Thug Luv 2 (15 page)

“You still love her don’t you?” Aaliyah asked. She already knew the answer. Nonetheless; she had to ask because every day she watched him struggle with anything that involved Sunshine.

“Yeah, I do. I will always love her. But I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s time to move on and be happy. I can’t keep trying to please everyone, including Sunshine,” Ace said as he lay back on the bed. Aaliyah lay beside him with her head on his chest. Daily, she wished she could take his pain and struggles away, even if it was for a short period of time. She wanted to suggest to him to take the girls and go on a short vacation–to get away and clear his mind. Sadly, she realized Ace wasn’t going anywhere until the situation with J’vion and Adam was handled.

Chapter 15

Two months later…

Adam paced in front of Aaliyah’s office; he had just come down from an all-time high. Lately, he had been smoking crack, sniffing coke, and popping mollies. Most days, he didn’t know if he was coming or going, nor did he know which way was up or down. He tried to stay high. It was the only way he could get the images of Brenda’s dead body out of his mind. When he wasn’t high and attempted to sleep, all he heard were loud gunshots in his head.

Adam was aware he was a dead man walking; he had come to terms with that a long time ago. But it was also set in his mind that he wasn’t going out alone. Adam often wondered why he couldn’t have been more like his twin brother. Why couldn’t he find happiness; why couldn’t he have been the man everyone looked up to–like Ace. Adam blamed everyone for his tribulations. He wanted to know why his father left them; why his mother didn’t want anything to do with them. He had a whole lot of why questions to which he would never get answers to.

*

“So did you tell him?” Jennifer questioned Sunshine as she paced her office floor. Aaliyah signified no with the shaking of her head. “What? You didn’t tell him? Why not? He has a right to know.”

“I know, but the time isn’t right. Amir has so much stuff going on right now. I don’t want to complicate the situation even more,” Aaliyah sighed.

“You telling him that you’re carrying his baby isn’t going to make anything more complicated,” Jennifer declared taking a seat.

“I know and I will tell him,” Aaliyah responded as she walked around her desk. She glanced up at the security cameras then smiled. But it quickly turned into a frown. At first glance, she thought it was Ace, but when she looked closer she realized it wasn’t. She began to panic. “Jennifer, come here quickly,” she waved her over.

“Is everything alright?” Jennifer questioned, immediately picking up on her mood change.

“Remember when I told you things were complicated?” Jennifer nodded. “Well this is what I was talking about.” Aaliyah said as she walked Jennifer to the bathroom in her office. “No matter what you hear, don’t come out, don’t scream, don’t do anything! When everything is clear, I want you to call Amir and give him that letter I gave you a few days ago as well as this one,” Aaliyah said handing Jennifer another letter.

“What’s going on?” Jennifer asked as her nerves began to get the best of her.

“I don’t have time to explain,” Aaliyah told her as she shut the door and rushed over to her desk. Just as she made it, her office door flew open. The crazed look Adam had in his eyes scared the living hell out of her, but she tried not to show any emotion.

“How can I help you today?” Aaliyah asked nervously.

“Bitch, don’t play stupid. Bring yo ass over here,” Adam demanded as he rushed across the room. Aaliyah ran behind her desk; he chased her for a few minutes.

“Sir…”

Aaliyah stopped what she was saying when he pulled a gun on her. “I thought that would change your mind,” Adam smiled as he kept the gun aimed at her.

“Noooo, stop,” she yelled as he grabbed a fistful of her hair then tossed her to the floor. Aaliyah’s instincts was to protect her unborn child. She would do just that. “Why are you doing this?” She cried as she was being dragged across her office floor.

“Shut up bitch!” Adam growled as he bent down and slapped her across her face. Aaliyah could taste the warm blood in her mouth. She didn’t know if she was kicked or punched in the face, but afterwards everything around her faded to black.

Jennifer sat in the bathroom with her back against the door and hands over her mouth to keep from screaming aloud. She felt helpless sitting there unable to help Aaliyah in her time of need. She listened as Aaliyah took a beating. She wanted so badly to open the door and protect her from her attacker. Unfortunately, the letter she held wouldn’t permit her to listen to her mind and heart.

Jennifer wiped the tears away then cracked the door open. She didn’t hear or see anything. Therefore, she rushed over to the phone to call Ace.

*

Ace was riding around the city with his top down. Serenity and Savanna were riding in the backseat bobbin’ their heads to the music. He was on his way to take them to the park when his phone started ringing. He turned the music down and answered his phone when he saw the call was coming from Aaliyah’s office. His stomach knotted up, telling him something wasn’t right. She never called from her office phone.

“Hello?” He answered.

“Amir, you have to get here fast!” Jennifer yelled into the phone. Ace could tell she’d been crying.

“What’s going on? Is everything okay? Where’s Aaliyah?” Ace fired off question after question.

“That’s why I’m calling. You have to get here fast,” she said urgently as she disconnected the call. Ace made an illegal u-turn in the middle of traffic. He ignored all speed limits as he raced down the busy streets of Hampton. His heart pounded away in his chest.

“FUCK!” He shouted as he banged his fist on the steering wheel, scaring the twins. When they started crying, he looked through the rearview mirror. He wanted to cry himself but there was no room for tears. Once again, mothafuckas had gone after someone he loved instead of bringing whatever problems they had with him to him. Ace pulled up to Shell Road, parked, and snatched the twins from the backseat. He rushed to Boy’s front door.

“I don’t have time to explain. To be honest, I don’t even know what’s going on or what’s waiting for me.” Ace informed him. “I got a call from Aaliyah’s office saying I needed to get there fast,” Ace said on his way out the door. Boy followed.

“Keema, call Boog and Jay and have them meet us over there,” Boy called over his shoulder.

“I’m sick of this shit,” Ace spat. “Something has to fucking give,” he said pulling off.

“You have to put an end to it. It can’t and won’t end if you don’t end it,” Boy informed him.

Ace knew Boy was telling the truth. He felt like every time he took out one of his so called enemies, there were ten more waiting in the shadows.

*

When Ace pulled up to Aaliyah’s office building, Jay and Boog were waiting for him. He didn’t shut his car off. He left it running because he had a feeling he wouldn’t be there long.

“What’s going on?” Jay asked.

“Word, we got a phone call from Keema saying to get over here ASAP,” Boog reported as they followed Ace inside the building.

“That’s what we’re about to find out,” Ace replied as the four of them stepped onto the elevator. The ride up was quiet as everyone held their breath. Not one of them knew what to expect or what would be waiting when they stepped off the elevator. The doors opened. Ace was the first one to step off. As soon as he did, he found Jennifer pacing back and forth. She was crying. Once again, his stomach knotted up.

“Jennifer, where’s Aaliyah?” Ace asked. She turned around to face him and broke down even more as she tried to describe the incident.

“Calm down and explain to me what happened.

“One minute we were sitting around talking. The next thing I know, she’s shoving me into the bathroom telling me whatever I hear not to come out until it was safe,” Jennifer cried. “There was scuffling for a while. Aaliyah asked why he was doing this to her. Just as fast as everything started, it ended. That’s when I called you,” Jennifer reported.

“This shit can‘t be happening to me again,” Ace sighed. “The one person that doesn’t deserve any of this shit,” he spat.

“Jennifer, did you get a look at the guy who did this?” Jay asked. Jennifer shook her head no.

“But she told me if anything happened, to give you these letters,” she said as she went into her top drawer, and handed Ace both letters. “Amir, you have to save her; she’s pregnant.”

“She’s pregnant?” Ace asked with confusion. “How come I didn’t notice?” He thought as he walked to her office.

Ace walked into Aaliyah’s office to find it in shambles. The small trash bin was turned on its side; the chairs were turned upside down. He spotted a small bloodstain on the carpet. Ace took a seat then ripped open the letter.

Dear Amir,

I want you to know how much I appreciate all of the things you’ve done for me. You make me feel needed, wanted, and cared about. When you said you would never lie to me, I believed you. You are absolutely amazing. The most amazing person I have ever met. You always made sure I was smiling, laughing, and having a good time. When I’m in your arms, I feel so safe. It makes me think I’m the luckiest woman in the world to have such a remarkable man like you in my life. I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life with you. Unfortunately, as you already know, things don’t always work out. You have the most caring heart. For once in my life, when you said I was beautiful, I truly believed it. It’s unbelievable how I can be myself around you and feel so close to you; I feel like we’ve known each other forever! I couldn't imagine my life without you. Honestly, I never wanted to see what that would be like. When you’re not around, all I do is think about you! I've never felt this way about anyone in my life. I've never had second thoughts or regrets about us. With all the tears and trouble we've been through, it’s been worth it because I got to share my heart with you! You’ve opened my eyes to love, trust, and happiness! I've never been as certain of anything in my life as I am about us! You have made my life complete. Ever since you walked into my life, I have been smiling. Baby, I want you to know how happy I am that you came into my life. I love you! I love everything about you: your magical eyes, the sound of your voice, and your gentle touch! I can’t stop thinking about you when we’re apart! You mean the world to me; you are the best thing that has ever happened to me, you and the twins.

If you are reading this letter, it means something has happened. Please don’t get mad at me, but I’ve been having these eerie feelings lately. I didn’t brush them off; I just didn’t tell you because you already have so much on your plate. I told you I would always have your back and hold you down. With that being said, the twins will always be protected and safe. I promise you that much. As for me, I really don’t know what lies ahead; and it really doesn’t matter. If I die, just know you have made me extremely happy. All I ask is that you finally let go and live your life. Raise the twins; they need you. I love you.

                                                                                                                   
~Aaliyah~

Ace closed his eyes tightly. He couldn’t believe he was experiencing the same event again. He was pissed and hurt. Anger filled his entire body. He was pissed with himself for not noticing Aaliyah was pregnant; pissed at her for not telling him she was carrying his seed, as well as about the eerie feelings she was having. Most importantly, he was enraged that he was going through the motions of having someone he loved kidnapped yet again.

As he opened the second letter, Ace couldn’t stop the tears from falling.

I know you may think I sound crazy. Even so, please don’t come looking for me. That’s what they want you to do. If something was to happen to you because you were looking for me, who will the twins have? Think about them. I love you.

Ace could tell she had rushed to write the second letter. It wasn’t as neat as the first one.