by Kia
“Pat, stop! Get her off of me!” Seeka yelled as she was dragged out of the car with one hand and pounded in the face with the other.
“Bitch! Bitch! Bitch!” Patricia yelled with each lick that landed on Seeka.
Seeka was now cowering on the curb, kicking her feet, trying to stop the force of the blows.
“Get that hoe!” my mama yelled as she rooted Patricia on. I was still trying to figure out how she knew where my mama lived and where she came from.
“You… been… fucking my… man,” Patricia yelled between breaths as she dragged Seeka from one side of the curb to the other.
“Five-O!” someone yelled before squad cars started pulling up.
Before I even had the chance to react, Seeka and Patricia were being thrown onto the ground and read their rights.
“Get off me!” Seeka yelled as they slapped the cuffs on her!
“Call my mama and tell her to come bond me out, Skata!” Patricia yelled as they yanked her up with the cuffs on.
“I ain’t even do shit!” Seeka yelled.
“Bond money on deck, bitches!” Patricia yelled as the cop pushed her head into the back of the police car.
“Davinchi, do something! I’m pregnant with your baby!” Seeka yelled as they stuffed her ass into another car.
I looked over and saw Skata speeding off and picking up her cell.
“This wouldn’t have happened if you learned to keep ya mothafucking dick put up,” my mom said as she shook her head, tightened her robe, and walked into her apartment. “Get in here so I can lock my mothafucking door!” she yelled to Marvolen.
“Sorry, brother,” he said as he twisted his way up the stairs and shut the door.
Since Pat was now in jail and my mother had slammed the door in my face, I hopped in my whip and headed over to Diamond’s house. I knew she would be happy to see me after her long walk home. Maybe I could massage her feet or something.
Chapter Fifteen
Yazz
“I think we should have chosen some better bitches, my brother,” I said as we hopped in the car that we left in front of a deli shop across the street.
“Why?”
“Do you see the way that they live?” I asked.
“And who do you feel would have been the perfect fit for a fake marriage?”
“A stripper.”
He darted his eyes over at me and said, “Shut your fucking mouth, mi boy. You know nothing.”
Whenever he reverted back to talking like we did on the islands, he was mad. But why? I was only telling the truth.
“It was a bug bigger than my finger in the food,” I complained.
“But didn’t you say just pay women to marry us and that’s it? Why does it matter how they live? She no be my bitch, boy.”
“Why are you upset?” I asked.
“Because you’re never satisfied with anything.”
“Whatever.”
“Besides, maybe they will move to a better place when the money is being sent in monthly.”
“And how much will you pay Diamond? So I can know how much to pay Red.”
“Let the lawyer take care of those things.”
“Because them bitches need help.”
“So this is a good thing, right?” he asked as we finally merged onto the highway. There was still fucking traffic. This city would be perfect if it wasn’t so many damn people.
“I guess so. You think the Red bitch kinda cute?” I asked. I think she was feeling me too.
“If you like it, I love it. But why does it matter?”
“It don’t.”
Chapter Sixteen
Patricia
“Thanks again, Mom, for bonding me out,” I said to my mother before we pulled off from the police station. But before I could even put my seat belt on good, she was getting in my ass.
“I keep telling myself to stop coming to your rescue, but here I am, picking you up from jail again. I don’t know how much more of this I can take,” she said as she stopped at the light. “Why can’t you be more like Parish?”
I sat back in my seat and prepared for the lecture about how Parish was so much better than me and how I coulda been in college… blah, blah, and more blah. My mother was a teacher, father was the chief of NYPD before he died, and Parish was a high school teacher at a private school. She taught Spanish, and I was nothing compared to her. College wasn’t for me, and neither was being a part of my family. Every time I came around, I was judged. If it wasn’t about Parish, my mother didn’t care. She damn near disowned my brother and I. According to my mother, I was a failure and so was he because he was gay.
When my dad died of lung cancer three years ago, I didn’t cry. I didn’t cry because he ridiculed me so much to the point where I despised cancer for killing him first. It was safe to say that I was the black sheep of the family, and I gave zero fucks.
“I don’t understand. We paid for you to go to the best schools, and you still let us down. This hood life isn’t for you, and you know it,” my mother said.
“Hood life?”
“You have a nice home with me and your stepfather, but you insist on living in the hood.”
My stepfather was also a police officer. In fact, him and my dad were best friends. That’s so crazy how she can look down on me when she did the game so dirty.
“I don’t like Ronald, and Ronald don’t like me.”
“He just wants what’s best for you,” she said.
I wasn’t paying her no mind. Fuck him, and if she kept pushing the issue… fuck her too. My mom had so much to say about the life I was living, but never offered to help. They had money, but I was carless and had no help with my bills.
“Whatever,” I said as I folded my arms.
My mom was a beautiful black woman, and tall. I don’t understand why she would settle for Ronald out of all people. He was short and fat, with a little man syndrome.
“This is your problem. You never want to listen…” She continued to go on and on about how I wasn’t shit and how it wasn’t too late for me to go the route that she always wanted me to go; a nurse.
“Well, sorry, Mom. Being a nurse just isn’t for me,” I said.
Damn, I was ready to get home to call Davinchi. I couldn’t call while I was in the car with her because she would be all in my business.
“This is such a tragedy. This is not how I raised you.”
“What you mean? How am I?”
“A fucking hoodrat!”
“Wow. Okay, yeah, I will be that,” I said, nodding my head.
But I wonder where Davinchi went after the fight. And why didn’t he bond me out? And where was Seeka? I was nowhere near done whooping her ass.
For the rest of the ride, I tuned my mother out and thought about other shit that made me smile. As tough as I tried to be, talking to my mother always broke me down to my deepest core.
“You haven’t told me that you love me in three years, since dad died,” I blurted out, cutting her off in mid-sentence.
“Yes, I have,” she lied. But the look on her face showed confusion. Like she was trying to remember the last time she’d uttered those three words.
“Can’t remember, huh?” I asked.
She laughed. “When was the last time you told me that you loved me?”
I shook my head. “You’re my mother. I shouldn’t have to tell you first,” I said in disbelief at the childish question.
Finally, we pulled in front of my apartment. “I will be praying for you,” my mother said when I stepped out.
“Don’t pray for me. Pray for the weak,” I said before shutting the door. She didn’t even ask if I needed anything or was I okay. But I was used to it.
This was my life. Now… where in the hell was Davinchi?
Chapter Seventeen
Davinchi
“So you really not about to open this door?” I asked Diamond as I begged from the outside of her apartment.
“Go away, Davinchi,” she yelle
d back.
“My fucking weed is in there, Diamond,” I said. I tried not to say it so loud, but she needed to understand that I was serious. Like… what the fuck had gotten into her?
“Here,” she said as she threw the weed bag out to me and tried to hurry up and close the door back. But I pushed it open.
“Move,” she said as she pushed me.
“Yo, why you being so dramatic? Back up,” I said as I went to her room and prepared to lie down. I had a long day and was tired.
“I’m fucking serious!”
“Go ’head, B,” I said, moving her out the way.
When I got to her room, Rena was in the bed. I attempted to move her to her own bed, but Diamond damn near knocked my shoulders off trying to get me out the way.
“Go!”
I looked at her hands and then my shoulders. “You serious, huh?”
“Yes. You showed me that you didn’t give one fuck about me tonight, so we done.”
“Yeah?” I asked while laughing. She had to be playing.
“I’m serious.”
“I’ght. Don’t hit me up when you need help ’round this joint,” I said as I picked up my weed and walked toward the door. I expected her to stop me, but she didn’t.
“Bye,” Red said.
“Fuck you, bitch.”
“I ain’t Diamond, bitch ass nigga. Watch the way you talk to me. The fuck?”
“Bitch, I don’t g—”
“Davinchi!” Diamond yelled. She was now standing by the door, awaiting my departure.
“You’ll be back,” I said as I walked out. I turned around to say one more thing, but she slammed the door in my face.
“Yo, nephew, you got a dime?” a junkie asked. A dime was a small bag of weed.
“Nah, school. I’ll have it tomorrow,” I said as I put my head down and walked down the stairs.
I was starting to feel some type of way about the way she had just handled me. I don’t feel like I was wrong. Shit, I was getting to the paper for a bit. How could she be mad?
When I hopped in my whip, I was happy that Pat was locked up and wouldn’t be home for at least a week. She didn’t have bail money. I had the key to her place and wouldn’t have to hear her mouth about Seeka.
***
“So where the fuck you been?” Pat asked the minute I walked into her place.
“I know I just saw the laws cuff yo ass,” I said as I threw my bag on the couch.
“You did. So when are we going to talk about Seeka?”
“It’s not what you th… fuck that. I’m out, B. I ain’t got time for this,” I said, grabbing my weed bag and heading out.
“Wait, where you going?” she asked.
“Look, bitch… we talked ’bout this shit.”
“We talked about the maid bitch. Not Seeka.”
“It’s a possibility that she got my baby in her, and I can’t change it.”
“Just like that, huh?”
“What?”
“No sorry, no nothing?”
“For whaaaat, B? Damn!”
“You see no wrong in ya own actions, do you?”
“You just annoying the fuck outta me, man.”
“Fuck it. Go to that hoe Diamond’s house.”
“Okay. I will now,” I lied as I walked to the door. It was looking like I would be at the trap tonight.
“Wait, don’t go,” she said as she walked to me and grabbed my bag.
I was starting to figure this bitch out. She was in dry ass competition with Diamond. No matter how much dirt I did, she was always bringing up Diamond, and I was gonna use this to my advantage.
“Diamond didn’t suck my dick today,” I said as I walked to the couch and dropped my draws.
She put her head down and came to service me. One minute she was complaining, the next she was sucking my dick.
This hoe had a real life mental problem.
Chapter Eighteen
Diamond
“What the fuck?” I asked myself as I got a knock at the door the next morning. It was my off day and everyone in this apartment would sleep all day today. Or so I thought.
“Who’s that?” Red yelled from her room.
“I’m ’bout to see,” I said as I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and walked to the door and opened it.
“Morning,” Gee said with a smile and Starbucks in his hand. “I got breakfast for you three and some coffee.”
“Why?” I asked, not noticing how ungrateful I sounded.
“Remember? I promised I would handle your car situation today.”
“That’s right. Come in.” I held the door open for him and grabbed the Starbucks. “Where’s Yazz?” I asked.
“He’s handling some business of his own this morning,” he said as he sat down.
Gee was handsome, but today he was looking real fine. For once, he didn’t sport a suit. He had on a black Versace shirt with a Medusa head on it with black Acne jeans on. To compliment it all, he sported high top black Ferragamo shoes. I began to wonder what his diet consisted of because his chocolate skin was absolutely flawless. His eyes looked so dark, but pure at the same time… if that was possible.
“I’ll be back,” I said as I went to give Red her coffee and food.
She was excited. We loved Starbucks, but couldn’t afford it. I then woke Rena up and put her in the bed with Red so Red could feed her while I got dressed, preparing to leave with Gee to check on my car.
“Ready?” he asked as I walked back into the living room after putting some clothes on.
“Yep.”
I locked the door and we headed out to his Range Rover. He opened the door for me and walked to his side. I took a peek at my phone and saw that it was early as hell. It was only eight in the morning.
“You must be an early bird,” I said as he put the car into drive.
“Nothing comes to a sleeper but a dream. But you knew that, right?”
I loved his voice. It was deep and calm, but demanding at the same time. His words weren’t forced. They flowed with his cool demeanor.
“Right,” I said as he got on the phone.
Out of the blue, he started to speak a different language. I couldn’t tell what was being said. I couldn’t even tell if he was mad, happy or sad. His expressions were neutral most of the time, except for when he saw Kasha. His whole face lit up.
“This street, right?” Gee whispered as we drove up on the street that the alley was on. He put the phone down while he spoke. He didn’t want the person on the phone to hear him, I assume.
“Yes.”
When we turned into the alley, I wanted to drop fucking dead when I saw that my car was gone. That was all I needed. Even with the money that Gee had given me, I didn’t have enough to get a car and pay rent. How was I going to get to work now?
I got out of the car and walked to the light pole and wept. I didn’t want Gee to see me crying. This shit was overwhelming.
“Diamond, get back in the car so I can talk to you,” Gee said as he stood behind me with his hand on my shoulder. He then gently guided me back to the car and opened the door. “Why are you crying?” he asked, still standing by my door.
“I’m fine,” I said as I wiped my last tear and put my game face on.
“Don’t worry. As a matter of fact, let’s go and see my lawyer now so we can get this show on the road and get you paid,” he said, shutting my door.
“Why are you helping me?” I asked when he got back inside.
“You’re actually helping me.” He smelled so heavenly. This fragrance I’d never smelled before.
“How long will we have to be married?”
“I’m not sure, but no longer than three years. Don’t worry, it won’t be that bad. You will be well compensated,” he assured me.
“So what terms do I have to agree to?” I asked.
“I’m not sure, but my lawyer will inform you of everything you need to know.” He kept it real short with me.
“What’s t
he catch?” I asked.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re just gonna pay me to marry you? Do I have to fuck you?” I asked.
He laughed as we merged onto the highway.
“No ma’am. As a matter of fact, I stressed to my lawyer to add that to our contract.”
“Add what?”
“Absolutely no sex. Sex brings emotions. Emotions bring pain. And pain brings drama,” he said.
“You don’t have to worry about drama with me. I’m not that kinda girl,” I said.
“I don’t know that. So we’ll just have to keep this professional.” He kept his eyes on the road.
“Cool,” I said as I gazed out the window.
He made me feel secure and like trash at the same time. Why in the hell would he make his lawyer put no sex in the contract? Like I was nasty or something. For some reason, I felt like it wasn’t just me, it was all American girls. Judging by Kasha, he had a certain type, and a wild guess told me I wasn’t that. He didn’t even look at me longer than one minute. It’s like he was just ready to get married and send me on my way.
It took forever to get there, but the ride wasn’t so bad. Gee let me play any music that I liked, and we stopped to get some ice-cream. He didn’t eat any, but I got a fat Tornado ice cream cone. The building was slap dead in the middle of Times Square. We parked on the street. Gee inserted some coins into the meter and opened the door to let me out. For a little while, I felt like a spoiled child and was enjoying it while it lasted.
“Straight ahead,” Gee said as he walked behind me.
When we got to the door, he leaned over me and pushed the door open for me to walk in. He also held it for an elderly white woman who was coming out. Too bad this was fake and not real. He seemed like the perfect man.
“Mr. Achul,” an older white woman said as she entered the elevator behind us.
Her and Gee engaged in small talk for a brief second. He didn’t even talk like he had just killed a man the night before. He was clearly versatile. We lifted to the sixth floor and then got off.
“See you another time,” Gee said to her as she walked in a different direction after getting off. “Right here,” he said as he guided me to the first door on the right.