by Dior, London
We walked in silence all the way to the car. Once we pulled off, she spoke again. “That could have easily been us, Carter. I know you love your brother, but please just come home with me. Let’s go back to Atlanta and be a family. Wise and Milan can come stay with us until they get on their feet. Let’s just go!”
I heard her pleading with me, I even wanted to say let’s just leave, but it wasn’t that simple. Things had never been that simple for me.
Chapter Forty-Seven
Milan
Wise and I were cuddled up in the hotel’s bed when my cell phone began to ring. It was a call from an unknown local phone number, and I knew that it had to be one of Jabari’s family members. They were trying their damnedest to get me to bring the kids by to see them, but I wasn’t brining my children nowhere near those crazy people. I was even debating if I wanted to go to his funeral or not.
I let out a sigh. “Huhhhh, I’m so sick of Jabari’s family calling me. One minute they pretend like they just want to be there for me, and the next somebody calling me and threatening me for getting him killed. You heard what Adonnis said. They think I got something to do with it and I’m creepin’ with his homeboy. The only person I respect is his mother.” I shook my head, folding my arms across my chest.
Wise wrapped his arms around me. “You know I want to say fuck them. Nah, fuck that, FUCK THEM!” Wise grimaced. He added, “But real talk, he is Jabari Jr’s daddy, so it’s all up to you, babe.” Wise said, causing me to look up at him with a frown.
“So what about Kayla. What, you think that she’s too young to remember anything?” I asked skeptically.
Wise kissed his teeth. “Hell nah, that’s my ma’fuckin’ daughter. The older she gets, and the more I look at her, she’s me and Melanie’s twin.”
I studied Wise’s face, what if Kayla was really his daughter? I would love for that to be. Wise was an excellent father, and I knew that he was going to step up and be a wonderful daddy to all of the kids.
“So you don’t want a test to find out for sure if she’s your child?”
Wise shook his head. “Nah, I’m good. At this point, it don’t even matter; all three of them lil’ ma’fuckas mine. I’m not letting you get away again. I got y’all.”
I chuckled, “Don’t be calling my babies motherfuckers.” I tapped him on the arm, playfully rolling my eyes at him.
“You know what I mean.” Wise squeezed me tighter, as my cell phone began to ring again. It was the same phone number.
“Just answer it, babe. Me, Carter, and Don will go with you to the funeral if you think that they’re on some other shit.”
I bit the folds of my cheek. It was really real, Jabari’s funeral was right around the corner. I couldn’t bring all of them up in there, knowing it would cause confusion. He had an ignorant ass family. However, I wanted to pay my respects. So, I was thinking about slipping in to view the body at the funeral home, and slipping back out.
I answered the phone on the fifth ring, just as the caller hung up. Seconds later, I had a notification for a voice message, and it was Jabari’s mother telling me about the funeral arrangements and how she just wants to see her grandbabies.
I rolled my eyes, focusing on Wise. He had pulled out his phone and began to text on it. “I’m so sick of this. I need a vacation.” I sighed, leaning back on his chest. Wise never responded. He placed the phone down next to him and grabbed the remote, turning on the TV. The newscaster was reporting the fatal crash that Sasha was involved in. It turned out that the two men that died in the crash were Keem and some other cat. By the look that was on Wise’s face, I assumed that he was thinking the same thing that I was thinking… why was Sasha riding around with Keem?
Chapter Forty-Eight
Sasha
I felt like death itself, my whole body was aching, and my throat was on fire. I needed a cup of ice to soothe the burning. I tried to use my hands to adjust myself a little, but a sharp pain shot through my leg, causing me to wince and just relax back. I couldn’t believe that Keem had actually tried to out run the police. All of these niggas were crazy!
I let out a sigh, as I thought about how bad things could have been. Keem was going to kill me, but somehow my life had been spared. I had thanked the Lord a thousand times, and if I had been able to, I would have dropped right down to my knees.
I closed my eyes, getting comfortable. Selena had just left. I couldn’t understand why she pretended to care so much. She didn’t give two shits about me. Her and her uppity ass mother always thought that they were better than someone. Gosh, I was sick of pretending to like her already. However, she made up with Carter, so I needed her in order for me to get back in good with Wise.
“Wake up sleepyhead,” A deep baritone caused my eyes to shoot back open at the sound of the familiar voice.
My eyes bulged in fear, as I tried my best to discreetly fumble around for the remote to page the nurse. He let out a slight chuckle. “It’s over there.” He pointed to the rolling food stray stand that was too far away from the bed for me to reach.
“Wha… what do you want from me? I’ve done my part in everything.” I stuttered, knowing that if he was here, he planned on doing more than talking. I thought that both Keem and Jabari were bad, but he was the devil himself and I hated that I ever got in bed with his snake ass.
When he approached me, wanting for me to get in good with Wise, I had no problem doing so. Wise was fine as hell, with money, and he didn’t mind spending. I never expected for as much feelings to be involved as it was at this very moment. I loved Wise.
“I know,” He shrugged, nonchalantly. He stepped closer to my bed, and I could feel my heart as it began to flutter. At 6’2, he was tall with a muscular build. He was dressed in a pair of slacks and a button up, looking all professional. But, I knew otherwise. It was all a disguise. He was a sick and deadly bastard.
“Why you so tense, Ms. Sasha?” He had this slick grin on his face. “You know, I met up with ya’ boo Keem the other day at our spot. We kicked it about your boy Wise and his brother. Ya’ know, he seemed to be kind of soft on you, talking about he had to get back home to you. What do you be doing to these niggas? You must have gold between your legs.”
By now, he was close enough to my bed to run his hand up my thigh. My body cringed at his touch. Damn, the nurses had been in my room to check on me a thousand times, where were they now?
“I’m pregnant. Please don’t hurt me and my baby. I got close to Wise and I gave you the only information that I knew about Carter. I told you, Wise is very secretive. He doesn’t involve me in a lot of things.”
Man, I needed another miracle. I hadn’t seen this man in close to three years, I thought we were done with one another. I hoped like hell that he wasn’t coming around to kill me because he couldn’t use me anymore. I’m pretty sure that Keem told him that Wise and I weren’t together.
“Pregnant? Hmmm, do you even know who the daddy is, Sasha? I heard you was a little loose with it. Throwing that pussy all over Detroit.” He laughed and I couldn’t stand the way he sounded. Bastard; and he had the nerve to call me a hoe.
“No, I know who fathered my child. This is definitely Wise’s baby.”
He eyed me skeptically, then his smile returned. “I almost counted you out kid. It looks like you’re back in the game.” His hand was still rubbing my thighs and I wanted to puke. “Call me when you get out of here. Don’t make me come find you Sasha.” His hand tightened around my thigh and his nails began to dig into my skin. I screamed out in pain, but he demanded for me to shut up. I swear, it felt like an eternity before he let go and abruptly left out of my room. Tears were rolling down my face and I knew that making any type of deal with him wasn’t happening. I couldn’t trust him with me or my baby’s life. I needed to get as far away as possible.
Chapter Forty-Nine
Milan
Nearly a week had passed since Jabari’s death. The funeral was in two days and for some reason, I had been fee
ling a little down… maybe because things were just so out of wack. I mean, since Keem’s death, we hadn’t really had any problems, however, I knew that something was brewing, but I just couldn’t figure out exactly what it was.
I let out a sigh, calling my mother’s phone to talk to the kids. I just wanted to check on them; especially Melanie, being that things were so new for her. She hadn’t really gotten the chance to digest everything before drama struck.
“Hey Milan, what’s up baby?” My mother answered, sounding all chipper. I could hear Kayla screaming in the background and it caused me to smile.
“Nothing, just checking in on my babies. I miss them so much. How are they? Is Jabari Jr. okay? Did you tell him about his father?” I asked, hoping that she didn’t. I still needed to find a way to break the news to him about his father’s death.
“No, I haven’t told him, but he sure has been asking about him. And your stepfather is upset with you and all of this foolishness with that Wise boy.” I heard scrambling, then a door closing. She began to whisper. “He really wants me to just take your kids and allow you to bump your head. I’m not liking it one bit that your foolishness is disturbing my household. I love Amir to death, but you are my child, so I would never turn on you, but you need to seriously get it together Milan! I mean really.” My mother scolded, yet I couldn’t get past the fact that Amir actually was tripping. I loved him like a daddy, so it hurt for my mother to hint around at the fact that he wanted to turn her against me. She didn’t actually say it, but in so many words, she did.
“What did I or Wise ever do to him? It’s not my fault that Jabari started acting like a fool.” I shrieked.
My mother let out a breath of air into the phone. “Ok, Milan, I haven’t been completely honest. Your father wanted to shield you from the streets, so we kept you sheltered as much as we could, but you still went out and got you a thug.” She chuckled then added, “Amir was actually your father’s best friend. He started out just stopping by to check on us after your father was murdered. Then the visits became more frequent, and we just happened. I never meant for things to go that way. But we both were dealing with the hurt of losing your father. Amir found a pastor that took him under his wings and we changed for the better.”
I didn’t know what to say as I listened. I couldn’t believe that my mother married daddy’s best friend. I almost felt as if she betrayed my father.
She continued, “Well Amir sat me down and… well he said…”
“Mom, just spit it out. What did he tell you?” I probed, tired of her stalling.
“Well, he said that Wise’s brother, I forget his name, killed your father. And nobody’s safe that’s connected with him. Milan, now I tried to talk sense into that man, because we have been saved and the Lord will handle it. I just don’t have a good feeling about it all. Would you please just walk away from that situation before things get ugly, please Milan?”
I was completely flabbergasted, Carter killed my father? I mean, he did leave around the same time that my father was murdered. I dropped the phone as reality settled in. Everything was beginning to add up. Carter took my father away from me and I didn’t know how to swallow that pill.
***
Wise
“Aye Milan! Where you at, baby?” I called out to her, we all made our way back into my hotel room. I had just gotten done having a real ass conversation over drinks at the bar, located inside of the hotel’s lobby with Carter and Don. Fuck all of the bullshit that Detroit was bringing. Both Keem and Jabari were dead, the drama seemed to have stopped, so it was time to hang up my crown and get the fuck on.
Carter said that we all could come stay with him and Selena until we got straight, but fuck that. I’m a grown ass man, with a family. There’s no way I was bringing my girl and kids to live up under another ma’fucka, even if he was my brother.
While in the lobby, I had called my realtor and had her look into finding me a place in either Atlanta, or Virginia. Atlanta was fast paced and with me living that fast life all my life, I didn’t want to be nowhere slow. Then again, I needed to sit my ass down and enjoy my family so Virginia didn’t sound bad either.
“Milan!” I called out again, as my eye brows furrowed, wondering where her ass was at. Adonnis and Carter sat on the couch by the bed, and I went to the bathroom door and knocked. When I didn’t get an answer, I peeked in and immediately rushed inside, seeing Milan sitting on the floor crying.
“What’s wrong, babe?” I kneeled down, sitting next to her, and pulling her into my arms. She pulled away.
“Don’t touch me!” Milan scooted back, and I was just staring at her lost as fuck, wondering what had happened in the hour that I was gone.
I grabbed at her again. “Man, if you don’t tell me what the fuck is going on.” I demanded, using my strength to hold on to her. Milan was itty bitty compared to me, so it wasn’t even no point in her resisting.
“Let me go, Wise! You knew, didn’t you? You knew what happened to him!” She was screaming loud as fuck, and she had me feeling some type of way, especially with the way she was talking in riddles.
“Calm down, babe! I knew what?”
“Carter!” She yelled. “You knew that he did it. He knew it.” She was snotting and crying for real now. I squeezed her tighter, hating to see the hurt written all over her face; especially since I didn’t know where it was coming from.
Carter must have heard his name being called, because he appeared at the door. “You alright, Sis? What’s going on?” He asked, his face was filled with concern.
Milan looked up at him. I wouldn’t exactly say that her expression was hateful, it was more like sadness and hurt. She pointed a finger at him, snatching away, then standing up. “Please tell me that it’s a lie Carter… he was my everything. Tell me you didn’t take him away from me ”
Now I was getting pissed. I just knew she wasn’t tripping off of Jabari’s punk ass. There was no secret that we canceled that nigga! “What the fuck are you talking about?” I gritted, eyeing Milan, then staring at Carter, as he eyed Milan.
“He killed my daddy, and I know that both of you two assholes knew it. I hate the both of you! I hate y’all!” Milan stormed off so quick that I didn’t have a chance to catch up to her. I was lost like a ma’fucka. I knew for damn sure that I didn’t have shit to do with killing her daddy, and the story was that her daddy was murdered after a drug deal gone bad. Carter wasn’t into no petty robbing shit. He was the plug.
***
Carter
I looked at Wise and shrugged, I was just as fucked up about what Milan was trying to say as he was. I didn’t even know who the fuck her daddy was, and I for damn sure didn’t have a drop of phony blood in my body. If I knowingly canceled her pops, I wouldn’t fuck with her period. Milan was like my little Sis, for real.
“Go get her, man.” I finally snapped out of my shocked trance. I think Wise was stuck too. He was just standing there, not trying to go after Milan, and we definitely needed to get to the bottom of this crazy shit.
Wise finally let out a sigh, before strolling out of the bathroom and heading out of the room. Adonnis hopped up, and we both followed Wise.
Adonnis tapped me, “What the fuck just happened?” He whispered.
I just looked at him and didn’t even respond. We just had a good ass conversation, making plans for the future, with everyone in the A. I swear, I wasn’t expecting to come back to Milan accusing me of knocking off her pops. I was wondering where the fuck that news was coming from, and if it was her people in that Charger back at the hotel fucking with us.
We made it to the end of the hall. As soon as we turned the corner, I locked eyes with Milan and she gave me the sourest look. Then she began to bang on the down arrow for the elevators. She was really bugging.
“Y’all just leave me alone, please! I can’t stand to look at neither one of you!”
Big ol’ crocodile tears were sliding down her cheeks. I was glad that no one was in the ha
llway with us, because they would have sworn that we was doing something to that girl.
“Come on Millie, you know damn well that I ain’t did no slime-ball shit like that to you. I fucks with you the long way.” I told her sincerely.
“Yeah, babe, you should know better than to think we would ever do you like that. I know how much you loved yo’ pops. I never got a chance to meet him, but I knew.” Wise eased closer to her, pulling her to him. She didn’t even fight. Her body collapsed into his, and Wise hugged her tightly
“Come on baby, come back into the room and talk to us. You know we way better than this. You my heart, Milan.” I heard Wise whisper.
Milan pulled away a bit, looking around, skeptically. However, she allowed Wise to guide her back toward the room. I knew that I had to get back to Selena, but I wasn’t willing to leave until we figured everything out.
***
Back inside the room, after Milan had calmed down a bit, she began to ask questions. “So why did you leave then, Carter? You moved away two days after they found my father dead.” She sniffled.
My face screwed up a bit, “I moved because shit was getting too heavy. I had a few enemies back then and I just wanted to get the fuck away from the bullshit before I ended up dead or in jail. I was wildin’, but I swear it wasn’t me.”
“So why would he pick you of all people? He said that you killed him.”
“And who is he?” Me and Wise must have been thinking alike, because we both asked her that at the same time.