by Lucinda John
I sat outside of Terri’s house and waited for all of the lights to go out. While I waited, I studied the floor plan of Terri’s house that I printed out, and located the way I would enter the house. When all of the movement in the house ceased, I got out of the car and walked to the side entrance. Jiggling the locks on the gate, I slithered inside and then picked the locks to the side door.
Inside the house, I slowly walked around, careful not to make any sounds. Humming coming from a closed door startled me, causing me to hide behind a wall. The door, which I assumed was a bathroom opened up and Terri walked out naked. I admired her nice body as she walked around the house humming Miguel’s “Adorn.”
Pulling out my gun, I aimed it at her and shot her right in the face before she could disappear into her room. I walked over to her lifeless body and shot her three more times in the face. Picking up a piece of her brain matter, I wrote ‘Payback is a bitch’ with it, on the wall, before I walked out of the house wearing a smile so wide that my jaw threatened to break.
As bad as I wanted to stay in Miami to watch Cole and Ralph sweat, I decided to go home. I had more tricks up my sleeve that I couldn’t wait to reveal. I felt my body began to twitch so I hurried to my hotel room for another fix.
Chapter 24
Ralph
It’s been one week since I buried my mother and have been laying in this same position. I was so hurt losing my queen that I couldn’t move on. My whole life, she was all I had. She played both roles as my mother and father, when my pussy ass daddy was too busy being a bitch. This past week, I’ve been shutting everyone out. I turned my phone off and I stayed locked in my man cave. Lisa would beg me to come out and eat, but I would just ignore her. The grim reaper seemed to have a personal vendetta against me, the way he was snatching all of my loved ones.
“Ralph, open this door now or I will have my men kick it down,” Stacks’ father accent boomed from the other side of the door.
Ignoring his request, I rolled over on my stomach and firmly placed the pillow on my head. Before I could even close my eyes, there was a loud boom and my door came crashing down.
“Sit up now,” he demanded invading my personal space.
Lifting my body up, I sat up and glared at Stacks’ father. I didn’t want to disrespect my boss, but he was fucking with my ME time. The purpose of me being in here is to have undisturbed peace.
“Look at you Ralph. What are you doing to yourself?” he asked.
“I’m grieving.”
“It’s been one week since your mother passed and you are still wearing the same clothes you buried her in.”
“So what?”
“Respect me.”
“With all due respect you are in my home,” I replied staring him in the eyes.
“The only reason I am here is because I love you like a son. When Stacks first introduced you, I was kind of on the fence about letting you in, but you proved yourself. What your mother and I had was very special,” he said causing me to cut my eyes at him.
“Don’t look at me like that. We were two adults enjoying each other’s company. In the midst of it all I fell in love again, but she wasn’t quite ready for the commitment because she wasn’t sure how her boys would take it,” he said with a smile. “I really did love your mother and this loss is killing me on the inside. It just hurts to see you hurting like this. Riley is suffering another lost and she needs you. Lisa is trying to deal with the lost as well and she needs you. Most importantly, Cole needs you,” he said getting up.
“Please son, get up and do something without yourself, you look like shit and you smell even worse,” he chuckled pulling me in for an embrace. “I love you son and I am a plane ride away if you need anything.”
“Thanks,” I nodded.
“I will have this door replaced,” he said pointing at my door that now lay on the floor.
“That door was two thousand dollars,” I joked.
“Lunch money,” he laughed.
For the first time in a week, I walked around my house. My first stop was to the bathroom for a much-needed shower. Stripping down out of my Hugo Boss suit, I waited until the water was nice and hot, before stepping in.
The water fell over my head mixing with the tears that fell from my eyes. I decided that today moving forward, I was going to learn how to move on. Although losing my mother was a pain that I will never get over, I have a family to be strong for.
I cleansed my soul, as I cleansed my body. I used my shower as a therapy session to cry out all my pain. After I rinsed off my body, I grabbed a towel and dried my tears. I walked out of the bathroom a new man, ready to live.
Lisa and Riley were gone, so I decided to prepare dinner for them. I grabbed the chicken breast and thawed them out. Cutting up pepper and onions, I started on my Fajita mix. Once my chicken was cooked, I pan fried some tortillas and placed them to the side.
“It smells good in here,” Lisa smiled walking in the house.
“Hey daddy!” Riley smiled running over to me. “Are you feeling better?”
“Yes, daddy is feeling brand new. After dinner I’m going to take you out on a date.”
“Yay, but what about mommy?” she asked hopping on a barstool.
“Mommy has some work to do, maybe next time,” Lisa answered.
“Ok, go wash up dinner will be ready in a few.” I kissed Riley on the cheek and watched her run to the bathroom.
“It’s good to see you’re feeling better,” Lisa said wrapping her arms around my neck.
“Stacks’ father came in here kicking my door down and shit; I had no choice,” I laughed.
“Well I’m glad he did, because I was getting ready to call the crazy house on your ass.”
“Chill out.” I licked my lips before placing them on hers.
“It’s a jungle out there,” Lisa sighed.
“What are you talking about?”
“Honey and Cole.”
“What did I tell you about minding other people’s business?” I scolded her.
“You’re right, but please talk to your brother.”
“I will, now go wash your dirty hands and come let daddy feed you.” I smacked her on the ass.
“Ohhhh yesssss, daddy,” she purred walking towards the bathroom.
My family and I sat at the table eating family dinner, enjoying each other’s company. Although we suffered some terrible losses, I was determined to be the glue that held my family together. I listened to Riley ramble on about her dance competition that was in a few days, and the smile she held on her face warmed my heart. For her to be so young and have experienced so much, she was still growing beautifully. I looked over at Lisa, and I was more than ready to make her my wife.
“Bae, take a picture it’ll last longer,” Lisa smirked.
“Oh, I plan to tonight,” I whispered, reaching under the table to grab her pussy.
After dinner, I took Riley to see a musical since she was so intrigued by dancing.
“Daddy, I know what I want to be when I grow up,” Riley said as we walked hand in hand.
What is it?”
“A professional dancer, like mommy.”
“You do?”
“Yes daddy, I love dancing.”
“Well, I’m here to support you in anything you want to do.”
“Daddy, one more thing?”
“Yes baby.”
“Can I have a hotel slumber party?”
“Why at the hotel and we have a big house?” I asked.
“Well, Mikayla had her party at her house and I kind of want to outdo her,” she smiled.
“That’s fine with me. Maybe we can ask auntie Cinnamon to plan everything for you.”
“Yessssssss daddy, you are the best!”
“Anything for you princess,” I smiled, stopping at a florist booth to buy her a dozen of yellow flowers.
For the rest of the night, my daughter and I had a much-needed father and daughter’s date. We enjoyed the show and had ice
cream on the beach, while talking about everything under the sun. Riley ended up failing asleep so I carried her to the car and headed home.
Arriving home, I carried Riley to her room, took off her shoes and tucked her in.
“I love you baby girl.” I kissed her on the forehead before turning on her night light and walking out of her room.
Chapter 25
MiMi
“Where are you going?” Cole asked as I slipped my feet in a pair of gold Jimmy Choo flats.
“Out with the girls, why, you want me to stay in with you?” I asked straddling him.
“Nah, will Honey be there?” he asked causing me to frown.
“I don’t know,” I shrugged getting off of him.
Cole has been staying here with me since the day he found out Honey was still in contact with her ex. With the loss of his mother adding more burden on him, I became his shoulder to cry on. I spent countless nights staying up with Cole, holding him while he was having his moments.
Although Cole had basically moved in with me, I knew he wasn’t over Honey. The night he came over and we were about to have sex, he stopped it. He hasn’t even tried to initiate anything since. Sleeping in the same bed with him and not being able to touch him was killing me. It’s been a while since I got dick and I was in desperate need for some. All that was about to come to an end soon; tonight, I was determined to get me some. Maybe if we joined together again as one, it would reignite the flames of our old relationship.
“Remember, do not mention me,” Cole called out just as I was walking out the door.
I made my way to the Longhorn Steak House where the ladies decided to have lunch. When I got there, everyone was already there and seated, waiting on my arrival.
“Finally bitch, we were starving,” Lisa said causing me to cut my eyes at her.
I took a seat next to Cinnamon, which was the only one in the group that I really fucked with like that. I loved hanging with her when it is just her and I. When we were in the group setting, I felt as if her girls threw daggers at me for no apparent reason. Females like Lisa, Lala, and Honey were the reason I really didn’t fuck with bitches on the friendship level.
Picking up my menu, I skimmed through the selection before mentally making my choice.
“Are you ladies ready to order?” the waiter asked.
“Yes, finally,” Lisa said.
As we read off our orders to the waiter, I decided to be messy.
“I’m sorry I took so long, my man wouldn’t let me out of bed.” I sipped my water glancing over at Honey.
“You? Man? When did this happen?” Cinnamon asked.
“He’s an ex,” I smirked.
“Well one of these days you need to invite him to the club so we can all meet him,” Cinnamon replied.
“He’s more of a laid back person.”
“Or you could just be a side piece,” Lisa tried to whisper, but I heard her.
Lala smacked her on the thigh, telling her to behave, as Honey just sat there with the weight of the world on her shoulder. I find her pain amusing, and I decided to have fun with her ass.
“Honey what’s wrong? You seem sad.”
“I’m pregnant,” she blurted out causing me to choke on my water.
“You are what?” Lala asked.
“Pregnant. I am pregnant and my child’s father won’t even answer his phone so I can tell him,” she cried.
I wanted to cry along with her but I kept my game face on. Honey being pregnant meant that the chance of Cole and I getting back together, was never going to happen. Cole wasn’t over Honey, he was just being stubborn. If he got wind of her having that baby, he would go running back home at full speed.
“Don’t cry, mama, just give him some time to calm down. With everything that went down plus the death of his mother, he’s being going through it,” Lala said.
“I know, but I don’t even know where he’s been staying. My woman intuition is telling me he’s with another bitch,” Honey sobbed.
I wanted to jump up on the table and tell her that the bitch he was laying up with was me, but I decided to keep my mouth shut.
“I’ll have Stacks smack some sense into him,” Lala smiled.
Dumb bitch, I thought rolling my eyes.
“Is something wrong with your eyes?” Lisa asked.
“Not at all,” I smirked rolling them again, “Looks like they work fine to me.”
“Cinnamon, get your bitch before I flip on her ass.”
“Lisa, come on man chill out,” Cinnamon replied.
“No, this bitch is rude and she may need me to knock some respect in her ass.”
“You know what, I’ma just go,” I said standing up and placing a fifty-dollar bill on the table to cover my meal. After Honey dropped that bomb on us, I had no desire to stay anyway.
“Bye bitch,” Lisa smiled.
“Baddest bitch, remember that.” I flipped my hair before walking away.
I could hear Lisa express how she wanted to mop the floor with my ass, I just laughed at her petty ass and kept it moving.
I got in my car and drove to my house. I was ready more than ever to fuck Cole, just because them hoes pissed me off. When I made it to the house, Cole was gone. I picked up the phone to call him, but I kept getting the voicemail. Frustrated, I tossed my phone on the bed and screamed out to the top of my lungs.
I fell to the floor and began sobbing. I couldn’t believe I was about to lose Cole again and there wasn’t anything I could do. I couldn’t even fake being pregnant because in order to get pregnant, you have to have sex, and that was a line Cole wasn’t trying to cross with me.
My ringing phone caused me to take a break from my pity party. Picking up my phone, I rolled my eyes at the name that appeared on my caller ID, before ignoring the call. I made a mental note to call the phone company in the morning to change my number. Just as I was about to walk to the kitchen for a shot of Vodka, my phone buzzed.
Domo: When I find you I am going to kill your hoe ass. Remember, if I can’t have you no one can.
Reading the text from my crazy ass ex, I quickly deleted it then blocked his number. Domo was part of the reason I decided to come to Miami. He was a guy that I got involved with who turned out to be crazy. In the beginning of our relationship, everything was peaches and cream until he accused me of fucking my boss.
For months, I endured abuse from Domo until I decided enough was enough. My boss presented me with an opportunity for me to move to Miami for a job, and I jumped to it. One morning, I woke up and left the house as if I were heading to work, and never returned. Since then, Domo has been blowing up my phone making threats. I didn’t really pay them any mind because he had no idea where I relocated to.
I sat at my bar sipping from a bottle of Vodka as I waited for Cole to return. When the clock read three in the morning, I picked up the phone to call him and again I was hit with the voicemail. Thoughts of him returning home with Honey made me sick. I nursed the bottle of Vodka until the bottle was empty. Still feeling the pain of rejection, I stumbled to the kitchen and grabbed another bottle. I was definitely drunk and in love.
Chapter 26
Cole
“Room service,” the woman on the other end of the door shouted while knocking on the door.
I rose from the king size bed and walked over to the door. I pushed the door open and stepped to the side so that the maid could wheel my cart of food inside. The maid stopped and stared at my bare chest with drool dripping from the corners of her mouth
“Ahem,” I cleared my throat.
“I’m sorry,” she blushed as she walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.
MiMi was giving off this vibe like she wanted more than a friendship from me, so I decided to step back. I wasn’t the type to confuse women, so me staying there wasn’t a good idea. I still was fucked up over the shit that went down with Honey, so I didn’t feel like seeing her face.
I wasn’t going to lie and say I d
idn’t miss her because I did. Every time she called, I fought the urge to answer the phone. I wanted her ass to hurt just like I was hurting. Regardless of if she actually slept with Rob or not, she was seeing him behind my back and I wasn’t down for the sneaky shit.
Before I could stuff my face with a piece of bacon, I got a 9-1-1 code from one of my traps that was located in the Beans projects. Rushing to the bathroom, I brushed my teeth, washed my face, and then threw a shirt over my head. I ran out of the room in a hurry then jumped in my car to see what the fuck was going on.
When I made it to my trap house, the fire rescue team was there trying to put out a fire. The fact that a motherfucker was bold enough to set my shit on fire had me seeing red. First, people wanted to fuck with my family, now my money. Bitches were violating in the worst way and I was ready to shake some shit.
Making a U-turn, I made my way to Stacks’ house. Ralph’s car was already in the circular driveway when I got there. Parking behind him, I jumped out of the car and headed to the door.
“They’re upstairs in the office,” Lala said as soon as I walked inside.
Before I could round the corner, Stacks’ deep voice was bouncing off the walls. The way he was spitting out orders let me know that boss man was on ten. I walked in the room and it felt like I entered hell’s pit. Stacks’ office was hot, as he spat fire as if he was Lucifer.
“Five traps burned to the ground,” Ralph filled me in.
“Who the fuck is behind this shit?” I asked.
My best bet is Carla. She’s coming back full force to claim what’s hers,” Stacks replied.
“You think she had something to do with ma dukes?”
“I wouldn’t put that past her besides, who else would be bold enough to do this shit?” Stacks asked.
“Chasity,” Chad replied.
“Who?” Stacks asked.
“DC’s wife. Remember I was telling you me and chick went way back? Well I used to fuck with her like that and she’s capable of doing some grimy shit like this,” Chad said.