Enticed by a Thug Love

by Kelly, Marie

  My brothers had decided to come over and get on my fucking nerves for a minute, so we were sitting in the kitchen, eating, laughing and talking.

  Surge’s happy ass dropped down on the seat beside me, and I shook my head at the goofy ass smile he had on his face.

  “What you been up to, nigga? I know that smile!” I asked him, and he laughed.

  “I’ve been seeing Dior.”

  His smile said it all. He was doing more than just seeing Dior.

  “How you do that? I thought she had a nigga? And that girl is out of your league, son,” Legion teased him.

  Dior was from the hood, but she didn’t carry herself like she was. Shorty sounded educated and had a good job, according to Surge.

  “I got rid of that nigga, and I used my grown man shit on her ass. She couldn’t resist,” he answered, smiling widely and rubbing his hands together.

  “Oh shit, royal thug ass came out?” Guns asked, and we all fell out laughing.

  My brother was a damn fool!

  “I bet his ass was out there sounding like Carlton Banks’ understudy!” I joked while laughing, and all Surge did was smile even harder if that was possible because he was damn right showing all his fucking teeth.

  “Motherfucker was probably out there like the highest greetings to you milady. How art thou?” I mocked in the poshest voice ever, making them all die with laughter.

  Legion had to hold his stomach and shit from how hard he was laughing.

  “What can I say? I wanted something different, and that’s Dior,” Surge explained with a shrug.

  “Different like what?” Guns asked.

  “Some stuck up pussy, man,” Surge answered, and I swear I was weak from how hard he had me laughing.

  “Nigga, fuck you talking about?” Legion punched him.

  “You know, pussy that I had no chance of getting. Pussy that would have me talking like I was at an interview for a job.” Surge chuckled, and I laughed.

  “I was just tired of the same old pussy, man. Half these chicks allowed me to fuck, and I didn’t even know their name. I wanted some I had to work for.”

  Shit, I could understand that because funnily enough, it was something I had been feeling lately. A lot of women were on my dick because of who I was and gave me the pussy without me having to ask for it.

  I was getting way too old for that shit now.

  But did I really wanna settle down now? And could I?

  “It’s a damn shame. Don’t be playing with people’s daughter, man. Poor girl,” Legion said, and Surge laughed.

  “She gon’ love me, watch.” Surge sounded so sure of himself, and all I could do was shake my head.

  “And Amber?” I asked.

  Surge looked at me with a devious smile on his face.

  “Won’t be a problem.”

  I dapped him up and left it like that.

  I looked around to make sure that we were still alone before I leaned forward and whispered, “Soon, we will be a go on that detective. I’ve put some shit into rotation. After the holidays, we taking him out.”

  Finally, after weeks of planning, I had a way to get rid of that fucking detective. He was causing me more problems than this snake and crew because he was watching my every-fucking-move. I couldn’t deal with what I needed to with that motherfucker waiting for me to make a move, so he could arrest me.

  “About fucking time,” Guns said, and the other two nodded.

  Legion started to say something, but my attention was drawn to Kanada as she walked into the room.

  “Oh, I’m sorry for interrupting. I just wanted some water.” Kanada smiled and waved at me.

  “What’s good, sis?” Guns greeted her while Legion and Surge nodded.

  Kanada gave them a quick, shy wave and went to the fridge. She grabbed a water while I kept my gaze on her, and then she waved with a beautiful smile before disappearing out of the kitchen, leaving me sitting there in my thoughts.

  Kanada Alton

  Over a week later

  It had been just over a week since Alvaro said that he wanted me to work for him as a mailroom assistant, but I hadn’t seen or spoken to him since that day. If he was home, he was in and out before I could ask him anything.

  I was starting to think that maybe he was just saying that and didn’t really mean it. He made my day with what he said because all that was on my mind was that I would finally be able to look after TJ.

  Right now, Alvaro and Ma provided us with all our needs and it was getting to me that I couldn’t even give something back to them.

  Whenever I did bring it up, Ma would just tell me to hush and let them take care of us but it didn’t stop the feeling of being a burden. I was hopeful that I would finally be able to help out someway once I started working but I guess that wasn’t going to happen anymore.

  Rolling on my back, I looked up at the ceiling.

  I knew—no matter what Ma said—eventually they would get tired of providing everything for us and then I would be stuck.

  After all, I wasn’t family to them and they didn’t have to help me.

  But what would happen when they got tired of helping me?

  My thoughts were cut when someone knocked on my bedroom door.

  I slowly got up off the bed and went to open it.

  “Hi Alvaro.” I nervously greeted when I saw that it was him standing outside of my door.

  “Hi Kanada, were you busy?”

  “No.”

  “Okay, could you get dressed for me please? I want to take you to my office where you will be working. Sorry it took so long, I had a few things to deal with.”

  Instantaneously, an uncontrollable smile broke through on my face and he chuckled.

  “I thought you forgot.” I honestly let him know and he shook his head no.

  “Never that. Put on something formal for the office and I will be downstairs waiting.”

  I nodded and closed the door after he walked away.

  Ma had taken me shopping a few days ago and I grabbed a few business outfits in anticipation of starting to work for Alvaro.

  I guess he didn’t forget!

  Since I had already showered, I only needed to change out of the leggings and sweater that I was wearing.

  I slipped on a black high waisted pencil skirt, burgundy blouse and black cardigan.

  After that, I put a little makeup on my face and put a few loose curls into my hair with a middle part before I quickly pushed my feet into some black pumps and went to find Alvaro.

  He and Ma were in the kitchen sitting at the kitchen island talking when I walked in.

  “Ohhhh well look at you!” Ma beamed and I smiled at her.

  Alvaro turned to look at me and I felt my body warm up.

  “Is this okay? I can change if it’s not.” I asked him.

  “No, you’re perfect… it’s perfect. It’s fine.” He rushed and then cleared his throat.

  When we both looked at Ma, she was smiling widely.

  “Don’t worry about TJ, we will be just fine.” Ma said.

  “We should go.” Alvaro rose to his feet and picked up his phone off the kitchen island.

  “Thank you, Ma.” I gave her a hug and kiss on the cheek.

  “Girl no need to thank me, we family now.” Her eyebrows bounced and she chuckled while I looked at her confused.

  Seeing my face, she shook her head at me and pushed me out of the kitchen.

  Alvaro was already walking to his car when I got outside.

  He opened the passenger door for me and I thanked him after I slipped inside. I watched as he walked around the front of his car—using long, purpose filled strides—and when he opened the door, I turned my head to hide the fact I was looking at him.

  Alvaro started the car and pulled away from the house while I sat back and enjoyed his heated leather seats.

  I took in the scenery around me—watching the stores that were displaying all types of Christmas memorabilia getting the city ready for the
upcoming festivities.

  I smiled knowing that Christmas was only a few weeks away because it was my favorite time of the year.

  While I scanned around, taking in everything like a common tourist, my eyes slowly moved to Alvaro’s face.

  The concentration was apparent on his face as he occasionally frowned and bit into his thick bottom lip. I watched the way his big strong hands gripped the steering wheel—controlling the car with ease. His muscles could be seen bulging and pressing against the grey suit he was wearing.

  His jaw line was strong and his skin was perfect. Even the way his thick, naturally arched eyebrows moved as he sat in his thoughts, was perfect. He was perfect!

  My eyes quickly jumped back to focus out of the window when his head suddenly turned in my direction.

  I knew he had caught me looking at him—he probably felt my eyes burning a hole into his side profile—but I didn’t dare look back at him.

  A soft chuckle escaped his lips letting me know that I wasn’t as subtle with my staring as I thought I was. But thankfully, he didn’t bring it up.

  The rest of the ride was completed in a comfortable silence—with only the sound of the car engine and me intermittently humming along to a song that was playing over the radio, being heard.

  Sometime later and Alvaro pulled into a building parking lot. I looked out of the window and took in the tall building before me and smiled knowing I had a job.

  We both climbed out of the car and Alvaro led the way into the building that had a huge revolving glass door.

  A guard and young Receptionist greeted us and Alvaro introduced us—calling me his new Mailroom assistant.

  We then took the elevator up to the eighth floor and when the door opened, the floor was buzzing with all types of different sounds—from phones ringing, machines bleeping and low rumbles of chatter—people were busy doing whatever they were doing. But once they caught sight of Alvaro, it was like the whole room fell into silence to honor his presence.

  Even the machines automatically stopped making noise as if they were no longer inanimate objects but living things that understood the boss had entered the building.

  “Good morning, Mr. Ramsey!” They called out in unison greeting him.

  “Good morning.”

  The room remained quiet while he walked through and it wasn’t until he turned the corner before I heard the noise resume.

  “Is it always like that when you walk through?” I just had to ask because nobody would believe how quiet it became once he stepped off that elevator. And I probably wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t witnessed it myself.

  Alvaro looked back at me and chuckled. “Yes. It’s just something they started doing, I never asked.”

  He was truly the boss but so humble with it.

  I continued to follow behind him until he led me to an office at the end of the hall. His name was on the brown double doors. A young looking, light skinned woman jumped up from her desk that was near the door and she smiled at us.

  “Good morning Mr. Ramsey. You have three messages.” She said and handed him a note and some mail.

  “Thank you, Andrea. This is Kanada, she will be joining the mailroom.”

  I looked at Andrea who immediately stuck her hand out for me to shake.

  “Nice to meet you, Kanada.”

  “You too.”

  Alvaro told her to hold any calls for an hour, opened his office door and told me to go in ahead of him.

  I stepped into the light, large office and took in the decorations. There were a lot of plants and pictures of African people dressed like royalty. The office had cream walls and light green carpet.

  “Okay, let me just turn on my computer and I will take you to the mailroom.” Alvaro said walking around his desk and I nodded.

  He did a few things and then led me back out of the room, into the elevator and down to floor one.

  “This is the Ramsey head office that deals with all the businesses we own. I thought it would be easier dealing with everything in one building then having multiple offices all over New York. Floor one is the mailroom. Level two deals with our real estate business—that Jashawn overlooks. Level three deals with the restaurants, level four is the gyms and rec centres, level five is for the cleaning companies and car washes. Level six is the transportation and moving company that Pharaoh deals with. Level seven deals with the hair salons and level eight is the accountancy firm and where my office is.”

  I was completely floored. Ma did explain that Alvaro and his brothers owned a lot of businesses together all over New York and other States but I didn’t know they had that many hands in it.

  “The only thing we don’t have is a club and never had any interest in that.” He spoke and I just silently nodded—because I was too amazed for words.

  When the elevator doors opened, the floor was just as busy as the first one I went to.

  Alvaro led me to the office at the end of the hall, knocked once and opened the door.

  There was a man sitting behind the desk and he looked a lot like Alvaro; just younger.

  “Kanada, this is my little brother, Meshach. Shach, meet Kanada.”

  We quickly shook hands.

  “Nice to meet you Kanada.”

  “Likewise.”

  I had seen him that day they were all in the kitchen together but I hadn’t been formally introduced to any of them. I guess since Alvaro wasn’t speaking to me before that, there was no need to officially meet any of them.

  “Kanada will be joining your team.” Alvaro explained and Meshach nodded.

  “Okay no problem. Let me show you around, Kanada and then I will set you up.”

  “I will check on you later.” Alvaro told me as Meshach led me out of the room.

  For some reason, I felt a little sad knowing that I wasn’t going to work directly with Alvaro but as soon as I remembered that he didn’t have to give me a job, that thought left.

  Meshach introduced me to a few people, showed me where everything was located on this floor and then took me to where I would be working.

  When Meshach told me that I would be dealing with the mail that was for Alvaro’s floor, I had to fight hard not to smile.

  He quickly showed me what I needed to do and left me to it.

  An hour later and I found myself getting into a routine.

  “I see you pick things up quickly.” I spun around on my chair to see Alvaro standing at my cubicle.

  “I’m a fast learner.”

  He nodded and walked over to me.

  “I have some things I need to deal with, so I have to leave but I want you to drive my car back to the house. I will sort you out a car to get to and from work okay?”

  I nodded.

  He then leaned over my desk and grabbed a pen before writing on my notepad. I was too busy taking in his intoxicating aroma to even pay attention to what he was writing down. His cologne made my stomach knot up and my body began to heat up instantly.

  What is going on with me?

  It was almost like I lost all function of my body and it was moving on its own. My eyes closed and I almost groaned out loud from how good he smelt. When I felt his body move back from in front of me, I quickly opened my eyes.

  “That’s my phone number and direct office number. I will get you a new phone too.” He said before handing me his car keys.

  “Thank you for everything, Alvaro. I really do appreciate all that you have done for me and TJ.”

  His eyes penetratingly peered into mine until a soft smile formed on his perfect and beautifully made thick lips.

  “It’s my pleasure. I will see you later, okay?”

  Again, I nodded after feeling my words gather in my throat but refuse to come out.

  Alvaro looked at me for a few more seconds and then he walked away allowing me to release the breath that I was holding.

  Lord, give me strength!

  Jashawn ‘Surge’ Ramsey

  One month later

 
“So, I heard you got a little girlfriend, Wrath.” Pops called out and we all roared laughing when Wrath looked right at Guns.

  “Fuck you looking at me for? Don’t act like you didn’t bring your girl to work for you.” Guns laughed.

  “Ohhhh!” I kidded fucking with Wrath and he looked at me.

  “Shut the fuck up! She’s not my girl, just a friend that I’m helping out.”

  “Helping out with some dick too?” Pops asked laughing.

  “Hell no! We deadass just friends.”

  “That happen to live together.” Legion added and I dapped him up.

  “That’s on Ma. But I ain’t fucking with her.”

  “Whatever!” I threw out there.

  “Word to everything I love nigga, I ain’t fucking with her.”

  “But you want to.” Guns put him on blast and Wrath’s face fell.

  For the first time in forever, my brother was speechless.

  “Damn!” Me and Legion called out at the same time.

  “Go ahead nigga, tell everybody I’m lying! Shorty stacked as fuck and I’ve been seeing you looking nigga. I already know you want some ass, you ain’t gotta lie.” Guns added with a huge smile on his face.

  “Alright, shorty is fire-”

  “Facts!” Guns interrupted.

  “But that doesn’t mean I wanna fuck her man. We’re just friends, nothing else.”

  I looked at Wrath and saw that he was spitting bullshit. From his eyes that were damn sparkling from just talking about her, I knew he was feeling her.

  “I think I need to come to your house and have a talk with this friend.” I said and Wrath sucked his teeth. But he swiftly changed the subject letting me further know that he was on this chick.

  Big bro was feening.

  “Come on y’all dinner is ready.” Mama popped into the den we were all in and announced.

  Standing to my feet, I stretched out my body, cracking the muscles in my arms, neck and back.

  Fixing the end of my jeans—so they sat back right on my Timbs - I followed my pops and brothers out of the den and into the dining room.