Page 60 of Wifey
A gunshot rings out and I squeeze my eyes shut for the impact. Something drops to the floor. It’s eerily silent before I open my eyes back up. Gabe is laying on the floor with his eyes open. He’s dead.
I look up and see Cameron holding a gun. He rushes over to me and slices the rope, catching me as I fall into his arms. “Are you okay, angel?”
I’m shaking yet I manage to nod. “G-G-Gabe…”
“I know,” Cameron slices the rope between my hands and frees me. My arms wrap around his body and he holds me. “I know, baby. I’ve always known.”
Tears stream down my face upon the realization. My father loved Gabe. He was the son he always wanted. And for Gabe to turn his back on him, I just can’t comprehend it. “I don’t understand why?” I cried. “I don’t understand why?”
“Money.” Cameron caresses my hair and holds me so tight. “The love of money is the root of all evil.”
I pull back from Cameron and he thumbs my tears away. “You did all this to protect me.”
“I tried to save Lamont but I couldn’t.” Cameron explains. “I knew about his shops for a while now and how hot the block was getting. I tried to prevent it, but I just couldn’t. By the time we figured out what was going on and who was involved, it was just too late.”
“That’s why you attended the funeral?” I ask. “Out of respect or protection?”
Cameron takes a deep breath. “Both.”
“Bravo,” A woman’s voice appears from the background and I hide behind Cameron. She slowly claps as she approaches us. It’s Jacqueline. “Bravo.”
Cameron sets the gun down and stands as a shield between Jacqueline and me. He showed her he could talk to her without the threat of killing her. I’m not sure if she feels the same way. She’s not carrying anything but it doesn’t mean she doesn’t have shooters.
She’s wearing her standard business suit with a short skirt. She does a catwalk in high heels and completed her look with a wide-brimmed hat. She’s wearing bright, deep red lipstick. She’s a force to be reckoned with and wants everyone to know it.
“That was a great performance, Finesse.” Jacqueline stops walking. “I love the added touch of the RIP bullet.” She looks over at Gabe’s body. “He was a good soldier. Took orders without conflict. Never argued. Always reported back.” She tsked. “The money was too good for him to pass up. He chose to get caught up in a game instead of being a law-abiding citizen and minding his own business.”
Jacqueline looks over at me. “I see you ended up doing the same, baby girl. You could’ve minded your business and left well enough alone. You loved the lifestyle more than you loved your integrity, didn’t you? You loved being showered with gifts – the bling, the Blahniks, the bank.
“That’s the main difference between you and your father. He didn’t want anything to do with drugs or crime. He was a true stand-up guy. He couldn’t be bought.” Jacqueline shrugs. “So, he was killed.”
“YOU BITCH!” I rush over to her but Cameron stops me with his arm. He looks at me, shooting daggers with his eyes and I retreat. As much as I would love to kill her, Cameron knows this is not my fight.
“She’s a feisty one, Finesse.” Jacqueline nods at me. “Good and feisty.” She turns her attention towards him. “Not really your style, isn’t it?”
Cameron remains silent as Jacqueline talks. I can tell he’s becoming angrier by the second but keeping control. Cameron remaining calm is the only reason why this situation isn’t worse than it could be.
“Does she know the truth about everything, Finesse?” Jacqueline glances at her acrylics. “The truth about us? Why you really pursued her the way you did?” She looks over at me and my face gave away the answer before I could protest. “I see she doesn’t. Allow me to fill her in.
“I used to work for Finesse’s father, Eric, as a campaign volunteer. I did everything – making cold calls, canvassing the area, all that stuff. Eric took a liking to me and well, it wasn’t very long before I was on my knees sucking him off at his headquarters.” She looks over at Cameron. “And in his home.” Cameron simply blinks and Jacqueline continues.
“Soon, I was promoted to campaign manager. Running a campaign takes a lot of hours and Eric was losing steam. I had a connect who was able to supply me with uppers for Eric to keep him going. I would give him some, he would campaign all day and fuck me all night.
“He told his friends about me and word traveled back to Congress. As long as I was able to supply his friends, no one was going to say a word. No one did and no one has. Once Eric won, I was out of a job, but he still kept me close.
“One day, we were fucking in one of the guest rooms when Heather and Jamie came home unexpectedly. Heather freaked out and did the whole Pumpkin Spice Latte thing all those White women do when they’re upset but nothing is going to happen. She threatened to leave but that never happened. Jamie, however, was very upset. In fact…” Jacqueline turn towards Cameron. “…she was more upset with you, wasn’t she?”
I look at Cameron and his face remains emotionless. He’s not trying to interrupt Jacqueline and he knows she would say whatever she wanted regardless of how any of us felt. I’m wondering why he’s letting her do this.
“You see, baby girl, I never get mad; I just get even. Eric dumped me. I could’ve gone to the blogs and made the talk show circuit and be known as the whore that blew Senator Page. Or I could do one better.” Jacqueline walks up to Cameron. “And fuck his pride and joy instead.”
Everything comes racing back to me. It was why Jacqueline was so comfortable in touching Cameron at the shop. They knew each other on intimate level that was beyond just friendship.
“You should’ve seen the look the family gave me when Finesse brought me home for dinner. Heather could’ve killed me. Eric ignored me. Robert was entertained, but Jamie wanted nothing to do with anyone.
“By that time, Finesse was still a teenager. I taught him everything he knows. I introduced him to the proper connects and suppliers. He never had to beg for anything. He was unassuming because let’s face it – no one is going to think some White boy Senator’s son is going to be a threat.
“He killed his first man without blinking and I was so proud of him that night. He helped negotiate every corner so I controlled all of the real estate in Old Fourth Ward, Castleberry Hill, and Washington Park.” Jacqueline pauses. “Controlled. Right, Finesse? Notowned.
