#2 :: Royal By Name, Loyal By Blood Pt2.

Ch. 4

RACQUEL
If She Thought This Was Over It Was Far From.

As I looked at the permanent scar on my leg where the bitch shot me, it took me back to that day.

Once the lights went out I didn't know what was going on. These bitches must have had a plan. I didn't have time to think, I just pulled the trigger. I thought I'd shot myself. The pain I felt in my leg was like hot lead searing my skin. I couldn't help but scream. I needed to get out of here but I couldn't see for shit and I didn't know where the other two were. I literally hopped through the house and tried to find something to stop the bleeding. I could hear movement in the house. I hid as I heard footsteps coming closer. I was ready to kill whoever it was. I saw Tanayah in my view. I pulled the trigger. Nothing. The gun had jammed or something. Now I definitely had to hide. I couldn't get caught with a gun and no ammo. I watched as she searched for me. I saw she was bleeding also. I smiled. I hit her. Why didn't I hear her scream?

I turned my head for a split second and when I looked back she wasn't there. I went into a panic as I wasn't sure where she had gone. I wanted to get in my car and drive off but I didn't know where she was. I decided to wait; I drank some brandy and lit up a blunt to try and numb the pain in my leg. I had it tied very tight but I was still in pain and still bleeding. 
I don't know how long it had been but my high was wearing off and the sun was starting to set. I was feeling weak. I needed to get to a hospital and fast. As I was leaving my house I saw cars pulling up. The first person to jump out the car was my baby Maine. I smiled. He had come to find me.

Then HER father and another handsome guy jumped out the same car. Then ten more people came. They were here for her. I heard them shouting her name. I, wondered where she was. Then I saw Maine sitting by himself on the steps. I wanted so badly to go to him and kiss him. I knew he would be mad but he would forgive me. Maine is always forgiving. As I was going to go over to him, he got up. I watched his every movement as he climbed into a bush and then picked her up. She looked like she was dead. I started to smile. I could just about hear what they were saying so I inched a little closer.

I almost exploded when I heard them mention a baby. This bitch got herself pregnant by my man! I was feeling a bit lightheaded. I called Malachi and told him somebody broke in, took a shot at me and that I needed him. 

I don't really remember much after that. What I do know is Malachi has been at my beck and call ever since. He even had me staying with him due to the story that I told him. I hated lying to him but the truth would have him running for the hills. I really did like him, even his son grew on me. However he wasn't the type to part with his money. Even though I still had the money I stole from my sister plus money I got from the job I had, there wasn't a lot left. If I were to buy a house of my own then I would definitely be out of pocket. So I guess as long as Malachi is happy to put me up then I am happy to stay.

"Hey baby, Destiny is coming to pick up MJ. You wanna go out for a late lunch?" Malachi asked me as he came limping into the bedroom.

Every time I saw him limp, I still couldn't believe someone had shot him and ruined his basketball career. Now he has a community hall where he holds basketball matches and tries to get young kids who have potential scouted and signed. As well as that he owns an accounting firm which I reckon makes a lot of money. He doesn't like to talk much about him being shot or his job. I think it's because he knows he's only doing this job because he can no longer play ball.

"Yeah sure I'm starving." I said answering him.

"Okay, lemme just deal with this baby momma of mine" he said then rolled his eyes.

Then it hit me. There's another woman in his life. It didn't bother me before but it did now. I never seen her before, I didn't even know if she still wanted him or if he still wanted her. As all these thoughts went through my head the doorbell rang. I jumped up to answer the door but Malachi got there first. I listened in on their conversation.

"Hey Destiny." Malachi said bluntly. I would be surprised if he did like her by the tone of his voice.

"Don't hey me Mal. I know you seen my calls and texts yet you only hit me up when it's to do with our son." I heard the Destiny girl say. 

"So why you ain't got the message yet? YOU the one who said let's co-parent and that's it. Now you wanna send me shit as if you done had a change of heart." 

"Yeah. But that was because I could see you still loved that bitch."

"Don't call Tanayah no bitch Destiny. And watch yo mouth around our son." He said as he handed MJ over to Destiny.

All that kept circulating in my head was this bitch's name. Tanayah? SHE was the ex? I got angry all over again. If she thought this was over it was far from.

"Whatever Malachi, you gotta move the hell on. Rumour has it she's all loved up elsewhere. So you stay here pining over her." Destiny said.

"Who said I was still pining? I gots me a woman. What I'm saying is you ain't never want a relationship. So I accepted co-parenting. Now you know Tanayah got a man you think you can just up and change yo mind? Nah I'm good ma. If it ain't about MJ I ain't interested. I got me a woman now anyway." I heard Malachi say loud and proud.

Then Destiny laughed.

"You got a woman now? Well I feel sorry fo' her ass. Because when I just mentioned Tanayah having a man you looked as if you wanted to cry. You'd think after her bussin' a cap in yo' ass when she found out about us that you'd have lost all feelings fo' ole girl. But nah. Tell yo' lil girlfriend I said good luck." And with that Destiny left. 

I was trying to take this all in. Tanayah was not just the ex, but she was the one that shot him. What is it about this bitch? She's everywhere and knows everyone. I needed more information. Even though I was pissed by what I heard I had to play it cool.

The drive to the diner was a quiet one. I wondered if everything Destiny said was true. I needed answers. Whilst we waited for our food to arrive I decided to bring it up. 

"So is yo baby momma the girl you said you did wrong?" I asked.

He smirked.

"Hell naw. She's the person I had an affair with and my girl...at the time, found out." He answered.

I made sure to be looking in his face the whole time I needed to see his facial expressions when he spoke.

"Oh. So why didn't you try to make things work with her then? I mean you risked your relationship to sleep around with her she must have meant something?" I enquired.

He took a minute before he answered.

"To be honest with you, she was someone who was there for me to talk to when me and my girl wasn't on good terms..." I cut him.

"Yo' ex..." I corrected him.

"Huh?" Was his response.

"You keep saying your girl as if she still is. So I corrected you and said yo ex." I said not taking my eyes off of him.

"Oh. Yeah. My bad. My ex...so yeah where was I? Oh yeah. So talking led to fucking and that's what it was. I never had no intentions on her being my girl. I loved my...ex." I saw the sadness in his eyes. 

"What about now? You still love her?"

I was playing a dangerous game here. I don't take too well with hearing things I don't want to hear, so I don't know why I asked that question. But I needed to know.

"Honestly? Love isn't something that goes away just like that. However I learnt a long time ago that that ship has sailed. She's moved on and so have I." He said then winked at me.

I smiled. Just knowing that Tanayah was the girl that had his heart just like she has Maine's made me mad. But I couldn't do anything about it. Well not just yet anyway...

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