Page 44

Maasai

W hen I got the call about what happened at my crib, I knew I was going to have to kill that bitch myself.

Shit, I was ready to kill her husband’s comatose ass, too, and her daddy behind what she had done.

The security was going to get it too, and that was on my baby.

I held a crying Avery as I watched the tapes back on my phone.

I was already dealing with the damn detective, but now I was going to have to add this to the shit I needed to handle.

Finally feeling Avery’s breathing getting even and hearing her light snores, I eased out of bed.

We were at a hotel until I could figure something out since our house was a crime scene, and I wouldn’t be able to start the process of getting it fixed right away.

I ducked into the bathroom and cut the volume up on the video so I could hear what she was saying.

I’d already figured out the security that had switched sides, but I wanted to know if she had gotten help finding Keyani at my crib.

After going through all the footage and coming up short, I hit up Mari to see if she’d found anything out yet, and she promptly told my black ass to be patient.

That shit was hard though. I was dealing with two emotional pregnant women who had just gone through traumatic experiences back to back, and some fucking body was going to pay for that shit.

A soft knock at the door let me know that Avery’s ass wasn’t as sleep as I’d thought, and I quickly let her in.

“What’s wrong, baby? You need to go to sleep for a while,” I said, standing. I pulled her into a hug and inhaled her vanilla scent.

“I want you to lay with me.” As bad as I wanted to finish trying to find that bitch, I got my ass in the bed with my wife and stroked her hair until she fell asleep again.

The whole time, I was making connections about how she was doing everything she was doing.

It was like she knew everywhere they were, who they had around them, shit she didn’t have no fucking business knowing.

She could’ve very well had her own tech that had put some type of spyware on their phones, but I wouldn’t be able to find that out unless I was able to take Keyani and Cruz’s phones to Mari.

I sat up for hours until the sun was peeking into the windows, knowing there had to be a way to get to that bitch.

The easiest shit would be to use what she actually wanted, but with Cruz in the hospital, that shit wasn’t going to happen.

I knew damn well his parents weren’t going to let her anywhere near him, considering that she was the reason he was there in the first place.

They barely tolerated me though, so I didn’t know if they’d even let me suggest that shit to them.

Saying fuck it, I slipped away from Avery again and threw on some sweats before going to handle my hygiene, so I could head up to the hospital.

It was already going on nine in the morning, so I knew his mama was up there at least. She’d fuck around and be the easiest of the two to convince, even though she’d done that cold shit to Keyani, but I was banking on her motherly love or even the hate she had for Raya to help her decide.

Ducking out of the room, I closed the door softly behind me and strode through the makeshift living room to the door where two armed guards stood.

Stopping, I pulled them into a huddle. “I’m trusting my wife and my baby with you niggas, and if anything happens to them on your watch, I’m gone kill y’all and turn you into Halloween decorations.

You ever heard of Ed Gein?” The question had them both confused, and they shook their heads while I grinned.

“He was using body parts to make lamps and belts. I think he was trying to make a human body suit…I can’t remember, either way, that’s what the fuck gone happen to y’all, except I’m gone stuff y’all like taxidermy and then put y’all on my porch to hold candy bowls. Got it?”

Pleased with their level of fear, I rode down to have valet get my car and then drove over to the hospital.

Despite how early it was, the unit was bustling with staff and visitors, but when I stepped in Cruz’s room, it was empty besides him.

I had to admit that even just the few days had been good to him, and he was healing, so I knew he’d come out of this shit.

Stopping next to his bed, I said a quick prayer with him like I always did, and once I was finished, I dapped him up before heading to the bathroom.

I’d been so thirsty to get to the hospital that I hadn’t even stopped to take a morning piss after brushing my teeth.

Shutting myself inside the tiny bathroom, I wondered what the fuck they even had that shit for if a nigga could barely turn around in it. The door to the room slammed shut, and I figured his mama had finally made it, but hearing her talking had me holding my piss once again.

“I told you to make sure this was done, but it looks like all you’ve done is drawn more attention to yourself!

” she hissed in a whisper. Interest piqued, I moved closer to the door and pressed my ear to it so I could hear better.

Her voice kept rising and dropping, so I knew she was moving around the room instead of sitting her old ass still.

“Do you think I want that little hood trash carrying my grandchild? You’re supposed to be making up for this mess you’ve put my son in!

Yeah, well, I’d love to see you try it, little girl.

You think you’re crazy? I can assure you, you ain’t got shit on me!

” Exhaling loudly, I assumed she hung up because her next call was to her husband.

“Dammit, Juan! That bitch is just going around creating property damage! They didn’t even find Keyani!

” She went quiet while he talked, and my face balled up.

I’d been trying not to believe that what I was hearing was what I thought it was.

There was no way my nigga’s parents were working with his opp, the same opp that had put him in the hospital.

This shit couldn’t be real life. And all of this was because they didn’t want Keyani to be pregnant by him, like a baby mama mattered in the grand scheme of things because he had refused to do the arranged marriage.

Clenching my fists, I tried to resist the urge to leave and blast her ass just in case she had more to say.

Wasn’t no way she was going to be able to get out of this.

“No, I’m not going to keep playing games with her!

If her next attempt at Keyani is a miss, then she’s just going to have to go sooner than planned, and we can find somebody else to do it.

Hell, I’ll do it myself!” she huffed irritably, and I didn’t realize how close she was to the door until it came swinging open and surprising us both.

Clutching her chest, she backed away, panting, but I wasn’t about to fall for that old Sanford and Son shit!

She’d put my wife and baby in danger trying to kill her own grandchild, so I was ready to send her ass to Elizabeth with the quickness.

“Wh-wha-what are you doing here?” She could hardly talk as I inched out of the bathroom and mugged her.

“I actually came to visit my homey and ask you for some help, but you must be stretched thin these days.”

“I don’t know what you mean, young man, but you just scared me half to death!”

“You’re obviously not living right then. From what I just heard, you’re really a fucked-up person, you and your husband.” By now, she was backed into a corner, and she finally tried to buck up, pushing past me.

“Like I said, I don’t know what you’re talking about?—”

“I’m talkin’ about you almost getting’ my fuckin’ wife killed trying to kill your own grandbaby!

And then with the bitch that almost killed your son!

Shit, I thought my family was fucked up, y’all on a whole nother level!

” I shook my head, amazed for real. I’d never met so many grimy muthafuckas in my life than the ones in the game. This bitch was a fucking mother!

Sighing in resignation, she put her hand on her hip.

“Okay look, I’m sorry about Avery, but be serious for a minute.

Do you think your parents would have approved of her if she wasn’t connected, came with kids, and didn’t have anything going for herself?

I’m doing Angelus a favor. He doesn’t need to be tied down to some ratchet serial baby mama! The girl is trash!”

Once again, I was struck silent by the shit she was saying.

I peeked around her shoulder at Cruz and honestly felt bad for him, knowing he was going to wake up to these fucking snakes.

Shaking my head, I shoved my hands in my pockets and pinned her with a stare.

“I was going to marry my girl regardless, but on the off chance that my mama did try some fucked up shit like this, I’d have to kill her ass.

And don’t think that Cruz ain’t gone feel the same way once he finds out what y’all did,” I threatened, even though I didn’t know for sure what he’d do.

I know he loved Keyani, but he may not have the heart to kill the woman who birthed him.

Shit, I probably wouldn’t have the heart to do it either.

I damn sure had a cousin who didn’t give a fuck though.

“Please! He probably doesn’t even know if that baby is his! And who’s going to tell him, hmm? It would just be my word over yours.”

“Shiit, did you forget the crazy ass bitch you letting run wild through the city in love with that nigga? She’d probably tell on herself, then Keyani is still very much alive and kicking, so she can let him know herself that you took her security and put her the fuck out!”