The two men lay bleeding. One of the agents bled profusely from the neck while the other had his hand pressed tightly against his lower abdomen. Treacherous peered into the back of the open van doors. The high-tech equipment inside confirmed what Treacherous had thought. He knew there was no turning back now. When he turned, Baby was picking up the second gun belonging to the two men on the ground, who lay fighting for their lives. Without saying anything, Treacherous stood over the cop closest to him and pumped four shots into the man’s face and two more just below his bulletproof vest. Baby wasted no time doing the same to the other officer.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here and handle what we gotta do before it’s too late,” Treacherous stated.
“Right behind you, babe.”
Treacherous didn’t have to tell her what he saw in the back of the van, just like he didn’t have to tell her what their next move was.
Chapter 37
“Don’t worry about it. It’s on me.”
Andre Randle picked up the check and viewed the total. He dug into his pocket and retrieved forty dollars, which was more than enough to cover the dinner bill.
“Thanks,” Detective Love replied. “The next one’s on me.”
“Any dessert for you guys?” Judy, the waitress, asked, smiling.
“None for me.” Andre Randle was the first to answer.
“Me neither.” The two men rubbed their bellies, indicating how full they were.
“Okay. I’ll be right back with your change.”
Andre waved his hand. “No change.”
Judy smiled again. “Thank you. You guys have a wonderful day.”
Both Andre and Detective Love got up and stretched. “Been a hell of a day,” Detective Love said and shook his head.
“Pretty much,” Andre Randle agreed.
He empathized with what Detective Love was going through. His reasons for getting involved were personal, but they, in no way, compared to the detective’s personal connection. The hurt in his eyes as he spoke about his daughter told the story of a father’s pain. He could only imagine how difficult it was for him to assist in a manhunt where his child was the one being hunted.
“I’m really sorry about your kid getting all wrapped up in this mess,” Andre Randle offered. “I’ll give you a buzz if I find out anything worthwhile.”
“Thanks, Randle.”
The two men gave each other nods and hopped into their vehicles. Andre Randle backed out of the parking space. The sound of Detective Love’s horn blowing wildly stopped him in his tracks. He threw his car into park. Then, he instinctively drew his gun and hopped out of his vehicle. He crouched down and scurried over to Chief Randle’s unmarked car. Within seconds, he was pointing his gun back and forth from the front passenger window to the back. When he looked, he was confused but relieved to see that Detective Love was in no danger. He noticed Detective Love was motioning for him to get in the car.
“Sweetheart, don’t worry, I’m on my way,” were the words Andre Randle was met with when he opened the car door.
Detective Love discontinued the call. “Fuck!” he cursed. “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” Detective Love banged his fists on the steering wheel.
“Art, what the hell is going on?” Andre Randle asked.
“They got my fuckin’ wife.”
“Who?” Andre Randle became wide-eyed.
“My goddamn daughter and that motherfucker!”
“Holy shit!” Andre Randle now joined the detective in swearing.
“Jesus!” Detective Love dropped his head onto the steering wheel. “I can’t believe this is happening. Not my baby girl.”
“Art, it happens, man. It’s nothing you did,” a sympathetic Andre Randle said, trying to console the detective. “And that’s not the little girl you remember. She’s changed. The main thing now is to be strong for your wife. Where are they?”
Detective Love raised his head and wiped his eyes. He said, “You’re absolutely right. She’s not. I knew that, just didn’t want to admit it.” Detective Love let out a deep sigh. After pulling himself together, he answered, “They’re at my house.”
“Are you going to call it in?”
“No.”
“I didn’t think so,” Andre Randle stated. “Well, I’m going with you,” he said.
“No; she said that they told me to come alone.”
“Fuck them. They don’t call the shots or make the rules, we do,” Andre Randle pointed out. “If you go there by yourself, both you and your wife are dead. These kids aren’t playing. They’ve killed with no remorse or regard. I mean, come on, you know who this kid’s parents were. It’s almost as if he and your daughter are his parents reincarnated or something. I’m not letting you go by yourself.”
Detective Love knew Randle was right. “Okay, but stay out of sight. I don’t want to do anything that would give them a reason to hurt my wife. I’m going to text you my address.”
“You got it,” Andre Randle assured him before reaching for the door handle.
“And one more thing.” Detective Love paused. “If you have to, do what you gotta do,” he added.
Andre Randle knew what he meant. He gave a knowing nod. Then, he exited the detective’s vehicle.
Chapter 38
Arthur Love slowly opened the front door of his home and entered with caution. Aside from the light he could see coming from the kitchen area, the inside of his home was dark. There was complete silence. It was so quiet that he could hear his own heart beating through his shirt at a faster pace than normal. His senses were on high alert, and he was ready for whatever.
With his weapon drawn, Arthur Love maneuvered through the living room like a lion hunting its prey and made his way toward the kitchen. With each move, he secured the perimeter by flashing his gun in all areas of the house. He stopped short and put his back up against the wall when he reached the entrance of the kitchen. He carefully leaned his head forward to get a view of the scene in the kitchen. He snatched his head back at the sight.
“Shit!” he cursed under his breath. His mind was racing as he weighed his options. Before he could make up his mind, it was made for him.
“Dad, if you don’t come in here, I’m going to kill her,” the familiar voice echoed in the air.
Arthur Love exhaled. Then, he did as he was told.
Seeing his wife in the nude, gagged and tied to the kitchen chair, pierced Arthur Love’s heart. He could see that she had been beaten. Her tearstained eyes were black and blue while her lips were swollen and revealed traces of blood in the creases of her mouth. The blood on the side of her head had dried up and matted down a chunk of her hair.
“You did this?” His voice cracked as he addressed his daughter.
“Well, it’s good to see you too, Daddy,” Baby offered instead.
Treacherous was posted up against the wall with his . 45 automatic zeroed in on Baby’s father. Arthur Love cut his eyes over in Treacherous’s direction and saw the weapon pointed at him. His blood boiled.
“Honey, are you all right?” he asked his wife.
Jazmyne Love nodded.
“Aw, he wants to know if you’re okay!” Baby mocked in disgust.
“Baby girl, what are you doing?” Arthur Love asked his daughter. His tone was compassionate.
“Don’t fuckin’ call me that,” Baby spat. “You gave up the right to call me that when you let them muthafuckas put me away.”
Her words tore into her father as if they were hot slugs from her gun. It was the first time she had ever expressed how she felt about the outcome to him.
“Put you away? Sweetheart, you killed your aunt,” Arthur Love pointed out. “It was either there or prison and I didn’t want—”
Treacherous couldn’t help but laugh.
“Fuck you. You piece of shit!” Arthur Love lashed out at Treacherous.
“No! Fuck you, nigga!” Treacherous’s cocked his gun and lined it up with Arthur’s head. “You don’t know shit about your d
aughter,” he barked.
“And I guess you do,” Arthur Love retorted, pointing his own gun at Treacherous. He was not the least bit afraid. “She wasn’t raised like you. She knows who her parents are, and we’re not fucking killers!” he shouted.
Treacherous’s finger applied pressure to the trigger of his gun.
“Treach! Please! No!” Baby pleaded. She knew he was about to pull the trigger. “Daddy, shut up!” she called out to her father. “Treach, stay out of this! I got it,” she told him.
Treacherous lowered his gun. When Arthur Love turned around, he was met with his daughter’s own gun now pointing at him.
“So, now you’re going to shoot me? You’re gonna shoot your father?”
“No,” Baby quickly replied. “I mean, don’t give me a reason to.”
“Baby, what is all of this? This is not you.” Arthur Love sighed. “You’re runnin’ around with this joker, robbing and killing people like it’s legal. And now this?” He pointed to her mother. “You don’t come from all of this. That’s not how you were raised. What happened to you? What happened to my baby girl?”
Tears began to build up in Arthur Love’s eyes, while a murderous grin appeared across Baby’s face. She shook her head in pity. She couldn’t believe how naïve he was about everything.
“Baby, please tell me, what happened to my little girl?” he begged Baby through sobs.
“You were supposed to protect me!” she blurted out. Baby could no longer fight the inevitable. She was now crying uncontrollably. “You were supposed to protect me! Goddamn it!”
“From what, honey?” Arthur Love tried to move in to console his daughter.
“Don’t! Stay the fuck where you are,” she warned as she waved her gun.
“Okay! Take it easy.” Arthur Love paused in his tracks and threw his hands up. “What happened? What didn’t I protect you from?”
Baby let out a sinister laugh. She drew her attention to her mother, who had been listening and watching with keen ears and fearful eyes.
“Why don’t you ask your fuckin’ wife?” Baby snatched the gag from her mother’s mouth.
Arthur Love stood confused.
“Ask her!” Baby screamed.
“Honey?” Arthur Love shifted his eyes to his wife. “What’s going on?”
“I’m s . . . sorry.” Jazmyne Love dropped her head and began to sob.
“No, bitch! Look at him and tell him what you’re sorry about.” Baby went behind her mother and grabbed hold of her head. She raised it up and yelled, “Tell him!” Baby cocked the hammer of her gun and pressed the barrel up against the back of her mother’s head.
“Okay!” her mother yelled out. Jazmyne closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She relived the scene that had been haunting her for years. She shook her head and cleared her throat. “Baby didn’t mean to kill Jazelle. Everything happened so fast.”
“What? What are saying, Jazmyne? What was happening so fast?” Arthur Love wanted to know. He had never been so confused in his life.
“Let her finish,” Baby interjected. “Finish,” she told her mother.
“Jazelle should have never been killed.” She paused. “She was trying to protect me,” Jazmyne cried out. “It was me she was trying to kill!”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Arthur Love could not comprehend what his wife was saying. Nothing was making sense to him.
“You heard what she said,” Baby chimed in. “I was trying to kill her ass, not Aunt Jazelle.”
“But why, Baby?”
Baby poked her mother in the back of her head with the weapon. “Tell him why, Jazmyne,” she said, refusing to call her Mother.
“I was wrong. I was wrong,” Jazmyne repeated.
“Fuck all of that!” Baby smacked her mother across the face with side of her gun. “Bitch, you got two seconds to tell your muthafuckin’ husband why your funky ass convinced him to put me away.”
“Baby.” Jazmyne sighed in a low tone.
It was the first time Baby had heard her mother say her name since they had been there. Her voice and the way she said it triggered something inside Baby.
“I remember when you used to say my name like that.” Baby leaned over. “Remember this!” she whispered in her mother’s ear. Baby took her gun and shoved it between her mother’s legs. The barrel of her weapon penetrated her mother. Jazmyne screamed in agony.
“Baby, that’s enough!”
Arthur Love had his gun locked on his daughter’s head. He was tempted to take the shot, but his mind was changed by the barrel that Treacherous had pressed up against his temple.
“I wish you would, mu’fucka,” Treacherous threatened Baby’s father in the most chilling tone known to mankind.
Baby didn’t bother turning around. There was no doubt in her mind that Treacherous had her back. Instead, she concentrated on her mother.
“You like that?” Baby asked as she slid her gun in and out of her mother’s vagina.
“Baby, please don’t,” her mother cried.
“‘Just one of those days,’” Baby began to sing.
Tears flowed profusely out of Jazmyne Love’s eyes.
“Baby, I’m begging you,” Arthur Love tried to reason with his daughter. “Whatever it is or whatever it was, I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you, but I’m here now,” he added.
His words had melted a layer of Baby’s hardened heart, but there were ninety-nine more that he had no way of knowing he hadn’t been able to reach.
“It’s too late,” Baby said calmly.
She removed her gun from her mother’s vagina and stood up. The combination of her mother’s fluids and blood dripped from the barrel. Baby stared menacingly at her mother.
“I hope wherever you’re going you’re forgiven for what you did to me because I never will,” Baby said as she walked behind her mother.
“Daddy, I’m sorry,” she said just before she squeezed the trigger.
“No! Jaz!”
“No! Baby!”
The sound of gunshots filled the Loves’ residence. The first shot that triggered the barrage of bullets whizzing through the air exited Baby’s gun and ended Jazmyne Love’s defenseless life on impact. Simultaneously, the first of two shots from Andre Randle’s gun shattered the kitchen window’s glass and wildly spiraled its way into the refrigerator. The third shot that followed was intended for Baby, but it ripped through Treacherous’s upper torso and almost forced him off his feet. As the shot was fired, he had made a mad dash over to her and posed as a human shield.
The three shots Treacherous managed to get off in the direction of the window before he was hit made their presence felt. The first one grazed Andre Randle’s left cheek while the second one tore into his shoulder and knocked him off the milk crate he stood on outside. The third one ricocheted off Arthur Love’s gun and lodged itself in the kitchen’s wall. Arthur Love never got a chance to get off a shot. The bullet from Treacherous’s gun sent his weapon flying across the room.
“Treach,” Baby screamed. She immediately rushed to Treacherous’s side and fell to the floor. At that moment, nothing mattered but her man. She was oblivious to everything else.
“Treach! Wake up, babe!” Baby rubbed his face.
Treacherous lay dead still. Blood gushed from his body, staining his shirt.
“No! You can’t leave me,” Baby cried. She pressed her head up against Treacherous’s face. “Treach, please wake up.”
The room felt as if it were spinning to Baby. This was not the plan, she thought. The last thing she would have ever imagined was something happening to her partner. She could not fathom life without Treacherous. For her, it was not an option. Baby pulled herself together. She knew what she had to do.
“Don’t worry, babe. I’m going to get you outta here.” She kissed Treacherous on the cheek. Just as she stood up, she heard her name. When she looked, her father was aiming his gun at her.
“How could you do this to me?” Arthur Love
tightened his grip on his gun.
“To you?” Baby was surprised by his statement.
“How could you kill your mother?” he asked.
“That molesting-ass bitch killed your daughter a long time ago. Now, we’re even,” Baby slyly remarked.
“Don’t you fucking talk about her like that,” he shouted.
“You don’t even care what she did to me!” Baby shot daggers at her father. “You’re no different than her!”
“Go to hell!” Arthur Love cursed.
“Eventually,” Baby mocked. “And I’ll tell Jazmyne you said hi when I get there.” Baby kneeled down and got behind Treacherous’s body.
“I can’t let you leave here.”
“Well, then, you’re going to have to kill me because I’m taking my man up out of here,” she retorted.
“Damn it, Baby. Don’t make me do this.”
Baby kept both her eyes and her gun on her father while she lifted Treacherous up.
Arthur Love cocked his weapon. “Baby, I’m warning you.”
It was if as though his words had fallen on deaf ears. Baby continued to drag Treacherous’s body out of the kitchen and toward the living room area. Her father followed her as she slowly made her way into the living room. Baby knew he was torn between his duty as an officer and his love for her. She used that to her advantage. Baby finally reached the door.
“Don’t you open that door,” Arthur Love warned his daughter.
Unfazed by his words, Baby reached back and grabbed the door handle.
“I told you not to open that fucking door!” Arthur Love’s gun roared like the king of the jungle. The bullet spun Baby around and sent her crashing to the floor. It was not Arthur Love’s intention to kill his daughter but rather wound her. He could have easily put a bullet through her heart, which he was tempted to do, but, instead, he opted for her left arm.
Carl Weber Presents Ride or Die Chick 3 Page 15
