Nine Lives: For the Love of Money (6 page)

“mmm,” was all we heard.

“How are you so grown, munchkin,” I asked her.

“And with her own personality to boot,” added Hazel.

We laughed as we finished eating. Hazel cleared the table, I washed the dishes and my mini me played in her food, getting it all over her instead of her mouth where it belonged.

I snatched her out the high chair then took her for her nightly bath after turning on the television for Hazel and instructing her where dessert was in case she wanted to cheat on her vegan meal.

She sat down and I left her to channel surf. Feeling content, she was close by me, I proceeded to run the bath water to bath my child.

About ten minutes into Dorah’s bath, I heard the most blood curdling scream. Snatching Dorah out the tub, wrapping her in a towel, I raced down the hallway as fast as I could thinking the black assassin was in the vicinity. Momma came flying out of the room as well.

We found Hazel bunched up on the floor screaming and crying out for the Lord to help her.

As I passed Dorah to momma, who was just as speechless and dazed as I was, I finally found my voice to ask her what was wrong.

She pointed at the television crying out her whole family was gone.

I looked in the direction she was pointing in. I was shocked as the reporter was speaking about a double homicide in the Bronx of a married couple and family pet. The reporter said the husband was a merchant marine and the wife was a stay at home mom who recently was mourning over the tragic shooting death of her son Javier Martinez.

I was shocked to my core when the reporter also said, “If anyone has seen this woman, contact crime stoppers at 1-800-555 Stop.”

My mouth flew open for another time. My knees buckled and I almost fainted when an image of the black assassin popped up on my screen. The reporter was sure to state they just wanted to question her as she was the last known person leaving the building before the bodies were found. Neighbors the reporter briefly interviewed said they didn’t know too much about the couple except they were very quiet and stuck to themselves figuring it was because they just moved into the neighborhood less than a week ago.

I was shaking now. I was in a state of shock. It had been sometime since the black assassin had struck. A part of me thought we were safe and
The Overseers
had finally called their hit on me off being as Boogie was locked up and I rarely promoted a party. I guess I knew now I was wrong.

Then the thought hit me. If the black assassin could find Hazel’s family in less than a week’s time, then they had to know where I lived. Shit, if this bitch was out of hiding then there’s no telling when she’d strike my apartment. I frantically paced back and forth. I didn’t know how to tell momma and Hazel we were not safe at all. We needed to get out of this apartment and needed to do it now.

I figured there wasn’t anything left to do but tell them. My voice quavered as I did. All of us cried, even Dorah who didn’t know why she was crying.

We heard a key in the door. The ladies were struck by fear. I was happy though when Infinity walked through the door.

I rushed over to him. I hugged him tightly. I led him into the kitchen while telling momma and Hazel, “We’ll be back.”

Nervously I made him sit down but he popped back up from his seat going to the sink to wash his hands.

I grabbed a plate out of the cupboard and started to dish out his dinner.

Placing the plate before him then going to get his berry juice, I jumped into the happenings of the day. All my husband could say was, “Damn.”

Yes, Infinity and I got married, six months ago, against Boogie’s wishes of course.

I realized that I wanted to make things work with him even though he was a pain in my ass. Plus, after taking those bullets to his torso and abdomen when we were at the hotel, I felt I owed him that much.

Just like Hazel did, Infinity pushed his plate aside.

“I can’t eat this babe, but it does look scrumptious,” he said to me after viewing the hurt look on my face.

“Listen no matter what happens, you are going to need your strength Finity,” I urged him.

“Who the hell could eat at a time like this?” he barked at me. “Do you not realize they are trying to kill everyone with some connection to you? What about Dorah, momma and me? I mean my goodness we need to do something and quick or we are all goners,” he finished then sighed deeply.

“I know baby but through all of this, you are still going to need your strength,” I said and ignoring the rest of his statement.

            
 
Chapter 6

I talked all the while trying to force feed Infinity. He took a few of the forkfuls that I held up to his mouth. Needless to say he was hooked on my vegan creation and snatched the fork from me and began feeding himself. I watched attentively; waiting for him to finish so I could speak.

Once finished, Infinity and I went into deep conversation mode. We debated on what exactly to tell Hazel. I didn’t want her to hate me or think this was all my fault somehow. Infinity and I came to the conclusion the truth was always the best thing to tell. Especially in a situation like this where things could get very sticky. Our intent was to make sure everyone was aware so we could watch each other’s back.

We walked into the family room holding hands. Momma had Hazel wrapped in a multi colored throw blanket and was patting her hair talking ever so gently to her. Hazel seemed to be responsive. A look of relief and glimmer of hope shone in her eyes when Infinity and I walked into the room.

“Momma, Hazel, we need to talk,” I said trying to prepare myself for the worst of their reactions.

Infinity and I broke it down as best as we could. Momma wanted to go to the police and Hazel wanted some sweet revenge. I, on the other hand, was secretly happy Hazel didn’t hate me.

Infinity began to speak, “Now momma you know we can’t go to the police. That’s not the code of the streets.”

“Fuck that, Fuck the code of the streets. The code of the streets has my baby boy in jail and the code of the streets got my daughter shot. While I thought the ordeal was done and over, here the two of you stand before me telling me the same assassin which tried to kill Lil Bit a while ago is currently back on the trail and was responsible for Hazel’s family’s death. Even her seventeen-year-old brother might have been a victim? Nah, come on guys. This is way too out of hand. These aren’t the average people we are dealing with. Let me get this straight, we have a Jamaican female assassin, Lil Bit’s demanding ex-boyfriend with a chip on his shoulder and a drug crew who is into extortion which was robbed for a shipment? They think it’s my son who did it but being pussy they are going after the woman of the family and anyone she considers a friend or a loved one?”

Infinity and I shook our heads to indicate momma was correct. Hazel sat at the edge of the plush gray chair gripping the blanket and hanging on to every last word which was spoken. 

“Momma, listen,” I started but she immediately cut me off.

“Nah, you listen, which you have never been known to do. I try not to get into your business but my granddaughter is here. She’s alive, she’s breathing and she’s too young to lose both her parents or even worse her own life. Are you listening to me Devine Bettina Hunt?” she asked me hollering in the interim.

“Yes momma, damn, I’m listening. Matter of fact the whole building is listening,” I said with my voice dripping in sarcasm.

Momma walked over and smacked the dog shit out of me. I grabbed the side of my face because it stung more than I was embarrassed.

“Oww, what you smack me for?” I whined.

“Because you are too damn flippant. Now you three ADULTS can stay here if you want but guess who isn’t staying with you all?” she asked waiting breathlessly for an answer.

“Me and Dorah Margarete, that’s who,” she replied answering her own self so that we understood exactly who she was talking about.

“Momma, I’m not letting you take my baby from me. With your bipolar, I’d worry about the two of you incessantly,” I stated immediately regretting the words as they poured from my mouth.

“Fuck you mean, worry about us two incessantly? Huh little girl? Since when have you worried about anybody but yourself?” she asked me foaming at the mouth.

“What’s that supposed to mean. I worry about you every damn day, every damn hour. I mean I really, really worry about you,” I cried trying to make her understand I worshipped the ground she walked on but she didn’t, she just kept going on and on while Infinity and Hazel looked on in anticipation trying to see who would win not only the battle of words but the battle of my daughter’s destiny.

I had to admit, I finally gave up arguing with her when she said, “Well if you cared about anyone else, especially Dorah, your daughter, you’d let her go willingly to safety. See right here, right now and since I know the truth from ever since she was in your belly she’s been in danger. Yet you were too stupid to let Clarissa keep her for her own good. You think I’m the problem but I ain’t never let nothing happen to you. Even when I was on drugs, you and Boogie were always my main priority. So I have this thing called bipolar, but you have the thing called stupidity. Now I’m taking my grandbaby with me and not damn near none yawl can stop me because I’ll be your black assassin tonight,” she said damn near in my face ready to go toe to toe.

Infinity touched my arm reassuringly.

“Your mother is right bae. Just let the baby go on to safety while you and I figure out how to end this war which have us wound so tightly.” I pushed passed momma and grabbed my daughter.

I picked her up and kissed her all over her pretty face. I rubbed her hair and pulled her undershirt down over her protruding belly.

“Who loves ya mamas?” I asked her in our usual playful banter.

“You do,” came her little pip squeaked answer.

“Mamas you and granny are going bye for a little while. Mommy and daddy will catch up with you later. You hear me?”

“Yes, mommy,” she replied.

“I love you and I always will. You hear me?” I asked her then Infinity put his two cents in as well.

“Daddy loves you too pumpkin,” he said to her in a loving and reassuring voice.

Hazel sat still at the end of the chair with a look of fire in her eyes burning like I never seen before. It sort of scared me. I couldn’t be too sure if the fire was the want of her getting revenge against the black assassin or her want of getting at me because she felt I was responsible for her family’s murder.

Hazel caught me peeking at her then smiled awkwardly. A shiver ran through my body and I grabbed Infinity tightly, happy he was going to be staying here with me while Hazel was here. She was my bestie, my boo but I remember Boogie’s words, “Don’t trust anybody.”

My heart started to beat. Little beads of sweat started to form on my head.

“Are you alright Lil Bit?” Hazel asked me.

“Yes, I’m fine. I think I may be coming down with a touch of the flu,” I lied.

“Yea it’s about that time, plus being chased by a killer would do that to you, huh Lil Bit?” she asked me.

I swore I saw the devil in her eyes.

My mother oblivious to the murderous intent Hazel felt for the need of holding somebody accountable for her family’s death, grabbed Dorah from my hand.

“Oh come on Dorah, granny’s baby, we have to go,” she said as she raced to the bedroom she shared with Dorah on her weekends she spent with us.

We could hear dresser drawers open and slam shut while she was talking aloud to whom we presumed to be Dorah.

“There isn’t any time to waste. Munchkin pass granny the soap, lotion and that pack of washrags from on top of the dresser. Good girl. Love you munchy,” we heard her saying.

“Where will your family go?” Hazel asked and alarm bells rung in my head. I could see Infinity was sort of leery about her line of questioning as well.

Trying to change the subject, I said to Hazel, “I’m not too sure. Now if you’d follow me to the guest room, I can show you exactly where you’d be staying the night.”

She giggled slightly, “Night? I need to stay longer than that Lil Bit. Unless you really don’t want me too. However, the choice is yours. You can put me out tonight or tomorrow, or the most logical thing to do would be to let me stay with you indefinitely until we get this assassin bitch,” she said sounding thirsty for the hit woman’s blood to shed.

I felt somewhat relieved and questioned myself on how I could doubt my bestie. Of course she’s going to be a little wacky acting. What else would one do or act like knowing their whole family was murdered by a hit woman?

I showed Hazel to her room. As I closed the door, to leave her alone with her thoughts, I saw the same murderous look in her eye followed by the same wacky smile from the living room.

It was at this point I hurriedly closed the door, raced to the living room and ran into Infinity’s arms.

Whispering so no one would hear me, I said, “Baby, I know you said to tell the truth, but now that the truth is out there, Hazel is scaring me.”