Love- a Forgotten Art

by Ivy Symone

  “Can I use the powder room?” Beanie asks as she starts to walk off.

  “Sure, it’s just—”

  “I remember where I saw it,” she says over her shoulder.

  Left alone in the great room, I look around and realize that soon I will no longer consider this home. There’s no sentiment here so a deep sadness never comes. Great memories weren’t made here. To be honest, this could have easily been a hotel suite because it had been so impersonal. No attachments here.

  I think the only aspect of my soon-to-be old life with my ex that I will miss is Ari. She brought a little sunshine to my days. I’ll worry about her because I know Cam is not too big on mothering. I really hope Milani steps up and do more of the caring for Ari than Cam.

  “Deuce?”

  Speaking of Cam…

  I head in the direction of the rotunda where I hear her voice. She has just walked into the condo with attitude on her face.

  “So, I can’t access the garage now?” she asks.

  “Oh yeah, I forgot,” I tell her. Confused, I ask, “How did you get up here though?”

  “You must ain’t told ol’ dude at the desk that I no longer live here. He let me up,” she says smartly. “I been trying to call you to get in. Why haven’t you answered?”

  I realize my phone is not on me and I had to have left it in the wagon. Shit! If Prime calls and can’t reach me, he’ll have a fit.

  Cam looks toward the powder room and her brow wrinkles at the sound of someone moving around in there. She looks to me, “You already moved someone in?”

  “No,” I say with an amused smile. “That’s just someone who rode with me here. But don’t worry about them, just go ahead and get what you came for. I’ll be back; I gotta grab my phone out the car.”

  I leave Cam standing there looking hurt and rush out into the hallway. Someone happens to get off the elevator before I can even hit the button for it.

  I try to hurry because I don’t want Beanie alone longer than she has to be with Cam. There’s no telling what Cam might say.

  When I reach my car, my phone seems to be ringing violently. It’s Natalia. Again!

  Before I can answer it, the ringing stops long enough for me to see I have several missed calls from her, and the missed calls and messages Cam said she had made. As I’m closing and locking my door, my phone starts ringing again.

  “What?” I answer.

  “Oh my God! Deuce, why ain’t you been answering or responding to me?” Natalia spits out.

  “Because I already know what you—”

  “No, you don’t! I’ve been trying to tell you something all fucking day! Listen to me, you need—”

  “Nat, calm down,” I tell her, not understanding the urgency in her voice.

  “No! Listen Deuce!” she says frantically. “The person I’m seeing is P.”

  “P? Who is P?” I’m confused.

  “Poodah. Do you know who that is?”

  Of course, I know who Poodah is now. He’s Prime’s right-hand man. I break out into a huge grin. “Are you serious?”

  “Yes, but listen…This is serious like for real. I never wanted to tell you because…I was afraid you’d be mad at me.”

  “Why would I be mad?” I get an eerie feeling as if I’m being watched. I look around before I hit the button for the elevator.

  “Because…” she’s hesitant. Sighing, she continues, “Poodah is Ari’s daddy.”

  I step onto the elevator when it arrives and hurry to scan my access card and push the button to close it. But did I hear her correctly?

  “Huh?”

  “Poodah used to fuck with Cam. He can’t stand her now, and for good reason. That bitch is so foul. Anyway, after you revealed that you were pregnant it occurred to me that if you’re with a man, then it can’t be Bea you’re messing around with. And if it ain’t Bea, but you’re always with Bea, then the only other person it could be is Prime.”

  I smile, “Yeah, it’s Prime. Good detective work, Nat.”

  “No bitch. Fuck that!” Nat exclaims. “It ain’t about that. Do you know who Prime is to Cam?”

  I feel my smile begin to fade as the back-elevator doors open giving me access to my top floor. Something doesn’t feel right.

  “To Cam?”

  “Yes. Deuce, Prime is Cam’s daddy.”

  “What!” I’m flabbergasted.

  “Yes! You fucking your girlfriend’s daddy.”

  “Are you serious?” I ask. Then my mind goes to Beanie.

  Shit! The conversation I had with Cam about her father and wanting revenge and asking me to participate begin replaying in my head. If what Natalia is telling me is true, then…

  I left Beanie alone with Cam. I take off running down the hall to my condo. I can hear Natalia trying to ask me what’s going on, but she sounds so distant.

  The door is open. Not thinking, I rush inside in a panic.

  “Beanie!” I call out. I search everywhere and there’s no Beanie. There’s no Cam either.

  I want to die, but I can’t. I have to find Beanie.

  “Nat,” I cry into the phone. “I think she took Beanie. Nat! I fucked up!”

  “What do you mean?” Natalia asks.

  “Beanie…Prime’s daughter…Cam was here and…They’re gone.”

  “Are you sure? Did you check everywhere?”

  I rush back out of my condo to try to see if I can catch up with them. They couldn’t have gone far. Instead of waiting for the elevator, I head for the stairwell.

  “Deuce, what are you doing now?” Natalia asks with worry.

  I open the door, and…

  I’m hit with a blunt object. My consciousness tries to hold on, but all I see are lights and a white ceiling. My vision blurs. My phone and keys drop. I hit the floor.

  Darkness takes over.

  Chapter 18: Prime

  I’m livid right now. My head is pounding and I’m trying to make sense of everything. I’ve never felt as torn as I am in this moment. I’m hurt. I feel so lost and like I’m dying inside. I don’t know what to do, and I don’t know how I’m going to live without her.

  One can blame it on me not being in my right mind, but the moment I got the call that Beanie was gone, all rationale and sensibility fled my conscience.

  I look up into the faces of my team. They’re quiet and patiently waiting, ready for me to give out orders. We’re gathered in my office and I sit behind my desk with a glass of bourbon to my left. I’m on my third glass. Maybe if I’m intoxicated, I can go through with what it is I must do.

  My phone rings. I don’t bother to see who it is; I simply answer.

  “Yes?”

  “Are you okay, Prime?”

  Coolly, I say, “Yes, I’m fine.”

  “Are you sure? Just say the word, and we’re there. I’ve been where you are before, and I know what you’re going through.”

  I remember what my cousin’s ordeal and what he is referring to. Though I wasn’t present, I was on standby and ready to be available just as he is offering now.

  “I appreciate it, Abe, but everything is fine. It’s handled,” I assure him.

  “Your father is here and want to speak with you,” he says.

  “Okay, put him on. Oh, and tell Lovely I said hello.”

  “I sure will.”

  Seconds later, Antino is on the phone. “Son, how are you holding up? You know it’s nothing for us to fuel up the jet and be in Jewel City in an hour. Just give the word.”

  I chuckle lightly. “Dad, I’m fine. I don’t need the whole Italian mafia to show up in Jewel City. Wasn’t I appointed as the overseer of this city? The One entrusts that I’m more than capable of keeping things under control. If I can handle the entire city, don’t you think I can handle my personal affairs?”

  “Yes, son,” he chuckles. “I guess I should give you more credit.”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, how is my little Bean? Where is she?”

  “She’s fine. S
he’s right here,” I say. I pass my phone to Beanie who’s sitting on my right next to my mother.

  Beanie smiles and speaks into the phone, “Hey Papa!”

  While she talks to Antino, I look to Poodah who has just entered the office with two others, Tahj and D-Town. I ask, “Are they all here?”

  Poodah nods.

  I stand to my feet and call out my commands, “Everyone, take your positions around the property. Poodah, Tahj, D-Town, Renzo, y’all come with me. Bea, look after Moms and Beanie.”

  The room disperses and it’s only a handful of people left behind.

  “Here Dad,” Beanie says quietly as she extends my phone back to me. The smile she had been wearing talking to her grandfather is now gone. She knows she’s on my bad side and I’m very disappointed in her.

  Before speaking into the phone, I lean down to place a gentle kiss on Beanie’s forehead. I tell her, “You mean the world to me. And though I’m upset with you right now and have put you on punishment until you’re thirty, I still love you. If something had happened to you, this whole city would be feeling my wrath. I hope you think hard about what could have possibly gone wrong and don’t ever let it happen again.”

  She lowers her water-filled eyes with remorse and nods her understanding.

  Yahara touches my arm cautiously. She pleas with her eyes, “Perseus, I understand your anger, but I don’t believe—”

  “I’m sorry, Mama,” I cut her off, “but this isn’t about what you believe. I have to do what’s best and make an example out everyone that crossed me tonight.” I look at my sister and say, “Bea, do your job and take them to the west wing. I’ll see you all in the morning.” I then speak into the phone, “Antino, I will speak with you later. Right now, I have some business to put behind me.”

  What I like the most about this old constructed home and its bones are all of the hidden rooms and passages. The realtor that showed me the property said even they didn’t know of all of the hidden gems here. I’ve explored and discovered a lot more to this place. And some of my discoveries I have put to good use. For instance, I have an underground “jail” that comes in handy when I need to hold people that have crossed me.

  As we walk the dark cemented corridors, Poodah asks, “Who do you want to see first?”

  “I want to see the two bitches together,” I answer firmly. “I’ll deal with Reese and Box later.”

  Tahj says, “Zino and AB confirm that Dro, Queen, and Giselle had nothing to do with the kidnapping shit, but they being dealt with and penalized for going behind The Coalition’s back moving weight through ol’ gal’s warehouse.”

  I have faith that Zino and AB trust their guts and are acting accordingly. I’m sure Dro is sitting somewhere busted up and regrets assembling with the likes of grimy ass Walt Stevens.

  Anyone that has dealt with Walt has gotten dirty at some point. And this is the thing with Walt, he will set those he cohorts with up to take the fall on their own every single time. He’s like the movie Inception with Leonardo Di Caprio. He inserts his own ideas into someone else’s thoughts and make them believe they’re the mastermind behind it all. They carry the deed out while he sits back and reap the benefits without having to lift a finger.

  Ammo sees us approaching and stands to his feet. He takes a drag from the cigarette he’s smoking and then tosses it to the ground before crushing it under his shoe.

  “You want me to get them?” he asks.

  I nod, then watch him retrieve a big antique bronze key and insert it into the rusted padlock that securely holds my “prisoners” in my barred holding cells.

  Tahj follows Ammo to offer his assistance. I wait patiently with the others for Camryn and Dasani to appear. Ammo handles Camryn while Tahj handles Dasani. Both women are shackled at the wrists and ankles with burlap sacks over their heads.

  I motion to Ammo and Tahj to remove the bags and free their wrists. Before doing so, the men secure their chains on bolted hooks.

  Camryn isn’t surprised. She doesn’t care about the presence of the other men. She glowers at me standing before her.

  “I hate you!” she snarls.

  I say to her, “The feeling is mutual, babygirl.”

  “I’m your fucking daughter though!” she shouts.

  I correct, “You were my daughter.”

  She tries to run upon me, but her shackled ankles foil her attempt. The chain doesn’t give enough to reach me.

  Ignoring Camryn’s rage, I turn to Dasani. She can’t even look at me. I can tell she’s been crying. Her once neatly brushed back bun is loose and falling apart. Her clothes are disheveled. Her posture shows defeat. She’s probably confused and don’t understand why their plan fumbled.

  “Did you really think you could get away with this?” I ask.

  “Fuck you!” Camryn spits. She glares at Poodah. “And fuck you too, mothafucka. I hate your dick-riding ass too. Teacher’s pet looking ass nigga.”

  Poodah taunts her with a laugh and gives her the middle finger. “That’s why I won’t fuck with your scandalous ass no more, bitch.”

  I say to Dasani, “Deuce, when I discovered who you were, I still took a chance. I gave you the benefit of the doubt. I thought you were genuine and—”

  “I am!” Dasani cries. She points to Camryn. “I had no idea you was her daddy! I didn’t know what this bitch was up to!”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  Dasani pleas, “Prime, I’ve never loved a man the way I love you, and I would never want to fuck that up. You got to believe me.”

  “You’re Walt Stevens stepdaughter. The two of you were in partnership moving work behind The Coalition’s back. So, you and this dumb ass bitch decide y’all want to be greedy…See that greed will get mothafuckas every single time.”

  “Greed?” she’s insulted. “That’s not what I’m about. That’s not who I am.”

  “Well who are you,” I smirk. “Humor me a bit. Am I talking to Deuce or Dasani right now?”

  “I’m Dasani,” she says.

  “Are you sure about that?” I taunt.

  Camryn’s brow furrows as she looks between me and Dasani in disbelief. “Are you fucking serious right now?”

  Dasani looks at Camryn apologetically. “I didn’t know.”

  “So, you been fucking my daddy? This whole time? So in between eating my pussy you been sucking his dick? He’s the reason you been acting funny?”

  “No!” Dasani bellows. “You’re the reason I’ve been acting funny. I’ve just outgrown you. We’re not compatible anymore.”

  Camryn breaks out in a devilish grin. “Except to get money together. You know what you were doing, Deuce. After we talked about what needed to be done, you brought Beanie to me as planned.”

  Dasani lunges at Camryn. “What the fuck you talking about, you dumb bitch!”

  Camryn laughs maniacally. “I’m a dumb bitch? You the idiot you fucking dyke! You pussy eating whore! Do you really think someone like Prime would want your pussy eating ass? Prime don’t give a fuck about nobody but himself. He knew who the fuck you were from the beginning. What is it they say? Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. You a dumb ass CEO!”

  Dasani looks at me for answers. “Is that true?”

  I shrug. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “How long did you know?” she asks.

  I shrug again. “It really doesn’t matter.”

  Dasani begins to cry quietly. She lowers her head, “So it was all a lie.”

  “Of course, it was,” Camryn says haughtily. “Prime ain’t no better than Walt, a man he claims he despises so much. Didn’t y’all used to be running buddies back in the day? You only fell out with him because he fucked Milani and he even fucked ugly ass Korrine. You mad cause he got Korrine pregnant and had that lil darkie Beanie. So, you lie and tell everybody she was adopted.”

  She really knows how to push buttons.

  “Shut the fuck up because you know nothing,” I growl.

 
Camryn laughs. “Why you mad, Daddy?”

  “You’re a disgrace,” I tell her shaking my head.

  Her face contorts to sadness. “I’m a disgrace because you made me this way. I’m your disgrace, Daddy!”

  “I didn’t make you any way. You chose to be the whore you are; just like your mother.”

  “You the one that fucked her,” she retorts.

  I walk upon her and in a swift motion, I have her face gripped in my hand, ready to crush her mandible bone to pieces.

  “I’m so sick of you! Have been for years. I paid your mother to abort you, but she didn’t. And though I resented your existence, I tried! I tried! Yes, I messed up and I tried to fix it with money, but it wasn’t enough. I tried, Cam!”

  Camryn is looking at me with fear in her eyes and she seem to struggle with breathing. I release her with a thrust and she stumbles into Ammo. He pushes her off of him. At this moment, it seems as though Dasani is just realizing Ammo is present.

  “What are you doing here?” Dasani asks.

  Ammo nods toward me. “I work for Prime.”

  I look at Dasani. “Not everybody that was raised by Walt is as dirty as he.”

  I look back at Camryn. “I know about all of your indiscretions. Every single one. Like I know you recently got an abortion. Did you know that, Deuce? Do you know how many people she fucked in your bed when you weren’t there?”

  Dasani looks at Camryn in disbelief. “An abortion?”

  “Why the fuck you care?” Camryn yells. “You weren’t there cause you were too busy sucking dick.”

  “Who Cam?” Dasani demands to know. “Who all did you fuck in my bed in my home, Cam?”

  Cam averts her eyes. “It don’t even matter.”

  “People I know?” Dasani asks.

  Now it’s my turn to have fun. I chuckle. “A couple of people that you see everyday at your company. And yeah, your stepbrother Reese was her favorite. Isn’t he the father of the aborted baby, Cam?”

  Dasani looks defeated. “Reese?”

  “Bitch, you been fucking my daddy. Shut the fuck up!” Camryn snaps.

  “But I had no idea who he was to you,” Dasani argues.

  I’m not finished though. “Camryn, there’s something I need to tell you. I’m not sure how you’re going to take this, and I fault your mother for never correcting this. But let’s say that what you said earlier is true and Walt is Beanie’s real father…Then it would also be true that she isn’t Walt’s only child I’ve financially taken care of for years.”