by Tina J
“Is it money in here?” Ant asked and his grandfather gave him a look. How did they get his ass in check and I still have problems?
“Thank you for coming.” He said and ran off to his friends.
“If you say one word to my daughter in law, I’m gonna bash your got damn face in.” Antoine’s mother said and patted the side of my face. His father gave me a dirty look. I remember when they loved me.
“Antoine went all out for his son.” My aunt said walking in.
“I wish he let me pay for something.”
“Girl please. You’ve been taken care of him for years. He can do his part. Who are those fine men?” She pointed to Antoine and Marco’s fathers.
“One is Antoine’s grandfather and the other one is his great uncle.” They were very handsome.
“Damn. I’d fuck both of them.” My aunt is a trip.
“And both of them would beat your ass, right after me.” Haven’s wife said. We had no idea she was standing there. I’m still shocked he got married.
“Who the hell are you?” My aunt looked her up and down.
“Not your concern but those two men are happily married and this piece of trash tryna fuck both of them. Matter of fact, let me mention it so they’re aware.” She walked off and went straight to them.
“Let’s get something to eat. Ain’t nobody got time for no ratchet bitches.” I laughed because my aunt talked a lotta shit and always got her ass whooped.
Throughout the party, I watched my ex carry on with his wife like I never meant anything to him. He was attentive, made her plate and even danced with her a few times. I was still in love with Antoine and yet he moved on like we never meant anything to each other. The minute I noticed Vanity alone, I had to make small talk but someone cut me off.
“Vanity, have you seen Brielle?” Colby asked with a concerned look on his face. I wasn’t about to say anything in front of him.
“Not yet.”
“Fuck!” He barked.
“Is everything ok?” Antoine’s aunt Rakia asked.
“Brielle said she was bringing Aniya to the park before coming here. Have you seen her? She’s not answering, and I don’t know which security guy she has today.”
“Let me ask her father.” Those two walked off and left Vanity and I alone; which is exactly what I wanted.
“Can you ask my sons father if next time, he could let me know he’s paying for the party? I know his first born deserves the best, but I would’ve helped.” She laughed.
“I will.” I thought she’d say more so I had to keep going when she didn’t.
“Did you like the video I sent?” She stopped walking and turned.
“I never watched it, but did you enjoy the one of him apologizing, asking me to remarry him and start all over.” I rolled my eyes.
“Yea, I unblocked you and made my page public so you could witness our bond becoming even stronger. The one you tried to break.”
“Oh, I broke it.”
“Yes you did. However; regardless of him sticking his dick in for the hour you had him, you could never be me.”
“Bitch, don’t nobody wanna be you.” She smirked.
“Sure you do. That’s why you attacked him at the house and sucked him off to keep him there. It’s why you let him cum in you and why you won’t stop calling and texting; asking him to leave me and take you back.” I was mad he told her everything.
“You know I had to stop him from killing you when Ant started disrespecting me again. Boy, he wanted your head on a platter but no. I didn’t want your son; my stepson to be without his mother.” She smiled and it only angered me more.
“You’re a poor excuse for a woman. All these single men out here and you go for the married one.”
“Say what you want Miss Vanity, but you know I like I do, you watched that video. You heard him moaning my name the same as I did his. You watched him smack my ass and fuck me the same as you, if not better. So regardless of who he’s with now, it’s obvious he missed this pussy because he would’ve never risked losing you over it.” I blew her a kiss and walked away.
“SHARIKA!” She screamed out and the whole party got quiet. I noticed Colby running out with Rakia’s father and a few others.
“Yes honey.” I saw Antoine coming closer.
“Take him.” She had her arms on her chest staring at me.
“Excuse me!”
“You just said he missed you and risked what we built for you. If you feel that way, take him.”
“Let’s go Vanity.” Antoine grabbed her hand.
“I’m tired of her shit Antoine. If you hadn’t cheated on me, she wouldn’t be able to hold anything over me. Now look, she made it her business to bring it up knowing I’d react.” Antoine didn’t say anything, but his look said enough to me.
“Your son disrespects me, and you know why? Because she told him to.” I shook my head.
“Bitch, you’re bugging.” I know Ant didn’t open his mouth.
“I’m bugging.” She pointed to herself.
“Come on sis. Not here. This is a kids party.” The woman Armonie said and tried pulling her away. I remembered her from my house.
“Take him Sharika. Go ahead.” Antoine stood there looking like the devil himself.
“Mommy, please stop this.” My son came running over. Everyone looked at him.
“I love Mrs. Vanity and you’re making her cry. I don’t wanna play the game no more.” Lil Ant said.
“What game?” Antoine asked.
“Mommy said if I hurt Mrs. Vanity enough, pops will come home.”
“WHAT?” Antoine barked.
“Dad she’s the reason I sent you to get my stuff from the house the day Mrs. Vanity got hurt and had my sister. I didn’t even want it, but mommy said, daddy’s gonna come and I’ll do things to make sure he stays. We’re gonna be a family.”
“Ant stop lying.” I couldn’t believe he was snitching.
“I’m not lying. Dad, when you dropped me off for those few days, she told me to disrespect her again when y’all came back.”
“Shut up Ant.” He stood by his stepmother.
“I’m sorry Mrs. Vanity. I told her I didn’t wanna play but she said if I don’t, we’d move away and never come back.” The whole room stared when he walked over to me.
“I don’t wanna move. I like it here; my family is big, and I have a lot of cousins. Don’t make me leave them.” He started crying.
“I told you to SHUT UP!” I smacked him so hard he flew into the wall. I’ve never in my life hit my son but he made me mad telling them everything. His eyes started rolling and his body began to shake.
“HE’S HAVING A SEIZURE? TURN HIM ON HIS SIDE AND CALL 911.” I heard someone yell. I turned to see someone coming towards me with a shiny object. I couldn’t tell if it were a gun or knife, because my eyes were blurry from the tears falling as my son laid there.
“VANITY NOOOOO!”
Jacinta
“What you mad about?” My friend asked when I tossed my phone on the bed.
“I called my sister to find out if it’s true about Aniya being alive and the bitch cursed me out.” He shook his head.
This isn’t the first time I spoke to her. The last time she was at Colby’s house with the Brielle bitch. I only know because she asked if Callie was ok and my sister responded with, I’m fine Brielle. I don’t know why but it bothered me to know those two spoke. Then again, my mother told me after Callie fought her, that she’s dating his cousin Jax.
“Why you care?”
“Because if he couldn’t be happy with me, then why should he be happy with Aniya?”
“You stupid yo.” He started putting his clothes on.
“Why huh? Because I didn’t wanna be a single mom and...”
“Single mom? You know damn well his family would’ve helped.” I got off the bed and stood in his face.
“Fuck him and his family. They knew he was cheating and never said a word. All the times
I went to the house and they smiled in my face, knowing he had the bitch Ciara there.”
“Jacinta all women know if they’re messing with a man who’s cheating, the family won’t get involved; especially if they don’t like you. Did you get along with them?” He asked and I rolled my eyes.
Armonie and Ariel hated my guts. Granted, Colby and I argued a lot and sometimes in front of them but so what? His mom did mention I should leave but then I’d be giving up the luxurious lifestyle he grew me accustomed to. Who in their right mind would let any of that go?
Anyway, I’ve been sneaking out incognito to spy on Colby. Not at his house because he had security too but at the bowling alley. It was the local hangout spot if you didn’t feel like going to the club or bar. I swear between Jax, Haven and Colby they had this entire area on lock as far as businesses.
I recently found out from my friend that Brielle owns the library she works at but it’s under an alias name. She didn’t want anyone to know which is dumb if you ask me. Then you have her brother and cousin who run the streets with their drugs. Shit, I told my friend to be on their team and he said, Marco nor Antoine cared for him. Too bad because his brother makes hella money.
“No, I didn’t get along with them. Well. At first we did and then things changed. It’s like they knew he was cheating and decided to distance themselves away.”
“Let me ask you this.” He grabbed the door handle.
“What?”
“Why did you do it? Why did you drown your daughter in hopes to kill her? Was him not wanting you worth that little girl?” I didn’t say anything as he walked out. I sucked my teeth because I previously explained the situation and he seemed to be ok with it. Shit, he watched the news with me when they asked Colby if he knew I murdered Aniya. His ass wasn’t concerned then. Now he questioning me.
I threw some clothes on, grabbed the bob like wig, the black sunglasses and snuck out the room.
“Who are you?” This woman asked when I stepped out the house.
“Nobody.”
“You sure look like somebody.” I moved past her and walked down the sidewalk.
“JACINTA!” I heard someone shout and it took everything in me not to turn around. If I did, he’d probably kill me.
“Not the woman Colby looking for.” The woman said loud enough for me to hear.
“That’s the one. Did you see what she looked like?” Their voices faded the further I got. I have to figure out how I’m gonna return to the house because it’s the only place I can stay without getting caught. If my friend has people there it’s gonna be hard.
I headed in the area if my next destination.
*********************
“Jacinta you can’t be here. He’s gonna find you.” My mother cried as I stood in the kitchen drinking a soda.
“No one is coming. Callie already fought you and he’s not gonna send anyone here again. Don’t you think someone would’ve barged in by now?” We both turned to look at the door.
“I don’t know Jacinta.”
“Relax ma.” I sat at the table keeping my disguise on in case someone did come to the door.
“Can you make me some empanadas?” I loved my mother’s cooking and missed it. She blew her breath out and started moving around the kitchen.
I sat with my mother eating and talking for about two hours when my friend called wondering where I was. I told him and he rushed for me to get over to some park. He claims something I wanted is in front of him. No idea what he spoke of so I begged my mother to use her car. She told me no but I took her keys anyway and hurried to get there.
“Where you at?” He barked in the phone when I answered.
“I’ll be there in two minutes.” I told him at the light a few streets over. I looked in my rear view mirror swearing Colby was behind me but when the car flew past me, I realized it wasn’t him. My mind is definitely playing tricks on me.
I pulled in the parking lot and told my friend to come meet me. The park is huge and I refused to search all over. I fixed the wig, threw my sunglasses on and opened the door when he came in view. He helped me out the car, grabbed my hand and had me follow his lead.
“You’re gonna love this.”
“You could’ve told me on the phone. I can’t be out here like this.” I surveyed the park making sure no one I knew was here.
“Be quiet. I’m not gonna let anyway bother you.” He looked at me smiling.
We stopped ten feet away from some woman who had her back to us pushing a baby in the swing.
“I thought I told you to hurry up and leave him alone.” She turned around and I caught an instant attitude.
“I’m not in the mood Jaquan.” Brielle snapped. He walked up closer with me next to him.
“I thought you’d say that. Jacinta grab your daughter while I grab her.”
“JACINTA!” Brielle screamed before Jaquan knocked her out with one punch. I snatched Aniya out the swing and hauled ass to the car. People were staring but no one said a word.
“Where is her security?” I asked rushing to the car.
“His dumb ass went to the bathroom on the other side of the park.” He pointed to the guy coming out and you saw him looking around.
“Hurry up and pull off.” I shouted at Jaquan who tossed a very pregnant Brielle in the backseat so hard, I heard her head hit the other door.
“Where to?” He asked.
“We’re going south.” I smiled.
“I need to handle this baby first because I’ll be damned if she holds us down crying and shit.” He nodded.
“Go faster.” I told him when he hit the highway.
“I’m not going more than seventy Jacinta because we’ll get pulled over. Do what you need to so we can be on our way.” I rolled the window down and lifted Aniya up.
“Good fucking riddance.”
In the car…
Brielle
“Jaquan, I don’t have time for your bullshit today.” Lately he’s been sending me dumb messages about wanting me back and so forth. It’s funny how a man never wants you when you’re his but wanna do a whole lot once you’re involved with someone else.
“You should’ve left him. Jacinta get your daughter.” Soon as he said those words, I looked straight in the woman’s eyes. I didn’t recognize her because she had that wig and sunglasses on. Before I could react, Jaquan swung off; knocking me out.
I woke up in the back seat when my head hit the door, listening to this crazy bitch saying she was about to throw Aniya out the window. I mustered up every ounce of strength I had, sat up, reached over the front seat and grabbed the back of Aniya’s shirt. I couldn’t believe Jacinta had her close to the window.
“What the fuck?” Jacinta shouted as I gripped Aniya’s shirt tight.
“Get off.” We were going back and forth, and Aniya was screaming. I felt bad but it was no way I’d let her go.
“Stop y’all.” The car began to swerve, and I lost my grip on the shirt. Still refusing to lose Aniya, I started punching Jacinta in the face over and over. Unfortunately, Aniya fell on the floor but I’d rather her there, than out the window.
I grabbed Jacinta’s hair and literally pulled her to the back the best I could. The chance of her stomping on the baby is 100%.
“YO! Y’all cut it the fuck out.” I was now on top of Jacinta tryna kill this bitch. I felt a jerk when the car pulled over.
Jaquan jumped out and ran on this side of the car to grab me. I hopped in the driver’s seat and sped away; leaving him there but I had Aniya and Jacinta. I reached in my pocket for my phone and couldn’t find it.
“Ma. Ma.” I shifted my eyes for a second to look at Aniya getting off the ground. The car swerved and I almost crashed.
With my hands shaking and tears flooding my face, I had no choice but to pull over. If I wanted to save both of us, there was no other option.
I parked on the side of the highway, grabbed Aniya, hopped out the car and ran as fast as I could. The speed of the
cars going past made me feel as if I was about to fall, so I ran in the grass area and didn’t stop.
“Ma’am. Are you ok?” I wiped my eyes and stared into the eyes of a man inside a work truck.
“No. Please let me use your phone.” He stepped out and passed it to me. He opened the passenger side and I could hear him on the radio with his job.
“911 what’s your emergency?” The lady asked.
“Yes. Me and my daughter were kidnapped, and we need help. Please send the cops to... where are we?” I asked the guy and he took the phone to relay the exact location.
“It’s ok Aniya. Daddy’s gonna come get us.” I sat her on the seat after the guy moved and checked her over. There was a knot on the side of her head and a scratch on her hand. I lifted her shirt up without showing much. I don’t know this man. He could be a pedophile for all I know.
She started whining when I touched her leg. It’s healed but not fully. She’s been attending therapy to get the full movement back.
“Can I use your phone one more time?” The guy handed it to me. I dialed Colby’s number and watched as the guy took out a first aid kit from the back. He pounded on the pack and it turned to ice.
“YO!” Colby barked in the phone.
“Baby please come get us.”
“BRIELLE? WHERE ARE YOU?” He shouted and I started crying.
“Are you ok? Is Aniya with you?” My father asked. I didn’t even know they were together.
“Daddy?” He must’ve grabbed the phone from Colby.
“I don’t know where I’m at. The cops and ambulance are on the way.”
“Whose phone are you on?” He asked.
“A guy in a work truck pulled over and helped. Daddy, it was... OH MY GOD! WATCH OUT!” I shouted and snatched Aniya up. A car was coming straight towards us at full speed.
BOOM! The car hit the back of the work truck. It was then I realized Jacinta must’ve woken up and hopped in the driver’s seat.
“I’M GONNA KILL YOU BITCH!” She screamed and opened the car door. By no means am I scared. But I also didn’t wanna put Aniya in this man’s hands because I don’t know him. The guy looked at me and then back to her.
