The Gangsta That Stole My Heart 3

by Nique Luarks

  “What’s wrong?” My eyes scanned the computer screen that held the security footage. Nothing looked out of place and then I recognized the figure walking out of the men’s bathroom.

  “Haze is here.”

  Clearing my throat, I sat the papers down. “Can you tell him to give me a minute?” I wasn’t shocked that he was here. I’d called and asked if we could meet up.

  Keri sighed but turned around and left the room.

  “You want me to call Erin?” The visible worry lines on Erica’s forehead made me chuckle lightly.

  “No, I’m fine. Can we finish our conversation later?” I wanted to know more about school other than the boys. Erica was a very smart young lady, so I knew boys weren’t really her priority.

  She stood up. “Okay. Rome is on her way up here anyway. Some girl Royal’s messing with has been playing on her phone.”

  I frowned. “Lord...”

  “Tell me about it. These niggas ain’t loyal.”

  I watched her make her exit before I pushed away from my desk and stood up. Taking a few deep breaths in front of my wall-to-floor mirror, I fixed my hair. Once I approved my wardrobe, I glossed my lips and headed to the front. A few customers stopped me to chit chat as I made my way to the table where Haze sat. Despite what had happened that horrible night Piper died, I loved my shop in the inner city.

  When I approached the table, Haze got up from his seat. He smiled sluggishly, coming in for a hug, but I put my hand up. “Damn, it’s like that?”

  I rolled my eyes and sat down. “Haze this is not a social hour. I only asked you to come here to keep the peace.”

  Haze ran his hand down his face before retaking his seat in the booth. “I didn’t come to the hospital to start no shit. No matter what we go through, I genuinely care about you, Chance.”

  “Then why would you send those pictures to True?” I asked the million-dollar question. It had happened months ago, but I still needed that closure.

  “I was mad.”

  Well duh...

  “Since we were kids, you’ve always chosen that dude over me. And I was your first. You let him dictate your life and I guess I just got fed up.” Haze leaned forward. “You let me court you knowing you wasn’t fucking with me like that.”

  “So, you’re justifying what you did?”

  He shook his head. “No, I’m telling you why I did it. Having a baby by that clown only meant he was going to be around all the time.

  I looked him over slowly. “What happened to your face?”

  I tried to ignore it, but Haze looked like he’d seen better days. The knot on his head was the same shade of purple as the bruises on his face. One of his eyes was black and barely open, and his top lip was split down the middle. His cheeks looked a little swollen as well. And when he smiled, I noticed his front tooth was chipped.

  “Got jumped at my brother’s wedding.” Haze’s eyebrows dipped in frustration. “Bunch of niggas hopped out on us while we were taking pictures and shit.”

  “Us?”

  “Me, the groom, and a couple of his homies. Punk-ass niggas even floored the maid of honor when she tried to break it up.”

  I grimaced.

  “Knocked her ass out cold and she’s missing a tooth.” Haze huffed. “Then they destroyed the setup, pushing over tables and shit. One nigga took the cake. Like the nigga literally picked the cake up and left with it.”

  My eyes shot to Erica who was ringing a customer up.

  Really Drake?

  I almost laughed out loud.

  “I’m going home, and I won’t be back to Missouri for a while.” Haze broke my gaze. “Ain’t shit for me here no way. I just wanted to apologize to you again in person,” he said sincerely. “What I did was fucked up. I don’t like that nigga, True, but that was uncalled for.”

  “I forgive you.”

  Even if I didn’t, life would still go on. Plus, forgiving Haze was for my sake, not his. I’d read somewhere that the only person that pays the price for unforgiveness is you. And that price was your life energy. In my case, that was energy my daughter deserved. I had too much to be grateful for to give Haze or anybody else that kind of power.

  “So, we good?”

  “I don’t think we’ll ever be good, Haze. But there aren’t any hard feelings. I truly do wish you the best.” I told him honestly. I could never trust him again and I refused to keep in contact for that reason alone.

  Although he nodded in understanding, his eyes lowered in defeat. “I respect that.”

  After sliding out of the booth, I fixed my fitted suit jacket. “Take care, Haze.” I offered one more smile before I took off back to my office.

  True

  Since Chance went back to work, she was letting her moms babysit. So, two days out of the week, Carlee spent the day at her grandparents’ house. The other three days, Sonia chilled at my spot. I wasn’t with dragging my jelly bean in and out of the cold, but unfortunately, I couldn’t sit around with her all day. My little baby was hitting that three-month mark, so Chance felt a whole lot more comfortable with the entire situation.

  “Hello?” Sonia answered with a crying Carlee in the background.

  “I’m on my way to get her.” Chance usually picked her up after work, but since it was Friday and I had scooped up Chasity from school early, I wanted my other little mama.

  “Already? It’s only 3 o’clock. Is everything alright?”

  “Yeah, everything’s straight.” I assured her, handing Chasity the box to the happy meal she just had to have.

  “Okay. I’ll get her packed up.” Sonia sounded sad.

  “Daddy, can I have my drink?” Chasity asked from the back seat.

  I grabbed her Sprite from the cup holder and reached back and gave it to her.

  “Thank you.”

  “No problem, Wookie.” I pulled out of the drive-thru just as my phone sounded off. Answering for Chance, I checked my rearview mirror. “Sup?”

  “Mommy just called and said you’re picking Carlee up.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Why?”

  I frowned. “I don’t need a reason to pick my seed up, Chance.”

  She smacked her lips. “I know that, True. I’m just making sure everything is okay.”

  “I told your moms everything was straight. So, call her back and tell her to get Carlee’s shit together like I asked.”

  “Oooh, we goin’ to get Jelly Bean?” Chasity squealed. “Tell Channy I got all gold stars this week.”

  “Is that Chasity?” I could hear the smile in Chance’s voice. “Tell her I have a surprise for her. Granny told me she’s been on a gold star streak.”

  I chuckled. “Don’t y’all have each other’s numbers? Use it.”

  “Whatever.” Chance giggled. “I’ll see you later. And make sure you bundle my baby up.”

  “Yeah, a’ight.” I waited for her to end the call before I dropped the phone in my lap.

  “Here, Daddy.” Chasity handed me her drink. “We’re getting Chase too?”

  I shook my head no and jumped into traffic. “Nah, Chase is going to Uncle Roman’s this weekend.”

  “What about Carter?” She smacked loudly on them fake-ass nuggets.

  “He’s spending time with his mom’s family.”

  “Oh. It’s just us girls. Good. Boys are dumb.”

  “That’s right, Wookie. Always remember that.”

  When I pulled up to Sonia’s, Chasity was knocked out. I snapped a quick picture of her with a French fry dangling from her mouth. I shook my head at her, tossed my phone into the cup holder, grabbed my keys, and hopped out. Since it was cold, I locked the doors and left the whip running. Pulling my hood over my head, I jogged up the walkway.

  The moment I reached the door, it swung open and Gino stared back at me. He mugged me through the screened door and I rang the doorbell. I didn’t have time for no bullshit. I had a shorty in my truck and one in the house. My only priority at the moment was getting them ho
me safely.

  “Gino, who’s at the door?” Sonia asked loud enough for me to hear.

  “Chance baby daddy.” He removed the toothpick from his mouth.

  “Then open the door.”

  Gino shook his head, but he popped the lock on the door. He walked away as I stepped inside.

  “I’m in the living room, True.” Sonia called. “I’m putting her jumper on her now. I didn’t want her sweating and then going out into the cold.” She explained.

  I entered the living room and three more of Chance’s brothers were lounging around. “You good.”

  “She’s been fussy.”

  I stood over them while Sonia got her together. “Ah, yeah?” Once she was situated, Sonia passed her to me. “What’s the matter, mama?” I kissed her nose.

  “Nothing.” Sonia snickered. “She’s spoiled like her mama.” She faced her bum-ass off springs. “Go get her car seat out my room, Noah.”

  He pushed off the couch and made his exit just as Gino made his entrance.

  “This nigga still here?” he flexed.

  “Gino, please.” Sonia grabbed Carlee’s blanket. “Don’t start that mess just because you’re having a bad day.”

  “You better listen to ya moms.” I kissed Carlee’s forehead.

  “My pops ain’t here to save you.” He stepped further into the room and Tyriq hopped up with their other brother, Josh.

  I smirked, still staring down at my jelly bean. “Do I look like a nigga that needs saving?”

  “Noah, come on with that seat!” Sonia yelled. “Gino, go grab that trash for me please.” Her weary eyes landed on his follow-up. “Josh and Tyriq sit down, please.”

  “Nah, Mama, this nigga a tough guy.” Gino inched closer.

  I handed Carlee back to her grandma.

  “Okay, now, wait a minute.” Sonia panicked.

  Gino stopped directly in front of me, still flexing.

  “Let me call your daddy.” Sonia reached for her phone.

  I looked over my shoulder and that was all it took for Gino to charge at me. He tried tackling me to the floor, but I kept my balance and elbowed him hard in the back. We tussled for a second before Tyriq jumped in. I dodged his punch, pushed Gino roughly away from me, and slugged the fuck out of him. Tyriq’s body flew backwards and landed on the end table breaking the glass.

  “Stop it!” Sonia screamed, scaring my baby. Her loud cries made me madder.

  Gino rushed me again only to be met with the handle of my gun. I beat him in the head without caring about the bloody mess I was making.

  “True!” Sonia hollered. “Josh, grab him!”

  I felt a pair of hands pulling me back as I tried to yank away.

  “The fuck?!” Noah ran into the room. “Aye! Y’all fuckin’ up my mama’s shit!”

  Tyriq hopped up and pulled a gun from his waist. He then cocked it back and pointed it at me.

  “Bro, what the fuck is you doin’!” Josh hollered. “Put that gun up!”

  Tyriq’s jaw flinched.

  “Tyriq, think about what you’re doing?” Sonia boo-hooed. “Baby, please put the gun down.”

  “Talk that tough shit now, cuz.” He mugged me.

  I frowned. “Fuck you, bitch-made-ass nigga.”

  “Put that away, bro.” Noah shook his head. “It ain’t even that deep.”

  “Not that deep!” he yelled. “Look at G!”

  Gino lay on the floor, motionless

  “Yo niece is right here, man.” Josh sighed. “Put that shit away!”

  “What the hell is going on in here!” Gary’s voice boomed from the entryway. “What happened to Gino! Tyriq, I know you don’t have a gun drawn in my goddamn house!”

  I snatched my right arm away from Josh. “Give me my shorty.”

  Sonia reluctantly passed Carlee to me. She was still wailing at the top of her lungs. After grabbing her car seat off the floor, I walked past Tyriq.

  “True, I don’t think you should drive upset.” Sonia followed me as I exited the house.

  “Let him go.” Gary shook his head.

  I walked to my car fuming. Chasity who was up now stared out of the window. Once I had Carlee locked in and made sure Chasity was straight, I hopped in the driver’s seat and peeled off.

  “You okay, Daddy?” Chasity asked softly. I could hear the tears in her throat.

  “Yeah, Wookie, Daddy’s okay.”

  9

  I’m with you…

  Chance

  “What happened?!” I barged past Noah who was eating a bowl of cereal.

  He closed the door nonchalantly. “Don’t come over here wit’ all that rah-rah shit.” Noah led the way down the hallway. Everyone said he favored that rapper Blueface and I couldn’t lie and say there wasn’t an uncanny resemblance.

  “Noah, what happened?” I crossed my arms and followed him towards the back of the house. “Why did Mommy call me crying. She said True beat Gino with a gun?”

  Noah shrugged. “Them niggas started tripping. G and Ty tried to jump ya baby daddy. And Josh broke it up. I ain’t do shit. I keep telling ya pops that but that old nigga mad at the whole house.”

  Out of all my brothers, Noah was probably the most chill. He was a couple of months older than me, but he wasn’t my mother’s biological child. Noah’s mom had died in a fire when he was ten. That didn’t stop my mother from loving him just as much as she loved her own, though.

  “If Jordan wasn’t trippin’ I’d take my ass home. But the bitch is on one. Nigga can’t even sleep without her being on some psycho shit.”

  My brother and his child’s mother had the weirdest relationship. They were constantly cheating and causing physical harm to one another. But they always got right back together. We entered the kitchen and my mom was nursing Gino’s wounds. Noah shook his head, trekking to the sink.

  “Mommy?”

  Her sad eyes hurt my heart.

  “What happened?”

  “Yo punk-ass—"

  “Gino, please shut up!” Our mother sighed. “I don’t need your dad ranting and raving again.”

  “He’s mad ‘cause Ty pulled a gun out on True.” Noah hopped up on the counter. “Trippin’.”

  “That nigga pulled out first. Look at my face!” Gino snapped.

  “Gino, what you did was wrong.” My mom dabbed his swollen eye gently.

  “Why the fuck you keep sticking up for him?!”

  “Aye, lower your voice when you talking to my mama.” Noah looked up from his phone. “Fuck is wrong wit’ you disrespectful-ass niggas?”

  “Noah...” She shook her head. “Don’t.”

  He gave his attention back to his phone.

  I sat down at the table. “What happened?” I was getting tired of asking the same question over and over again. “How did everything lead up to this?” After my mom called me I called True, but he didn’t answer.

  “True came to pick Carlee up and Gino charged at him.” My mom glared at G. “Even after I asked him to walk away.”

  I stared at Gino’s profile. “Why Gino?” You’d think he’d get tired of taking ass whippings from True.

  “Fuck him. Nigga walk around like he running shit.” He shot back, wincing as our mother dabbed his wounds with a cotton ball.

  Frowning, I dug into my coat pocket for my phone. “Gino, I have to have a relationship with True. You need to let go of whatever problem you have with him.”

  “I ain’t letting shit go.”

  “What’s the issue?” If I could get down to the bottom of the problem, then maybe we could make some progress.

  Gino smacked his lips. “I just told you what the issue was, Chance. Ya BD is a hoe.”

  “Gino Robins...” Mommy leaned back.

  “Don’t Gino Robins me, Ma. Fuck True. He a whole bitch.”

  “Gino, watch your mouth.” My Daddy’s voice made me look at the door.

  “Hi, Daddy.”

  “Hey, baby girl.” He looked tired. “Noah, get ya ass
off my counter or go home. Y’all done forgot where the hell y’all are and who the fuck is in charge.” He went to the refrigerator.

  “Now, Gary.”

  “Sonia, quit babying these grown muthafuckas! That’s why Omar’s ass is in jail now!” he yelled. “It’s a damn shame ya’ll little sister is the only one who lives in Missouri with some goddamn sense!”

  “Leave my son out of this,” my mother stated calmly. “I understand you’re upset, but we all are.”

  “Gino, when are you going back to Louisiana?” My dad retrieved a can of beer and popped the top open.

  G shook his head. “I ain’t welcomed here now?”

  “Not when you’re brawling in my living room; breaking tables and shit! You and Tyriq paying for everything that’s broken.”

  “Gary...”

  Noah chuckled.

  “What you giggling for?” Our father faced him. “Your ass is scared to go to sleep in a house where you’re footing all the bills.” He started back out of the kitchen, mumbling, “Goddamn shame…”

  Getting up from my seat, I massaged my forehead. “Gino, just think about what I said, okay?”

  His reply was a simple grunt.

  When I got to True’s house he was in the bed sleep. Carlee lay on his chest and Chasity was snuggled right underneath him. I took a quick shower and then headed back downstairs to start dinner. Since Chasity was a picky eater, I kept it simple and whipped up fried chicken, cheesy mashed potatoes, and corn. I was setting the table when True swaggered into the kitchen.

  He didn’t speak to me.

  “Dinner is ready if you’re hungry. I was going to go ahead and wake Chassy so she won’t be up all night.” I watched him go into the cabinet and remove a bag of white cheddar popcorn.

  “I’ll go get her in a minute.” He mumbled.

  We stayed quiet as I maneuvered around the kitchen. For True to have been jumped he looked fine. He didn’t even have a scratch on him. Compared to Gino my assumption about the fight had been correct. When I was finally fed up of the awkward silence, I sucked my teeth.