He confessed that he had fallen in love with her and that she was the one he wanted to be with and start a life with. I was so hurt. The tears fell from my eyes, and without thinking, I started to attack him physically where he sat. He blocked the blows, asked me to be an adult about the situation and to stop before I hurt the baby, but I was at a point of no return. He stood and grabbed me by my wrists, pushed me down on the couch, and attempted to walk away. He proceeded up the stairs, with me following him, still begging him to please reconsider, with tears blurring my vision. As I neared the top landing, I missed a few steps and fell down the stairs.
He called 911, an ambulance rushed me to the ER, and while I was in the hospital, losing our unborn child, he left. Upon my release from the hospital, his mother came and handed me an envelope from her son. Inside was a letter telling me that he was moving on, and that I needed to do the same. Months later, I was still depressed about losing my child, and the money he had given me was going to run out in a few weeks, so my depression soon turned into anger. I vowed to make him pay by destroying him and the bitch who had caused my downfall.
Him stirring in his sleep brought me back to the present and to the reason I was here, paying him a visit. He awoke and stood, and his eyes traveled over to where I was rocking back and forth in the chair.
“Tamia?” he questioned, wiping at his eyes, as if he wasn’t seeing clearly.
“In the flesh,” I responded with a laugh.
“What are you doing here, Tamia? And how did you know I was here?” he asked. He looked like he wanted to lunge at me, so I pulled out the gun and pointed it at him.
Looking like the gun didn’t faze him, he started to walk toward me, causing me to fire a warning shot, to let him know that I was serious.
“Andris, sit on the bed, and if you so much as look as if you’re up to something, I’m going to shoot your ass,” I said to him.
He stepped back and sat on the bed, his arms up, as if surrendering.
“So you thought I was going to let you get away with what you did to me. I would never let you live happily ever after with the bitch who ruined my life. You loved that bitch so much that after all those calls and letters you received about her cheating, you still didn’t leave her. Like the weak bitch that you are, you turned into an alcoholic abuser instead of just leaving. I honestly didn’t think you had it in you to kill her, but it’s all good, because you did me a favor. I was going to kill the bitch, anyway. Oh, and just so you know, your precious wife wasn’t cheating on you. She actually loved you,” I said, taunting him.
“You crazy bitch—”
I cut his sentence short by shooting him in the shoulder.
“Bitch, you shot me!” he yelled out in pain.
“As much as I would like to sit and continue to entertain you, I have to go. I have more lives to destroy,” I announced, then shot him twice in the chest and watched his body fall back on the bed.
I walked over to him and shot him two more times, this time in the head. I put the stolen gun in my pocket and proceeded down the stairs. I wasn’t worried about the police, due to the silencer on the gun, and I wasn’t worried about prints, because I had on gloves. I went out the back door, making sure not to lock it. Then I punched the glass out at the bottom of the door and left the home quickly and quietly.
I knew in those moments before he died, he probably wondered how I had found his ass, but he could thank his mother for leading me right to him. I knew he was in town because he had shown up at the burial site, and I had made sure he didn’t see me once I realized that it was him. I knew that his mother would eventually show at her sister’s house: for as long as I’d known them, they had played cards faithfully every Friday. The first few Fridays she’d attended, but there’d been no sign of Andris. That hadn’t stopped me from stalking the place, and he just so happened to show this Friday, and it cost him his life.
Chapter Eleven
Tamia
The club showcase was in full effect when German and I arrived. This was the second showcase that Ty had done since he opened up the club a year ago. It was an amateur showcase that was open to anyone who wanted to compete for a 250-dollar prize. It was basically an open mic night. We walked over to the VIP section, where Ty’s off again, on again girlfriend Chanel, Jakiyah, some dude she was with, and a couple that I didn’t know were sitting. I felt German’s body tense as he released my hand. He clearly wasn’t happy with Jakiyah being here with dude, and I wanted to know why. I couldn’t sweat German right now, as I introduced myself to the unknown visitors. Once they introduced themselves, I learned that Yessenia, Keem, and Quameek were friends of Jakiyah.
German seemed to know the bitch Yessenia, as he said, “What’s up?” to her and told her, “Long time no see.” I didn’t like the way the bitch was looking at me, being that she didn’t know me, but then again, she was friends with Jakiyah. I guessed that meant she didn’t like me, either. Isn’t that the way it works among friends? I thought as I excused myself. I told German I was going to the restroom.
After handling my business, I went back upstairs, took a seat, and tried to enjoy the showcase. A woman had just left the stage after singing “No One,” by Alicia Keys. She’d sounded okay, but I didn’t think she would be taking home the prize money. Ty announced the next talent to the stage, a woman, and she started to recite a poem. I listened. The poem went like this:
You sit wondering why I don’t want to be the flavor of the month.
My mom instilled self-worth in me, so I will never fall victim to your stunt.
What? I didn’t hear you. Did you say you love me?
Oh, I apologize, because the line to the prize was too long for me to see.
I’m black and beautiful with a heart of gold.
I will not dismiss my self-dignity and fold.
To have this queen on your pedestal for all to see.
No other woman in the world has to exist but me.
The crowd went crazy when she was done. I mean, the poem was good, but not that good, but you wouldn’t know that from the way they were cheering, clapping, and whistling. I looked over at German, who didn’t look like he was having a good time. I guessed he was in a funk over the public affection that Jakiyah and Quameek were showing each other. I didn’t have time to address what he had going on. I just wanted to sit back, continue to watch the showcase, and wait for the real show to start. Ty was back on the stage now, announcing the next participant, but everyone’s attention had shifted to the police officers who were swarming into the club. Everyone started to panic when one of the officers spoke on a bullhorn and requested that the lights be turned on and that no one move.
“Who is the owner of the club?” the same officer asked as soon as the lights were turned on.
“I’m the owner, nigga. What the fuck is going on?” Ty barked from the stage.
“Are you Tyhiem Smith?” the officer asked him.
“Yes, I’m Tyhiem Smith. So again, what the fuck is going on?” he repeated, clearly getting pissed off.
That officer told several officers to start evacuating the club. Jakiyah ran down the stairs to get to her brother, with German in tow. I reluctantly followed behind them, hoping that I didn’t get stopped before I made it to the stage. I turned and watched as two officers exited Ty’s office and gave a head nod to the officer who had the bullhorn and thus appeared to be in charge. The one in charge walked over and stood in front of Tyhiem, then told him he was being arrested for murder. He then proceeded to read Tyhiem his rights as he was being handcuffed.
All that could be heard was Chanel and Jakiyah crying, but what bothered me was the fact that German was the one who was comforting Jakiyah, and not Quameek, whom she’d come with. Quameek had refused to leave her when an officer told him he had to exit the club, so that alone should have been enough for German to fall back.
“We need to go down to the police station and see what the fuck is going on,” Keem said.
“
Jakiyah, come with me. I will take you,” German said to her.
“No disrespect, but I’ve got her,” Quameek said, taking her by the hand.
That was just what the fuck German got, trying to play Captain Save a Ho, like he didn’t see me standing here. I hoped he didn’t think that we were going to the police station. I was going to bitch a fit if he even fixed his face to say that we were. I walked to the car with an attitude, not saying two words to his thirsty ass. He hadn’t even comforted Jakiyah after her sister passed away, so that told me that his punk ass was jealous and was trying to prove something, but he got his ass checked.
“Before you even fix your mouth to ask, the answer is no. I’m not going to the police station,” I said, fastening my seat belt.
“Tamia, don’t start no bullshit, like you didn’t just see them take my fucking best friend out in handcuffs,” he barked.
“No, I didn’t see, because you were blocking my view, all hugged up with your ex,” I sassed.
“Really, Tamia? You can’t be that fucking self-centered.”
“Yes, the fuck I can, especially when you straight disrespected me in my face,” I yelled at him.
“Wow. You can’t be serious right now.” He shook his head as he pulled out of the spot we were parked in.
I sat quietly for the rest of the ride: as long as we were going home, there was no need for me to continue arguing with him. When we pulled up to the house, I noticed that he didn’t pull into the garage.
“Why didn’t you pull into the garage?” I asked him.
“I’m waiting for you to get out of the car. You said that you weren’t going to the police station, so I’m dropping you off at home,” he responded, like he was annoyed that I was still sitting in the car.
“German, I said that we weren’t going to the police station,” I said to him.
“Tamia, get out of the car now,” he yelled, banging the steering wheel, losing his patience with me.
I got out of the car, saying no more to him. I just stood there, watching to see if he would see things my way, but he pulled off, screeching his tires, leaving me looking stupid as his headlights disappeared as he rounded the corner.
Chapter Twelve
Jakiyah
Qua, German, and I had been at the police station for at least two hours, but no one had told us anything yet. I was so annoyed and was losing my patience with these fucking crackers right about now. I rested my head on Qua’s shoulder. I was getting sleepy, but I wasn’t leaving until someone came out to tell us something. I hated the 113th precinct with a passion; they were rude and didn’t care that we had been waiting this long, with not so much as a word about my brother. I didn’t understand how they could come into his place of business, accuse him of murder, and not say who he was supposed to have murdered.
“Jakiyah Smith,” I heard and thought to myself that it was about time as I stood.
I walked over to a white officer dressed in a suit. He introduced himself as Detective Fields from the homicide unit. He led me into a room that I guessed was an interrogation room, because the room contained only a table and two chairs, and it had no windows. I sat and listened to him, and I’d be the first to tell you that these police officers were a piece of work with their bullshit. He hadn’t given me any information concerning who my brother was being accused of murdering. All this detective had done thus far was ask me about my brother’s whereabouts before coming to the club and about whether he owned a gun.
I might not have a degree in street smarts, but I knew not to answer no fucking questions, especially when this shit was one sided. He didn’t answer any of my questions, but he expected me to answer his, and then he tried to threaten me by telling me that my brother was going to go away for a long time if I couldn’t provide an alibi for his whereabouts during the crime in question. Yeah, okay, I must have the word stupid tattooed on my forehead, I thought as I stood to leave, because he was wasting my time. I needed to leave and go home to let my parents know what had happened so that we could make sure that my brother got a lawyer.
“What did he say?” Qua asked me as soon as I walked out of the interrogation room.
“He didn’t say much of anything. All he did was ask me questions about Ty’s whereabouts and if he owned a gun. He didn’t offer me any information about why he was arrested, and I felt as if he was wasting my time, so I walked out,” I explained to him.
“This shit is crazy. They be on that bullshit. Come on. Let me take you home so that we can talk to your parents together,” German said to me, causing Qua to sigh in annoyance.
I didn’t know what was up with German acting like a jealous boyfriend, but he needed to chill out before Qua started thinking we had something going on. I thought that he would leave when Keem and Yessenia left, given that Qua was here with me, but he didn’t.
“German, if you’re going to the house, you can go ahead. Qua will drop me off. Thanks for offering.” I was trying not to show how irritated I was about his antics tonight.
The three of us filed out of the police station and headed to the parking lot.
“I thought you said you and dude broke up?” Qua asked me as soon as we got into his truck.
“Qua, German and I broke up two years ago, and he broke up with me, like I told you,” I said to him as he drove out of the parking lot.
“Well, he’s acting like he has some unresolved feelings for you,” he said, briefly turning his eyes away from the road to look at me.
Qua’s ass was so fucking handsome, and that mean expression he was wearing now was making my kitty tingle. When we used to date and he got upset about something I had said or done, it was hard to take him seriously, because it always turned me on.
“Qua, trust me, we are just friends. He has the woman he wanted to be with, and she’s the same woman that he left me for. If he has any unresolved feelings, I have no idea where they’re coming from,” I explained to him. “Do you know how cute you are when you’re mad?” I asked. I smiled at him, causing him to smile.
“Jakiyah, I’m really feeling you, but you know that I don’t like drama,” he admitted, with a cute frown.
“Qua, I’m single, and trust me when I say, I have no drama in my life besides what’s going on with my brother right now,” I promised, then reached over and kissed him on his soft lips.
I swear that if my brother hadn’t been arrested, I would be going back to Qua’s place with him, because that kiss had my body on fire. I hadn’t had sex in eight months, and if I was keeping count based on good sex, I would have to say the last time was when I was with German.
Qua pulled up to my mom’s house, and after he put the car in park, he pulled me into his arms and kissed me with so much passion. I had to break the kiss as he was about to start something I didn’t have time to finish.
“Qua, I have to get inside,” I moaned as his hand massaged the inside of my thigh.
“Call me later,” he said. He kissed me before letting me get out of the car.
“Okay, I will.” I smiled as I got out.
As soon as I got inside, I discovered that my mother, father, and German were sitting in the living room, waiting on me. I had thought I would have time to go to the bathroom, because my panties were damp, but I knew it had to wait.
“What took you so long to get here? We did leave from the same place,” German said sarcastically. I ignored him.
“Jakiyah, your brother called. He said he’s being charged with Andris’s murder,” my mom cried.
“Andris? Mom, Ty didn’t kill Andris. Trust me, if he did this, he wouldn’t be a suspect right now,” I told her.
“He said that they told him that they found the murder weapon in his office at the club,” my father added.
“Dad, if anybody knows that Ty didn’t do this, you should. You know Ty is not that careless,” I said to him.
“Well, your dad called a lawyer, who is going to show for his arraignment. There is really nothing else we can do to
night,” My mom announced as she stood. She headed upstairs, and my father followed her.
I knew that Ty didn’t do this. He already knew how my mom felt about losing another one of her children. If he had done this deed, it would have been clean, and Andris’s body would have never been found.
“You okay?” German asked me.
“Yes, I’m fine, but you know this is bullshit,” I said to him.
“Of course I know that, and trust me, he wasn’t going to do this on his own. We were watching his mother’s house together the other night, and there were no signs of that nigga. I know that if Ty got the drop on him, he would have called me,” he said.
“Exactly. So I don’t know what the fuck is going on and how they’re saying they found the murder weapon in his office.” I tried to hold my tears in as he pulled me into his arms. “Thanks for being here, but I need you to go,” I said, removing myself from his arms.
Disappointment showed on his face, but what the fuck did he want from me? This was the same man who had left me and hadn’t even comforted me when my sister passed. I really couldn’t say that I was surprised that he wanted to be all in my space now. After all, it was just like a nigga not to want to be with you until he saw you with the next man.
“Hit me up if you hear anything concerning Ty,” he requested, like I would call about something otherwise.
I didn’t know what was going on with him and Tamia, but as far as he and I were concerned, there was nothing happening besides us being friends. After he left, I locked the door, headed upstairs, showered, and then stayed up talking to Qua for a bit before taking my ass to bed.
He Used to Love Me Page 5