by Miss KP
“Ugghhhh!” I yelled mad as shit. I couldn’t believe I’d let her see me like this over that no good nigga.
As bad as I wanted to apologize my pride wouldn’t allow me to. I finally lowered the gun.
“So, when was the last time you talked to him?”
“I haven’t heard from Rich since he left this morning. He said he was taking Juanita to the zoo,” Trixie responded.
“Well, your daughter has been at my house all day.”
“That lying muthafucka.”
So, are you and Rich still fucking?” I asked.
“We’re not just fucking, we’re together. He sleeps here with me almost every night.”
I bit the inside of my mouth to try and calm myself down. “I just asked him were you all sleeping together and he said you were just his baby's mother. Wow.”
“Oh yeah! If that’s the case then why is some of his stuff in the drawers up stairs? He’s lying to you,” Trixie added. “So, wait a minute, y’all still fool with each other?”
“When I feel like it. He just tried to get some earlier, but I turned him down.”
Now more than ever I hated Rich for making me look like a dumb ass bitch. He was gonna pay for humiliating me in front of trash like Trixie. Then it dawned on me. While she was mad at him, this was the perfect opportunity to get the information I needed about Carlos. My pride had to be put to the side for now as I fished for information.
“Look Trixie, I’m sorry for attacking you like that in front of your daughter, but I’ve been through a lot lately. I don’t know if Rich had told you all we’ve been through this past year.”
“All I know is that the Sanchez’s have been dropping like flies and I told Rich I didn’t want my daughter around all that shit.”
“Did he ever tell you what happened to Carlos?”
“No, he didn’t. He never wants to talk about it,” Trixie said.
“Well, all I know is that when I catch that nigga it’s on and popping. I ain’t nobody’s joke.”
“If he wasn’t fucking me or you tonight, then I wonder who you heard him with?”
“I’m about to find out.”
I was pissed off as I stormed away from Trixie’s house and got in the car on a war path. Rich was foolish if his ass thought he was gonna keep betraying me and get away with it.
He’s probably at his mother’s house with that bitch, I thought to myself as I peeled out of Trixie’s development and made my way back in the city.
Rage consumed my body as I pictured him fucking me and Trixie at the same time. Was I the new Lisa? Thinking about how he’d destroyed her life, I became even more furious for allowing Rich to play me for a fool.
Hopping on the Beltway, I took my Porsche to the limit as I headed toward I295 at top speed. Hoping there were no police around, I banged on the steering wheel and cursed Rich out all the way to his mother’s house. There was no way he was getting away with this. Once I pulled up to the house, I looked for the spare key he’d given me in my purse, which I quickly located on my Tiffany keychain. He wanted to make sure that I always had copy for emergency purposes, and as far as I was concerned, this was one hell of an emergency.
I got out the truck and ran around to the back of the house to see if there were any vehicles trying to be incognito. Although his mother’s old beat up Toyota was back there, and his Range wasn’t, I was still convinced that he was inside.
That broke muthafucka can’t afford to pay the maintenance fees on that Range anyway so the shit might be on the side of the road. Hell, it’s a possibility that he might be driving his mother’s car.
Making my way back to the front of the house, I took out my gun just in ce I needed to put a cap in his ass. I was gonna show Rich that I meant business. Not even being discrete or trying to be quiet, I put the key in and unlocked the door.
“Rich! You bitch ass nigga I know you in here! I’m gonna show you not to fuck with me!” I yelled through the house.
I looked through every room on the main level, but he wasn’t there. After running up the stairs, I checked both of the guest rooms along with the bathroom in the hallway first, but he still couldn’t be found.
“Where the hell are you?”
Walking into his room, the first thing I did was check the bathroom. After realizing he wasn’t in there either, I made my way toward the bed that was neatly made, and didn’t look disturbed. At that point I was convinced that he hadn’t come to his mother’s house to fuck, however, there were some women’s clothing scattered all over the floor like she’d been in a hurry.
“Maybe they were here, but left,” I said.
Picking up one of the shirts, I was surprised when I realized that it belonged to me. When I noticed my Alexander Wang racerback tank, along with my Hudson skinny jeans that’s when I knew all that shit was mine. Scanning the room, my eyes grew the size of Texas when I noticed a Louis Vuitton suitcase sitting in front of his closet. My heart beat was so loud, it sounded like that shit was about to jump out of my chest.
As I walked over and flipped the top of the suitcase back, my initials MGS, immediately stared back at me. It was the suitcase I had the morning of the robbery.
God no. It can’t be. I thought to myself.
I was furious and hurt at the same time. Chills covered my body as I shook my head in disbelief. Where was the loyal man that I loved? Digging for more evidence, I decided to look in his closet to see if there was anything else to prove he was there, and once I saw the blood stained New Balance I was convinced that Rich had robbed me.
My heart felt heavy as thoughts about that morning ran through my mind. This man was foul and now more than ever I felt like Rich had to die.
Chapter 22 Denie
When I woke up this morning, I was tired of looking like shit. Feeling extremely depressed, I didn’t have much of an appetite since we’d gotten back from New York, so I knew I’d lost a few pounds. My emotions were mixed. I hated Javier for what he’d done to me, but I missed what we had before everything went downhill.
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Maybe my mother and Chanel were right. I needed to go out and enjoy myself. Chanel had been calling me like crazy, but I’d been ducking her calls. I finally broke down and answered earlier today, and agreed to go out to Pure Lounge with her later on to make up for lost times. Since I’d lost myself and I looked like a train wreck, I called to see if Jermaine could bring me back to life. From the urgency in my voice, I’m sure Jermaine knew it was an emergency, so he agreed to do my hair, which was exactly what I needed to boost my spirits.
As I finally peeled myself out of bed, I looked in the mirror and was disgusted at the image staring back. Now, I could see what my mother was talking about. Dark circles had taken over my eyes and the bags underneath them made matters even worse. There was no way in hell anybody was gonna mistake me for Lauren London right about now. I was gonna get back, and I’m sure Jermaine was gonna help make that happen.
After getting out of the shower, I mixed baby oil and lavender lotion together and put it all over my body. I couldn’t remember the last time lotion felt so good, which meant I was in need of some true pampering. After putting my panties on, al I could do was shake my head. This damn depression wasn’t doing too good on my body because my ass was starting to get smaller. Thank God I still had my breasts though, but my ass was what I loved most. Not that I was trying to get with anybody anytime soon, but I just wanted to love myself again when I looked in the mirror.
Knowing the July air was really hot outside, I slipped on my Shadyboots t-shirt, Rock & Republic jeans, and Tory Burch flip flops. After grabbing my Louis Vuitton bum bag I strapped it around my waist then threw in all my girlie essentials, and my cell phone. I headed out the door moments later.
It felt like I was in Miami when I left out of the house because that summer rain was playing peek-a-boo not knowing if it wanted to pour down or let the sun shine. I decided to drive my mother’s 650 BMW convertible since she neve
r drove it anyway and if the sun would stay out long enough, I could stunt around the city. Once I pulled out of the gate and was out of our bougie neighborhood, I put my Kanye West CD on blast. The Monster remix with Nicki Minaj and Jay-Z was my jam. As soon as I got in my Nicki mode my phone started ringing, which pissed me off. It was a blocked number again. I’d been getting calls from an unknown number for about a week now and it was getting on my nerves because they never said anything. They just listened to my voice and hung up. Irritated as ever, I answered the phone.
“Yeah”
“Bitch, you have no idea what you’ve done. I’m gonna get your ass…”Click
Before I could even respond to curse her ass out, she hung up on me. It was probably somebody’s baby mother or girlfriend that I’d fucked in the past.
When my phone rang a few seconds later, this time I was gonna be ready.
“Bitch, take your beef up with your dude!” I yelled into the phone.
“You have a collect call from… Nelson White, an inmate at a correctional facility. To refuse this call, hang up. If you accept this call dial 0,” the automated operator stated.
I let out a huge sigh before hitting zero. I wasn’t in the mood for Nelson’s shit right now.
“Thank you. This call is subject to recording,” the operator continued.
“Damn, you finally decided to accept my call!” Nelson barked.
“Look, calm down,” I said irritated that I even picked up the phone.
“What the fuck do you mean calm down. You ain’t been answerin’ my calls for a minute. You gettin’ brand new now since you fuckin’ wit’ that New York dude. Yeah, I heard about that shit.”
“I don’t fuck with nobody.”
“Yeah, I bet you don’t after somebody killed his faggot-ass. When he was locked up, they say he was fuckin’ with those boys. Since when you start likin’ gay mufuckas.”
“Whatever. What did you call me for, because I don’t have time for this shit?”
“What the fuck is up wit’ you, Denie? Man, you used to love me. What happened to us?”
“You went to jail and left me out here by myself that’s what happened. If you hadn’t rolled out, life wouldn’t be so fucked up.”
“That was all Rich’s doing. You changed Denie. Your obsession to make your mother pay consumed you. You were so angry and bitter.”
I was furious. “I can’t believe you just said that. Didn’t you see all that shit I went through? Damn, one minute you say I’m strong. The next minute you’re saying I’m bitter. You know what Nelson…go fuck yourself. And lose my damn number!”
Hanging up on his ass, I let out a loud scream and turned my music up. Nelson wasn’t gonna fuck up my day with that hating shit. I made it to the salon in less than twenty minutes. As I stood outside and rang the bell to be buzzed in, of course it started raining again. Finally Pam, the owner of the shop let me in.
“Hey Denie, how you been?” she asked with a huge smile.
“Good and you.”
“Girl I’ve been good, dealing with my daughter’s senior prom stuff. Those shades are hot,” she said, eying my Chrome Heart sunglasses.
“Thanks. Is Jermaine up stairs?”
“Yeah, he’s up there, but I need you to sign in. I’ll call upstairs to see if he wants Travena to get you started down here.”
“Okay, thank you,” I replied.
“No problem.”
I had a seat in the waiting area until Travena, Jermaine’s assistant was ready to start on my hair. Usually the salon was packed, but you know how Black people are. When the rain starts coming down, they think twice about getting their hair done. A little rain wasn’t about to stop me though.
After Travena washed my hair and put me under the dryer, I was soon ready to be styled and curled. When I walked in Jermaine’s suite he looked fabulous as usual in his white v-neck tee, some distressed jeans, and a Gucci belt that matched his red and blue Gucci sandals.
“Hey, Girl, where you been?” he questioned.
“I was in New York for a while.”
“Okay, I need to hear all about it. Oh, before we get into all that how you want your hair?’
“I want a Nicki Minaj bang.”
“Girl no. All the cunts are rocking that look. How bout I give you the Janet Jackson Pleasure Principle bang.”
I giggled. “Whatever you think.”
“Now, getting back to you being MIA. You didn’t even invite me. Damn, you know how much I love New York.” He drew an oversized heart in the air being dramatic. “Why didn’t you tell me you was up there, we could’ve hung out together?”
“Well…umm..”
“Oh, I get it. You were up there with the trade, huh? Girl, who you was messing with up top?”
“This dude named Javier, but we’re over now though.”
“Javier…Javier. That name sounds so familiar. Is he Puerto Rican?”
I nodded my head. “Yeah, why, cuz’ you think you know everybody?”
“Hold up, yeah…Javier. You talking about Camielle’s baby father? Please don’t tell me that’s the same Javier.”
I shrugged my shoulders. “His baby mother died, but I don’t remember her name.”
“That’s him. Girl, you know how she died right, her and the son,” he said, twirling me around as he trimmed my hair.
“He told me that they died in a car accident.”
“No, girl. Quiet is kept they died of HIV complications. The baby died when he was born and then the wife died soon after of pneumonia.” Jermaine was just about to trim another piece when he stopped. “Denie, please tell me that you used a condom.”
“Jermaine, please stop it. I can’t handle this shit.” Getting an instant heartache, I still couldn’t wrap my head around the HIV comment.
“Look, this is serious. I usually don’t get in people’s business, but you’re like family and I would never keep anything like that from you.”
I was in a state of shock, but tried to maintain my composure. Maybe it was shop talk and all rumors. “Maybe we’re talking about two different Javier’s”
“I doubt it. If he looks like…what’s that guy name on The Game. Umm…Malik. The football player who was on drugs. The Javier I’m talking about looks just like 0" wi Word on the street is that this thug dude was sweet on Javier. Bought him a car and everything.”
“Are you serious?” I asked swallowing the lump in my throat.
“Girl yeah, a couple of queens I know who live in New York told me about him. Apparently, the thug dude got Javier back on his feet because he used to run with the queens doing all the credit cards and check schemes. They said that thug queen laid Javier’s place out. I heard it was all white or something.”
Instantly, it felt like I was going to throw up. As Jermaine went on and on as he did my hair, all I could think of was how close Javier’s mouth was to T-Roc’s balls when we had that disgusting threesome. Javier…gay? The shit seemed unbelievable. Then I thought about what Nelson said. Maybe he wasn’t hating and was really telling the truth. Did Javier have HIV, too? At that moment, so many things came back to me. I should’ve known. That flu that he had the entire time we were together, and that dry cough he just couldn’t get rid of. Not to mention, that weight loss. All that time, I thought his ass was just metro sexual. Closing my eyes, I said a prayer hoping this was all just a bad dream. Maybe it was just rumors.
Looking in the full length mirror, something came over me and I just couldn’t take it any longer.
“Jermaine I gotta go.”
“Girl you not leaving out of here with your head half way done. I gotta rep to uphold. Demi Mode clients walk out of this door fierce. They turn heads all up and down Georgia Avenue.”
“I feel sick Jermaine, I gotta…”
All of a sudden I started throwing up everywhere. I didn’t even make it to the bathroom. Grabbing my bag, I stumbled down the stairs as I listened to Jermaine cuss and fuss about who was gonna clean the mess
up. I didn’t care about my hair or his reputation at the moment, all I cared about was the awful things that Jermaine had just told me about Javier.
Please God, make Jermaine’s sources be unreliable, for once…
Once I left out of the shop, I walked a couple of feet toward my car when all of a sudden I heard two shots being fired.
“Oh my God!” I screamed then quickly ran for cover.
When three more shots rang out, I ducked down in front of an antique furniture store just before the window display’s glass shattered all over me. It was at that point when I realized someone might’ve been shooting at me.
Shaking like a leaf, I prayed that I wouldn’t get hit.
Moments later, I could hear a pair of tires screeching just as the shots instantly ceased.
Who the hell could want me dead, was all I could think about as I balled up on the street in a fetal position and cried.
Chapter 23 Marisol
“Your food is on the table!” Maria called to Denie for the second time over the intercom.
Wanting us to eat as a family, Carmen and I waited for Denie to join us for breakfast, but if she wanted to remain antisocial, then we were gonna start without her. Just as I was about to tell Maria to put her plate away, Denie finally came downstairs. She looked a mess and seemed to be losing weight daily. She even reeked of odor and her hair was all over her head. With the same Betsey Johnson pajamas on for the past week, I wondered if she’d even taken a bath.
“I’m just gonna take my food up to my room,” she said, grabbing her plate off of the table.
“Oh no, Denie, you’re gonna sit down and eat with us as a family. I need to make sure you’re eating because Maria has noticed that you always leave a plate full of food when she goes to clean your room.”
“I appreciate your concern, but I’m not Carmen. I’m nineteen years old and I don’t need…”
My appetite was instantly ruined when Denie started throwing up all over the place.
“Oh my goodness senorita, are you okay?” Maria asked as she ran to grab some towels to clean up the mess.