by Blue Saffire
I saw something about guardians, but I didn’t know if my parents were fighting for custody for me or something before my dad died. There were other names on the papers, but I couldn’t make heads or tails of any of it. Something in my gut told me they were important though.
After I finished crying, I wiped my face and picked the papers up to fold them. I collected all the money I found and went into my room to count it up. I needed to come up with a plan and that would take knowing what I had to work with.
I put on pajamas and stretched out on the bed. In all, I had about ten thousand dollars, I gathered it all and placed it in a pocketbook from my mom’s room along with the papers I found. I was exhausted and confused. I got under the covers and went to sleep. I would work things out in the afternoon.
Chapter Two
My Plan
I woke up the next afternoon to banging on the door again, but this time I could hear the police walkie-talkies. I stayed as quiet as possible. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do yet, but foster care was not in my plans.
It seemed like they took hours to leave the door. I peeked out the window once they were gone. A few minutes went by and I saw two police officers walking out the building with a lady that I was sure was a social worker or something.
I rushed to the bathroom to wash and brush my teeth so I could get dressed and out the door. My hair was curled tight to my head, but I didn’t have time to straighten it. I pulled out the gel and brushed my hair back in a ponytail and twisted it into a bun.
I went to my room to throw on a pair of jeans, a shirt, and my rider boots. I hurried into my mother’s room for one of her furs. I wanted to look as old a possible. It was a school day and I didn’t want to get stopped.
After retrieving the bag with my papers and money I went to the door to peek out and make sure the coast was clear. I opened the door and ran for the elevator. Once outside, I pulled the fur around my face and kept my head low. I was so nervous my stomach was in knots. I had no idea where to go, but I couldn’t stay in that apartment.
I didn’t find anything in my mother’s drug stash, so I was going to have to get my own drugs, but I didn’t know how or who to see. I knew my best bet was to go to the La Mafia headquarters and get some help. There was a chance I could run into Pedro there, but no one there would let him touch me.
I hopped in the first cab I could get to stop and went right to the warehouse my mom had taken me to a dozen times before. It was where she went for meetings and sometime they had parties there. I went to a party there with Pedro once. Uncle Sisqo was pretty upset about that and sent me home. He sort of hates Pedro because of me.
I counted the money out to pay for the cab quickly and jumped out to go into the warehouse. Raul was second in command these days. He was Sisqo’s little cousin.
I would need to see him. He would be the one that could help me. Sisqo doesn’t really hang around the action anymore. He calls the shots from behind the scenes.
Anthony, a short kid from the building next to mine, was the one manning the front door as I walked in. I was extra nervous as I walked up to him. I wasn’t sure what to say or do.
I tried to remember what my mother used to do. I think everyone knew her, so she pretty much walked in the place like she owned it. I lifted my head and tried to show some of her confidence.
“Hey, Mellie,” Anthony said as I walked up. “Yo, I’m sorry for your loss, you alright?”
“I’m cool, Anthony. I kind of need to see Raul, please.”
“Hold on,” he replied and pick up the phone. “Yeah, Melissa shorty, Mellie is here. She wants to see Raul.” He paused to listen to the other end for a few minutes. “A’ight,” he said before hanging up. “Mellie go to the elevator. Someone is coming down for you. Hold your head up, Mama.”
“Thanks,” I said quickly and hurried to the freight elevator.
As the freight arrived, it opened and Harry, Raul’s right hand was on the elevator. I stepped in and Harry closed the door to take me upstairs. We got off the elevator in a really large room with doors along the back wall.
I nervously followed Harry to one of the doors. There were people sitting around the large room on sofas hanging out, a couple looked as if they were taking cat naps. Others were playing cards or text messaging.
Harry walked right into a room with a large desk and two large fish tanks on either side of the room. There was a large round table across the room from the desk. I noticed the mattress on the floor in the corner and started to get really nervous.
This place was crawling with guys that knew I didn’t have parents that would be looking for me or after me. Coming here didn’t seem like such a good idea anymore.
“Mellie, Ma-me, how you doing? Yo, we working on that situation as we speak. We gonna handle that,” Raul said as I walked in.
“Thanks, but I’m sort of here for something else,” I said softly.
“That fool Pedro gonna be handled as well. Chris hit me up about that this morning,” Raul grumbled and twisted his face up.
“No, that’s not it. I sort of need to… I was hoping you could help me get some work. I mean… I wanted to serve my mom’s customers I guess. I need to get a place and I need to make money,” I stammered.
“Mellie, Ma, I can’t do that,” Raul started.
“I have money I can pay for it.” I didn’t mean to sound so desperate, but I really didn’t have a plan B.
“Ma-me, this game ain’t for you. These fiends would eat you alive. Baby girl we can work something out, but I can’t have you on the block,” Raul said, shaking his head.
“Work something out,” I repeated nervously and looked around the room at the four other guys sitting around.
“Yeah, how old are you anyway?” Raul asked with a smirk in the corners of his mouth.
“Sixteen,” I said as my mouth went dry. I was ready to take off running.
“Word, damn, Mellie. I thought you were at least eighteen. What you doing with Pedro? Now I see why Chris was so mad,” Raul said and started to frown. “Alright Mama, look I got a sister your age. I wouldn’t want to see her in trouble like this. Did you eat today?”
“No,” I said quietly, still not relaxed.
“Harry, go get her some breakfast from the deli and don’t take all day,” Raul ordered. “What you want, Ma-me?”
“I’m not picky,” I replied.
He nodded for Harry to leave and looked me over again. “Make yourself at home. I still can’t believe you’re only sixteen.”
I took the fur coat off and put it over a chair by the round table. The other guys in the room were watching me and shook their heads as if they couldn’t believe my age either. I tried not to make eye contact with anyone. I just wanted to get out of there.
Harry came back twenty minutes later with sausage, eggs and cheese on a roll and some orange juice. I remained quiet as I ate and stayed to myself. Raul was in and out of the room on the phone and sending others out on runs. Time was flying as I sat and waited to see what was going to happen. I started to get tired, but I refused to fall asleep around here.
Harry had given me lunch and he offered me dinner a couple of times, but I just wanted to go. Raul entered the room around nine o’clock at night as if he’d just remembered I was still there. He walked over and looked at me for a few minutes, then twisted his mouth and sighed.
“I want you to go home, don’t let nobody in and don’t answer the door. I’ll call you on this phone if I want you,” he said as he handed me a phone. “My number is in there if you have trouble. We’re going to take care of things. I just need a minute.”
“Okay,” I said in almost a whisper. I was fighting back the tears. I didn’t want anyone here to see me crying.
“Don’t worry about your mom’s funeral arrangements. I got somebody on that,” he said as he read my face. “You sure you okay, Mama?”
“Yes, I’m fine… just tired.”
“Alright, Harry is going to drop
you at your building. You can trust him,” Raul reassured me and gave Harry a stern look.
“Okay.” I stood and pulled on my coat. Raul placed his hand on my waist as he looked me in the eyes and kissed me on the forehead. “You gonna be alright, little mama. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
I felt really uncomfortable with the way he was touching me and the way he said his last words. I grabbed my bag and started for the door. Harry was right behind me.
We rode the elevator down to the lower level and got inside a black Hummer. I looked out the passenger window the whole ride. It had been a long day and I still had no idea what I was going to do.
Chapter three
Unwanted Guest
When Harry dropped me off at my building, I jumped out of the truck and ran to go in the building only to stop when I saw Pedro standing out front. I didn’t want to get into it with him. I was trying to avoid him until Raul dealt with him like he promised.
I tried to turn to walk up the block. I needed to figure out what I was going to do, but Pedro spotted me as I turned. He quickly moved in my direction.
“Yo, Mellie,” he bellowed as he jogged after me.
I picked up the pace and kept walking. I was trying to think. I didn’t want to call Raul. I didn’t like the way he was looking at me when I left.
Sister my age or not he wanted something more from me. I knew Mirasole, we went to school together. Raul’s sister looked nothing like me. He didn’t have to worry about guys trying to take advantage of her. I made it half way up the block before Pedro’s arms caught my waist.
“Yo, why you running, Mellie?” he growled in my ear.
“Get off of me,” I snapped.
“I want to talk to you. I got problems with the crew over you, the least you can do is talk to me.” Pedro grumbled as he turned me to face him.
“What do you want?” I roared as I placed my hands against his chest to keep my distance.
“You acting like you not my girl. So, I got a little high last night and wanted to help you feel better. You gonna run to Raul about it, Ma?”
“I didn’t go to anybody about anything. Raul knew what you did before I got there,” I hissed at him.
He pressed his lips and narrowed his eyes at me. “Why you go to see him then?”
“None of your business.”
“So I’m not good enough, you want someone at the top, that’s it?”
“What are you talking about?” I groaned.
“You go run and try to get with Raul like he can do better for you. Trust me Mellie, that little girl act isn’t cutting it with Raul,” Pedro hissed.
“You sound crazy. I’m not hooking up with Raul and I’m not looking for him to do anything for me. Pedro, I think we should chill for a while until I figure things out,” I said as calmly as I could.
“Did he tell you to say that?” he asked narrowing his eyes at me further.
“Oh please. I’m tired and I just want to go upstairs,” I groaned.
“A’ight, let me walk you upstairs,” Pedro said and folded his arms across his chest.
“Fine,” I huffed. Anything to get rid of him, I just wanted to go to bed.
We walked in the building and got on the elevator. As we rode upstairs, Pedro placed his hands on the wall over my head and tried to kiss me. I moved my face away from him and started to push him away.
As the elevator doors opened to the eleventh floor, I heard the last sound I wanted to hear. The police officers were in my hallway. I could hear the walkie-talkies again. This time they were getting on the elevator.
Thankfully, Pedro wasn’t moving off the elevator. He was too busy trying to kiss me. I quickly grabbed him by the collar and pressed my lips to his. The two officers and the social worker with them, stepped on the elevator.
Pedro placed his hand inside my coat and pulled me closer to him as I kissed him. He started to grope at my butt as I held his face to mine. I wanted to pull away and slap him, but I needed him to stay right where he was until the police and the social worker were gone.
One of the officers cleared his throat as he stepped into the elevator. A smile stretched across Pedro’s face as he kissed me deeper and ignored everyone else.
“I don’t know about this one,” one of the officers said.
“Yeah, I know. She wasn’t in school and she’s not at the apartment. Maybe she’s tied up in the mother’s murder,” the other officer replied.
“Who knows, we can start a missing person’s report in the morning. I’m tired and this was the last stop,” the social worker sighed. “Who’s to say she was really staying with the mother.”
I was enraged they could care less about me or my mom. I just wanted out of this elevator. Pedro was enjoying the ride down to the first floor a lot more than necessary. He was panting and pressing his body against mine. His other hand had found its way under my shirt and bra.
“You two have a good night,” one of the officers chuckled as they got off the elevator.
As the elevator doors slammed shut again, I pushed Pedro off of me. He was panting and staring at me with a huge grin on his face. I fixed my clothes and pulled my coat closed as I scowled at him. I reached to press for my floor again.
“Mellie, you gonna do me like that, mama?” Pedro crooned.
“Do you like what Pedro? Go home.” I crossed my arms across my chest and frowned at him.
“You know you don’t want to be alone. Let me stay with you,” he breathed in my face as he came and wrapped his arms around me.
“I’m not in the mood for that and I do want to be alone.” Which was a lie, the last thing I wanted was to be alone. I just didn’t want to be with him.
“In the mood for what, I just want to hold you for a little while. I miss you, Mellie, you know I love you,” he said into my ear.
I pushed past him to get off the elevator and marched up the hall. I was too exhausted to argue with him. As I unlocked the door, he wrapped around my waist, begging me to let him come inside with me.
He knew he was right. I didn’t want to be alone. I was scared, but I was sure I didn’t want him to be with me. I sighed as I unlocked the door and opened it. I turned to face him.
“You promise to behave if I let you in,” I asked slowly.
“Yeah, Baby, I love you. I just want to be here for you.” I knew it was a lie, but he was all I was sure about at the moment.
“Okay,” I murmured as I turned and went inside.
I took off my coat and my shoes and went in the kitchen to make something to eat. It felt funny knowing I wasn’t going to have to leave a plate out for my mom. Pedro was right up under me locked around my waist, kissing on my neck. I sighed to myself because I knew this was a bad idea.
“You know I love you, right,” he whispered in my ear.
I just nodded and continue to fix myself a hamburger.
“Baby, why don’t you come stay with me? You know I’ll take care of you.”
“As long as I take care of you, right?” I hissed.
“Mell, it’s not like we weren’t going to do it anyway,” he said confidently.
“Get off of me Pedro before I put you out.” I snatched my plate and sat down at the table.
Pedro sat down next to me with his arms folded across his chest and a frown on his face. I sat and ate quietly, waiting for my mom to walk in the door. Waiting for this nightmare to be over, but an hour later, I had finished my food and waited patiently, and still she never appeared.
I finally got up and washed my plate. When I was done, I totally ignored the fact that Pedro was there and went to my room. I collected my things to shower and went into the bathroom.
I stood under the water, letting it loosen my hair and my thoughts. I was so confused and hurt. I needed answers and I wasn’t getting any. I was so frustrated.
As the water pounded down on my back, I felt a breeze from the bathroom door opening. I turned around, startled, as the shower curtain was pulled back. Pedro was stand
ing in the bathroom with no clothes on, looking at me as I shivered under the water. I started to scream, but he covered my mouth and stepped in the shower with me.
“Relax mama, I just want to hold you,” he said softly and smiled down at me.
I took a deep breath as I looked in his eyes and nodded my head, so he would release my mouth. He pulled his hand away and wrapped his arms around my waist. I really had forgotten he was in the apartment with me.
He had been sitting at the table with me, but I was so focused on my mom walking in the door, I had blocked him out. It was foolish of me, but I was consumed with my own grief. I started to pray that I wouldn’t pay for my mistake.
He reached for my head and pulled it to his chest. It felt nice to have him hold me, for someone to hold me. I broke down and sobbed against his chest.
We stood there like that for I don’t know how long. He rubbed my back as I held onto him with the fresh tears falling from my eyes. I was so comfortable, I forgot about the jerk he’d been the night before.
When he reached for my face I let him lift my chin so he could kiss me. He was being gentle and caring, something I needed. However, when I felt how excited the kiss was making him, I pulled away.
I reached behind me to turn off the water. I moved quickly to get out of the shower and into a towel. I didn’t bother to dry off, I just grabbed my things and rushed to my room.
Pedro was right behind me with a towel wrapped around his waist. I moved to the far side of my room to dry off and put on my clothes. He removed the towel he was wearing and climbed in my bed.
“What are you doing?” I grunted.
“I just want to hold you while you sleep, Baby. We don’t have to do anything,” he said as he looked at me, biting his lip. “Come here.”
“No! Put your clothes on.”
“Mellie, come here.” He moved closer to me and reached to pull me in the bed with him. “I’m not going to do nothing, Mama. Come here.”
I looked at his face and he looked sincere. I was tired and drained. I had nothing left to fight with.
I slowly climbed in the bed as he held the covers back for me. I tried not to look down at his private area, screaming for my attention. As I got in the bed, he pulled my back against his chest and I could feel him demanding my attention now. He kissed the top of my head and slipped his hand under my shirt to squeeze my breast.