by Tee Jae
“Promise.” He pulled away and walked out the door. I fell back on the couch with a million things running through my mind. I wanted to run behind him and beg him not to leave because I was afraid he may not return back home but I had to let my husband be a man.
Chapter 21
Khaza
I stood on my tippy toes looking out the bay window every five minutes waiting on my manman’s return from the states. Once things started getting out of hand and Roselina found out Khadi had a bounty on my head, she doubled the bounty and Felipe Ortiz’s crew found me and they personally delivered my ass back to Haiti. Ma tripled up on the security and flew back to Miami for Khali’s birth and I hadn’t talked to her since she left.
“Mr. Santana, dinner is ready.” Ana manman’s housekeeper walked into the den area scaring the shit out of me.
“Dammit, Ana, I don’t want no fucking dinner.” I snapped.
“But Mr. Santana, you requested dinner.” She looked at me with a pitiful expression on her face.
“I don’t give a fuck wh-...” I stopped seeing the lights beaming down the long driveway. “Get out!!!!” I hollered. “Everyone retire to their living quarters.” I demanded, watching the staff scramble to get out my way and make their way out the back door. I know I looked crazy and deranged; I hadn’t had a haircut in over two weeks my beard was wild and scruffy and I’d been having the same clothes on for about two days now. I was going crazy without my brothers and every day I was down on my knees praying for forgiveness. I was losing it until manman suggested she go to Miami and talk Khadi into possibly seeing my side.
I heard the car shut off, so I got up and made my way to the door to greet manman. “Ma,” I called out.
WHAP!!!!
I staggered back and fell from the blow that was delivered, leaving me dizzy and my vision a little blurred.
“What the fuck?” I blinked my eyes a few times at the figure that stood over me. “Khaddo?” I questioned, trying to sit up and see straight.
WHAP!!!!
I felt my nose crack.
“Get the fuck up!” he barked, grabbing me up by my shirt before punching me in my face sending me flying face front on the floor. “You out here fucking people’s wives and getting in bed with the enemy. Fight me nigga!” he yelled with so much anger in his voice.
I didn’t fight back, I deserved every blow he delivered to my body. I doubled over from the swift kick to my ribs and coughed up blood on the kitchen’s floor.
“That’s enough, baby.” I heard a soft voice say even though it was damn near inaudible.
I heard the door open again, “Oh my goddddddd! Khaddo what have you done?” I felt my mom fall down to her knees next to me trying to pick me up. I tried to open my eyes, but one was swollen shut and I could barely see out the other one due to the blood. “You said you wanted to talk to him Khaddo.” My mother shouted, “Zeus, get Dr. Ju in here now.”
“I-I-I’m sor-…”
“Shhhhhhh… don’t speak Dr. Ju on his way.” she whispered trying to wipe the blood off of my face.
“That’s his problem now you baby his ass too much.”
“Shut up Khaddo… your brother is sick.” She shouted. “He may have been in his right mind while Camille was throwing the pussy at him but he’s not in his right mind since the shooting.”
“Manman, pleaseeeeee stop taking up for this nigga. He been getting us in trouble since I could remember, and we have never held him accountable. Stop it! He’s a grown man, he know what the fuck he be doing.”
Dr. Ju came through the door with his regular clothes on, a stethoscope around his neck and his big brown leather medical bag. “Mi God wut happen?” he asked as him and Zeus picked me up from the floor and carried me to the sofa.
I laid there trying to look at Khaddo in his face, so he could see how sorry I was but the fine ass chick he had with him was too busy in his face trying to calm him down. Once Dr. Ju got me cleaned and stitched up, I sat up on the sofa wincing in pain from my bruised ribs. Khaddo really did a number on me; my swollen shut eye would eventually heal; a few blood vessels were popped in the other one but at least I could see out of it. Everyone cleared the room leaving only him and I alone.
“Why?” he finally spoke up after sitting silently, giving me the death stare for the last five minutes we’d been sitting here.
Truth was I couldn’t tell him why I did it because I didn’t have a valid answer. Camille was a hoe throwing her pussy at me any chance she got and I was thinking with my dick.
“ANSWER ME!” he roared, scaring the shit out of me and ya boy wasn’t scared of much.
“I c-can’t bro…I’m not smart like you…I don’t think things out. Camille came to the trap looking for you one night and we end up smoking together and next thing-...”
“I don’t give a fuck about Camille. I mean the mere act was disrespectful as I am your brother, but see what I don’t understand is why try and kill Khadi? He raised us and only did what was right. You don’t fuck your brother’s wife without consequences. He let you off the hook easy if you ask me but you just couldn’t leave well enough alone could you? Typical Khaza has to get revenge and fuck the family up.” He sat back in his chair interlocking his hands behind his head like he was getting under my skin.
“I didn’t try to kill Khadi… I would never do that.” I spoke up through my busted lip.
“BULLSHIT!!!” He jumped up from the chair and walked towards me.
I must say seeing this side of Khaddo was surprising. He was usually calm and nonviolent but I guess finding out about me and Camille changed all that. He was even dressing different; I definitely didn’t expect to see him in some distressed jeans and fitted t-shirt with some Balenciaga’s on his feet. He was dressing more like Khadi and me.
“I’m not lying… I teamed up with Gator to murk that bitch Brooklyn.” He said with evil intent in his eyes.
“What? What the hell Brooklyn have to do with this shit, man? She trying to set bro up?” He raised his eyebrow sitting up more interested in what I had to say.
I thought about lying to him and telling him yes because I knew if I told him what I really thought he would think I’m crazy. I sat quietly pondering on what I should do.
“Nigga, you acting really shady right now… is she trying to set Khadi up or nah?” he asked ice grilling me.
“Mannnnnnn, I don’t know but I do know ever since she came into our lives our shit has been fucked up since. The bullet was meant for Brooklyn but I think Gator played me into thinking he wanted Brooklyn dead as well, but it was really Khadi he was after.” I shook my head disappointed in myself about the bad decisions I made. “You gotta believe me, Khaddo. I would never do that to Khadi, but Brooklyn, man, she coming in between us. You can’t see that?” I pleaded hoping he would see things my way. “I love my brothers, man…I miss our brotherhood.” I choked up. “Manman not lying…I-I’m sick.”
“Khaza stop it with the bullshit, man. Stand on your toes and take responsibility like a man.”
“I’m not bullshitting.” I hoarsely hollered trying to stand up but couldn’t, “You think this shit is easy to admit? Huh? I have the fucking smartest brothers in the world and I’m sick…I-I’m useless to you guys.” I finally let the dam open and let the tears fall down my face.
“He’s not lying.” Manman came around the corner with the chick I seen with Khaddo earlier, startling both of us. “He has a dissociative disorder…trust me, I had him tested numerous of times.” My mother held her head in shame.
“Manman, shut your mouth, you see we have company.” I blurted out. She knew better than to put our family business on display like that.
“Her name is Damere, you should know her, she spoke with you about a seat at the table.”
I looked up at him weirdly, “Fuck you talking about? I ain’t bought anyone to the table since Gator.” I looked her fine ass up and down I’d definitely would’ve remembered talking to her. Her thick thighs sat up
just right in her dark blue jeans that stopped at her ankles over her gold thong sandals showcasing her pretty white painted toes. The white halter top she wore with no bra made it easy to see her nipple piercings through the fabric and her long nails and long bright red weave was on point. The problem was she was my type of bitch not Khaddo’s and she looked like she was trying too hard to blend in. When our eyes met, I knew something was wrong, they were full of deceit.
“I spoke with you over the phone, Khaza. My father and I arranged a meeting with you but then you got shot and I just met up with your brothers at the warehouse you gave me the address to.” She smiled nervously.
“Bitch, ion know you.” I sneered at her.
“Chill out, Khaza” Khaddo stood up from his seat ready to leave. “I’ll let Khadi know I spoke with you but ion think he gon’ take a liking to the fact that you want his wife dead.”
“What happened to bros before hoes?” I laughed but mostly hurt at how things had changed drastically between us.
“Brooklyn has done nothing to you bro.”
Manman sat down on side of me, “Clearly this family has been torn apart since she got here. Now I don’t want the heffa dead but something has to be done.”
Khaddo shook his head grabbing Damere’s hand and made an exit as fast as he made his grand entrance.
“Ma… that girl is lying. I never spoke with anyone about a seat at the table.”
“I believe you, baby.” She pulled me in for a motherly hug. “Let them find out for themselves.
Chapter 22
Khadi
“Mr. Santana.” I answered my phone as I walked down the stairs from my jet and straight into the all black Tahoe that waited for me and Zilla
“Felipe… How are you? I take it you got my package.” I chuckled in the phone.
“Mr. Santana, now you and I have stayed out of each other’s hair for a very long time and this is what you do to me, eh? Emmanuel was my nephew. Now I have to explain to my sister why her only son was shipped back home in a fucking box,” he blew air into the phone frustrated
“You’ve been knowing me for how long?” I asked.
“All of your life.” He answered puzzled with where I was going with this.
“Exactly, so you know I don’t overstep my boundaries. EVER! You’re a smart man, you know I wouldn’t kill your nephew unless he was somewhere he wasn’t supposed to be… which was in my fucking yard. There to kill my wife, might I add; you wouldn’t know anything about that, now would you?” I sat back in the back seat waiting for him to answer me.
“Nonsense… Emmanuel has no business on your property.”
“He wasn’t alone either, whoever he was with got away but don’t worry when I find out who it is I’ll personally ship them right back to their rightful owner. You know firsthand wives are off limits, not only did they try to kill my wife but they killed my unborn son. Now tell me Felipe, what would you do?” I asked right before he hung up in my face. I could see his short fat ass running around his estate trying to figure out what the fuck was going on.
“Let’s go!” I shouted to the driver. He already had instructions to the address where we were headed. Ever since Khaddo came back from Haiti and told me that Khaza was really out to kill my wife, I was livid. That gave me more ammunition to end this shit starting with Gator and if I find out that Khaza was really sick, then I’d get him the proper help he needed far away from me and the family.
“So, what’s the plan?” Zilla asked, while slipping on his all black leather gloves.
“Shidddd, we just gon’ really wing this shit. I’m tired of playing with this nigga and all he doing is driving my wife crazy. I’m just ready for this shit to be over with. So, unless we are outnumbered, we snatch up him and anybody that’s with him.” I followed suit and slid on my gloves before pulling a black tam over my head.
“A’ight, let’s make this quick cause you know Khali was cutting up since I left… talking about I’m a deadbeat daddy and shit since Karli only two days old.” We both fell out laughing. “She already knows how shit operates I don’t know why she’s acting like she don’t know a nigga occupation.”
“Women just don’t get it but since we on that… imma need you to make sure that Khali is being properly groomed to hold her own if something were to happen to any of us ya know.” He whipped his head in my direction.
“Something I need to know, bro?” he looked at me like I planned on getting us killed or some shit.
“Nah we just not guaranteed and I need the women on our sides to be prepared for whatever.” I sighed as we pulled a few blocks away from the address I gave the driver.
I checked my watch… 3:45 a.m., great timing. I got out the truck and walked a few parking spots over and tapped on the window of the old 1986 tricked out Cutlass to holler at my nigga Ralo. Ralo’s a young but trustworthy cat I had been supplying on the low out in Athens, Ga and when I reached out to him for a helping hand, he agreed to help me out and especially since I threw in a few free bricks for his next order, he provided me with a small army of his men in case Zilla and I needed it.
“How long they been inside?” I asked Ralo.
“A little over an hour, I got my crew strategically placed around so you good. I just don’t know what’s inside.”
I placed my arm on top of the old tricked out Cutlass he was in, “Check it, me and Zilla gon’ crouch down in the front bushes and I want you to let a few rounds off in the air. Let see if this nigga fall for the bait, if not, imma go old school and kick that door in.” he nodded his head letting me know he understood. “Good.” I tapped the roof of his car twice before signaling for Zilla to come on.
POW! POW! POW!
Ralo sent three shots in the air. I’m sure waking up the entire neighborhood.
Bingo! I heard the door to Kassidy’s door open and he stepped out onto the sidewalk dressed in only a pair of boxers, looking around in the dark with a gun by his side. I swiftly stood up and walked up behind him while Zilla ran inside the house.
Click!
I placed my gun to the back of his head. “Don’t you fucking move… Drop that shit.” I pushed my shit deeper into his skull. He tried to turn around but I picked up my gun and knocked him smooth out. “Bitch ass nigga.”
Ralo and two of his goons quickly tied him up and threw him in the back of his trunk right before Zilla came walking out with Kassidy over his shoulder knocked out cold.
I sat back while the driver maneuvered his way back to the clear port. A nigga finally felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
“You good, Ock?” Zilla ole as-salaam-alaikum ass asked me.
“Yeah, I’m just ready to get this shit over with.” I promised Brooklyn I would let her be present for Gator’s death what she didn’t know was that her best friend was coming along as well. Deceitful ass bitch.
*****
I stood near the bed staring at Brooklyn sleeping peacefully snuggled under the covers. One looking from the outside would think my baby didn’t have a care in the world from the way she gracefully kept herself together at all times, but she’d been done wrong so many times I just wanted to do right by her for once. The blow I was about to deliver to her was about to fuck her up even more, that’s why after I put send these motherfuckers to hell, we were hopping a flight straight to St. Lucia. I’d worry about Felipe once I got back.
“Woman.” I ran my hand up her bare thigh that peeked from under the cover while she stirred in her sleep. “Baby, get up let’s go. I told you I’d be back in two days.” I leaned down and kissed her.
“I missed you.” She kissed me back without opening her eyes.
“I missed you too. Now come on, Biggs waiting for us downstairs, you got twenty minutes to get ready.” She hopped up and ran to the bathroom to take care of her hygiene. I laughed at our Louis Vuitton Pegase matching suitcases that sat side by side by the door. My baby was ready for my return.
Brooklyn hadn’t stoppe
d smiling since she woke up this morning and the shit was becoming contagious. I couldn’t wait to be laid out in a private resort with unlimited drinks, cigars, and fucking all night long. My dick jumped at the thought of all the crazy ways I would fuck my wife silly. I’m sure she would come back pregnant and this time, she would carry our baby full term; I would make sure of that.
“Baby where we going?” Brooklyn broke my train of thought as Biggs made a slight detour before we head to the clear port.
“I got a little surprise for you.” I smirked.
“I’m really not in the mood for that baby.” She grabbed my hand looking at me confused.
“You trust me?” I asked her as Biggs pulled the Maybach in front of an old abandoned warehouse that was secluded out in the middle of nowhere.
“Of course, I do.” she squeezed my hand for reassurance.
I let go of her hand and stepped out of the car once Biggs opened the door. I knew she was more than confused but she followed me anyway.
“What the fuck?”
Chapter 23
Brooklyn
“What the fuck?” I couldn’t take my eyes off of Kassidy tied up to a chair in her bra and panties next to Gator who only had on a pair of boxers. “Khadi, what the hell is going on?”
“You said you wanted to be in attendance when I lay this bitch nigga out.” I pulled my gun from my waistband.
“I said Gator,” I finally locked eyes with the devil himself. “But Kassidy has nothing to do with this.” I watched as he walked towards Kassidy and ripped the duct tape off her mouth.
“Owwwwww… shit!” her voice echoed throughout the empty building.
“Tell her why you’re here, Kass.” Khadi tapped the side of her temple with the tip of his gun.
Gator sat quietly almost like he was accepting his fate, not squirming in his chair or even trying to say anything under the tape over his mouth. His eyes never left mine. I pulled my eyes away from his and focused on Kassidy.
