by Nicety
“Your ass would’ve been dead along time ago if it weren’t for my brother lusting after Mika. He wanted to her to be with him without knowing the secrets of our past. So he’s finally got what he wants. Now it’s my turn.”
“You, you and Violet—“
“Yeah, we had classes together and she was always crying over some nigga. She was a little young rat trying to find the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow and I was too classy for that type of shit. She said I was like the older sister she never had. So when she said she needed a real man in her life, I simply told her where to find one.”
“You set it up for us to meet that day?” I queried.
“Well, not in that particular way but whatever works right?” Deidra sneered as she pointed the gun downward towards my dick. “I bugged Violet’s room one day and just sat and listened in on all those times you made love to her. It was the same way you used to do me. Remember baby? Remember all the good times we shared, the walks in the park, the secret trips to the islands? Remember?”
“Deidra, I know I fucked up with you okay. But please just give me a chance to show you that I’ve changed.” I held my hands out hoping to gain her trust. “I’m not that same man that I used to be.”
“A chance, huh? Like you were willing to give me a chance when you were trying to figure out who was sending you the notes, the flowers, and the bloody pig’s head? You told my brother you needed that shit handled, right? Yeah, I did all that shit. But no you can’t get a chance to do shit. Fuck you and your chance.”
“How can I make things right if you won’t let me explain or get a word in edgewise?” I huffed pissed that she refused to allow me to talk.
“Hmm,” Deidra shook her head dropping it to the floor before bringing it back up to me. “You can talk but only about one thing. Why? Why did I get the short end of the stick from you? Why couldn’t I be treated with respect? I would’ve given you anything, everything. I would’ve made you so fucking happy even with your bitch in the other room. I was proud to be your side bitch. I knew my place and respected it. But you set me out like Thanksgiving dinner to all of your friends all because I wouldn’t be a stripper for you and those fuck boys.”
“Deidra, when I called you to come to the bachelor party it was never to have any of that happen to you. I wasn’t trying to set you up. I was just trying to get some sex but when Adrial busted in the room, I was just so drunk that I guess… Maybe I lost control. The liquor just took control over my thinking.”
“There’s that word again. You lost control? Grown men don’t allow themselves to lose that kind of control, Vega. You finally got your chance to plead your case to me after all these years and yet that’s all you were able to come up with? That you lost control? Well, how’s this for control motherfucka?” Deidra’s voice echoed throughout the house as she raised the gun up to my neck then down to my stomach.
She gripped the trigger emptying one single shot into my abdomen. It was then that I noticed the long silencer attached at the end of her gun. I clenched the hole in my stomach so tightly hoping to save my body from pouring out an ocean of blood. Crashing my body to the floor, I held my hand up as I scooted back away from her hoping to make it to the table where my phone was lying. That’s when another shot was fired hitting me in my right leg. FUCK. I had to keep pressing on to get to that phone though. I just couldn’t let her end me like this without a fight. I wasn’t ready to die and certainly not like this.
“You just lost control, you say? Well now I’m about to take control.” Deidra raised the gun up to my chest once more.
“Deidra please. You’ve gotta know that I’m sorry. Don’t do this. I’m begging you.” I held my hand up as blood gurgled out of my lips hoping to halt her from her murderous rage and beg for my life. “Please, don’t do this. Please.”
“I loved you, Vega.” Her eyes shimmered and her head tilted slightly. “But your sorry comes too late.”
She shot me again this time in my mouth. My head hit the floor hard as fuck and quickly my body went numb. Unable to move I watched as she tucked her gun back inside of her jeans and headed over to the dining room table grabbing the bag of money. At the door she made sure not to touch the doorknob with her bare hand then looked back at me blowing a quick kiss.
Once she was gone I was left with my thoughts of how all of this could have played out better had I just been a man and never done that to her. I should’ve never treated her or any other woman like a whore. They were beautiful creatures that deserved to be worshipped, pampered, and admired. I knew that now even though now was too late. I tried to be better than the man my father ever was but nobody was perfect.
And, as I felt life slipping away from my young bullet riddled body and my breathing slow tremendously, sadness came over me for what I had done to her and all the women of my life. Life was way too short not to live everyday like it was your last. You never know if someone is out to take it all away from you. It was the one luxury that I took for granted. As darkness filled my eyes, I knew. Life was the one thing I would never have the luxury of again.
Thirty Minutes Later…
Mika
“Oh my gosh. Are you sure?” I asked, my hand trembling with a sea of emotions as I placed it to my mouth. “Okay, thank you very much.”
Pushing the end call button, the phone dropped out of my hand to the floor. The news that I had just received was too startling to bear. Tears flowed immensely from my eyes showing no signs of stopping, not that I was trying too hard to get them to. The hurt I felt inside, breaking my heart into a thousand pieces was immeasurable. It was unreal that this shit was happening to me all within a matter of weeks.
There was a knock on the door. “Mika. Mika, are you okay in there honey?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” I replied to Deidra hoping she would just accept that and walk away.
“Uh, un you don’t sound fine. I’m coming in there right now. Com’ on girl, open the door.” She jiggled the knob a few times before knocking once more.
Sluggishly I rose from the edge of the tub and went to unlock the door for her. I wasn’t in any type of mood for company or talking, hence the reason why I took the call in the bathroom. I just needed to be alone for a while with my thoughts and then I got the dreaded call no one ever expects or hopes to receive. Deidra came in closing the door behind her as I made my way back to the tub.
“What’s wrong sweetie?” Deidra rubbed my back sitting down next to me on the tub.
“My sister just passed.” An eruption of sorrow exploded from my lips. “They say she just died tonight. I wasn’t even there for her. I’m her big sister. I should’ve have been there for her.”
“Don’t beat yourself up, Mika. She was a grown woman just like you are. You two chose your own paths when you grew up and everyone has to live with the consequences and repercussions that come with that. She knew that you loved her before she died and that’s all that mattered.” Deidra stroked the stray hair from my eye before fiddling with my shoulder length hair.
“I just feel like there was something more that I could’ve done for her. You know? Like I could’ve helped her in some way.”
“You can help her by making sure her memory never dies, Mika.”
She was right. There was nothing more that I could have done for Angel. She lived by the sword and apparently died by it as well. It’s crazy how folks can talk to their loved ones one minute and the next minute they are gone forever. If I could turn back the hands of time, there would be a million and one things I would have done and said differently to my sister to make her understand that what she was doing was wrong. If she hadn’t have cheated on Vega none of these events would have ever occurred. Despite what she did, I missed my sister and loved her dearly but she indeed chose her own path.
“I guess you’re right but that doesn’t stop it from hurting so badly,” I continued to cry. “She was all the family I had left.”
“I know, Mika. But just find comfort in kn
owing that we got you. I’m saying, you’re already part of our family anyway and once my brother puts a ring on that finger girl you’ll officially have us fo’ life. You’re gonna love it. We look out for our own no matter what the odds.” Deidra winked and smiled, which kind of brighten my spirits a little. “Now com’ on up out of this bathroom so we can go downstairs and get some chocolate cake. You can reminisce about the old days with your sister. I wanna hear all about the crazy shit y’all used to do back in the day.”
Deidra laughed hysterically forcing laughter up out of me as well. She was crazy funny like that, always able to light up a room with her crazy antics and jokes. It was much needed and greatly appreciated especially at a time like this. We stood headed for the bathroom door when the lights went out. Immediately we clenched close to each other wondering what the fuck was going on. Without a sound we crept closer to the bathroom door feeling around for the knob.
“Where’s my brother, Mika?” Deidra whispered leaning over into my ear.
“I don’t know. He left earlier right after you did saying he needed to take care of some business and that he’d be back. That’s it.”
“Shit.” She snatched my phone from my hands trying to call him but there was no answer. “Shit.”
No sooner than the words leave her lips did we hear shots ring out in the distance. I was beginning to panic wondering if it was some rival of Ox’s coming to raid his house and kill everyone inside. Or, maybe it was the police raiding the crib hoping to take down his operation and the goons weren’t going without a fight. Either way, I didn’t want to go down especially not before giving my son the justice he so rightfully deserved.
More shots rang out and immediately I began to feel shitty since I left my burner in the bedroom. I didn’t think I would need it in the house. It was fucked up because Ox reminded me constantly to keep the gun on me at all times regardless. Damn, I needed to get my shit together and start listening to that motherfucka or I was going to find myself in a world of hurt.
“I don’t have my shit on me, Deidra. I’m gonna go run and get it and meet you back in the hall. You stay in the hall and be looking out. Cool?”
“Damn girl. My brother told you about that damn gun. Didn’t he tell you?” Deidra scorned.
“I fucking know that shit but I was just going to the damn bathroom. I know that shit ain’t no excuse but look just cover me. Alright?” I wasn’t for hearing any lectures right then and Lord knew we didn’t have time for the shit.
“Bet.”
My hand turned the knob slowly opening the door as we peeked our heads out to see if the coast was clear. Only the emergency floodlights illuminated the hall but they still weren’t as bright as they could have been. There were still dark parts of the hallway that the light simply did not touch. Deidra held my hand was we walked through the door stepping into the hall. The house was silent. There wasn’t even the faint sound of voices talking sending a chill up and down my spine from such a calm.
Deidra released my hand and waved hers directing me to head to the bedroom. Nodding my head, I hurried placing my back against the wall. I tiptoed down the hall swiftly checking back for her. She was good. At the bedroom door I pushed it open careful not to make it creak as I stepped inside. As I made my way over to the bed, a few settling noises from the furniture startled me every step of the way. It was minor creaking but I wasn’t taking any chances whatsoever. I didn’t want to die today. It wasn’t my day.
Watching my surroundings feeling like I was tweaking because there was nothing there, I snatched the gun from my purse and darted back over towards the bedroom door. I cuffed the gun right by my side to conceal it partially before stepping out. My temple met with the barrel end of a gun and immediately my heart stopped. I thought I was dead. I should’ve been dead. I thought I was dead.
A hand pulled me slightly back inside the room wrapping around my mouth to keep me from screaming. I didn’t know who it was or what the hell they wanted but again today was not my day to die. At least I wasn’t going down without swinging first. The room was so dark but whoever it was caught wind of the gun in my hand motioning for me to toss it over on the bed. I did as I was told as the figure slowly guided me out into the dimly lit hallway. In that moment, the only thing that crossed my mind was if Ox was okay. If he was dead, I didn’t know what I would do if I ever survived this shit.
At The Same Time…
Violet
Honestly, I was having second thoughts. I didn’t know if I had what it took to do this one. I mean there was just something about Vega that I couldn’t let go of. All of the others made me sick to my stomach once they showed me their true colors. But Vega was more of a man about his shit. He dropped me and even after he knew I was the one that hurt his wife, he still didn’t put his hands on me. It was for that reason that I was rethinking killing him. Instead I wanted to give him one last chance to run away with me and make this work.
Once he found out that his precious beloved was gone forever, he just might reconsider my offer. Any man who still treats his side bitch with the least amount of decency after all that, still had lingering feelings inside for her. I knew he still did for me. We could start over and forget about all the previous bullshit, he and I. We could actually have our happily ever after and make a real family for ourselves. He could practice medicine in another country without extradition ties to the U.S. and I could stay at home with the kids. We could be picture perfect together, he and I. It would be the perfect life.
My attention whisked from his car sitting in the driveway as I headed up to his stoop. My eyes darted over to the slightly ajar front door with minimal light shining through it. What the fuck? Either he was expecting me, saw me walk up and opened the door, or some shit wasn’t right up in there. I looked about making sure no one else was around, hoping no one hopped out the bushes on my ass on some other shit before placing my hands on the door pushing it open.
Having never been inside of his house before, it didn’t look all that hot. My initial first impression of the place was that Angel could have done a hell of a lot more to decorate the near empty living room. She should have been ashamed of herself for not doing so. The sound of a TV played from the back of the otherwise eerily noiseless house. I didn’t hear anyone walking around upstairs or fumbling with things in the direction of the TV’s noise.
“Oh my God,” I gasped.
Turning my head slightly to the left, there he was. Vega was on the floor in between the living and dining room stretched out in a pool of his own blood. He was bear assed naked except for the gym shoes on feet. Not even a towel covered him. Whoever did this to him didn’t give a shit what state he was left in. He was shot multiple times and there was so much blood everywhere that I couldn’t even see where the shots went in at. His eyes were lifeless, half opened seemingly staring up at me as if to ask for help but it was too late. He was gone.
His body was still relatively warm but turning hard like a rock. My heart ached as I kneeled by his side rubbing his chest wishing and praying that this was all just one horrid dream. Shock and anguish bled on my face as I was hoped that he would wake up and profess his love to me, tell me that he didn’t mean none of that shit he said to me before and that he would forever be mine. But he wouldn’t. I had to accept the fact that my beloved was truly gone. There was no life inside of him left, no saving the one man who just might have actually loved me the most. But now I would never really know the truth.
My lips touched his giving him the sweetest last peck. “Goodbye my love. Shit.”
I stood realizing I had his blood on my knees, arms, and hands. Trying to keep from panicking, I grasped at that moment that I needed to get the fuck from out of there. It was a crime scene, one that I didn’t even commit. I couldn’t be caught there with him lying there like that or else someone might get the wrong idea. Stepping over his soon to be cold but very much dead body, I raced to find a kitchen or bathroom I could clean up in.
Down
the hall I found a well lit small cramped bathroom. It had beautiful marble countertops and a huge vanity mirror. The room only held a toilet and sink but it was still very well decorated. I admired the floral and wall arrangements and back splash décor. Snapping out of my daze of the lavish powder room, I hustled to turn the sink on ridding my hands of the blood dripping from them. There was nothing I could do about my jeans. I would just have to change them when I got home and burn them somewhere where no one could see.
Drying my hands on my shirt careful not to leave any fingerprints anywhere, I exited the powder room headed back down the hall. Glaring down at his body once more I couldn’t help but to feel a sense of sorrow. Apart of me wished I had magical powers to bring him back to life. Seeing him lying there only sadden me more and accentuated the fact that I was truly alone in this world. I had nothing and no one to love me even though I had that in the beginning anyway. Vega wasn’t guaranteed to me but still the thought of us together was nice.
“Good night sweet king,” I said as I stepped back over his body rushing for the door.
“Ah, ah, ah. Where do you think you’re going missy? Off in a rush to go somewhere?” An older white lady waltzed in backing me up from the door.
“I…uh…”
“I heard some unusual noises in here earlier. My husband and I decided to come check it out.” She raised her eyebrows simultaneously at me. “What’s that on your jeans?”
“It’s uh…” I couldn’t speak.
My body had frozen in time by her accusing tone. Her husband remained back, only standing near the front of the porch as if he refused to come in. She, on the other hand, had no reservations about entering a house that didn’t belong to her. She looked like the nosey type though, always cocked her nose up in the air like she was sniffing out the next best gossip.
