TYCE II

by Jaudon, Shareef;Mayes, Sherdava;Anderson, Taigo

  I went extra hard this morning because I was trying to get rid of some stress. This was a new feeling for me; I never stress out, but this mystery pregnancy kinda had me tripping. I didn’t wanna approach the wrong woman with this information. I mean obviously I’m not supposed to know yet. For some odd reason Angelique or Dallas wasn’t ready to tell me.

  The last set of crunches was finished and my ab muscles were on fire when Dallas walked in.

  “Hey handsome.” She stood there wearing boxers and a tight wife beater.

  “Hey babe, how you doin’ this morning?”

  Dallas smiled, “I’m fine. I jus’ came to tell you Bree is up stairs waitin’ for you.”

  I rose up off the inclined bench and stood up. Dallas threw me my shirt.

  “Ya might wanna cover up all that sexy before you go upstairs; cuz the next bitch that throws herself at you is gettin’ cut!”

  I smiled at her, “Girl Bree is like my lil sister.”

  “The key word there is like, and I don’t want you teasing your little sister’s taste buds.”

  I started laughing but put on the shirt nonetheless, I was going to do it anyway, but she beat me to it.

  I walked upstairs to find an excited Bree sitting in my living room. I could tell she was attempting to disguise her cheery mood as Dallas walked in behind me.

  “Hey Bree, you’re early.”

  “I know but I couldn’t wait any longer, I tried callin’ but it went straight to voice mail.”

  “My fault, I left my phone upstairs in my room. So anyway, what’s the word…we good?”

  Bree shifted in the seat a little and eyed Dallas cautiously. She wasn’t sure if she should talk in front of her.

  “Oh she’s cool go ahead and lay it on me.” I reassured her.

  Bree sighed and grinned, “We’re so fuckin’ good! I transferred eight million three hundred sixty six thousand dollars and forty-two cents into your account! That shit was so easy, and the good thing is Armando or Diego isn’t about to walk into the bank and ask them what the fuck happened to all my money! That shit was dope money anyway, who the hell they gonna tell?”

  Bree was cracking me up, I loved her enthusiasm and the way she was recapping the plan I already told her days ago like it was her idea. I explained to her that the last thing drug dealers want is a bank, the FBI, or the IRS digging into their financial records. It was easier for them to just take the loss and suck it up. I did have to admit that eight million dollars was a lot to suck up.

  “Thanks sis, I knew you could do it.” I winked at her.

  “I had to get an upper managers approval for that amount but since it was a transfer and not a withdrawal they didn’t pay it no mind.”

  “Yeah they never do, it aint their money. I’ll be right back.” I left Dallas and Bree alone.

  I went out to the garage; I was headed to the fireproof safe that housed the bulk of my money from the old warehouse. It was also where Dallas and Angelique kept most of their money as well. It was well hidden behind a tool wall. If you didn’t know it was there you wouldn’t have a clue where to look.

  Five minutes later, I returned to the living room with a duffle bag filled with half a million in cold hard cash.

  I handed the bag to Bree, “Merry Christmas.”

  “Thank you Santa! I’ve been a naughty girl, but it pays soooo nice!”

  I laughed, “You’re crazy girl.”

  “Shit I mean it; every girl should have a friend like you. I don’t feel shit for them punk ass niggas, fuck em, fuck em with a big ass tree trunk right up their ass!”

  My mouth dropped, “Damn Bree, you all animated.” “I can’t stand stupid ass drug dealers! They think they’re untouchable, well we jus’ reached out and touched Diego’s ass!”

  Dallas was amused by how hype Bree was. She immediately liked the spirited young girl and for her to pull this off showed she had some balls, a woman after her own heart.

  Bree stood up to leave holding her newfound wealth securely in both hands. I was all set to walk her out when she approached me with a serious look in her young eyes.

  “Tyce.”

  “Wasup lil momma?”

  “Promise me I’ll be ok.”

  I gave her a warm hug, “I promise. I know Diego and his brother will come lookin’ for me but I’m used to that. Nothing will happen to you, I’ll murder them fools so you won’t have to look over your shoulder while you’re gettin’ that masters degree.”

  Bree smiled at me, “Thanks Tyce.”

  “You’re welcome lil momma.”

  After Bree left, Dallas and I sat down to a breakfast of blueberry muffins, cheese eggs, turkey bacon and orange juice. She had that financial glow in her eyes. There’s nothing like eating breakfast after an eight million dollar plate just fell in your lap without you lifting a finger. I didn’t point a gun at anybody or kill some over confident baller and rob him. I used the most powerful weapon on the face of the earth to increase my wealth…my mind. I smiled at her from across the table as I watched her woof down her food. She was eating like she was in a contest. I couldn’t help but wonder if she was eating for two. I snapped out of my brief daydream as I noticed someone was missing.

  “Where’s Angelique?” I stopped chewing, “I noticed her car is gone, have you seen her?” Dallas gulped down the last of her juice. “I haven’t seen her since yesterday evening, she had

  that big party at her club so she probably stayed there. That place doesn’t close til four O’clock in the morning.”

  “Hmmm, you’re probably right; I’ll call her in a minute.” I continued to eat.

  Dallas put her elbows on the table, “All I know is I’m here and she aint.”

  Zero

  Armando took a second look at his phone. He blinked his eyes rapidly. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. The email he just received this morning from his online bank account informed him that his account was closed and it now had a zero balance! He immediately punched in the numbers to the bank and impatiently waited for the correct prompts so he could speak to someone. It seemed like hours before an individual finally picked up. However, the jolly personal banker that the merry customer service rep transferred him to only repeated the same thing…all the money was gone!

  “FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK!!!!”

  The phone exploded as he threw it against the wall. He stared at nothing. His mind was blank, absent of any thoughts. Eight million dollars disappeared over night. Then a light came on in his head and he started to laugh out loud like he’d just heard the funniest joke in the universe.

  “That motherfucker, that fucking motherfucker!” Armando stormed out of Diego’s study and into the bedroom where Tyce’s mom was being held. He found her sitting on the edge of the bed quietly praying. She looked up just in time to see an open hand speeding towards her face. The unexpected blow spun her around almost knocking her off the bed. Her left eye began to water as the stinging sensation spread across her entire face.

  “Your son is fucking dead! You hear me bitch! DEAD!” Armando stooped to holler in her face.

  “Whut de fuck es going on? Why are yu slapping our guest?” Diego casually walked into the room with a puzzled look on his face.

  Armando turned around. “He robbed us!”

  “Who robbed us, whut are yu talkin’ about?” “Fucking Tyce that’s who! All the fucking money in the collection account is gone! All of it, every single dime!” Spit flew from Armando’s mouth.

  Diego put his hand up to his jaw and stroked his chin. He shook his head slowly and smiled. He’d always considered himself an intelligent man but even he didn’t see this one coming. This definitely hurt but he was far from broke even with an eight million dollar loss. That was just one of several accounts that Diego maintained, but he was pissed off nonetheless.

  He refocused his attention on the terrified lady in the room gently rubbing her swollen cheek with the back of his hand.

  “How’s yur leg? He ask
ed politely.

  She looked a little confused, “Umm my my leg is fine.”

  Diego pulled a gun from the back of his waistband and shot her in the thigh. She screamed in agony as she clutched her bleeding leg, tears began to form in her eyes as the blood saturated her black slacks.

  Diego smiled, “Hows ur leg now?”

  The pain was making her dizzy it was so intense; it felt like her leg was on fire.

  “Armando giv me yur phone.” Diego held his hand out.

  “I broke it.” Armando confessed.

  “Samsung didn’t take de money, so why break yur phone stupido.”

  Armando didn’t respond to the question choosing to remain silent instead. Diego tapped the bleeding woman in the middle of her sweaty forehead.

  “Do yu have a phone?”

  “Y Yes b b but it’s almost dead.” She stuttered. “Call yur son and tell him I wan tu trade…yu fur him…tell him to bring the eight million he stole frum me thes morning, and the five million he also took or I will pump 13 million bullets in yur body! Tell him yu have one en yur leg already.”

  She did as she was told and placed the call, repeating word for word what Diego wanted. It was a conversation she didn’t want to have and a situation she didn’t want to be in. As the battery on her phone quit so did her mind. The shock accompanied with the rapid blood loss was too much too handle and she fell back on the bed unconscious dropping the dead phone on the floor.

  “Leave thes bitch here, we have wurk tu do.” Diego snatched his brother’s arm and pushed him out the room leaving the door wide open. He had no intention on trading even with Tyce. He hoped his mother bled to death so he didn’t have to waste time killing her. Right now his focus was killing Tyce and getting his money back.

  Carmela watched as three black SUV’s sped from the property almost crashing into the stone eagle statues that lined the pathway to the gate. Diego, Armando, and all the bodyguards were gone. The house was quiet; she was all alone except for the gunshot victim bleeding to death upstairs. Carmela contemplated what to do next, normally she wouldn’t interfere in Diego’s affairs, but she couldn’t just let the poor woman die. She rubbed her hands on her apron; that was something she did when she was nervous. Her conscious and Catholic values pleaded with her to do the right thing. However, her fear of Diego’s brutality froze her body right there in the kitchen.

  She finally decided to call the one person she knew would help her.

  Answers

  The kids were playing X-Box in the family room; they were content in their video game world as the tension rose between their parents. Sway was sitting on the couch sipping apple juice while Ranae sat across from him with her arms crossed. It was the morning after the Ready Room incident and Sway was finally sober enough to explain himself. Angelique threatened to call the holice if Ranae didn’t leave the premises, so reluctantly she left but not before dragging her half naked husband out with her. Once they were in her car Sway passed out again delaying the burning questions swirling around in her mind. She hated waiting for a confrontation, she wanted answers, and she wanted them now!

  “Come with me outside Sway.” Ranae shot up from the couch.

  Sway sighed heavily as he lifted his two hundred and twenty pound frame off the over sized sofa. The married couple faced off on the back patio closing the French doors so the children couldn’t hear the adult conversation.

  “I can’t believe your cheating on me! What the fuck did I do to deserve this huh? What the fuck did I do?” Ranae punched him in the chest. “I asked you point blank, was there anything wrong with you. What did you say huh? Nothin’ is wrong babe, I love you, I’m in love with you…bull shit!”

  Sway put his hands up slowly, “I’m not cheating Ranae.”

  “Ohhhh ok so that wasn’t you layin’ there half naked ‘bout to fuck some model looking bitch in a fish net body condom!?”

  “Her name is Angelique, she’s Tyce’s girlfriend, and we….” She cut him off.

  “Ohhhh I can’t believe this shit. He is gonna kill you when he finds out! How the fuck do you sleep at night knowin’ you’re fuckin’ your best friends woman? You make me sick!”

  “I DON’T SLEEP! OKAY, I DON’T SLEEP AT ALL!” Sway balled his fist up. “I have nightmares every time I close my eyes! I see dead bodies, blood, and guts…that shit plays like a never-ending movie in my head all night! I replay all the missions and see the faces of all the people I killed when I was overseas!”

  Ranae stared at him, “So your answer is to fuck another bitch?”

  “I’M NOT FUCKIN’ ANGELIQUE!!!” Sway sat down on a patio chair. “I’ve been helping her with the security set up in her clubs. I was there last night to see what kind of video surveillance and alarms she needs. I had to be there to see the crowds; it gives me a chance to see the system I installed in action. I was jus’ helping out a friend.”

  “Ok nigga setting up security don’t involve you being naked, so miss me with that shit.” Ranae pointed at him.

  “She was jus’ trying to help me out.”

  “More like thank you for setting up her security system by sucking your dick! And don’t tell me that lame ass excuse about you being too drunk to remember or to wasted to know what you were doing!”

  “I wasn’t drunk.” Sway put his head in his hands.

  “Oh please negro, I was there and while I was

  confronting the bitch yo ass was passed out drunk!”

  “I was high on oxycodone.” He spoke softly.

  Ranae stopped talking; her face changed from being angry to worried.

  “What do you mean you were high?”

  Sway exhaled deeply, “I’ve been taking 30 milligram Oxycodone, it’s the only thing that helps me cope with the nightmares. It helps me sleep; it helps me function during the day. Another side affect is it decreases my sex drive. Last night I took two before I got there and that shit had me all fucked up. From what I can remember, Angelique was just trying to help me.”

  Ranae stood there quietly digesting what she just heard come out of her husband’s mouth. She didn’t know how to take all of this.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Tell you what, that I’m a drug addict? I thought I could deal with the shit on my own. I didn’t say anything about the sex clubs because I didn’t want you to trip.”

  Ranae walked over to Sway and ran her hands through his curly hair.

  “I trip when you’re dishonest with me. I knew somethin’ was wrong with you, you forget I know you better than you know yourself sometimes. You didn’t give me a chance to accept what you were doin’ with Angelique or the chance to help you deal with your nightmares. I’m your wife Sway, we’re a team.”

  Sway kissed her palm, “I know babe and I’m sorry. But I’m comin’ clean now, I jus’ need for you to believe me…do you believe me?”

  “I can tell when you’re lying Sway…so I know you’re tellin’ me the truth…finally.” She playfully slapped him upside his head.

  Ranae sat down on his knee, “Truth be told, when I was walking through that club I was liking what I saw, that’s some freaky ass shit.” She chuckled.

  “I didn’t think you would like that shit.” Sway admitted.

  “Sway, your wife is a freak, don’t you know that?” Ranae winked her brown eye at him.

  “You crazy girl.”

  “Speakin’ of crazy, ummm can you call Angelique over hear so I can apologize to her. I’m woman enough to step to a bitch but I’m also woman enough to apologize when I’m wrong.”

  “Yeah I can do that.” Sway patted her ass.

  “You missed a good rumble babe, I held my own but that Angelique aint no punk, that bitch can bang.” Ranae rubbed her aching chest.

  Sway looked surprised, “Ya’ll two fought?”

  “Hell yeah we was goin’ at it in that small ass room. I saw the two of you in there and seen red, you was next on my hit list!” Ranae joked seriously.

  �
�Damn, that shit was crazy, I feel bad about the whole thing, it was all my fault.” Sway held his head down.

  “No babe, it’s the drugs, and we’re gonna get you some help ok?”

  Sway smiled, “Ok.”

  Kind Soul

  “Where is she?!”

  “Upstairs!”

  Carmela trotted up the steps as fast as her nearly 50-year-old legs could carry her. It had been 30 minutes since she made the call for help and now it had finally arrived.

  “Thank you coming senora, I didn’t know who else to call! I can’t very well let this poor woman die, God will never forgive me!” Carmela exclaimed while she walked down the long hallway.

  “Where is she shot?”

  “In her leg, she’s unconscious but she’s still breathing.”

  The two women entered the room and instantly sprang into action in an attempt to save a life. The turquoise satin comforter was soaked with blood.