Blood Ties

by Shaun Sinclair

  “Here, grab another drink, cuz!” Pug forced the Hennessey down Justus’s throat, spilling a little onto his linen suit. The suit was a present from Nikki. “You a fuckin’ man, now!” Pug bellowed.

  “Damn, Pug, you gonna kill him!” Nikki protested. From the moment Justus walked in the door, Nikki had been by his side, staking her claim.

  “Naw, he alright,” responded Pug, drunker than all get out. “This my nigga here.”

  “Whateva. Come on Jus.” Nikki grabbed Justus’s arm, pulling him into the kitchen where they ran into Gloria.

  “Heeeey baabaay!!” Gloria reached to hug Justus. Justus caught the strong whiff of every alcohol at the party. “You having fun?”

  “Yeah Auntie.”

  “Good,” she slurred. “Where y’all going?” Gloria asked when she noticed Nikki leading Justus by the arm. Justus shrugged his shoulders, but kept following Nikki.

  “We going home, Ms. Gloria.” Nikki answered for the both of them. Gloria stalled for a moment then released a loud cackle.

  “Nikki, what you ’bout to do to my nephew gurl?”

  “Everything he can handle, Ms. Gloria.”

  “Ooh chile! Don’t you go fuckin’ my nephew to death. He graduating tomorrow. Now Justus, don’t let this old heifer drain your youth. You be safe for your graduation tomorrow ’cause I’ma be there standing proud when my baby walk across that stage, ya hear?” Gloria smiled brightly, revealing her gold bicuspid teeth. Pug entered the kitchen, observed what was going on and got on his mother.

  “Ma, leave ’em alone so they can go. It’s getting late.”

  “Whateva,” Gloria sucked her teeth before walking off. Nikki excused herself to the car while Pug collared Justus and offered him weed, ecstasy, and some shit Justus had never heard of. Justus declined, but settled for extra condoms before joining Nikki in the car.

  The whole ride over to Nikki’s place, Justus was silent as R. Kelly’s classic album, TP2, bumped from the speakers. All he kept thinking was, this is it. This is it. He silently prayed that his dick wouldn’t go limp from anticipation, or that he wouldn’t bust early from excitement, though he did have a remedy for that. He tried to telepathically send Nikki the same request R. Kelly was making on the radio: “Don’t you say no tonight . . .”

  Justus would not be disappointed this night, for as soon as they crossed Nikki’s threshold, she thrust her tongue into Justus’s mouth hungrily. Justus reciprocated as best he could, but Nikki passion was intensified by the alcohol she had consumed at the party. The more he matched her desire, the hungrier she grew. Nikki suddenly clutched Justus’s erect penis in her hand through his trousers and eyed him sternly. She practically demanded he look at her. “I want you so bad,” she whispered to him through kisses. Justus almost lost his load right there on the spot, but he held strong.

  Nikki stepped out of her skirt and walked into the bedroom in nothing but her heels and a G-sting. She paused at the door and curled her finger for Justus to follow.

  Justus followed in Nikki’s footsteps, mesmerized by her beauty. Nikki’s body was everything he dreamed it to be. He filed away the visual of Nikki’s heart-shaped ass for later and entered the bedroom.

  Nikki stripped him of his clothes and kissed his chest while stroking him at the same time. Justus pushed her on the bed and began an exploration of his own. Nikki’s skin was so soft, it seemed to melt in his mouth. When Justus slid her G-string down her legs unimpeded he was met with an adrenaline rush like he had conquered the world. He stared in silent admiration at her flawless body. Not a single blemish was on her skin. NO stretch marks, or nothing. Just beautiful light skin with red nipples and a perfectly manicured landing strip below. Justus had never eaten pussy in his life, and he had never even had an inclination to do so, but upon seeing Nikki’s beauty sprawled across the bed, he knew he had to go above and beyond to please her.

  But first he had to do one thing.

  Justus quickly leaped from the bed and sprinted to the adjoining bathroom, leaving Nikki’s squirming on the bed. Once inside the bathroom he conjured up the image of Nikki walking in front of him and used it to work himself to a climax, just as Pug had instructed him to. According to Pug, the first nut always came fast, especially if you were anxious. To combat this, and not be called a minuteman, you put the first one in the toilet, automatically giving you staying power. Then you could focus on foreplay while waiting for your dick to get back hard. If it worked, women would say that you were unselfish in bed and you had staying power. A win-win. With Nikki, Justus wanted to win-win-win so he did as he was told. Unbeknownst to Justus, his plan worked better than expected. His brief exit allowed Nikki’s temperature to rise and fall, prolonging the experience.

  When Justus emerged from the bathroom, Nikki was more than ready. Her sweet aroma filled the whole room. Justus wasted no time picking up where he left off. He kissed and sucked all the requisite places before venturing down south. After softly kissing Nikki’s inner thigh, he plunged his tongue directly into her center. He didn’t know any techniques. He just mimicked what he saw the men do on Pornhub. Nikki’s shrill cry let him know he was onto something, and before long, he caught a rhythm. He quickly learned he couldn’t hesitate when it came to oral sex. He had to go hard or go home. Justus was quickly rewarded for his revelation for the more he got into it, the more Nikki screeched his name and grabbed his big ears. Justus couldn’t believe it! He had never gotten a response from a female like this. He almost wanted to continue eating her all night.

  Almost.

  Justus removed his face from Nikki’s pleasure center and tried to stealth her but Nikki checked him quick.

  “Unh-unh. You better strap up.”

  “Word?”

  “Word nigga.”

  “A’ight, a’ight.”

  Justus slid a condom on and entered Nikki real slow. The moment he touched the inside of her flesh it felt as if he had been born again. For years he had fantasized about this moment. Nikki had been his unicorn, a mythical creature that only existed in his dreams. Now, he was achieving his dream.

  Justus sank himself in slowly inch by inch until all of his thick member was embedded inside of Nikki. He remained dead-man still, savoring every moment of ecstasy. Nikki was tighter, hotter, and wetter than his best dream. Each stroke was a slice of disbelief. He couldn’t believe he was actually plunging his manhood inside of Nikki. He couldn’t believe she was really scratching his back, calling his name. He couldn’t believe he was really about to . . .

  Oh shit.

  He felt it, but he wasn’t sure so he didn’t stop. He kept pumping into that magical place where worries ceased to exist. The magical place where a man realized his true power. Young Justus continued his journey from a boy to a man, not stopping until he released his whole load right night inside of Nikki.

  “Shit Jus!” Nikki moaned, kicking him off her. “The rubber bust!”

  “Say word?”

  “WORD nigga!” Nikki stormed into the bathroom and slammed the door behind her. Justus heard water running, the toilet flushing, then silence. He walked to the door with his semi-flaccid penis swinging in the wind. He knocked gently then pushed the door slightly ajar. Nikki was sitting on the toilet with her head in her hands.

  “What’s wrong, Nikki?”

  “What’s wrong? Didn’t you just hear what I said, Justus? The rubber bust. You bust a whole fuckin’ nut inside of me.” Nikki looked at Justus with contempt. She shook her head, “I can’t have no more kids right now. It’s hard enough taking care of the one I got now.”

  Justus said nothing.

  “I knew it. I fuckin’ knew it!” She slapped her head in frustration. “It’ll be just my luck, your li’l young ass will knock me up.” Nikki looked at Justus’s dick with contempt before burying her head back into her palms.

  Justus grabbed Nikki by the hand, “Come ’ere.”

  “What?” Nikki stood.

  Justus grabbed her hands, pulling her to
him. He locked eye contact and promised, “As long as I have breath in my body, you’ll never have to worry about anything. You hear me?” He clasped her chin into his thumb and forefinger. “I mean it, Nikki. I love you, gurl.”

  “Well, love don’t pay no bills, buy no diapers—” Justus shushed her with is index finger.

  “What? You don’t believe in me?”

  “Jus, you don’t even have a job.” Nikki whined.

  “Look, let’s cut the bullshit. I got a spot guaranteed with my father. If that’s not enough, I’ll mob down with Pug and get paid. Bottom line: you won’t want for anything. Money is the least of our worries.”

  Justus’s sincerity impressed Nikki, but she didn’t think he realized how serious having a child could be. She laid her head on Justus’s chest. “Jus, I don’t want another drug-dealer for a boyfriend,” she whispered.

  “I know baby, and that’s not my M.O.” Justus admitted. “But I will do whatever it takes to make sure the world is placed at your feet.”

  Nikki looked at Justus thoughtfully, “That’s so sweet, Justus.”

  “I mean it too.”

  Nikki kissed his cheek. “We getting all worked up over nothing. I may not even be pregnant. This was supposed to be a celebration.”

  “I know. I just want you to know I got you.”

  Nikki smiled. “I know. I believe you.”

  Justus ended up taking Nikki in the bathroom, then again on the bed. As they lay in each other’s arms, Nikki feeling secure, Justus feeling like he had climbed Mount Everest, the house phone rang. The machine picked up the call and wrecked their night. It was Jock, and he was pissed.

  “Nikki?! Nikki?! Bitch, pick up the phone! I know you hear me. That’s a’ight. You got that young nigga riding around in my shit?! I ain’t gon’ be in here forever. I’ma see both you mu’fuckas when I get out. Watch!”

  Chapter 8

  Cumberland County Civic Center was crowded with graduates from four area high schools. 71st Senior High, Pine Forest, E.E. Smith, and Douglas Byrd all held their graduation ceremonies on the same day. 71st was late in the order so Justus was forced to sit through three graduations. The graduates were seated in a separate section from the audience so Justus did not see either of his parents. He was able to locate his Aunt Gloria in the middle of the crowd, seated with Nikki, Jackie, and his little sister Keisha, looking impatient. Pug was not present. He did not do the high school scene. His gift was the party the previous night, therefore Nikki had taken his ticket.

  Justus spotted Nikki seated beside his Aunt and his heart skipped a beat. Nikki was clearly the baddest chick in the building. He caught a woody admiring her regal look. Her hair was pinned up and she wore a satin dress the color of her skin. Her wide hips spilled out of the tight seat. Justus couldn’t determine if he was in love or in an intense state of infatuation. Whatever it was, it warmed his soul.

  As irony would have it, Panee was seated next to Justus because their names fell behind each other on the senior roster. Justus Moore and Panee Locklear. Justus hadn’t seen much of Panee since the day she had broken off their relationship. He had been so upset about it that he really didn’t care if he saw her or not. Besides he had been with a woman now. Everything else paled in comparison. Nikki was five years older than him, and almost seven years older than Panee. What did he need with a little girl now?

  Panee was having a difficult time dealing with Justus’s cold shoulder routine. She knew she had broken off what they shared, but thought he could at least be civil. As it stood, Justus had only said one word to her all night: Congratulations.

  Douglas Byrd’s graduates were finishing up, so Justus’s class was being summoned backstage to prepare. Surveying the crowd once again, Justus still failed to locate his parents. He consulted his watch and noted they should’ve been there an hour ago.

  Backstage, Justus adjusted his red gown in preparation to walk across the stage. He planned on acting a fool when he received his diploma. No more bullshit teachers. No more hating-ass-wannabe-thugs. No more sleeping in class due to lack of interest. Justus couldn’t wait to cross the stage a graduate. The sooner this was over, the sooner he could dig Nikki out again.

  Justus’s turn across the stage seemed to come quicker than expected. It seemed in no time, his name was announced. He swaggered across the stage to Principal Patterson with his arms raised triumphantly. Catcalls and shouts rang out from the crowd as Justus’s associates and admirers gave him his props. Justus accepted his diploma (along with a stern look) from Principal Patterson, then pimped backstage to join his crew, where Magi was the first to greet him. Justus felt proud, but his mind was in another place. While he did see Aunt Glo and Nikki cutting up when he crossed the stage, he still hadn’t located his parents.

  Now he was worried. His mother would never miss seeing her only son graduate. The video Gloria was shooting would not suffice. His mother wanted to see this in person. Justus milled about backstage until the ceremony was completed, then met his family in the auxiliary room.

  “Congratulations baby!” Nikki planted a juicy kiss on Justus’s lips while his classmates looked on in awe.

  Gloria hugged Justus then handed him a neatly wrapped package. “This is from us. Oh, and Pug told me to give you this,” she added, giving Justus a sealed envelope. Justus knew the envelope contained cash, but he wasn’t concerned about that right now.

  “Thanks Auntie. Where’s my mom and dad though?”

  Gloria shrugged her shoulders, “Honey, I don’t know. They dropped Keisha off and were supposed to meet us here.”

  “So, you haven’t heard from them since?”

  “Nope. Not since this morning. Why?”

  “Nothing,” Justus lied, disappointment evident on his face. He recalled his parents arguing, but he didn’t think it was that serious to warrant them missing the most important day of his life.

  “Honey, don’t worry, she ain’t miss nothing. I got it all right here,” Gloria tapped her Galaxy phone for proof.

  “That’s right, Jus. I’m sure they’re proud of you,” Nikki interjected, stroking his back.

  “I know I am,” Keisha punched him in the arm.

  After taking pictures on the lawn, Justus ventured to the car to remove his gown.

  It was then he saw him.

  Leader was standing in front of a car that he had used to block Gloria’s car off with. The first thing Justus noticed was Leader’s attire. He was clad in all black with his pants tucked inside of his combat boots. Clearly not ceremonial clothing. The next thing Justus noticed was that Leader was alone.

  Justus ran over to Leader. “ ’Sup Dad? Where’s Mom?”

  Leader briefly dropped his head then looked at Justus with sad eyes. Before he could answer, Gloria joined them.

  “Hey John, where is my sister at? How come y’all late?” Gloria had a thousand questions, but Leader was not ready to entertain any of them. He was obviously carrying a heavy load.

  “Hello everyone. Sorry I’m late,” Leader offered, showing his discomfort. “I don’t mean any disrespect, but I need to speak with my son for a second. Alone.”

  “What’s happening, John?” Gloria demanded.

  “Not now, Glo. We’ll talk when I get back,” Leader promised, pulling Justus away.

  Leader climbed behind the wheel of the car while Justus fell into the passenger seat. Leader peeled off, leaving Nikki, Gloria, and Keisha dumbfounded.

  Inside the car, Leader was silent. Justus could smell the wheels turning inside his head. Something was not right. Justus’s curiosity was expelled when Leader finally revealed what had happened.

  “So, I have some bad news and some worse news,” Leader said.

  “What is it, Dad? What’s going on?”

  Leader sighed. “I’ve lived all my life so that the things I had to do to provide for my family wouldn’t affect my family. You understand that, right?”

  “Yeah, Dad, I know. Why are you reminding me of this?”r />
  Leader wiped his face with his open palms and sighed again. “I fucked up, son. I let my shit become our shit, and now someone has taken your mom.”

  “What?! What do you mean ‘took’ her?”

  Leader turned onto Highway 301 and checked the rearview mirror. “This guy I had a beef with years ago just came home and decided to reignite things with me. He made a move on me before I knew he was home. He kidnapped your mom this morning when she was leaving the salon, and now he’s demanding a ransom,” Leader explained.

  Justus’s mind was blown. He couldn’t fathom his mother, his world, the woman that lit up his life being abducted and in harm’s way. “How much is the ransom?” Justus asked. His voice cracked a little but he caught himself.

  “There is no amount of money that is worth your mother’s life, so the money is not the issue,” Leader assured his son. “However, there is no amount of money that can fix this situation,” he added.

  Justus imagined his mother being tortured and abused. The vision was enough to send his stomach into somersaults. “So, where is she? Do you know where she is? Are we going to get her now?” he asked.

  Leader rode in silence for a full minute before he responded to Justus’s questions. “I’m not going to lie to you, son. This is going to get ugly. There are a lot of things you don’t know about me, but after tonight you will,” he promised. “Now I have $250,000 in that knapsack on the backseat, money that I gathered to get your mom back. But first, I need to know how you feel about this?”

  Justus looked at his father. “Whatchu mean?”

  “I mean, how do you feel about some punk-ass muthafucka having the nerve to take your mother—on your graduation day no less—and demand money for her?!”