Hoodwinked

by Desiree Granger

  “Turn right in point seven miles,” the GPS let out on the phone as Travis turned the radio up, and let his window down to toss out trash before rolling it back up.

  “What we doing?” He asked, leaning against the door with one arm stretched towards the wheel. Colorful tattoos full of tribal designs and illustrations he chose since he was in his teens. Could hardly see the pale skin underneath all of that artwork.

  “Continue on Bolton Rd,” the GPS on the phone said.

  “I just need you as the muscle, nothing more. Indie, and I are gonna handle the rest. If he get a lil crazy, just scare him. Don’t hurt him. He’s eventually going to be family.”

  “Unbelievable.” Indie muttered from behind us.

  Travis looked at me, eyes growing as far as they could go before he nodded, and reached for the volume on his radio to turn up. Rest of the ride was silent as I fixed my hair, and studied my face. Seeing newly formed bumps trying to raise along my chin before sighing. So many things I could pick on about myself from my gapped teeth, despite loving to smile. I always get compliments on it to my acne on my face that gets worse before it gets better. Only to be triggered, and break out once more.

  I swooped my hair back from my face before letting it purposely fall back over my right eye as I smiled. Traffic was light at night. Few bright headlights crossed our way, but the rest of the way was green light after green light. I closed the compact mirror down with a slap before looking up seeing Travis staring at me with his hand tugging at his chin like he was in deep thought. Honey glazed eyes only glowing when the night lights hit it just right in the car.

  “What?” I asked with a shy smile, looking at the light flick green. “Go, you gotta go.”

  “I know girl,” he fussed, pressing forward.

  “Turn left in 300 feet,” the automatic voice stated as we made that turn into a wooded complex. I sat up, and reached over to turn his head lights off.

  “It ain’t that kind of night girl, move,” he fussed, turning the lights back on. “What type of shit these people on?”

  “I don’t know but if we parking right in front of her window with the headlights, ain’t no telling so yeah. Turn em off,” I snapped, reaching over to flick his lights off. Didn’t care if I was being dramatic. The winding complex felt like a maze of cars and buildings before we finally came up on hers with a full parking lot. She was the top level, bedroom window was pitch black, but I knew she was home.

  “You think Percy is here?” Indigo whispered as Travis backed into a parking spot that faced the building, and shut the car off altogether.

  “I know he is. Jasmine said he went to spend the night with her, but she said it's not at his second place so it has to be here. Maybe he’s feeling like shit, and thought coming here would ease his mind. Oooo niggas make me sick! The fact that he throws it in her face because he knows she won’t do shit, but stay put! Oooo!” I gritted my teeth before looking annoyingly at my boyfriend who was texting on his phone with one hand, and twiddling his hair in the other like he was twisting it. With his lower lip hanging like a gut, I suddenly smacked the phone out of his hand in a sudden burst of anger.

  “The fuck wrong with you?!” He snapped, shoving my arm back with a glare at me.

  “Yall ain’t shit! Yall cheat! Yall fuck any bitch on two legs with no remorse on how it makes your girlfriend feel!”

  “We can fuck without emotions. It’s just sex! All it is! Don’t have shit to do with you---.”

  “It has everything to do with me! I’m the one that has to deal with it! Deal with the pain you cause because you talking about, it's just sex. Who you texting now?!”

  “My mama!”

  “LIES!” I yelled, trying to reach for the phone before Indigo reached in between the seats to separate the two of us.

  “That’s why I didn’t want to ride in the car with y'all! This is all y'all do! Snap, and make up! Snap, and make up! You said we came out here for Jasmine---.”

  “Yeah well, thinking about her situation made me look at my own,” I grumbled in disgust, shoving the door open. “Come on, and let’s make this quick while my energy is right.”

  “She’s the one always starting with me Indie,” he complained, getting out of the car as he pulled his jeans up. “I ain’t said nothing but a word to my mama about her wanting a fucking shirt with a peach on it that says Atlanta. That’s it---.”

  “Shut up! You wouldn’t let me see the phone so I know you----.”

  “What chu talkin’ bout---?!”

  “Both of you stop it!” Indigo hissed. “You’ll wake the whole neighborhood up. Just be quiet! This night ain’t about y'all, it's about Jasmine, right? Right Lu?”

  I flipped my hair back in a bougie manner, and sighed. Trying to come to my senses, but the closer I got to this bitch’s apartment, the angrier I felt towards my own relationship. The fact that he barely used that GPS on the way over here, and was so comfortable driving in Atlanta didn’t sit right with me. Especially for your first time being in Georgia period. Ya mama want a shirt with a peach on it? Why so detailed? Because you lying nigga.

  “Lemme see your phone Travis,” holding my hand out as he stopped in mid walk with a shake of his head.

  “I’m not doing this---.”

  “Just let me see it. If you not hiding nothing, let me see. You came down here to save our relationship, and promised you wouldn’t mess with no other girl----.”

  “Indie, get yo cousin before I snap on her outchea, I ain’t playin,” he warned, chin raised high in the air as he looked down at me. “You look at this phone, I’m not doing this relationship shit with you no more, you hear? I ain’t doing it. You find out I ain’t fucking with nobody else no more but you, I’m done. You wanna look, go head,” holding the phone as we stood in the middle of the street. Indigo was already over it, but I knew that I would be the cause of our breakup this time if I couldn’t find anything.”

  Bing!

  His phone went off, seeing the screen lit up in his hand as he stared at me, daring me to touch it.

  “You touch my phone, we done for real Lu. All these years gone because you can’t even have a lil bit of trust left in me so look at it if you want to.”

  Bing!

  I snatched the phone up as he walked off towards the building with a shake of his head, and looked at the unlocked phone. Eyeing the incoming messages from a random number not saved in his contacts. According to their current conversation, she sent pictures of herself in the bathroom with her ass out, and told him she was glad he was back in Atlanta to see her. Without another word, I gave the phone to Indigo, and started for the apartment stairs. Just ready to get this night over with.

  “Just lemme say this Lu,” he started, but Indigo silenced him as we came up on the apartment door, hearing the loud music from inside. Didn’t wait to knock or ring the doorbell, I pulled out a bobbi pen from my pocket, and a long sewing needle. Picking the lock as I have done too many times before for various reasons, I tried to calm my nerves, but I was on the verge of snapping.

  “Are you gonna hear me out? Baby? Can you please just listen...” He whispered, voice echoing in the hallway as the knob snapped, and clicked.

  “I was gonna tell the girl I’m not tryna see her no more---.”

  “I think the more you talk, the worse you’re making it,” Indigo retorted. “Just be quiet---.”

  “She not tryna hear me out though. I just want her to listen.”

  I popped the door open with a shove of my shoulder, and whipped my hair back from my face. Stepped inside the dark, but cold apartment, and listened to the sounds of music, and deep bass bumping the walls. She was having sex. Commiting the sin of sleeping with someone else’s man, and had no remorse.

  “Do I close the door? What am I doing?” Indigo whispered as I popped the light on in the living room. Percy’s things were unpacked like he planned on staying for a while.

  Nah nigga. Not tonight. Not ever in yo life will you continue
to disrespect women.

  “Wait a minute, Lu? Tallulah?!” Indigo panicked in a hushed voice as I whipped my hair in a quick ponytail, and braided it down in a matter of seconds while walking down the hallway. Music was no longer playing, but it didn’t matter. I gave the door a side pound of my fist before shoving it open to see Percy’s bare ass hop over the bed just in time with the pillow covering himself. Glasses crooked on his face as he shot up from the floor while Nasia screamed, bunching the covers up to her chest. Weave shattered and scattered like the bird bitch she was, and yellow face flushed red in embarrassment.

  “So this what we do?! Nasia!? Bring you around the family, and this is what you do to my cousin?!” I yelled with a clap of my hands. “HUH?! This what we do?!”

  “Call the police,” Percy demanded towards Nasia as her eyes began to water while looking at me. “Nasia just call the damn police----.”

  “You know who the fuck I am?! What did I always tell you!?” I screamed, eyes burning a hole in the center of her face, ready to aim, and fire. “What did I always tell you?!”

  “Tallulah, this isn’t---!”

  “Isn’t what it looks like!? Yo legs wasn’t wide open for him?! Didn’t I tell you how my family operates!? I said what?! It’s not his sisters you gotta worry about!” I barked. “You were brought in, and got a chance few women get! You got to sleep with the alpha in our pack! Didn’t I tell you----!”

  “The what?!” Percy screamed. “What the hell is she talking about?! Get out! Get the hell out!”

  “Indie!” I hollered, watching her run up on Percy who was about to defend himself until Travis flexed right behind my cousin. I whipped my braid back from my shoulder, eyes seething towards Nasia who began to tremble, and shake.

  “You had hoes feeling sorry for you because you put it on a damn baby! A damn baby as the reason why you, and Homer broke up! BITCH!” I screamed, jumping on the bed as she shot up, instinctively trying to grab my hair like it was a tail. I could no longer hear Percy struggling against Travis, screaming for Nasia. I was slashed, and slapped by her until I pounded, and knucked if you buck on that face, and chest. Wishing for a second, more than a second that it was Travis, and his line of hoes thinking he was some prize to rub in my face because you slept with him.

  “I told you! I said! We welcome you into our family! Our pack, and if you stepped out of line, you would have to deal with me, because I’m what?! I’M WHAT?! NASIA?! Yeen’ never had to worry about his sisters coming for you! I’m the alpha bitch you answer to! You understand?!”

  Her face, covered in blood sat beneath me, I tried to find all the strength not to spit on her. I had to save it for Percy. All my anger directed at Travis along with carrying the load of Jasmine’s feelings on my shoulder spilled out in the form of a bloody nose, and mouth on Nasia’s face. She started coughing. Struggling to talk.

  “If you come near Jasmine or Percy again, I will kill you. I will show my true self, my true nature and I will kill you,” I threatened. “I’m doing you a favor by not telling his sisters, but if you come around again...If you step foot in South Carolina, and we will know. I will know. I have a lock on you for the rest of my life,” moving hair from her face like I was trying to tidy up the mess I made. I had to look like the sickest witch straddling her chest with my hair falling down the sides of my face. “Step foot in Carolina, and you will be hunted down. You have a hit on your head. I suggest you move from Georgia too. Don’t ever call Jasmine or Percy, don’t ever answer a call or text from Homer---.”

  “Please,” she cried. “Please just listen----.”

  “Most women are putting up with bullshit ass niggas, hoping we could come across a man like the one you had wanting to marry you, and start a life with you. Instead of being honest, and telling him you wasn’t ready, you rather show it and still drag his ass along for the emotional ride, well lemme tell you chile, you were right to leave him when he found out he had a baby. His nose is already wide open for my good sis Pia to take your place---.”

  She tried to push me off, but I freely got up to see Percy was in a struggling headlock from Travis while Indigo was grabbing his clothes.

  “Tallulah?!” Nasia coughed, but I grabbed Percy’s keys.

  “Call the police Nasia! Just call the police! She’s the same fucking woman to rob me, and Jasmine----!”

  “Indie! Knock him out!”

  “Knock him out!? I can’t do that!” She freaked before trying to unevenly slap at his face with him thrashing his head about. “I can’t do that!”

  “Put him to sleep! I seen you put niggas to sleep----!”

  “That’s for a session! People pay for that! I’m not---!”

  Travis out of nowhere gripped Percy’s forehead and slammed it hard against the wall with a quick knocking jerk before his body instantly went limp. Eyes folding over with his head slumping down, showing the large dent in the wall.

  “I didn’t sign up for this!” Indigo screamed. “What the hell!? Did you kill him?!”

  “Nah, knocked his ass out but do what the fuck y'all tryna do before he wake up!”

  We gathered his things, not caring if Nasia watched the whole thing go down. She knew better than to speak on what just happened. We managed to get Percy outside with hardly anyone noticing a naked man being carried to the parking lot. I grabbed Indigo’s phone out of her back pocket, and began taking pictures of his naked frame, and uneven socks. Thick black bush holding the smallest dick I’ve ever seen, just wiggling about in the air when bright headlights lit up the street from an incoming car.

  “Put him behind the stairs!” I whispered. “Hurry up!”

  “This nigga is heavy! I can’t be moving him like that!” Travis strained as I immediately stood in front of the two to block the view as the car slowly drove on, tinted windows pitch black as it disappeared around the corner. Indigo quickly found Percy’s Toyota Camry while I grabbed my things out of Travis’s car.

  “Can we talk about this Lu? I’m not doing this shit on purpose to hurt you. Can you stop for a second?” He asked, grabbing my arm. “Can we at least talk about----.”

  “I’m done Travis,” I sighed tiredly. “I would be crying and carrying on over catching you talking to another woman. You said you never been to Atlanta, she says you have, and specifically to see her. I’on know what more I can do besides say, stay with me. Don’t cheat, love me. Be in love with me the way I am with you----.”

  “I am,” he pleaded, trying to take both of my hands as I stepped back, hearing Indigo close the door. “Tallulah, ain’t nobody else in this world got my heart like you---.”

  “I don’t want it. Keep it to yourself or give it to somebody else. I need to worry about my own damn heart for once. Ain’t mad, ain’t finna fight and cry. Just leave me alone. Do you without me,” walking off.

  I ignored him calling my name out, trying to drag me back down memory lane of our relationship. Blocking everything from his number to the messages. Deleted all pictures, and any trace of him in my phone as Indigo sped off. Nerves on edge from a possible kidnapping, but I was going to take care of all of that. Percy was slowly starting to groan behind us in the back seat as I looked back, and began taking pictures of his body bent over on the floor. Ass tooted in the air, face tucked, and neck bent to his chest with his glasses broken, I made sure to get his face before sending all pictures to my email. Including the ones in Indie’s phone.

  “Why do good men always fall for the women that will hurt them the most? Making it so hard for the next woman to love him,” I let out in frustration.

  “Ughhhhh,” Percy groaned from the back seat as we hit a large dip in the road, causing the car to jump. “What happened?”

  I turned back, putting on a fake smile before reaching to tap his ass.

  “Wake up sunshine,” I greeted. Percy was still struggling to pick himself up from the floor when he weakly tried to put his glasses on his face. Slowly sitting back in the seat as he looked around. Thighs spread as I
looked at his lil disappointment. “What the…Where’s my phone? Where is Nasia? What---?”

  “Here’s the deal,” I said calmly, showing him my phone. “You’re going to take a ride with us, and listen to what we have to say. If you mention anything to anybody, including Jasmine, I will release these pictures to every contact in your phone, and email.”

  He gripped his head in pain, moving his jaw around trying to figure out what was happening still before he quickly gathered his clothes to cover himself in between.

  “You ain’t hiding nothing. I used to change my baby cousin’s diaper all the time. Yall around the same---.”

  “What the fuck is this?!” He shouted, broken glasses tumbling down his face as he quickly reached up to save his look only to slam his fist down in rage. “I’m not going to let you get away with---.”

  “But you will. Just sit back, and enjoy the ride. Nasia is safe. No harm has been done to her. Indie likes to drive to calm her nerves down so just relax.” It was more so for Indigo because she was sweating bullets, squeezing the wheel so tight, I wanted to tell her it wasn’t that serious. “Nothing in here gets repeated, you understand? I just want to talk to you. Alright?”

  “If you think I’m not going to the police after this… You doing this for the sake of Jasmine who doesn’t give a damn what I do! I don’t want her! You can’t force me to want that woman!”