by J-Blunt
Tanya continued kissing the side of his face and neck. “Can we talk later? I need this right now. I can’t wait.”
Ricco tried to push her away. “I ain’t playin’, Tanya. Stop.”
She didn’t stop. Instead, she grabbed his dick and sat down on it. “We gon’ talk later, baby. I promise. I need some dick. I need you. I miss you. I love you.”
When her lips found his again, Ricco gave in, kissing her back, not caring that she had just swallowed his nut. He missed her body as much as she missed his. They hadn’t fucked in two weeks. His hands gripped her ass and thighs as she rode him.
When she was really in the zone, Tanya broke the kiss, lifting her head toward the ceiling, moaning his name. Ricco watched his woman’s face. Her eyes were closed, mouth open, saying his name, lost in her own world of pleasure. When her nails began digging into the skin of his chest, he knew she was close to cumming.
And then it came. She dug her nails deeper into his chest, crying out as her orgasm passed through her body. Then she fell on Ricco’s chest, panting heavily, breathing deep. Ricco kissed her atop the head and rubbed her back while she gathered herself.
“I don’t wanna fight no more,” Tanya whispered, keeping her head on his chest.
Ricco heard her, but kept quiet. He didn’t know what to say. They had just fucked, and she was vulnerable and open, but he wasn’t. He was still mad.
“Did you hear me?” she asked, lifting her head to look at his face.
“Yeah. I heard you,” he said flatly.
“I want us to go back to being in love. Being a family. You don’t have nothin’ to say?”
There was so much he wanted to say. So many questions he wanted to ask. But first he had to know. “Is you fuckin’ somebody else?”
“No. I told you I would never cheat on you. I’m in love with you. Only you.”
“What up wit’ this freaky-ass shit all of a sudden? Where you learn to suck dick like that?”
Tanya looked bashful. “I was so fuckin’ horny. And I been gettin’ tips from Princess and Star. They told me some shit that I had to try. I’m not cheatin’ on you, baby. And I never will.”
Ricco studied her with his good eye, trying to find a lie in her tone or face. All he got was an unblinking stare, and the longer he looked, the more he realized the woman lying on top of him wasn’t the same one who had his daughter. “You seem different. I feel like I don’t know you no more. You stay out I all night. We don’t talk. You comin’ up wit’ money to get us a new crib and furniture. What’s goin’ on?”
“I told you I was gon’ do what I had to do to get us out them raggedy-ass apartments. That’s what I been doin’. Since I been kickin’ it wit’ Star and Princess, I feel like I’m findin’ out who I am. What I want. What I’m capable of. Before they came, I was all about you and Yanna. I let you be the man, but inside I wasn’t happy. I didn’t want to live in the hood and struggle. I wanted to do more than stay home with the baby. But I couldn’t talk to you about it because you expected me to be a certain way. And you kept secrets.”
“But I liked who you was. I knew you.”
“But I didn’t like who I was.”
“So who is you now? What you do at night? You a stripper? An escort? Now you the one keepin’ secrets.”
“Just like you,” Tanya said. “Now you see how it feels. All this time we been together and I never met yo’ family except Red Dot. Is Ricco Turbin even yo’ real name? Why won’t you tell me what happened to yo’ face or talk about yo’ past?”
“Because the less you know, the better.”
“Well, that’s how I feel. I put us in a nice house and I’m not cheatin’ on you.”
Ricco let out a long breath, thinking on his woman’s words. “A’ight. You really wanna do this, we can. I love you, Tanya, and I don’t wanna fight no more, either. Ask me anything.”
Tanya sat up straighter, studying his face. Her hand went to the wound on the side of his head. “What happened?”
“I got set up,” he answered flatly.
Tanya frowned. “I thought we was opening up?”
Ricco took his time responding. “I got set up by a female I was trynna fuck. Her nigga went to jail, and I thought I could slide in. The whole time she was preyin’ on me. Her and her niggas took my family hostage. I thought if I gave ‘em the money they would let us go. But they didn’t. They had already killed my day-one, who it turned out was fuckin’ my girl. Then once I gave ‘em the money, they killed my girl and my shorty. The bitch shot me in the face, too. They thought I was dead. Shit, I did, too, until I woke up in the hospital. When I healed up, I moved to Jacksonville for a new start. I just wanted to be a simple nigga and live the right way. Then I met you. The reason I didn’t talk about my past was ‘cause I tried to protect you. The streets is evil. I don’t wanna lose nobody else that I love.”
Tanya stared at her man like she was seeing him for the first time. She felt sorry for him. He lost his family and found out his girl was cheating with his friend. And he almost died. “Damn, baby. I’m sorry for everything that happened to you. I didn’t think it was that bad.”
“But that ain’t all. My name ain’t Ricco. It’s Ricardo Ayala. And I ain’t black. I’m Dominican. In Miami, I used to be that nigga. They called me Super Trap.”
***
“’Bout time you came out the closet, nigga!” Red Dot laughed. “I don’t know why you was trynna act like you wasn’t no trap star. Nigga, yo’ name Super Trap.”
“C’mon, nigga. Quit playin’. I’m Ricco. I ain’t trynna trap no more. That shit over.”
“You mean to tell me that you cool wit’ yo’ girl goin’ out there an’ shakin’ her ass for niggas? Fifty niggas grab her ass and titties and then she come home to you. How you know she ain’t doin’ a little extra on the side?”
Ricco mugged his cousin. “Quit playin’ wit’ me like that.”
“C’mon, cuz. Get outcho titty nipples for a minute and hear me out. Tanya bad, brah. Been bad, but didn’t nobody know ‘cause she was a plain Jane. But now she fuckin’ wit’ them professional hos and she steppin’ her game up. She model status, my nigga. I ain’t the only one that noticed.”
“Yeah, yeah. My girl bad. I know.”
“But that ain’t my point. What I’m sayin’ is she out there shakin’ her ass ‘cause you don’t wanna get out there and make it happen. So she usin’ what she got to get to it. Don’t that make you feel some type of way? She got drive. She want better for the fam. And she makin’ it happen.”
Ricco sat back in the new leather chair his girl bought with the money she made from shaking her ass. Truth was, it was killing him that Tanya was a stripper. He felt less of a man, no~ being able to provide. His voice had a tremble when he responded, his emotions spilling. “Ever since she told me how she get it, that shit been fuckin’ me up, cuz. I feel, like, super lame. As a man, I know I gotta take care of my family. And I thought I was doin’ that by bein’ a nine-to-five nigga. By bein’ there to spend time wit’ my girl and daughter. Most street niggas don’t understand the importance of time. That shit more important than money.”
“But that don’t mean you move yo’ family to the PJs and get comfortable strugglin’. Yo’ bitch want more. Yo’ daughter gon’ eventually want more. And you can’t do shit for them as no janitor.”
Ricco let out a little laugh. “I see what you trynna do, nigga. Nah, I ain’t fuckin’ wit’ y’all niggas. Pop Somethin’ crazy. The nigga name is Pop Somethin’. He kill niggas everywhere he go. Him and Princess hot as fuck.”
“We took over a project, my nigga. A whole fuckin’ project! Eight blocks of hundreds of row houses. All ours. Yeah, that nigga crazy. But he also a genius. Didn’t they say Albert Einstein was crazy? Bein’ crazy is part of bein’ a genius. And we need you, brah. We need what you got upstairs. You turned a eight-ball to a Maybach. We got bricks, my nigga. Come help us build a brick house.”
Ricco grew silent. Thinking. Wr
estling with the decision to remain a janitor or chase a bag. Tanya was his heart. His pride. His joy. His better half. And she was sharing her goods with the world for a couple thousand dollars. He needed to step up, but the risks in the game wasn’t worth the rewards. It cost too much. “I can’t, brah. Money not worth my life.”
After speaking his mind, Ricco got up and went to the kitchen. Red Dot pulled out his phone and made a call.
“What’s good, my nigga?” Pop Somethin’ answered.
“I’m in this nigga head,” Red Dot smiled. “All he need is a little more push. Is er’thang valid on yo’ side?”
“Yeah. We waitin’ on y’all.”
“Say no more. We on our way.”
“Who is we?” Ricco asked, walking in the living room.
“I need a ride, brah. Pop Somethin’ on some bullshit and don’t wanna come get me.”
“C’mon, man. I ain’t trynna go out there. Call a cab.”
“Damn, nigga. Quit actin’ like a sucka. I’ll give you some gas money.”
“Fuck you. I don’t need yo’ gas money.”
“I forgot. You got that stripper money now. You a baller,” Red Dot laughed.
Ricco mugged him. “What I tell you ‘bout playin’ so much?”
“A’ight, cuz. Just gimme a ride so I can get back to this paper.”
Ricco stared at Red Dot seriously for a few moments before smiling. “Damn, you a square-ass nigga. C’mon, man.”
Twenty minutes later Ricco parked the Ford Fusion in front of a set of row houses in The Zone. Even though it was late, people hung out on porches and the projects looked to be alive with action.
“You wanna come in and kick it wit’ the homies for a second?” Red Dot offered.
“Nah, I’m good. Y’all do y’all thang. I’m goin’ home.”
“You sure you don’t wanna come in?” Red Dot asked, his stare lingering like he knew somethin’ Ricco didn’t.
“Yeah, nigga. I’m sure. Get the fuck out so I can go home.”
“Tanya up in there.”
That got Ricco’s attention. “Quit playin’, nigga, ‘fore I whoop yo’ ass.”
“I ain’t playin’. Tanya in there. She workin’.”
A darkness spread across Ricco’s face, and his top lip began to twitch. “On everything you love, she in there right now?”
“Yeah. She puttin’ on a show wit’ Princess and Star.”
Ricco put the car in park and snatched the key from the ignition. “Which apartment?”
Red Dot turned to hide the smile on his face as he opened the passenger door. “The first building. Follow me.”
When they walked in the apartment, Ricco was smacked in the face by a cloud of weed smoke and loud music. About fifteen niggas stood and lounged around on couches in the living room. They were watching the half-naked women shaking ass and dancing on the floor. Ricco’s eyes immediately found his woman. She was giving a lap dance to a fat, dark-skinned nigga who didn’t believe in keeping his hands to himself.
When Tanya seen her man, she froze, unable to look at him. Ricco, on the other hand, couldn’t take his eyes off her. Seeing the man’s hands all over his woman sent a fire through his bones.
“Super Trap! What’s good, nigga?” Pop called, walking over to embrace the brokenhearted man.
“What up, Pop?” Ricco mumbled. continuing to stare at Tanya.
Pop Somethin’ spun to see what had Ricco’s attention. Tanya was still bumping and grindin’ on the fat man. “Don’t trip on that, li’l brah. She workin’. Gettin’ that bag.”
“I know,” Ricco mugged as jealous rage coursed through him.
“Have a seat. Watch the show. You want somethin’ to drink?”
“Nah, I’m good. I’m ‘bout to leave. I just wanted to step in to look around.”
“Don’t leave now, cuz.” Red Dot spoke up. “Watch a li’l bit of the show. You gotta see what they do wit’ this big-ass black dildo.”
Ricco finally took his eyes off his girl, mugging Red Dot. “Who do somethin’ wit a dildo?”
Ricco was about to snap on his cousin, but Pop Somethin’ pulled him away and they walked away, whispering. His eyes went back to Tanya as she was attempting to get up from the fat man’s lap.
“Hold on, baby. Don’t leave. You got my dick hard as fuck!” he said, pulling her arm.
Tanya yanked away from him. “Dance over, nigga. Let go.”
He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back onto his lap. “I got fifty more. But this time let me play wit’ that pussy.”
Tanya tried to stand. “No. Let me go. I’m good,”
The lust-consumed thug pulled her onto his lap again. “Hold on, bitch. You ain’t finna take my money and not gimme what I want. I gave you two hunnit already. You ain’t done yet.”
“Stop! Let me go, nigga!” Tanya said, looking toward Ricco. He stood across the room, watching. A rage building inside him like he never felt.
“Fuck you then, bitch!” the fat man said before slapping her on the ass and giving her a hard shove. Tanya stumbled forward, falling face-first to the floor.
Princess moved to help her cousin while Star confronted the man. “Bitch-ass nigga, don’t be puttin’ yo’ hands on my gurl!”
“Or what?” he asked smugly, showing no concern for the disrespect.
While the commotion was taking place, Ricco walked over to Red Dot and snatched the pistol from the front of his pants. Without hesitation, he walked over to the nigga that disrespected his girl, pointed the gun in his face, and pulled the trigger.
Pow!
Everyone froze, trying to digest what they had just witnessed. Ricco stood over the fallen man, holding the gun, watching the blood drip from his forehead and life drain from his eyes. Then he spoke.
“I’m in. Super Trap back.”
Chapter 9
Two Months Later
The late morning sunlight crept through the edges of the closed blinds, illuminating the love nest just enough to see the outline of a pair of naked bodies. Shanice lay in bed, the fuzzy feelin’ of a new kind of love exciting all of her senses. She had finally found happiness. Love. Contentment. Satisfaction. All the emotions and feelings she’d experienced with C-Note had been found again. Being in love once was amazing. To experience that same feeling with two people in one year was a miracle. God had answered the brokenhearted prayers, giving her a love that she loved everything about. Especially the way their dark- and light-skinned bodies molded into one like the Chinese Yin and Tang symbol.
Shanice traced fingertips along her lover’s body, starting at the clean-shaven bald head, down the shoulders and back, stopping to lightly finger the indentations and scars.
“That feels so good.”
Shanice smiled at the sound of her new love’s voice. “Hey, baby. Good mornin’.”
Queenie opened her eyes, smiling at the woman who had become her rock, nurturer, and healer. “I don’t ever get tired of waking up to the sound of yo’ voice. Damn, you beautiful.”
Shanice blushed, rubbing Queenie’s bald head as they shared a morning kiss. “And I don’t ever get tired of kissing your soft lips every morning.”
“I thought you didn’t like girls.”
Shanice giggled, leaning in for another kiss. “I don’t like ‘em. I love you. These two months have been amazing. I can’t remember a time when I felt this much contentment and peace. I been fuckin’ wit’ no-good niggas my whole life trynna find this. Never thought I would find it with a woman. Damn, I love yo’ ass.”
Queenie didn’t respond right away, just stared into Shanice’s brown eyes, seeing the love being reflected. “Damn. You wake up beautiful. And all those niggas was just practice for the rear thing. Sometimes you don’t know what’s been missin’ ‘til you get exposed to it.”
The light-skinned woman smiled at the compliment, wanting more. When she didn’t get it, anger flashed in her eyes as she moved to get out of bed. “That’s all you gotta s
ay?”
Queenie sat up, wrapping her arms around Shanice’s waist, kissing her on the back. “C’mon, baby. Don’t do this. Not today.”
“You still love him, don’t you?” Shanice accused.
“What the fuck you talkin’ ‘bout?”
“My cousin. That’s something he would say. He prolly told you that. You sound like him, and I hate that shit. I hate him.”
“C’mon, baby. You trippin’. You mad ‘cause you think I said somethin’ you think he said. That don’t make sense.”
Shanice stood and spun around angrily. “So, now you callin’ me crazy and stupid? Now I don’t make sense?”
Queenie dropped her head, letting our a long, frustrated breath and rubbing her bald head. “I didn’t say that. Stop puttin’ words in my mouth. And stop overreacting to everything. I’m here with you because I wanna be. If I wanted to be wit’ him, I would leave. Stop doin’ this. You know I want you. How many times I gotta tell you that?”
Shanice crossed her arms over her naked breasts, the words going in one ear and out the other. “Do you still love him?”
Queenie let out a small laugh, shaking her head.
“See, that’s what I’m talkin’ ‘bout!” Shanice accused. “I’m in love wit’ you, but you still in love wit’ him. Why? I don’t understand. He left you in the streets to die. He don’t care about you or love you like I do. I woulda never left you. You make sacrifices for love.”
Queenie stood and got in Shanice’s face. “Just like I’m making for you. You don’t think I miss my sister? She prolly don’t even know I’m alive. You ain’t the only one makin’ sacrifices, so don’t tell me what love is. That’s why I’m still here. Been here for two months. But if you can’t handle this and keep questionin’ me, then we don’t have to do this.”
Shanice’s nostrils flared, eyes shrinking to angry slits. “Why you always gotta talk about leavin’ every time we argue? That shit pisses me off.”
“Because I don’t wanna argue. I just want to chill and enjoy the time we have together. I almost died. You don’t know what that feels like or how that can change you. I dream about dyin’. I don’t wanna wake up to arguments about shit that don’t matter. I’m here. With you. Take me as I am or leave me the fuck alone.”