“Man, you know how many niggas say that shit when they walk up outta this bitch. Truthfully, you’re the only one to ever keep your word. I wasn’t looking for it but I appreciate it,” Bam noted.
“Aye, I think this is them coming my way now,” Deuce replied as he saw two slim built chicks walking down the breezeway sharing a blunt.
They both had on dark colored clothing with the same hoodie. Deuce hadn’t see Bam’s sisters since they were younger, but they looked familiar. He was parked in front of an apartment complex in one of the worst neighborhoods in New Orleans East. It was the same complex that one of Zina’s ex-boyfriends got killed in. Bam and his family had lived there for years and it was about three generations of them that were there. One of his brothers and two of his cousins lost their lives in the complex, but his family still refused to move. The rent was dirt cheap and probably all that they could afford.
“Deuce?” one of the girls asked as she looked at him.
“Yeah. What’s up? Are y’all ready?” Deuce questioned.
“We’re always ready,” the other one replied as she used her fingers to put out the blunt.
Deuce was amazed at her skills. She didn’t even flinch when she did it and he knew right then that he’d found the right ones for the job.
“Alright Bam. I’ll get at you later,” Deuce told his friend before he hung up the phone.
When Bam’s sisters got into the back seat of his truck, he told them exactly what he wanted them to do. They listened and nodded occasionally as he spoke.
“Any questions?” he asked them.
“Yeah. Do you have a girl?” one of them asked.
Deuce wanted to laugh at how forward she was. He looked at her through the rearview mirror and she was looking right back at him.
“Yeah, I have a fiancé,” Deuce replied.
“You love her?” she inquired.
“Very much,” Deuce admitted.
“Oh well, can’t blame a bitch for trying.” She shrugged uncaringly.
Deuce tried hard not to frown up, but he couldn’t help it. She was sitting there talking like she had a chance of being with him. There was nothing feminine about Bam’s sisters. They were both rough around the edges and they looked like the female versions of their brother. Bam already told him how much they smoked and drank and he could tell that what he said was true. Even their hair was a mess with the small ponytails that seemed to be struggling to grow. Deuce didn’t consider himself the greatest gift to women, but he knew for sure that he could do way better than the two of them.
“Look, I’ll be parked right on the next street. Come back to the truck as soon as y’all are done. Are y’all clear on the plan?” Deuce asked them.
“This is nothing. We’ve done much worse. But, we need to discuss pay. We want two-fifty,” one of them said.
“Each,” the other one countered
“I’ll give y’all three hundred each,” Deuce replied.
He had actually planed to give them five hundred each, but their deal was even better. They thought they were doing something, but they had just talked themselves out of getting more money.
“Say no more,” they said as they hopped out of his truck and started walking to their location.
Deuce drove around the corner to the next street and parked. He turned the lights off but he kept the truck running. He called to check on Lyric and she assured him that she was okay. She and Melody were still looking at houses and a few of them caught her eye. Since she was scheduled to give birth soon, they probably wouldn’t be able to physically look at any of them until after she had their son. With the help of her mother and cousins, Lyric had set a date for the wedding and chose the colors. Deuce didn’t want to wait an entire year to get married, but Lyric wasn’t compromising. She didn’t want to be overwhelmed with trying to buy a house and plan a wedding at the same time and he understood that.
Almost an hour later, Deuce looked out of his rearview mirror and saw Bam’s two sisters running back to his truck with their hoodies pulled up. They blended in perfectly with the night and he could see why people always wore dark clothing when it was time to do dirt.
“Peel out,” one of the sisters instructed once they were both in.
They didn’t have to tell him more than once. He pulled off and headed back towards the same apartments that he picked them up from. As soon as he pulled up, Deuce paid them what he owed and was on his way soon after. He stopped and picked Lyric up something to eat and went home to chill with his soon to be wife.
***
“Bronx. Wake up baby. Bronx,” Lyric called out softly as she shook his arm softly.
“What’s wrong?” he asked as he opened his eyes a little.
“I don’t know, but your phone has been ringing like crazy. Darnell, your grandma, and your mama have been calling nonstop,” Lyric replied as she handed him his phone.
It took a minute, but his eyes were finally able to focus on the screen. Just like Lyric said, he had missed calls from several people in his family. Before he called anyone back, he got up and went to the bathroom to complete his morning hygiene.
“I’m about to cook some breakfast boo,” Lyric said when he came back into the room.
“For who?” Bronx asked.
“The fuck you mean. I’m cooking for you,” Lyric snapped.
“Come on baby. We already talked about this,” Bronx replied.
“Fuck you, Bronx. Ungrateful ass nigga,” Lyric fumed as she wobbled out of the room.
She still looked damn good even at nine months pregnant. She had on a t-shirt with some short shorts. Her stomach was huge, but she hadn’t gained weight anywhere else. She always complained about how big her nose had gotten but he really didn’t see the change.
“Don’t even start with the attitude. You don’t need to be eating that shit either. Stop being stubborn and think about our son,” Bronx argued as he followed behind her.
“What does our son have to do with this?” Lyric questioned.
“He eats whatever you eat. You got sick the last time you ate your own food. Don’t do him like that man. He don’t even deserve that,” Bronx replied seriously.
Lyric wanted to curse him out but the look on his face had her laughing instead. Bronx was dead ass serious and Lyric couldn’t even be mad with him. She couldn’t cook for shit but at least she tried. She knew how to fry chicken and basic stuff, but they always had to have fries on the side. She wasn’t good with side dishes or anything so she never even bothered. She used to call and ask her mother what to do, but that was no help. All Melody did was come over and cook the food for her.
“What are we gonna eat then?” Lyric asked him.
“I’ll go get us something to eat,” he replied.
“I’m so tired of eating out all the time,” she pouted.
“You should do what my grandma told you to do then,” Bronx replied.
“Yeah, I just might do that,” Lyric replied.
Mildred had been telling her about some culinary classes that a local chef was offering and Bronx wanted her to sign up. He wasn’t looking for Lyric to be the next Emeril Lagasse, but she needed to know the basics. Melody admitted to him that Lyric was so spoiled that she never had to lift a finger to do anything, cooking included. Because of that, he was marrying a woman who couldn’t even make a scrabbled egg taste edible. Lyric was the full package but her cooking skills took some of her points away. As hood as Zina was, she knew her way around the kitchen very well.
“Let me throw something on and go grab us some food,” Bronx said as he got up and went to the bedroom.
When he came out a few minutes later, Lyric was stretched out on the sofa watching tv. He sat down next to her and kissed her while rubbing her stomach. Simple shit like that was what he loved. He and Lyric would sometimes stay inside the entire weekend to just watch movies and chill.
“Call your grandma back to make sure that everything is okay,” Lyric told him right before he
walked out the front door.
As soon as he got into the car, Bronx dialed his grandmother’s number and waited for her to pick up.
“Hey baby. Did I wake you?” Melba asked when she answered the phone.
“No, I’m good grandma. What’s up?” he questioned.
“Did you talk to Darnell?” she inquired.
“No, not yet,” Bronx replied.
“Oh, well, Sanai got her ass whipped at Ace’s last night. She swears that she didn’t do nothing but I don’t believe that shit. She said that two girls walked into the bathroom and just jumped on her for nothing. Knowing her, she probably said or did something to piss them off,” Melba said.
Bronx had to stop himself from laughing because he already knew what was up. Bam’s sisters put in work and they were worth every penny that he gave them. Sanai had him fucked up if she thought he was going to give her a pass for what she did. He was thankful that Zina helped to clear things up. If she was a bitter ex, like some, he and Lyric would probably still be going through the motions. His cousin did too much and he was tired of playing games with her. She didn’t like Lyric and that was cool. But, to try to come in between their relationship was unacceptable. He dropped Bam’s sisters off up the street from Ace’s and waited until they handled their business. All he had to do was show them a picture of Sanai and the rest was history.
“I got a missed call from Darnell, but I was still sleeping. That’s probably what he was calling to tell me,” Bronx noted.
“Yeah baby, they messed her up good. I don’t think you’ll have to worry about her going back to Ace’s for a while. They scared her ass straight,” Melba laughed.
“Maybe she’ll learn to mind her business from now on and stop starting mess,” Bronx said.
“I sure do hope so. Her lip got a few stiches in it, so that should shut her up for a while. But, I won’t hold you baby. I’m about to head out to the store. Make sure you keep me posted on baby Ace,” Melba replied.
“Okay grandma, I will,” Bronx promised before he hung up.
As soon as he sat his phone down, it rang again. Wanda was calling that time and he already knew what she wanted. Bronx blew out a breath of frustration before he picked up the phone.
“What’s up ma?” Bronx asked when he answered.
“That’s what I’m trying to see. I’m sure you know about what happened to Sanai at Ace’s last night,” Wanda replied.
“Yeah, I just got off the phone with my grandma,” he said.
“That’s a damn shame. Whoever it was knew just what they were doing too. They waited until she was in the bathroom by herself before they did it. Coward asses,” Wanda fussed.
“Well, maybe she needs to stay out of there. Darnell got enough on his plate as it is. He can’t be trying to mix drinks and break up fights too,” Bronx said.
“I don’t know who he thinks he is, but he needs to know that Ace’s is not his club. He had the police turn Warren around when he tried to go there the other day. My brother has been going to Ace’s for years and all of a sudden it’s a problem.”
“Darnell didn’t make that call, I did,” Bronx noted.
“What? Why?” Wanda asked.
“First off, I told Warren what was up the first day I got out of jail. I’m trying to understand why he even tried to go back after I told him not to,” Bronx fumed.
“Warren has been a regular at Ace’s since your daddy first opened the doors. Why can’t he go there now?” Wanda wanted to know.
“Because I said so. Even though I didn’t want no parts of Ace’s in the beginning, I made the decision to keep it. I tolerated Warren for years and that was only because of you. The nigga has been getting free drinks since I took over and I was good with that because my pops started it. What I’m not good with is him causing confusion just because he thinks he can. A broke nigga stopping my stacks is a problem for me. I’ve been trying my best not to knock him out, but he’s all out of chances with me now. Uncle or not, he can get it too.”
“I understand Deuce, but we’re family. I don’t like to see you and Warren getting along like this,” Wanda said.
“I know you don’t ma, but it is what it is. I don’t have no respect for a man who can’t even take care of himself. My son is not even here yet and I already want him to be a better man than Warren is,” he replied.
“I know that all of this is my fault, but you have to understand Deuce. I was an only child all my life and I was lonely. When your grandma got pregnant with Warren, it was almost like I was having a baby. I got married to your daddy a few months before he was born and it was like he was ours. When you came along two years later, that was an even better blessing. Even though y’all were raised together, your personalities were so different. You never wanted us to do everything for you, but Warren embraced it. He’s too old to break him out of it now,” Wanda rambled.
“I’m not trying to tell you what to do ma. I just wanted you to know how I feel about everything. If I have to stay away for a while to keep down confusion, then I will,” Bronx said.
“You must be crazy. I’ll put his ass out on the streets before it comes to that. Warren is my brother, but you’re my one and only baby. I love you both, but the love that I have for you doesn’t compare. If I have to make a choice then I’m choosing you, no questions asked,” Wanda clarified.
“I would never ask you to do that ma. We’re adults and that’s childish. I’m just over the slick ass comments and all that other sneaky shit he be saying and doing,” Bronx replied.
“I understand baby and I’ll talk to him about it. I already told his ass that he needs to get a job. He can come work at the nursery or he can get out there and do something else. His ass is just lazy,” Wanda fussed, making her son shake his head.
Wanda had been saying the same thing for years and he was tired of hearing it. Warren had more jobs than the average man but he never kept them. He knew that Wanda had his back, so he didn’t care if he got fired or not.
After listening to her talk for a while, Deuce finally got her off the phone. He was happy that he told her how he felt about her brother, just in case some shit popped off. Sanai had already been dealt with and Warren could get it too. The only difference was that Deuce wouldn’t have to pay nobody to get at his uncle. He would gladly do that all by himself.
Chapter 49
“This is exactly why I like to drive my own shit. I hate riding with other people,” Deuce fussed as he rode with Darnell.
“Stop bitching so much nigga. The shoes are already paid for. I ordered and paid for them online. I just need to pick them up,” Darnell replied.
“I don’t give a fuck nigga. We were supposed to be restocking the liquor and that’s it. I didn’t agree to go shopping and all that extra shit,” Deuce argued.
“What extra shit? We have to pass in front of the mall for me to bring you home. Pussy whipped ass nigga. Lyric ain’t going nowhere,” Darnell laughed.
“I already know that. I put that big ass rock on her finger to make sure of it,” Deuce replied as they pulled up to the mall and parked.
“The fuck you getting out the car for nigga?” Darnell questioned.
“I’m coming to make sure your ass don’t get in here trying to buy nothing else. You know you shop like a woman,” Deuce replied.
Darnell only laughed because his cousin knew him well. He was definitely going to hit up a few more stores if Deuce had stayed in the car.
“I should have dropped your ass off and came back,” Darnell said as they entered Oakwood Mall through Dillard’s.
His shoes were at Foot Locker, but they stopped at Finish Line since they had to pass in front of the store to get to their destination. Deuce was talking all that shit but both he and Darnell purchased a pair of shoes and he got some shirts too. Once they paid for their purchases, Darnell followed Deuce into Victoria’s Secret to get a few fragrances for Lyric. He even picked her up some cookies from the cart in the middle of the mall before
he and Darnell headed to pick up his shoes.
“All that shit you were talking and you did more shopping than me,” Darnell laughed as they walked into the shoe store.
“Deuce!” someone yelled as soon as they walked into Foot Locker.
Deuce smiled when he saw Baby Blue and Armani come running up to him. He hadn’t seen them in months and they’d gotten bigger since then. They both hugged him at the same time and he could tell they missed him just as much as he missed them. Darnell walked away to see about his shoes as Deuce stopped to talk to his former step kids.
“What’s up with y’all?” Deuce asked as he gave both of them another hug.
“Where is your baby? My mama said that you have a son,” Armani said.
Typical Zina. She always did talk to her kids about things that should have remained between adults. There was no telling what else she told them about him, but he wasn’t about to get into that conversation with kids.
“He’s not here yet but he will be soon,” Deuce replied.
“You have another wife Deuce?” Baby Blue asked.
“Not yet,” was Deuce’s simple but honest reply.
“Where is your girlfriend? Is she pretty?’ Baby Blue asked.
“She’s at home and, yes, she’s pretty. Why aren’t y’all in school?” Deuce asked while changing the subject. He didn’t feel comfortable standing there discussing his love life with kids.
“We woke up too late,” Armani replied.
“How are y’all doing in school?” Deuce asked.
“Good. Both of us passed and we still have a tutor,” Armani replied as Zina walked over to them.
Deuce had to do a double take when he saw the tiny baby bump that was in front of her. Zina was very petite and she never had a stomach. She was rocking a fitted Nike shirt and there was no mistaking that she was pregnant. She had Deuce thinking that she didn’t want more kids, but she’d obviously changed her mind. He didn’t even feel no kind of way about it because things happened for a reason. He was so happy with Lyric and he couldn’t see himself not being with her.
“What’s up Zina?” Deuce spoke as he nodded his head in her direction. It had been months since he’d seen her too, but there were no hard feelings on his part.
Heartbreak And Past Mistakes Page 47