by Brandie
* * *
Two hours later, he shook me awake and there were big beautiful trees and a country dirt road. We finally pulled up to an abandoned looking building. “Are you going to kill me?”
He laughed that conniving laugh, “No thickness, I’m about to bring you alive. I’ve waited so long for the day to be able to have you all to myself.”
He kissed my hand as the driver opened the door, “Mr. Cartel, Miss Brandie, this way.”
“Thank you.”
I felt like a queen. When Cartel opened the door to the building the first thing I saw was a big pink rocking chair with lots of pink and purple teddy bears. It looked like the chairs in the old barbecue places.
I’d talked to Cartel a few times before Chinoe captured me in his palace. I told him about some of the things that I liked and I guess he paid close attention.
Covering my mouth, I walked closer to make sure it was real.
“It’s real sweetness, and all for you. Look over there.” He pointed to a candle lit table with two big jugs, one filled with cranberry juice and the other with sprite. He walked up behind me and kissed me on my shoulder. “Is everything to your liking?”
“Yes.” I turned around and met his lips with a sweet long kiss. It felt different. I guess I was so use to Chinoe that it felt funny kissing someone else. “What’s wrong, Brandie?”
“I feel guilty. I mean being here with you when I know I shouldn’t.”
“You should be where ever your heart desires.” He grabbed my hand and led me to the table. The driver turned waiter brought out shrimp, lobster, and crab legs; all my favorites.
“You remembered everything,” I said blushing.
“I told you, I’ve been waiting for you a long time. Now that I’m in your path I want everything to run its course.”
After dinner, we ran around and played like children. My mind free, my body felt serene, and Cartel was there for me.
Finally I climbed up into the chair and Cartel followed. The Isley Brothers, LET’S LAY TOGETHER, made the mood complete.
He stared at me.
“What are you staring at?”
“Just admiring how beautiful you are.” He leaned over and kissed me. This time it felt right. I pushed my tongue deep down his throat. His hand rested on my thigh. I reached down and pulled it close to feel my heat.
“You feel so good.” He unhooked the halter part of my dress without breaking the kiss. He kissed my forehead, then my nose, to my chin. “I want to taste every part of you.”
“I’m your feast, you may begin.” I said in a foreign voice.
He began with my back, licking down to my tattoo. He sucked my cheeks, licked the back of my leg down to the heel of my foot. Each one of my toes were licked and sucked dry. He made sure I was sitting tightly on the chair. I layed back on one of the pillows as he put both my feet on the arms of the chair. His lips met my hip lips. “Damn, Cartel.” Panting heavy. “Umm . . . Um.” We had sex all through the night into morning He released all of my frustration. I felt so relaxed, subdued.
* * *
The next day, on my way to Chinoe’s house, I pulled up next to a bus, and my heart skipped a beat.
The logo on the bus was a picture of Sean and his crew, holding bottles of brandy. “That’s the only Brandie he’ll ever touch or taste again.” Punching the gas, I ran the red light.
I felt terrible for spending the night with Cartel, but Chinoe had to be gotten back. Know telling what he’s doing with that woman and whoever else. But the sad thing about it, I think I would have still done it if I had not heard Chinoe’s conversation. Once inside the house, I took a deep breath of relief. I was safe and no one knew. I ran up the stairs, grabbed the phone, and ran some bath water, throwing my unpacked night bag into the closet.
Ring . . . Ring . . . Ring. “Hello.”
“Caymin, I just had the most magical night of my life.”
“With who?”
“Cartel Rizza?”
The excitement left her voice. “Girl, you crazy. Where is Chinoe?”
“In Tahoe.”
“You know all of them boys talk. What are you going to do if Chinoe find out?”
“Cartel knows everything.”
“But Chinoe is in love, that doesn’t mean anything to you?”
“Huh. I swear you act like you in love or Chinoe is your man or something, sometimes.”
Ignoring the truthful accusation, “So what did ya’ll do?”
The excitement had now left my voice “He took me to this building, had all the things I liked.”
“Umm, hmm, so you gonna keep seeing him?”
“Sometimes. I’m not married. He knows about Chinoe so he knows he can’t monopolize my time. Well, let me take a bath and get some sleep. Bye.” Click.
I hung up the phone before Caymin could say bye.
* * *
Thank you, Lord, for opening my eyes up to a new beginning, magical moments and sweet endings.
Amen.
Chapter Sixty-Three
TWO DAYS LATER
Chocolate
“I’m home, Babe, where you at?” She must be sleep or at the damn mall. But her car was outside. Maybe she rode with Caymin. I still couldn’t believe my luck on that. I was surprised Caymin hadn’t told Brandie about us. Maybe she didn’t want to cause confusion. Thank you God for small favors. “Damn I’m hungry, a brother got to eat.”
Ring . . . Ring. “Hello.” Her sweet voice came through the phone.
“Miss Delite, can a brother get some of your sweet stuff.”
She giggled. “Yes, you can. When did you get back?”
“About thirty minutes ago. You hungry?”
“No I already ate. There’s some lasagna in the oven. I cooked it about an hour ago. I’m with Caymin at the mall.”
“That figures. Pick me up some Polo socks and ribbed tees please.”
“I’m going to stop by my house and pick up some more things, and I’ll be back later.”
“Got’cha, Babe.”
“Late’a.”
“Bye.”
I ran up stairs and threw my things in the closet. Looking at the sandals and dress I bought for Brandie was making me horny, thinking about how good she was going to look in them.
Trying to hang them in her closet, I almost tripped over her Louis Vutton bag. “Dang, this thang full. She don’t never put shit where it’s supposed to go.”
Ring . . . ring . . . ring. “Chinoe,” I answered, agitated with her carelessness.
“Why you ain’t call and let nobody know you were back. All these planes falling out of the sky. Nigga, yo’ family care when don’t nobody else do.”
“I was gone call ‘Mama’, but I just walked in and a nigga starving.” I said laughing as I pulled stuff out of her bag. Money was going on about something, but this olive halter dress, full of a man’s cologne caught my attention.
“Aye, Money, let me hit chu back in a minute.”
“Late’a.”
“Late’a.”
I turned the bag over and dumped it out onto the bed. “New shoes, too, hunh?” As I continued to go through the stuff on the bed, “What the fuck?”
Pictures of her spread-eagled on some type of platform, and what was this? “Aw hell naw. Fuck this, I’m gone kill ’er.”
I couldn’t believe my eyes. Brandie was layed on Cartel Rizza. Sitting on his lap with her arms wrapped around his neck. Smiling and shit. She used to look like that when we first got together, but I hadn’t seen that smile in a while until then.
“Fuck.” I screamed, as I threw the pictures on the floor. “What did I do to deserve this shit?” A tear rolled down my face. I loved that girl. Gave her every thing she desired and more. I didn’t want to let her go. What did I do to her for this to happen? Was this pay back for runnin’ game, not caring about women who’ve cared for me—breaking their hearts?
Chapter Sixty-Four
Money
“It’s
almost Christmas, Sap. What do you want Santa Claus to bring you?”
She put her finger under her chin. “Ahh, Ahh . . . Lemme see. A big girl’s bike, a puppy, a store, skates and a baby.”
“Girl, you have a million baby dolls.”
“No, a baby to play with me.”
She caught me off guard. Where did she learn about babies? I had to admit, I’d been thinking about a baby boy lately myself.
“Okay, I’ll talk to Mommy about that.”
“Okay, Daddy.”
I kissed her and left her playing with her dolls. She was getting so big.
Ring . . . Ring . . . Ring. “Hard as Diamond nails, how may I help you?”
“I thought you were working on that.”
“What, the name? Yes, Babe, I am, but legal papers haven’t come through yet. Diamond has to release the building to me.”
“And I told you that we can have you another shop built.”
“But all my business and clientele is here on Old National. I like this location.”
“Yeah, whatever. Sap asked me for a baby for Christmas.”
“That girl has enough dolls to play with. She needs a bike, and a new bedroom suite.”
“No, a real baby to play with.”
“What? Where did she learn that from?”
“I don’t know, but you need to hurry home so we can work on that.”
She giggled the way she always did when she agreed with what I wanted, “I’m outta here at eight-thirty. What are we eating?”
“Olive Garden, Chocolate and Brandie are coming.”
“Good, call them and ask Brandie if she has found out about what I asked her to do?”
“What did you ask her to do?”
“None of your nosey business.”
“Well, no. I’m not calling.”
“Please.”
“Bye, Luvly.”
Damn, I couldn’t wait until she got here. I’d been gone for a week and a half. Before that her period was on, so I was ready.
Ding Dong, Ding Dong. “Daddy, Uncle Chocolate here!” Sap yelled jumping up and down.
“What’s up, Dawg?”
“What’s up?” Chinoe said in a low tone.
“Uncle Chocolate, Uncle Chocolate.” Sap reached her arms out to hug him. He pulled her close to him with one arm.
I immediately noticed trouble on his face. “Sap, go to your room and find you some clothes to put on.”
“But, but I wanna stay wit—”
“Upstairs now,” I said increasing my tone.
Chocolate walked over to the sofa and plopped down.
“But—” Sap tried one last time.
I started undoing my belt. “Get upstairs right now, I’m not going to say . . .” She was up the stairs before I could finish my sentence.
“She is getting too damn grown. I’m glad she with me now.” Chocolate’s mind was elsewhere. “Where is Brandie?”
“Gone to get her nails done,” he answered dryly.
“Why you looking like a mullet?”
At first he was silent, then he let it out, “Man, Brandie cheating.”
“On her man with you?” I tried joking with him to bring his spirits up. How would anyone not know they were a couple being all over magazines?
“Man, she cheating,” he repeated with tears in his eyes.
“Dawg, come on now, maybe you over reacting. And anyway she ain’t the only woman in the world. Nigga, you travel all over the world, Italy, London, Trinidad. Boy, you better open your eyes and close your nose.”
“Last night at the club she was all up on Cartel Rizza.”
“Cartel, Cartel? He cool wit’ everybody.”
“Yeah, she didn’t see me though. She was doing all the stuff she do for me to him.”
“Chocolate, she a dancer. How many dancers just stand around?”
“Naw. It was the expression on her face, the way she was touching him. Like they familiar with each other.”
“Cartel frequents that club just as much as any other player.” This nigga was actually sitting on my couch in front of me crying like a bitch. He done had hoes fuck up his car, throw bricks through the windows of his house, even had a broad call his mama and claim she was pregnant. But dis nigga crying over one female? Damn her pussy must be platinum.
“Man, you got to suck that shit up and just let ’er put on them track shoes. I can’t stand seeing you like dis.”
“She got me, Money, she got me bad. The day I got back from Tahoe I found her overnight bag.”
“And?”
“She had a new, sexy dress with cologne all over it. There were pictures of her spread eagle. Then there was a picture of her and Cartel. She was all over him, kissing and hugging him; he was touching all over her.”
That’s why that nigga was so distant lately. “Why didn’t you tell me that day? You wanna go get that nigga, Dawg?”
I knew what he was going through. Luvly had this ass layed up sick, throwing up, not eating for weeks. So I knew his pain.
“What do you need me to do?”
“Follow her tomorrow.”
“Follow her?”
“Yeah, she has started working on Sunday’s, supposedly to hurry up and finish out her contract.”
“I’ll do it, Chocolate, even though it’s against everything I believe in. What time do I need to be there?”
He held his head down between his knees. I ain’t never seen my boy like this. He had me wanting to go ring her damn neck myself.
I wonder if Luvly knew about this shit. They been hanging so tight lately, she probably the one schooling her on how to do it and not get caught up.
“Why, Money? I give her everything, no hassle, all my time, love, what else does she need. She got her own money and mine whenever she wants it. I’ve bought her a new car, sent her on shopping sprees in Milan, Paris, Sicily, what else do she want?”
I know he ain’t ready to hear this, but he needed to know, “Word is, Sean the one who bought her that Escalade and that house.”
He hit the table. His knuckles started bleeding. I went to the kitchen to get him a towel with ice. “Here, Chocolate.”
“What the fuck? I thought she was paying for that house. She makes about three grand a week. Why me? I thought this was the one.”
“Tae told me he saw Brandie and Cartel at the mall when you were in Tahoe.”
“Why ya’ll nigga’s always try’na keep shit from me?”
“’cause whether you know it or not you got a bad-ass temper when it come to shit like this. And I just talk to Tae yesterday, he at camp. He said he called you but you were out of town. She walked right past him. Said she was so smooth with her shit.”
“Man, I love that girl with everything I have in my body. I don’t wanna know anything but her.”
My dawg was on the verge of a break down. I had no choice but to help him out.
Chapter Sixty-Five
Luvly
“Luvly, how is your relationship with Money?”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you happy? Is he happy? Do you cheat?”
I paused in mid breath. I hadn’t been confronted with that question besides with Money. “Well, I’ve did my share of dirt, Brandie, but I’ve learned from my mistakes. Diamond was the biggest mistake that I’m still trying to make up for. But for the most part, I’m happy with Money. I can’t answer for him, ’cause I have put him through hell. Why you ask?”
“Chinoe is smothering me. He’s at the club all the time. I can’t even go to the bathroom by myself. He is driving me nuts.”
Smiling at her, I said, “He loves you, girl. That boy has lusted after you before he knew your name. Then he ended up giving you his virginity. Chinoe has given you his whole self. His mother loves you and so does his extended family. What else could you ask for?”
“Space, individuality, personal freedom.”
“Just talk to him about it. Chocolate’ll understand.”
“I can’t breathe.”
As I filed and shaped her nail, I asked her, “You don’t love him, do you?”
“Yes. I do, very much. But he is drowning me.” She sighed. “I’m seeing Cartel Rizza.”
“What?” I let go of her hand. “Why, Brandie? Why not leave Chocolate alone and then start seeing Cartel? I can’t believe you. Girl, don’t you know they know each other.”
“I know, but Cartel knows about me and Chinoe.”
“Well, Chocolate is crazy about you. And that’s my brother. You need to tell him or I will.” How could I tell her to confess about her wrongdoing, and I couldn’t even confess about my own?
“Luvly, I thought I could talk to you and it be between us.”
Brandie was the only female that I talked to lately. Caymin was there sometimes, but she had fallen in love, damn near married. I understood all to well what Brandie was going through.
Taking her hand back in mine to finish her nails, “Okay, Brandie. I won’t tell him, but at some point you need to before this shit blows up in your face. This isn’t fair to him. Do you want out, to be with Cartel?”
“No, I just enjoy Cartel’s assertiveness and his mannerism. Chinoe use to be stronger and more take control, but now he’s a puppy.”
“You’d rather have a puppy than a snake, in the long run. See women get generous confused with weak, and controlling confused with strength and love. You better open your eyes. How you know Cartel ain’t just using you to get back at Chocolate? They had beef some years back over some girl that Cartel was seeing, but she wanted Chocolate. I don’t know the specifics, but maybe that’s not what’s going on.”
“I’ve been thinking about breaking it off with Cartel because it’s getting hectic. I do love Chinoe and want to be with him.”
I put my arm around her neck. “Let’s go eat with our men, I’m starving. Oh, did you check on the hall for the New Year’s party.”
“Yeah, it’s going to be five thousand, two for the deposit.”
“Okay.”
I felt shaky about Brandie now. She was becoming like a sister to me, but Chocolate was already my brother. Wasn’t my loyalty to him? He had always been there by my side, but he never mixed friendships by telling me what Money did. I didn’t know what to do about this, but if I told on Brandie, I would have to tell Money that I slept with Diamond a month before Sap’s birthday party. And about Chocolate and me, something we said would stay between us forever. And I’m not ready to face those consequences.