Pretty Kings 4

by T. Styles

  What am I talking about?

  We kingpins!

  All this shit’s a federal offense.

  “What exactly happened again?” Kevin said stomping up to me. Squeezing my arms. “Don’t leave anything out.”

  “Aye, man,” Ramirez said stepping in front of him. “Take your hands off her. She done told you ten times already how it went down. We all want Bambi back but you not about to hurt my wife to make it happen.”

  Kevin maintained his grip and stared at me crazily.

  “Kevin, I know you worried about your wife but this is mine,” Ramirez pointed at me. “Now I’m telling you to let her go.”

  Kevin looked down at me, blinked and released me. I rubbed my throbbing arms. “I’m sorry, Race,” Kevin said in a low voice. “I just can’t believe this mothafucka had the nerve to take my wife.” He wiped the sweat that formed on his brow. “I mean, who does he think he is? I don’t give a fuck how many niggas he got on the streets I’m about to wage war!”

  “I know, Kevin,” I sighed. “But Bambi is tough and she’ll be okay. She dealt with these types of people in the army.”

  “If something happens to her,” Kevin said through clenched teeth. “I can’t take it, man. Not right now.”

  Just then Bambi fumbled through the door and Kevin rushed her.

  We all did.

  He lifted her off her feet and kissed her on the lips before taking her face between his hands as he stared into her eyes. “Baby, oh my God, you okay?” He took a deep breath. “I thought something happened to you. I thought he took you from me.”

  “I’m fine, Kevin,” she kissed him back. “I promise you I’m shaken up but unharmed.” She walked to a chair and flopped on it.

  “We gotta get this mothafucka!” Kevin yelled pointing at the floor. “TONIGHT!”

  “We don’t know where he lives, Kevin!” Bambi yelled.

  “Well where did he take you?” Bradley asked.

  “I was blindfolded. After the explosion all I remember is the door being yanked open, me being pulled out and a burlap bag thrown over my head.” She looked up at us. “The next thing I knew I was in an all white warehouse. No furniture. Just Arab men dressed in all black and red.”

  Ramirez paced. “This war shit going on far too long. We gotta do something.”

  “Well what did he say, Bambi?” Kevin asked.

  “He wants us to produce Mitch in ten days. He says if we don’t he will hurt people we love starting with dismantling our soldiers.” She sighed. “I’m telling ya’ll, after what I’ve seen with the bombs I know he can do it. We need to stay in this house until things blow over and we develop a plan. If what happened to me is not a good enough reason for us to stay in the compound I don’t know what is.”

  Kevin sighed.

  “This family needs a miracle,” Ramirez said. “Like yesterday.”

  Just then the door opened and Scarlett walked inside. She was holding Master in her arms and he was smiling brightly. “Hey everyone, he’s home,” Scarlett said cheerfully.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  RACE

  My girls and me were sitting in the hot tub in the poolroom talking about Abd and what his interference meant for our lifestyle. The threat was so great that I wanted to know if we were finally going to pay with our lives for our love of the dope game.

  Maybe killing Mitch really went too far.

  Bambi seemed tired but she was willing to give us five minutes to discuss how everything went down before going to bed. I wanted more details despite seeing that she was drained. Even before this she was dealing with losing Noah and with Melo back in school, heavily guarded of course, she was always on edge.

  “He seemed so calm talking about what he was going to do to us if we don’t produce Mitch,” she sighed. “I think this threat may be the one to bring us down if we let it. I mean this nigga blew up a van!”

  “I’m so sick of being on the run,” I said as I ran my wet hand down my face. “Like when will it ever end?”

  “Who knows, Race? We gonna have to lean on the fellas more than ever,” Bambi said. “We can’t do this one by ourselves.”

  “Speak for yourself,” I said rolling my eyes. “Fuck my nigga.”

  “You still beefing with Ramirez?” she asked me.

  “It’s not about beef, it’s about respect.”

  “Maybe you should let that go, Race,” Bambi replied.

  I frowned. “Wait, so I should just pretend like he didn’t fall in love with that bitch, going against our agreement?”

  “Why you keep acting like you weren’t fucking her too?” Denim added. “Sounds like you doing the most when you have no room.”

  I was heated as fuck. I felt like I was being ganged up on when I should be feeling the opposite. They were my friends, not Ramirez’s. “Yes, I fucked her too but like I said, we made some promises before our arrangement went down. And one of them was to not get her pregnant and more than anything don’t fall in love. He did it all.” I paused. “I’m not asking any of you to agree with my lifestyle but it’s still mine. I don’t point fingers at you bitches so don’t judge me.”

  “You know what, I’m gonna go check on the baby,” Denim said as if Scarlett wasn’t sitting right there. “Kevin supposed to be watching him but only God knows how that’s going down.” She grabbed her towel and walked away, her wet feet slapping against the floor.

  “I’m going to help her,” Scarlett said as she followed.

  Bambi and I sat across from each other. She took a deep breath and said, “Kevin has fucked around on me too. Even had a baby situation outside of our marriage. You know all of this. His infidelity hurt but I made a decision to forgive him. It doesn’t mean I forgot, Race, I’m stronger than that. I just forgave him.” She touched my arm. “At the end of the day I told myself I was going to deal with it or not. Since I knew I was not going to live without him I did what I had to do. That meant not bringing up what he did every five minutes though.”

  “I will never forgive Ramirez.”

  “People make mistakes, Race. The same thing could happen to you.”

  “Never. I would never sleep around while dedicated to him.”

  She sighed and rose out the water, wrapping her pink towel around her body. “Just remember when you’re pointing your index finger at someone else your other fingers will always be pointed back at you.” She paused. “Now I gotta get some rest to clear my mind. As you can imagine it’s been a long night.” She turned and walked away.

  Ramirez and me were facing one another on the bed within our dark bedroom. Tension in the house was high as everyone wondered what would happen as a result of Abd kidnapping Bambi and then fucking with our mental by releasing her and letting her come back home.

  It was all a game to Abd.

  And he was scaring the shit out of me.

  To make matters worse Scarlett was walking around with Master who was not willing to quiet down since he arrived. I think she was horrified to be a mother. That smile at the door when she first brought him home was the only thing he gave us because the rest of the time he was pure hell. Crying at the top of his lungs for what seemed like hours.

  Still, the little boy was beyond adorable and looked so much like Scarlett and Camp that it was insane. But the kid seemed on edge. Maybe he sensed we were dangerous and wanted to be with his reverend family. As far away from our hot asses as possible.

  I can’t say that I blame him.

  “I want you to know that I will always protect you, Race.” Ramirez wiped my hair from my face. “You know that right? I’ll kill Abd before I let him touch you.”

  Fuck is this nigga talking about?

  My eyes remained closed. “I’m not weak anymore.” I pulled the sheet up to my chin and yawned in his face. “There’s no need to protect me. Try to protect yourself.”

  “Whether you need me or not you’re my wife. And I need you to know that I love you.”

  I opened my eyes, rolled them and s
ighed. “Drop it. You’re the talking-ess man I’ve ever come past in my life. Why you got so much word play for me these days?” I closed my lids again. “Please, go back to sleep.”

  Suddenly I felt his hand on my breasts and when I opened my eyes again he was running his thumb over my nipple. It could’ve been a rat walking over me and would’ve felt the same way.

  Disgusting.

  I shoved his hand away. “Get off me! I’m not in the mood tonight.”

  “Then when you gonna be in the fucking mood?”

  “Never. Now go back to sleep.”

  He jumped up, grabbed his robe and walked toward the door. “If you don’t want to be my wife I wish you’d just tell me. Instead of acting like there’s hope between us, Race, because I can’t take it anymore.”

  “Everything’s not about you.”

  “Then what’s it about if it’s not about a Kennedy? I made you my wife to play your position and you not doing it.” He pointed at her. “This not gonna go down forever.”

  “You so fucking arrogant.” I laughed. “Just leave it alone, Ramirez. Your mood swings not getting to me anymore.”

  “You know what, I’m done fighting with you tonight.” He turned around to leave.

  “Where you going?” I frowned.

  “To hold my little nephew. Maybe I can put a smile on his face since I can’t put one on yours.”

  RAMIREZ

  Ramirez walked into Scarlett’s room just as Master was kicking and screaming, making it obvious that he didn’t fuck with his real mother in any shape, form or fashion.

  “Can I help?” Ramirez asked entering the room.

  Scarlett turned around, saw Ramirez and cried. He rushed up to her, eased Master out of her arms and held her with the other. “It’s gonna be okay. Just give it some time. Don’t nothing happen overnight.”

  “I can’t do this, Ramirez. I’m not nobody’s mother. I mean look at me.” She separated from him and wiped the tears streaming down her face. “I’m awful at this and I’m awful at life.”

  He frowned. “Stop talking like that. You can do this.”

  “No I can’t! Look at him, he doesn’t even like me.”

  Ramirez grabbed her hand, walked her over to the sofa and they both sat down. He squeezed her fingers softly and said, “Listen to my voice and hear nothing else. Okay?”

  She looked into his eyes, hers beet red due to her pressure rising. “O…okay, Ramirez. Whatever you say.”

  “I want you to take five deep breaths.” He whispered. “And make them slow, nobody’s rushing you.”

  “It won’t work.”

  He frowned. “Yes it will. Babies know when you’re a ball of negative energy and they want you to take charge.” Ramirez looked down at Master who had already settled his spirit since being in his arm. “You have to convince babies, non verbally that you can take care of them. That you can protect them.” He wiped a band of her red hair behind her ear. “Now breathe but do it slowly.”

  Unhurriedly she took the breaths not really believing they would work until the third breath calmed her soul. When she reached the fifth he looked into her eyes and said, “You ready to hold him again?”

  Scarlett looked at Master and nodded. “But he looks so peaceful, maybe I should leave him alone.”

  He smiled and sat the little boy on her lap anyway. She tried desperately to maintain her composure but felt herself unraveling until he placed his hand on her warm cream-colored thigh. “Relax, Scarlett. He’s your son. Them mothafuckas who had him before can’t come in between that, I don’t care how long he lived with them. You gave birth to this baby. He is from you and my brother. That makes him a king, born to a queen.”

  She nodded and took one more breath. This time when she looked at Master he was smiling. A single tear fell down her cheek and he wiped it away with his thumb. “You see…he knows who his mother really is.”

  Feeling more confident, she walked Master to his crib because his eyes were closing. Slowly she placed him down and stole a few moments to look at his peaceful face.

  When he was sleep Ramirez walked behind her and stared at the curves of her body. Now it was time for other matters. Grown folk business. She could feel the heat off his body and the sexual tension he was throwing her way.

  He wanted to fuck.

  She did too. Although she tried her best to fight the feeling.

  “Why are you doing this to me?” She asked.

  “Doing what?”

  “Why are you making yourself my hero?” She turned around and looked up at him. “It’s like you want me to fall…to fall…”

  “In love?”

  “Yes!” She said louder than she intended. “I mean…you can’t be this person for me. I don’t want to be in a situation where I depend on you emotionally. You don’t belong to me, Ramirez and you never will. Don’t force me to believe that you do.”

  “You’re my family, Scarlett. I’m supposed to love you and you’re supposed to love me back. What’s wrong with that?”

  “You know what I mean.” She walked away and he grabbed her hand, kissed her lips and looked down at her. “I dream about you. I think about that moment we shared together. But if I’m causing you this much pain I won’t touch you again unless you ask, Scarlett because that’s how much I care.”

  Her body trembled and so did Race’s as she hid out in the hall and watched the alarming scene from the doorway.

  CHAPTER SIX

  ABD

  Abd was sitting on the sofa with his son Jawad in his living room, discussing their lucrative oil business back in Saudi Arabia. Within seconds Abd abruptly switched the convo to his son’s future wife.

  “So, son, Rana tells me she’s been unhappy the past few days. Says she doesn’t know how to please you. That nothing she does seems to work. She’s considering going back home.” Abd sat back and crossed his legs. “What’s troubling you, that you believe our success and that wife of yours isn’t part of the plan?”

  Jawad looked away, leaned back in his seat and sighed. “I’m sorry, father, it’s just that—”

  “I need you to make nice with your future wife, son.” Abd said harshly. “Your marriage will make this family the richest in the world. Isn’t that what you want?” He gave him strong eye contact.

  “I will, father, I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. I’m happy about the choice you made but—”

  “But what?”

  “She smells funny.”

  Abd eyes widened. “What does that mean?”

  “She doesn’t wash properly and she stinks up the sheets.” He shook his head. “I don’t know if it’s her private area or her armpits but she’s nasty and I hate having her around me. It drives me insane, father.”

  He boomed with laughter. “So send her to the other room. You shouldn’t have to be subjected to her odors while you sleep or are resting.”

  Jawad’s eyes widened. “I can do that?”

  “Son, do what you must to make this marriage occur successfully. Do what you have to, to mold her into what you want. Jawad nodded and Abd said, “So you’ve tasted the goods already and they were sour, huh?” Abd chuckled.

  “Father, I’m serious.”

  Abd removed the smile from his face. “I know you’re serious and so am I. Remember who I am. And remember when I ask you a question I demand an answer. No matter how frivolous you may think it is.”

  Jawad sent his gaze to the floor. “No, I haven’t tested them just yet. Like I said, her body odor is too horrendous.”

  Abd smiled again. “Well make her wash and then try her out. Give her a spin and see if she’s too your liking.”

  “And if she isn’t?”

  “Then make her into what you want. Teach her how to be. A woman is like a mound of clay.” He made a fist. “They can be shaped into whatever you desire because unlike men who require money for survival, women have been created needing the weakest of all life’s necessities. Love. Convince her you care and she’ll be
whatever you desire. This my son, I promise.”

  “I understand, father.”

  “Then go.”

  Jawad stood up and shook his father’s hand before walking away.

  Jawad moped into the bedroom where his future wife stood waiting, knitting an aqua colored sweater for the baby she was sure would come soon.

  It wasn’t like she didn’t try to make Jawad not desire her. She purposely got into the shower being careful to clean everything but her vagina and ass. The plan was to convince Jawad to send her back to her family in Saudi Arabia after being frustrated with her but she didn’t take into account Abd’s powerful presence. He would rather kill her than to lose the access to money her family would bring.

  Using yarn of a mixture of pale aqua and yellow she placed her artwork down when he entered. Quickly she stood on her feet as he sat on the edge of the bed. He could smell her pussy the moment he walked into the room.

  “Anything I can do?” Her hands clasped in front of her. “Maybe I can make you Shawarma? I’ve already started to prepare the meal.”

  Slowly he looked up at her, grabbed her by her long black hair and brought her to her knees. “Jawad, don’t hurt me again. Please.”

  He squeezed her chin, pulled it down and stuck his fingers into her mouth. “Your beauty disgusts me. Look at you. You get to move along in life, having whatever you want just because of how you look? When I have to take my father’s games, educate myself in the business and fight for survival? Just because I’m a man? Women are nothing but disgusting creatures taking up space.” He removed his fingers and wiped her own spit on her cheek. “You aren’t any different.”

  Not knowing what to say she said, “I’m so sorry, Jawad. I wish I didn’t sicken you because I want nothing more than to love you. To be what you envision.”

  “Remove my shoes.” He released her hair and she quickly untied the sneakers he used to run earlier that morning. He wasn’t wearing any socks so his toes were free and he wiggled them around to stretch out the cracks.