Still thicker than water

by Takerra, Allen

  “Open it,” she demanded.

  Chauncey looked at her and then grabbed the book and opened it to the first page.

  It was a photo album, and the first picture was of a little girl and a man. A man, that Chauncey had seen before…

  ‘Mickel…Mickel DuPree?”

  Mickel DuPree was a street legend from the Islands. Chauncey saw that the little girl in the picture had striking emerald eyes. It started to make somewhat of sense to him.

  “Mickel DuPree was your father.”

  She finally took her seat.

  “Let me tell you a story,” she said, taking a sip of her Nuvo drink. Bleek sat on the side wanting to hear the story as well, Jayde was the J-crew’s leader, and he still didn’t know too much more than that.

  “My father…Mickel…as you probably know… ran arguably one of the tightest, longest, and best drug empires for almost three decades straight. His reign started in ’79, that’s when he hooked up with the Columbians and supplied almost every single city, in some way, shape, or form, in much of the bottom East Coast. He supplied them all with the most quality, delicious, fucking coke, ever. Shit, when I was a little girl, I spent so much time around Columbians, I thought I was one of them... We were family with them, close, so they treated us well.” Jayde paused and took another sip before continuing.

  “When my father was murdered five years ago, his um, business partner… who really was like his fucking flunky… Ernie Hobbs, called himself taking over things. He was so incompetent, so disgusting…” Jayde’s face twisted in repulsion as she spoke. “He was so fat and greedy! And the Columbians did not want to do business with him, they preferred to work, with me…yours truly. So, Ernie’s thinking, I deal with the connect, for him, he runs things. You see, he wanted me from the beginning, even when Daddy was still here. But with Daddy gone, he figured we could run the city together. But more like, he run the city you know? I sit on my ass, look pretty and deal with the connect… He wanted to be Mickel. He wanted the love and respect Mickel had and he wanted me to be devoted to him, like I was for my Daddy. He even wanted me to call him a nickname, Father. When I refused, that fat mothafucka changed his name to Father so that everyone would call him that, and I wouldn’t have a choice… But he didn’t know me. He didn’t know little J, had grown up. I started mingling, mixing, meeting so many people, big people, and found that people…clients…preferred me. They liked me. So I took myself, and my sweet connect, and I parted ways with…him.”

  She looked at Chauncey and E and leaned back in her chair.

  “Me and Father keep a mutual understanding, and so far we seemed to magically coexist in this town. He has people that respect him, and he’s got goons so people fear him, but he’s garbage. I could never afford to war with him physically, by myself, and since this fucked up recession shit, I can’t even compete with product.” She looked at Chauncey with much sass. “But now, I guess that doesn’t matter… 'cause you, my friend Chauncey, seem to be the man to see….You've got the goods, the price, and you will eventually leave me and Father squabbling for crumbs.”

  Chauncey tilted his head to the side, somewhat seeing her point of view.

  “Well, not exactly. No matter what… you’re J-Murder. You have your clientele, this is your hood…. I’m just a freelancer. You’re the store.”

  She smiled, glad that he had walked into her vision.

  “Exactly. But… what if I could combine… in a perfect world… my army, my soldiers, my government officials, my judges, my lawyers, my police, everyone that looks out for me, looking out for you… combined with your product, your prices, my clientele…and Father’s clientele.”

  “How would we get Father’s clientele?” Chauncey questioned, but was already well aware of the answer.

  With Father out of the picture, Jayde and Chauncey could take over the city, shit the state and maybe even the lower east side. Her connections and his connect, would be a beautiful marriage. Sure Father’s goons may want justice, but with Jayde’s home team squad and Chauncey’s out of state pull, they’d be no match.

  Chauncey rubbed his chin at her cleverness, she was smart and deadly. He thought of all of the ruthless tales he had heard of J-Murder and couldn’t believe that they were committed by this feminine woman. She smirked as she let him take it all in.

  E looked over at Chauncey knowing that he was deeply considering her offer. He would play it cool, but he was sure he would agree to kill Father and run things with Big J.

  Chauncey nodded deep in thought as Jayde’s eyes became even greener with greed. Bleek and E both were excited thinking of the possibilities as well.

  They were about to have the city on lock, The J-Crew, Chauncey, E… and Jayde.

  Tatum’s stomach did somersaults as the plane began to descend.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, we are now approaching our destination. Please keep all safety belts buckled and make sure your seats are upright. Approximate arrival time, eight minutes…”

  Eight minutes. Eight minutes. Am I doing the right thing? Of course…

  She reflected on her last conversation that she had with her nieces.

  “Auntie Tatum, I don’t wanna leave…can't you come with us?”

  Tatum had felt the tears building up in her throat, but she tried to remain strong as she walked the girls to the car.

  “I can’t come baby girl,” Tatum said, looking into Tangee’s sad eyes. “But I can come visit you, and you can call me everyday if you want.”

  Tangee half smiled knowing that it wouldn’t be the same, as Chanel rolled her eyes.

  “But I don’t wanna go to Virginia. I wanna stay here with you, and my friends…and Dashun.” Chanel didn’t want to leave her little boyfriend.

  Tatum gave them a big bear hug and kissed them both.

  “I know this is hard for you girls…it’s hard for me too. But you’ll be fine. You guys have to go to Virginia, because that’s where your mommy’s mother lives, and they’re gonna take such good care of you. You’ll have your own rooms.” Tatum tried to sound excited for them. “And most and best of all, you get to spend the summers with me, so we’ll have something to look forward to.”

  She could see their faces brighten a little and a thought went through her head. What would I be staying here for? Then she added.

  “What do you guys think about summers in a really warm place…like an island?”

  They both gasped, excited, and Chanel being the oldest and knowing way more than she should said,

  “With you, and…you know who?”

  Tatum had told them a long time ago never to say Ree’s name, being cautious of his situation. And they never did. She assumed Chanel had been picking up on her and Sasha’s many discussions over Ree, so she was not too surprised at her comment.

  Tatum smiled and shook her head with tears in her eyes. She was going to miss Chanel’s sass.

  “Yeah…me, and you know who.”

  They cheered, thrilled with the proposition, they adored Ree. And as they were getting situated in the car, Tangee pulled Tatum’s coat sleeve, something she did when she wanted to tell her a secret.

  Tatum leaned her ear down to her and Tangee whispered softly.

  “I’m happy for you Auntie Tatum. Go live happily ever after.”

  Tatum looked at her purely shocked and at a loss for words, and then she kissed her on her precious forehead.

  As the car took off and a piece of Tatum left with it, she figured she just may take Tangee’s advice.

  Now here she was, doing so, and she was so nervous. Deep down inside though, she knew this was the way it should be. She had heard that people that have an easy start on life, usually have their rough times later. Well, Tatum had her dose of rough times, so maybe now was her time, to be easy.

  As the plane landed, and people began to de-board, she picked up her cell phone, and made a call.

  “I’m here,” she said, sounding happier than she had in a long time.

&nbs
p; “That’s great! Oh my god, I can’t believe you’re doing it,” Sasha admitted, starting to cry like a softie. She was going to miss Tatum. Knowing that she was in Newark felt a whole lot better than knowing she was in Jamaica. But it was time for her to live her life and Sasha couldn’t be happier for her.

  “I guess at least one of us gets the happy ending, huh?” Sasha asked, reflecting on their conversation a few years ago about choices.

  Tatum wasn’t sure what to say to that, so she said what was in her heart.

  “I love you.”

  “I love you too, girl,” Sasha said, tears of joy lining her face. “Now go get you some!”

  The girls laughed and Tatum ended the conversation, promising to call again later. As she made her way outside, she found a taxi waiting and approached him.

  “Where to pretty gal?”

  “Botanical Bay, Botanical Bay Resort,” she said without doubt.

  “Sure thing…and welcome to Jamaica!” He exclaimed, as Tatum smiled wide.

  Welcome home, she thought to herself.

  The ride was brief, and when Tatum stepped out of the cab, a flutter of butterflies went through her. She grabbed her two roll away luggage bags and her duffle, the only things that she had brought with her. All of her furniture and other miscellaneous items, Sasha promised she would take care of.

  Tatum walked through the pretty glass doors and approached the main desk. There were not even half as many people in the lobby as there had been when she was there previously.

  A new clerk was at the desk, and was all smiles as Tatum made her way to her.

  “Gud aftanoon, can I help yu?” The woman asked in her Jamaican accent.

  “Um, yes. Is Re-Mr. Knights available please?”

  The woman looked at Tatum skeptically but then retreated to the back office.

  She gently knocked on his office door and he told her to enter.

  Ree was sitting at his desk, elbows deep in paperwork, even wearing his reading glasses. He asked what she needed without even looking up.

  “Eh Mistah Knights, there is sum lady here, she wud like to see yu.”

  “What does she need?”

  The clerk shrugged.

  “I dunno.”

  Ree shook his head.

  “Tell her Trinity can help her. I’m busy.”

  She nodded and closed his door back. She approached Tatum with an uneasy smile.

  “Sorry, Mistah Knights is terribly busy. Wud yu like ta talk wit Miss Trinity, she da hotel managa, she cud help yu.”

  Tatum chuckled at the irony before responding.

  “No, no, I don’t want to talk to Trinity…at all. Can you please tell Mr. Knights that it’s terribly important and that it will only be a minute…please,” Tatum asked, extra nicely.

  “One moment.” The clerk retreated again.

  She knocked once more, timidly and a little nervous. This time Ree came to the door.

  “What is it?”

  “She insists on speaking wit’ yu Mistah Knights. I try ta tell ha, but she don’t want Miss Trinity.”

  Ree sighed, annoyed, and made his way out of the office and toward the front desk while removing his glasses. He looked around and then his vision began to focus.

  The sight of Tatum standing there, looking radiant, could’ve stolen his breath from him.

  “Wow,” he said, thrown off as he approached the desk. His face couldn’t reveal how happy he was if it wanted to. Tatum beamed wide.

  “I was just wondering…if I can possibly…get a room,” she teased.

  He smiled at her before answering.

  “Well, let me see what I can do. If you’re uhm, planning on staying short term, we can maybe get you a suite,” he said, playing along. Tatum scrunched up her nose and shook her head. He nodded and continued.

  “No, okay. Or if maybe you want to try one of our extended stay rooms?”

  She smiled and shook her head again as she leaned over the counter.

  “Nah…you know what? I was thinking something, a little more…domestic. A little more, intimate.” She was thinking of with him, at his home.

  He smiled wide and bit his bottom lip.

  “Well how long you plan on staying Miss Lady?”

  She breathed deep and looked in his eyes.

  “A while,” she confessed. Ree opened the small wooden door that led behind the desk.

  “Get in here…”

  She practically ran to him and into his arms, as he grabbed her and held her tight.

  “Look at you…” he said sexily. He kissed her slowly, deeply, and passionately on the mouth, and Tatum felt like she was floating.

  “Mmm…” he moaned and she creamed. And in a sexy low whisper, he asked, “A while?”

  “A while,” she repeated. She looked into his eyes and felt overwhelmed with emotion.

  “A lifetime,” she corrected, in an expressive soft voice. And he kissed her again.

  Trinity froze in her tracks as she watched Ree and Tatum embracing so affectionately. She blinked away her tears as she continued to lead the new maid crew through the tour of the hotel.

  “Um, right this way ladies,” she instructed them, but still keeping her eyes on the lurid couple.

  It was like a bad car wreck, horrible to look at but impossible to look away from.

  Ree had broken her heart in the worse way, and hadn’t even given her time to heal.

  “Fuck ‘em,” she thought to herself.

  But even as she turned to lead the crew through the halls, and forced her eyes away from them, she knew it wouldn’t be that easy. She was scorned. She was scorned something serious.

  “Put the giraffe over there,” Sasha ordered, while pointing across the room.

  “You sure?”

  “Yes…trust me. It’ll look nice.”

  Chauncey looked at her skeptically but then carried the gold and ivory giraffe statue to the other side of his spacious living room.

  He looked around at the paintings, statues, and drapings all scattered around the floor and wondered if asking Sasha to help him decorate was wise. Just spending this time alone with her was worth it though.

  “What’s up with the giraffes, though? I don’t know if I’m a giraffe kinda nigga.”

  Sasha rolled her eyes and giggled.

  “I have taste…the giraffes, perfect touch.” She shot him a wink and plopped down on his brand new eggshell European sofa, which was still sitting in the middle of the room because they hadn’t decided where to place it yet. She thought of how this could have been her home, their home, but this punk nigga had to go thinking with his dick.

  “Maybe I should check on Aubrey,” Sasha figured, proceeding to get up. Chauncey sat down beside her and grabbed her arm lightly, pulling her back down.

  “C’mon, I just put her down for a nap. She good.”

  Sasha nodded and then looked over at him. He was so fine.

  The phrase tall, dark, and handsome should’ve just been renamed Chauncey.

  He looked at her with such a cool yearning that she wasn’t sure what would come next. She briefly thought of Mike and how she had told him that she was dropping Aubrey off at Chauncey’s, and then going to have lunch with her parents before they went back to Jersey. A little white lie that her mother not only justified, but had commended. Now, here she was.

  “I think I need something to drink…I’m thirsty from all of this moving around.” Sasha got up quickly and headed toward the kitchen, trying her best not to be wooed by him.

  “You aint do shit but point, I moved everything,” Chauncey cracked, getting up behind her and watching her ass and hips in her skin tight jeans, as he followed her to the kitchen. He knew from her reactions to him that he was breaking her down slowly.

  “Shut up,” she shot back, finally reaching the fridge and bending over to get a bottled water. When she stood back up, Chauncey was right behind her, all in her space, and her heartbeat quickened. She turned and faced him, with only inc
hes between them, and held his magnetic gaze.

  “What?” She asked nervously, her breath in short spurts.

  “What you mean what…I’m thirsty too,” he said, nonchalantly. She stood there looking at him as if she were under a spell. Their lips were so close, and just like in her dream, she could almost taste him. She felt herself becoming moist.

  “Well?” He asked.

  “Well,” she answered, still looking up at him dreamily.

  Chauncey smiled his killer smile that brought out his dimples.

  “Well, you wanna grab me one…or move your pretty ass to the side so I can get my own.”

  Sasha was thrown. He didn’t try to make a move on her. She was almost positive, halfway prepared, for him to try to kiss her. What the fuck?

  “Oh,” she stated simply. “Here.”

  She handed him her water and bent back down to get another, this time poking her ass out even further. Chauncey walked away and leaned back on the counter, watching her, with a sly smirk.

  Oh, he laughed to himself, knowing Sasha like the back of his hand.

  Sasha closed the refrigerator and walked over to the other side of the kitchen. She hopped up on the counter facing him, and opened her water, taking a long swig. She looked around at the huge steel designed area and realized how much she loved his home. It was almost three times the size of hers; it was like her dream house.

  “You did good. Your house if fly,” she complimented.

  “You like it?” He asked, taking a sip of his own.

  “I do,” she assured him. She put her water down next to her and released her hair from her ponytail holder, running her fingers slowly through her long tresses. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensation, knowing that she was bringing Chauncey to his knees gradually.

  This was a weakness of his, a turn on. This, and when she used her forefinger to pull her hair behind her ear subtly. It drove him crazy, she didn’t know why, but it just did. It was his thing.