Brianna forced a smile. Casteno had been her deceased boyfriend, Tre’s lawyer. He was right, he and his team managed to work magic for Tre through his many cases. She knew that he would work hard at making sure Cowboy’s case would be handled with the same diligence as Tre’s cases.
“I know you will, Casteno. I will see you in the morning. I gotta run.” Brianna said as she ran down the steps of the courthouse. She waved and continued towards the parking garage.
__________
Charrise splashed water on her face as she leaned over the sink in the restroom of Dr. Rice’s office. She inhaled and looked at herself in the mirror. With each session, the memories of what happened to her in that house with those animals resurfaced. Dr. Rice told her not to be afraid to remember, and she promised that as they began to return, it would be easier for her to work through the trauma. She had advised the doctor that earlier in the day, she had flashes of Tank eating her pussy and Duke forcing her to suck his dick. As she began to describe the flashback, Charrise became ill and ran to the restroom. There was a light knock at the door.
“Charrise, are you okay? Can I come in?” Dr. Rice asked.
Charrise opened the door.
Dr. Rice smiled at her and walked inside. Dr. Rice wore her hair in a large auburn afro, which today, she allowed to flow loose. She wore a soft orange cotton tank top and brown flare legged pants with orange open toe Chanel pumps. Dr. Rice sat on the small beige bench that was beside the sink and touched Charrise’s hand. “Just take deep breaths, and when you are ready, we can continue.”
“No, I think I have had enough for today. I don’t think I can talk about this anymore.” Charrise turned and opened the door. She walked down the narrow hallway that led back to Dr. Rice’s therapy room. The smell of fresh roses filled the room, and the dark turquoise and blue painted walls reminded Charissse of the Caribbean. She sat on the large dark blue leather couch.
Dr. Rice sat in the turquoise large wing back chair that sat ninety degrees from the couch. Charrise knew that everything in this room had been thought out, and served a purpose with its position. She had taken three semesters of psychology courses when she was in college, and she had enjoyed them. Ironically, she did not enjoy being one of those case studies she had read about.
“Charrise, you have my card. I am available to you anytime. Please don’t be afraid to call or text me.” Dr. Rice said as she handed Charrise another business card. “This time, don’t put it in one of those designer bags and lose it.” Dr. Rice laughed.
“You’re good, Doc.”
“I do get paid for knowing people.” Dr. Rice joked. Charrise grabbed her small Coach Sling bag. Dr. Rice walked her to the door and touched her arm. “You have fifteen minutes left.”
Charrise smiled. “I just need to process what we talked about already, Dr. Rice, but I will cash in those fifteen minutes during another session.” She hugged her, and for a moment, she felt a twinge of electricity run through her body while she embraced the doctor.
As Charrise began to pull away, she kissed Dr. Rice on the cheek. Charrise felt her face become warm and she walked quickly towards the large wooden door that lead to the outside. “What the hell did I do that for?” She mumbled to herself as she walked down the stairs.
Selena was sitting on the bench reading a book on her Kindle. “Hey girl you ready to go?” Selena said as she closed the cover.
“Yeah, I am starving. Can we get something to eat?” Charrise said, looking back at Dr. Rice’s office. It was located in South Charlotte, which had beautiful flowers blooming this time of year. Charrise was grateful that the heat had not hit its max yet, because it was a beautiful spring day.
“Okay, but we got to grab it to go. You know I have to pick my cousin, Chatima, up from the airport today. We can shoot by Porter’s Grill and grab something right quick.” Selena said, putting her Kindle in her Michael Kors tote.
“Just forget it. You go do whatever you got to do, and I will just walk.” Charrise sighed and began walking down the sidewalk.
Selena trotted to catch up with her. “What is wrong with you? Damn. I told you I would take you, and you already knew about Chatima coming.” Selena said while touching the base of her neck.
Charrise stopped at the crosswalk and waited for the light to change. The light changed and she walked quickly across the street.
Selena could hear her breathing heavily as she walked. “Charrise! Charrise! Damn it girl!” Selena said grabbing her arm.
Charrise tried to pull away from Selena. “Let go!” Charrise said, fighting back tears.
“No, not until you tell me what the fuck is going on with you. Damn, I thought therapy was supposed to be helping your ass, but every time you come out of that damn place, you seem even more on edge. I am not letting go of you until you tell me what the hell is wrong. I’m your girl and family, what the fuck can you tell some stranger that you can’t tell me and Brianna?”
Charrise’s shoulders dropped and Selena loosened her grip. They started walking back towards the parking area.
“Charrise, I know that you went through hell, but I feel like you pulling farther and farther away from us. Please talk to me. I love you, girl, and I want my sister back.” Selena stared at Charrise, hoping her words were penetrating her heart. “Charrise?” Selena said with her voice breaking.
“I’m four months pregnant, Selena.”
Selena felt her body temperature drop as if someone had poured a pitcher of ice-cold water over her. Charrise made eye contact with her for a brief moment. Selena exhaled and took Charrise’s hands. She had no comforting words to say to her friend. She now understood her behavior and the weight gain. She was pregnant by one of the animals that had raped her. Selena fought back the tears and tried to force a smile. She knew her little sister needed her strong funny side at that moment.
“Well, that would explain why you have gone from Jada Pinkett to Jill Scott, honey!” They both laughed while tears formed in their eyes. “Now let’s get you some food!” Selena said. Wiping tears from her eyes, she squeezed Charrise’s hand. “Hey babe, you know whatever you decide, I got you. You don’t have to go through this alone. We are sisters.”
She kissed Charrise’s hands. Charrise exhaled and was surprised at how telling Selena had made her feel mentally lighter. Now it was time to tell Brianna, and Charrise wasn’t looking forward to that task.
Chapter 4
Jon, Kevin and A.J. laughed as A.J. divided the money into three stacks. Jonathan took a swig of his Sprite and checked his text messages.
“Old boy at Pull-A-Part is cool as hell. He looked like he was about to shit himself when I told him to give me $100 for that damn car.” Jonathan said.
“Boy, he should have kissed your ass. That is almost a damn brand new car, and he gonna make hella money off that joint. Shit, getting them bullet holes out ain’t gonna be nothing.” Kevin said as he checked his watch.
“Why you keep checking your watch, my nig?” A.J. asked.
“I gotta be across town by three. I need to pick up Nina from school and take her to her appointment.” The boys became quiet for a moment. Nina was Kevin’s girlfriend, and she was pregnant. She informed Kevin of her pregnancy and the fact that she wasn’t trying to be no one’s baby mama right now. She was working on her BA and had made it clear to him that he was not the type of guy she wanted to settle for or be with on a permanent level. The words had cut Kevin deeply because he was in love with Nina. To hear that she didn’t think he was good enough was hurtful. Although he didn’t show it, he was upset over her wanting to kill his seed, but he felt that he had no choice but to respect her wishes.
“Yeah, well good luck with that, man.” Jonathan spoke over the loud continuous ringing of the house phone.
“Jon Jon! Jon Jon! Pick up the phone!” Jonathan’s girlfriend, Gator, yelled from the top of the stairs.
He got up from the table in the dining room where he, Ke
vin and A.J. were counting the money from the lick. If somebody was calling him on the landline instead of his cell phone, that could only mean one thing. It was somebody from his family like his mother or Brianna. They were the only two people who still used landlines.
“Yo, what’s up?” Jonathan said, picking up the phone that was hanging by the kitchen door.
“Where you been all day? I been tryin’ to call you…” Lorraine, his mother yelled into the phone. “I need you to come pick me up and take me somewhere.”
“Momma, I can’t do it right now,” Jonathan said, looking over at all of the money on the table being counted by his boys.
“Jonathan Eugean Carter, I don’t believe I just asked you a question. Now you get ya butt over here and pick me up before I am late for my appointment!” She demanded before hanging up the phone.
She didn’t even give Jonathan time to deny her again, even though he wasn’t going to. He loved his mother more than anyone in the world, so whenever she needed him for something, he was at her doorstep immediately. Jonathan looked down at his Audemars and saw that it was 11:00am.
Where the hell does she gotta go? He thought to himself. “Aye yo… Finish countin’ dis bread. I gotta go take care of something real quick. If I’m not back by the time y’all get done, give my money to Gator,” he told A.J.
One thing Jonathan didn’t have to worry about from the niggas in his crew was an act of disloyalty. It wasn’t that A.J. and Kevin were scared of Jonathan; it was more so that they respected him a great deal. They had a genuine love for one another and a bond that was truly unbreakable. It could have been a million dollars on that table, and in Jonathan’s absence, it still would have been broken down three ways, right down to the penny.
“Gator!” Jonathan yelled up the steps.
“Yes babe?” she answered, coming down the stairs with her Couture pajamas on and her hair tucked under a scarf.
“Yo, I am about to take my mom somewhere. Kev and A.J. gone stay here and finish counting this bread. You wanna ride wit me or stay here?” he asked, wrapping his hands around her small waist as he began to think about the first time they met.
He was starving that day, leaving the hospital from a visit with Charrise. Walking into the store, the aroma of potato wedges and fried chicken filled the air. His stomach growled as he nodded to the Asian woman behind the counter while he walked towards the drinks. He grabbed two bottles of apple juice and a bottle of orange juice. He walked back towards the grill where one of his high school classmates was working.
“Hey Jonathan, man. What’s good wit you?” Mouse said as he dropped the basket of wings into the grease.
“Everything is everything, Mouse. Brah, you got it smelling something good in here and I am starving!” Jonathan spoke while placing the drinks on the counter.
“Yeah, I got you, cuz. What you want today? What classes are you taking this semester?” Mouse said as he handed a girl an order of fried pickles.
Jonathan dropped his head. He and Mouse were both A students in school, but Jonathan had postponed college after he was shot. For some reason, he couldn’t focus or sit still, and it had broken his mother’s heart. He had promised himself that he would re-enroll in the spring, but for right now, he had needed to get his head straight.
“Man, I took the semester off after… well you know.” Jonathan said.
Mouse studied him for a minute, and then patted his shoulder. “Hey, I understand. You gotta get ya head clear then go back to taking over the world. So what ya want?”
“Give me four wings and an order of potato wedges.”
Mouse nodded and walked over to the cooler.
Jonathan was checking his text messages when a warm breeze entered the store carrying a sweet smell of vanilla and coconut. He looked at the door and the darkest skinned female he had ever seen in his life walked in. She had a low-cropped hair cut with a pale pink off the shoulder linen blouse, dark denim Chanel Jeans with wide legs, and a pair of pink peep toe gator Chanel shoes. She carried a pink and blue Chanel clutch and gold tree earrings. He watched as she walked towards the cooler and the back view was just as impressive as the front; her ass was round and high. That pink was making her ebony skin glow.
“Damn, she got to be straight from the mother land. I ain’t seen nobody that damn dark before. She is almost blue.” Mouse said.
Jonathan shook his head. Women usually didn’t make him speechless, but this ebony skinned chick was breathtaking. She grabbed a soft drink and made her way towards the grill. Jonathan tried to drop his eyes from her but he continued staring.
Mouse cleared his throat and Jonathan closed his mouth.
“Hello, how are you doing?” Mouse asked.
She smiled at him and exhaled. “I am tired, whew. Been on the road for a good minute, boo, and I am starving. What you got good?”
Jonathan noticed she did not have an accent at all, and up close, she was flawless. Mouse handed Jonathan his food. She glanced at his tray and turned her gray eyes to him.
“So is that good?” she said.
Jonathan swallowed. He had to get his swag under control. “Uh… uh yeah try one.” He slid the tray of wedges over to her.
She smiled and took a wedge. “Thank you, I will.” she answered. “Mmm, either I am hungry or you know what you doing with yo wedges, boy. Give me an order of those and some wings.” She grabbed a napkin and smiled at Jonathan. “Thank you for the sample.”
Jonathan stared at her for another moment. “You are one beautiful woman,” he said, and immediately felt his face burn.
She laughed and he dropped his head. “Well… thank you young buck! If the men in the south are like you I am going to be in trouble!”
Jonathan smiled. “My name is Jonathan, and where are you from?”
“Hi Jonathan. My name is Gator.”
That response made Jonathan laugh. “Oh ok, I get it. You not going to give me your real name.” Jonathan said.
“No, that is not my real name, but that is what everyone calls me.”
“I gotta say that name definitely doesn’t fit you.” Jonathan uttered as he scanned her body.
“Oh yeah, how you know? You just met me.” Gator spoke with a seductive look.
Mouse handed her order to her. “Well, it was nice meeting you, Jonathan.” She turned to walk to the register.
Jonathan winked at Mouse and grabbed his food and drinks. “I will pay for the lady’s.” he said, handing the petite Asian woman a hundred dollar bill.
Gator smiled at him while he took his change and opened the door for her. “Well thank you again for the southern hospitality, Jonathan.”
“Of course… my mama raised me right. You never said where you were from. Unless you just don’t want to tell me right now, but you could tell me over dinner.”
“Look at you. Going for what you want, huh? Boy I am old enough to be your mama.”
Jonathan scanned her again. She couldn’t be over thirty, he thought. “I doubt that, and besides, I like a mature woman.” Gator laughed again and began walking towards the baby blue G63 AMG Mercedes SUV. She clicked the alarm and Jonathan opened the door for her.
“I bet you do… I bet you do.” She said as she put on her Marc Jacob sunglasses and rolled the window down.
“Let me take you out and show you around town. I promise I won’t bite.”
“Ahh, I know how to handle puppies, boo, believe me. I ain’t scared of bites.” She studied him for a moment. Youngin’ was fine as hell, slim waist, broad chest, and she could tell by the way he stood that he had some size between them thighs. What the fuck? She needed to blow off some steam. She handed him her business card. “Call me later and we’ll see.” She rolled the window back up and pulled out of the parking space.
Jonathan stood there until she waved to him as she pulled out onto the street.
It took Jonathan two days to get up the nerve to call her, and ever since the
n, they had been inseparable.
Gator threw her arms around his neck, breaking him from his thoughts. She leaned in and kissed him. Jonathan was so in love with her. She knew she had him sprung ever since the first day she met him. She knew he was someone she could mold into the man she wanted. It was Gator who had convinced him and his crew to start robbing niggas. She was the original brain behind all the heists, but Jonathan had proved to be a worthy student. In a short time, she felt like they could be on top of the city with her brains and his brawn.
Jonathan had never expected he would be in the street life. Shit, just a year ago he was on his way to college. After surviving five shots, he was now dating a woman at least 15 years his senior, so he now felt invincible.
“No babe, you go ahead and handle your business with your mother. I don’t think I’m ready to meet your family yet… especially your mother. I know how they can be about their sons and you her only one, plus you the baby… no not today,” Gator uttered with a smile.
Jonathan grabbed his keys and headed out the door, but not without grabbing one more kiss from Gator before exiting.
__________
Lorraine walked down the steps as Jonathan pulled into the driveway. It was only a matter of time before Herman exited the house with an attitude. Lorraine didn’t even make it to the car before Herman yelled out her name.
“Where you going Lorraine?” he asked, walking up to the car.
Lorraine opened the passenger side door.
“What you didn’t hear what I just said?” Herman asked, taking the passenger side door in his hand before Lorraine could close it.
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