I'm Still Wifey

by Swinson, Kiki

  “So they’re going to remove it tomorrow?” Rhonda asked.

  “Yes. That’s exactly when it will be removed,” Dr. Magno assured her.

  He talked to us for a few more minutes and answered a couple more questions until he was paged over the intercom. But before he left, he assured me that he’d be back to check on me before I left the hospital for good.

  Right after his departure, both Nikki and Rhonda turned back around towards me. But Nikki was the one who spoke first.

  “Kira, I am so sorry about the baby,” she told me as she reached down to hug me.

  “Yeah, girl, I’m sorry too,” Rhonda interjected as she grabbed a hold of my hand.

  “Oh, but it’s going to be all right, because Syncere done already said that he’s going to take care of the niggas who did this to y’all.”

  “Look, Nikki, I don’t need that heat,” I told her and when I said it, it seemed like I was talking in slow motion.

  “I know you don’t, Kira. But it’s out of my hands.”

  “Okay, it’s out of your hands now. But what you think them niggas gon’ do to me after they find out I’m still alive?”

  “Yeah, Nikki, that’s a good question,” Rhonda said.

  “They ain’t gon’ do nothing to you,” Nikki began explaining. “Cause as soon as you get out of here, you’re coming to my house until all of this shit blows over.”

  “And how long do you think it’s going to take for that to happen? I mean, I do want to go on with my life,” I asked her because I needed some answers.

  “Hopefully soon,” was all she could tell me because she didn’t have the slightest clue nor did she know how serious this shit was going to get. She’s green as hell when it comes to the streets. So why the hell is she standing ’round here like she’s a trooper suited up and ready to go to war? But it’s all good, I guess.

  “Does Syncere know who shot us?” I asked Nikki.

  “Well, after I told him the comments you said the guys made when they were taking Mark’s jewelry, he said ‘a’ight’ in a way like he knew who to go to.”

  “But, you’re not sure?”

  “Come on, Kira, you know a nigga like him ain’t going to come out and tell his girlfriend who he’s planning to get killed. All he said was that those niggas are going to pay. And that’s it.”

  “Well, I don’t want to know shit!” Rhonda interjected. “I’ve got enough problems of my own already.”

  Listening to Rhonda’s comment made me realize that she’s right. Who wants to know what’s about to happen to those bastards that shot me and killed Mark? And as bad as I want to know who they are for my own safety, I’m just going to do the next best thing and that means remove myself from that scene. It would be the easiest method to get out of harm’s way. I mean, I’ve already lost Mark, and then my baby. So the only other person left to go would be me. But I’m not ready to leave. I’ve got a lot of shit on this earth to do. And when I do it, I’m going to do it for my baby and Mark both.

  “Want some more water?” Rhonda asked me.

  “No, I’m okay,” I told her and then I closed my eyes so I could reflect on my life and what’s about to come.

  ***

  The next morning two Virginia Beach homicide detectives stopped by my room to ask me some questions. However, I really didn’t have the answers they were looking for, so the visit with them didn’t last long at all. They did leave me their cards for just-in-case purposes.

  Now my visit from Nikki didn’t come until later around 5 p.m. Before she graced me with her presence, I got a surprise phone call from Ricky and some anonymous person, allowing him to use the anonymous person’s three-way. And fortunately for that person, he remained quiet the entire conversation.

  “Hey, I just heard about what happened. Are you a’ight?” Ricky asked in a concerned manner.

  “No, I’m not. But I will be,” I assured him.

  “So, what is the doctor saying?”

  “He said that I’m going to be all right if I relaxed and took it easy. But I did lose a lot of blood.”

  “So when is he letting you get out of there?”

  “Between today and tomorrow.”

  “Who was that nigga you was with when them cats rolled up on y’all?”

  “His name was Mark. Why?”

  “I’m just asking, that’s all.”

  “Well, what’s the next question? Was I fucking him?”

  “Were you?”

  “Yeah, I was,” I boldly said. And I thought Ricky was going to go off on me, but he didn’t.

  “Well, then, I’m sorry ’bout your loss.”

  “Yeah, whatever,” I said, ’cause I know he was just putting on an act.

  “Did the police come up there and talk to you?”

  “Yeah. They just left.”

  “So, what they say?”

  “They didn’t say shit. All they wanted to know was how everything happened. So I told them what I could.”

  “Did you tell them who did it?”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I don’t know,” I began to explain. “They were wearing masks, so I didn’t see their faces.”

  “You know I heard that nigga was robbing cats and that’s why he got smoked.”

  “Who told you that dumb ass shit? ’Cause whoever said it don’t know shit about him!”

  “And you do?”

  “Yes, I do. So don’t call me with that mess.”

  “Look, all I’m doing is telling you what I heard from a couple of niggas in here.”

  “Well, them niggas in there don’t know what the hell they talking about.”

  “So, do you know why they ran up on y’all?”

  “No, I don’t. But I do know that it wasn’t about him robbing somebody.”

  “Well, what is his people’s saying?”

  “I don’t know because I haven’t talked to anybody,” I lied.

  “So ain’t nobody been up there to holler at you?”

  “No.”

  “Goddamn! What kind of peoples was that nigga fucking with? Shit, for all you know, them niggas could’ve gotten him popped,” Ricky commented, but I didn’t feed into his shenanigans. I know he’s trying to pull information out of me. But I ain’t biting. So I ignored his question. And when he realized what I was doing, he said, “Ay, Kira, you a’ight?”

  “No. I’m not all right. So stop asking me that.”

  “Well, what are they feeding you in there?”

  “They been giving me chicken broth.”

  “So, who gon’ pick you up when it’s time for you to leave?”

  “Rhonda is. Why?”

  “I just asked.”

  “Well, who’s gon’ pick you up when it’s time for you to leave?” I came back on him. Because I know he was waiting on me to say Nikki’s name, which would have made his skin crawl. But I played it safe and used somebody else’s name who was also close to me.

  “Hopefully you,” he finally replied, catching on to my sarcasm.

  “Nah, brother, you better get one of your hoes to do that.”

  “Did you get with my lawyer, so y’all can go and see them people for me?” he asked, ignoring my comment.

  “No, I haven’t seen those people yet. But I talked to your lawyer a couple of days ago about getting together with them in the next day or so. But since this mess has happened, I don’t think I’m gon’ be up for that.”

  “But you have to,” Ricky said desperately. “The clock is still ticking.”

  “Look, Ricky, I just got shot twice, if you haven’t heard. And right now, I’m laying in the damn hospital. Now I know the clock is ticking because you’re reminding me of it every time I talk to you. But at this very moment, it’s all about me and my health. So that bullshit you talking about is gon’ have to wait until after I recover.”

  “Okay, hold up. I understand about all that. But the deal is on the table now. So if we drag our feet with this t
hing, they gon’ snatch it away from me.”

  “That’s not my problem, Ricky.”

  “Oh yes the fuck it is! Remember, I’m in this hellhole because of you and your big-mouth-ass cousin.”

  “Nah, nigga, you’re in there for them murder hits. So stop trying to blame everyone else for your fuck-ups. Everybody knows what type of nigga you are. Even I know it. That’s why I’m gon’ look out for myself first. Fuck all that other shit you talking about.”

  “Well, just remember what I said is gon’ happen if you try to front on me.”

  “Ricky, I don’t care about your little threats. They don’t scare me. Right now, you’re talking to a chick who could care less about what happens. Shit, I just got shot and almost came close to dying. So what could you possibly do to me?”

  “Put you out of your misery,” he so coldly said.

  “Well, then, do it, you piece of shit! Acting like you a gangsta or something. You ain’t shit!”

  “Oh, I’ma show you.”

  “Well, good, soldier. And now you ain’t got to call me no more. ’Cause if you do, I’m going to get all the numbers you used to call me from, blocked.”

  “Fuck you! You gold-digging bitch! I’m gon’ have your muthafucking head, you hoe! So you better watch your back when you leave the hospital, ‘cause I’ma getcha!”

  “Well, let me tell you this before you have somebody take me out,” I began to say sarcastically, “I just want you to know that while you was fucking Sunshine behind my back, I was fucking your home boy Russ.”

  “You what!?” Ricky yelled at the top of his lungs.

  “Yeah, nigga. I was fucking your big-dick friend right in our bed, when you used to leave me to go out of town.”

  “Yo, you’re a nasty hoe! And you talking like that shit is cute,” he yelled once again.

  “Don’t get mad ’cause his dick is bigger and better than yours. And as a matter of fact, because his dick was so good, he knocked me up with it.”

  “He did what?” Ricky screamed.

  “You heard me, nigga.”

  “Nah, I ain’t hear ya’. So tell me again.”

  “I said, he knocked me up,” I repeated. “I’m pregnant with his baby and I’m going to have it, too,” I lied, using this ammunition to fuel his anger.

  “Oh bitch, you ain’t keeping that! I can promise you that.”

  “And what you gon’ do?”

  “You’ll see.”

  “Shut the fuck up! ’Cause you ain’t gon’ do a damn thing but keep running your mouth. And you gon’ do that with somebody else because I’m about to hang up on your clown ass. And if you try to call this phone back, you ain’t going to get through, ‘cause as soon as I hang up on you I’m going to take the phone right back off the hook, so it’s going to be busy.”

  “I ain’t gon’ call your trifling ass back. I’m gon’ get close to you another way...” Ricky said, and before he could get another word in, I gave him the dial tone.

  Now as upset as he had just got me, I couldn’t believe that it didn’t make me cry. I honestly didn’t harbor any feelings of hurt. My heart felt so empty and cold. And right now, nothing would better soothe me than some get back. Yeah, I want to jump on the fast track to revenge. I want to see that bastard suffer really badly. And since Russ is number one on my list of niggas to get, Ricky has now just been added. So now he better watch his back. But for now, I guess I’m gon’ have to settle for the fact that he’s going to rot in prison for the rest of his fucked-up life because I’ll die first before I help him rat Papi out! It’s just not going to happen.

  Back at the Jail

  “Ay yo, Bossman,” I called out to him when I saw him sitting at one of the card tables in the corner of the cell block by himself.

  “What’s good, dawg?” he replied and then stood up to give me the proper hand shake.

  When he sat back down, I took a seat on the bench in front of him and said, “I need a job done.”

  “Whatcha need?” Bossman asked.

  “I need somebody clipped.”

  “When you want it done?”

  “As soon as possible.”

  “Who you want popped?”

  “My wife.”

  “Goddamn, dawg! Your wife! What’s up with that?” Bossman asked me and then he laughed.

  “Yo dawg, that bitch just told me that she fucked my right hand man in our bed when I was gone out of town. And now she’s pregnant by him and she’s gon’ keep it.”

  “Nah, man, she ain’t told you no shit like that.”

  “Yes, she did. And when she was telling me that garbage, she started laughing like the shit was funny.”

  “Yo man,” Bossman said as he shook his head in disbelief. “If my girl was to ever come out her mouth to tell me some shit like that, I’ll probably be banging one of these niggas heads up against the bars in here.”

  “You know what, man? The way shit is ringing in my mind right now, I’m real close to doing something like that. But it ain’t these nigga’s heads in here that I want. It’s that hoe and that tadpole in her fucking stomach.”

  “Yo Ricky, I’m telling you right now, my peoples gon’ charge you double ’cause she’s pregnant.”

  “Man, I don’t care about that. Money is not an issue with me. But that hoe is, especially if she’s still breathing past 72 hours.”

  “Well, if you’re trying to get her done before then, then my peoples ain’t gon’ be able to help. They gon’ need at least a week if you want shit done proper.”

  “What’s today?”

  “Tuesday.”

  “So, you saying your peoples can have her taken care of by Sunday?” I asked because I wanted assurance.

  “Most def.”

  “So, what’s the fee?”

  “Ten grand.”

  “Goddamn, nigga! Whatcha trying to do to me?” I said with frustration. “I know you can do me a little better that that! So sho’ me some love.”

  “C’mon, dawg. You know that’s the going rate.”

  “Yeah. But, me and you peoples, though.”

  “A’ight listen,” Bossman said, as he scratched his head, “If you can get me seventy-five large, I’ll make the call.”

  “A’ight. Let’s do it,” I told him and nodded my head, ’cause I know it’s a done deal. And I also know shit is gon’ go nice and smooth. I just wish I could be out there to see that hoe squirming like a fucking snake when they put a slug in her head. Boy, would that make my day.

  “So, when you think you can get me that dough?” Bossman asked.

  “By tomorrow night.”

  “Good. So let me get on the horn and let my man Ty know something is about to come through. And then, after the dough changes hands, he gon’ get his crew suited up. So now all you got to do is tell me where she lives at.”

  “Nah. That won’t be a good idea.”

  “Why?”

  “Because her house is kind of hot right now from that nigga named Mark who got killed outside her front door.”

  “So, where you want her done at?”

  “She’s in the hospital now. So have one of your boys follow her and do it then.”

  “When is she getting out?”

  “In a day or two.”

  “Well, that’s not gon’ happen. I told you they gon’ need at least a week to scope out shit. So when they hit her, it’s gon’ be a wrap. Nothing more.”

  “A’ight! Check it out! She owns a hair salon off Newtown Road, and sometimes she stays late. So that’ll be the perfect spot.”

  “Well, a’ight. Then it’s done. So, I’ma pass all this information on and give you the word when the show is over.”

  “Sounds good,” I assured him. And then when I got up from the bench to leave he said, “Yo dawg, that rocket, is blazing through here. And my plate, is almost clean. Niggas is loving it.”

  I acknowledged his reference to the heroin I had sent to me in jail, and how the supply is now low due to its popularity
. I sat back down and said, “I know. ‘Cause when Bivens pulled me out of the block last night, she told me some nigga in A-block had just OD’d right before her shift started.”

  “Yeah, I heard some of the cats in here talking about it. They said that nigga’s eye rolled to the back of his head.”

  “That shit must’ve bust his heart wide open.”

  “That’s what I said when I heard them talking about it.”

  “Yo! If that shit keeps popping them like that, it ain’t gon’ be nobody left in this joint to make money from.”

  Bossman laughed at my comment, so I said, “We might have to turn the volume down on that piece.”

  “Nah, man. Leave it just like it is.”

  “Yo dawg, you must be trying to wear a couple of murder beefs. ’Cause if we don’t put a lid on this shit, mu’fucka’s gon’ be ‘round here telling them crackers where they got it from.”

  “Nah. It ain’t gon’ get that bad,” Bossman said, trying to convince me. But I wasn’t buying that shit, for real. I know what the consequences gon’ be if niggas keep falling out ‘round here.

  And this nigga right here knows it too. But he don’t care. All he cares about is all that dough we coming off with. But since I’m the HNIC, the Head Nigga In Charge, I’m gon’ have to dilute it. And that’s just how it’s gon’ be.

  Pieces of the Pie

  Nikki was here bright and early to scoop me up from the hospital. And trust me, I was ready to go. Now Syncere was waiting on us to come outside, so he could drive us back to Nikki’s apartment. After he and the nurse helped me into the front seat of his truck, Nikki hopped in the back and we were off.

  From the back seat Nikki started switching the radio stations with the wireless remote. But Syncere wasn’t in the mood for any music. He wanted to talk about the night of the shooting.

  “Nikki told me the police came by the hospital to talk to you.”

  “Yeah,” I said, nodding my head.

  “So, what were they talking about?” he continued.

  “They just wanted me to tell them what I saw. So I did.”

  “Did you tell them what them niggas said?”