Read The Dopeman's Wife: Part I of the Dopeman Trilogy Online

Authors: JaQuavis Coleman

Tags: #Fiction, #African American, #General, #Urban

The Dopeman's Wife: Part I of the Dopeman Trilogy (20 page)

BOOK: The Dopeman's Wife: Part I of the Dopeman Trilogy
4.8Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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Nautica returned to the dining area with the basket. She took her tongs and walked around the table, placing a biscuit on each man’s plate. She took the biscuit with the “extra sauce” and placed it on Loon’s plate and returned to her seat, smiling like the happiest woman on earth.
“My baby makes the best biscuits,” Tical said as he dug into his food.
Gunplay took a bite of the biscuit. “Yeah, Nautica can throw down in the kitchen.”
“Yeah, you knows how I do,” Nautica said playfully, fixing her own plate. “Loon, dig in.” She tried her best not to burst out into laughter. She sneakily watched as Loon took a bite out of the biscuit, savored the taste, and gobbled up Tical’s unborn children.
Now that’s entertainment
, she thought.
Loon saw that Nautica was almost finished with her dinner. He thought it was the perfect time to have a little fun. He picked up his napkin and wiped his mouth. He then crossed his hands and wiped his eyebrow. He then shot a look at Nautica, who wasn’t paying attention to him.
Oh, I see this bitch thinks it’s a game
. He cleared his throat loudly to get her attention.
Everyone at the table was in deep conversation and didn’t think anything of Loon clearing his throat, but Nautica knew what was up. He cleared his throat and glanced at Nautica again. When Nautica returned the glance, Loon wiped his eyebrow once again.
“Ruff!” Nautica barked loudly.
Loon had instructed her in the note to bark every time he wiped his eyebrow. He wiped his eyebrow again, this time trying not to laugh.
“Ruff!”
Tical, high from all the champagne and Rémy he’d downed throughout the night, was noticeably tipsy. “What’s wrong with you?” he asked, thinking she had sneezed or something. He knew his woman hadn’t just barked like a damn dog.
“Yeah, I’m okay. I just don’t feel so good.” She quickly rose up and stormed out the dining area.
Everyone at the table ceased their conversations and looked around to see what was going on.
Nautica was so humiliated, she wanted to crawl under a rock and die. She rushed upstairs and flopped in her bed, while crying her eyes out.
Minutes later, Tical entered the room and sat on the bed next to his crying woman. “What’s wrong, baby? Is everything okay?” he asked, swaying back and forth from the effects of the liquor.
“Yeah, I’m okay. I think I got stomach flu or something. My tummy hurts so bad.”
He stroked her back.
I know I’m kinda drunk, but sound like my baby was barking
.
Maybe she sneezed
. “Baby, I’m not trying to spring anything on you, but I have to go on a little business trip this weekend. Gunplay and I are leaving in two days. I was going to tell you after dinner, but I guess now is as good as it’s gon’ get.”
Nautica sat up, holding her stomach. “On a trip?”
“Yeah. Remember the business associate I told you about in California?’
“Yeah, I remember.”
“Well, he has his eyes on a new computer company that created a product that I’m interested in. It’s a new computer system that I think I’m going to invest in. They’re having a presentation for me and five other potential investors. I think it’s going to be something big. I want to jump on board early.”
“You have to go all the way to California again? Can I go with you?”
“You know better than that, baby. I don’t want to bring you along on a business trip. Besides, you aren’t feeling too well, and I don’t want you to give me what you have when I have to do business.
And
it’s a five-hour flight. You just stay home and wait for me, beautiful. When I return, we’ll start looking for places in Miami.” Tical kissed her on her forehead.
Nautica lit up at the sound of
Miami
. He was finally ready to move and get away from his fast life. She caught herself smiling too big, and grimaced as if her stomach was paining her. “I’m so glad we’re leaving here and going to start our life together.” She lay back down.
Finally I will be away from Loon, and my man and I can start our life together.
Tical felt the box that held the engagement ring he was going to present to Nautica, but decided he’d wait until he returned from his trip to pop the question.
I love this girl.
He rubbed her stomach. In his eyes, even balled-up sick, she was the most beautiful woman in the world. “I love you,” he whispered. Then he pulled the cover over her and kissed her softly.
FAITHFUL
Chapter Twenty-nine
The beams from the morning sun peeked through the blinds, waking Nautica from her peaceful slumber. She slowly rolled over and felt for Tical as she did every morning, but his side of the bed was cold. That startled her. Then she remembered he went out of the state for a couple of days.
Nautica sat up and wiped the sleep out of her eye and stretched her arms over her head, releasing the tension from her upper body. She stepped out of the bed, completely naked, and walked over to the blinds to let the sun light up the dim room. She looked over at the empty bed and realized how long it had been since she woke up alone.
I miss you already, Tical
. She picked the remote up from the night-stand and pointed it toward the surround sound system. She turned it to disc five, her favorite CD,
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
, and turned it to track three.
She walked into the bathroom to take a hot shower, but before she reached the bathroom the sound of the doorbell echoed throughout the house. “Who the fuck is that ringing the bell this early?” she said to herself. She grabbed her all-white terrycloth robe and quickly threw it on. She walked down the stairs, tying the robe up across her waist.
The doorbells continued to chime, but at a more rapid pace.
Ding-dong! Ding-dong!
“Hold up, damn! I’m coming!” Nautica hurried down the porcelain stairs and approached the door. She unlocked the deadbolt and opened the big oak cherry door.
“Good morning, baby,” Loon said, expressionless.
Nautica covered herself, closing the top part of her robe and depriving Loon of any visual pleasure. She didn’t know what to say to his crazed ass. She didn’t think he’d have the guts to come to the house in Tical’s absence. “What the fuck are you doing here, Loon? Are you out of your fuckin’ mind? Huh?”
“You know why I’m here, baby. Stop playing.” Loon licked his lips, and his eyes drifted to her midsection, where the robe hugged her curves.
“Look, Loon, you can’t do this. You have to leave!” she yelled.
Nautica attempted to close the door in his face, but Loon put his boot in the door and pushed it back open. “No, bitch, you listen to me! I can do what the fuck I want to do. You already know the deal! Betta get with the program, baby!” He reached for her robe and untied it.
Nautica watched helplessly as Loon stood in the doorway and degraded her. He opened her robe completely, exposing her supple breasts and neatly shaved vagina. He grabbed her breasts and walked up on her, his stink breath creeping into her nostrils.
She cringed at his touch. “You a foul nigga, Loon. You foul as hell.”
Loon bent down and began to suck her nipple, slowly edging her inside the house and closing the door behind him. He dropped to his knees in front of her. A single tear slid down Nautica’s face as she reluctantly spread her legs for Loon to give her oral sex.
After Loon sloppily got her to the moistness, he forced her up the stairs and into the bedroom that overlooked the ocean. He took off his shirt and walked over to the gigantic window to enjoy the view. The feeling of power overcame him as he stood in the shoes of a boss for a brief second.
So this how it feels?
he thought, as he momentarily fulfilled his childhood dream to be the dopeman.
He gripped the back of Nautica’s neck and forced her to look toward the window and into the beautiful ocean front. “Isn’t this beautiful?” He looked back at her, tears streaming from her eyes as she stood naked with her legs crossed tight.
Loon slid his tongue into her mouth while groping her entire body. He dropped his pants and unveiled his erection. He turned her around, so that he was behind her, and pushed her to the window. He wanted to make love to her while she viewed the ocean.
Nautica’s reluctantly placed her hands on the window. She knew she had to play by his rules. “I hate you,” she whispered as he entered her soaked wound. She decided that the only way to stop Loon was to tell Tical the truth, or kill him.
Tical’s breath became shallow as he and Murdock looked through high-powered binoculars and witnessed Loon sex his woman. He was stationed in a speedboat on the ocean. He threw the binoculars down in rage and shook his head and he puffed on a spliff. He inhaled deeply as he stared into the clouds. He’d had suspicions of Nautica’s infidelity, but his love for her gave her the benefit of the doubt. The brief business trip to California was a total falsehood, just so he could see if his uncertainties were true. Not only was she cheating, but she was sexing one of his workers, the ultimate disrespect. Tical was speechless as he blew the smoke out, his pain hidden behind dark Cavalli shades. Gunplay placed his hand on Tical’s shoulder. “I knew she was grimy.”
Tical puffed away in silence. He looked at the cigar box he’d found in Millie’s apartment days after he sent Murdock over to handle her, and only just recently had the courage to open. He thought about what he’d found in it the night before. It broke his heart to see Nautica having a ménage à trois on tape. He’d also witnessed her friend shoot one of his old buyers. He was totally shocked to see what type of person Nautica was.
He picked up the folded piece of paper out of the box and re-read it.
Tical,
 
I could never tell you this face to face, because I couldn’t stand to see your eyes when you found out the truth. I see the way you look at Nautica and I never saw you light up about anything or anyone like you did when her name was mentioned. A deep part of me inside wants you to look that way when you view me. I want you to look at me like you look at her, with love. Tical, I admire you and the strong man that you are. You cared about me when no one on this earth gave a damn. Although you are not much older than me , you are the only father I ever known. Although you never made love to me phys
i
cally, over the past years you have made love to my mind and you had my heart from the start. To be honest with you, I wish I was Nautica, to be the one under you at night and kissing you in the morning. I know you could never look at me in that way, so I’ve made a decision to leave town and let you be happy. My jealousy would only cause misery to your relationship, and I owe you much more than that. The only thing I want is for you to be happy and I see that she brings you joy, so I’m glad for you. If I have never told you this, I love you, Tical, and I will always be your girl.
Before I leave, I do want you to check something out. Something was brought to my attention, and I just want you to know the whole truth about Nautica. Not to try to sabotage your relationship, but I think you deserve to know the real truth about her. I want you to watch the video I sent with this note, and before you judge her, please remember that everyone has a past and anyone can change. I remember when you told me that when you found me at that truck stop. You changed my life and made me into a woman, and I hope you can do the same for her. No one loves you more than me. And no one ever will. I love you.
 
Your girl, Millie
Tical began to question his order to end Millie’s life. Nautica was the one who convinced me that she wasn’t loyal. I can’t believe this.
“So do you want me to handle that for you?” Gunplay asked, knowing how Tical got down. He’d already thought about tying both of them up and killing them together. But he would kill Loon first, so Nautica could witness the demise of her undercover lover.
“What?” Tical snatched the shades off his face, revealing his red eyes. Although he had just discovered his woman’s infidelities and past life, he still loved her, and was more disappointed than upset with her. He wanted to make things right and just bring his woman closer to him. Millie’s note told him that anyone could change, a phrase that kept replaying in his head. “I want you to take care of Loon. Fix him up real nice for me.” He tossed the butt of the spliff into the ocean.
“And what about Nautica?”
“I’m going to ask her one time, one more time.” Tical put up his index finger, tears welling up in his eyes. “And if she tells me the truth, I’ma let her breathe. I ain’t gon’ front, man, I love that girl; she’s my other half. But if she lies to me, I want you to take care of her. Understand?” He curled his finger as if he was pulling a trigger.
“Understood.” Gunplay had never seen Tical so emotional, so it told him how much he really cared for Nautica.
GUNPLAY & CONFESSIONS
Chapter Thirty
Nautica scrubbed herself vigorously in the shower while crying a river. She was trying so desperately to wash Loon’s scent from her body. The shower had run cold because she had been in it for two and a half hours trying to wash all of the guilt away. But it didn’t work out because, when she stepped out, the pain was still on her shoulders.
She dried off and walked into the bedroom.
I can’t do this shit anymore. I’m going to have to tell Tical the truth!
She picked up her cell phone and dialed Tical’s number. It sent her straight to voice mail. She heard the beep and tried to confess, but the only words that came out of her mouth were, “I love you, Tical. I can’t wait for you come home to me.” She couldn’t bring herself to tell him.
She flipped down her phone and tossed it on the bed. She’d made the decision right there that she would never lie to Tical again. She reached under the mattress and pulled out the small .22 caliber pistol that he kept under his bed and held it in her hand. She would kill Loon and end this nightmare.
Nautica picked up the phone and dialed Loon’s number.
“Yo’.”
“Hey, daddy! I can’t help myself. I want you again.”
“I knew you were going to come around. You want some more of this good dick, don’t you?” Loon grabbed himself. Nautica had finally come to her senses and realized how much he loved and admired her.
“I want it so bad, I’m so wet. It’s running down my leg.”
“Enough said! Daddy is on his way.”
“No!” Nautica yelled when she caught herself. She wanted to kill him inside of his own home. “I want to fuck you in your bed, where we belong,” she said in the sexiest voice she could muster. “I’m on my way right now. I won’t have anything on but my pumps and a trench coat. Please be naked and hard when I come in. I can’t wait to feel you inside of me again.”
“Hurry up, baby. I got something fo’ that ass!”
“I can’t come right now. Let’s meet up later tonight.”
“Cool. Come through around eight.”
Nautica hung up the phone and inhaled deeply, her hands shaking. She rushed to her closet and pulled out the leather trench coat Tical had purchased her for her birthday. She laid the coat on the bed, along with the gun, and began to plot. She could hardly wait until later that night to put all of the drama to rest with one bullet.
The sun was just setting on the purple-hued clouds when Nautica arrived at Loon’s small house in the inner city of Baltimore. She pulled her Range Rover to the side and checked her rearview mirrors to make sure no one was watching her. The streets were empty, except for a couple of raggedy cars parked on the curb. She secured her gun in her thigh-high stocking and exited the car, looking around through her shaded glasses.
All of her limbs trembled as she made her way to his porch. The closer she got to the house, the clearer she heard the sounds of Bob Marley blasting. She approached the door and knocked.
Tap, tap, tap!
The music was so loud, she was sure Loon wouldn’t be able to hear her. She placed her hand on the doorknob and turned. To her surprise, it was already open.
She slowly pushed the door wide open and crept in. The smell of incense filled the air, and red and white rose petals trailed from the front door to the back.
This nigga is crazy. He really think I fell for him
. She pulled out her gun from her stockings and followed the trail of petals. The music grew louder and louder as she approached the back bedroom, where flickering candles barely illuminated the room.
Nautica crept into the room and saw the silhouette of Loon’s naked body in the bed. She flipped the gun off safety and flipped on the light switch. What she saw made her drop her gun—Loon’s bloody dead body was sprawled across the bed, his penis stuffed into his mouth.
Nautica’s knees gave out on her, and she fell to the ground. The strong smell of blood disgusted her, and she vomited in her mouth. After regaining her poise, she picked up her gun to leave out. Just before closing his front door, she reached into her pocket and grabbed a handkerchief and wiped the door handle. Her hands were shaking so badly, she couldn’t even wipe the door good.
She stormed off and got into her car and started the ignition. She hit the gas and the sound of screeching tires erupted as she exited the block. “What the fuck!” she yelled as she hopped on the expressway back home.
Nautica felt like a massive weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
I hope that mu’fucka died a slow death. I’m glad someone got his ass
, she thought as she sped home.
The sight of a dead body had her nerves bad, and she was shaking like a heroin addict. She pulled over to the side of the road to calm herself and rested her head on the steering wheel. She took a long deep breath, glad the blackmailing and torture was over.
Gunplay and Tical watched Nautica run out of Loon’s home as they sat in the beat-up Grand Am. He’d instructed Murdock to get a less noticeable car, so they wouldn’t stick out like a sore thumb in the run-down neighborhood. He noticed that she was wearing pumps and a long leather coat that he had purchased her, which made his blood boil even more. He knew she was naked under the coat. He shook his head from side to side when she sped right past them.
Why, baby? Why, beautiful? I loved you with all my heart, and this is how you repay me?
Tical’s heart thumped, and his bottom lip quivered. He felt like a baboon was trying to get out of his chest, but his pride made him hold back the tears.
Gunplay was wiping Loon’s blood from his hands and face as he looked on with Tical. Loon’s death had been a messy one.
Tical had found close to $
200,000
dollars in Loon’s closet and instantly knew it was the money he’d stolen from the safe, because of the position of the bills. Tical always folded his money face upward. At that moment he knew Millie wasn’t the one who did it, and he was consumed with guilt. He figured that Loon and Nautica had been plotting on him from the beginning and thought about them being from same city, and the way Nautica acted nervous whenever Loon was around.
The two men remained silent, and Gunplay could see the hurt in his friend.
A rare tear almost slid down Tical’s face, but he quickly wiped it away. He clenched his jaws and teeth, and his breathing became louder by the second. Tical then took one deep breath and exhaled slowly. “I’m going to ask her once; if she lies, you know what to do.” Tical threw his head in the direction he wanted Murdock to drive, and Murdock pulled off.
When Tical and Gunplay reached the house, Tical noticed that Nautica hadn’t made it there yet.
Where is she at?
he thought as they entered the house.
“Fuck it! Gunplay, you know the drill. If she denies it,” Tical’s voice cracked, “rock her to sleep.” He walked to the bar and poured himself a glass of Rémy Martin.
At that moment, they heard the sound of keys jingling and the front door opening.
Nautica came in and locked the door, not even noticing that she wasn’t alone. She turned around and jumped as she saw Tical standing before her. “Whew, Tical! You scared the mess out of me,” she said, her hand on her chest.
Tical stood there with no emotion as she slowly shook the glass in a circular motion, clinking the ice together. He took a sip, staring at Nautica intently.
“I missed you! I thought you weren’t coming home until Sunday?”
“Change of plans,” Tical said coldly.
Nautica remembered she didn’t have on anything under her jacket
. Aw shit! What the fuck am I going to do? I’m butt-ass naked under this jacket. Damn!
She tried to think of a way to squirm out of the situation. “Ooh, I have to pee, excuse me.” She brushed past Tical and headed for the stairs. “Hey, Gunplay.” She headed up the stairs, relieved that Tical didn’t stop her.
That was close!
“Yo’, babygirl! Come here for a minute!” Tical walked to the bottom of the stairs. “I want to ask you something.”
“Baby, I have to go! Can it just wait?” She squirmed as if she really had to use the restroom.
“I said come here!” Tical threw his glass against the wall, causing it to shatter.
Nautica flinched. “Baby, what’s wrong? Is everything okay?”
Oh my God, he knows. He knows.
She slowly made her way down the stairs.
Tical quickly calmed himself and smiled. “Sorry, baby. I’m just so stressed out right now. I’m buggin.” He rubbed his temples and shook his head from side to side, as if he was experiencing a bad migraine. He reached out and took her hand and led her to the couch, where they both sat down.
Gunplay Murdock immediately went to the den and out of sight.
“What’s going on, baby?” Nautica asked nervously, trying her best to keep her jacket closed. She looked into Tical’s eyes. She’d never seen such a sincere, loving look.
“Yeah, everything is okay.” He gently kissed her hand and held it with both hands tightly. “Nautica, you know I care for you so much, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Since I met you, I have become a better man. What I’m trying to say is that you complete me, and it’s me and you against the world. I will always love you, no matter what. I love you for the person you are, and I would never judge you. I love you unconditionally. That’s my word.” Tical paused and looked into her eyes.
“Tical, I love you too. You are my soul mate,” she responded, becoming more comfortable.
“I want to ask you something, okay.”
“Okay, baby, anything.”
“Are you cheating on me, or have been?” Tical tried to study Nautica’s eyes. He felt like a fool for even considering forgiving her and prayed silently that she would just come clean, so the rebuilding process could start.
Nautica thought long and hard.
Why is he asking? He has to know.
Nautica looked in Tical’s eyes, and they were full of love and admiration. If Tical knew something, he’d be more upset. She decided to lie and promised herself it would be the last time she ever lied to him. “No, Tical. I never would do that. I know Millie had you thinking negative about me, but I am your woman, and I would never disrespect you. It’s me and you against the world, remember?” She looked him directly into his eyes.
“Okay, okay.” Tical gently patted her hands and leaned over to kiss her. A kiss of death. A tear rolled down his eye as his lips touched her soft skin, and he hugged her tight, so she wouldn’t notice his misery.
He stood up and walked to the den to join Gunplay, never looking back at Nautica. He couldn’t look at her because he knew what was about to happen. Those few steps were the hardest steps he’d even taken.
Nautica took a deep breath and thanked God that Tical didn’t open up her jacket. She didn’t want to risk going upstairs and have him follow her, only to discover she was naked underneath.
She quickly grabbed her keys and headed for the door. “Tical, I’ll be right back. I’m about to pick up a few things from the mall,” she yelled, not even waiting for a response.
Nautica planned on buying some clothes and putting them on before she returned and he would never know. She hopped in her car and sped off. She got about a block away from the condo and then made a complete stop. Shame plagued her.
That man is the only thing good that ever happened to me. I can’t lie to him. I owe him so much more than that. I’m going to tell him the truth about everything, and if he truly loves me, he will accept who I was. I will tell him about Loon crazy ass and everything. I have to.
She made a U-turn back to the house.
As she pulled back into the driveway, Tical was on his way out. “Tical, I have to talk to you!’” She got out the car and ran to him.
Tical quickly moved her arm away from him and headed to the car. “I’ll be right back. I have to make a run.” He pushed the unlock button on his car and headed to it. He’d already given Gunplay the green light to kill her, instructing him to wait for her there and kill her when she returned home from the mall.
“Tical!” Nautica yelled.
Tical turned around.
“I love you.” Nautica smiled. She felt so much better knowing she would tell him the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Tical slowly nodded his head and got into his car. He watched as Nautica entered the house and wanted so badly to call for her, but he knew that once she crossed him things would never be the same. He sat in his car asking himself,
Why, Nautica, why?
He couldn’t understand.
Just before he reached the end of the driveway, he heard a single shot coming from his condo. He knew Gunplay Murdock had put a slug through her head.
BOOK: The Dopeman's Wife: Part I of the Dopeman Trilogy
4.8Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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