by Saundra
“That I can believe.” He was licking his lips and looking at me like I was a T-bone steak on display. He sat down on the bed. He slowly reached for the button on my jeans and I screamed for him to get his hands off. But a calm come over me when I see Big Nick creeping up. He put the nine-millimeter Glock to the back of Monty’s head. Monty froze with wide eyes like the bitch he was.
“One wrong move and the last thing you will see is darkness,” Big Nick warned in no uncertain terms. Monty knew he meant business.
“I want you to untie those ropes from around her arms. And slow . . .” He pushed Monty’s head with the gun. I looked from Monty to Big Nick with wondering eyes. With a few light tugs, the ropes fell off. Slapping Monty in the face as hard as I could, I flew into Big Nick’s arms. Big Nick never took the nine off Monty. I quickly sprang back to the matter at hand. We had no time to waste and could not lose control of the situation.
Big Nick threw me a Ruger that I instantly knew was mine. He must have found it while making his way inside. I knew without question that stout guy from earlier had met his maker. I held the Ruger to Monty’s head and thanked Big Nick for coming while he tied Monty up. We questioned Monty about Hood but he refused to give us any information. Even after Big Nick punched him in the face about five times with the butt of his nine-millimeter. The pain caused him to temporarily black out.
“Fuck this shit, ain’t no use, this place is big. I’ma take a look around to see if I can find anything.” Big Nick wiped the blood that had landed on his hands and clothes while he beat Monty onto the bedspread.
“Okay, yeah, go ahead and look around, but hurry, we got to get Rochelle to the hospital.” I wiped at the snot and tears that were running down my face. I made my way over to Rochelle, who was now lying on a beat-up couch. She looked totally different. Both of her eyes were swollen. There were bruises on her face, arms, and hands, and blood was all over her clothes. I looked at her fingernails and saw blood. I could tell she had put up a good fight. I put my face to her chest and cried. I could feel her heart beating so I knew she was still alive. Monty would pay for all that he had done at this point. I started to believe that I would never find out what happened to Hood. All of this and I still had no answers.
Turning around and looking at the bed, I saw there was no Monty. I stood just in time. That slick motherfucker had got the ropes off. I guess I should not have been surprised: They were his ropes. It would be only natural that his snake ass knew how to work them. But the one thing he did not have was a piece. I guess he thought being in his own spot would give him the upper hand. He had been too stupid to bring one along with him when his chubby bodyguard had alerted him that I was awake. The ball was still in my court and I did not hesitate.
I pointed the Ruger at him. He stood still, but I walked toward him and kicked him in the balls so hard that he fell to his knees. Blood was still dripping from his mouth from the beating that Big Nick put on him. He erupted with laughter. Evil people always had pride.
“It don’t matter that you have that gun, bitch.” He wiped at the blood. “You still gone be murked for what you did to my brother. There is a lot more people like me out there. The stakes will only get higher after tonight.” I guess this was supposed to be a threat on my life. But who gave a fuck? She who had the motherfucking gun ruled.
“Fuck your brother. Who cares what happened to him? That nigga wasn’t shit. That’s why I kill that nigga over and over in my dreams and love every minute of it.” I grinned.
Out of the blue Monty charged at me, but I released the Ruger and hit him in the right shoulder. He fell back into the bed. As soon as he hit the sheets, he started cursing me out and calling me bitch. Like those words could hurt me of all people. I was tired of this charade. I would show and tell.
Taking the butt of the Ruger, I rushed over to him and I hit him in the jaw three times. Again blood flew out of his mouth, then a tooth. I realized his teeth were real, but ugly as fuck. Now that I think about it, there were some differences in him and Luscious. Monty was the ugly version.
“What happened to Hood? Just tell me!”
“He dea—” Before he could finish his word, I hit him in the same jaw with the Ruger. This time I felt his jaw crack. That jaw had finally had it; it could not take another blow.
“Where the fuck is Hood!” I screamed again desperately. I knew he was not going to tell me.
He was barely able to talk, but he still tried to brag about Hood’s ill fate. “He dead just like you gone be soon. After I let my men beat him for days, I ordered them to throw his weak ass in a pit with my hungry bloodhound-eating pit bulls.” He started laughing again. He was in so much pain, tears were forming in his eyes but still he laughed at me. “I guess I get the last laugh, huh, bitch.”
Tears poured down my face. I was speechless as events from my past played in my mind. The first time Squeeze beat my mom, my first robbery, the first time I met Hood, Li’l Bo being killed, all the way to Monica killing Luscious. After all of that, I tried to live my life right, even though I still struggled with the hurt of losing Li’l Bo and my sister having to kill Luscious to save my life. I tried to live right and I had even tried to force it on Hood. All the while hurt and pain was still busting down doors and enemy lines just to get to me. It seemed to find me and my beloved family no matter what. For the first time in my life I questioned if my sweetest revenge was worth it.
Monty broke my thoughts and helped me answer my most important question.
“Go ahead and kill me, bitch, because I have been dead for a long motherfucking time. And I will meet your soul in hell.” Monty’s pain was not my sorrow.
“With pleasure.” I bucked my Ruger and didn’t stop until it was empty. Yes, my sweetest revenge was worth it. Shit like Monty, Luscious, or Squeeze don’t deserve to roam the earth. No, this world was better off without them.
Shaking with grief over my husband, I dropped the Ruger to the floor and cried from my soul.
“It’s okay, baby girl; you did what you had to do.” There was only one person who called me that name besides my dad. It had been a long time since he called me that, though he had stopped after he heard Dad call me that. I turned and there stood Hood. I ran into his arms and I hugged him so tight that he yelped out in pain.
Monty had not lied about beating him, he was beat up pretty bad. Without wasting any more time, Big Nick grabbed Rochelle, and I helped Hood to the car. Then we sped straight to the hospital.
Chapter 29
Six Months Later
Six months later and I was still sitting around daily counting my blessings. Life was slowly but surely coming back to normal. Turns out that it was Ma who had called up Big Nick and told him I needed help. She had declared that she would not lose another child to the streets, so she stepped up and went out on a limb. Sharing all the information that Dad had told her about Monty, they were able to connect the dots. After hanging up with her, Big Nick had got on the phone and made two phone calls. One was to his ear connection to the street and then another to get a trace on Monty’s hideout.
See, Big Nick was from the old streets, which meant he had eyes and ears that neither I nor Hood would ever have. I guess you can say he had paid his dues or, as Dad would say, he “paid the cost to be the boss.” Either way, I owed him big for saving my life as well as my husband. I was in his debt. With his help we had gotten Rochelle and Hood to the hospital in time. They had both sustained terrible beatings. Hood’s rib cage had been severely cracked but not broken.
Rochelle, on the other hand, had been beaten so badly that she suffered a miscarriage. Yeah, she had been pregnant with Dontae’s baby. But she had had no idea. According to records, she was in early stages, not yet two months. Because of the miscarriage she had lost a lot of blood. So much that the doctor said if we had not gotten her to them when we did that she would have died. That statement alone made my heart beat a whole lot different. I was happy to find out that she had not been raped, thoug
h. The doctors said there was no sign of rape, and when Rochelle woke up the next day, she confirmed it. Rochelle said that the guy that had kidnapped her tried to rape her but she fought him so long and hard he gave up. Said he told Monty, “I don’t wanna fuck that bitch, she crazy.” He then took his bloody nose and scratched-up face, and limped away holding his balls. She said that Monty beat on her for a while after that until she blacked out. When she woke up, she was in the hospital. I was sick with guilt for days. I would not eat and I quickly lost ten pounds. My ma came to me and pulled me back to life. Normally, I gave her the pep talk, but therapy was helping her a lot. Now she was able to be strong for me.
Things were getting better every day. Hood and Rochelle were released from the hospital months ago and everybody’s lives seemed to be falling into step. Rochelle had hooked back up with Todd and was engaged to be married. She had finally admitted she was in love with him all along. His constant commitment scared her. After losing Li’l Lo she was afraid of falling in love again. I was really happy for them, and Ms. Wynita was over the hills that the Lord had finally answered her prayers.
Hood was also getting his shit together. As soon as he was able to walk, and I guess I should say run, again he got on the phone and called up one of his old guys that had moved to Miami a couple years back. He went by Walt on the streets, and the streets knew not to fuck with Walt. Walt was like six foot six and weighed about two seventy-five. To the ladies he was a teddy bear, but the niggas knew not to cross him. Hood said that Walt would be the perfect man to take over his operation. Walt took the offer with pleasure and flew out to Detroit right away. Hood worked with him for about two months setting up connects and letting everyone know that Walt was the new man.
Before officially letting the reins go, Hood suggested that we all take a trip to Disneyland. Everybody happily agreed. With no hesitation, our whole family hopped on a plane headed to California. We even brought Rochelle, Todd, Tiny, and Ms. Wynita along. It was going down, we had planned five fun-packed days in the sun.
And what can I say? When we laid eyes on Disneyland, it was what we all had imagined and more. I shed a few tears for the fact Li’l Bo and Dad were not there. But I would not let that spoil my trip; besides, we would be getting word any day now about Dad’s possible parole. We didn’t want to get our hopes up too high only to be let down. But Hood was paying the attorney a lot of fucking money, so we stayed positive.
We were down to the last day of the trip; we had seen and done so much already until exhaustion crept up on us. But that didn’t stop nothing. We still wanted to see all we possibly could before leaving. This day was different, though, because the night before Rochelle, Todd, Monica, Hood, and I had partied. It was Monica’s birthday, plus she had graduated a month before. With all the craziness we had not celebrated the way we wanted to. So we found a club, set up VIP for us only, and kicked it. We popped bottles till like four in the morning. Talk about turn up! We did and in somebody else’s city. Detroit was in the house. By the time Hood and I got back to our room. we were out like a light, but only for a little while. No sooner than my head hit the pillow, Ma was ringing the room.
“Hello,” I said in a morning groggy tone.
“Look, I know y’all got it in last night, but wake up.”
“But Ma, I’m tired, we both tired. Besides it’s early,” I complained. But this was Marisa and I knew she would not let it go. And if we didn’t listen to her, Ms. Wynita would be next, and she would be ten times worse.
“Girl, it ain’t early, it twelve o’clock and this is the last day. So hop to it and meet us downstairs.”
I rolled over and looked at the clock. It was 12:01 p.m. Shit, it felt like I had been asleep for twenty damn minutes, not eight hours. “Okay.” I gave in, then hung up.
“Hood, babe,” I said, looking in his direction. He turned over and wrapped himself tighter in the covers. “Come on, babe, get up, that was Ma. You know she gone be beating on this door next.”
“Damn, Mya, I just laid down.” He tried to use the same excuse on me that I gave to Ma.
I started laughing. “Babe, get up, it’s twelve. We been asleep.” I told him the time just like Ma had informed me.
“Well, I must still be drunk. That Don Julio got me fucked up.” He lifted his head a little, smiled, and then put his face back on his pillow. “I ain’t gone make it. But look, you go ahead and I’ll be down in about two hours. I promise,” he begged. “Tell Ma Marisa I’m sick.” He laughed.
“A’ight, but you better come down.” I threw the covers back and headed for the shower. I felt energized afterwards. I was dressed just in time for Monica to knock on our door. I grabbed my Prada shades, slid them on, and headed out. Downstairs everyone was waiting to hit it. Once outside, I realized I had left my cell phone. I had to keep my cell phone on me just in case Pam or Trina called. I left them in charge of the salon until I got back. I knew they could handle it because they knew how everything worked. But I assured them I would always be available when they called. It would be just my luck that they called when I left my cell. I used Monica’s phone to call Hood in the room on his cell but got no answer. Damn, I had no choice but to go get it.
After convincing Ma I would be back, I started back to the hotel. As I got on the elevator Rochelle and Todd approached.
“Wait a minute, where the hell y’all going.” I smiled. They were like kids in love, all over each other.
“Look, we trying to spend some alone time before we leave this big ass beautiful hotel. I haven’t been able to pry Tiny off. Shit, we ’bout to break that damn bed in.” Rochelle laughed and Todd grabbed her into a hug and they kissed.
“Damn, wit’ all that, I guess y’all do need some alone time. ’Cause all that unnecessary slobbering each other down is way too much for my eyesight,” I joked, then hit the button to take us up to the tenth floor where our suites were. Hood had paid for the entire trip and of course he made sure we all had the best.
Halfway through our ride, the elevator chimed to make a stop. I looked at a kissing Rochelle and Todd. “Y’all gone have to chill out. We about to have company on this ride,” I joked again.
“Shit, they can join the show.” Rochelle smiled then rubbed Todd’s head and he grabbed her booty tight. I shook my head at them. They were funny.
The elevator settled so that the doors could open. With a smile spread across my face, I watched the doors slide back. I was not ready for what I saw. A guy was standing in the hall with a gun pointed directly at me, his eyes glued only on me. His lips moved and as the words “Checkmate, bitch!” rolled off his tongue, I heard the bullet leave the chamber.
The heaviness of Todd’s body knocked me to the back wall of the elevator. Then I heard two more gunshots. The shooter seemed to stand still with an unexpected look of shock pouring from his face. As I watched a bullet rip through the back of his spine, his eyes never left mine. Then before his body could hit the ground, another bullet hit him in the back of his head and it split like a melon. I watched his body fall and I saw Hood standing there.
At that same moment, Todd’s body hit the floor and I was covered in his blood. I looked from Todd’s motionless body to the blood I was covered in and then over to Rochelle. I started to shake violently.
Rochelle fell to the floor with Todd and slowly lifted him into her lap. She screamed, “No, No, No!” She rocked back and forward with him as her cries rang in my ears like bullets. Monty’s threats came back to haunt my mind. He told me the chances of me being killed were going to get higher after his death. With all this death on my hands, would my sweetest revenge ever end?
A READING GROUP GUIDE
HER SWEETEST
REVENGE 2
Saundra
ABOUT THIS GUIDE
The questions that follow are included
to enhance your group’s reading of this book.
Discussion Questions
1. Mya’s nightmares about Luscious are constant. Is it
possible the nightmares are from guilt or from fear of the dream becoming a reality?
2. Mya declared that she and Hood had more than enough money. Therefore she wanted him out of the game ASAP. Do you think it’s selfish of her to demand this, knowing that was his way of life before they got married?
3. Mya was upset when she first met Anthony, mainly because she saw him coming out of the back of the condo. Was she overstepping her boundaries by scolding Monica or questioning her about the situation?
4. Rochelle dumps Todd, a guy who loved her and cared for her daughter, Tiny, only to turn to Dontae, a known pusher in the area. Is it possible she broke up with Todd because she felt guilty for being in love with someone other than Li’l Lo, whom she clearly missed?
5. With Rob being killed in New York on a deal set up through Rico, Dontae, and Silk, should Hood have been a little suspicious of them? Should he have questioned their character or true intentions?
6. After Felicia had been to the salon twice acting up being loud and disrespectful, was Mya out of place for finally losing her temper and lashing back out, including fighting?
7. Marisa admits to Monica and Mya that she was depressed and afraid her addiction might return. Will taking the step to reach out to her family for help make her fight harder to remain drug free? Or will she most likely cave under pressure, knowing the temporary comfort the drugs might bring?
8. Will Rochelle blame Mya for Todd’s death? If so, will this incident threaten their friendship?
Don’t miss the next installment—Her Sweetest Revenge 3!
