by Mikal Malone
My eyes widened. “You’re lying!”
“Am I?”
I looked at him trying to determine if he was being honest. When I realized I read him wrong initially I frowned and turned away.
I was done talking. If he was going to play games I had no intentions on participating.
Just then the bedroom door opened and Rambler walked inside. “Kitty, called and—” She looked at me and her eyes widened. “Wait…you’re in here raping her? Fuck wrong with you?”
She stared at my underwear on the floor, my nudity from the waist down and back at him.
“Even if I did get a shot of pussy ain’t none of your business. Now what the fuck do you want?” He fastened his belt. “What Kitty say?”
Rambler’s nostrils flared. “I’m not a part of this shit!” She pointed at me while looking at him. “I don’t respect this at all.”
“That’s good because ain’t nobody ask you for a three way, bitch!”
“I’m serious, Wilson. Ya’ll came over here unwanted, took over and now you raping people? What’s wrong with you?”
“Not people. Just one person,” he said. “And she ain’t fight too much. I think she likes it.”
“This ain’t no fucking game!”
“I’m warning you, Rambler. If you know what’s good for you, you’d back out and go wait in the living room.”
She placed her hands on her hips and walked closer to him. “And if I don’t just what the fuck do you plan on doing? I’m not scared of you, Wilson. I never have been and I never—”
He punched her in the lips.
So hard blood flew from her mouth and onto the top of my toenail. When I say he opened the tissue of her face that’s exactly what I mean. Instead of leaving it alone he bent down, grabbed her short gold hair and hit her in the face again, just as Grace walked inside.
“What the fuck you doing!” She looked like a madman. “Get the fuck off my friend!” She yelled as she hit him repeatedly on the back with her fists. “You’re hurting her!”
When both of them started to jump him I was so hopeful that I would get out of this alive after all that I tried to wiggle out of my restraints. But he had the binding on my wrists around the bedframe so I had to wait.
As I watched the melee it was obvious that kidnapping me was not part of the girls’ plan. But once again my hopes are short lived when he grabs Rambler’s arm and bends it in the opposite direction, cracking it instantly.
Now broken it hung awkwardly to the left side.
Rambler’s screeching cry sent chills up my spine.
“Fuck you do to her?” Grace yelled as she dropped on the floor next to her friend. “FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?” She yelled looking up at Wilson.
“I broke her fucking arm. What it look like? She better hope I don’t put a bloody Bindi on her forehead next.” He wiped the sweat from his brow along with the blood from the scratches on his face. “Now shut that bitch up before I break her neck next.”
Grace slammed her hand over Rambler’s mouth and rocked her silent.
WILSON
Corey approached Wilson as he walked out of the bedroom. Kliyo was sitting on the sofa, drinking a gallon of vodka from the bottle while Spotter was standing against the wall with a t-shirt wrapped around his nose.
The smell of the corpse bothered him the most but strangely enough Wilson didn’t seem to mind it.
“Kitty keeps calling me,” Corey said as he looked at Wilson’s bloody scratched face. “What’s going on back there? Why Rambler crying and Grace screaming?”
“Stop asking a million questions and tell me what she wanted!” Wilson yelled.
Corey gritted on him. “She said some nigga called her house earlier to confirm her son wasn’t in the house. They must know we got niggas looking out the peephole for ‘em.”
“It don’t matter, my man got a snow truck and he’s digging it out now,” Wilson said. “He should be out here in about three hours.”
“Three hours and we’ll all be dead,” Spotter said, peeling himself off the wall. “There’s no way they letting us get out of here with that coke. None. I wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t got niggas outside the door right now waiting for us. Everything about this shit was a suicide mission.”
“You see, this is why I’m in charge and you’re not,” Wilson said slyly. “You have no vision. Don’t get me wrong, you vicious with aiming and shooting but that’s the extent of your skills. Why you think we took the bitch back there? What do you think the purpose of snatching her was?”
“Sounds to me like the purpose was for you to fuck her,” Kliyo said looking down at the vodka bottle. “Not sure what part of the plan that is but—”
Wilson frowned. “You may wanna do your best to stay invisible, son.” He pointed at him. “I haven’t found out your purpose here yet. And a man with no purpose is expendable.”
Kliyo sat back and took another sip.
Wilson focused back on Corey. “Now what did Kitty mean they wanted to see if her kid was home? Fuck type question is that?”
“I don’t know but she said they were calling everybody on the floor. Asking the same shit…if people had kids.”
Suddenly gunfire sounded out in the hallway. It was as if a thousand bullets were smashing into the doors and walls. Slugs crashing against surfaces and shells dropping on the floor were so abundant they almost couldn’t hear each other.
“It’s started, gentlemen,” Wilson said. “Time to suit up and earn our keep.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CARISSA
“When you ask me have I ever been in love, bitch you don’t know the half.”
I could tell from the bullets crashing into the doors that my family was here, on this floor. I looked across the room at Grace who was still rocking Rambler, who looked like she was doing her best to not pass out due to the pain of her broken arm.
“Was it worth it?” I asked them as war went on outside of the apartment. They looked at me. “Was all of this fucking worth it?” I repeated. “Worth him?”
Grace wiped the tears running down her face. “Have you ever loved a man so much that when he’s not around you don’t know what to do? What to feel or what to think? I’m not talking about a few moments of the day, I mean every moment…every second…every breath…without him you’re lost.”
I laughed softly, but not really. “What kind of question is that?”
“You asked me if it was worth it. If doing all of this for Heavy made sense. And I’m asking you a question before I answer.”
I sighed. “I wanted to be a translator when I was younger. Most people don’t know that. I thought that if I was a translator and learned Korean I could travel and see the world. That didn’t happen. Instead I met a man who ate, breathed and lived cocaine.” I shook my head as Lavelle’s face flashed in my mind briefly.
“He convinced me that he couldn’t do the business thing without me and my life has been changed ever since,” I continued. “So when you ask me have I ever been in love, bitch you don’t know the half. I gave up a career and my life for mine and I have nothing to show for it but a dead child and a broken heart. Anyway, that nigga back at our crib not even feeling you. Your situation and mine are polar opposites.”
She nodded. “You may be right. But before today, with that dead nigga in the bathroom, I’ve never been with another man sexually. Heavy was the love of my life and my daughter’s father. I couldn’t walk away. No, I didn’t get him but if he’ll take me back, even now, I’ll gladly be with him.”
“And you thought this was the way to win him over, Grace?” I paused. “By taking over our Trap? Open your fucking eyes. You failed.”
“This was never my plan. The only thing I wanted was to get his attention. My cousin went too far.”
“But you killed a man, for what?”
“I wanted Heavy to know I was serious!” She yelled. “I tried talking to him before all of this. I stopped by his apartment to get som
e of my things but he wouldn’t hear me. He wouldn’t reason. So I thought I could get him to come here, if he was worried that Yvette would think he was trying to rob her.”
“Did it work?” I rolled my eyes.
“What you think?”
I didn’t want to fight with her anymore and the gunfire sounded louder, as if they were getting closer. “Can you please let me go?” I pleaded. “This isn’t how you planned things happening and I can still talk to my friends. If you let me go I will convince them that it was not your fault.” I paused. “But you got to take me up on my offer now.”
The gunfire ceased.
Suddenly there was a banging on the front door in the apartment and Grace rushed out of the bedroom and left the door open. I was relieved because they had been closing the door in the past. Not only was Quinton’s corpse starting to stink bad but I couldn’t hear what was going on in the living room.
With the door open I would know and get fresh air.
WILSON
THIRTY MINUTES LATER
Wilson hung next to the door with Kliyo, Corey, Spotter and Grace behind him. He took a deep breath and talked to the door. “I’m not gonna be able to do that, Kitty. Sorry baby girl. Wish I could help you.”
“Please, Wilson, you gotta let me inside.” Her voice was frantic and she sounded as if she were about to die. “They killed everyone in the apartment.”
“So how did you escape?”
“I hid in the stairwell, on the 4th floor when they started asking questions. I knew something was up that’s why I kept calling. And now I’m afraid they know I’m involved and will come for me next. Please, Wilson. Let me inside.”
“Where they at? Now?”
“I don’t know!” She yelled banging on the door. “Open the fucking door and stop playing around. I’m scared!”
“I said no. I smell a trap and until I can be sure what’s good nobody coming in this house.”
“It’s not a set up please let me—” Kitty’s sentence was cut short by a single gunshot in the hallway, on the other side of the door. Everybody but Kliyo went for their weapons and aimed at the door despite it being shut.
“Kitty!” Wilson screamed. “You still out there?” When she didn’t answer Wilson grew annoyed. “KITTY, WHERE THE FUCK YOU AT?”
What seemed like forever stood in place of an answer until suddenly Yvette’s voice boomed from the other side. “She’s dead, Wilson…you see why all of this has to stop? Now.” Yvette said calmly. “She’s dead and from the way I see things this is kind of your fault.”
Wilson looked back at Spotter and Corey who paced the floor. Focusing back on the door he said, “Ain’t no Wilson in here. You got the wrong address.”
Yvette laughed. “You see, that’s a lie too. I got someone with me who knows that voice. No more games. Let’s get to know each other while we still can.”
He frowned. “So what now, ‘Vette? You think you in charge or something?”
“Nah, my nigga. That’s all you. You got the power.”
“How come it don’t feel like it?” He continued talking to the door.
“Because I’m gonna assist you in a decision so you’ll go the right way,” Yvette continued. “Now let me tell you what’s happening.” Yvette was so calm it was as if she was talking to a child she loved, one who misbehaved and whose actions she was trying to correct. “Outside of this door there are many men. And all of these men, including me, have a few intentions. And they are to come into that apartment. Get our friend and that dog food.”
Wilson laughed although it was apparent he was afraid. He didn’t sound as confident as he did when he was raping Carissa.
What a difference an army made.
“And just how do you plan on doing that? This door is reinforced metal with a bar over it. You and your crew saw to that remember?”
“The how is not your problem, my nigga,” 88 added. “What you should be focusing on is the when. Ask yourself when we coming inside.”
Wilson moved closer to the door and looked out of the peephole. From his vantage point he could see Yvette and too many men to count. “Don’t forget…I have your friend,” Wilson threatened. “You try anything stupid and she will—”
“Wilson, listen to me,” Yvette said cutting him off. “If you hurt a hair on her head, I’m talking her scalp, her lashes or her brows, the pain I have in store for you will be unimaginable. Wilson, have you ever-experienced pain so harsh that you can’t breathe? I’m talking torture so bad the simple act of grabbing oxygen only enhances the pain? Do yourself a favor, stop threatening my friend.”
Wilson swallowed. “Listen, bitch—”
“No you fucking listen! You kidnapped my friend and I want you to open this door now!” Yvette’s voice grew angrier, almost psychotic. “But you should know I’m coming in regardless, Wilson. And if I come in without an invitation you gonna have a problem on your hands you not equipped to deal with. So open the door, Wilson. You don’t have any business being in there. You and I both know it. Be smart.”
Wilson looked back at his friends whose eyes told him that they would be of no help. “I’m sorry, Yvette, but the answer is no.”
“I wish you hadn’t said that.” Yvette paused. “Kick the mothafucka in!” She told Scott and Vance who slammed the battering ram into the door, denting it instantly.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
WILSON
“If they come in this mothafucka we all dead!
The constant banging at the door and it folding slightly let everyone inside know that it would be caving in at any moment.
Wilson paced the floor as Kliyo, Corey, Spotter and Grace looked at him. Even Rambler sat in the doorway of the bedroom, arm still throbbing due to being broken to see what was happening. The only positive Rambler experienced was that when she left it in place, it didn’t hurt as much as when she tried to move it.
Grace walked up to Wilson and took a deep breath. “What you gonna do, cuz? ‘Cause we on some next war shit right now.”
Wilson rubbed his throbbing temples, with the hand that still held the gun. “I need everyone to be quiet for just one fuckin’ minute! If you not helping me think just shut the fuck up!”
Folks gave him his peace but the banging on the door didn’t cease and that last blow made them think for certain it would be caving in at any moment. People were antsy and very uncomfortable.
But it was Grace who was unable to handle waiting on an answer from him anymore so she moved closer. “What we gonna do, Wilson? You had long enough to think already!”
“I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE FUCK TO DO!” He yelled in her face, spit flying from his mouth and landing against her nose. “If they come in this mothafucka we all dead! Know that shit while you busy asking questions like I’m the only one they gunning for.” He walked a few feet away and flopped on the sofa.
BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG.
“They want the girl,” Kliyo said softly. “And the coke. Just give them to ‘em.”
“Never. If you think I’m letting that bitch go then you got another thing coming. And I thought I told you to keep quiet?” Wilson frowned. “Why you even talking to me, nigga? You don’t know me.”
Kliyo walked to the wall and leaned against it. “This shit ain’t ending too well. I can already tell.”
“Well I’m gonna say something,” Spotter said. “Why shouldn’t we give her to them and see if we can negotiate?”
“Let me tell you how it’ll go down if we do. We open the door, and say, ‘Here she is. Other than Wilson fucking her a few times she’s as good as new,’” he said sarcastically. “Do you know what they’ll do? Huh? Shoot us in the fucking faces! That’s what they’ll do.” He took a deep breath. “Listen, I know ya’ll niggas scared but we give them bitches that girl then we need to call our mothers and say goodbye. She’s the only thing keeping us alive for the moment.” Wilson schooled. “
“If we don’t do anything we’ll die anyway, Wilson.” Spotter con
tinued before walking to the window. “You made a mistake by coming here, man. Shit happens. Maybe we can still get out of this in some fashion.”
“Or we could jump.” Corey suggested as he pulled the blinds string down and looked outside of the window. “The snow is high and it’ll act like a cushion.”
“Act like a cushion,” Wilson repeated sarcastically. “What the fuck? We too high up for anything to be cushiony.” Wilson paused. “If the fall doesn’t break our necks the ice cold will kill us. Sit the fuck down, nigga.”
“So I ask again, what’s the plan?” Corey yelled. “Because we gotta do something and fast.”
After hearing them go over the plan Rambler eased inside of the room and closed the door with her foot. She walked up to Carissa and sat on the edge of the bed. “What’s going on out there?” Carissa asked with wide eyes. “They started whispering and I couldn’t hear. And why you close the door?”
Rambler took a deep breath, also doing her best not to move her arm. “Are you religious?”
Carissa’s eyes widened. “Fuck does that mean?”
“Are you a religious person? Do you believe in God?”
Carissa looked around the room and back at her. “I’ve been raped over ten times today. My pussy throbs and my waist hurts from the pressure he put on it from digging into my bones with his thumbs. The last thing I need right now is the games.” Carissa scooted toward the edge of the bed. “Now what the fuck is going on out there in the living room?”
Rambler took a deep breath. “Wilson and them gonna hurt you.”