Part 20 (1/2)

”Last weekend. She managed to get away from Magic, it was last Sat.u.r.day.”

”Where is she now?”

”She went to Miami with Magic; he has a little spot out there. I got my people on it.”

”What else?”

”Rock meets with this lady every Wednesday. I went back the next week and saw the woman. I was trying to check the guest book but the lady pulled it back as soon as my eyes touched the page, but I think it was something royal.

Dutchess rang loud in KoKo's head and heat moved through her veins.

Chapter 23.

Weak in the Knees Baseem had been spending the last week trying to re-build his relations.h.i.+p with Simone. She was able to get a few days of vacation time, so they flew over to Vegas so he could show her a side of life she had been missing. Simone kissed Baseem good bye and melted in his arms as he held her tight.

”Sleep well; I will see you in a few days.”

”I don't want to sleep alone,” Simone pouted.

”I'll make it up to you,” he kissed her again. ”Lock the door and hit me if you need me,” he instructed, and then moved out the door, headed back to his car.

Simone locked up, then wrapped her arms around herself and squeezed as she thought about how good Baseem made her feel. He had won her heart. She was now attached to him and with that, her every move going forward would be surrounded by his influence.

Baseem drove with the night air blowing through the windows as his mind was steady with thoughts of Goldie. He had been hitting her up all week and not getting an answer. When KoKo said she hadn't heard from her in two days, his imagination went into overdrive. He pulled up in front of her building, looked up and down the block for anything that may be out of place, then he headed inside. He walked past the guy at the front desk who gave him a smile and nod as he moved to the staircase. He took a few steps at a time with several emotions rus.h.i.+ng through his body.

Baseem exited the staircase door and bopped hard down the hallway, praying she was on the other side. He knocked hard a few times and listened hard. He heard no movement. Baseem knocked again and waited as he contemplated kicking that s.h.i.+t in. As he raised his hand to knock one last time, he heard a little movement. He stood anxiously waiting.

Goldie unlocked the door then pulled it slightly open. ”What's up?” she asked through the small s.p.a.ce provided.

”I was checking on you,” Baseem responded, trying to see inside the house. The darkness prevented his vision as he tried to look and listen for anything out of place.

”Well, I'm fine. You can go get your work done,” she said, not budging on her position.

”You alone, ma?” Baseem asked as he smelled the alcohol on her breath through the crack.

”Yes, and I'm good,” she slurred.

Baseem pushed the door open and moved toward her. Goldie quickly turned and walked away from him. ”I told you I'm good,” she said as she walked to her bedroom.

Baseem locked the door and pulled his gun trying to see in through the darkness as he followed Goldie. When he got to her bedroom he saw pictures of her and Night spread on the floor in front of her open closet. Goldie had lit several candles and had Anita Baker playing softly in the background. Baseem eyed the other empty bottle and ashtray full of blunts smoked halfway.

”He didn't deserve to die like that,” She took a seat next to the photos, taking his obituary in one hand and a drink in her other. She brought the bottle to her mouth and turned it high in the air.

”We all know our beginning and our end in this game, ma,” he spoke gently as he watched her guzzle down the brown liquor as the tears cascaded down her face. His eyes settled on the huge platinum and diamond ring on her pointer finger.

”Why are you here?” she looked up with gla.s.sy eyes.

”I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

”Well, I'm good; check on the b.i.t.c.h you lay with, I told you I'm good,” she took the bottle to her mouth then turned her gaze down to a picture of Night and one of Jarod side by side. Then he noticed that the birth date on the Obituary; it was Night's birthday and it was now apparent to him why Goldie was crumbling before his eyes.

”Let me help you, ma,” Baseem reached down and took the bottle from her hand causing her to jump up in his face.

”Don't come in here trying to run my s.h.i.+t,” she spoke loud as her breathing increased.

”Goldie, you ain't carrying this s.h.i.+t by yourself,” Baseem tried to comfort her.

”I am carrying this by myself,” she said through clenched teeth.

”Goldie, don't do this to yourself. You gotta stay strong.”

”He killed my father,” she whispered as a knot formed in her throat.

Baseem was quiet while he searched for the words to say. ”I don't know that that man would do that. But, if he did it was to protect you. You gotta be strong and hang in there.”

”For what? Huh? For what, Bas? We have lost a lot of lives.” She looked in his eyes for the answers to the questions she had been running through her mind all week.

”Goldie, I know you feeling f.u.c.ked up right now. But you can't shut yourself up in here and get f.u.c.ked up in hopes to erase your love for this s.h.i.+t we in. None of that will bring Night back.”

”f.u.c.k you, Bas. You didn't hold his brains in your hands,” she yelled, holding her hands up to his face. ”You get to mourn. I have to suffer,” her voice cracked with every word.

”Baby I got you,” he reached out and took both her hands in his.

”Can you guarantee me life?” she asked as she began to breakdown.

”I can't guarantee anything. But, let me help ease some of your pain,” he pulled her into his arms and held her close. He knew her words came from a very wounded place and that night, it wasn't about judgment, it was about healing.

Baseem walked Goldie to the bathroom and turned on the shower. She sat in the middle of the bathroom floor as he undressed himself then walked toward her. Carefully he undressed Goldie as she drunkenly wobbled in his arms. They stepped into the shower and Baseem held her against him allowing the water to run over her skin.

Goldie lay in his arms and cried against is chest. ”I never asked for this part, Bas,” she mumbled.

”We are all in this for our own reasons. You need to find what made you fall in love with this s.h.i.+t and rekindle it. We in this s.h.i.+t; life or death,” Baseem said as he rubbed the bath sponge over her back.

”I need you tonight,” Goldie looked up into his face.

Baseem looked down and smiled. ”You're drunk, but not enough to handle all this d.i.c.k,” he joked, lightening the mood.

”f.u.c.k you, Bas,” she slurred.

”Nope, because then you'll be following a n.i.g.g.a all over the place. Neither one of us will get anything done. Turn around so I can get you straight,” he said as she moved her body to face the water in an effort to sober up.

As Baseem washed her down, he had to control his inner monster in order to not take strong advantage of the situation. They exited the shower and he helped her lotion her skin and get into her robe.

Goldie lay on the couch as Baseem moved around her kitchen preparing a meal for them. She inhaled the different aromas invading her s.p.a.ce. Baseem walked to her side and gave her some black coffee then headed back to the kitchen.