The Gangsta That Stole My Heart 2 Read online

  “Dad, I know you’re getting ready for work, but I was wondering if you could stop by for a minute. My kitchen sink is making a weird noise.”

  My daddy worked the third shift at Ford Motor Company. He’d been working there for most of my life. When I was younger, I remembered him and my mom always arguing about his schedule, but my dad loved it; he was a night owl.

  “Yeah, I’m getting ready to walk out the door now. Give me fifteen minutes, baby girl.”

  I smiled. “Okay, see you in a minute. Tell Mommy I love her.” I ended the call at the same time my text alert went off.

  Rel: I’m sorry.

  Rolling over onto my side, I grabbed my remote control and turned the volume on the television up.

  Men are trash…

  True

  “Look at this nigga,” Drake laughed. “Get out yo’ feelings.”

  “Right… Nigga got a gambling problem.” Eli shook his head. “I told you to quit while you was ahead.”

  Sitting my pool stick down on the table, I grabbed my drink. “Pay up, nigga.”

  “Run it back.” Silas shifted through a stack of money. “Double or nothin’.”

  “Nah…” I shook my head. “Just give me what you owe.”

  He sucked his teeth. “Let me win my money back.”

  Again, I shook my head no. Taking a sip of beer, I held my hand out.

  Silas waved me off, then put the cash back in his pocket. “Double or nothin’.” He grabbed the rack and started setting the game back up.

  I chuckled.

  “You win again, and I’ll pay up.”

  “Nah…” I gripped my beer tighter. “You gon’ give me my shit now.”

  Drake laughed.

  Silas looked up at me slowly, frowning. “Nigga, it’s two grand. What…yo’ pockets hurtin’?”

  Standing up, I grabbed my pool stick.

  “If you needed a loan, you should’ve said something, my G,” Silas said, centering the balls. “I’ma even let you go first.”

  Eli cleared his throat. “Sy…just pay the man.”

  Silas grinned. “I will if he win—”

  He stopped mid-sentence when my pool stick broke over the top of his head. I dropped the small piece in my hand and stole on him, hoping I had broken the nigga’s nose. Everybody in the bar stopped what they were doing and looked on as my fist came down on his face continuously. When his body went limp, I shoved him hard onto the floor. Going into his pocket, I removed his cash and peeled off what he owed me and something extra to pay for the pool stick I had broken.

  “Damn, True,” Eli sighed, helping his boy. “You know this nigga just be fuckin’ around.”

  “I ain’t the nigga to fuck wit’.” I grabbed my beer. “Carry his bitch ass out, and when he wakes up, tell him he can’t come back to this muthafucka until I give the okay.”

  Drake grabbed Silas’ stick. “Who got next?”

  “You should’ve seen it.” Ava laughed loudly, sitting at the bar. “E, he whooped that nigga’s ass, then ransacked his pockets, yo.”

  “Ava Lane…” Roman looked back at her. “Chill out.”

  I had cleared the bar out about twenty minutes ago. The only people left was the crew. Of course, Ava was the only chick, and she found a seat at the bar with a bottle of Cîroc.

  “Girl, that nigga is bitch made. I know he woke up by now.”

  “Instigating ass…” Roman shook his head. “Where Channy at? Her ass needs some company.”

  I shrugged, watching Drake knock a striped ball in. “She ain’t fuckin’ wit’ me.”

  “For how long?” Ro got ready to take his turn. “You know how you and Sis are.”

  “Exactly,” Drake cosigned. “Chance is one of us.”

  I tipped my shot back. “Nah…I fucked up. She pregnant and shit.”

  “For real?” Ro gave me a look like he didn’t believe me. “I’m surprised you let that happen.”

  Grabbing my beer, I stared down at the table. “It’s mine.”

  “Nigga, what?”

  “Chance is carrying my baby.”

  Damn.

  It had been confirmed at the doctor earlier, but saying it out loud made it that much more surreal. My Jelly was having my baby.

  “You lying…” Ava came from nowhere. “Chance Robins is pregnant? By you?”

  “I thought you had a flight to catch in the morning.” Roman looked over at her. “It’s getting late. Go home and wait on me, love.”

  Ava smacked her lips and laughed. “Are you kicking me out? That’s fucked up, yo.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I can’t drive drunk.”

  “Ross is outside. Tell him I said go ’head and drop you off. I’ll be home in a little bit.” Roman palmed her ass. “It’s getting late, and you way past your two drink limit, shorty.”

  “Fine,” she huffed. “Y’all ain’t no fun anyways.”

  I chuckled as Roman walked her out.

  “Is that why that Nisha chick came in here wildin’ earlier?” Drake asked.

  I nodded. “Yeah, man. She saw Chance earlier and started trippin’.”

  “Two at the same time,” Drake whistled. “You hot.”

  I only shook my head because he wasn’t lying. I hadn’t done the shit on purpose, but there wasn’t much I could do about it now. All I could try to do was keep Chance and Nisha far apart.

  Drake’s phone started ringing. “This bitch gon’ make me choke her.” He shook his head.

  “That doctor chick?”

  He nodded. “She been whining and complaining about being in a relationship. I keep telling her ass she don’t wanna be wit’ a nigga like me. She a smart chick, but she too fuckin’ needy.”

  “Ain’t they all?” My eyes shot towards the door when Roman walked back in.

  “So Channy having your baby?” Roman grinned. “It must be snowing in hell.”

  I took another swig of my beer.

  “I told Ava not to go running her mouth.”

  Nodding, I ignored a FaceTime from Quindelle. “And Nisha is having a boy.”

  “So, you and Channy together or what? I noticed she ain’t been coming around for real.” Roman asked, grabbing his cup.

  “Nah… She just carrying my shorty.” Could I see myself with Chance? Yeah. Were we ready to take that step? Nah.

  “You better stop stallin’ and lock that down,” Roman frowned. “You know Channy is as solid as they come. I mean, shit, everybody knew it was bound to happen.”

  “I just got out the joint and I saw it comin’.” Drake stared down at his phone. “To be honest, when I touched down, I thought that was all you.”

  Finishing off my drink, I picked up a pool stick. I’d hurt Chance Breon enough. She’d been crying, cursing, and stepping out of her character more than usual since we’d started fucking. It wasn’t my intention to change my Jelly, but she wasn’t the same. Her eyes, they were empty, and her smile wasn’t even genuine anymore.

  To know that I was the reason behind the shift in her attitude was fucking with me. The last thing Chance needed was to be in a relationship with a nigga like me. I loved my best friend, and for that reason alone, I was willing to take a step back and give her the space she wanted. I just wasn’t sure for how long.

  5

  What you want might make you cry

  Chance

  “I’m not used to seeing your pretty face all frowned up like this.” Haze grabbed his beer. “What’s up, ma? Talk to me.”

  Shrugging, my eyes surfed the room. “Just been a lot going on.” Part of me wanted to talk about my problems, but it didn’t feel right, putting Haze in what was technically True’s business.

  He shook his head. “I ain’t gon’ press you.”

  “Thanks,” I sighed. “So, what’s new with you?” Getting comfortable in my seat, I grabbed my water. “You’ve been coming back a lot more than usual.”

  “Yeah, I know. My older sister been going through this custody battle bullshit,” Ha
ze frowned. “Her last baby daddy got a li’l money, so he trying to take my niece.”

  “I’m sorry she’s going through that.”

  “Me too.”

  My phone pinged from a text notification.

  Rel: Can I take you to dinner? I miss you.

  Rolling my eyes, I ignored his text and laid my phone face down. When it pinged again, I smacked my lips.

  Haze smirked. “That your boyfriend?”

  “Boyfriend?” I grimaced. “What is that.”

  He laughed. “Damn, it’s like that?”

  I giggled, making room for the waiter to set my plate down. “What? I’m just saying. A boyfriend is the last thing on my mind right now. I have a baby to prepare for that’ll be here by the end of the year and two businesses to run...” I unwrapped my cutlery.

  Haze nodded. “So, you’re what... two, three months?”

  “Just hit the two-month mark.” I scooped up a big bite of spicy rice. Shoving the fork into my mouth, I moaned from satisfaction.

  “Keep that same energy for later.”

  I almost choked on my second bite. Grabbing a napkin, I held it over my mouth while I laughed. “Oh, my God.”

  He chuckled.

  “Really, Haze?”

  “What?” Haze licked his lips. “So, sex is out? It ain’t like we ain’t never smashed.” He eyed me in a way that caused me to blush and look down at my food.

  “Haze, I’m pregnant.”

  And if True found out, he’d kill us...

  “That just means I can’t knock you up no time soon.” The intense gaze he gave me made me flood my panties almost instantly.

  “No, that means I can’t just be having sex,” I mumbled quietly.

  “So, what about your needs? You gon’ go to your baby daddy whenever you need some TLC?” Haze took a healthy bite of his food.

  Shaking my head, I watched him eat. “I honestly haven’t thought that far.”

  Haze nodded. “You know I got you whenever you need that release.”

  I giggled. “Noted.”

  “My cousin’s wedding is this weekend. Wanna be my plus one?” he asked, picking his beer up again.

  “Uh...”

  “C’mon, Chance.” Haze leaned forward. “I already told you I wasn’t giving up on you. This li’l tough guy act you got going ain’t even like you.”

  Rolling my eyes, I stuffed my mouth again. How did Haze know what wasn’t like me? We’d just started back talking after years of disconnection. The more people experienced life, the more they changed. I wasn’t the same Chance from then.

  “Talk to me.” Haze interrupted my thoughts.

  “I’m just tired,” I said, wiping my mouth. “I go out of my way for everyone, but somehow, I still end up being hated or in the wrong.” My vision blurred.

  Stupid hormones.

  “I always told you you was too nice to that nigga, though.”

  “What?” I grabbed a napkin and dabbed my teary eyes in confusion.

  “True. He the only person that be having you out of character and shit. You be giving that nigga too much power.”

  I picked at my food. “You wouldn’t understand.”

  Nobody did.

  What True and I had was special. From the secrets we’d shared to the love we made. Just thinking about him and the child I was carrying made me want to ball up in a dark corner and cry my eyes out. We weren’t supposed to end up like this, but since there was no going back, I would play the cards I’d been dealt.

  “Help me understand then. Are you in love with him?”

  I shook my head, no.

  Lie...

  “Do you want to be with him?”

  “Nope.” I picked my glass up and fumbled with the straw.

  Lie...

  “I’m just tryna make sure I’m not pursuing anything serious wit’ you and you already got yo’ mind made up... ya know?” Haze stared at me. “I want a fair shot.”

  “I’m not ready to be with anyone.” My heart was closed off. Outside of my family and friends, I just wasn’t interested in giving anybody my all.

  “Daddy?” I tapped twice on the door to my parents’ bedroom. “You sleep?”

  “No...come on in, baby girl.”

  Pushing the door open slowly, I stepped into the dimly lit room. The announcers from the basketball game he was watching sounded lowly from the television mounted on the wall. My daddy laid comfortably against a bunch of pillows that lined their headboard. He motioned for me to come all the way in as he sat up. Making my way over to their bed, I sat down and stared up at the TV screen.

  “How was your day?” my dad asked, turning the volume down.

  “Busy. Yours?”

  “Same ole. Your mama done cookin’?”

  Shaking my head no, I kicked my heels off. “She said she’ll bring your plate up when it’s finished.”

  “Cool.”

  We watched the game in silence. Fiddling with my thumbs, I’d look back at him every once in a while. I giggled lowly whenever he clapped loudly in satisfaction and shook my head when he cursed the referees. Finally, when it cut to commercial, I faced my father.

  “Daddy...”

  “Yeah, baby girl?”

  “Did Mommy tell you I was... I’m...uh...”

  “Pregnant by True.”

  My dad cut me off, and my head dropped. “Yeah, she told me. I’ve just been waiting for you.” He sighed, then patted the spot right next to him.

  Climbing all the way onto the bed, I crawled next to him. I fell into his chest and snuggled underneath him when he wrapped his arm around me. Closing my eyes, I hugged him.

  “How come he don’t love me?” My eyes opened, and I let the tears flow freely. “I did everything.”

  My daddy huffed. “Chance, sometimes men don’t know what they have until it’s gone.”

  “But that so cliché,” I whimpered pitifully.

  “I know, baby. But that’s life. You’ve always been too available to True. On top of you being sweet as pie, you’re loyal to a fault.”

  I wiped my cheeks.

  “You’ve allowed this thing with you and True to become this way. You’re just as guilty as him, baby girl.”

  I pouted.

  “That’s the hard truth, but it’s facts. I’m not saying he doesn’t love you, either. I’m saying you made it too easy for him. I’ve watched you and him grow up, knowing this day would come.” He squeezed me softly. “I just wasn’t sure if you’d be strong enough to pull through without losing yourself.”

  Warm tears continued trickling down my face.

  “Don’t change who you are because some knucklehead boy broke your heart. I know it hurts, and I know you’re sad.”

  Very...

  “And I know you still love him.”

  I do...

  “But you can’t let this shift your character, Chance. Despite all this, I want you to continue to be your bubbly, loving, caring, compassionate self.” He kissed the top of my head. “I love you, you know that?”

  I chuckled, wiping my face. “I love you, too.”

  “If it’s meant to be, he’ll come around. Us men aren’t as smart as you women, unfortunately. Takes us a little longer to get the bigger picture, but that don’t mean we don’t see all the beauty in your colors.”

  I smiled.

  “Now stop all that crying ’fore you have me puttin’ that little nigga in a chokehold.”

  Laughing, I snuggled closer to my dad as he turned the volume back up on the game.

  True

  “So, Chance is pregnant, too?” Quindelle barged into my office.

  Man...

  I grabbed the double Styrofoam cup off my desk. By the grace of God, I hadn’t seen her ass all week. We’d always miss each other by a couple minutes whenever she dropped Chasity off at Granny’s. It was nice not having to hear her mouth or deal with her fucked-up attitude, but I guess my luck had finally run out.

  “Like, you really knocked t
wo bitches up at once?!” she screamed.

  I looked her slim-thick frame up and down. The two-piece set she had on hugged her hips and thighs perfectly. Probably because she had on them “clapper” pants. But then again, my baby mama’s body was nice as fuck. I hadn’t fucked her in a minute, and her coming through looking sexy had me wanting to do nasty shit to her.

  “Quin, why are you here?”

  “Because Chasity said Chance was pregnant, and when I asked Granny Ann, she verified it. Then Love couldn’t wait to throw the fact the baby was yours in my face!”

  I took a long drink.

  “So now Chasity knows Chance is pregnant by you.”

  “And?” I’d planned on telling my young life on my own, but since Love didn’t know how to keep her mouth shut, she’d spared me the awkward conversation. I was sure Chasity called Chase the minute she got alone.

  “I thought you didn’t even want any more kids, True. Why didn’t you make them get an abortion?”

  “Quin, I’m—"

  My office door burst open, and Jaliyah stormed in, mugging. “You been fuckin’ Chance this whole time! That bitch smiled in my face for years, knowing she was fuckin’ my baby daddy?! You let that hoe name my son!”

  “Can’t you see we’re talking?” Quindelle spun around. “The mall ain’t closed yet, go shoplift or something until I’m done.”

  “Go suck a dick,” Jaliyah snapped, jumping in her face.

  “I will when you leave.”

  “Aye...” I stood up. “Ain’t neither one of y’all my bitch, so technically, a nigga ain’t gotta explain shit to you. But since y’all so fuckin’ worried, yes, Jelly is pregnant, and yeah, it’s mine.”

  Jaliyah’s mouth dropped. “You a scandalous-ass nigga, True. I should slap the fuck out of you for lying all this time.”

  “Bitch, I wish you would touch him.”

  Jaliyah looked unfazed. Everybody in the room knew Quin didn’t want those problems. Jaliyah would drag her ass from here to Timbuktu if I let her. Her funny-colored eyes sparkled as she gave Quindelle the once over. “The fuck you gon’ do, hoe?”