“Nassie, baby is that you.”

  A pain shot through my heart as I heard her call me the pet name she had given me. Tears streamed down my face as she wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me. She smelled horrible. I gently removed her arms from around me and stared at her.

  “Get in the car. You need to get cleaned up.”

  She got inside the car and we drove back to my house. While she was in the tub, I fixed her something to eat. I was glad Chanel still had clothes in the crib. She looked as if she hadn’t eaten in months. I made sure to call King and let him know she was at my crib. He had some choice words for her leaving us and some choice words for me picking her up. I don’t know why I picked her up. I guess when I saw her I was still the little boy who sat in the window waiting for his mother to return home.

  My cell phone chimed alerted me that I had a message. The messages were from the private detective. I clicked on the message and it opened up. I had to take a double take because it was Chanel and her stomach was huge. He had an address for her as well. I couldn’t believe she had been in Georgia all this time. The sight of her protruding belly enraged me to the point where I started breaking shit. I didn’t even know King and Gucci had came inside the crib until I heard her calling my name and felt King grabbing on me

  “What the fuck is wrong with you, lil bro?” King said as he pushed me out of the patio door.

  “Chanel is what the fuck is wrong with me. You remember I told you I hired a private detective, right? Look at this shit here.”

  I showed him the pictures of Chanel that the guy had sent me. I watched his reaction at the sight of her stomach. He looked over his shoulder to make sure Gucci wasn’t in earshot.

  “Do you think Gucci and Dior knew where she has been all this time?” I had to ask because they are thick as thieves. He shook his head no.

  “I doubt it. They recently filed a missing persons report. Do you think it’s your seed?”

  “That’s all me.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “I’m going to Atlanta and drag her ass back home. Don’t tell Gucci. I can’t believe that she would keep my seed away from me. I know that I fucked us up but she’s dead wrong for not telling me she was pregnant.”

  “I won’t say shit. What the fuck are you going to do with your crack head ass mother? I’m not fucking with her deadbeat ass until she gets clean.

  “Damn, I forgot about her ass that quickly.”

  We both walked back in the house and our mother and Gucci were in the kitchen finishing up the meal I started.

  “Oh my God. Look at my baby, King.”

  My mother walked towards King and wrapped her arms around him and he pried her arms from around him.

  “Come on, you’re going to the rehab right now. I suggest you finish the program in its entirety. If you don’t. It would be on your best interest to never come around us again.

  King grabbed Trixie and led her out the door. There was nothing I could say because I totally agreed with him. Plus, I had other shit on my plate at the moment. I headed to my room and lay across the bed. I couldn’t stop staring at the picture of Chanel. I hadn’t realized how much I missed her until I seen the picture. I opened up my laptop and booked a redeye flight to Georgia. I was about to snatch her ass up and bring her ass back home. That was my fucking word.

  Chapter 12- King Carter

  Comes To the Light

  I had no words for my mother. I couldn’t even look at her as we drove to the Women’s Treatment Center. I didn’t care if I was acting mean to her. Her feelings didn’t mean a damn thing to me because she didn’t care about her sons feelings when she walked out the door on us. It was fucked up but I hated my mother. She knew it too.

  Gucci made small talk with her the entire ride. She was telling her all about Imani. I wasn’t cool with that shit. She didn’t deserve to know anything about her granddaughter. She lost that privilege a long time ago. When we arrived at the rehab, Gucci gave her our numbers and some money. I wasn’t giving her shit. She had to prove that she wanted to be in our lives. We walked her inside and talked to her counselors for about an hour and we headed home.

  “Do you want to talk about it?” Gucci said as she sat next to me on the couch in my man cave.

  “Not really.”

  “Baby, I think you should talk about it. You’re holding all your emotions inside and that is not good.”

  “Shut the fuck up! I said I didn’t want to talk about it.”

  I threw the glass I was holding against the wall. I grabbed my keys and walked out of the house. I needed to get out of the house for a little while to clear my head. I decided to head to Gentlemen’s Paradise. I had Dutch meet me up there so that we could have a couple of drinks and chill.

  As soon as I arrived at the club, I wanted to turn right back around. Samaya was the first person I saw. This was strip club for men. I didn’t understand why her and her whack ass crew was in there. I’m starting to believe those hoes are carpet munchers. I walked right past her and joined Dutch at the bar.

  “What’s good, my nigga?” I asked as we dapped each other up.

  “Shit. I talked to Nasir. He just took flight. I hope he don’t go down there wilding. The last thing we need is him to get locked up out of state.”

  “I hope Chanel just come back with his ass. They’re probably humbugging right now. We both laughed because we knew just how crazy they could get.

  “You’re acting funny, King,” Samaya whispered in my ear and grabbed my dick at the same time.

  “I’m not in the mood for your shit today, Maya. Get the fuck away from me before I embarrass your ass in here.” I roughly pushed her away from me.

  “All of sudden you’re trying to be faithful to that lame bitch. Don’t forget I’m the one that grind hard for you in these streets because that bitch thinks she’s too good. You’re always knee deep in this pussy so stop fronting on me.” She muffed me upside my head. Before I knew it, I had my hands wrapped around her throat trying to squeeze the life out of her.

  “You better watch your mouth bitch! I’ll snap your motherfucking neck. Did you forget who I am? Say my fucking name. I think you forgot who you’re fucking with.”

  “King,” she managed to say with what little breath she had.

  “Now get the fuck away from me and act like the peasant bitch you are. Consider your ass cancelled since you like running off at the mouth.” I slapped her so hard she hit the floor. Her thot ass friends all ran to her and helped her up.

  “Chill out, bro,” Dutch said as he grabbed me because he knew I wanted to beat her ass.

  “I’m good. That bitch been trying my patience since I made shit official with G. I shouldn’t have let her suck my dick back in the ninth grade. She has been a pain in my ass ever since.”

  “You and Nasir fucked up when ya’ll started letting them hoes do drug runs. Now they know too much shit. I have a feeling they are going to be bad for business.”

  “I wish that bitch would. I’ll break her fucking neck and throw that bitch in Lake Michigan.”

  We sat and drank a couple of more shots and headed out. The next day was the first of the month so I had to be out bright and early make sure all the traps were filled with product and my cash flow was on point.

  I knew that I needed to tell Gucci about the incident with Samaya. The last thing I needed was for shit to get back to her from another source. We had been good since she moved in and I wanted to keep that way. I hadn’t been with Samaya like that since I made shit official. I had just purchased my baby a ring. Tahari and Dior had been helping with all the preparations. Samaya had another thing coming if she thought that she was going to come between me and my baby.

  Imani and Gucci were asleep on the couch when I walked in to the house. I picked up Imani and carried her to her room. I tucked her in and headed back to wake up Gucci but she had already got up and climbed in bed. I could tell she was still pissed about earlier. I took a quick shower and climbed in bed with her.

  “You sleep, G? I need to holla at you about something.”

  “Leave me alone King.”

  She pulled the covers over her head. I pulled them from over her head. She sat straight up and stared at me.

  “I’m sorry about earlier. I was wrong for spazzing out on you like that. Do you forgive me?” I grabbed her chin and kissed her on the lips.

  “Of course I forgive you. Now what do you want to talk about? It’s late and I have a date with Imani tomorrow. You already know she wakes up bright eyes and bushy tailed.”

  “I had to lay hands on the bitch Samaya at the club. Before you go off, hear me out. She started talking reckless about us messing around. I can assure you since we’ve been together officially I haven’t even entertained the thought of another female.

  “Is that all? I expect for her to say shit like that because I know she wants you and she will do whatever she can to break us up. I’m not entertaining that delusional bitch.”

  “I’m glad to hear that but there’s something else. Samaya and Samina have been doing drug runs for us. I fucked up by sleeping with the bitch from time to time and now she’s getting reckless. I just wanted to let you know about all the bullshit.”

  “So, that bitch has been getting money with you all this time. No wonder she’s so disrespectful to me. You have given her the ammunition to play me out in public because she has one up on me. That’s why she always talking shit. I’m not allowed to put in work beside you but your side bitch can?”

  “You’re my fucking wife. You would never be out in the streets hustling. That’s my job. All you need to do is raise our daughter and spend my money. I was wrong for never telling you. You don’t have anything to worry about. I deaded that shit. She will no longer do drug runs for us. That’s my word, G.”

  “If you think it’s that easy, you’re stupider than I thought. I can’t believe you right now.”

  Gucci laid down and turned her back to me. I knew she would be pissed. I’m just glad she knows I’m not cheating on her. I need to get the word out to my people that she and her buzzard ass friends are not to step foot in or around my traps. I hate to admit it but I know Samaya is about to turn all the way up.

  Chapter 13- Gucci

  Hating Ass Bitches

  Imani and I walked around the mall putting a dent in King’s black card. I deserved any fucking thing I wanted after finding out about him letting Samaya do drug runs for him. King had no business letting her get money with him. It’s the principle of it all. King just better hope all ties are severed between them immediately.

  Lately, I’ve been so lonely without my sisters. Dior hasn’t been in the best of moods and I don’t know why. Chanel is still missing and we have no idea where she could be. The worst part is our mother acts as if she doesn’t even care. I wanted to smack the shit out of her when she said that Chanel was somewhere licking her wounds. Her ass calls and checks on Nasir more than she calls the police station to see if they have any leads. I tried to get Dior to come to the mall with me but her ass just wants to stay in the house. I don’t know what’s going on with her and Dutch but something isn’t right. I have every intention on finding out what the hell is going on.

  “Mommy, I want my nails to be pink and lime green,” Imani said as she was picking out her colors for her nails. She was such a little diva.

  “Just get pink and next week you can do lime green. Daddy doesn’t like it when you get all of those colors.”

  She was rolling her eyes at me but she wouldn’t dare do that with King. The nail salon inside the mall was crowded and I really didn’t want to wait.

  “Let’s go get something to eat, baby girl. It’s too crowded. We can go to the nail shop closer to home.”

  I grabbed her hand and we headed out the door and towards the food court. I spotted Samaya and some more girls walking in my direction. We locked eyes and I knew she was about to try me. I reached inside my purse for my phone and realized I left it in the car on the charger. For some reason I felt like this bitch wanted to fight or something. I didn’t care about fighting. I just didn’t want to do it while my daughter was with me.

  “I swear to God I can’t stand this bitch,” Samaya said as she blocked my path.

  “You better get your Amazon looking ass out of my fucking way. As you can see, I have my daughter with me. I really don’t have time to entertain your delusional ass.” I tried to walk past her but the girls that she was with surrounded me and my daughter.

  “There ain’t shit delusional about me. If you think you’re the only one in King’s life, then you’re delusional. I’ve been around for years and I’m not going anywhere.”

  “You’ve been around all these years and what do you have to show for it? A drug run here, a dick in your mouth there. Bitch, get you a life and stop trying to live mine. That shit is pathetic.”

  “Ohh Mommy, you said bad words.” For a quick second I forgot my daughter was with me.

  “You know what; I have my daughter with me. We’ll see each other again. Mommy’s sorry for saying bad words.”

  I grabbed her hand and pushed passed Samaya and her friends. A punch to the back of my head instantly made me turn around and start swinging. I had a death grip on one of the girls and was kicking her ass. I felt punches and kicks raining down all over my body. The sound of my baby crying made me cry. I couldn’t believe these hoes were jumping on me while I had my baby with me.

  They were trying their best to get me down on the ground but I wasn’t going down that easily. I was fighting to the death and my daughter’s cries kept me going. I felt a stinging sensation across my chest. The next thing I knew, I was hit in my face with something hard. I fell to the floor and the bitches continued to stomp me. I couldn’t believe no one helped me out. They just stood around videotaping the shit. Security finally arrived. I was starting to black out. My eyes were swollen so I couldn’t really see. I knew my baby was on the floor next to me. I couldn’t do anything but cry as I heard her screaming and hollering.

  “Oh my God! Somebody calls the ambulance. All you stupid motherfuckers standing around watching this shit. Come on baby girl. It’s okay. Mommy’s okay.” I heard a lady with the sweetest voice calming Imani down. I don’t remember anything after that because I lost consciousness.

  Chapter 14-Chanel

  Facing The Music

  I’ve been so happy since I left Chicago because I have a peace of mind. I miss Chanel, Dior, and my niece. It’s sad but my mother hasn’t even crossed my mind. I know she’s back home all up in Nasir’s ass. My only regret I have is leaving and not reaching out to my sisters. I hope they understand my reasons behind what I did.

  After a month of being here in Georgia, I found a great job as a medical receptionist at the local hospital and a nice condo. I stopped drinking cold turkey because I found out I was two months pregnant about a week after I arrived here. I had been so stressed that I never realized that I had missed my periods.

  I can’t believe the liquor didn’t make me sick. I’ve been stressed because I keep thinking my liquor intake will affect my son. The doctor has assured me the baby will be fine. I’m almost nine months pregnant and Nasir doesn’t even know he has a son on the way. I feel so bad about not telling him. I decided not to tell anyone for the sake of my heart and my mind. They would have tried to convince me to go back to Chicago. I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss Nasir. I miss him so much. Sometimes I lie in bed and wonder if he even misses me or if I ever cross his mind from time to time.

  ****

  As I walked out of my job, I couldn’t wait to get home and put my feet up. My feet were swollen and my back was killing me. I had been having lower back pains all week and I was starting to get scared like I was going to go in labor early. Those thoughts made me realize that I had no one to take me to the hospital or be in the delivery room with me when I gave birth to my son. I was seriously rethinking this whole situation. I made it up in my mind that when I made it home I was going to call my sisters and let them know everything.

  My apartment was on the second floor and the stairs were getting harder to climb. Plus, I had to pee. It took me about five minutes to wobble up the stairs. Finally, I made it up to my door and went in with my key. I dropped everything and took off towards the bathroom. I ran dead smack into Nasir coming out of the bathroom.

  “What the fuck are you doing here?” I was looking like a deer in headlights. The look on his face told me he was angry. I was so damn scared I pissed all over myself.

  “Get your shit and let’s go!” He grabbed my arm and yanked me. I snatched away from him.

  “I’m not going anywhere with you. Go find that bitch Samina. I’m good.”

  I folded my hands across my chest and stood there. Nasir moved so close to me his breath was tickling my nose.

  “I don’t have time for that bullshit you talking about. You up and disappeared. Got me and your family worried sick about your ass, Putting out missing person’s reports, Hiring private detectives to find you, and Hoping your ass ain’t dead somewhere. Not to mention your ass is pregnant. Tell me this; were you ever going to let me know I had a child?” I could see the hurt in his eyes but so what! I was hurting too.

  “Please, Nasir. Miss me with the ‘I give a damn about you’ speech. If you cared about me so much, you never would have put me out of our home. You never would have disrespected me in front of our friends and family. You wouldn’t have been cheating on me. I can’t believe you let that nasty bitch suck your dick in the bathroom like I wasn’t even in the building. I’m so over this shit with you. Now get the fuck out of my way so I can take a shower.”

  I pushed his ass to the side, went into the bathroom, and locked it behind me. I had so many emotions going on inside of me. I was happy to see him and I was mad because he was here. I had found my happy place and he was here to fuck it up. I cried the entire time I showered. I stayed in the bathroom as long as I could. I wrapped myself up in a towel and got ready to face the music.