Honor Thy Thug Read online

  I climbed on top of him, slid down on the dick, and rode and rode and rode until I started coming while screaming and hollering. I didn’t care if I woke up the dead or the living. I came so hard I didn’t even know if Trae came or not. I only knew that when I collapsed on top of him, his dick slid out. I lay on his chest, wrapped in his arms, as he planted soft kisses on my face.

  I started to have him eat my pussy, but instead, I waited for my breathing to get back to normal and was then ready to get some shit out in the open. I had a million and one questions.

  “So where were you?”

  “A little bit of everywhere.”

  “What does that mean?”

  My husband took his time, and I could tell he was going to answer the questions very carefully. “That means a little bit of everywhere and chill on the questions.” He kissed my forehead again.

  I sat up and grabbed my nightshirt off the coffee table and put it on. “Trae, you know what this feels like?”

  “What?” He looked at me.

  “It feels like when we first got together. It feels like you are back in the game. Why, Trae? Why does it feel like that?”

  “Tasha, I told you I was taking care of business. That’s exactly what I’m doing.”

  “The bitch is back to calling our house, Trae. What kind of business is that?”

  “Tasha, don’t start the insecure bullshit.” He sat up.

  “Insecure? You said it’s business with her father. She works for him. So you’re telling me that you don’t have any dealings with this ho?”

  “Ma, lower your voice.”

  “Then answer me, Trae. You’ve been gone for six whole days, and you are going to sit here and tell me you didn’t see her, not once?”

  He jumped up off the sofa, dick swinging, and went behind the easy chair. He came back with two briefcases and slammed them onto the coffee table. He popped one open and then the other. They both were full to the brim with evenly stacked bills.

  “This is what I’ve been doing, Tasha, gettin’ money! Are you meaning to tell me you got a problem with that?”

  “How you gonna get money with the enemy, Trae?”

  “Enemy? I’m getting money with the muthafucka that made my murder charges go away, and you got a problem with that too? The man fuckin’ called the governor of California, while I was sitting right there and told him to expunge my record Tasha.”

  “That’s all well and good. So he has political clout. Big fuckin’ deal! But I still have a problem with how you’re gettin’ it and who you are gettin’ it with, yes.”

  “It’s only a problem if you make it a problem.” He gritted his teeth while slamming the briefcases shut. And then he snatched up his clothes and headed for the stairs.

  “I only have a problem with that bitch. I should have taken care of her when I had the chance.”

  “Taken care of her? What the fuck? So, you killin’ hos now? Get the fuck out her with all this dramatized bullshit.”

  “You’re going to wish I was bullshittin’.”

  “Tasha!” He turned around and came back to where I was and stood in front of me. “I am not going to tell you a—”

  “Trae, this shit don’t feel right. Fuck that money! I’d rather be broke than not have you.”

  “Tasha!” The walls felt as if they shook. “I don’t want to hear shit else about Charli. What I’m doing out there is for us. This conversation is over. And I mean that shit.”

  “Fine, you won’t hear shit else about Charli.” But you just signed the bitch’s death certificate. Soon you gonna be at her funeral.

  JAZ

  Almost ten days had gone by since I came back from seeing Snell. I was getting impatient and anxious at the same time. I had to put the money together to pay him while at the same time covering my tracks in case Faheem went to sniffing around. But Steele was still alive. Snell said that when he called me and said he was home, that would mean that the deed was done. I was walking around like a nervous fool. To make matters worse, I couldn’t focus on my plan to handle Oni until Steele was done. I couldn’t wait to get that bitch.

  “Jaz! Where you at?” Faheem interrupted my chain of thought. I was busted. He was sitting in a chair, and I was straddling his lap. He was dicking me down, and I was zoning out.

  “I’m right here, big daddy,” I cooed.

  “The hell you are. Your pussy is drying up.” He stopped. “Here we ain’t fucked in months, and you drying up. Now, tell me, where the fuck are you?”

  “Baby, don’t make me do that.”

  “What the fuck you mean, don’t make you do that? Get off of me, Jaz.”

  “Baby—”

  “Get off me,” he barked.

  I slowly got up, careful not to bump his leg. Then, as fate would have it, my cell rang. I knew who it was as I rushed to answer it. I took the call, which lasted about thirty seconds. “We good babygirl,” the voice on the other end said.

  “Are we?” I wanted to jump up and down. I wanted to hear every little detail. “So what was the look—” He hung up on me which was the smart thing to do. But I still couldn’t help myself. I was geeked. The first half of my plan was done.

  “Jaz, you got five seconds to start talking.”

  I stood there naked, thinking long and hard. I had so much to say, but nothing would come out. All I could say was, “Steele,” as I tried to contain my smile.

  “Steele. Steele? What the fuck he got to do with your pussy drying up, Jaz?”

  Faheem instantly transformed from a loving husband to a roaring lion. And I knew right then and there that if I didn’t start talking fast, my naked ass was going to be grass.

  “Steele. He’s dead. The deed is done, Faheem. That was the call. You can thank me later.”

  Faheem just sat there staring at me coldly. I swear, I now know firsthand what it meant when they said, “If looks could kill.” I snatched up my robe from the bottom of the bed, threw it on, sat down, and braced myself for the worst. But at this juncture, the deed was already done, and there was no turning back.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you, Jaz? Didn’t I tell you I wanted to handle that situation myself?” His voice shook the walls.

  “Yes, you did,” I mumbled.

  “Then why the fuck are you sitting here telling me that you handled it? What? Just because I’m banged the fuck up, you think I’m pussy, Jaz?” He got up and came hopping on one leg at me. Before I could dodge out of the way, he had the front of my robe balled up in his hand.

  I grabbed his wrist. “Faheem, get your hands off me.” I didn’t know what he was getting ready to do to me.

  “Why, Jaz?” His eyes were dark, and his pupils were dilated.

  “Get your hands off me.” I was petrified. “Baby, please. At least, hear me out.”

  He turned me loose. “Why would you go behind my back and put yourself and our family in harm’s way like that? And after I told you not to? That was fuckin’ stupid!”

  “How could you say it was stupid? It got done, didn’t it?”

  “Who did you get to do it, Jaz?”

  “That’s not important, Faheem. I can’t tell you that. It’s done.”

  “Ain’t this some shit.” Faheem laughed.

  It was a ha ha she told a joke laugh, coupled with an ain’t this some bullshit smirk, which pissed me off. “You can laugh all you want, because the deed is done, and I took care of it. You always want me to honor your thug, but you need to recognize and honor mines.”

  He released that same annoying laugh again. “Jaz, I already told you, you ain’t no thug. You got someone else to do it. You know why? ’Cause you ain’t no killer.”

  “Whatever. But like I already told you, the deed is done.” Yes, it was. And I felt liberated. I set my sight on a desired result and got it. It was exhilarating, and I was ready to do it again.

  I got up and stormed out of our bedroom with my head held high. Hell, I was calling the shots, and I was feelin’ myself. He thi
nks he’s shittin’ bricks because of Steele; wait until I do Oni.

  14

  KYRA

  It had been been exactly sixteen days, three hours, and seven minutes since I snuck up on Rick in Arizona, and I hadn’t received one call or text message. Nothing from him at all, and I was sick about it.

  Tonight Trae was hosting a fight party, Chavez Jr. versus Martinez, and Tasha damn near dragged me out of my room and made me come join the festivities down in the basement. Trae must have been in an extra-good mood, because Trina was there with some dude named Jameer, along with the couple down the street, Elisa and Paul, the Sinclairs who came to our aid the night of the fire, and two other dudes that I didn’t know, all hanging out. I wasn’t up for it, so I found me a seat on top of a stool behind the bar in the corner. One of the dudes kept looking back at me, but I was sure he picked up on my body language, which I made sure screamed, Stay the fuck away.

  In the middle of the first undercard fight, I started looking at the clock. There was no way I was going to sit down there for the next three to four hours. I didn’t know why Trae didn’t just take his ass to Vegas and watch it ringside like he can afford to. That way, I wouldn’t have had to get up, get dressed, and make believe that I was okay, because I wasn’t. That was until I looked back and noticed who was gliding down the basement stairs. It was none other than Rick. Oh, my God! I could have died and gone to heaven. I perked right up. I was so glad that Tasha made me throw on something decent and lose the funky sweats that I had been moping around in all week that I could have done a back flip.

  “Look who’s here,” Tasha said, looking over at me. She got up to give Rick a hug.

  “Nigga, you late!” I heard Trae say.

  “It’s not like I still live down the street, lil’ bruh.”

  So, Mr. Trae knew all along that Rick was coming and didn’t even tell me. I guessed that was his way of getting me back for snooping around in his man cave and getting that address. I couldn’t take my eyes off of my man as I watched on while Trae introduced him to everyone in the room. He already knew Elisa and Paul and, of course, the Sinclairs, who went crazy when they realized it was him.

  When he looked over my way, we locked gazes. I felt as if I was sweating bullets as he smiled at me and came my way. “Hey, pretty lady,” he said, walking up in front of me and then leaning over and kissing me on the lips. I obliged him by accepting his tongue, and it taste so sweet. “You know what I’m here for, right? It damn sure ain’t no fight,” he said in between kisses that were sending chills all up and down my spine.

  “Nigga, please. Two weeks? You obviously don’t know me very well if you think you ain’t got some begging, groveling, and explaining to do,” I hissed.

  “Kyra, don’t be like that. I was working on some things. But your man is here now.”

  “I’m sure you were working on some things. But I hope you’ve been tying up some loose ends and getting your paper right, because I missed my period, Mr. Family Man.” Rick froze and then stood straight up. I’d single-handedly crushed his cocky little attitude.

  “You what?”

  “You heard me. I missed my period.” I had been dying to say those words to him. “You’re about to be a daddy.”

  He looked shocked. He was about to say something but didn’t. Then he looked like he was going to pass out.

  “Shit, Kyra. Not now. You can’t—”

  “I can’t what? Oh, so I’m not good enough to have your baby? But she is? Fuck you!” I jumped up off the stool, kicking it over, and left the family room. He had me fucked up.

  TASHA

  Fight night at the Macklin Palace, and I got to play hostess with the mostest. Trae was in a real good mood, and since he hadn’t taken any unexpected trips recently, I was in good spirits, too. I was surprised to see Rick walk through the door, and I could tell that Kyra was even more so. However, Rick was now looking quite perturbed. I didn’t know what Kyra said to him. She must have cursed his ass out, which I didn’t know why, since she had been so down in the dumps and crying because he hadn’t been in touch with her. But then she up and stormed out of the party. I couldn’t wait to get all of the nasty little details.

  I still was in shock that Trae had allowed Trina to come over. And you can best believe that she was on her best behavior, offering to get drinks, serving snacks and shit . . . just kissing Trae’s ass. I had to find out about this dude she came with. Because she’d never told me about him, and they seemed to be into each other.

  Other than Rick looking crazy and Kyra storming out, everybody else was sitting around having a good time. Blunts were being passed around, and of course, there was plenty of liquor and beer. Well, a minute ago there was plenty. I had just noticed that the beer was just about gone. Between Elisa, her husband, and Trina’s date, they were downing the Heinekens as if they were cans of Pepsi. Everybody was talking, laughing, getting drunk and having a good time.

  “Damn, they’re goin’ in, aren’t they?” Trae joked.

  “My thoughts exactly. I’ll go get some more.”

  “Tasha, baby, while you’re at it, can you fix me a sandwich?”

  Leave it to Trae to be on some different shit. Now, mind you, I was looking at all of the food and sandwiches down there, and he wanted something different. “Sure, baby, what do you want?”

  “I got a special stash in the red foil.”

  “What is it?”

  “A chef’s cut of Grade A turkey pastrami. And a half-pound of extra-spicy pepper jack cheese. I want that on a wheat roll with all the trimmings.” I got up, and he pulled me down onto his lap and whispered in my ear, “If you make my sandwich real good, as soon as the fight is over, I’ma eat this pussy like I ain’t never ate it before.”

  “Are you?”

  “You damned right. Then I’ma dick you down until you faint.”

  I whispered in his ear, “Well, if you fuck me like that, then when I wake up, I just might deep-throat your dick so good you’ll start sucking your thumb.”

  “You gonna fuck around and make me put these niggas up outta here,” he teased.

  I giggled that I’ma get dicked down tonight giggle, got up off his lap, and headed upstairs for the kitchen with a smile on my face. I couldn’t wait for the main event to be over. I was singing to myself as I got the beer out and started making my baby his sandwiches. The phone rang and “Unknown” flashed across the caller ID. I picked it up.

  “Helloooo.”

  They hung up.

  I went back to doing what I was doing, and a couple of minutes later, the phone rang again.

  “Hello?”

  “Is Mr. Macklin available?” I took a deep breath and counted to three. This bitch! “Well, is he? This is a business call.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm.

  I hung up the phone. I was tired of talking. She called right back, but this time, I allowed it to ring. After about seven times—yes I counted—it stopped. A few minutes later, it rang again. After ring number seven, I picked it up, and so did Trae.

  “Yeah.”

  “Mr. Macklin, thank you for answering. We need to have a meeting this coming Tuesday per my father’s instructions.”

  “Why are you calling my home? You know the rules. And what do I look like meeting with you?”

  “Something urgent has come up.”

  “I don’t get my instructions from you, Charli.” He hung up, and so did I.

  And then the doorbell rang. Who else did Trae invite? Pissed, I made my way to the front of the house, opened the door and there stood a messenger.

  “I have a delivery for Mr. Trae Macklin.”

  I looked at the letter pack in his hand before opening the screen door.

  “You need to sign for this.”

  I cracked the screen door and took the package from him, refusing to sign and slammed the door in his face. I knew who it was from. I tore the envelope open as I headed back into the kitchen.

  Mr. Macklin,

  My father
is out of the country, and I have instructions for you. We can meet Tuesday, one o’clock, at Joe’s. I know you prefer to meet on your turf, or shall I say the seedy part of town? You can confirm it with him, if you wish. After all, this is simply business. Nothing else.”

  Charli Li

  A couple of minutes later, Trae came into the kitchen carrying the phone. He eased up behind me and kissed me on the neck. “You aiight in here?”

  “I’m good.” I lifted the top half of the roll and showed him his sandwich. “How does this look?” It took everything I had to hold onto my composure and act as if I was cool.

  “It looks good.” He eyed his sandwich and licked his lips. He kissed my cheek. “Thanks, baby.”

  “Here, take this downstairs, and I’ll be right behind you.” I shoved his plate into his hand along with the envelope and grabbed the beer. I took them downstairs, then came back up and rushed outside onto the front porch. I had to get some fresh air. I sat down, and it felt as if I was suffocating. I was so furious all I could do was cry. I felt helpless, and it took me damn near forever to pull myself together. The only thing that calmed me down was swinging back and forth on the porch swing. Finally, my mind, my spirit and my breathing became steady. I hadn’t even noticed the two pit bulls in the truck in my driveway. They were barking and scratching at the windows.

  “Tasha, why are you out here?” Trina appeared in the doorway. “Your husband is looking for you and he said, don’t sweat the small bullshit.”

  “I needed some fresh air and fuck him!” I told her as I kept staring straight ahead. I could feel her looking at me.

  “I could shoot those albino-looking muthafuckas!” she snapped.

  “Who do they belong to?” I asked her.

  “Jameer. Those are his damn dogs.”

  “You rode over here with him in the truck with those stinking beasts?” My sister was nastier than I thought.