Lyfe Changing

by Desirae Williams

  Derrick

  I don’t know how I found myself back here again but as I drove around the city in my truck it ultimately led me down this path. I stood in the middle I-295 reliving the very moments of the night I had my accident. I walked up the road feeling the gravel under my boots. I came across the cleared grass path were my car had mowed through and crashed. An eerie feeling came over me as I came to the realization that this was the moment that changed everything. I felt the steering wheel in my hands as I drove down the lonely road; I remember the adrenaline pumping in my veins as I looked back at the bag full of money in my backseat and the honking of horn.

  The honking so loud it nearly burst my ear drums, I could feel myself being elevated as the car swung around and crashed into the trees to my far right. I had gambled with my life on more than one occasion but never before had I experienced the fear of death until that night. The very thoughts and images chilled my bones. It had been almost a year since the accident that changed my life indefinitely. I had lost all my money, friends, and my whole life style but I had gained something new. There was I reason I was on the road that night, there was I reason why I had my accident and why she was there to save me.

  Ever since I met Destiny my whole outlook on life had completely changed. I was not the same selfish person I used to be, I cared about her needs and her feelings above my own. She makes me feel good, feel comfortable with her, and comfortable with myself. I feel like I can me a better person, a better father, and just better in general. I feel I can trust, I can believe, and I can love. In a way I understood why everything played out the way that it did because if it hadn’t I wouldn’t be in the space I was in now…happiness. Walking back to my truck I came to realize that the course of this year’s past events didn’t ruin me, it made me better. I was no longer looking at life as the end of what was but as the beginning of what is.

  On my way home I stopped by the church to pick up some tools I had left over. A rumble at the church doors took me by surprise thinking I would be alone. I quickly spun around in case of another altercation that might ensue from some unexpected guest. I was very shocked when I saw De and Ray walked through the doors. “Derrick…we have been looking all over for you bruh.” De said out breath. They both had a peculiar look to them as if something wasn’t right. “What’s up y’all…what’s going on?” De and Ray both looked at each other sadly before looking back to me to answer. “He took her Derrick…” Ray finally said. I looked at them confusingly not understanding what they were talking about. “What are you talking bout…who took who?” Ray sighed as if he hated that he had to be the bearer of badness. He walked toward me and put one hand on my shoulder.

  “Julio…and his boys found out about ole girl you been messing with…he sent his boys over to her place and they took her.” My stomach dropped down to my pinky toe at those vicious words…they took her…Destiny. I staggered back unable to get control of my limbs, I was having difficulty breathing. I couldn’t believe this was happening right now. I gripped the top of a nearby pew to stand. “He…he took her…what do you mean? How do you know?” I looked up at them angrily and quickly grabbed Ray by the throat causing him to struggle to breathe. “What did you do? Did you stand there and watch? Did you help him?” Ray tried to claw my hand away from his neck but to no avail. De came up behind us to pull us apart. “Relax dog…were not your enemy.” I finally released Ray and he leaned against the church ramp.

  De looked me in the eyes and tried to explain everything. “Listen Derrick…we had nothing to do with that fool taking Destiny aight…we just heard about it through the grapevine, the second we heard we came looking for you.” I tried to calm myself down but I was losing it. Destiny…he has Destiny. I collapsed down in one of the pews and covered my face with my hands. “Oh God… what are you doing this? Why is this happening?” Ray finally stood back to his feet and looked at me struggle in my weakened state. “Were trying to look out for you Derrick…we got your back man.” I sat there not wanting to believe reality...not wanting to believe that I could go to Destiny’s house right now and she wouldn’t be there…all because of me. I finally regained back my senses and shot up from the church pew.

  “Tell me where to find him?” I said roughly knowing that it was time to go hunting. De jumped in front of me to block my path. “Whoa…whoa whoa…you can’t just go bustin in on this fool…you might as well commit suicide.” De had a point but I didn’t care. There was no way I was going to let that bastard get away with this… I was ready for war. I looked him square in the eye letting him know I wasn’t playing any games. “Where is he?” De nodded knowing there was no stopping me like this. “Listen we’ll take you to him but…we can’t go in there empty handed…we got to come out gunz blazing.” Ray stood and nodded beside his brother. I looked at them both sternly. “Well what we waiting for?”

  20

  How Do You Like It?

  Julio

  “Anything else you need Julio?” Pate asked me. My lovely companion and I sat across from each other in my bedroom having dinner. She had put up quite a fight so I was told but a quick smack to the face made her subdue. Even with a bruised cheek she still held captivating beauty that burned my Lyons more than I could bear. I looked up at Pate and waved him off. “That will be all…go check in with the crew downstairs.” Pate glanced from me to Destiny and a wicked grin spread across his face causing his platinum grill to gleam in the dim light. He slowly eased out the door and left us alone with one another. I sipped on my wine glass and watched Destiny from across the table, her face was wet with tears and I could see she was trembling.

  She reminded me of a scared little cat in the corner hiding from a big vicious dog and for some reason I found it intensely stimulating. “Relax baby…nothing’s going to happen…yet.” A sharp scowl appeared on her pretty face as her eyes met mine, she was breathing heavier than normal due to her fear and was going to give herself a heart attack. I watched her chest cave in and out through the white button up shirt I had placed on her naked body. Destiny wiped tears from her face and held herself trying to calm down. She looked away from me to the fireplace not wanting to acknowledge my presence any longer.

  I chuckled at her defiance. “I must say, I find it quite odd a woman of your caliber would associate yourself with somebody like Derrick, he seems a little bit beneath you don’t you think?” I continued to sip on my wine while admiring the firmness of her body. “You are a very beautiful woman…extremely refined…you mustn’t defile yourself with animals.” Destiny continued to look away from me not giving me any of her attention; I couldn’t help but find humor in the whole situation. I decided to take our conversation a step further by antagonizing her.

  “Or maybe you are one of those. You get off on fucking criminals?” There was a flicker in her eye that let me know I had her attention so I continued to press her on. “So what is it about Derrick huh? Is there an itch that only he can scratch? To snag a classy woman like you he must know how to break you in real good.” I leaned forward until the table watching Destiny’s spirit slowly crumble. “Come on Destiny talk to me…” I chuckled. “I’m sure I can be a better friend to you then he can.” “Go to hell!” She finally gnarled. I marveled in my victory. “She speaks…”

  I stood up and walked over to her emanating complete power and control. “I’m sorry baby…did I say something to upset you?” I smirked at her. Destiny looked away from laughing through her tears. “You’re sick…you are a sick psychotic bastard…your nothing like him.” I was a little taken back by her words but still maintained my composure. “No you’re not like him…Derrick would never be this pathetic.” I shocked myself at how quickly I back handed her face, nobody in their life had ever talk to me like that and gotten away with it and she sure as hell wasn’t going to be the first. Destiny winced in pain and screamed as I grabbed her throat.

  I leaned down and whispered in her ear. “You want to see how pathetic I am?” I grabbed her by her hair
and drug her to the bed. Destiny struggled to fight me but I easily pinned her arms down and mounted on top of her. I couldn’t help but feast on her open neck that still smelled of vanilla. “Stop…stop it you bastard get off me!” She yelled. I ignored her pleas and covered her mouth with mine taking in the softness of her lips. Destiny quickly pulled away from me and spit out the taste of my tongue. “You’re sick…your disgusting…take your hands off me!” I laughed at her resistance knowing that there was no use when both my heads had their mind made up. “You can’t really stop me now can you?”

  I gnarled. Destiny continued to fight me clawing to get free. “No…Stop… Get off me!” There was a mix of emotions running through me at this point; I was angry, horny, excited, and hurt all at the same time. This woman was doing things to me I couldn’t even believe. I grabbed her face and brought it to mine and chuckled. “Good things come to those that wait.” I pushed Destiny back down to the bed and watch her fight back tears. I looked down on her feeling like a predator stalking his prey and smiled. “Don’t worry baby this is just the beginning.” I snatched my shirt off of her body and revealed her bare skin. Destiny struggled to cover herself and sobbed softly while I just watched enjoying every moment.

  21

  Time to Say good bye

  Derrick

  “Arlight…y’all get ready to lock and load.” I called out across the room. De, Ray, and I headed to my safe house where I used to keep my covered up Nissan, spare money, and ammunition. Even though the feds jacked me for everything I had, truth be told I kept a secret stash of money in case of emergencies. A true hustler knows too keep a few stacks here and there along with a few weapons. I kept filling my caliber with bullets, eyes locked on it prepared to go to war. “I see you got your game face on bruh.” De chuckled as he strapped his AK 47 and looked at me curiously. “You know there is no guarantee we gonna make it out alive right?” My eyes never left my gun as he spoke. I could already feel the heat pulsating in my hand. “I don’t need to make it out alive…but she will.” De nodded as we finished loading up but footsteps creeping in had us all on alert. We all turned towards the door and aimed our guns at the unknown intruder. “Derrick…”

  Pastor Wallace barely got out before he was stuck in place at the sight of our guns. We all drew them down feeling to trigger happy given the current situation. “Pastor what you doing here? How did you find this place?” I asked him curiously. Pastor finally regaining back his sense continued to walk toward me. “I saw you boys leave the church and I followed you…I know what happened Derrick and I want to help…” I chuckled at him and shook my head. “Well Pastor unless you wanna pick up one of these burners and head us up…aint no way you can fix this.” I turned away from him and continued to suit up. “Derrick…don’t do this…nothing good is going to come from this please.”

  “What!” I said louder than I wanted too… shocking Pastor Wallace back. “What do you want me to do?” “Go to the police…” he pleaded. “Derrick they can help.” I shook my head not able to believe the Pastor’s naivety. Police were no better than the rat bag drug dealers they locked up. “Police can’t stop this man…don’t even waste the time...” I picked up my black duffle bag and looked at my crew. “Y’all ready to go?” De and Ray nodded strapping up their work gloves looking from me to Pastor Wallace. Pastor sighed and shook his head. “Derrick please…Lord knows what’s going to happen to you if go after him…just listen…” I couldn’t hide my frustration any longer; I had enough of trying to walk the political correct path…now it was time to get serious. “Do you have any idea who this fool is? You think he gives a damn about the police? He probably owns half of NYPD …Julio is a cutthroat type of man literally…You have no idea what might happen to Destiny if we wait a second longer, if it hasn’t happened already…so please Pastor step aside..”

  Me and the boys proceeded to walk past Pastor Wallace but he grabbed my arm. “Derrick…you think you can fight the world…that nobody can tell you nothing because you know it all but I am telling you…you don’t want to do this.” He said to me sternly almost pleading. I placed my hands on his shoulder and sighed. “I want to thank you for everything you have done for me… honestly a lot of people thought I was waste of time and that I was no good but you saw different…you helped me and guided me and I really respect you for that…I just hope you can forgive me one day.” I finished gathering all my things and walked off leaving Pastor Wallace watching me go.

  We all rolled up to the burbs were we knew Julio would be. I remembered the trip to his place like it was just yesterday when I first came up here to rob him, parking a few blocks away and slipping up to the gate like a Ghost, but this time was different… This time he fully expected me to arrive and I wanted him to. As De’s black range rover made its way to the gate it automatically opened leading us right on in. We continued to stroll up to the mansion door. “Look y’all…” I said noting that this could be our last moments. “I just want to let you know I got mad love and respect for you two for even helping me out right now. You could have left me for dead or even killed me yourselves but…” “Aight Derrick damn…”

  Ray cut me off. “We aint got time for all this feminine shit we bout to go to war…now when we get to the pearly gates then you say all this emotional shit…” We all shared a good laugh as we made our way out side of the truck. I stepped forward first into the house, De and Ray following behind. Julio’s home was just as extravagant as I remembered, everything decked out in pure gold. We saw a dim light to the left that led to the dining area. “Welcome boys…welcome…make your way on in.” Julio called out from the dining area. Slowly the boys and I entered the dining room. I had to fight the urge to either run up and punch Julio in the face or comfort Destiny as she sat at the edge of his large mahogany table, tied up, gagged and crying. Her face was swollen and I could tell she was naked under the long sleeve button up shirt she wore. Julio saw my anger fueled and smiled.

  “Calm down boy…all the goods aint damaged.” He smirked at me. I scowled at him. “You mutha…” “No no no…” He cut me off. “No cursing…aren’t we in the church now.” He laughed at me mockingly. “And trust me…I hoped you have said all the prayers the good Lord can hear…cause you gonna need them.” I chuckled a little and nodded. “Listen let’s just cut through this bullshit…you wanted me here …here I am…” I looked from him back at Destiny. “Let her out of here…she aint got nothing to do with this…let her go.” Julio strangely burst into laughter and strolled over towards Destiny. “Oh contraire my friend…she has everything to do with this…after all she did lure you here.” “Lure huh? You think you lured me here?” I asked him straight up knowing I was a man who reacted when I wanted to and not to any other man’s call. Julio eyed my smugness and smiled. “Oh no…I know you would have come regardless…I just wanted a constellation prize for all this trouble you have put me through.”

  I watched Julio pull Destiny’s hair back exposing her neck and I grew tense. “And after she watches you die, the real fun will just begin…” Julio placed a kiss on the nape of Destiny’s neck and I drew my gun. “You better get the fuck away from her…” I said, gun pointing at Julio and ready to fire. I was not shocked when Julio’s goons came out of the back and surrounded De, Ray, and I. But my boys were not backing down either, De pulled out that AK and Ray had his semi-automatic cocked. Julio continued to chuckle finding the situation humorous…sick bastard, he was actually getting off on it. “Look at you fools…looking like sitting ducks waiting to be hit…” He said with a cynical grin on his face which turned sinister. “Stupid muthafuckas…you really thought you were going to rob me…you must have been out of your damn minds.”

  The platinum grill bandit who I had roughed up at the church eyed me viciously as he circled round us like he was ready to blow my head off at any moment. “Let me do it Jay…let me shut this muthafuckas lights out.” he asked begging. I knew damn well this fool would have pulled that trigger no hesitatio
n but I stayed calm. Julio shook his head, that sick grin reappearing back on his face. He eyed me closely. “So tell me how you want it Derrick…should I chop your head off and put it on the mantle…no I should chop your dick off and feed it too you…I’m open to new ideas so feel free to chime in.” He laughed sickly. I stared him deep in the eye and nodded. “Ok…ok how about this…” I stepped up closer to him; his crew directed their guns towards me as I came closer.

  “Yo Derrick what are you doing?” De spoke up but I kept moving. I did something that I never in my life thought I would do. I took my guns out and placed them on the floor. Julio seemed shocked by this action but still held his stern gaze. I stood back up empty handed and directed my gaze towards Destiny who looked so helpless and scared. I turned back to Julio and spoke. “I’m not going to fight you…matter fact I’m not going to do anything…I robbed you…I came to your house and took all your money…and almost died trying to do it…you got every right to want to get even…to kill me…but she…she had nothing to do with that...let her go…please.” I couldn’t believe I had uttered those words to a man I repulsively despised, but he had something of mine that was worth more than my pride or even my life.

  Julio nodded leaving a blank expression on his face and slowly started clapping. “Amazing…amazing speech…that church must have really worked a miracle on you…but unfortunately even the good Lord Jesus had to die for our sins…pistol.” Julio called out to one of his workers. Destiny began to cry hysterically and De and Ray knew it was no use either. I nodded ready except whatever waited for me like a man. Mr. Platinum grill landed a low blow to my abdomen and I fell to my knees. I felt the pistol gun aimed at my head and waited. “One thing I have learned over these years…” Julio said. “No good deed goes unpunished.” I took a gulp as I felt the gun begin to click and I heard a bang I thought I was dead. “Freeze! Freeze! Everybody Freeze!”