The next hour and a half went by in a flash. I wasn’t too far from my mom’s house and I want to call her, but she had enough issues with Stanley. KJ was glued to me and hadn’t said a word since Kaeden was here. I was worried about him, wondering if he was in shock. He had a fit when the EMT’s tried to check him for injuries, so they did the best they could with him clinging to me and his face buried in my neck. Michael never left my side, taking what Kaeden said extremely serious. I rambled off answers to questions from the cops and they left me alone. However, they gave Michael the third degree. They went at him hard about the missing tapes, but he stuck to his story: A guy tried to take KJ, but by the time he came out the store to help another guy had already showed up. The guy started shooting just as Michael grabbed us. We hid inside until the cops showed up.
My eyes had to be playing tricks on me. Kalil shouldn’t have been here by now. It wa
“What are you doing?” she asked as she tried to pull her arm away. He must have tightened his grip because she grunted then balled her fast and popped him in the stomach. She snatched her arm away she yelled, “Get off me! How’d you get in here and where’s Kalil?”I couldn’t discern the look on her face. It fell somewhere between terror and anger. Kaeden still kept quiet and it dawned on me how creepy that was. He reached for her again and she ducked around him before running towards the stairs as she screamed my name. It took everything in me to not go to her, her fearful cries tugging at every protective instinct in me. Kaeden caught her around her waist and picked her up. She kicked and went crazy in his arms, screaming and digging her nails into him. He hissed, but didn’t let her go. How was KJ sleeping through this? I’d told Kaeden not to let Mak get anything in her hands to use as a weapon, but that must’ve slip
She sat in a corner at the front of the room and watched them, but didn’t yell at them anymore. She just corrected them if they messed up and blandly encouraged them when they need it. I sat next to her and she spoke before I could.“I’m fine Jay. Shouldn’t you be at home picking out baby names or nursery themes?”I was pretty sure I was pregnant, but I was too scared to go to the doctor by myself. I was sure Mak would have me pissing on a stick soon. “I’ll just name her Bitchy after her aunt,” I said and she snorted. “I didn’t even say anything.”“You didn’t have to. I can hear your thoughts.”“Then what am I thinking?”“You want me to let it go. No worries, I’ll send Kaeden on his merry little way once he brings KJ here.”I could accept that. “What made you think he was cool to stay with KJ?” She may not have realiz
MakynzeeNot much surprised or upset me anymore when it came to my mom. In fact, the only things that actually meant anything to me were my Beats headphones, music, gymnastics, and what little was left of my sanity. I actually had to contemplate what upset me more; the stinging sensation across the left side of my face, from the slap my mom just delivered or the sight of her foot stomping on my headphones which flew from my ears when she hit me. I was a pretty practical girl, so I went with the stomping of the headphones. Before she demolished them I swooped down and snatched them up. Then our staring contest began. My look asked “what now?” hers was unreadable, but I think I won. She looked away first. “You and these stupid ass headphones make me sick, instead of sitting in your room you should be out trying to find a job and figure out a way to pay for colle
It was a beautiful Saturday morning and I didn’t want to spend it cooped up in the house avoiding my mom, so I’d made my way over to Jaida’s. I’d gone to show her my hair and tell her about the fight, but before I could, she’d blurted out that she wasn’t at school because they were moving. I waited for her to say more, but the move wasn’t her concern.“You look prettier, more mature; you could definitely pass for 21 now. When I come to visit we could sneak into some bars and see if they serve us,” she grinned.“You’re leaving me?”“Next Friday.”I finally took notice of the boxes and packing supplies littered everywhere. “What am I going to do when you’re gone? Kristen and her goons jumped me yesterday.”“I’ll fucking kill them!”She had anger management issues. I had them too. I just knew how to channel mine. Jaida was mor
MakynzeeMy mom thought I still worked at the restaurant. I told her I took an extra shift and I’d be home late. She’d told me she needed a break from me anyway. That stung, but whatever. I threw my keys into my purse and went inside the club. A few men lingered by the main stage—none of them Kalil—and a woman behind the bar waved me over.“You’re Minx?” she asked once I was close enough.“Who?”“Kalil said to look out for the new girl. That’s you, right?”“Oh. Yup. I’m Minx.” That’s the stage name he came up with?“Come on back, let me show you a few things. Put your purse and keys in this safe, only open it before we open and after we close, only the barmaids use this one. If you miss the cutoff use one of the lockers in the back. Wear this for your tips.”She tossed me a garter and I quickly slipped
Makynzee“I’m impressed, didn’t think you would come in.”Those damned eyes. I folded my arms across my chest, mimicking his stance.“I know they asked for me, Kalil.”“And?”“And you told them no.”“And?”I was pretty sure I had a snappy comeback, but just as I opened my mouth the door opened and a few guys walked in.As I looked back at them, Kalil growled, “Occupied.”They looked around in confusion then turned and walked back out. When I look back at Kalil, he was glaring at the door. He looked dangerous again. I shivered as goose bumps covered my arms. When the door closed his face softened.“You cold?” he asked.“Why?”“Because you shivered?”“I meant, why did you tell them no, Kalil?” I was irritated. He stared at me as if contempl
MakynzeeI’d seen Kalil pissed and going ballistic on a few people, but tonight surprised me. He’d never hit anyone and the thought of him getting arrested because of me was downright terrifying. If he weren’t around, where would I go?I still had no clue why I needed to close tonight. Cari was still here, so she could have easily closed. I shook my head and tried not to let my mind wonder. I watched the stage wondering how hard it would be to do an upside-down split on one of the poles. The stage was shaped like a ‘T’, with a pole at the center and two on the side tips. The chrome shined like mirror, with plush black velvet that should’ve looked trashy, but gave off a classy vibe. I could do a lot on those poles. I heard Cari calling my name and I look back at her.“Can you actually dance?” she asked.I nodded and went to a table to wipe it down.“You stare at that sta
Makynzee It’d been two weeks since Kalil saw me dancing and he hadn’t faltered at all. I’d been getting dirty looks from most of the dancers though. Cari said they thought I was out to take their spots. One of them purposely bumped into me as I made my way back to the bar. They called her Dynasty. The looks and attitudes reminded me that my hair was getting too long and I made a mental note to get a haircut as soon as possible. I was tempted to said something, but Cari’s voice caught my attention first.“I asked Kalil if you could get Friday off, told him I would cover for you. He asked why, I didn’t know, so he said to tell you if you want a day off come ask him yourself.”He hadn’t spoken to me in weeks, now he demanded that I spoke to him. My head throbbed in response.“He was in his office right now, you be
She sat in a corner at the front of the room and watched them, but didn’t yell at them anymore. She just corrected them if they messed up and blandly encouraged them when they need it. I sat next to her and she spoke before I could.“I’m fine Jay. Shouldn’t you be at home picking out baby names or nursery themes?”I was pretty sure I was pregnant, but I was too scared to go to the doctor by myself. I was sure Mak would have me pissing on a stick soon. “I’ll just name her Bitchy after her aunt,” I said and she snorted. “I didn’t even say anything.”“You didn’t have to. I can hear your thoughts.”“Then what am I thinking?”“You want me to let it go. No worries, I’ll send Kaeden on his merry little way once he brings KJ here.”I could accept that. “What made you think he was cool to stay with KJ?” She may not have realiz
“What are you doing?” she asked as she tried to pull her arm away. He must have tightened his grip because she grunted then balled her fast and popped him in the stomach. She snatched her arm away she yelled, “Get off me! How’d you get in here and where’s Kalil?”I couldn’t discern the look on her face. It fell somewhere between terror and anger. Kaeden still kept quiet and it dawned on me how creepy that was. He reached for her again and she ducked around him before running towards the stairs as she screamed my name. It took everything in me to not go to her, her fearful cries tugging at every protective instinct in me. Kaeden caught her around her waist and picked her up. She kicked and went crazy in his arms, screaming and digging her nails into him. He hissed, but didn’t let her go. How was KJ sleeping through this? I’d told Kaeden not to let Mak get anything in her hands to use as a weapon, but that must’ve slip
The next hour and a half went by in a flash. I wasn’t too far from my mom’s house and I want to call her, but she had enough issues with Stanley. KJ was glued to me and hadn’t said a word since Kaeden was here. I was worried about him, wondering if he was in shock. He had a fit when the EMT’s tried to check him for injuries, so they did the best they could with him clinging to me and his face buried in my neck. Michael never left my side, taking what Kaeden said extremely serious. I rambled off answers to questions from the cops and they left me alone. However, they gave Michael the third degree. They went at him hard about the missing tapes, but he stuck to his story: A guy tried to take KJ, but by the time he came out the store to help another guy had already showed up. The guy started shooting just as Michael grabbed us. We hid inside until the cops showed up.My eyes had to be playing tricks on me. Kalil shouldn’t have been here by now. It wa
I told him okay and hung up. KJ fell asleep just that quick and I shook my head in wonder. I stopped at the next gas station only to be told I’d have to come inside to pay. I contemplate taking my chances on driving home, but I hadn’t exaggerated when I told Kalil I wouldn’t make it. I didn’t want to wake KJ, so I locked him inside the car, pushed the auto start and ran inside the store.I’d only heard the alarm for Kalil’s car once and even then there’d been so much going on that I didn’t remember how it sounded. When I heard an alarm going off as I paid I looked up, worried that KJ would wake up without me there and be scared.“Holy shit,” the clerk said as my breathing stalled. I clutched the counter to keep myself upright as I stared in horror at the sight before me.“Your son!” the clerk shouted just as I screamed and ran for the door.Nyeem had broken the window and was pulling
Makynzee I wasn’t sure why, but I needed to see my mom. I missed her. Maybe if I saw her again I’d get past this ridiculous feeling of uncertainty. The house seemed different when I pulled up, eerie. It’d been nearly a month since the wedding and she’d called or texted everyday. Sometimes I’d text back, but I mostly ignored her. I wondered if I’d made the trip for nothing, but saw I hadn’t. As KJ and I walked up the steps to the door, it opened and she was there, a quivering smile and glistening eyes, greeting us.She hugged me and said, “I’m glad you came. I’ve been thinking about you a lot.”I didn’t hug her back. She looked down at KJ and he hid behind me. I took her in as she bent at the waist to speak to him. Her shoulders drooped and her eyes looked empty. She looked t
Kalil The house was quiet when I headed upstairs. KJ was snoring and he’d kicked his covers off when I peeked in on him. I put them back over him then headed down the hall. Mak laid in the fetal position with the comforter and sheets pulled up around her neck and over her ears. It wasn’t even cold in here. She stirred as I pulled them off of her, but didn’t wake. She wore a red tank top and lime green boy shorts. I loved her body. Her birthmark covered her butt and the top part of the back of her thighs. It was darker than the rest of her body and she said it makes her two-toned, so she hated it. I thought it made her different, so I loved it. While I watched her—in a non-creepy way—her eyes popped open and she looked up at me. She was paranoid even in her sleep and I knew it was because of Nyeem. When I found him, he was dead. “I didn’t mean to wake you,” I said. I really did. She g
I stayed home the next day. Kalil and KJ are gone and I fairly certain I was depressed. Seeing my mom did something to me and I couldn’t explain it. I hated her, but I loved her just as much. I missed her and couldn’t wrap my brain around how much sense that didn’t make. My phone rang, but it wasn’t Kalil or Jay, so I ignored it. Instead I pigged out on some jalapeño Cheetos and watched true crime shows. Somehow I’d completely blocked my phone and thoughts of my mom and three hours later I had four missed calls and three texts. Two of the calls were from my mom, but she didn’t leave any voicemails. The last two calls and the texts were from Amber.A: So does this make us sisters now?Or r u still just my coach?R u thr? M: I’m here… bothA: Small world, huh? Can I tell u something?M: YeahA: I dnt thk I
I found Mak in the kitchen the next morning. She sat at the table eating bacon. I looked at the stove to see what else she’d cooked, but there was nothing.“Where’s the rest of the food?” I asked.“This is all I wanted,” she rasped and my gaze jerked to her throat. Bruises littered her skin, but she made no complaints about it.She grabbed another slice of bacon from the plate in front of her. I shook my head and look toward the phone at the flashing light. “Y’all got messages.”She grabbed the phone and asked, “Which one of y’all grabbed my bag from the car?”“None. If it wasn’t Kalil it should still be in there.”“Did y’all grab my phone?”“No.”“Was the car locked when you—”Whatever was being said on the phone stole her attention. She laughed a little then looked up at me.&
Jaida Maybe Mak wasn’t so far off when she’d tried to tell me about the possibility of there being more to Kalil and whatever he hid. We stood outside the police station waiting for Mak to come out and I wasn’t sure if he forgot where we were or if he just didn’t care. I was inclined to believe it was more of him not caring. He was basically putting a hit out on this Nyeem guy and nothing about his method was discreet. I wanted no parts of that so I went inside and saw that Mak was heading out. I smile at her, but she didn’t smile back. Expected. “All done?”“Yeah,” she wheezed out on a hoarse whisper. Her hand went to her throat with a grimace and I wanted to murder Nyeem. Kalil was on his phone when we came out, but he ended the call with “find him” and came to Mak. He kissed her forehead and hugged her tight.