Ke’yoko busted out laughing. “Bitch, you nasty! When that nigga get out?”
“Girl, he went to the board last month and they flopped him. They gave him another five years. Shit, ’bout time he get out, A’Niyah will be grown wit’ kids of her own,” Nadia joked.
Ke’yoko shook her head and laughed. “You a fool.”
“Shit, I’m serious.”
Ke’yoko and Nadia watched as Ka’yah entered the church’s basement, walked straight over to Ja’Rel, and whispered something in his ear. Ja’Rel smiled and nodded his head okay before Ka’yah turned and walked away. Nadia cut her eyes over at Ke’yoko, trying her best to keep her mouth closed. She still felt bad for the stuff she’d said about Ka’yah and Ja’Rel already.
Ke’yoko’s blood was boiling. Her heart was racing as all the shit that Nadia had said to her on the phone the other day came rushing back into her head. Even though she tried her best to brush it to the side, the fact still remained that Ja’Rel and Ka’yah could very well be messing around. It was no mystery that Ja’Rel was a ho and, quiet as kept, Ka’yah had been around the block a time or two her damn self. There was no telling. All Ke’yoko knew was if there was some truth to the accusations, they better not let her find out about it. If she ever did she would turn both of their worlds upside down, family or no family. Ke’yoko had to draw the line somewhere.
“Wassup, sis?” Ka’yah said, walking over to the table where she and Nadia sat.
“Sup,” Ke’yoko responded, trying her best to hide her attitude from Ka’yah and Nadia.
“Nadia,” Ka’yah spoke in one of the driest tones.
“Ka’yah.” Nadia reciprocated the same tone.
“Girl, Bo’s funeral was packed,” Ka’yah said, sitting down on the opposite side of her sister.
“I know. Me and Nadia was just sittin’ here talkin’ about that,” Ke’yoko said, forcing herself to talk to her sister without flipping out.
“What you gon’ do after the repast?” Ka’yah asked Ke’yoko.
“Goin’ over to Nadia’s house,” Ke’yoko quickly answered.
“Oh, okay, I was gon’ see if you wanted to come over for some tea and my good ol’ homemade green tea cookies,” Ka’yah said.
“I’ll take a rain check,” Ke’yoko said with a forced smile.
“A’iiight. Well, I’ll call you later,” Ka’yah said, standing up.
“Okay,” Ke’yoko replied before her twin walked away from the table.
“Now why you tell that girl that lie?” Nadia asked, already knowing the reason why.
“I don’t feel like bein’ bothered wit’ her today. And I really ain’t up to drinkin’ no tea and eatin’ them dry-ass green tea cookies. Shit, every fuckin’ time I get pregnant she bring me a cup of tea every day. I’m tired of tea, bitch, bring me a Coca-Cola or somethin’.” Ke’yoko laughed.
“I’m hip,” Nadia agreed. “But y’all Japanese folks know y’all love tea.”
“Yeah, but damn, she brought me a cup every single day.”
“You gotta admit, that was nice of her to think about you, though,” Nadia said.
“It was,” Ke’yoko agreed. “The worrisome heffa wouldn’t leave until I drank it, talkin’ about it was good for the baby.”
“You ready, baby?” Ja’Rel walked over to Ke’yoko and asked. “Wassup, Nadia?”
“Been ready,” Ke’yoko replied with a slight attitude. She was still stuck on the fact that Ka’yah had acknowledged Ja’Rel before even looking for her and she was taking it out on him.
Ja’Rel could sense the attitude and brushed it to the side. He’d just buried his brother. He was in no mood for his wife’s mood swings.
“Wassup, Ja’Rel,” Nadia spoke.
“Okay, girl, I’ll call you later,” Ke’yoko said, standing up.
“Okay, well, I’m about to pull out too.” Nadia stood as well.
Ke’yoko gave Nadia a hug before following Ja’Rel out to the car. She couldn’t wait to get home to lie across her bed and watch television.
Chapter Seven
Ke’yoko was in the kitchen fixing herself some breakfast. Ja’Rel had left hours ago for the gym and the house was completely quite. Her cell phone started ringing, startling her. She walked over, grabbed her phone off the kitchen table, and checked the caller ID. She hated answering restricted calls. She knew they weren’t behind on any bills so it couldn’t have been a bill collector, so she answered the call. “Hello?”
“Ke’yoko?”
“Yeah, this is she. Who this?” she asked, not recognizing the man’s deep voice.
“Kailo,” he replied.
Ke’yoko was speechless. She didn’t know what to say. She hadn’t seen or heard from her little brother since the day her father put her out nearly seven years ago. He’d forbidden Ka’yah and Kailo to ever have any contact with Ke’yoko and had made it known if they did, they would have to leave his house and be removed from his will as well. Ka’yah had missed her twin sister so much she’d sneak on the phone and call her when her mother and father were asleep. Ke’yoko could still remember the harsh words her father had said the night he’d caught Ka’yah on the phone talking to her. He told Ka’yah she would never amount to anything and that she was just like her worthless sister. That night, their father had thrown Ka’yah out of the house and cut her off too. Ke’yoko and Ja’Rel had picked her up and let her come live with them until she’d gotten on her feet. Kailo had been young at the time and had no choice but to obey their father. So until now neither sister had heard from or seen Kailo.
“Damn, bruh, you sound like a grown-ass man,” Ke’yoko finally said.
“I am a grown man.” Kailo laughed.
“You’re almost eighteen,” Ke’yoko said, wondering where the time had gone. She remembered when he used to run around the house thinking he was Superman.
“Yep, I sure am.”
“Wow, Kailo! What have you been up to, baby brother?”
“I graduated high school a year early and I’m taking pre-law classes right now.”
“I shoulda known. You were always studyin’ yo’ ass off. Shit, ya father wouldn’t have it any other way. Speakin’ of your father, where is he? Does he know you on the phone wit’ me? He must don’t ’cause I don’t hear no yellin’ and screamin’ in the background,” Ke’yoko said smartly.
“I’m in my dorm room,” he replied.
“Oh, okay. How’s Mother?” Ke’yoko asked, not knowing if she really cared.
“She’s good. You and Ka’yah should really call her. She misses you guys. Shoot, I miss you guys,” Kailo said sullenly.
“I miss you too, baby brother. But if you missed me so much, how come it took you so long to contact me?” Ke’yoko inquired.
“I was afraid to contact you. I didn’t know how you would respond to me calling you out the blue. I was sitting here thinking about you and Ka’yah while I studied and just decided to take my chances. Either you were going to talk to me or not,” Kailo explained.
“What were you afraid of?” Ke’yoko asked.
“Afraid that you didn’t want anything to do with me because of how Father treated you guys. I don’t want you to think for one minute that I approved. I was young and didn’t know what to say or do. Plus, I knew if I reached out to y’all and got caught he would put me out and wouldn’t pay for my college tuition. Please don’t blame me,” Kailo said.
“Baby brother, I could never blame you for the way that bitch-ass nigga treated me and Ka’yah. I’m sorry to talk about your father like that but that’s how I feel about him. You were young and in my eyes you didn’t have a choice; you done the right thing. I just wish so much time wouldn’t have passed by before you decided to reach out to me,” Ke’yoko said.
“I’m sorry, Ke.”
“No need to be sorry. Please, just promise me that we gon’ get together and catch up. I really would like to know what my baby brother has been up to. Do you have a girlfriend? Do you have
your license? I mean, I wanna know everything about you.”
“I promise we can get together. I would love to come see you during my summer break if that’s okay with you.”
“Yes, I would love for you to come see me,” Ke’yoko said happily. “But what you gon’ tell your father?”
“I don’t know. I guess I’ll just tell him I’m staying at school for the summer to catch up on some schoolwork. Shoot, I’ll come up with something to tell him by then.”
“That’s wassup, baby brother.”
“Okay, sis, tell Ka’yah I said hello and I’m about to finish studying and I’ll talk to you later.”
“Kailo, please don’t be a stranger,” Ke’yoko said, not wanting to let her baby brother go.
“I won’t,” he replied.
“I love you,” Ke’yoko said.
“Ewwww, that’s gross.” Kailo laughed.
“Shut up, boy! Bye!” Ke’yoko laughed too.
“Bye, sis, and I love you too,” Kailo said before hanging up.
Ke’yoko had one of the biggest smiles on her face as she laid her cell phone back down on the table. She was so glad that Kailo had decided to reach out to her. She missed him so much. It hurt her to her heart that she hadn’t been able to watch him grow up into the young man he’d become.
“What you smilin’ for?” Ja’Rel walked into the kitchen and asked.
“Guess who just called me?” she asked happily.
“Nadia?” he guessed.
“No, guess again.” She smiled.
“Ummmm, your dad?”
“Yeah, right. That nigga bet’ not ever call me.” Ke’yoko frowned.
“Well, I don’t know, baby. Who called you?” Ja’Rel asked, tired of playing the guessing game.
“Kailo!” she said, excited.
“Word?” Ja’Rel asked, happy for his wife. He knew that she’d been wanting to talk to him for years.
“Yes. I’m so glad he decided to call me!”
“He about sixteen now, ain’t he?” Ja’Rel asked.
“Naw, he seventeen. He about to be eighteen soon.”
“Damn! Where did the time go? When we first got together he was a little boy,” Ja’Rel said, shaking his head.
“I know, man, I said the exact same thing. He’s in college majorin’ in law! He doin’ his damn thang! I’m so proud of him.” Ke’yoko smiled.
“That’s wassup!”
“I’m about to call Ka’yah and tell her Kailo called,” Ke’yoko said, reaching for her phone.
“Ka’yah ain’t home,” Ja’Rel said.
“How you know?” Ke’yoko grimaced, not able to hide her irritation this time. Maybe what Nadia said was true.
“Because when I was leavin’ the gym, she was pullin’ up. That’s how I know,” Ja’Rel said.
“Oh,” Ke’yoko said, embarrassed.
“Baby, you been trippin’ lately. What’s wrong wit’ you? You need some of daddy’s dick?” Ja’Rel said, wrapping his arms around his wife’s waist, pulling her into his sweaty chest.
“I would love some of daddy’s dick, but not before you wash it.” Ke’yoko laughed.
“Shit, ain’t nothin’ wrong wit’ my sweaty dick. You can eat a meal off this bitch. It’s clean,” Ja’Rel said while grabbing it.
“I’d rather not! Go wash it,” Ke’yoko said, pushing her husband off of her.
“Okay, well, what if I’m not in the mood no more when I get out the shower?” Ja’Rel asked.
“I know how to get you back in the mood, trust me.” Ke’yoko smirked.
“What that mouth do?” Ja’Rel joked.
“Go shower and I’ll show you.”
“Don’t go nowhere. I’ll be right back,” Ja’Rel said, rushing out of the kitchen and upstairs to shower.
“He a damn fool.” Ke’yoko laughed before fixing herself a plate.
Chapter Eight
Ke’yoko woke up bright and early and got dressed. She had some business to tend to before going to her standing hair appointment. She made sure her outfit was on point before grabbing her cell phone off the nightstand. She looked over at Ja’Rel, who was sound asleep, shook her head in disgust, and eased out of the bedroom. Ja’Rel had been out half the night doing God knows what. She knew as his wife she loved him and wanted nothing more than to be with Ja’Rel forever, but she didn’t know how much more of his lies and cheating she could take. The last thing Ke’yoko wanted was to be weak-willed like her mother, but she had to face it: up until this point she’d been acting like her mother’s child.
Ke’yoko was jamming to some old-school Ready for the World that was playing on her satellite radio. She pulled up into the Circle K gas station, parked, and turned the engine off. She picked her Anna-Karin Karlsson sunglasses up off the passenger’s seat and put them on. She watched as the morning crowd walked in and out of the store to get coffee, gas, newspapers, or whatever their morning fix was in between looking for Ross’s black Charger to pull up. Ke’yoko was scared and anxious all wrapped into one. She knew Ja’Rel would kill her if he knew that she was anywhere around his number one enemy.
Ja’Rel had demanded that Ke’yoko never speak to Ross again. When she’d asked why, Ja’Rel never did tell her, but she already knew. Ke’yoko could remember a time when Ross and Ja’Rel had been inseparable, but when they both starting making money and one thought they was being outdone by the other it had caused a huge rift in their relationship. The beef they had between each other had almost turned deadly several times. Ke’yoko had always liked Ross: his mannerisms, his personality, and the way he always treated her with the utmost respect even after the fallout between him and Ja’Rel. This was one of the main reasons she still communicated with him and trusted him. Shit, the beef was with Ja’Rel, not her, so Ke’yoko didn’t see anything wrong with still meeting up with Ross from time to time to catch up on life and to get his advice on how to make some extra money.
Ke’yoko kept glancing at the clock on the dashboard. She picked up her phone to see if the time on the dashboard matched the one on her phone. Just as she was getting tired of waiting, she started her car back up. As she grabbed the gear shift, the black Charger pulled into the parking lot. Relieved, she smiled, turned the engine back off, and waited for Ross to get out of his car. She watched as he got out with a black duffle bag in his hand, looking like a buffer and sexier version of Jeremih. He wore a pair of crisp khaki shorts, a plain white tee, and pair of brown Bacco Bucci slide-in sandals. His locks were neatly pulled back into a ponytail while he sported a pair of Gucci sunglasses on his face.
Damn, he sexy, she thought as he got closer to her car.
Ross opened her car door, got in, and pulled the door closed behind him.
“About time,” Ke’yoko looked over at Ross and said with a smile. She quickly glanced down at his feet; she was impressed because his feet were in order for a man. His heels weren’t hard and crusty and his toenails were cut and clean.
“Stop bein’ so damn impatient. I told you I was comin’.” He smiled back.
Ke’yoko loved when Ross smiled, showing off his deep dimples. “I’m not bein’ impatient. I got other things I need to get done,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“Other things like what?” he pried while removing his sunglasses, laying them on his lap.
“My hair for starters,” she replied.
Ross looked at Ke’yoko’s hair. “Yeah, you do need to get that shit done,” he joked.
“Whatever.” Ke’yoko laughed, play slapping his big, buff arm. Ross gave Ke’yoko a tingly sensation between her legs: one she’d never felt for anybody other than her husband.
“Naw, I’m just playin’.” Ross laughed too.
“I know you are, shoot. Anyways, how you been?”
“You know me, sis. I’m livin’ life like it’s supposed to be lived,” Ross said with a smile.
“And how’s Sharae and the baby?”
“Sharae is a’iiight. She still tryin’a get
her business off the ground. And my baby girl, Rayna, is doin’ great. Man, she done got so big now, she walkin’ and everything.” Ross’s face lit up like a Christmas tree as he talked about his baby girl. “She gettin’ bad, too. Always pullin’ shit off the coffee table and followin’ me everywhere. She’s a daddy’s girl.”
“That’s what I’m talkin’ about.” Ke’yoko smiled back, feeling a twinge of jealousy.
“And what about you? How’s life been treatin’ you?” Ross asked, sensing the enthusiasm he had when he spoke about his baby girl had Ke’yoko feeling some type of way, being that she was unable to have children of her own.
“I’m happy,” Ke’yoko replied.
“You sure?” Ross asked, knowing Ke’yoko wasn’t telling the truth. He knew she couldn’t be satisfied, not with all the women her husband was sleeping around with.
“Yeah, I’m sure,” Ke’yoko said, forcing a smile, knowing damn well she was miserable as fuck.
“Okay,” he looked at her with a mischievous smile and said and left it at that.
“What’s the deal wit’ the duffle bag?” she asked, trying to quickly change the subject.
“It’s a little somethin’ for you to show my gratitude for putting me up on that lick you hit,” Ross said.
“Awww, man, you didn’t have to do that.”
“Yes, I did. I respect you for that. You could have given it to somebody else or kept it for yourself, but you gave it to me instead. But don’t open it up until you’re someplace safe.”
“Besides my sister and Nadia, you’re the only person I can trust. And I knew you could put yo’ cut on it and get rid of it a lot faster than me. I wasn’t even tryin’a fuck wit’ it for real for real,” Ke’yoko said.
“You trust yo’ sister?” Ross asked, surprised.
Out of everything Ke’yoko had just said, why would Ross pick out the part about her trusting her sister? “Yes, Ross, I trust Ka’yah. Why wouldn’t I? Do you know a reason why I shouldn’t? You know somethin’ I don’t know?” Ke’yoko asked, skeptical.
“I don’t know nothin’. All I’m sayin’ is ain’t nobody to be trusted, not even family,” he said.
Carl Weber's Kingpins Page 5