by K'wan
Li’l Monk kicked the front door in then rushed the apartment, sweeping his gun back and forth in case there were any surprises waiting for him. He found himself standing in a small, dingy living room. In a corner, on a snack table, sat the small television he’d heard playing. Moving cautiously, he headed toward the bedroom. The door was partially cracked, but no one appeared to be inside. The house appeared to be empty. Li’l Monk was walking back toward the front door, dialing Persia to let her know that her information had been bad when he spotted something in the kitchen. He hadn’t seen them when he first passed the room because he hadn’t been looking on the floor.
There were two females: one young and one older. Li’l Monk reasoned that these were the women who had been traveling with Chucky. There were no visible wounds on them, but they both had blood coming from their noses and mouths. Li’l Monk took one look at the overturned chairs they’d been sitting on and the coke on the table and knew what had happened. The two junkies had taken a lethal trip, more than likely sponsored by Chucky. If he had killed them then that meant he was more than likely in the wind by then. With him gone and the girls dead, Li’l Monk had no hope of clearing his name.
Li’l Monk pulled out the burner to call Kunta so he could break the news. It was time to put plan B into action, which was to kill as many of his enemies as he could before they took him out. He was walking toward the door to make his escape when he heard what sounded like coughing. Li’l Monk rushed back into the kitchen and realized that one of the girls, the younger one, was still alive! She was trying to turn over on her side, coughing out clots of blood onto the floor. Li’l Monk knelt beside her and checked her pulse. It was weak, but still there. She looked up at him in wide-eyed horror and tried to crawl away, as if she knew his face and what he was capable of.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to hurt you. I’m going to get you some help,” Li’l Monk told her, while dialing 911 on the burner phone. If the girl managed to survive there was still hope for him to clear his name. “Yeah, I just found a girl who overdosed. Send help, quick!”
Chucky sank as low in his seat as he possibly could as he slowly coasted past the crime scene. A small crowd of onlookers had formed just outside the yellow tape barrier the police had erected around the front of his building. Two of the paramedics were coming out with a zipped black bag on a gurney. At least Chucky knew his cocktail had worked. He waited for them to bring a second body bag out, but instead saw Rissa on a stretcher. The paramedics were working feverishly trying to keep her alive.
“Fuck!” Chucky cursed. He had planned everything perfectly; how could it be that Rissa had survived? More importantly, how did the paramedics know to come there? He had stolen both Maggie’s and Rissa’s phones before he left so there was no way they could call for help, and it sure as hell wasn’t one of the neighbors. It was then that Chucky spotted the answer to his question.
He almost didn’t see him there, standing among the crowd of spectators. At first Chucky thought it was impossible and his eyes were playing tricks on him, but he knew they couldn’t be. He’d know Li’l Monk’s gorilla-like profile anywhere. Li’l Monk stood there long enough to watch the paramedics load Rissa into the back of the ambulance, before fading into the crowd.
If Chucky knew Li’l Monk as well as he thought, he knew that it was more than likely Li’l Monk’s tenderhearted ass who had stumbled upon Rissa and Maggie and called the ambulance. Once again Li’l Monk was fucking up his plans by putting his nose in things that didn’t concern him. Just then something occurred to Chucky: how the hell did Li’l Monk even know where to find him? Rage filled his heart as he realized that he had been set up, and there was only one person who could’ve been responsible.
CHAPTER 38
“This shit had better be worth it,” Asia said to Persia across the back seat of the Lincoln Town Car.
“I promise, it will be. And thanks for the ride,” Persia said. She was going to take public transportation, but decided that she was dressed far too cute to be hopping off trains and buses in her new outfit, so she called in a favor. Since Vaughn had left two tickets she invited Asia to attend the game with her, in exchange for getting a ride in her family’s Town Car to the arena.
“It’s me you should be thanking,” Basil said from behind the wheel. He was Asia’s cousin and personal driver for their family.
“Don’t worry, Basil. I’ll see if I can get you some tickets to the next game,” Persia promised.
“Fuck the tickets, I’d rather have cash,” Basil shot back. Unlike Asia who had grown up in high society with her mother’s people, Basil was from her father’s side and had grown up around gangsters.
“Hush, Basil, and watch the road or I’ll tell Mother who it really was smoking weed in her Mercedes,” Asia threatened.
Basil mumbled something and rolled up the tented visor between them.
“So.” Asia turned back to Persia. “You’ve finally decided to come clean with Vaughn, huh? I think you’re making the right decision.”
“I hope so, Asia. I’m nervous as hell, which is part of the reason I’m bringing you along. If Vaughn does flip out he won’t make too much of a spectacle in front of an audience.” Persia laughed.
“Sweetie, you’re just being paranoid. I’m sure Vaughn will understand,” Asia assured her.
It took longer to get into the parking lot of MetLife Stadium than it did to drive to the arena from Long Island City. Basil dropped them off a few yards from the main entrance and told Asia to call when they were ready to leave. Since the tickets were already waiting for them they didn’t have to wait in the long line with the others. They were directed to a special window where they picked up their tickets and one of the security personnel escorted them up to one of the skyboxes overlooking the field.
Persia and Asia felt like rock stars when they entered the room. There were other people there, friends and family of the players, but all eyes were on the two young girls. There was food set up and an open bar, which Asia helped herself to. She was only seventeen and had no business drinking, but being that she was a guest of Vaughn no one questioned her about ID.
After loading up on some of the complimentary food and drinks, Persia and Asia reclined in the theater-like seats to watch the game. There was a huge window through which they could see the entire field below, but there were also several televisions set up playing the game. Persia squealed loudly when she saw Vaughn take the field, which drew her a dirty look from one of the other girls who had also been in the skybox. Asia wanted to step to the girl, but Persia stopped her. Nobody could steal her joy that night, even some hating-ass broad in a pair of knockoff Gucci shoes.
Persia was in especially good spirits. Not only was she getting to see her new man play for the first time, she had finally ended the game her old man was trying to play. By then she was sure Li’l Monk had caught up with Chucky and gotten rid of him and it was good riddance as far as she was concerned. She wanted to feel bad about setting a man up to be killed, but she didn’t. Chucky was a parasite and a piece of shit who had gone out of his way to make her life miserable. Whatever he got he deserved as far as she was concerned. The only thing she felt bad about was putting Li’l Monk in harm’s way to get the job done. The only thing that brought her even a sliver of peace was that she knew Li’l Monk had been looking to kill Chucky anyhow. All she did was connect the dots for him. She hoped that her childhood friend survived the mission, for both their sakes. If Li’l Monk failed she would have to find another way to get rid of Chucky, but she was confident that Li’l Monk could pull it off and finally free her from Chucky’s hold.
Pushing thoughts of murder from her mind, she turned her attention back to the field. It was an extremely close game, with the Eagles getting hammered most of the way, but Vaughn managed to lead his team on a late game drive that put them in position to kick a game-winning field goal. It wasn’t the prettiest win, but it was a win nonetheless.
Just after the ga
me several security personnel came to the skybox to escort guests of the players down to a waiting area near the locker room. The waiting area was packed with player entourages and media outlets looking to catch some last-minute pictures and post-game interviews. Among the people escorted downstairs with Persia and Asia was the girl with the knockoff shoes who had been giving them dirty looks upstairs. From the way she kept cutting her eyes at Persia and Asia you’d have thought they were waiting for the same man.
“Persia, you know that girl or something?” Asia nodded at her.
“Not that I know of. She’s been reckless eyeballing me since we got here,” Persia said.
“Yes, I’ve noticed and I’m not feeling it. Look I’m not trying to cut up at your man’s place of business and all, but I think it’s only fair to warn you that if she opens her mouth I’m going to run up in it,” Asia declared.
“And while you’re in her mouth I’m gonna be in her ass,” Persia added. That night was too big of a night for Persia to have some groupie bitch fuck it up.
Persia ignored the girl and busied herself watching the tunnel to wait for her man. As the players marched out past her she couldn’t help but to think how much bigger they were in person than they appeared on the television. After what felt like forever Persia finally spotted Vaughn coming out of the tunnel, laughing and joking with one of his teammates. He had changed out of his uniform and was now wearing a dark blue suit and a black shirt. As soon as he stepped out of the tunnel the media was on him, shoving cameras and microphones in his face.
Persia beamed proudly as she watched Vaughn field questions about the game. He allowed them about ten minutes before excusing himself and making his way toward where Persia was standing. He smiled proudly when he saw her, but his smile faded when the girl with the knockoff shoes stepped into his path. She said something to Vaughn that Persia couldn’t hear, but the look on Vaughn’s face said it wasn’t pleasant. It was then that Persia decided she had seen enough and moved to intervene.
“Look, shorty, I keep telling you that I ain’t got a nickel in that dollar,” Vaughn was telling the girl as Persia walked up. When he spotted her, a guilty look crossed his face.
“Sup, Vaughn? Everything okay?” Persia asked him, looking the girl up and down.
“Yeah, babe, everything is cool.” Vaughn leaned in and kissed Persia, making it clear what time it was between them. “You about ready to go eat? I’m starving.”
“Don’t you wanna finish your conversation first?” Persia said in a less-than-sincere tone.
Vaughn smiled because he saw the jealousy peeking out of Persia and he thought it was cute. “It ain’t really my conversation to have, which is what I was just explaining to this young lady.” He motioned toward the girl with the knockoff shoes. “Lady,” he said to the girl, “the only thing I can tell you is that I’ll give him the message when I see him. It ain’t my place to get involved, and this ain’t the place for no ratchet shit to go down.”
“Well if your friend would stop ducking my calls I wouldn’t have to pop up at his job,” the girl shot back.
Vaughn shrugged. “Again, it ain’t my business. Now I hate to be rude, but I’m running late for my date with my lady.” He looped his arm around Persia’s waist. “Now if you’ll excuse me.” He escorted Persia out of the waiting area leaving the girl with the knockoff shoes standing there looking stupid.
“What was that all about?” Persia asked when they were outside in the team parking lot.
“Some bullshit. That’s some crazy-ass broad one of my teammates was knocking off over the summer who thought she was special.”
“Oh, so that’s what y’all athletes do, make girls think they’re special then leave them stranded and half crazy?” Persia asked with an attitude.
Vaughn looked at her seriously. “You need to slow your roll, ma. I can’t be held accountable for what the next man does. I’m only responsible for my actions. When I say something I mean it. Do you understand that?”
“Yeah, okay,” Persia said.
“Now if you’re done with the third degree, I’d like to get something to eat before I faint from starvation.”
“I’m hungry too,” Asia added. “I could go for a good lobster or maybe a steak.”
“I was thinking of something a bit closer to my roots.” Vaughn smiled.
Instead of taking Persia to a fancy restaurant like he normally did, he surprised her by taking Persia and Asia to Sylvia’s in Harlem. It was funny because though Persia was a child of Harlem, she had never eaten in the restaurant. She had heard mixed opinions about the food so she wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Vaughn claimed it was one of his favorite places to eat when he was at home, and took the liberty of ordering for Persia and Asia since it was both their first times. He had the beef ribs, while Persia opted for the smothered pork chops. Asia didn’t eat pork or beef so she had the fried chicken.
To Persia’s surprise the food was actually quite tasty. It reminded her of Sunday meals her mother used to cook for her at home. The way Asia cleaned her chicken bones you’d have thought it was her first time ever having soul food. After dinner they ordered desserts and coffee while they sat around and talked. Asia noticed that there was something clearly lingering between Persia and Vaughn that needed to be said so she took that time to excuse herself and go to the lady’s room.
“Vaughn, I’d really like to thank you for treating me to another wonderful night,” Persia told him.
“It was my pleasure, doll. I was really glad to hear from you, too. You know, for a minute I was starting to think that I was wasting my time by pursuing you,” he said sincerely. Vaughn had just about given up on Persia until he’d gotten the call from her.
“I know. I’ve been a real bitch and I’m really sorry about that, Vaughn. There’s just so much going in my life right now that I feel like my head is screwed on backward. I needed to sort some things out before I could seriously entertain the idea of getting into a relationship. I didn’t want to come into it with excess baggage or secrets. That’s kind of why I wanted to talk to you tonight. You know I really like you right?”
“Wait, is this the part when you break it to me that you were really born a man?” Vaughn joked.
“Stop playing, I’m trying to be serious here!” Persia swatted him on the arm.
“Okay, my bad. I’m listening.”
“My life hasn’t exactly been roses. I’ve had some ups and some downs, but I’m trying to get it all together. Like I said, I really like you, but I don’t want to build the foundation of whatever it is that we have here on lies, so I feel like I should tell you the real truth about me and my past and let you decide what you want to do from there.”
Vaughn took her hands in his from across the table. “We’ve all got a past, but it shouldn’t affect our futures. Whatever you’ve done or whoever you were before we met doesn’t matter.”
“But it does!” Persia got misty-eyed. “You’ve got your life together and are going to go on to do great things, and I don’t want my mistakes to get in the way of that. There’s something I need to tell you and I’m not sure how it’ll make you look at me afterward.”
“Persia, you’re my boo. There’s nothing you can tell me that’ll make me look at you differently.”
“Even if I told you that I’m a former drug addict?” Persia blurted it out. She expected Vaughn to be mad, or possibly get up and storm out and tell her that he never wanted to see her junkie ass again, but instead Vaughn just sat there, staring at her with a smirk on his face. “Well aren’t you going to say something?”
Vaughn shrugged. “What is there to say?”
“I dunno. Say something . . . anything!”
“Okay, since we’re laying truths on the table, I might as well lay mine out. I already knew about your addiction,” Vaughn informed her.
Persia couldn’t hide her shock. “Wait, what do you mean you already knew?”
“I’m young, but I’m no fool. I kn
ow a man in my position has to protect himself against certain things. Do you think I would’ve gotten involved with you without first knowing what I was getting into? I had some people check into your history when we started dating.”
“You had people spying on me?” Persia asked in an offended tone.
“No, I didn’t have anyone spying on you but I did have some people do a background check. Now before you get all indignant and accuse me of violating your privacy, or whatever else is running through your mind just hear me out. As professional athletes we find ourselves moving targets and everybody wants to take a shot. From the family members who feel like you owe them something when you make it, to the skanks looking for a come up, everybody wants a piece of your brand and your bank account. I see athletes get caught slipping all the time. I mean look at that crazy shit with the girl at the stadium. That dude is in for a world of grief all because he was careless. I worked too hard to go out like the next dumb nigga who’s willing to put his dick in anything warm and wet.”
“So do you have people look into all the girls you date?” Persia asked.
“No, only the ones I plan to get serious with.” Vaughn smiled at her.
“So if you knew, why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because I didn’t want to make things awkward between us. I figured you’d tell me in your own time, and you did,” Vaughn told her. “I’m famous, but I’m also from the hood so I know what time it is. My mother got high, my father got high, and I had a bunch of other relatives who were strung out. It doesn’t make them bad people, they just made some mistakes, much like you did. You were a young girl involved with a snake-ass nigga and got in over your head. You did it, and overcame it. Simple as that.”
“So you still wanna be with me, even knowing that one day my past could come up and tarnish your image?” she asked.