by Jazmyne
*
Aaliyah woke up to find an unknown man standing over her. She gasped as she reached for the covers to cover her naked body. “There’s no need for that, I already got an eye full,” he said laughing.
“Where is Ace and how did you get in here?” She asked resting her back against the headboard.
“I really don’t know where he is. I was hoping you could tell me so that he and I could have a talk,” the man said.
“I don’t know where he is-“
“But I’m sure you can get him on the phone,” he said reaching on the nightstand where her cell phone laid.
Aaliyah didn’t know who he was or what he wanted but calling Ace was something she didn’t wanna do. She thought J’vion had sent one of his goons to fuck with her.
Aaliyah picked up her phone and dialed Ace’s number.
“Ace!” Aaliyah said into the phone when he picked up. Ace knew something was wrong because she never called him Ace she only referred to him by his government.
“What’s good baby?”
Before she could reply her phone was being snatched from her hand.
“Ace, are you ready to talk? Do you see how easy it is to get to the ones you love the most? Ya daughters could be next,” he said. To say Ace was pissed would be an understatement. He was beyond pissed and his blood was now boiling.
“You know when I catch you I’m splitting ya fuckin’ wig,” Ace spoke calmly.
He laughed. “We’ll see, now do we have your fuckin’ attention?” He asked. Ace tried to catch his voice but couldn’t.
“You lame ass mothafuckas had my attention the day I got the little note with my dead wife’s name on it. But like I told the other mothafucka, I wanna holla at the nigga in charge. I don’t do middle men.” Ace said.
“You do what the fuck we say, fuck you talkin’ about?”
Ace laughed as he shook his head. “These mothafuckas really don’t know who they’re fuckin’ with.” He thought.
If it wasn’t for the fact that whomever this mothafucka was sitting in his home with his lady, Ace would have been hung up on him. He knew when niggas became desperate they would start fucking up. But he couldn’t chance it. He had lost Sunshine that way and wasn’t going to do it a second time.
“You’re at my home, right?” Ace asked. “Well stay there so that we could talk face to face. I don’t talk business over the phone.”
“I guess I’ll see you soon,” he said before disconnecting the call.
Ace looked at Boy. Boy shook his head. He could tell from the look on Ace face that he was pissed and the phone call he had just received wasn’t a pleasant one at all.
“Do what you gotta do. If you need me you know I’m here.” Boy said giving Ace a pound. Ace nodded his head as he sat the beer he hadn’t finished drinking down.
“I already know if I need you where to find you. This is something I gotta do on my own,” Ace said as they walked back into the house. The party was still going and from the looks of things everyone was having fun. It was sad that Ace couldn’t stay and enjoy himself as well. But like Boy had said, the streets had called and he had answered. Now it was time to put in some serious work.
Chapter 7
It had been months since Aaliyah had heard anything from, J’vion. She didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Her and Ace had become extremely close. She loved everything about him. He was gentle, kind, caring, and yes he was a thug at heart. He made her feel as if she was a queen. She felt warm and secure when she was wrapped in his arms, and the sex was outta this world.
Ace did things to her that she didn’t know could be done. Hit spots she didn’t know existed. She wanted to believe what they had was real, but doubted herself. They weren’t in a relationship and never talked about being in one. “Why ruin something by putting a title on it?” She thought. Aaliyah knew she could never compare to his dead wife and she wasn’t trying to, she just wanted to be loved not for her looks but for whom she was.
Aaliyah was a little hurt and in her feelings. She hadn’t spoken to Ace since the day she had opened her eyes to an unknown man standing over her.
Ace had walked into the house with a look Aaliyah had never seen before. She could see the hurt and worry sitting on his face and in his eyes, when they locked eyes.
“Are you okay?” He asked Aaliyah who was sitting biting her nails.
“I’m fine,” she tried to reassure him but Ace knew she wasn’t.
“I’m here so let’s fuckin’ talk,” Ace spat as he removed his gun from his waistline sitting it on the table before taking a seat next to Aaliyah. “Do you have a name?” He asked.
“Mothafuckas call me the Grim Reaper,” the man laughed as he lit the other half of his cigar. He was the only one who found what he said funny.
“A’ight Mr. Reaper what the fuck do you want with me?” Ace asked.
“The question is how far are you willing to go to save the ones you love?”
“I’m willing to lay my life on the line. That goes without saying,” answered Ace.
“We are going to play a game I like to call thug luv,” Grim Reaper said. “As long as you play by my rules everyone you love is safe. If you fail to do something I say someone you love dearly, dies,” he finished.
“And, how does this game work?” Ace asked.
“Simple, I give you a list of things I need done and you go out and do them.”
“And, if I don’t?” Ace asked.
“I already told you, someone you loves die.” He answered.
“Why did you pick me?” Ace asked wanting answers.
“Let’s just says someone admired how you handled yourself when you were running things a few years ago.”
“And, if I do everything you say what do I get out of the deal?” Ace asked.
“Someone that means the world to you,” he answered.
“I already have who means the world to me,” Ace said. “I talk to and see them every day.”
Ace watched the smirk he had on his face as he reached into his pocket and pull out a picture. They locked eyes as he got up. “Are you sure about that?” He asked as he sat the picture downward on the table. “I’ll be in touch with you. That’s when the game will begin.” He said as he walked out. Ace wanted to jump on him and whoop his ass; instead he snatched up the picture. When he turned it over he just stared at the picture with a confused look on his face. Ace tossed the picture to the floor as he got up and went after “Mr. Reaper”
“This has got to be some fuckin’ joke.” Ace mumbled as he snatched open the front door. He stormed out the door and looked up the street. It was as if he had vanished in thin air just like that. Ace stormed back inside and slammed the door behind him.
Aaliyah was holding up the picture admiring the beauty of his dead wife. In the picture she looked full of life. She had the prettiest smile and even prettier eyes. Aaliyah felt a twig of jealousy shoot through her body. Her mind ran wild with so many questions, she went to open her mouth but nothing came out. She didn’t know where to start or if she had the right to ask anything. After all they weren’t in a relationship. They were just fucking.
Ace didn’t realize it, but he walked over to Aaliyah and snatched the photo from her hands and looked at it closely. He wanted to see if it had been photo shopped or messed with. But from what he could tell it hadn’t. The photo was as real as real gets. He ran his hand across the photo. “What the fuck is going on?” He thought. He didn’t want to believe after three years that, Sunshine was still well and alive. Ace didn’t understand any of it at all. He just hoped he lived long enough to get all his questions answered.
“Where does this leave us?” Aaliyah asked.
“What do you mean?” Ace asked looking into her teary eyes.
“Amir,
don’t play stupid. Where does that leave you and me?” Aaliyah asked.
“Honesty, I don’t know. Aaliyah, I gotta do what I gotta do and I need answers.” Ace said. “My girl’s lives depend on it and so does Sunshine’s.” Aaliyah understood completely, but wasn’t ready to face a reality of her not being in Ace life anymore. They had only known each other for a few months and here they were being pulled apart already. She respected his decisions. She would never make him choose and he shouldn’t have to. He was already going through some things. Who was she to make things worst or even more complicated?
“I totally understand,” she said as she walked off to the bedroom.
“Aaliyah!” Ace called after her but she kept on going. Ace wanted to chase after her, but decided to leave her alone. Ace stared at the picture of Sunshine and didn’t know whether to be happy or sad. For the last three years he had been living with guilt. He had blamed her death on himself only to find out she may be alive after all this time. Now that he thought about it, it pissed him off. Had someone been holding her against her will or was she the master mind behind the bullshit altogether. Why? Was what he wanted to know?
Aaliyah was pissed because she had let her feeling get the best of her too quickly only to get crushed. “Shit!” Aaliyah yelled as she gathered her things. What she wanted to know was why couldn’t she find real love? She wanted the same love Ace and Sunshine had. She wanted to experience it with Ace, but had a feeling she would never be able to because his true love was back in the picture. Aaliyah wasn’t a hater and respected it. How could she ask him to choose? Better yet, why would she ask him to?
“Aaliyah,” Ace called out as he walked into the room.
“Listen Amir, you don’t have to explain anything. I understand that you have to do what you gotta do and I respect it.” Aaliyah said never turning to look at him.
“Can we talk about this?”
“Amir, there isn’t really anything to talk about.” Ace grabbed her turning her to face him. He felt bad when he saw the tears in her eyes.
“Please don’t cry,” he said using his thumbs to wipe her tears away. Aaliyah melted from his touch. “It’s only been a few months since we have been talking and to tell you the truth I have fallen in love with you. I didn’t know if it was lust or love and me being afraid to love again had me seconding guessing what we had and shared. But this is something I have to do. I have the right to get answers and I have to protect my girls.” He said as her face rested on his chest.
“I know which is why I’m not going to stand in your way. I love you, but now that I think of it I have my own issues I need to address,” Aaliyah said as she looked up into his beautiful eyes. “Amir, I just want you to be safe out there and you already know if you need anything I’m only a phone call away,” she said.
“And the same goes for you,” Ace replied as he lifted her chin and leaned down to kiss her lips. The same lips he had grown accustomed to kissing. Aaliyah kissed him back for a few seconds before pulling away. She grabbed his shirt tightly while laying her head on his chest.
“Please be safe,” she whispered before letting him go and walking off. Ace watched as she walked out of his bedroom and maybe out of his life for good.
“At least she was able to walk away. I don’t have to go through the grieving again.” He thought as he walked out of his room a few minutes behind her. He was on his way to Florida to spend time with his daughters. He hadn’t seen them since the day he had dropped them off to their grandmother and he wanted to spend as much time with them as he could before everything got out of hand. Talking to them over the phone wasn’t gonna do it for him anymore. He wanted to talk to them in person, hold them, lay next to them while they slept, and hold them close to his heart.
*
“Ms. Bailey someone named, J’vion is here to see you,” Jennifer said over the intercom. Aaliyah sighed deeply.
“Please send him in,” Aaliyah said as she prepared himself for the bullshit he had in store for her. Before J’vion walked through her office door, Aaliyah could smell his cologne. When they first started dating years ago she loved it, but now the smell made her sick.
“Why are you here?” Aaliyah asked as soon as J’vion stepped foot in her office.
“Well damn is that how you greet clients?” He asked.
“You are not my client.”
“I came to collect what belongs to me,” he said taking a seat. “I hope you didn’t think I forgot. I was just handling other business.”
Aaliyah rolled her eyes.
“Does it look like I have that kind of cash sitting around here?” She asked.
“Shit, you should being the big shot lawyer you are. I mean look at you,” he said pointing at her. “You wear it well too,” he grinned.
“Fuck you! When I give you your money I want you to leave me the hell alone!” Aaliyah yelled.
“I’ll leave you alone when I feel like leaving you the fuck alone.” He said. “Now get over here and suck my dick.” Aaliyah got up from her seat heading for the door. There was no way in hell she was ever sucking or fucking J’vion again.
“Where the fuck you think you’re going?” He asked getting up from his seat. J’vion grabbed her by the back of her head pulling her to him.
“J’vion, stop, please you’re hurting me,” Aaliyah cried.
“Bitch, I own you. When I tell you to do something you do it,” he whispered harshly in her ear.
“J’vion, please you’re hurting me. Please let me go.” She begged.
*
Ace was feeling good. He carried his girls in his arms. He was on his way to see, Aaliyah. He hadn’t spoken to her since that day she walked out of his home. That was a week ago. He couldn’t lie if he wanted to; he missed her and her conversations. Ace had spent the last week in Florida with his baby girls. He had enjoyed his time with them like he knew he would, but he couldn’t get Aaliyah off his mind. As much as he tried to block her from his thoughts he couldn’t. He just wanted to make sure things between the two were cool and hopefully she understood his reasons for letting her go. Ace felt that they could still be friends, if nothing more.
“Daddy, I thought we were going to eat?” Savanna asked.
“Baby we are, I promise. I just want to invite a friend of mine. Is that cool with you two?” He asked looking from Savanna to Serenity.
“That’s okay with me,” Serenity answered. “Daddy, can we have ice cream?” She asked.
“After we eat, I’ll see,” Ace answered as he approached the secretary desk.
“How can I help you, today?” Jennifer asked.
“We’re here to see, Aaliyah Bailey,” Ace said.
“She’s in with a client would you like to wait?” Jennifer asked smiling at Ace.
“Yes, we’ll wait,” he answered as he put Serenity and Savanna down.
Ace took a seat as he watched his girls run back and forth. “Your daughters are gorgeous!”
Jennifer said as she went to put some papers away.
“Thanks,” Ace replied leaning back in his seat.
“HELP!” Ace and Jennifer heard. They both looked at each other.
“Which office is, Aaliyah’s?” Ace asked getting up. Jennifer pointed her office out.
“Should I call the police?” She asked.
“No, just take my girls into a safe place and don’t come out until I say it’s safe to,” Ace said over his shoulders. “Do it now.” He said as he watched Jennifer escort his daughters into another room.
Ace busted through Aaliyah’s office door to find her being choked out. “What the fuck going on in here?” He asked snatching the unknown man off Aaliyah.
“Man, mind yo fuckin’ business,” J’vion said staring Ace down. “Don’t come in here being captain save a hoe.” He warned.
&n
bsp; Ace didn’t respect any man putting their hands on any females. He turned to Aaliyah to make sure she was okay. The tears running down her face as she gasped for air didn’t sit well with him.
“Are you okay?” He asked as she wrapped her arms around him tightly and held him even tighter, while crying on his chest.
“Yo, Mr. Save a hoe this has nothing to do with you. So I advise you to mind your fuckin’ business, leave, and act like none of this ever happened,” J’vion said becoming very annoyed.
Ace looked at him and wanted to break his fucking face but being that he had his daughters with him, he would leave it, for now. Ace knew they would be seeing each other again.
“Yo, you have about two seconds to walk outta here on ya own or I’ll be assisting you,” Ace warned. J’vion laughed as he ran his hands through his braids.
“And who the fuck is you? Oh wait Mr. Save a hoe,” he said as he laughed at his own joke.
Ace released Aaliyah and without warning he punched J’vion in his face. They started throwing down right there in her office. J’vion wasn’t no weak ass nigga but he wasn’t a match for Ace. Ace over powered him with ease. Aaliyah stood in the corner trembling with fear. Her office had become a boxing ring and there wasn’t shit she could do about it. She was just glad Ace walked in when he had. Aaliyah jumped back when J’vion crashed into her desk.
“I asked you to leave nicely, mothafucka,” Ace said as he grabbed J’vion from the table and threw him into the door.
“Do you know who the fuck I am?” J’vion asked as he tried to get himself together.
“I could give two fucks about who you are. You better ask who the fuck I am,” Ace said as he opened the door and shoved J’vion out the door.
“We’ll be seeing each other again,” J’vion warned.
“Yeah just make sure you shoot first, mothafucka!” Ace said as he walked back into Aaliyah’s office. “What the fuck was that about?” He asked as he made his way back into Aaliyah’s office.
“It’s a long story,” she said as she began cleaning up after the mayhem.