Nobody Can Love You Like Them Roughnecks Do 4

by Shvonne Latrice

  “Good morning. I’m Blaise Cansino, and I’m here to see Olive Fortensky.” I greeted the old woman at the marble desk. This place was so nice.

  “Go right on back, Miss Cansino. She’s the first office you see, and her name is on the door. I’ll buzz you in and let her know you’re here.”

  “Thanks.”

  I did as I was told, and right when I stepped into the back, I saw the door with Olive’s name. Before I could knock though, she opened it, smiling. She was white, with strawberry blonde hair, bright brown eyes, and a frame so skinny that she gave a sheet of paper a run for its money.

  “Miss Cansino, please, come in. Your daughter is beautiful, my God.” She palmed her chest as I entered her big office with my babies.

  “Say thank you, Island.”

  “Thank you.” Island replied shyly, hiding behind me like she always did when new people were around. She was so cute.

  “Can you sit here and be good for mommy?” I placed Island on the couch, kissing her face.

  She nodded, eyes locked on Olive, which made us both laugh. My baby did not like strangers.

  “She is the cutest.” Olive walked to sit behind her desk.

  Pulling her Gizmo tablet from my Chanel shopping bag that I used for baby things, I placed it in her lap. Priscilla bought the bag for me as a push gift.

  “Okay. Sorry about that.” I went to join Olive, setting Cortez’s baby carrier in the seat next to me.

  “Would you like water or something?”

  “No. I’m fine; thank you. I’d just like to get right to it. I’m anxious to get the ball rolling; I want him out.”

  “Yes, I know.” She placed a notepad on the desk with a few things written down. “I did some research after we talked, and so far, the prosecuting team only has circumstantial evidence. They of course have Tiana’s statement, as well as her physical injuries on the surface of her body, and inside of her vaginal area. Then the picture he posted with her—”

  “That was just to mess with her husband.” I interjected, getting upset.

  “No, I know, but unfortunately, it doesn’t look good for him to have posted that before this crime was committed.”

  “What did she say?” I frowned.

  “Well.” Olive sat back. “She’s saying he broke in, beat her up, then raped her. She says she couldn’t make out his face because the bedroom was dark, he wore a big hood over his head, and his hits had dazed her.”

  “So how does she know it’s Cortez?”

  “The things he said to her, which implied it was him.”

  “How the hell would he even know where she lives? There are so many holes in this damn case!”

  “There are, but she claims she saw Belly at the club, went up to congratulate him, and before she left, she gave him her address to come over and have dinner with her and Mason once he was released from the hospital.”

  I had no response at the moment, so I just stared at Olive.

  “Okay. So what’s the plan, because he didn’t rape anybody? I know him, and he’s not the type to—”

  “I know, honey, I know. We first want to get him out on bail at the least. Then what I’m going to do is get my own copy of the rape kit results. Tiana bathed a few times before she contacted the police, so there wasn’t much DNA left, which doesn’t help her case. At the same time I’m getting that, I want to find out who hates Belly enough to set him up.”

  “You think someone other than Tiana set him up?”

  “Yes.” She nodded. “A person who knows him and clearly knew what to say in order to lead Tiana to believe it was Belly.”

  “So you believe that she was actually raped? That she didn’t make this up?”

  “I’m not sure. I don’t know much about Tiana, but I will surely find out. By the time we get to court, I will know when her cycle comes and what types of tampons she uses.”

  I chuckled softly, nodding my head. I liked Olive’s moxie.

  “Good.”

  “I will say though, if she is lying, she’s a very good actress, and a very calculating individual. But you’ve got the right lawyer for dealing with people like her.”

  “I think I agree.”

  “Great.”

  We both grinned and chatted some more on what the next steps were. I wrote a check since she preferred those and then gathered my children. If she did well, I would talk to Belly about keeping her on retainer in case we ran into anything in the future. I was learning quickly that being a celebrity and having money brought on a lot of schemers and moochers, hence Helen and Tiana.

  After putting my babies in the car, I heard that I’d gotten an email, so I checked it. It was from my bank, which was normal because they frequently emailed me my account balance about twice a week.

  “What the fuck?” My eyes scanned the screen, taking in the balance. Below it, it showed I’d had a deposit two days ago in the amount of $100,000.

  I checked my app to be sure this email wasn’t from some scammer in Nigeria, but sure enough, my balance was the same in the app as the email. Shrugging, I took myself home so I could get some rest since tomorrow I had to meet with the producer, director, and cast of the movie role I’d booked.

  Later that night…

  Since Belly wasn’t here, I had my babies in this big ass bed with me. I missed him so much, and it was hard not to cry randomly. He’d become a part of my everyday life, and now I never saw him. We were supposed to be enjoying time with our new baby, but instead, he was locked up and for something he didn’t even do.

  My phone buzzed as I watched some movie on Netflix. I couldn’t think straight long enough to pay attention and had forgotten the name.

  Grabbing my iPhone, I saw it was a text from Five-Star.

  Jelani: I can come see you tonight. We can put this court shit behind us if you let me.

  Me: Fuck you.

  Jelani: Lol, you’d rather be with a nigga who can’t even stay out of jail long enough to be with you after you just had his baby? Wow.

  Me: You weren’t in jail, and you’re currently not in jail yet you’re never there for Island. When she was my son’s age, you saw her maybe once a month, so if that was your argument to make yourself seem better than Cortez, think again dumb ass. Don’t text me again. Thirstiness doesn’t look good on you.

  Thankfully, he didn’t reply. But just as I placed my phone down it rung, and I knew it was him.

  “What!” I barked. The only reason I answered was because I was pissed, and I knew I could take my anger out on him.

  “That’s how you answer the phone?” A much smoother, raspier, and more suave voice than Five-Star’s poured through the device, making me pull it away to see the caller ID. It was a Nevada number that wasn’t stored in my phone.

  “Who-who is this?” I quizzed, even though I had an inkling.

  “Yo’ nigga.”

  A grin that I couldn’t contain burst through my face, making me cover it in embarrassment, even though no one was in my room except my sleeping kids.

  “Which one?” I joked.

  “Don’t get yo’ little ass choked out, Blaise.”

  “I’m just kidding.” I got comfortable under the covers. “What number is this?”

  “My jail number is what we’ll call it.” He was speaking lowly, so I knew he was sneaking. “I miss yo’ ass though.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Hell fucking yeah. I be thinking about how yo’ ass is thicker than a bowl of cold steel cut oats and Skippy peanut butter all fucking day.”

  I burst into laughter, turning onto my side.

  “I feel fat still, so thank you.”

  “You ain’t fat at all. You’ve always been thick, with small hips and a plump ass,” he reminisced, boosting my self-esteem.

  “You don’t mind that I don’t have wide hips?” I chuckled.

  “Nah. Your frame is perfect. You got just the right amount: petite but thick. And the pussy is amazing. Nice big lips, brown skin, pretty smile, just per
fection ’round this bitch.”

  I felt myself smiling hard as I pushed my hair behind my ear.

  “You make me feel sexy when I feel disgusting.”

  “Look in a fucking mirror when you get a chance then.”

  “I will.” I giggled like a schoolgirl. “I had some mysterious money in my account; it was a deposit of—”

  “I know. It’s automatic from my shit to yours, every three months.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you’re my wife, and I want you to be good even when I’m held up in shit like this.”

  I loved when he called me his wife.

  “I make my own money. My TV show is—”

  “I know you do. I love that about you, but at the end of the day, I’m your man, and my job is to make sure you’re financially secure.”

  “I get it.” I inspected my hands. Being pregnant had my nails long, as well as my already long hair. “I love you, baby. I miss you so much. I gave the check to the lawyer already. Her name is Olive, and she’ll be visiting you by the end of the week.”

  He was silent for a few moments, making me wonder if I’d said something wrong.

  “You a real one, you know that?”

  “I am.”

  “All these females be in my fucking face, trying to fuck with Belly but would never ride for me when shit like this comes up. I’m thankful as fuck for yo’ fine ass.”

  “I’m thankful for you too. And I would do anything for you.”

  “Likewise. How is my kid? And my baby girl?”

  “They’re okay. Island can tell that you’re gone. She asks about you at least twice a day.”

  He groaned then inhaled sharply out of distress.

  “I’ll be out of this muthafucka soon to help you with all that. I feel fucked up for being in this shit while you’re on the fucking outside like a single mom and shit.”

  “I’m not a single mom, and don’t blame yourself. It’s not like you committed a crime and got yourself locked up. This was done to you maliciously.”

  “You always know what to say to a nigga, huh?” He chuckled in his sexy voice.

  I cheesed at the thought of making him relax where he was.

  For the next couple hours, we just talked, making me finally sleep peacefully for once.

  The next evening…

  “Can’t wait until we start filming.” Romelo walked alongside me as we left the building.

  I’d been busy all day, meeting with the crew for the movie I was cast in, then coming over to the headquarters that produced Streets to discuss the upcoming season. Thankfully, my mama agreed to watch my kids, but I was having withdrawals. I usually always felt a way, being without Island, but I guess it was intensified now that it was two babies I had to leave behind. This shit was hard.

  “Why is that?” I asked Romelo dryly.

  “First episode is a sex scene.”

  “You’re disgusting.”

  “Hey, I never got the panties, so doing it to you on TV is all I’ve got. By the way, you’re looking good after having a baby.”

  “Thanks, Romelo. Goodbye.” I popped the trunk of my Mercedes truck and threw my bag in.

  “You know—”

  My phone rang, and I saw it was Carson, so I answered, hopping into my car and ignoring Romelo.

  “Hey, Carson. Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah. Uh, Belly told me you’d be home around 6 p.m.; is that still the case?”

  “Yes. Absolutely. I’m leaving work now, so I should be there in about thirty minutes. Is everything okay?” I had to ask again.

  “Uh, yeah.”

  “Okay.”

  I hung up then stared off for a moment, because I didn’t like his answer. Cranking my car, I drove home as fast as I could, and after pulling through our large gates, I spotted Carson in the driveway. His BMW was parked in our humongous roundabout driveway, but he was leaning on what appeared to be a Range Rover SVAutobiography. It was a pretty space gray color. Behind it was a fresh white Maserati Quattroporte.

  “Good evening, Blaise.” Carson leaned up off of the car to help me out of mine.

  “Hey, what’s going on?” I finally spotted a big red bow on the front grill.

  “Belly wanted me to deliver this to you.” He handed me an envelope. I opened it to see it was a check for the same amount that I’d paid the lawyer. “And this.” Carson shut the door to my car with one hand then pointed to the Range Rover with the other.

  “What? Why?”

  “Push gifts, he called them.” Carson laughed at my facial expression. “Come check it out.”

  I followed him to inspect the outside of the beautiful car, then opened the doors to see the two-tone interior.

  “He didn’t have to do this.” I felt myself tearing up.

  “Open the trunk,” Carson told me.

  I gave him a look, which prompted him to chuckle, then did as he told me to. In the trunk were a bunch of Chanel bags and a small green box containing a Rolex.

  “This is too much. He can afford all of this?” I looked over my shoulder at Carson who nodded with his eyes closed as if he were saying ‘absolutely’.

  “Lastly.” He put his hand out to the Maserati.

  “He’s so crazy.” I laughed.

  “Yes. He loves you, however, because for as long as I’ve known Belly, he’s never bought a woman more than a hamburger meal.”

  “Really?” I sniffled since I was crying while laughing at his statement.

  “Yes, really.”

  I looked over the Maserati then took a picture of it with the driver’s side door open since he had a huge bouquet of roses sitting inside it. Carson took a photo of me with my new gifts, and I then posted both pictures to my Instagram.

  We collected my shopping bags, along with the ones Belly had gotten for Island, and Baby Cortez, then Carson left.

  I hated that I couldn’t talk to Belly right away, to thank him for making me feel so special, and being such a good man to me, especially during my pregnancy. I just wanted to marry him right away.

  After making myself some tea, I hopped into my new Range Rover, then went to pick up my kids from my mama.

  Manuel “Manny” Ortiz

  “You sure you don’t have to use the bathroom, Jasiel? It’s gonna be a long drive before we can stop.” I looked down into my son’s face, smirking as he pondered heavily on what I’d said.

  “Okay. Maybe I go.” He rushed off, and I followed to make sure he had it before closing him up in the bathroom.

  “Fuck.” I groaned, tripping over one of his toys.

  This shit was different, having all this shit everywhere. I was used to his stuff being over at Jasmine’s.

  Snatching up the action figure, I put it in his toy chest just as my phone rang. I saw it was Nandy, so even though I ain’t want to answer, I did.

  “Hey, baby.” She cooed before I could even greet her. It was like she heard me breathing.

  “Hey, what’s up?” I turned the knob to open my bathroom door in order to check on Jasiel. He was on his step stool, washing his hands.

  “Uh, just a busy day. You need something?”

  “Yeah. I need something; I need to see you. My photo shoot just ended, so I was on my way over to your place.”

  “Nandy, I’m not gon’ be home when you get here. I—”

  “Where are you going?”

  “I’m handling something. But I’ll get at you a little bit later, like tomorrow or something to see what’s up with you.”

  “Or you can call me tonight.”

  I stood there, processing her words and this conversation as a whole.

  Nandy was beautiful with some fire pussy, but she gave me crazy vibes. It wasn’t the sexy crazy like Blaise, it was the weirdo type shit. However, because she was so fine and had her shit together, I just couldn’t accept that she’d be psycho. Off-kilter females usually didn’t have all their ducks in a row, and Nandy definitely did. So for the moment, since I couldn�
�t fuck with Alivia, I’d let Nandy stick around.

  “Or I can call you tonight; you’re right.” I sighed, repeating what she’d said while rubbing the top of Jasiel’s head as he emerged from the bathroom.

  “Okay. Bye, baby.”

  “Bye.” I hung up, shoving my phone down into my pocket. “Aight, you ready for the road trip, Jasiel?”

  “Yeah!” He threw his hands up in the air excitedly, making me chuckle.

  We left my crib and headed to my whip, then once Jasiel was buckled in the back seat with a few of his toys, I got in and sped off.

  An hour and some change later, Jasiel and I were pulling up to my mama’s house out in Calabasas. Because she lived so damn far from the city, I rarely saw her. We talked on the phone here and there, but it’d been less since Belly had come up in this boxing shit because I had to work more. I dreaded driving out here, especially midday, but I needed to introduce her to my son.

  “Where are we?” Jasiel asked as I helped him out of my back seat.

  Squatting down to his level after shutting then locking the door, I replied, “You’re gonna meet your grandma.”

  “Grandma? What’s that?” He frowned. I was caught off guard until I remembered Jasmine’s mama was dead, so he didn’t know a grandma just yet.

  “Your grandma is my mama.”

  “You have a mama?”

  I chuckled at his frown and nodded.

  “I do. You’ll like her. She makes good food too.”

  “Does she buy toys?” he inquired as I took his hand into mine and led him up to her door.

  “She might. She did when I was young.” I looked down at him, and he nodded.

  I inhaled and exhaled deeply before ringing the doorbell. My mother made it very clear when I was coming up that she wanted me to live my life a certain way. She expected me to meet a nice girl, propose, then have a kid. I’d not only done the opposite of that shit, but I’d hid my kid from her for four years. I didn’t know how she’d take it, but I was about to find out.

  “Manuel, hola, mijo!” My mother opened the door grinning widely. It slowly faded when her eyes landed on Jasiel holding my hand. “Who is this, Manuel?” Her attention darted from Jasiel to me, and I could tell by the look on her face that she had an inkling.