Long As You Know Who You Belong To

by jwppublishing

  “You’re such a beautiful man. You all will have such pretty babies!” she exclaimed.

  “I sure hope to have a house full of them,” I laughed as I turned to Grey. The grimace that flashed on his face didn’t go unnoticed.

  He recovered well; smiling and ignoring her comment. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “Well c’mon here. You know Hero is not a patient man.” She waved at us to follow her. We walked through the spacious new home that my father had recently purchased and trailed Phylicia to the patio area. Laid in expensive stone and overlooking a deep blue infinity pool, the patio was gorgeous. It was a perfect summer day out, and my father had hired a chef to cater lunch for this meeting with Grey. I was excited for them to sit down and talk. I stepped outside, the light wind picking up the hem of my off white ABS fit and flare dress. My father’s eyes lit up at the sight of me.

  “Daughter. It’s so good to see you.” He reached out for a hug and held me close. I inhaled the scent of his Acqua De Parma cologne and smiled. He pulled away from me and greeted Grey.

  “Grey, it’s nice to see you again.” The men shook hands, and Grey mirrored my father’s sentiments. “Come. I’ve had the chef prepare us a wonderful meal.”

  We joined my father at the large outdoor table that was decorated like Martha Stewart was his hired help. There was food everywhere. My father had the chef made my favorite Japanese dish, Takoyoki, which is basically fried octopus smothered in Takoyaki sauce and Japanese mayo, and topped with a sprinkle of dried green seaweed and katsuobushi. There was also plenty of sushi, shrimp and chicken stir-fry, rice, and steamed vegetables. I hadn’t had a home-cooked Japanese meal in a while, so I was quick to dive in while Grey and my father preferred to talk a little business.

  “So, Grey, I have inquired about you. I understand that your well has dried up since your connect was busted. Was that what prompted your move to LA?”

  “Yes. I tried a few more avenues while at home, but none of the product was worth the money they were asking for it. My old plug was the truth and if I can’t get the same or better product, it wouldn’t be worth my time.”

  I shoveled a forkful of food into my mouth as I watched them talk. Their conversation faded, as my thoughts became louder and louder. Grey was the most amazing man I’d ever met. Sure, we’d only met a few months ago but he was my future, and couldn’t anyone tell me any different. Let me just run down the list of reasons why I was falling in love with this man and quickly.

  For one, he was gorgeous and he matched my fly. He already had my taste down to a science, and he had been spoiling me left and right with high-priced designer items to wear, handbags, and jewels. I hated a nigga that thought that a white tee and some J’s were all there was to life. Grey understood the necessity of fashion and could make damn near anything look good. His broad shoulders, flat stomach, and gorgeous face should have been gracing magazines and televisions all around the world, but the thug in him was strong. And I loved it.

  Secondly, he was smart. It was not often that you ran across a true street nigga who used to get straight A’s in school and had already finished his bachelor’s degree. True, he always had one leg in the streets, but his effort in the classroom was what had eventually led him to becoming the smart business man that he was. He’d earned his B.A. with a major in Business Management right out of high school from Eastern Michigan University, and he continued to seek out and absorb knowledge. Most didn’t understand how big of an edge it was to have a college degree behind you, even in the business of selling drugs. It makes it easier for you to hide.

  Lastly, well not really lastly because I could go on and on, but Grey had that work. I knew that I was bomb in the bedroom but in the few short months we had been kicking it, Grey had taught me more than a trick or two. Where I normally was dominant, Grey had a way of making me submissive. I catered to his every need and obeyed his every command. There was nothing that he wanted that I wouldn’t give to him and vice versa.

  I’ll admit it. As I watched Grey and my father converse, I knew that I was crazy in love with the thug with the smoky grey eyes. He was unlike any one I had ever encountered. Now that I had landed him officially, there was no way I was going to let him go. Whatever I needed to do to keep him by my side, I would do. Kendrick “Grey” Summers belonged to me.

  Kimani

  July 2014

  “You’re pyscho, bruh!”

  I heard the yelling all the way down at the curb where I parked my white 2015 Range Rover Sport. I hopped out and jogged up the driveway to see what was going on. When I approached the door, there was shit everywhere. Clothes, shoes, electronics—all of it broken, bleached, or shredded. Grey was standing in front of the closed front door, yelling and screaming.

  "What the fuck?" I mumbled as I picked up a Jordan Flight 97 shoe that was shredded beyond recognition.

  "Bruh, today might be the day I go to jail! Over that nutcase in there!"

  I saw Grey reach into his waistband, and I rushed over to him and grabbed his arm. He grimaced and tried to yank his arm out of reach, but I held firm. “Aye, you got too much to lose bruh.”

  Grey looked at me for a few moments as he tried to calm down. His eyes had turned a charcoal shade of gray, a clear indicator that he had crossed the line between anger and rage. His breathing slowed, and he tore away from me. “Look at this shit! All my shit is fucked up because that bitch is mental. She thinks that I’m fucking around with some other chick!”

  “Are you?"

  “No, man! I got too much shit going on to be worried about chasing down another chick."

  “Aight, then. Look, you got more than enough money to buy some new shit, and you too pretty to go to jail. So calm down, nigga. C’mon. Ride out with me.”

  Grey looked at the mess that was littered across his front porch and lawn and shook his head.

  “Yeah, aight. Cuz if I stay here, she’s liable to get a hot one in her dome.”

  We walked to my car and hopped in. I cranked up Future’s Codeine Crazy and peeled off. Grey rested his head against the white leather headrest and sighed deeply. “I don't know how long I can keep doing this, man.”

  For the last month or so since he had been fucking with Nakami, all that seemed to emanate from their relationship was drama. If she wasn’t taking his phone to try and call unstored numbers back, she was breaking dishes and shit off of some shit she thought she knew about. She never had any facts, but she was always flipping out. I couldn’t understand why my brother was putting up with it.

  “Why are you?”

  “I’m in business with her father. I’m back on.”

  I skirted past a slow moving car in the far right lane and sped through the yellow light. “Man, what? What about the club?”

  “What about the club? You know me, man. The club is cool and so far it’s bringing in good money, but it’s not fast enough for me. You know I’m used to being that nigga, and I can't be out here waiting to recoup the money that I put into the club. That’s going to take too long. Nakami’s father is Hero Yukimura, man.”

  I remained quiet. Blu had told me about Nakami’s father, and I had honestly hoped that, after all the shit that went down in Detroit, Grey would have had sense enough not to get knee deep in the game again. But I knew deep down inside that Grey was a hood nigga that couldn’t leave the streets alone. As dope as South Beach was, it didn’t carry enough excitement to sustain my brother. Plus, stumbling up on a connect so proper was like a sign from God, so I couldn’t say that I blamed him.

  “Yeah, Blu told me.”

  “So, what's going on with you two? Ya’ll been hanging kind of tough lately.” A goofy grin covered Grey's face as he changed the subject.

  “I don't know, man. She’s cool as fuck. I like her.”

  Truth was, I was starting to fall for her. But I couldn’t tell my brother that. He already thought I was an ol’ R&B cupcake ass nigga, and I knew for sure he would clown me if he knew how I felt
for Blu after the short amount of time I’d known her. Plus, the way I was feeling about her scared the shit out of me. It was too soon to be so dizzy off a chick, and I had a feeling that I needed to back up for a minute.

  “Aw, shit! Look at your ol’ cake baking ass!” Grey slapped me on the shoulder and let out a deep laugh. “Nah, for real though. She’s a good look. I like her for you.”

  “Aight, aight. Enough of that shit. We’re about to shoot to Westfield Topanga and get you some new new shit, grab some Po’ boys from Orleans and York, smash that, and then hit the city tonight. You need to get out.” I hopped on the 101-S and headed towards the mall.

  “Hell yeah. That sounds like the move. I’m going to hit Jerk and Tyler and see if they’re down to roll too.”

  I nodded in agreement as I drove onto the crowded freeway. Not only did Grey need to ease his frustrations, but I was also in need of a night out. I had been up under Blu since the day we met, and that wasn’t even me. She had me gone. There was no way in hell I was going to go out like a sucka. So a night out would do me some good.

  ****

  “Ol’ fashion show ass nigga! C’mon, dawg!” I heard Jerk yelling from downstairs. I could tell he was good and lit, so I knew that tonight would be a wild one.

  I passed by the floor to ceiling mirrors that were on the wall next to my bed and double checked my appearance. Dressed in a pair of black, coated slim cut jeans by Diesel, a black, white, and gold Joyrich muscle tee, a black on black Detroit Vs Everybody snapback, and my Jordan Spizike’s, I looked damn good. The full sleeve of tattoos on both arms were out. I had been letting my facial hair grow in after the last modeling gig made me cut it, and my boy Jake had my line up crispy. I was normally on my model shit, but tonight I felt like chillin’.

  I walked down the stairs and rounded the corner to kick it with my niggas in the kitchen. Jerk, Tyler, and Grey were already taking back shots and had poured me one for every one that I had missed.

  “Oh, shit! It's Mani from the block in this bitch!” Grey laughed.

  “Damn, nigga! I almost didn’t recognize you without ya model make-up on!” Tyler clowned.

  “Fuck ya’ll!” I laughed.

  It felt good to be around my niggas. Jerk was a nigga we had met in college. He was from the Bay and had moved to Michigan to go to Eastern on a scholarship. His real name was Cole Spencer, but he was such an asshole that all the females on campus gave him the nickname and it stuck. Tyler was my brother’s best friend from the hood. We all grew up together, and when Grey made the move to L.A., he encouraged Tyler to roll with him. He wasn't a street nigga at all but you couldn't tell when he was hanging with us. This nigga Tyler was as ratchet as they came, but he turned that shit off quick, fast, and in a hurry when it came to work. He was one of the top engineers at Toyota and was definitely about his coins.

  I slammed back all five of the Remy V shots that they had poured for me, and we left the house. We decided to take two cars to South Beach, so Grey and I hopped into my Range Rover and Tyler and Jerk got into Tyler’s black 2015 Jaquar XK.

  We made it to the club twenty minutes later, and there was a line down the block going both ways on the street. The valet greeted the boss and skated past the security, up the elevator, and into the club. My brother had that shit rocking! It was wall to wall people, beautiful bartenders, and bottle girls, and the DJ was going in. It was fine ass girls all over the place in every different shape and color, like a fucking buffet. I was ready to dive in. What I wasn’t ready for was the tap that landed on my shoulder.

  “Fancy running into you here.”

  Aw, shit. I knew that voice anywhere. I turned around and came face to face with my ex, Vicious. I just knew tonight was going to get crazy.

  Blu

  July 2014

  I was mad annoyed. I had planned on doing nothing but propping my feet up and surfing Netflix in my pj’s, but Nakami had stormed up in my condo, breathing fire and raging on about some fight with Grey. I halfway listened as she ranted on and on.

  “Blu! Earth to Blu! What the fuck?! Are you even listening?”

  “Honestly, I tuned you out after you said you bleached his clothes. What is wrong with you?” I threw the remote control onto the couch and walked to my kitchen. I grabbed a bottle of Arbor Mist Peach Moscato out of the wine cooler and a glass out of the cabinet.

  I was over hearing her talk about Grey. If she wasn’t dick riding and going on and on about how special and perfect he was, she was losing her damn mind trying to catch him in a lie or with some other chick. I know that her last relationship didn’t end well, but damn! She needed to ease up.

  “Ain't nothing wrong with me! He’s the one with the problem,” she pouted as she picked up her phone.

  “Kami, you got to chill. Ya’ll have been dating for two months, and you already destroying his property? You’re going to lose him if you keep this shit up.”

  Everything I said went out in one ear and out the other. “Oh, so he out partying, huh?”

  “What?”

  “The gps I put on his phone...”

  I cut her off. “You put a tracker on his phone?”

  “Yes. And when he left his house, he went to the mall and then back to Kimani’s so-”

  I cut her off again. “You been stalking this nigga all day?”

  She looked at me like I was the one with the issue. “Yes, bitch. Any more questions before we go find this nigga, Detective Buckley?”

  “You the one playing the police, hoe!” I snapped. “And what are you talking about we going to find him? I'm not going anywhere.”

  “Yes, you are because I can bet that your man is right by his side entertaining some thot bitch in a Rainbow outfit.”

  I poured the glass of wine and took a sip to calm my nerves. Nakami sure knew how to get me worked up.

  “First of all, Kimani is not my man. We’re just kicking it. He can have all the thot pockets he wants. Secondly, you need to have several seats if you think I’m about to run up behind you to chase this man that has given you no reason to think he’s doing something scandalous. Find some chill,” I said as I rolled my eyes. It was only when I opened them that I realized that I had just been talking to myself. Feeling like my attempts to calm my best friend down weren’t registering, I walked to my bedroom where I found her rifling through my walk-in closet.

  “The hell?”

  “Here. You haven't even taken the tags off this.” The dress that she flung my way hit me in the face. I caught it before it hit the floor and put a hand on my hip. “I’m not going.”

  “Blu. We don't have time to debate this. This nigga probably has some little pop tart twerking all over his lap right now. We need to get dressed and go. Now!” she screamed.

  She grabbed a few items from my closet, walked into the bathroom down the hall, and slammed the door. I sighed in frustration because I knew there was no way she was letting up. I really didn’t have a choice but to get dressed and participate in this fuckery.

  ****

  Nakami and I hopped out of her Porsche, already faded from hitting the blunt, and she tossed the keys to the valet. It was around 12:45 a.m. when we finally arrived to South Beach and there was still a line around the corner. We bypassed that shit and walked straight into the club as the bouncer recognized Nakami as Grey’s girl. The club was live and, although I had been reluctant to go, I was warming up to the idea of partying the night away. I knew Nakami wanted to hunt down Grey, but I wasn’t about to be going on an embarrassing dummy mission with her. So I had called in reinforcements. I spotted them standing by the bar.

  “Domani! Yhazmine!” I squealed as I approached my friends.

  It had been a while since we had hung out, but I was glad to see that they had made it on such short notice. Domani and Yhazmine were a set of fraternal twins that I had met when I attended community college. Domani stood about 5’5” with dark brown eyes, black shoulder length bone straight hair, and a body like Draya. Her sister
, Yhazmine, was around 5’7” with a cute blonde pixie cut, slanted almond shaped eyes, and a body more reminiscent of Ciara. They were both bad as fuck and cool as hell. When they saw me approaching, they screamed and embraced me.

  “I'm so glad ya’ll made it!”

  “Girl, truth is we were already headed here. I heard that this was the new hot spot so we had to check it out,” Domani smiled.

  “Yeah, you know my man did a good job with this place.” Nakami walked into our conversation with a satisfied look on her face.

  Yhazmine rolled her eyes. “We already know that you’re sleeping with the owner, Nakami. No need to flex.”

  “No flex, boo. I just needed to make sure ya’ll understand that he’s off limits.”

  “Anybody that fucks with your crazy ass is just as mental as you are. So you don’t even have to worry about that,” Domani remarked before she dropped a few bills on the bar. She snatched up her drink and walked away with Yhazmine on her heels.

  Domani and Yhazmine did not like Nakami. They put up with her because she was my best friend, but they thought she was a loon and a half. I couldn’t blame them. When they first met, Nakami got us kicked out of a restaurant for throwing her food on a waiter who she had suspected spit in it. And that was something light compared to the stuff I had seen her do. Nakami acted on pure emotion 99% of the time and never felt it necessary to get all the facts before she lost her cool. But I had to fuck with her the long way because no matter how out of pocket she got, she always had my back.

  I started to walk away to catch up with Domani and Yhazmine, and Nakami pulled on my arm.

  “Where are you going?”

  “To kick it with them. I told you I would come with you, but I'm not about to be in the middle of your foolery. Handle your business, but I’m going to be over there.” I pointed in the direction of my friends.