A Hood Chick's Story pt. 3: The Final Chapter

by LaShonda DeVaughn

  He sat me down on the bed. “I don’t understand what baby?”

  I took a deep breath and prepared myself to reveal my secret. “I’m pregnant Tony.”

  “Pregnant?” He put his hands on his head and turned away. He scooted closer to the edge of the bed and shook his head.

  “Pregnant?” he repeated.

  I began tearing up something fierce. “Yes, I’m pregnant.” I cried.

  He took a deep breath and repeated, “Pregnant? What?” He asked looking in my eyes. He started rocking himself on the bed getting anxious. “Are you serious Tiara? You were out here fucking with niggas?”

  He stood up and lunged back and punched a hole deep into my bedroom wall. “Stop Tony.” I cried.

  “By who Tiara, who the fuck are you pregnant by?” he said stepping up close to me.

  “I don’t know.” I cried.

  “Huh? You don’t know?” he asked with tears rolling down his cheeks. “What the fuck you mean you don’t know? You came out here and turned into a hoe?”

  “No Tony, it’s not like that. I only had one relationship since I’ve been out here and then I was raped!” He stopped in his tracks. He peered at me with a face full of despair. It seemed as if he was no longer mad at the pregnancy, but more concerned with the fact that I just mentioned being raped.

  “Raped?” he shouted pacing the room again. “By who? I’ll kill that nigga! I swear on my life, I will kill him!” he shouted. His reaction was the reaction I had expected out of Jeff. A reaction that you would show after hearing the news about someone you love being harmed.

  I looked in his face. His eyes sparkled with unshed tears and I let it all out.

  “Before that, this nigga that work around here broke into my house and tried to rape me. I had to move and everything.” I stood to retrieve the envelope from my purse and showed him Paul’s note.

  “He sent this note as a warning shot. He’s telling me that he found where I moved to and will break in again.”

  Tony quickly scanned the note.

  I sat back on the bed, crying my eyes out.

  “Come here baby.” He said reaching out for my hands. I stood up and dove into his arms and we cried together. There was so much love in our embrace and it felt so good to get everything all out.

  “It hurts so bad Tony. The emotional strain of the rape is killing me. I kept telling him to stop but he kept on forcing himself inside me. He kept forcing himself inside me Tony, I had to get stitches. He ripped me.”

  He placed my head on his chest and held the back of my head while I cried. “I’m so sorry baby. I’m so sorry that I wasn’t here to protect you. I’m sorry boo, this is my fault, I’m so sorry.” He clutched me tighter and we sobbed together loudly.

  It was then that I realized how much he truly loved me. Despite all the bullshit we’ve been through, Tony truly and genuinely loved me wholeheartedly. He cared about me on levels that Jeff would probably never have reached. When I hurt, he hurt. Not to mention, I was the mother of his child and he was the father of mine. The fact that I was now pregnant with either Jeff or K.D’s child wasn’t a factor at this point. Tony was now out for Paul and K.D’s head.

  “Marry me Tiara. Fuck everything else. We need to be an official team again, you can't keep tryna do this shit by yourself.”

  I saw the despair in his eyes.

  “Tony, we walked this path before. We were engaged and you betrayed me over and over again. I can’t go through that again.”

  He looked sternly in my eyes and held my face. “Listen to me right now T. You are the only woman in this world that I’ve ever loved, I can’t breathe without you. You are my rock, my rib, I need you like I need air. Marry me baby. God does everything for a reason, T. You’re pregnant with another niggas baby, that’s repayment for my ass.” He put his hand on my belly. “The baby is ours T, let’s all be a family.”

  His words stunned me and I was so receptive to everything that he said. I cried hard and then said, “Yes, yes, Tony, I’ll marry you.”

  I couldn’t believe what I was saying, but it felt right. Tony was my other half, it seemed like it was meant for us to be together. This was the man I was supposed to grow old with. My soul mate.

  We held each other that night and we cried. Coincidentally the lyrics pouring through the speakers were from a Nicki Minaj song, Youuuu see righhht through meeee. How do you do that shit, how do you do that shit!!!! The lyrics were on point for the mood, he knew me more than anyone in this world did. We lay and talked about everything. He kept asking about Paul and K.D. He said that he couldn’t go on living without repaying them niggas for what they had done to me. I told him that we just needed to press forward with the future and leave the past behind. We agreed to raise our children in Alexandria and figure out a business plan so that Tony could be employed when he moved here. I hoped that I made the right decision, but I knew that Tony was hungry for revenge.

  Chapter 14

  I got used to coming home from work and being greeted by Tony and Shayonna. He would pick her up from school and love on us all night. That particular day we decided to head to the jewelry store. Tony expressed how he wanted to spend all of his hustle money on an engagement ring. He said that he was hanging it all up and would never hustle again. My baby was finally going to become a full time corporate man again but this time, permanently.

  I went right for the medium sized ring. I didn’t need anything over the top. It was platinum and dainty with a nice sized rock in the setting. I adored my ring and it was actually better than the first engagement ring he had purchased for me.

  I was admiring my ring while we were stopped at a red light near my townhouse community. I happened to look up and saw someone who I hoped that I’d never see again.

  “Tiara, what's good?” Tony asked after noticing that my face was frozen.

  “Nothing.” I said as Paul crossed the street in front of us.

  Paul glanced in the car and smirked. Why was I saving this nigga after what he did to me? I was going to finally show him what my homies from Boston could do.

  “That's him Tony, that's the guy that broke into my house and tried to harm me.” I didn't want to use to the word rape with Shayonna in the backseat.

  It was like Tony immediately went into offense mode. He didn't even ask me any questions. The light turned green and he made me pull over.

  “I’ll be right back.” he said with the same face he had when Shawn had hurt Shayonna when we were in Boston. I knew what his intention was.

  “Tony, don't do nothing that can get you taken away from us.” I told him as he exited the car.

  He just shut the door and ran in Paul’s direction.

  “Where is Daddy going, Mommy? He doesn't even know his way around here.” Shayonna asked.

  She was right; he didn't know this town like that. But that didn’t stop him from seeking revenge on the nigga that had violated. Me and Shayonna were Tony’s heart and soul and he would kill a nigga quick for us.

  When more than five minutes had passed, I made Shayonna sit still and I locked the doors. I ran across the street to find Tony. I was hoping he hadn’t already done anything to jeopardize his freedom because Paul wasn’t worth it. Secretly, I did wish Paul harm, but I didn’t want him harmed to the extent that I knew Tony was capable of.

  I finally spotted the duo in the backyard of one of the older townhouses and I pushed through the bushes to watch. Tony had Paul cornered at the gate and I could see the fear in Paul’s eyes from where I stood.

  “You fuck with Tiara, you fuck with me nigga!” Tony pulled out a chrome nine from his waist and all I heard was BLAM!

  I witnessed Tony shoot him in the head execution style.

  “Ah!” A petite scream sounded as I quickly covered my mouth. I looked around to see if anyone had spotted me, but there was no one around. Tony peeped the bush move as I backed away from it. I headed to the car and it wasn’t long before he was behind me.

  “Come
on Tiara we gotta go.” He shouted, rushing me inside.

  I was completely shaken up. Visions of Paul’s brain splattered on the grass kept popping up in my head and halfway up the road I had to pull over and throw up.

  “Mommy you okay?” Shayonna asked.

  “She’s fine baby.” Tony assured her rubbing my back.

  “Tiara come on man, I need you to be strong man. You know what that nigga did. I couldn’t let that shit ride, I’m sorry you had to see that baby.”

  I choked as I tried to stop throwing up and crying. I pulled the car door closed and was unable to stop my hands from trembling.

  “Tony can you drive please!” I begged. I couldn’t contain myself any longer.

  He ran around to the driver’s side of the car and I jumped over to the passenger side and he sped us home.

  “Go to your room for a minute baby, I need to talk to your daddy, Shayonna.” I instructed. She ran up the stairs staring at us strangely.

  “Tony, I’m going to drop her off at your Aunty’s house. I need to get myself together, I’m not feeling good.”

  “Okay baby.” He said.

  I went in the fridge to grab a bottle of water to drink before I could make the drive to drop off Shayonna.

  I couldn’t stop throwing up on the way to Aunty’s house. I was numb. I had conflicting feelings toward what Tony had done. I knew that his love for me would cause him to do extreme things to those who would do me harm, but I never thought I would have to witness it. Shayonna kept asking if I was okay and that’s when I explained to her that I was pregnant.

  “You and Daddy are having another baby?” she asked.

  Suddenly, all the worry she had in her eyes turned into joy. She was elated that I was pregnant. Especially with her father being in town, a new addition was exciting news for her because she wanted us back together so badly. My baby felt complete as a family again. When I got up to Aunty’s crib, I noticed Smitty back inside the crib.

  I immediately grew pissed looking at him. “Are you serious Aunty? You were doing so good.” I barked.

  “He’s back baby but he’s changed. You can still leave Shayonna over here.”

  “No I can’t, I’m out.” I said grabbing Shayonna’s hand and storming out. I returned to the crib, I didn’t have time to deal with Aunty and her stupid decisions. She had to deal with being stupid on her own.

  I searched the house for Tony but he wasn’t there.

  “Where did Daddy go?” Shayonna asked.

  “I don’t know,” I said still looking for him.

  My cell was ringing and I noticed that it was Eb.

  “Yo T, why was Tony calling me like crazy asking me where the Wizards parade celebration is?”

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “I don’t know. He called me, frantically asking about the parade they were having in DC.”

  Suddenly I realized Tony’s motive. He was heading to get K.D.

  “Oh my goodness Ebony, I have to call you back.”

  “What’s going on T, everything okay?” she asked with worry in her voice.

  I hung up and began blowing Tony’s phone up. He didn’t answer my calls for shit. I hoped that he wasn’t crazy enough to try to shoot K.D in the middle of the basketball parade.

  I waited hours for Tony, Shayonna had fallen asleep and I was up pacing the living room.

  Finally, there was a knock at the door. Tony walked in with his face numb.

  “Tony, what happened?” I asked.

  “I caught that nigga K.D headed to the car and I rocked that nigga to sleep.”

  I was scared to ask what he meant. “You-you didn’t kill him did you?”

  “Nah that would’ve made too much noise, I fucked that nigga up so bad, he’s unrecognizable.” He said looking at me for validation that K.D had it coming.

  “I told you I wasn’t resting until them niggas felt me. No one is violating my fuckin’ family.” He said.

  I rushed to hug him. He had loved me so much and I was so scared of the repercussions of his actions. Everything was happening so fast and I was just an emotional wreck.

  “T baby, I’m gonna lay low in Boston for a few weeks. I gotta handle business there anyway so that I can move out here.”

  I was still zoning out about what happened to Paul. Tony put his hands on my shoulders and shook them. “Do you hear me T?” he asked.

  “Yes, I hear you.” I replied calmly.

  “I’m sorry you had to see that shit today baby. But that nigga had it coming, he had to go boo. You hear me? I need you to be strong right now T.”

  His eyes were so delicate and I knew that he was scared too. I knew my baby all too well. And with him putting his freedom on the line for me, there was nothing else to do but remain loyal and give my all. It was time for my strength to surface and let him know that I had his back, no matter what happened next.

  “I’ll be waiting for you when you get back.” I told him as tears filled my eyes.

  “I love you. I’ll see you when I get back T.” He gathered all his bags and he softly pecked me on the lips, “When I get back, you gonna marry me?” he asked.

  I nodded, “yes, yes I’m gonna marry you Tony.”

  He kissed me again and then rushed a hug. He picked up his bags and left out the door. I sat back in a daze, I was shaking. My head was spinning and I was lost. I grew up around killers all my life. I thought by moving away, I wouldn’t endure any more of the violence that the hood held. But I just moved out here and took the shit with me.

  It ended up taking Tony more than a few weeks to get back. He took about a month and a half before he returned. He wrapped up some last minute drug shit in the hood and laid low for a while. The time helped me get my mind right because I had nightmares for weeks. Ebony had come through with a frightened look on her face.

  “Yo, you heard about what happened to Paul?” she asked.

  I was preparing dinner for Shayonna and almost dropped a plate when she brought up his name.

  “No, what happened?” I asked playing it smooth.

  “He’s dead.” She expressed.

  I looked in her eyes as if I didn’t know. “Are you serious, what happened?”

  “He was shot execution style in someone’s backyard right around the corner from here.” She explained.

  “Wow, that shit’s crazy.” I said continuing to play it.

  She stepped up closer to me. “Did you tell my cousin that he tried to rape you? If you did, there is a good chance that it was him that killed Paul.”

  I pushed her away from me. I almost smacked her for saying some dumb shit. Although I knew it was Tony that killed Paul, I would never reveal it to her or anyone else. I had to take that shit to my grave, my loyalty was to Tony. I was never one to be messy and reveal no shit like that.

  “Damn why you push me.”

  “Because you just asked me some dumb shit.”

  “Tiara, I just asked you a simple question.”

  “No you asked me a dumb question. Hell no Tony didn’t have nothing to do with that shit. Who knows how many other bitches Paul done fucked with, that nigga probably got bodied by someone’s boyfriend.”

  She nodded. “You’re right.” She said, finally dismissing it.

  I had to change the subject so that she wouldn’t think I was being defensive and grow suspicious.

  “So me and Tony talked about getting married next month. I know we are rushing things but I’m pregnant and I don’t want to be fat in my wedding dress.”

  Ebony looked at me shocked because I still wasn’t showing, “Pregnant? Damn yall work fast, he just about to move out here and already yall are expecting a baby and want to get married?”

  “Eb, you know our history, it’s not like he’s some random new nigga. He came back out here and stole my heart again. Just be happy for me E, you know how much I adore your cousin.”

  She leaned against the counter and folded her arms. “There are so many good men out he
re for you to be with. You sure you wanna go backwards?”

  I had to take two seconds to calm down. Instead of blowing up on Ebony, I had to realize that she only had my best interest at heart. I needed to convince her that shit was real this time.

  “Eb, Tony is my soul mate. We been through more shit than a little bit but at the end of the day, he has my heart and I have his.”

  I heard a key enter the door and in walked Tony with his luggage. I was elated to see him. I had missed him so much since he had been gone. He dropped his bags and I jumped into his arms, placing a juicy kiss on his lips.