Official Girl 4 (5 page)

             
Ranyla ran down to me as I slowly tried to get off the floor. A sharp pain hit me in my ribs and I wanted to scream but I didn’t want to scare NyNy any more than she already was.

             
Enough was enough. I should have left his ass when he came home drunk one night talking about how he paid the doctors at the hospital to fuck up the DNA test on Zyla to make it say he was the father.

             
I slowly walked up the stairs with NyNy sniffling behind me. “Princess, I need you to be a big girl and do mommy a favor okay? Can you do mommy a favor?” I asked.

             
She nodded her head up and down. “Yes, mommy.”

             
“Okay, I need you to grab your sister’s bag and put whatever you can fit in there. Anything of hers and yours okay?”

             
She ran out the room and I grabbed my phone to call my brother.

             
“Yo!” Mykell answered on the second ring.

             
“Kell, I need you. I need you now.”

             
“What’s wrong baby girl?” he asked.

             
“I’m on my way to you.”

             
“I’ll be ready for you.”

             
Four hours later, my daughters and I landed at Miami International Airport. I spotted Mykell’s Navigator by the entrance. I wanted to run to him so bad, but the pain in my side prevented me from doing that.

             
“You don’t have any bags?” he asked jumping out.

             
“I only packed for the girls,” I said, slowly climbing into the truck.

             
“What’s wrong? Why you moving like that?”

             
“Mommy…” Ranyla started but I cut her off.

             
“Not now NyNy,” I said. “We’ll talk later,” I said turning to Mykell.

             
He just nodded his head.

             
We pulled up to a nice house that I’ve never seen before and my mouth hit the floor. “Who lives here?” I asked.

             
“I do, Imma surprise Neicey with it when she comes home.” He smiled. “Oh, by the way, her trial starts Monday. So you came right on time.”

             
“You are so sweet.” I smiled.

             
“I get that a lot,” he joked.

             
We walked into the house and I was in awe. It was so beautiful.

             
“Close ya mouth before a bug fly in it,” Mykell laughed.

             
“Shut up.”

             
“NyNy, Amyricale is upstairs,” he said. The moment those words left his mouth, she took off running up the stairs. He walked over to me and took Zyla out my arms while grabbing my face. “Start talking, now.”

             
I slowly sat on the couch before speaking. “If I tell you, you gotta promise that you won’t tell daddy,” I said in a childlike tone. Even though Kell is the hotter tempered one, I always told him stuff before I did Micah or my daddy.

             
“It all depends on what you’re about to tell me,” he said, staring at me while bouncing his niece on his lap.

             
I wasn’t worried though because he never told on me when I asked him not to.

             
I sighed. “Zamier hit me…”

             
“WHAT!” he roared. “So you’re sitting up here telling me that a nigga put his hands on
my
sister but you don’t want me to say nothing? That’s cool, I’ll let my bullets do all the talking for me.”

             
Zyla looked at her uncle and started giggling like she understood what he was saying.

             
“See, even my niece agrees.”

             
“That’s not all,” I said.

             
“What else?”

             
“He told me that he paid the doctors to mess up the DNA test when Zyla was born. He also got mad and beat me with a belt after kicking me in my ribs.”

             
He got up and put Zyla on the couch and started pacing the floor. I watched him pace a good five minutes before he spoke again.

             
“So that’s why yo as was crying on the phone? And you think I’m not about to tell Pops that a nigga was beating on his daughter? His
only
daughter. Fuck that Le’Lani, I don’t care what you talking about, I’m telling him,” he said as he took his phone out of his pocket.

             
I got nervous and jumped up, pain shot through my side but I didn’t care at that moment. “Kell, please don’t. Not yet at least, wait until after the trial. He’s already stressing over Neicey; I don’t need him stressing over me right now,” I pleaded.

             
He sighed. “Alright. You need to go to the doctors or something?”

             
“No I’m just going to take a hot bath and soak,” I said.

             
“Alright, pick whatever room you want that don’t got kid shit in it and get comfortable because you won’t be going back anytime soon,” he said, and I knew better than to argue. I just walked up to him and kissed him on the cheek. I was grateful that I have such an understanding brother.

Kamil

             
Hiding out does not work for a nigga like me. I got the damn police on my ass, mad because I didn’t want to testify, they were trying to threaten me but I really didn’t give a fuck. That’s the last thing I was worried about right then. What I was trying to figure out is why Neicey would do some bullshit like turning herself in for that nigga. I just knew for damn sure that my plan would work, but I guess not.

             
The plan was to get Mykell locked up. I already knew that nigga had two strikes on him; three strikes and you’re out. When he got locked up I was going to get in where I fit it with Neicey and we were supposed to be happy. Unfortunately, she threw a wrench in my plans and fucked everything up.

             
See, she’s supposed to be wearing my ring; not that nigga’s. After all the bullshit she’s been through because of him, she was still quick to marry his ass. I wasn’t tripping though because I knew it would only be a matter of time before he fucks up again. A little birdie told me that Neicey’s lawyer wanted Mykell, so all he had to do is fuck up this one time and she’d come home to daddy. All that’s left to do is play the waiting game.

Chapter 4

Reneice

             
This was it. Today was the day. Hopefully everything worked out in my favor because I couldn’t imagine spending any more time behind bars. I just hoped Kamil kept his word and stayed far away today. I woke up early as hell today because I couldn’t sleep.

             
“Jones, come with me,” the guard said.

             
I followed him to the room where Toni was waiting for me. She put some clothes on the table. “Your husband brought these for you to put on,” she said.

             
It seemed like she had an attitude but I really don’t give a damn about her uppity ass right then. The only thing on my mind was my freedom.

             
I took the braids out so my hair had a curly look to it. Just because I was in jail didn’t mean that I had to look like it. The least I could do was look presentable in front of the judge. When I got in the courtroom, I was happy to see my family. Pop-Pop, my daddy, Micah, Janae, Mykell, MJ, Ramone and Lani; even Jason, Howie, and Corey came down.

             
“All rise!” the bailiff said and everyone stood to their feet while he judge entered. I was surprised to see that the judge was a woman; a black woman at that. The judge started talking and asking questions but I tuned her out to say a quick prayer.

             
Lord, you and I both know that I did not commit this crime so I ask that you get me through this. Amen.

             
I was shaken from my thoughts when the judge asked for the prosecutor to bring forth their witness.

             
“Um, Your Honor, it seems that our witness has disappeared,” said the DA, whose name is Carter.

             
“Your witness as disappeared huh?” she asked sarcastically.

             
“Your Honor, I would like to request a quick sidebar,” Toni said.

             
The judge agreed and they walked up to the judge. I don’t know what they were saying and I was kind of getting nervous. Toni walked back to me and smiled. I wanted to return the smile but I was too scared to.

             
“Mr. Carter, since you have no witness and no evidence, I’m giving you a week to come up with some evidence or I’m dismissing this case,” she said before banging her gravel. I let out a sigh of relief at those words. I wanted to get up and jump for joy but I didn’t want to jump to conclusions.

Three days later

              “Neicey, where did you get all this pretty hair from?” Big Mama asked.

             
“My mama had some pretty hair, so I guess it’s genetics. My daddy got a good grade, too.”

             
“You sure one of them wasn’t mixed with nothing?”

             
“Honestly, I don’t really know. My mom’s family didn’t want anything to do with her when she started messing with my daddy. They damn near lost their minds when they found out she was pregnant with my brother, so we never got to meet them. As far as my dad, we never met his side of the family and he never talks about them,” I sighed.

             
“That’s deep. I understand the feeling though. Well, I sure do hope this baby comes out with some pretty hair. I have a feeling that it’s going to be a girl and Big Mama hasn’t been wrong on guessing the sex of a baby yet,” she smiled.

             
“Oh Lord, another one of me running around? I don’t know if I can handle that, Amyricale is already a hot mess.” I laughed.

             
“So I’m guessing you still haven’t told him,” she said, eyeing me.

             
“Not yet Big Mama, but I promise I will very soon,” I said.

             
“Alright child, it’s your business.”

             
“Jones, pack up. You’re going home,” a guard said.

             
“Huh? What you say?” I asked confused.

             
“You’re going home, girl. C’mon unless you want to stay here,” the guard laughed.

             
“Hell no!” I yelled. “I don’t need anything. Big Mama can keep it all,” I said before turning to her and hugging her.

             
“You have my number, so make sure you keep in touch,” I said before leaving.

             
“Hello Mrs. Jones,” Toni greeted me.

             
“Toni, what happened? I thought the judge gave the DA a week?”

             
“Yea, but he had a change of heart and decided to drop the charges for the lack of evidence with no witness. Congratulations, you are a free woman,” she smiled.

             
“Oh my God, please tell me you’re not playing with me,” I said

             
“I kid you not. Your ride is outside.”

             
After changing my clothes and collecting everything they took from me the first day I got here, I ran outside and was confused when I saw Lakey instead of Mykell; but I was still happy.

             
“Lakeyyyy!” I yelled.

             
“Wassup Snook, how does it feel to be free again?” he laughed.

             
“Shut up,” I laughed with him.

             
We jumped in his truck and pulled out of the driveway. The whole ride we talked about everything. He informed me that Mykell had bought MJ a car and I didn’t know how I felt about that; but there was really nothing I could do about it.

             
We pulled up to Lakey’s house and he killed the engine. “I got you some clothes and shit for you to take a shower. We got one more stop to make before I drop you off at home,” he said.

*   *   *

              After a nice, long, hot shower, I felt rejuvenated. We drove for quite a while before Lakey pulled up to this beautiful house. Whoever lived here was lucky. If I lived here, I would never leave the house. He sent a quick text before he hopped out of the car and told me to do the same.