“Mom, things are so bad. I want to come home. Things are so bad….” She softly cried into the phone.
“Baby doll, what’s wrong?”
Kyra became as alert as a cat when she heard the front door open and shut, signaling that Makai was back from running the streets.
“Mom, I gotta go.”
“Kyra, wait….”
“What are you doing?” Makai asked as he entered the room. Kyra had returned the phone to the cradle only seconds before he made an entrance.
“Nothin’, just about to go to bed.” She clicked the light on her side of the bed off and turned her back to him so that he couldn’t see her moist eyes as he prepared to join her.
She lay there all night with her head spinning. Her mother’s words regarding her undelivered messages didn’t make any sense, and she wanted answers. She needed them, and little did she know she would get them soon enough. The only question was, was she ready to hear them? Could she handle the truth?
It was a humid day. Clouds blotted out the sun, but the heat was just as powerful as if it were visible and shining. Makai woke Kyra up that afternoon, demanding more than asking that she accompany him to the pool. Even with only three and a half hours of sleep, she didn’t dare refuse his plan and made sure to quickly change into one of her many swimsuits and get ready to go.
At the pool, Makai glided in the water while Kyra sat poolside in a lounge chair, pretending to read. She kept her eye on him over the top of her Glamour magazine. She had an inexplicable suspicion that he was somehow responsible for Natasha’s deception.
Too hot to sit out any longer and realizing that Kai didn’t seem to be coming out of the pool anytime soon, Kyra waded in. She swam over to him as he soaked in a small whirlpool tucked behind a waterfall.
“It’s hot as hell out here.”
“Yeah, it is,” she agreed as she took her seat next to him.
They sat quietly behind the waterfall, looking at the distorted images through the water. Her eyes kept darting to his face and then away, looking straight ahead. She wanted the answer without having to ask, but her distress went unnoticed, or so she thought.
“Speak your mind, baby girl.”
“Kai…baby…what did you tell my mom about me comin’ to Chicago?” she cooed, trying to sound innocent while probing at what she wanted to find out. She was dancing around the information she truly wanted to uncover.
“Why you ask that?”
“See, I talked to her yesterday and…” Her mumbled words made her sound ashamed of what she had done.
“You called her from the house?”
“No.”
“Where, then?”
“A pay phone down some blocks.”
“Did Bryce or Rick go witchu?”
“No. They went to get some food or somethin’, I think.” She lied again, surprised at how well her mind was adapting to the art of trickery and how quickly her mind managed to spit out a lie.
“Mmm, hmm. Don’t sneak off without them. I told you about that shit before.” He looked at her from the corner of his eye. He undoubtedly knew she was lying, but he gave her a break. After all, it was her mother.
“I’m sorry, baby.”
She had to bite her lip and look away to keep from screaming out for him to give her an answer that very second.
“I didn’t tell her anything. Think about it—when have I talked to her?”
“True…true…”
“Tasha is the only person I know of who’s been talking to your mom.”
“What? I don’t get it.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Tell me?” she begged as she grabbed ahold of his arm.
“It’s simple. I paid Natasha and her momma to play along and say that you were staying wit’ ’em. Charlene called your mom up one day at her office, chitchatted wit her, and next thing you know you were on your way here wit’ me. You handled the rest of the work from there, really. I knew you weren’t really dumb enough to stay on that island.”
“You paid them?” Kyra wasn’t able to grasp the news right away. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. When she first saw Natasha and Charlene, they’d acted as though her being in town came as a surprise to them.
“It was business, fair and square. But the answer is yes, I paid them.”
“How much?”
“What?” A passing girl in a string biking had snatched his attention from the topic at hand.
“How much did you pay them?” Her voice was firm.
“Five grand each.”
“Five grand each…five grand each…”
“That’s how it goes, baby girl.” Makai pecked her cheek with his lips and then swam out from under the waterfall.
After a long shower back at the suite, Kyra returned to the bedroom, where Makai was up, eating a bowl of sweet cereal and watching an old episode of The Sopranos. She disappeared into the closet only to come out in an all-black outfit. Her hair, which had grown out, was pulled back into a ponytail and she appeared ready to go out, not to go to bed.
“Where you trying to go?”
“I need to go see Tasha real quick,” she said. She was going regardless of what he said.
“For what?”
“I just need to talk to her, that’s all.”
Kyra’s Benz screeched to a halt in front of Natasha’s home that night. The pounding music system that was loud enough to wake the neighborhood was silenced when she took the key from the ignition.
Kyra jumped out of the car, slamming the door, and marched her way to the front door of her traitor. The house looked dark inside, but she didn’t care if anyone was asleep. She was on a mission.
She planted herself on the porch for about two minutes, ringing the doorbell and pounding on the door as if she were the police. A few neighbors were stirring in reaction to the commotion outside, but she wasn’t worried. In that type of neighborhood, nobody was quick to call the Chicago PD.
Natasha swung the door open, and her face looked disgruntled by the obnoxious disturbance. “You better get the fuck on…Kyra? What are you doing here? And why the hell are you knocking on my door like you the police?”
She opened the door as a signal for Kyra to step inside, but Kyra simply stood on the last step, glaring at her friend. They both stood in the night on the porch in silence, neither one knowing what to say.
Just as Natasha was getting around to posing a question, Kyra lunged at her without warning and pulled her down onto the lawn. She stumbled and fell to the ground, taking Kyra with her.
On the ground, Kyra was like a wild animal, clawing and slapping while keeping a tight grip on her betrayer’s hair. Natasha fought back the best she could without injuring her. She just wanted Kyra to get off her, not hurt her. The girls rolled in the grass, grunting and yelling, drawing attention to their squabble.
It was an even fight.
Natasha straddled Kyra’s body and lifted her fist in the air as though she was going to strike again when she stopped herself. “What the fuck is your problem!” she shouted through the heaving of her chest.
“You sold me out….” Kyra was exhausted from the exchange of blows and only muttered a reply.
“What?” Natasha softened her eyes from their hard glare to a look of bewilderment.
Her body flinched when the sprinkler system switched on, soaking the lawn and the girls.
“You sold me out for Kai. You and your mom lied for him,” Kyra muttered again, choking on the water that was splashing in her face.
Natasha regained her footing and let Kyra go. She looked down at her friend, who was rubbing her jaw, and looked down the block, becoming aware of the small crowds that had formed. Her neighbors were motionless in the privacy of their porches as they gazed at the girls for their own personal source of entertainment after dark.
“Come on.” Natasha reached down to help Kyra up so they could head indoors, but Kyra refused her helping hand and got up on her own. Natasha k
new they couldn’t discuss anything involving someone as made as Makai out in the open like that. Anyone could be listening.
Once they were inside, Natasha slammed the door shut and stormed through the living room. Kyra followed her closely while keeping enough distance between them.
“You’re lucky my ma is working third shift tonight,” she warned as she picked up one of her mother’s cigarette cartons from a side table next to couch. She put the Newport cigarette to her lip and lit it, puffing on the tobacco and blowing the smoke up to the ceiling. Kyra just stood there silently, scowling at her friend as her body dripped.
“You’re fucking crazy.”
“Bitch, fuck you.”
“Oh, so I’m a bitch now?” Natasha asked with a surprised expression.
“Apparently you’ve been one.”
She climbed the stairs to her room and Kyra followed.
“Not everyone has it easy like you do,” Natasha stated as she took a seat on the edge of her bed. Her back was to Kyra as she bent over and snatched a used towel from the floor.
“Who the hell said I had it easy?”
“Please, Kyra, you’ve always been better off. Your mom has a good job and Makai spoils the hell out of you. Even when Marcus was here you always had more.”
“Don’t you dare bring my dad into this,” Kyra warned. Her voice was harsh.
“And what do I have? A mom who works as an underpaid nurse and a dad who’s locked up.”
“So you did this shit out of jealousy? I thought you were better than that. And damn, I really thought I was worth more than five grand to you.”
“You act like I did something horrible! I mean, he came to me and asked me for a favor one night and I said I would help him out. It was just to get you up here, and since he asked I assumed that must’ve been what you wanted. What the fuck is so bad about that?”
“What’s bad about it is you been keepin’ secrets from me! Especially on some shit like that! Then you tried to play it off like you didn’t know I was here in the first place! Like me bein’ with Kai was a surprise to you!”
“What did you want me to tell you? I mean, it’s not even that big of a deal….”
“Tell me one thing.”
“What?”
“Did you know how things would be once I got here?” she asked.
“Yeah, of course I did—shopping sprees galore.”
“Did you know things would be like this?” She wiped the remaining bit of makeup from her face. Natasha didn’t move a muscle. “Look at me! See how it is. See how good I’m livin’. Look!” she screamed as she grabbed her friend by the shoulder, forcing her to see the bruises from a bad night at home.
Natasha’s eyes welled up at the sight of Kyra’s face. It was bare of makeup, and all scars and bruises were revealed. Kyra stood there, for the first time not ashamed for someone to see what Makai had done to her.
“Oh my God…” Natasha quietly gasped, reaching her hand out to touch her face, but Kyra smacked it away.
CHAPTER 21
It was storming heavily outside, the rainy season reminding island inhabitants of their vulnerability. Justin packed his things away in suitcases. He had to make his move and the time was now. With his parents out of town on a business trip in Mexico, it was all too perfect. Being the only person left in the house, he sent the household staff home, leaving him free of watchful eyes.
Being alone in the mansion was eerie. He was paranoid listening to the creaks and other odd noises he heard that he never used to when the mansion was full and bustling with workers or family. He shook off any strange feeling and continued to cram clothes into his bag, as a sudden flash of lightning and clap of thunder occurred.
“Going somewhere?” Veronica startled him from where she stood in the doorway of his bedroom.
“How did you get in here?”
“The door was open. I just came by to talk and see what you were up to,” she said. Justin had been unhappy lately, and Veronica thought she knew why.
“Oh…” Justin awkwardly replied. He gripped the bag tighter, remembering that it was there and that he had somewhere he needed to be. His eyes told his story.
He noticed her eyes filling with tears and tried to explain or offer some kind of apology or comfort.
“Veronica…”
“It’s okay, Justin. You love her, so go to her. Go to her.” Her words were soft as she caressed his cheek. Her legs shook with anxiety and she bit her lip.
He placed his hand on hers, moving it from where it rested on his face. A tear dropped from her eye as she managed to squeeze out the words “I understand.”
Their tender moment was cut short when it was interrupted by the ringing of his phone.
“I’m here,” Michael said.
“I’ll be out in a minute.”
“One.”
Justin turned around to say goodbye to Veronica, but by then she was gone. She was out of his life without a goodbye, and he felt that things were best that way for her as well as for him.
Michael drove through the ferocious storm to a private hangar on the far side of Prince Paul. They made their way to the only open hangar to meet the pilot Michael had somehow rustled up. Justin took notice of the bags in Michael’s hand but didn’t get a chance to say anything before the pilot appeared from inside the plane.
“Taye, mi man,” Michael greeted him, switching on his accent. It was clear that he and the pilot were on friendly terms.
“Good ta si ya, mi bredda. Dis is ya frind, ey?” Taye returned the greeting in a thick accent, his attention eventually focusing on the new face.
“Yah, dis him.” Michael nodded toward his friend, who was quiet in anticipation.
“Wi betta git going if ya wan go tanight. Di storm is ongle gon’ ta git worse, truss mi.” Taye peered out at the pounding rain and strong winds with his hand on his white hat to keep it on his head.
Taye took his seat in the cockpit and started clicking the necessary switches to control the aircraft, while Michael and Justin took their seats in the cabin of the small private airplane. As the engines roared to life, Justin began to speak. “So I take it you’re coming with me?” he asked, looking over at his friend as he fastened his seat belt.
“You didn’t think I was about to let you go alone, did you? And miss an opportunity to see Tasha again? I don’t think so.”
Justin chuckled at his friend and shook his head. Michael had been slipping back into his old player lifestyle, but it was clear that even after a year, he had still it bad for Natasha.
Justin felt the plane creep forward and head toward the runway for takeoff. His senses were going wild. This was it. He was on his way. Nothing was going to stop him from getting to Kyra. Nothing would keep them apart anymore—nothing and no one.
Justin dialed Natasha’s number and anxiously held the phone as it rang. He could hardly breathe as he hunched over the hotel desk. Someone answered on the other end, but he failed to recognize the voice.
“Hello, may I speak to Natasha, please?”
“Who?”
“Natasha?”
“Boy, don’t cop no attitude with me! You little thugs these days think…” The woman started going off on a tangent. It didn’t take long to figure out that it must be her mother.
“Ma…who is it? Give me the phone.” Natasha’s voice could be heard in the background as she retrieved the phone. “Who’s this?”
“Tasha it’s Justin.”
“Oh hi…. Look, if you want me to tell Kyra anything else, then—”
“Actually, I’m in town, and I wanted to know where I could reach her. Do you know where she is?”
“No. I don’t know,” she lied, not wanting to help because of her own bitterness.
“Oh…” he sadly responded, with a moment of silence following.
Natasha was guilt ridden as she leaned her body against the kitchen counter. She tried to be stubborn to the best of her abilities, but she was unsuccessful in her e
fforts.
“Look, there’s a party tonight at Club Pandemonium. It’s down on South Michigan Ave. They hold it every year and it’s real hype, so she should be there. That’s the best I can do.” She avoided giving Kyra’s real address. Leading Justin to the Grand Plaza would be leading him into a death trap.
“Thanks,” he said, jotting down the helpful information on a handy notepad.
“Listen, J, you gotta be careful if you find her. The nigga she’s running with these days is no good. Trust me, I know what I’m talking about,” she warned.
“A’ight I will. Here, I got somebody who wants to talk to you.” Justin threw the phone in his friend’s lap as he went to dress for the party.
“Hello?”
“Mike!” Natasha shrieked in delight at the sound of the voice on the other end.
Kyra sighed as she sat alone on one of the couches in the VIP section of the popular club. She sipped a glass of Raspberry Bacardi with Sprite as she nodded to the music. She was there physically, but mentally, she wasn’t part of the scene. Not even the famous faces she spotted floating around the area could bring her back to life.
On the other hand, Makai seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself. He was sitting on a couch across from her, seated next to the girl she had spotted the last time they went out clubbing.
Kyra was in the middle of sipping her cocktail when suddenly and without warning Makai tried to pull her into the party atmosphere.
“Come on, baby girl, dance for me,” he tipsily requested.
“I don’t feel like it.”
“Come on…come on…”
She downed the rest of her drink in one swallow and looked him the eye with a hard look that told him she was getting tired of him bossing her around.
“Yeah…get up there.” He was unsure how to interpret her look as he motioned her toward a wide platform that stretched across and above the dance floor.
Kyra looked at the other girls who were on the platform and how provocatively dressed they were. One girl even had on a see-through dress that between the length and sheerness, might as well have left her naked. By the way they moved and danced, combined with the way they looked, Kyra took them to be exotic dancers.
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