Thug Luv 2 (18 page)

“You tripping, that goes without saying, but there isn’t a damn thing that’s going to happen to you tonight,” Boy declared.

“I’m gonna stop by there when I’m done spending the day with the twins,” Ace said disconnecting the call, not giving Boy a chance to respond.

*

Sunshine sat in the corner watching Aaliyah. She had to give ole girl her props; she was doing the damn thing. Sunshine realized she could never have held a married man down, especially once she found out his wife was alive. Sunshine stood and began pacing the floor. Once again, she was locked away in a room. This time, she had no idea how long she was gonna be there.

“I didn’t mean for things to get this out of hand,” Sunshine said as she eased onto the bed beside Aaliyah. “I know you don’t want me speaking to you but we are locked in here together. You don’t have to have a conversation with me, just please listen.”

“You might as well go on and keep whatever you gotta say to yourself. I don’t give a flying fuck what you gotta say. Fuck outta here!” Aaliyah snapped.

Aaliyah was hurt and pissed; she didn’t know what the outcome of her life would be. The thought of never holding her baby tugged at her heart. She tried to act as if everything was cool. However, the unknown was already affecting her. Aaliyah looked at the chain, bracelet, and diamond ring the twins and Ace had given her a few months earlier.

Aaliyah tried to tune Sunshine out who was still talking even after she had told her she didn’t care to hear what she had to say. Aaliyah didn’t know when she had fallen asleep but she was yanked from her slumber.

“It’s time to go,” Adam reported as he jerked her arm.

“You don’t have to be so damn rough,” Aaliyah shouted as she snatched her arm away.

No! You mothafuckas are gonna have to kill me,” Sunshine yelled as she fought against J’vion’s strong grip. J’vion punched her in the face again, then in her stomach causing her to fold and drop to her knees.

“Get a hold of her and come on,” Adam demanded on his way out the room. Without warning, J’vion backhanded Aaliyah.

“Yo, what the fuck!” Adam yelled. Why did you hit her?”

“I owed this bitch that one. She left me hanging when I needed her the most. Yet, she’s holding this nigga down,” J’vion barked all in his feelings. “I’m good now,” he smiled.

Aaliyah turned around and spit in his face. It was the only thing she could do. Spitting on someone was the most disrespectful thing anyone could do to a person. Being that she couldn’t kill him, she would spit in his face every chance she got. She wanted him to know just how much she disliked as well as what little respect she had for him. After wiping her saliva from his face, he went to hit her again but Adam stopped him.

“Relax and let’s go handle this business,” he said while staring J’vion in his face.

*

“Man, we can’t let you go by yourself,” Jay said pacing.

“Look, I gotta do what I gotta do,” Ace stated.

“We understand and respect that but we gon’ continue to ride like we’ve been doing,” Boog declared.

“We’re gonna agree to disagree,” Boy announced. We’ll enjoy the rest of our day until that call comes through. When it does, the four of us and a few niggas I got on call will ride out together,” he finished. “It’s as simple as that.”

Ace didn’t say anything else about the situation. He impatiently waited for the call as he watched his daughters run around the yard enjoying themselves.

Day had turned into night. Ace still hadn’t received the phone call. His nerves were shot. “What the hell is taking so long for him to call me back?” Ace asked aloud.

“Chill out. He’s gonna call,” Jay stated. Just as Jay finished what he was saying, Ace’s phone rang.

“Talk to me,” he answered on the second ring. Ace listened as Adam told him where to meet him and to come alone.

“A’ight, I’ll see you in about ten minutes,” Ace said disconnecting the call.

“What’s the deal?” Boy and Boog simultaneously.

“He wants me to meet him at a warehouse in Newport News,” Ace answered as he headed for the door. “And he wants me to come alone.”

“You may walk in alone but you won’t be riding out there by yourself,” Jay reported as the three of them followed Ace out the door.

*

The ride to Newport News was a quiet one. It seemed like the closer Ace got to his destination, time appeared to stand still. Everything was moving in slow motion around him.

Finally, Ace neared his destination; he decided to park his car a block away.

When he stepped out of his ride, his boys were waiting for him as always.

“You already know, if you ain’t out in about twenty minutes, I’m coming in blazing,” Jay warned. “Please don’t get on the emotional shit. Y’all niggas know how I feel about that bull.” He warned causing everyone to laugh.

“Go on in there, we’ll see you soon,” Boog said slapping hands with his nigga.

“Whatever happens, just make sure my girls are well off and Aaliyah makes it out alive,” Ace requested.

“You already know we got you covered,” Boy stated as he and Ace slapped hands and hugged each other. Ace took a deep breath then released it into the night air. The weed he had been smoking did nothing to ease his racing mind and heart. Ace believed he was taking his last walk down death row. The only difference was, there weren’t any bright lights over his head or guards escorting him to his death room.

Chapter 18

Ace sighed deeply as he slowly made his way into the warehouse in Newport News. Once again, he was walking into something he didn’t know the outcome of. Over the past few months, he had definitely earned his stripes. Ace had done a complete 360 in his life. He had put in more work in the last few months than he did when he was heavy in the streets. At one point in time, he and Sunshine’s relationship was great. Sorry to say, they barely spoke. Yet, here he was still willing to put his life on the line to save hers. Ace never talked about his feelings or showed his emotions. However, when he discovered Sunshine was sleeping with the enemy; that fucked him up mentally. It wasn’t like he didn’t warn her. She just didn’t believe him.
“You’re a fucking liar, you’re just mad I don’t wanna be with you anymore.”
Her words rang loudly in his ears. Ace respected the fact that she didn’t want to be with him anymore. Hell, he even respected she had moved on. What he didn’t or couldn’t respect was she was fucking the same mothafucka who could have killed their kids–not once but twice.

When Ace got the call that Sunshine had been snatched up again, he could have turned his back on her. Fortunately for her, the man he was and the love he had for her wouldn’t permit him do that. She was and will always be the mother of his twin daughters. That alone was enough for him to continue to fight for her life.

When he walked into the dimly lit warehouse, he could hear voices in the distance but couldn’t make them out. It was as if they were having a disagreement about something. The further he walked in, the clearer the voices became.

The clicking of the gun being pressed to the back of his head stopped any forward progression on his part. “We finally meet again,” J’vion chuckled. “You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for this moment. It’s bittersweet I must say.” He finished as he shoved Ace forward.

“Look who finally decided to join us,” Adam said as he stared his brother in the eyes. “If it isn’t Mr. Superman himself,” he laughed standing behind Sunshine holding a gun to her head. Ace felt helpless as he watched the tears run rapidly down Sunshine’s face. This was the first time in his life he had felt so helpless. He was so close, yet so far and couldn’t do much.

Adam snatched the duct tape from Sunshine’s lips.

“Aahhh!” She screamed from the pain caused from the tape being ripped from her bare skin. “I’m so sorry,” she cried.

Ace didn’t understand why Sunshine was apologizing. It wasn’t her fault she had been kidnapped, not once but twice–all because mothafuckas had issues with him.

“Baby, there isn’t a damn thing you have to be sorry about,” Ace assured her.

“Are you sure about that?” Adam asked. “Sunshine, should I tell him or would you like to do the honors?” He asked looking from her to Ace.

Normally, Ace was able to keep his emotions in check and hide the way he was really feeling. Nevertheless, confusion was clearly expressed on his face and it revealed itself in the form of a deep frown.

“Oh, your queen didn’t tell you anything?” Adam asked sarcastically with a smirk on his face.

“Sunshine, what is he talking about?” Ace asked looking into her teary eyes.

“I’m sorry,” she simply whispered shaking her head from side-to-side.

“Amir, since she won’t tell you I will,” Adam stated. “Sunshine was the mastermind behind her kidnapping,” he said pacing back and forth around Sunshine while keeping his gun turned on her.

“Sunshine is this true?” Ace asked as his heart dropped to the bottom of his stomach. Sunshine never answered his question. She kept whispering she was sorry. “Sunshine, is it fucking true?!” He yelled, scaring the hell out of her. “Just tell me why?” He requested as a tear slipped from the corner of his eye.

“Yes!” She yelled back. Sunshine felt bad. Nevertheless, there wasn’t anything she could do to take back what she had done. Seeing the hurt in Ace’s eyes tore her up. Yet, the damage had already been done.

“Why?” Ace asked. Sunshine shrugged her shoulders. She had no genuine reason as to why she did what she did. If she tried to explain, it wouldn’t make since to anyone but her. Even so, she would attempt to enlighten him.

“Ace, I just wanted you out of the game. I believed if you thought I was gone, you would give that life up,” she admitted. “At times, I felt you loved the streets more than me…”

“BULLSHIT!” Ace yelled cutting her off. “All you ever had to do was tell me you wanted me out and I was gone. Sunshine, since we’ve been dating I put your needs first when it came to anything. That bullshit you’re kicking right now, you can save.” Ace replied angrily as he waved his hands in the air. Ace began to laugh while shaking his head. Everyone looked at him wondering what was funny.

“The same woman I’ve been putting my life on the line for is the same woman who’s holding the fucking gun that’s going to be the death of me,” he said in disgust. “I guess I didn’t cut my grass low enough to fish out all the snakes.” He concluded, looking Sunshine directly in her eyes. He wanted her to see all the pain he had been carrying around because he blamed himself for her death. Only to find out he had nothing to do with any of it.

Uncovering the fact that he had so many snakes slithering around him for so many years caused Ace to be angry with himself.

“I’m sorry,” Sunshine repeated.

“You’re sorry?” Ace asked frowning. “You ain’t sorry. All this over some bullshit you concocted in your head. Sunshine, you put my life, along with yours, and OUR fucking daughters’ in danger for nothing,” he said incensed. “Adam, why did you cross me?” He asked, now looking at his brother.

“Truth be told Ace, jealousy got the best of me,” Adam answered shrugging his shoulders. “I wanted to be you so bad. I wanted everything you had: love, respect of others, etc.,” he admitted.

“Adam, there wasn’t any reason for you to be jealous of me. We were supposed to have each other’s backs, be in the game together. When daddy died, yo ass took a different road,” Ace declared. “Adam, whether you notice or not, I’ve always had your back and held you down. Anyone who tried throwing you shade or disrespecting you because of your drug habit I handled it; me!” Ace yelled, hurt beyond any words he could possibly explain or express.

“You took my love. It’s only right I take yours,” Adam stated.

“What are you talking about?” Ace asked.

“Ace, don’t act like you don’t know. You killed Brenda, the same night you saved Sunshine!” Adam yelled.

“Adam, I didn’t kill Brenda…”

“Well, I blame you; and for that, this bitch has got to go!”

“Enough with the fucking soap operas,” J’vion announced, letting everyone know he was in the room as well. “You have to choose. Your life or her’s,” he said getting back to the real reason they were there.

“He doesn’t have to choose a damn thing because she’s dead,” Adam said.

Ace looked up at Sunshine to find her still crying. In the past, seeing her cry would have messed with him, but right now her tears meant nothing. Ace was finally at his wits end. If losing his life would end all the bullshit, so be it. At last, he had gotten the truth.

“Bring our guest of honor out so we can make this a little more interesting,” J’vion commanded bringing Ace from his thoughts. Ace looked up just in time to see Aaliyah being pushed forcefully. Ace’s heart damn near stopped beating when his eyes landed on her perfectly round belly. It was small but much more noticeable. His eyes slowly roamed up her body and looked into her bruised, teary face.

“It’s me you mothafuckas really want; let them go and do as you please with me,” Ace urged, unable to take his eyes off of Aaliyah’s battered face. She hadn’t asked for any of this. The few times he told her to leave, she never did. In fact, she informed him she would always have his back no matter the outcome of the situation.

“Amir, where are the twins?” Aaliyah asked as if she had birthed them herself. Here she was facing death and was worried about Serenity and Savanna. Their own mother didn’t have the compassion to ask about them.

“Baby, they’re safe. I made sure of that,” he said just above a whisper.

“Ace, I don’t get you. You just found out she was the mastermind of her own kidnapping and you’re still willing to put your life on the line to save hers. Why?” Adam asked.

“She’s still the mother of my daughters, that alone speaks volume,” Ace answered. “I’m doing this for my daughters. They’ve gotten to know me. They need to know who she is,” he ended.

“Aahh!” Aaliyah screamed as she doubled over in pain.

“Damn, this can’t be the ending,” Ace thought. It was all making sense now. The reoccurring dream he had been having was now playing out in living color right before his eyes. The voices and faces he couldn’t make out before were now standing before him.

“Please, just let them go,” Ace pleaded.

“Oh God!” Aaliyah grunted in pain as a contraction washed over her, sending her to her knees. “I’m in labor,” she moaned as she tried to breathe. “It’s too soon. It’s way too soon.”

“Let her go. She needs to get to the hospital fast,” Ace begged.

“Fuck her, fuck you, and fuck that bastard ass baby she’s carrying,” J’vion stated.

The bright lights flashed on blinding everyone in the room, giving Ace enough time to react. He quickly turned on his heels and punched J’vion in his face. Stunned from the unexpected blow, he dropped his gun. Shots rang out as Ace made his way over to Aaliyah, who at this point needed him the most. Ace could feel the heat from the bullets as they flew pass his body barely missing him. Ace reached for the gun at the small of his back, pulled it out, aimed it at the unknown man holding Aaliyah, and pulled the trigger. Ace watched as the bullet penetrated his forehead and left the back of his head along with some of his brain matter, painting the wall behind him. His body slowly dropped to the floor inches away from Aaliyah.

“Oh God,” she cried as she looked into the dead man’s eyes.

“I’m gonna get you out of here,” Ace vowed as he knelt beside Aaliyah.

“Ace!” Adam called getting his attention. Ace turned around to find J’vion holding a gun to his head, and Adam holding a gun to the back of Sunshine’s head. Before Ace could say anything, a shot was fired.

POW!

“NOOOOOOOOO!”