by K. C. Mills
I started towards her but Janelle stepped in front of me. “Let me introduce you first. She doesn't know you, so I don’t want her to be upset.”
I really wanted to cuss her ass out, but I knew she was right, so I waited while she went over and picked Riley up. I watched her face as she chatted away with Janelle, but she frowned the second she laid eyes on me, and her head fell on Janelle’s shoulder. It had me feeling all fucked up. My own daughter was afraid of me. Tay picked up on it too, so she tightened her grip on my hand.
“Riley bug, I want you meet my friend Hakeem, can you say hi?”
I clenched my teeth the second she said the word friend. This shit was pissing me off. Janelle realized I was irritated and tried to explain.
“I don't want her to be confused, she thinks Mason is her father-”
“That’s your fault.” Tasia let go of my hand and stepped to Riley.
“Hey pretty girl, do you want to come with me over there?” Tay pointed to the area that Riley had been playing in. Riley stuck her tiny finger in her mouth and just stared at Tasia, until Janelle spoke up.
“Do you want to go play?” she looked down and Riley and then back at Tasia.
Riley nodded and then reached for Tasia. Once Tay had her in her arms, she looked at me and then Janelle.
“You two need to figure this out. I don’t know who Mason is, but Hakeem is Riley’s father, so like it or not she needs to know that. Tasia looked like she wanted to rip Janelle’s head off, but instead, she turned and walked away with Riley over to the play area. I couldn’t help but smile.
“I’m trying to be patient with your dumb ass, but you’re making it real hard. That nigga might have been playing house with her, but that’s my daughter and she will know that. Fuck all that friend shit.”
“Why do you even care? Looks like you have everything you need.” Janelle’s eyes fell on Tasia who was sitting on the floor, while Riley ran though the play area they were in. Seeing them like that, all I could think about was the day we would have a child of our own.
“I care because that’s my fucking daughter. Did you think you could just show up, throw her out there, and then I would be like fuck it, that nigga can raise her? Come on Jay, you know me better than that.”
“But why upset her world? She’s happy Keem, I’m happy. You can have your life and I can have mine. I’m sure she won’t mind giving you all the children you want.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? You’re not back to tell me about her. This shit is making sense now. If I wouldn’t have seen you with her that night, your ass wouldn’t have told me shit.” I had to laugh to keep from smacking the stupid out of her dumb ass.
“What are you talking about?” She looked like a deer caught in headlights.
“You want that nigga to raise my daughter. The fuck is up with that shit? He can’t have kids of his own? That nigga shooting blanks, Jay? I knew he was a fucking bitch, but damn. I don’t give a fuck what his problem is, he isn’t raising my daughter, I promise you that. Now try me if you want and your ass won’t be in her life either.”
I walked away from her dumb ass before I was tempted to wrap my hands around her neck and choke the life out of her. When I made it over to the play area where Tay and Riley were, I smiled at the sight of Riley sitting in Tay’s lap. Tay had her hand in the air while Riley admired her freshly painted powder blue fingernails. Tay looked up at me when she felt me watching the two of them, and then waved me over.
“Hey Riley, would it be oaky if he sits with us?” Riley looked up at me and then back at Tay. It was cute to me how quickly the two of them bonded, but I couldn’t lie, it low key had me little jealous.
Riley nodded but then bashfully stuck her finger in her mouth and leaned into Tay. I walked over to them and sat down on the floor across from them. My big ass was looking like a fucking giant sitting in the middle of that tiny play area. I could see Janelle moving our way out the corner of my eye. The look I gave her stopped her from saying shit though, so she just stood there looking stupid while I focused on Riley.
“What’s up shorty?” Riley looked up at Tay and then back to me, before she lifted her tiny hand and shyly waved at me, and then she turned and buried her face in Tay’s chest.
I couldn’t help but laugh, because she was so damn cute. When her eyes were on me again, I reached for her hand. “Can you come sit with me for a minute?”
Like clockwork, she looked up at Tay, waited for approval, and when she nodded, Riley was on her tiny little feet, moving towards me. She stopped in front of me and didn’t move, until I lifted her little body and sat her in my lap.
She didn’t say a word, but her little hands moved to my watch and her fingers glided across it. She focused on my watch for a few more minutes, before she wiggled free and walked back over to Tay. “Can we get ice cream?”
Tay laughed and I couldn’t even be mad. Hell, she actually sat with me without crying, even if it was just for a minute.
“Can he come with us? He has all the money,” Tay said and winked at Riley. Once I was on my feet, Riley grabbed my hand and stood in between Tay and I, content, as we walked over to the concession stand. Janelle didn’t say shit. She knew better; her ass was on thin ice and I had a feeling she was about to fall through it real soon.
-7-
Tasia
“My brother approved that dress?” Liyah asked the second she joined me in our VIP section. I looked down at my very tiny red dress and smiled. Hakeem wasn’t pleased about it, but I won the argument, so here I was in my tiny red dress.
“Nope,” I said as I threw my arms around her neck and kissed her cheek.
“Where’s Kendrick?” I asked looking around.
“He’s going to meet me here. Late practice.” Liyah’s face turned into a pout.
“Ah, look at you. Somebody’s really feeling Mr. Kendrick Davis.”
Liyah just smiled and blushed, as we made our way over to the leather sectional and got comfortable.
“Feeling him doesn’t even explain it. Oh my God, you have no idea. That man, I swear.” Liyah was grinning so hard I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Well damn, I can see that.”
“Tay, he is everything. Almost too perfect sometimes and I mean he’s not perfect, because he gets on my nerves, but he’s just everything.”
“That’s love, sis. When you love the things you hate about them, that’s love.”
“I don’t know about all that, but what I do know is that I’m keeping him around for a little while,” Liyah said.
“Look at you glowing like a lone candle on a birthday cake.” Jacob’s voice caused me and Liyah to both turn towards the entrance to their VIP section, as he made his usual grand entrance. He was dressed in bright red pants and a royal blue button up shirt with white pinstripes, and a matching red bowtie.
Jacob made his way over and fell on the sofa right in between Liyah and I, crossing his long thin legs and propping his hands up on his knees.
“So you’re glowing and you’re fabulously delish. What are we talking about?” Jacob asked looking at me first and then Liyah.
“Liyah was just telling me how she was in love with a ball player,” I said with a smirk.
“Hmmm, so that explains the fiery glow. Where is that eye candy? I need a fix.”
Liyah frowned at Jacob and then rolled her eyes.
“Girl, don’t look at me like that. You know I only look and never touch,” Jacob said and laughed, but Liyah ignored him.
“Where’s Keem?” she asked looking around the club. It was beyond packed and truthfully speaking, our VIP section should have been being used for other guests, but Hakeem wanted to make sure we were somewhere he could keep an eye on us. He didn’t like us being in an environment that he couldn’t control and with the club being as packed as it was, he felt it was better with us having our own section.
“Who knows, making rounds I guess. I’m sure he’ll be through here eventually. He’s never
too far. You know how your brother is,” I said, scanning the crowd. I had a strange feeling that someone was watching me, and sure enough as I looked up again, I laid eyes on Detective Howard, who smiled the second he realized I noticed him.
“What’s Hottie Howard doing here?” Jacob asked, as he noticed him moving towards us. Apparently, I was still watching Howard as he moved our way, because I felt Jacob nudge me in my shoulder to get my attention.
I glanced at him and then Liyah, who didn’t look to happy. “Who’s that Tay?” she asked nodding towards Howard.
“He’s working a case involving Sky.”
“The hoe that-,” she stopped herself before mentioning the fact that Hakeem slept with her and rephrased. “The one that used to work with you?”
“Yeah,” I said.
“Somebody attacked her in her home. I told Tay, God don’t like ugly,” Jacob snapped.
“Will you stop saying that?” I said. I didn’t care how much I hated Sky, it wasn’t fair that she had been attacked.
“So why is he on his way over here?” Liyah asked pointing towards Howard, just as he walked into our VIP section.
“You look absolutely gorgeous, if you don’t mind me saying so,” Howard said as he stood in front of me.
“Yes we mind,” Liyah said looking him up and down. “I’m Kaliyah Williams, my brother is her man, and you are?”
“Mason, pleased to meet you, Kaliyah Williams.”
“What are you doing here?” I asked looking around. If Hakeem had eyes on our section, it was only a matter of time before he showed up.
“Just checking things out. I’m impressed. This place is really nice,” he said.
“Yeah, really nice, how about you go check out the rest of it before my brother shows up and puts you out?”
“Yeah maybe I’ll do that,” Howard said with a smirk as he looked at Liyah, who along with Jacob were now on their feet. I hadn’t bothered to move yet.
“I guess I’ll see you around,” he said and winked at me. I could feel my face blush, but I was able to control it because I transferred my focus to Kendrick, who was approaching. He originally had a smile on his face, but it dropped when he noticed the scowl on Liyah’s.
“Hey baby, who’s this?” Kendrick stepped behind Liyah as his arm moved around her waist, resting on her stomach. He kissed her on the temple and then looked right at Howard. I couldn’t help but smile, because he was Hakeem in every sense of the word.
I stood and made my way over to Jacob who was next to Liyah, with Howard standing in front of the two of them.
“He's the detective handling the case for Sky.”
“Who’s Sky?” Kendrick asked looking confused.
“It’s not important,” Jacob said.
Howard chuckled, “You don’t seem to thrilled about Sky, maybe I should be asking you some questions.” I frowned at him before glancing at Jacob.
“I think maybe it’s time for you to leave,” I said.
“Yeah, that would be a great idea,” Liyah snapped.
“You can ask me whatever you want about that little green-eyed devil, but it won’t lead you to any revelations about who attacked her. Trust me, I wouldn’t break a nail over that hot mess.”
“The fuck is you doing here?” Hakeem’s voice broke through the conversation vibrating through my body, even with the music that filled the club.
“Well, well, I guess the gang’s all here,” Howard said with a cocky grin and his eyes on Hakeem. He moved so swiftly through the entrance of VIP, had my wrist so tight that I felt like it was going to snap, when he forced my body behind him, holding me in place by the grip he hand on me.
Hakeem looked like he was about to explode, while Howard wore an arrogant grin.
“You’re open to the public right?”
“Nah, we don't work like that. This is my shit, so if I don’t want you here then your ass don’t need to be here.”
Howard chuckled and then looked Hakeem right in the eyes. “I let you slide one time, but you will not keep disrespecting me. I know people like you don’t understand respect, and you think you can play by your own rules, but this badge says otherwise.”
Hakeem laughed, “The fuck you gonna arrest me for, running a fucking business? Trust me when I say, people like me play by our own rules because we can. Fuck niggas like you hide behind shit like that, because you can’t. So arrest me if you want and I promise my lawyer will be buying that property he wants upstate with the money that we make off you. Because we’ll sue the city, and your ass will be looking for another job. Now get the fuck out of my club.”
Howard didn’t say anything for a minute and I was confused; the way they were interacting was like they knew each other. It couldn’t have come from the first time Howard showed up questioning me about Sky, because Hakeem clearly asked who Howard was.
“Yeah, I guess I better get home so I can kiss my baby girl goodnight; I already missed her bedtime,” Howard said with a smirk causing Hakeem to lunge at him, but Kendrick grabbed him around the chest and held him back.
“Hold up Keem, he's a cop. Don’t fall for that shit. He wants you to hit him so that he can take your ass in. Calm the fuck down.” Kendrick was yelling as he struggled to hold onto Hakeem. They were about the same size, but Hakeem was so mad that it took everything Kendrick had to hold onto him.
“Listen to your boy, because if you put your hands on me again, your ass is going to jail.”
“Fuck you and if you were a real man you wouldn’t be hiding behind that badge. That must be why your pussy ass is trying to claim my daughter as your own, but trust me, that shit isn’t happening. In fact, your bitch ass just provided a guarantee that Janelle’s dumb ass won’t be in her life either, now fuck with it if you want to. I’m coming for my daughter and I put that on everything.”
Howard just laughed. “Yeah, well we’ll see about that. Nice place, enjoy the rest of your evening.”
Kendrick held on to Hakeem for as long as he could, before Hakeem broke free. Howard had disappeared into the crowd and Hakeem was fuming.
“Daughter, your daughter?” Liyah yelled looking from Hakeem to me. “What is he talking about?” Liyah asked. She and Jacob both were staring at us confused. We had just recently found out about Riley and aside from us, Jodie was the only other person who knew. Hakeem said he wanted to give it a minute to figure things out first.
He just looked at Liyah but didn’t say anything, but he reached in his pocket and grabbed his phone.
“I know you hear me,” Liyah said grabbing his arm, but he yanked away with his phone to his ear, heading towards his office. I was right behind him, with Liyah and Kendrick right behind us. Jacob of course couldn’t feel left out, so he followed also.
Hakeem entered his office first, and we followed. He turned to look at all of us, but kept his focus on the call he was making.
“No I’m not fucking good. I need you to wake your ass up and figure out how I can get custody of my daughter. It doesn’t matter, I’ll explain all that later, but meet me at my apartment first thing in the morning. Either you figure out a way for me to get my daughter or I will, but my way is going to lead to a few missing person’s reports.”
He ended the call and threw his phone across the room. It hit the wall, causing me and Liyah both to jump.
“I can’t believe this shit. Pussy ass muthfuaker is threatening me with my daughter. I should go to Janelle’s house right now and fuck that bitch up.”
“What daughter? Will somebody tell me what is going on!”
Hakeem was pacing the floor too angry to speak, so he just waved his hand in the air at Liyah as if to tell her to shut up. A few seconds later, he walked over to his desk, pulled the drawer open and then picked up his gun. He loaded the clip and chambered the first round before he started moving to the door.
“No, you are not leaving here with that. What do you think that’s going to solve? He obviously wants you to do something stupid, so don’t
,” I said stepping in front of him. Hakeem looked down at me with the most hateful stare, before his face softened just a little. He was angry but he was also worried. Worried about Riley. He didn’t trust Howard, and I could see it all over his face.
“That’s my daughter Tay, the fuck am I supposed to do? Sit here and do nothing? Fuck!” he yelled as his hand went across his head.
“Look, I don’t know what’s going on, and it’s obviously not my business, but I know cops and that nigga, whoever he is, is dirty as fuck. He’s pushing buttons because he doesn’t have shit on you, but he wants to. Don’t let him catch you slipping. Dirty or not, he’s still a cop yo,” Kendrick said squaring off with Hakeem.
Hakeem held his stare with Kendrick for a few more minutes, before he stepped away and placed his gun back in the drawer. He moved to the corner of the room, paced for a few minutes more, before he lost it and hit the wall.
I walked over to him not knowing what else to do, and pulled him into my body. It took him a minute, but he held me back before he exhaled, trying to calm himself.
“That’s my daughter Tay, I can’t just sit here and do nothing. This is about me, not her, and Janelle’s letting that shit happen. The fuck am I supposed to do with that?”
“We’ll talk to Dave in the morning and we’ll go see Riley tomorrow. Right now, that’s all you can do.”
Hakeem leaned back and kissed me, before his eyes moved across the room to Liyah. Kendrick was behind her with his arms around her waist, towering over her short frame, and she had her eyes on us.
Jacob was sitting quietly on the sofa in Hakeem’s office on his phone, not bothered by any of what was happening. He was just that way. He could either take over a situation, making himself the focus, or be so discreet that you had no idea he was even around.
“So you have a daughter with Janelle? Why didn’t you tell me?” Liyah asked frowning at her brother, when she realized he was finally paying attention to her.