Playing With Fire: Loyalty Demolished

by Charlee Renea

  Nicole started to fall more in love with him. She’d never been with a man who loved the Lord. She knew it was time for a change and attending church was step one.

  “I’m glad I met you! I need to start attending church and praying every day.”

  “Yes, it’s a cruel world! The armor of God will guide you through. Everything happens for a reason!”

  “Yes, it does!”

  They talked a little longer before visiting time was up. She enjoyed their conversation.

  She headed home to get ready for work; when she walked into the apartment, her mother, Liss, was sitting on the couch. Since she’d been in town, she hadn’t seen her mother. She’d only chatted with her over the phone for a few seconds.

  Liss wasn’t the type of woman who liked to be told what to do. She was a strong woman—well, she use to be strong; after her ex-husband left when the twins were younger, she’d become weak and turned to drugs. She’d destroyed her buttermilk skin by using drugs and stopped taking care of her naturally-curly hair. She’d felt she couldn’t take care of her three girls by herself.

  “Wassup? You surprised to see me?” she asked, standing up.

  “Yes! I really am.”

  “I didn’t come to argue. I need help and I’m ready for it.”

  Nicole had been waiting to hear these words, and hopefully, she really meant it.

  “I have no problem with helping you. I hate seeing you down and struggling.” The twins Jade and Kade walked in.

  “I told her where we were staying,” Jade said.

  “It’s fine; I’m not tripping. This is our mother and I’ll never turn my back on her!”

  ~ ~

  The next day, Nicole searched the Internet for different rehab treatment places close to them. She found a good one and they went to visit. After talking to the counselor, Liss was impressed and wanted to try the place. She wanted to do better for her girls and for herself. She had been down long enough over a man and now it was time for her to take back control over her life.

  After Nicole’s mother was settled, she headed home to get ready for work that night.

  ~ ~

  “There she’s goes!” The owner of the club where Nicole worked pointed out Nicole to a regular customer. She placed the drink he’d ordered on a napkin in front of him. He finished smoking his cigar and took a sip. “She makes good money, but she’s still a grimy bitch.” the owner continued.

  The customer had been coming to the club since they’d opened. When Nicole started, he’d learned who she was from the owner; he’d made her his favorite and the only one he came to see. He asked for a lap dance every blue moon so he could be close to her. He watched as she prepped herself to get ready to go on stage. He loved how she was wearing a two-piece, lace swimsuit with high pumps. He took a seat in the front when it was time for her to perform. He watched as she worked her body on the pole. He wanted her and was plotting to get her when the time was right.

  . . . 3

  Later that night in New Jersey, at another strip club . . .

  The black, round table on the top floor of the club was occupied by Bella, Boss, Vin, and Ray. The black glass doors were closed, shutting out the music and unwanted guests. The stripper walked around the table passing out glasses of Patron. Boss was seated at the head of the table, ready to start the meeting. Ray checked his phone often, and Bella kept an eye on him as she sat by her father.

  “Thanks for attending, everyone!” Boss said, standing up. “I have a job that’ll have us lying low for a while.” All eyes were glued to him. “I know someone who drives a Brink’s truck in L.A. and they have a heavy load coming in two weeks. I’m talking about millions, so a plan has to be thoroughly thought out! After the job is finished, it’s a possibility we may have to move out the country. If you’re not down, speak now!”

  Everyone was in their thoughts. If they pulled the job off, that was a fat payback for everybody, but they risked facing federal time if the plan didn’t go through. Ray instantly thought about moving his parents to St. Thomas until he decided where he wanted to reside. Anything could happen and he wanted them to be safe.

  “So, you say the job is in Cali? What’s the plan?” Vin asked.

  “Bella meets and greets him, getting as much inside information as possible. His weakness is beautiful women. How do you feel about Bella dating him, Ray?”

  Caught off guard by Boss’ question, Ray sat up in the reclined chair. “I’m not pleased with another man admiring my woman’s beauty, but I understand business has to be done. As long as dude doesn’t get disrespectful, we shouldn’t have any problems!”

  Bella gave Ray a harsh look and he turned his head to avoid eye contact. She felt like a piece of meat after his comment. ‘Business has to be done?'

  “Okay. How do you feel, baby girl?” Boss asked her.

  Quickly, she thought of the outcome and buried her feelings. “Business from here on out. I’m sure nothing of his curiosity of a beautiful woman will interfere in the business. His lusting eyes won’t throw me off my duty.”

  Ray knew Bella was a boss chick who didn’t mix pleasure with business. He trusted she wouldn’t risk growing feelings for him over money. He thought, ‘This nigga’s trying to test me!’

  “Okay, well said! You’ll fly out to L.A., and shortly, we’ll be joining you. Once Bella gets the inside scoop on how the schedule is set, we’ll make our move!”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Vin said.

  “One other thing,” Bella said, holding her index finger in the air. Everyone’s eyes were on her. “Chyna is missing and nobody’s heard from her. I hired an investigator to find her. What she did at the party was unacceptable and I need to talk to her about it.”

  ~ ~

  When Bella was in prison, she had instructed Chyna to dance at her strip club back in Kansas City that her sister Arabella was running at the time. See, Bella’s woman’s intuition sent signals that it was a possibility that Ray and Chyna were more serious than what they claimed to be. She knew Ray was a whore and all she wanted was for him to be truthful with her. She wouldn’t have been mad if he’d come clean about Chyna, but he knew that would have messed up his connections!

  ~ ~

  Ray couldn’t and didn’t want to believe what she was saying. ‘Private investigator? What the fuck?’ Ray thought back to the night Chyna, his baby, was working the pole . . .

  ~ ~

  The DJ played The Jacka’s song, Shorty All Over Me. Chyna stepped on the stage with gold stilettos, a gold bikini bottom and top. The gold necklace she got from the lick in Miami glistened on her neck. She had her weave pulled up into a bun with her Chinese bangs out. She looked like a goddess. She walked to the pole, grabbed it, bent down, and started shaking her ass. It reminded Ray of when she would ride him and bounce her ass up and down on it. That was pretty much what she did the whole time then did the splits at the end. She really wasn't a stripper; Ray could tell she didn’t want to do the show. She didn't even take her clothes off, but the men still enjoyed her. They were throwing money at her ass. She walked off the stage and one of the male workers came onto the stage to pick up her money.

  ~ ~

  “That’s your reason for searching for her? You’re spending money just to have a conversation?” Ray asked with a balled-up fist. He was angry inside. “We already got paid off her dancing.”

  “I just want to make sure she’s okay, you know? Especially after that nigga was shooting at her!”

  Ray wasn’t aware Bella knew about the incident at the club the night Chyna had danced. Ray assumed Chocolate, who was a stripper at the club also, had told Tae that Chyna was there. Chocolate had seen Ray and Chyna come to the club plenty of times, and he felt Chocolate was hating! Especially when he didn’t want to take her up on her offer to dance.

  ~ ~

  After they’d stolen the drugs he had in the trunk of his rental, Tae figured it was Chyna. Prior to seeing her,
he hadn’t visited anyone else when he arrived in Kansas City. He visited different clubs trying to find her because she’d told him she was an exotic dancer. Once he got to the club where Nicole’s friend Toya worked, who was known as Chocolate, he showed a picture of her and asked if anyone knew her. Nicole remembered her from the trip to Miami and Toya had always seen her come to the club with Ray.

  The night Chyna danced at the club, Nicole pointed Chyna out to Tae. That’s when he ran out the club to shoot at her. Nicole had told him because she felt Ray had used her to make money in Miami, considering he hadn’t paid her her portion.

  ~ ~

  The meeting was coming to an end as everyone stood up.

  “I agree with you, baby girl,” Boss added.

  Ray tried to keep a smile, but Bella saw through his act. She assumed he knew more than he was saying about Chyna’s disappearance. She wasn’t sure yet, but she was determined to know what was really going on between them. While she was in prison, she’d found out Ray wasn’t loyal to her through her lawyer. Ray started walking out the door and Bella followed behind him.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked when she turned him around. He had a mean look on his face.

  “Nothing! Naw, really, just coming off the extra money for her bothers me! Why? Really? Plus you didn’t discuss hiring a PI with me!”

  Bella was enraged! She couldn’t believe the words pouring out his mouth.

  “Umm, bothers you? Didn’t know you would be in your feelings about her.”

  “What? Come again?”

  “You’re in your feelings about her!” Bella placed her hand on her hip.

  “See, now you’re tripping!” He pointed his index finger in her face. He tried not to raise his voice to keep everyone out of their conversation. “So, I’ma let you handle this Chyna situation. I was just trying save us some money.”

  Ray started to walk away but Bella grabbed his arm. ‘Maybe he isn’t feeling her!’ she thought, feeling a little foolish. She had to get back on his good side before he did anything crazy in case he was feeling her.

  “Wait! Maybe I am tripping, baby, and you’re right. Why waste money trying to find her? Whatever happened, happened! I don’t want us on bad terms.”

  That was what Ray wanted to hear. He grabbed her into a bear hug and kissed her. He knew Chyna being a secret wasn’t going to last long.

  Bella wanted Ray to believe she changed her mind, but she was still going through with her plan. By his actions, she knew he was hiding something now.

  “A’ight, baby; I’m about to go visit my parents. We’re going to make it through this,” Ray said.

  He texted Vin he was ready. They met outside and left the club.

  ~ ~

  Ray pulled into his parents’ driveway. He was ready to explain to his parents about his children; hopefully, they would understand. They knew who Chyna was and had always enjoyed her cheerful presence. When they stayed back in Kansas City, Chyna had spent time with them and had developed a strong bond with Ray’Sha, Ray’s sister. Only thing was, they’d kept Junior a secret. Ray knew his parents wouldn’t approve of their lifestyle with a child involved, but Ray knew he had to make money for his family.

  Vin was already aware of the situation and had his partner’s back. Ray had always been there for Vin, especially after the mother of his twins had moved them out of town without discussing it with him first. Vin returned the same love.

  “You ready, bro?” Vin asked.

  “Yeah; it’s now or never!”

  They exited the car and walked up to the door. The screen was closed and the front door open, so they invited themselves in. Ray’s mother was lounging on the couch, rocking his niece to sleep. Ray’Sha wasn’t around.

  “Hey, Ma.”

  He leaned down to kiss her on the cheek. He pinched his niece’s chubby cheek and she started smiling.

  “Hello, Mrs. Smith!” Vin greeted her and took a seat.

  “Hey, y’all two. What brings y’all around?”

  “Come to visit, Ma; making sure y’all living good.”

  “Umm, we’re fine; rocking this chubby girl to sleep.”

  “Where’s Ray’Sha and Pops?”

  “Ray’Sha’s sleep and your daddy’s watching the game in the room.”

  “I need to talk with all y’all about something important.”

  “Go on back there and get them!”

  Ray walked into Ray’Sha’s room and was lucky she was awake, on her phone. He told her to come in the living room. He bumped into his father in the hallway. After everyone was seated with their full attention on him, he began his speech to a new life.

  “Boss has a new, big job that could have us lying low for a while, even moving out the country!” His family knew of the Bella and Boss situation. They weren’t happy about his involvement with them because they feared for his safety. They knew Italians were blood killers!

  “Moving out the country? Did you forget about our brother?” Ray’Sha asked. Ray’Sean, their brother, was in prison.

  “No, but I’ll have all the money for his fees. Listen, I understand y’all are tired of moving, but I don’t want y’all’s lives at risk!”

  “Finish on about this big job! What are you getting yourself into now?” Ray’s father, Ronald, spoke up.

  “A multi-million-dollar job in L.A. Boss knows a connect, so we’re going to be flying out there.”

  “So you’re moving us to Cali now?” Ray’s mother, Lashan, asked.

  “No. Y’all are going to St. Thomas, and after the job is finished, we’re moving somewhere more stable and long term.”

  “Umm, I guess you have it figured out, but why St. Thomas?” Lashan asked.

  Ray knew it was time to finally release his secret. “To be close to your grandchildren.”

  “Say what? Grandchildren?” Lashan looked confused.

  “Yes, I have a three-year-old son named Raymond Jr., and a baby girl on the way. I’m just now saying something about it because I’m hustling to get this money to take care everybody.”

  “So, all this time, you’ve been neglecting your son?” Ronald asked. He knew he’d raised his son better than that.

  “No, I’ve always been there financially.”

  “So who’s the mama?” Lashan curiously asked. She knew of him being involved with Chyna, but Chyna had never mentioned a child.

  “Chyna.”

  “Um, so my grandbabies are in St. Thomas. I can’t believe this. Three years I’ve missed and wasn’t even there at the birth.”

  Lashan shook her head in disbelief. She felt it was odd for Chyna not to have mentioned her son! Now that she thought about it, that explained Chyna’s long-term absence. She thought they had a better connection and Chyna was open about everything, regardless of the matter. She suddenly thought maybe it wasn’t Ray’s child and Chyna was ashamed.

  “You be careful out in them streets! I don’t know exactly what’s all going on, but something tells me your ways ain’t right! Or hers! Maybe it isn’t your son!”

  “Ma, he’s mine! No doubt of that! I’m just trying take care of the family and get Sean’s freedom back! This is the last job!”

  Lashan knew in her heart this wasn’t the end of her son’s troubled ways. She prayed every night for his soul and protection. She couldn’t take losing another child to the streets. She was anxious to meet her grandson and she prayed he was her grandchild.

  “Lord Jesus, please be with us! I feel it in my heart; I feel it in the air,” Lashan prayed in the chair.

  “Things are going to work out! I promise you that, baby!” Ronald assured her.

  Lashan dug in her purse sitting beside her and pulled out a tiny white box. She opened it and revealed a gold cross necklace.

  “You’re my baby, my firstborn, and I’ll kill whoever tries to harm my child! Every night I pray for your safety and for you to be out of this situation. The other day when I was out at the mall, I told myself you need to b
e covered in the armor of Jesus! I bought this necklace for you.” She held it out to him.

  He took it from her and put it around his neck. “Thank you, Momma. I appreciate it!” He leaned down to kiss her on the cheek.

  “Momma loves you and I’m always here for you! Don’t make your momma cry, you hear me?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Ray and Vin left out the house and got in the car. He’d booked them an early-morning flight the next day to St. Thomas. He understood his plate was full and broken promises were unacceptable. His family was counting on him!

  . . . 4

  Olivia enjoyed staying in New Jersey for the time she’d been there. It was a totally different environment than Kansas City. Even though the visit was temporary, she’d really considered making it permanent.

  She laid her cocoa skin on the beach towel as she thought about why she was there—to be loyal and supportive toward Sean. When she found out he was in prison, she’d left her life behind in Kansas City to be by his side. She sometimes wondered if she’d made the right decision because they weren’t even on speaking terms when he left home. Everything between them was going good now, and she visited him faithfully every Monday and Wednesday. On Fridays, she usually pampered herself but she didn’t today.