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  BLACK AND THE UGLIEST:

  THE FIGHT FOR LOVE

  By

  T. STYLES

  Copyright © 2018 by The Cartel Publications. All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission

  from the author, except by reviewer who may quote passages

  to be printed in a newspaper or magazine.

  PUBLISHER’S NOTE:

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses,

  Organizations, places, events and incidents are the product of the

  Author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance of

  Actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2018947299

  ISBN 10: 1945240970

  ISBN 13: 978-1945240973

  Cover Design: Bookslutgirl.com

  www.thecartelpublications.com

  First Edition

  Printed in the United States of America

  What’s Up Fam,

  I only have one important message I want to get off my chest to you with this letter. It’s about depression. Fam, I know what it means to be depressed and feel like you don’t know where to turn. In life, we face obstacles, some more than others, but please know that you are never alone and someone is always going through something too. If you feel like all hope is lost and you have nowhere left to turn, reach out and talk to someone. Here’s the number for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255. Help sometimes can be in the last place you think to look. God Bless!

  Now that I got that out, let me get into the book in hand, “Black and The Ugliest: The Fight For Love”. I can’t say enough about this book. I was soooo fucking happy to have my Miss Wayne and Parade back! Their story always puts a huge smile on my face because along with Kelsi (A Hustler’s Son), I’ve known them the longest from T. Styles’ literary works and I really do love them. The mess they get into this time is non-stop, so sit back and enjoy yourself! I know I did.

  With that being said, keeping in line with tradition, we want to give respect to a vet or trailblazer paving the way. In this novel, we would like to recognize:

  THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS

  The Washington Capitals are a NHL Hockey Team that just won their first Stanley Cup Championship in the history of the franchise. Now, I’m not a hockey fan but I was born in D.C. and can appreciate the major accomplishment that this is. I watched a few of the games during this series and was actually very entertained! They played their hearts and souls out! Congratulations Caps! Ya’ll truly deserve this honor!

  Aight, get to it. I’ll catch you in the next book.

  Be Easy!

  Charisse “C. Wash” Washington

  Vice President

  The Cartel Publications

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  PROLOGUE

  WASHINGTON, DC

  The moon was in rare form as it hovered above the filthy, grungy water that made up the Potomac River, causing it to shine in a liquid blue hue. A little to the right, on a patchy land that Chocolate City called Hains Point, two people stood on their knees, their gaze toward the river.

  Their fate unclear.

  Standing above them, a gunman aimed the warm barrel of a .45 in their direction, which had already been fired once as a warning shot indicating that he alone was in charge.

  After what seemed like an eternity, slowly a black Impala rolled up in the parking lot some ways over from the group, the brightness of the headlights made the gunman squint slightly to see who was arriving. Normally policemen circled the
tourist trap but a bomb threat had been called in not even three miles ahead to a government building, which required all available officers on deck. Which the Gunman was well aware of because he made the call.

  When the car parked, the lights went out, placing the scene as it was before its arrival.

  Dark.

  Scary.

  Uncertain.

  Slowly the Passenger and Driver eased out, carefully toward the trio.

  Observant, the Driver glared at the Gunman, believing that if he tried hard enough he could knock him to the ground and end this madness once and for all.

  “Don’t be stupid!” The Gunman suggested, aiming at The Visitors and then back at the people on their knees. “I’m feeling kinda nervous right now. Don’t make me kill everybody out this bitch before you have a chance to hear me out.”

  The Driver’s hands went up into the air. “I’m unarmed.” He paused. “Please don’t do anything crazy.”

  The Gunman aimed at The Passenger. “Me too.” The Passenger’s throat cleared. “Me…me too.”

  The Gunman returned his weapon onto the men on their knees and laughed. “Let me ask yah something right quick.”

  “I’m listening,” The Driver said.

  “You wouldn’t happen to have a little liquor in the ride would you?” He snickered awkwardly. “Seeing as how at least one of you niggas gonna die today.” He laughed hysterically. “We might as well drink to pouring blood.”

  CHAPTER ONE

  LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

  PARADE

  “I don’t care what ya’ll say,” I yelled to my stylists in my salon Silky Kinks. I was sweeping hair off the floor and talking shit to them at the same time, which was a regular practice for us. “If this body starts falling apart Jay would have a fucking fit, I’m serious. Every night he talks about how he loves after all these years I still keep my shit tight.” I swept the hair into a dustpan. “So a bitch needs maintenance. Trust me.”

  “I just can’t believe he don’t know you doing it,” Bianca said as she twisted her client’s hair. She specialized in all things faux locs and her clientele was serious and kept her bills paid and her lifestyle nice. Even though she came from India she taught herself about black hair texture and in no time was on top here in L.A. “Lipo puts you down for a few days. Especially with the drainage. Jay should know something is—”

  “Nah, whenever I get lipo I stay at Wayne’s.” I tossed the loose strands of hair in the trash. “Because you right.” I paused. “The way that man likes to touch on me he would feel that little plastic ball and be like—”

  “Parade!” Someone yelled.

  When I turned around I was looking at Lucky. And since I fired this bitch a few days ago I was definitely shocked. She was wearing a plain white t-shirt, tight blue jeans and red brown thong sandals. Her outfit was majorly off because Lucky never came out the house in less than the best.

  “What you doing here?” Sirena asked her, walking in front of me in a protective motion. “Parade got rid of you.” She folded her arms over her chest and awaited an answer.

  Me too.

  Sirena had been with me for the entire four years since my business took off. And since she looked so much like Sky, my childhood friend who made me feel bad for my chocolate complexion, at first I didn’t like her. They even shared the same light skin. It was so bad that I almost didn’t hire her until I realized they couldn’t be more different.

  “Stay out of it, Sirena!” Lucky screamed. “I’m not talking to you!” Lucky walked further into the shop. “And I’m here because the way this black bitch fired me was wrong! I didn’t even get a chance to let my clientele know I didn’t work here anymore.”

  “Lucky,” Bianca said in a soft voice. “You were stealing money from all of us. Nobody would trust you enough to let you square up with your clients.”

  Silence.

  When my gaze lowered I realized she was holding a switchblade. With one button press the blade was pointed in my direction. “Lucky, please don’t do this,” I said. The situation got out of hand quick. “I have a family who—”

  “What about my fucking family?” She yelled. “What about my life? You didn’t care about that did you?” She paused. “Karma is about to hit you so hard. I had a dream and everything you love is gonna be taken.” She laughed hysterically.

  Suddenly Lucky’s hair was yanked from behind. When I blinked I saw it was courtesy of Miss Wayne who was standing behind her. I thought that was him in my peripheral vision when he first walked in my shop but too much was happening. I didn’t know he could move so quickly but in the seconds it took for him to enter the doorway, it took fewer seconds to bring Lucky down.

  “This bitch got me out here…sweating and…looking a fool.” Wayne placed his knee in her throat, snatched the knife from her and tossed it across the shop. It spun on the floor next to the door. My stylists and me rushed to help keep her down. “What’s wrong with you, Lucky? Huh?” He asked looking down at her. “Do you realize how hard it was for me to squat down on this floor with these tight ass pants?”

  He looked up at us and we broke out into laughter.

  “Fuck so funny?” He asked. “And stop standing around looking pretty! Call the police!”

  ****

  PARADE

  We were sitting in Miss Wayne’s navy blue BMW drinking coffee from Starbucks. I don’t know what was with the people in this town but they couldn’t seem to live without it.

  “Thanks for helping me back there,” I said to him. “She acting like I did something wrong when she was the one stealing from me.”

  He waved his hand. “Fuck that. You my friend and you know I’m gonna always be there for you. Always.”

  He rifled through his brown Louis Vuitton purse, removed a comb and tamed his hair. The style he was rocking now was perfect for his face. The sides and back of his head were shaved but he wore the top in a long bang, which he swooped to the side over his left eye.

  “But why are you here?” I paused. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you came when you did but normally you call first. We doing lunch or something?”

  “Oh yes, that’s what I wanted. Danny ran into Jay the other day.” He looked at me, shook his head and fixed his hair again.

  I moved uneasily in my seat. “Well…what happened?”

  “Don’t worry, doll,” he continued pointing at me with the comb. “Luckily for you I already told Danny to tell tale of you staying over our house for a few days last week, so we kept your lie alive.” He paused. “But, baby, you gotta stop fucking with your body with all these surgeries, Parade. The man gonna find out!”

  I leaned back toward the window and glared at him. “This from the great Miss Wayne?” I said. “As many tucks as you do.” I pointed at him. “Fuck outta here with all your madness.”

  “Bitch, I’m a queen!” He yelled. “Maintenance is not only necessary it’s a requirement. Being a man with a waist this small don’t come easy. You gotta pay for her!”

  I looked him over. “And you are snatched.”

  “Thank you!” He curtsied in his seat. “Thank you!” He paused and took a big breath. “But seriously, you know how Jay feels about surgery. He loves you just the way you are.”

  “Miss Wayne, please stop.” I sighed.

  “Stop what?” He paused, dropping his comb back into his purse. “Giving it to you straight?” He folded his arms over his chest. “Don’t forget, I’m the only one in this town who knew you from the Quincy Manor days.” He paused. “That means I’m in touch with the real Parade and I don’t want this place bringing light to old habits.” He leaned closer. “Habits picked up from folks more insecure than you.”

  “You sound crazy.”

  He stared harder.

  I knew where he was going. “Wayne, the drugs were a one time thing. After the last lipo the pain was worse than before and I used a little something to stop the feeling that’s all. So please don’t act like I’m an addict.�
�

  “Honey…you used a little heroin.”

  “I know I did! And I was strong enough to get off of it.”

  “Next time you might not be able to.”

  “Won’t be a next time.”

  “All I’m saying is that I don’t want you trying to change yourself into a different version of one of the walking dolls we see out here. Don’t forget, I had to stop you from lightning your skin.”

  “It was a chemical peel! Not a brightener.”

  “I don’t know what it was, Parade…to tell you the truth. All I know is you been comparing yourself to people out here and I need that to stop.” He paused. “Not only because you the baddest bitch this town has ever seen, but also because if you not careful you may lose your husband, your family and your life.”

  I frowned. That was the second time today someone said I might lose it all. “You reaching ain’t you? Why would surgery make me lose everything?” I laughed once.

  “Am I?” He put his hands on his hips. “Plus I’m not just talking about the surgeries. Fuck the surgeries. I’m talking about the way you think. Lately it ain’t been rational and I’m afraid you’re gonna make the wrong choices. Choices that’ll fuck up everything around you.”

  I looked down. “I’m not saying I agree with you but I have a feeling I may be losing Jay already.”

  “Nonsense.”

  “I’m serious. That’s why I’ve been running back to the surgeon to get this tucked and that tucked. I would work out more but I’m at the shop so many hours that there’s no time.” I took a deep breath. “It’s our anniversary and he’s not even answering his phone, Wayne. Wasn’t in the bed when I rolled over this morning either. He’s sneaking around and…” I tried to push the tears away. “If it wasn’t for my kids making me breakfast and lifting my spirits I might have stayed home from work.” I looked into his eyes. “Do you think he found another woman? Prettier than me? Better than me? Because not a bitch alive would do the things I would do for him, Wayne. Not one.”