Cartier Cartel (34 page)

Jason concluded that he was the biggest idiot on the planet. He gave up
his stability for Monya, someone he wasn't even in love with, even after his
wife had warned him to stay away.

ason still found it hard to believe Cartier had left him and taken their
daughter with her. The most disturbing thing was he didn't have any idea
where they were. He knew Monya had something to do with the breakup. He
kept telling himself that was why he left her ass alone, but he knew it was
the other way around-she stopped fucking with him. In many ways, he was
a broken man, but it wasn't something he would admit. To admit it meant
he had failed, and there was nothing strong about that. Cartier was his love,
Monya was his pussy, and he didn't have either. Losing your woman and your
pussy on the side made a strong man weak. He didn't like that shit. And to
add insult to injury, they both changed their cell phone numbers.

It was mink weather in New York and Jason had on a velour sweatsuit
and goose down jacket. Hennessy warmed up his body as he stood outside of
his jeep smoking a cigarette and talking shit to Wonderful.

"Yo, when I see that bitch, I'ma put my foot dead in her ass for taking my
seed from me," Jason complained.

"Yo, that was some foul shit she did," Wonderful agreed. "I can't believe
you ain't heard from her in months, dog. That's some gangsta shit she on."

"You know Cartier ain't no punk," Jason responded. "She got a lot of hurt
inside her, and she knows the best way to get at me is through my daughter."

As they were talking, Wonderful spotted the jeep first. "Speak of the devil. Ain't that Monya's ride right there?"

Jason looked toward the white BMW as it stood at the light. After a few
seconds, his eyes focused on the passenger. Their eyes met and he dropped
his cigarette and began to walk toward the curb.

Now Monya was staring at him and instantly, he raced toward the car.
Only Monya didn't stop. She stepped on the gas and bounced. Jason quickly
jumped in his SUV and gave chase.

He hadn't seen either one of them in months. His mind was boggled
that these two were together again. What the fuck was going on? Why didn't
he check Monya for Cartier? Never in his wildest imagination did he think
they'd be living together. Were they living together? He didn't know, but he
was going to find out. As each car weaved in and out of traffic, Jason now had
plans to beat both women down. Monya was running from him and Cartier
for leaving him sick.

By the time Monya hit Atlantic Avenue, Jason decided to fall back. He
realized he was riding dirty and if he got pulled over, he'd do a couple years
for the burner he had in his glove compartment. He let her get away and
decided he'd catch them both in front of Monya's building. Jason made a
quick left onto Howard Avenue and peeled off. He knew if he sat and waited
for Monya to pull up, they'd spot him and take off. He thought he'd simply
wait until early morning, park down the street, and catch them when they
were walking out. That was his plan, until his pride crept in.

Why the fuck was he trying to find someone who didn't want to be found?
Wife or no wife, Cartier making Monya step on the gas and fly through the
streets of Brooklyn like he was some sort of stalker had him vexed. Did she
not realize he wanted to see his daughter and she didn't have any right to take
Christian away?

He remixed his plans and decided that first thing in the morning, he
would file a police report, file for divorce, and also file papers with family
court for full custody. If she wanted to play, he would go hard and show her who she was fucking with.

artier received the certified letter demanding she appear in Family
Court on January 17. The next day, a petition for divorce was served
from a court process server. Both documents were sent to Monya's address
and caught Cartier off guard. She never expected Jason to serve her with
papers, and worse, she was inexplicably hurt that Jason didn't come and try
to take her and Christian back. He refused to fight. He decided to go legal.
She knew she had to get her act together, but the thought of Jason knowing
where she was and didn't put up an effort to get her back plucked a nerve.

Each day that passed, Cartier thought she was finally over him. But
the legal ramifications brought memories rushing to the surface. It was
indifference on her part. Jason had treated her like shit, but he was a good
provider. Did she really want her marriage to be over? The finality of the
paperwork had scared her, and Jason was going to call her bluff. Cartier
stuffed the papers into her pocketbook. She needed to speak to someone.
She needed to talk to her mother. She called Trina.

"Ma, what are you doing?"

"I'm on the other line with Jason," Trina said.

"What? Why?" Cartier asked with shock in her voice.

"Hold on, Cartier, because he's making some accusations I need to
address with you," Trina responded.

Trina clicked over and had Cartier on hold for close to five uncomfortable
minutes, before she came back on the line.

"Hello, you still there?" Trina asked.

"Yeah, Ma, I'm here. Now what Jason talking about? Did he tell you that
he's suing me for divorce and joint custody?"

Trina heard the panic in Cartier's voice. "He told me something more
disturbing. What's going on with you and Monya?"

Cartier heard the suspicion in Trina's voice. "What do you mean?" Cartier said weakly. Her voice was telling as well. Her tone had raised an octave as her
hands began to tremble.

"He said he's been hearing about some freaky shit going on with you
and Monya, and I told him no fucking way. There's no way my daughter is
a dyke!"

The mere word made her feel dirty. And worse, she had to hear the word
from her mother. What was she doing with her life? Since day one, she'd
made a series of bad decisions. How could she raise her daughter in the living
environment with her and Monya?

"What? Where did he get that from?"

"He said it's the talk in the streets and he's heard it from more than one
person. Cartier, he's upset and so am I. What are you and Monya doing under
her roof? And why are you and her friends again, anyway? After everything
she put you through. I don't trust her. I saw the pain in your eyes when she
stopped coming to see you in jail. And I saw the pain in your eyes when
you found out about her and Jason. And I saw the pain in your eyes when
she gave birth to his son. How much more pain you gonna let her put you
through? If Jason moves forward with the divorce and custody, you could
lose everything, including my grandchild."

Trina was fearful for Cartier and didn't trust Monya as far as she could
throw her. But she knew one thing, if Monya ever hurt her daughter again,
she would personally give her a beat-down she wouldn't forget. And if Janet
wanted to get in it, she could get it to. Trina figured she might be older, but
she knew for a fact that she hadn't lost her ability to throw a solid punch.

"Ma, you know me better than that," Cartier began. "I did seven years in
jail and ain't none of those bitches ever turned me. You think I'm gonna get
out here on the street and flip the switch? Monya and I are just rediscovering
our friendship. She's truly sorry for what she put me through," Cartier lied.
She was glad she wasn't face-to-face with Trina. She knew her reaction and
facial expression to Trina's allegations would have given her away.

"Well, that's what I told him, but he ain't hearing me"

"He's just mad, that's all," Cartier surmised.

While Cartier and Trina spoke, Cartier's cell phone began ringing. It was
Bam. "Ma, let me call you back. It's Bam on the other line."

"Hey, Bam," Cartier sang. "What's up, girl?" Cartier was happy Bam
rescued her from telling Trina more lies. Her stomach was churning and her
heart was hurting from listening to Trina's possible disappointment in her.

"Shit. Listen, where you at?" Bam asked.

"I'm on the low over at Monya's, hiding from my baby daddy," Cartier
joked. "Why? What's good?"

"Is Monya there with you?"

"Nah, she had to run a few errands"

"Good, because between me and you, I got something to ask you, but
you got to promise not to tell Monya."

Cartier's heart dropped, but she made the promise.

"I got at least eight calls today asking me if you and Monya are swinging
an episode," Bam stated.

"Why the fuck are people bugging?" Cartier screamed. "My moms' just
told me the same thing. I mean, are people stupid or what? Where are they
getting that from?"

"Well, as I said, you ain't heard this from me, but people are getting it from
Monya," Bam replied. "That, coupled with you two being inseparable for the
past couple months after being archenemies, is all they really needed."

"From Monya?" Cartier's pressure rose. "Why would Monya say
something so stupid?"

"You tell me?"

"I don't fucking know. I'm not a fucking lesbian," Cartier screamed and
Barn got nervous.

"Look, chill," Bam said. "I'm just passing information. Don't kill the
messenger. All you need to do is talk to Monya and get your shit straight. That don't look good out here in the hood. You feel me?"

"Yeah, I feel you."

Cartier couldn't wait for Monya to come home and have it out with her
lover. She couldn't understand why Monya would go around blabbing her
big mouth about the two of them, unless it was to spite Jason. And she wasn't
cool with that. How could Jason be history if Monya was still trying to throw
mud in her face? Cartier was anxious when she heard the key in the door.

"Hey, babe," Monya sang.

Cartier wasted no time in getting right to the point. "Monya, I'm very
upset."

"Why? What happened? Is it Jason?"

"No, it's you," Cartier corrected.

"Me?" Monya began. "What did I do?"

"You can't keep your mouth shut!" Cartier said upset.

"I'm insulted," Monya responded. "Why are you yelling at me?"

"Are you going around telling people that we're a couple?"