Loving Angel (32 page)

“
Well, it seems you’ve made up your mind so there’s nothing else to say.” I rose from my seat, but I wasn’t finish talking yet. “Just know that if anything happens to my brother I’m not only gonna hunt down those who harmed him but also those who put him in harm’s way.” My voice was just as calm as his was before. But I was sure he received the deadly message. If Kit didn’t fire my brother and something happened to Chance, then I’d be gunning for him.

He gave a casual shrug as though my threat didn
’t faze him. Having thrown down the gauntlet I walked away from his table and out his restaurant.

When I got home it was early evening and my wife was already in bed because she wasn
’t feeling well. She was throwing up and suffering from nausea. I didn’t say anything to her but I felt she was probably pregnant. I had stolen her birth control pills while we were in Jamaica so I could knock her ass up. She did say that if I married her she’d give me another baby so I didn’t feel bad for taking her pills.

I made her a cup of ginger and mint tea
, went to check on my son in the nursery down the hall and then got in bed with my girl to keep her company.

“
I think I’m starting to feel better,” Angel admitted. She was resting her head on my chest with my arms wrapped around her. “What did you do today? Did you talk to your brother?”

“
Yeah, I told him about your nasty ass cousin.” I always couldn’t stand Keya because she was always coming on to me even though she was my girl’s family member.  “He said he’s good because he always used condoms with her.”

“
Thank god,” she said sounding relieved. I knew she didn’t give a damn about my twin. She had been worried that if my brother had H.I.V then her mother would have it also. “I’m happy I didn’t say anything to Mina yet, because I swear she’s got some screws loose. I got her into a rehab facility but she changed her mind about going and is back to not accepting my calls.”

“
You can’t force her to do anything she doesn’t want for herself.”

She sighed.
“I know. It’s just sad though. I really blame your brother. I think he introduced her to drugs because she started taking them since she got with him and now she won’t even get help because she thinks she has to stay and try to win him back.” I could tell the situation with her mother was making her sad. I kissed her on the forehead and rubbed her back in comfort.

“
Trust me, when she hits rock bottom she’ll realize she really needs help,” I reassured her.

“
Keya is the next one that’s spiraling out of control. You know the bitch had the nerve to say she isn’t getting tested and if she has H.I.V lots of niggas are gonna get it also because she’s gonna give it to them.” Her voice was filled with disgust.

“
Your cousin is some different type of cold hearted bitch.”

“
I know,” she agreed. “So much has happened over the past year.”

A lot had happened indeed; both good and bad. I
’d lost my father and gained a wife and a son. My business was at its best and I was making more paper than I could count but I now had a fucked up relationship with both my brothers. It seemed that whenever I gained something I’d also lose something. I was starting to wonder what my next gain/loss was going to be.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

ANGEL

A month and a half after my wedding I accepted the fact that I was pregnant again. It was a bitter sweet moment. I was happy that my man and I were going to have another baby but I was also sad because I wanted to wait a couple years before having another so that I could go to nursing school. With one baby who wasn
’t even a year old and another on the way I knew I was gonna have to put my goals on hold. I called my cousin Daisy to fill her in.

“
Damn your man works fast,” she declared. “If you don’t get yourself an IUD after you pop this one you’ll end up with another one.” I couldn’t agree with her more.

“
That’s a great idea and that’s exactly what I’m planning to do.”

“
You know you can’t tell him about that shit if you get it, right?”

“
Do I look stupid to you?” She didn’t have to tell me Tyga would flip his top if he knew I was on a birth control that only a doctor could remove. I had already figured he was the one who stole my pills so he could get me pregnant, but I wasn’t gonna say anything to him, let him believe he got away with it.

“
Did you tell him yet?”

“
Nah, I’m gonna tell him tonight. I’m sure it will make his day.” I could just imagine all the internal celebrating his slick ass would be doing. Thinking about how he had orchestrated the whole thing and was now getting what he wanted was starting to make me peeved so I changed the subject. “How are things with Delco?”

“
Same old same old; still running around with those little bird-heads and saying we aren’t in a relationship. I’m starting to realize he won’t change and if I want better then I shouldn’t be looking to him for it.”

Daisy had confronted him about his girl in prison doing time for him and he had confirmed it. When she asked him why he lied to her and didn
’t tell her he was already in a relationship he said she didn’t ask therefore he didn’t lie. I swore men knew how to warp the truth to fit their own selfish needs.

Tyga
got pissed at me because I told Daisy Delco’s secret, but I would have still told her if I had to do it all over again. The fact was she was my best friend and my cousin I could never keep something like that from her.

“
Does that mean you’re gonna break up with him?” I didn’t think my cousin had it in her to leave a man she was in love with. She was the type of chick that always stayed around even when things had gone to hell and back.

“
We’re not in a relationship so there is no need to break up, but I’m definitely not fucking around with him anymore.”

“
We’ll see,” I said and left it at that. “You know who I remembered yesterday?” I didn’t wait for her reply. “Von, I was thinking how we didn’t even fill him in on the whole Keya situation.”

“
Damn, I never thought about him. Do you still have his number?”

“
Nah, I deleted it. Do you?”

“
Yeah, I’ll text it to you when we get off the phone.”

We talked for a little longer before hanging up. I called Von when I got off the phone with Daisy but he didn
’t answer so I left him a message asking him to call back.

About two hours later he returned my call.

“What’s up Angel, I’m surprised you called me.”

“
I’m calling you for a reason.” I paused because I didn’t want to be the one to inform him that there was a really good chance his ex-lover had H.I.V and if he practiced unprotected sex with her then he had it too. “Have you spoken to Keya lately?”

“
Nah, I try to stay away from that crazy bitch. Last time I saw her was at the game after you put the beat down on Carla.” I didn’t hear any anger or disapproval in his voice towards me for beating up his baby mama. “What’s up with her? Why’re you asking if I’ve seen her?”

“
I was hoping she would have reached out and told you this but since she hasn’t I guess I’m gonna be the one who has to.” I was totally stalling. “Someone Keya has been sleeping with tested positive for H.I.V so if you weren’t using condoms with her you should probably get tested.”

“
Wow,” his voice came out dazed. There was silence for a couple of seconds. “Did she get tested and it came back positive?”

“
She refuses to take the test.”

“
So that means you’re not sure she has it?” he sounded like he was trying to clutch at the small hope that if she was clean then he would be also.

“
No I’m not sure. But Daisy said Keya admitted she didn’t use condoms with Carter, so there’s a great chance she’s positive also.”

“
Carter as in Daisy’s baby father Carter?” he asked in surprise.

“
Yep, that Carter.” I guess Von was realizing just how dirty my cousin Keya could be.

“
So does that mean Daisy has it?”

“
Nah, she’s clean. Lucky for her she hadn’t had sex with Carter in months even when they were together.”

“
Damn, if that bitch Keya gave me AIDS I’m gonna kill her,” he fumed. “I’m fucking sorry the day I ever met her.”

“
I’m sorry Von.” I knew nothing I said would make him feel better but I just had to say it anyway.

“
I got to go Angel. Thanks for calling me and filling me in.” his voice was hoarse.

“
Ok. Bye V...” He hung up before I even finished my sentence.

I felt bad for him even though he had done me dirty and that’s how he ended up in this situation. But I didn’t think he deserved contracting H.I.V because he messed up. I hoped his test came back negative.

I was in the kitchen popping the dinner dis
hes in the dishwasher when Tyga got home. After greeting me with a kiss and an apology for being late after promising he’d be home for dinner, he sat at the kitchen counter and I fixed him a plate of lasagna and a glass of juice.

“
This is really hitting the spot,” he declared with a full mouth so his words came out muffled. He slapped me on the ass as I walked by him.

“
Glad you like it. Maybe next time you’ll actually show up to eat with us. Chance was here for dinner today.”

“
He left already?”

“
Yup; I think he’s avoiding you.” Like my cousin and mother Chance was another member of our family who seemed to be spiraling out of control. I didn’t bother telling my husband that his brother had a duffle bag full of clothes when he left because I knew that would just make him fly off the handle.

“
I know.”

“
Well, good news. We’re having another baby.”

He didn
’t look the least bit surprised. “Come here Sexy.” I walked over to him and into his arms. After a long hug he gave me a quick kiss.

“
I take it you’re happy?” I didn’t need to ask because with the damn huge smile on his face and the way his hazel eyes were lit up I could tell he was more than happy.

“
Very. You know I want a daughter.”

“
Yeah, you’ve only said it like a mil…” my phone rang before I could finish my sentence. It was someone from the hospital calling to let me know my mother was admitted for trying to commit suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills. They called me because I was the emergency contact on her file.

After I filled Tyga
in and called Daisy to baby sit for us, we were on our way out the door. We dropped the baby off at my cousin and then headed for the hospital.

As I walked through my mother
’s hospital room door clutching my husband’s hand for dear life I felt completely numb. I’d been through so much with Mina emotionally and everything had just finally taken its toll. I didn’t understand why she would want to end her life. Yeah things weren’t going too good for her, but life could have been worse. She could be hungry, homeless or sick.

There was a nurse sitting in a chair beside Mina
’s bed because they had her on suicide watch. She may have said something to us when we entered the room and Tyga responded but I was tunnel-visioned on Mina so I wasn’t paying anything else any attention.

She was lying in the bed sleeping and looked
very small with a gaunt face. I knew she had lost a bunch of weight from her daily partying and drug usage, but she was currently looking like a skeleton. I took her hand and held onto it.

I must have jostled her from her sleep because her eyes fluttered open. Tears immediately came to her eyes and that triggered my own tears.

“I’m sorry Angel,” she whispered groggily. “I’m so sorry.”

“
It’s ok Mina. Don’t worry, you’re gonna get the help you need now.” I was hoping this was her rock bottom and that it would make her realize she needed to get some help.

She
closed her eyes, nodded her head and immediately fell asleep again.

“
Damn, she’s out again,” I complained.

“
She was given a mild sedative because she was very upset,” the nurse explained.

Mina had to stay in the hospital for almost a week due to the fact she had to have a psyche evaluation to ensure she wasn
’t still suicidal. After she got released she checked into a drug treatment center and would have to spend six weeks there. Although I was real torn up that my mother tried to kill herself by overdosing on sleeping pills I was very happy that it led to her receiving the help she needed. Hopefully when she got out the program she didn’t go back to the drugs, because it already almost ended her life.