CASE OF THE EX
“Who the fuck are you?” A threatening voice stirred Toni from the deep slumber she’d somehow slipped into.
Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she slowly peeled them open and was met with the barrel of a nine-millimeter in her face.
She almost peed on herself when she lifted her head from the pillow and studied Fancy hovering over her like the shadow of death.
Toni had come by the townhouse to pack some of the things she left here.
After falling apart, she ended up going to sleep in the bed she and Bronx shared with memories of them carrying her into her dreams. It was still very much a crime scene, but she couldn’t help but replay the many times they spent held up in this small space together.
He taught her how to play video games, and they competively went at it with Monopoly, Sorry, and Battleship.
She would cook for him; they would have romantic evenings with candles and snuggling up on the couch for some Netflix and chill type shit.
The heavy pain in her chest made it all real, and she had no outlet for it.
“I asked you a fucking question, bitch!” Fancy kept the gun fixed on Toni.
Panic stricken, she tried to collect her thoughts.
She didn’t know how to answer the question as she caught the gleam of the diamond ring on the woman’s finger.
It all came flooding back. The ambush. Bronx being murdered in front of her.
The horrible funeral and learning that he had a whole other bitch.
Her stomach coiled, and she fought like hell not to throw up in this bitch’s face.
“My name is Toni.” She finally managed to speak.
“And who the fuck was Bronx to you?” Fancy demanded.
She tried to let the shit go, but after she got back to her parent’s house and the Valium wore off, she couldn’t stop thinking about Bronx and his betrayal.
The fucked-up part about that was the nigga was dead, so she had nowhere to put all the pent-up rage drowning her.
She went over to their place and started going through his shit when she came across the set of keys and grew curious.
After that, she went through all his private info from his laptop and stumbled on a listing of properties that he owned, which she knew nothing about.
He had all kinds of houses where his family stashed shit, but this location practically called out to her.
Something told her some fuckery was going on, so her gut instinct led her here.
Initially when she walked in, she thought maybe it was just a bachelor pad or something.
It was a cute, quaint little space. Small stainless-steel appliances lined the walls in the kitchen with limited counter space, and a small island divided it from the dining room, where there was a table for two.
The walls had simple black and white art decorating them, and above the couch in the living room was a large mirror.
In the left corner was the king-sized bed with a bookshelf built into the frame.
Toni loved to read, so some of her favorites were arranged in alphabetical order.
On the nearby accent table beside the door, she reached for a small, framed photo of Bronx and the bitch from the funeral and saw nothing but red.
She was on his lap on a bench, and he was kissing her cheek while she snapped the selfie.
The glint in his eyes was unfamiliar. He seemed genuinely happy, with a smile damn near a mile wide.
He’d never smiled like that with her, and it immediately had her livid.
Skimming the home with her brownish-hazel eyes, when they landed on the bed, she almost thought she was seeing things.
No, the fuck this bitch didn’t! Fancy was no stranger to the streets.
Bronx made sure she always stayed strapped and knew how to handle a weapon too.
He told her he never wanted her to get caught slipping.
Who would have thought the very gun he gave her would be the same one she used to knock his little side bitch off?
She went into the Chanel tote on her arm and pulled out the Smith & Wesson.
Now she was standing over his bitch, ready to blow her brains against the bed she knew they fucked on without a single ounce of remorse.
“Look—” Toni attempted to sit up, but Fancy wasn’t budging.
“Don’t even think about moving, bitch! I asked you a fucking question! Who are you to my fucking fiancé?”
“I didn’t know he had a fiancé!” Toni choked on her tears. “I’m sorry.” Shutting her eyes, her life flashed in front of her, and she prepared herself for a bullet.
In her swift movements, Fancy hadn’t bothered to take the safety off the gun, so when she was ready to pop off and nothing happened, Toni took that as a sign.
Swinging both legs, she knocked the gun from Fancy’s hand, causing it to slide across the floor.
Shooting up in bed, Toni dove for Fancy, tackling her to the ground and knocking the wind from her.
When Fancy’s dainty hands wrapped around her neck, Toni swung left, then right, knocking her hands away and connecting each fist to her face.
She didn’t let up when Fancy shielded her head with her arms. Toni was at least twenty pounds lighter, but she was giving her a run when she kneed her stomach.
She’d been fighting girls since elementary because she was pretty and petite.
Bringing herself to her feet, she panted wildly and thrust some of her hair back from her face.
She could never let a punk bitch get the best of her.
After kicking Fancy repeatedly in the stomach until she curled up in a ball, Toni quickly searched the place for her things.
She snatched her shoes from the floor and swiped her crossbody bag and the duffel before bolting to the front door for her escape.
“Stupid bitch!” Fancy spat, blood spewing from her mouth when she lifted her head from the floor and caught Toni’s back as she rushed out of the townhome. “I’ll find you! I’m gonna fucking kill you, stupid ass hoe!” she threatened, sucking in deep breaths and holding her stomach.
Toni was tiny but mighty, bursting outside and immediately dashing to the end of the block.
It was dark and clouds filled the sky as she inhaled the scent of upcoming rain.
Catching her breath, she looked left, then right, just as a bus approached the next corner.
Quickly slipping into her shoes, she ran to catch it before it took off down the street.
Once she was settled, she pressed her head against the seat she chose in the back and sighed.
Glancing over her shoulder, she peered out the big window and caught Fancy limping out of the building, screaming like a crazy person at the top of her lungs, scanning the street for her.
Ducking low in, Toni shut her eyes and thanked God she was able to flee.
With her bags in her lap, she sifted through her purse until she located her cell phone.
She had about an hour until her shift started.
So, she was going to catch the bus back into Stonebridge and try to figure her shit out.
She couldn’t not go to work because she needed the money.
She’d come across some cash that Bronx stashed, but it wasn’t going to be enough for long-term survival.
Something had to give. Onika and Urso were going to apply pressure this entire pregnancy, stressing her the hell out.
She refused to go back to that. Sending a silent prayer up to God, she begged him to show her the way.
“Well, well. I didn’t think you would ever show your face around here again.” As soon as the elevator doors opened, Bull was met with Essence Campbell’s sultry tone.
Immediately his dick responded. His best friend’s little sister damn sure grew the fuck up.
Her smooth, glowing espresso skin looked like it tasted good.
He would know. Carefully drinking her in, his eyes sparkled, and half a smile teased her full, juicy lips coated with gloss.
Denim Calvin Klein jeans hung off her womanly hips, accompanied by a white V-neck top that clung to her B cups, and a pair of black leather heels to match the leather jacket draped over her shoulders.
Essence was tall and slim but had some meat on her bones.
“Sorry I didn’t make the funeral. I wanted to be here. Just in case.”
The doors closed behind him, and he inched into her space.
Lifting herself from the wall she was using to prop herself up, she took in his rugged but handsome appearance.
Bull slid one of his thick arms around her waist and greeted her with a kiss to the cheek.
Melting in his warm embrace, Essence peered into his eyes.
The coldness that was typically there for anyone else faltered in her presence.
Reaching up, she stroked his beard before greeting him with a soft kiss against his lips.
“It’s nice to see you too.” A rare smile graced his lips. “How is he doing?”
Pulling away from each other, the pair started down the hall toward Ezekiel’s room. Slipping her hands into the back pocket of her jeans, Essence blew out a harsh breath and shook her head.
“He’s hanging in there. It was rough those first 48 hours,” she admitted, stopping in front of the door to room 510.
Through the glass, Bull could see Eazy in his bed hooked up to multiple machines.
“I should have been here.”
“I thought you would have been. Where were you?” she asked, searching his deep-set eyes.
“Braxton called me yesterday. You believe that shit? My brother gets hit, and I’m the last mothafucka to know.” Bull scoffed.
“I’m sorry.” Essence truly meant it, and he could read the empathy behind her stare.
“Me too. I know Niva was like a sister to you.” Reaching up to stroke her cheek, he cupped her chin and tilted his head.
Sniffling, she nodded, and her teary eyes landed on her feet.