by Toy
“We need to talk about this price you have on my mama’s head. Nigga, just call off your dogs, and we’ll all go on about our lives,” Lamelle said.
“I’m not calling off shit. Call my fucking nuts off, bitch boy. All the shit your mama has done, she better be glad her head is still on her fucking shoulders,” Murder said.
“Are you gonna sit here and let him disrespect our mama like that, Lawrynn?” Lamelle asked.
Murder mocked him by saying the same thing he just said in a high-pitched female sounding voice. Lamelle’s face balled up at the fact that Murder was making fun of him right now. He took a couple of steps, only for Murder and his gun to meet him halfway.
“Murder, put the gun down,” Lawrynn said. “We’re not here for all that. The point of the meeting is to get some answers. That’s exactly what I plan on doing,” she told him. She walked over to her mother and just looked at her for a few minutes. “All these years it took all of this drama for me to see that you were never for me or any of your kids for that matter. I used to do every and anything for you, just so you can toss me to the side. When I first got in the hospital, you only came to cause a scene. Then when Nikki attacked me, you came for fifteen fucking minutes then you got updates from everyone else.
“There’s no way you can call yourself a mother when you neglect your daughter who was temporarily blind, and you never even called to see how the hell she was doing. You shot my man, and instead of admitting your fuck up, which is something you never do by the way, you just haul ass to your baby daddy’s house and pull him into your bullshit. His stupid ass is under your spell too because here he is on a fucking dummy mission just like the rest of us.
“You even pulled your other sister into this shit. You put a whole child on her to raise while you moved heaven and earth for the love of a man that you cheated on in the first damn place. We haven’t seen Auntie in years and you two don’t even talk about her anymore. What the fuck is up with that? Everything that’s wrong with this family is because of your toxic ass,” Lawrynn said.
“I didn’t just drop her off to her, and she agreed to take care of her. It was a mutual agreement,” Laura said, rolling her eyes. “Whatever I did back then is already done and can’t change. You keep acting like you have all your shit together and you’re up here siding with the man who wants to kill your mother,” Laura said.
Murder stepped up as if he was about to chime in on the argument, but Lawrynn held her hand up to stop his words before they came out.
“No, baby, I got this one. This man that you say I’m siding with, well let’s see what he’s done for me since being in my life like he has been, shall we? He has been here with and for me since we started talking. He’s stayed in the hospital with me the whole time I was there. He even stayed up there with me when Nell was in the hospital. He’s been to every fucking therapy session and doctor’s appointment that I’ve had. He has never told me no. In fact, he gets upset with me when I tell him thank you. We can’t forget the biggest thing he’s done. He jumped in front of a bullet for me. It was your bullet too, wasn’t it? I was standing here wondering while you were talking. If you were aiming for Mike-Mike, why is it that Murder jumped in front of me and caught your bullet? Can you answer that for me, Mama?” Lawrynn asked.
“I-I-I told you that I was aiming for Mike-Mike. Murder just got in the way. I would never try to hurt you. I love you, Lawrynn, please believe me,” she pleaded.
“So, you got Mike-Mike out of jail to try and kill him?” Cornelius asked the one question everyone was thinking about. All eyes were on Laura as she looked around nervously.
“I’m with you on that shit right there, Corn. She’s lying her ass off right now. All that fucking stuttering and shit. I guess you will stop at nothing to cover your own ass. Aiming a gun at our daughter all behind some bullshit you started is fucking pathetic. I regret ever fucking with your dumb ass. If you come around me again, I promise you that I will kill your ass and love very fucking moment of watching you die. Fucking pathetic ass bitch,” Lawrence said. He was so mad that spit was flying everywhere.
“Daddy, don’t let her get you that upset. Go outside and get some air. Murder and I will be out there shortly,” Lawrynn told her dad.
He slapped Laura so hard that the impact sounded off in the empty warehouse.
“Really, Ma? I was trying to be here for you, but this shit is ridiculous. Why would you even want us to help you do all this shit when you were the one who started the shit in the first place? You are fucking pathetic. I’m out,” LJ said then got up to walk out the door.
Lamelle shook his head at his mother and father. Saying nothing, he left right behind his brother.
“You can’t lie or explain your way out of this one. You were trying to kill me. I don’t even care why you were trying to hurt or kill me. The reasoning isn’t even important to me. As of this moment, I don’t have a mother anymore. If you see me on the street, don’t speak to me because I damn sure ain’t gonna speak to you. Murder, don’t kill her. Let her live with the fact that she’s lost her daughter and will never get to see her grandchildren. I don’t care what the rest of y’all do, but I don’t want no parts of her. Don’t call to tell me how she’s doing or if she gets sick because I will tell you right now. I don’t give a fuck. Watch my motherfucking back because this is the last you will see of me,” Lawrynn said as she walked out of the room.
Laura looked around at everyone, hoping and praying that someone would stop Lawrynn from leaving.
“Are y’all just gonna let her walk away like that?” she asked the people who remained in the room.
“I guess you lost both of your girls. You may need to talk to your sons to see where they stand,” Murder told her.
“What are you talking about? Nikki’s not dead, she’s just locked up. Her court date is next week,” Laura said walking behind him.
“She died last night in an incident at the jail. You weren’t notified because your name was nowhere on her paperwork,” Murder said and briefly turned around to look her in the eye as he spoke.
He turned back around to continue his walk out the door when her heard her scream like someone was killing her.
Laura fell to her knees with her arms across her stomach like she was in serious pain. La-La looked at her sister and shook her head.
“How the hell are you so hurt over the death of a child you never claimed but let the one you raised walk right out the door?” La-La asked. “I’m leaving town and changing my number to a number that you will never get. Goodbye, Laura, I hope you change your ways before you die,” she said to her sister.
“Mommy, I love you. Call me when you get to where you’re going. Allen and I will come and visit. I just want you to find your happiness without a bunch of bullshit attached to it,” Nell told her mother as they hugged.
Nell and Allen walked La-La out. Cornelius was left standing there looking at the first woman to have his heart. She was reduced to a balled up mess on the floor broken and crying. He had done more than he needed to for her. She was still alive, and he knew that Murder was not going to kill her, so he had accomplished his goal. There was nothing left for him to do.
He walked out of the warehouse leaving Laura there with the person who had started all this drama and put everyone through all of these changes, herself.
16
Last night was the first night in a long time that Lawrynn had actually gotten some good rest. She was sleeping so well that she slept until four the next afternoon. When she saw the time after rolling over, she jumped out of bed. Lawrynn made it to the bathroom to take care of her hygiene then went to find Murder. She laughed when she found him on the couch looking at the same ratchet television that he complained about her watching.
“Why did you let me sleep so late?” she asked him.
“Why did you need to be up? You don’t have shit to do, so why not let you get your rest? Neither of us have anywhere to be. I called Pain up, and him and his
chick are coming over later,” he told her.
“Okay. I was thinking that we should go on vacation. Somewhere neither one of us have been. By tomorrow, we should be done with all the extra drama and bullshit, so we’ll be able to relax. I just want a couple of days just me and you. No phones or anything else. Can we do that?” she asked him.
“It’s whatever you want to do. Just let me know where you want to go, so I can make some phone calls to get everything set up.”
“I wanna go where there is pretty water and soft sand. We can make love on the beach under the moon light. That shit would be so sexy,” she said with her eyes closed and a smile on her face.
Murder watched and loved seeing her so relaxed. It was a change, but it was definitely a good one.
“Did he give you any mess about coming over here so we could all talk?” she asked Murder.
“Nah, he seemed more irritated that I asked him to bring old girl. I don’t know what’s going on with all that, but they coming,” Murder said.
“As long as she’s cool then I’ll be cool,” Lawrynn said. “Let’s go take a shower.”
Murder started smiling, knowing that if he got in the shower with her, there was no way they were gonna get out before all the hot water ran out.
“Get the door, Maurice,” Lawrynn said as she went to the fridge to get the wine and some glasses out.
“I don’t know why he even fucking knocking. He has a damn key just like I have one to his house,” Murder said as he went to the door.
Opening the door, he gave Pain some dap and Connie a head nod. Stepping to the side he let them walk in and noticed they were holding hands. “Follow me,” he said as he led them to where Lawrynn was in the kitchen area. “Honey, we have guests,” Murder said in the worst British accent ever.
“Hello, how are y’all doing?” Lawrynn asked while shaking her head at Murder. “Have a seat,” she said, trying to be a polite host.
“This house is really beautiful,” Connie said as she looked around.
“I’ll get right to the point. We asked y’all to come so we could clear the air one last time. I want to apologize to Pain for how I came at you the night that Murder got shot. I know Connie only stepped in because of how I came at you in the first place. Any woman would’ve stepped in to protect her man. I understand that. I know you know about the history between Pain and me. I want to let you know that me entertaining him in any other way then a friendly one will not happen. I’m woman enough to let you or anyone else know when I’m wrong. That being said, I want to let you know that you were way out of pocket the night Murder got shot. I understand to a point that you were coming to Pain’s defense. However, he’s a grown man and can speak for his damn self,” Lawrynn said.
She had to address the confrontation; her mind would not rest until Connie heard what she had to say. Murder looked at her and shook his head.
“I apologize for that. Pain explained the entire situation to me afterward. I admit that I was in my feelings at the time,” Connie said.
“If it happens again, just be aware that it will be fuck you, and your feelings, and every motherfucking thing you stand for. As long as we all understand that, then we’re gonna be cool. If you step out of line, I’ll step right with you,” Lawrynn said.
“No need to get hostile or make threats,” Connie said.
“I explained to Connie that your emotions were running high that night. I didn’t take what you said to heart, and she shouldn’t have either. We talked everything out between us, so we’re good now,” Pain said.
“Nigga, we go way the fuck back. There ain’t no way I’m going to even say that if I wouldn’t have seen the bitch holding the gun, I might’ve thought you did the shit too,” Murder said. Lawrynn punched him in the shoulder. “Ouch, Law what the hell you hit me for?” He asked, holding the shoulder that she hit him in.
“That’s not what you said when we were talking,” she said to him.
“I didn’t tell you that you had a big ass booger in your nose that day either,” he said and laughed. “I told you what I said because I knew he didn’t do the shit,” Murder said.
Pain sat there watching them go back and forth. It was at this moment he knew that Murder was the right person for Lawrynn. Seeing her happy and Murder actually smile hurt him and made him feel good at the same time. He really lost a good one when he lost her. Connie was supposed to be the one for him, but he wasn’t completely sold on the idea yet.
“They must’ve forgot we were here,” Connie whispered as she watched them just like Pain was doing.
“Aye, you two motherfuckers have company, man, damn,” Pain said, making both of them look at him.
“Look at that hating ass nigga over there, baby,” Murder said.
“I ain’t hating, but I don’t want to see all that shit. Is that all y’all called us over here for?” he asked.
“Pain, let’s go down to the man cave and let these two talk shit about us in peace,” Murder said and stood to his feet. They headed to the cave, and when they got in, Murder shut and locked the door.
“Damn, what the fuck you locking the door for?” Pain asked, looking down at the floor to see if he was standing on plastic. Murder was still his dude, but he was still Murder, so you can never be too sure.
“Nigga, I know you not looking to see if it’s plastic on the floor. I ain’t gonna kill your ass. Your old scary ass,” Murder said and laughed.
“Why you lock the door?” Pain asked again.
“Go ’head and fix you a drink. I got something I want to show you. I gotta tell you some good shit too. I don’t want them bringing their nosey ass down here all unexpected and shit,” Murder said as he headed toward the wall safe.
When he came back, he had a small, velvet open box in his hand. Pain looked at the box and started choking on his drink.
“You going all out, I see,” Pain said as he inspected the three rings in the box. “Don’t she already have on an engagement ring, though?” Pain asked.
“Yeah, but I had to get another one. Every time I see that ring on her finger, I think about me laid out shot. Hearing that pain and fear in her voice fucked me up, man. I think I have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder behind that night. I had to get her one to replace that shit. It’s not gonna stop the dreams and shit. Them shits will stop eventually on their own,” Murder said.
“Damn, that’s fucked up. You might need to go see a head doctor,” Pain suggested.
“Nah, I don’t need a doctor to tell me that I have trust issues. I know that shit already. So, what’s going on with you and shorty out there?” he asked.
“We just chilling right now, but we’ll see how it goes. I’m on pause with her because of how she flipped out the night you got shot, but we’ll see,” Pain answered.
“I thought y’all were good,” Murder replied.
“I think I need to be alone for a while, but me and her can date or whatever. I just know I don’t need to be with a woman right now. I’m gonna fuck it all up if we put a title on what we have going on,” Pain honestly revealed.
“Let me find out you’re out this motherfucker growing up and shit. Think about it, though. You were digging her since you saw her. Think about the look on your face when she turned out to be the doctor for Nikki. I think you need to stop being a punk and go for it with her. I know you told me about the little argument y’all had, but this relationship shit ain’t perfect. We all know men ain’t perfect. I say go for it. Life’s too damn short for wishy washy shit,” Murder said.
Pain thought about what Murder said. He knew that all relationships can’t be perfect. They took work and effort. The way she questioned him about him still being friends with Murder and Lawrynn definitely rubbed him the wrong way. He was still digging her, but he was just a little more hesitant about jumping into a relationship with her. He could just take it slow and peep out how she moves before he decided on what he wanted to do with what they had.
“Real talk, I want wh
at you and Lawrynn have. Y’all go hard in the paint for each other. Then seeing y’all in there going back and forth like we weren’t even here. That’s the type of shit I need in my life. Just don’t break her heart like I did. Take care of her,” Pain told Murder.
“Oh, nigga, trust and believe I’ll always take care of her. That’s my fucking heart and soul in there. She knows that shit too. I’m cool with her knowing, though. I’ll tell her that shit every chance I get. Thank you for fucking up, my nigga,” Murder said as he held out his hand for Pain to shake.
“When is the wedding?” Pain asked.
“That’s the other reason I brought you down here. She wants to go on vacation tomorrow. I was thinking that the last two days of the vacation, I can fly y’all to where we are and have the wedding then,” Murder said.
“I hear you over there being all romantic and shit. I never thought I would see the day that you of all people get married. Shit, I never seen you kiss a chick or have her number saved in your phone by their names instead of what they do for you. This shit here is epic as fuck. There ain’t no way I’m missing this shit,” Pain said with a smile.
“Fuck you, nigga,” Murder said.
While the guys talked about weddings and love, the women were having an extremely honest conversation.
“I thought Pain was exaggerating when he first told me that he used to date you and the reason why y’all split,” Connie said.
“I can admit that being with Pain was more of a learning experience instead of a typical relationship. In the beginning, everything was great. I guess I got boring to him because he started cheating and never stopped. My… well, Nikki, my relative, was always tempting my boyfriends or potential boyfriends with her body just to show that she could take them from me. Actually, Murder is the only man that I’ve been attached to who didn’t cash in on her constant need to have a dick fill one of her holes,” Lawrynn said.
“Wow, that sounds crazy,” Connie said, not believing her ears.