“Please,” I whimpered, tears strolling down my cheeks.
“You tried to get one over on me, bitch.” He finally let my neck go.
“I didn’t think you would care if I left or not, Risk! It’s not like I’m your girlfriend or anything!”
“But you’re mine!”
“But I don’t want to be!” I covered my mouth immediately after speaking my mind so boldly. I meant what I’d said, but I didn’t want his ass to know. He was demonic as hell.
Laughing evilly, he stared down at me.
“At this point, ma, you ain’t got a choice. We’ve been rocking for a year and a half now and nothing is going to change. Every time I stuck my dick inside you, and every time I iced your wrist, I owned more and more of you. You’re like my little slave bitch, and if I want you in chains I will put you in them. Don’t make me do you like that, Erynne.” He trailed his fingers down my exposed thighs as his teeth sank into his bottom lip. He chuckled and then kissed the lone tear that traveled down my face.
“Please, Risk. Just let me go. You don’t want me and you have so many girls already. What’s one?”
“Why do you want to go so bad? You don’t love hair that much,” he snarled. “You got a nigga out there that you’re sweet on?”
“N-no, I just want to have a chance to do something I love.”
“Do it here. Bitches need their weaves and shit done here too.”
“Yes, but I have a chance to make more money if I go to Los Angeles, Risk. There is a higher chance of me being able to—”
“You ain’t going!” he roared. “Cancel your flight or lose your money. It’s your pick, but you ain’t going. And don’t even think of trying to do so behind my back. I have connections in California and I’ll get to you in a hot second.”
I nodded and said, “Okay,” very lowly, trying to keep the tears at bay. I knew Risk was dangerous and I honestly don’t know why I thought I could get away scot-free.
“Meet me in the room in an hour.”
Once he left the den, I wiped my face and grabbed my cellphone. At this point, I didn’t care about how I looked or what I should be doing, so I dialed his number. Chaz’s number. It rang and rang, then went to voicemail, which almost made me break down. I was desperate though, so I tried again and finally the line answered. He was quiet, and I guess like me, he didn’t know what to say. We sat there in silence together for a moment before I decided to break it.
“I know it’s been a while, Chaz. And I know you don’t want to talk with me anymore, but I miss you and… I just want us to be friends. I miss talking to you and I’m sure you miss our conversations too. We don’t have to be anything but friends, I promise. I just—”
“Let me stop you,” a female voice replied.
I gasped lowly, before using the back of my hand to wipe my tears.
“Who-who is this? I—”
“Take a wild guess, bitch. I’m sure you know Chaz is married. Mar-ried! I have a ring which means what he and I have is solidified. I don’t know what you think you’re about to be to him, but I can tell you that it won’t go far. He loves me, and I’m sure you were just something to distract him.”
“You know your husband better than I do, so you know he never has distractions,” I smirked to myself.
She was quiet so she knew I was right. Chaz wasn’t a man who could easily be distracted and fall into something; he was way too levelheaded and disciplined for that type of stuff. By saying that, she knew if he gave me any of his time, it was for a reason.
“Don’t call his phone again. And if I catch you around him, you’re gonna be sorry.”
“You—”
“Baby, bring my phone! I think I left that shit in the bathroom!” I heard Chaz yell in the background from afar, cutting me off.
“Okay!” she replied to him before hanging up on me.
Pushing my hair out of my face, I let out a deep sigh, hoping to keep myself from screaming. I was angry that I couldn’t wring that bitch’s neck, and upset that I couldn’t talk to him.
My heart beat quickly as I wondered how I would be able to even get out of Chicago like I’d planned. I knew Risk played no games and he never shouted out threats that he didn’t follow through with. I refused to stay here, so even if I didn’t make it out this weekend as planned, I was going somehow.
As I was about to call Laine, Risk burst into the den with his booming voice, prompting me to jump.
“Risk—”
He pressed his mouth against mine as I put my phone behind my back to hide it from him. Reaching his hand under my nightshirt, he yanked down my underwear and got down on his knees. Placing my thighs onto his shoulders, his mouth collapsed around my clit and he began licking and sucking feverishly. Risk’s head game was one of the best, and it would surely be missed.
“Oh my gosh,” I whimpered, palming the back of his head as he caressed my thighs.
I wound my hips against his mouth, spreading my legs wider so he could really get in there. He sped up his mouth motions, and soon after, I was releasing. I breathed heavily as I fell back against the couch, hand thrown lazily over my lap.
“Come upstairs like I told you.” He rose to his feet and left out.
I followed right behind him, ready to let him fuck me to sleep. I’d get back to planning tomorrow.
Cassie
Two days later…
“This is such a pretty color,” Meeka, my nail lady smiled as she spread the paint across my nails.
I gave her an awkward smile back because I wanted her to just hurry the fuck up. I had a feeling in my stomach, the same one I’d been having for the past week, and I wanted to get to my baby quickly. I knew at any minute Miles would be popping up, and I was scared for my life. Just not knowing what he would do to me exactly was the scariest part. What if he was planning to kill me? I wouldn’t put it past him.
There were many nights where I thought that the beating he’d delivered would take my life. Only some of those times, I actually wanted to die. If it wasn’t for me not wanting to leave Melody alone for him to raise, it’s no telling what I would have done to myself.
“Alright, as soon as the light goes off, you’re all set, Cass.”
“Thank you.”
Bouncing my leg nervously, I scanned the nail shop on Melrose Avenue, looking out the door every time someone walked by the entrance.
After forever, the light finally went off, so I paid Meeka, booked my next appointment, and then darted out to my car. When my phone rang, I jumped, but smiled when I looked down to see it was Kordell.
“Hello?”
“You want something from Subway or nah? And what should I get Melody?”
I smiled at how he rudely answered without saying hi back, and at the fact that he was getting Melody and I something to eat.
“Kordell, I’m gonna be spending all day with her at my mom’s home. You don’t have to give up your day for us.”
“Cassie. You don’t want to piss me off and you’re about to.” His voice was calm, laced with very little aggression so that I’d know he wasn’t fucking around without having to yell.
“I will text you what to get for us both.”
“Thank you.”
After I hung up with him, someone yanked my car door open. Turning to look up at them with as much attitude in my expression as I could muster up, I almost shit bricks.
“You look much better than I thought you would, sweetheart,” Miles grinned cockily and squatted down.
“Miles—”
“Miles,” he mocked me. “What, you thought I wasn’t gonna find you? You wake up and take my kid, so what did you think was gonna happen, Cassandra Reid?”
I just shook my head ‘no’, not in response to him, but because I didn’t understand why God had allowed him to find me. Nothing good would come from this, and I’d prayed every night for him to protect me from Miles.
“Come with me.”
“I can’t, Miles. I have to go
to work,” I lied.
“Work?” he laughed. “Take me to my daughter before I do worse than what I’m already gonna do to you.”
I was afraid, but I’d rather him murder me then get to my baby. Yeah, he treated her well now, but who’s to say things would stay that way? There was a point in time where he treated me nicely too.
Crying silently, I replied, “I told you I can’t because I have to work. Give me two days and—”
“Give you two days? Why, so you can run again? You got me fucked up! I want to see her right now!”
“She’s still up in Oakland with my mother. I have to tell them to co-come down, and they probably won’t be here for two days. So please. I won’t run, Miles.”
“How do I know that?”
Shit, I had no idea how I was going to convince him to trust me. Granted, I planned to use these next two days to figure out how I was gonna be able to protect myself and my baby from him, but I wanted him to think the opposite.
“I, umm—”
“You know what, never mind. I found you once and I can find you again. Plus, I’ve already taken a picture of your license plate. Take down my number so that you can call me in exactly forty-eight hours with an address to meet at.”
It was Jude’s license plate, thank God. But through Jude, he could still get to me.
“Yes, of course.” I fumbled with my phone, almost dropping it into the street as I sat in my driver’s seat with the door open.
I put his number into my phone, and then he walked off, getting into a Mercedes, which I guess was a rental. I quickly closed my car door, and sat there not wanting him to follow me home. After about five minutes, he pulled off from the curb, and my phone buzzed.
Kordell: Text yo’ fucking order I’m in line!
Chuckling, I sent him what I wanted and what to get for Melody.
By the time I got to my mother’s condo, the sun was starting to set. I drove past Kordell’s car, which was parked on the street, and it instantly made me smile. I hurried to my mom’s door, and when I entered I saw she, Kordell, and Melody in the living room, talking like they were a family or something. My mom and Kordell occupied the opposite ends of the couch, with my baby sitting in the middle eating her mini sub.
“Sup, beautiful,” Kordell looked to me, eyes running down my body before landing back on my face.
“Hey.” I set my purse on the end table closest to the door.
“Hi, honey,” my mom smiled. Honey? This must be a good day for her. “Well, I will leave you three. I have a movie in the DVR that has been calling my name.”
“So you’re saying you didn’t enjoy talking to me?” Kordell grinned.
What the fuck?
Laughing too much, she replied, “Of course I did. I just don’t want to intrude on you guys’ time. Have a good night.”
My mom kissed my cheek, and then headed to the back, switching like someone was actually looking. I made sure Kordell wasn’t.
“You didn’t see me come in?” I sat next to Melody who had mustard on her little cheeks.
“You say don’t talk if food in mouth,” she responded, showing everything in her mouth.
“I did, you’re right.”
“You look nice, smell good too,” Kordell commented.
“Don’t I always smell nice?”
“I mean a few times I woke up next to you, them armpits weren’t at their greatest, but for the most part, yeah.”
“Ewww mommy!” Melody chuckled along with Kordell as I playfully rolled my eyes. I knew he was serious but I didn’t care.
Grabbing the clear plastic bag that held my sandwich, I retrieved it and immediately started digging in after praying. I stared at the TV as Kordell flipped through the channels like he lived here.
He was getting too close to the people I loved and I didn’t like it. From the shit I found in his phone, he clearly had no plans on being a one-woman man, and I had no time for that. I wasn’t one of those girls who stuck around hoping I could change a man and brag about it. I wanted a man that was already well trained by the time he got to me.
I stared at Kordell for a little bit, wishing I could mention the pictures in his phone. I couldn’t though without admitting I’d been snooping, which would have me further admitting that I really, really liked him. Otherwise, why would I have cared?
“Netflips!” Melody shouted.
“It’s Netflix, baby.”
She of course ignored me as she stuck her little arm out to Kordell so he could open the package of apples for her. Once he was done, he got up to turn on Netflix like she’d requested.
“She wants to watch The Emporer’s New Groove,” I told him.
“Word? I was a kid when that shit came out,” he laughed.
“I know, me too, and I watched it one day with her and she fell in love. Now she watches it whenever I turn on Netflix.”
“New Groove, please,” Melody nodded, crunching on the apple slice, watching the TV intently as if the movie were already on.
Seeing Kordell and my baby laugh together and talk while watching the movie definitely warmed my heart. I wished her real father could have been like this. Yes, he loved her and had spent plenty of time watching the movies she liked, even though she could barely form a sentence then, but his attitude towards me was terrible. I didn’t understand why he couldn’t treat me with respect like Kordell, while being a good father. I shook my head to hopefully shake the thoughts I was having because I didn’t want to hinder my mood.
After watching The Emporer’s New Groove, we watched Home, Minions, and lastly Zootopia. I made cookies for us during Zootopia, so that plus milk had Melody passed out before it ended. I decided to just place her in bed after changing her, instead of waking her up for a bath. When I returned to the living room, Kordell was watching a stand-up comedy.
I sat down with him, leaving a little space between us, but he pulled me into him so I laid my head in his lap. His phone vibrated against my ear, so I lifted slightly in order for him to get it out his pocket. I waited, listening to him text and chuckle, then do it again.
“Who was that?”
“Couple people, brothers and cousin.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s all I’m replying to.”
Turning onto my back, I said, “You can’t keep getting close to my family. My daughter and my mom are everything to me and I don’t want them getting attached to you. I hadn’t planned for you to meet Mel, but it happened, and she’s all over you now.”
“And why can’t I get close to them? You want a nigga who don’t give a fuck about anybody in your life but you?”
“No, the guy I’m going to be in a relationship with can do that, but not a guy I’m just sleeping with.”
“That’s all we do is fuck?” he raised his brow, looking down at me. He wasn’t upset, but his stern tone let me know that he would get there depending on my response.
“No, but we’re not working towards a relationship, Kordell.” I sat up but he abruptly laid me back down in his lap.
“Why does it have to be like that? Why can’t shit just happen? You ain’t got to sit down and discuss intentions from day one. Yeah, my plan was to have a fuck buddy but shit is becoming more. I’m not gonna try to stop that just because that wasn’t my initial plan.”
“Becoming more? So you agree that we’re acting like boyfriend and girlfriend?”
I was shrieking with joy on the inside like a loser, but I stayed serene on the outside. Kordell’s ego was big enough, and I had no plans on inflating it even more.
“Yeah, I do. And just because we said at the beginning that we wouldn’t do that, doesn’t mean us becoming one is prohibited.” Leaning down so that his lips were against mine, he whispered, “So you gon’ be my girl or you still see me as annoying as fuck?”
Laughing harder than I’d intended, I simply nodded before letting my eyes scan his in anticipation. His golden dreads were piled on top of his head, making him look so
handsome.
Finally allowing our lips to touch, I closed my eyes and caressed his chin hair as we kissed. Of course, his hands traveled from my hip to my ass, just before he gave it a nice squeeze. I was happy… in this moment… but I wasn’t sure how being with Kordell and having Miles as a baby father would work out. For now, though, I was going to bask in this ambience.
Chapter Four: Laine
The next evening…
Tonight, The Models were booked for a party thrown by this boxer named Rhett. I’d gotten the invite a while ago, and it was finally time. I was excited because I’d heard his parties were always off the chain, but in a classy way. That meant I didn’t have to worry about being around disrespectful ass niggas or ghetto females, but I could still pop my ass to some hood shit; perfect combination.
The dress code was all white, and Rhett would be the only person that could wear color. I chose something simple to wear; a white semi short strapless dress with a dip in the middle of my breasts, and a cutout to show my gold belly ring. Mischief had bought me a new one a while back that had an ‘M’ hanging from it. I so badly wanted to change it, but because I broke a sweat putting this one in, I decided against it. Hopefully, no one would be looking that hard at my belly charm like that.
I decided to wear my hair up in a slick bun, with gold earrings, a gold necklace, and gold bracelets. After spraying my perfume on, I grabbed my white sandal stilettos that showed my toes, and sat down on my bed to put them on.
“Kordell says these are too short,” Cassie commented, turning around in the mirror with a slight frown. She was wearing white shorts, with a white frilly top, her favorite, and white stilettos like me.
“How does he even know what you’re wearing?” I chuckled because he was definitely Mischief’s brother. I missed the little things like him getting up in arms about my clothes. I sighed at my thoughts.
“Because he said now that we’re together, I need to FaceTime or send a picture of my outfit for the day, everyday.”
We laughed in unison.
“Is he serious?”
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