Don't Hate the Player

by Brandie

  “Luvly we’ve been through hell and back. And no one can predict if we are going back. But I love you and . . . ” He paused and took a deep breath, “And our daughter. Give Sap to Chinoe.” I took Sap.

  Money got down on one knee. Camera flashes nearly blinded us. “Luvly Tanese Mancini, will you be my wife?”

  He pulled out the ten-karat rock and almost knocked everyone out.

  She was crying but maintaining a big smile. “Yes, Money, I will.” They hugged and kissed.

  “Okay, since you said yes, Reverend Burns will you please come up here?”

  Luvly, still wiping her face, looked confused.

  “Will you marry me right now?”

  With no hesitation, she said, “I do!”

  * * *

  “I pronounce you husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Money Loane.” The ceremony was short, but intimate and meaningful.

  Everyone began clapping. My mother hugged them both, “I’m so happy for you all. Now maybe all the madness and confusion can leave your lives. And that baby can grow up in a home.”

  My dad gave Money some dap and a fatherly hug. He kissed Luvly. “Your mother and father are going to be so happy. Money, boy you have finally done it. You have finally become a man, taking steps to have a family. Your grandfather would have been proud, but he’s looking down on you, proud as ever.”

  Brandie and Luvly were both crying. Tae and Money were hugging. Joi was congratulating Luvly.

  It was 11:56 p.m. and the whole room was already celebrating like it was 12:00 a.m.

  “Excuse me, everyone. May I have your attention, first of all thank you everyone for coming out to help celebrate Money’s birthday. Not knowing that it would be my engagement party and wedding. I would like to thank God for all these unforgettable blessings he’s blessed me with. I love you Mrs. & Mr. Starr for being my second set of parents. I love you, Chocolate Starr, for being my brother best friend and guidance counselor.”

  The whole room laughed. “Thank you Tae for being my big brother and protector. Brandie, you’re next sister-in-law. Joi, I know we can squash all the madness in the new millennium. And to my beautiful daughter, lots of kisses and hugs, Mommy loves you. And best friend, soul mate, confidant, shoulder, and husband, I love you. And I promise to be the best wife, mother, and friend any husband and daughter could have. I just hope you both can accept our new addition.”

  The glow in Money’s face hit everyone in the heart. “Luvly, you’re pregnant?”

  “Yes Babe.”

  He picked her up and the room went wild. “. . . five, four, three, two, one, Happy New Year and Happy Birthday, Money!”

  The room went from Yahoo’s and claps to screams and stomping feet. Out of nowhere, gunshots rang in the air. I threw Sap on the platform and threw Brandie over her. I covered them both with my body.

  My mother and father were on the floor behind the platform. I couldn’t hear anything but music, and all I saw was people running! They were jumping through closed windows—glass was shattering everywhere. Gunshots were still blasting.

  My side and leg were burning, I asked, “Brandie, are you all right?”

  “Yes, what the hell is going on? Sap, are you okay, Babe?”

  She shook her head, so I assumed she was just scared, “I don’t know Baby, but we are going to find out.” My head started feeling woozy. And my side and leg feel wet.

  I looked around to see if I could see Money or Tae, but I couldn’t.

  The gunshots had stopped. People were crying, still running, asking what happened. Some had been hit and grazed.

  I was trying to stand up but my body became lifeless. I slowly rolled off Brandie and Sap. “Sapphire, are you okay?” She started crying and layed in Brandie’s lap.

  “Do you see Money or Tae?”

  Brandie was in so much shock that she was speechless, wide-eyed, looking into space. “Brandie, Brandie. Do you hear me?”

  “Yes, I hear you,’ she whimpered. She began to cry. “Chinoe, you are bleeding!” She layed Sap down on the platform. “Oh, God, Chinoe, you have been shot. Lay still!”

  I had no choice. My body was numb. I layed on my side and looked around the room. Sap was laying next to me with her eyes wide open, she wasn’t blinking. “Sap, Sappy, talk to Uncle Chocolate. Are you hurt?”

  Her eyes remained wide, and her mouth remained silent.

  I struggled to turn onto my stomach. When I finally got into the position, I saw Luvly’s shoes.

  I tried to raise myself up to see further over the platform, but I felt a hand on my boot, “Chocolate, you’ve been shot. He’s been shot!” my mother screamed, shedding tears and holding her hands over her mouth. She ripped her shawl and opened my coat, pressing the shawl into my side.

  “Owe, Ma!”

  “Sorry, Chocolate, but I need to try and stop the bleeding.” I felt faint and my vision was going blurry.

  “Hurry up!” she screamed. “Don’t let go, baby. Hold on, your father is calling the police.”

  Through short breaths, “Ma—where is—Luvly, Money? Is Tae okay?”

  My mother looked around the room, “I see them, but they’re not moving. Where is Brandie?”

  “She—call—police.”

  “Shhh, don’t try and talk. Hold this tightly to your side.” I could barely see my mother, but she went over to Luvly and Money. “Oh, my God. Oh Lord, why? Luvly, talk to me, honey. Money, wake up baby.” My mother cries became loud and deep. “Please, Lord, don’t take them.”

  Tears rolled down my face. My body started shaking and my heart beat faster. Please, Lord, protect us from this evil.

  Chapter Seventy-Seven

  Brandie

  “Chinoe, wake up, honey. Talk to Mama.” Mrs. Starr rubbed her son’s forehead.

  “Son, we are here. Right by your side,” Moe said as he held his son’s hand.

  Chinoe’s parents were in tears, kneeling by his bedside. He was in critical condition.

  When he comes from under the medication, he is going to want to know where Luvly and Money are? What am I going to say? How am I going to tell him? Tears rolled down my cheeks.

  “Brandie, honey, don’t you want to go home and shower, change clothes and come back?”

  I shook my head. “No, Mrs. Starr. I need to be here when he wakes up.”

  “He needs to see you strong and healthy.”

  Sucking up tears and hours of hurt, “Mrs. Starr, how are we going to tell him about Money and Luvly?”

  Tae walked in with a tear stained face, “Has he woke up yet?”

  “No Tae. He’s still under the medication.”

  “How’s Trinket?”

  “She’s out of ICU. The doctors said she’ll be okay.”

  “That’s good. Where are Joi and Trey?”

  “Joi’s mother came and got Trey. Joi is at Trinket’s bedside, I’m going back up in a minute so she can come see Chinoe and go see Sap.” We both hugged him. He walked over to Chinoe and talked to him.

  Me and Mrs. Starr walked out of the room. It was almost four in the evening, and there were thousands of flowers everywhere.

  “I’m going up to see Sap. I want to know if her blood work has come back.” Mrs. Starr said, slightly squeezing my shoulder.

  “Did you get in touch with Mr. and Mrs. Mancini?

  “Yes.” Mrs. Starr couldn’t hold back her tears and hurt any longer. “Oh, Brandie, how can a mother take this kind of news. And that poor child is never going to be the same. She is too young too understand what has happened.”

  A doctor in blue scrubs, pulling a white cap off his head asked,

  “Are you Mrs. Mancini?”

  “I’m Mrs. Starr. I’m acting as Mrs. Mancini. Mr. and Mrs. Mancini are on their way from Italy.”

  “We’ve tried everything possible. But Luvly had a gunshot wound to the head, a ruptured stomach and a gunshot wound through her back. We’re sorry.”

  Mrs. Starr fell down, “What about the baby.”

>   “He is fighting, but the bullet went through his stomach. He’s holding on. You can see him when you are ready.”

  “How far along was she?”

  “Six months. Anything you all need, just ask.”

  He hugged Mrs. Starr, shook my hand, and walked back through the double doors.

  “Oh, my Lord. What is going to become of Sapphire? That baby has seen her mother gunned down and killed. She’s going to be damaged for life.”

  Two minutes later, another doctor walked up to us, “Mrs. Loane.”

  “I’m acting in her behalf.”

  “Money Loane is in critical condition. We’ve stopped the internal bleeding and removed three of the bullets out of his back. The bullet in his neck seems to be slowly moving toward his heart. So we are taking him into surgery right away.”

  My heart skipped a beat, “So he’s alive?”

  The doctor didn’t have a positive look on his face, “He is a strong guy, but there are risks with surgery. We will update you once the surgery has been completed.”

  “Doctor, do you know the update on Sapphire Mancini?”

  “She’s doing good. She only had two graze wounds, but she has a very high fever and severe swelling of the legs and arm. She is still non-responsive. We are doing several tests to see if any bullet casing are lodged in he blood stream.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Mrs. Starr, I’m going to see Money.”

  “Ok dear, I’m going up to be with Sap. Precious needs to be relieved.”

  Walking to the elevator, I broke down. All my strength had been broken. Luvly was gone and she was never coming back. She was just about to begin the life she wanted and deserved. Why did her life have to be taken? Why not mine? I was alone, no husband, no kids, and too much sin to keep carrying around.

  “Hey Baby, come here.” I turned to face Cartel standing with open arms.

  I hugged him; fell into his arms, letting his body soak up all the hurt.

  “Luvly is gone! She’s gone! Money is barely making it. And, oh, Chinoe, he’s hurt bad.”

  “Where is their little girl?”

  “She’s on the pediatric floor. She’s going to be all right. But the long term affect of losing her mother is going to devastate her forever.”

  “Oh, Babe, I’m so sorry. I’m here now.” He held me tight and strong. “Let me take you home. Put you in a hot bubble bath and get you something to eat.” He wanted to take care of me even though I was mourning over another man.

  Gently pushing away from him, “I can’t leave Chinoe.”

  “You aren’t any good to him like this. You have blood all over you. And you are tired and weak.”

  At this point I was confused and distraught, “I need to see how Money is doing first.”

  “I’ll walk with you.”

  I was so hurt and sick inside. Was it something I did wrong, why did this have to happen?

  Chapter Seventy-Eight

  Brandie

  When I got to Money’s room, some woman with short pretty hair was laying on his chest. “I still love you, Money. I always will. And I know that you still love me. I know that you want to marry Luvly, but I will still make myself available for you.”

  She didn’t know that I was listening, but I wanted to jump on her for Luvly.

  “Excuse me.”

  She wiped her eyes and turned to me, “Oh, hi. Who are you?”

  “Just a friend that was at the party.”

  “Are you hurt? Do you need a doctor?” She got off the bed and walked towards me.

  Holding up my hands, I said, “No, I’m fine. This isn’t my blood.”

  “Do you know what happened?” She asked concerned, folding her arms.

  “No. I was celebrating and after the count down gunshots started firing.”

  Her face looked familiar. Like I’d seen her in the mall or someone described her to me.

  “On the street I’m hearing Luvly’s boyfriend did it.”

  “Money is right here, so how could he do it?”

  In a nasty tone, she sneered, “No, her boyfriend is not Money. Diamond.”

  “But I was there when Money asked Luvly to marry him. And they got married”

  Tears begin to fall instantly. “He . . . asked her . . .”

  She looked back at the bed where Money lay helpless and unaware that the love of his life, his wife, was gone.

  “Yeah, and she was pregnant.” I stuck the words hard into her heart.

  “Pregnant? Damn!” With big, hopeful eyes, “You said was? She lost the baby?”

  “No, the baby is in ICU. He’s going to be fine.”

  She rubbed her chest, exposing L shape scars on her chest. That’s where I knew her from. Salone!

  “So how is Luvly?” Salone reached up to hold her neck, like she was praying for the worst.

  I almost broke down, but I held my composure, “She died.” The bitch almost smiled.

  She stared at me for a second, “So who did you say you were?”

  “I didn’t.” I walked over to Money and held his hand. “You have to make it for Sap and your baby boy. Chinoe . . .” My tears got caught in my throat. “He’s going to be okay . . . so you have to, too. Maybe your spirit and his can meet and tell each other to wake up.”

  My heart was broken and my spirit torn. Money lay wounded, inside and out, and for what, jealousy, and rage?

  “Well, I’m Salone. You look familiar. Do you shop in Southlake Mall?” she asked in an authoritative voice.

  I chose to ignore her demand for information.

  “Has anyone informed his grandmother?”

  “No, she’s too ill to be told right now.”

  “You sure do know a lot to just be a friend partying.”

  My patience was wearing thin. “Look, Salone. I’m not interested in carrying on a decent conversation with you.”

  Knock. Knock. Knock. “Is this Money Loane’s room?”

  “Yes,” we both answered and then looked at each other like neither one of us had the right to answer.

  A petite, but very shapely woman, who had the same complexion and face as Sap, stood in the door. “How’s he doing?”

  “He’s going into surgery in twenty minutes,” Salone spoke up.

  The lady looked to be in her late twenties. “Who did this to my baby?”

  Salone turned up her nose. “Your baby?” Salone walked in front of the lady, interfering with her touching Money.

  “Excuse me, but who are you?”

  “Look, li’l bitch, back the fuck up off me or I’ll slice yo’ ass up in here!” Cutting her eyes at Salone, she added, “Get the hell out of my way!”

  “Mommie, Mommie.”

  “I’m right here, baby.”

  A little girl looking like Sap’s twin ran in the room. “Is that my brother, Mommy?” she asked, grabbing her mother around the leg, pointing at the still body in the bed.

  “Yes, it is, M&M.”

  Money’s mother was beautiful. Chinoe mentioned her once. But she didn’t look like a typical crackhead. “Hi, Mrs.—”

  “Lopez.”

  “Mrs. Lopez. I’m Brandie, Chinoe’s girlfriend.”

  She smiled. “He always did have good taste with everything. Where is Luvly?”

  My smile quickly faded and the tears swelled up again. “She passed earlier today.”

  “Oh, my God. Are her parents here?”

  “No. They are flying in from Italy.”

  “They have a daughter . . . Sas ahmmm . . . Sapphire?” Placing her hand on my arm, “She is all right, isn’t she?”

  Salone spoke under her breath, “Damn shame. Junkie ass, don’t even know the child’s name.

  “Yes, ma’am.” I talked over Salone.

  “Chile, I ain’t old enough to be called ma’am. Call me Maynea.”

  “Maynea.” I gave her a slight smile and looked over at Salone, who was standing with her arms folded and a mean stare on her face. “She had another baby. He
was taken before she passed. He’s on life support.”

  “A baby boy, born on Money’s birthday. Have they named him yet?” She looked dreamy-eyed and hopeful.

  “No, not yet. I’ll leave you to visit with your son.”

  “Brandie, what room are Sapphire and Chinoe in?”

  “Seven-o-six, and Chinoe is in Six-seven-seven.”

  “Thank you so much.” We hugged and I walked out of the room.

  I felt Salone on my heels. “Brandie.” She said my name like it was a bad taste in her mouth. “So you’re the prostitute Chinoe’s tucked his tail between his legs for?”

  “And you are the slut that Luvly stabbed and left her mark on?”

  She walked up close to me. Her breath blew my bangs. “Bitch, you ain’t shit, just like Luvly wasn’t shit. Ya’ll hoes think because you pretty and your pussy holes tight that you can write your own script for life; taking other peoples’ man, taking the whole damn cake, fuck you and your broken theory. Chinoe gone find out how sleazy and slimy you are.”

  I was about to bust her ass and show her how this pretty bitch could work it. “Brandie, I’ve been looking for you.”

  Caymin hugged me. She looked at Salone with evil eyes, “its okay, Brandie.” Tears were steaming down my face. “Come on, Chinoe is up.”

  “Chinoe’s up!” My spirits were lifted. Thanks for looking out, Luvly. I almost broke my legs trying to get to the elevator.

  “Brandie, is Cartel downstairs?”

  I felt ashamed, but he wasn’t there upon my request. “Yes, but he came on his own.”

  She fell back onto the elevator rail, “I can’t believe all of this. I’m going to miss Luvly.”

  “Me, too.” Me and Luvly probably had gotten closer in the last few months than her and Caymin in all the years they were friends.

  Once I reached room 677, seeing Chinoe sitting up in bed was the best present he’d ever given me. “Hey, Babe. How you feel?”

  “Good as can be expected,” he answered in a groggy voice. “Get over here and give me some healing kisses.” He raised up slowly. “How are you?”