Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
Diamond.
“Okay, food then home.” I said to myself after I was back inside my car.
Keona and I had had a busy morning. The social worker had come by this morning to make sure things were still good with her, then she had a doctor’s appointment.
They were so impressed to see that she was growing and developing well.
She was good and healthy, despite having drugs in her system only a couple of months ago.
Her weight was on track, and she was a very happy baby.
The social worker had let me know they were still unable to locate my sister, and she asked if I’d heard from her.
Unfortunately, I lied and told them I hadn’t.
Even though she was a piece of shit and I was sure that I was done with her, I didn’t know if she’d go to jail or something, and if that was the case, I didn’t want to contribute to it.
Even if that was what she deserved.
I hadn’t heard from her since the day I’d gone over there.
It was sickening to know that she’d created someone so precious and she wanted nothing to do with her.
I tried not to think about it though because regardless of if she was there for Keona or not, I was going to always make sure she was good.
I stopped and got me a chicken dinner from Crispy’s, the chicken shack not too far from my house. I’d been on the move all day, I wouldn’t be doing any cooking. Keona and I also wouldn’t be leaving the house anymore once we were in. I’d already let my job know that I needed the whole day off.
It was a struggle getting all of our things and the baby up to my place. I was out of breath by the time I got my key from my purse. As I was unlocking my door, I felt a presence behind me. I damn near jumped out of my skin when I turned around and found Tristan’s ass standing there.
“Tristan, what the fuck?!” I snapped.
“Y-you have a baby?” his eyes were locked on my niece’s stroller. I was so glad that I had her covered up because he didn’t deserve to see her.
I pushed her inside once I got my door open and pulled it closed slightly, but not all the way, so I could hear her if she woke up.
“What the hell are you doing at my house?”
“When d-did you have a baby, Diamond?”
“None of your business.” I rolled my eyes. He knew damn well I didn’t have a child. He’d seen me plenty of times since I left him. “Why are you here, Tristan?”
“I saw the shit on Pikz.”
“Okay, and?” I frowned.
I knew he’d seen it because he not only commented on my picture and the ones on the What’s Tea page, but he’d also called, left voicemails, texted and DM’d me. They all went ignored because he wasn’t my man and I didn’t owe his ass an explanation about shit.
“You went from me to a nigga like Loco?” he asked in disbelief. “He’s like ten times worse than I am, Diamond, come on.”
“It’s none of your business who I deal with, Tristan.” I rolled my eyes. “And if you think you’re going to come here and get in my head about him, then you can think again.” I folded my arms in front of me and shifted my weight to one side. “I know who I’m with.”
“He’s a gang member, Diamond. He’s dangerous. I’ve heard things about him.”
“You need to leave.” I pointed.
“Diamond, come on,” he pleaded, taking a step forward. “I’ve been begging you for another chance and you go deal with a known serial cheater and killer.”
“Makhai is not a killer.” I defended, rolling my eyes.
He was crazy without a doubt, and something always made me believe his threats when he said he’d hurt a nigga for playing with him, but I didn’t get killer from him. Despite his antics and mouth, he was very sweet.
To me at least.
“Ha! I know you don’t really believe that shit,” he shook his head.
“He is a notorious gang member, and you know Collin is my best friend,” he said referring to his longtime friend from school who was now a detective with ACPD.
“He said there are multiple open homicides that happened when he was here in town. What do you think that means?”
“That Collin needs to focus on doing his damn job instead of talking to a civilian about it.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m pretty sure he’s not supposed to be talking to you about open investigations.”
“That doesn’t matter,” he reached for my hand. “I’m trying to warn you about him before you’re caught up in some shit you can’t get out of.”
“I don’t need you to look out for me, nigga, I need you to leave!”
I tried pulling my hand away, but his grip tightened.
I narrowed my eyes at him then quickly kneed him in his balls.
He released me and doubled over in pain.
I left him there, crying like the bitch that he was, locking my door once I was inside.
He stayed out there beating on it for a few seconds before he finally left.
I was pissed about him popping up at my house, spewing all of his nonsense and lies. Anyone could have heard him and got Makhai in trouble.
What if what he was saying was true though?
I couldn’t stop thinking about it, so I pulled Keona’s stroller with me to the living room, took her out and situated her in her swing, then I searched the news sites to look up the so-called open homicides.
I gasped when I saw that there were in fact four people killed recently.
The investigations were open, and they were urging people to come forward if they had any information.
I searched in Crescent Falls to see if they had any open cases and was a little horrified to see there were even more there. They were currently investigating a mass shooting at a repast that took place months ago at a park.
Makhai didn’t do this.
Did he?
And if he did, could I be with him?
While I researched and overthought, Kabria called. I quickly answered and filled her in on what happened with Tristan and what he’d told me. Her ass didn’t bat a damn lash when I told her the shit.
“I don’t see what the issue is,” she said. “It actually adds to his sex appeal if he did it.”
“Kabria, what?” I frowned. “I’m being serious. I had sex with him and agreed to be in a relationship with him. What if he really did these things? One of these people was burned alive!”
“Then you better not piss him off.”
“Bitch!”
“Okay, I’m just playing,” she laughed. “But seriously, Dime, Tristan came over there with one goal in mind, to get you to second guess things with you and Makhai, and that’s exactly what you’re doing right now. You don’t know if Makhai did any of these things, but if he did, then what?”
“I don’t know.” I groaned. “If I don’t leave him if and when it’s confirmed, does that make me a horrible person?”
“No, just a little dick dizzy and maybe as crazy as him.”
“Thanks, Kabria.” I chuckled. “I hate you.”
“Never,” she laughed. “Seriously though, if he did this stuff, it was probably for good reason, and you’d never have to worry about being in danger because it takes a special kind of crazy to burn a mothafucka alive. I mean, damn! He’s a bad man!”
“I don’t even know how I became friends with you. I’m not lying.”
“If not me then who, hoe?”
“Anyone would have been better.” I said and laughed just as another call came in. “This is Makhai FaceTiming me now. I’ll call you back.”
“Okay, tell John Leonard Orr I said hi.”
“Bye bitch!” I snapped playfully before hanging up on her and answering for him. “Hey.”
“What’s up, baby? What you on?”
“Just hung up with Kabria. She’s the most ridiculous person I know.”
“Naw, that’s the homie,” he chuckled. They got along well because they were both very unfiltered and outspoken. They didn’t care what they said or who they offended most of the time.
“Of course she’s your homie.” I playfully rolled my eyes. “Where are you?”
“‘Bout to pull up on you actually. Unlock the door.”
“Okay.”
We hung up and I got up to do what he asked. I also went to heat my food since Tristan’s ass interrupted my original plans to eat when he showed up unannounced. By the time I was done and back in my living room, Makhai was coming in.
“Fuck happened to your lil’ wreath shit?” he asked after closing the door.
“Probably Tristan’s stupid ass.” I rolled my eyes.
“The dancing nigga?” he asked and I nodded.
“He popped up here when me and Keona were coming in. He’s lucky I didn’t have my taser because I would have put him on his ass just like the nigga that was with my sister.”
“What?!” he frowned.
“Some guy named Junior she was with,” I clarified. “He tried touching me so I tased his ass. I would have done the same to Tristan had I not already put my things inside.”
“And you just now telling me this, Lord?”
I studied him for a moment before I nodded and asked, “What would you have done if I had told you before?”
“Shiddd something, the fuck?” His brows furrowed.
“Maybe set them on fire?” I asked. “Or shoot them?” I named a few things that Tristan alleged he’d done.
“The latter more than likely. Burning niggas ain’t really my thing.”
I gasped. “Makhai!”
“What? You asked.”
“Tristan said you were a serial killer.” I said lowly.
“Oh.”
“Oh?” I frowned. “That’s all you have to say?”
“What else I’m supposed to say?”
“I don’t know,” I shrugged. “I’m telling you that someone told me you were a murderer and that’s how you respond?”
“Yeah. That nigga don’t know shit about me. All Lord did was gyrate to the homie’s music like a bitch. Nigga’s clueless.”
I had to force myself not to laugh at him claiming that Tristan gyrates.
“So… you’re not a serial killer?”
“Why? You wearing a wire?” he got up and started to pat me down, but I knocked his hands away.
“No, stupid, I’m not.”
“Gotta make sure you’re not trying to get me cased up.”
“Makhai, I’m being serious right now. Have you killed someone before?”
“You gon’ try to leave me if I did?”
I shook my head. “It’s a horrible admission, I know, but it’s the truth. I might be a little afraid though.”