by Deja King
When I woke up the next morning, Jalen was already in the shower. I knew he had to leave early to go to Philly, but I was hoping he could hit me off one more time before breaking out. I decided I would go to him, but before I was able to head to the bathroom there was a knock at the door. I assumed Jalen must have ordered some breakfast, because a dude with all that height and build must stay hungry. I grabbed his T-shirt and put it on before answering the door. "Who is it?" I asked, looking through the peephole.
"Room service," the gentleman replied. His face was looking down, but I could see he was holding a tray and so I let him in. The moment I slightly opened the door, two men kicked it open, barely giving me a chance to move back. I fell to the floor, and one of the guys rushed me. He put his hand over my mouth and I tried to bite the shit, but the way he had it positioned I couldn't latch on to any skin. The other man shut the door and pulled out his gun.
I figured these niggas somehow got word that a superstar athlete was staying in this room and decided to rob him. Both dudes were tall and big as shit. The one holding me down reached in a small bag he was carrying and pulled out some duct tape and rope. The nigga definitely knew what he was doing, because he had me tied and taped up in less than sixty seconds.
My mind was spinning, trying to figure out what to do next. I wondered if Jalen could hear any of the commotion going on, but I seriously doubted it. I finally heard the water turn off. My heart was pounding so hard. It was becoming clear that this wasn't about a robbery, because the niggas hadn't ransacked shit. After tying me up and placing me on the bed, they just stood standing by the bathroom waiting patiently for Jalen to come out.
"What the fuck!" Jalen barked when he opened the bathroom door and was greeted with the sight of me tied up on the bed. He never even had a chance to make a move, because one of the men used the butt of his gun to strike him on the side of his head. He did it with so much force that I think it gave Jalen a mini concussion, because his eyes rolled to the back of his head and he seemed to lose his balance. But if that first hit didn't take him under, the one that followed surely did.
The two men pounded on Jalen like he stole they last bag of dope. I felt so helpless as I watched them beat the shit out of him, and what made it worse was that I had no idea why. Besides feeling pity for Jalen, I feared that once the men finished him off they would then rape and beat me. Being raped by a man had to be my worst nightmare. Without access to a knife or gun, the men had all the power to have their way with me.
My mind drifted back to the ass-whipping Jalen was receiving, and I realized that the moans I heard from him at first had all but disappeared. I couldn't grasp that just last night this nigga had given me one of the best fucks of my life, and now I was watching him die.
Finally, the punching and the kicking came to a cease and both men stared at me. I closed my eyes for a minute thinking that I couldn't believe this was how I was going out; being fucked and beat by some big, black grimy niggas. I decided that if the opportunity presented itself I wasn't going down without a fight. I was going to draw blood from one of those fuckers. I prepared myself to take whatever they were bringing and opened my eyes back up, but to my surprise they were gone. I was completely dumbfounded. I didn't know what this shit was about.
I tried to scoot my body over to the edge of the bed to see if Jalen was dead or alive, but I was wrapped up so tightly that I could barely move. It would take three more hours before we were found, and that's because the maid finally came to clean the room. She screamed in Spanish for damn near five minutes before someone started pounding on the door and snapped her out of her daze, and hotel security and the police were called.
When the duct tape was removed from my mouth, I explained to the officers everything that went down. I watched as the paramedics tried to resuscitate Jalen, but it wasn't looking good for him. They carried him off, and all I could do was shake my head in disbelief. I was beginning to feel like fucking with me was the kiss of death.
I was escorted to police headquarters, although I had already told the cops everything I knew, but they wanted to still drill me. When we arrived, they took me to a room that had one long table and two chairs. It was dreary and smelled of cigarettes, coffee and stale donuts.
One of the detectives pulled the chair out for me as if trying to be polite. "Mrs. Mills," the other detective who was sitting on the opposite side of the table from me addressed me. "I know you've had a rough morning, but I need you to look through some photos to see if you recognize your assailants.
I stared intently at each picture, but didn't see the two burly beasts who bum-rushed the room and beat the shit out of Jalen. "Nah, I don't see them."
"Look a little closer," he persisted.
I did another look through, and still didn't recognize them. "They're not in here."
The detective then shoved the book at me, and it hit me in my chest. "Yo, what the fuck is wrong wit' you? What, you hard of hearing? I said them motherfuckers not in here. And you pushing this book at me ain't gon' make my eyes see no differently." I stood up. I was done talking to these disrespectful clowns, "Excuse me, I'm ready to go."
"You're not going anywhere until you answer my questions," the bug-eyed white detective stated firmly. "I believe you know much more than what you're telling us, and you won't be leaving until I get some answers."
"I told you everything I know, and this going in circles bullshit is working my very last nerve. I'm tired and I want to go the fuck home."
"First your husband Supreme, and now Jalen Montgomery. One is dead; the other is knocking on deaths door. What do they both have in common? You. Being in your presence is costing these men their lives. Why is that?"
The detective was playing hardball, and it was working somewhat. I had been asking myself the same shit. It was as if I was cursed, but I wasn't going to give this prick the satisfaction of knowing his question was wearing hard on my mind. "Listen here, my man. That's what the NYPD get paid for, to figure out crimes. So get on your job."
Right when the detective looked as if he wanted to spit in my face, a short white man with glasses bust through the doors. Both of the detectives stared at him and then put their heads down as if disgusted.
"I hope you gentleman haven't been in here badgering my client, because I would hate to have the two of you reprimanded, or even worse, sue this department."
"On what grounds?" the detective questioned.
"I'm sure I can come up with something. Now excuse me, my client will be leaving now." The attorney walked over to me and gently took my hand and escorted me out.
"We're not done with you Mrs. Mills," the detective said in a threatening tone.
"Yes, you are. If you have any questions, please have them directed to my office, you know the number."
I followed the attorney out the door feeling a sense of relief. I had never seen him before, but I was grateful he got me out of that dark hole. "Thanks for that, but who are you?" I asked, wanting to know how he just popped up on the scene.
"Joseph Steinback, Attorney at Law. I was sent here by Mr. Owens."
"Mr. Owens?" I asked with confusion written on my face.
"Yes, Mike Owens."
"Oh, Mike. Crazy me, I'm not used to hearing him addressed by his last name."
"I understand." He smiled.
"How did Mike know I was here?" But there was no need for Joseph Steinback to answer the question. The moment we exited the police headquarters, the paparazzi and news reporters swarmed me.
"Mrs. Mills, why were you in the hotel room with Jalen Montgomery?" one reporter yelled.
"Do you think Jalen will pull through, or will he die like your husband, Supreme?" another barked.
"Mrs. Mills, did the men who tried to kill Jalen rape you?"
I couldn't stomach another remark, and neither could Joseph. He held my hand firmly and stopped dead in his tracks, looking each individual square in the face. "That is enough. My client will not be answering any
of your tasteless questions. I would appreciate if you all would step out of the way so we can get by." Joseph obviously garnered a certain level of respect, because the cameras kept flashing but they moved out of our way. The driver opened the door to the awaiting car and we drove off.
When we arrived back to the estate, I noticed Mike's Aston Martin parked in the driveway. I was in no mood to see him, but felt somewhat obligated since he retained Joseph Steinback on my behalf.
"Did you want to come in," I asked Joseph when the car came to a stop.
"No, I'm sure you're exhausted. We can talk tomorrow. But remember, don't speak to any reporters, and if the police come knocking call me immediately."
"Will do, and thanks again." I walked to the door, going over what I would say to Mike. Technically, I didn't owe him an explanation but felt that I had to give him one.
Before I even had a chance to get my thoughts together, I saw a girl that looked no more than sixteen standing at the front as if waiting to greet me. "Hi, Precious!" she chirped, sounding extremely comfortable in my space.
"Who are you, and why are you standing in my doorway?"
"Maya, girl, calm down and bring your ass inside," Mike said, reaching his hand out for me. "Precious, this is my sister, Maya. She can be a bit forward."
Seeing the two of them standing next to each other, you couldn't help but see the resemblance. Maya inherited the same gorgeous genes as her brother, except for being a shade lighter and having long hair. Aside from that, they were the spitting image of one another.
"Don't worry about it. I just wasn't expecting to see her standing in front of my door."
"Wow! So you the girl that was married to Supreme and got to lay down next to him every night. That's what's up!" Maya said, winking her eye at me.
Another grown ass girl, I thought to myself.
"We need to talk," Mike said seriously, ignoring his sister's comment.
"I'm sure, but where's Nathan?"
"They're out back. Some news media tried to sneak on the property. Nathan and the other security are keeping it under control."
I started walking towards the library so Mike and I could talk. Maya was right behind us, I guess thinking she was going to sit in on the conversation too. Of course Mike had to shut the door in her face so she'd realize it wasn't happening.
"I can't believe this shit," I said, pouring myself a drink.
"What did you expect? You got your face splashed across every station. What the fuck were you doing in Jalen's hotel room anyway?"
"I've been interrogated all morning and afternoon by the fuckin' cops. I don't need to come home and hear the same shit from you."
"If it wasn't for me you'd still be down there, so you need to be thanking me instead of poppin' shit."
"Thank you, but I got a lot on my mind right now. For one, I need to find out how Jalen is doing."
"Fuck Jalen. When are you going to comprehend that these little silly niggas ain't for you. I'm the only man that can take care of you right. Every time you get yourself caught up in some bullshit, who is the one that makes it right?"
I sipped on my drink, taking in what Mike said. From disposing of that body to helping me understand the ins and outs of this music shit now that I owned the masters to Supreme's music, and then this, yeah, Mike always seemed to be right there when I needed him the most. "I hear you. But what's up wit' your sister?" I knew my diverting from our initial conversation was going to piss him off, but my head was spinning and I needed a break from discussing that shit.
"I see what you doing, but that's cool," Mike said, rubbing his hands together as if trying to calm his nerves. "My mom's having some problems wit' Maya and asked me to step in."
"Step in how? Give her a lecture?" I asked sarcastically.
"A little more than that. She wants me to keep her for a couple of weeks."
"What about school?"
"That's the thing. She got suspended for a couple of weeks."
"For what?"
"Fighting and shit."
"How are you going to watch over your sister? You going to have her go to work with you everyday?"
"That's the thing. I was hoping you could help me out."
I damn near dropped my glass when I heard the word "help" come out of his mouth. I had a funny feeling that something was up as soon as I saw his sister greeting me at the door all cheerful. "Yo, I feel for you, but there ain't nothing I can do to help with your sister. I got mad other shit going on."
"Yeah, like fuckin' wit' soft ass basketball players."
"Here we go again!" I poured myself another round, wishing I was knocked out in my bed instead of going back and forth with Mike.
"Fine, I'll put it like this: Who got rid of that body for you?"
I was glaring daggers at that nigga, mad that he even brought that shit up.
"Listen," he continued. "I'm not asking you to baby-sit Maya 24/7. I'll drop her off on my way to work and pick her up when I get off. I'm asking for a favor, Precious."
Everything inside of me wanted to scream "no", but Mike had come through for me on more than one occasion. I would be dead wrong to shut him down. "How old is shorty, anyway?"
"Fifteen. She's really not a bad kid, just a little spoiled. With us growing up without our father, I tried to step in and give her everything she wanted. I might've given her too much. But besides my moms, she's all I have."
"I got you. I'll hold her down while you handle your business."
"I appreciate that, Precious. I hate to do this to you, but can you start today? I got this meeting I really need to get to."
"Is that the fuck why you had your attorney rushing down to the police station, `cause you needed me to baby-sit?"
"Nah, I swear that's not why. I wanted you out," Mike said laughing. "But on the real, you need to stay away from that Jalen nigga. Didn't that beat-down he received wise you up? He ain't for you." Mike kissed me on my cheek before walking out.
Of course when he opened the door, Maya had obviously been listening to our conversation and jumped when her brother caught her. "Oh, I was about to knock on the door," Maya said, trying to play it off.
"Whatever. Listen," Mike put his hand on Maya's shoulder letting her know he was serious. "I have to head out to this meeting, and Precious was nice enough to let you stay here with her." Maya locked eyes with me as her brother continued to talk. "I don't want you giving her no problems, you understand?"
Maya nodded her head yes, and gave Mike the puppy dog eyes, looking all angelic.
"That's what's up. So I'll see you two ladies later on this evening. Thanks again, Precious."
"No problem." I walked Mike out, and as soon as I closed the door Maya wasted no time.
"So, Precious, where we going? You tryin' to hit the mall or what?"
"No, I'm hitting the shower then going to bed. You need to go sit down and watch some music videos or something. But do not bother me, I'm tired as hell. If you need anything to eat, have Anna fix it for you."
"So you just bailing on me? I thought you was cool. Guess I was wrong."
"Guess you was." I grabbed a couple of items and headed to my bedroom. I could feel Maya burning a hole in my back as I took my ass upstairs. But I was too tired to care. I did plan on spending some time with her; it just wasn't going to be today.
I was so exhausted that by the time I woke up it was the next day. The first person I thought about when I opened my eyes was Jalen, and then Maya immediately popped in my head. I didn't even say bye to her before she left, and Mike would be bringing her back over here any minute. I knew dealing with her was going to try my patience, but I already told Mike I would do it, so I had no choice but to keep my word. Before I allowed myself to lose my train of thought, I picked up the phone and called the hospital where Jalen was.
"Good morning, Mount Sinai Medical Center," the operator chirped.
"Hi, can I have Jalen Montgomery's room?" There was a slight pause, and I assumed the lady who
answered the phone was checking for Jalen's information.
"I'm sorry, but this patient isn't accepting any calls," she informed me.
"Well, I'm his sister and would like to know how he's doing."
"What is your name?"
"Michelle Montgomery," I replied confidently, as if the made up name was the truth. There was another pause this time slightly longer.
"I'm sorry, but your name isn't on the patient's list, So I can't answer any of your questions."
"There must be some mistake. I just want to know how my brother is doing."
"Ma'am, I understand your concern, but I've been given strict instructions. There's nothing I can do for you."
I wanted to reach through the phone and smack the lady, but knew there was no use in arguing with her. I sat in bed for a minute contemplating who could give me an update on Jalen's condition. I thought of someone who might be able to help me.
Ring... ring... ring...
"Hello," Nina answered sounding out of breath.
"Hey, girl, what's up?"
"Precious, how are you? I called you a few times yesterday but you didn't pick up."
"Yeah, I was really out of it."
"That's understandable. So, what happened? They were talking about you and Jalen all day yesterday on the news, but nobody seemed to have their story straight."
"Nina, I promise to fill you in but I'm not in the mood right now. Have you spoken to Keith?" I asked, jumping straight to the point.
"Yeah I spoke to him yesterday."
"Did he tell you what kind of condition Jalen was in?"
"He's pretty bad, but he's going to pull through."
I let out a deep sigh, relieved that Jalen would be okay.
"Did Keith say anything else?"
"Besides that you're bad luck and he warned Jalen to stay the fuck away from you, no, nothing else."
"Thanks for the info, but I gotta go now."
"Wait, don't forget my wedding is in less than two weeks. You're the only one who hasn't gotten fitted for your dress," Nina added before I had a chance to hang up the phone.
"Well, that's because you only asked me to be in the wedding a couple of days ago."