by A'zayler
“I guess we should get dressed before we’re late,” she smiled lightly.
“Okay well I’m in my room, call my name if you need me,” Kia exited quietly. Taryn sat on her bed and looked around her room. She looked at his cologne on her dresser, his clothes in her closet, and got weak all over again. She took a few deep breaths and willed herself not to cry. Just as she got herself together, she heard Ace Hood and Trey Songz Ride start to play. She instantly thought of Demoto. He and her use to listen to that song all the time. Tears fell uncontrollably as she thought about the life they’d never have. She thought of the wedding, the kids, and the life that had been ripped from her.
Even though I’m in the streets, you know exactly what I do, when I chase this paper you ain’t gotta wait for me to bring back home to you, cuz I ride or die girl we gon be good, and if you ride or die, we gon make it out this hood.”
The song blasted through her speakers as she walked back into her closet. Taryn-Lee sang along to the song as tears ran down her face. How could she have gotten to this point? Where had she gone wrong? She had been alone basically her entire life, and the one time she found true love it was taken away. She had given all the love she could, been loyal from day one, and where did it get her? Nowhere! Only place it had gotten her was in her apartment with a broken heart, and a closet full of his clothes to pack. She knew exactly how Ace Hood felt; they were supposed to always be good. She was his ride or die. Taryn was so out of her mind, she tripped over a shoe in the middle of her floor. As she fell into her closet, she hit her head on the doorknob. While lying flat on the floor, she lifted her head a few inches and came face to face with the black safe beneath her shoeboxes. At that moment, she figured there was no way her life could get any worse. Either hitting her head on the door magnified her pain, or the amount of self-pity she was feeling had consumed her. She reached for the case and opened it. The small pink Cobra .22 felt heavy in her hand. As she leaned back against the wall, she stared at the gun for a long moment; she had nothing else to lose, and nothing to look forward to. The only person she had was in a big church with a suit on, waiting to be eulogized. Shaking back her tears, she raised the gun to her mouth and stuck it inside. Lord please forgive me, she prayed in her mind before pulling the trigger.
*****
“Taryn! Taryn!” Taryn stirred a few times before opening her eyes. When she did, she smiled. Finally we’re back together. She looked at his face and remembered placing her gun into her mouth. We’re in heaven! She reached out and touched the side of his mouth. She ran her hand over his hair, and eyes. She touched the side of his head where the hole was in the picture and smiled, it wasn’t there!
“T, get up baby girl we have to go.”
“Go? Go where? I want to stay here with you. I don’t want to leave! Demoto please don’t leave me again! I want to stay in heaven with you. Demoto please, please Demoto please don’t make me go!” she begged as she grabbed onto him.
“Yo T, you good bae? Did you take anything?” he asked, shaking her lightly. He looked into her eyes, but she looked fine. “T talk to me, did you take something?” he asked again. Taryn shook her head no and rubbed her eyes. Looking around, she noticed she was still in New York, in the apartment they’d been staying in. What in the world? She looked at her packed suitcases and tried to figure out what was going on. Demoto was standing there fully dressed, still wearing his black jacket and jeans he’d worn when they left to see the Elmores.
“What’s going on?” she asked. Demoto noticed the confused look on her face.
“T, you must have fallen asleep. When I walked in you were on your knees beside the bed, sleeping.” Everything came flooding back to her. She was packing so they could go before she began saying her prayers. She had fallen asleep talking to God. After her memory returned to her, she jumped on Demoto. She wrapped her legs around his waist as she clung to his neck. She was squeezing him as tight as she could. He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed back. He didn’t know what was wrong with her, but he was just as happy to be back in her presence. He walked to the bed and sat down with her still on his lap. They held each other for another five minutes before he pulled away.
“What happened?”
“I thought you were dead. Bailey called me and said he’d killed you, he sent the picture and everything.” That set off a thought in her mind. She hopped up and ran to grab her phone. She scrolled through her and Demoto’s messages, and there was no picture. She held her phone close to her chest and breathed a sigh of relief. “It was a dream.” She put her head down and started crying. “Demoto, I never want to live without you. That was the worst time of my life. I tried to kill myself before your funeral.” Demoto looked at her with sympathetic eyes. She looked so distraught. He’d thought something was wrong with her when he came in and heard her crying. Upon entering their bedroom, he saw her kneeling on the bed asleep. The cover beneath her face was soaked from her tears.
“I’d never survive without you,” she cried. It took her a few minutes to stop crying before she began packing their things again. When she finished, she began to clean. She needed to do something to calm her nerves. She still felt the pain of thinking Demoto was dead. By the time she’d finished cleaning everything, he had taken a shower and gotten dressed. He told her he’d load everything in the car and book their tickets while she got ready. Taryn took a shower, washed her hair, and got dressed. By the time they got into the car and on the way to the airport, it was almost five in the morning. Their flight was set to take off at six thirty. Taryn wanted to know what happened with Bailey and Emily, but judging by their immediate departure he’d taken care of it. She didn’t even care to think about it anymore, she was just happy it was them and not him. She laid her head back against the seat and relaxed.
*****
As always, the Double O building was cold as hell as Demoto and Jacko walked to meet Cayman. He’d called and wanted to meet with them earlier that morning. Demoto was a bit shocked that he’d asked him to bring Jacko along. When they got there, they waited in the sitting area until it was their appointment time. Jacko was looking though his phone when it dinged with a text message.
Pretty Lee: Y’all good?
Jacko laughed before texting her back.
“Bruh, can you tell your girl to stop texting me?”
“Man I told her ass to stop all that crazy shit,” Demoto joined Jacko in laughter
“It’s cool, how’s my sis doing anyway?”
“She’s good now. It took her a minute to wrap her head around me still being alive. That dream had my baby girl shook. I can’t go nowhere by myself no more. She was about to come here until I told her you was with me.”
“My sister n law wilding ain’t she?”
“You have no idea, her little crybaby ass.” Demoto went on to tell Jacko about the dream. They were in deep conversation when Cayman’s door opened. Bradley walked out and motioned for them to come in. Once they got inside, they noticed Cayman was nowhere in sight. Instead, Mr. Buck sat behind his desk.
“Take your seats gentlemen.” Once everybody was all settled in, he began to speak. “Demoto, job well done son. I expected nothing less. However, you did do one thing I didn’t approve of–why did you take Taryn-Lee with you?” Demoto looked at Mr. Buck unsure of what to say. He thought about lying, but decided against it.
“I love her. I knew if I’d left her here, she would have clouded my thoughts. It was easier to work knowing she was with me.”
“Suppose she’d gotten hurt, then what?”
“I would never let that happen.” Buck was heated when he’d found out Taryn had gone along with Demoto to New York. He was about to send Jacko to get her, but Kia begged him not to. Of course, she hadn’t known Jacko was who he was going to send; she just didn’t want him bothering Taryn. He had planned to chew Demoto upon sight but the humble and confident young man sitting in front of him didn’t need that. He believed Demoto when he said he’d never let t
hat happen.
“For your sake, that better be true. As for you Jackson, how would you like to take over the jobs of the two Elmore children? They were in charge of our money system, so to speak.” He watched Jacko’s eyes look to the ceiling for a few seconds before coming back down.
“Thank you sir, I’d be honored.”
“I’ve been watching you; you’re a dependable young man. You’re serious about your money, and I respect that. I won’t bother asking can you handle this, because I know you can.”
“I’ll do my best sir.”
Buck took a pull of the Cuban cigar he was smoking before he continued.
“Now aside from the business tip, I have other business to speak with you two about. Kee-Kee and Tee-Tee are my babies, and they’ve obviously taken a liking to you two fellas. I’ll make this short. I approve as long as you’re serious. Don’t fuck them over. I’m not saying y’all have to stay with them forever because I’m a realist, but what I will say is end it respectably. Don’t be out in the streets embarrassing my girls.” He looked both boys in their eyes waiting for acknowledgement. Jacko wasn’t a man of many words so he nodded, but Demoto spoke for them both.
“I’ll admit in the beginning we didn’t mean for it to go this far with the girls, but I’m glad it did. I can’t speak for Jack, but I love T and I plan to keep her.”
“And I Kia,” Jacko said. Buck was thoroughly pleased with the men his daughter’s had chosen. They were strong, business-minded, and not easily intimidated. If they committed to his girls the way they committed to their hustle, he knew there would be no problems out of them. After going over more issues involving the company, the boys left.
*****
Taryn lay in the bed with Kia watching How to Get Away with Murder and eating fish and shrimp. They had been at home all day doing nothing, and Taryn was glad. She was exhausted mentally and physically after her and Demoto’s trip. She missed Kia and was happy to be back home with her. The episode had just gone off when Jacko stuck his head in the door.
“Pretty Lee, get your ass out of my bed!”
“Boy please! This is my bed. I had Kia long before you came along; I’m just sharing her with you.”
“I ain’t stun that shit you talking about girl, Kia know what it is. Don’t you baby?” She smiled at Jacko so hard Taryn could feel it on her face. She laughed as she got off the bed.
“Damn bitch, your ass cheesing hard!”
“Taryn-Lee you know you my baby, but daddy’s home. You got to go!” Kia and Jacko both laughed as he walked in and Taryn walked out. He laid in the spot Taryn had just been in and kicked his shoes off. He pulled his shirt over his head and lay his head on Kia’s lap. He told her about the conversation he’d just had with her dad, including the job offer. Kia was shocked to hear her father had known she was with him all along. She thought she had been doing a good job keeping it a secret. She should have known better; Buck knew everything. The job offer made her happy. She knew as long as Jacko was involved with Double O, he would be paid. That meant he wouldn’t have to spend so much time working. He could quit some of his side hustles and spend more time with her.
“I’m so happy for you Jack.”
“I’m happy too baby. I’ll be even happier if you marry me.” He had been thinking about marriage for a long time now. Long before Kia came along. He’d always wanted a wife. When Kia came along, he knew she was the one. She held him down no matter what it was. Her feisty attitude matched his. They were like two peas in a pod. Marrying her would only strengthen the bond they shared. They’d only been dating a few months, but they were the realest months of his life. No woman had ever made him want to commit like Kia did. She was his baby. He’d asked Buck before he left, and he had given his blessing. All he needed now was for Kia to say yes. He looked up in her eyes because it was taking a long time to answer. Her smile was a mile wide.
“Stop all that damn cheesing and tell your man yes.”
“Yes Jack I’ll marry you!” she squealed as she leaned down and placed kisses all over his face. In the middle of their kiss, she hopped off the bed and ran out of her room. She moved so fast she forgot all about Jacko’s head being in her lap.
“Taryn! Taryn! Where you at girl?” she yelled as she went into her room. Her and Demoto were sitting on the floor working out. Well, he was and she was sitting there watching him. Kia shook her head at her girl before gushing out her happiness. “Jacko and I are getting married!” Taryn jumped off the floor, practically stepping on Demoto’s head, and hugged Kia. Taryn was so excited she made them bump into the door.
“Jacky Boy come here!” she yelled. He came down the hall a few seconds later. She punched him in the chest the moment he got close enough. “I told your ass to wait until I was there!”
“You knew?” Kia asked.
“Yep! I got your ring!” She opened her top drawer and pulled a small velvet box out. Jacko had told her a long time ago he wanted to marry Kia. She’d even gone as far as to pick her ring out for him. He’d sent her the money while she was in New York to pay for it. She was so happy! Kia and Jacko were perfect for one another. If there was anybody that matched more than she and Demoto did, it was Kia and Jacko. Demoto was sitting on the floor smiling at Kia’s excitement.
“Congratulations sister in law,” he said as he stood to hug her. He grabbed the ring from Taryn and handed it to Jacko. She had it in her hand like she was the one proposing to Kia. “Get this shit before Taryn put it on Kia finger for you.” They all burst into laughter as Jacko got on one knee and asked again. Kia smiled and jumped up and down, like he hadn’t already asked her one time. She bum rushed him, knocking them both to the floor as she said yes a thousand times. Taryn stood with Demoto’s arm wrapped around her waist, wondering when her time would come.
*****
Looking at the water beneath him, Demoto smoked the last of his blunt. The sound of the water and his kush mixed together had his mind at ease. He had come out here about an hour ago to think. Normally he wouldn’t stay so long, but tonight he had a lot on his mind. The river walk wasn’t the safest place to be at night, but he would kill anybody that tried him. His mind was so overwhelmed with thoughts that he couldn’t sleep. He had thought about going to Taryn’s house, but he changed his mind. He needed to be alone for a little while. He was trying to wrap his mind around the facts that had been given to him earlier by Buck.
No matter what way he set it up in his mind, he couldn’t believe Cayman was no longer in charge of Double O. He had been scamming everyone of their cash from the beginning. He’d been robbing all of his employees from day one. Although that was bad, that wasn’t the part that bothered him the most. He couldn’t believe Cayman had been in on having his father killed. Buck had gotten an anonymous letter from someone in Cameroon letting him know the details of his father’s death. Demoto knew it was his mother. She was vindictive like that. She had been sending anonymous post cards and letters for years, but he and Adisa never responded. As bad as he wanted to just let it all go, he couldn’t. His mother and now Cayman would pay. Cayman had thoroughly messed up crossing him. His death would come when he least expected it. Once he’d finished smoking his blunt, he went back to his car and headed home. When he got out of his car, he was attacked by a group of men. They punched and kicked him until he fell unconscious. When he woke up, he was lying on the floor of what looked to be Cayman’s living room. He couldn’t believe his life right now. He sat up on the floor, and across from him was the last person he expected to see. Taryn was sitting on the couch with a scared look in her eyes. Demoto got up and went to her, but she didn’t say anything.
“Don’t be scared baby girl, I’ll protect you.”
“She better be scared because I’m going to kill her ass.” Demoto looked around, and there stood Alicia. She had her arms crossed, and she was leaning against the counter. She didn’t appear to have any weapons, so he didn’t know why Taryn looked so scared. He knew it had to be something,
because his baby would have ate Alicia up whole a long time ago if it was that easy.
“Alicia, what’s going on? Why are we at Cayman’s house, and why do you have Taryn here?”
“I had you all brought here,” Cayman said from the top of his long staircase. Fire burned in Demoto’s eyes as he laid eyes on him. He wanted to get up and break Cayman’s head off his shoulders, but that would have to wait. Right now he needed to figure out what was going on. When Cayman got downstairs he went to Alicia and kissed her. Demoto wasn’t surprised; Jacko had told him a while ago Kia saw her kissing some old guy. It was his old ass. From the looks of it, Alicia wasn’t feeling it the way he was. She moved her head slightly as his lips touched her cheek. Cayman noticed, but kept on walking until he stood in the center of the room. He rubbed the hideous scar on the side of his face as he walked over to Taryn and rubbed his hand through her scalp. Demoto jumped to move his hand, but Alicia pulled a gun and pointed it at Taryn. He wanted to kill her.
“I knew you loved her more than me. I hate her!” she screamed. Cayman simply walked away and sat down.
“Demoto, I called you here because I love Alicia. I know you may think that has nothing to do with you, but it does. See the thing is, she loves you.” Demoto looked completely unbothered by the situation; that had nothing to do with him.
“Well I don’t love her back, so that shouldn’t matter.”
“It won’t, by the end of this night. Tonight is about her. You’ll give her the passion she craves. The affection you show Miss Alvarez will be directed towards her. Many may judge me for this because they don’t understand. What man would want his woman to gain things only he is supposed to give her, from someone else? I’m different; I like my women happy by any means necessary. So in order for her to be happy, I’ve promised her one night of love from you.” Demoto objected immediately.