A Trillion to One

by Chenell Parker

  “Who the fuck is we?” Trillion asked as he held the phone up to his ear with his shoulder while he relieved his bladder.

  “Me and Rod nigga,” Blue replied.

  “Chill with the N word bruh,” Trillion warned.

  “Man look, this ain’t the time to be on your Martin Luther King shit. You need to come down here right now,” Blue demanded.

  “Bruh, I just went to bed. I’m tired as fuck. Just bring the car back later or tomorrow.” Trillion yawned again.

  “Bro, shit is real. I’m not in the mood to go back and forth with you!” Blue yelled.

  “Man, put some muthafucking clothes on and bring your pale ass down here. You know it must be important for us to show up at your house unannounced and uninvited,” Rod fussed when he got on the line.

  “Alright bruh. I’m coming,” Trillion replied before he hung up.

  He hurriedly completed his morning hygiene before he threw on some basketball shorts and a shirt. Amore was still sleeping peacefully when he grabbed the elevator key and headed downstairs. Security was tight in his building and that was one of the things that he loved about living there. Trillion heard his brothers’ voices before he even made it to the lobby. Blue was snapping on somebody and Rod was cosigning everything that he said.

  “Mr. Yates, I was just about to call you. These gentlemen said that they know you,” one of the guards said as soon as he saw Trillion.

  “Yeah, it’s cool. They’re my brothers,” Trillion replied as the man looked on in confusion. He walked away with Blue and Rod to the garden that was on the side of the building. Another guard was standing there, so Blue nodded for Trillion to walk further.

  “This shit is just like prison with all these guards everywhere.” Rod frowned as he looked around.

  “What’s good bruh? The fuck was so important that I had to get out of my bed this early?” Trillion asked.

  “You gotta get rid of that car bro,” Blue blurted out.

  “For what!? I knew I shouldn’t have let you use my shit,” Trillion yelled angrily.

  “Shut up and listen bro,” Rod demanded calmly. He knew how Trillion’s temper could be and he wasn’t in the mood for it.

  “Some shit popped off last night and we had to handle it,” Blue replied.

  Trillion folded his muscular arms across his chest as they ran the entire story down to him. He felt a mixture of emotions as they told him about what Gene had done. Trillion was heated but he was happy that things had played out the way they did. He didn’t know what he would have done if that would have happened while he was with Tristyn or Amore.

  “So, let me get this straight. I let you borrow my car for one day and you killed somebody and wrecked my shit in less than an hour,” Trillion said, just to be clear.

  “Nigga, you better be happy that it was us who he rolled up on,” Blue argued.

  “Shit, I am,” Trillion laughed.

  “My boy got that shit looking brand new but you still need to get rid of it. The streets were empty but you can never be too sure,” Rod said.

  “Damn man. I loved that car,” Trillion replied while shaking his head.

  “Your family is getting bigger bro. It was only a matter of time before you had to get rid of it anyway. Besides, you still got the Hummer and the G-Wagon,” Blue pointed out.

  “Yeah, that’s true. Damn man. I hate that this had to happen but he signed his own death certificate,” Trillion noted.

  “Exactly.” Rod nodded.

  “I’m tired as fuck. Come bring us home bro.” Blue yawned as they all walked towards Trillion’s car that was illegally parked in front of the building. When Trillion saw it, he tried to find any indication that the car had been involved in an accident but there was none. Whoever fixed it had done a damn good job. It took him about thirty minutes to drop his brothers off home before he went back to his own house. When he walked inside, Amore was up pacing the floor with the phone up to her ear.

  “You must be trying to get fucked up in here. Where the hell did you go and why did you leave your phone?” Amore snapped angrily as she walked up on him.

  “Calm down girl. My brothers came to bring me my car and I dropped them off home,” Trillion replied.

  “Why didn’t you take your phone?” Amore questioned.

  “I wasn’t even thinking about that phone Amore. Stop acting like that. You already know I ain’t on that dumb shit. Let’s eat so we can get dressed and go,” Trillion replied as he kissed her lips to calm her down.

  “Where are we going?” Amore asked.

  “Shopping,” Trillion replied while following her to the kitchen.

  “Shopping for what?” Amore wanted to know.

  “A car,” he answered, hoping that he wouldn’t have to elaborate.

  “I feel so bad for AJ. Gene’s death is really hitting him hard,” Dallas said as she, Amore and Azra sat in Chanell’s shop and watched her decorate a cake.

  “I know. My poor baby has been so down lately. I wish we could take a vacation but I have orders to fill every day for the next two months, not that I’m complaining. I just want to do something to lift his spirits,” Chanell replied.

  Three days had passed since they got the early morning phone call informing them that one of AJ’s best friends had been gunned down in a secluded area with no witnesses around. AJ took the news hard and he had been trying to help Gene’s family as much as he could. Gene’s mother had him in insurance so that was one less thing that they had to worry about.

  “That’s fucked up,” Amore said as she ate the slice of cake that Chanell had given her.

  “Bitch, let’s talk about you rolling up here in a brand-new BMW truck,” Dallas said as she looked at her cousin.

  “Yes cousin, I love it.” Chanell smiled.

  “Now all you need is a new Louie bag to ride shotgun,” Dallas said.

  “Fuck a Louie bag. My man gave me something even better,” Amore noted.

  “Bitch, besides that baby that you’re carrying, what could be better than a quality bag?” Dallas asked. Azra had gotten her two beautiful designer bags and she loved them. They were her first and only and she cherished them both.

  “Health insurance hoe,” Amore replied, making them laugh.

  “Well, I can’t argue with that. It’s something that you’ve never had before.” Dallas shrugged.

  “Exactly,” Amore replied.

  “Your truck is beautiful Amore,” Azra complimented.

  “Thanks girl. My man said that we both need our own cars. He traded in the sports car and got me something big enough for us and the kids,” Amore replied.

  She hated that she was keeping something from her cousins but she had no choice. Trillion tried to brush her off, but Amore kept pushing for answers. He loved his car too much to just up and decide to trade it in. After pressing him for over an hour, he finally told her the truth about what happened. He swore her to secrecy and Amore promised not to tell anyone. As much as she loved and trusted her cousins, she couldn’t run the risk of anyone finding out what really happened. The way she saw it, Gene got exactly what he deserved. He would have probably killed Trillion if given the chance and she was happy that he was no longer a threat. In the end, Trillion traded in his car and got Amore a beautiful truck of her own. It was her very first car and she was excited.

  “Is he still trying to buy y’all a house?” Dallas asked.

  “Yes and I can’t wait. He said that I can pick out whatever I want,” Amore replied excitedly.

  “Bitch, don’t make me cheat on AJ for a white boy,” Chanell said, making everyone laugh.

  “Don’t do my brother like that. He’s really been going through it since Gene got killed,” Dallas said.

  “When is the services?” Amore asked her cousin.

  “I think they’re working on that now,” Chanell replied, right as a car pulled up in front of her shop. The red Mercedes was one that they all knew very well. Chanell and Amore looked at Dallas, but she
didn’t seem to care.

  “I think I better get going. I’ll call you later,” Azra said angrily as she looked at Dallas. She grabbed her purse and stormed off right as Cathy, Dallas’ other female friend, was getting out of her car.

  “Azra is pissed,” Amore laughed.

  “Fuck her. She’s too scared to be herself and I don’t have time for it. She’s a grown ass woman who’s still scared of her parents. None of these hoes better say shit to me. I’m single until one of them grows the fuck up and decides to be themselves,” Dallas replied.

  “My sister is a lesbian thot,” Chanell said while shaking her head.

  “It’s not like I want to be. I want to settle down but these hoes play too many games.” Dallas frowned.

  Truthfully, Azra was who she wanted to be with, but that would never happen. She was too afraid of being shunned by her family and friends. Dallas didn’t understand her religion and she wasn’t trying to. She wasn’t being anybody’s secret and she made that clear to both women.

  “And they both have money. Ole girl pulled up in a luxury car that her husband probably paid for to take you shopping. Azra be dropping bands on handbags and shit like it ain’t nothing. At least you don’t fuck with female scrubs,” Chanell laughed, right as the front door chimed.

  “Good evening.” Cathy smiled when she walked in and spoke to everybody.

  “Hey,” Chanell said while Amore waved since she had a mouthful of cake.

  “Are you ready Dallas?” Cathy asked her.

  “Yep,” Dallas replied as she grabbed her purse and walked from behind the counter.

  “What was she doing here?” Cathy asked as soon as they stepped outside. She saw Azra when she left the bakery and got into her car.

  “You don’t get to ask me questions as long as you go home to your husband every night,” Dallas replied.

  “I told you that I was working on that,” Cathy replied.

  “It’s whatever.” Dallas shrugged as she walked to the passenger side of the car.

  Cathy was cool to chill with but, since reconnecting with Azra, Dallas didn’t view her the same anymore. She spoiled Dallas with whatever she wanted but she had a deeper connection with Azra. Maybe it was because she was her first but Dallas just couldn’t shake her.

  “I deposited some money into your account,” Cathy said as she walked over and hugged her. She didn’t want to argue, so she quickly changed the subject.

  “Thanks.” Dallas smiled as she gave her a kiss and hugged her back.

  She saw AJ pulling up but that wasn’t all that she saw. She’d never seen him in person but she’d remembered seeing Cathy’s husband’s picture pop up on her phone a few times and she’d recognize him anywhere. He was frowning as he briskly walked over to them. Dallas could spot drama a mile away and she knew that he was bringing some. Cathy’s husband had called her phone several times asking how she knew his wife but Dallas never entertained him. Cathy said that he’d accused her of cheating several times but he didn’t have any proof. Now, the proof was staring him right in the face.

  “Lying ass bitch! I knew you were up to something and that’s exactly why I followed you. Another woman Cathy! Are you fucking serious right now?” he fumed as he rushed over and pulled the two women apart. He grabbed Dallas by her neck as she clawed at his hands. Cathy was punching him in the back but none of that seemed to work.

  “Aye, get the fuck up off of her!” AJ yelled as he pulled the man off of Dallas and threw him to the ground.

  “Mind your business lil nigga. This is my wife,” Cathy’s husband said as he got up and walked over to her. Amore and Chanell heard the commotion and they rushed outside to see what was going on.

  “I don’t give a fuck who she is. This is my sister-in-law,” AJ replied as he pulled Dallas behind him.

  “Are you okay sister?” Chanell asked when she walked up to them.

  “Yeah, I’m good,” Dallas replied as she fixed her clothes.

  “Let’s go Cathy!” her husband fumed as he looked over at her.

  He and his wife were both attorneys and they didn’t get to see each other very often. Their long hours and hectic schedules were what kept them from having kids, even though they were both in their thirties. For the past few months, he’d been suspecting her of having an affair because a lot of things weren’t adding up. Cathy was taking out large sums of money from their account and she got defensive whenever he asked her about it. Instead of getting into another argument, he decided to follow her for the past three days to see just what she was up to. She had been with the same woman every single time but he didn’t think anything of it. Not until he saw them hugging and kissing a few minutes ago. Losing his wife was one thing but losing her to another woman was a huge blow to his ego.

  “I’m so sorry about all of this,” Cathy said as she walked over to Dallas.

  “Is this a fucking joke?” Cathy’s husband barked angrily. He walked over to her and Dallas in a murderous rage, but Chanell blocked his path.

  “You might need to go talk to your husband and leave my sister alone,” Chanell said, speaking to Cathy.

  “I’ll call you later Dallas,” Cathy replied as she walked over to her car and pulled off. Her husband got into his car and sped off right behind her.

  “Leave her the fuck alone Dallas and I mean it,” Chanell snapped as she looked at her sister.

  “Yeah cousin. Ole boy is gonna be a problem. I can just see it,” Amore agreed as they walked back into the bakery.

  “Fuck her and him too. Maybe it’s just meant for me to be single,” Dallas said.

  “How is Gene’s family doing?” Chanell asked AJ as she gave him a kiss and rubbed his back lovingly.

  “They’re good considering the circumstances. Brittani is the one who’s losing it,” AJ replied.

  “I know she is,” Chanell replied.

  “She swears that Logan was the one who did it,” AJ said.

  “Logan!” Amore yelled. She knew what really happened but she was wondering how Logan’s name came up and why. As if reading her mind, AJ went on to explain everything.

  “Yep. She said that the last time they talked, Gene told her that Logan threatened to kill him. He said Logan pulled a gun on him and everything. Abe and Skip talked to him but he swore that he was in the trap house all night. I don’t know what to believe,” AJ sighed.

  “When is the services?” Chanell asked.

  “Saturday,” AJ replied.

  Amore sat around and talked to her family for a while until Trillion called and told her that he was on his way home. He was busy trying to find a relator to help him buy a house but he hadn’t had any luck yet. Amore couldn’t wait to tell him about what she’d just learned. She didn’t know how things were going to play out but she was happy just as long as it didn’t involve her man.

  “O h, my God baby! Yes! I’m so happy!” Ciara screamed excitedly.

  Viper had just given her the best news that she’d heard in a long time and she couldn’t contain her excitement. After months of going back and forth to court, his lawyer had finally been able to make something happen. Viper was being released to serve out the rest of his sentence on monitored probation. She was thankful for the overcrowded prisons that didn’t have the room to keep him. He still had to wait a few weeks until they got all the paperwork together but that was nothing to him. After being locked up for years, a few weeks was a walk in the park.

  “Yeah man, make sure you be outside this raggedy bitch whenever it’s time for me to go. I don’t want to stay in here a minute longer than I have to,” Viper replied, sounding just as excited as she was.

  “You don’t have to tell me twice. I’m taking a vacation as soon as you know for sure,” Ciara said.

  “Don’t tell nobody that I’m getting out of here. Skip is the only other person that knows and I know he ain’t saying shit,” Viper replied.

  “Skip? I hope you ain’t trying to go back out there in them streets. I can get you a
job working with me. I just got my girl on,” Ciara noted.

  Meadow ended up closing her boutique and getting a job as a clerk at the courthouse. Since they were closed on nights and weekends, she took a second part time job as a receptionist at the hotel where Ciara worked. Ciara put in a good word for her and she was hired on the spot. It was fucked up that Amore didn’t try to help her, but she helped her sister get on and her cake business was booming. Meadow was a sweetheart and she didn’t know why Amore and her sister did her so dirty. She had become one of Ciara’s best friends and she saw firsthand how they treated her.

  “You sound dumb as fuck. I’ll stay in this bitch forever before I be cleaning hotel rooms and shit,” Viper argued.

  “The housekeepers do that. You could be a bellhop or a valet attendant,” Ciara said.

  “Shut the fuck up Ciara. The fuck I look like to you. I can make in a day what they’ll pay me in a month,” Viper snapped angrily.

  “Yeah but at least you won’t have to worry about going back to jail,” Ciara noted.

  “I’ll be good if I stay away from snitches,” Viper said.

  “And how will you do that if you don’t know who the snitches are?” Ciara questioned.

  “See, this is where we’re gonna have a problem. When I say shut the fuck up, that’s exactly what I expect you to do,” Viper replied.

  “Sorry baby. I’m just a concerned girlfriend. There’s no harm in that,” Ciara said.

  “What’s been going on out there?” Viper asked her, changing the subject.

  Skip kept him updated on the street shit but he didn’t know much more beyond that. Viper wanted to know what Amore had been up to but he didn’t want to come right out and ask. He saw most of what he needed to see on social media since her and her man seemed to live on there. Amore was big pregnant and had a little over a month to go per the tracker that was on her boyfriend’s page. The time seemed to pass fast and she was almost ready to give birth to her daughter. She looked beautiful, big belly and all, but Viper was still a little salty about her having another man’s baby. Amore promised to wait for him but that obviously didn’t happen. The part that hurt him the most was how happy she looked. That was the same look she used to have when they first got together. Now, a white boy was making her smile. That shit was still unbelievable to him. His heart broke when he saw her maternity and baby showers pictures because her man was right there in all of them. He could tell that dude really loved Amore because he had the same look in his eyes when they were together.