Thug Matrimony

by Wahida Clark

  “Fuck you, bitch. He wants me for me. He put me in my own condo. I don’t even have to do anything, unless I want to!” They were both screaming.

  “That’s how it starts, Carmen. That is what he wants you to think. Then you’ll be offering him money, offering to trick for him.”

  “Angel, open the fuckin’ door!” Kaylin yelled again.

  “Give me a minute, Kaylin,” she screamed at him.

  “That’s your problem,” Carmen continued. “You think you know everything.”

  “I know more than you. I’m not the one calling you for money, all beat the fuck up and been wearing the same outfit for days. Call him, since he loves you so much. Ask him for a thousand dollars.” Angel headed for the door.

  Carmen ran after her and grabbed her arm. “I will, bitch, because he’s my man now.”

  Angel turned around and grabbed her by her hair and slammed her head into the wall. “I’ma beat some sense into your dumb ass.” She pinned her there. “I see what your problem is. You want to be me. You’re fuckin’ jealous of me, Carmen. And why? I’m the fuckin’ sister who loves you, unconditionally!” She was ramming her head into the wall.

  Kaylin kicked the door in, with Mrs. Smith on his heels.

  “Back up, Kaylin, Mommy. Or else I will pop this whore’s neck.”

  Next thing you know Kaylin had lifted them both off the floor. Carmen started throwing blows. Kaylin put Angel down.

  “Bitch, I’m better than you. Keenan told me that. My pussy is tighter than yours.”

  “You dumb bitch,” Angel growled as she charged at Carmen, but Kaylin managed to keep them separated.

  “Get your hands off me, nigga,” Carmen yelled at Kaylin.

  “Where is this nigga at?” Kaylin asked.

  “Wouldn’t you like to know!” Carmen spat. “You would have to kill me, ‘cause I ain’t no snitch!”

  Mrs. Smith held on to Angel, who was raging mad.

  “Tell your nigga to get his hands off me.” She snatched away from Kaylin. “I’m leaving.” She grabbed her suitcase and bag.

  “Don’t let her leave. I’m not finished with her yet,” Angel yelled.

  Carmen reached into her bag and pulled out a gun and aimed it.

  Mrs. Smith gasped, “That’s my gun,” and went toward her. It went off and the bullet surged through the door. “Now get the fuck outta my way. Because the next bullet won’t miss.” Carmen stormed out.

  Chapter 17

  Jaz, Angel, and Kyra were in Tasha’s living room. They were helping Tasha get ready for Trae’s homecoming. For the last two weeks he had been walking with a walker and going through intense physical therapy. The doctors said he could go home when he could use a cane.

  The girls were enjoying a break, and were chillin’ in the living room. Angel had just arrived, but Jaz and Kyra had spent the night. Jaz was sitting on the floor, Kyra was reclined back in the La-Z-Boy, Angel was seated on the couch next to Tasha, who was stuffing her face with fried chicken, potato salad, and rolls.

  Angel let out a deep sigh. “Look, I’m getting ready to tell y’all some deep shit, and on the real, this cannot leave this room. Y’all know the drill.” Her gaze met with each of theirs, to let them know that this was indeed serious.

  “Come on with it,” Jaz told her. “I knew sumthin was up because you’ve been looking tired, worn out, stressed, worried, the whole nine.”

  “I should and I am. I had the last twenty hours from hell. First, my husband tells me that he was just informed about an unfulfilled obligation to his supplier, and that they are now ready to collect on it. He said he shared that info with me, just in case he disappeared, I wouldn’t have to hear it from someone else. Ain’t that some shit!”

  “What?” Jaz and Kyra said in unison.

  “Hold up.” Tasha almost dropped her plate. “Kay and Trae worked for the same people. And Trae hasn’t mentioned this to me.”

  “Then don’t mention it to him. Trust me, they know where he is and why,” Angel stated with conviction. “Chill out.”

  “Chill out?” Tasha was now up and pacing the floor. “My husband has been away from me for months, Angel. Now you’re talking about going back out there to fulfill an old obligation? I wouldn’t be able to take it if he didn’t come back.” Her voice choked up. “What do they have to do?”

  Angel regretted that she even mentioned the possibility to Ms. Drama Queen herself. “Tasha, I don’t know. He didn’t go into detail. But from what I understand, Trae won’t be needed, he can barely walk. I’m sorry I even brought it up, but you can imagine how I feel, can’t you?”

  “I’m sorry, Angel. I mean, just how much can a bitch take? I will be talking to Mr. Macklin tonight. You best believe that.” She sat back down on the couch.

  Angel jumped up out of her chair. “No, the fuck you’re not, Tasha. We will fall the fuck out about this shit. Because I’m telling y’all this in confidence. So keep your damn mouth shut. Hell, I told your drama queen ass that Trae most likely won’t and will not have any hands in the shit, so chill out. For real, I don’t even know if he knows or not,” Angel fussed.

  “Angel, please. You know better than I that if nobody else knows, Trae knows. So you can let that go. And you’re the drama queen.”

  Angel gritted her teeth. “Tasha, my dawg, I’m asking you to don’t say a word. Because we both know no matter what we say, we’re gonna go with the flow. These are the old suppliers and we know how powerful those folks are and what they are capable of. Now, don’t we? If they don’t get what they want … well, you can fill in the blanks.”

  “Yeah, Tasha,” Jaz interrupted. “Chill out for a minute. Don’t go stressing Trae out. The man just got out of a coma. And I need to inform both you drama queens, you are now married. It’s no longer about us and a relationship. It’s about the future, the whole family, kids, dogs, and goldfish included.”

  “Well, damn, Angel, and you too, Jaz, you still can’t blame the sister for being worried. When Kaylin told you what the deal was, I’m sure you allowed some slick shit to fly out of your mouth because you were worried as well,” Kyra snapped.

  “Yes, I did. But I still don’t want her saying anything to Trae, and can I finish? I didn’t come over here to argue and fight with my girl, I came here to share the troubling events of last night.”

  “Drama queens,” Jaz mumbled.

  “But listen, it gets better. While he’s dropping this bomb on me, my mother calls and says that my sister is at the house. She hadn’t been there for more than two hours and Mommy’s credit cards were missing. We get down there and this bitch is fucked up on coke or meth, I couldn’t even tell.”

  “Oh my God!” Kyra gasped, knowing from firsthand experience how detrimental a drug habit was.

  “Let me finish. Her face was all bruised up and she was asking me for a thousand dollars.”

  “Who beat her up? Where has she been?” Tasha wanted to know.

  “Hold up, Ma, the plot thickens. I gotta save the best for last. Then she starts talking about how me and Mommy only cared about each other, how we didn’t give a damn about her and Mark. She said she always hated me, I wasn’t shit, Mommy was always talking about Angel this, Angel that, and how it made her so sick just to hear my name.”

  “Oh my God! What has gotten into Carmen?” Jaz shrieked.

  “She needs some counseling,” Kyra added. “When can you bring her to Cali?”

  “Please, that girl is not thinking about any counseling, she is too busy chasing Snake’s ass.”

  “What?” Jaz was too rough.

  “You gotta be kidding me.” Kyra was very disappointed.

  “That is so sad,” Tasha remarked.

  “Hold up. It gets even thicker. Anyways, she’s fucking him and didn’t want to hear any of my warnings and accused me of being jealous. We got into a fight and Kaylin had to kick in the bedroom door. He broke us up and asked her where Keenan was. She said we would have to kill her, because she wasn�
�t telling us shit. Kaylin wanted to do just that. I could see the look on his face. Then the bitch had the nerve to pull out a burner on us and fired it off. Then just like that”—Angel snapped her fingers—“she was gone.”

  “That is unbelievable,” Jaz said.

  “Well, believe it because it happened. And now Kaylin is so mad I can’t even hold a conversation with him. We were supposed to go to Lamaze class this morning, but he left and didn’t even say anything.” Angel sighed. “He’s going to kill him,” she whispered. “And you know what? I wish he would hurry up. He could get someone else to do it, but he’s hell-bent on doing it himself. I don’t know what I would do if sumthin happened to him. I am so worried about him.”

  “Girl, worried about him? What about yourself?” Tasha asked. “Look at you. You don’t look good at all. You’re working nonstop, worrying about Carmen, worrying about Snake, worrying about Kaylin, the business, girl, it is eventually going to catch up with you. I am very worried about you.”

  “Well, don’t be. I go to the doctor’s when I leave here and I plan on staying home until it’s time for me to have the baby. I plan to take it easy from here on out.”

  “This has been a little too much for me.” Kyra sighed.

  “My sisters, you exemplify tremendous strength.” Jaz beamed. “I am so proud of you ladies. The strength of the black woman never ceases to amaze me. And trust me. Whatever is troubling us at the moment will soon pass. I honestly don’t see how y’all do it. So much drama up here in the East. I’m taking my ass back down to the dirty dirty.”

  They all stood up and engaged in a group hug, wiping the tears off one another’s faces. Then they all giggled. “We have too much fun being such strong crybabies,” Kyra teased.

  “We do, don’t we? And I would love to stay and cry some more but I have to get going to my doctor’s appointment. I miss you guys a lot and can’t wait to spend a couple of days of quality time with all of us together, minus the drama.” Angel hugged everyone at least one more time. She whispered, “I love you” in Tasha’s ear.

  “Yeah, as soon as you chicks drop them loads, we must plan a getaway,” Jaz told them, and everyone was in agreement.

  “Angel … keep your head up, my sista.” Kyra pumped her fist, Angela Davis style. Angel smiled as she left.

  Lil’E had left the doctor’s office ten minutes before Angel. Angel cursed under her breath as she looked at the flat tire on her ride. She dialed Kaylin’s cell phone and it transferred to the office line.

  “Game Over Records, this is Bobbi. How may I direct your call?”

  “Hi, Bobbi, it’s me. Where is he?”

  “Right this moment he’s in the main conference room, conducting about three meetings at once. Do you want me to interrupt him?”

  “Yes, thank you.”

  “Okay, hold on.” Bobbi hit the intercom button. “Mr. Santos, wifey is on line two.” Line two blinked for a few seconds, then stopped.

  “Baby, what’s good?”

  “Don’t baby, what’s good me! Remind me to check Bobbi about that wifey bullshit. I’m the wife. Now, did you forget how you left the house pissed off this morning, skipped our Lamaze class, and acted as if I did sumthin to you? I know you’re in meetings right now, but I will deal with you tonight.”

  “Yo, Ma, cut me some slack. I—”

  “Yo, Ma nothing! I’m just leaving Dr. McCombs’s office and Lil’E already headed to Philly. Unfortunately I have a flat tire. I’m going to leave the car here and catch a taxi.”

  “No, stay right there. I’ll come pick you up.”

  “Baby, I’m tired and you are way across town. Get back to your meetings but get your cell and turn it on. I called it first and it went to the front desk. Handle that please.”

  “Oh, my bad. Call me as soon as you flag a taxi.”

  “I will.” She hung up.

  Angel trudged around the corner and stood in front of the office building. When a taxi finally pulled up, she waved, and it zoomed over to the curb. She jumped in the back and shut the door. The other passenger door flew open and a man jumped in.

  “Where to?” the cabbie asked as Angel was dialing Kaylin.

  “Central Park,” Snake answered.

  “Central Park it is,” the cabbie obliged as he started the meter and pulled into traffic.

  Snake gently took the phone out of Angel’s hand and turned it off. Her heart felt as if it was skipping every other beat. Her hands were turning sweaty and clammy. When his cell rang she jumped. Breathe, Angel. Breathe. She made a feeble attempt to control herself.

  “Yeah,” he answered.

  “We got a tag on this pregnant white bitch,” the voice on the other end said.

  “Just stay on it. Move when you can. And keep me posted.” Snake hung up.

  This was Angel’s second time being this close to the man she used to love. “I can’t believe I used to be in love with such a creep,” she blurted. “How could you do that to my sister, Keenan? How could you fuck my baby sister?” She hawked and spat in his face.

  He remained calm, pulled out a handkerchief, and wiped his face. “She’s lying, Angel. I never fucked her. The only reason I’m putting up with her crazy ass is that I can’t get rid of her if I wanted to. Plus, I needed to get your attention.”

  “You’re such a fuckin’ liar, Keenan.”

  “She wants to be you so bad, it’s scary. I mean I’ve heard of sibling rivalry, but damn. You know she was talking about going to law school? The girl seriously needs some help.”

  “Make her come back home, Keenan. Don’t do this to my baby sister.” Angel was so mad that she wished she had a gun on her.

  “What’s it worth to you?”

  “Nigga, what do you mean, what’s it worth to me?”

  “Her coming home, or rather her wanting to come home?”

  She looked at him, unable to hide her disgust. “You are the one who is sick, Keenan.”

  He let out a sigh. “Why do I have to talk to you in the back of a fuckin’ taxi? Why the fuck are you taking me through all of this trouble? Dealing with your sister, flattening your tires, showing up at a damn wedding, Angel? What we had was worth more than how you’re treating me.”

  “Keenan, you left me, remember? For years, if I’m not mistaken. Hello! It’s over. I’ve moved on, Keenan, there will never be anything between us. I love someone else. I have a new family. How else can I put it? It is O-V-E-R.”

  “It’s not over until I say it’s over, Angel. Don’t forget who the fuck I am.”

  “Keenan, why are you doing this? Do you realize that your behavior is considered stalking?”

  “Call it what the fuck you want to call it. Do you realize, technically, that you’re still my muthafuckin’ fiancée? So when can we muthafuckin’ talk? Over dinner, the easy way, or all out the hard way. Which way would you like it? That’s all I’m asking. You owe me some answers.”

  “Owe you? I don’t owe you shit! Owe you? You think I want to have dinner with you and you’re fucking my baby sister? And you beat her ass?” She slapped him. Slapped him again. Then she started raining punches all over him.

  “Hey! Hey!” the cabbie yelled when he saw Snake’s hand around her throat. Angel pressed her finger into his Adam’s apple, forcing him to turn her loose.

  “Let me out, now! Stop this fuckin’ cab or I’ll call the police on this psycho nut.”

  “No. Keep driving,” Snake spat.

  “Stop the fuckin’ car.” She picked up her phone and dialed 911. He snatched it from her and turned it off.

  She snatched it from him and slapped him across the face with it. She opened the door while the cab was still moving, ready to jump.

  “Hey! Hey!” the cabbie yelled as he came to an abrupt stop, causing the car behind him to rear-end them. Angel felt the impact but didn’t care as she jumped out and ran across the street, jumping into another cab.

  “Go! Please go! That man is following me,” she cried. The ta
xi slowly merged into traffic.

  “Where to, ma’am?” the female cabbie asked as she shook her head. Anything is likely to happen in the Big Apple.

  “The new Time Warner Building.” She sniveled as she dialed Kaylin. Before he could answer, Snake was running beside the cab, oblivious of the horns blowing around him. “Hurry up!” Angel screamed. He tried to pull the door open, but Angel locked it. “Can’t you go any faster?” she yelled.

  “Traffic is not moving fast, ma’am,” she answered as she glanced at Snake from her side-view mirror.

  “Cut around somebody. Lose him, damn it! He probably has a gun.”

  The cabbie made a sharp left and zoomed down a side street. Snake was running behind them but soon gave up.

  “Are you okay back there? I lost him.” She looked at her through the rearview mirror. Angel had her head back and was crying. Her hands were shaking so bad she could hardly pick up the phone. Kaylin was screaming her name. He had answered the phone as soon as it rang and could hear her voice and knew that sumthin wrong was going on.

  “Talk to me, Angel. C’mon, baby. I can’t do anything if you don’t tell me where you’re at. Please, baby. Give the phone to somebody. Angel!” he screamed. “Damn it, say sumthin, let me know you’re all right!” He was pacing the conference room like an angry tiger. Everyone had cleared out as soon as they saw him jump up and start to cuss.

  “Baby …” her voice finally strained through the line.

  He was trying to remain calm. “Just tell me where you are and what the fuck just happened. Are you all right?”

  “I’m … in … a taxi. I’m coming to the office.” She glanced back, hoping not to see Snake.

  Kaylin let out a huge sigh of relief. He was definitely thinking the worst. “Just tell me you’re not hurt, baby. Tell me that,” he pleaded.

  “My w-water broke.” She couldn’t stop crying. “He was in the cab with me. Why won’t he leave me alone? Make him leave me alone,” she sobbed.

  Those words ate at Kaylin’s heart. “I’ma take care of him. I promise.” Kaylin was now at the elevators pressing frantically on the DOWN button.