by Zi'ere
Suddenly the curtain surrounding Zoey’s bed was pulled back. The short and stout nursing assistant had an irritated look on her face.
“You are badly mistaken if you think I am going to let ya’ll stay in this room with all this commotion. In case ya’ll forgot this is a hospital. There are sick people in here, don’t nobody wanna hear all this Bold and the Beautiful type drama!”
I folded my arms across my chest. Looking her up and down in search of a name tag. She must have caught my language in the look I gave her.
“Legally, you are the only one that has a right to be here.” She nodded at me as she spoke. “But I won’t hesitate to put both of these beautiful men out on their asses if they can’t get it together in here.”
I couldn’t deny I was taken aback by KeKe’s professionalism and unprofessionalism in the same sentence. She sashayed to the door and left out with her long braids swaying behind her.
“Que, can you stay in here for a second while I talk to Liam?”
“You’re going to trust this dude in here with Zoey while you get rid of me so you can fall for some more of his lies?” I’m sure Liam did not want Que to see that side of him.
“Babe, it’s not what you think. Give me a few minutes to handle this situation is all I’m asking. You trusting me just like you want me to trust you.” I literally had to pull him by arm and shirt to get him out of the room. I kissed him on the cheek, I knew he needed reassurance and I didn’t have a problem giving it to him. I had managed to get him to the door when Que made a wrong move and poked fun at him one last time.
“Let me be man enough to say that I appreciate you comforting Laini in her time of need. Situations prevented me from being with her last night but you need to know Daddy is home. Surely you know you can’t take over her heart after I have had it in my hands for the last few years. I wish you the best in the future.”
There was no way I would even attempt to get in the middle of the big men who were now engaged in a full on bar brawl minus the beer bottles. I moved about Zoey’s bed to shield her from any contact with her or the equipment surrounding her. Just as I suspected shortly thereafter a security guard showed up. He assessed that he could not restrain one of the muscular men, let alone two, so he called for back- up. I would soon find out the back-up was not another security guard or two, it included Chandler County police department. The entire time Que and Liam landed punch after punch on each other’s face and body. Somehow they ended up in the hall still pummeling into each other. Pretty boy Que was being taken for a ride. It hurt my feelings to know that the prize was with me the entire time. KeKe closed the door behind them and stood guard in front of the door. I couldn’t go out if I wanted to, which I didn’t by the way.
43
Laini
Just because Liam had successfully kicked Que’s ass was enough for me to make sure he didn’t spend too much time in police custody. On the other hand, I had no ties to Que and there was no way I was going out on a limb for a guy who had left me to be eaten by wolves at the airport the night before. And, by wolves I am referring to his wife and paparazzi. He hadn’t given a damn about me and it was befitting that I return the favor. I chose to let Felicia handle the business of picking up Liam. I would pay her in cash for double overtime, parking, and gas for completing the task in such a timely manner. My gut told me it wasn’t a good idea to get Yvette involved in this episode.
In the five hours it took waiting for Liam to return to my side, I spent every minute next to Zoey. I didn’t want to talk to her too much because I knew she hated it when I fussed over her. I spent a majority of the time staring into her face. I massaged her arms and legs with cocoa and shea butter baby oil. I took extra care to rub Palmer’s cocoa butter all over her stomach. Even though I couldn’t stop the tears from falling, I needed her to know that I had knowledge of the baby she carried in her stomach. I wanted her to know that I would be by her side no matter how things turned out.
I dried my tears. No need for a water show, I had my own fairytale to live out. I knew at the present moment I was on the same level as a hood chick, waiting for ‘my boo’ to be released from county jail. The thought made me laugh. I laughed so hard tears began to fall again. It dawned on me that I could not remember the last time I had found something gut tingling funny. Things were changing, I could feel it all over. The feelings that I should have had for Que, I now realized were never present in my spirit. I was desperately trying to hold on to someone who wasn’t mine for the taking. In this moment, I missed Liam. I missed him in a way that gave me comfort that he would not waste a second trying to get back to me. The empty feeling of endless hope I had yesterday was no more. I know realized that being in the wrong relationship had me feeling empty. I had tried to convince everyone around me that I was in love when no could see the signs they should have seen.
Prologue
Part 1
In the weeks that followed, Zoey remained knocked out cold in the hospital bed. The good news was that the baby in her stomach continued to grow with no problems. Her stomach grew so much so fast, that it was evident she was carrying multiples. Her OB/GYN confirmed that she was having twin boys. I held on to the hope that as long as she had stable vitals with no distress, I would have a piece of her with me for the rest of my days. I listened to the doctors and remained hopeful that she would wake up. The only issue came when we discussed what kind of mental level she would possibly be in. Of course, her medical needs would be met regardless to what she needed.
The more stable Zoey became I started to spend less time at the hospital. Liam convinced me that nobody expected me to be a resident of the hospital as well. When he convinced me to stay home at night it was under the agreement that he would be there with me. There was no way I could be pulled from sliding on the rainbow Liam provided. My requirements were met and we both enjoyed the closeness we now shared that was put on display for the world to see. He still held the position of driver and body guard. No one was going to take that position from him. There was no way I could talk him out of it.
Part 2
My life was in complete ruins and there was no way I would be able to turn it right side up on my own. I had taken the last few days hanging out in the gutter. In hiding were another set of words that could describe my current status. Creditors were calling back to back, nonstop every day. It was lost on me as to why my phones were still in working order in the first place. Those bills hadn’t been paid either. My once spotless home that looked as if it mirrored a home magazine was now in shambles. Pizza boxes, Chinese food cartons, hamburger wrappers, empty coke bottles, and coffee cups were scattered about the entire house. My mail had begun to grow by the day on the floor in front of the door. I had spent my last dime in cash this afternoon when I ordered pizza for lunch.
I wasn’t going to be able to stay secluded inside without cash or credit available on my debit card. Last month I had no worries. I was living the life, driving around town in a brand new two, thousand thirteen model car. I stood and watched from behind my bedroom blinds when the repo team snatched it two nights ago. Here I was once again, back in the same low life position I had been in years before. They told me that if I could not carry out their wishes what was going to happen. My biggest mistake was thinking they would be unable to carry out all the threats they had made. The threats came often and eventually, they got bigger. The threats were so real, I was afraid to leave my house. I moved to the direction of the kitchen. I was pretty sure I was at the point of dehydration. I had lost a substantial amount of weight as it was. I probably wouldn’t be recognized on the street if I were to go out.
I refused to clean a spot on the couch for myself so I moved my party of one to the bedroom. Limited entertainment eventually led to endless opportunities. Boredom in addition to loneliness led me to begin touching myself. It had been so long since I had been able to feel the warmth of a touch from anyone. Cable television had been cut off a long time ago so I decided on a smut DV
D to set the mood. Between the friction on the screen and the friction with my own hands, I had brought myself to that sweet place of ecstasy. I reached the peaks of the mountain top three times before I could want to focus on anything else. Before I could stop myself I drifted off to sleep.
I awoke to the loud crashing sounds of glass being broken. Someone had thrown a brick thru my bedroom window. Once I realized exactly what was happening, the crashing sounded throughout the house in one room then the next. The sounds of the alarm being mixed with the sound of glass being broken made my head hurt in a matter of seconds. I wasn’t sure what this crazed persons next move would be so I hid in my bathroom closet with my cell phone. Being able to make emergency calls regardless of the status of payment was a God send. I whispered my address to the dispatcher and prayed that God would keep me safe. I could hear someone walking around inside the house. Glass was being broken down even more under the weight of their shoes. The mystery person came into the bathroom and looked around. I was on the floor of a linen closet and I looked through the crack of the door to get some kind of description for the police. What I saw hurt my heart and I began to weep silently.
There would be no help that could come quick enough to save me from my present situation. Even though I had thought I was doing the right thing by hiding, they had still found me. They made everything look so easy and obtainable when I on the other hand had to fight for every coin I had. Because I had failed them in such terrible ways that caused trouble in their own personal lives, I knew I would have to pay the piper with my own life. A sob escaped my throat and I couldn’t decide if I had done it on purpose or if I wanted to continue to hide. Waiting was another form of torture, I quickly decided. I hit the closet door with my foot, hoping to be heard. Kicking trash about in my home had made it hard to hear even the smallest noises I was trying to make to give up my hiding spot. I shifted position and kicked the closet door into the bathroom door with all my might.
I heard the footsteps picking up pace in my direction. I closed my eyes and began to meditate on pleasant thoughts. Like most circumstantial Christians, I began to repent for my sins, they were plentiful. I began to recite the twenty-third Psalm.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me ; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
My soul left my body as I paused after the last word had been recited in my head. I watched the intruders continue to ensure that I was indeed lifeless. One of them held my head under the water in the toilet. The other sat on my shoulders making it unable for me to move. I stood there and watched the action unfold. It was totally too late, but if I could, I would do things different. The next time I wouldn’t be afraid to say no. When it came to Purple Label affairs I would not get involved at all in any way, shape, or form if I could do it all over again.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used factiously, and any resemblances to the actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
© COPYRIGHTED 2013
Zi’ereBooks 2016
Epilogue
Mekhi’s life was in complete ruins. There was no way he would be able to turn it right side up on his own. In hiding were another set of words that could be used to describe his current status. Without Zoey he had nothing. Three months ago Mekhi had no worries. Now here he was once again, back in the same low life position he had been in years before. He couldn’t help but think about the choices he had made. He knew those actions had their own set of consequences. He not only risked his life, he was playing with the lives of others like a random game on Monopoly.
Monopoly was all about the money, property, and staying out of jail. He wanted to be successful in life. He thought he could bypass all of work that went along with success. Mekhi was interested in crabbing his way to the top. He was convinced there was room at the top for him but that the top didn’t need to be too crowded. Emani had told him way back what the ending result would be if he could not carry out her wishes. Emani Barton-Haywood. Another crab if he had ever seen one.
Never in a million years did Mekhi believe her. Who would take the beautiful woman’s death threats seriously? Not him, that’s for sure. He was convinced he had all of the women eating out of his hand. After all, he was the man in the outfit. He wanted, no he needed the women to turn over the reins to a man. Mekhi underestimated the brains of every woman he was dealing with but it wasn’t his down fall. His biggest mistake was thinking no one would ever figure out what Emani was doing every day as she continued to smile in the people’s faces she hated.
Emani hated her own twin sister for everything Amina was and everything Emani would never be. Everyone loved Amina but only tolerated Emani. Even her own best friends favored Amina over her. Mekhi allowed Emani to fuel his hate even more. What messed him up was that Emani had never told him that the Jefferies ladies were more cut throat than he could ever imagine. He and Emani had never discussed what would happen if Laini found out about what they were trying to carry out.
The threats from Emani came often and eventually, they got bigger. The threats were so real at that point, now Mekhi was afraid to leave his house. He was in hiding from Emani so he didn’t even see Laini at all. In the midst of wallowing in his sorrows, Mekhi drifted off to sleep. He awoke to the loud crashing sounds of glass being broken. Someone had thrown a brick thru his bedroom window. Once he had shaken the sleep out of his brain and realized exactly what was happening, the crashing sounded throughout the house in one room then the next.
He wasn’t sure what this crazed persons next move would be so he decided to hide in his bathroom linen closet with his cell phone. Being able to make emergency calls regardless of the status of payment was a God send. Mekhi whispered his address to the dispatcher and prayed that God would keep him safe. He needed to add situational Christian to his list of personality traits. He wanted God’s help now but he had tried to take another person’s life. Mekhi had done everything he could get away with to end life.
There would be no help that could come quick enough to save Mekhi from this present situation. He decided to leave God alone. Whatever he had coming, he deserved. Whatever was going to happen would be punishment he’d deserved true enough.
“It’s just like you to be hiding! As a man you still don’t have the heart of a woman. Snake come on out that corner and strike! I’m looking you in your face screaming for you to bite me!” Laini knelt down so that she was staring Mekhi straight in the face.
“I, I, I, I’m not hiding from yyyyou. WWWWWith all that commotion, I didn’t know what was going on I, I, I, I do live by myself you kknnow.”
Mekhi tried to buy himself some time.
He was hoping the police would get to his house in time to catch the two ruthless individuals now standing in his bathroom. Laini saw the cell phone. With leather gloved hands of her own, she snatched it out of Mekhi’s hands in one second. In the next second she crushed it under the height of her high heeled stiletto bootie.
“I don’t have all night for this shit.
You were supposed to do a few things for Emani. I know I am not as smart as the two of you. But I must admit ya’ll did exactly what I knew you would. That’s why I prepared myself. Yea, you got her pregnant just like she wanted. But, the most important job you had to do was to get me and Zoey off of our high horses. All you had to do was marry Zoey is what Emani told you. But you couldn’t do that. Then you were supposed to kill Zoey. You couldn’t do that. You were supposed to throw me off my game with the disaster you and your sidekick created with Quese. Yet you couldn’t get that to go the way it was supposed to go either. Instead all you have done is pissed me off! You have indeed created more problems for Mekhi and for that you will lose your life.”
“Laini, we need to hurry up! He knows what the hell he did to deserve this meeting. I bet his ass already knows today is his last day on earth!” Cedric Goldman called out to his cousin.
Mekhi’s soul left his body as after he recited the last word of scripture in his head. He watched the intruders continue to ensure that he was indeed lifeless. Cedric held his head under the water in the toilet. Laini sat on his shoulders making it impossible for him to move. His spirit remained there, watching the action unfold. It was totally too late, but if he could, he decided that he definitely would have done things differently. The next time he wouldn’t be afraid to say no to Emani’s evil plans. When it came to Purple Label affairs he would not get involved at all in any way, shape, or form if he could do it all over again.
1
Laini Jefferies
In the weeks that followed Zoey and Mekhi’s accident, she remained knocked out cold in the hospital bed. The good news was that the baby in her stomach had continued to grow with no problems. Her stomach grew so much so fast, that it was evident she was carrying multiples. Her OB/GYN confirmed that she was indeed having twin boys. Zoey had broken our promise to be married before we started a family. While I was excited at the new Jefferies that were going to be born into the empire, I still wanted the entire package for her. I held on to the hope that as long as she had stable vitals with no distress, I could have a piece of Zoey with me for the rest of her days.