In Love with My Enemy

by A'zayler

  “Bitch, you better shut up before I knock your ass out.” Don pointed at Cannon and told her coldly.

  “Sure, you are.”

  “Don, you need to handle this shit.” Tot’s unwanted opinion warranted her a slap from Cannon’s left hand.

  Scuffling came soon after that. Danna wanted to watch what was about to happen, but movement from Don grabbed her attention instead. He was trying to get to where Cannon and Tot had just begun exchanging licks.

  “You ignoring me for this hoe, Don?” Danna yelled while raising her gun. “Ahhh, I hate you!” She yelled in pain and anger.

  Don’s attention came to her rapidly. With one swift motion, he took her gun and snatched her body to him. Danna fought with everything she had in her to get out of his grasp. Nothing worked until he’d just dragged her out of the house, and she bit him, trying to get back inside the screen door.

  “Stay your muthafuckin ass still.” He yelled.

  “Fuck no!” Danna followed him right back into the house.

  He was in the middle of snatching Cannon off Tot when he slapped Cannon so hard she fell to the floor. A feeling Danna couldn’t even describe cursed through her body as she searched for her gun. When she didn’t see where it was, she snatched the bat that was on the floor next to Don’s nasty faced ass son. Without even thinking about it, she swung it at Don and hit him across his back.

  “Fuck! Danna!” He pushed her backward with one hand while snatching Cannon up by her shirt and dragging them both from the house.

  Both girls were kicking, screaming, and putting up the fight of their lives, as he handled them with no effort. Once they were both outside and in the middle of the yard he pointed at Cannon again.

  “Bitch, you better get your ass on. Danna knows better than to pull this shit. She’s about to end your life for no fucking reason,” he bellowed.

  Danna looked to Cannon who was standing her ground. She was breathing hard and looked on the verge of charging at that nigga at any minute, and because Danna didn’t know what she was really capable of, she intervened. The last thing she wanted was for her to test Don and he snap her neck or some shit they couldn’t come back from.

  “Cannon, just go get my gun and get in the car. We’re about to dip. Fuck this nigga.”

  Cannon stood still, not acknowledging nothing Danna had said. Instead she kept her gaze on Don, who was also unmoving.

  “I’m good, Cannon. Just get my shit so we can go.”

  Cannon looked at Danna. “This what you want to do?”

  “Yeah, go head.”

  Cannon walked past him slowly, headed for the house, keeping her eyes on Don the whole time.

  “Bitch, keep watching me like you got some shit on your heart, and see don’t I kill your dumb ass.”

  “Nigga, fuck you.” Cannon spoke at the same time Danna rushed to get in Don’s face.

  Cannon was seriously trying that nigga. Danna chopped it up to her not really knowing who that nigga was. Either that or she had some real heart, and Danna could definitely fuck with that.

  “Don, this really what you doing? Talking to this bitch at my house?” Tot’s maggot ass was back at the door with her whining.

  “Don’t worry, bitch, I’m about to go. You can have this nigga.” Danna said, in front of Don.

  When he finally turned away from Cannon and looked at Danna, she acted as if she didn’t see him. Instead she watched Cannon push Tot out the way and walk back into the house to find her gun.

  “Bitch, get out my friend’s business and come help me find this damn gun before I finish beating your ass.”

  Danna chuckled before looking back at Don. His eyes were dark, but not as cold as they had been. His body was tense and his mouth was balled up.

  “Why you come over here like this?”

  “Shit, you came. I thought this was the meetup spot.”

  “Stop talking to me like you don’t know who the fuck I am.”

  Danna rolled her eyes. “I ain’t. I’m talking to you like you don’t know who the fuck I am. I been holding your ass down this whole time and the moment you get out, you run over here? You ain’t even tell me you were home. That’s fucked up, Don.” Her voice broke as her emotions got the best of her. With watering eyes, she stared at him. “You just don’t give a fuck about me, do you?”

  “Quit that shit. You know I love you. All of this with Tot ain’t shit. I had her come scoop me so I could surprise your ass.”

  “You’re a fucking liar, Don.” Danna shook her head and wiped her tears away. “I’m good though, if you want that hoe, you can have her ass.” A few sniffles came again as she tried to keep her tears at bay. “It’s funny that you chose her over me though, because she’s probably the one that called me.”

  Confusion was written all over his face. “The fuck you talking about?”

  “How you think I knew you was here? The damn prison surely didn’t call and tell me.” Danna shook her head at his ignorance. “Dumb ass.” She mumbled before trying to walk away from him.

  “Nah, you stay on some bullshit. Ain’t no telling how you found out. You’re just blaming it on that damn girl.”

  Danna was flabbergasted at how he was defending Tot. If him being there hadn’t done it for her, that had surely sealed the deal. With a disbelieving sigh, Danna looked him up and down with pain filling her chest.

  “Fuck you, Don.”

  “You ain’t going nowhere. I don’t even know why you’re playing. What we got don’t come this easy.”

  “It sure as hell don’t. That’s why you were a fool to let his hoe trick you up out of it.”

  Don grabbed Danna and pulled her back to him. “Danna, come on baby, stop it. I was really coming to surprise you. All of this was for you. You know don’t nobody love me like you do.”

  Danna was motionless in his arms.

  “Baby?” his voice softened. “Please don’t do this.” He ran his nose along the side of her face and neck. “Danna, I love you baby, please don’t be mad at me. I promise this was for you.”

  Danna’s heart was breaking as she listened to him plead with her. “You could have just called me to come, I would have come. It still could have been a surprise.”

  “I know you would have, but I really wanted to surprise you. I needed to make up for all of this shit I’ve put you through.”

  Danna’s tears finally escaped the corners of her eyes. “So, you telling her you love her and you’re going to do right by her and your boys so y’all can be a family was what? A lie? Because it sounded pretty truthful to me.” Danna surprised him with the words she’d heard him speak to Tot earlier when she’d heard them over the phone. “I already took you back after the bitch mysteriously got pregnant, with your lying ass.”

  “I know, Danna, I’m sorry.”

  “You not even supposed to have that raggedy ass baby with her!” Danna screamed as his most recent betrayal resurfaced in her mind.

  Don’s silence let her know that he was caught. Danna shook her head as she watched him realize there was no way out of the hole he’d dug himself into.

  “Just put me down.”

  Don held her closer to him, hugging her tight to his chest. “I don’t want to hurt you, Danna.”

  “Too late.”

  The heavy sigh he released made Danna’s soul shake. It was clear he was earnestly sorry, but so was she, and sorry wasn’t about to do shit for either one of them.

  “I know I fucked up, but I don’t want you to leave me, Danna.”

  “Yeah, neither do I, but I didn’t want you to choose your baby mama over me either, but it’s life, right?”

  “No! No, the fuck it ain’t life. You’re tripping right now.”

  Danna wiggled, trying to release herself from his grasp. “Please put me down.” Her words stirred up some more.

  Being in his embrace was beginning to be too much for her. She couldn’t ignore her feelings for him, being that close to him. She needed to get away, right the
n. She had to go. With the little fight she had left, Danna pushed at his chest trying to break free from his stronghold on her. His arms felt like vice grips, slowly sucking all the fight out of her.

  “Don, please,” she sobbed weakly. It irritated her how her weakness for him was beginning to show. “Let me go.” She allowed her head to fall forward onto his shoulder. “Please just get off me. You did this to me, let me down so I can heal.”

  “The fuck you need to leave me to do that for? I can heal you right here with me.” Don’s head began to shake adamantly. “Fuck nah. I ain’t letting you leave me.”

  “You ain’t got no fucking choice!” She yelled in rising anger. “You did this to me, so you have to deal with this shit.” She grabbed his face and looked at him. “I’m too strong for this weak shit you got me in. Leave me the fuck alone and let me move on. Don’t keep puppy dogging me to come back to you because you know I will, so just move out my way and let me see past you.”

  Danna wiggled and fought while Don held her with emotion pouring from his eyes. She knew what they had was past real. No matter what anybody said, no matter the age difference, none of that shit mattered. Love was love, and they’d shared some real moments of it. This nigga was truly her everything and he’d hurt her in one of the worst ways. Hell nah, she had to go.

  “Danna.”

  “Stop calling my fucking name, Don. Go be with her.”

  “But I want you.”

  “No, you want both of us, and you can’t have it like that. I’m out.” Danna told him as he finally released her. “Fuck all y’all niggas. Y’all don’t do shit but hurt people. You can’t never be real with no nigga because y’all don’t do shit but fuck over people feelings, but nah,” Danna shook her head adamantly. “I’m too good for this shit. You take that hoe and live happily ever after with her and that dirty ass baby that looks just like your sneaky ass.” Danna glowered at him. “You too old for this immature bullshit.”

  Don’s chest sank as he stood in front of her stuffing his hands in her pockets trying to save face. The nigga was clearly hurting behind the situation, but was doing his best to hide it. Danna didn’t care either way, his feelings was his business. Danna stared at him getting sadder by the second, but not really wanting to look away.

  “You’re the last person I wanted to hurt. You’re my fucking baby, Danna.” He reached to grab her as she began backing away.

  Danna snatched her hand away and shook her head. “Leave me alone!” She screamed in agony.

  “Danna, No! You ain’t fucking leaving me. We ain’t never gon’ be over.” Don’s voice raised as he began walking towards her.

  Danna’s hands went to both of her ears as she did her best to not hear the words he was saying. Why wouldn’t he just stop, and leave her alone.

  “Me and you gon’ always be together. You mine. I ain’t never felt like this, I’m not letting you leave me.” He was finally able to snatch her to him and hold her. “And I mean that.”

  Danna’s mind went blank. She couldn’t think, all she could do was feel and it was making her want to find her gun and shoot herself.

  “Cannon!” She yelled in desperation. “Cannon, please come help me. Make him leave me alone.” Danna cried hysterically.

  Unbeknownst to Danna, Cannon had been silently crying behind them the whole time. She’d long ago gotten Danna’s gun and had been stopped by Don’s pleas for Danna not to leave him. It had already been heart-wrenching at first to see a man like Don turn that soft, but now it was just overwhelmingly sad. Danna was falling apart. Cannon rushed to her immediately.

  “It’s okay, Danna. Stop crying.” Cannon tried to fight back her own tears. “Don, please let her go. Please.” Cannon’s voice was much softer that time around.

  “No,” He shook his head stubbornly. “If I let her go, she’ll never come back,” he told Cannon, as if his handprint wasn’t still branded across her cheek.

  “Yes, she will. She just needs time.”

  For an instant, Danna stopped crying and looked at Cannon. “No, I’m not, Cannon. It’s over. He’ll never hurt me like this again and if I come back that’s what he’s going to do.” Danna was doing her best to break free.

  “See,” Don told Cannon as if she could do something to change Danna’s mind.

  The whole ordeal was too much. They would have probably still been standing there had Tot not come out of the house. All day they’d hated the day she’d been born, but right then, Danna was thankful for her.

  “Don, I can’t believe you’re crying behind this young ass girl when you just got done telling me you were going to marry me.”

  Danna and Don’s eyes met as Totiana stood behind them, pushing the knife into Danna’s heart deeper and deeper. Turning it with each word she spoke.

  “You promised me when you got out you was going to marry me so we could raise DJ and Donte together. You said you loved me, were you lying all of this time?”

  A loud thud could be heard as Danna’s heart fell out onto the ground and splattered into a million pieces.

  Don looked helpless as his gaze went from one woman to the other. “No, I do love you, but I love Danna too.”

  It sounded like broken glass being scrubbed across a chalkboard as Don began stepping on the splattered pieces of Danna’s heart.

  “Jesus,” Cannon palmed her face.

  “I have to go.” Danna freed herself from his grasp again. “Y’all can have each other. Let’s go, Cannon,”

  With the gun and the bat in hand, Cannon followed Danna from the yard. Don was hot on their heels following them to the car. Danna wished on everything she loved that he would just stop, but he wouldn’t. It took her and Cannon another thirty minutes to finally pull away. The emptiness in Danna’s chest showed her what a gaping hole might feel like. Her heart was gone.

  “It’s going to be okay one day, Danna. Not today, or even tomorrow, but one day the pain will ease and you’ll be back to yourself.” Cannon’s words were low and soothing as she looked out the window while holding Danna’s hand.

  “I just feel so empty.”

  “I know . . . I’ve felt that pain before. It’ll pass. I promise.”

  Danna didn’t know when Cannon had ever felt the type of agony she was experiencing before, but she believed her. Her words sounded so sure, that she had no other choice but to feel her.

  “Please, don’t tell my brother about this.”

  “I won’t. Don’t nobody need to know about this shit.”

  Danna agreed wholeheartedly. “Thanks . . . for everything.”

  “No thanks needed, that’s what sisters are for.”

  The future seemed so blurry without Don in it, but Danna had no other choice but to face it. She’d faced tougher situations, felt worse pain, dealt with harder trials . . . or so she thought. Little did she know, nothing had anything on the feeling of a broken heart. Danna had been through a lot and would go through even more before it was all over with, but one thing was for sure, it wouldn’t be with Don. He’d buried himself and she had no plans of resurrecting him.

  17

  When it all falls down

  The soulful sounds of Marvin Gaye crooned throughout the house as the Mendozas moved around the living room and kitchen getting everything set up for Ezra’s going away dinner. He’d signed a nice deal with the Houston Rockets and would be leaving the next day. It had been a long summer and even longer process with his signing, but praises be to God, it had all worked out in his favor. Now that the day had come for him to part ways with his loved ones, his nerves were getting the best of him.

  He’d been trying his best to get ahold of himself and prepare for what was coming, but every time he thought about leaving his family, Cannon and Yara, he got sad all over again. Becoming a part of the Rockets’ organization should have had him on cloud nine, which it did, but family was everything to him. He was sure he would enjoy it once he got there, but until that moment came, he’d be drowning in his thoughts.
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  “What’s wrong, baby?” Cannon’s voice came from behind him as she wrapped her arms around his stomach. A kiss on his bare back came next.

  Ezra was fresh out of the shower and standing in his bedroom mirror with his towel draped loosely around his waist. His eyes found Cannon’s when she looked around his arm so that she could see him. Her bright skin was flushed a tad bit red from the orgasms he’d just finished giving her, while her hair dangled loosely in the mess of a ponytail he’d left it in.

  She smiled and he grinned back. “That dick got you happy, don’t it?”

  “Always,” she kissed his back once more before moving around so that she was standing in front of him.

  The moment she stopped moving, Ezra picked her up and sat her on his dresser. Her juiciness weighed his arms down just the way he liked, before pulling him closer. Her open legs circled the sides of his body and dragged him further between her thighs. Ezra leaned the rest of the way lying his head in the center of her chest. Her breasts were just as soft as the rest of her body, and always put him in a much better mood. When her hands came up and massaged his back smoothly, his eyes closed and he exhaled.

  “You always make me feel so much better.”

  “That’s what I’m here for? What’s wrong? I thought me sneaking into your shower with you had put you in a better mood. I didn’t help?”

  Ezra’s arms circled her waist and squeezed her tightly. “Hell yeah, it did. It just also made it worse.” He sighed. “I don’t want to leave you and my baby.”

  He felt Cannon’s breasts sink beneath his cheek when she exhaled. “I don’t want you to either, but you deserve this, Ezzy. Go have fun, you’ll always have us.”

  “I don’t know that. People always say one thing, but turn around and do another. Take my daddy for instance, I remember him telling me that he’d never miss a game. Now I can count on one hand how many he’s been to.” Ezra scoffed. “But now he has his ass front and center at my mama’s dinner table like he has something to do with my success.”

  “I’m not your daddy. I’d never lie to you or leave you.” Cannon’s head rested on the top of his as she lay her cheek against his locs. “I promise to be at every game. Me and li’l crying ass Yara.”