Thug Luv 2 (17 page)

“The streets are calling. Go on and answer and see what they want,” she said now pissed with herself for agreeing to go on a date with him.

“I don’t understand. Why are you trying to find a reason not to be on this date with me?” Ace asked. “We were having a good time until my phone started ringing, which I’ve turned off. Sunshine, I’m spending time with you right now and that’s all that matters to me. Whatever’s going on is still going to be happening. So, it can wait.”

“What is it about me that you like or lust after so much?” Sunshine inquired. She wanted to know why he was working so hard to be with her. What was it that he wanted from her?

“It’s this feeling I get deep inside when I hear your voice, see you smile, or even hear your name. I can’t explain it but I’ve never felt like this before,” Ace answered truthfully. “I heard you only get one chance at true love. I think you’re my true love.” He professed looking deep into her eyes. “Why are you giving me such a hard time?”

“Ace, I already told you how I felt about a man in the streets. They aren’t any good.” Sunshine answered.

“That’s not true. Every nigga in the streets isn’t the same. I’m here to prove that bullshit,” he said.

“All of y’all talk a good game but it all ends the same–BAD!”

“Again not true, I don’t have to spit game to get females. When I speak to a woman and tell her something, it’s nothing but the truth. Sunshine, I can walk out there and have any woman I want. But I’m sitting here with you, trying to convince you that all niggas labeled as thugs aren’t the same. I have respect for myself and any woman who has respect for herself,” Ace declared.

“I still believe you’re one in the same. After you get us is when you guys show your true colors. The abuse starts then the phone calls from other bitches letting me know how you’ve fucked them in this position and that position,” Sunshine snapped as she waved her hand and rolled her eyes.

“Let me ask you this. If you really feel that way about men in the streets, why are you sitting here with me today?” He asked looking into her eyes. He didn’t wanna seem like a jerk or asshole for asking that question but he really wanted to know. If she viewed every nigga who lived in the streets as a threat, why was she on a date with one?

“I hope I’m right about this; I see something different in you. I feel a connection that’s so strong it’s scary,” Sunshine answered truthfully.

While they ate dinner, they talked even more.

After dinner, they took a walk on the beach, walking hand in hand until the sun began to go down. They stood by the water as they watched the sunset. To Sunshine, Ace couldn’t have planned a date any better than the one he had arranged that day. She couldn’t lie if she wanted to. If she had any doubt about Ace, it was quickly fading away.

J’vion snatched Sunshine off the bed by her hair, bringing her out of her trip down memory lane. “Please stop,” she begged as she was being dragged across the hardwood floors. “Why are you doing this?” She asked as she tried to get away; he had a firm grip of her hair. It felt as if he would rip the middle of her hair clean out of her head. The pain was unbearable.

J’vion dragged Sunshine all the way to the living room with her kicking and screaming; none of it really mattered to him. “Get up!” He demanded as he snatched her off the floor. When she stood up and locked eyes with Adam, she began to tremble. It felt as if she couldn’t breathe and everything around her was spinning. She wanted to speak but nothing would come out.

“I see someone is surprised to see me,” Adam smiled.

“You lied; you lied about everything,” Sunshine declared as she looked at J’vion. “Why would you do that?” She asked.

“It was the easiest thing in the world. It was nothing personal with you,” he replied as he shrugged his shoulders.

“You played me for a fucking fool and I fell for it,” Sunshine said. Her heart sunk into her stomach.

“Just as you did my brother,” Adam said.

“What do you care what I did to Ace? You don’t love him. After all, you helped me do what I did; and you’re trying to kill the only mothafucka who ever gave a fuck about you,” Sunshine spat.

“I know my fate; and I’m cool with it, but you best believe I won’t be going alone,” Adam threatened.

“How could you do this to me?” Sunshine asked J’vion. “You had me fall in love with you only to find out I was being played all along.”

“Girl, you should already know that love ain’t got shit to do with anything,” J’vion admonished her. “Do you really think I would spend my life with you after what you did to Ace?” He questioned. “You were smooth as hell with that shit. I kind of feel sorry for that nigga. You definitely had the wool pulled over his eyes.”

“A’ight, I’m tired of hearing this bitch talk. Let’s be out,” Adam said as he walked toward the door.

“I’m not leaving here with you two,” Sunshine claimed.

“Like you have a choice,” J’vion laughed, punching her in the face and knocking her out cold. He didn’t even attempt to catch her. He let her body drop to the floor. He stood above her, looking down on her as if it would give him super powers. He picked her up then carried her out the door.

Chapter 17

Aaliyah stood staring out the window. The last few weeks had been the most grueling for her. She was accustomed to spending her days and nights with Savanna and Serenity. Thinking of them is what made her enslavement a bit more manageable. She tried to keep her mind off of Ace. However, being that she was with a man who shared a lot of the same features as him was hard to do. They may look alike but they were two totally different people and lived entirely different lives.

Aaliyah couldn’t believe the things he had confided in her. Initially, she thought he was making some of the things up as he went on and on. But then she remembered he had no reason to lie to her about anything. Her life was in his hands.

Adam wasn’t as bad as he could have been. He fed Aaliyah every day and all day long. He always asked if she needed or wanted anything. Her response was always she needed and wanted to go home. However, that went in one ear and out the other. Aaliyah had come to the conclusion that all Adam wanted was someone to listen to him, all of his problems, and have a shoulder to lean on. Deep within, she could tell he loved his brother by the way he talked about Ace and their childhood. From the backstabbing, you wouldn’t have thought they were once so close. From the sound of things, Ace and Adam were at one time inseparable.

The room door opened causing Aaliyah to turn around. She was greeted by Adam, J’vion, and Sunshine. J’vion roughly pushed Sunshine into the room then stood there staring at Aaliyah.

Sunshine gathered herself enough to crawl into the corner. Aaliyah could see she had been crying and hurt. She would have felt sorry about seeing her like that but after what she had discovered about her, she believed Sunshine was getting everything she deserved.

“Damn girl, look at you. Every time I see you, you’re looking better and better,” J’vion said as he stepped into Aaliyah’s personal space. Aaliyah was frightened but tried her best not to show it. She didn’t wanna give him the satisfaction of seeing fear in her.

“I wish I could say the same about you,” Aaliyah replied as she turned her back on him. J’vion ran his hand down her back then palmed her ass. Aaliyah turned around and smacked his hand away.

“Don’t you ever put your fucking hands on me,” she snarled as she tried to walk around him. J’vion snatched her arm and forced her to look at him. Aaliyah wanted so badly to spit in his face like she had done before. Yet, she knew how quick J’vion was to raise his hand to a woman. That and the baby she was carrying stopped her from doing so. She couldn’t risk any harm to her child. She snatched her arm out of his grip then walked to the other side of the room where Sunshine was balled up in the corner rocking back and forth crying.

“J’vion, come on man! We have shit to do,” Adam yelled still standing in the doorway.

It took J’vion sometime but he finally exited the room. He stopped, turned around, and said, “Y’all play nicely.” He laughed as he closed the door behind him.

“I fucked up, I fucked up,” Sunshine cried.

“Bitch, there isn’t any reason to cry over spilled milk. We all know you fucked up,” she spat as she flopped down on the bed. “How could you do what you did, when you had one of the best men in the world?” She asked wanting to understand her actions.

“You wouldn’t understand,” Sunshine replied.

“Help me understand!”

“Yes, I had the best man any woman could ask for. But after a while, I wasn’t happy. I wanted out; I didn’t want any of what he had to offer,” Sunshine admitted.

“So why not just walk away?” Aaliyah asked becoming pissed off. “I can only imagine what he went through before I met him. Since I’ve been dealing with him, I watched him struggle with your death. Oh, and when he found out you were alive, he went stupid in those streets for you. Those beautiful girls you had and left behind are a blessing from God himself. They are a joy to be around and as smart as ever,” Aaliyah affirmed. “All this shit could have been avoided if only you would have opened your fucking mouth!”

“I’m sorry!” Sunshine yelled.

“Bitch, fuck you and your sorry. Sorry isn’t gonna change the outcome of this fucked up situation,” Aaliyah condemned. “I bet you were one of those bitches who was always hollering about wanting a good man. When you got one, you straight shitted on him,” she laughed her pissed off cackle.

“I can’t change what I’ve done or take any of it back, but I wish like hell I could,” Sunshine admitted.

“Save that sorry shit. You wouldn’t have to be sorry if you hadn’t done any of this foul shit,” Aaliyah snapped. “If I weren’t pregnant, I would be mopping the floor with yo ass right now. So, please just stop talking to me.” She warned as she turned her back on Sunshine.

“You don’t have any more times to speak to me that way,” Sunshine threatened. “Trust and believe the old Sunshine will come out of a hat on yo ass pregnant or not. I’ll be glad to show you how she got down. The same bitch Ace trained,” Sunshine warned.

Aaliyah laughed, “Girl where was she when he needed her the most?” She asked. “Oh yeah that’s right, she was out faking her own death. Please have several seats on a ticking time bomb. Matter of fact, have a seat on several ticking time bombs,” she fired off even more exasperated.

*

Ace was cooking lunch for him and the twins. “Daddy,” Serenity called out.

“Yes?”

“Where is Aaliyah and why haven’t she been around lately?” She questioned.

“Yes, we miss her,” Savanna added as she sipped from her juice.

“Babies, if Aaliyah could be with us today she would,” Ace answered,

“Is she gonna leave us like mommy did?” Serenity asked.

“If she doesn’t have to leave, she won’t,” Ace answered. He was sure of that. Aaliyah loved them as if she had given birth to them herself. “She had to go out of town for a few days for work,” Ace said. He hated lying to them but there was no way he was going to tell them she had been taken away.

“She could have called and told us she had to work out of town,” Savanna rebuked. Ace cracked a smile.

“I’m sure it slipped her mind. They must have her very busy if she hasn’t called yet,” Ace reassured them.

“Daddy, we need to have a sit down with the people Aaliyah works for. They cannot keep her that busy to where she can’t check in with us,” Serenity declared.

“Is spending time with me a problem for you ladies?” Ace asked pretending to be hurt. Serenity and Savanna laughed.

“No, we love you daddy but Aaliyah is more fun,” Serenity confessed.

“Oh really?” Ace asked pretending to be hurt.

“Really daddy,” Savanna laughed as she watched Ace poke his bottom lip out.

“What do you girls wanna do today?” Ace asked as he sat their plates in front of them.

“We need to go to the nail salon. It’s about time for us to get our toes and nails redone,” Serenity advised.

“I guess we will be spending some time in the nail salon then,” Ace replied.

“Daddy, the nail shop is for girls, not men,” Savanna giggled.

“Well, I have two daughters. Which means, I have to go if you want your toes and nails done,” Ace replied. Ace adored his girls and would do anything for them–it went without saying.

*

“So we’re gonna kill this nigga as soon as he walks in?” J’vion asked as he and Adam walked around the warehouse.

“No, there are a few things I need to get off my chest before anything goes down,” Adam replied. “After that, whatever happens, happens.”

“You really think he’s gonna show after she blew him off the way she did?” J’vion asked unsure that Ace would show up to save Sunshine for a second time.

“He will. I’m sure of it. He loved that girl more than life itself,” Adam stated. “This is gonna be the end for one of us.” He thought looking around the room. Adam was okay with that. He wasn’t sure of the outcome but he was tired of everything. The struggle with himself, the struggle with life, he was exhausted and ready for it all to end.

“Are you okay over there?” J’vion asked seeing how nervous Adam was looking.

“I’m straight; and don’t stand here like you give a fuck about how I’m over here doing.”

“You know I don’t give a fuck. I was just wondering if you were starting to get cold feet and ready to back out,” J’vion responded.

“I’ve come too far to back out of anything. I’m in way too deep to turn back now.”

“Well make the phone call,” J’vion demanded. Adam reached for his cell phone and punched in his brother’s number. He slowly placed the phone to his ear and waited for Ace to answer.

“Yo, who is this?” Ace answered on the second ring.

“If you want your bitch, Sunshine back unharmed, you’ll keep your phone on and wait for my next call,” Adam said into the phone. “Please don’t try any funny shit. Remember, I know where both your bitches are,” he said before disconnecting the call.

“Why didn’t you tell him where to meet us; and why are we calling him back?” J’vion asked.

“For you to be a street nigga you sure are asking a lot of dumb questions,” Adam huffed. “I didn’t tell him where to meet us yet because I don’t wanna drop the dime on us for him to make a move. When he comes at us this time, we’ll be prepared.”

*

Ace was in the nail salon with the twins when he received the call from Adam. It really bothered Ace that his brother carried that much hatred in his heart for him. Regrettably, it was another thing Ace had learned to live with. The life he lived came with jealousy, envy, and hatred. Ace stepped outside of the shop so that he could speak to his boys in private.

“Adam just called and informed me he would be calling me back sometime tonight with an address for me to meet him,” Ace said into the phone when Boy picked up.

“You want us to roll with you?”

“Nah, I’m gonna do this one on my own,” Ace declared. “I don’t know what I’m walking into, so I won’t be involving y’all.”

“Ace, I respect how you feel, but we been doing this shit together. Why stop us now?” Boy asked.

“Because, y’all niggas have families to think about. This may be my end,” Ace acknowledged.

“It doesn’t have to be the end,” Boy replied.

“It doesn’t but I hope it is because I’m tired,” Ace spoke truthfully. “I’d rather go out willingly than to be forced out.”

“Stop talking like that,” Boy warned. “You have those beautiful daughters you need to continue to fight for.”

“About that, promise me that you niggas will look out for my babies if something was to happen to me tonight,” Ace asked as he looked over his shoulder to find the biggest smiles on his daughters’ faces.