Pretty Kings II Read online

“Don’t say that,” Melo told his brother. “We out in public.”

  “It’s okay, son,” I said to Melo who was always upset at how his brother treated me. I looked at Noah. “If you really think I had something to do with killing aunt Bunny why didn’t you tell your father?”

  “Because it would kill him. And unlike what I feel about you, I love my father more than that.”

  Noah tried to give Melo some dap but Melo wouldn’t accept. He was always on my side.

  “Fuck it then,” Noah said. “You stay sucking on mom’s tits like you a baby. I’ll catch y’all back at the crib.”

  Noah left and two of the four armed men I had with me followed him out the door. Because I didn’t know what was going on with the Russians, I had protection on my sons at all times, even when they were having sex with these little girls, although they didn’t know it.

  The other two armed men with me grabbed our packages while Melo and I stepped outside of the shop.

  “What about you?” I asked Melo. “Are you willing to have lunch with your mother?”

  “Anytime,” he said in a way that melted my heart. “You already know that.”

  We ended up at Swards Seafood restaurant in Virginia. It seemed like time floated by whenever he and I were alone. We laughed and joked and had a good time and it made me feel so special. Say what you want about Melo, if there was one thing I knew it was that he loved his mother.

  “Melo, how come you love me so much?” I asked sipping my martini.

  “Because you’re perfect to me.” He looked at my drink. “Well, outside of the drinking shit.” He sighed. “I wish you hadn’t started that again, ma. You were doing so well and I wasn’t worried about you as much.”

  “You don’t understand. This is a release for me. If I didn’t have a little here and there I think I’d be dead by now.”

  “And that’s what I’m afraid of.”

  He touched my hand, the one that was holding the stem to the martini, so I placed my drink down on the table.

  “It’s going to get bad and you’re going to be an alcoholic again,” he said. “I don’t know when but it will. You gotta catch it now.”

  “You sound so old.”

  “I’m serious. I love you, mama. I think you’re beautiful, sexy and fun. And if I was going to have a wife I would want her to be just like you.”

  “But why?” I blushed.

  “Because you’re my idea of a strong black woman but you don’t know it anymore. As tough as you are, I see you’re still fighting to find out who you are and what you want out of life.”

  “Melo, stop.”

  I held my head down and he lifted my chin.

  “No way,” he said firmly. “I don’t want you holding your head down. Not when your prince is in the room and he needs your love.”

  I looked at him and smiled. “I don’t know where I went wrong with Noah but I thank God for you every day.”

  “Thank him for both of us. Ma, Noah’s just hurt that’s all. He had an expectation of how he wanted you to be and for a second you didn’t meet it. But I see the strength in you even if you’re drinking. I adore you and he does too. I bet you if something happened to you he’d lose it because of how he’s treating you.”

  I exhaled. And then I tightened up. I wiped the corners of my mouth with the white cloth napkin in my lap and stood up. “I’ll be back, son. I’m going to the restroom.”

  He winked. “I’ll be waiting.”

  My security team began to follow me, but I waved them off to stay with Melo. Instead of going to the bathroom I kept walking straight ahead. I didn’t stop until I was outside of the restaurant and sitting in between Iakov and Arkadi Lenin—the Russians. Our arch nemeses. We were on a bench.

  “When are you going to tell me how you do that?” Iakov said holding a clear cup. I’m sure it’s vodka like always.

  I crossed my legs. “How do I do what?”

  “What my brother wants to know is,” Arkadi said. “How do you know when we are watching you?”

  I smiled at them both even though I was seething. How dare they come so close to my sons and me.

  “Well if I told you that I’d have to kill you.” I paused. “Both of you. Now what do you want? I have things to do.” I stared into both of their piercing blue eyes. I wanted them to know that I was deathly serious.

  Arkadi laughed but Iakov did not.

  “After we did the artwork to your face, you made a promise to us,” Arkadi said. “Do you remember that promise?”

  I nodded. “Yes.”

  “What was it?”

  “I said I remember.”

  “What the fuck was it?” he yelled.

  I looked around at a few people walking by. We probably looked strange on that bench. Me, the black woman with the scarred face, sitting between two blue-eyed white men.

  “I said if you let me go I would consider giving you the connect information in about a year.”

  I hated the promise I made to them. But it was the only way they would let me go without circumcising me. The sad part was I had no intentions on handing it over because it was the only thing that was keeping us alive.

  “No, you promised us you’d give us the info if we left you and your family alone for a year,” Iakov said. “We’ve done that.”

  “I thought about it,” I said trying to remain calm even though my heart kicked wildly inside of my chest. “I’m not going to be able to give you the information. I don’t understand why it’s so important to you anyway. I’m still supplying you with quality coke at a great price.”

  Iakov sipped the rest of his drink and sat it on the ground. He looked over at me and said, “You know something? Even with the marks we put on your face you’re still beautiful.”

  “That’s because beauty is in the mind and heart,” I told him.

  He nodded. “You have no idea who you’re fucking with, do you? You are under the impression that we’re a couple of those nigger soldiers on the street. You must understand that we are not, my dear Bambi. We are the monsters in your president’s dreams. We are the real terrorists of the USA. And we have the ability to put this entire nation to sleep.”

  “All of that for some cocaine?” I joked.

  They were silent for a minute before bursting out in laughter.

  “Look inside the restaurant, my dear Bambi,” Iakov said. “I wonder if you’d find what we see so amusing.”

  I followed his orders. I saw a waiter giving my son water. But when the waiter lifted the back of his long sleeve white shirt, I saw the butt of a gun. My heart stopped. The waiter released his shirt and continued to serve my son.

  “Don’t make us annihilate your entire family,” Iakov said in a loving tone. “I don’t want to do that but I will. Give us what we want, or we will put your precious twins to sleep.”

  “Permanently,” Arkadi added.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  SCARLETT

  I lied to Ngozi and told him I would meet him alone because Camp kept putting the pressure on me about the meeting. I had Bambi and my sisters put $100,000 in the trunk of his car while he sat in the meeting. I hated deceiving Ngozi but he wouldn’t meet with Camp any other way. I hoped this wouldn’t bite me in the ass later.

  So now I was in an empty conference room with Ngozi and Camp. Eight armed men covered us. Camp paid a dude five hundred dollars to rent the room for one hour. The room seemed too big for the purpose and it made me a little uncomfortable.

  “I appreciate you coming,” I said to Ngozi who had a flat expression on his face. “I know you didn’t have to be here so thank you.”

  Ngozi didn’t respond. Instead he eyed my husband. His stare was intense.

  “My wife is beating around the bush but I’m not gonna be as hospitable,” Camp said. “I want you to stay away from my family. Effective immediately.” He paused. “When I was gone my wife did what she felt she needed to in order to get over me and she chose you. But I’m back now and I don’t
want you around anymore.”

  Ngozi nodded. “Okay,” he said flatly.

  And then he stood up and walked toward the door. Before leaving out he turned around and said something his native tongue that, as usual, I didn’t understand. Although I had no idea what he said my heart stopped.

  Ngozi smiled, opened the door, and walked out.

  “I guess that’s settled,” Camp said looking at me, before nodding at the armed men.

  “I guess you’re right,” I responded not believing him.

  Ngozi left too easily. Something didn’t feel right. I didn’t know what was on his mind but I knew leaving me alone was the last thing Ngozi intended to do.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  DENIM

  I woke up with Bradley’s dick stuffed deep inside me. I was lying on my back and he was on top of me looking into my eyes. Whenever we made love he did that and it drove me crazy. Sex with him was so passionate and slow. He took his time with me and it was as if it were the first time, every time.

  He maneuvered his body to the right and softly sucked my nipples as he continued to fuck me. My body tingled everywhere and I couldn’t help but get wetter. His breaths became so heavy I thought he would hyperventilate. If I knew one thing it was that my husband loved everything about me and that included sex with me.

  I could feel myself about to cum and I bit down on my bottom lip. He raised his head and started sucking on my earlobe as he continued to stuff me with his hard dick. I was in ecstasy.

  “I love you, Denim,” he said taking a moment to look into my eyes while my pussy drenched his rod. “I would give my life for you. Don’t ever forget that.”

  I knew he was holding back on the orgasm so that I could get mine and that made me love him even more. He always did what he could for me even in the bedroom. I’d rather die and leave everybody behind if it meant I could keep my husband. I knew it was wrong but that was the type of relationship we had. I felt incomplete without him so what kind of mother would that make me if he wasn’t in my life? This was the main reason I needed him to stay out of jail. The stability of my family depended on it.

  I was just about to cum until there was a small knock on the bottom of the door. I tried to ignore it and Bradley did too. I could tell because he continued to stroke inside of my pussy like nothing was happening even though his body stiffened when we first heard the knock. But then the knock grew louder and there was no denying the distraction.

  “Who is it?” I yelled while my husband buried himself deeper inside of my pussy.

  Nobody answered so I continued to give him full reign over my body. But the sound grew louder.

  “Who the fuck is it? I’m not playing!”

  “Mommy,” the voice said.

  Shit! It was our daughter. Ever since she’d been taking the new medicine she knew one word above all. Mommy. She used it for everything too. If she wanted potato chips she’d say mommy. If she wanted to go to the bathroom she’d say mommy. If she wanted strawberry ice cream, she asked if she could have some mommy.

  I love my daughter, I swear I do but I needed this moment alone with Bradley. Besides, our time together wasn’t promised anymore.

  My sister was angry because I cut her off the payroll and I was sure she was actively trying to find ways to get her revenge. But Bradley said he didn’t give a fuck. When I told him how she had been treating me, he told me not to kiss that bitch’s ass anymore, even if it meant he had to go back to jail. He said give him his dignity or give him death. And I decided that I would ride with him on that note no matter what.

  “Tell her to come back, Wet Wet,” he said kissing my neck.

  “Wait a minute, Jasmine,” I said trying to hide the tingling sensation taking over my body. “Come back later!”

  The knocking stopped and suddenly we were alone.

  “You sure I should be telling her to come back?” I asked him as he moved slowly. “I don’t want her upset.”

  “She’ll be okay for five minutes but I needed this like yesterday,” he said. “This is the first time we had sex in days.”

  “Just do your thing and quick before she comes back.”

  “We get the worst parents of the year award,” he laughed. And then he looked into my eyes and smiled. “Five minutes of neglect don’t mean we don’t love our kid.”

  “So let’s make this time count,” I responded.

  In that moment Bradley fucked me as if my life depended on this. We never, ever, in all of her life denied Jasmine when she wanted our attention. But this time it wasn’t about her. It was about him and me and I loved every minute of it.

  And then I smelled something strange. Something strong and serious.

  “You smell that shit?” Bradley asked as smoke crept under the door.

  I coughed a few times too. “Yeah. What the fuck is that?”

  When I looked under the door all I saw was smoke crawling into our room. Something was on fire.

  ****

  I was covered in thick gray smoke as I moved into the rest of the house. I didn’t know what was burning and I didn’t care. The only thing on my mind was finding my daughter and making sure she was safe. I had said some hateful things about not needing my baby girl in the past when I was frustrated about her condition. But I didn’t mean it. God, please don’t take her from me.

  “Denim, I can’t see you,” Bradley called from behind me. He coughed a few times. “Move toward the door and I’ll go find Jasmine.”

  “I’m not leaving without my child.”

  “And I’m telling you I’ll find her,” he yelled louder. “But I want you to get out of here. Now.”

  “Jasmine,” I yelled ignoring him. “Jasmine if you can hear mommy come to me. Come to my voice, baby.”

  Normally I obeyed my husband but at the moment I wasn’t paying him any mind. I sent my daughter away so I could bust a nut and now I was risking losing her forever.

  My eyes burned terribly. Since I couldn’t see anyway, I closed them and stretched my arms out to lead the way. But then my throat felt so dry I thought it would close up. I bumped into something hard that sat on the floor. A throbbing pain circulated through my shin but I didn’t care. I reached my arm out and touched what was in front of me to go around it and that’s when I felt immediate nausea. Suddenly I was lightheaded.

  Where is my baby?

  Where is my….

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  RACE

  My eyes were partially open and I was surrounded in a thick gray haze. My nose and eyes burned and I felt like I was in a sauna. Although I wasn’t walking I was still moving. But it was like I was levitating. My arms hung at my sides and my legs dangled under me. When I raised my head a little I saw my husband Ramirez carrying me in his arms as if I were a helpless child. What’s happening? One minute I was in bed asleep and the next I was… Am I dying? Am I in hell?

  I tried to speak but my voice was trapped within the walls of my throat. Suddenly there was a brisk cool air caressing my body. And the red silk nightgown I wore now felt like a sheet of ice against my breasts. We were outside of the house.

  When I opened my eyes wider I could see a sea of red, white and blue lights. The sirens blared and I was forcefully snatched from my husband’s arms and taken by a huge man in a blue uniform. His hands were rough and he smelled of dirt and grime, something like a car mechanic. He was a firefighter.

  I was quickly placed on a bed where a paramedic looked down at me with apologetic eyes. “Are you okay, ma’am?” he asked me.

  I didn’t respond. Instead a single tear fell down my face. What was going on?

  The paramedic, with the help of another pushed me inside of the ambulance. An oxygen mask was placed on my nose and mouth and the doors to the truck slammed shut. Through the small windows I could see my house going up in flames. The Kennedy mansion was no more.

  When I was about to drift off to sleep the doors flew open. Ramirez looked down at me as if he thought he lost me. “I
’m going with her,” Ramirez said stepping into the ambulance without an invitation. He was two shades darker because he was covered in black soot.

  “Who are you?” the paramedic asked him.

  “I’m Mr. Ramirez Kennedy and this is my wife,” he said seriously. “And if you try to put me out you gonna be laying next to her on the floor.”

  The paramedic didn’t fight him. Instead he continued to check my vitals. All I wanted him to do was get off of me.

  Ramirez gripped my hand into his. His fingers were cold and tears poured out of his eyes and fell onto my oxygen mask. I always knew he loved me but in that moment there was no denying where his heart lay.

  I raised the oxygen mask slightly and asked, “Baby, what happened? Why is the house on fire?”

  “I don’t know.” He looked back at the house as we drove away with the sirens blaring. “I’m just glad you alright. I thought you were gone. Fuck! I lost my mind.”

  “Is anybody hurt?”

  He looked away from me and it caused my heart to speed up. Why wouldn’t he answer my question? Was somebody hurt or not?”

  “You need to relax, Mrs. Kennedy,” the paramedic interrupted. “We don’t want anything getting you more upset right now. You inhaled a lot of smoke and almost lost your life.”

  I looked up into the paramedic’s eyes. “I want to know what the fuck happened in my house! Don’t tell me not to get excited.” I looked at my husband. “Baby, please tell me what happened. Are my sisters okay?”

  “Yes, they all got out fine.”

  I exhaled. “Good. Now what about your brothers? Are they fine too?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then who was hurt?”

  I thought about Carey. She hadn’t been over the house since we cut her off so I knew it couldn’t be her.

  “Jasmine,” he said in a low voice. “She died in the fire.”

  I screamed.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN