Playing With Fire: Loyalty Demolished

by Charlee Renea

  “Don’t trip on that. Just be waiting.”

  “Okay. Bye, Tone.”

  “Bye, Miss Lady, and take care. I’ll see you soon.”

  Tone had been waiting for the invite to take Bella’s mind off Ray. He wasn’t about to let Ray or Chyna go down. He’d given Bella just enough information to get Bella to leave that situation alone. He was hoping his invite to California would get her mind off them.

  After hanging up, Bella debated whether she should call him back to tell him not to come. She dismissed the thought and focused on her wants. Tone was attractive, and she knew she could have some fun with him.

  She walked out the stairwell, out the hotel, and caught a cab to the hotel where Jacob thought she was staying. She turned Ray’s phone off and threw it in her purse. ‘How could he?’ she thought. ‘Every dog has his day.’

  ~ ~

  “I can’t believe this!”

  “Who and what are you talking about?”

  “Chyna! Ray said it isn’t his baby.”

  “What? Let me see that phone!”

  Lashan handed the phone to Ray’Sha. They had just pulled up to the hospital. After reading the texts, Lashan was now debating whether she wanted to go inside. She was confused and looking at Chyna differently. ‘How could she deceive us this long?’

  After Ray’Sha read the text messages, she couldn’t believe it. ‘Bella?’ she thought. Nothing was making sense and she needed to get to the truth before somebody got hurt!

  “Ma, that wasn’t Ray texting! It can’t be, not talking like this!”

  “Then who is it?”

  “Somebody’s playing games who wants their ass whupped! Hold on, I’m about to call again.” She did and it went to voicemail. “Now it’s going straight to voicemail! Come on, Ma, let’s go in here and support her.”

  Lashan couldn’t move. She didn’t know who to believe—Ray’Sha or Ray’s text messages. The only thing going through her mind was, was somebody really playing on Ray’s phone?

  ~ ~

  “You’re looking beautiful this evening!”

  “Thank you, and you’re handsome, too.”

  Jacob grabbed Bella’s hand and helped her out of his red Corvette. They walked into Hatfield’s five-star restaurant in Los Angeles. Jacob loved how the Chanel dress hugged her curves, how the diamond Chanel heels fit her beautiful feet, and her long-chain Chanel purse. Her hair was pinned up in a bun and her makeup was flawless. ‘She’s deceit in a beautiful trafficking!’ he thought.

  The waitress sat them in a booth and took their drink orders. Bella was loving his button-down shirt, white slacks, and leather shoes. His diamond watch shined brightly along with his pearly-white teeth. She was starting to think, ‘I could fall for a man like him!’ She wanted to dismiss Ray’s lies, his using her for money, and his baby-mama trilogy. She was ready for a real man who appreciated her.

  “You’re quiet tonight,” Jacob said, grabbing her hand.

  She normally started the conversation to hook Jacob’s attention. Now she was thinking differently about the whole situation. She was thinking about whether or not she should go through with the plan.

  “I have a lot on my mind. I apologize for not being attentive.”

  “It’s okay. If you need to talk, I’m here.”

  The waitress came back with their drinks and took their orders.

  “Thank you. That’s what I like about you. You have a listening ear.”

  In reality, Jacob was a good man, and if it wasn’t for her father, going through with the plan probably wouldn’t be happening. ‘Should I cut him in on the deal?’ she thought. Ray was dismissed! She wasn’t going to accept a child, especially after he’d lied about it. For months, Ray had acted as if he didn’t know where Chyna was. At this point, he was disloyal and untrustworthy.

  Bella had a million thoughts running through her mind. She wanted to end the date and get back to business! She also thought about Tone visiting her. She needed someone new to give her body some attention. Somebody sexy, with rock-hard abs, and kept on the low. That was why she’d invited Tone out to Cali and she hoped he showed. It had been a while since she’d had fire knocked out of her kitty-kat. Ray wasn’t putting it down like he use to.

  ~ ~

  Ray rolled over in the bed and reached for his cellphone . . . that wasn’t on the dresser. He searched around for it in the bed but couldn’t find it. ‘Damn!’ he thought.

  “Where the fuck did I put my phone?”

  He got up and used the hotel’s room phone to call it, but it went straight to voicemail. He sat on the bed to clear his mind to remember the last things he’d done before passing out. He remembered going to happy hour with Bella, having drinks, and coming back to the room. They’d talked about her date with Jacob tonight. He called her name with no answer. He went into the bathroom and she wasn’t there. He picked the phone up and dialed out.

  “Hello! Hello!”

  “Um, this me, Ray, and—”

  “So now your ass wants to talk! What’re these text messages talking about the baby isn’t yours?”

  “Huh? What text messages?” Ray rubbed his head and had a puzzled look on his face.

  “Don’t play crazy! I know I raised you better than this!”

  “Mama, chill and tell me what’s going on.”

  Lashan read him the text messages. Ray was shocked at what she was reading. ‘Bella couldn’t have texted that bullshit!’ he thought. But then again, he really didn’t know Bella. ‘Fuck! What have I gotten myself into?’ he thought.

  “Yeah, so we’re about to leave, I guess.”

  “Nooo, Mama! Please don’t leave; let me explain.”

  “EXPLAIN WHAT?” Lashan screamed. She was furious at the whole situation.

  “I did not send those messages. I’ve been sleep.”

  “So who did?”

  “I’m assuming Bella. I woke up and couldn’t find my phone. That’s why I’m calling from a different number.”

  Lashan thought about it. “So is the baby yours?”

  “Yes, it’s mine! Please stay at the hospital and ignore whatever else she sends. I’m going to get a new phone. Let me get things sorted out here. Don’t tell Chyna any of this. I don’t want her stressing over nothing.”

  “Okay. Well, we’re about to go into the hospital to see how she’s doing. Be safe and we love you.”

  “I love y’all, too.”

  Ray couldn’t believe Bella had taken his phone and sent those text messages. He knew he had to think of a good excuse or be honest with her, which could lead to him probably not doing the job. For once, he thought about his family over the money. He had money put up and was satisfied he’d left it for Chyna in case something like this was to happen. Truthfully, he didn’t know what to expect out of Bella, but he knew she wasn’t dumb! ‘Fuck! I can’t win for losing!’

  He went in his pants pocket that were lying on the chair, got his weed out, sat back in the bed, and rolled up a blunt. ‘A nigga’s going through it!’ He was slowing down on smoking, but messy situations like this made him want to hit the blunt to calm his nerves. He felt more fuel had been added to the fire. ‘She was wrong for touching my fucking phone!’

  ~ ~

  They walked in the hospital to be by Chyna’s side. Ray’Sha knew something wasn’t right about the messages. ‘Ray wouldn’t put himself through all this if he thought there was a possibility he wasn’t the father!’ They headed to the waiting room. The doctor and Chyna came walking around the corner shortly after. Junior ran toward his mother, reaching for her to pick him up.

  “Hey, Chyna doll,” Ray’Sha said, rubbing her stomach.

  “Hey. It feels like I’m in labor with my first child all over again,” Chyna said, rubbing her lower back. She had gained more weight in this pregnancy and she was miserable.

  “We’re here for you,” Lashan said and grabbed her hand.

  “You’re free to go, and if you have any mor
e pain, come back and hopefully, your daughter will be ready to meet the world,” the young-looking, African American doctor said. She was short and beautiful with short, curly hair, and medium-sized, pretty brown eyes. “Start walking as much as possible.”

  “Okay, Dr. Jones; I’ll start tonight! I’m ready for her to come out!”

  “Yes. You guys have a wonderful evening and I’ll see y’all later!”

  They left the hospital and waited outside for a cab.

  ~ ~

  After their date, Jacob dropped Bella back off at her hotel. She wasn’t ready to end it, but she knew she had business to take care of.

  “I’m sorry you aren’t feeling well,” Jacob told her. She had told him her stomach was upset and she needed to lie down.

  “Yeah, I’ma sleep it off and call you when I wake up.”

  “Okay.”

  He leaned over and kissed her lips. She didn’t want him to stop. She loved kissing his lips. She pulled away to keep from changing her mind and starting something with him.

  “Bye . . .”

  “Bye, Bella.”

  She got out the car and walked into the hotel. She waited until he pulled off before going outside to get in one of the waiting cabs.

  When she walked into the smoky hotel room, Ray was sitting on the bed, smoking a blunt in his boxers. The TV was off and she assumed he was wondering where his phone was. She reached in her purse, rambled through it, grabbed his phone, and threw it on the bed.

  He looked at her crazy. ‘What the fuck’s she up to?’ He kept his composure and hit the blunt again to keep from going off. Even though he was upset at the text messages she’d sent, he kept calm to keep from showing his aggressiveness.

  “Wassup with you taking my phone?” he asked calmly, ready for her excuse. He never thought she would stoop this low or be insecure.

  “It was ringing nonstop so I wanted to see what was so urgent. Nobody but Ray’Sha.” She rolled her eyes and started taking off her heels. “I assumed something might have happened to your family and I was right. Only thing is, I didn’t get the memo about being a stepmother! Yeah, your little bitch is in labor!”

  “So Ray’Sha told you that?”

  “Yeah, but it wasn’t voluntary! But why did I have to find out this way? Why couldn’t you have kept it real with me? I thought we were better than that!” She was ready for his lie, looking him dead in the eyes.

  “I mean, I didn’t know how to come at you. It was a slip-up and I apologize. I don’t even know if the baby is mine. She was fucking with other niggas.”

  “Really? All this time I was in prison, y’all were fucking and claiming to be in a relationship? Just keep it one hundred with me, please!” She put her hand on her hip.

  “Yeah, we were fucking, but it was business. She was bringing in money and I had to keep her interested, so I gave her the relationship status. It helped us out so you could come home. You know I’m a hustler, baby. Come here. I promise it’s me and you.” He stood up and grabbed her in a bear hug. He leaned in, kissed her lips, and palmed her booty. “You went on a date wearing this?”

  “Yes.”

  “You can’t be looking this sexy for another nigga!”

  “Don’t worry! All business,” she said, smart-mouthed.

  “Can you take it off so I can get some personal business?”

  “Yes!”

  She pushed him on the bed and started stripping out of her dress. She climbed on top of him and reached inside her purse, pulling out her gun.

  Ray laid back, waiting on her next move. He knew she wasn’t stupid enough to the pull the trigger. He was starting to get a feel how he’d done Chyna that day in the car when she was texting Tae. He wasn’t trying to harm Chyna; he was just trying to get his point across.

  ~ ~

  Chyna was right about Ray living with another woman, but she wasn’t about to be texting another nigga! He may have been acting selfishly and that was because she’d been down for him for too long. He couldn’t see another nigga taking his place! Especially not that nigga! He picked his gun up and pointed it at her.

  “Wrong! You can’t text another nigga! We don’t need any more work from him. Shit is about to change, and if you aren’t feeling it, let me know now!”

  She looked straight ahead with her lip gloss shining. He put the gun back on his lap. She reached over and slapped him.

  ~ ~

  Bella pointed the gun in his face.

  “What the fuck?!”

  “Shut the fuck up! I heard your side of the story now hear mine. This is how it’s going to be.” Bella was ready to take control and show him she was running the show.

  “You’re going to live up to what I texted Ray’Sha.” She grabbed the phone off the bed and powered it back on. She went to his text messages and handed it to him to read. He read them and couldn’t believe she’d actually sent this.

  “Did you read it?”

  “Yes. The baby isn’t mine. We’ve already discussed that." He played as if he didn’t already know.

  “Yeah, but I want to make sure we’re on the same page, whether it’s yours or not. You’re done with that bitch and we’re moving forward! So pack your family up and fly them away from her! I’ll have the money for the tickets. All this time she was gone, you knew where she was. Why? To hide the baby?”

  “No, she wanted to leave. She hit me up a month ago, talking about she was pregnant and it might be mine.”

  “And she told you where she was?”

  “She was back in Kansas City, hiding out somewhere.”

  ‘The lies keep rolling off his tongue!’ Bella thought. “Umm, that’s why you were making trips to Kansas City, talking about it was business? I can’t believe this shit!”

  ‘Damn, what a fucked-up situation I’m in!’ Ray thought. “Yes. I wanted to make sure she was telling the truth, but I still don’t know if it’s mine!”

  “Well, yours or not, you aren’t claiming it, and you’re moving on from her. So I want you to call the little bitch up now and let her know what’s up. And put it on speaker phone!”

  Bella handed Ray his cell phone. She still had the gun pointed at him as she watched him dial a number.

  “Hello, Ray! Where are you and what’s going—”

  “Hey, chill and listen. Those text messages I sent earlier, I was dead serious. Okay? So just think about that and I’ll holla.” He ended the call before she could say anything. Bella was pleased. “Are you happy now?” He threw the phone on the floor.

  “Yes, but don’t try to play me! I will fuck you and her up.”

  “It’s over and about us. You look sexy holding that gun. Come give your man a kiss.”

  She put the gun on the dresser and did just that. He unclipped her bra, slid it off, and threw it on the floor. One of her breasts dropped in his mouth and he sucked as she moaned.

  “I want what’s mine!” She sat up and started grabbing at his hard wood. “And I’m ready to get married! We can go to Vegas tomorrow!”

  “Okay, baby. Will do.”

  Ray was shocked at Bella’s behavior, but he knew he had to play the game until everything was clear. He couldn’t understand why she was feeling some type of way when he’d been the one hustling and risking his freedom to get her out of prison.

  ‘Married? She really was trying make sure a nigga was on lock! But she can’t have all of me!’

  ~ ~

  When they got back to the house, Chyna was in deep thought over the phone call she’d received. Her woman’s intuition was telling her something wasn’t right! She tucked Junior into bed and headed to the living room. Ray’Sha was sitting on the couch, going through her phone.

  “You wanna walk with me? I have a lot on my mind, girl!” Chyna asked.

  “Yeah. Princess is with Mama. Come on.”

  They headed to the beach to walk around. There weren’t a lot of people out at that time of night. Ray’Sha could see the worry in Chyna’s eye
s. She wanted to be there for her. She knew the feeling of an absent father when it was time for birth. Her daughter’s father had showed up after she’d had the baby. He wasn’t any good, but Ray was because he was there when he could be. Ray’Sha couldn’t get a call or an answer from her daughter’s father.

  “What’s wrong, Chyna doll?”

  Ray’Sha wasn’t aware of the call Ray had made to her. They walked towards the beach, enjoying the breeze.

  “Something isn’t right! Ray called talking about some text messages. I didn’t know what the fuck he was talking about. He hasn’t sent me anything.”

  Ray’Sha wanted to keep it real with her, but she didn’t want her stressing even more. She knew she was going to keep thinking about the messages.

  “Ugh . . .” Ray’Sha released. “When did you talk to him?”

  “He called when we were leaving the hospital, saying he was dead serious about the text messages he’d sent and to think about it. What is he talking about?” Chyna noticed Ray’Sha’s puzzled face. “What’s going on? Be honest with me.”

  Ray’Sha gambled with her thoughts. ‘Why would he call her?’ she thought, but quickly figured Bella had something to do with it! At this point, Ray’Sha was beyond angry and ready to fly to L.A. to teach Bella a lesson.