Layla ( A Dark Beauty Novel) {Urban}

C H A P T E R 13: Unfold.

Friday

July, 28th, 2013

5:30 a.m.

      It’s  been over an hour since I walked in and found my beautiful home in shambles. The damage they did reminded you of the movie “Project X” it was an image of it’s former self. As I sat here in the dark with a water bottle in my hand, not so much as to clinch my thirst, but for my nerves, I stared at the off, cracked flat screen t.v.

    Dominick had been givin’ up or tryna get me to communicate with him and just sat at the island in a deep trance. I didn’t bother to see if he was okay, because personally the little stunt he pulled earlier kept replaying in my mind, thus making my skin boil.

   When I heard the front door open, I didn’t flinch, nor bother to get up, because I knew it was only Darien. I wanted him to walk into the penthouse and feel the warning the bugler’s left behind. I wanted him to see that this shit wasn’t just a game anymore.

   I heard the keys hit the island top, then him and Dominick whispering something. “Nah, I’ll deal with it later on, right now let me worry about her.” I heard Darien say.

    Once the door shut he asked, “You okay?” I didn’t answer, instead I kept looking forward. “Ma, you good?” he asked as he bent down in front of me. He grabbed the water bottle out my hand and sat it on the floor. “Tell me what’s on your mind ma.”

“Look at my house Darien.” I said calmly, still not making eye contact with him.

“Look ma, I’ma fix this.” He assured me. “I’ma catch them nigga’s and I promise they gon’ be sorry.”

   Finally looking at him I told him, “It’s not just a nigga, it’s a bitch too.”

  He blew his breath, looked down then back up to me. He knew where this was headed. “Let’s not start.”

“You don’t wanna start because you know exactly who’s involved with this shit; you just don’t wanna admit it.” I told him.

“No, I don’t, but I know she don’t.” he told me, his voice rising just a little.

“How do you know?”

“How the fuck do you know?” he yelled.

“Cause I just do, I had a gut feeling, I told yo’ ass we should have never went out, but you don’t fucking listen, you always gotta always have it yo’ way, like this is Burger King or some shit!” I snapped.

“First off bitch, calm the fuck down, you better remember who you talking too; second we got more important things to worry about.” He yelled.

“Oh really like what?” I asked as I crossed my arms. “The fact that my apartment is destroyed, or no, how about the fact that your crazy ass baby mama, and  former drug lord boss are tag teamin’ our shit, oh wait, no maybe we should just-“

“Layla. . shut. . the. . fuck. . up, and listen.” he said slowly, with pauses between each word. I leaned against the wall and rolled my eyes at him. “Thank you damn,” I was about to say something else, but he gave me a look that gave off a warning. “If you say something else I’ma slap the shit out of you.” he threatened. He waited for a minute for me to interrupt. “Now like I was tryna’ say before you was actin’ all big, bad and tough, I need you to help out.”

“Oh hell no, I’m not getting involved in this shit.” I stated matter-factly.

“Why not, you’re the main reason why I’m so deep, besides you already in it.”

“Yeah, well when we took in Junior I told you I quit.” I told him.

“There is no quitting.”

“I have kids Darien.”

“And, so do I,” he reminded me.

“All hope is gone for you.” I stated as I started to walk away from him, he grabbed my arm and I looked back to him. “Let me go.”

“Relax,” he told me. “Look, I know you ain’t feelin’ the fact on how Joey and Kanesha is going about this, now the old Layla I fell in love with would have been put her foot all up in they ass.” He told me. “I know you miss the power you had, the throne still open ma, it’s waiting for you.” he told me as he showcased a sly smile. “Think about it, with you, Angel, and Diamond back in, Chicago doesn’t stand a chance,” he persuaded even more. “Unless you lost your touch.”

   I stayed quiet for a moment and then said, “I didn’t lose my touch Darien, I’m just too old to be playing games like this.” Making my point clear I continued, “This is your territory and you need to reclaim it, all I know is I’m tired of getting affected by it, this,” I said as I raised my hand and signaled to the apartment, “Was a sign.”

“What you tryna’ say?” he asked.

“I’m saying me and the kids are going to my mom’s house until you figure out what’s going on.”

“So you just gon’ give up and leave?” he asked.

“I’m not leaving nor giving up, just reclaim your city so this shit can be over or just leave it be, either way I’m not putting our kids in danger anymore.” I told him.

“If you walk out that door, I promise I’ll make you regret it.” He threatened.

    I shrugged my shoulders and then said, “I’m regretting a lot of shit now Darien, this ain’t gon’ make no difference.” I grabbed my keys off of the island and walked out the door.