Queen Bitch: Part 4 (Bitch Series) (11 page)

"I said I was good, Mike. You can stop pretending like
you give a fuck if I'm okay or not. I know you don't give
a damn how I feel."

"That's not true. I do care about how you feel."

"I can't tell. You've tried to humiliate me every chance
you got."

"I only wanted to humble you. Since the first time I met
you, you've always had this mentality that the sun rises
and sets on Precious' ass. I needed for you to understand
that it doesn't."

"Your point has been made," I said, clapping my hands
as if giving a mock standing ovation.

"Precious, stop! I'm kicking real shit right. From me kidnapping
you and having you hauled up in here has always been about
teaching you a lesson. You've always farted around like you
was Miss Untouchable. I needed to show you that you're not.
At this moment was the very first time that I've seen that you know that you aren't."

I wanted to burst out laughing that this slimy motherfucker
who raped me had the audacity to stand in my face and
give me a sermon on teaching someone a fucking lesson on
humility. But, hell I was willing to play this bullshit out for
this self righteous snake.

"I can't front. I don't like to admit I'm wrong about shit,
but what you're saying is valid, I'll admit that."

"Wow, progress has finally been made." This nigga stood
grinning real proud, as if he was being honored at some
prestigious award ceremony. This clown was carrying on like I
was some charity case that he reformed.

"Who would've thought that you, Mike could be the
one to make me admit to my flaws. Once again, I've
underestimated how much influence you have over me
when I let my guard down."

Mike didn't respond verbally to what I said. Instead
he grabbed my arms and led me into the bedroom and
handcuffed me back to the bed. He left the room, still
silent, closing the door behind him.

Oh fuck! Did I take that kissing ass shit too far? I thought I really had
my performance tight and he was licking that shit up like a lollipop.
Damn, right when I finally feltI was making a breakthrough with that
sociopath Iplay my cards all wrong.

I kept shaking my head trying to figure out at what
point did the conversation go wrong. I was dissecting
each word that was exchanged between us so hard that
at first I didn't hear Mike come back in.

"Sorry I took so long but the food was getting cold so
I had to warm it back up," he said, as he placed a tray of
food on the dresser.

I was grinning so damn hard inside. I'm still that bitch!

"That's okay, I'm just so thankful you decided to bring me
some food. You have no idea what you've just shown me."
That fucking a nigga will let you have him for one night, but stroking a
nigga c ego will letyou have his mind for a lifetime.

"Yes, I do. That I'm genuinely concerned about what happens
to you," Mike said, un-cuffing my hands.

"Exactly," I said, reaching for the tray of food. This dude had
prepared a bacon and cheese omelet with grits and buttered
crescent rolls. Then he had me washing my meal down with
freshly squeezed orange juice.

"Precious, if you continue to cooperate with me your
stay here can be a pleasant one." Mike was now eyeing
me the same way I did my plate of food before quickly
devouring it down.

"I don't see how any stay can be pleasant when you
know eventually you're going to die."

"Plans can change. This doesn't have to end with you dying."

"So you say, but I don't think Maya is going for that."

"I told you before, let me handle Maya. All you need to
focus on is being loyal."

"Loyal to you?"

"Of course."

"What I was trying to say was I'm surprised you want
my loyalty because it's not like you need it," I said, trying to
smooth over how appalling his request sounded to me.

"I do need it."

"WhY?"

"Because if I let you stay alive I would need to know
you would never cross me."

Boy oh boy, Mike surely hadgame with him. It took me a second, but I now understood what was going on in dude's head. He definitely
was scheming to maneuver some pussy out of me, but see, the
thing was he didn't want to have to take it like he did last time. This
demonic fuck wanted me to spread my legs willingly!

"I understand the whole loyalty thing, but I can't lie
and say that I don't have trust issues. A lot of foul shit has
happened between us and it's hard to be loyal to someone
that you don't know will be loyal back to you."

"That's real, Precious. That's why I'm making an effort
to show you. I know I only have a little bit of time to
prove that, but if you let me, I will."

"Why do you say that you only have a little bit of time?"

"Because within the next week I'll have my money and
will be able to get out of LA and start a new life, hopefully
with you."

I almost choked on my orange juice when Mike used
the words "new life" and "with you" in the same sentence.
"You want me to come with you?"

"You and Aaliyah. For the short period of time I spent
with her it was as if we bonded. I can't help but believe
she really is my daughter. Of course this is all contingent
on you proving your loyalty," Mike quickly added.

"I woke up this morning ready to die and now you've
given me a reason to live. How ironic is that shit?"

"It's a lot to swallow but I think it could work. From the
moment I laid eyes on you in the club a few years ago,
I knew you had all the makings to be my wife. That shit
ain't changed."

"The thought of being with Aaliyah again, this all
sounds so promising, but I can't see Maya going for it. I
don't think you understand how ruthless she is. You look at her as your baby sister, but trust me, Maya is no longer
a little girl."

"You think I don't know that? I hardly recognize her
anymore. But I try to be patient with Maya because I
know a lot of it is my fault."

"Why do you feel like that?"

"Maya never knew her father and it affected her
emotionally," Mike revealed with regret in his voice.

"I can relate to that. I still don't know who my father is."

"Neither does Maya. Even though my dad disappeared
from our lives before Maya was born, she always believed
we had the same mother and father, but we don't. I don't
know who Maya's father is. My mother never told me and
I didn't bother or care to ask. I figured he was another
low life, like the rest of the men that came in and out of
our lives. So Maya turned to me to be that father figure
and I let her down."

"How?"

"I didn't protect her from the sorry ass men my mother
would have up in her crib. I mean I don't believe none of
them messed with Maya physically, but psychologically she
always felt unwanted, as if our moms was choosing being
with the men over her."

"Damn, I feel like I'm reliving my childhood all over again."

"The difference is Maya had me and I should've stepped
up to the plate and been there for her, but I was too busy
doing me. I was in those streets building a drug empire not
understanding or caring that I was simply throwing money
her way so she could stay out my face and let me do what
the fuck I wanted to do. Now look at her. She's a killer just
like her brother."

"Mike, you didn't make her into a killer."

"You don't have to spare no punches wit' me, Precious.
Maya has no soul. The only reason you got yours back
is because you fell in love and had a baby. The same
would have to happen to Maya if she has any chance at
redemption."

I swallowed hard, agonizing over what Mike said. This
nigga was treacherous but he knew his shit. That is what
saved me, and it was killing me inside that Maya was turning
to Supreme to do the same for her. The difference was the
love Supreme and I share is as real as it comes. It was no
manufactured concocted bullshit. I was praying that he
would remain loyal to our vows and commitment and not
fall for the poison Maya was feeding him. But once he read
the fake ass letter Maya had me write, I knew there was a
strong chance all that dedication was history.

"Mike, I'm going to ask you a question and I want
you to be honest with me."

"Go head."

"You're hoping that Maya will be able to make Supreme
fall in love with her, aren't you?"

"Yes, but it isn't because I want to hurt you," he
answered, taking my hand as if to appease me. I wanted
to commence to whooping Mike's ass right there on the
spot but kept telling myself to play the game or I would
never see my family again. "But because when I leave I
know she won't have anybody else. Maya needs Supreme,
and with you gone he's going to need her too."

"Supreme deserves better than Maya, and so does
my daughter."

"I feel you, and that's why Aaliyah will come with us. As for Supreme, you know I ain't checkin' for that
cat, but if he can make Maya feel love and bring her
some happiness then I'll let him be. Maybe this can right
the wrong from her childhood and take away my guilt.
Because no matter what, she's my blood and I love her."

"Mike, this is too much for me to deal with all at once.
You're willing to strip away my life and hand it over to your
conniving sister. She's got you feeling so guilty about the
past that you ain't grasping how vicious she is. This ain't no
Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep nursery rhyme shit. Your
sister has some serious issues."

"There are some magazines in the drawer. Sit back,
read them and relax," Mike said, standing up from the
bed, obviously not wanting to face the harsh reality of
who his sister truly is.

"What about the handcuffs?"

"I told you I was working on gaining your trust. This is a
start. I will be locking the door but having the freedom to
walk around the room will hopefully make you feel less like
a prisoner and more of a welcomed guest."

"Wow, the surprises keep on coming! I certainly wasn't
expecting this, but again, thank you."

"I'm making an effort so I need you to do the same thing."

"Meaning?"

"Give what I requested of you a chance."

"You're talking about the loyalty thing."

"Yes. Or have you already made your mind up that it
ain't gon' happen?"

"If it could mean being reunited with my daughter, then
I'm willing to try."

"I always knew you were a smart woman, and the love you have for your daughter makes you even that more
appealing. I'll be back later on to bring you lunch. Bye."

I stood up and then sat right back down wondering
what the fuck had just happened. Could this nigga be
serious or was this another sick game he was playing to
further torture me? The vibe was clear that the attraction
he had for me was very much intact, but wanting to fuck
me and having us run off together with Aaliyah was two
totally different things. Mike was a slickster in every sense
of the word, but until I figured out what he was truly up
to I would continue my role play.

I rose up from my queen-sized bed feeling exactly like that... a
queen. Today felt like a new beginning because if all had
gone as planned, Detective Moore should be somewhere in
the coroners office. I was tempted to call Devon to get the
full report but opted against it, especially after that disclosure
from Supreme about the feds putting a wiretap on Precious'
cell phone. There was too much at stake to blow it all on a
fucking phone call. Today was Devon's day off so I would
have to wait for him to make contact.

I flipped on the television switch and turned to the
news to see if there was any coverage about Detective
Moore's murder. I twiddled my thumbs for over fifteen
minutes watching everything from the weather report,
entertainment news covering Paris Hilton's latest sexual exploit, and local to international news, but nothing on
a shooting death of a cop. I stared at the bottom of the
screen for a breaking news alert but still nothing.

"Fuck it! Maybe his body is still sprawled out on the
front of his doorstep and hasn't been discovered yet.
Or better yet, maybe the police department is keeping
his murder under wraps not wanting to alert the media
yet until they have a suspect. The last thing the city of
LA needs is another unsolved murder of a cop," I said,
switching off the television.

Anxious to celebrate the demise of the once potentially
toxic detective, I took a quick shower and planned a day
of pampering. Yesterday, after keeping Supreme and
Aaliyah out all afternoon and evening in an attempt to
block the detective from speaking with him, Supreme
surprised me with some cash and it was much more than
what he hit me off with the first go round. He said it was
to show his gratitude for taking such wonderful care of
Aaliyah during these hard times and being such a good
friend to him. He even made me promise that I wouldn't
spend the money on anyone else but myself because I
deserved it. Shiiiit, Supreme didn't have to ask me twice!
I wrapped my hands around that cash with all my pearly
whites showing like it was Christmas. I always knew
that Supreme was generous by the way he splurged on
Precious, but I had no idea that just being nice to his
prized little girl would entitle me with so many perks.
Aaliyah was truly an asset that I hadn't counted on.