by Miss KP
How the hell did I allow somebody to catch me slipping?
After all the things Carlos taught me so I would be prepared for a moment like this, I still got robbed. I could honestly say that for once I wasn’t paying attention to my surroundings, which in this game was a no-no. Picking my sore body off the ground, I walked toward the left rear tire, reached under the car and grabbed the case. After retrieving the spare key, the first thing I did when I finally got inside my truck was pull the visor down.
I can’t believe that muthafucka busted my lip,” I said, eyeing the damage. Even my front tooth felt loose.
There was no way my girls could see me like this, so my intentions were to head to Carlos’ old stash house in Clinton to get myself cleaned up and make sure that bastard hadn’t hit that spot up while I was out of town.
It was a shame that Rich was the only person I really could call to help me right now, but I needed him. I had to swallow my pride and let him know what was going on despite the fact that we still weren’t on good terms. Ever since I’d revealed that Denie was my daughter, along with Juan being murdered, and me still dealing with Renzo, things hadn’t been the same between us. I could admit that it was foul for me to keep the Denie secret away from him all these years, but I had nothing to do with Juan getting killed. Hell, I didn’t even know that he was a snitch. However, informant or not, I loved Juan and never wanted to see him get hurt. As crazy as these streets were, Rich could’ve been next in line to take a hit, so I had to warn him. Maybe this would bring us closer together.
I picked up my phone and dialed Rich’s number, but he didn’t answer. I had to be persistent in this case, so I called again. This time he answered.
“Hello,” Rich whispered. It sounded as if he was half asleep.
“Rich, wake up! Somebody just robbed me!” I yelled hysterically.
“What? Where are you?”
“I’m about to leave Dulles airport. That bitch-ass nigga robbed me in the parking garage when I was about to get into my truck.”
“Damn, that’s fucked up. So, it was just one dude? Did you see anybody else?”
“Yeah, it was just one guy. He said somebody else was with him, but I think his ass was lying,” I informed.
“Did he hurt you?” Rich asked.
“I’m a little sore and swollen, but I’ll live. If my front tooth comes out from him kicking me though, I’m gonna fucking lose it!”
“Shit could’ve been worse. At least he didn’t try to take your pussy or nothin’.”
I paused for a moment. “Damn, that was really nice to say.”
“My bad. What did he get?”
“All he got was some short change. I was on my way back from Vegas. I was actually out there tryin’ to take care of that deal you and I put together a while ago, but I never got a chance to do anything. I had to leave early because I got a call about Mia being sick. Shit, all he got was my shopping and play money for real,” I stated. “He threatened my kids, Rich. I’m gonna kill that muthafucka when I find out who it is!”
“Damn, who do you think it was? Maybe he knows somethin’.”
“He sounded Jamaican. I wonder if it was David and them from Uptown. But then again how would they have known I was gonna be at the airport? Dulles airport at that?”
At that moment, I began to rack my brain as to who knew my whereabouts, and then it hit me…Maria. She was the only one who knew I was coming back.
“I have no idea. So, what do you need me to do?” Rich questioned.
“Nothing I guess. I just wanted to let you know what was going on. I wouldn’t want a nigga to catch you off guard. Where are you anyway?”
“I’m not in town right now, but I’ll be back tomorrow. We can meet up if you still wanna talk.”
I displayed a slight smile. It had been a few months since I’d seen him.
“Okay. I need to figure out who’s responsible for this shit. They might be connected to what happened to Carlos.”
“Damn, you right. Well I’ma holler at you when I get back in town. Watch your back and make sure nobody is followin’ you.”
“I will.”
***
It’s always something, I thought to myself as I hung up the phone. As if I didn’t have enough shit going on right now, I’d just agreed to meet Jade’s brother, Javier, later that evening. With the way my day started, I wasn’t in the mood to meet with anybody, but the urgency in his voice had me concerned. He thought he was slick. Didn’t he know I could see straight through his bullshit? I knew his ass didn’t want to meet me for nothing. With the recession along with a drought in the streets, I’m sure the thirsty nigga just wanted a quick come up. Even though we’d done business together in the past, I wasn’t about to add him to the payroll though, especially since my relationship with his sister was strained. I hadn’t heard from that bitch in months. She’d proven her friendship when she turned her back on me, so Jade could definitely kiss my ass. However, despite my personal feeling for his sister, I was gonna try my best to keep that shit separate from business.
After stopping by the stash house to check on things, I drove around for almost two hours trying to get myself together. The last thing I wanted was for me to be upset when I got home to my girls. Blowing off as much steam as possible was the best way to put me in a good ‘mommy’ role, so I made sure my mind was clear before pulling up to my house.
However, as soon as I placed my car in park, there was something that had me paralyzed and I couldn’t get out. The May weather had finally turned over and I admired throse bushes that Carlos and I planted when we first bought our house. As I sat in my truck and peered through the tinted windows, I felt a sense of guilt. I wondered what Carlos would think of me now, knowing how I’d betrayed him. Sleeping with his brother was one thing, but letting Rich father my first born would’ve definitely been unforgivable. As a mother to Carmen and Mia, I’m also sure he wouldn’t have liked the way I’d abandoned Denie and allowed Lisa to raise her.
Wondering if he would’ve tried to take my youngest daughters away from me, my thoughts suddenly drifted to Mia. I couldn’t believe she was sick was again. Listening to Maria tell me about her symptoms, I hoped her Leukemia hadn’t returned. If that was the case, if she had to go to one of the best doctor’s in the country, I was gonna do everything in my power to make sure we beat that shit once and for all. Sure…I was a horrible mother with Denie, but considered myself an excellent one now.
When I finally got out of the car and walked through the door, I was instantly greeted by my two little rug rats. I automatically felt uplifted.
“Mommy, Mommy!” they yelled enthused and excited to see me.
It was only eight o’clock and Carmen already had tons of energy.
“Hello Mommy’s pumpkins. How are you?”
All three of us embraced in a huge hug.
“Good! What’s in the bags Mommy? Are those gifts for us?” Carmen yelled.
It was sad, but true. I’d spoiled these girls so much that they expected gifts every time I came home. That was my way of covering up my absence, it was my guilt.
“Mommy, what happened to your mouth?” Carmen asked.
“Oh, it’s nothing. Mommy just had a small accident, that’s all.” I turned to my other daughter. “Mia, honey, how are you feeling?”
“I’m not feeling good, Mommy. My stomach and my head hurts.”
“She’s been complaining for a couple of days now, Ms. Marisol,” Maria answered.
When I looked at my nanny, thoughts about her being the only person to know my whereabouts flooded my mind like a river. Although I’d spent hours to calm myself down, now I was pissed off all over again.
I pointed toward the dining room. “Maria, can I speak to you for a second?”
“Sure.”
As soon as we walked a few feet away from the girls, I instantly got up in her face. I was so close, I’m sure she could smell the remains of the Starbucks Cinnamon Latte on my breath.<
br />
“Now, listen to me, Maria and listen good. I like you and all, but trust me, I’ll send your ass back to Cuba in a fucking box if you lie to me. Did you tell anyone where I was?”
Her eyes were the size of watermelons. “No, Ms. Marisol. I tell no one where you are,” she replied in her broken Englisnt>
“Are you sure?” I yelled.
“Yes, Ms. Marisol…please. I tell no one. Please don’t fire me.” She clutched her hands as if her ass was about to pray.
Figuring that she was probably telling the truth, I decided to let it go. “Don’t ever tell anyone where I am when I go out of town or when I’m coming back. Only you and the kids should know that,” I lectured.
She shook her head. “Of course.”
When we turned around to walk back toward the girls, Maria tapped my shoulder.
“Umm, Ms. Marisol, I didn’t want to bother you while you were away, but I’m worried about Denie. She’s very mean to the little ones. Also, I think she’s been smoking in her room. A strong smell is coming from under her door.”
“Oh really? Well, I’ll handle Denie. Can you take the girls to the playroom and let them open their gifts? After that, get Mia ready. I’m gonna take her over to Children’s Hospital, so Dr. Friedman can take a look at her before my meeting tonight.”
“Yes, Ms. Marisol.”
As I climbed the stairs to Denie’s room, I took a deep breath and prepared myself for the conversation that needed to happen. I knew that she was envious of the girls subconsciously, but acted as if it didn’t faze her on the surface. I had to be careful with her though; she was scorned and capable of anything, especially with what she’d done to Lisa. Who would’ve thought that my daughter would be capable of trying to poison someone? Even what she’d done to Rich was quite clever. After everything went down a couple of months ago, Rich and I thought it was best that Denie stayed with me so we could try and rebuild our relationship as mother and daughter. She and Rich were like oil and vinegar now, and couldn’t seem to get along. It seemed weird that she was more upset with Rich than me. She refused to even speak to him sometimes. Leaving her with Rich and Lisa had obviously done more harm than good, but that still didn’t give her a reason to act like a bitch toward her sisters.
She might’ve gotten away with that kind of behavior with Lisa, but not me. That shit wasn’t gonna fly in my house…daughter or not. The closer I got to the door I could hear go-go music and Denie’s constant giggling. Figuring she was on the phone with some knuckle head, I knocked two times. Technically, she was grown and I didn’t want to violate her privacy.
“What do you want Maria?” she yelled.
“Denie open the door, it’s Marisol!” I yelled back. I couldn’t believe she spoke to Maria with such disrespect.
Seconds later, Denie cracked the door open. “Wassup, I didn’t know you were home.” She seemed surprised and caught off guard.
“I just got here. What are you doing, open the door.”
“No, this is my room. You just can’t come in here.”
“Who the hell are you talking to? Get out the way!”
At that moment, I knew something was going on. Pushing the door open, my eyes widened as I looked at Denie’s barely dressed body along with some dude in her bed with gold teeth. The room reeked of weed and sex.
“Damn, baby, your momma fine as shit,” the ghetto-ass nigga chimed in.
“What the fuck is going on in here? Get the hell out my house!” I pointed to the Lil’ Wayne looking dude with piercing eyes.
“He’s not going anywhere. Last time I checked, I was nineteen years old,” Denie shot back.
Just like I’d done with Maria, I stepped up to her face…real close.
“Denie, don’t fuck with me. I can’t believe you’re actually smoking weed and fucking some loser-ass nigga while my two babies are downstairs. If you wanna be that damn disrespectful, then I suggest you get your own spot or go back to live with Rich. Trust me, I won’t have any problems kicking your ass out.” I looked at the dude one last time. “Besides, you need to step your game up if you giving out free pussy. He looks broke.” I walked back toward the door, then turned around. “He got five minutes to get out.”
“Fuck you, bitch. I got mad paper!” he replied.
Immediately, I snapped and went straight in my room to get my gun. I had to show both of them I wasn’t the bitch to fuck with. After being robbed earlier, I wasn’t about to be disrespected in my own damn home. It took me a minute since my room was all the way on the other side of the house, but when I returned it was obvious they’d taken me for a joke. Now, Denie had the nerve to be sitting beside him with a smile on her face.
Heated, I cocked my nickel plated .9mm back and pointed it at that fool who thought he was running shit. For him to have so much mouth as soon as he saw the firearm aimed at his chest, the bitch in him instantly came out.
“Like I said, you got five muthafucking minutes, no my bad…now you got two minutes to get the fuck out my house. And Denie if you got a problem with it, you can go with him,” I said.
Denie instantly switched up. “Jamal, you gotta go.”
Jumping out of the bed, he grabbed his clothes along with his shoes and fake-ass jewelry, then ran to the door. To my surprise, he at least had on some boxers.
“You crazy as hell lady!” Jamal yelled as he ran down the steps that led to the back of the house half-dressed.
One mistake I’d obviously made was giving Denie the suite with the private entrance. Now, that decision was coming back to bite me.
That’s what I get for trying to be nice when she first moved in, I thought.
Once I heard the back door slam, I turned toward Denie again. “Let’s get something straight right now. There’s only one head bitch in this house and that’s me. Not to mention, you don’t pay any fucking bills around here, therefore, you have no say so. You will respect my house and my rules if you wanna stick around. Do I make myself clear?”
“Stop treating me like I’m a little girl. I’m grown. I thought you were different. You’re no different from Rich or Lisa? All of you hate me. I wish I was never born!”
“Denie, you can try and lay that guilt trip shit on me all you want, but it’s not gonna work. I’m sorry for what I did, but at the same time I thought that was best for you. Now, when you live on your own that’s when you’re grown to me and can do whatever you want.”
“But…”
“Let me finish. There are two little girls in this house who now look up to you as a big sister, so you’ve gotta make better choices. There’s a lot on my plate right now, and I don’t need to be worrying about you bringing random dudes in my damn house. Don’t you understand that you could be a mark to get to me through my enemies? If you’re not careful, I could lose the empire Carlos and I worked so hard to build.”
I’d already slipped up earlier, so I didn’t need her fucking up as well.
Denie looked at me and nodded her head. “I can respect that. I don’t want you to look at me as a charity case. If you want me to leave, then I will.”
“Denie, I’m not asking you to leave. I just need you to respect my wishes, that’s all.”
She paused for a moment. “I understand. Sorry about Jamal.”
“I’m not about to say no problem because it is a problem. Just don’t let it happen again.” I walked over to the ashtray on her nightstand that contained a half-smoked blunt and picked it up. “And get rid of this, too. The only person allowed to smoke weed in this house is me.”
Chapter 3 Marisol
After returning back from the hospital with Mia and taking a quick nap, it was time for me to meet with Javier. Completely drained after finding out that my baby’s Leukemia had more than likely returned, I really didn’t feel like leaving the house, but also didn’t wanna go back on my word. Besides, I was becoming even more curious about what he wanted.
Jumping in the shower, the hot, soothing water was just what I needed. Wit
h the day I’d experienced, my muscles were beyond tense and since I didn’t have time for my daily workout, hopefully the shower would provide me some type of therapeutic massage.
When I stepped out a few minutes later, I wrapped up in my Victoria Secret’s Pink robe, then sat at my vanity before running across a picture of me and Carlos back in the day. It’s crazy because Rich was the one who’d taken the picture. We’d gone on vacation to Aruba with him and Lisa before I got pregnant with Carmen. Looking at how happy we seemed, the guilt that I carried started to take a toll on me again.
Carlos is probably turning over in his grave, I thought to myself.
It was oo. The onry repeating itself. What made me any different from Uncle Renzo for what he’d done to his brother or even Rich? No matter how it was dissected, it was all betrayal.
When I looked in the mirror I stared at myself as tears formed in my eyes. However, instead of becoming emotional this time, I immediately wiped my face before getting myself together. In a sense there was no need to keep crying about the past, what’s done was done. I couldn’t erase anything.
After pulling my hair back in a ponytail, I applied some concealer to the top of my lip to try and hide my battle scar. I then put on some mineral foundation before doing a quick, natural smoky eye for my lids. My hair was definitely in need of some TLC. With Renzo locked up, and handing the business over to me, my life had never been busier. I’d never gone this long without getting my highlights done, and needed to get in someone’s chair ASAP.
Before I put my clothes on, I texted Javier and told him to meet me at Dave and Busters inside White Flint Mall. Since I didn’t know what this meeting was about, I wanted to keep it casual so he wouldn’t get the wrong impression. Dinner at some restaurant would’ve forced us to stare into each other’s eyes the entire time, and I didn’t want that.
