3. Latia
Latia
“ A re you out of your damn mind, Latia? Why the hell would you let Becky talk your black ass into going to the projects? Then you got the nerve to do it at night like those ninjas won’t sniff your green ass coming a mile away.
I blame Rita and Herbert for sheltering you too much growing up.
This is some bullshit,” Keisha rants, causing her voice to bounce around the interior of my car like a bass drum.
My scary ass stupidly called Keisha to tell her where I was heading, and she’s been fussing since I’d finished telling her my reasoning.
Despite my confidence when speaking to Melinda, it took me two weeks to build enough confidence to follow through with the plan.
Seeing the tiredness in Melinda’s eyes at work today, I decided that today would be the day to activate my investigative skills.
I’m hoping that I can blend in with the residents, so I’m dressed down in a pair of leggings that mold to my lower half like skin, a bonnet covering my full head of hair, and a halter top that amplifies my bountiful breasts nicely.
For added effect, I’m wearing a pair of slides that I hope won’t announce my presence as I move from building to building within the run-down housing development.
Between my pulse racing and the drumming in my chest, I didn’t have much rebuttal for Keisha because I’d just turned into the complex entrance.
The area is hustling and bustling with various people roaming the streets.
The dilapidated buildings sitting an inch apart give off a silent warning that this area isn’t for the faint of heart.
Each building has chipping gray paint, old windows, and, somehow, an echo of struggle that pinches my chest. My Spidey senses are tingling, and warning bells are echoing in my ears, causing my chest to tighten, making it difficult for me to breathe.
“Do you have your earbuds with you?” Keisha asks, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Mhm,” I mumble while rolling my eyes despite Keisha’s inability to see me.
“Good. You’re taking me with you since it’s too late for me to accompany you on this dummy mission. If something happens to you, I’m going to jail because I’m beating Becky’s ass.”
A slight smirk upturns my lips at Keisha’s threat toward Melinda, whom she refuses to address by her real name despite me telling her what it is.
“Calm down, Keish. You’re making this worse, and I’m already between peeing on myself and fleeing these projects like a racecar driver.”
“Then piss and flee at the same time. Fuck Becky and her need to involve the foolish black woman too sensitive and caring to know when to decline involving herself in other people’s problems.”
Pulling into a parking space where three buildings sit in front of me, I inhale and exhale slowly, trying to calm myself.
Thankfully, I’m not the only car filling a space, so I should be okay to park here without incident.
The trembling in my extremities and the unsettling feeling in my stomach are begging me to abort this mission.
Whoopi Goldberg’s famous line to Demi Moore in Ghost about danger starts playing on a loop when my eyes roam the area.
My bladder threatens to release upon seeing an angry man grab a woman by her neck while shaking her like a rag doll.
“I’m here and parked, which means I need to get out of the car if I plan to be incognito. People are milling around, so I should be able to move around undetected,” I tell Keisha, who’s huffing and puffing on the other end.
Quickly diverting my gaze, I stare at my lap while trying to control the rapid beating in my chest. Melinda’s worry had seeped into my mind, making me desperate to help her locate her sister, so I had to see this through despite the weak feeling surging in my legs.
The vein in my neck is pulsing wildly, and my hands are beginning to perspire, yet I’m here now, so I can’t turn around.
My stomach flips when the gravity of what I’m about to do pierces my psyche.
“Fine, but I hate this shit, Latia.”
“It’s too late for scolding.”
Placing my earbud in my ear, I turn the car off and exit, pausing to gather my bearings when the night air hits my face.
Closing the door, I look left and right before starting my canvas at the first building on the left. Unlike the people moving in and out of the other two buildings, the first seems less active, making my decision easier.
“I’m moving,” I whisper.
Keisha’s background becomes silent, letting me know she’s turned off the music previously playing or lowered the volume.
With my rapt eyes bouncing around the area, I move casually along the path toward the building entrance.
Upon reaching the door, I pull the handle with my eyes bulging slightly at the creaking of the old door announcing my entrance.
To my immediate right is an area for the resident’s mail to be inserted into slots.
There’s an island-like structure toward the back where two rats are running back and forth like they’re playing tag.
“Girl, you know you’re in uncharted territory when the rats don’t fear people moving around,” I whisper.
“Tuh. You better hope that’s the worst you’ll see,” Keisha aggressively voices, reminding me of her displeasure about this situation.
“Trust me, I know. I’m gonna call you back, though. I don’t want to draw any attention to myself.”
“What the hell? That’s about as dumb as your presence in that neighborhood,” Keisha rants.
“Maybe, but let me do this. You have my location, and I’ll call you back within the hour.”
“If I don’t hear from you, I’m calling the police. Don’t play with me, Latia.”
Sighing, I hang my head while nodding before responding to Keisha.
“Okay. I’ll be in touch soon.”
Tapping my earbud, I disconnect the call just as prickles dance along my arms.
“What the fuck you doing here, bitch?” a deep masculine voice rings out, instantly freezing my blood and reinstating my urge to lose my bladder.
“Oh, shit!” I mumble.
My racing heart and shaking limbs make it impossible for me to speak and difficult to breathe normally when intense heat hits my back.
Oh, God! This isn’t the way I planned to die.
My breaths are choppy, my vision is blurry from the water slipping from the corners of my eyes, and the thought of my parents getting a call about my blood smearing the ground has my insides in shambles.
“I knew that pale-faced cunt would try some slick shit after she got the hint to stay away from here. Does she think sending your ass here would do besides provide a headline she deserved?”
The man’s rank breath hits my face, twisting my stomach, yet I’m incapable of responding.
His hollow, blank, and dark eyes flash with murderous intent to match the gun he has pressed against my chin.
Fear knots within me at what’s about to happen, making me instantly regret ending the call with Keisha.
Panic is rioting with me, and my knees are struggling to keep me upright.
This man’s name is foreign to me, but his authority in this neighborhood has to be high because no one questioned him snatching me out of the building at gunpoint.
He has me standing flush against the wall outside, yet no one has attempted to stop him.
What makes the situation worse is the darkness surrounding our present location, making it easy for him to kill me.
“What the hell are you doing, Kodak?” Whoever the newcomer is has a resigned tone with a quiet emphasis in his question that brokers no room for rebuttal.
“About to teach this bitch a lesson in meddling in business she shouldn’t,” the man I now know as Kodak barks without removing his piercing gaze from me.
My breaths hitch when Kodak presses the gun harder into my chin, causing a pinch of pain to spread across the bottom half of my face. Lord, I promise if you get me out of this, I’ll make better decisions about the assignments I take on in the future.
“I can’t let you harm this woman, man. She’s clearly not from around here, which means ending her will only bring more heat to your turf. Is that what you want?” the mystery man asks, and something in his calm tone has my heart rate elevating for a different reason.
My stomach is fluttering, and my mouth is flooding with moisture, which is inappropriate under these circumstances.
Yet, hearing the mystery man’s deep, husky, gratifying voice makes me curious to know more about him.
There’s a quiet yet challenging authority within his delivery that instantly puts my mind at ease.
His calm authority also makes my body warm and my lower region thump.
In his presence, despite not being able to look at him, I feel like I’m gonna make it out of here alive.
“Damn. Alright, you got it, AC, man,” Kodak says, hanging his head for a second before returning his attention to me.
“You better thank whatever God you believe in that my man was here to save your ass. However, if I see your ass around here again, your ass is done for. Now, get the fuck outta here before I scatter your thoughts.”
Kodak removes the gun and takes a few steps backward, allowing me an opportunity to flee.
The heat and spittle coming from Kodak’s mouth have me envisioning myself bleeding out in this grass if I’m unlucky enough to run into him again. My legs are wobbling like V.I.C. is blasting over a sound system, and my knees are knocking, preventing me from retreating like I need to.
“I got her, Kodak. She needs a minute after your ass hemmed her up at gunpoint,” AC interjects, coming to my rescue for the second time.
“Remind her nosy ass that my words aren’t baseless. I won’t spare her again.” With that, Kodak walks away, allowing me to breathe for the first time since encountering him.
Tears fall rapidly from my eyes, and my chest tightens and releases from the gravity of what could have happened. I’m the one who normally writes about stories such as this one, but knowing that I was seconds from becoming the headline has me out of sorts.
“Come on so I can get you out of here, mama.”
For the first time since hearing AC’s voice, I’m able to visually acknowledge my rescuer, and my breaths stall in my chest. AC is over six feet tall with a muscular physique that can’t be hidden beneath the vest adorning his body.
The white shirt behind the vest has several buttons undone where a gold chain rests.
The dress shirt sleeves are rolled up to AC’s elbows like he had been preparing for battle if need be.
The lack of lighting in this area makes it impossible for me to see AC’s face, which is the motivation I need to head to my car.
Standing upright, I slowly head to where AC’s rapt attention is on me. As if I’m not already on the edge, I damn near jump out of my skin when AC’s hand lands on my lower back, sending a jolt of electricity surging through me.
“You can breathe now, mama. I got you, but promise me that you won’t return here.
This scene isn’t for you. Besides, I can’t guarantee I’ll be in the vicinity to protect you from these reckless mothafuckas if you do.
” AC’s husky vernacular flows over my body like butter, causing shivers to run down my spine.
“I-I promise.”
At this point, I’d agree to anything AC asks for just to ensure he doesn’t have a reason to be disappointed with me.