A sailboat rode slowly between Boss’s small rowboat and the opposite shore, heading for the public landing at the park near the south end of the tranquil body of water. About ten feet from the shore where he was were lily pads and some water lilies coming up about three inches from the top of the water. In the midst of the lily pads was a log where a turtle was sitting, aware of his presence, but not alarmed.
It was evening, and the tall cedar and oak trees cast their reflections on the water on the west side of the lake, making a dark silhouette against the blue. When the wind blew, the sun’s reflection made the ripples glimmer. Boss looked out at the street, wondering when Scooter would make his move. He had seen him the moment he pulled up.
Boss closed his eyes as shade cascaded over him. He didn’t have to look; it was Scooter. He opened one of his eyes to let Scooter know that he saw him. He closed it back, his heartbeat remaining normal. It was obvious what was going to happen next.
“You must have promised my security something that I never would, to make them turn their back on me so quickly.” Boss put his hands on his stomach.
“Loyalty is hard to find these days.” Scooter pointed the gun at him. “You know that.”
“I do know that.” Boss sat up and took a sip from the bottle of Hennessy in his hand. “You’re going to take the lives of both of your wife’s parents?”
“I don’t want to,” Scooter said with honesty. “I’ve hurt her enough, but sometimes you don’t have a choice. Sometimes your decisions are made for you. Sometimes you’re dealt a shitty hand.”
“Tell me about it.” Boss looked at the gun in Scooter’s hand. “Is that the gun that I gave you all those years ago?”
“It is.” Scooter hit a bug that landed on his face. “I thought it would be fitting to use this gun to take your life.”
“What are you waiting on?”
“For you to smoke your last blunt.”
“A thoughtful murderer,” Boss said and then laughed.
“I had a lot of respect for you. Enjoy your last blunt.”
Boss took the small blunt off of the ground next to where he was sitting and lit it. He put it to his lips. It was his last blunt. He had only a few minutes to live. Scooter was going to kill him. The only thing left for him to do was ask God for forgiveness for all of the things he had ever done wrong. His life was about to end.
Boss stood up as he tossed the end of the blunt onto the grass. Scooter and he stared each other down as Boss held his arms open in the air, welcoming his end. He didn’t flinch at all. It was bound to end this way one day.
“I’m ready, young blood.”
“I’ll make it quick.” Scooter stepped closer to him.
“Make it whatever you like. I’m not begging for an easy death. It is what the fuck it is.”
“Anything you want me to tell Aphtan?” Scooter cocked the gun.
“No.” Boss shook his head as he hit his chest. “Stop stalling, Scooter. Do it, motherfucker.”
Scooter pulled the trigger hesitantly, the bullet flying at full speed at Boss’s head. It pierced through him with an unwelcome force, killing him instantly. Blood flowed into the stream of water as Boss lay halfway in the lake.
Scooter let out a sigh as he looked at the body. It was stiff and taunting him. A man was dead, yet all Scooter saw was another problem in his household. If Aphtan ever found out, it would be hell to pay.
He pulled Boss out of the lake in fear that he would float away. He closed his eyes. He thought about how Boss had looked out for him when he was growing up. He had been more of a father figure than Money. He felt guilty. It was faint, but he still felt it.
“I didn’t think you would do it.” Money walked up to him. Scooter had noticed him a long time ago. Scooter knew he was watching. He always knew.
“Business is business.” Scooter looked around the lake. “You didn’t give me much of choice.”
“You had one; you just chose this particular choice.”
“Whatever you say.” Scooter walked past him, brushing his shoulder with him. “You can tell Danny and Buggy that it’s done.”
“No need to.” Money followed behind them. “They are dead.”
Scooter laughed as he looked back at Boss’s body. “That motherfucker moved quickly.”
“He did,” Money said as they walked onto the street. “I guess we are in this by ourselves.”
“I guess so,” Scooter agreed as a black Yukon pulled up in front of them.
“I’ll let you know the next move.” Money got inside of the truck. “Be ready.”
“I stay ready,” Scooter said as the door of the Yukon closed and the truck drove off.
Scooter walked to his car as he checked his surroundings one more time. He got in the car and tossed his phone, which was ringing nonstop. Both Aphtan and Tsunami were calling back to back. He didn’t want to talk to either of them. As he zoomed down the empty street, he knew he would have to face the situation before the night was up.
CHAPTER 23
Aphtan paced back and forth in her large living room as her heart beat so fast that it hurt. All she could see was Tsunami and Scooter’s son’s face flashing over and over again in her head. She stopped in her steps and tried different breathing exercises to calm herself down, which was in vain. She was mad, sad, confused, and a slew of other emotions all in one.
It piqued her curiosity as to how many times Scooter had stepped out on her. When did he do it? Was he still doing it? Questions danced around her head like a choreographer. She needed answers, and as she sat on the couch and hit a button on her phone, she realized that she wouldn’t wait another minute.
“Are you about to call him again?” Mila asked from the other sofa.
“You damn right.” Aphtan held the phone to her ear. “He needs to get his ass here.” She hung up the phone as the beep from the alarm rung to let her know the front door had opened.
Aphtan hopped up, her adrenaline rushing beyond her control. She paced to the hallway. The built-up emotion enraged her. Her insides boiled as her eyes looked at a calm Scooter, who trailed down the hallway at a normal speed.
“It took your ass long enough.” Aphtan folded her arms into each other as Scooter passed her. “You got some fucking explaining to do, Christopher.”
“You need to calm down first.” Scooter turned to go into the kitchen. “I’m not talking to you while your neck rolling and shit.”
“How the fuck am I supposed to feel?” Aphtan followed close behind him. “You had a baby on me.” She pushed the back of his head. “How could you do that to me?”
“Keep your hands to yourself, Aphtan.” Scooter stopped at the refrigerator to turn around and look at her. “We can talk, but keep your hands to yourself.”
“If I want to put my hands on you, then I will.” Aphtan pushed him in the forehead. She wiped the tears that were beginning to fall from her eyes. “Don’t tell me what I can or can’t do when you have been fucking off on me and had a baby on me.”
Scooter’s grip tightened around the handle of the stainless steel icebox as Aphtan stood in front of him heaving, trying to fight back tears. His heart ached for her. He loved her more than anything. Her heart breaking before his eyes pulled at his soft spot.
Aphtan was shaking. She was furious. Imagining him and Tsunami in that light made her sick to her stomach. She pushed him away after he repeatedly tried to grab her. With no energy left, she submitted to his urge to grab her as she cried into his chest as hard as she could.
“It’s okay, Aphtan.” Mila leaned against the entrance door. “It’s all right.”
Aphtan continued to sob as Scooter softly caressed her back. He ran his fingers through her hair as he used his free hand to hold her tighter. He stroked her cheek as he reached down and kissed her lips. Her lips remained still and closed as she turned her head to the side.
“Why?” she asked without looking at him. “This is the second wound on my heart that you’ve given me. Wh
y do you want to hurt me?”
“I don’t want to hurt you.” Scooter grabbed her face gently and made her look at him. “I was fucking around with her long before we started kicking it. I promise I’m not in love with her. I don’t want her.”
“Why were you fucking with her anyway?” Aphtan shook her head. “Was I not enough?”
“You’re more than enough.”
“Bullshit,” Mila said under her breath.
“Mila, shut the fuck up.” Scooter pointed at her. “Your ass needs to be worrying about what your nigga is doing.”
“Don’t talk to her like that,” Aphtan defended her.
Mila shot the bird at him. “Scooter, fuck you. Don’t make this Maury Povich situation about me and my nigga.”
“No, fuck you. Mind your fucking business,” he snapped.
“Handle yours.” Mila walked out of the room as she looked at Aphtan.
The silence between Aphtan and Scooter was thicker than peanut butter. Lips opened with force, but no words managed to form and roll off their tongues. They stood there, stuck in a nasty place with no clue how to get out. It was going to take more than sex to fix their issues.
“I want to be married to you for the rest of my life,” Scooter said, breaking the ice.
“You want your cake and eat it, too, Scooter.” She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, her back against the island. “I don’t know what I want. It’s hard for me to trust you. What else are you hiding from me?”
Scooter held his hands up in the air. “There’s only one other thing that you don’t know about.”
“My God,” she screamed. “What is it now?”
“I’m back in the game.”
“With my father?” she whispered.
“No.” He leaned on the island next to her. “It’s my own shit I got going.”
“How long have you been back in the game?”
“About three years now,” he answered honestly.
“You’ve been lying to me about everything. The places you’ve been going. The people who speak to us out in public. Where you go when you leave here,” Aphtan huffed.
“I didn’t lie, Aphtan. You never asked.”
“So that makes it okay? You’re back in the game. You know what that means? It means I need to be watching my back as much as you watch yours.”
“I’m watching your back.” He reached for her waist.
“I don’t want you doing shit for me.” She swatted his hand. “I think we need a break.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“Aphtan,” Mila screamed from the living room, “get in here.”
Mila’s voice startled Aphtan. It was a different kind of yell. It sent chills down her spine. She blinked, and before she knew it, she had run into the living room. The fear in Mila’s voice made the blood in her hands rest. She had to find out what caused such an intense yelp.
She looked at Mila who had tears running down her face. Aphtan looked at the television after Mila pointed to it as her father’s picture filled the screen. She didn’t pay attention to anything else as she sat down and cut the volume up as far as it would go as her ears got hot.
“Alleged drug lord Lester Epps was found dead earlier today at a private lake off of East Highway 11800. Police say signs of foul play were present. Right now, there are no leads.”
Aphtan threw the remote at the television, breaking the screen immediately.
“I’m going to ask you this once.” Aphtan stood up and walked over to Scooter. “Did you have anything to do with this?”
“No.” He shook his head and looked her in the eyes. “I didn’t do this. I wouldn’t do this to you. Not again.”
“I swear I will never speak to you again if you did this.” Aphtan’s eyes began to run like a body of water after a dam broke.
“I just told you that I didn’t have anything to do with it,” Scooter pleaded.
“Your words don’t mean shit to me right now.” Aphtan eased past him as her voice shook. “They don’t hold value.”
“Aphtan?” Mila chased after her when she ran out of the room.
“I need to get out of here.” She grabbed her keys.
“I’m coming with you.” Mila grabbed her hand as they walked toward the front door.
“Aphtan, I’m sorry for your loss. Boss was a good man. I never wanted to see him go out like that,” Scooter called out as the front door opened.
“Please be gone when I get back. I don’t want to look at you right now. I can’t do it.” Aphtan slammed the door before she and Mila got inside the car and drove off.
“Aphtan?” Mila cut the music down.
Aphtan held her hand up. “Mila, I appreciate what you’re about to say. I just need some quiet right now. Just ride, best friend.” She cut the music back up as Mila nodded her head in compliance.
The wind blew in Aphtan’s face as she let the tears flow as they wished. The cold truth of her being parentless made her hurt to heights she’d never known before. The pain filled her like helium finding a home inside of a balloon, and she was about to pop.
Everything was happening to her at once. Her mother’s death, Scooter’s betrayal, and now her father’s early demise. It was too much for any one person to deal with. She was on the verge of a mental breakdown.
The tears continued to fall for her loved ones. Every tear was a memory that she cherished with her parents. Each tear was a moment, a minute, a second that she spent with them, forming an unbreakable bond.
“Thank you for everything, Daddy.” Aphtan stopped at a red light and wiped the tears from her eyes.
“Are you okay?” Mila asked as a large, cold draft chilled the car.
“I will be.” Aphtan closed her eyes, taking the wind as a sign that her father was right there with her. “I think I’ll be okay.” She wiped her eyes one last time and drove to the morgue to identify his body. She wanted to see him one last time before the funeral home got hold of him.
CHAPTER 24
Aphtan closed her suitcase, then she fastened her diamond earrings on her ears. She pranced around her house, collecting everything she would need when she traveled to her father’s house. She wanted to make sure she didn’t forget anything. She didn’t want to have to turn around on the highway. Once she left, she didn’t want to return, until it was over.
She eyed Scooter’s side of the bed as she tiptoed out of her bedroom with the luggage in her hand. It had been a few days since he left the house. She wasn’t answering or returning his calls. She missed him terribly, but they needed time apart. They needed that time to miss each other. Scooter needed that time to realize what he has before it became what he had.
She walked into the kitchen, her mind now on her father. She dreaded attending his funeral the following day. It was hard enough picking out a casket. Planning it wasn’t a walk in the park for her, either. She didn’t want to go, which was a normal feeling. However, she wouldn’t miss the chance to pay her respects to her father. He had taught her so much that outweighed what any book ever could.
“Hello?” Aphtan answered the phone after it rang.
“How are you feeling?” Mila asked from the receiver of the smartphone.
“I’m better than yesterday.” She walked toward the door, her purse resting on top of the luggage she was wheeling. “I can’t complain.”
“That’s good.” Mila sighed. “You know me and mama coming tomorrow.”
“I know.” Aphtan opened the door as her maid grabbed the luggage from her. “I’ll have a spot in the front for you and Tammy.” She hit the trunk button on her alarm to open it so Madeline could put the luggage inside. “You are the only family I have left.”
“We are here for you. Call us if you need anything.”
“Thank you, Mila. I love you, girl.”
“I love you, too.” Mila hung up the phone.
“Mrs. Dixon,” Madeline spoke as Aphtan got into the car, “do you need anything else?”
&nb
sp; “No, thank you.” She gave her a twisted, fabricated smile. “If you could be a doll and make sure if Mr. Dixon comes here to call and let me know.”
“Yes ma’am.” She nodded before walking down the trail to go back inside the house.
The withering heat boiled the pores of Aphtan’s skin as she let the top down to her Mercedes. She checked her mirrors before starting the ignition, which commenced without making a single sound. She popped in H-Town’s Beggin’ After Dark into the six-disk CD player, then drove off.
With her Loc shades on, her skin tightened at the thought of returning home as she eased down the divided highway. She didn’t know how the visit was going to turn out. All the associates she had once had in the slums of Dallas she had lost contact with so many years ago. She hadn’t been home since she was eighteen. Once she finished high school, she left without ever looking back.
The thought that she had not seen her father in months boggled her mind with regret. She would drive down regularly to see him, and they would talk on the phone as much as their busy schedules would allow them. But she still felt bad for not making the commute to the suburbs he called home. If I had been more involved, would he still be here? she asked herself.
Aphtan put her turn signal on when she saw the exit to her infamous city. Her heart climbed into her throat when she saw the “Now Entering Dallas” sign. The smell of fresh garbage and piss attacked her nostrils to let her know that she was finally home. Looking around, she could tell she was close to where she grew up. From the smell that snuck into the vents of her car, she was blocks away.
She turned on a street that looked vaguely familiar to her. The once stable projects she loved and respected in her adolescence were in shambles. She couldn’t believe her eyes. She pulled up to the entrance as crackheads and prostitutes surrounded her car. She blew the horn to get through as she reached underneath her seat to pull out the gun that her father gave her before she moved. She learned long ago to never leave without her sprayer.
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