by K. C. Mills
I stepped back and just stared at him. Mason had always been a little on the edge, but he was also always so loving with both me and Riley. I had never seen this side of him before. It was like he lost a grip with reality, and I wasn’t quite sure how to take it, but I still loved him enough to figure it out.
Mason smiled at me and his whole mood changed; it was like night and day. He grabbed be behind my neck, pulling me into a kiss so passionate and I was hoping he was about to fuck me right there in the kitchen, but he simply pulled away and then kissed me on the cheek. “I have to get back to work. I’ll call you later.” And without another word, he was out the front door like he hadn’t just flipped out on me.
I had to believe that he was just a father fighting hard for his child, and that’s where all this was coming from, but deep inside there was a part of me that believed there was more to it. Mason and I had been together for almost two and a half years. We met a month after Riley was born when someone tried to break into my apartment, and had been together ever since.
He was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. When I found out I was pregnant by Hakeem, my parents tried everything to make me get an abortion, but it was my child, I couldn’t do that, no matter what they offered. I honestly thought about going back to him to tell him, but my parents agreed to accept the fact that I was keeping the baby, if I swore to never tell him.
It wasn't proper for their only child to be tied up with a drug dealer. It took me forever to get over Hakeem, or at least to push my feelings far enough in the back of my head so that I could function without him, and Mason was a big part of that. He was everything to me and on top of the fact that he loved me, he took to Riley like she was truly his own. I was happy, my parents were happy, so things were good. Now, here we were in New York because I wanted to be close to family, and now everything was falling apart.
How was I to know that Hakeem was in New York now? He was a Jersey boy. All he was ever going to be was a Jersey boy, so imagine my surprise when I found out he not only lived in New York, but owned one of the hottest clubs there. The first night I saw him there and kissed him, everything came back, but the way he reacted had me convinced that I needed to stay with Mason. Mason loved me and he loved Riley. I wasn’t about to throw that away to chase after a man who didn’t want me.
But all that changed that night Hakeem saw Riley with my parents at that restaurant. Now my life was screwed up, and I needed to find a way to fix it. I had to fix it. They only way I knew how was to give Mason a child of his own. He had always insisted that I stay on birth control, even going as far as checking my packs to make sure I took it, but I had stopped taking my pills months ago. Even before all this, I wanted to have Mason’s baby. Now it was a must, but I still wasn’t pregnant. Mason was insatiable, so we had sex several times a day, which I loved, because I couldn’t get enough of him either. But, even with all that, I still wasn’t pregnant.
I hated to admit it, but maybe Hakeem was right. Mason was holding on to Riley so tight because he couldn't have kids of his own. Either way, I didn’t care. We could adopt or just figure out how to be happy with just the two of us, and share Riley with Hakeem, because apparently Hakeem’s mind was made up, and he was going to be a part of Riley’s life. I didn’t understand why that mattered so much to Mason.
After Mason left, I walked around our apartment with him heavy on my mind. Something wasn’t right. Maybe I was missing something. I started going through his things, his drawers, the cabinets, our closet and after almost giving up, there it was. My heart sank and I almost hated to open it, but I had to know if there was some sort of secret that was haunting Mason and the reason behind his recent behavior.
I pulled the shoebox sized, leather container from its hiding place, on the shelf up under a stack of his clothes, and sat down on the closet floor. When I was finally ready to open it, I pulled the lid and looked inside.
Nothing really stood out to me at first, but then I focused a small, light blue leather box; it was from Tiffany’s. I held my breath and opened it, finding it empty, but sure enough it held an engagement ring at some point. I looked at my hand and smiled before I kept digging. I found a few letters and pictures, which were strange. They were of a very beautiful woman holding a baby, and in a few more pictures that same baby boy, as he aged over the years. I also found the receipt to my ring, but the odd thing about it was that it had been purchased a year before he ever met me. I also found a close up picture of Mason kissing the woman who was holding the baby, and almost stopped breathing when I noticed her hand on his face. She was wearing my ring. The ring that he proposed to me with.
What the hell was going on? I could feel tears forming in my eyes as I lifted one of the letters that was in the box. It was marked ‘returned to sender’ addressed to the name, Charlene Frasier. I opened the letter and found a check for five thousand dollars inside and a note in Mason’s hand written that said:
He’s still my son, always will be.
So Mason did have a kid. But apparently, this Charlene woman wasn’t letting him see his kid. She couldn’t be, if she was refusing to take money for him. I was hurt and confused. First of all, I was wearing a ring that belonged to another woman at some point, and on top of that, Mason had a kid that he never even mentioned to me.
I left everything there except the letter, and went straight to my laptop. I googled the name Charlene Frasier and found her in Chicago, based on the address that was on the returned mail. I needed to talk to her. Something wasn't right and now I was really starting to worry. What else was Mason hiding from me?
After a little more research, I found out from an article in the paper online that Charlene was a nurse at Chicago hospital, so I took a chance and called to see if I could find her. I finally reached someone who told me that she wasn’t there but would be in, in a few hours, so I left my name and number and asked if they would have her give me a call. I put everything back in the box I found it in, returned it back to the closet and waited. I was hoping that I didn’t find out something that would be the end of me and Mason, but my gut was telling me that I was.
Hours later I woke up to the sound of my phone going off, so I quickly sat up and grabbed it. I didn't remember going to sleep but apparently I had, and it had been awhile. When I saw the Chicago area code, my heart almost stopped but I answered.
“Hello.”
“Um, I’m looking for Janelle Lewis? She left a message for me to call her. My name is Chanel Frazier.”
“Yeah, hi, this is Janelle.
“What can I do for you?” she asked sounding a little hesitant, which was understandable.
“I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions about Mason Howard.”
“Mason?” she questioned, her whole tone changed.
“Yes, we’re-”
“Look I don’t know who you are, or what you want, but I don’t know anything about him so-”
“Wait, please. I found your pictures and letters that you returned to him and I just have a few questions.”
“Are y’all together?” she asked after a brief silence.
“Yes.”
“Do you have a child?”
“Yes, a daughter.”
“Look, it’s not my business but what I can tell you is that Mason has issues. We were together for three years, but he got obsessed with my son. He tried to stop his father from seeing him, even to the point where he kept trying to get him locked up. Mason can’t have kids and in his mind, he wants some perfect family, mother, father and child. I tried to make it work, but it was too much. He’s a good guy, I guess just not for me. So I don’t know that to tell you.”
“So the child in the picture is not Mason’s son?”
She laughed, “If you ask Mason he’ll say Charlie is his, but no, Charlie isn’t Mason’s son. Like I said, Mason can’t have kids and as bad as he wants them, it will never happen for him. Probably why he’s with you. Instant family. I’m not saying he d
oesn't care about you, because I’m sure he does, but I can guarantee he wouldn’t feel the same if you didn’t have that daughter of yours. Now if you don’t mind, he’s not my favorite topic and please don’t tell him you talked to me. I’d rather not have Mason in my life again. Good luck.”
She hung up and I sat there looking dumbfounded.
Mason’s obsession with keeping Riley away from Hakeem made perfect sense. I didn't know what to do with that, because I knew that Hakeem would kill Mason before he let him take Riley away from him, and I was as starting to think that Mason would try the same. Now here I was stuck in the middle because without Riley, there was no Mason, and Hakeem damn sure wasn’t letting his daughter go. I could feel the tears as they began to fall and without knowing what else to do, I sat there and cried.
-12-
Hakeem
“You guys good?” I knew I was getting on Tay’s nerves because I kept calling, but I couldn’t help it. Things were definitely changing and Riley was right at the center of it all. After I left Tay’s office, we went and got ice cream. She talked me into hitting up another toy store, and then we chilled at the crib for a while watching movies.
Well we didn’t actually get to watch shit, because Riley insisted on telling me her version of the movie, while it was on, because I made the mistake of telling her I had never seen it before. All I knew was there were a lot of princesses and singing, but I spent my time watching Riley reenact her version of what we were watching. After that, she was out like a light and I sat there watching her sleep.
Never in a million years would I have guessed that something so small could have control of me. Riley had me wrapped around her little finger, whether she knew it or not, and to top it off, after I explained that I was actually her dad, and not Mason, every five seconds it was daddy this, daddy that, daddy look, daddy did you see that. It would never get old.
The only problem I had was the fact that Jay’s dumb ass, along with her family, was going so hard to keep me away from Riley. Fuck all of them. They couldn't change that shit, but it was still annoying as hell. If Riley hadn’t been with me when Tay called telling me about Jay’s mom showing up, I likely would have gone right to her and showed my ass. I guess I should be thankful; because of Riley, I likely saved myself from going to jail.
“We’re good Keem. I made spaghetti and she’s eating. We’re going to watch a few movies and I think Liyah and Ken are coming by. Go to work. You haven't been there at all lately, and I know you need to be. I got this, stop worrying.
I just chuckled. “Alright Tay, damn. Chill out. I’m just checking.” She fell right into the mother role, without even a second thought. Seeing Tasia with Riley made me love her even more. I didn’t know if that was possible, but if it was it happened.
“The fuck your ass grinning for?” Rasta asked after I ended my call.
“You have no idea. My shit just did a one eighty.”
“Word, what’s that all about?”
“Long story short, I just found out I have two-year-old daughter.”
Rasta took a pull from the blunt he was holding, but his eyes were on me. Once he released the cloud of smoke he was holding in, he laughed.
“How do you have a two-year-old daughter and you just found out?”
“Shit’s crazy, right? My ex got pregnant, left and just came back. Been gone for almost three years and kept my daughter away from me.”
“Wow, that’s some shit, bruh.”
“Trust me I know, but what’s good with you. Money’s good, shit looks lovely as always. Looks like things are picking up too?”
“Yeah, they are. We’re almost double what we used to be. I was thinking about bringing in some more people to keep things moving.”
“Aye, do your thing. I trust your judgment. Just let me know if we need to double up on product. Shouldn't be a problem.”
“Yeah, aight.”
“But look, I’m about to hit this club. I’ll catch up with you later.”
“Yeah do that. I might fall through your spot. It’s been a minute but I see you still doing big things,” Rasta said with a smirk.
“I guess you can say that, but let me know if you come through so I can hook you up. You know I got you.”
“Will do.”
I dapped Rasta and jumped in my truck. I needed to head back to the club to get some paperwork done. Mika and Malachi had been handling things while I was gone, but I needed to take care of a few things that only I could do. I had to check on my accounts and make sure my people got paid. I wouldn’t have a club to run, if my people weren’t there to make it happen, and I could guarantee their asses weren’t working for free.
“Look who decided to show up,” Malachi said when I passed him entering the club. He took a step back and we dapped each other.
I chuckled, “You can get that. I’ve been ghost lately.”
“It’s all good. We had you covered,” Malachi said and smiled, looking around. “But Mika was getting in everybody’s shit bruh. Going in with that ‘just because the boss is not here don’t mean you can slack’ kind of vibe. She had everybody scared to make moves. It was funny as shit.”
“Word, that’s what’s up then. I see she don’t play around.”
“Hell yeah, but she thinks she’s running things. I had to get in her shit to calm her bossy ass down.”
I just shook my head. “I guess that’s some twin shit.”
“Nah, that’s some brother, sister shit, twins or not, you feel me?”
“Yeah, I feel you, but let me get my ass up here and sign off on payroll before nobody shows up to work.”
“That might be a good idea. You here tonight?”
“Yeah, for a while anyway, but I might check out before close though.”
“It’s all good. I’ll catch you later. I have to go get with this liquor inventory. Gotta make sure we keep those glasses full.”
“True.”
Malachi took off towards the store room, and I was about to hit the stairs when I heard a male voice. We weren't open yet, so aside from employees, no one should have entered the building.
“Williams?”
I turned, facing a dude that looked just like Jace. Dude had to be his uncle because he was clearly a cop based on his appearance.
“Yeah.”
“I’m Detective Josh Bradford, do you have a minute?” He looked around my club like he was worried about being seen.
“Nah, not really. I learned a long time ago that conversations with cops don’t ever work out in my favor.”
I turned to walk away, but what he said next stopped me dead in my tracks. “It’s about Mason Howard.”
I could feel my pulse quicken, as I turned to face him again and rushed him. He stepped back throwing his hands in the air.
“It’s not what you think. I’m not here for him, I’m here about him. Just hear me out. All I want is a conversation.” He kept eye contact with me to show that he wasn’t on any bullshit.
“Aight, talk,” I said.
Again, he looked around like he felt like we were being watched. What the fuck was up with this nigga? He was paranoid as hell.
“Not here, do you have an office or somewhere private we can talk?”
I watched him for a minute and then decided that we could talk in my office. I still was skeptical about dealing with his ass, knowing that he was the one who facilitated the situation at Tay’s, but if he had anything at all that could help me get rid of Howard, then it was worth it. Plus, I planned on turning on the security cameras in my office just in case he tried some fuck shit later on.
Once we were inside, I sat at my desk and powered up my laptop. After I had my security system on, I was ready to talk.
He looked around and laughed. “You recording us?”
I looked him dead in his eyes and responded, “Are you?”
He held his arm wide open out to the sides. “I’m not wearing a wire; you can check if you want,” he said and waited.
I nodded towards the chairs in front of my desk. “Nah, I’m good on that.”
Bradford sat down. “So it seems like we have a common problem.”
“Oh yeah, what’s that?” I asked.
“Howard.”
I leaned back and chuckled. “Nah, he’s not a problem.”
“Look, I know you don’t trust me and you have every right not to, since you might already know that I initiated the warrant to search your girlfriend’s place. I let my nephew talk me into do something stupid, but you do that for family until you realize that they fuck you harder than anybody, but Howard is just as much a problem for me, as he is for you.”
“How do you figure that?” I asked curious at where this was going.
“Because he’s been digging around in your past. Your record is clean, but cops like Howard have a way of changing that whether it’s forged or not, so it would be beneficial to both of us if he were handled.”
“Handled?” I said before releasing an arrogant laugh. This muthafucka must think I’m dumb as hell.
“Yes, handled.”
“I know your ass didn’t think I was about to sit here and discuss killing a cop with a fucking cop. Wire or not, that shit isn't happening, and your ass should know better than to come in here expecting me to.”
He looked down and then around my office for a minute. He was frustrated as hell. I could see it all over his face and in his body language. He finally stood and pulled out a business card, before he grabbed a pen off my desk. He jotted down a number and then slid the card towards me.
“I get it, I’m a cop and you don’t trust me, but let me leave you with this. I’m a cop but I’m a dirty cop. As fucked up as that is, it’s true. I don’t know if you’re a criminal or not, but based on my instincts, you are. Howard is digging into my shit and if he keeps digging then he’ll eventually find what he's looking for. You don’t trust me, you want proof, I can give you that. This is not about you; this is about me. I have a family. I need to keep this job, and if it means a cop killing a cop, then that’s what’s going to happen. I need your help because this is not my thing. I don’t have resources to make the body disappear, which I know you do, and if there's a body there will eventually be a case that could lead back to me. I don’t have a problem getting rid of Howard, I just need help and I’m sure you know I can’t just advertise that I need to kill and cop and get rid of the body, so I’m here asking you. Getting rid of Howard solves a problem for both of us, so just think about it. If nothing else, you’ll have enough evidence to keep me in your pocket and I’m sure that would come in handy, you know, with you being a club owner.” He looked around my office with a smirk, before he nodded and headed towards the door. Just before he left, he looked back over his shoulder.