Layla ( A Dark Beauty Novel) {Urban}

C H A P T E R 14 : Unfold Part 2

Monday

9:00 p.m.

July, 18th, 2014

"What’cha tryna’ say?” I questioned.

“I’m sayin’ me and the kids are going to my mom’s house until you figure out what’s goin’ on.” she answered bleakly.

“So you just gon’ up and leave?” I questioned.

“I’m not leavin’ Darien, nor am I giving up,” she told me. “just reclaim your city so this shit can be over or leave it be, either way I’m not putting our kids in harm’s way anymore.” Layla moved away from me and headed to the back where our bedroom was. I shook my head as I heard the closet door open and things fiddling around.

“Lay what are you doing?” I questioned, but got no response. I heard her heels clicking against the hardwood floor and then seen her thick frame come into view. I watched as she walked down the hall towards the door. “If you walk out that door, I promise I’ll make you regret it.” he threatened.

    Her heels stopped and then seconds later restarted again. I watched as she stood at the corner with the cream duffle bag on the side of her. Layla chuckled and then shrugged her shoulders. “I’m regrettin’ a lot of shit now Darien.” she told me. “this ain’t gon’ make no difference.” she then turned back to the hallway and headed for the door.

    When I heard the door shut I let out a sigh and walked around the chair and slumped back in the seat. My hands rubbed across my head and rested on my temple as I gently rubbed it. “What the fuck is going on?” I mumbled as I leaned forward and grabbed the half bottle of vodka on the floor and took a long gulp. I grimaced at the burning sensation it left in my throat.

                 That was two days ago

                And today is July 18; two days later. .

       Just thinking back to the scene from that early morning made me stress all over again, and do I feel responsible for the whole burglary and Layla wanting to leave? Yes I do, but am I gonna’ beat myself up over it? Nah, I’m to elite for that. Call it what you wanted, but it wasn’t in my nature to let the little shit she did bother me; my motto was shrug it off and keep it moving, because no matter what Layla ass would be back. In the meantime this whole split gave me time to rebuild from the ground up and gave Layla time to continue to blame Kanesha. 

    As of right now I have no idea as to what me and Layla are. I couldn’t tell if we were a couple or just baby mama and baby daddy. I’ve tried calling and even texting her, but no response. I love her, but I’m not about to chase after her, instead I’ma just do me. When she left I admit that I was upset, and yes I do miss her and the kids, but after a couple of hours of being alone I started to realize that what she said was true. The look that rested on her face when she seen what I was trying to do read betrayed. It’s as if she had lost all respect for me, and I knew that that was one of the reasons why she left. As much as I hate it I had to admit that she did change, and I can’t be mad at her for it. She was not the girl I had fallen in love with; instead she was the woman who had to make womanly decisions and raise our children; she had to be the one to grow up, and I can’t be mad at her for that.

          Those were my thoughts earlier.

       And now I was sitting in my office located on the upper floor in my club. It was hours before the doors were to open and my staff was hustling, trying to get things into gear for tonight. I leaned back in the executive chair and watched as the girls in the room over by the round table count out money. My eyes moved from them to the plasma screen t.v. that held the surveillance camera. “Natalie,” I called out. She ceased counting the money in her hand and looked up to me.