Thug Luv 2 (14 page)

“What about her?” Ace asked sitting across from his homey.

“I know you said you two are over. I respect that but after tonight, I have no respect for her whatsoever,” Jay declared shaking his head. “You know I build all my relationships off of trust, love, and loyalty.”

“What happened?”

“Mane, her ass gonna have the nerve to walk in Keema and Boy’s house with this nigga, J’vion,” Jay spat. “You already know what I wanted to do but because Boy asked me to be easy, I left.” He finished.

“Hold up, what the fuck did you just say?” Ace questioned. He couldn’t have heard Jay correctly.

“Nigga, you heard me. Shawty walked in the door with this nigga like everything was cool. I wanted to split both her and his shit back,” Jay answered truthfully. “I couldn’t even look in this nigga’s face; I wanted to do him something dirty.” Ace closed his eyes and exhaled deeply. He knew Sunshine didn’t know who J’vion was or the motives behind his actions. Even so, she was dead wrong. “Not only did she downgrade from a boss nigga, but she’s also fucking with the enemy,” Jay snapped.

“Thanks for the heads up,” Ace said as he slapped hands with his day-one nigga.

“Anytime, I’ma holla at you! One bruh,” Jay said as he prepared to leave. “Neisha, we out,” Jay called out as he headed for the door.

*

“So how was the kickback?” Aaliyah asked Neisha.

“Girl, it was going fine until Sunshine walked in with her new nigga,” Neisha informed her.

“Sunshine’s dating someone else?” Aaliyah asked with a surprised look on her face.

“Yes, it was about to go down, which is why we’re here now.”

“Damn, I didn’t even know things between Sunshine and Ace was that bad,” Aaliyah replied a little pissed off that she had to find out by someone other than Ace.

“Girl, that isn’t the half of it. She’s dating some nigga named J’vion who’s apparently the enemy.

“Did you say, J’vion?” Aaliyah asked. Neisha nodded in the affirmative.

“Why, do you know him?”

“J’vion’s my ex and the same nigga who shot up the restaurant when Ace and I were on an outing with the twins.”

“DAMN!” Neisha gasped as she stood. Jay was calling for her. “If you need me, call me anytime,” she advised as they embraced in a hug.

“Thanks, I will,” Aaliyah said.

“Aaliyah, I’ll be back,” Ace told her on his way out the door. Aaliyah wanted to chase after him but understood it was something he had to do.

*

Sunshine didn’t know how many times she had apologized to J’vion before he dropped her off at home. She hadn’t expected everyone to react the way they did when she introduced him. She was still trying to figure out what Boog meant when he said everything that’s done in the dark will come to the light. J’vion kept saying all was well. Yet, she knew otherwise. She was pissed with herself for putting him in that situation. Lying across the couch, she dialed his number. J’vion rejected her call, sending her to his voicemail.

“J’vion, I don’t know how many times you want me to apologize, but I’m sorry. I would never intentionally put you in an uncomfortable situation. Please call me back.” Sunshine pleaded as she disconnected the call.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The banging on the front door scared her; she slowly got up to answer. She cracked the door to find Ace standing there. She already had a pretty good idea as to why he was there.

“What do you want?” She asked. “I thought I told you it was over?”

Ace ignored her as he stepped inside. “So now you’re fucking with the enemy?” Ace asked straight up.

“Ace, what are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about J’vion!” Ace yelled. “Sunshine, I respect that you’ve moved on. What I can’t and don’t appreciate is you sleeping with the enemy,” Ace spat. Sunshine was taken aback.

“Why are you so mad that I’m dating?”

“Sunshine, I don’t give two fucks that you’re dating. It pisses me the fuck off that you’re dating my fucking adversary. That’s where my problem lies,” Ace shouted. “You’re dating the mothafucka who shot up a restaurant OUR daughters were in. A mothafucka who shot up the house I was raising OUR daughters in. The VERY same mothafucka who was in the house on the night I came and saved you!” Ace howled; he was livid.

“Ace, you’re just mad that I no longer wanna be with you!” Sunshine yelled. Ace stepped up and tapped on her forehead.

“Sunshine, you can’t be that fucking naïve. I could never be mad that you moved on. I’m happy for you and wish you nothing but the best. But J’vion isn’t who you wanna move on with,” Ace reprimanded her. “That nigga don’t give a damn about you. All he’s looking for is revenge. He’ll get it anyway he can, which includes using whoever he thinks is close to me!” Ace barked.

“Fuck you, Ace!” Sunshine retorted. “You don’t ever have to worry about me or what happens to me again. You got a bitch at home with you. Worry about her and let me live my life,” she yelled.

“You got that. Just know I tried to warn you,” Ace counseled as he turned then left.

“Yeah, well fuck you and your warnings. I’ll take my chances,” Sunshine spat. “I took my chances with you and look where it got me. Kidnapped and held hostage for three years. There isn’t much more that can happen to me.” She ended as she slammed then locked the door. “Fuck Ace!” She thought in her feelings. Sunshine opened the door, “J’vion is about something. He ain’t no street nigga; he’s above all that. He’s a business man who will be graduating with a Master’s degree in business in a year. That says a lot about him! Don’t you think?” She fired off before slamming the door again.

“Sunshine, I schooled you better than that. For you to believe that bullshit ass, good-boy story he told you, is un-fuck-ing believable on your part.” Ace declared as he continued to his car. “You didn’t survive those three years to go out like some weak, naïve, lost, little girl. You better wake up and pay attention before it costs you everything, including your fucking life!” Ace came back as he climbed into his car then pulled off, leaving tire marks and smoke behind.

Chapter 14

Aaliyah was in the kitchen popping popcorn, getting ready for girls’ night with Savanna and Serenity. Tonight was a pizza and junk food evening. Aaliyah had been eating a lot lately; especially since she found out she was four weeks pregnant. She was excited but hadn’t gotten around to telling Ace.

“Aaliyah, someone’s at the door,” Serenity alerted her, running into the kitchen.

“What did I tell you about running in the house?” She asked. “Don’t say you’re sorry; just don’t do it anymore,” she scolded as they headed for the door together.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

“I’m coming, I’m coming!” Aaliyah yelled. “Who is it?”

“Sunshine,” was the reply from the other side of the door.

“Sunshine?” Aaliyah thought with a bewildered expression. She quickly unlocked then opened the door. When the door opened, she found herself face-to-face with Ace’s wife, Sunshine. Aaliyah couldn’t believe she was standing at her front door.

“What are you doing here?” Aaliyah questioned as she stepped aside to permit Sunshine to enter.

“I won’t be long,” Sunshine stated as she stepped inside. Aaliyah closed the door behind her then escorted her into the kitchen.

“Can I offer you anything to drink, eat, anything?” Sunshine shook her head no.

Serenity tapped Aaliyah on her leg as she hid behind her. “Yes, baby?” She asked as she looked down to see what she wanted.

“I know who that is,” Serenity whispered.

“You do, who is she?” Aaliyah asked.

“Mommy!” Serenity answered.

“Yes, that is mommy. Are you going to go over and give her a hug and say hi?” Serenity nodded her head up and down as she pried herself from Aaliyah. She slowly walked over to Sunshine and hugged her legs.

Sunshine wanted to cry but held the tears back. She couldn’t believe Serenity remembered her after all this time.

“Savanna!” Aaliyah called out. Within seconds, Savanna was walking into the kitchen. “Look who’s here to see you ladies,” Aaliyah announced as she pointed to Sunshine.

Savanna didn’t take to Sunshine as quickly as Serenity did. Savanna hid behind Aaliyah and held on to her for dear life. “Savanna, you’re not going to say hi to your mother?” Aaliyah inquired.

“It’s okay; don’t push her do something she isn’t ready to do. Is there somewhere we can talk in private?” Sunshine requested.

“Excuse me for just a moment,” Aaliyah said as she grabbed the bowl of popcorn and took the girls into the living room. “I’ll be back in just a little while to watch the movie with you ladies, okay?”

“Aaliyah, please don’t let her take us. I don’t wanna go with her,” Savanna urged as she began to cry.

“Baby, I won’t let that happen,” Aaliyah assured her. Knowing damn well, if Sunshine wanted to take her girls and walk out the front door right now, there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it.

*

Sunshine paced back and forth as she waited for Aaliyah to return. It was surreal seeing her girls. They were gorgeous and had grown so much since the last time she had seen or held them. She had to give it to Ace; he had done an outstanding job in raising them by himself.

“I’m sorry, what did you want to talk to me about?” Aaliyah inquired as she returned to the kitchen. She pointed to the chairs and invited Sunshine to have a seat. Both ladies looked each other over, admiring how beautiful the other was. For Aaliyah, there was no jealously or envy; she knew how pretty Sunshine was from the many photos sitting around Ace’s home. Sunshine had no reason to be jealous either. Nevertheless, she felt vaguely jealous of the woman sitting before her.

Now that Sunshine was sitting in front of Aaliyah, she couldn’t remember the reason for showing up at her doorstep. And wished she hadn’t done so at all.

“I need you to tell Amir to leave me alone. He’s out chasing me when he has you at home,” Sunshine stated. “I love him and always will; I’m just no longer in love with him.”

“I’m not the person you need to be telling this to, Amir is,” Aaliyah declared.

“He won’t listen. Maybe if you tell him, he’ll listen. He needs to move on with you because I’m trying to move on with someone else,” Sunshine let it be known.

“Again, you need to converse with Amir. What you two have going on has nothing to do with me.” Aaliyah informed her. “No disrespect, but you sound ungrateful and selfish right about now. That man had been putting his life on the line to find you and protect his girls. It’s as if you don’t give a fuck about any of that! Why?” She wanted to know. “This isn’t the same Sunshine I’ve heard about.”

“She died three years ago. I don’t want any of it anymore. If you wanna deal with the bullshit, the late nights, the shootouts, and anything dealing with the streets, you can have it all,” Sunshine responded. “I’ve lost so much because of the lifestyle he chose to live; I don’t plan on losing out on anymore.”

“What about your daughters?” Aaliyah questioned.

“What about them? From what I can tell, they’re happy here with you and I respect that. Why ruin their lives anymore?” Sunshine proclaimed.

Aaliyah had the urge to slap the hell out of Sunshine. Therefore, she did.

SLAP!

“What the hell?” Sunshine asked stunned. She couldn’t believe Aaliyah had slapped her.

SLAP!

Aaliyah had slapped her again.

“I hope like hell I just slapped some sense into you,” Aaliyah spat with disgust written all over her face. “The reason that man is back into the streets the way he is, is because of you. Ace will and still is willing to lay his life on the line for you. Not because he has to but because he loves you that much.” She said as she got up to pace the floor. “He took losing you so hard. When I met him, he was finally coming to terms with your death. However, deep down inside, he never believed you were dead. When he started receiving photos and little notes with your name on it, he made a promise that he would do everything in his power to find you dead or alive. And that’s what he’s been doing,” Aaliyah announced as she turned to face Sunshine.

“Did you just slap me? Not once but twice?” Sunshine asked still stunned as she held her burning cheek.

“You damn right; now get out of my fucking house!” Aaliyah screamed. “The next time you knock on my door, it better have something to do with your daughters.” She concluded as she showed her the way out. Sunshine stood on the other side of the door still holding her cheek. She had half the mind to jump on her and fuck her up. Luckily, she would give her a pass this one time, only because she didn’t want her daughters to see her acting a damn fool.

“You have…”

“Save all that bullshit you kicking for someone who gives a fuck about what you gotta say,” Aaliyah stated as she slammed the door in Sunshine’s face.

Aaliyah locked the door and threw her back against it; she couldn’t believe Sunshine had come to her home talking out the side of her neck. Aaliyah was laid back and quiet. However, if anyone viewed it as a sign of weakness, they would be at a disadvantage. She would and could come out of a bag with the quickness. Her tongue could be just as nasty as her physical attack; she was more than certain no one wanted that. She had respect for Sunshine on the strength of Ace and the twins. On the other hand, she would never allow her or anyone else to disrespect her. Aaliyah believed Sunshine should have been busting her ass to make sure all would be well with Ace and the twins. Any other bullshit was minor and should have been the least of her worries. Sunshine had a second chance at love but was throwing it away. It didn’t make any kind of sense to Aaliyah.

*

“Why are you crying?” Aaliyah asked as she walked into the living room to find, Savanna and Serenity hugging each other and crying.

Aaliyah sat in between the girls and wrapped her arms around them. Ever since she had been around them, she had never seen either of them shed a tear over anything.

“I don’t wanna leave you,” Savanna asserted as she buried her face into Aaliyah’s neck.

“Baby, you aren’t leaving me.”

“I don’t wanna go with her. Please don’t make us go with her. We wanna stay here with you and daddy,” she cried even harder.

“Baby listen, no one can take you from me or your father. I promise you that. Everything’s going to be okay.” Aaliyah said as she rocked both girls back and forth. It took Aaliyah a while to get the girls to settle down. After a movie and a bath, they fell asleep. Aaliyah sighed as she stood over the twins and watched them. She had only known them for a short period of time. In spite of that, they would never know how much joy they brought to her life. They filled her days with fun times and good memories. She appreciated them very much.

*

Ace walked into the house to find all the lights out, letting him know Aaliyah and the twins had called it an early night. He chuckled because when he had spoken to the three of them earlier that day, they were excited about having their ladies’ night. Savanna and Serenity told him he wasn’t invited because he wasn’t a girl.

Ace made his way upstairs and into the bedroom to find Aaliyah spread across the bed with her kindle in her hands.

“Did you ladies have fun?” Ace asked as he began to remove his clothes. Aaliyah burst into tears. “What’s wrong?” Ace asked as he walked over to the bed.

“I’m sorry,” Aaliyah said as she got up from the bed to clean her face.

“Babygirl, there is never any need to be sorry. Everyone has their moments and breaking points,” Ace assured her as he pulled her down onto his lap. “Talk to me.”

“That’s coming from a man who doesn’t show his emotions and never breaks down,” Aaliyah replied as she wiped her face.

“Just because you don’t witness me emotionally breakdown doesn’t mean I don’t,” Ace responded. “I have my moments, just like everyone else. Now what happened?”

“Sunshine stopped by…”

“What? Why was she here?” Ace questioned, pissed off.

“She stopped by to tell me that I need to talk to you about leaving her alone, how you should move on with me because she’s trying to move on,” Aaliyah informed him. “But that isn’t what bothered me. What did is she didn’t even attempt to spend time with the twins. I mean how could she not? It’s been three years; and all she’s worried about is moving on with some new nigga?” Aaliyah spat as her leg shook. “Oh, and I slapped her ass twice.”

“You did what?” Ace asked chuckling.

“I tried to slap some sense into her ass,” Aaliyah informed him.

“Don’t stress yourself out over things you can’t change. Sunshine is lying. I haven’t seen or talked to her since the night I found out she was fucking with J’vion. Before then, yes, I was trying to patch things up. We could have remained friends. For whatever reason, she doesn’t want anything to do with me,” Ace confessed.