The Trophy Wife (2 page)

“Kalil? Oh my God!” Destiny screamed. “Baby, it's not what it looks like.” She rose from her knees and made her way to him.

Kalil couldn't believe that Destiny would pull that tramp shit on him. He had been messing around with her for years, and although he didn't expect her to stay faithful while he was away, he would've never pictured her with Fatboy. Fatboy and Kalil had been adversaries for a long time. Their beef was nothing new, and Destiny was well aware of the history between the two men.

“This nigga? You up in here sucking dick while my daughter outside by herself? You had my daughter around this mu'fucka?” Kalil grabbed her by the neck and shoved her hard against the wall.

Tears fell from Destiny's eyes when she saw the devastated look on Kalil's face.

He pinned her against the wall and punched beside her head, causing her to jump. The pain that he felt from her betrayal surprised even him.

“Wait, Kalil. Baby, I love you. I'm sorry,” she shouted as she cried hysterically.

Fatboy smiled as he stood and pulled up his pants. He mugged Kalil as he picked up his Tims and slowly put them on his feet. “Yo' bitch give some good head.” Then he peeled off a couple hundred dollars and threw them on the floor. “Thanks for the entertainment, Destiny. Yo' nigga too broke to feed you, so take that money and buy you and your brat something to eat.”

Just the mention of his daughter from Fat-boy's lips sent him into a different mind state. “What?” Kalil pushed Destiny one last time and then violently lunged for Fatboy.

Fatboy reached for his pistol, but before he could withdraw it from his waistline, Kalil picked up one of the empty Heineken bottles and smashed it across the side of his face.

“Kalil, I'm sorry,” Destiny screamed as she watched the two men go blow for blow on her living room floor. “Stop it!” she yelled.

Kalil didn't hear her cries. All he could see was red. He continually raised his fist and brought it down hard over Fatboy's face as he pummeled him, blood spraying across the floor with every punch. He was sure that his hand was broken because he could feel the pain shoot through his arm, but he was relentless in his attack.

Afraid that Kalil would eventually kill Fatboy, Destiny ran outside. “Quinn, help me! They're in here fighting!”

Quinn rushed into the house, with Jada not far behind him. When he walked in, he saw the two men tussling on the floor. He rushed over to Kalil, but instead of stopping the fight, he jumped in. He didn't give a damn about how it started, but he was definitely going to help his boy finish it. They both kicked and stomped at Fatboy. Nobody could save Fatboy from the ass-whupping he was receiving.

The sight of her father and uncle beating on Fatboy and the amount of blood that was covering the white carpet of the living room floor frightened Jada. “Daddy, stop it!”

The sound of Jada's voice snapped Kalil out of his fit of rage. He looked down at Fatboy. He mashed his face in the broken glass as he talked to him, “You bitch nigga, the next time you pull a gun on me, you better squeeze the trigger.”

Kalil got up and shook his hand in excruciation. “Fuck!” He held his hand out in front of him and opened and closed his fist repeatedly, to see if he had any serious damage.

“Baby, wait!” Destiny chased after Kalil as he stormed out the house.

Kalil knew that if he turned around, he would haul off and slap the shit out of her, so he ignored her cries. He scooped Jada in his arms and headed for Quinn's car.

“Nigga, where are you going with my daughter? Huh? Kalil!” She followed him all the way to Quinn's car. Kalil turned around and faced her. She could see the look of disgust in his eyes.

“Destiny, I'm done with your ass. I'm taking my daughter with me for a couple days. I'll bring her back when you get your shit together. What the fuck were you thinking? Huh, bitch? You got that mu'fucka all up in my crib, around my daughter?”

Destiny couldn't find a reply. At a time she had desperately loved Kalil. When he was on top of the world and kept her living lavish, she was more than faithful. She never thought about what she would do when he fell from grace, and eventually she began to stray from him. She knew that she was dead wrong. All she could do was stand on the curb sobbing as she watched the car pull away.

 

 

Kalil carried Jada up the steps that led to Quinn's small apartment. He laid her down on the couch, turned on the television, and then walked into the kitchen. He opened the freezer door and pulled out the ice tray. “I can't believe Destiny would pull this shit.” Kalil submerged his hand in a bowl of ice. “Did you know about them fucking around?”

Quinn shook his head. “Nah. I mean, I've heard things from around the way about them, but I never had proof. I asked her about it once and she denied it, so I took her word as bond. I didn't want to tell you no bullshit that would have your head fucked up in prison, so I just kept it at that.”

Kalil looked toward the living room where his daughter rested. “She so busy sucking that fat nigga dick that she can't teach my daughter how to be a lady. She dressing like a boy and shit, running around here with her hair all wild.” He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. “I can't go back there, yo, because the way I feel right now, I'll kill her, Quinn.”

Quinn knew how much Kalil had cared for Destiny. When Kalil had first met her she was spoiled. She assumed the position of street royalty because Kalil was the king of the streets. Destiny's stock went up just by associating with Kalil, but without him she had gone back to being just another hood rat.

“Bro, don't trip off that shit. You and Destiny been going through bullshit like this since you met her. It's time to let that go. You can crash here at the cut as long as you need. It'll be like the old days.”

“Thanks, man. I swear I'll come up with some dough. I won't be down for long.”

Quinn's cell phone rang loudly, interrupting their conversation. He looked down at his caller ID and announced, “It's Destiny, man.”

Kalil shook his head and then reached for the phone. “Yeah,” he answered.

“Kalil? Kalil, look, it's not what it looked like. I love you, baby. I swear I was just lonely.”

Kalil rubbed his temple as he exhaled deeply. He had been through this same song and dance with his baby mama before. She would fuck around, get caught, and he would listen to her excuses and then forgive her. In the past he accepted that because he knew that it came with the territory of having a child out of wedlock. Destiny was the mother of his child so he figured he would have to tolerate her bullshit, but their current situation was different. She'd crossed the line, and there was no going back. She knew that he had beef with Fatboy and she still chose to fuck around with him. She wasn't loyal, and that wasn't something he was willing to forgive.

Her ass didn't know that I was coming home this soon. She probably thought that I would never find out,
he thought as he held the phone in his hands.

Destiny was crying and lying into the phone, but he wasn't trying to hear it. There was nothing that she could say to make him change his mind about her now. She was nothing more than a ho to him now. She'd dug her own grave. Now she had to lie in it.

“Des, I'm not doing this with you anymore.”

“What you mean? Why are you doing this to me?”

Kalil couldn't help but laugh at her.
This bitch must be out of her damn mind.
He wasn't about to let her flip the situation and make him think that he was in the wrong. He was very familiar with her art of seduction and manipulation, having fallen for her tears time and time again.

“Des, you did this to yourself. I'm through with you. I'm not fucking with you anymore. That shit you pulled today was more than I can handle. I need a woman that will hold me down, not some trick that will chase behind any nigga that throw a little bit of money her way. You're lucky that I'm taking this shit as well as I am. I should've killed your ass, but I know that you don't know any better. This is just how you are. You do fucked-up shit and you don't care who you hurt in the process. The worse part about it is that you don't learn from the shit, Des. You keep making the same mistakes over and over again. I can't change you, no matter how much I want to. A ho gon' always be a ho. I should've never tried to turn you into wifey. It's not in your nature to be a classy chick.”

“You can't just drop me, Kalil. What am I supposed to do? What about your daughter?”

“You dropped yourself when you started fucking with that chump nigga. You are no longer a concern of mine. Don't call me for money and don't come searching for me when that mu'fucka start lumping your shit up. I am done with you.” He could hear her crying, and it almost wore him down. He didn't know if she was really hurt or if she was acting. She knew that he hated to see her cry and he almost gave in, but every time he even thought about forgiving her, he thought about Fatboy guiding her mouth onto his dick.

“I love you, Kalil. What about Jada?”

“You should have thought about how much you loved me before you got on your knees for that nigga. My daughter doesn't have shit to do with this. I'm gon' always be there for her. She is my life, and I will never turn my back on her. You know that I will give her whatever she needs. You, on the other hand, you are no longer my responsibility. You better have Fatboy take care of you.” He hung up the phone and turned it off, knowing that if he didn't she would blow him up the entire night.

“See you in the morning, fam,” Kalil said to Quinn as he joined Jada in the living room. He sat on the floor next to Jada and watched her sleep peacefully. He smiled at how beautiful she looked. Just the sight of her made him forget about everything that had happened earlier. He rubbed the top of her head softly and nestled his nose against her cheek. She shifted in her sleep and opened her eyes.

“What's wrong, Daddy?” She placed her small hand on top of his head then patted it lightly.

Kalil laughed. “Nothing, baby girl. Nothing's wrong. I was just watching you sleep. You know you snore like a pig, right?”

Jada's eyes got big from embarrassment and she shook her head and laughed. “Uh-uh! No, I don't.”

Kalil kissed his daughter's cheek and admired her features. She was a perfect blend of Kalil and Destiny.
One thing Destiny did do right is give me a beautiful baby girl.

“I'm glad you're home, Daddy,” Jada said, interrupting his thoughts. “Can I come live with you and Uncle Quinn?”

Kalil wanted nothing more than to have his daughter come live with him, but he had to get his money up and get his own place first. “Not yet, Jada. I need to get my own spot first, but I promise that we'll be together soon. Until then I will come see you every day.”

“You promise?” she asked, tears in her eyes.

“I promise.”

Jada gave him the most serious face that her eight-year-old mind could muster and then held up her pinky.

He already knew what that meant, so he held up his pinky and said, “I pinky-swear, baby girl. Now get some sleep.” He kissed her on top of her head, and they both rested their minds for the night.

Jada tried to get Kalil out of his deep sleep. “Wake up, Daddy, wake up!” Her attempts were useless, so she stuck her finger up his nose.

Kalil opened his eyes and saw his daughter laughing at him.

“Wake up, sleepyhead. I have to go to school.” Jada jumped on top of her father's back and began to bounce on him, trying to get him to get up.

He briefly pulled his head from underneath the pillow. “Baby girl, you can miss school today. Just let Daddy get ten more minutes.” The only thing on Kalil's mind was sleep. It had been so long since he'd been able to sleep in. Being locked up, he was always on somebody else's schedule.

“I have to go to school. Get up!” Jada said as she hopped off of Kalil. “If I miss school, I can't go to dance class after.”

Kalil realized that he had no choice but to get up. “I'm up, baby girl, I'm up,” he mumbled groggily as he sat up slowly. “Go and get ready.”

Jada didn't move. She put her hands on her hips and said, “Mommy always does my hair before I go to school.”

Kalil glanced at Jada's hair and noticed it was a complete mess. Even then, she was the most beautiful girl in the world to him. He didn't know the first thing about doing hair.

“Come on, sleepyhead.” Jada grabbed Kalil's hand and tried to pull him up, but Kalil playfully pulled her onto the couch and began to tickle her.

After a couple of minutes of playing, Kalil finally got up and focused on the big task ahead—getting his eight-year-old ready for school.

Kalil patted Jada's big sandy-brown Afro. “What are we going to do with this hair?”

He suddenly got an idea. Without even putting on shoes, he headed out of the door and went across the hall to Roxi's place and knocked on the door. After seconds of waiting, he finally heard her voice.

“Who is it?”

“It's Kalil.”

“Kalil?” Roxi said in surprise as she stood on the opposite side of the door. She slowly opened it up and saw her childhood crush on her doorstep. She knew that he would eventually come to his senses and try to push up on her. She smiled like a child. Just the thought of him made her love box thump.
This sexy-ass nigga knocking on my door this early in the morning. I knew he would come around.
She loosened her grip on her robe, suggestively showing Kalil her bra-and-panty set. The cold air made her nipples instantly hard, and to her surprise, Kalil's eyes stayed above her neck.

“Hey, Kalil, how may I help you?” she said in her sexiest bedroom voice.

“What up, Roxi? Sorry to bother you, but I got a little problem that I need you to help me with.”

Roxi's face lit up. This was the day she'd waited for since she was a little girl. “Whatever you want, Kalil.”

Kalil grew a blank look on his face as he realized Roxi's intentions. He didn't want to embarrass her, so he just got to the point. “I got my daughter across the hall, and she's got to be at school in an hour. I would really appreciate if—“

“Say no more. I got you, Kalil. How old is she?” She was disappointed, but would still help Kalil out.
This man ain't never noticed you before, so he ain't about to start now,
she told herself as she waited for Kalil to reply.

“She's eight.”

“My little sister is about her age. I'll be over there after I put on some clothes,” she said, slightly embarrassed.
I can't believe I came at him all desperate. What was I thinking?

“Thanks, ma. I owe you,” Kalil said as he returned to Quinn's apartment.

Five minutes later Roxi came over and did Jada's hair and gave her some of her sister's clothes to wear to school. Kalil looked at his beautiful daughter and was glad that she had taken off those boyish clothes. He finally had his daughter back.

 

 

“Yo, this is some bullshit,” Kalil said as he walked through the door and loosened his tie.

“No luck, fam?” Quinn licked the blunt, preparing to split it.

“Nobody is trying to hire a black ex-con. I can't catch a break for shit. I've had five interviews today, and because of my record, they all turned me down.” Kalil flopped down on the couch in frustration.

Quinn took a long pull of the blunt he had in his mouth and answered while the smoke was still in his lungs. “I don't know why you are stressing over a bullshit job. The answer to all your problems is in Manhattan, fam.”

Kalil knew exactly what Quinn was referring to, but he vowed he would never go that route again.

Quinn continued, “You should go and holla at Hova and get put back in the game. That's where the money at.”

“I am not going back to the streets. I already have two strikes, and if I get knocked again, it's over for me. I couldn't put Jada through that, not again.”

“I respect your decision, but all I ever known you to be was a hustler.” Quinn took another drag of his blunt and shook his head from side to side. “Remember when Hova hit you with that weight? Man, we made over a hundred thousand in a month span. That was living right there. We could take over the game. That shit Fatboy putting in the streets is garbage. If the hood gets a taste of Hova's product, we could really make some noise. Just think about it, Kalil.”

“I'm not fucking with it, Quinn. I'm out for good,” Kalil said, agitation in his voice this time.

Quinn decided to give it up. He knew that it was no use trying to persuade his cousin, so he changed the subject. “You need to get out and have some fun, my nigga. Let's hit this new club in Manhattan tonight called Club Heaven. All the finest shorties in the city be in there.”

“No doubt. I need to get out anyway.”

Just then the house phone rang. Quinn picked up the phone and glanced at the caller ID. “Yo, fam, it's Destiny. She's been calling my phone all day.” He handed Kalil the cordless phone.

“Hello,” Kalil answered with a sigh.

Destiny's voice blared through the phone. “Where the fuck you been, Kalil? I've been calling you all day.”

“Here you go with that shit.” Kalil shook his head, preparing for the drama.

“Nigga, fuck you! Bring Jada back home, Kalil. Who the fuck do you think you are?”

“Who you talking to like that? You better remember who the fuck you talking to. You had Fatboy dick in yo' mouth when you were supposed to be watching my baby. Anything could've happened to her while you were—”

“Nigga, you ain't shit no more!” Destiny yelled into the phone. “You ain't getting any money! Yo' broke ass is over there at Quinn's house doing nothing. Maybe Fatboy can show you a thang or two 'bout getting paper. You's a mu'fuckin' has-been. Ol' sorry, no-good-fa-nothin' nigga!”

Kalil didn't know what to say to Destiny. She had never talked to him like that. Since he had been locked up, she had gotten real disrespectful. He knew she could never be his chick again. No woman should talk to her man that way. He remembered the days when she worshipped the ground he walked on. As he sat and listened to her bitch, he realized that it was the money that she loved. His pride was crushed.

“Look, Des, I will bring Jada home on Sunday. Just let me keep her for the weekend. I ain't seen my shorty in years. We got some catching up to do,” Kalil stated in a calm tone, trying to keep the peace with her.

“Whatever. You make sure you take my baby to dance practice today. She has to go every day and don't have any bitches around my—”

Before she could even finish her bickering, Kalil introduced her to the dial tone. He glanced at the clock on the wall. “Oh shit, I have to go pick up Jada.” With that, he rushed out to retrieve his daughter from school.

 

 

Kalil had spent the entire day with Jada and gave her his undivided attention. They watched all of Jada's favorite Disney movies.

Although Kalil didn't show it, Destiny's words had gotten to him. He wasn't used to not having money. Every time he thought about getting back into the drug game, the sight of Jada enjoying his company altered his decision.
I have to be here for her, I have to. Fuck it, I'll work at a fast-food joint before I put my freedom at stake again.

Kalil watched Jada nod off on the couch next to him. He gently kissed her on the top of her head and put a blanket over her. He turned off the movie and prepared to get ready for his night out. Roxi had agreed to come over and keep an eye on Jada while he and Quinn went to the club. Kalil tip toed out the door to go and get Roxi, and moments later returned with her and prepared to get ready for his night out.

Kalil and Quinn bobbed their heads to the music as they pulled up to the downtown Manhattan club. The club was packed, and the line wrapped around the corner. “Damn, it's jumping in there.” Kalil leaned forward in his seat to get a better view.

“I told you, son, this is the spot right here.”

They parked the car and hopped out. Quinn had on a cocaine-white Sean Jean leather jacket and wore butter Tims on his feet, overshadowing his cousin, who wore a black hoodie with jeans and definitely didn't look like his old self.

Years back Kalil always wore the flyest shit. Now he felt naked without a Jesus piece around his neck.

Quinn didn't say it, but it kind of felt good to finally outshine his cousin. Their roles had totally switched.

Even though Kalil wasn't dressed like a boss, in his mind he still was one. He wasn't dressed to impress, but no one could take his swagger away from him. Quinn had offered him some of his clothes, but he had too much pride to be rocking another man's gear.

As they approached the line, Kalil heard someone call his name from the front. It was Peanut, his old worker.

“Yo, Kalil! What up, my nigga?” Peanut, the doorman to the club, held a clipboard in his hand.

“Yo, what's good, son?” Kalil smiled and threw his hands up.

“Come on, son, you don't have to wait in line.” Peanut waved Kalil toward him.

Kalil and Quinn stepped out of line and headed to the front. Kalil and Peanut locked hands and gave each other a brief embrace. Kalil stared at Peanut and noticed he had grown since the last time he'd seen him. He used to be a scrawny, seventeen-year-old corner boy before Kalil went in the joint. Now he had grown facial hair and bulked up. He used to push “blow” for Kalil and was known to bust his gun. Peanut laid his murder game down even as a young kid, and Kalil had respect for his little man.

“My nigga, when you get out?”

“I just touched down, nah mean?” Kalil said in a strong New York accent.

“No doubt. Yo, Hova's going to be happy to see you. He's upstairs.” Peanut opened the club door to let them in.

Kalil had a look of confusion on his face. He knew that Hova was slipping. A powerful man like that shouldn't be in a packed club like Heaven. “Yo, my man Hova in there?”

“Yeah, he owns this joint,” Peanut answered.

It all began to make sense to Kalil. He frowned and looked at his cousin. He realized it wasn't a coincidence that Quinn had suggested that particular club.

Quinn wanted Kalil to get back in with Hova for his own personal reasons. He was trying to get back in the dope game, and Kalil's connection with Hova was his key. He gave Kalil a cheesy grin and threw both of his hands up. “What?”

“You knew this was Hova's club, nigga.”

Quinn threw his arm around Kalil's neck and guided him into the club. “Yo, cuz, let's just have some fun.”

Kalil was upset, but he wasn't going to fuck up the night. “All right, fam, let's have some fun.” He gave Quinn a forced grin.

As soon as they entered the building, the luxurious club captivated them. It was simply immaculate. The floors were made of marble, and the whole club had a “heavenly” theme. Beautiful women dressed in seductive angel outfits danced in secluded cages that hung from the club's ceiling. The walls were painted with clouds, and the place was lined with white couches. The club had three different floors, all playing different music. Kalil was definitely impressed.

Kalil and Quinn walked through the crowd, which parted like the Red Sea. Kalil definitely had a presence in the building. He must have slapped about fifty people's hands. He grew uncomfortable because every time someone approached him they looked at his wardrobe in confusion. It was a known fact that Kalil used to shut the club down with the best jewels and latest fashions.

He and Quinn found a booth in the back with a clear view of the dance floor. Kalil watched as the assorted ladies moved their bodies seductively to R. Kelly's hit song. Four years of jail had him on an ass drought, so naturally he caught a wood. As they slid into the booth, Kalil asked, “Is it me, or is every chick in here a dime piece?”