Secrets In The Open

Chapter 17: Location

Marco's P.O.V.

"Aight Marco, you are now...the operator of the eastern district." Roman said straightening my collar.

"Ugh, I have to wear a coat too?" I asked a bit annoyed.

"Of course nigga, you the muthafuckin' boss. SO, you gotta look it, act it, be it. I need you to hold down some things back home while me and Smoke work on some shit outchea." he said. He handed me a gold Plain Jane Rolex and a pair of silver cufflinks. I only smiled.

"Boss, huh, that sound's about right. So I can pop a cap in anyone's ass if they disobey me?" I asked, smirking.

"Naww, don't go getting and being trigger happy. We still need people to sell. By the way, that new kid you have back home, his portions are really good. He selling more than he's supposed to. We gotta keep him." He said. He pulled a stack of money from out of his pants pocket and some car keys.

"Yeah, he learned from his big cousin." I said looking at the suit in the mirror, it was dark, almost like a midnight black, and smooth. "Oh, yeah, I could get used to this."

"Meet me at this address at 8pm, aight?" he said and I clenched my jaw. "What's the problem?" he asked.

"Nothing." I said

"Aight, you rolling with bosses so you gonna meet Smoke. Be on time!" He shouted as he walked out the room.

-flashback-

"Where are you? I told you to be here for 8, Marco." she said clearly annoyed, through the phone.

"Calm down girl, I'm on my way. My lil cousin is in town and I was just tryna spend some fatherly time with him." I said chuckling.

"Fatherly? Mmm, just get here. I'm starting to fall asleep." she said as she yawned.

"How about we just stay in and watch a movie Lee?" I asked because I really don't wanna go anywhere.

"I told you not to call me that anymore. My name is Alana, and sure." she said softly.

I smirked, "Aight." 'You will always be the Aliyah I saved that night.' I thought to myself.

-end off flashback-

My new iPhone's loud ringing pulled me back into reality. I looked at it to see that it was Roman sending me some more information about tonight. I looked at it and smirked. "We need more people like your cousin. Offer him a bigger position."

"D'Jay, things are really looking up." I said as I dialed his number.

"You went ghost mode on a brother huh? Where the hell are you? He said groggily.

"Nah, just had some business to take care off." I sniffed, avoiding the fact that I was jumped. "I'm out doing business, and why you sound like that?" I asked concerned.

"I got into a lil scuffle with Kyrie, he was being a lil bitch so I told him about me and Bella." he said. I could hear his grin through the phone.

"Finally, you grew some balls. You don't need that punk ass nigga anyway." I said truthfully. "When I touchdown in town, we need to connect. I got a business deal for ya." I said smirking.

"Oh, word? Sounds cool." he said. "I gotta go take care of my face before this production starts."

"Aight, see you when I get home." I said hanging up the phone.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Bella's P.O.V.

I checked my phone to see that it's almost 6:30 P.M. I told Layah that I'll be ready by 7 P.M. so that we can go to this stupid production. I'm only going to this thing because Kyrie is performing, but I really don't wanna see D'Jay. I might burst into tears just by looking at him, and I'm not for no questions. 'So, suck it up then.' I thought to myself. I left the bathroom and went back to my room. After straightening my hair, and putting on a cute black dress, I put on some light make up and drank some ginger-ale. Everything that happened today got me off balanced. 'Maybe your pregnant.' my conscience butted in. "Nah" I said to myself as I shook my head and took a big gulp of soda. I was beginning to get deep in thought when a loud banging started on my door.

"ISABELLA NOELLE SIMMONS. BRING YO' LONG HEAD ASS OUT HERE NOW!" I heard Kai scream from the other side of my door.

'I don't have time for this.' I thought to myself. I swung open the door to see a bloody face, torn shirt, and a beyond irate Kyrie. I sucked my teeth.

"Are you pregnant?" he questioned. His question caught me off guard, I scrunched up my face.

"What? No! Where did you get that shit from?" I screamed.

"I heard it from D'Jay since y'all fuckin' behind my back. Really Bella? My best friend and y'all didn't have the decency to tell me." he said sounding hurt.

"Kai!, it started off as a one time thing when I was in high school. I had a crush on him and it just went from there." I said annoyed.

"I can't believe y'all. I don't want you seeing him no more!" I yelled. 'Wait a minute, who the hell is he talking too.' I thought to myself as I scrunched up my face.

"I'm 18 years old! I don't need you breathing down my damn neck about this! Besides, we broke up anyway." I mumbled the last part. He looked at me in shock and confusion.

"Why y'all broke up?" he asked angrily.

"Ever since he started selling drugs with Marc-" he cut me off.

"What? What do you mean selling drugs?" he asked. I looked at him like he was stupid.

"Your head has been pushed SOO far up Layah's ass, you didn't even see the fact that your friend needed some help with money!" I partially yelled trying to hold back tears.

"Really Bella, you gonna play that 'friend' card on me? And when have you ever seen me this happy?" he said as his voice cracked. The tears fell from my eyes knowing that he was right. "If D'Jay ever needed money, all he had to do was ask!" he said. He sucked his teeth and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

I began to cry harder, forgetting about my makeup and my already knotted stomach.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Layah's P.O.V.

"Alana!" I screamed through the crowd. Yes! she heard me. 'Thank God.' I thought.

"Hey Layah," she said with a big smile as she approached me. 'Wow, she looks so much like...mom. Why am I just noticing this?' I thought to myself. "What?" she said, realizing that I was staring at her.

"Nothing." I smiled, "it's just that you look so much like mom." I said as I went in to hug her.

"Aww thanks, you look like her too." she said as she hugged me back. She broke the hug and held my hand. 'Maybe having a sister wouldn't be so bad after all.' I thought to myself. We walked over to Trey, Kayla, and some of our other friends.

"So, has anyone seen Kai?" Kayla asked concerned. Everyone shook there and answered with negatives.

"The show will go on with or without him." D'Jay said walking up from behind me. He walked pass me and approached Trey. "Yo, sorry for acting like that. We good?" he asked.

"Yeah, we good." Trey said. He only smiled and pulled D'Jay into a bro hug. "Isn't Kai supposed to go first?" Trey asked.

"He isn't here so we'll skip that." D'Jay shrugged.

I couldn't believe what happened next.

"I can perform." I said. Everyone looked at me shocked. My three choice words shocked me too. Alana smiled.

"YASSS, MY BISH GONNA SAANNNG." Kayla screamed. I started to giggle. Not knowing if I was excited or nervous about what I had just done.

"Alright, you're on in 5 minutes." D'Jay said. He turned and walked towards the stage that was surrounded by an ocean of people.