Life After A Balla

by Jackie D.

  When the cab pulled up a few seconds later both she and Cruze hopped inside. They had a few hours to spare before Skye had to go to meet Sandino’s lawyer.

  “11 Washington Avenue Miami Beach,” Cruze instructed the driver.

  Skye looked over at him with a huge grin on her face, she immediately recognized the street. “Don’t tell me we’re going to my favorite spot?”

  “Yep. I know how much you love Joe’s Stone Crab. Besides, you can’t go into a meeting on an empty stomach. You barely ate breakfast before we left Georgia.”

  “You always know exactly what to do to make me smile,” Skye said, kissing Cruze on his lips. “Can you afford this though? I know it’s been a while since you sold a car, and you just bought me that Michelle watch. With our bills…”

  “Sssssh. Don’t worry about that. I told you I got you, babe,” he interrupted.

  Even though Cruze had promised to stay out the streets, he lied. Skye assumed the little bit of money he had coming in was from his job as a car salesman at some mom and pop car lot. Instead, Cruze was back in the streets selling drugs again. Even though he knew it was wrong, and wanted to abide by Skye’s rules, in his mind he had to make some real money in order to provide Skye with the lifestyle she was accustomed to. He knew Skye didn’t want anything from him, but he wanted to spoil her by giving her nice things. Plus, what she didn’t know was that Cruze just wasn’t a nine to five type of guy. He was married to the streets.

  As they laughed and talked all the way to the restaurant, Skye thought this was the perfect opportunity to finally tell Cruze her good news. She reached inside her purse and pulled out some paperwork and handed it to him.

  “I did this a few weeks after the incident,” she advised.

  After looking at the paper, it only took a few seconds before a huge smile appeared across his face. It was Skye’s divorce papers.

  “Since I’m going to see Sandino’s lawyer, I might as well hand him the papers so they can deliver them to his crazy ass.”

  Cruze was so excited, he was glad she was finally closing that chapter of her life. He clapped his hands together and looked up towards the sky like he was saying a prayer. “Damn, you had a nigga speechless for a minute. I almost stuck my head out the window and yelled to the top of my lungs with that news. All this time I’ve been preaching to you about moving on with your life and you’d already filed for divorce. Now that’s what I’m talking bout baby,” he said, leaning over and kissing her cheek.

  “Yeah, I’ve been waiting for this moment for a while.”

  “Shit, me, too,” he co-signed.

  “Maybe when the divorce is final I can finally get some damn alimony or even some child support.”

  Cruze looked at her sideways. “Is that one of the reasons why you finally filed? We don’t need his money.”

  The last thing Skye wanted was to make him upset. “No, that’s not one of the reasons why I filed. I filed because I need to finally be rid of him. But don’t you think I deserve to still live a good life after all he put me and my kids through? Plus, you wouldn’t have to work as hard.”

  “Well, that’s what I’m here for, to take care of you guys.”

  Cruze’s overprotective ways was one of the main reasons why Skye had fallen for him.

  “You always know just what to say,” Skye beamed.

  Twenty minutes later, they pulled up in front of the restaurant. As Skye looked up at the sign, memories of how her family use to frequent the establishment before Sandino lost his mind flooded her thoughts. She also remembered that a lot of the Miami Dolphin players and their families used to eat there as well.

  I hope I don’t run into any of them, I’m not in the mood for no fake conversation, she thought.

  After making their way inside, several men almost broke their necks looking at Skye. Although she’d picked up a little weight and was wearing a conservative black suit, she still seemed to mesmerize men with her beauty as they waited to be seated.

  Cruze glared back at the staring men. He then walked behind Skye and began massaging her shoulders.

  “Ahhh, that feels good,” she moaned.

  “I want you to relax and enjoy lunch before the meeting. No stressing,” he advised.

  “Okay, no stressing.”

  A few minutes later the hostess came and led them to a table. Once they were seated, Skye began to look over the menu.

  “I sure don’t wanna meet the lawyer smelling like seafood, but I’m about to get my grub on,” she informed. “It’s been so long since I’ve had Joe’s.”

  “Do your thing, baby. That’s what we’re here for,” Cruze said with a slight grin.

  At that moment, the waitress walked over to the table. “Hello, welcome to Joe’s Stone Crab. My name is Natalie and I’ll be your server. Can I start you two off with something to drink?” she looked back and forth from Skye to Cruze.

  “Actually, I’m ready to order,” Skye responded.

  The waitress smiled and pulled out her pad. “I guess someone’s hungry. Go ahead.”

  “I’ll have the Maine Lobster Tail with crab cake stuffing,” Skye spoke.

  “And I’ll have the Jumbo Lumb crab cakes with green tomatoes,” Cruze added.

  “Would either of you like anything from the bar?” the waitress asked.

  “I’ll have a Hennessey and Coke,” Cruze responded.

  “Just a Coke for me,” Skye said.

  “Okay, I’ll be right back,” the waitress said, walking away.

  Skye looked around. The place looked different. The ambiance was very romantic. There were white candles and crisp white table cloths. They even had fresh cut roses as center pieces on each table.

  A few minutes later, the waitress bought their drinks.

  “Here’s to a new life with no more worries,” Cruze said, raising his glass for a toast.

  Skye grabbed her glass and smiled as they clinked their glasses together. “I’ll definitely drink to that,” Skye said, taking a sip of her coke and gazing into Cruze’s eyes as they sparkled mischievously. Something serious, yet erotic always seemed to be going on in his eyes when he looked at her.

  Their gazes caught and held for a few minutes. While Skye bit down on her lip and started twirling her hair, Cruze stuck out his huge tongue, moving it in a circular motion along his lips. Their chemistry was crazy and they loved having sex with each other.

  “Damn, I wanna fuck the shit out of you right now,” Cruze said.

  Skye looked around the restaurant then towards the restrooms. “You know you can get it right here baby.”

  Cruze displayed a massive smile. “Are you serious?”

  As soon as she gave him the signal, they both got up and headed to the restroom area. Skye looked over her shoulder before entering the men’s bathroom to make sure nobody was watching. When the coast was clear she walked behind Cruze into the stall closing the door behind them.

  They immediately started kissing while he unzipped her pants pulling them to her knees. Skye could feel the passion building inside of her. Cruze quickly pulled down his pants and turned her around so she was facing the stall door.

  “This is just a quickie baby, but tonight I want to taste my pussy and you already know I’m going to make you cum all night,” he whispered in a raw and sexy tone in her ear.

  Skye knew he was telling the truth, his head game was something she’d never experienced in her life. The multiple orgasms from his huge, thick tongue were priceless. Her pussy was getting wet just thinking about it.

  This man is trying to drive me crazy, Skye thought to herself.

  As Cruze slid his thickness inside her from behind she bent over and arched her back. He adjusted himself and started thrusting strong and deep. He started out with a slow rhythm, but it quickly turned into a faster more satisfying thrust sending sensations and fire throughout her body.

  “Baby, you feel so good,” she said, as he rode her ass deep and hard.

  “You feel good
, too. Don’t ever take this pussy away from me,” he moaned.

  Their pulsating rhythm and the way Skye stuck her ass out throwing the pussy and giving him full access drove Cruze insane. Seconds later, he felt himself about to cum as he rode her ass pounding it repeatedly.

  In a strangled voice, he asked, “You gonna cum with me, baby?”

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  “I want to feel it on my dick.” Skye’s pussy muscles suddenly contracted. “Yeah baby, I feel it, cum for me,” Cruze said.

  Her legs started to tremble as Skye’s orgasm approached. “Oh shit,” she said, breathing uncontrollably.

  Cruze released a deep moan as he wrapped his hands around her waist and dug inside her harder and faster. Seconds later he released.

  “I love you, Skye,” he whispered in her ear.

  “I love you, too.”

  ****

  Several hours later, Skye looked out the back window of the cab at the rows of beautiful palm trees while making her way toward the financial district in the heart of downtown. Being back in The Magic City Skye realized she truly missed portions of her old life. The only thing she didn’t miss was getting her ass beat by Sandino on a daily basis and dealing with all his hoe’s trying to disrespect her.

  After arriving at Sandino’s lawyer’s office, Cruze decided not to join the meeting so Skye could have her space. Not to mention, he was afraid that he might hear something to set him off. Cruze knew Sandino well enough to know he would always try to control or have the upper hand on Skye whether he was alive, in the hospital or dead. He just hoped Skye was prepared, because without a doubt, Sandino always had a hidden agenda.

  Cruze decided to go across the street to the Sports Bar he saw when they pulled up. As soon as he entered, he saw a crazy looking woman sitting at the bar staring at him like he was a piece of meat. He walked to the opposite side hoping that she caught the hint that he didn’t want to be bothered. He sat down and told the bartender he wanted a Hennessey and Coke. The bartender nodded his head and reached under the bar pulling out a tiny glass. The woman obviously didn’t catch the hint as she headed over and sat beside him.

  “Damn, you’re the best thing I’ve seen all day. I need to take you home,” she said with a huge smile.

  It never seized to amaze Cruze just how forward the Miami women could be. He didn’t respond but was glad when the bartender came over with his drink.

  “That’ll be ten dollars,” the bartender said.

  Damn, for that little ass drink, Cruze thought as he reached inside his pocket and pulled out the money.

  “Cat got your tongue good looking,” the woman said, attempting to reach over and grab one of his dreads.

  Cruze caught her hand and pushed it away.

  “I’m not interested,” he told her and smoothly slid off the bar stool leaving her sitting there.

  “Well, fuck you then. Your ass must be gay or one of those down low brothers,” she stated loudly.

  “I think you’ve had enough to drink,” the bartender said to her.

  “Mannnn, fuck you, too,” the woman spat, getting up from the bar. She took two steps and fell flat on her face causing the dingy red dress she was wearing to fly up above her waist.

  Cruze turned his head when he realized she didn’t have any panties on. He couldn’t help but laugh at the woman as she got up and staggered out the door a few seconds later.

  “You probably shoulda called her a cab,” Cruze told the bartender.

  “She lives two blocks away, so she’ll be alright. I deal with her ass almost every night.”

  Cruze shook his head and ordered several more drinks. While sipping, he sat thinking about how he sometimes felt bad about betraying his once best friend by shooting him and falling in love with his wife. But then again, he would always think back to how Sandino started treating all the people who really loved him. Sandino seemed to forget that Cruze was the one in the streets making all the money back in the day and helped Sandino while he was in college. Once Sandino left home for school, Cruze made sure that he never had to go back to his dysfunctional home life, which included his drug addicted mother Peaches. Cruze took care of Sandino, buying him clothes and giving him money. They were like brothers. When Sandino got signed to the NFL, he promised Cruze that he would return the favor and take care of him, but the money, fame and drugs changed him. It always puzzled Cruze why Sandino didn’t appreciate what he had, a beautiful wife and three wonderful kids, and a best friend who would’ve had his back no matter what. Sandino even turned his back on Cruze when he got into some trouble and spent a short time in prison.

  That nigga definitely got some fucked up ways, Cruze thought. He turned his back on me way too many times, but that’s okay though. I got something out of the deal that could never be replaced.

  For the first time in his life, he was in love. No other woman could even make him cheat on Skye. In fact he’d cut all of them off. Skye completed him, so Cruze knew in his heart she was the one. He even wanted to marry her one day, which was why he constantly pushed the divorce issue. He also had plans of talking Skye into having his child since he didn’t have any kids. Cruze was in it for the long haul. However, he knew that there was one small issue. If Skye knew he was back in the streets she would be pissed. Cruze didn’t like keeping secrets from her, and even though he was doing this for them, for now, he had to make sure she didn’t find out he was involved in any illegal activities.

  “I’m not gonna lose her like Sandino did,” he said to himself.

  A few seconds later his attention was directed to one of the large flat screen televisions on the wall. It was an important news break about a bank robbery gone bad and the two suspects were shot dead by police. Cruze almost jumped out his seat when one of the suspects was Sandino’s boy, Black.

  Damn, Black, what the hell you doing robbing banks? I guess not having Sandino and being strung out on that shit finally caught up to your ass, Cruze thought taking his drink to the head.

  Cruze was on his fourth drink when his phone rang, thinking it might be Skye telling him she was finished he glanced at his phone. Realizing it was the business call he’d been waiting on, he quickly answered.

  “Yo, what up Duke?”

  “What up, nigga,” Duke responded.

  “I’m at the Bleu Moon Sports Bar downtown on Bayshore Drive. Can you be here in like twenty minutes? I know how you’re always late, nigga. I don’t have all day to wait.”

  “Be easy, man. I’m on my way,” Duke said ending the call.

  Now that he was back in the streets getting money, he didn’t like dealing with dudes in Georgia. He preferred to deal with the connect he’d met in Miami years ago. Not to mention, Miami had some of the best coke in the world.

  Cruze tapped the huge bulge of money in his pocket that Skye and even TSA had managed not to catch onto. I wonder how Skye is going to react when I tell her we have to drive back to Georgia instead of flying.

  CHAPTER 3

  Skye sat for what seemed like thirty minutes twiddling her thumbs looking out of the huge glass window inside the conference room. She looked around admiring the décor. The huge black oval conference table had small marble specks that matched the high-back leather chairs. The trendy room had a calm and private ambience. Skye especially liked the well-crafted wooden floors. They added to the overall look and feel of the room. Looking at the sign on the wall that read, Toni Vaughn and Associates, Skye had heard the name often, and knew the top notch lawyer definitely came highly recommended in the Miami area.

  Tired of flipping through the outdated magazines, her mind drifted to what the woman on the plane said to her. “God has a plan for you.”

  As the statement replayed over and over in her mind, Skye wondered what the plan was. Moments later, a woman rushed into the conference room and threw her gold Louis Vuitton Alma bag on the table. When she walked over and apologized for being late, then introduced herself, Skye was totally shocked, to see th
at Toni Vaughn was actually a female. She expected to see some white stuck up lawyer wearing a boring grey suit come in carrying a worn down leather briefcase. Instead, she was exchanging a handshake with a well respected black female sports attorney who represented several NFL players. Toni was a beautiful woman, with a gorgeous mocha complexion, and long chocolate brown hair that was pulled back in a neat ponytail. Skye admired her well-fit Marc Jacobs pant suit and Sergio Rossi peep-toe pumps. Now, it made perfect sense why Sandino never bothered to introduce them. Skye couldn’t help but wonder if the two of them had ever fucked.

  Knowing him, I’m sure they did, she thought.

  “It’s good to finally meet you, Ms. Vaughn,” Skye stated with a suspicious glare.

  “Nice to finally meet you, too, Mrs. Washington. I can’t believe I’ve been representing Sandino all this time, and we’ve never met. Oh, by the way, call me Toni.”

  “And you can call me, Skye. I no longer wanna go by Mrs. Washington.”

  Toni gave Skye a questionable look. “Will do.”

  The two immediately got better acquainted by Toni asking about Skye and the kids well-being. Once that small talk was out of the way, Toni then decided to ask Skye if she knew anything about Sandino’s condition. When Skye told her that she refused to look at the news or listen to anything dealing with his shooting, Toni decided it was time to bring her up to speed on Sandino’s prognosis. She looked at Skye funny, wondering why she didn’t know what was going on with her own husband.

  “So, you don’t know anything? It’s been back and forth on the news since the day it happened,” Toni mentioned.

  “Listen Toni, let me explain something to you. I went through a traumatic experience at the hands of that man. He abused me for years and I’d finally left him and moved away. He found us and came to my house with a gun trying to kill himself. Since that night, I’ve been having trouble sleeping and been taking medication all because of him. I didn’t want to know anything about his condition. I just wanted to move on with my life and try to get over the pain I endured all these years. But if you feel it’s necessary to discuss, go ahead,” Skye said.