Thug Lovin'

by Wahida Clark

  “Why are you getting so mad?”

  “Get out, Kyron.” She pushed him again, but he barely budged as he flipped open his cell.

  “Because you know I’m right— Hey, Ma.” He looked over at Tasha. “I’m with her now.”

  Tasha looked over at him, obviously puzzled, wondering why Mama Santos was inquiring about her. Damn, I only fucked Kyron once. How did she find that out? Kyron had shoved the phone to her face. “What?” Tasha whispered, damn near shaking in her skin.

  “She wants to talk to you.”

  “About what?”

  “Take the phone, shorty.” He shoved it in her hands.

  Tasha took a deep breath, forced a smile on her face. “Mama Santos, how are you?”

  “I don’t know yet. You kids are always getting into situations, not thinking about no one but yourselves. You know that Trae is like a son to me and I’ve accepted you as my daughter-in-law. But I am confused as to why you would get pregnant by Kyron?”

  Tasha’s body became numb and she was speechless.

  Mama Santos, sensing that, continued, “I told Kyron that I don’t foresee anything but problems, big problems at that. You and Kyron should not have done this. I just want you to know that whatever happens, don’t let anything happen to the baby. We will take the baby. The baby is our family. Now I’ve said all I needed to say about this matter.” She hung up.

  Tasha’s mouth was hanging open. Kyron took the phone from her. “What did she say?”

  “You know what the fuck she said. Why did you ever tell her anything?” Tasha screamed at Kyron and jumped up off the couch and began pacing the floor, tears filling her eyes. “I haven’t even taken a pregnancy test yet or been to the doctor’s. Now your mother is all in my business. Why did you even tell her that, Kyron? And who says I’m having it?”

  “I didn’t. Trae told my brother and Kay told me and my moms. But check it, if you didn’t take a pregnancy test then how do Trae know?”

  “Because we fucked, Kyron. We fucked and he says he knows how I feel when I’m pregnant!” she screamed at him.

  “Y’all fucked?” It was Kyron’s turn to scream at Tasha.

  “Yes, we fucked. He is my husband. I told you, me and you was over. You were just a fuck and I was not leaving Trae. So don’t look shocked now.”

  “Hey, hey, keep the noise down,” Kendrick said. He and Trina came out of the bedroom to see what all the commotion was.

  “Can we handle this in private?” Tasha snapped.

  “Private? The last time I checked this was my place,” Trina stated. Kendrick pulled her back into the bedroom.

  “Look, Kyron. I can’t think of another way to say it. I told you that you were just a revenge fuck and this could never go anywhere and that’s that. We shouldn’t have never fucked. Look at us now. I feel like we are the new niggas on ABC. The niggas to watch. We on some One Life to Live shit. It’s over. That’s it, that’s all.”

  “That’s bullshit. Shorty, you know that baby is mines. And that nigga ain’t going for that.”

  “Look. We’re not even sure if I’m pregnant, so that’s all speculation. And who says I’m having it?”

  “Oh, you’re gonna have it,” Kyron threatened. “I’m going to get you a pregnancy test. Where’s the closest store?”

  “No,” Tasha yelled.

  “No? What do you mean, no?” He looked at her as if she were crazy.

  Tears began streaming down Tasha’s cheeks. Kyron stood up and hugged her. “I fucked up, Kyron. I really fucked up. What if this is your baby?”

  “We’ll work it out.”

  “And how do you think we are supposed to do that? Trae is not going to act like everything’s all good.”

  “Just promise me you won’t get an abortion.”

  Tasha didn’t respond, only cried harder.

  “Shorty, I know you heard me. Have the baby. It’s mines. I’ll take him.”

  Now she was laughing through tears.

  “Him?”

  “Yes, him.” Kyron was dead serious.

  “This is crazy.” Tasha sighed.

  “Just promise to give me my baby, all right?”

  “If you promise me that you understand that it’s over and you’ll leave now.”

  They stood in the middle of the floor, hugged up as Kyron thought about it for several minutes.

  “If that’s my baby, then it will never be over for us. I will take the baby and let you play house with Trae and your other kids, but I will always have access to this pussy.” He grabbed her crotch. Tasha just looked at him and was speechless. “Don’t look shocked. A nigga won’t be able to let go of this pussy that easy. But give me a kiss and it’s over. For now.”

  “That’s it? And you’re out of here?”

  “You owe me that, shorty.”

  “How do you figure that?” Kyron was the ultimate at making Tasha hot. One kiss led to another, and before you knew it they were on the floor fucking like rabbits. Despite the fact that Trina and Kendrick were in the back bedroom.

  That was the last thing Tasha remembered when the sunlight hit her in the face. She was wrapped tight in Kyron’s arms.

  “Shit.” She gritted, “Kyron.” She shook him. “Wake up. Y’all need to get out of here.”

  “Relax, shorty. I’ll be gone before the big bad wolf gets here.” He started sucking on her nipples.

  “Kyron, don’t do that. You said a kiss and a hug, not a marathon fuck.” She couldn’t help but close her eyes and enjoy. She still couldn’t figure out how he could make her come by just sucking on her nipples. And now she was wet all over again. He was now between her thighs as she submitted and took him in.

  As he made slow strokes they talked.

  “This wasn’t supposed to go down like this. I wasn’t supposed to catch feelings for you.” She wrapped her legs around his waist.

  “I know, baby. We both in the wrong, but we can’t undo it.” He thrust deeper. “Damn, this pussy is good. I can’t do it. I can’t stop fuckin’ with you.”

  “Kyron, you promised.” She moaned. “You gave me your word. Oh shit, my spot. Slow down.” It was too late, she was already coming. When she got that off, Kyron turned her over and hit it from the back until she came again and he came right after her. He got up, threw on his boxers and headed for the kitchen to look in the refrigerator. When he came back, he got dressed. Tasha was still lying on her stomach with her eyes closed.

  “Y’all ain’t got no meat in the refrigerator. I’m a big nigga. I need some meat. He leaned down, pulled the sheet off her naked body and lightly ran kisses along her spine and her ass cheeks.

  “I want you to cook me some breakfast when I get back. I’m also going to bring back a pregnancy test. I need to know.”

  As soon as Kyron left for the store, Tasha jumped up, threw something on and headed for Trina’s bedroom. She knocked on the door until finally Trina snatched it open.

  “What is it?” Trina whispered, standing there with a blanket around her.

  Tasha grabbed her by her wrist and damn near snatched her out of the room before shutting the door.

  “What is the matter with you?”

  “Trina, we need to get them out of here. Trae can pop at any time.”

  “No. You need to get Kyron out of here. Trae is not my husband. And I’m not creeping around with Kyron, you are.”

  “Trina, if you don’t wake that nigga up and get them out of here, I swear I’ma—”

  “Okay, okay,” she cut her off. “Damn, Tasha. You shouldn’t be creepin’ if you don’t want to get caught,” Trina offered those words of advice.

  “Listen. I ain’t thinking about that right now. I am only concerned for the safety of all of us.”

  Trina sucked her teeth, stomped in place, turned around and went back into her bedroom, slamming the door.

  Tasha headed back to the living room, where she went to clean up, washing linen and blankets and the whole nine. By the time Kyron came back
the living room looked as if he was never in it.

  “Damn, shorty. Are you kickin’ me out?” He handed her the preganancy test.

  “Yes, y’all need to be going. We don’t know when Trae will pop up. I already have enough to deal with.”

  “Shorty, I’m not leaving until you take this pregnancy test.”

  Tasha plopped down onto the couch. Kyron shrugged. “Do you. But I know I’m not leaving until you make it happen.” He went into the kitchen and started unpacking the groceries. He turned the broiler on, opened up his T-bone, washed it, seasoned it and put it in the broiler.

  When he went back into the living room, Tasha had disappeared and Trina was coming up the hallway.

  “You cooking?” she asked him.

  “Yeah. A nigga is hungry.”

  “That makes two of them. Hook me up,” Trina told him.

  Tasha came out of the bathroom and sat down on the sofa.

  “So what’s up? We pregnant or what?” Kyron asked. He and Trina stood there looking at her. Trina didn’t know what was going on.

  Tasha didn’t say anything. “She wants y’all to leave just in case Trae shows up,” Trina told him. “Go wake Kendrick up because her paranoia is rubbing off on me.”

  Kyron headed for the back.

  “Get them out of here,” Tasha griitted.

  “What the fuck do you think I’m trying to do?” Trina snapped.

  The doorbell rang.

  “Wait.” Tasha gasped. “Don’t open it.”

  “What?” Trina ran and opened it anyway.

  “Nooo,” Tasha yelled. But it was too late. Trae and Kaylin were already standing there.

  Kaylin waltzed in first. Trae remained standing there in the doorway. The twisted look on his face let her know that he was ready to wreak havoc.

  “I swear I don’t want to catch a case, Tasha,” an exasperated Trae told her.

  “Baby, can we talk? Please?” Tasha thought that she would piss on herself.

  “What’s left to talk about?”

  “I’d say a lot. But remember you started this shit.” She then turned to Kay and said, “Kaylin, I swear your wife had nothing to do with me and Kyron.”

  “Tasha, this shit is ugly,” Kaylin told her. “I came up here with him to try and clean shit up. But damn, I don’t know where to start.”

  “Don’t you think I know that?” Tasha screamed.

  Kyron came out of the bathroom looking puzzled and holding up the pregnancy test. As soon as Trae saw Kyron he looked at Tasha, then at Kyron, and then at the pregnancy test.

  Tasha almost pissed on herself for real. Then her cell phone rang. And out of nervousness and wanting to do something with her hands, she hit the speaker button by mistake.

  “Auntie Tasha,” the little voice said. It was Aisha.

  The whole room grew quiet.

  “Aisha, baby, where are you?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “What do you mean, you don’t know? Where is your mother?”

  “I don’t know. My mommy was bleeding and… and… I think she’s dead. Can you come and get me, Auntie Tasha?”

  READING GROUP GUIDE

  1. Did Trae give Tasha enough justification to leave him?

  2. Did it surprise you when Kyra met with her tragedy?

  3. Was Kyra justified in cheating on Marvin?

  4. Was California a good move for Trae and Tasha?

  5. How do you feel about King Rick’s character?

  6. Was it a predictable ending or did it have you guessing?

  7. What part of the book stood out to you the most?

  8. Would you consider Trae’s actions with Charli cheating or just business? What about with Sabeerah?

  9. Do you feel Marvin got away with everything scot-free?

  10. Did Kyra wait too long to leave Marvin or should she have stayed as long as she did?

  THE COIN TOSS

  By

  WAHIDA CLARK

  CHAPTER ONE

  GBI

  Congratulations, Bob! You did it! Are you sitting down?” Alexis Greenspan shouted in excitement. She could feel Bob’s adrenaline rush through the phone.

  “Oh God, Alexis. Did I really do it?” Bob could barely contain his breathing.

  “You did it, Bob Tokowski! You have just won your fair share of one million dollars of American Eagle Gold Coins! One million!” Alexis screamed out. “I told you to hang in there, Bob. The road was rocky, but you did it. Your perseverance paid off. Again, congratulations to ya, Bob. You deserve it! You finally hit the big time.”

  Bob was now crying tears of joy. “Thank… you, Alexis. Oh, my God. Thank you.”

  “Now, Bob, I need you to grab your pencil and paper. You must write down this claim number. Go ahead, Bob, grab a pen and a pad.”

  Alexis could hear Bob piddling around in the background. Then she heard a moan and then a thud.

  “Bob!? Bob!?”

  The excitement must’ve gotten the best of him.

  Click.

  Agent Houser turned off the recorder. Houser had been the lead investigator for the past two years, heading up the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Two more years and Houser, who reminded you of the undercover detective played by Robert Blake in the 1970s hit Baretta, could retire. However, he was ready to retire now. His impetigo was spreading, and pus was oozing out of the skin infection on his legs. But he told himself it would all be over soon.

  Retirement, here I come!

  The bright side of his gloomy lining was that he lucked up and got an interview with Erica McCoy, aka Alexis Green-span. She was one of the top salespeople at WMM advertising, aka We Make Millionaires. All of law enforcement knew that this was one of the biggest and hardest-to-penetrate fraudulent telemarketing firms in the state of Georgia; they knew how to operate in that gray area.

  Houser had screamed at his team of four, “Screw the FBI! We can do just as good a job as they can.”

  He had pulled one of the not-so-oldest tricks in the book, but old nonetheless. He sent Erica an official-looking certified letter explaining that she had inherited some money, to the lovely tune of $250,000. The letter stated that she would have to come and get processed to see if she was eligible to claim it. When she pulled up to the Bureau’s fictitious office, which they had set up just a few blocks away from WMM, Houser flashed his badge, introduced himself and told her to follow him.

  She did. To the Bureau’s main office.

  “Why are we at the GBI?” Alexis’s curiosity was piqued.

  “We have to make sure that you are claiming what’s rightfully yours,” Houser simply stated.

  As they walked past the front desk and down the long, bright white corridor, Erica got really curious. “Are you sure I’m here to claim some kind of inheritance?”

  Houser smiled. “Depends on how you look at it.”

  “How I look at it? What does that mean? Don’t have me down here on no bullshit! I got better things to do with my time,” she spat.

  Houser pulled out his keys and unlocked his office door. He moved to the side and motioned for Alexis to step inside. He then flicked the light switch.

  “Please have a seat, Ms. McCoy. Would you like a cup of coffee? Tea? Bottled water?”

  “No. I just want you to tell me what this is really all about.” Erica was growing agitated.

  Houser sat his six-one, two-hundred-pound frame behind his desk. He lifted his spectacles off his nose and rubbed its bridge. He then leaned back into the chair, resting his hands behind his head. Erica cringed at the patches of impetigo on his chin and elbows. He obviously picked up on her discomfort because he hastily sat up, resting his arms on the chair’s armrest.

  He hit the intercom button on his phone. “Doris, tell Parker and Radcliff to bring the WMM file.”

  “WMM? What is this about? You fucker! You tricked me to come to your office under false pretenses. I should sue your ass!” She stood and grabbed her purse. “My name is Erica McCoy, no
t WMM.” She turned to leave the office.

  That’s when Houser hit the play button on his recorder. Booming through its speakers was the conversation between her and Bob Tokowski. Erica abruptly turned around at the sound of her sales voice and stood frozen in place.

  Agents Parker and Radcliff entered the office. They both slid several folders in front of Houser and took their seats. Agent Parker looked as if he had a blond toupee sitting on top of his head. His wrinkled plaid suit drooped over his scrawny frame. He reminded Erica of an anorexic Bart Simpson. Radcliff was grossly overweight and sloppy looking. His oily black hair was slicked back into a ponytail. He looked like a goldfish.

  After they listened to Alexis yell “Bob!? Bob!?” Houser turned off the tape recorder.

  The room grew silent, except for Radcliff’s heavy breathing.

  “Please have a seat, Ms. McCoy.”

  Erica clutched her Gucci bag tighter.

  “Fuck you! I am going to sue your ass for deceit and for wasting my time. Kiss my ass!” With that said, she stormed out of the office.

  Houser jumped from his chair and headed for his office door. He stood in the hallway in front of his office and said, “Murder, Ms. McCoy! If you don’t get your ass back in here, you’re going down for murder.”

  Erica spun around and practically ran to get in Houser’s face.

  “Murder!? You wannabe FBI agent! I ain’t got nothing to do with no murder. You people have really lost your minds. Find someone else to hassle,” she said through clenched teeth.

  “Ms. McCoy, your client Bob Tokowski, he died. Dropped dead of a heart attack, right while you were trying to scam him with your ‘millions’ in gold coins.”

  Houser motioned with two fingers from each hand to emphasize quote unquote “millions.”

  “That’s right, we know all about the scamming and scheming of WMM. We know your boss, Rinaldo Haywood, aka Brian Stout, aka Tommy Green, aka John Bennett. We know about his office in the Florida Keys run by his cohorts Brandon Ingram and Charlie Adams. We know your phone name Alexis Greenspan. Very catchy. We—”

  “Hold up, you asshole. I don’t give a fuck what you know. I’m a sales associate. A damned good one at that. I sell to business owners. If the client decides to patronize our firm and at the same time gamble at a chance of getting a bunch of gold coins, so the fuck what? That’s not illegal!” Alexis ranted as she turned to walk out.