Destiny 1: Life Choices: From the Evei Lattimore Collection

by Blue Saffire

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  Other books by Evei Collection Books by Blue Saffire

  Destiny 2 coming soon

  Destiny 3 coming soon

  Other books by Blue Saffire

  Placed in Best Read Order of Legally Bound and the connected Spinoff Series

  Also available….

  Legally Bound

  Legally Bound 2: Against the Law

  Legally Bound 3: His Law

  Perfect for Me

  Hush 1: Family Secrets

  Ballers: His Game

  Brothers Black1: Wyatt the Heartbreaker

  Legally Bound 4: Allegations of Love

  Hush 2: Slow Burn

  Legally Bound 5.0: Sam

  Yours: Losing My Innocence 1

  Yours 2: Experience Gained

  Yours 3: Life Mastered

  Ballers 2: His Final Play

  Legally Bound 5.1: Tasha Illegal Dealings

  Brothers Black 2: Noah

  Legally Bound 5.2: Camille

  Blue Saffire Coming Soon…

  Legally Bound 5.3

  Brothers Black 3

  Destiny

  Life Choices

  Blue Saffire

  Perceptive Illusions Publishing, Inc.

  Bay Shore, New York

  Original Copyright Edition © 2012 by Evei Lattimore.

  Revised Edition Copyrighted © 2016 by Blue Saffire.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the address below.

  Blue Saffire and Evei Lattimore/Perceptive Illusions, Inc.

  PO 5253

  Bay Shore, New York 11706

  www.BlueSaffire.com

  Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

  Ordering Information:

  Quantity sales. Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the “Special Sales Department” at the address above.

  Destiny 1/ Blue Saffire and Evei Lattimore. – 2nd ed.

  Sometime what’s meant for you shows up in its own time. Like my love for you.

  ―Blue Saffire

  Chapter One

  Where It Began

  Too often we don’t realize that our destiny is led by our choices. We make choices and then the universe works those choices out for our good. Sometimes we make choices to hold on to the wrong people, and the universe waits for us to let them go. When we don’t life has a way of moving them out of the way for us. Let’s just say that what you are truly destined for will be yours one way or another.

  The people I love and I, learned these lessons the hard way. In one year, we learned more than any of us bargained for. I wish I could change some of the things I lost, but I am still grateful for the things I gained. Funny thing is, if it weren’t for the losses I wouldn’t have the things that make me who I am today or as happy as I am today, despite the pain.

  My name is Taliyah. I have always liked to think I am a really smart girl. I just made choices and decisions that weren’t always as wise as they could have been. I learned from each one though, so I can’t say that there was ever a lesson wasted. I am grateful for the wisdom my choices left me with.

  It all started in the King Towers Houses, in Harlem, New York, where we all grew up. I was always different from the girls I hung out with, Queeny, Belinda, Janice, and Layla. I was nineteen back then and in college, working toward my degree in law.

  I had real plans to get out of the hood. I just thought I could do it and still remain the same. I didn’t realize that my friends were the first thing I needed to let go of. They had no real plans at all. For them hooking up with the first dopeboy they got their hands on was a real come up.

  I didn’t want that, I wanted to make my own way. Besides, I had the biggest crush ever on Alex. He was cool with all the dealers and hood dudes, but he was in school like me.

  We used to see each other on the train sometimes coming from school during our freshmen year in college. Then he moved up in life and started driving around in a Mercedes.

  All the girls thought he was all that, but they didn’t think he was getting it like the rest of his friends, so they weren’t really trying to holla at him that much. That was with the exception of Yesenia. Yesenia was all over Alex, they dated off and on for a little while, but I could never seem to find the right timing to catch their off times.

  I thought I was lucky this time. Layla and Queeny heard that Yesenia was seeing some guy from Taft Houses. This was my chance, Alex’s crew, La Mafia, was throwing a party and Alex was sure to be there. I never really went to any of the parties they threw, but to finally have a chance to at least get Alex to notice me was well worth it.

  It was not going to be easy, despite not being a dealer Alex was always with the head of La Mafia, Victor. If I ended up on Victor’s radar I was in trouble. I needed to use timing to get Alex’s attention and his attention only, which in itself would be a task.

  I am by no means an ugly girl. I am five-four and crazy thick; my body alone is an attention grabber. It is no secret that my mother has kept me under lock and key because of it.

  I have a beautiful cocoa brown complexion and my eyes are a pretty light brown. Not hazel or anything like that, they are just not a deep brown color. My long eyelashes only help to set off my almond shaped eyes and perfectly anchored eyebrows.

  My face is a cute round shape. Not to toot my own horn, but my lips are very full and sexy. I have really long brown hair that I go to get washed and wrapped by the Dominicans, so it is always on point.

  Queeny and I had this all planned out, she was going to help get me to where the crew was and make sure I was the first and last thing Alex saw all night. I was really excited. Alex is so different from the rest of them. I usually run from the others when they start their cat calling.

  That’s not Alex’s style. He would always smile and just say a normal ‘hi’ when we rode the train together. I would always manage to get a seat next to him. We spoke a few times, but it never turned into anything.

  I am not the aggressive type, so I never really tried to push up on him or anything like that. He was always really polite
and soft spoken when we did speak. I always thought he was really cool. I liked that he was into school and had a reserved way about him.

  However, I was tired of waiting to see if he was interested. I mean he talked to me and he didn’t seem like I wasn’t his type. I figured he just had a girlfriend before, so he wasn’t looking to hook up with me. This party was my chance once and for all.

  I wanted to wear something cute and at the same time, eye catching. I bought this cute pleated skirt that hit the middle of my thighs and a satin white button down blouse. I got a cute pair of peep toe platform pumps that I thought would help me look sexy. I had one shot at this and I wanted to succeed.

  I even went to get my nails done. I was sure that this was going to work. Queeny was my best friend, out of the girls I hung with. She came over before the party to curl my hair for me. She works in the hair salon I go to, she is the only one of my friends that does something other than try to get guys to get them high and trick on them.

  We were both squealing like crazy the whole time we were getting ready. I was so nervous and excited. I had never done anything like this. My mom had just really started to give me freedom to make my own choices and go out places. I had been a real homebody up until three months ago.

  “You look hot, Mama,” Queeny squealed. “Alex is not going to know what hit him.” She was putting the finishing touches on my hair. I could see in the mirror that it was coming out great.

  “I hope so. I’m nervous Queeny.” I was fidgeting with my clothes, fixing my shirt. Making sure it was tucked in neatly.

  “Don’t be, I am telling you Alex be looking at you too, he be on that shy stuff though.”

  My cell phone started to buzz on the bed next to me. “That’s Layla, the girls are downstairs,” I sang as I looked down at my phone. Layla had sent me a text message to rush us downstairs.

  It was time.

  Chapter Two

  Mistakes

  The party was in this uptown warehouse that La Mafia owned. Their crew was definitely getting it. Victor was known for his hot temper and being about his paper. Now, he is the guy all the girls wanted to be with, only Victor is not the boyfriend type.

  At least, no girl has ever gotten him to be. Victor may keep you around for a couple of weeks, but you would be replaced by the first pretty face that entertained him more than you. You don’t choose Victor, he chooses you.

  That is why I wanted to stay away from him. I didn’t want him thinking I needed to be his next entertainment. This pretty face was not going to be one he was going to kiss and forget. I could do better than that.

  We jumped on the train to get to the warehouse. Belinda had been acting a little stink towards me, making jokes about my outfit. I was totally ignoring her. I knew I looked better than all four of them put together. I’m not conceited, but I was definitely telling the truth.

  Queeny is pretty, she is Dominican with long black hair and brown eyes, but she is lacking the body I have. Belinda, Layla, and Janice are just plain hood chicks. Janice is short and light skin with an overpriced blonde weave. Belinda is a little taller than me, with a short bob and a plain Cuban face, not like the exotic face her sister has. Then there is Layla the cute, but so loud that you forget she was ever cute, Spanish chick.

  The plan was for Layla and Belinda to go into the party first to tell us if Alex was there yet. They would text us and I would follow Queeny straight to the loft part of the party where the crew was sure to be. Queeny used to date Sisqo, one of Victor’s point men. He still calls her when he wants, so we would have no problem getting that far.

  Belinda and Janice were talking amongst themselves while we walked to the warehouse. I was just really nervous. I kept smoothing out my skirt and tossing and smoothing my hair. I wish I were paying more attention to my so-called friends that night. I would have known that I was walking into the crossroads of my life.

  Layla and Belinda went in as planned, but Janice decided to go in too. Queeny stood outside with me fixing my hair and giving me a pep talk. That was our first mistake. We should not have been anywhere near the door. As we stood there, a black Range Rover pulled up. The doors opened and I could name each guy that got out despite never really talking to any of them. There was Juan, Sisqo, Richie, and Victor.

  They were all dressed to impress, each looking as if they just came from the barbershop as well as stepping straight out of the mall. Between the four of them you could have had a jewelry auction right there on the spot. I doubt you could find four girls in this party wearing more jewelry than the four of them.

  My heart was pounding as they made their way toward the door. I inched behind Queeny and let my head drop a little so my hair would cover my face. I noticed Sisqo’s face light up as soon as he saw Queeny. He opened his arms so she would come to him and I was praying she wouldn’t move. I reached for her shirt and held her in place in front of me.

  “Queeny Ma-me, I was hoping you would bring your fine ass here tonight,” Sisqo crooned.

  “Hey poppy,” she sang and stepped forward a little.

  You could hear the big kiss Sisqo gave Queeny, when he reached her and wrapped his arms around her waist. As they were swaying back and forth the other guys with him started to get closer. He looked over her shoulder at me and winked.

  “What’s up Tali?” he crooned.

  I just waved, not wanting to draw attention to myself, but it was too late. Victor was on his cell phone talking, but I had caught his eye. He looked me over and a smile crept into the corners of his mouth. He said something in Spanish to Sisqo and nodded my way. I knew it was not good because Queeny stiffened and backed up to cover me.

  “She’s with me,” Queeny answered in a snappy tone. “You’re not her type.”

  Queeny was risking a lot answering him that way. I could see in his face he didn’t like it. He ended his call and frowned at Queeny. “I never liked that big mouth of yours,” Victor said with a hard edge in his voice. He rolled his eyes at her before looking at me again. His eyes flickered between the two of us and he cursed to himself as he entered the building.

  I knew it was the thought of me being friends with Queeny that turned him off. Queeny is very outspoken. I knew that if Victor thought I was anything like her he was not interested. I sighed with relief once he was gone. At the same time my cell phone was going off with a text message. It was Belinda telling us that Alex was already inside.

  Sisqo was already pulling Queeny through the door. She was giving me a relieved look as she reached for my hand and pulled me with her. She didn’t give me time to finish reading the text. If she had, she would have known I wanted to go home. The rest of Belinda’s message said that Alex was inside with Yesenia.

  My heart was completely crushed. I was going through all of this for nothing. I did not belong at this party. Worst part was, I had always managed not to be seen by Victor. But now I was positive he was aware of me. Just look at the way I was dressed. Queeny seemed to have noticed the sad look on my face and started to look anxious.

  “What happened, is he not here yet?” Queeny whispered in my ear.

  “No, he is here with Yesenia,” I whined low enough for only her to hear.

  “Oh, come on,” Queeny huffed, “I can’t believe him. Why does he keep messing with that trash?”

  I just shrugged as we got on the freight elevator. Queeny wrapped her arms around my waist and put her chin on my shoulder. I was trying not to cry.

  This was so frustrating. Alex doesn’t hang in the neighborhood like the others so it is not a piece of cake to just go tell him I like him the minute I find out he is not with Yesenia. Victor keeps Alex neutral. I never really see him involved with La Mafia like the others.

  “That’s hot, you two look good,” Sisqo laughed as he watched Queeny hug me.

  “You wish Sisqo,” Queeny snapped at him.

  He started to laugh as he opened the door so we could exit the elevator. Queeny kept her arms around my waist as we entered t
he large area. I scanned the room for Alex, but didn’t see him there in the small crowd. I didn’t see Layla or my other friends either. I figured they were in the main party now. I doubt they would be able to stay in this part of the party long once Victor arrived. They did not have the same access Queeny did. I watched as Victor sent girls out of the room that he didn’t believe were up to par.

  Queeny ignored the process of elimination and walked right pass Victor with me to sit on the sofa by the bar. I saw Victor frown at her and laugh to himself. Sisqo went to the bar and grabbed two beers and brought them over to us. I drink even less than I party, but I was so upset I figured it wouldn’t hurt to make the best of things.

  Years later, it is so easy to see where I made all of my mistakes and wrong choices. I was young then, what did I know. My mother held me so tight I never had real experiences, a real boyfriend, or real common sense. I went to an all girl’s school for crying out loud.

  I took the beer and Sisqo sat in the middle of the both of us. I looked around the large open room. It was like a loft area within the warehouse. There were blue and black sofas with little tables set up in front of them all around the large space. It looked like the VIP setup of a posh club. Not really what I was expecting. In the far right hand corner, there was a DJ set up just for this part of the party. The room was illuminated by blue and white party lights, lighting the bar, each seating area and the dim larger lights illuminated the entry space.

  Sisqo had his arms around Queeny, kissing her face and whispering in her ear. She was giggling and touching his face looking as happy as I thought I would be once I got here. I was so frustrated I chugged the beer and finished it in one shot. I stood up to go to the bar to get another one.