Page 40 of The Hood's Finest: Jersey & Mylani
“Nothing much. She was catching me up on the latest drama at the club. Candy’s hating ass is going around telling people you dumped me; that’s why I haven’t been to work. Some are saying that I’m pregnant; that’s why I’m not there. It’s a whole damn mess.”
“Fuck them hoes. They’re just mad a nigga don’t give that much of a fuck about them. I mean, I know I met you in the club, but I’ll be lying if I said I didn’t have a problem with them niggas gawking and groping you. Why you think I always had you in my section since our first encounter? As for Candy, I’ma see how she feels when I fire her ass.” I looked over at him and tried to decipher whether or not he was playing.
“What do you mean, fire her?”
“Just what I said. I brought the club from Sway about a month after I met you. Why you think he wasn’t hassling you too tough about coming to work or what you did while you were there. Asia ain’t got shit to worry about either, because Houston is part owner. So, like I said, fuck them hoes.” I was in complete awe at his revelation. I would have never thought that he would buy the club in order to make sure that I was comfortable. I didn’t know what to say about the newfound information.
“I don’t even know what to say to that. You really brought the club to be able to have a say so in how things went while I was there? I don’t know if I should be flattered or offended,” I concluded.
“Why would you be offended?” he questioned.
“Because what if this is a way of you trying to control me? I don’t have an income now, and I would have to depend on yousolely. Some people would see that as some sort of control,” I affirmed.
“I told you I ain’t no fuck nigga, so don’t insult me like I’m one. Shit, if you wanna do something, then you can go to school or some shit. If that ain’t your lane, then you can go to the club and boss them bitches ’round. Either way, shawty, you ain’t a regular bitch anymore. You’re the hood’s First Lady now. Might as well get used to it.” I listened to his logic and decided to just say, fuck it and go with the flow. Hell, it was plenty hoes that wanted my spot and did more than I ever did to get it, including Shanna. I guess I’d sit back and enjoy this shit while it lasted.
“I guess I have no choice but to comply, huh?”
“You always have a choice, bae. I just want you to understand the dynamics of our relationship. I ain’t no regular nine-to-five nigga, nor am I a fucking corner boy. These muthafuckin’ streets belong to me. With that being said, my woman is a reflection of me. Do I care that you’re a stripper? Nah, not at all. I also know that shit wasn’t for you, so why not take you out the shit if I have the capability to do so?” I looked at my man and was wondering what I did to deserve him. He may have been ruthless out in these streets, but I saw a different side of him, a much gentler side. I didn’t know how to express the way that I was feeling at the moment, so I did the only thing that I knew he would appreciate.
“Shit, bae,” he groaned, leaning back on his elbows, enjoying the way the back of my throat felt. I knew he was enjoying my gratitude by the way he was about to pull my hair from my scalp, when we were interrupted by my ringing phone.
“Man, fuck!” he grumbled. I looked at the screen and saw Trinity calling.
“Wassup, Trin?”
“Lani, can you come pick me up?” I heard my little sister sniffling on the other end of the phone, and my antennas went up immediately.
“Pick you up from where? What’s wrong?” I was already in the process of slipping on some sweats and grabbing my keys before she could answer. Jersey noticed the alarm in my voice, and he, too, was getting up, ready to go.
“Grady. I’ll tell you about it when you get here. Hurry up. They won’t release me until you get here.”
“I’m on the way.” I hung up the phone and made a beeline toward the door before Jersey caught up with me.
“Aye, what’s wrong?” he asked.
“Trinity is at Grady. I don’t know what happened yet, but she can’t leave until I get there,” I explained.
“Aight, I’ll go with you. You don’t need to be going by yourself.” I didn’t feel like arguing with him, so I opted to keep quiet and rush down the stairs with him following close behind. Jerz was with his mom, so it made it easier for him to up and leave.
We made it to the hospital in record time, and I practically jumped out the car before it stopped. I rushed through the emergency doors and headed straight for the nurse’s station.
“I need to know what room Trinity Richards is in,” I informed the woman behind the counter, and she acted as if I wasn’t there.
“Excuse me. Can you tell me where I can find my sister?” I politely asked… again. She ignored me again, infuriating me.
I slapped my hands on the counter, bringing attention that I didn’t want in my direction, but this broad wasn’t giving me any other choice. “Hello! Do I need to come over this counter and find her my fucking self? I’ve asked you twice for the information on my sister, and you sat your fat ass over there looking stupid!” By now, Jersey had made his way inside and was standing right behind me. With his hand on my waist, he took over.
“Aye, why I hear my girl yelling from the fucking front door? I heard her say she asked you twice where her sister was, and she still doesn’t have answers. Unless you wanna be in the back occupying a bed, I suggest you give my girl the fucking information she just asked you for,” he demanded. I was glad that he decided to tag along, because he seemed to always be able to get shit done.
“She’s in triage room six,” the nurse stammered. Without even thanking her for the information, I headed to the back to find my sister and find out what was going on.
30
Trinity
I couldn’t wait to get out of this fucking hospital. When I saw Destiny again, I was beating her ass on sight. I didn’t care if it was in the middle of a fire drill. I was gonna A-Town stomp on that hoe’s head. Apparently my so-called sister used to mess with Dantè and had gotten pregnant too, but he made her get an abortion. She heard me and Staci talking about baby names and decided to jump me when we walked out the mall. It was about five of them and two of us, so we were outnumbered. I didn’t call Dantè because I didn’t want to see his face right now. I almost lost my baby, and his face would be a reminder of that. I knew some people would say that I was too young to be having a baby anyway, but it’s my baby and I want it. Staci had already been released to her parents, so I was now in the back alone, waiting on my sister.
“Trin, what happened?” My sister rushed through the door with Jersey hot on her heels. I looked over at him and was apprehensive about talking in front of him.
