyes that she’d just been doing a perfectly good job holding back swooped in and ruined her eye liner. A puddle of tears pooled in her eyes as she stood in front of a complete stranger on the verge of losing total control.
Instinctively her hand went to her face to stop the tears before they could fall, but unfortunately she was unable to stop the disaster that
had been waiting to happen. Tears were on her cheeks and clouding her face before she could stop them. As if it were second nature, the lady grabbed Danna’s arm and pulled her away from the bank’s entrance.
“Oh, you poor baby, what’s the matter?” Motherly concern laced the lady’s words as she stood with one arm filled with a baby and host of other things, while her free one stroked Danna’s shoulder. “Are you okay?”
Danna’s head began to nod immediately, even though that was the furthest thing from the truth. “I . . . I’m fine,” she stammered. “Just having a bad day.” Danna wiped at her eyes with the back of her arm. “I’ll be fine.”
The woman’s blue eyes were a mirror of Danna’s sadness as she stared at her in sympathy. “Would you like to talk about it? I know you don’t know me, but I wouldn’t feel right leaving you out here like this.”
“No, ma’am, really, I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not, but I understand you don’t know me.” She continued to rub Danna’s shoulder as the baby girl kicked and squealed with glee. “I’ll just stand here with you until you feel better.”
The infant’s joyful carrying on brought a smile to Danna’s face, but wiped it away just the same. With the feeling of fresh tears surfacing, Danna hurried to look away.
Dammit, Don!
“I’m fine, thank you so much, but I’ll be okay.” Danna gave the lady her best smile. “I just had a moment, but I need to get going.”
The thin, untamed eyebrows of the woman raised as she allowed her facial expression to let Danna know she didn’t believe her.
“Can I please pray for you before you leave?”
Pray? What?
Danna twisted her face to the side, not really feeling the whole praying for her thing, but if she was truly honest with herself, she was open to any form of comfort she could get at that moment. Even if it was from an overworked house wife, and a God she couldn’t see. She’d take what she could get.
“Sure.”
The lady shifted the squealing baby once again before stepping toward Danna and subtly pulling her closer. Once the distance between the two was minimal, the lady bowed her head and closed her eyes. Danna preferred to keep hers open because she didn’t know that lady from Adam, and didn’t want to take any risks.
“Dear Lord, amazingly sweet Jesus, I ask you right now to wrap your loving arms around this young lady. Strengthen her and let her know that no matter what may be going on her life, you’re always there to see her through it. Give her the strength and comfort that she needs right now, Father.” A tighter squeeze came from the lady. “Just rush her with your love, grace, and mercy, O Lord. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.”
With a smile on her face, the lady stepped back only a few steps before pulling Danna in for another hug. “I love you sweetie, and I’ll be praying for you. You behave, okay?”
“Yes ma’am.” Danna nodded obediently before they parted ways.
She could see the lady still watching her as she walked to her car, but she eventually turned and walked inside. Danna was grateful for that, because for as long as she was near her, she kept getting choked up. The fit that had been lying dormant all day was on the rise and Danna wanted to be alone whenever it happened.
With a quick turn of her wrist, Danna cranked her car up and pulled out of the parking lot. It had been a long day and she was positive it was only about to get longer. From the moment she’d walked out of the prison, her stomach had been a mess, and so had her nerves. All she wanted to do was go home and climb into her bed. The only reason she hadn’t gotten there yet was because she’d needed to get what belonged to her.
When Don found out he was going to be past angry, but Danna didn’t give a damn. Maybe with all his money gone, he’d feel just as brokenhearted as she did right then. She’d helped him run that fucking dope, he owed her. Him and his baby mama wouldn’t ride off into the fucking sunset with no worries.
Though she’d heard plenty of rumors while being out in the city, she hadn’t believed them. All she believed was Don. He had never lied to her before, so why start now? Stupid ass nigga. Danna shook her head and allowed the reality of her situation to set it in, with the saddest part being that she was probably going to forgive him. She loved him like that.
* * *
The imaginary steam blowing from Don’s head was sure to set off every fire alarm in the prison. He and the guard were both marching down the long corridor toward his cell and all he wanted to do was turn around and throw the man over the third-floor railing. Luckily for him, all that would do was prolong Don’s time there, and that was the last thing he needed to be doing right then.
It was bad enough he still had another few weeks before he would be a free man again; he didn’t need any unnecessary time added on. Plus, the man hadn’t done anything to deserve that type of pain. If Don wanted to throw anyone over the balcony, it needed to be himself. He was the only person responsible for what he was going through.
From Danna finding out about Totiana’s baby, to her being hugged up in the hallway with Quay, it had all been his fault. The first problem was that he’d fallen so hard for Danna. He really cared that she was angry enough to call it quits with him. Then, for her to find comfort in another man—that sent him flying over the edge. She may have started out as a job to him, but that shit was so far gone, he’d kill Quay and any other nigga that thought they were going to take her from him.
“Aye, I need to make a stop.” Don turned his head to the side to be sure that the guard had heard him.
“Where?”
“The janitor’s closet.”
The guard nodded but said nothing else. They’d long ago learned that Don wasn’t to be played with. Majority of what he wanted, he got it. His peaceful behavior in the prison played a big part in their daily operations, so, as long as he was happy, everyone else would be as well. Don was the type of inmate who had nothing to lose, so he’d do anything. Including starting a riot that could potentially put the guards in a life or death situation.
“Big D.” An inmate hit his elbow against Don’s as he passed by.
Don nodded, but kept it moving. He was in no mood for pleasantries at the moment. Danna and Totiana had him on ten. Totiana stayed on some hot shit, which was why he didn’t necessarily deal with her the way he could. She was way too messy, and Danna . . . fucking Danna. Don hung his head again. This love shit was too much. Leave it to her to complicate everything he’d been plotting for eight years.
He’d planned the death of Echo’s family out in so many different scenarios, and because of her, he hadn’t carried it out. Vonetta had been first on his list, but after seeing how much Danna loved her mother, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. His mind moved from Vonetta on to Ezra for a while, but that li’l nigga was so fucking cool he’d made Don like him as well. He was like a son and no matter how hard Don’s heart was, he couldn’t kill a kid. Especially when his future was as promising as Ezra’s.
“Fuck!” Don gritted out as he thought about the mess he’d made.
He was too fucking hard to give a fuck about these damn people. Going from never having a family to finally having one had him in such a bad head space. Echo’s people had been so receptive to him since the moment he’d shown up. Showing him love, and making sure he was good no matter what. So, to turn around and kill them was really fucking with him.
“Ten minutes.” The guard spoke before removing the cuffs from Don’s hands.
Don snatched the door open in search of one person. The closet was small and crowded with an array of cleaning materials, so Quay’s tall frame stood out immediately. He was standing near the sink mixing up some shit in his bucket that had smoke coming from it. Don watched him without saying anything. Quay was a street nigga too; he knew Don was there.
“Clear your chest, my nigga,” Quay told him without turning around.
“Don’t fuck with what’s mine.”
“Cool.”
Don didn’t l
ike his response so he didn’t move. He continued watching his hands and what he was doing with them. The mixture was still smoking and since he didn’t know Quay very well, he didn’t know what he might have been plotting.
“So, Danna’s yours?” Quay finally looked at him.
“Been that.”
“A’ight. So, she’s cool with Tot being yours too?”
Hearing another man abbreviate Totiana’s name angered him again. He’d known she was an around the way girl when he’d met her, but once again, his decision making when it came to women was weak, and he’d fallen for her too. Even gotten her pregnant twice. Dumb nigga shit. She had been easy and persistent, before long she’d become his and it had been that way ever since.
“She ain’t got to be cool with it. It is what it is.”
Quay made eye contact with Don and shook his head. “Nah, it ain’t. Not when it comes to Danna. That’s my li’l people and she doesn’t deserve no jailhouse love triangle shit with you and the hood hoe.” Quay pushed the bucket towards Don and grabbed the mop that had been leaning against the wall. “Either fuck with her right, or I’m taking her from your ass. Straight like that.”
The blood pulsating through Don’s body was getting hotter by the second as he listened to Quay disrespect him.
“Is that a threat, young nigga?” Don’s large chest swelled.
Quay smirked. “Nah, I don’t make threats. You know that.”
That was a fact. Don had saw Quay in action plenty of times in the past and the nigga did in fact have heart, but that didn’t scare Don. Don was an old school hustler; there were only a few young cats that could hold a candle to the shit he used to do with his guns, and Quay was definitely one of them. He respected him, but that wouldn’t keep him off Quay’s ass. If anything, it would make him act sooner and faster.
A deep chuckle came from Don as he and Quay stood face to face eyeing each other. “So, you think you can take her?”
“Ain’t no thinking in it. You knew she was mine before you snuck her.” Quay grazed his teeth over his bottom lip before pushing his hair back over his shoulder. “I let you have that, but I ain’t doing that shit no more. You old enough to be her fucking daddy any damn way.”
