by Charae Lewis
“I'm done talking to you.”
Dinero ended their FaceTime session. She couldn’t believe his attitude toward her. She was sure that Dinero had been having sex with multiple women, so she couldn’t understand his anger. Once again, he was showing her that he was the same immature person that she’d left. Sure, he was probably hurt by the news of Asia being with someone else, but it was his fault. Asia was not going to apologize for moving on to a better situation even though she and Trystan weren’t an item. Instead of calling him back, Asia put Dinero’s number on the block list. She wasn’t going to keep wasting her time with him. He would never get the chance to hear her voice again.
****
Laree walked into Dinero’s car wash hoping that he would see her. She had been calling him for the last week to no avail. Ever since he’d found her depression medication, Dinero had been giving her his ass to kiss. Laree wanted to at least explain her illness to him, so he could stop with the crazy accusations. When she walked inside, Meesha and Terri were watching a movie on their laptop. Laree approached them with a pleasant smile.
“Hey, is Dinero available?”
“Nope. He’s not here,” Meesha informed her.
“Are you sure?”
Terri smacked her lips. “Girl, yeah we’re sure.”
Laree ignored Terri’s attitude and then said, “Well, can I wait here for him?”
“Why don’t you just call him?” Meesha questioned.
“I have. He’s not answering.”
Seconds later, Dinero walked in and stopped in his tracks when he saw Laree. He twisted his face and then shook his head. He walked behind the desk with the girls and said, “What do you want, Laree?”
“I've been calling you.”
“So,” he spat.
“So…I wanted to talk to you about the last time we saw each other.”
“Well, talk then.”
“Can we go to your office so we can have a little bit more privacy?”
“Nah, say what you got to say right here. Meesha and Terri ain't paying attention to your ass.”
Laree sighed with defeat. “I wanted to explain to you that those pills that you found are only used for depression. Being depressed does not mean that I'm crazy. It means that there are periods when I'm extremely sad. Some people are sad for no particular reason. The reason why I get sad is because my mom passed away when I was a kid.”
“I get that, but that’s not the only reason I cut your ass off. You’re fucking sneaky. I told you to stay away from Asia, and what did you go and do? You go book a photo shoot with her. I can’t trust your ass, and I put Asia on to your game. That’s why she ain't been fucking with you either.”
“What did you tell her?” Laree quizzed.
“Don’t worry about it. Just keep your silly ass away from her.”
“You better leave Asia alone before she and the squad beat your ass,” Meesha warned.
Laree rolled her eyes at Meesha, not liking that she had jumped in the conversation.
“You can roll your eyes all you want to. You ain't gon’ do shit,” Meesha retorted.
Dinero laughed. “I've heard enough of your shit, Laree. You're dismissed.”
Laree snatched her purse off of the counter and stormed out of the building. She couldn’t believe the way that Dinero had treated her. All she wanted to do was explain her situation, not be talked to like she was nothing. While walking to her car, Laree noticed a brick. Since Dinero insisted on calling her crazy, she figured she would show him what crazy really looked like. She walked over to his car and threw the brick through the windshield. She smiled when she noticed the hole that the brick had created.
When Laree heard the door swing open, she saw Dinero standing there giving her an icy glare.
“Bitch, did you just throw a brick in my shit?” He grimaced.
“Yeah, I did. That’s what crazy looks like, you bitch,” she rebutted, feeling a sudden burst of courage.
“I'm about to beat your ass, hoe.” Dinero ran toward Laree.
She took off toward her car, but Dinero was far too fast. He aggressively grabbed her by her locks. She fell to the ground and he roughly picked her up.
“Get the fuck off of me!” she yelled.
“Nah, bitch, I’m about to throw your bitch ass through your windshield so you can see how it feels.”
Dinero swung her body and slammed her down on her windshield. Instantly, Laree could feel a sharp pain radiate through her back. Tears fell freely from her eyes as she laid on the broken glass. Suddenly, she began to regret her decision to damage his property.
“Next time I’ma kill your dumb ass, bitch.”
By this time, Meesha and Terri had emerged from the office. They were laughing hysterically at the scene.
“Damn, Dinero, you slammed the shit outta her.” Terri laughed.
“Fuck that silly-ass slut. I should go get my pistol and whip that hoe-ass bitch,” he fumed.
“Aye, bitch, get your ass up and get off of this property before me and Terri start feeling petty and whoop your ass!” Meesha yelled out to her.
Laree sat up slowly and slid off of the hood. She looked back at her windshield and saw that it was shattered. She didn’t know how she would be able to drive home, but she refused to stay in that parking lot. The glares that Dinero, Meesha, and Terri were giving her scared her half to death. Dinero’s strength surprised her. The way he threw Laree into the car like a rag doll was petrifying.
“You better not let me catch you in the streets either. I’ma body your loony ass,” he threatened once more.
Laree winced as she got into her car and started the engine. She felt stupid for her actions because they were truly unnecessary.
Chapter Eight
After his scene with Laree, Dinero found himself at the strip club. It was Braylon’s birthday, and Fabian had invited the DeMao crew to hang out. Dinero watched as a chocolate beauty bounced her ass in his face to DJ Khaled’s “For Free”. The way she was winding her hips had him contemplating taking her to a private room. He took a wad of money out of his pocket and scattered the bills across her body. Dinero desperately needed this time out with his brothers. He had been under a great amount of stress from his dilemma with Asia down to his crazy dealings with Laree. All he wanted to do was get pissy drunk, fall into some pussy, and forget about his woes.
Dinero looked over at Keece who was getting a lap dance from a light skin chick. Big, Kiyan, and Case sat sipping on glasses of D’usse as they watched two dancers on the stage.
“Oh shit! There goes Paris,” Dinero exclaimed.
Keece whipped his head around in search of his wife. “Where?”
Dinero laughed. “I'm just fucking with you.”
“Your bitch ass plays too much,” Keece spat.
“I had to,” he said and then turned his attention back to the stripper. “Is your ass real?”
“One hundred percent, baby,” she purred.
Dinero nodded. “I’ll see how real that shit is later on.”
Braylon stumbled over to where Dinero and Keece were. It was obvious that he was way past the legal limit. He placed his arm around Dinero’s shoulders.
“I'm slapped,” Braylon slurred.
“I can tell, nigga. Your ass gon’ be throwing up in a minute. You know you’ve always been sweet on the liquor.” Dinero chuckled.
“Fuck you.” Braylon laughed.
After Fabian took a couple pictures with some fans, he came over and joined the group.
“Why did you let his ass get this drunk?” Keece asked Fabian.
“Right…knowing he can’t hold his liquor,” Dinero added.
“It’s his birthday, so I had to let him get slapped one time. I ain't gotta deal with that shit anyway. Kellan does,” Fabian stated and then suddenly smiled past Dinero.
Dinero followed his gaze and spotted Trystan coming into the area. But what made his nostrils flare was the person who was holding his hand. Asia loo
ked beautiful in a black, deep v jumpsuit. Fabian and Braylon greeted them both. Dinero couldn’t believe she had the nerve to show up with another man, knowing he would be there. He was consumed with so much rage that he didn’t realize his hands were balled into fists.
“Aye, chill, man. She doesn’t belong to you anymore,” Keece whispered in his ear.
“Fuck that. I'm not tryin’ to hear that shit,” Dinero barked and began to walk over to Asia and Trystan.
Keece stopped him and said, “Aye, listen to what the fuck I said. Leave her alone. I know that’s not what you wanted to see, but you gotta chill on Asia now. Y’all ain’t together no more, so you can’t be charging up to every dude that she’s with. Don’t ruin Braylon’s birthday.”
Dinero looked at Keece and then looked away. He went over and took a seat in attempt to calm his nerves. It was eating him alive to see another man holding hands with the woman who still held his heart. Dinero knew that karma wouldn’t be pretty, but he never expected to feel this bad. What made matters worse was that Asia greeted everyone except him. It was like she was torturing him on purpose.
It took everything in Dinero not to get up and slap the shit out of Trystan. It didn’t matter that he had nothing to do with him and Asia not being together. He just wanted to beat his ass for being with his lady. Dinero felt violated, and usually, when he experienced that feeling, he displayed violent behavior.
Big came over and sat next to him. “You good?
“Hell nah, I ain't good. I feel like beating both of their asses.”
Big released a deep breath. “I know that shit hurts, bro.”
The word hurt was an understatement. Dinero was feeling crushed. He watched Asia laugh and touch Trystan intimately on his face. Suddenly, thoughts of Asia fucking Trystan invaded his mind. His stomach turned at the thought of him being knee deep in the pussy that Dinero declared his. When Asia got up and headed for the bathroom, Dinero shot up from his seat, and followed her. He jogged to catch up to her before she walked inside of the ladies’ room. When he reached Asia, he spun her around.
“So you’re really going to walk in here with that mothafucka knowing that I would be here?”
Asia offered him a detached expression. “I didn’t know you would be here, Dinero.”
“Bullshit! You knew; that’s why your ass came here. You’re trying to piss me off, Asia.”
“He invited me, and I wasn’t about to turn down his offer! Everything is not about you, Dinero! Get over yourself and let me go! I’m not married to you anymore! You and I are not together, and we’ll never be again! Move the fuck on!” she yelled over the music.
Hearing those words caused Dinero’s heart to virtually break again. He knew that they weren’t a couple anymore. But hearing Asia confirm that they would never get back together hurt his feelings tremendously. Out of nowhere, Trystan rounded the corner. Dinero’s rage intensified as he approached them.
“You good, Asia?” Trystan asked.
“Yeah, she’s good. Don’t you see us talking,” Dinero snapped.
“Who the fuck do you think you're talking to?” Trystan retorted, matching his tone.
Dinero stepped into his personal space. “I’m talkin’ to you, mothafucka. Now what the fuck you gon’ do about it?”
Asia hurried and stepped in between the two. “I'm good, Trystan. I’ll be right out. Just give me a second.”
Trystan took one look at Asia and walked off. Dinero was hoping that Trystan would jump bad, because he was waiting to beat his ass.
“Dinero, I have to pee. Are you done harassing me now?”
“So you really want me to let you go?” he asked, hoping she would say no.
“I do. I think it’s best if we cut off all communication between us. Just let me be.”
Dinero’s stomach began to twist into knots at the thought of emotionally letting Asia go. He wanted to object, but the look on her face told him that it was what she wanted. How could he part ways with his other half? Why couldn’t she see that he was desperately sorry and wanted another chance to make her happy?
“A’ight you got that. You’ll never hear from me again.”
Dinero walked away feeling the same way he did when Asia announced that she wanted a divorce. He wasn’t feeling the party scene anymore, so he decided to leave the club. Dinero’s life was all over the place because the love of his life was missing. But now that Asia had begged him to let her live her life without him, he decided that he would give her what she wanted and move on.
****
Asia walked back to her seat feeling guilty. She hated that Dinero still had an effect on her. She wanted to believe him when he said that he would treat her better, but Asia couldn’t take the chance of him disappointing her again. She had no idea that he would be at the strip club when Trystan invited her. The last thing she wanted was to be in a room with Dinero and his brothers.
When Asia requested for Dinero to let her go, she wanted to take back her words immediately. Not because she didn’t really want him to, but because she knew it had hurt his feelings. Sure, Dinero had hurt Asia on several different occasions, but for some reason, it pained her when he was hurting. She still loved him with all of her heart, but it had been proven that they were no good for each other. She could tell by the look on his face that he was crushed. Asia hated that she still held deep feelings for him.
When Asia sat down next to Trystan, he gave her a look and then said, “Who was that dude?”
“That’s my ex,” she replied and then took a sip of her drink.
“What the fuck is his deal?”
“Nothing, Trystan.”
“It didn’t look like nothing. Is he trying to get back with you or something?”
“No,” she lied.
“Are you sure?”
“I'm positive. Now let’s try to enjoy the rest of our night.”
****
A couple days later, Dinero sat at the car wash playing a game of Madden with Keith. He was trying his best to keep his mind off of Asia, but the task was easier said than done. He felt rejected and he hated the feeling. He wanted to fight for Asia’s heart again, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t make her want him, and with her request to leave her alone, he had to give up his quest.
“So what's up with Asia? She still ain't giving you no play?” Keith asked.
Dinero’s face turned stone. He hadn't shared the encounter he’d had with Asia with Keith. Dinero didn’t like telling him much when it came to her because he was always so negative.
“Why are you always bringing Asia up? You want her or something?” Dinero paused the game and then glared at him.
“Damn! I'm just asking a fucking question. And hell nah, I don’t want Asia. She’s not my type.”
“Yeah…a’ight. Don’t ask me nothing else about her ass.”
“My bad. I thought y’all were speaking again.”
“Not anymore.”
“Well, what's up with that one bitch that you were messing with?”
Dinero shook his head. “I had to lay hands on her ass the other day. She busted out my windshield.”
“Why did she do that?”
“Because that hoe is crazy. Ever since I found those nut pills in her drawer, she’s been acting cuckoo.”
“Wait. Hold up.” Keith laughed. “You found some pills?”
“Hell yeah. It was a whole bottle of them bitches. Then this bitch wants to say it’s for depression. I'm like, bitch, that shit is for more than depression.”
“Damn, Dinero you always pick them crazy hoes. Pass her my way. I like them crazy.”
Dinero twisted his face. “You stupid. I don’t need no bitch that takes pills. I'm straight on that shit.”
“Not me. The crazier she is, the wetter the pussy,” Keith explained.
“You sound dumb as fuck.”
Without warning, Meesha frantically burst into the office.
“Dinero, the police are here and they're asking for you.
”
Dinero and Keith hopped up and followed Meesha out front. Two officers stood at the desk while Terri eyed them suspiciously.
“Are you Dinero DeMao?” one officer asked.
“What the fuck do y’all want with me?” he questioned.
“We have a warrant for your arrest.”
“For what?” he bellowed.
“For the assault on Cadence Donelson.”
“Cadence?” Dinero repeated in disbelief.
“Yo,” Keith stressed. “They’re on some other shit, fam.”
“I haven’t touched that bitch,” Dinero spat, not liking the position he had been placed in.
“We’ll determine that once we go down to the station. Can you please place your hands behind your back?”
Dinero couldn’t believe that Cadence had actually filed a false report on him. When he last saw her, he was for sure that he’d scared her out of Milwaukee. Dinero had even driven by her family house to ensure that she was gone. He had never been so filled with fury in his entire life. Now he was being charged for a bogus crime. Technically, Dinero did assault Cadence when he found out that she’d initiated the scene with him and Asia at the hotel. But how could she wait months later to go to the police?
Dinero reluctantly turned around and placed his hands behind his back. The officer placed the handcuffs tightly around his wrists.
“Aye, call one of my brothers to come and bail me out,” Dinero told Keith.
“I got you, fam.”
Dinero was ushered out of the building and he was placed in the back seat of the police cruiser. He declared that the minute he posted bail that he would make Cadence pay for this stunt.
****
“That lil’ mothafucka thinks this shit is a game. I bet this shit will teach his ass,” Carlotta spat as she inhaled her cigarette.
Cadence watched her mother pace back and forth while fussing. When she’d alerted her mother that Dinero had threatened them to leave the city or else, Carlotta became enraged. She didn’t appreciate Dinero thinking that it was okay for him to run her and her daughter out of the state. So she concocted a plan to have him arrested for assaulting Cadence. Carlotta put a couple scratches on her daughter and went to the police to file a report.
