by Wahida Clark
I looked at the clock, it was only 7:22. I couldn’t go back to sleep, so around eight o’clock I finally got my ass up and out of the bed. I was dressed and ready to handle something when I dialed my cousin Stephon’s cell.
He picked up immediately. “What’s up, cousin? Where the hell have y’all been?”
“I need you to do something for me.” I didn’t have time for the small talk. The nigga had me and Trina’s number so if he really wanted to get in touch, nothing was stopping him.
“Is everything alright? I haven’t heard from anybody.”
“I need to see that bitch, Charli. Get her to the office today. Just let me know what time.”
“Oh, nonononono. I love you and everything but you are not going to get me mixed up in this bullshit.”
“Nigga, you already are mixed up in it. For one—”
“Tasha come on now.”
“For one you introduced her to us. Two, you owe me and three, I know you don’t want me to tell Trae that you knew about Marvin dealing out of the club. You know he will make sure you will never run another club in this life or your next one.”
That shut his ass up. He thought I didn’t know about him knowing. This nigga has gotten so Hollywood that he thinks he can’t live without running a club.
“I’ll see what I can do,” he mumbled.
“Today, Stephon! I need you to make that shit happen today!” I was sure that I had got my point across so I hung up.
TRAE
My wife had been blowing my phone up all night. After I found out from my man Lo where Marvin was resting at, I turned the shit off.
It wasn’t even five in the morning and here I was landing in fuckin’ West Bubblefuck, Kentucky. Since I was on a mission I rented an inconspicuous ride to get around in. As I walked up the driveway I hoped that this was the right house. A little girl’s bike was laying on the lawn as well as some pink roller blades. Looks like something Aisha would have. I stepped on a squeezie toy, announcing to the whole block that I was here. Dogs started barking and the curtain of what I hoped was Marvin’s window moved.
I made my way up the steps and rang the doorbell. After several minutes, a little Mexican shorty came and opened the door. Well, I don’t know if she was Mexican, but she was mixed with something.
“Can I help you?” she asked in a thick Spanish accent.
“Is Marvin in?”
She smiled, “No, he isn’t. Mr. Marvin is out of town.”
“What about my niece, Aisha?”
“Aisha is your niece?” Her left eyebrow rose up. “What’s your name?”
“Trae. He didn’t tell you that I was coming?”
“Uncle Trae!” she squealed with excitement surprising the shit out of me and opened the door. “Oh my heavens. Come in! Miss Aisha talk about you all the time. Come in! I feel like I know you. Your wife is Auntie Tasha. There’s also Auntie Angel and Jaz. The twins and Callie.” Oh, I can’t wait to go to California. Mr. Marvis promise me he take me soon.”
“Caliph.” I corrected her as I stepped inside.
“Mr. Marvin didn’t tell me you were coming. He won’t be back for a couple of days. Can I fix you something to eat? You came all the way from California and he didn’t tell me? He must have forgotten.”
I couldn’t get a word in. She was talking non-stop. I wasn’t listening, just disappointed that I came all the way down here and the nigga wasn’t even home. Now I had to decide if I wanted to camp out for a few days or take my ass back home and check him out next week. But then there was always the chance that the nigga would get ghost once he learned that I knew where he rested. The good thing was, this chick wouldn’t stop talking. Whatever information she had, I would have no problem getting. She guided me into the kitchen and sat me at the kitchen table. She started going through the cabinets and refrigerator, preparing to cook something up. I sat back and allowed her to ramble on.
STEPHON
I didn’t want to believe that my own blood threatened me like that. Shit, she was fucking with my livelihood and she knew it. Yeah, I knew that Marvin was running a little get high from the club but, Who doesn’t? And if I would have ratted him out what would he have done to me? I didn’t know Tasha knew what was going on but if she rats me out to Trae that could be a problem. By the skin of our teeth we were able to get the club re-opened. It’s not back to how we had it, not yet, but at least we are open and it’s running.
I was caught between a rock and a hard place. Adding Charli Li to the equation, what was a nigga supposed to do? I called her and she answered on the second ring.
“Well, well, well. What a pleasant surprise. I was just beginning to feel insulted.”
“My favorite lady friend,” I teased. “How are you and where the hell have you been?”
“If you would have been keeping in touch the way you were supposed to you would know, Stephon.”
“Don’t put all the blame on me. You haven’t called me, texted me, anything.”
“I told you that I had business in Seoul, remember?”
“Vaguely. Stop by the club. I have some things to run by you.”
“Is everything alright?” I could hear the genuine concern in her voice.
“I need to talk to you. How soon can you get here?”
“You don’t mean today do you?”
“Yes, today.”
“Did Trae put you up to this?”
“No. Well … I need to run a few things by you.”
“Stephon, is everything alright?”
“Yeah, girl. I need to talk to you, that’s all I want to run Vegas by you.” I could hear her fumbling around in the background.
“Vegas?”
“Yes, Vegas. This could be big, Charli, I’m telling you.”
She laughed, “Fine. I can get there anywhere between noon and one.”
“Bet. Thanks Charli. I’ll see you then.”
CHARLI LI
Stephon and I have been friends for about five years. He walked into Hammerstein and Li one day and I was temporarily smitten. The tall, dark and handsome, bald-headed stranger reminded me of Boris Kodjoe and as quiet as it’s kept, I’m so intrigued with Boris Kodjoe. The fact that he was charming and intelligent was an added bonus, so I decided to wrap my lucious lips around his member that very same afternoon. But after spending a few days and nights with him, I learned that his swagger was contrived, it was completely made up. Stephon turned out to be a watered down thug, business man who had emulated his identity from Sean “P. Diddy” Combs. And if that wasn’t bad enough, the dick turned out to be garbage, a total waste of my time. So I dropped him faster than Charlie Sheen would check out of rehab. Despite all of that, we remained business partners and friends. I admired his hungriness and in business he was always up front and honest with me. Over the years, he became like the sibling I never had.
Dropping my cell phone back into my Chanel clutch, I thought about his call. I had planned on calling him in a few days anyway. For some reason, something inside me initially told me to decline his invite to the club, but then my body screamed, “Go. Mr. Trae Macklin might be there.” What other reason would Stephon have to tell me to come to the club? And on such short notice. If it was really important, he could’ve come here to my office. The more I thought about it, the more I convinced myself that Trae was behind the call. The ‘Couch Canoodle’ move that I put on him probably had him yearning for me. So after I freshened up, I left the office.
In the lobby I saw my long time driver and bodyguard.
“Luther, leave the limo, get the Murciélago out. I need to be across town in the next 30 minutes.”
To myself I thought, I’m coming, Mr. Macklin. I’m coming.
TASHA
By the time I pulled into the parking lot of our club, it was 12:35. Stephon had called me and told me she would be here between noon and one. His scary ass had the nerve to tell me to act like I had just happened to drop in. Whatever. Anyhow, I didn’t want to be too earl
y and I definitely didn’t want to be too late. I had vowed to myself never to step foot in Club New York again—since it, like my home—basically belonged to that Chinese bitch. But being a street bitch at heart, a sista gotta do what a sista gotta do.
The lot was empty except for Stephon’s big ass metallic silver Hummer H1 parked in the spot reserved for the owner. Next to it was a black drop top Lamborghini Murciélago. Standing next to it was a Chinese man of average height dressed in a black suit. His presence told me what I needed to know. Ms. China Ho was inside the club and for the moment, that’s all I cared about.
STEPHON
I’m sitting here chattin’ it up with the woman who put me on in this city and now I’m in panic mode. This chick just sat here and told me everything. I did not know that she was pregnant by my cousin’s husband. Right then and there I knew I had to get her the fuck outta here before Tasha showed up. My slick ass cousin set me up … big time, and now it may be too late. I then knew I was fucked when I got a text message from Tasha telling me that she was in the parking lot and on her way up.
“Stephon are you listening to me?” Charli asked me. I was hoping that she didn’t notice the sweat beads popping up across my forehead.
“Sorry, babe. Something came up. I got to get up out of here.”
“Something came up? I just arrived. You invited me and you still haven’t said a word about Las Vegas. I’m all ears but I still have to tell you, Vegas is the big league. Do you really think that you are ready for Vegas?” She had the nerve to look like she was getting comfortable in her seat.
“Babe, I apologize, but this is even more urgent.”
“Same ole Stephon. Then let’s play catch up and do brunch on Sunday. How does that sound?”
Shit. Will you be around to see Sunday? I stood up. “That sounds like a plan. What spot do you have in mind?”
“Let me surprise you.” Charli smiled at me.
By the time I locked up my office and turned around, Tasha was coming up the stairs looking as if she was on a mission and looking like a runway model. Where was Hip Hop Weekly to get this picture? She was dressed to the nines in a pair of Antik Denims that hugged her just right. She had a low cut yellow blouse and was carrying what looked like a brand new croc print Gucci bag. My cousin takes no prisoners when she steps out.
This was the first time I saw someone smiling with slits in their eyes. She was looking like the devil. I looked at Charli to see if I could read her body language. She appeared to be cool. It was as if she welcomed the challenge.
“So, Steph. Is this why you invited me here? You naughty boy.” Ice dripped from her tone. I knew I was fucked.
“Is my husband here?” Tasha asked as she came up the steps. She was acting as if she didn’t see Charli.
“Nah. I haven’t heard from Trae in a while.”
“Then why is this bitch here?” Tasha snapped.
Even though I was looking right at Tasha, I didn’t see what happened. She was that slick with it. I don’t know if she pushed her, nudged her, tripped or clipped her but Charli went tumbling down about twenty steps. Shit.
TASHA
Yeah, I did it.
My punk ass cousin was now at the top of the stairs pacing back and forth, rubbing his hands across his head yelling, “Oh shit. Oh, shit.”
“Shut the fuck up, nigga. The bitch ain’t have no business being here. The last time I checked, her restraining order was still in effect.”
“Tasha, what the fuck is wrong with you? The woman is pregnant.” Stephon’s ass was turning pale.
“So, the fuck what! She shouldn’t have fucked my husband.”
I looked down at the bitch. She was at the bottom of the steps out cold, not moving. I believed my work here was done. I started my descent down the steps.
“Where the fuck do you think you’re going? You can’t just leave her there.” Stephon was panicking.
“She’s your guest Stephon, not mine.” I kept on going but stopped when I reached the bottom of the stairs. I swear I was tempted to stomp that fuckin’ baby out of her stomach. My cousin must have sensed it because he came flying down the steps and pushed me away from her. “Get your hands off of me, Stephon. Why the fuck do you care about this bitch, anyway? You fuckin’ her too?”
“Tasha, get the fuck out of here. I need to call an ambulance. What if she’s dead? How are we gonna explain this shit to Trae? Shit, how can I explain this to her people? You don’t even have a clue as to what you just did, do you? Don’t answer that. Just leave! Now! Get the fuck out of here! Tasha, go!”
“Fuckin’ weak ass bitch.” I stepped closer to Charli, when I was directly over her I hawked and spat in her face. Then I left, totally feeling myself. What I just did felt good at the moment and I didn’t give a fuck about anything else.
TRAE
Since I was already in Kentucky, I decided to stay a few days to see if Marvin would show up. Frangela, the housekeeper and nanny, only knew what Marvin wanted her to know and that wasn’t much. After all that talking she did I found out that, not only did she not know where Marvin was but she had no clue as to when he’d return. What I did know was that wherever he went, he took Aisha with him.
After paying her a few dollars to keep my surprise visit still a surprise, I left and checked into the Hilton. I was enjoying the solitude until my phone started blowing up nonstop. I was getting back-to-back calls from Stephon and then Tasha. I didn’t answer any of them. I wanted to stay focused for the unpleasant job at hand. Then I got a call from Benny, my lawyer. If Benny was hittin’ on my cell phone, then something was wrong. His second time calling, I picked up. What he told me gave me an instant headache.
“Shit!” I gritted as I ended the call. That’s why Steph and Tasha were blowing up my phone. They needed me to do damage control. Tasha’s vindictive ass had pushed Charli down a flight of stairs. No one knew her health status and now Stephon was scared shitless. I went back to Marvin’s house, reminded Frangela to keep our secret, and said my goodbyes. Then I was on my way back to California.
TASHA
Last night I heard Trae come in and then immediately leave which only left me to believe that he went to check on his Chinese ho. That very thought felt like a stab in the chest. But what’s done is done. I knew what I had to do. So the first thing I did before I got out of bed the next morning was call my sister. “See how soon you can get me a flight out to New York.”
“Why? What’s going on? You don’t mean today do you?”
“Yes. Today, Trina.” She had no clue as to all that had gone down the day before. I told her, “Get me as far the fuck away from this nigga as possible. I’ma get my kids and ride off into the sunset somewhere.”
“Yyesss! I’m coming with you.”
Here I was ready for war and this bitch was all excited about going to New York. “Trina, just make the reservation and come pick me up.”
I hung up and then continued to map out my strategy. My first instinct was to chop off his dick. The more I thought about it, the more I saw that I probably could pull it off and get away with it.
KYRON
I was with Kendrick when he got the call from Trina that she and Tasha would be catching a red-eye up this way. I immediately called Tasha to question her as to why I had to hear the shit from someone else. Of course she wouldn’t answer my call. But that ain’t stop shit. I snatched up a total stranger and borrowed his phone.
“How come I’m the last to know that you are on your way up? What? You’re not planning on seeing me? And why are y’all taking a commercial flight? You have access to a private jet.”
“Kyron, I know you gonna let me do me!” She snapped.
She sounded vexed. I had asked Trina if she and Trae had a fight and Trina’s response was she ‘didn’t think so.’ I figured that she wanted to be around her girl Angel so I asked, “You staying at my brother’s?”
“No, I’m not. I don’t need them to be judging me and I don’t need them al
l up in my business.”
“Then where are you staying?”
“At a hotel, Kyron.”
“A hotel?” She was really starting to piss me off. “Tasha come on now. You have keys to my crib.”
“No, Kyron. I don’t have your keys anymore. And no, I’m not staying with you; we are no longer fucking around like that. Remember?”
“Who said anything about fuckin’ around? We are supposed to be talking about me, you and the baby remember? You know what? Fuck it. I’ll see you at the airport.”
“No!” she snapped. “I’m serious Kyron. Don’t waste your time. I’ll let you know when I’m ready to talk to you.”
“Talk to me?” I laughed it off. “The only thing I want to hear is you calling my name as I’m beatin’ that pussy. So bring it to me.”
I hung up on her this time.
CHARLI LI
When I awoke, I looked around and realized that I was in a room at my father’s palatial estate Rancor Los Arboles, in Rancho Santa Fe, California. The room had a panoramic view of the clear blue sky. The walls were made of glass and there was a 60 inch plasma screen T.V. made into the wall over top of the fire place. The floor was bare except for one white Asian throw rug that matched the king-sized white bed that I laid in. In the corner of the room stood my chauffer and bodyguard Luther. As soon as he saw me eyeing him, he left the room immediately.
My whole body ached and I noticed that I was attached to a single I.V. drip. I heard the door to my room open and in walked my father, with two of his men. My father came straight to my side, bent down and kissed my forehead.
“My child, you had me worried. The doctor just left and he assured me that your concussion was minor. He examined you and found no broken bones. You have a few bruises and a knot on your head from your fall. The paramedics inside the ambulance discovered that you were bleeding below the waist. At the hospital before I had you moved, I was told that you were with child—but you miscarried. I’m disappointed, Charli! You never told me that you were pregnant.”