by Pinky Dior
“That’s all you did today?” He inquisitively asked.
“Yeah, nothing interesting happened- except that I was being followed by a black Cadillac. It’s the same car I saw the day I was with Chino. I’ve seen it a couple of times.”
“Your fine Babe, there’s plenty of black Cadillac’s roaming around New York City. Just chill out, you’ve been very paranoid since your father died.”
“I don’t know babe, it’s just weird.”
“Chill Baby, relax.” Emilio begin to massage her shoulders as he kissed on her neck. He always knew how to make her feel better. She allowed him to take control of her body, even though she knew he knew more than he let on. For now, she would have to believe him, until the truth was revealed.
Hidden Secrets
The next morning, Mercedes rolled over and noticed Emilio wasn’t in the bed. She looked over at the clock on the nightstand and decided to get up and do a little cleaning around the house. She threw on some casual clothes to begin her day.
As she was cleaning, she heard her cell phone ringing. She ran down the steps and turned down the volume on the stereo. She loved to clean and listen to music; she thought it made the time go by faster. She answered the call and it was Emilio.
“Hello...Hey Babe…where is it? Alright well call me when you get here.”
She hung up her cell phone and kept the music low so she would be able to hear him when he came in. He asked her to get his wallet because he left it at home. She ran up the steps to retrieve it. She checked his jacket and found it, but dropped it as she was hanging it back up.
As she picked up the jacket, the wallet fell out causing documents and his ID to fall out onto the floor.
Mercedes quickly picked up the cards and came across an ID. It was Emilio’s picture and the name read Francisco Sanchez along with his birthday and it said he was from California. She remembered him telling her he grew up in Cuba. Mercedes was immediately pissed off and realized that the man she’s grown to love is a liar. She realized that he’s been lying to her about his name and upbringing from the beginning. Mercedes slid his ID back into the wallet and closed it. As she walked downstairs her phone rang and it was Emilio letting her know he was there. She opened the door and stood there looking at him awkwardly, like the stranger he’d quickly become.
“Hey, Babe.” He kissed her on the lips and noticed she didn’t kiss him back,
“What’s wrong Baby?”
“Nothing.” Mercedes lied.
“Alright Babe, I’ll be back later.” Emilio kissed her on the cheek. He knew something was weird with how she was acting, but paid it no mind. Angry with what she just discovered, Mercedes slammed the door and walked up the steps. She decided to call her mother for answers.
“Hey, how you doing Ma?” Mercedes smiled, it was good to hear her mother’s voice.
“Hey Baby, I’m doing alright and you?”
“I’m just chilling. How is it living in Queens?”
“It’s alright. I’m not use to living like this. They have roaches and shit running around.” They both chuckled.
“See Ma, that’s why I told you that you can stay with me. You’ll have a new place to live soon.”
“Yeah, I gotta get up out of here. She tries to borrow everything I own.” Maria laughed. “But what’s going on with you, how’s everything, what’s new?”
“Nothing really, I mean Emilio and I started to get serious.”
“Emilio? I thought you weren’t into him like that?”
“Yes Ma, Emilio. We’ve been dating for a while now; I guess you could call it that. The thing is he’s really feeling me Ma and I’m feeling him but he’s….”
“That’s good Honey; I can’t wait till you get married. That will be a day that makes me proud.”
“Oh please Ma, he ain’t gonna pop the question-it’s too soon for that.”
“Please Mercedes. I know Emilio likes you. In due time he will be on his knees with a big ass diamond asking you to marry him, trust me.”
“Yeah, I just don’t know Ma…”
“Just don’t know what?” Maria cut her off.
“If he’s the one. There’s just something about him that my heart doesn’t agree with.”
“Babe, I know you’re still in love with Chino and all. Of course you’re going to be iffy about Emilio, just take your time Babe.”
“Ma it’s not that…” Maria cut her daughter off.
“Baby I’m sorry, I gotta go. Your auntie needs to use my phone, hers got disconnected today. I’ll talk to you later. I love you.” The phone call ended while Mercedes still held the phone against her ear.
“Love you too Ma.” She threw the phone on the bed and took a nap. Hours into her nap, her phone rang and woke her from her. She sluggishly answered it. “Hello?”
“Hey girl it’s Candy.”
“Hey Candy, girl what’s up?”
“Ain’t shit, at home chilling bored as hell, what you doing?”
“I was sleep!”
“Well you need to wake your ass up!” Candy yelled.
“What time is it?” Mercedes wondered.
“It’s around eight-thirty and the girls and I were wondering if you wanted to come out and celebrate tonight. We are going to a club in Harlem to celebrate Chino’s homeboy’s birthday. He invited us.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Mercedes wasn’t sure about going out tonight.
“Come on Mercedes, we all want you to come. It’s been a minute since we all went out. It’ll be just like old times.”
“Alright, I guess I’ll go. What time are ya’ll trying to dip out?”
“Well ladies are free before eleven. We wanna get there early so we don’t have to wait in line.” Candy told her.
“Ya’ll got a ride, or ya’ll want me to scoop you up?”
“That would be a good idea! You can get us from my crib. ”
“Alright I’m ‘bout to get up and get ready.” Mercedes got up to get dressed for a night to remember.
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Mercedes pulled up in her two toned pink and black Mercedes Benz E350 coupe. She opened her lambo doors and they gently flew in the air allowing her to make her exit. All of her girls were with her, but Mercedes stood out amongst them.
As they bypassed the line, bitches rolled their eyes and gossiped with their girls. They were mad because they had to stand in the line and wait to enter the club. Mercedes just smirked and noticed the tension and hatred that the girls were showing. They knew they couldn’t be down with her, so they hated on her. They didn’t even get searched and walked up into the club.
They made their way in and the bass from the speakers was pumping. One guy felt on Mercedes’ ass while she was dancing; she smacked him in the face. She wasn’t going to tolerate any disrespect tonight. She wanted to enjoy herself.
She stood at the bar sipping on her Long Island Ice tea. Her wrist glistened from across the room. She nodded her head to the beat as the music filled the club. Chino’s friend Lamar walked over to her as she was at the bar. He was happy to see her smiling and looking beautiful, as usual.
“Happy Birthday, Lamar” Candy cooed.
“Thanks Ma.” Lamar said giving her a quick hug. “Hey Mercedes, how you been?” He asked as he looked over at Mercedes and hugged her. “Long time no see.”
“Yeah I know; it’s been like two years.” Mercedes nodded her head.
“I know Ma, I’m sorry for your loss. I heard about your pops and I just want you to know I’m here for you.” Lamar consoled her.
“It’s cool, thank you. I’m just living, you know shit happens.”
“Chino really loved you Ma and I know he’s smiling down on us right now.” Mercedes got teary-eyed as Jim Jones song came on, “In Love with a Thug.” She held back her tears as Lamar continued talking to her. That was a song that she often heard when she was driving with Chino in the car.
“Yeah I know; we’ll meet again one day.” Mercedes smiled.
>
“True, well I’ll let you go and enjoy yourself Ma.”
“Alright, I will Lamar.” Mercedes kissed him on the cheek and he disappeared into the crowd.
“He is so fuckin sexy.” Candy said while eyeballing Lamar as he walked away.
“Mhmmm, I think I’m going to have to push up on him.” Candy and Mercedes laughed together.
“You’re so crazy girl.” Mercedes sipped on her drink and jammed to the music. She had a few cups of liquor so she was feeling real nice. Mercedes and the girls were having a great time posted up by the bar dancing. She squinted as she looked across the club and noticed India with her girls.
“Is that India over there?” Mercedes asked.
“Yeah, that’s her.” Candy eyed India and her crew down. “She’s eight months pregnant.” Candy sucked her teeth, “Nasty hoe.”
“She doesn’t even know who the baby’s daddy is.” Hazel added.
“She already has another baby who’s two years old and she’s claiming it’s Chino’s.” Shateeya said.
“Yeah right, that baby ain’t his! And how the fuck is she pregnant and in the club?” Mercedes screamed.
“Fuck all that, India and I got some business to handle.” Mercedes sipped the last of her drink and followed India into the restroom to talk to her.
“Mercedes don’t do anything stupid.” Mercedes heard her friend Candy say as she grabbed her arm.
“I gotta do this!” She snatched her arm away and headed to the bathroom. Mercedes words were slurred from the drinks. When she got into the ladies bathroom, she noticed India standing there with her protruded belly poking out of her closely fit dress. She stood in front of the mirror smacking her lips together after putting on her lip gloss. Mercedes didn’t say anything but began fixing her hair waiting for an opportunity. It came sooner than she hoped.
“Well, well, well! Look who showed up tonight.” India sarcastically said.
“Bitch I know you ain’t talking to me.” Mercedes rolled her eyes.
“Where have you been hiding?” India laughed.
“Bitch please, ain’t nobody hiding. Ain’t nobody scared of your ass. At least I don’t have to jump nobody.” Mercedes turned around and stood face to face with India.
“Whatever Mercedes, at least I didn’t get Chino killed.”
“Bitch what the fuck are you talking about? Him getting killed had nothing to do with me.” Mercedes yelled.
“You know what; you’re one fucked up bitch. You’re probably the one who set his ass up, because you were jealous that I was pregnant with Chino’s baby. You wished he had your ugly ass knocked up. That shit that you and your girls did was fucked up. You will pay, trust and believe that shit!” Mercedes retorted. She was drunk and angry after seeing India and she wanted some revenge.
“Whatever, you ain’t ‘bout shit. That baby ain’t deserve to live any damn way. My baby Chelsey is his.” India was clearly pushing Mercedes’ buttons and wanted her to react. It worked; Mercedes didn’t allow India to say anything else. That was her last straw; she turned around charging at her. Mercedes didn’t care if she was pregnant or not. She hit her with such force that India fell to the ground.
Mercedes started punching India in the face as hard as she could. India couldn’t even keep her eyes straight. She tried to scratch Mercedes in the face, but she was unsuccessful. She was able to scratch Mercedes on her neck.
“You fucking stupid bitch! You killed my baby.” Mercedes yelled.
Tears were streaming down her face as she continuously punched India in the face. Mercedes’ girls ran in the bathroom and tried to break it up. It took all of them to pull Mercedes off of India.
“Yo Mercedes, she’s pregnant chill out.” Candy warned her as she pulled her back and stood between them. India held her bloody face.
“I don’t give a fuck about her being pregnant.” Mercedes pulled out the gun that was in her purse and pointed it at India’s stomach. “She didn’t give a fuck about me, when I was pregnant with Chino’s baby. Her and her little fucking crew jumped me knowing that I was pregnant. They killed my baby! They killed my fucking baby!” Mercedes yelled as she cocked the gun back, ready to shoot.
“Put the gun down, Cedes. How the fuck did you get that in here anyway? You gonna get us arrested.” Candy inched towards her trying to get her to put down the gun.
“Fuck that, her baby doesn’t deserve to live!” Tears streamed down her face. “She took the only thing that Chino and I beautifully created! Why should I?” Mercedes screamed as her hands shook holding the loaded weapon.
“Come on Mercedes, she ain’t worth it B, she’ll get hers.” Hazel chimed in. “Come on Ma don’t do this, you don’t want to end up in jail for murder.” Hazel walked over and lowered the gun and took it from her. Mercedes stared down at India, looking her in the eyes. “You took away my baby!” India’s crew rushed in and wondered what the commotion was, but they received the answer when they spotted India’s face and the damage that her face endured. “Bitch-” one of India’s girl tried to come at Mercedes, but Hazel pointed the gun in her face. “You better not try anything stupid; shit will go down. I got the gun now.” Hazel warned the girl; she backed off and they exited the bathroom.
They left the club and hopped in the car and drove Mercedes home because she was too drunk to drive.
“They killed my baby; I could have been a wonderful mother! But no those bitches did some sucker shit and fucking jumped me and killed my baby.” She was drunk and pissed. She let all of her feelings out.
“Yeah we know Mercedes, but life goes on. Don’t let that bitch get to you Ma. She’ll get hers, trust and believe that.” Candy advised. They pulled up to Mercedes’ house. She was drunk, but she still worried about her girls and wondered how they were getting home.
“Lamar is going to give us a ride, he’s right behind us.” Candy assured her as she walked her inside. “We’ll be good just go upstairs and get some rest. Mercedes opened the door and walked upstairs to find Emilio sitting on the edge of the bed waiting for her.
“Where were you?”
“Last time I checked, you weren’t my fucking Daddy!” Mercedes spat.
“Whoa, whoa, hold up Mercedes.” He noticed she was stumbling across the room as she tried to take off her clothes. “Have you been drinking?”
“Why the fuck do you care?”
“Because I care about you Mercedes, I love you.” Emilio said with sincerity.
“Please nigga!” Mercedes slurred her words and eyed him viciously. “You don’t love me, you’re a liar…everything about you is a lie! You lied to me about your name…you said you were from Cuba, but your ID says your from Cali. I don’t even know who the fuck you are Emilio or Francisco.”
“I can explain Mercedes…” Emilio tried to explain, but she cut him off.
“I don’t want to fucking hear it! Mercedes spat. “I want you out of my fucking house and out my life. I don’t know who you are. There’s something about you that I hate and I don’t know what it is. Even though I love you; it’s slowly killing me inside.” Mercedes broke down to her knees and cried. Emilio tried to console her, but she pushed him off of her.
“Don’t you fucking touch me!” Emilio had never seen Mercedes like this. He didn’t know how to make it better, so he just grabbed his jacket and left. Mercedes crawled to the bed, while still fully dressed, and cried herself to sleep. Emilio walked outside with his fists balled up.
“I’m going to make her want me even more…I’ll do whatever it takes, even if that means being the last person she can lean on.” Emilio said as he got in his car and slammed it shut. He had been keeping tabs on Maria for a week now and was waiting for the perfect time to make his next move. The opportunity had presented itself and he was ready for action.
Left for Dead
The next morning Maria found herself home alone. She needed some rest and time to unwind. Brenda was called in to work early and she asked Maria to take the kids to s
chool. She dropped them off and came right back to the empty house. She decided she would put on some music and fumbled through some CD’s until she found one of her favorites. It was Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life. She turned it on and proceeded to make some breakfast. She planned to enjoy her ‘me’ time. She began cooking and heard the doorbell ring.
“Who is it?” She asked before unlocking the door. She wasn’t expecting company and only her family members knew where she was.
“Emilio!” Maria was surprised to hear his name and wondered how he knew that she was there. Nonetheless, she opened the door and was met with a gun to her face. Her expression changed drastically when she knew she was in danger.
“What are you doing Emilio?” Maria panicked.
“Shut up and sit the fuck down!” Emilio demanded as he pulled a chair from the table and pushed Maria down in it. He grabbed some duct tape from his pocket and placed it around her hands and feet, preventing her from running.
“What the fuck do you want?” Maria asked.
“You know what I want!” Emilio screamed. “Where’s the fucking safe?”
“What safe? I-I don’t know what safe you’re talking about…” Maria was genuinely clueless to the safe and its’ contents. Emilio struck her with the butt of his gun, causing her to fall with the chair. He picked the chair up and dragged her body off the floor. He angrily pushed her back into the chair.
“Stop it, stop fucking lying to me! I know your husband kept a fucking safe with the money and drugs. Where is it?”
“I swear, I don’t know.” Maria cried. She was telling the truth; her husband never told her anything about a safe. “If I knew I would tell you, but I don’t know.”
“You’re a lying little bitch!” Emilio spat as he pointed the gun at her.
“You ran away from Cuba to be with Don Carter, a notorious drug dealer. It’s your fault that your husband got killed. It’s your fault that Frank and his other workers died. And last but not least, it’s your fault your brother-in-law Roy is dead too.”
