by Anna Black
When he was inside of me for the third time since we had sex, my center ached and throbbed, but like the night before, I took it. It was a mixture of pleasure and pain, and I welcomed it because the love I had for Malice overruled everything, even the painful thrusts that he penetrated me with. My mom and sisters assured me that it would get better, and I believed that and took the pain, knowing that it would eventually not hurt anymore.
We went to his parents’ place, and with Gabby and Chas, I wasn’t uncomfortable. I expected his mother to show her claws since that was my first time in her presence as Malice’s woman, but she was sweeter than sweet to me. I wondered if it was because I resembled her size and frame, and I certainly wasn’t mad at that. We had a great time at his parents’ place and that night Malice, and I made love again. He gave me a few lessons on how to suck his dick, and although it was strange to me, my efforts were only aiming to please him. After a while, I was doing it well, and I pleasured my man. After he licked my center again and made me climax, and when he pushed his rod inside of me, I experienced pure pleasure and just a small amount of pain. I was in love. I had the perfect, gentle, six-foot-five, two hundred and fifty-five pounds of masterpiece, and all was perfect for me as I fell asleep smiling.
23
Malice
I wanted to get up and just get ready for work, but I forgot that I had to get my baby back to her house and to her car. I then thanked God that I had my own company and didn’t have to clock in, so I shook my baby. “Juicy, it’s time to get up beautiful,” I said.
She stirred. “Baby, I will get an Uber. I don’t have court until one today.”
“Oh, it's like that, huh?”
“Yeah, babe,” she said, and within seconds she was lightly snoring again.
I took Bistro out and filled his bowls with fresh food and water. He wanted to get in the bed with my juicy baby, but the bed was definitely off-limits to fur babies, so I told him no in a firm voice. I made me a bagel, scrambled eggs, and a couple of strips of bacon. I interrupted her sleep again, asking if she wanted breakfast, but she mumbled no, and was quickly back to soft snores. I knew I had worn her out the night before, and I made a mental note to call her by eleven just so she would be in court on time. I went to shower and dress, and by the time I was set to leave, Bistro had stood in front of the door wagging his tail.
“Nah, playa you have to stay here with mommy,” I said, and then he whimpered. I wondered if he really wanted to tag along, so I gave in and got his leash. I only had office work, no fieldwork, so it wouldn’t hurt if I took him with me. “Okay, come on, man, but yo’ ass better not piss or shit on anything inside, you copy,” I said. Since it was cold out, I got his little Bears jacket and put it on him too. Grace had all kinds of sweaters and jackets for him. He had like three cubbies of shit at her place, but I guessed that was her baby. I grabbed him a couple treats, and before we headed out, I went into the drawer, pulled out a note pad and pen, and wrote down the codes to the garage and instructions on how to set the alarm. I didn’t have a key to get in and out, so I hoped she’d get how it all worked. I kissed Grace softly, and she didn’t even move. I kissed her head and then her fat ass and tore myself away and headed to work.
When I got to my office, I greeted my staff members, and when we were in the conference room, I noticed Silky still hadn’t come in. I figured he needed more time off since I knew he was released the Tuesday of the week before, so I conducted the meeting without him. I pulled my employee Premo to the side and asked him a few questions and asked if he could describe the man that shot Silk. I knew my Juicy baby could sketch the description because Silk was not telling me the full truth, that I knew, and I had to get to the bottom of things.
When my staff dispersed, I knew they’d all be at their designated posts for their designated shifts. I went into my office and looked at the stack of mail that was waiting to be opened and read. Since I had been seeing Grace, work had taken a backseat. I had planned to get caught up on everything that day. About an hour in to work, there was a tap on my office door. I looked at the cameras, and it was someone familiar, but I didn’t know why he was at my door and why my receptionist just let him stroll on back to my office. “Come in,” I said, and the door opened. “Nicco, my nigga,” I said and stood. I reached across my desk to shake his hand, and then we sat. “What’s good? Heard you and Ashlee got two damn kids now.” I added.
“Yeah, we gotta lil boy named Dominic, of course, we call him DJ and a lil girl named Amber that is four months now, and Ash, already talking about having another one.”
“Fuck, nigga, it’s like you an old ass man now.” I laughed.
“Nah, just keeping the wife happy,” he replied.
“Smart man,” I said.
“So, ya boy Silky on the run. Can’t seem to find his bitch ass nowhere, you got any ideas or clues to where he might be?”
“On the real, no, and since you’re here, please bring me up to speed on the shit he is in now.”
Nicco shook his head side to side. “This muthafucka should be called Slick, ya’ heard me? Because his bitch ass thinks he’s slick with his shit. I mean a thief gon’ always be just that, but to steal from me and mine, come on bro, that is like suicide. And the shooting wasn’t an accident. I do apologize that one of my guys hit him up at Gutta’s spot though. I mean the plan was to snatch him up and take him to the warehouse and shit, but he was strapped, on the ma’fuckin job, and drew first so, Coast had to put one in him. We thought the problem was solved, but the bitch lived. Can you believe dat shit? That muthafucka survived a shot to the damn chest. He got released last Tuesday; Ghosted. And wifey gone, too.”
“If I knew, I wouldn’t hesitate because my lady was the key witness that sent him upstate for his bid, so that nigga being dead would relieve any fear of him even tryin’ some stupid shit to get at her.”
“Well any and all assistance is needed to find that bitch, so if you find out anything, let me know. My cuz Chaos is on a rampage looking for that nigga, kicking in doors and shit. So, I gotta find him before Chaos end up in fuckin’ cuffs for terrorizing the neighborhoods.”
“He still reckless? I mean nigga’s act like he is the damn boogie man.”
“Because he is fearless. Since he got married, he has slowed down, but only about two percent,” he laughed.
“So, basically, he is still the same.”
“Exactly,” he said and then stood.
“I just can’t fucking believe that Silk would do five damn years and still come out fucking up and trying to fuck over fam. I mean, I ain’t wild’n out’ like y’all, but I stay in my damn lane. Silk got on here, and I paid him handsomely because he was my ace back in the day, but I guess that shit wasn’t enough,” I said.
“Well, not all niggas can be rehabilitated, and a thief like Silky’s ass is one of them.”
“Well, I got’cha Nicco. If I hear or see anything, I’ll holla at’cha.”
“Fo’sho,” he said and then vacated my office.
As soon as he left, I grabbed my cellphone and called Silky’s phone only to hear a not in-service recording. I grabbed Bistro and my jacket and then headed over to the pool hall where the shooting took place and then looked at the video footage again from that night. The next day when I had gone back up to the hospital, Silk told me that he had gotten shot over some jealous ass fool, who thought he was pushing up on his lady. He said that he and the chick stepped outside to talk, but then her man blasted on him when he went for his piece. From the footage, since there was no sound, that seemed to be accurate because Silk had stepped outside with a woman that ran off as soon as shots were fired.
If Nicco had not come into my office to give me the real, the tape would have collaborated that lying muthatfucka’s story. I shook my head because I was old as fuck and still learning lessons, and that lesson was, criminal-minded people were not my damn friends. I thought Silky had learned his lesson and was on the straight and narrow, only to find out h
e was still doing criminal shit. Topping it all off, he was stealing from the wrong muthafucka’s. He would get dealt with one way or another.
I headed back to my office and tried calling Grace. It was closed to eleven, so she needed to be moving around if she was going to make it to court on time.
“Hey,” she answered on the fourth ring.
“Juicy, you still sleeping?”
“I’m getting up right now,” she grumbled.
“Damn, I put you out.”
“You did,” she yawned.
“Yes, sir. That is what daddy talkin’ bout.”
“Whatever, man, I need to call for an Uber while I gather my things. I will shower and dress at home.”
“Just leave everything exactly where it is, and I’ll tidy up later, babe. No stress, just get to work on time.”
“Are you sure, because our clothes are all over the place.”
“So sure. Now, I’ll send you an Uber, and everything you need to secure the loft is on the counter wrote down. I love you.”
“I love you too, Malice.” That time I heard a smile in her voice.
“By the way, Bistro rolling wit’ me today. I think he gon be a security dog,” I joked.
“You better be careful. You see how fast he turned on me.”
“Nah, he ah cool lil dude, so we good,” I said.
“Okay, love, gotta go, my bladder is about to explode,” she said.
“Okay, Juicy, hit me up later, so we can figure out dinner and go look at some rings.”
“I will,” she said, and we ended our call. I looked at Bistro over my shoulder. “Nah, you my dawg,” I joked and shook the words that she said about him being a trader off.
24
Gabby
I put GiGi down and then I went to my bedroom. Gutta was in the shower, and I flopped down on the bench in front of our bed and grabbed the remote. I was drained, and even though I didn’t want to, I had to go back to work after the New Year. Gutta kept telling me that I didn’t have to go back, but I just didn’t want to abandon my students. I was burned out just taking care of Gia with a nanny helping out, so going back to work was really something that I didn’t think I was truly ready to do. I turned on the tube and then kicked my slippers off and then peeled off my socks. I had plans to shower after Gutta, so I stood and peeled away my clothes, all but my tee shirt.
I sat back down and flipped through the channels, and then I heard the water shut off. I landed on my favorite stations: first HGTV and then, thanks to Grace, Discovery ID. I scrolled down. I saw that the local news was on, so I hit select on our Directv remote. I heard him moving around in the bathroom, and then the door opened. My man appeared, sexy and butt ass fucking naked, and I licked my lips. The baby had left me with stretch marks and a spare tire for a mid-section, but my husband still loved on me and fucked me as if I hadn’t gained a pound. The baby was going on seven weeks, and I had yet to go into our home gym like I had promised myself. I muted the television and looked over at my king as he stepped into his boxers.
“I am not sure why you are putting those on when you’re about to take them right back off,” I said.
He chuckled. “You know you don’t have to ask me twice, right?” he countered, and I smiled.
“I know, so don’t even put those on, because after I shower, it’s on,” I said and then glanced back at the television. When I saw a picture of Trina and the caption read Trina Nichols Found Dead, I unmuted the television. Gutta walked over closer to examine the news as I listened to the woman reported her body and car had finally found after a roommate reported her missing a few days ago, with two gunshot wounds to the chest. It appeared to be a robbery because her purse was missing, and so far, there were no leads on the case or witnesses. There was a number that flashed across the bottom for anyone to call if they had any information on the victim. I gasped and had trouble breathing. I could not believe my eyes or my ears, and when I looked at Gutta, he had no reaction. I mean, I was in full panic mode, and he had no response. “What did you do,” I whispered. I knew my husband, but I didn’t know him to be a murderer. “What in the fuck did you do?” I asked again raising my voice. He moved back towards his dresser and went for his boxers again, and I ran up on him. “Baby tell me what in the fuck did you do?” because I needed answers.
“I took care of our problem,” he said.
“Oh my God, Gutta, oh my God. Jesus, Christ, Gutta did you do that to her. You killed her?”
He looked me in my eyes.
“Trina wasn’t going to stop baby, she wasn’t going to give up,” he said, and my knees went weak. My husband had murdered someone.
I backed away from him and fell onto the bench at the foot of our bed. My eyes burned. I knew she was a problem, but my husband had it in him to kill a bitch. Was I supposed to be okay with that? I didn’t know what to say or how to feel. He rushed over to me and got on his knees in front of me. “It was a hard call, baby believe me, but she was trying to come for our daughter,” he said.
I looked at him. “Come again?”
“Listen after the baby was born, we were at your mom's one night, and I went out to the truck to get the extra outfit because Gia had that diaper explosion. We had the extra outfits that Gemma had gotten for her in the car. When I went out, I happened to look up the street, and I saw Trina. She ducked down, but I had already seen her, so I called Malice and got someone on her. Her following you was normal, but then she started going places where your sisters would go, started following my brothers, Chas… let's just say she was spotted keeping watch on us all. The final straw for me was when she started following Tabitha and then trying to become friends with her. Now you can defend yourself all day long, but Tabitha watches our daughter. If Trina would have done anything to get close to our daughter, babe…Gianna is defenseless, and she only has me and you to protect her, so Trina’s ass had to go. Bottom line, point-blank,” he declared.
I looked at him, and I agreed, but, how could he? I needed to know the details.
“How could you go through with it? To actually take her life, Gutta,” I cried.
“I told you about my friend Bash. Let’s just say he handles shit. I didn’t pull the trigger, baby. Even though I wanted to choke the life out of her with my bare hands. I didn’t kill her, and I wasn’t there. Everything was handled.”
I peered at him and wiped the tears that fell from my eyes. It was hard to process the words that my husband had just shared with me, but I then became overwhelmed with gratitude. I thought about how she had vandalized my car, broke into my home and wrecked shop, how every time I turned around I stared into her evil ass face and I was so tired of him not doing shit to stop her, and now he had. I fell forward towards him and wrapped my arms around my husband. “Thank you for protecting us. Thank you for making the call to eliminate our problem. I love you so much, and if she had ever fucked with our baby, I would have laid that bitch to rest myself,” I cried relieved. I was not happy that she had to be dealt with so harshly, but she had done enough damage, and I knew in my heart that she’d keep coming for us, so I was relieved that she was gone. I held onto my husband for a few moments more.
“Are you absolutely sure you are okay?”
“As long as none of it comes back on you, I am.”
“It won’t, I promise. I love you so fucking much, baby. You and our daughter are my lifelines and I did what I did to protect my family, and even if that meant going to jail or even dying for you two, I’d do it,” he expressed with sincerity, and I believed my husband.
I kissed his lips. “I love you too, Gutta. Let me go and shower and then come back to show you just how much I love you.” He stood in all of his naked glory. “Got’damn, let me hurry because I want to fuck all night tonight or at least until your greedy ass daughter is ready to eat again,” I joked. He swatted my ass, and I headed to the bathroom with thoughts of the song from the Wizard of Oz. “Ding-Dong, the witch is dead,” I quoted softly as I removed my tee
to wash my ass.
25
Grace
It was two weeks before Chasity and Rel’s wedding, and I was exhausted. Between work, the wedding, and Malice sexing me like crazy, I was out of steam. I needed a night alone, but my man wouldn’t hear of it. I was at his place so much that my Christmas tree was still up, and lights still hung outside of my window and roofline. Malice and I had plans to finally take everything down that weekend, but work had called, and he had to drop me off so he could go handle some things.
“So, do you want me to come back and get you, or do you want me to meet you back at my place?” he asked as he turned on to my block. Things were going so well, we had finally picked out the perfect ring, but it was sent off the be sized, so I was impatiently waiting on it to be on my finger. Malice and I were inseparable now, and even though I just wanted to stay home and sleep the entire next day, I didn’t want to sleep alone and the dick in the middle of the night was always a pleasure.
“I can meet you back at the house, babe, plus I need my car. The ladies and I have wedding stuff tomorrow, and I don’t want to drive this big ass truck all day.” He had a beautiful Cadillac CT6 that he rarely drove, so I knew me getting behind the wheel of his baby would be a got’damn negative.