Thug Matrimony (4 page)

Hell to the nah! She was so tired of these niggas she didn’t know what to do. And her mouth. She never cussed this much in her entire lifetime!

Just then Angel’s mother busted through the double doors.

“There you are. Oh, my baby. Look at you,” she cried as she rushed over to Angel.

“Ma …” Angel sobbed, unable to get any more words out.

“It’ll be okay, baby.” Her mother was on her knees hugging and trying to soothe her daughter. “Go ahead, let it all out.” Angel was crying uncontrollably. They remained hugged up for at least ten minutes.

“Mommy … it … it wasn’t even my fault. He … he … just walked … Oh G-God … walked out on me.” Angel still couldn’t believe it.

“Why did he walk away, baby? You’re not telling me enough.”

“Be … because Keenan came ask … asking for me,” she got out, in between sobs.

“Keenan?” Mrs. Smith inquired. “Chile, what on earth are you talking about? But I thought…” Mrs. Smith covered her mouth. She was now in shock.

“Yeah, Mom. Me too. The nigga is alive and kicking, Mommy. He was here. I saw him.”

“Oh my God. Where is he now?”

“He left. Kaylin beat him up and he left.”

Angel’s mother stood up, hands on her hips. “Where is that boy Kaylin?”

“He left,” Angel groaned.

“Well, where did he go, Angel?”

“To the hospital. Trae got shot. Oh, shit!”

Angel gasped.
Tasha!
“Mommy, I can’t believe I’m sitting here drowning in my tears, and Tasha! O my God!” Angel stood up. “Mommy, I gotta go check on Tasha.”

“Trae got shot?” Mrs. Smith was still stuck on that. “Who shot him? Well, where are the police? Is he all right? Oh my Jesus! Y’all children need help. This is just too much for me.”

“For me too, Mom. Please. I need you, Mommy. To tell the wedding coordinators the wedding is off. Tell them to dismiss everyone with style. Tell them Kaylin will pay them extra. I’ll go and explain everything to Reverend Run, then I gotta get to the hospital.”
Tasha, I am so sorry, girl.

Mrs. Smith and the wedding coordinators had a heck of a time explaining that the wedding and the reception were off. It was almost two hours before they saw the last guest out the door.

Angel apologized to Reverend Run and did her best to explain the main details of what happened. He was very compassionate as he listened, then insisted that he take her to the hospital. He told her that everyone could always use some prayer. He waited in the lobby while she went to go change out of her wedding gown and take a quick shower. She threw on the outfit she was to wear on the private jet to Hawaii, a pair of Seven jeans, a top, and crocodile loafers. Looking in the mirror, she saw her eyes were red and swollen, and so was her nose. Her neck was red from where Kaylin choked her.

“No more!” she said into the mirror. “No more!”

When they arrived at the hospital, Trae’s father was in the lobby with the twins, Kareem and Shaheem.

“Mr. Macklin.” Angel embraced the older version of Trae. “You already know Reverend Run.” The two men shook hands. The reverend assured him that Trae was in the Lord’s hands.

Angel kissed the twins. “How is he?” Her heart went out to the twins. “Trae is like a brother to me, Mr. Macklin. I would never forgive myself if …” Angel didn’t want to say it and burst out crying instead.

“Baby girl, you know that hard-headed, stubborn boy is going to be all right. I bet you he scared the bullets away. Get on up there while you got the chance. They are ready to put us out. Too many of us up there.” He handed her his visiting pass.

Even though Mr. Macklin was trying to sound strong, she could see the worry lines around his eyes.

Angel said a prayer as she and the reverend rode the elevator to the ICU. What did God want her to get out of today’s events? she wondered as she stole a glance over at the reverend. Nothing but bad things had happened this day.

As she mentally tried to figure it all out, the elevator doors came open. The first person she saw was Kaylin. He was staring out the window. Angel’s stomach knotted up with butterflies at the sight of him.
I hate that I love that nigga so much,
she thought to herself. Sitting in the chairs against the wall were Omar, Kajuan, Mrs. Macklin, Kyra, Marvin, Jaz, and Faheem. No wonder they were trying to put them out. The whole family was there. Reverend Run headed over toward Kaylin.

Before Angel could ask where Tasha was, she spotted her coming out of the bathroom blowing her nose. She had someone’s jacket on over her bridesmaid’s dress. The dress had dried blood all over the front of it.

When she looked up and saw Angel she broke down crying. Angel went over, hugged her, and led her back into the bathroom. Angel, seeing how distraught her girl was, knew that she had to be strong for her.

“Angel … what … I don’t want to … live without him,” Tasha barely got out between sobs.

“You won’t have to. You know that nigga is a fighter,” Angel assured her.

“Then what’s taking them so long? I’m going crazy.” She ran both of her hands through her hair and turned in a circle. “They won’t even tell me anything, Angel. I can’t take it.”

“They’re doing all they can, Tasha. He’s a fighter. We got the money for the best doctors, so I promise you that nigga will be aiight. You know he is not leaving you and his boys. His family is everything to him. Am I right?” Tasha nodded yes. “I know I am. We just have to have a little more patience.”

“Roz.” Trina was knocking on the bathroom door. She eased it open, looking from Tasha to Angel, and decided to hand Angel a large travel bag.

“Look at you, Ma. Let’s see what we got in here.” Angel opened the bag and pulled out a baby-blue and white Baby Phat sweatsuit, underwear, and a pair of white Baby Phat sneakers. There was also a toothbrush, lotion, washcloth, and a towel. At the bottom of the bag were magazines:
KING, FEDS, Don Diva,
and
Essence.
She took everything out of the bag except for the magazines.

Angel wet the washcloth with warm water and dabbed Tasha’s face. She then helped her out of the suit jacket and peeled off the bloody bridesmaid’s dress. She gently washed Tasha off before helping her get into the clean clothes. She then brushed her hair and put it into a ponytail.

“Tasha, I never imagined that a wedding day could turn into such a disaster. Today was supposed to be a happy day for everybody. I am so sorry, Tasha. If I could go back and do things different, I swear I would.”

Tasha gave Angel a hug. “We’ll get through this … I hope.”

Angel broke down and cried. “Shit!” she cursed, mad that she caved in. “I’m sorry, girl. And yes, we will get through this.” She tried to stop crying. “I can get married some other time. I’m
sorry. Here I am supposed to be here for you and I’m crying on your shoulder.” She smiled.

“Wait a minute. What do you mean ‘you can get married some other time’? Y’all didn’t get married? Then what were y’all doing all this time?” Tasha was honestly confused.

“Oh God, Tasha. I thought you knew!” Angel covered her mouth as if she just leaked the biggest secret.

“Knew what, Angel?”

“Keenan came to the wedding wanting to speak to me. Of course Kaylin went ballistic and beat his ass. He would have killed him if it wasn’t for it being the wrong place and time,” Angel rattled off before starting to cry hard, like a kid who just got a major ass whipping. “He … Tasha … he wa … walked out. He said he did … didn’t want to marry me. Tasha, I swear it wasn’t my fault.”

“Keenan? Snake?” Tasha’s mouth was wide open. Angel nodded yes. “I thought he—”

“We all did.” Angel was tired of saying it.

“That slimy bastard! How does he look? What did you do?” Tasha was pacing back and forth, not believing what she was hearing. “Damn, that had to be crazy. What a fuckin’ creep!” she spat.

“It was creepy. I don’t think I’ll ever be the same again. I hope I don’t start having nightmares.”

“Fuck! What does he look like?”

“The nigga hasn’t aged a bit. He looks exactly the same except for the eye patch. It took everything I had not to freak out. If I had a gun I would have put out his other eye. I was so damned scared and mad.”

“I don’t believe Kaylin. Y’all really didn’t get married?”

“Nooo,” Angel sniveled. “He even choked me. Accused me of wanting to be with the nigga and everything.”

“Oh, hell no! Fuck that! I told him he better not ever put his hands on you.” Tasha stormed out of the bathroom, temporarily forgetting about Trae.

Angel was running behind her. “Tasha, I got him.” She grabbed her hand. “I got that nigga, trust me.”

Tasha yanked away. “I know, but I still need to check his ass. He got shit twisted. Kaylin! Kaylin!” She yelled as everyone turned to look at the disheveled sistas.

“Mrs. Macklin.” The nurse on duty interrupted at the nick of time. This is Dr. Chen. He’s filling in for Dr. Harabi.” Dr. Chen was a tiny, frail Chinese man. He was bald on top, wore huge frames, and had protruding front teeth.

“Mrs. Macklin. I’m Dr. Chen.” He gave a slight bow and then led her off to the side. Everyone in the waiting area was now standing up, anguish evident all over their faces.

Trae’s mother was now up and standing next to Tasha. They were holding hands.

“Dr. Chen, this is my husband’s mother. And these people standing around are all extended family.” She was now squeezing her mother-in-law’s hand. Her voice began to tremble. “Whatever you have to say concerning my husband please say it in front of everyone.”

“Very well, Mrs. Macklin. The surgery was a success for the most part. We were able to dislodge all four bullets. However, the bullet that lodged in his chest and then hit his spine has triggered a comalike state. He …”

Tasha fainted.

S
eventy-two hours later, Trae was still in a coma. Everyone was going back and forth to the hospital. Tasha was the only one who wouldn’t leave. She stayed by his side night and day. The family was bringing her meals, changes of clothes, and books to read. The twins, she would meet in the lobby every day, thanks to Trae’s parents.

Angel couldn’t understand how she did it. She didn’t think Tasha ever went to sleep. Between keeping an eye on Trae, dealing with the detectives that came by daily, sometimes two and three times a day, the kids, Trae’s crew, and even Reverend Run, who came by two more times, Angel saw Tasha in a whole new light. On top of that she was keeping Angel’s spirits up. Angel had gone home to get a change of clothes and had been camped out at the hospital ever since.

Angel was balled up on the small love seat seated in the far corner of Trae’s private hospital room. For privacy Mt. Sinai was the place to be. The room had a large bathroom, a sitting area, and if it wasn’t for his hospital bed and all of the monitors you wouldn’t know that you were in a hospital. It was freezing and Angel had the covers over her head and was trying to go back to sleep, that is until she heard Omar and Bo come in. They were talking low but Angel knew what she had heard.

“I want these muthafuckas found and I want them done just the way they did my husband. What do I have to pay?”

“Ma, you killin’ me. How you gonna insult me like that?” Omar wanted to know.

“I’m not trying to insult you. I just want these niggas taken care of before Trae gets well.” Her voice cracked. “I know he’s coming out of this, Omar. I know he is.”

“Ma, we got you, yo. It’s just taking a little more time than we anticipated,” Bo assured her. “But things are moving. It’s all gravy.”

Angel continued to listen as they explained that they finally got their hands on both of the surveillance tapes at the hotel. The one of Trae on the elevators, Kaylin firing on Snake, and all of them filing into the ballroom. Their people were going over them. The tapes were twenty-five grand a piece and Omar told Tasha they would keep her posted.

There’s a price for everything,
Angel thought to herself.

When the nurse entered, Omar and Bo left. Angel remained balled up as Tasha and the nurse made small talk. She figured that she was checking all of the equipment that was hooked up to Trae.

As soon as the nurse left, Tasha began talking to Trae. She made sure that every time she would be alone with him she would have a conversation with him. Angel peeked from under the covers and saw Tasha planting a kiss on his forehead.

“Hey, baby. I’m sure you just heard the nurse say that your vitals are fine and your wounds are healing. I miss you sooo much. Your sons miss you even more. Please come home to us real soon. Nana and Pop-pop are trying not to go crazy and they are doing such a good job with the boys.

“The apartment is ready. Who would ever have thought we would have needed it under these circumstances? We only lived in it together as a family for what, two, three days?” She giggled. “Now it looks like we’ll be there for at least a month. The doctor said you won’t be able to travel back to Cali for at least that
long. You have to get good and strong. Glad you didn’t sell it after all.

“Damn, baby, remember the first time I came over there? I remember it just like it was yesterday. You had hoes calling, putting them on speakerphone while trying to get me to spend the night?” She giggled at the memory. “Remember how I broke your blender making millions of strawberry shakes? What about the time that I was your patient and was supposed to be on bed rest? You also got your first shot of head right there in that apartment. Now a wife and two kids, one on the way, your bachelor/freak pad is now a family pad. Toys, cribs, bottles, the whole nine yards. Who would have thunk it?” She chuckled.

“Oh, your boy Jacob the Jeweler? He just got arrested in connection with a multistate drug and money-laundering ring. He’s out on bond. But the feds hemmed him up at the Midtown Manhattan spot. You think I should give him my butterfly necklace back?” Psych!

“But for real, they seized five mil in cash, thirty pieces of jewelry, thirteen houses, thirty-five vehicles, and 270 million in numerous bank accounts. Is that crazy or what? Now, I’m not sure if it is all his, but the article said that his affiliation was with some gang called the Black Mafia Family. I bet some broke-ass government agents’ wives will be rockin’ some serious jewelry.