Bitch (22 page)

When I pulled up to my old apartment building my stomach felt queasy, and it wasn't morning sickness. The moment I got to Rhonda's front door and saw it slightly open, I knew something was terribly wrong.

"Rhonda," I called out, and got no response. Everything seemed in order and, for a brief second, I thought maybe Rhonda ran out and forgot to lock the door. That thought was put to rest when I opened her bedroom door and she was spread out eagle style with her wrist and ankles tied up to each bedpost. Her naked body was bruised and beaten. There was a pillow over her face, and I removed it, only to find duct tape covering her mouth and her face was blown off. This was almost like reliving finding my mother all over again.

"That sonofabitch Amir. I can't believe he did this to you, Rhonda. I told you not to let him in," I screamed out loud as if she could really hear me. I picked up my cell phone and dialed 911. "Yes there has been a murder at 100 Crown Court, Edgewater, New Jersey. Her boyfriend Amir Jacobs is the killer."

I sat on the couch waiting for the police to show up. The wait wasn't long; within five minutes they were at the door. "Miss, are you the one who called about a murder?"

"Yes, I am."

"Where's the crime scene?"

"The bedroom on your left," I said pointing them in the direction of Rhonda's room.

"I know that you're upset but can you please answer a few questions for my partner here?"

"No problem." The police detective pulled out a notepad.

"Miss, what is your name?"

"Precious Cummings. I'm sorry, Precious Mills I recently got married."

Congratulations."

"Thanks," I said awkwardly.

"How do you know the deceased?"

"We were roommates until I moved in with my husband."

"So if you no longer live here what made you come by?"

"We were still friends." The officer nodded his head. I knew he wanted me to get to the point, but my mind was cluttered, thinking about Rhonda's death and Nico's impending release. "She called me today and asked me to come over. She was having problems with her boyfriend, and she was scared he was going to hurt her."

"She told you that?"

"Yes."

"Those were her words that she believed he was going to hurt her?"

"Yes. They had broken up before because he caught her cheating on him and he beat the shit out of her. I'm sorry excuse my language."

"What's her boyfriend's name?"

"Amir Jacobs."

"OK, go right ahead Mrs. Mills."

"He knocked her up pretty good and only stopped because I walked in on him and threatened to call the police. They didn't need to know he stopped because I pulled out a 9mm on his ass I thought to myself. "They recently got back together, and he started checking her Sidekick messages and found out that she was cheating again. She was petrified that he was going to flip out on her again, and she asked me to come be with her. If only I had gotten here sooner."

"Don't blame yourself, Mrs. Mills. When you're dealing with scum bags like this, there is nothing you can do. You're lucky you weren't here. Then I might be investigating two homicides. Excuse me I'm going to have a warrant issued for Mr. Jacobs' arrest."

I sat on the couch for thirty minutes, unable to move until the paramedics brought out Rhonda's body, and I stood up, reaching towards her, wanting to believe she wasn't dead.

"Mrs. Mills the New York City Police Department has Amir Jacobs in custody, and I'm on my way to the city to question him."

"They found him in New York? He wasn't hiding out?"

"Actually, Mrs. Mills he was at work when they picked him up. When we ran his name, we called the number he was listed under and a woman answered the phone. She identified herself as his wife and said her husband was at work. We called his job and they confirmed that, but they still brought him in for questioning because you can never be too sure."

"Married? Amir was married?"

"That's what the lady said. You know how men can be sometimes. They have their own secrets."

"So what are you saying, Amir didn't kill Rhonda?"

"I can't give you a definite answer on that. If his story checks out, and he was at work as his boss has confirmed, then, no, Mr. Jacobs is not the one who is responsible for your friend's death. I have your number and will call to keep you updated. But here's my card, just in case you have any questions."

I left Rhonda's apartment more confused than ever. I didn't know what was going on. If Amir didn't kill her, then who? She was seeing a few different dudes, but which one of them would want to see her dead? Whoever did that to Rhonda wanted to torture her. The person was enraged. I couldn't imagine Rhonda having any enemies like that. I had to speak to Supreme. His phone was just ringing and he finally picked it up right when I was about to hang up. "Baby, I'm so glad you answered your phone."

"Precious, what's wrong?"

"Everything. Rhonda's been murdered."

"What!"

"Baby, yes. She asked me to stop by, and when I got there, she was tied to her bed with her face blown off. Somebody murdered her."

"Do they know who did it?"

"At first I thought it was Amir, but he might have an airtight alibi. This shit is freaking me out, Supreme."

"Precious, calm down. You're pregnant. You can't let yourself get all upset."

"Baby, please come home. There is something else I want to talk to you about, too."

"OK, I'm leaving the studio right now."

"I love you, Supreme."

"I love you, too."

Death seemed to follow me. I knew Rhonda's murder had nothing to do with me, but I felt like I was right in the center of it. I thought I had left all the bloodshed in Brooklyn but now it was here in Jersey. The gate leading up to the driveway opened, and I turned my head to look because I felt as if someone was behind me. There was nothing there. I put my head down and said, "Precious, relax. You need to stay calm for the baby."

I put my hand on my stomach, "Everything will be alright, my little angel. Your daddy will make sure of that."

Once I talked to Supreme about the conversation I had with Ms. Duncan, I wouldn't feel so stressed. Supreme was good at coming up with solutions. Maybe he could pay Nico off, or if necessary, have him killed. However it went, Supreme would work it out. Or so I thought. My whole life seemed to move in slow motion after stepping out my car. There stood the ghost from my past. Only it wasn't a ghost.

"You've done very well for yourself. I'm proud of you, Precious."

I closed my eyes because I knew this wasn't real. It was like those nightmares that made it impossible for me to sleep for days. But just like when I would wake up, that image standing before me would be gone.

"Baby, open your eyes I'm not going anywhere. I'm the real deal."

"Nico, you can't be real."

"Precious, you're just as beautiful, if not more, than the first time I saw you walking the streets of Harlem. I knew you didn't belong there. Now look at you, married to a superstar, living in a mansion.

"You made Brooklyn proud. But as much as you cleaned yourself up, you still have those dark eyes just like me. Remember I told you besides me and my father you were the only other person I ever met with the same darkness in your eyes. That right there should've been enough incentive for me to let you walk away that day, but instead I wanted you more. Because of that I had to pay the price for my decision. Now it's time for you to pay the price for yours."

"Nico, please, I was so immature back then and I made a mistake. But I'm a different person now. I've put the streets behind me and turned my life around."

"It's all good that you turned your life around, but you had to give my soul to the devil in order to get it. Not once did you think about the life you took away from me, and the money you stole. You destroyed everything we had over some pussy. A bitch I didn't even give a fuck about.

"But that didn't matter to you, because you're like me. Your pride and your ego dictate your moves. But, Precious, with every decision you make in life, there are consequences. And your consequence is death."

"Nico, don't. What can I do to stop this? I don't want to die."

"You're already dead I just came to take it in blood. But because I still have mad love for you, Precious, I won't make you suffer the way I did your friend."

"What friend?" At first I thought he was speaking of Ritchie, but he knew I did that for revenge so what friend could he be talking about?

"If I'm not mistaken her name was Rhonda," he said with that same devious chuckle I always detested.

"You killed Rhonda, but why?"

"I really didn't want to take the chance and come here to kill you. I wasn't sure what type of security you were working with, but obviously not enough," he said, glancing around the estate. You know Mike. Well he told me about your ex-roommate Rhonda. So I paid her an unexpected visit.

"All I asked her to do was get you over to the apartment, and I would handle the rest, but she refused. I figured if I tortured her a little bit she would give in, but she was a fighter. She was a true friend to the end unlike Inga."

I can't believe Rhonda died trying to save my life. She knew I was coming to see her anyway, all she had to do was tell Nico to wait. Rhonda sacrificed her life for me, damn.

"Nico, hasn't there been enough death in our lives? I can give you back the million dollars and more, if you like. I have a husband, Nico and I'm pregnant with his child. I'm living the life I never dreamed possible. Don't take that away from me."

"I came back for you to take what's mine, and that's your life." Nico raised his gun, and we both turned when we heard Supreme's driver pulling up. As his car got closer, Supreme could see that Nico was pointing his gun at me. He jumped out and his bodyguards followed with guns raised.

But it was too late. The loud explosion ripped through my chest. The pressure jolted me back, and I hit my car before falling down to the ground. Then I heard Nico shooting in the direction of Supreme and his bodyguards as he vanished in the darkness. Supreme ran to me cradling my limp body.

"Precious, baby, it's me, Supreme. Please stay with me. The ambulance will be here any minute. Baby, please just hold on."

"Supreme, I'm so happy I was able to see your face one last time. Baby, I love you. I never knew what love was until I found you. Please forgive me for leaving you and taking our baby too."

Supreme held me so tightly and I gathered all the strength from within, trying to keep my eyes open because the sight of Supreme's face was giving me the will to live. But as my blood continued to flow, my strength deteriorated and my body wanted to be at peace. The last words I heard before my eyelids shut was Supreme's begging God not to let me die.

Ole/ S)~j f Xiller Is horn

Philly, 1993

"Please, Daquan, don't hit me again!" the young mother screamed, covering her face in defense mode. She hurriedly pushed herself away from her predator, sliding her body on the cold hardwood floor.

"Bitch, get yo' ass back over here!" he barked, grabbing her matted black hair and dragging her into the kitchen. He reached for the hot skillet from the top of the oven, and you could hear the oil popping underneath the fried chicken his wife had been cooking right before he came home. "Didn't I tell you to have my food ready on the table when I came home?"

"I... I... I was almost finished, but you came home early," Teresa stuttered, "Ouch!" she yelled as her neck damn near snapped when Daquan gripped her hair even tighter.

"I don't want to hear your fuckin' excuses. That's what yo' problem is. You so damn hard headed and neva want to listen. But like they say, a hard head make fo' a soft ass. You gon' learn to listen to me."

"Please, please, Daquan, don't do this! Let me finish frying your chicken and I'll never do this again. Your food will be ready and on the table everyday on time. I promise!"

"I'm tired of hearing your damn excuses."

"Bang!" was all you heard as the hot skillet came crashing down on Teresa's head. The hot oil splashed up in the air, and if Daquan hadn't moved forward and turned his head, his face would've been saturated with the grease.

But Teresa wasn't so lucky, as the burning oil grazed her hands, as they were protecting her face and part of her thigh.

After belting out in pain from the grease, she then noticed blood trickling down from the open gash on the side of her forehead. But it didn't stop there. Daquan then put the skillet down and began kicking Teresa in her ribs and back like she was a diseased infected dog that had just bitten him.

"Yo', Pops, leave moms alone! Why you always got to do this? It ain't never no peace when you come in this house." Genesis stood in the kitchen entrance with his fists clenched and panting like a bull. He had grown sick and tired of watching his father beat his mother down almost every single day. At the age of eleven he had seen his mother receive more ass whippings than hugs or any indication of love.

"Boy, who the fuck you talkin' to? You betta get yo' ass back in your room and stay the hell outta of grown people's business."

"Genesis, listen to your father. I'll be alright. Now go back to your room," his mother pleaded.

Genesis just stood there unable to move, watching his mother and feeling helpless. The blood was now covering her white nightgown and she was covering her midsection, obviously in pain trying to protect the baby that was growing inside of her. He was in a trance, not knowing what to do to make the madness stop. But he was quickly brought back to reality when he felt his jaw almost crack from the punch his father landed on the side of his face.

"I ain't gon' tell you again. Get yo' ass back in your room! And don't come out until I tell you to! Now go!" Daquan didn't even wait to let his only son go back to his room. He immediately went over to Teresa and picked up where he left off, punishing her body with punches and kicks. He seemed oblivious to the fact that not only was he killing her, but also he was killing his unborn child right before his son's eyes.