The Hustler's Daughter {DC Bookdiva Publications} (15 page)

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it was Chino, “I’ll be back Ma.” “While I go to the bathroom and check how I
look, can you open the door?” She quickly placed the napkins down on the table and
rushed to the bathroom to check her make up.

“You
look fine Honey.” Maria yelled out as Mercedes made her way  down the hall. She
looked over at Claudia and they both chuckled. Mercedes stood in the mirror and
made sure everything was straight from her head to her feet. When she was done,
she found Chino sitting in the kitchen and greeted him with a kiss on the
cheek.

“Hey
Chino.” She said as she blushed. The way he looked at her made her feel so
special.

“Whassup?”
he stared her down, “You look beautiful.”

“Thank
you.” Mercedes saw that dinner was already served and quickly took her seat
next to her man.

“I
see ya’ll already started eating dinner without me.”

“No
Mercedes, we were waiting for you to check yourself out in the mirror and all
that good stuff.” Her mother smirked.

“Whatever
Ma, you know I just went to use the bathroom real quick.”

“Where’s
Daddy?” Mercedes asked as she looked at her mother.

“He
had to handle some business. He said he’ll be here in a little while.”

 As
soon as that was said, she could hear her father coming through the front door.
Don walked in and took off his jacket and tossed it across the couch. He walked
into the kitchen and rolled up his sleeves.

“Hey
Baby,” he walked over and bent down and kissed Maria on the cheek.

“Hey
Honey.” Maria returned the kiss, “How was your day?”

“It
was alright.” Don sighed.

“Hello
sir, how are you doing?” Chino asked as he extended his hand, but Don
completely ignored him.

“Daddy
this is Chino, and Chino this is my father Don.” Mercedes introduced them and
her father pulled out his chair and took a seat.

“It’s
nice to meet you Don.” Chino said.

“It’s
Mr. Carter to you.” Don shot back with his nose flared up.

“Alright,
it’s nice to meet you Mr. Carter.” Mercedes gulped hard as she looked over at
Chino and noticed he was biting his tongue. He didn’t let his pride take over
him.

“This
food is delicious Mrs. Carter.” Chino nodded his head, savoring the taste.

“Thank
you,” Maria smiled, “I’m glad you like it.”

 “So,
you like my daughter?” Don asked bluntly after clearing his throat. Chino
looked up and was cut off guard by his question.

“Yes,
I find your daughter to be a highly intelligent and a very beautiful girl.”

“What
do you want from her?”

“Excuse
me?” Chino’s cocked his head back as he looked at Don with a perplexed look on
his face.

“What
are you intentions with my daughter?” Don asked again more aggressively.

“I
don’t want anything from her sir. I like your daughter a lot. Matter of fact,
I’m in love with her.”  Chino admitted.

Mercedes
almost choked on her chicken as she heard him tell her father that he was in
love with her. She quickly soothed her dry throat with a drink to calm her
nerves. Don quietly eyed Chino to see how genuine he was with his response. He
took another bite of food as Maria changed the subject and hopefully the vibe.
Tension surrounded the table and it was thick.

“So
Chino, what do you plan on doing after high school?” Maria inquired.

“Well
I mean I want to go to college for business and open up a few businesses of my
own you know.” Chino smiled at the idea.

“What
kind of business?” Mercedes chimed in, eager to know.

“Probably
a nice clothing store, a book store, and maybe even own my own sneaker spot.”

“That’s
really good, at least you’re going somewhere with your life.”

“Is
it going to be a legitimate business or a drug front?” Don chimed in again, as
he kept asking straight forward, blunt questions. Chino was really starting to
get fed up with his smart ass questions.

“Legitimate.”
Chino bit into his chicken and softly chewed, trying to remain as humble as
possible. His jaw clenched and you could see the anger swelling in his face.

“So
what is it that you do for a living?” Don asked Chino staring icily into his
face. He was playing judge, jury and executioner and depending what Chino
answered would seal his fate.

“Seriously
am I the target here?” Chino questioned as he looked around the table. He
couldn’t take it any more, he got up and said, “I’m sorry Mrs. Carter but I’m
excusing myself from the table. Thanks for the dinner tonight.” he walked over
and kissed her and Mercedes on the cheek.

“So
how do make your money?” Don asked his question in a different way, seeing he
didn’t answer his question. He stopped eating as he looked over at Chino and
stared him in the eyes, waiting for a response. “I know your pretty ass don’t
work at Mc Donald’s on 125th.”

“Don
Carter!” Maria raised her voice. She never raised her voice at her husband and
was angry that he was showing a bad first impression.

“You
don’t have to answer that babe.” Mercedes said to Chino. Her eyes began to
water in embarrassment and shame at her father’s behavior.

Chino
squared his shoulders and took a deep breath knowing he wasn’t going to win
this fight.

“I
get by, just like you do. I sell drugs like you and my father. I provide for my
mother, just like you do your daughter.” Chino’s eyes burned and his nose
flared up at the interrogation.

 “We
don’t live in a fancy ass estate like this! We used to until my pops was
murdered. The cops came in and took everything from us. They took everything we
ever owned. They took my last pair of sneakers. I needed them because I didn’t
have any other shoes. I asked them why they were taking my sneakers.” Chino
laughed out of frustration. “They said they were brought with illegal money. So
as a man, I have to do what I have to do to pay my mother’s bills and for
anything else she wants. I’m a drug dealer, a gangsta from the streets. I’m
from Harlem, born and raised.” Chino pounded on his chest as Mercedes watched
her boyfriend carefully; she noticed the tears forming in his eyes. He wouldn’t
let them fall. He was too strong for that.

He
stormed out of the door in anger and didn’t look back. Mercedes quickly hopped
up and tried to chase after him, but she couldn’t catch him.

“Chino?”
Mercedes yelled, but he was already gone and the tires of his car echoed.
Mercedes displayed the anger on her face without saying a word.

“How
could you?” Mercedes spat as she plopped down in her chair. Her mother held her
close to comfort her as she glared at her father.

“He’s
a drug dealer Mercedes, you heard the boy.” He continued eating his food.

“He’s
just like you Daddy.” Mercedes cried. “Just like you, a regular person who has
to do what he has to do to get by.”

“I
don’t want you seeing him anymore.” Don demanded.

“What?
Why?” Mercedes questioned as tears streamed down her face.

“Because
I’m your father and I said so.”

Mercedes
picked up a glass and threw it against a wall shattering it into pieces. She
ran up the stairs to her room in a rage.

She
put on some soft soothing music, but it only reminded her of Chino and how much
she loved him. Listening to love songs from Keyshia Cole and other artists
definitely didn’t help. Mercedes sat up with her knees up to her chest and rocked
back and forth. She heard loud footsteps walking up the stairs. Then she could
hear her mother and father talking in front of her door.

“No
Don, you aren’t right.” Maria sighed. “I mean she’s young and she’s in love
with him don’t you see that?”

“She’s
too young for love. She doesn’t know what the hell love is. She’s still fucking
growing up, she’s still a baby.” Don barked.

“Wow,
you’re so naïve.” Maria shook her head as she smirked.

“Naïve?
I’m not naïve. I’m just looking out for my daughter. I don’t want her fucking
with no buster ass drug dealing niggas. What can he do for my daughter? Get her
caught up in the trap life? Make her end up pregnant?”

“You
should be the last one talking Don.” Maria stated. She gave him the eye and he
knew exactly what she was referring to. “I met you when I was eighteen and had
my first child by you at a young age…” he cut her off.

“I
don’t know why you’re siding with her. She’s only sixteen Maria. This girl
doesn’t know what she wants in life yet.” Maria didn’t know what came over him,
but she didn’t like how we overreacted tonight.

“You
definitely were excessive tonight.” Maria said. “Asking that young man a whole
bunch of inappropriate questions…” her voice was filled with rage. What’s your
problem?”

“What
was inappropriate about them?” Don asked. “I asked him questions to see where
his head is at. Now I know what he does for a living and I don’t want my
daughter around that. I absolutely will not allow it.”

“Just
know that you’re being very selfish right now. I’ll never say that you ruined
my life by bringing Mercedes into this world; I love her with all my heart and
support her through everything. Here you are being a hypocrite. You think this
is the life I wanted? Yes a beautiful family, a nice house, expensive clothes
and a nice car. I have all of that, but did I ask for a drug dealing boyfriend?
No, I have to honestly say that I fell in love with who you are and not what
you did. I didn’t give up on you when I found out that you were a drug dealer.
He’s just like you Don. Don’t you see that?” Maria sighed.

The
conversation ended with Maria’s last point. Mercedes heard her door open and
she quickly tried to get under the covers and pretended she was sleeping.

   “Mercedes?”
Maria called out her name.

   “Hmm?”
Mercedes moaned as she turned around. Her mother wore a half a smile on her
face as she walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed.

   “Are
you okay?” Maria asked as she rubbed her hair.

   “I’ll
be fine, I’m just thinking about Chino.” Mercedes sighed. “He probably hates my
guts and doesn’t want anything to do with me now. I’m sure he thinks that
Daddy’s crazy. She cried as her mother extended her arms and held her.

   “Don’t
say that baby, Chino loves you Baby Girl. No matter what, he stood up for
himself tonight.” Maria rubbed her daughter’s back as she cried into her chest.

 “I
know your father is a tough guy and sometimes he’s right. I do understand where
he’s coming from, but Honey he’s a real nice guy. I don’t understand why your
father is acting like a complete fool tonight.”

   “So
does that mean I can’t see Chino anymore?” Mercedes asked. She removed her head
from her mother’s cheek with a hopeful smile.

   “Sweetie,
I don’t know…honestly your father doesn’t want you to see him and I’m
supporting you all the way…but just don’t disobey your father. He’s still your
father.” Mercedes couldn’t believe it, although her mother was on her side-it
was still like she was siding with her father. She didn’t have any words left
for her mother, she was too upset. She rolled over turning her back toward her
mother as the tears silently crept down her cheeks. She only wished that Chino
was here to hold and console her. She never wanted to choose between the only
two men that she sincerely loved.

Unfaithful

On
Monday morning Mercedes’ eyes were puffy and red from all the crying she did
over the weekend. She refused to come out of her room. She had a full bathroom
in there, so she had no need to venture downstairs. Claudia brought food to her
daily, so she didn’t have to face her parents.

Her
father tried to talk to her several times, but she completely ignored him. She
didn’t have anything to say to him. Mercedes cried every time she dialed
Chino’s number. He ignored her calls each time. When she did finally reach him,
he simply told her he needed time to think. As much as he loved her, he wasn’t
going to tolerate her father’s disrespect. Mercedes was heartbroken and blamed
her father for interfering with her happiness.

   She
hung up the phone and lay down, but was distracted by a sharp pain in her
abdomen along with sudden nausea. She had the urge to vomit and placed her hand
over her mouth. She quickly ran into the bathroom. As soon as she made it to
the toilet, she vomited the remnants of last night’s dinner. As she began to
cry again, she brushed her teeth and got herself ready for the day. She prayed
that it would be a better day, but somehow she knew she would have no such
luck. 

   Walking
over to her closet, she pulled out the first thing she could grab and put it on
for school. She didn’t care and her wardrobe choice showed it. She was very
irritated and in a bitchy mood. She threw her hair in a messy ponytail and made
her way downstairs.

   As
she made her way down, she crossed paths with her father. She avoided contact with
him but he initiated a conversation with her.

“Have
a nice day in school Baby Girl.” Don said. Mercedes was already outside and
slammed the door as she exited. She wasn’t in the mood today; if anyone pissed
her off it would be a day they regretted. As Mercedes walked outside, she
stopped in her tracks. Mr. Gates wasn’t there to take her to school. Instead it
was Emilio.

He
rolled down the window, “I’m taking you to school today.” He smiled and rolled
the window back up and replaced his sunglasses. Mercedes huffed as she walked
over to the car. She opened the door and slammed it shut. 

Emilio
noticed that she was quiet throughout the ride. Mercedes felt the awkward
silence; she always listened to music when Mr. Gates took her to school. She
was about to reach her hand out to turn on the radio, but frowned up her face
when she noticed Emilio didn’t have a radio. He cleared his throat and decided
to say something.

“Mercedes,
are you alright?”

“Yeah
I’m fine.” Mercedes lied.

“Are
you sure? Because your eyes are red and I know I don’t know you like that, but
I can tell something’s wrong.”

Mercedes
tried to avoid eye contact so he wouldn’t see the tears forming in her eyes.
She rolled down the window to dry her tears with the morning breeze.

“If
there’s anything…” Emilio begin to speak, but Mercedes cut him off.

“I
said I’m fine.” Mercedes barked through clenched teeth. Finally, they arrived
at school and she hopped out of the car. She didn’t stop to acknowledge any of
her friends.

After
all of her classes, Mercedes bumped into her friends and they noticed something
was wrong.

“Hey
Missy, what’s going on?” Candy asked.

“What
up Cedes?” Hazel chimed in. As Mercedes got closer the girls noticed her eyes
were red and puffy filled with tears.

“Aww,
what’s wrong Mercedes?” Candy began comforting her with a hug and Mercedes
reciprocated.

“It’s
Chino.” They all groaned at hearing his name.

“Who
do I have to fuck up?” Shateeya asked.

“What
he do to you Mercedes?” Candy asked. Mercedes wiped away the tears from her
eyes and began to tell the story.

“Well,
I invited him over for dinner Friday night to meet my father and it turned into
a complete disaster. He told me that he didn’t want me to see Chino again.
Chino didn’t want to agree, but he told me that he loves me but he couldn’t
disrespect my father. Basically he said he didn’t want to see me anymore
because he didn’t want to cross my dad.”

“I
see where he’s coming from Mercedes; Chino doesn’t want to come between the
bond you share with your dad.” Candy informed her. “I know your father loves
you and he knows what’s best for you Cedes.”

“She
does have a point.” Chamari added.

“But
I love him and I can’t stop my feelings because my dad doesn’t like him.”
Mercedes yelled.

“Let’s
go in the cafeteria, you need to get some water to calm down.” Candy insisted.
She hugged her girl again before walking down the hall. Her legs turned into
noodles when she saw something that caused her heart to drop to the pit of her
stomach. Dejection was written all over face. Chino and India were back
together and hugging.

“Mercedes
don’t.” Candy tried to pull her back, but her feet moved too quickly. She was
already exchanging words with them. “How could you?” Mercedes spat. India
looked as if she’d been crying too, but as soon as she saw Mercedes’ face
everything changed. She had a devious smile on her face and began to clutch
Chino. 

“I
got him.” India mouthed. Chino turned around to face Mercedes. Before he could
say anything, she ran down the hall as he yelled her name.

“Mercedes!”
Chino yelled out. “Mercedes!” She ran until she reached the cafeteria. She
wanted to hide from everyone and cried in anger at seeing her first love with
someone else.

“I
can’t believe his ass was all hugged with that bitch like it was nothing.”
Mercedes spat as she sat at the round table with her girls. “It hasn’t even
been a fucking week!” She barked as she watched as her fingernails tremble.

“Fuck
him!” Shateeya spat. “Mercedes he’s like all these other nigga’s out here, just
want the pussy then bail out on your ass.” Shateeya pursed her lips together as
she filed her fingernails.

“Maybe
we’re blowing this shit out of proportion.” Candy tried to assure them. “I
mean, just because he was hugged up with her doesn’t mean anything Mercedes.
You have to talk to him.” Candy insisted.

   “The
point is he was hugged up on that bitch. Especially that bitch India, he knows
me and her have problems. I don’t care if that is his ex, there are
boundaries.” Mercedes shook her head.

   “Maybe
something happened to her.” Chamari added in. “Mercedes, I see how Chino looks
at you and how he treats you. He loves you girl. Just because your father
doesn’t want you to see him and Chino agreed doesn’t mean he doesn’t still have
love for you.” Chamari rubbed her girls shoulder. Mercedes thought she did have
a point. However, it still didn’t change the fact that Chino was hugged up with
India like it was nothing.

   “Ain’t
nothing happen to that stupid bitch India.” Shateeya laughed. She looked up and
said, “And if she said something happened, she’s a lying ass hoe-she’s just
jealous of you because you stole Chino. She’ll do anything in her power to get
him back.” Shateeya severely pissed her off with her words. Mercedes excused
herself as she got up from the table.

“I’m
going to the bathroom.”

“You
want us to come?” Candy asked.

“Just
in case a bitch try to get stupid, I got ya back sis.” Hazel added.

“Nah,
I’m good. Thanks anyway.” Mercedes smiled and headed to the bathroom. She
couldn’t allow her girls and the entire cafeteria to see her upset and crying.
She splashed water over her face in the sink. When she looked up, she saw India
standing behind her with a smirk on her face. 

“I
guess you lost.” India chuckled. She shrugged her shoulders and began applying
clear lip gloss.

“Excuse
me?” Mercedes turned to face her with her head cocked to the side and her eye
brows arched. Her nose flared with anger.

“I
said, I guess you lost.” India turned and they were almost face to face. They
had about one foot of space between them.

“Chino
doesn’t want you anymore. He’s all mine bitch. Always has been and always will
be.  You came up in this bitch like you Miss Hot Shit and your pussy don’t
stink.” India laughed. “You must have lost your fuckin mind. Every bitch in
this school and in Harlem knows that he’s my man always and forever.”

   Mercedes
laughed, “Trick please, Chino despises your ass. So whatever little games you
got up your dirty ass sleeves aren’t going to work. So before you try to say
someone’s shit don’t stink-check yourself out in the mirror. If you don’t come
correct then don’t come at all.” Mercedes smiled.

“You
will never be me India, let alone walk in my Prada shoes. You will never have
Chino again, he’s mine bitch!” Mercedes assured her. “Believe that!” She added
in with an evil grin. She turned to walk away, but India made a smart comment
that caused her to quickly do an about-face.

   “If
he’s your man, then why am I having his baby?” India blurted out and punctuated
it with rolling her eyes. Mercedes quickly turned around and rushed straight at
India. They both began to tussle as they fell to the ground. Mercedes had the
upper hand; she was on top of India and punching her with both hands. She was
throwing non-stop blows.

“You
fucking stupid ass bitch!” Mercedes continuously punched her in the face. India
extended her hands and tried to scratch Mercedes’ face. Mercedes dodged her
feeble attempt and grabbed a hold of India’s face. She began banging it on the
floor. India then tried to grab Mercedes’ hair, but she didn’t allow her it.
Mercedes backed all the way up and kept punching. Mercedes grabbed onto India’s
hair and wrapped it around her fist several times. She started pounding her
face.

   “Stop
it Mercedes.” India begged as she screamed. Mercedes knew she was trying to
scream to get attention. She was looking for someone to come to her rescue.

Back
in the cafeteria the girls knew something was up. Mercedes been in the bathroom
for a while and India went into the bathroom several seconds later. They rushed
into the bathroom to see what was going on.  They saw Mercedes on top of India
punching her in the face. It was a bloody scene. Blood was all over India’s
face and on the tan marble floor.

“Don’t
you ever…in…your…mother fucking…life… try to come at me …again!” Mercedes
punched her one last time in her nose. “And keep Chino’s name out your mouth
bitch!” Mercedes banged her head onto the marble floor one more time. She got
back up to her feet and looked behind her. The M.O.B.B. were staring at her in
awe.

“What
the fuck happened?” Candy asked.

“This
bitch was talking crazy to me, she fucking asked for it.” Mercedes looked down
at India who was curled up on the floor. she was bleeding from her nose and
mouth.

“Oh
shit bitch! You got fucked up!” Shateeya chanted. India’s clique came rushing
into the bathroom and ran to her side. They were asking her what happened.
Mercedes smiled and looked at her girls and said, “Let’s go.”

They
walked from the bathroom and talked about how the fight started. Shateeya was
real amped, saying she wished that she was in there when the fight broke out.
She kept saying she would have jumped in and gave India a buck fifty to the
face. They shook their heads and laughed.

“Oh
yeah, there’s going to be a nice ass party at this club down in Queens.” Candy
informed the girls.

“What,
that 18 plus event?” Hazel asked.

“Yeah
that one, I’m definitely going.”

“But
your only seventeen Candy, how you getting in there?” Mercedes inquisitively
asked.

“Fake
ID bitch!” She high-fived Shateeya. “We don’t even need fake ID’s because we
some bad bitches.” Candy chuckled. “You want to go?”

“I’m
only sixteen, there’s no way I’m getting up in there.” Mercedes shook her head.

“Aww
come on girl, it will be fun trust me.” Candy smiled.

“Girl
we’ll get you in. Don’t worry.” Hazel smirked.

“It
won’t be any fun without our other bad bitch Mercedes.” Chamari added. She
looked at Mercedes with puppy dog eyes. “Pretty please,” she batted her long
thick extension eye lashes.

“Alright,
I’m down. But I don’t think my mom will approve. My dad won’t for sure!”

“Just
tell her you’ll be staying at my crib again, or sneak out!” Candy insisted.
“Chino’s going to be there.” Candy tauntingly added. She knew that’s all
Mercedes needed to hear.

“Alright,
I’m down.” Mercedes smiled. As they talked about the event, a security guard
came walking down the hall and stood in front of them.

“Mercedes
Carter, the principal wants you in the office now.” The security guard informed
her.

“Oh
shit, you’re in trouble.” Shateeya cooed. Mercedes told her to shut up as she
followed the guard down the hall and walked into the principal’s office.