Forbidden Fruit

by Nika Michelle

  “Hello…hello?”

  I didn’t say anything.

  “Who is this?” He asked sounding frustrated.

  “It’s me,” I said in a soft voice.

  “Yanna? That you?” He asked. His voice sounded hopeful. “Baby is that you?”

  I spoke up. “Yes, it’s Yanna.”

  “Baby? Where the fuck you been? I been goin’ crazy without you. You left a nigga at the wrong time baby. With all the shit goin’ on wit’ Ace and shit. I needed you here wit’ me. I miss the shit outta your ass. I’m sorry for all that shit in the past. Man, livin’ without you done taught me a valuable ass lesson. Them bitches won’t worth me losin’ you. I love you, and I want you to come back to me. Now. I ain’t playin’ no more games. I’m serious. I ain’t got nobody else in my life ‘cause it’s only you baby. It’s always been you,” he said.

  “Diablo I’m sorry that I wasn’t there for you. No matter what happened I should’ve been there. I had to get away though. We had broke up and shit just wasn’t goin’ right. After daddy died…I just needed a change I guess.”

  “Why did you tell your folks not to tell me where you went? All I could think was that I had lost you forever. I just wanted to hear you voice, even if I couldn’t see your face. So, you deaded my seed huh?”

  “Why would you think that?” I asked.

  “’Cause you said you would. Plus you ain’t mentioned a baby or nothing’ yet.”

  “Well, that’s ‘cause you started talkin’ ‘bout Ace and I was just listenin’ to you. I’m sorry to hear about Ace. Things just ain’t the same anymore. I ain’t feelin’ that street shit Diablo. You gave me the best gift in the world, and it’s changed me.”

  “What? What you talkin’ about baby?”

  “We have a son Diablo.”

  “Don’t fuck wit’ me Yanna. You told me over and over that you won’t goin’ have the baby. Plus your peoples ain’t say shit…you serious?”

  “Yes, I am. His name is Diantae Cuecell Perez. He look just like you, but he ain’t goin’ be like you though. I want you in his life, but we ain’t gettin’ back together. I can’t let my son be exposed to…you know. It’s time you give that shit up, before it’s too late.”

  * * *

  Officer Hanson was sitting in a van on the corner of Diablo’s street along with Officers Danny Burke, and Leanne Ricks. Although Lithonia was in Dekalb County and was out of their jurisdiction, they were still determined to somehow nail Diablo with the help of the Dekalb County Police.

  Danny was a stout white man that could wire anything from a cave to a mansion. They were listening to Diablo’s telephone call.

  “Look bay, I love you. I can’t wait to see you and my son. We’ll talk then.” He hung up the phone. They hadn’t gotten anything concrete enough to arrest him on. He was so careful, but he would slip up. It was just a matter of time.

  “We gotta get something on him soon. It ain’t no way a kid his age could afford a house like that and all those fancy cars without doing something dirty. Shit I been on the force for fifteen years and I can’t afford no shit like that,” Burke snarled angrily. He had a feeling of contempt towards Diablo and other scum like him. They always took the easy route. Didn’t want to work and make an honest dollar.

  “His Uncle Pete went legit before we could get anything on him. He did three for tax evasion, and a few other petty crimes. We could not pin any murders or drug activity on him. Shit, Cue died before we could nail him. There were never any witnesses because they had the streets locked down. People were scared to snitch. That family is slippery as hell,” Hanson said.

  He was a child when Cue and Pete were running the drug trade. Hanson could remember his Uncle Joey always being on their nuts. He was a low life crack head, but at one time he owned his own barbershop and hair salon. Business stopped booming and Joey’s wife left him. He gambled and hustled a little, but he ended up owing more than he earned. He had owed the wrong men. Cue and Pete got Uncle Joey to sign his business over to them to pay off his extensive debt. A few weeks later his body was found. He’d been shot in the head. Uncle Joey was a known crack fiend so the police didn’t really try to investigate. They said that he’d probably owed some drug dealer some money. Officer Hanson had promised from that day on that he would avenge his uncle’s death. He had hit rock bottom, but he had once been his hero. Although he knew that he couldn’t get Pete or Cue he felt that Diablo was the next best thing. He would bring him down if it was the last thing he did.

  Chapter 17

  Diablo held his son close to him and almost cried. “He do look just like me,” he said.

  “I told you,” I said sitting down on the sofa. It was good to see Diablo again, but all of my old feelings for him seemed to come back. I didn’t know if I was ready for those feelings again. Peanut, my son’s nickname, was now six and a half weeks old and it was Diablo’s first time seeing him. He’d tried to convince me to come down earlier, or to at least let him come up to see me. I refused and promised him that I would bring his son to him as soon as I felt that he was old enough to travel. The agreement was for me to stay for a week and then return to Raleigh. Diablo was convinced that he could get me to stay there with him. I doubted it seriously.

  “You lookin’ good baby. I swear you don’t even look like you just had a baby. How the hell you get back in shape so quick? I see some chicks who kids ‘bout two and their bodies still be lookin’ busted.” He had a big smile on his face like seeing me and Peanut had been just what he’d needed.

  “I worked out and I got good genes,” I laughed.

  “Speakin’ of jeans. Them jeans you wearin’ got a nigga tryin’ to figure out how the hell you got them on. They fittin’ that fat ass to a mu’fuckin T.”

  I ignored him and walked into the guest room with my bags. As I put my bags down I heard him walk into the room.

  “What you doin’?” He asked.

  “You didn’t think I was sleepin’ wit’ you did you?” I asked.

  “Hell yeah, I mean I ain’t think you was lookin’ all good for no reason. I thought you wanted to cuddle up wit’ me like you used to.”

  “Well Diablo, that ain’t why I’m here. I’ll be fine in here okay.”

  “I guess the case is closed,” he said winking at me. He was so cocky. I could read his mind. He was convinced that he’d get me in his bed. I couldn’t help but shake my head in disbelief. We hadn’t been together in months. How’d he think it was still that easy?

  “Don’t be like your daddy Peanut,” I said kissing my son on the forehead as Diablo held him. I was glad that I had decided to keep my baby. I never knew that I was capable of feeling such unconditional love. I wanted to change who I was because of him, and I hoped Diablo felt the same.

  “What you mean by that?” Diablo asked as if he was shocked by my statement.

  “Oh, don’t play stupid like you don’t know what I mean. See, it’s shit like that. That’s why I’m sleepin’ in the guest room.”

  Diablo shook his head at me and left the room with our son. “I’m takin’ my lil’ man to see Uncle Pete and Aunt Ramona.”

  He left and I decided to take a nap. The long drive had me exhausted. The quiet time I’d been blessed with was much needed and appreciated.

  * * *

  After I woke up I decided to go visit Princess. She seemed so different. I couldn’t believe how quiet and reserved she’d become. For some reason she couldn’t stay still and she was acting nervous.

  “You okay?” I asked her.

  “Oh, I’m fine. Just got a lot on my mind,” she said forcing a fake smile onto her face.

  I looked at her frame and noticed she’d lost a significant amount of weight. I didn’t think she was fine. Maybe she was having some relationship problems.

  “How’re you and Tre’?”

  “Everything’s good wit’ us. We hangin’ in there. How does it feel to be a mom?” She asked switching the focus of the conversation on me.


  I could tell she was hiding something. “It’s great. My baby gives me a reason to wake up in the morning. I didn’t realize being a mother could feel so good. Ablo’s had him all day. He took him to Uncle Pete’s earlier, but he probably showing him off to his boys. I can’t wait until you see him. He look just like his daddy.”

  “I bet he’s the cutest lil’ thang. You took him to see your mama yet?”

  “Nope, but I called her earlier and told her that we’ll be over to see her later on today.”

  Princess’s eyes drifted toward the floor. When she looked up her eyes glistened with fresh tears. I moved beside her and rubbed her back gently.

  “What’s wrong P.?” I asked concerned. I’d never seen her in such emotional distress.

  She wiped her eyes hastily, like she was ashamed to be crying in front of me. “Yanna,” she sighed. “I can’t tell you. All I know is that after all the shit I’ve seen and done I never thought one thing could turn my world inside out.”

  I was confused. “What do you mean you can’t tell me? It ain’t never been a time that you couldn’t tell me sumthin’. We tell each other everything.”

  Princess stood up and paced the floor. She kept wringing her hands together like she was a nervous wreck.

  “P. talk to me. What’s wrong? How long have you been like this?”

  “Please don’t keep askin’ me Yanna. Believe me, I wanna tell you, but I can’t okay. I know sumthin’ that could cause so much shit., and it’s all because of me. It’s all my fault.” She shook her head and jumped at the sound of the door opening.

  Tre’ walked in looking fine as usual with his black, smooth complexion. He strolled over to Princess and kissed her on the cheek. She flinched at his touch.

  “You been cryin’?” He asked chewing on a toothpick. He was flossing in two, platinum chains, and a platinum Movado watch with the black face.

  “No. Where you been anyway?” She asked.

  He chewed harder on his toothpick. I could tell that their relationship was strained. What had Princess seen? Whatever it was had caused her to go from a size eleven/twelve to a seven/eight. She was still fly, but she’d lost the weight so quickly. I was sure she’d lost it because of stress, and not because she wanted to. Princess had always been proud of her thick figure.

  “I was chillin’ wit’ the niggas. I saw the baby Yanna, and he look just like Ablo. How you doin’?” He asked as if he’d just noticed me sitting there.

  “I’m fine Tre’,” I said standing up to leave. “Call me later P. We need to talk.”

  “A’ight,” she said walking me to the door.

  I hugged her because I knew she needed it. She sobbed quietly and I waited for her to get it all out. I wanted to help, but I couldn’t because I had no ideal what was bothering her.

  I whispered in her ear. “Please P., tell me what it is.”

  “I can’t Yanna. Please…just forget it.” She pulled herself together. “I’ll call you. Tell Ablo I said what’s up and you gotta bring Peanut over here.”

  I left Princess with a lot on my heart and mind. What could be bothering her so much? I drove back to Diablo’s in deep thought. When I got there the Jag and a Beemer I’d never seen was parked in front of the house. I parked inside the garage and walked into the house. I heard voices coming from the kitchen.

  “He goin’ be the next boss.” The voice sounded like Diablo’s boy Mont. He and Juan were the only ones left that Diablo could trust to have his back one hundred percent. He’d lost Ace and Nino.

  Diablo shook his head and held his son close to him. “I don’t know ‘bout that man. I mean, at first I wanted my son to walk in my footsteps. Now that he’s here I don’t know if I want him to do the shit I do.”

  “You talkin’ soft man.”

  “What the fuck you mean? I ain’t talkin’ soft nigga. Yanna told me some real shit man. I got a seed now, and shit ain’t the same no more. Ace and Nino gone. What if I get shot and leave my lil’ man you know. And Yanna, that’s my heart and soul. I love her man. Shit, I’ll be thirty soon. It’s ‘bout time I do right by her before it’s too late. Know what I’m sayin’? I got plans for my lil’ man. I want him to go to college and have a career and shit. I don’t want him to be like me.”

  A smile spread across my face as I eavesdropped. I opened the kitchen door and spotted Mont and Diablo sitting at the table. Peanut was asleep in his carrier. I expected that they’d just gotten there right before I did. I kissed Diablo on the cheek before I sat down.

  “What’s up Mont?” I asked peeling a banana.

  “Not shit. Just sittin’ here wit’ the proud father talkin’ and shit. He done showed lil’ man off to everybody he know. Ya’ll did good. He look just like Blo. I just ain’t figured out why you left and shit. My boy was goin’ through it over you.”

  I took a bite of the banana and chewed it slowly before I swallowed it. “It’s a long story Mont, so let’s just leave it at that. I’ll explain everything to Diablo when the time comes.”

  Diablo leaned over and kissed my cheek. “I don’t care why you left. All that matters is that you and our son here now. I just wanna make things right for you and him. We need to get back together baby. He need both of us. Let’s give our son sumthin’ we didn’t have.”

  I couldn’t read him. I didn’t know if he was sincere, or if he was still on the same bullshit. “I don’t know Diablo. If we goin’ give our son sumthin’ different we both gotta change. It’s time for you to give up the streets. I already have.”

  Mont looked at Diablo and frowned. “Man you hen-pecked. Don’t tell me you actually fallin’ for this. You can’t turn your back on the Cues. We your family too man. It’s your son’s birth right to be the next leader of the Cues. What’s goin’ happen to your dad’s legacy man? You goin’ throw away all you know?”

  “Mont, we’ll talk later man. Just let me and my girl have a little privacy okay?”

  Mont shook his head and left without saying a word. I laughed at Diablo.

  “What’s so funny?” He asked.

  “I ain’t your girl homey. Now get up and take me to see my mama. I don’t feel like drivin’ and she’ll kill me if I don’t take Peanut to see her.”

  “C’mon baby. You know you still love me. Stop frontin’ like you can live without a nigga. I know better. Shit, your ass know better.” He flashed me that familiar cocky smile he was famous for.

  I rolled my eyes at him. “Whatever. C’mon now! I gotta go see my mama! So bring your ass on!”

  Diablo grabbed our sleeping son’s carrier/car seat and followed me to the car.

  * * *

  It was late when we headed back to Diablo’s from my mother’s apartment. Peanut was crying up a storm and I suddenly remembered why I didn’t want any kids at first. He was working on my nerves, but Ablo was all nice about it.

  “Aww, what’s the matter wit’ my lil’ man,” he said lovingly. I was driving, so he climbed into the back seat and gave Peanut the bottle and attention that he craved.

  I was kind of shocked by his fatherly instinct. I was convinced for a while that he wouldn’t be a good father. Well, for the day he’d proved me wrong. Time would tell if he could handle being a father full time.

  When we made it back to the house I was tired as hell. I sat on the couch and kicked off my shoes. Diablo sat down beside me after laying Peanut down. He was down, but I was sure that he wouldn’t be down for long. Ablo lifted my feet and placed them in his lap. He started massaging my aching feet and it felt good. I closed my eyes and those feelings that I’d tried to bury came rushing back. I couldn’t invite those feelings in though, no matter how much I really wanted to. I couldn’t give in to him, but the way he was touching me. It had been so long.

  “Damn Ablo that feels sooo good.”

  “You know I can make you feel even better,” he said.

  I suddenly jerked my feet away from him. I remembered the heartache and pain he’d put me through. I couldn’t
forget that during the years we’d been together I’d caught him cheating so many times. My heart was suddenly filled with rage. I sat up and rubbed my temples.

  “What’s wrong bay, you got a headache or sumthin’?” Diablo asked. He tried to touch me but I moved away from his touch.

  I gave him a hard, menacing look. “This is wrong,” I said pointing to him and then me. “Me and you, that’s wrong! We are wrong Diablo!” I yelled angrily. “I had kinda changed my mind at first, but now…now I know it won’t work. It won’t work Diablo, because I can’t trust you. How the fuck can we be together if you can’t even touch me without me seeing you wit’ other bitches?” Tears dripped down my cheeks.