Chapter Eighteen
Share and Pirate were on their way home from their nightly walk through Riverside Park. Most of the time he walked Share. He was three years old now, the first of Diamond and Bullet’s litter. He had grown up to be a pretty dog, and he was strong.
Share stopped at the store to get some fruit juice and Pedigree. She crossed Amsterdam and stopped so Pirate could relieve himself. She enjoyed the breeze that was blowing and ran her fingers through her hair, never noticing the guy who was standing across the street in front of the pay phone. She still didn’t notice him as he walked toward her because she had bent down to pick up Pirate’s shit with the pooper-scooper.
”Excuse me, miss. You got a light?” he asked her. Share looked up and dropped the shit back on the ground. Pirate began to growl and bark. Share was scared. The last person she expected to see was Petie. Before she could say a word he said, ”Yo, get your dog before I put a bullet in him.” Sensing that something wasn’t right, Pirate started to bark even louder. If it wasn’t for his leash, he probably would have had Petie’s neck between his teeth.
Share couldn’t move. She knew Petie would kill Pirate, and God only knew what he would do to her. Petie had sent her hate-mail for the last two and a half years, and she kept every letter. She showed them to the District Attorney who had handled Petie’s case. He assured her that they would notify her before his release, but they hadn’t. Now he was standing right in front of her, and she was too scared to move.
”What do you want from me, Petie?” she asked him. Her fear was evident and there was a tremor in her voice. Petie didn’t respond; he just looked at her, lit a cigarette and blew smoke in her face. He took another drag, blew smoke in Pirate’s face and winked his eye at him. Pirate barked louder and began to jump at Petie. ”I asked you a question, Petie. Please answer it. I mean, you got me standing here while you blow smoke in my face and give me dirty looks. What is it that you want?”
Petie dropped his cigarette to the ground. ”You’ll know what I want when I come for it,” he said. He then bounced, leaving her wondering what the fuck he was talking about.
Petie had been home for a month, and that was the first time he let Share see him, even though he had seen her a couple of times. Renee had traded in the truck and bought a brand new Navigator, so Share didn’t know what he was driving. When the police released the truck to Renee while he was locked up, he had told her to get rid of it; it was bad luck.
Petie had gotten a kick out of the expression that appeared on Share’s face when she saw him. It made him smile to see how shook she was. He’d told her in his letters that he was coming home to square shit off. What, she didn’t believe me? She took me for a joke or some shit? Maybe she thought I was bluffin’. I’ll show you bluffin! She must’ve thought I was just trying to scare her. Nah, she started all of this drama, and I meant everything I said! he thought. He remembered seeing Will pushing her Lexus and using the keys to her house, and Share barking at him like he was some fifteen-cent nigga when he called her and asked about it. Then she had him jumped, killed his niece and set up Lou and Ladelle, which led to Lou’s death—not to mention his man, Biz. Yeah, she was the cause of everything. Petie decided that he’d play with her for a little while before putting her to rest. All of the things he had in store made his dick hard.
Shit had changed so much since before Petie got knocked. There were a bunch of new cats in the hood, and niggas who didn’t know him acted like he was new. He had only done three years, but it seemed like more. He couldn’t wait to get back in the game, even though it wouldn’t be the same without his old team. They were the originals from back in the day, when they were all much younger and running shit. That seemed like a long time ago, but it wasn’t. He just had to get on his feet again.
Petie got to his house, parked and sat behind the wheel. He began to think. There was so much he had to do. His sons were thirteen and fourteen now, and they were happy that he was home. Renee had faithfully made that trip up North twice a month so he could see his sons. They knew he was Daddy, but he hoped they weren’t angry with him. The last thing he wanted to do was disappoint them.
”Dad, don’t worry. We understand,” Darnell always said. ”We just want you home.” Darnell was now the spitting image of Petie. Dante, on the other hand, favored Renee in complexion and features.
Petie locked the Navigator and went inside the house. Renee and Dante were on the living room couch watching TV and Darnell was on the phone, probably talking to some little girl. Petie went into the kitchen and took his plate out of the microwave. Renee would make a plate for him and put it in the microwave when he did-n’t make it home for dinner. Now, this was something new; before getting locked up, if he missed dinner he’d have to make his own plate.
Renee seemed different to him. She could still cook her ass off and took good care of the boys, but something wasn’t the same about her.... He thought that maybe they could start off fresh. He did-n’t want to cause her any stress or pain; he just wanted to make shit right.
Renee got up from the couch and went into the bedroom. She took off her shorts and top and was putting on her nightgown when Petie came in and stood behind her. He started rubbing her shoulders and kissing the back of her neck. Renee turned around and returned his kisses. She wanted Petie to make love to her. In some way or another she missed him. Petie sat on the edge of the bed and took off his clothes. Renee lay down and began massaging herself. She was moist and ready for penetration. Petie lay on top of her, and she opened up and let him in. She had forgotten how good her husband made her feel. His body was stronger and more toned than before. She dug her nails in his back as he stroked her. He pulled himself all the way out of her and teased her clit with the head of his dick. Petie slid his hands underneath her and spread her ass cheeks, now throwing himself deep inside of her. He stroked her until she came. Renee’s muscles gripped him until he could no longer hold on. Finally, Petie busted off. He kissed Renee with so much passion that it felt like their first year together. He remembered how much he loved her and what he had put her through. He slid out of her and held her in his arms. ”I promise you, Renee, I’m gonna fix everything that’s wrong. Just gimme some time, ma. Ya heard?” he said.
”Just don’t do anything that’s gonna hurt us, Petie,” she replied. Petie knew she was talking about illegal shit. He’d thought about getting a job and bringing home honest money; he wanted to set a good example for his sons. He still had a lot of years left on parole, and he damn sure didn’t want any new numbers—not again. The thought of going back up North made him want to change his lifestyle and habits. No, he didn’t want to do any more time. That was not in his plans. His only plan was getting even with Share so she could suffer and hurt like he did. And as long as he was alive, she would.
Renee put on her robe and told Darnell to get off the phone and get ready for bed. Dante was in his room laying out his clothes for school the next day. Darnell was so much like Petie that it scared Renee. She didn’t want him to make the same choices that his father had. He liked to draw, so Renee made sure he had all the materials he needed. She wanted the best for her sons, and she hoped that Petie would change so he could be a positive influence in their lives.