by Briann Danae
She smiled. “I have an idea, but I’m serious bae. Don’t let these people taint your soul. Hold your head, and this shit will be over before you know it. We need you home as soon as possible. I’m tired of charging up my fucking vibrator every week,” she hissed, and Lano let out a deep chuckle from his gut.
“That mothafucka be dying every week?” He laughed, and she rolled her eyes playfully.
“Yes. It’s not funny either.”
“I know. My fault. As long as it’s just a vibrator. Don’t be sliding no plastic shit up in you. That fake shit only gon’ piss you off ‘cause it ain’t me.”
Anika shook her head already having been disappointed by the dildo Solai bought her. It wasn’t shit compared to the real thing, nor could she imagine it being Lano. Once you had a hit of him, anything mediocre after, was easy to detect.
“Trust me, I know. I’ll just be waiting on you to touch down and handle all this,” she said seductively.
Lano licked his lips. “I’ma act a damn fool in it too. I’m warning you now.”
Anika blushed and moved on to how his family was doing before it was time for her to leave. She was only staying the remainder of the day out in California before heading back to KC. Spending time with his family by herself was nothing now. When she wasn’t around, and those weeks she went home, they were blowing her line down. Lano had never brought a female home, let alone gotten one pregnant, so they knew off bat, he and Anika’s relationship was serious. Far more serious than either of them thought it would be in the beginning.
After their visit, Lano was escorted back to his cell, and the guard slipped him an envelope. He had been waiting on it all week since the news about the gun. Giving the guard a head nod, he slipped inside his cell and sat on his bed. His breathing slowed as he pulled pictures he hired a P.I. to capture for him out of the envelope. His blood boiled at the sight, and his mind was already formulating a way to get rid of Samia for good.
In the five pictures the private investigator snapped three were of Samia with the dread head guy who popped up at her crib the day Lano was arrested, and two of Giran and the dread head who Lano now knew was an undercover cop. After having Juvie clock Samia on some lowkey shit, he informed Lano that she had been seen with dread head way too many times. When he saw Giran and him link up, Juvie knew there was some sneaky shit going on. Whether all parties were involved or not, one if not all, were responsible for Lano’s imprisonment.
Even seeing the proof with his own two eyes, Lano still couldn’t believe that Samia of all people had snaked him. But, it all made sense now. The moves she was making weren’t adding up. Her pop-up visit, in which Lano still had no clue how she got on the list, her not checking in on him like she’d usually have to be told to stop doing, and how quiet she’d been lately. Even after the fight with Anika, a chick like Samia didn’t just fall back for no reason.
“Damn,” Lano mumbled shaking his head.
It’s the ones closest to you that’ll snake you first, and he knew that, but never thought he’d be the one to get snaked. Knowing what needed to be done next, Lano tucked the envelope under his cover and stood to go make a phone call. Hopefully, the person he called could get to the bottom of this bullshit, and not switch up because they were family. Clearly, that name didn’t hold any type of weight anymore, so all bets were off.
With a pep in her step, Samia walked through her parent’s home on a cloud. The last few months of her life had seemingly been going well, and she had no complaints. Despite the soreness, she felt in her face from Anika’s brutal ass whooping, her scars were cleared up, missing teeth replaced and attitude on a different level. That may or may not have something to do with her new boo, but that was all about to change. Stepping into her dad’s office, Stefon looked up from his desk and motioned for her to come in.
“What’s up, Daddy,” she said kissing his cheek.
“You’re in a good mood,” he said peeping her cheerful demeanor.
Samia smiled. “I am. What’s going on? You sounded so serious when you called me.”
“That’s because I was. When’s the last time you talked to Lano?”
His question came out of left field for Samia and temporarily made her lose her train of thought. “Um, not since I went to go visit. Why?”
“You know… the worst thing you can have in your grass is snakes. As my daughter, you know that. You were raised on loyalty. So, when that grass is up high and then gets cut low, I expect snakes to slither before then but not my own flesh and blood.”
Utter confusion masked Samia’s face at his words. “I’m not sure what you’re hinting at, but I’ve never been a snake in my life. If there’s something you want to say to me or let me in on, please, don’t hold back. But, don’t accuse me of being a snake.”
Stefon gave her a subtle head nod and pulled up the video footage from her home. It was from the day Lano had dropped by. “A’ight. You watch this video like I have for the last few hours, and if you can somehow make the scene different, then I’ll stop my accusations.”
Clicking the play button, Samia watched intently as she saw Lano’s car pull up to her home. She remembered expecting it to be Mario or the undercover cop known as Raymond Grant, but instead, Lano had showed up just a few minutes before he did. The camera was panned on the length of the driveway, and when she saw Mario’s car pull up, she waited to see what was going to happen.
Raymond stepped out of his car unaware of the cameras Samia had recording because he was in such a rush to plant the gun tucked in his back pocket. Had he taken a few seconds to think, he’d know that he was making a rookie move. Lano not planning to stay long left Tone’s car unlocked, giving Raymond the perfect opportunity to slip the gun used to murder Saon underneath the passenger seat of the vehicle. With ease, he closed the door and looked around as if someone had been watching him before he climbed her steps and rang the doorbell. Stefon let the video continue to play until Lano hopped in the car and pulled off.
Too stunned to cry or feel anything but intense anger, Samia stood utterly speechless at what she just witnessed. Who the hell have I been dating? She questioned but didn’t have to wonder for long because Stefon answered her silent thoughts.
“Mario, or undercover cop Raymond Grant, is who you’ve been laid up with daughter,” he spat sarcastically. “Of all the niggas out here, he had to be the one. Not only is he a cop, but he’s working with the nigga who killed your fucking brother to try and frame Lano.”
Samia gasped and all the blood drained from her face. “No. No, tell me you’re lying. I swear I didn’t know.”
“And, I believe you, but that doesn’t count for anything. Not anymore. Had you not been around here trying to ruin relationships, you’d know that Giran, the same nigga who Lano and our people been going to war with, is the same nigga who pulled the trigger on your brother.”
Tears flowed freely from down Samia’s face at his confession. She couldn’t believe this and hated how dumb she’d been moving. On the day Saon was killed, Raymond had been off duty but witnessed the entire exchange of gunfire between Saon and Giran. At the time, Raymond was working on a big case trying to take the top leaders of the gangs down, but mainly Lano. When he saw the opportunity to easily bring him in by blackmailing Giran, keeping the gun and framing it as Lano’s, he knew his plan would fall through.
It all backfired when Lano left California. Of course, him staying around and catching a case is what Raymond hoped for, but Lano was smart. He retaliated before the smoke could clear and shook the scene. For years, Raymond had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to take him down, and Samia’s infatuation or whatever it was she had for Lano, helped him do just that.
“I had no idea he was an undercover, Daddy. I swear on everything. You know I don’t even move like that,” she cried, feeling disgusted for having even entertained the pig.
Stefon just shook his head. He loved his daughter and would do anything in his power to protect her, but
Samia had to make smarter decisions.
“I get it Samia, but Lano is already in jail and who knows what them crooked mothafuckas have been up to. You need to cut that nigga off immediately.”
She nodded her head. “I am. You don’t even have to tell me. Damn. I can’t believe this. So, what’s going to happen to Lano? Does he know?”
“Yeah, but not by my doing. I’m not sure what’ll happen, but you better hope you don’t get caught up in any other bullshit with this nigga Raymond,” he scoffed with a shake of his head as Samia lowered hers.
The disappointment was written all over Stefon’s face. He was never the type to dig into her personal life, but when Juvie brought it to his attention that his seed was fucking with a rat, Stefon had no choice. For days, he wondered what the hell had happened to his baby girl, but he knew what it was. The streets had turned her cold after killing Saon. She moved recklessly and no longer like the skilled shooter he had raised her to be. And, maybe that was the issue. He tried grooming her into what Saon was, and she lost herself trying to live up to his expectations and got caught slipping. Stefon wasn’t going to turn his back on her though; he never would.
“I’m sorry. I’ma get at this nigga,” she claimed, and Stefon shook his head no.
“Nah. You need to be ducked off for a minute. I don’t need shit happening to you.”
Standing to her feet, Samia walked around his desk and leaned over to hug him. “It won’t. I’ma listen though and just go home. I hope you don’t hate me for this.”
“I could never hate you, baby girl. Just use this,” he said tapping in her temple. “More than you use this,” he finished, pointing to her heart.
Samia sighed heavily as he placed a kiss to her forehead. “I love you, Daddy.”
“Love you too baby girl. Let me know when you make it home.”
Samia told him she would and left out the house with a million and one thoughts on her mind. The first, convincing herself to drive straight home. Anger filled her being at breakneck speed. She wanted blood. Mario, or Raymond rather, had played Samia good and it hurt her like hell because she crossed the one man she loved. Lano wasn’t known to forgive; he’d just forget you and have you wishing you never knew him in the first place. Swiping the tear from her face, Samia checked her right-side mirror, and a piece of paper in her seat caught her attention. Frowning, she pulled over on the street and with caution picked it up to read.
Karma is a bitch. Your enemies were closer than you thought.”
Mario, Auliya’s brother
Samia’s brows dipped in confusion as her mind tried remembering the name Auliya and why “Mario” was letting it be known he was her brother. When recognition settled in, Samia gasped, tossed the paper and frantically moved her head on a swivel to survey her surroundings. Not parked too far from her, Raymond watched with malice in his heart as his teeth gritted and thumb pressed a button that sent Samia’s car up in flames.
Auliya was only fourteen years old when she committed suicide for being bullied at school. Samia had made the young girl’s life a living hell for years. Raymond made a promise to himself for years after locating his sister’s journal with Samia’s name as the culprit that he would make her pay. What were the odds of it being with her life? Of all the dirt she had done while living, Samia wasn’t even given a chance to right her wrongs and clear her name from any bullshit. But, that was life… and karma always got her revenge.
Chapter 12
The cool gel being wiped from her stomach always relived Anika. She was so tired of coming to the doctor, she didn’t know what to do. Her doctor, Dr. Raj didn’t care though. She was in charge of making sure Anika delivered a healthy baby.
“You’re all good to go, Ms. Anika,” she smiled.
“Thank. You. I don’t know why I scheduled my appointment at this time knowing that’s when I love to sleep.”
“Me either,” Neicey grumbled. “Do you know how much stuff I still have to do for this wedding?”
Anika rolled her eyes as she sat up on the bed. “I’m aware, sis. Trust me. You remind us every five minutes.”
“With your crazy ass,” Solai said in a hush making Dr. Raj snicker.
The two had accompanied her to her doctor’s appointment after they had brunch and Neicey was over their little girl’s day already. It seemed like the months were flying by, and they surely were. It was just the beginning of October, and Neicey felt like she blinked, and Thanksgiving was only a few weeks away. Her wedding was a little over a month away, and she was about to snatch her damn lace frontal off and toss that bitch.
Neicey waved them off and stood to her feet. “Whatever. You hoes aren’t marrying my man or me, so y’all don’t understand the type of pressure I’m under.”
“Marriage isn’t complicated. You just learn different ways to love your partner, give them space when needed, and be added to his bank account,” Dr. Raj said giving the girls a smile.
Anika and Solai slapped hands. “See. I knew I loved you for a reason,” Solai laughed.
“I’ll leave your paperwork with the receptionist, Anika,” Dr. Raj said. “You ladies have a good day and remember what I said.”
“Oh, I’m not worried about none of that. You didn’t mention anything about ways not to kill a husband, so when you figure that out, call me,” Neicey told her.
“You still mad over that prank he did?” Solai laughed as they put on their coats.
“I really could’ve killed him for real. Y’all I was so pissed off I couldn’t even see straight. He was talking, and all I saw was blood everywhere as my vision got fuzzy.”
Anika side-eyed Solai and they busted out laughing. “Bitch, you need glasses. Talkin’ about it was fuzzy,” Anika cracked.
“Nah. My eyesight is perfect. Only thing that stopped me was my babies. Who was going to take care of them? I bet his ass knows better now.”
“You just mad he got your ass back after that hickey prank. He almost sent you to your maker,” Solai laughed, thinking back on the video Neicey had recorded of herself pranking Sen. While he was very much upset and ready to shed tears back then, they could now look back and laugh at it.
“No, seriously. That man was about to break down thinking another nigga sucked on my neck,” Neicey snickered. “Where we going when we leave here? I need to stop by the store and meet with the caterer.”
After Anika approved her next doctor’s appointment, the trio headed outside. The winter weather in Kansas City was sickening. Summer was blistering hot, there was hardly a Fall season, and the Winter came through and did the absolute most. Thankfully, their wedding destination was somewhere sunny and on the water. That was why Neicey was stressing. Planning a wedding out of state, being a new mommy to twins, running a business and taking care of home had her getting absolutely no sleep.
“We’re going to view a house I’m thinking of purchasing for us,” Anika announced climbing into the driver’s seat of her Lambo truck. She loved her baby and the pearl white color fit Anika’s style perfectly.
“Hmm. Where at? You know y’all like to be ducked off in the cuts like y’all the fucking president of the United States,” Neicey said from the back seat.
“Oooh. Someone is being such a hater today,” Anika laughed. “And it’s out in Kansas. Like deep out in Kansas. Overland Park, I think.”
“That’s not bad. I thought you were about to say like an hour away or something. How many bedrooms does it have?”
A call came through over her Bluetooth system. Peeping the screen, it was as if the baby could see it was Lano calling as well as it began to move around. “Six. Look baby, it’s Daddy calling,” Anika cooed and answered his call before following the prompts like always.
“Six? You don’t even have six friends. What you need six rooms for?” Solai asked, and Neicey snickered.
“Girl, whatever. Now, hush so I can talk to my man in silence,” she giggled.
“Aniiiika,” Lano cooed in a singing manner, mak
ing his boo blush so hard.
“Oh hell nah,” Neicey laughed. “Let me find out this nigga can sing.”
“Aw damn,” Lano chuckled. “You got your girls in the car with you, bae?”
Smiling, Anika nodded and verbally answered as well. “Yes. We just left my doctor’s appointment.”
Lano heard the smile in her voice and hated that he was going to have to ruin her mood.
“What’s up y’all,” he spoke. “How you and my baby doing? You get that package I sent?”
“Yes. All hundred of them,” Anika replied feeling her heart expand. “Thank you.”
Earlier that week, Anika had received so many packages from Polo, Moncler, Gucci, Carters, Gap and other baby items for their child, Anika broke down in tears. Lano had come through with clothes to last their child for damn near the entire first year and more of its life. The delivery was so unexpected, but appreciated so much.
“You know it ain’t no need to thank me, baby. Take me off your Bluetooth right quick,” he told her.
The seriousness in his voice made Anika tense up. Doing as she was told, she placed the phone to her ear and exhaled. “What’s going on? You okay?”
“Nah,” he replied in a dull, troubled voice.
Swallowing hard, Anika prepared for the worst. She was used to her life being in shambles at this point, and whatever news he was about to drop on her, she had no choice but to accept it. As Lano spoke the words she thought she’d never hear, Anika struggled to hold back her tears. She didn’t cry much anymore now at six months, unless she was thinking of Lano. The words he just told her stomped her heart out of her chest, smashed it with a hammer and dumped them into the bucket of her tears to float, sink and drown.
That’s how her world felt when their call ended. Anika was drowning, and before she could make her next move, Solai had her pull over. For five minutes, Neicey and Solai sat in silence as Anika cried her heart out. Holding onto her growing belly, she tried to even out her breaths, but couldn’t.