“If you say so, my nigga,” Bogus smiled, as he scrolled through his iPhone. “But anyway, I guess you aint swinging through the hood today, huh?”
Rashad glanced his way. “Hadn’t planned on it. Why, what’s up?”
“Shit, nothing, really. I’m just sliding through to kick it. Probably shoot some dice, fuck with some hoes. Who knows.”
Rashad sucked his teeth. “Nigga, you’on get tired of the same shit, day in and day out?”
Bogus shrugged. “Nah. That’s the hood. I’ma always fuck around. What is you saying?”
“I’m saying that shit changes,” Rashad appealed. “You getting to the money, but wanna kick it in the same environment where niggas are still starving. I know firsthand what it’s like to be on the other side of that fence. Nigga, I wasn’t happy for nobody who made it out before me. And I know that’s some fuck shit, but it’s the truth. All them niggas who’d come back to the hood looked like licks to me. That’s it. And I aint care how cool them niggas was, either. We was all in the same game, as far as I was concerned. And if I had to choose whether I was gonna go to bed hungry or them…it was always them. I never discriminated. The hood loves nobody, nigga. It’s filled with crabs. Killed or be killed. Remember that.”
Bogus squinted. “So, it’s fuck everybody back there, still trying to make it?”
Rashad shook his head. “I never said that. I’m just reminding you of the mentality of a lot of the niggas back there on Spice Lane. I done preyed too much over there to ever go back and hang comfortably. And you done been right by my side more than a few times, so I know that your hands aint clean, either. Yet you be moving like shit is sweet. I just don’t want you to get caught slipping.”
Bogus nodded, as he licked his lips. “Say, I hear you, fam. But I aint never sleep at the wheel. You can best believe that, jack.”
“Alright, as long as you hear me,” Rashad clamored, as his cell vibrated. Checking the screen, he saw who the caller was. “Hey, what’s up?” he answered.
“You back in the city, yet?” Kim wasted no time questioning.
“Yeah, I’m right outside of Katy.”
“Oh, good, cause I was about to say.”
He smiled. “You was about to say what?”
“That you needed to carry your ass on home before it be a problem.”
He chuckled. “Girl, watch out. It was gonna be a problem, huh? How is that?”
“You was gon see.”
“Yeah, okay. You must miss daddy or somethin’.”
“Hmm, maybe.”
“Maybe? Oh, you wanna play, I see. So, I guess it’s cool if I take my time getting there then, huh?”
“Nigga, please. Don’t make me hop in my car and come find you,” she playfully threatened.
“Uh huh, that’s what I thought. Did one of yall cook?”
“Uh, I think my mama did. You know she put your plate up. You can eat that, after you handle the main course in this room back here.”
He snickered. “You wild, man.”
“Aye, Rashad,” Kass interrupted. “Can you stop at King Crab’s, before you drop me off to my car? I’m hungry.”
Kim sucked her teeth, after hearing Kass’ voice. “That bitch rode with you to Austin?”
Rashad sighed heavily. “Yeah, man.”
“Tuh,” Kim spat. “And that’s my que.” She ended the call.
“Fuck,” Rashad vented, as he dropped his phone into his lap. “Kass, you down bad for that one. On God.”
Bogus lightly chuckled.
Kass animatedly jerked her head back. “What did I do?”
Rashad huffed. “Come on, man, you know exactly what you did. You just had to make your presence known, huh?”
She fluttered her lashes. “Was I supposed to keep quiet like some side bitch?”
“Nah, but you knew that you was being messy,” he insisted.
“No, I was being hungry, just like I said. It aint my fault that your broad is insecure. If anything, I’d be checking into that, if I was you. It’s mighty funny how she’s constantly in the club, bopped out, but wanna throw a fit whenever you handle business with me. Something aint right about that. Sounds like a guilty conscious to me.”
Bogus scratched the side of his face, which captured Rashad’s attention.
“You got something you wanna add to that?”
Bogus shrugged. “What she said made a lot of sense. I mean, I could understand her issue with Kass at first, but it’s been a minute, and she’s still tripping. The shit is beginning to seem more and more like a cop out. She’s plexed up about the same issue every other week, which got you constantly kissing ass, spending money, and letting her have her way. The shit is hella convenient.”
“Trying to tell ya,” Kass concurred. “I think she’s being manipulative. Then yall niggas better be careful. You can be grooming these scandalous bitches for a even bigger nigga. You done put her in the perfect position. She’s running with the plug’s bitch. They’re linking with real celebrities. Athletes, rappers, and actors follow your broad on the Gram. You’re always on the go, and she don’t seem to have a problem with going to clubs without you. Aint no telling what she’s out there doing. Shit, if I was her, I’d be picking dry fights too. Now she got a excuse to be posted up with her friends, even though you fresh off the road.”
Rashad shook his head. “Nah, like I said, get you some business, cause clearly you’on know what you talking about. Kim aint like them thirsty hoes you thinking about. She’s cut different. She aint playing no games. Just a lil’ territorial when it comes to me. And that’s understandable.”
Kass pursed her lips. “Yeah, okay. Keep on living in that fantasy world. You’ll wake up one day. Trust me. In the meantime, stop at King Crab’s. That’s all I want, sir.”
***
Pulling into his driveway, Rashad swallowed hard. Everyone’s cars were parked out front, except Kim’s. She hadn’t answered the phone since hanging up on him earlier, and he’d been holding out hope that she was still at home, especially after listening to Kass talk her shit. Kim hadn’t given him a reason to doubt her, however, her getting heated over Kass’ presence was beginning to wear him out.
These days, if something wasn’t going her way, Kim didn’t bother standing in the paint, going to war with him. Instead, she’d hop up and channel her energy elsewhere. Initially, Rashad took this as her avoiding conflict to keep the peace but was now beginning to see things from a new perspective. Perhaps, she’d been checking out, leaving home, and living her life as a single woman for a few hours. He didn’t know what to think and it was never good to let his mind wonder.
Stepping into his home, he found his kids running around the living room. Time seemed to be passing by so quickly, as Junior was now wobbling on his little feet. “Daddy!” they both imploded, after laying eyes upon him.
“What’s up?” he smiled, while scooping them both into his arms. “Yall missed me?” he kissed them.
They both nodded, before he placed them both back on their feet.
Lifting his head, Rashad noticed that Glenda had dozed off on the couch. “Aye, auntie,” he spoke loudly, wanting to interrupt her nap. Her eyes popped open as she frantically glanced around, prompting him to laugh. “You was sleeping good, huh?”
“Nah, nah,” she denied, while wiping the drool off her chin.
“Shit, the hell you wasn’t,” Kay hissed, as she switched into the living room with a laundry basket in tow. “What’s up, son-in-law?” she spoke to Rashad, as she flopped down on the couch.
“Aw, nothing,” Rashad stretched. “I see you holding down the fort, as usual.”
“Yep,” Kay agreed, as she folded a shirt. “By my damn self. Glenda don’t need to collect a penny for this week. She’s been napping and gambling. That’s it. You need to send her ass packing, if she aint trying to find herself a job, and pay some bills around here.”
Glenda cut her eyes at her sister. “Kay, really?”
“Yes, really, Glenda. Aint no free rides over here,” Kay scoffed.
Rashad scratched his forehead, wanting no parts of that conversation. “Say, uh, yall know where Kim at?”
“No, she didn’t mention where she was headed,” Kay alleged.
“Yeah, her and that Taraj girl got dressed up and went somewhere,” Glenda added. “I know I heard them say something about Mya and a day party.”
He frowned. “A day party? She going a lil’ too far with this partying shit. I mean, yall are here to help with the kids, but not raise ‘em.”
Silence filled the room, as Glenda realized that she’d probably said too much. Although they were the elders of the household, they primarily minded their own business, and Kim had no problems reminding them to do so when need be. There was absolutely no question about who the lady of the house was, and heads would roll if this conversation was to get back to Kim.
Shaking his head, Rashad headed upstairs, feeling exhausted. Once he reached his bedroom, he called Kim’s cell a few more times, only to catch her voicemail. Unquestionably, he was teed off, however, his fatigue overtook him, as he drifted off to sleep without hearing from her.
After sleeping for roughly three hours, his eyes popped open, while his cell rang off the hook. As usual, business was calling, but he couldn’t focus on that. Sitting up in his bed, he attempted to call Kim’s phone for what felt like the millionth time. Listening to her phone ring, he grew infuriated.
“This bitch gon make me lose my cool on her,” he mumbled to himself, as he ended the call, and hopped on Instagram.
Scrolling through both Kim and Taraj’s pages, he noticed that they were both quiet. Of course, he wasn’t convinced that they weren’t turning up, though. For some reason, they’d just decided not to post it. Automatically, his phone went from story to story on the Gram, until it landed on Ray Kay’s. He was a trapper turned rapper from Spice Lane, who’d used his big dope money to fund his rap career. Apparently, he was having a video shoot and was personally filming behind the scenes with his phone. The cat had seemingly become fixated on two girls in particular, as he filmed them while they shamelessly twerked on one another.
After watching a few more clips, Rashad gritted his teeth, while scrolling through his contacts, and dialed out Taz.
“Aye, what’s poppin’, nigga?” Taz answered his cell.
“Aint shit,” Rashad responded. “What you got up?”
“Nothing too much. I got my kids with me. I guess we about to fade this park or some shit.”
“Daddy duties, huh? I can dig it. I guess you let Taraj go have her lil’ fun with the girls today, right?”
Taz breathed. “Yeah, something like that. She really got out by the skin of her teeth, keeping it real. Ion know what’s been going on with her and their lil’ crew, lately. They been acting like some fucking big ass kids and shit. Always trying to be seen and shit. I told her to sit her ass down somewhere, so she better live it up today. Cause after this…aint shit for a minute.”
“Main,” Rashad stressed. “I feel that shit, like a muthafucka. Kim gon make me get out of character. Straight up. But say, uh, you familiar with this nigga named Ray Kay?”
“Ray Kay? That nigga be moving a lil’ somethin’. He from your section, aint he?”
“Yeah, he from Spice Lane.”
“Okay, yeah, I’m familiar. What about him?”
“You follow him on the Gram?”
“Nah, I don’t, but I believe his shit open, aint it?”
“It is.”
“Okay…”
“Go glance at that nigga’s story, right quick.”
“A’ight,” Taz agreed, before doing as he was instructed. Rashad waited patiently, giving him the opportunity to review the story. “Oh, I see what this nigga is on.”
“Exactly.”
“Yeah, and this hoe gone make me break her fucking neck. She know Ion play with her like this,” Taz fumed. “Say, let me hit you back, man. I gotta call Taraj and handle up, ASAP.”
“For sho’,” Rashad agreed, while wearing a conning smirk. “Handle your business, my nigga. Pronto.”
***
“You can get the biggest Chanel bag in the store if you want it. I gave 'em the drip, they sucked it up, I got 'em on it. I bought a new Patek, I had the watch, so I two-toned 'em. Takin' these drugs, I'm gon' be up until the morning. That ain't your car, you just a leaser, you don't own it. If I'm in the club, I got that fire when I'm performin'—"
“Aye!” Kim wagged her tongue, as the deejay blasted her song. “Drip too hard, don't stand too close. You gon' fuck around and drown off this wave!”
“Bad lil' vibe, she been on my mind. Soon as I get back, she gettin' slayed,” Taraj rapped along to the song, as she bounced to the beat.
For five songs straight, Kim, Taraj, and Anya had been on the dance floor, jigging to the music. Mya had invited them to the ultimate day party/video shoot at club Clè, which was comprised of an outside pool area, and they’d been having the time of their lives. They were all donning Dolce, dripping hard as hell. The drinks had been flowing complimentary of Ray Kay, and they’d been taking full advantage of his generosity.
Kim couldn’t deny that linking with Taraj was always a guaranteed good time. So, the minute Rashad pissed her off, she didn’t hesitate to hit her line to see what was happening for the day. Admittedly, trusting him was becoming harder than what she was comfortable with, and instead of stressing herself out about what could possibly be going on behind her back, she’d step out, releasing some steam. Hanging with her girls gave her a sense of freedom, as she temporarily forgot about any issues that awaited her at home. While out turning up, they all had tunnel vision, focusing solely on the task at hand.
Holding her phone, she could feel it vibrating in her hand, constantly. The fact that she now had Rashad’s undivided attention gave her mixed emotions. To anyone from the outside looking in, things appeared kosher between them, but she’d have to vehemently disagree. No, she wasn’t totally unhappy with him, but she would be lying if she didn’t admit that she sometimes felt neglected. He just never had enough time to give her and the kids, then combine that with the amount of time he’d spend with another woman, and there was enough pressure brewing to bust a pipe.
Even after he swore up and down that quitting the legit job would spell out more time for her, that didn’t last for long. The streets were just too demanding, and as she found herself not wanting to be a nag, she complained about it less. She’d literally suppress how she felt in order to keep the peace. Then as long as she seemed to be right where he wanted her, Rashad was cool. He wasn’t pressed about her, one bit. He moved about town, doing him. It wasn’t until she’d step out of the square that he’d run her down, and she was growing tired of that. Initially, she thought his concern was cute, but was now beginning to view it as a form of control. The nigga was too nonchalant about her, until she wasn’t waiting at home in that bed, waiting to suck his dick.
“The fuck?” Taraj spoke over the loud music, as she gazed down at her phone. “Aye, yall come walk with me, right quick. Taz just texted me, telling me to call him ASAP. Let me see what the hell is going on.”
Both Kim and Anya nodded, before following Taraj to a sitting area, which was away from the loud music. Taking a seat on the couch, Taraj called Taz on speaker.
“Hey, bae, what’s up?” she asked him, while Kim and Anya sat next to her comfortably.
“The fuck you mean?!” Taz barked, catching everybody off guard.
Neither Kim nor Anya had ever witnessed Taz speak this aggressively. He had this naturally dangerous appeal about himself, but his demeanor was always cool. Therefore, this side of him was definitely new to them.
Taraj frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“Say, Taraj, stop fucking playing with me,” he fumed. “That’s what you better stop fucking doing. The fuck is you doing all over that nigga’s Ray Kay’s story, shaking ya ass and shit, looking like a fucki
ng thot?”
“On Ray Kay’s story?” she scratched her head.
“Yeah, is you a fucking parrot now? You heard what the fuck I said!” he shouted. “Stop playing stupid! You gon make me pull up, and we both know you’on want that. I’ma make the fuckin’ news, Taraj. I put that on my muthafuckin’ kids! Bring yo ass home now!”
Kim’s heart skipped a beat, and she wasn’t even the one having to face Taz.
“Okay,” Taraj agreed shakily. “I’m finna come, right now.”
“Yeah, a’ight. You got a fucking hour, or I’m coming up there, and it’s gonna get ugly. I promise you.”
“Taz, I said okay,” she whined, practically in tears.
“Yeah, okay,” he scoffed. “And tell Kim to go’on home. Ion know what yall been up to, but that nigga Rashad’s waiting on her. I know one muthafuckin’ thang, though, you better not be pumping that girl up to do no bullshit. You doing too fucking much, main. Fucking with my money and everything else.”
Taraj gulped. “How am I doing all that?”
He sucked his teeth. “Play stupid, girl. But don’t worry about it. We’ll discuss that later. Just bring your ass home, before it be a fucking problem.”
“Okay,” Taraj sighed, before ending the call.
Needing to hear nothing further, Kim knew undoubtedly that the party was over. It was time to go back to reality.
Chapter 12
Wandering through her home, Kim didn’t know what to expect. Although, she and her friends’ day out had been cut short when Taz had called earlier, she hadn’t rushed home, after departing from Taraj. Instead, she and Anya had gone over to Rye’s and hung out with her for a few hours. Only after Anya called it a day did Kim decide to head home. It was now approaching eleven o’clock at night, and she’d never bothered answering any of Rashad’s calls.
It was no surprise that Kay, Glenda, and the kids were already sleeping, therefore the house was quiet. Still, butterflies brewed in the pit of Kim’s stomach after noticing all of Rashad’s vehicles parked out front, indicating that he was at home, as well. Knowing that he was well within his rights to be pissed, she was fully prepared to argue the night away, as she tiptoed into their bedroom.
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