by Jade Jones
Kina was a 23-year old Laotian girl who didn’t speak much English. One of Rico’s connects who worked at the jail hit him up when she was arrested for not having proper papers to be in the US. She was a struggling immigrant like Delaney and Flo.
Instead of booking Kina and possibly having her deported, the officer called Rico, who paid him handsomely in exchange for her. He helped her get proper documentation, and showed her a better life. She didn’t talk much, she barely smiled, and she hardly ever interacted with the girls. For the most part, she pretty much stayed to herself. Kina, like the others, felt indebted to Rico. He had all rescued them in some fashion or another, and they were extremely loyal to him in return.
“I have another appointment coming up in a couple weeks,” Delaney said while they waited on the food. She was due in four short weeks, but looked ready to pop any day now.
“OMG! Please can I go with you again?! I wanna see her itty bitty hands and feet! I need to be there! After all, you said I was godmother when she’s born! Please can I go, Dee? Please, please, please!” Amanda said, excitedly.
“Aye man, calm yo’ fuckin’ ass down!” Rico snapped.
Amanda immediately ceased her theatrics.
Every time Juicy was with them she felt like she was watching a hood version of All in the Family. She’d never seen him actually put his hands on them before, and Amanda was really the only one he had to snap off on sometimes. As crazy and unusual as they all were, it was just like anybody else’s dysfunctional family—only there were tons of cash, strippers, and prostitution involved.
“Actin’ like you need Ritalin all the damn time and shit. Chill sometimes, ma. It don’t be dat serious. Just be pretty and benign. All that extra shit ain’t necessary. Feel me?”
Just then the food arrived piping hot and fresh. It was only seven of them but they ordered enough for twenty people.
“Oh, I have great news!” Flo announced. “I just got my acceptance letter from Spelman in the mail yesterday.” She pulled the neatly folded paper out her purse and proudly brandished it.
“That’s wonderful, babe.”
“Congratulations,” everyone said in unison. Milena was the only one who didn’t speak up since she had her head buried in her phone, texting.
“I’m not surprised at all. Baby, you created your own reality. I knew you could do it,” he noted with approval. “In life, you do ABC to achieve XYZ, and it finally paid off. I’m proud of you, baby girl. And anything you need along the way to help you succeed you know I got’chu.”
Juicy was in awe by the way he treated them. Rico didn’t talk or deal with them like they were prostitutes. He treated them like family, and he treated them equally.
“Thanks, Rico…and I just wanna say if it wasn’t for you I—” Flo’s voice choked up and the waterworks came. As usual, she was about to go into crybaby mode. “I’m sorry. I can’t even talk. I need a minute,” she said, rushing off to the bathroom.
“OMG, what a drama queen,” Amanda said.
“Aye, M? Who you over there typing an essay for?” Rico asked Milena.
She hadn’t stopped texting since they sat at the table and it was finally getting to him. Whenever they weren’t working, he wanted their attention to be solely focused on him.
“It’s nobody—”
“Let me see it then.”
“I said it’s nobody. Damn. I’m putting it away. Don’t make a Federal Case out of it.”
Rico’s face was schooled to utter calm, despite the way he felt inside. He overlooked her condescending tone instead of slapping the shit out of her. “I don’t like repeating myself. When I repeat myself I get frustrated. And when I get frustrated I get violent. And, well, we all know what happens when I get violent…”
Juicy looked round-eyed at him. She had never seen that side of him before.
Every once in a while, Rico had to get a little aggressive. If he didn’t keep his bitches in check, his house and business would crumble.
Thankfully, Milena handed it over before he had to get physical. Rico frowned when he saw the tasteless texts and nude photos sent between her and some nigga she met in the mall.
“For all these pics you sent, this better be yo’ mothafuckin’ highest paying customer.”
“I met him at Perimeter. I’m working on getting him to come check me out at the club.”
“He don’t need to now. He done already seen all ya assets,” Rico said. “I told you ‘bout sellin’ yourself short. There’s a difference between being valued by a man and being liked by a man. Know the distinction.” Rico spoke the truth, always. And he defied any of them to go against him.
Milena pouted. She really liked buddy, but it was clear that Rico wouldn’t let her date him if he wasn’t making more than six figured annually. None of the girls were allowed to fuck with a nigga who couldn’t do more for him than he could. At least Delaney’s baby daddy was a filthy rich kingpin before getting life. That was the only reason he didn’t flip when she got pregnant.
“You always correcting me or telling me what to do,” Milena sulked.
“You damn right I am. ‘Cuz I would never tell you nothin’ wrong. And that’s the end of the subject. We not finna argue ‘bout it.”
All of a sudden, Juicy’s phone buzzed with a notification. She pulled it out and read over the email. A group of high profile lawyers were throwing a bachelor’s party for their colleague and needed dancers.
“We just gotta request for another booking,” she said.
“They send the specifications?” Rico asked. The businessmen paid top dollar for the girls but they were the pickiest too.
“Yeah, they did.”
“What are they?”
“They w—” Juicy’s voice trailed off after she read something she didn’t like.
“What?”
“I don’t even wanna read this ignorant shit,” she complained.
“Why? What it say, bay?”
“No brown-skinned girls. Only white, Spanish or fair-skinned dancers—”
“Aye, they like what they like,” Rico told her. “You can’t fault ‘em. As long as the money good, that’s all that matters. Don’t let your emotions get in the way of your logic. Don’t catch feelings, baby girl, catch Franklins.”
Across the table, Amanda was rubbing the life out of Delaney’s round stomach.
“Yo, stop touchin’ D and let her fuckin’ eat, damn,” Rico snapped. Dealing with the 18-year old was like having a child and he didn’t have any at all—that he knew of.
“I don’t mind,” Delaney smiled. “The baby really likes when Mandy rubs my belly. She’s always kicking and trying to say hi.”
“That’s ‘cuz she knows her God mommy loves her very much,” Amanda said in a baby’s voice.
“Well, the shit’s gettin’ on my damn nerves,” he said, brusquely.
Amanda stopped rubbing Delaney’s stomach just so she wouldn’t have to hear his mouth.
Rico looked over at Juicy. “See what the fuck I gotta deal with?”
29
The next day, Cameron, Roxie, and Juicy all met at T.I.’s new restaurant, Scales 925 for food, drinks, and hookah. Cam was still paranoid about Jag coming after her so she had a shooter not too far from where they sat and a gun in her bag. If Jag tried to run up on some crazy shit she had no problem making his ass taste steel. She also made sure to call and check up on Jude and the kids periodically.
Cameron knew she couldn’t quarantine herself and family to keep safe. All she could do was watch her back and try to be as alert as she possibly could. She didn’t tell her girls about the incident in Walmart—at least, not yet anyway. She was afraid that they wouldn’t believe her like Jude. They were just as tired of hearing about Jag as her husband was.
“So I broke up with Magyc,” Roxie finally blurted out. “And I’m not talking a temporary split to clear my mind. I mean, it’s actually finito.”
“Damn… I’m sorry.”
“S
orry to hear that,” Cameron and Juicy said in unison.
“No, don’t be sorry for me. Be sorry for him. He’s the one who lost out on something real. He wanted to run all over the city sticking his dick in these gold-digging bitches and now he can do it with no restrictions. Let them have his lying ass. I’m done. The final straw was finding out that Tara was pregnant—”
“WHAT?!” Cam yelled.
A few nearby people turned their heads to look at her after the random outburst.
“He got that bitch pregnant again? Oh, hell no. He ain’t shit,” Cameron said.
“My point exactly,” Roxie agreed. “Anyhow, on a better note, I met someone new recently.”
“Damn, bitch. You don’t waste no time, huh?” Juicy teased.
“Why should I? I already wasted enough time on Magyc’s ass.”
“Amen to that,” Cam said, holding up her drink.
She was all too familiar with relationship drama and turmoil. Luckily, she and Jude overcame all of the trials and tribulations that almost ended their marriage. Cam wanted to believe the same could happen with Roxie and Magyc, but he just couldn’t seem to do right by her. He didn’t even have enough respect not to cheat while she was laid up in a hospital. Cameron was just as disappointed in him as Roxie was.
“Anyway, it ain’t too serious. We haven’t even gone on a date yet. We’ve just been texting and Face Timing every once in a while.”
“Will we get a chance to see or meet him one day?” Cameron asked.
Roxie grinned like a sneaky, secretive child. “If he’s worthwhile…maybe,” she said.
“Since we’re throwing out confessions I may as well drop mine,” Juicy piped up. “Ya’ll remember Rico, right?”
When Cameron and Roxie verified that they did, she went on to explain his unique occupation and the responsibilities he had enlisted her to do.
“Girl, I would be very careful if I were you. And I would definitely be cautious about dealing with him,” Cam warned her. “You don’t wanna get caught up in that shit. I’m telling you, you really don’t.”
Juicy waved her off. “It ain’t like that. He has a really good thing going. Very intricate and organized.”
Cameron looked at Juicy like she had just lost her mind. “Bitch, are you retarded? You sound just as gullible and brainwashed as them silly hoes he pimping.”
Juicy shrugged. “Call it what you want but we getting skrilla.”
“Okay then, J. You got it all mapped out it sounds like.” Cameron wouldn’t dare argue with her about the choices she made. Juicy was a grown ass woman free to think and act for herself.
Since they’d both dropped their bombs, Cam thought about mentioning Jag, but decided against it. All of a sudden, her phone started ringing. Cameron’s heart started beating fast when she saw that it was Jude. She automatically assumed something was wrong.
“Hey, baby. Is everything okay?” she answered, trying her best not to sound alarmed.
“No…it’s not…” he said, drearily. “Is Roxie with you?”
Cameron looked over at her. “Yeah, she’s sitting right next to me. Why?”
“What is it?” Roxie asked, concern in her tone.
Jude released a deep sigh. “It’s Magyc…”
***
Cameron, Roxie, and Juicy rushed to Emory Hospital and found Jude and Michael in the waiting room. They each had somber and weary expressions, and Cam immediately thought the worst.
“Is he okay?”
“What happened?” Roxie asked, frantically. An hour ago she couldn’t stand his ass. But just because they weren’t together didn’t mean she stopped caring.
“All I know is some nigga’s jumped him in the bar. Nobody’s came out and told us anything about his condition yet.”
Roxie started crying and Michael quickly pulled her close and held her. Magyc wasn’t shit half the time, but her life would never be the same if he perished. “It’s aight. Bruh gon’ pull through, lil’ mama. He’s a fighter.”
The doctor finally walked into the waiting room, wearing a blank expression. Everyone hung on pins and needles as they waited on the final verdict.
“How is he doing, Doc? Please tell us something good,” Roxie pleaded.
Michael rubbed her back to soothe her. She was absolutely livid.
“Aside from a few stitches and some internal bleeding, he’s expected to make a full recovery.”
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
“Can we see him?” Roxie asked, impatiently.
“Certainly.”
Though she asked for all of them, they insisted she go in solo first to spend a little 1-on-1 time with him. When she walked in, he was lying in bed looking like Miguel Cotto after a boxing match. The amount of L’s Magyc had recently taken was ridiculous.
Roxie couldn’t help but cover her mouth when she saw him. Briana’s brothers had really worked him over.
Magyc smiled and tried to sit up when he saw her. “Damn, is it that bad?” he asked.
“Who did this?” Roxie asked.
“It don’t matter.”
“Was it your ex’s brothers?”
“It don’t matter,” he repeated. “All that matters is you here. I’d get my ass kicked again if that means being able to see you.”
“This doesn’t change anything, Magyc.”
He held his bruised hand out for her. “Then let me change your mind,” he said. “It’s not too late to start over, baby.”
Roxie stared at his outstretched hand. She wanted to take it—Lord, knows she did, but she just wasn’t ready to open that door again. Magyc had hurt her so many times in the past. He’d left her in turmoil and heartache after finding out Tara was pregnant. Did she really want to put her trust and faith in him again? She had already given him more than enough chances.
“Magyc, I… I can’t…”
“Roxie—”
“I just came to make sure you weren’t dead,” she said coolly. “I have to get back home to Rain.” Fighting back tears, she turned and walked out of the hospital room.
Magyc was left with a pained expression and broken heart as he sat alone. “Roxie, come back,” he called out. Tears filled his eyes. “Roxie!” He couldn’t believe it was really over between them, and had a hard time accepting it. He didn’t want to live a life without her. “ROXIE!”
30
With all of the drama and crazy shit going on lately, Jude decided to step up his game, and do something special for his wife. That weekend they flew on a private Boeing jet to Kihei, Hawaii.
“You sure the kids will be okay?” she asked Jude for the hundredth time. Jag had her overly suspicious of everything.
“Yes, babe. They’re good. Stop worrying. Everything is copacetic.”
Cameron relaxed and sipped her wine. She really did need a quick getaway and she was overjoyed when her husband proposed one. After a taxing twelve-hour flight, they touched down on a private landing strip several miles east of their final destination.
“I know you’re tired but we’re almost here,” Jude said with a wide smile.
Cameron couldn’t wait to see where ‘here’ was. Lugging their suitcases, they climbed in a town car awaiting their arrival and embarked on their short trip.
Fifteen minutes later, they arrived in front of a beautiful 6-bedroom house situated right along the waters. “Jude, oh my God,” Cam said once she saw it. Her eyes were round with enthusiasm. The ocean-front house was more astounding than their vacation home in Thailand.
“It’s already paid for and everything,” he said. “All we gotta do is move in.”
“When?”
“Next month we’ll pack up and ship everything over. I wanted to sooner but all that shit with Magyc popped off. So what’chu you say, bay? You with it?”
Cameron reached over in her seat and hugged and kissed him excitedly. “I’m with you where ever you decide to go, baby.”
After climbing out the town car, Jude gave her the key
s to the crib, and let her explore while he settled in. Besides the panoramic ocean view the home featured an enormous chef’s kitchen, an elevator, two guest suites, a game room, a wine cellar, and a beautiful modern pool out back surrounded by palm trees.
The living room opened up to the spacious patio looking out at the water. A grill, bar, and all the amenities needed to entertain guests were out back.
The house had the best location and offered magnificent views. Every day they’d be able to see the sunrise and sunset.
“How you like it?” Jude asked. He walked up behind her and wrapped his muscled arms around her waist.
“Jude it’s beautiful—perfect.”
“You’re perfect,” he said, kissing her neck.
Cameron turned around and stared into his soft brown eyes. “Thank you,” she said. “For never giving up on us.”
He kissed her forehead. “That’ll never happen.”
Cam pecked and playfully bit his chin. She loved every single thing about him. “So what’re we gon’ do once Justin’s ready for school?”
“I was actually thinking about getting the kids homeschooled,” he said. “I don’t want ‘em fed that insubstantial bullshit they teach in public schools. I want them learnin’ some real life shit.”
“Justin’s bad ass ain’t gon’ do good with that,” she laughed. “He’d terrorize that poor instructor. At least, he’d be balanced in a classroom.”
“We’ll figure it out when the time comes,” he said.
“What am I gonna do out here as far as work? You think a boutique could thrive?”
“It can. Maybe one day you could get into writing too. We definitely got that type of setting. I can see you typing right out there on the patio. You could write a book about your crazy ass life,” he laughed.
Cameron laughed too. “Boy, nobody would wanna read that shit.”
“I doubt it,” he said. “You see that master bedroom yet though? Shit’s huge.”
“Not yet. I’ve only toured the first level.”
Jude took Cameron by the hand and together they entered the elevator. She loved how the doors were glass so she could still look at the beautiful interior. She wasn’t even going to ask him how much he spent on the house. Everything Jude did was grand and impressive. He had her and the kids spoiled. Jude worked hard to give her the life she came to love.
