Indie couldn’t help but smirk as his mom opened the door.
“Hey, ma,” he greeted.
“Hey, baby,” she said. He kissed her cheek and stepped inside. Parker placed her hand on King’s back and guided him inside.
“Hi, Elaine,” Parker said, forcing politeness.
“Parker,” Elaine responded, equally forced.
“Mama,” Indie stated sternly. Elaine looked down at the little boy in front of her and she instantly warmed to him. She looked at Parker in shock. “This is Indie’s boy?” she asked.
“Of course it is,” Parker shot back. Elaine looked skeptically at Parker. She had so much to say but held her tongue. Parker bent down to his speak to her son. “King, this is your grandmother, Elaine,” she said as she gave his arm a squeeze reassuringly. She stood and presented her son to Elaine.
“Hi, King. It’s very nice to meet you,” Elaine spoke as she looked down at him. He was so familiar to her, but it wasn’t Indie who he reminded her of.
“Where’s Pop?” Indie asked.
“You know where he is . . . in that den in front of the TV. The Lions are playing. Grab a seat. Parker can help me set the table,” Elaine insisted.
Parker looked skeptically at Indie who gave her a wink of reassurance. Parker, however, felt like she was being fed to the wolves.
“Come on, King. You can watch the game with the boys, homie,” Indie said as he guided his son with pride out of the room.
Elaine led the way into the kitchen and over to her cabinets. She pulled out five place settings and handed them to Parker.
“So this is awkward,” Parker stated.
Elaine looked at her as if she was made of plastic. She had always had the gift of spotting fake from a mile away. She wasn’t buying Parker’s act. “Why are you here, Parker? That boy had a family . . . a good girl that he loved.”
“He loves me. He has me now and King,” Parker responded as she set the table.
“Hmm, hmm. He does. He always did. You always had your fingernails stuck in his back. You were a charmer but if my memory serves me right, he wasn’t the only one of my sons you kept time with,” she said.
Parker’s eyes widened. “Elaine, please,” she whispered as she looked to make sure that Indie wasn’t coming.
“King needs a father,” Parker stated.
“You need to tell Indie the truth. If you don’t, I will,” Elaine threatened.
“Oh my God,” Parker moaned as she spread her arms out over the hood of the ’84 classic red Cutlass Supreme. Nanzi slid in and out of her wetness, showing her no mercy as he explored the depths of her cave. He was a beast in the bed and he commanded her body with every stroke, blowing her young mind. She didn’t know how she had let this happen. How she had gone from a virgin to having sex with Indie and his brother Nanzi she didn’t know. It just happened. She was in love with Indie. He was her future, her motivation, her pride but Nanzi was her present. Their attraction was purely sexual. He ravaged her and being a few years older than Indie, he knew how to make her body cream in ways that Indie had yet to discover.
Her guilt ate away at her whenever she was with Indie, but as soon as Nanzi was in her presence again she always felt the familiar pulse of wanting beating between her thighs. It had all started the day that Nanzi’s hands had slipped beneath her bikini bottoms while she was sitting in a hot tub with him and Indie. Nanzi’s fingers had brought her to orgasm beneath the bubbles without anyone even noticing. Their affair only gained steam from there. Now here she was bent over his car in the scorching garage, taking all eight inches of him and loving it. Her betrayal was the ultimate disrespect but she just couldn’t help herself. Nanzi was bad, dangerous, and sometimes she even feared him but all of those things made him sexually irresistible. She knew it was wrong and each time she kept telling herself she was going to stop but every time he saw her, it was like he owned her. One look and she knew that they were fucking. She had gotten caught up between brothers. She loved Indie, heart and soul, but her body belonged to Nanzi. There was just something about the wild young boy that drove her mad. She didn’t know if his was his tattooed body, his experienced manhood, or his skillful tongue but Parker could never break his hold over her.
Her legs quivered as he stroked her into an orgasm and as she called out his name the garage door lifted. They scrambled frantically trying to adjust their clothing but Elaine’s eyes witnessed their betrayal before they were able to cover their tracks.
“Nanzi, get your ass in the fucking house,” she said. She had such a coldness to his tone that he knew not to protest. He simply buttoned his jeans and walked away, leaving Parker to face his mother.
“Get out of my house, little girl,” Elaine spat while looking at her in disgust.
Parker rushed out of the garage with her head hung in shame but Elaine’s voice halted her. “And stay away from my son,” she warned. “Both of them.”
Parker remembered that day like it was yesterday and shame filled her all over again. She had tried to stay away from Indie, but he loved her. Nothing, not even a breakup could keep him away from her. They continued to see each other against Elaine’s wishes and Elaine never told what she had seen that day. It wasn’t long before Nanzi’s jealousy reared its ugly head however. Despite Parker’s beliefs, Nanzi’s attraction to her was much more than physical. He was feeling her and secretly wished that Indie and Parker would grow apart. It wasn’t until she ended up pregnant did things hit the fan. She hadn’t even known, but Elaine did. She noticed all of the signs. Her days of tricking under Buchanan Slim had allowed her to be able to sniff a pregnant bitch out with ease. So when Parker showed up at her house one day, bosom full, face radiant, but looking as if something was draining the life out of her, Elaine already knew. It was then that she made the choice that Parker wasn’t going to trap either of her sons. She didn’t know which one of them the baby belonged to, but she knew that if Indie found out about Nanzi and Parker that her sons would be adversaries forever. That was the reason she paid Parker $20,000 to get an abortion and leave town. She wasn’t trying to sabotage her son, but to save him from a heartbreak that would alter his ability to love.
“I was young. Nanzi is dead,” Parker whispered as she placed both hands on the table as she spoke to Elaine. “Why would you throw dirt on his name now? Just let us be a family.”
Elaine scoffed and shook her head. “Like I said, Indie has a family and I’m not going to let him play daddy to a child that might not be his. You tell him.”
“Tell me what?” Indie asked as he walked into the kitchen with a smile. He motioned toward the den. “King loves his grandfather already. Pops is talking about taking him fishing.”
“That’s good, baby. I’m going to go in there to spend some time with the newest grandbaby. I believe Parker has something she needs to say to you,” Elaine pushed.
Indie’s smile faded as he turned to Parker. He could sense her nervousness as she twisted her fingers and sighed deeply.
He walked over to her and rubbed her shoulders supportively. “What’s wrong, shorty? Moms got you spooked. Don’t worry, she’ll warm up to you—”
“Indie, I didn’t tell you the full story of why your mom paid me to leave town,” she started. Tears clouded her vision because she was well aware that she was about to break Indie’s heart. She had just gotten him back. He was perfect for her and she feared that once she delivered this blow he would never forgive her.
“You can tell me anything, you know that,” he coached, supportively. His affection only weighed her heart down with guilt even more.
“Indie, King might not be your son,” Parker whispered, her voice breaking as she delivered the news.
Indie immediately let her go and took a step back from her. Images of YaYa flashed in his mind. He had left her. He had abandoned her for Parker . . . for King. He hadn’t seen Skylar in weeks because he was trying to make up for lost time with his son. Now Parker was telling him this? “You told
me he was mine,” Indie stated, locking his jaw and keeping his voice low so that King wouldn’t overhear.
“I know,” she said.
“He looks like me. My eyes, my nose . . .”
“Please let me finish,” she whimpered, knowing that she hadn’t delivered the heaviest blow just yet.
“Your mom paid me to get the abortion and leave town because she knew about the affair I was having with your brother. I was sleeping with Nanzi and when I got pregnant I didn’t know whose baby it was.”
Utter devastation took over Indie’s face as he balled his fists and placed them on the sides of his head in angst. He paced and then suddenly lunged at her, his temper flaring. He pinned her against the wall and she closed her eyes simply because she didn’t want to see that pain that was reflecting in his.
“He’s Nanzi’s son?” Indie asked. “You broke up my wedding to make me play daddy to a child that isn’t mine!”
“I don’t know!” she hollered. “I was hoping he was yours,” she whispered lowering her tone.
“How long were you sleeping with my brother?” he asked. He felt so much anger. Nanzi and Indie had been thick as thieves, closer than close. He would have never thought the two people who had been closest to him would have cut him so deeply.
She stammered, not wanting to answer his question.
“Once? Twice?”
“We were together for a while, Indie,” Parker stated.
He squeezed the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes in distress. “Just leave, Parker.”
“Indie, this doesn’t mean that we still can’t do this . . . together,” she pleaded. “I do and always have loved you.”
“King will be taken care of regardless. If he isn’t my son, that means he is my nephew. This family will still support him, but you and I, we’re done, shorty,” he said. He stormed out of the house, rushing to his car as he realized the detrimental mistake he had made. He had to get to YaYa. In his mind he already knew that it was too late.
YaYa paced back and forth in her suite as her mind spun. She had tried to walk away from Ethic in the park, but as soon as she returned she found herself missing him. Always a phone call away, she requested his presence and he was on his way. Dressed in a La Perla silk robe and red bottom heels, she couldn’t wait for him to arrive. Skylar was asleep in the second bedroom so their night should be undisturbed. She was no longer ashamed of her affections for him. After seeing him with his children in the park, she realized that she loved every single thing about that man. She was falling fast and although it scared her, she loved the rush.
Knock! Knock!
She went to the door and opened it without looking but the face she stared into was completely unexpected.
“I need to talk to you, YaYa,” Indie said, pain and confusion and regret written all over his face.
YaYa’s mouth fell open, taken aback. “How did you know where to find me?” she asked.
“You’re my girl, ma. I know you like the back of my hand. This is your favorite suite at your favorite hotel. It wasn’t that hard to figure out,” he said. “Let me in, ma. I fucked up. I need to talk to you.”
“You need to leave,” YaYa said as hot tears immediately burned her eyes. How dare the fuck he? Who did he think he was? She hadn’t heard from Indie since the night he admitted to sleeping with Parker. He hadn’t been concerned about how she was. He hadn’t called to check on their child, but he had the nerve to just show up demanding to talk.
“Ya, please. I know I fucked up. I’m so sorry, ma. I love you. I need you, YaYa. Just hear me out,” he reasoned.
Panic spread across YaYa’s face when she saw Ethic appear over Indie’s shoulder. She felt like she was busted, despite the fact that she was doing nothing wrong.
“Ethic,” she greeted. Her stomach went hollow as a sick feeling overwhelmed her. Oh shit, she thought.
Indie turned around in surprise and his features instantly turned deadly.
“Fuck you doing here?” Indie asked, suddenly obsessed with a jealousy he had never felt. Not even when Parker had revealed that she had sexed his brother did he feel this type of jealousy. His blood boiled as he saw the smile that appeared in YaYa’s eyes. Her entire face lit up at Ethic’s presence. He could tell she was trying to hide it on his behalf but he knew her too well. She was infatuated.
“I’m here because she asked me to come,” Ethic replied as he moved into the suite.
Indie saw red. “Bitch, you fucking my nigga?” He grabbed YaYa by her chin tightly but Ethic grabbed Indie’s arm.
“That’s not happening tonight, fam, so dead that shit before you catch a problem,” Ethic said as he moved his jacket to the side to reveal the burner that sat on his waist.
Indie’s fury pumped through his veins making him fearless. “I ain’t afraid of gunplay, homeboy, believe that. This is my bitch. You don’t have anything to do with how I handle mine.”
“Was your bitch,” Ethic corrected. “And I have everything to do with it. What happened to that pretty little thing . . .” Ethic snapped his fingers as if he couldn’t recall the name. “Parker?”
Indie came up off his hip with his own pistol, but Ethic simultaneously pulled his as well. Having a hot head wasn’t even in his nature, but the thought of Ethic with YaYa hurt his soul. He now understood the resentment that YaYa had for him. Knowing that someone else now claimed what was once yours burned like nothing he had ever felt before. There they stood, toe to toe. Boss to boss. Ego to ego, both unflinching. Neither of them had ever pulled their gun without using it. They weren’t for show and both understood the rules of the game. Now that they had drawn on one another, one of them had to be Picasso.
“Indie!” YaYa shouted. She stood in the middle, conflicted. Between the man that she loved and one that she was surely falling in love with. “Ethic, please!”
They were so much alike in so many ways, but in the areas that Indie lacked, Ethic was . . . he was perfect. He was loyal and most of all he had been hurt before so he wasn’t in the business of dishing out heartbreak.
“Skylar is in the other room!” YaYa stated firmly. She went into the drawer that sat by entryway and pulled out a gun of her own. Both men looked at her in shock. She hadn’t lost her gangster. She had simply stifled it because she was trying to live a normal life. She had wanted to be a normal wife for Indie, but stupid she was not. She stayed strapped and the men in her life had lost their minds. If she didn’t do something they would gun each other down just to prove which one had the bigger gun.
“My daughter is in the other room,” she repeated sternly. “Put your fucking guns up now.”
Indie was biting his inner jaw so hard that it had begun to bleed. He could taste the blood as he stared Ethic down. Neither of them flinched. “Indie! Ethic!”
Both men reluctantly lowered their weapons and Indie moved toward the back of the suite. “What are you doing?” YaYa asked.
“You got this nigga up in here while my daughter is here. Fuck that. She’s coming home with me,” Indie said. “You’re fucking him? You fucking him and I do business with him?”
Indie was out of his mind with jealousy and sick to his stomach.
YaYa folded her arms across her chest and watched as he took Skylar out of her bed. She knew that Skylar was fine with her father so she didn’t protest. She had planned to tell him about Ethic once she had figured it out herself. She knew how he felt and Skylar would be the best medicine for his shattered heart.
He stormed passed her and stopped when he got in front of Ethic. “I’ma see you,” he threatened.
“Likewise,” Ethic answered.
He walked out and YaYa let her weight fall to the plush sofa in defeat.
Ethic slowly made his way over to her and sat beside her. He pulled her into his arms. “That’s not how I wanted him to find out,” she whispered. “This is so messy.”
“Do you want me to leave?” Ethic asked.
She looked at him. If she was g
oing to cut him loose, now would be the time to do it. As much as her mind said, tell him to go, her heart wanted him to stay. She shook her head. “No. I don’t want you to ever go anywhere. I think I feel something for you, Ethic. I don’t want to call it love because we really barely know one another, but whatever this is . . . it’s strong.”
He kissed her lips and she got sucked into his aura effortlessly. It was the sweetest kiss and the gentlest touch that she had ever felt. Any guilt that she felt about Indie finding out instantly melted at Ethic’s touch.
“Tell me this, gangster,” Ethic commented with a smile. “Where did you learn to handle a gun like that?” he asked.
YaYa thought back to all of her younger years. She had done and seen it all. From tricking niggas, to hustling, to running her own empire. There was no simple answer to his question and she realized how much about her that he did not know. “Let’s just say that I’m not a stranger to the life that you and Indie are a part of. I’ve played my role in it over the years.” She cleared her throat and changed the subject.
“I’m sorry about messing up the money between you and Indie,” she whispered.
He scoffed. “I’m good, ma. I have enough money. Some things are worth more,” he said. She placed her hands on the sides of his face and planted soft kisses all over it while looking him in the eyes.
“I think I love you, boy,” she whispered. She hadn’t even meant to say it. Actually she had spoken her private thoughts, but it was too late to chase the words down. Once they were spoken the universe owned them.
He looked at her, face so serious as he replied, “I’ve got to teach you to love you, ma, before you can love me. Because your love for me feels amazing. I want you to know what self-love feels like. The love you give is a gift.” Lawd! This man’s wordplay made her putty in his hands. As his lips covered hers, YaYa felt nothing but bliss and she couldn’t wait for the night to come. Karma’s a bitch and Indie had just become acquainted with her wrath. He had left YaYa room to explore something new and unfortunately for him, she liked what she had discovered. Ethic was perfect for her in every way and although she felt badly for Indie’s pain, she hadn’t forgotten his betrayal. He deserved whatever pain he felt.
Love & War Page 18