There was a grin on her face. “Ohhh, I like surprises.”
* * *
“Umm, really babe?” Sen asked as she looked around in sheer surprise at the first destination of our date.
“Not what you expected huh?” I walked up beside her and softly kissed her cheek.
“No, but…” a smile crept up on her face. “I’ve always wanted to do it.”
I did a fist pump. “Yes! See, that’s why you’re my baby.”
She laughed. “Well, you said that being with you would be an adventure.”
I looked over at her lovingly. “And I meant it. C’mon. Let’s do this ma.”
“I’m a little uh…my nerves are fuckin’ with me.” She held on to my hand as I led the way.
“Don’t be nervous. I’m wit’ you. I mean, considerin’ the shit you’ve survived, this is nothing.”
Sen nodded in agreement. “You’re so right baby.”
* * *
The roar of the plane’s engine and the wind whipping harshly reminded me of the reality of what me and my girl were about to do. I looked over at her and her eyes were on me through her goggles. There was no point in saying anything, because I knew that she wouldn’t be able to hear me unless I screamed.
“Ya’ll ready!” The instructor yelled out behind us.
After thirty minutes of practicing I thought we were.
Sen and I both nodded, because at the moment we were one. We were suited and ready to sky dive from 14,000 feet in the air at 120 mph. I said a quick prayer for our parachutes to work. Her eyes were closed at that point which told me that she was probably praying too. I grabbed her hand and squeezed.
Of course there was an instructor attached to the both of us being that we were inexperienced jumpers. I made sure that she had a female instructor. I wasn’t playing that shit. Still, although we were attached to other people, we would be holding hands through the whole process, which I heard was an exhilarating adrenaline rush.
After we both made that leap it was nothing like I’d expected. As Sen’s finger interlocked with mine, we both stretched our arms out to get the control of our bodies as we were instructed. Gravity allowed us to fall a lot slower than I’d expected. It was as if the wind was keeping us suspended in the air. It felt like I was flying. My heart pounded as I looked over at my lady.
She smiled over at me and I couldn’t help but think about how beautiful the view was up there. Wow. Being a black man, the thought of skydiving was scary at first, but it was on my bucket list. I figured why not do it with her. After that day, if I survived, I vowed to face more of my fears. Until the day I died I was going to enjoy every moment.
To my surprise the instructors were able to join hands so that we were face to face. Me and Sen joined hands and were able to kiss in the sky right before the parachutes ejected. From that point it was smooth sailing to the ground. I landed on my feet, but Sen landed on her butt. We couldn’t help but laugh at that.
“I hope they took a picture of that kiss,” she winked at me as we headed back to get dressed.
I kissed her lips again. “I’m sure they did.”
* * *
Our next stop was The Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar and View that was located in downtown Atlanta on the 71st, 72nd and 73rd floors of the Westin Hotel. Our table was on the 72nd floor because I wanted her to enjoy the view from a rotating table. Not only was the spot expensive as hell, but the dining room actually slowly, spun around offering a 360 panoramic view of the city’s skyline. The sun had just set, so the romantic ambiance was perfect.
“I’ve always wanted to eat here.” There was a huge smile on Sen’s face when she realized where we were.
“Well, looks like I keep on gettin’ it right.”
She agreed. “Yes you do sexy.”
Valet was the move, so I let them park my ride before grabbing Sen’s hand.
“C’mon ma.”
When we got inside I notified the host of my reservation and she led us to our seats.
“Your server will be right with you,” she said with a pleasant smile.
We both thanked her and then were engrossed in the breathtaking view.
“This is really beautiful Keys. Thank you for making it feel like we’re a normal couple.” Her eyes glistened with tears.
“Don’t be gettin’ all mushy on me now. We are a normal couple.” I gently held her hand in mine. I didn’t want to think of our problems at the moment.
She smiled and wiped her eyes with a napkin. “Ok.”
“Oh, and just letting you know, we came here for the view. It’s romantic. The food portions are teeny as hell.”
“It’s cool baby. After jumping from a plane I’m not really that hungry anyway.”
I laughed. “I have something for you.” Our eyes met and the smile faded from her face.
“I already told you not to spend any money on me.”
I ignored her and pulled out a black, rectangular box before placing it on the table.
“Open it.”
She glanced at me one more time before looking down at the box.
“You didn’t have to Keys…”
“Just open it baby.” My eyes were pleading with her to just go along with the plan.
She finally opened the box and her eyes widened.
“This is…so gorgeous.” Her eyes widened as she stared down at the antique, gold locket that hung from a rope like gold necklace.
“It was my grandmother’s and now I want you to have it. Open the locket.”
She opened it and it was hard for her to keep the tears at bay. They fell down her beautiful face and stirred something in my heart.
“Wow, where did you find this? I remember this moment like it was yesterday.”
“I found it years ago when my pops was movin’.”
There was a picture of us when we were about eleven or twelve. Mendosa had taken us to the mall and we ran to the photo booth. I had the photo resized to fit. The memories that we shared had started years ago and I wanted to add more.
I stood and walked behind her chair so that I could put it on for her.
“I love it Keys.”
“And I love you,” I proclaimed before sitting back down.
“I know you do and I love you more,” she said as she fingered the locket.
At that moment our server arrived to take our drink orders.
“Let me get a bottle of Ace of Spades. We’re celebrating.”
Sen grinned at me. “What are we celebrating?”
“Life,” I told her as if it was obvious.
She nodded. “I’m feeling that.”
When our server hurried off to get our bottle of champagne Sen’s smile faded again and her eyes dimmed.
“What’s wrong baby?”
“Nothing. I don’t mean to bring this up, but it’s been on my mind.”
“What’s that?”
“What are we going to do about that bitch Kelly? You can’t let her get away with playing your pops and stealing your shit.”
I took a sip of water. “As you know we got a whole lotta other shit goin’ on that we need to handle. Fuck that bitch. My pops is done wit’ her and JJ is dead.” My tone was low as I looked around.
Sen shook her head. “So you’re telling me that there will be no consequences for that foul ass shit that hoe did?”
“Nah, I’m just sayin’ that you should let me handle it. Don’t worry about that.”
“I should’ve stabbed that bitch when I had the chance,” she hissed angrily.
“Let it go ma.”
“No, you’re my man. That’s like me tellin’ you to let that shit wit’ Trell go. It ain’t gon’ happen Keys.”
“Let it go for now Sen. Okay. Let’s enjoy our time together.”
She nodded. “Alright. There’s a time and a place for everything, but this discussion is nowhere near over.”
“I’m sure of that.” Damn, she had ruined the mood.
I didn’t want to think about
none of that outside bullshit. All I wanted to do was focus on us.
“I’m sorry baby.” She sighed with regret in her pretty eyes.
“It’s okay beautiful. Now can we get back to being a normal couple?”
She agreed with a smile. “Yes, we can…for now.”
Suddenly there was a pout on her face and I shook my head.
“What now ma?”
Her eyes roamed around the room. “It’s crowded in here.” She looked down at the table. “No table cloths.” With a shrug of her shoulders she added, “Guess I won’t be getting my pussy ate out this time.”
My laughter couldn’t be contained. “We can sneak off to the restroom.”
She turned her nose up. “Nah, I’m straight on that. I’m a germophobe. I don’t play those games. I’ll wait until we get home.”
Hearing her call my spot home made my ears perk up. That meant that she was that comfortable with me. All I could do was smile as she talked. The server returned a few minutes later with the Ace and filled our glasses.
“Would you like to order an appetizer?” The server asked.
My eyes were on hers.
“No, but I’m still undecided.”
“Me too.”
He told us that he’d give us some more time and scurried off.
“I would like to propose a toast,” Sen said holding her glass up.
I held mine up to.
“To revenge and making sure that anybody who ever fucked with us gets fucked.”
She clinked her glass into mine and I watched how her eyes got dark again. Sen had a side of her that I knew could be vengeful, but she seemed to be actually enjoying it. It was like a rush. Me, I personally knew that feeling, but I had to get used to my woman being on that level. Then I had to remind myself of who her parents were. I forced a smile on my face, because I felt where she was coming from. Still, something told me that bae was a little bit more evil than I’d ever know. Was that necessarily a bad thing? Nah…but…it could be… eventually.
Chapter 7
Jasenia
Instead of having sex we ended a romantic night in each other’s arms. I was just happy to be with a man who genuinely loved me with no conditions. I’d never experienced that kind of love with anybody other than my father. Nadia was my bestie and Ana and I were really close, but having Keys in my life made me feel like there was some hope for me. He was slowly, but surely replenishing all that my mother had taken away.
I still hadn’t spoken to her and as I lay in my man’s tender embrace, all I could think about was my past. In my heart I knew that I should’ve been reflecting on the present. We had such a great time on our date. Sky diving was something I’d always wanted to do. Running for my life and having so many near death experiences had made it simple to jump out of that plane. Honestly, that shit was so damn fun and I couldn’t wait to see the video and photographs. We’d be getting them in a week.
Not able to sleep as peacefully as Keys, I slowly slid out of the bed, careful not to wake him. My craving for the piece of cheesecake I couldn’t finish after dinner led me to the kitchen. Maybe if I watched a little TV while I ate it, I would get sleepy.
When I turned on the light in the hallway I heard what sounded like footsteps behind me. My instinct told me that Keys had got up too, but when a hand covered my mouth I knew that it wasn’t him.
“If you make a sound it’ll be the end of you bitch.” His voice was a mere whisper in my ear.
My instinct told me to fight, but I could feel the cold steel against my temple. He had a gun. Something told me that Will’s people had found me again. I nodded to let him know that I was going to cooperate, but he still didn’t uncover my mouth. Oh hell, it was over for me. I should have known. The fact that I had a man like Keys was too good to be true. A wonderful evening with no life threats had to be an omen of what was to come. I guess it was the calm before the storm. Tears burned my eyes at the thought.
Next thing I knew, I heard a crashing sound and then the gunman hit the floor with a loud thump. His gun fell from his hand and I could smell Keys’ cologne behind me. Damn, he was right on time like always. I looked around at the broken shards of glass from the vase he’d knocked him out with.
“Grab his strap,” he said holding his gun on the man as he laid there out cold.
I snapped out of my shock and did what Keys had said. After I grabbed the gun I cocked it and aimed for the man’s head.
“No baby,” he stopped me. “I gotta find out who sent this nigga and how the fuck he got in here when my alarm was set. Let him come to.”
“Fuck that, that nigga tried to kill me. Fuck askin’ questions.” My shock had been replaced with anger.
I was so tired of fearing for my life. After Trell was killed I thought I’d get some peace, but boy was I wrong. Although I knew that Will’s people could send someone else, I didn’t expect that shit so soon.
Keys didn’t say a word as the man started to move around. He had his face covered with what looked like a ski mask. It was really a black toboggan hat with holes cut out for the eyes, nose and mouth. Keys slowly reached down, pulled the mask up and revealed the man’s face.
“What the fuck…?” Keys’ voice was low and his face look confused.
“What babe…?”
“Shhhh…” Keys put his finger to his lips just as the man’s eyes opened.
When he saw us both standing over him with guns his eyes got as big as silver dollars and he was sent into an instant panic.
“W…wait. D…don’t sh…sh….shoot.” He stuttered, putting his hands out as he tried to sit up.
“Shut the fuck up nigga! I know you didn’t come here for me to finish your ass off.”
I was at a loss. Who the fuck was he?
“Keys, what’s going on?” I asked looking from him to the strange man.
“This is Malcolm, Elena’s boyfriend.” Keys cocked his gun.
“She gave me the key and the security code. That bitch killed my baby!” He looked at me with venom in his eyes.
“The key and security code? I ain’t never give that bitch that shit. Fuck!”
She must’ve made a copy of the spare key I had let her use a few times. I guess she’d paid attention to the code when I put it in, because it damn sure didn’t go off.
“Killed your baby?” I spoke up with a sarcastic laugh. “That bitch told you that bogus ass bullshit too? The hoe was never pregnant.”
Malcolm looked like he didn’t know if he was coming or going.
“Yes she was. She sent me a picture of the positive pregnancy test. You went to her house and jumped on her, so she had a miscarriage.”
I glanced over at Keys. “Go get your phone and show that fool your text messages. I got this baby.”
Keys went to get his phone and returned. He kneeled down and showed dude that Elena had hit him with that same lie. Then I told him all about how I made that bitch piss at gunpoint. Keys went to get my phone and I showed him the picture.
All dude could do was shake his pathetic head as he mumbled, “I can’t believe she did that shit.”
“Well believe it. Your hoe ass girlfriend ain’t shit. She tried to play both of ya’ll.”
Keys was unusually quiet, but he finally spoke up. “Get the fuck up nigga! We ‘bout to pay that bitch a visit.”
Malcolm reluctantly stood up on his feet. “I’m so sorry man. I ain’t know. She just kept cryin’ to me about killin’ this bitch who jumped on her and made her lose our baby. I was mad. I thought she was pregnant by me.”
“Man, you ain’t no fuckin’ killer. You ain’t ‘bout that life, so why the fuck you frontin’? You done came after my girl with a gun and shit ‘cause that hoe told you to do it. Now look at yo’ ass. Pathetic.” He shook his head. “Let’s go nigga.”
I was still stunned as hell, because I just knew that another hit had been put out on me. Well, I was right about the hit, but it wasn’t called by who I had expected.
; * * *
“Why didn’t you just kill that nigga?” I asked Keys.
I was driving and he was sitting in the backseat with his gun on Malcolm.
“Cause we need him for her to let us in.”
I thought about it. He was right. That heifer was not going to open the door if she saw us standing there. If anything she was going to call the police because she knew what it was.
Suddenly that nigga Malcom started pleading for his life again. “Look, just let me go man. I promise I’ll get the fuck outta here and never look back. You were right. I ain’t ‘bout that life man. I let my love for Elena get in the way.”
“Nigga, I ain’t gon’ tell you to shut the fuck up again. I can’t believe you was brave enough to try that shit anyway knowin’ that I was there. You already came up in my crib and tried to bust me in the head wit’ a bottle. You saw my gun and you know I’ll shoot yo’ ass, but you came up in my spot anyway.” Keys shook his head. “You really thought it was gon’ be that easy to kill me and my girl and slip out and shit?”
“I didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t thinkin’ clearly,” Malcom said sounding like a bitch made nigga.
“You’re right about that,” I spoke up. “Nigga, you ain’t built for this.”
“Hell nah,” Keys said. “Now shut the fuck up before I shoot you before we get there.”
That nigga stopped talking and the car was filled with silence. When I parked a few houses down from Elena’s Keys got out with his gun on Malcolm.
“Stay here baby…”
“Nigga, you know better. I’m killin’ that bitch wit’ his fuckin’ gun.” My eyes were on his
Keys shook his head. “You are one hard headed woman.”
“I know.” I closed the door and followed him with the gun that Malcolm had in my hand.
Oh the irony. The gun that he’d planned to kill me with was going to be the gun I used to kill his bitch.
We stood there out of sight as Malcolm rang the doorbell. When Elena opened the door we rushed up in that bitch with our weapons drawn.
“Malcolm, shit! Can you do any fuckin’ thing right? And you wonder why I was fucking him.” Elena’s face had turned beet red when she realized that her plan to conspire murder had been a bust.
The Plug's Daughter 2: It's Love and War Page 8