Bitch Reloaded (18 page)

"Don't worry, Maya, I'll be fine. Just follow my lead." Honestly, I wasn't sure if I would be fine because I didn't know what was waiting for me. All I knew was that I wasn't going to miss the opportunity to come face-to-face with Nico Carter. I wanted to bring this chapter of my life to an end. If I didn't avenge Supreme's death, I could never move on. Nico was the holdup, and he had to go. There was no other way around it.

"Give me back the hat," I told Maya. She handed over the black baseball cap and I twisted my hair up in a bun.

"Be careful!" Maya hollered before I shut the door.

I walked briskly towards the building, and to my relief a man was about to go in. Finding someone to buzz me in was one obstacle I didn't have to encounter. On my way in, I quickly searched the buzzer for the super's name and apartment number. I peeped that there was no name listed under the apartment Nico was supposedly staying at.

I knocked on the door praying that the super would answer. "Mr. Sanchez, are you there?" I heard a television and a dog barking.

A few seconds later, a petite Hispanic lady opened the door with a little terrier right by her side. She had to be the super's wife. First she just stared at me, not saying a word. "Do you speak English?" She nodded her head yes, but still didn't say a word. "I need your help." I gave the sweetest and most sincere voice I could muster.

"Help?" Mrs. Sanchez questioned in a thick Spanish accent.

I could tell she was no pushover and I would have to give a very convincing story to get what I needed from her. "Yes, last night I got in a huge argument with my boyfriend, and before he left he stole a watch my father left me before he died. I called the police, but after speaking to my ex they said there was nothing they could do because my boyfriend denied it, and it was my word against his. I know that watch is in his apartment, and I desperately need it back. That watch is all I have left from my father. Not only did my ex break my heart by cheating on me with my best friend, but now he has my dead father's watch." I let a tear roll down my cheek for a special effect, hoping that would bring a twinge of sympathy. I studied the older lady's face, and I could see I was somewhat reaching her.

"What can I do?" She put her hands up as if confused.

"Let me in his apartment so I can get my father's watch. My ex went out of town this morning, so he's not home and he'll never know. I promise I won't be in there long."

The lady's eyes got extra big and her head switched back in forth as if stunned. "Are you crazy? I can't let you in someone else's apartment. Dat's against the law."

I lowered my hands, motioning for her to calm down. She was now talking loud and I didn't need to raise any suspicion. "Listen, no one would have to know. He's not home. All you have to do is give me the key and I'll be in and out. I promise it will be worth your while."

I finally struck a cord with the lady. She lifted her eyebrow waiting to hear what I was offering. I pulled out a knot of money, full of nothing but Benjamin Franklin's.

"What apartment is he in?" she asked in a much more cooperative tone.

"Seven-E."

"Oh, yes, I do see a young lady visit him often. He don't leave apartment that much, only very late at night. Must be when he come see you. He two-timer. What a shame, tsk, tsk, tsk..."

"Yes, two-timer. He was living with me and seeing my best friend."

"What a shame. You deserve your father's watch back," Mrs. Sanchez continued, now with her hand out as if every word she spoke cost me money.

I started dropping one bill after another in the palm of her hand. When I hit five I stopped.

"No key, no father watch."

I gave her five more, and she rolled up the grand and tucked it in her bra. Then she pulled a bunch of keys from her bathrobe pocket. "You get caught, I say you robbed me for key, then you go to jail." She wiped her hands, "I have nothing to do with this. I don't know what you're doing, I've never seen you before," she said with her eyes closed as if I had miraculously disappeared and she hadn't handed over the apartment key.

I said nothing. I had what I needed. I was also happy, that I had my baseball cap pulled down real low over my face so if shit hit the fan she wouldn't be able to give the police an accurate description of me. She closed the door as if nothing happened.

As I walked quietly up all seven flights of stairs, my heart was beating so fast. I didn't know if it was an adrenaline rush from being so close to ending Nico's life once and for all, or anticipation of the unexpected.

When I reached his floor, I put my ear to the door to see if I could hear anything, but there was complete silence. I discreetly pulled out my gun as I slowly opened the door with the key Mrs. Sanchez gave me. With it slightly open, I used one eye to scan the open area. No one was in view, so I took my chances and went straight in with gun raised.

I could hear what sounded like the shower running. After closing the door, I glanced around looking for clues that Nico was in fact staying here. The place was decorated decently enough, with coffee-colored leather furniture, a throw rug and a few plants, nothing spectacular but respectable. I made a beeline to the bedroom and I instantly knew that this was the place Nico was laying his head every night. He still wore the same cologne and the aroma filled the room. For a moment it brought back memories of how good he used to feel inside of me.

Hearing the water stop snapped me out of my daydreaming. I hurriedly tiptoed out of the bedroom and hid inside a hallway closet. I kept the door cracked open and watched as Nico came out the bathroom. He was butt naked, and his smooth chocolate skin was glistening, highlighting every muscle on his solid frame. He let his short, curly hair grow out and he was now sporting cornrows. Part of me wanted to fuck him one more time before I had to lullaby his ass, but that was a bad idea. I stood patiently in the closet as I saw him walking back and forth from the bedroom to the bathroom, getting dressed. When he was done, he went into the living room, turned on the television and sat down.

I waited about five more minutes so he could get comfortable and then sneaked up on him. "Long time no see," I said, sneaking up on Nico with my nine-millimeter pointing directly at his head.

His dark eyes remained fixed on mine, and he didn't flinch even with death staring him in the face. "My lovely Precious, I knew we'd meet again."

"I'm sure you did, just not under these circumstances."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Save the bullshit, Nico. I know you and some bitch named LeeLee was tryna set me up. You thought I was gonna show up here so the two of you could ambush me, but I deaded all that."

"Yo, on the real, I don't know what the fuck you're talking `bout. I had no clue you was going to show up here. You think I would be chillin' on the couch watching TV waiting for you to put a bullet in my heard? You know me better than that."

"Actually, I don't, because not in my worst nightmare did I believe you would come back and kill my husband. I can understand you seeking revenge on me and tryna end my life because I tried to end yours first by setting you up on that murder charge. I'll take that as settling the score, even though because of your actions I also lost my unborn child. That was foul. But to then come back and blaze Supreme while we're leaving the hospital. For that you gotta die."

Nico let out a deep sigh and shook his head. He put his hands over his mouth and rubbed his chin as if thinking.

I stepped back a little bit while keeping my finger firmly on the trigger. I didn't know if the nigga would try to get slick and jump at me to try and take my weapon. He was much more powerful than I was, and I had to keep the upper hand at all times.

"We've both done some fucked up shit to one another, but I swear on everything I've ever loved, which includes you, I ain't kill Supreme. And honestly, when you said you were pregnant I didn't believe you. I thought you were trying to manipulate the situation and have me pity you so I wouldn't finish you off. I'm sorry I took the life of your unborn child, but I swear that I didn't kill Supreme. That's my word."

I felt a slight pain in my heart. Nico spoke each word so clearly and defiantly. I knew this man on many levels, and it scared me because part of me believed he was telling the truth. "You a fuckin' lie. Don't try to snake your way out this shit. You the only person that had reason, and is crazy enough to come at Supreme in broad daylight. I know it was you."

"In your heart, if you really believe I was the one, then go head and pull that trigger... go head," Nico pressed on.

I stepped forward and gripped the gun tighter wanting to blast off so badly, but something held me back.

"You know I'm speaking the truth. Whoever took out Supreme had their own agenda. It was just easy for the blame to fall on me because of what went down between us."

"Well if it wasn't you, then who?" I was more confused then ever. I was dead set on believing that Nico was the culprit, but my gut knew he was telling the truth. It wasn't him.

"Honestly, I don't know, but it wasn't me, that I can promise you.

I was so caught up in digesting what Nico was saying that I never heard the front door opening. Before I knew it, I had a gun pointing at me, and now my life was flashing before my eyes.

"Bitch, put that gun down before I waste you."

I turned to see who had me jammed up, and I couldn't believe my eyes. "Yo, I know you ain't part of this bullshit!" I said, shaking my head.

"The two of you know each other?" Nico asked with bewilderment on his face.

"Yeah, I know Precious very well. I was gonna surprise you, baby, and deliver this bitch to you, but my girl, Talesha told me you never showed for the drop and pick up. I guess she was misinformed."

"Talesha," I repeated out loud. "Oh shit, LeeLee is short for Talesha! Ain't this some bullshit! I knew you were a scandalous trick the first time I met you, but I let my guard down, and now this." I switched my attention back to Nico. "I can't believe you got this hoe on your team. And Nina, aren't you supposed to be getting married today?"

"What the fuck is going on?" Nico seethed through clenched teeth.

"Precious, put that fuckin' gun down now and kick it towards me," Nina demanded, ignoring Nico.

I did as she said, and as I patted the back of my pants ready to grab my other gun, I realized it wasn't there. I quickly remembered that I left it on the backseat of the Range after I knocked out Vita. I was fucked up in the game right now, and didn't know how I would get out this shit. I still had my knife, but I didn't believe Nina would let me get close enough to slit her throat.

"Nina, answer my fuckin' question. How do you and Precious know each other, and what's this about you getting married?"

"Oh, so you don't know about her fiancee, Jamal?" I decided to run my mouth for as long as possible to buy some time until I figured a way out of this bullshit. "Yeah, I was supposed to be a bridesmaid and everything for this trick. So when did you decide you weren't showing up for the wedding, Nina? Before or after you planned on killing me?" Nico and I both stared at Nina waiting for a response.

"If you really want to know how this shit popped off, I'll break it down for you starting from the beginning," Nina began, taking me down memory lane after picking up my gun. "I was the one Nico called when he tried and failed to put you six feet under and had to go on the run. I'm sure he never got around to telling you this, but we used to fuck around until he got caught up in yo' silly ass. So when he needed me, I was there so I could prove to him I was a better bitch than you from day one, and he made the mistake choosing you over me. The night you came over to Jamal's house for dinner, I immediately recognized your face from a picture that Nico still carries around of you. I wanted to kill your ass right there on the spot, but instead I decided that I would befriend you and finish the job that Nico couldn't.

"But Nina, I told you I had put that shit wit' Precious behind me and was moving on."

"Oh, please! And let this bitch get away with ruining your life? She's the reason that we broke up in the first place. She's why you went to jail and you're on the run. You might've decided to let her get away with it, but not me. I had it all worked out. You was supposed to bring your slick-ass over here and I was gonna be waiting to empty my gun on you. Of course you had to throw salt in the game and fuck up my plan, but hell, here you are now, so it all worked out."

"Nah, Nina, you ain't takin' her out. Get that shit out yo' head."

"After everything Precious has done you're still choosing her over me? You're still in love with this poisonous bitch? I'm the one that's been holding it down for you while she's running around like she's queen bee. How can you defend her? I got a good man waiting at the altar for me, because I want to be with you."

"Yo, don't put that shit on me. I didn't even know you was engaged. You the one that said you wanted to break out of New York wit' me. I told you to stay here and not put your life on hold to be on the run wit' me."

"You left Jamal standing at the altar so you could run away with Nico? And it was you I saw that night I was coming out of that restaurant with Mike. That's why this area looks so familiar. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me because I was tipsy, but you were sneaking in going to see your other man. It was never about Jamal. Couldn't you have broken things off wit' him instead of wasting everybody's time and his money on a damn wedding that you knew would neva happen?"