by Miss KP
“Denie with the medicine today, there are so many people who are able to live normal lives even after being diagnosed. Sure, you may have to take medication for the rest of your life, but HIV is no longer a death sentence. Now, we’ll need to get you on some meds right away to keep the virus at a low level, so I’ll make sure to prescribe you a combination therapy before you leave.”
“Combination therapy?”
“That just means you’ll have to take one than one antiretroviral drug at one time. Taking a combination vastly reduces the rate of the virus becoming resistant.”
The more Dr. Peyton spoke, the more lightheaded I became. I felt sick all over again.
“I also have to inform you that you are indeed pregnant. How far I’m not sure since you don’t know you’re last menstrual cycle. However, we would have to do a sonogram to get an accurate due date.”
I looked at her like she was crazy. “Due date. I‘m not having a baby in this condition.”
“Denie, it is definitely your choice, but I’m still gonna give you some literature to read to educate yourself on everything we discuss today.”
As Dr. Peyton went on and on, my mind went to another place. I couldn’t believe it. There was nothing she could’ve said that would lift my spirits at that moment, so I basically stopped listening. Everything seemed to be a blur. After finally leaving her office, I walked to my truck like a complete zombie and cried my ass off.
How could I allow someone that I barely knew to destroy my life this way? I was so mad at myself for not listening to Rich and my mother. Getting so caught up for all the wrong reasons had now cost me my future. There were so many things going through my mind. I felt like my life was coming to an end and there was nothing I could do.
On top of all that, now I was pregnant. My luck has to be the worse. Thinking back, I hadn’t seen my period this month or June, so I had to be at least eight weeks pregnant.
“Why me?” I said, banging the steering wheel.
After sitting in the parking lot for a little while feeling sorry for myself, I finally decided to leave. However, I didn’t get far. I ended up driving to the bottom of the garage and parked again because I needed to cry as loud as I wanted to without anyone looking at me like I was crazy. If I wanted to yell I could and not have to apologize for being too loud. I ended up crying hysterically for at least twenty minutes before finally calming down. Realizing that I needed to go home, I pulled down my visor to get myself together.
“Oh shit!” I yelled once I saw a familiar face appear in my mirror.
“Hey, pretty pussy,” T-Roc said as he put a knife to my throat.
“How the fuck did you get in my truck?”
“You made it so easy for me. You left your door unlocked. I’e been followin’ you for a while now and had to wait for the perfect time. After I tried to put a cap in your ass last week and didn’t succeed, I had to think of somethin’ else. I’m so clever, don’t you think?”
With his breath reeking of alcohol and body order smelling like weed, I instantly wanted to vomit.
“Fuck you! What do you want from me?”
“You’re the reason why the only man I ever loved is dead so you deserve to die, too.”
“I am going to die! Either you or the man you loved gave me HIV, so do whatever you want. I don’t have anything to live for. You can kill me and this bastard I’m carrying.”
“You’re lyin’,” he said as the knife went deeper into my throat. “I ain’t give you shit and neither did Javier!”
“Get off me you fucking faggot!” I belted as T-Roc wrapped my ponytail around his hand.
“I’m going to kill your ass slowly.”
“Who cares if you kill me? You would be doing me a favor. I don’t want to have a baby by a down low faggot anyway.”
At that moment, T-Roc made me get out of the truck. All I could think about was how I could get to the taser that I had under my seat. Since she knew I had to go out alone sometimes, my mother wanted me to carry some type of weapon at all times. She also told me to keep it in my purse. It was something else that I could add to my list of regrets for not listening to her.
“I hate you!” I screamed as he pushed me to the ground. I hoped someone would hear me.
“Not as much as I hate you,” he replied then kicked me in my stomach repeatedly.
“Aighh, aighh!” I yelled out in pain.
“Since you don’t want the baby, I’ll help you get rid of it right now. I’ll cut this baby out of you,” T-Roc said with a deranged expression.
As soon as he came toward me with the knife, I kicked him as hard as I could between his legs. As his body folded over, I tried to get away, but he managed to grab my leg. Kicking him several more times, when one of my kicks landed in his face, he just started to go crazy and ended up stabbing me in my thigh.
“Get away from me!” I screamed then tried to make it back to my truck. Due to the adrenalin, I guess I couldn’t feel the pain.
After opening the door, I immediately went under my seat for the taser not realizing that he was right behind me.
“You came back for this,” he said, snatching the device out of my hand.
As soon as T-Roc turned to throw the taser in another direction, I quickly reached back under the seat and pulled out the small .25 caliber gun. It was the other weapon my mother wanted me to carry.
“No, I came back for this,” I said, letting off one shot in the middle of his forehead.
I didn’t even have to watch his body drop. I knew he was dead.
Chapter 26 Rich
Sometimes I wondered if Marisol really wished she was a dude. The bitch really had balls sendin’ me death threats, but if she really wanted to see me, she knew where to find me. I’m sure she could’ve at anytime put one of Uncle Renzo’s Columbian goons on me, but her pride would never allow her to do that. She was the type of broad who had to prove a fuckin’ point, so I had to keep my eyes open for her ass. Now that we were no longer fuckin’ wit’ each other, my money was really gonna be messed up. There was no way I could peel from her ass now. I couldn’t wait to talk to Grady’s ass. I’d specifically told that nigga not to mention shit to Marisol, and he’d ran his mouth like a bitch anyway.
Even though I still had Trixie in my corner, I knew that shit wasn’t gonna work out. Bein’ wit’ her would take some adjustments. She was a workin’ class bitch, not someone wit’ real paper, so her ass couldn’t really offer me anything but some good sex. I could get good pussy from Honey.
“Damn, the more I think about it, maybe I should rekindle some real shit wit’, Honey, especially since she obviously came up on some bread,” I said to myself.
Just when I was formulatin’ a plan in my head, Trixie broke my train of thought.
“Rich somebody’s calling you from a 202 number.”
“Who in the hell told you to touch my shit,” I said snatchin’ it out of her hand.
It was Lisa’s mother and I damn sure wasn’t in the mood for her bullshit. I answered the phone on edge ready to curse her ass out.
“Why are you callin’ me? I’m tellin’ you now I don’t wanna hear about no credit card shit. ”
“No, Rich, actually I was calling to thank you for replenishing the lilies on Lisa’s grave. Not many people know that those are her favorite.”
“Man, I ain’t put no lilies on that bitch’s grave. Shit, I ain’t been there since you put her ass in the ground. Why are you playin’ games? Get the hell up off my phone!” I yelled before hangin’ up on her ass.
“Wow I thought I’d never see the day you called Lisa a bitch and actually meant it,” Trixie said.
“Your ghetto-ass like that shit, huh?”
“Damn, is that how you’re gonna talk to the woman who’s taking you out today?” she aske="0"><
“Man I gotta go out B-More today, I can’t go nowhere wit’ you.”
“Rich I’ve already planned a nice evening for us at the Borgata in Atlantic City.�
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“Atlantic City? Man, I don’t have no money to ball like I want to up there. Do you know how much money I used to put on the crap table?”
“Well, I already reserved the room. Plus we go hang out at the 40/40 club tonight.”
“Man I don’t give a shit about no 40…”
“Before you say anything else, I have this for us to play with,”
When she opened her robe and exposed her naked body, there were several hundred dollar bills taped to her stomach and thighs. She even had some on her nipples. I was so involved in my own head game that I didn’t realize she was dolled up in her red bottoms tryin’ to be sexy for me. Now, she definitely had my attention.
“And it’s more where this came from,” Trixie said, pulling a stack out of the robe pocket.
“Where the hell did you get all that bread from? Who the hell have you been trickin’?”
“You really know how to fuck up the mood. No worries. I’ll find somebody else to go with me. Fuck you, Rich.”
She tried to storm out of the room, but ended up trippin’ over her own feet and fell. That shit was so funny.
“Damn babe, be careful. You don’t wanna scar your knees up before you get to your date,” I said followed by a huge laugh.
“I don’t have a date! Why don’t you just get out?” Trixie yelled.
“Oh, so you gonna do me like Marisol, huh?”
“Don’t compare me to your other baby mother. I’ve dealt with that shit with you and Lisa for years and look whose still here. Don’t forget, I’m always the one picking up the pieces. You’ve never given me the respect I deserve.”
“Bitch do you realize that me fuckin’ wit’ you is what caused my marriage to go south. You’re the reason why she lost her mind. You runnin’ your fuckin’ mouth to that nigga, Mike made him go after my wife and fuck my home up. You let that nigga raise my daughter as his own, and now you wanna talk shit to me.”
“How long are you gonna throw that shit in my face? You chose to make me your side chick. You chose to fuck me without a condom and step out on your wife. And yes, I chose to fuck you to get ahead.”
“Time for me to go. I don’t feel like dealin’ wit’ another bitch who wants to talk shit.”
I jumped up and started puttin’ on my clothes.
“No Rich, wait. I’m sorry. Let’s just go to Atlantic City and spend some time together. I can tell that you’re stressed out.”
“Naw, I’m good. You can take somebody else.”
“Rich please I’m sorry I want you to go.”
“I already told you that I don’t have any money for that shit. Them people used to me droppin’ thousands on the table. I can’t roll up there wit’ light pockets, I gotta rep to uphold!”
At that moment, Trixie ran to her drawer and pulled out another stack. “Here, take this. It’s ten thousand. This should be enough to start you off with. If not, I’ll give you more. Trust me, Rich it’s gonna be worth your while. This trip could be your come up,” she stated.
At that point, I could care less where she got the money. Now, Trixie was speakin’ my language.
****
Our ride to A.C. wasn’t that bad. We got up there in less than three hours and Trixie gave me head for probably half of the travel time. That was the plus for me bein’ the designated driver. When we arrived at the hotel around eight o’clock, the lobby was packed wit’ so many chicks, I suddenly wished I was by myself. It felt like I’d brought sand to the beach. Trixie held on to me as we walked through the lobby to let it be known we were together, which pissed me off.
“Man, damn Trixie. Give me some elbow room,” I said, snatchin’ away from her.
“You are so fucking rude, Rich. Don’t act like I don’t exist.”
“I’m just sayin’ you ain’t gotta be grabbin’ on me and shit.” I walked in front of her, so it looked as if we weren’t together.
“What’s up, Trixie baby?” I heard some dude say.
Turnin’ around, I could tell Trixie was flirtin’ already by the way her ass smiled and played wit’ her hair.
“Hey, Darryl. How you been?” she asked.
“I’m just fine now that I bumped into you,” he added.
After I realized they had no plans on endin’ their conversation I gave that bitch the evil eye. Trixie had a phat ass and didn’t mind showin’ it off so being out wit’ her was definitely goin’ to be a problem. Moments later, she gave the dude a hug, then caught back up to me.
“That was my…”
I didn’t give her a chance to explain before I smacked the shit out of her.
“Bitch as long as you live, don’t you ever embarrass me like that again.”
I dropped her luggage right there by the front desk and walked off. I just had my Louie backpack, so I just strapped it on my back and rolled out as she called my name. Ignorin’ her ass, I made my way to the black jack table first before I played craps.
After playing a couple of hands of black jack, I won two g’s and then lost it all plus four more. Wit’ only s g’s left, I decided to make my way over to the craps table where I felt more comfortable. This rapper dude from ATL was at the table along with several broads who were standin’ around sweatin’ him and his chips. I walked up to the table like I had millions in the bank wit’ swagger for days.
I could see the table minimum was only twenty-five dollars, but I figured I’d go hard by bettin’ a hundred on every number.
“Gimmie all black chips,” I said countin’ out four thousand.
“Do you have a Borgota Black card, sir?” one of the pit bosses asked.
“I don’t have it on me, but you can look me up in the system,” I said, handin’ him my license and checkin’ out the chicks who were on ATL’s dick.
Once all the shit was taken care of, and the dealer handed me my chips, it was on.
Sittin’ three hundred dollar chips down in front of me on the pass line, I was ready to win big. Once this crazy lookin’ Asian man rolled the dice and an eleven came up, I instantly yelled.
“That’s what I’m talkin’ about!” I said, once the dealer slid three additional hundred dollar chips in my direction. I’d won that fast.
Although I lost when a few of the other shooters crapped out, I ended up gettin’ my luck back when ATL started rollin’. After winnin’ a few hard eights bets, you couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. But when I placed two hundred on snake eyes and won, the entire table screamed. Of course I began talkin’ even more shit.
“Let’s get this mufuckin’ money!” I told everybody. “Scared money don’t make no money, baby. Come on ATL!”
They were lookin’ at me like I was crazy, but I didn’t give a fuck. We were killin’ the Borgota. By the time I was up twenty g’s them same bitches who didn’t even look at me before started hawkin’.
“Can I be your lucky charm,” this fine-ass dark skinned chick flirted.
She looked just like Lauryn Hill with a Colgate smile. Before I could even respond a familiar voice called out.
“Oh no sweetheart he’s good.”
It was Trixie hatin’-ass. I had to play nice even though I was winnin’ because just in case I lost, she had the rest of the bread, so I just winked at her. I guess she’d forgotten about me smakin’ the shit out of her a few of hours ago.
“Double shot of Ciroq…straight,” I told the waitress walkin’ around for drink orders.
“Make that two please,” Trixie added.
Even though she’d pissed me off earlier, I couldn’t help but notice how good Trixie looked in her red Dolce dress. I’d bought her that dress years ago and she still looked damn good in it.
Casinos were smart. They pumped you with e liquor because the tipsier you got, the more you gambled, which is exactly what happened to me. Once the waitress brought us those drinks, I ended up downin’ three more.
As the dice rolled, my chips kept stackin’. Trixie stayed by my side as my cheerleader and made sure I kept a drink in
hand. She was probably tryin’ to get me fucked up so she could take advantage of me that night, and I was down for the cause. At this point I was up fifty g’s and the shit felt good.
Maybe this is a good breakin’ point so that I can start fresh tomorrow, I thought to myself.
“Baby I’m twisted, shit. I need to stop before I start losin’,” I whispered to Trixie.
I didn’t want people to get mad once I rolled out, but then again that wasn’t a bad idea. The streets were always watchin’ and I wasn’t tryin’ to get jacked out here.
“Let’s go, then,” Trixie replied.
Trixie tried to get me to put my chips in her purse, but that shit wasn’t about to happen. I ended up puttin’ them all in my backpack, so they could be in my possession. As we walked toward the elevator I was so fucked up I started stumblin’ a little bit.
“Shit I’m about to go to the room and lay down for a little while.”
“I don’t want to go to the room, Lets hang out,” she nagged.
“Naw, man you can cancel that 40/40 idea cuz I’m not tryin’ to do no hot shit! Did you see all them dudes from up top around the table? I’m not tryin’ to get robbed out of town.”
“But Rich I wanna fuck you on the beach. Can we please go, my pussy is drippin’ wet,” she said grabbin’ my dick.
I looked around to make sure no one was watchin’. “Bet.”
Trixie knew how to get me because before I knew it we’d walked outside, got in a cab and made our way over to the boardwalk. When we hopped out a few minutes later and made our way onto the sand, Trixie took her five inch Gucci heels off and sashayed in front of me. I followed behind her ass like a newly trained puppy.
“Come on, Rich let’s go all the way over here so no one can see us. I ain’t trying to get locked up for indecent exposure,” Trixie said.
“Aight. Whatever your freaky-ass wanna do. I want you to fuck the shit out of me, because I’m too drunk to do anything,” I responded. “Bitch, stop walkin’ so fast.”
“I’m not walking fast. Call me another bitch and I’ll go back to the room and play with my pussy instead of giving you some.”