CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

BAMBI

 

Abd called again…reminding me that soon my time was up.

Since Mitch was dead I knew there was nothing to do but wait for the destruction he was going to bring our way while praying to God that it wouldn’t be final. That he wouldn’t take everything from me I loved.

As I lie in bed, my head was swirling because it was hard for me to admit the truth. Kevin was right.

I was a drunk.

Looking at the ceiling I realized my world was coming to an immediate end, not only because of the beef I had on the streets but also the inner turmoil I was experiencing too. I had begun to savor alcohol so much that Kevin had taken to sleeping in the guest room, giving me more time to drink alone.

I’m sure it wasn’t his plan to but it was the case.

I was now an official alcoholic.

Needing to wash my thoughts away I rolled over in the bed, on the sweaty part, grabbed my vodka bottle and turned it upside down, with the spout in my mouth I was quickly disappointed. One drop fell on my tongue, not enough to make me feel better. Things were so bad now that I needed a full bottle just to get through the day and another for the night.

Slowly I pushed over and stood on my feet before wobbling toward the door. The house seemed quiet as usual and that was beginning to be odd. It was as if everyone stayed within their little groups leaving me alone.

Maybe I liked it that way.

But where was Sarah?

Or my friends, Race, Scarlett and Denim?

Deep inside I wanted to see their faces every now and again but the other part of me wanted to be alone. To keep my privacy and drink in peace.

Two more days and Abd’s threat would come to fruition but I don’t think anyone else noticed. Ten days was nearing and he wanted Mitch!

Who was in a watery grave.

What were we going to do?

I was almost to the living room when I saw Believe moving toward me. I hoped she would walk around me because something about her I didn’t like but she didn’t. With a smile on her face she stepped into my pathway.

“Hey, Believe…” I said dryly.

She looked down at the bottle. “Bambi, you don’t look well. Is there anything I can do for you?” She grinned. “Make you some coffee or something to eat? You seem like you could use a lot of help to me.”

I cleared my throat. “Actually I need to relax and take a Tylenol. I’ll be fine in an hour.”

She sniffed the air. “You sure that’s all you need? Because it sounds and smells like you need to push back also. Drinking gives you wrinkles in case no one has told you. I see a few crawling across your forehead as we speak.”

I squinted my eyes. “What you just say to me?”

“You smell like a distillery, Bambi. And you look like you’re running your face in the ground.”

My stare was fixed on her. “You disrespectful ass bitch.” I stepped closer. “You move in my house as if you know me.”

“Don’t be so shocked. You and me both know you been in your room sucking down bottle after bottle.” She pointed at me. “You shouldn’t be so surprised when you hear the truth. Consider it a favor. One woman telling another she’s falling off.”

I felt my body heat up. “You really jumping out there aren’t you? Don’t let my love for Sarge confuse you. You better recognize who you talking to or things can get real bad for your health. And your daughter’s.”

“Wow, you threaten my child?” She giggled. “And I do recognize who I’m talking too. A drunk.”

Sarge…if I didn’t love you she would be dead. I thought to myself.

My eyes widened. I wanted her dead and she’d be gone already but for Sarge being connected to my business. “I want you out my house tonight!”

She laughed. “You and be both know you can’t throw me on the streets.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Besides, what would Sarge say? Since I know how you love him so much.”

“I don’t give a fuck what Sarge would say!” I stepped closer. “Because I want you gone tonight.”

“So you don’t care that my life will be endangered? Mine and my daughter’s?”

“You should’ve thought about that before you tried me.”

“What if I don’t want to leave?”

Suddenly I raised the bottle and brought it down on the side of her face. Now her beauty was no longer so ravishing as a gash entered the flesh of her cheek and spilled out thick globs of blood that rolled into her mouth. “YOU CRAZY ASS WHORE!”

Something told me she wanted me to do that. As if she was looking for a reason to play the victim for Sarge.

“The next thing you gonna feel is a bullet,” I announced. “Now I said get the fuck out of my house.” I paused and moved closer. “Trust me, you don’t want to say anything else. In all of your life you’ve never met a killer like me.”

Holding her face she said, “Give me an hour. I should be gone before then.”

“Make it fifteen minutes. You don’t control shit around here.” I rolled my eyes and walked past her. I walked into Race and Ramirez’s room where I found a half empty bottle of vodka. Normally I had my own stash but it was depleted so I had to borrow theirs. Needing a buzz more than ever I grabbed it and stumbled back toward my room, barely able to stand on my feet. Once inside I flopped on the bed and popped the cap.

“Who the fuck she think I am?” I gulped half of the liquid. “Coming at me like she run my house. She deserved everything she got.”

My thoughts were fleeting when suddenly the phone rang and it was Sarge. I started to ignore it but he was looking for some info on Abd and I needed to be ready to receive his call, even if he was coming at me about her. I just hope his wife didn’t get to him yet. “Sarge…”

“How are you holding up, Bambi? I’m still worrying about you over there.”

I sighed. “I’m okay…”

Silence.

“Sarge, are you there?”

“You been drinking, haven’t you?” he asked. “I can hear it in your voice.”

I wiped my hand down my face and rolled my eyes. “Yes. I’ve had a few gulps.”

“I’m not gonna judge you. I love you and I know just like you pulled yourself out of all the other obstacles you’ll do the same for this too.”

“Any word on Abd?”

“None yet. But I’m on it.” He paused. “How is everything else? With Believe and Treasure?”

“Sarge, I gotta hit you back, the baby crying.”

“Bam—”

I ended the call, tossed it on the bed and continued to drink as I remembered all of the things Sarge has done for me. No matter how thick things got on the streets he always had my back. And this is how I repay him? By slicing his wife’s face with a bottle and then throwing her to the wolves?

Sure she had it coming, but I could have her murdered in a freak accident after all of this blew over instead of going at her in my house. That way nobody would know it was me.

Doing that move to that whore’s face was dangerous. Sarge was tied all into our business that Mitch used to run. One word from him and we would be destroyed and crippled.

For now, I had to bring her back.

I made a mistake.

I put the bottle on the dresser, after it was empty of course and grabbed my car keys. An hour had passed and I knew she was gone because one of the guards told me when she left. Still, I had to find her. Against my better judgment I walked out the house and toward my car and immediately one of my soldiers approached, concern written all over his face as he stared at me. “Mrs. Kennedy, would you like us to take you somewhere?”

“I’m fine, Marlo.” I tried to walk around him but he blocked me. “Please get out of my way.”

“Ma’am, you seem like you aren’t well and Kevin instructed me to remind everyone to stay inside. I couldn’t stop Sarge’s family a minute ago but I’m begging you to heed his warming.”

I flipped my hair over my shoulder. “I’m a grown woman! Now if I want to get in my car and leave that’s on me.”

“I still don’t think it’s a good idea.”

I moved closer. “Must I remind you who pays you?”

He looked at me for a second, shook his head and stepped out the way. “No, ma’am.”

“I didn’t think so,” I responded.

Once in my Mercedes I rolled out of the driveway. From the rearview mirror I could see the soldier on the phone and figured he was talking to Kevin. It didn’t matter though. I had to bring Sarge’s family back even if I had to drag them by their sew-in’s.

I was halfway down the street on my block when suddenly my eyes felt as if concrete had been poured onto my lids and I could no longer control my car. Within seconds it swerved to the side of the road and crashed.