by Tee Jae
“Never hesitant when it comes to Khadi, Biggs, you should know that. As for her being pregnant, nobody gave a fuck about mine, so the feeling will always be mutual.” I turned around and walked out to the car while he cleaned up the mess I made.
Chapter 15
Toi
I laid sprawled out on the dingy, full-sized bed inside of the seedy Motel 6 with a tear stained face. I haven’t seen or heard KJ’s voice in two days and I was sick to my stomach. I hadn’t eaten anything or washed my funky ass since I checked in. All I did day and night was call Biggs and Roselina’s phone nonstop. Diesel had been calling me nonstop for the past few days and I hadn’t picked up one phone call because I was too scared to tell him what I got us into. I turned over and grabbed my cell phone off the night stand and listened to his most recent voicemail.
“Bitch, where the fuck you at with my son?” He spat into the phone, I imagined spit flying from his mouth as he left the voicemail, probably high off his own supply.
His threatening tone is what was scaring me into calling him back and tell him where I was. The thought of never seeing KJ or hearing his sweet little voice in my ear was enough for me to pick up the phone and finally call Diesel back.
“Bitch, you better be dead calling me on this phone right now.” His evil tone came through the speaker on my phone.
“D-D-Diesel, p-please.” I stuttered into the phone. “H-He took KJ.” I cried into the phone as my body trembled at the thought of never seeing KJ again.
“What the fuck you mean he took him? Who the fuck is he?”
I paused unsure if I wanted to tell him the actual truth or not.
FUCK IT!
“Khadi.” I screamed into the phone crying harder. “He took KJ from school back home. I-I don’t know how he found us, I’ve been back in the states trying to get him back. Please, baby, I can’t do this alone.”
He was silent most likely thinking to himself if he should buy my story or not. “Toi,” he finally spoke up after a long period of silence on the phone.
“Diesel.” I interrupted him, “Khadi said if we don’t pay him the money from my kidnapping, he will kill us both.”
“Fuck you mean kill us both bitch, you told him it as me?” His anger quickly returned.
“I had too I had no other explanation as to why I’m alive.” I shouted into the phone. “Getting KJ back is the only thing that matters right now. I need our baby back.”
“How I know you not setting me up?
I could hear the suspicion in his voice.
“Diesel, I love you! I wouldn’t do that to you baby, please we been going so strong for too long. We need our baby boy.” I cried laying it on thick. I would never let him know that my dumb ass came down to Miami thinking somehow Khadi would see me and rekindle anything we had.
My cry turned into lite whimpers as I listened to him cover up the phone with his hand while barking orders to the flunkies, he called soldiers before returning back to the phone, “I’m on my way, text me the address to the motel.” He hung up and I immediately dropped him my location and texted him the room number. I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders as I grabbed my bag and rushed to the bathroom to shower quickly and get some much needed rest.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The banging on the door woke me up scaring me shitless. I rubbed my eyes looking over at the old ass digital clock on the nightstand that read 9:13 p.m. in bright green numbers. I made my way to the door pulling it open,
“Diesel.” I opened my arms for a welcoming hug but instead got met with the man powered punch he delivered to my face. “What the fuck?” I grabbed my face trying to numb the pain as I staggered back from the hard blow. If he’d hit me any harder, I’d prolly be laid out unconscious on this dirty ass carpet.
“Bitch, you think a nigga stupid, huh?” He cocked his fists back again this time connecting it with my jaw. “What nigga would kidnap his own child?” He delivered blow after blow to my body until I surrendered and laid still like his own personal punching bag. I could barely feel any of my limbs, luckily, I was still breathing and could still see out of one of my eyes, while the other one was swollen shut. I kept it slightly open as I watched him ransack the motel room in search of my cell phone. Once he located it he roughly grabbed my arm and placed my thumb on the home button unlocking it.
I laid there holding my breath pretending to be unconscious in case he decided to beat on me some more which I’m sure would probably kill me. I felt his body lift off the bed and a few seconds later heard the door opening.
“Aye, Juan bring the car around let’s take a ride to my old hood so I can find out what the fuck really going on.”
“What about Toi?” I heard Juan ask.
“Nigga, don’t fucking worry about Toi, she’ll still be here when we get back. For her sake she better be telling the truth. If I find out she lying to me imma murk that bitch.”
Hearing those words come out of Diesel’s mouth froze my body with fear. I waited until I heard the car drive off, with the little life that was left in me I pulled my battered body from the bed holding myself up against the wall and made my way to the bathroom. Flipping on the light switch and tried to scream but quickly shut my mouth from my fractured jaw. The horrific figure that stared back at me in the mirror was unrecognizable from what I could see through my good eye. My hair was stuck to my head mixed with blood that covered my face. Although I felt like I would pass out at any minute I needed to get out here before the devil returned.
I scanned the room for my purse and found it flipped over with all my contents on the floor ad spotted my rental car key close to under the bed. I grabbed it and my wallet with identification and headed out. I felt myself going in and out of consciousness but knowing Diesel would be coming back to finish me off gave me enough strength to start the car and drive off with no destination. The hospital was a no go, knowing that would be the first place to look for me. There was only one place I knew to go to for safety. I pressed the gas a little harder and headed towards the highway.
Chapter 16
Brooklyn
I sat around the dining table with Biggs, Khali, Zo and Terrance. I had Mila prepare us a small feast from steaks, snow crabs, and few different signature dishes. I quietly sipped on a glass of champagne while everyone tore into their plates, except Terrance who was busy texting away on his cell phone.
“So, what’s this dinner all about?” Khali questioned raising a glass of champagne to her mouth.
I quickly leaned over and grabbed it out of her hand, “You’re breastfeeding.” I moved the glass to the other side of the table.
“If this dinner’s not about my baby daddy or my brothers coming home, I’m good on this, I did enough business for the day.”
“Terrance, put your phone away.” I demanded as he looked up from his phone surprised at my direct tone but reluctantly slid the phone in his pocket. “I called this dinner so I could fill everyone in on where we are and why I decided to bring in some more help.”
“Brooklyn, I don’t think that should be our main focus right now. We need our men back home first.” Khali complained.
I ignored her cause in few minutes she would be jumping for joy out of her chair. “Biggs and I got some good information before taking care of Damere.” I smirked feeling a sense of power.
“I fucking knew it!” Khali slapped her palm down on the table next to her plate. “You knew I wanted to kill that bitch.”
“Not as bad as me.” I replied, “So here’s what we know someone is alive out of the three victims they are trying to charge them with, I say its Kassidy.” I sat back in my chair thinking about any possible place she could be hiding.
“How we know it’s not Gator’s bitch ass?”
“Trust me, Gator would never testify, he would definitely try and take us out himself. Whoever it is we have to find out who it is and eliminate them in the next few days, but we have another issue.” I cleared my throat, “Felipe Ortiz and his daught
er, Yani.” I passed pictures down the table so everyone could know what our new enemies look like. “Ortiz beef is that his nephew was the one found on the estate after the shooting that killed Marcus.” I paused for a second remembering Marcus. “As for Yani, well, her problem is me.” I sighed to myself wondering when shit would ever be peaceful.
“So, who’s the extra help?” Terrance asked looking up from the photos asking the question everybody wanted to know the answer to. Just like the clockwork, the dining room doors opened up, grabbing everyone’s attention.
“Khazaaaaaaa!!!!!” Khali squealed jumping up from her chair and running into Khaza’s arms, damn near knocking him over.
I shrugged my shoulders as Biggs peeled his eyes away from Khaza looking at me in confusion, while Zo and Terrance got up and greeted Khaza. See, once I found out that a couple of our traps were getting hit and it was Yani asking about me around the city, I felt our problems were growing rapidly. We not only needed someone with brute force but Khaza belonged home with his family. When he called me, I could hear the sympathy in his voice plus the doctors and nurses all had good reports on him so I made the executive decision to bring him home. Technically, only Khadi was supposed to have the rights to do that but being that he is incarcerated I was power of attorney over everything.
Biggs finally got up and pulled Khaza in for a brotherly hug, I followed suit and then walked Khaza over to the head of the table taking over my seat.
“How did- I man- when did…” Khali tried to say.
Khaza smiled grabbing the already fixed plate from Mila’s hands. “I know you guys are hesitant but my meds have done wonders for the kid. My whole mindset is different, I realized that without them I’m no good for my family and my family is something I don’t ever want to be without.” He genuinely spoke.
He looked great too, he had this different aura about him that gave me a good vibe. Like the vibe we all had when I first came down to Miami. He got rid of his boyish spongey haircut and was now rocking a low-cut Caesar fade and his beard was lined up nice. The red Givenchy jogging suit he had on was fitted and not falling off his ass and he even took his nose ring out.
The smiles on everyone’s faces let me know I made the right decision by bringing Khaza home. Plus, running this family’s empire was harder than I thought. Now I don’t regret killing Damere but that shit was riding my back like kryptonite. My only worry was what Khadi would say, but right now we had to focus on getting them home and taking care of the Ortiz’s.
“What’s up with the sniper’s on the roof?” Khaza asked calmly before stuffing a fork full of Lobster Mac n Cheese in his mouth.
I had been doing a little research on Yani and I found out she was a trained sniper so I had to stay one step ahead of that bitch. I also heard from the streets that Felipe sent a few more men down here to Miami to watch over her. She was a widow because of me and I understood that, but I didn’t plan on being one anytime soon.
“We have problems.” Khali nervously laughed. “Honestly, I just want things to go back to normal. It’s like we are walking around our own city with a target on our backs.” She stated exactly how I was feeling.
Khaza placed his hand over hers in comfort, “Baby girl, yo’ big bro back now so y’all can go back to living semi-normal, I’ll take care of that now.”
This was a relief to everyone, especially me! Don’t get me wrong, running Khadi’s empire was fun; bossing all those grown ass men around but I needed to focus more on my husband and his case. Catching my first body wasn’t making it easier either every since I knocked Damere off that bitch been haunting me in my dreams most nights.
“Well, I’m glad you’re home.” Biggs raised his glass in the air and everyone followed suit. “Salute.”
“Salute.” Everyone said in unison.
“Khaza, if you ever go off your medicine and leave us again, I swear you will be my first body.”
We all laughed right before Tank, one of our newest bodyguards rushed through the doors, “Rooftop just called down. An unauthorized vehicle making its way to the estate.” He held his earpiece listening, “They confirmed it’s a female.”
Rebel and Remy stood at attention aware of trouble in the air. I swear I love those dogs. Everyone that was strapped pulled out their weapons as we moved toward the front of the house like one unit. Khaza, of course, was already on some Rambo shit pulling the front door as we watched the silver Toyota Camry slowly roll up the driveway before it loudly crashed into the waterfall in the front yard. The headlights blared brightly making it hard for us to clearly see inside of the vehicle. Khaza took a step down with his gun aimed at the car.
“Khaza… wait.” I stepped down grabbing his shoulder holding him back, “Rebel…Remy GO!” I sent both dogs out to the car first to sniff out any set up or bullshit. One bark from either of them would let us know it was a trap. Once they made their way back toward us and stood guard next to me and Khali. The door to the car slightly opened causing everyone to raise their guns on alert. I squinted as I watched the womanly figure emerge from the car.
“State your name,” Khaza yelled loudly across the yard pointing his gun directly at the woman who looked like she was having a hard time standing.
“What the fuck?” Zo raised his gun right before she fell to the ground. “Shit look like a trap to me, them dogs ain’t as smart as y’all think.”
Before anyone could move any further down the front steps, Biggs rushed down to the bottom of the steps stopping us. “I know who it is.’ He sighed looking back at the helpless woman laying on the ground before turning around and connecting his eyes with mine.
“Well, who is it?” Khali impatiently asked after a few seconds passed.
“It’s Toi.” He answered never taking his eyes off of mine.
“Toi’s dead.” Khaza and Khali said at the same time.
It was so quiet outside you could hear a rat piss on cotton. I felt like everyone’s eyes were glued to me.
“Khaza.” A woman’s voice could be heard from behind, causing everyone to turn around and raise their weapons again; everyone except me, my eyes stayed on Biggs.
“Everyone chill, that’s my girlfriend Angel.” Was the last thing I heard before making my way back into the house to my master suite to let this shit sink in.
Chapter 17
Khadi
“You motherfucker!” Brooklyn bum rushed me as soon as I walked through the door of the private visitation room. “I asked you… nah scratch that, I damn near begged you not to do this to me.” She was now pacing the floor like Yvette in Baby Boy with tears streaming down her face. “All that shit you was talking about your woman always standing beside you and never having to worry about any bitch coming between us was BULLSHIT. That bitch been around here somewhere raising your son and my blind ass fell for all that shit you was spitting.”
“Then what you here for?” That was enough to stop her dead in her tracks. I knew I was being harsh and no way in hell was I leaving Brooklyn for Toi but she needed to realize that shit not me. “You walk up in here questioning my loyalty to you thinking I’m hiding something, what the fuck you come here for?”
“Fuck you Khadi!” she balled up her fists and punched me in my chest. “Fuck you!” she punched me again. “I’ve been out there holding you down keeping your shit together and-…”
“Nah, you been out there keeping OUR shit together. That’s what the fuck you supposed to be doing.” My face crossed in irritation. I was clearly thinking what’s mines is hers and vice versa but look like she was thinking differently.
“But for what though? Huh? Only to find out you not any better than Gator. I could’ve stayed with his ass if I knew you were hiding an old girlfriend and a fucking child.”
She raised up her fists to punch me again but I grabbed her hands and shoved her up against the wall. “The fuck you say?” I was so close to her face I could smell her morning smoothie on her breath. “You better calm the fuck down and don’t
ever compare me to that bitch ass nigga again. I’m your husband I would never do nothing to purposely hurt you, you know that B.” I hooked her chin trying to get her to look at me but she just kept her head down letting the tears silently fall. We had court in less than a few days and the last thing I needed was my wife to be on some bullshit. I picked her up and carried her to the table as flashbacks of Toi laying butt ass naked on it a few days ago skipped through my mind. Sitting her down I forced myself between her legs forcing her to look at me. “Brooklyn, I just found out about Toi being alive a couple of days ago. That’s what I needed to talk to you about today I was waiting on maman to get back with me on the DNA results.”
I swear it felt like she stopped breathing as her eyes turned into slits. “Your mama knew about this shit before me?” she tried to move off the table but I locked her in, “You know your mama would love to hang that shit over my head. She probably told Toi where we stay.” She was fuming with anger at this point.
“I asked her to get KJ and get him tested B. I needed to know first, before I brought this shit to you.”
“So everyone knew except me? The fuck Khadi, I’m your fucking wife!” she spat with more hurt in her voice than anger this time.
“Not everyone B, only Biggs and Maman.” I answered hoarsely damn near losing my voice. I seen that look that Brooklyn had in her eyes it was the same look she had when I was waiting in her house back in Atlanta when she was hurt enough to leave that fuck nigga. I was scared to raise my voice at this point, imagine that a boss nigga like me scared to raise his voice but when it came to my wife, I was bitch-made.
“So, is he yours?” She asked. I felt her body tense up waiting for me to answer.
I was frustrated as fuck, mainly because I knew I was about to break her heart. Maman had called me early this morning confirming that KJ was indeed mine. I knew the dynamic of our family was about to change. I could only hope and pray my wife would stick around, “Yes… he’s mine.” I finally answered her, bracing myself for a slap, a punch or something. Nothing came but silence. “B, I swear I didn’t know Toi was alive until she showed up here.” I shut up quick when I realized what I just said.