The Face That Launched A Thousand Bullets (The Cartel Publications Presents) (33 page)

“Daddy, I’m so sorry…it’s just that…I met somebody.”

“Well how come he can’t come in here and introduce himself to me like a man? Why he got to steal you away in the middle of the night like you some whore?”

“He didn’t do that, daddy. I never came home from school.”

“I had plans for your birthday, Tiara. You’ve never done anything like this.”

“I’m sorry, daddy! Please forgive me. I wanted to tell you but I knew you’d be mad. I love him.”

“Tiara, you don’t know nothin’ about love! You too young and naive.”

“I do know about love! And we made love!”

He took two steps closer.

“Are you tellin’ me that you had sex?”

“Yes! And he bought me nice things too!”

“That’s all you care about is materialistic bullshit! You’re just like your fuckin’ mother.”

That hurt.

“I don’t mean to be, daddy.” She said softly.

“And what about everything I’ve been trying to teach you? It’s about what’s in your heart and mind! I thought we agreed, focus on books and your life and worry about boys later. Don’t you realize if you don’t get an education, you won’t be able to care for yourself? Don’t you see it’s important for you to depend on you and not some thug nigga?”

Tiara hung her head.

“Go to your room.”

“Why?”

“For lying to me. And tomorrow come straight home. Don’t ask me about the phone cause I’m taking it out of here. Do I make myself clear?”

“But, daddy.”

“Do I make myself CLEAR!?!!!”

“Yes…daddy.”

“And you’re not to see him anymore. Now go!” he pointed toward her room.

Her world was over. How was she going to keep Cray if she couldn’t talk or see him? She felt like dying and it was all her father’s fault. Suddenly she hated him. It was nothing else for her to do but to run away with Cray. She immediately locked her door, picked up the phone and called him.

“Baby…it’s me. My dad found out and he won’t let me see you. You were right! I hate him!”

“You okay?”

“No…can you come back and get me? Please.”

“I’ll have my man Blunt pick you up in front of your spot in five minutes. He drives a silver Durango.”

“Thanks, baby. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

She loved being able to express those words while feeling as if she meant it.

She hung up the phone and busied herself with what to take and decided on nothing. She knew Cray would by her all new things anyway. Luckily for her Kavon wasn’t in the living room, so she jetted out the front door. That one move began her new life.

Kavon Cartier

So Much Left To Be Said

K
avon felt like a failure in his car driving up and down the dark roads in the neighborhood looking for Tiara. Having been in Baltimore county for less than a year, already he lost his only daughter to the streets, again. And if he didn’t find her, she might be gone forever. All he wanted to do was wrap his arms around her and tell her how sorry he was.

He drove around for fifteen more minutes before remembering Tiara didn’t have her car and realized it was probably at her school. He drove there quickly. When he saw her car was still there, he parked far down on the same block, so that if she pulled up, she wouldn’t see him first.

Seconds later, a silver Durango blasting music pulled up to the school. Is this the nigga that’s fuckin’ wit my daughter’s head? The moment Kavon exited his car, Tiara hopped out of the Durango and stopped in her tracks when she saw her father’s face. The expression on her face showed that she was sorry for leaving the way that she did. But for some reason, her eyes widened in horror. It was as if she’d seen a ghost walking behind Kavon.

Sensing something was wrong, he rushed toward her. All he wanted was to tell her how much he loved and cared for her. And that he wanted them to grow stronger together and in life.

“Daddy no!!!!!” She screamed putting her hands out in front of her. “Behind you!”

When the words exited her lips, Kavon felt a stinging sensation rip through his body and he dropped. What was this feeling? Tiara ran in his direction with Blunt who had gotten out of the truck. Blunt removed the gun from his waist and hurried in Kavon’s direction. When Kavon fell, he saw Tiara’s look of horror. More bullets followed. The bullets entering his body began to feel like soft nudges instead of pain. Kavon’s breath was fading fast. Who had he wronged?

Now on his back, the person who had shot him stood over his bleeding body. And then he saw his face. A familiar face. Except he was much older. It was Lil Shawn. Shy’s son.

“Shit!” Blunt yelled putting his gun away to make the call. He didn’t sign up for this shit. All he was supposed to do was drop her ass off still he placed the call.

“Daddy! Daddy! Can you hear me. Please!!!!!!”

“Tiara. I never loved anyone as much…as,” blood filled his mouth yet he was determined to speak. “as I love you.”

Kavon appeared to be reaching for something around his neck but he couldn’t hand it to her, and just like that, he was gone away.

Nyzon Peate

Baby Mamma Drama

H
e heard she had his son on a Sunday morning. Although his first child, he was far from happy. He didn’t understand why she couldn’t see things as he did. Everything about the pregnancy was fucked up. Nyzon spent fifteen minutes outside of her apartment building before he knocked on the door. It was late and for all he knew, she wouldn’t even be up. Once he got enough energy to deal with her bullshit, he knocked on her front door and she opened it wide.

“You got my money?” she asked closing the door slightly after walking into the hallway.

“Yeah….here.” he handed her five hundred. “I’ll give you more later.”

“Now can I see my kid?” He said before he stopped himself from drop kicking her ass on the ground.

“No you can’t.” She folded her arms and leaned up against the wall. “Have you lost your mind?”

“Have I lost my mind? What the fuck is your problem?”

“You are my problem…just given me a little money don’t make you no father Nyzon. So if you think it do, get that out ya fuckin’ mind.”

“I expect this much in cash every two weeks. If you miss one payment, not only will I tell the family our little secret, I’ma go down to the court house and file for child support. Now the baby’s sleep so come back tomorrow.” She said slamming the door.

This bitch had him vexed. He was sick of her ass! It was starting to be real expensive handling her but he made his shitty ass bed and had to lie in it. The only thing that made him rest easy was since he hooked up with Cray, they made money hand over fist. Everybody he rolled with was paid. Still, Monesha was a force to be reckoned with and it was a matter of time, before they bumped heads.

Tiara Cartier

A New Daddy

T
iara sat in the empty room of Cray’s new house in Owings Mills, Maryland. Outside of a bed, there was no furniture anywhere in it. With the house being over five hundred thousand dollars, you’d think it would be laid out.

Cray knocked on the bedroom door twice before walking in and sitting on the bed. She buried her father that day and barely had enough energy to live. Before her father reentered her life, she always felt somebody out there loved her, and now that person was gone. Forever.

“Hey…I got you some coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts.” He placed the warm cup in her hands and she held onto it.

She’d been crying so much her skin was dry under her eyes.

“Thank you…I don’t know what I’m gonna do, Cray. I loved him so much. He meant everything to me. What I’m gonna do without my daddy?” she looked up at him with puppy dog eyes.

Cray’s face became a little distorted. He looked angry but tried to soften it up a little. Still, she noticed.

“Tiara, your father’s gone, and I’m sorry, but you have to move on.” He said as if he was talking to one of his block niggers. “He wouldn’t want you in here crying all day and shit. You got to keep it movin’. You feel me?”

“But I don’t know how, Cray. I ain’t got nobody out here. He was all I had.”

“You got me and I’ma take care of you. If you want, I’ll even let you call me daddy.”

She couldn’t believe what he said. She didn’t know that part of him was jealous that she had a father who truly cared for her when his was a no good ass heroin addict. He didn’t even know what inspired his anger.

“Can I be alone, Cray? I just want some time to think things through.”

“There’s nothin’ to think about, Tiara. You ain’t out here by yoself and I’ma make sure you takin’ care of. I got my folks goin’ over to your crib to take care of gettin’ that stuff out and everything, so you ain’t got to worry about that.”

“What?” she asked her eyes opened wide. “But I just buried my father.” She couldn’t believe what he was saying.

“You know what, fuck it! If you don’t want to do it I got plenty of bitches that would. Maybe I’ll move one of them up in here with me and put your ass out.”

Tiara’s head was throbbing as she tried to get her mind around Cray’s insensitivity. Not wanting to be alone, she took him in her mouth and sucked his dick as best as she could. When he was done he watched her swallow, like he’d taught her, and wipe her mouth.

“When I get back we gonna go to the store and get some stuff for this bedroom so you can feel comfortable.” He closed his pants. “I’m not about to let you mope around here like your world is over cause it ain’t.”

She didn’t say anything and her silence confirmed their agreement.

He leaned in toward her, lifted her chin and kissed her sloppily on the lips. It felt inappropriate given the situation but she was helpless.