Chapter 19 #4
I pecked them lightly as a round of knocks sounded from the other side of the door. Of course he ignored them but I knew we had to exit the bathroom.
“Then as my man, take me home…with you. I need you to hold me, Chief.” After Quincey’s power move tonight, I no longer had the energy to play pretend. All I wanted to do was go lay up and eat cake.
There was a pregnant pause before he stepped back, grabbing me around my waist to pull me down.
“Okay, Queen Lou.”
That was all he said as he led me out of the bathroom where I noticed the same lady from the last fundraiser standing and waiting. I still didn’t know her name but of course she knew mine.
“Oh, well hello there, Mrs. Wilson. It’s a pleasure seeing you in good health, especially after the last affair with that crazy shooting. Were you hurt too that night? You and I both know the news sometimes leave out important information with names and such.”
Courtland’s hand was still on the small of my back as he encouraged me to keep walking.
“Oh hi, yes. It’s good seeing you too,” I called out to her, not stopping while only acknowledging the front half of her statement.
Red flags didn’t jump at me for running into her again because at these types of events I tended to see the same faces, but an eerie feeling hit my gut that had me feeling nauseated at her mentioning the shooting and how close I was to getting hurt.
My mind ran back to the blood and I gagged but fought it down.
I wanted to put it off on the new development in my stomach but this was different from the morning sickness I barely had.
I could feel her watching me.
I glanced back over my shoulder to see her still standing there with a nasty ass glare on her face before she realized I could see her. The fake smile and wave were back on then.
My mind flashed back to that night, doing my best to remember.
“Do you know her?”
“No. I briefly talked to her at the last fundraiser right before the shooting happened though. She was by me when everything went down that night.” Courtland looked back just as we reached the entrance and she hadn’t gone into the bathroom as she was now talking on a phone.
“Fuck,” Courtland mumbled lowly as he led me to the truck instead of waiting for valet to assist us.
“Listen, I need you to stay here for me. Don’t open the door for no one, and baby, I mean no fucking one.
” I was doing my best not to freak out because I had no idea what was going on.
Just as he unlocked and opened the door, we were immediately met by a dead rat pinned to a picture of Quincey and someone whose face was no longer visible in a very intimate manner, along with a note in cut out letters just like the others.
Only this time the threat felt too fucking real.
Now, panic hit me as a freezing chill ran down my spine. I gasped as my eyes got big.
Now my chest was pounding while I read it again in my head.
I think it’s time that everyone knows the truth about our husbands don’t you, sister wife?
All this meant Quincey hadn’t handled shit or they were still fucking.
Of course they are.
This was the end of everything I’d worked so hard for.
Courtland was busy on the phone so I had more than enough time to spaz in private while my thoughts ran crazy with every possible bit of information that someone knew about Quincey…us. And now all I could hear were Nas’s words about me preventing it from coming out this way.
Fuck!
Johnni, if anyone finds out, it’s going to be bad for us. We can’t let that happen.
You have to get rid of that picture.
I glanced back at the rat when the smell invaded my nose. It was funky as hell, hyping the whole concept that Quincey’s shit was foul and he was a dead man.
Or my shit is foul.
Both of y’all bullshit foul, Johnni. Focus and get the damn picture.
It’s worse for you if you know and say nothing.
Nas’s words began playing in my head. I groaned, hating that once again I was the one who’d found this bullshit. Nas said it would play out because whoever was determined to ruin Quincey, but obviously not enough if they never went to the media first.
“Don’t they know I can’t do shit but be disgusted by the smell of this fucking rat?” I asked myself.
I went to reach for it with shaky hands. I blew out a nervous breath. I was thinking of a way to get past the rat to get it, but physically there was no way. I would have to remove the damn pin.
“Whew, c’mon Johnni. Calm down and just grab it,” I said.
I snatched at my chest, trying to calm my pulsating heart. I wasn’t aware of my chest heaving until the first gag hit me.
This time when I gagged, I lost the battle with keeping my food down. I turned and bent over, trying to block him from seeing me like this, which was impossible.
“Oh fuck, baby. Are you okay?” I shook my head, giving an honest answer because I was far from it.
Courtland hopped into protective mode, grabbing my hair as he rubbed my back.
“I’ma get you out of here, baby. Let me call for another car.
Here, come sit right here for me while I make a call right quick.
” While he multitasked, ushering me to the driver’s side, he started talking to someone.
I didn’t hear another voice, so I assumed he was on the phone, as he leaned over me, producing a small bottle of water and a napkin.
Fuck, Johnni, you have to get that picture before you leave.
“Baby, we have to go back inside, but I need you to stay close to me. No matter what, don’t let go of my arm,” he said while he wiped my mouth with the napkin.
With us heading back inside, there was still hope that maybe Quincey could make it out to get it before anyone else could see the picture.
“Yes, Chief.” We made our way back inside, with Courtland dominating the space he created for us to make it to Quincey in no time. Of course, he was too deep in conversation to even pay attention to his surroundings.
He had become fully dependent on Judge and Jury to protect his every move. It was scary how fast the situation made him comfortable to move like he was untouchable.
Courtland waved Judge over.
“Yo, look, some shit just went down outside. I got the police on their way because I’m almost a hundred percent sure whoever compromised the truck is still here.”
The police!
Shit, Johnni you’re on a time clock.
If you just tell Courtland you need that picture, he’ll understand.
No the hell he won’t because you can’t explain it without it looking like you’re protecting Quincey.
Just tell him please.
I tugged on his arm, getting his attention while he talked to Judge.
“Baby, I need to get that picture please, before the police and media get here. Since I saw it first, and then you, he can—” I didn’t even have to finish the sentence before his stone expression found mine and nodded.
I didn’t care that Judge heard me call him baby, exposing me and Courtland’s relationship status.
At that moment, my mind was on protecting my secret more.
“I’ma handle this on the way out. Get that muthafucka out of here discreetly, use any excuse that you think will work.
I’m sending Najee to come scoop y’all. Let me get the keys.
Oh, and have Jury handle the truck outside.
I’ma take Johnni with me now.” Judge quickly glanced at me.
I wasn’t sure what my face said, but he delivered a somber expression as he nodded, tapping his earpiece and speaking lowly.
“C’mon, Lou, we got seconds,” Courtland said as he led me back to the truck. I went to get the picture when he wrapped his arms around my waist, preventing me from going back that way.
“Hell fucking no. I got it, you just get in this one now,” he said lowly in my ear as Jury hustled out behind us.
Jury made her way to guard the truck. Once he had me tucked in the front seat, he made his way over to Jury, going into the back seat and getting the picture.
He passed it to her and said something that had her nodding.
He headed back to the truck, getting in next to me, grabbing hand sanitizer, and using it.
“Thank you.”
I grabbed his hand, interlocking our fingers. Even with the deep scowl on his face, he looked over at me.
“Please don’t be mad. This wasn’t the exit we needed. This could’ve hurt me too.”
“I’m not mad, Lou, just frustrated. And I understand. Don’t worry, I got your exit plan in motion. Just be ready to toss your hair down when I tell you to.” That had me smiling as I picked up our hands, kissing the back of his.
“I just want a snack, a back rub, and for you to hold me until I fall asleep.” He remained silent as he drove away from the venue. I leaned over, planting kisses on his face until Courtland finally kissed me back.
“Anything for you, Queen Lou.” After one more peck to my lips, Courtland put his eyes back on the road, taking me to the one place I wanted to be right now, home with him.
I sent a text to Quincey.
Me: Getting a room. Don’t worry, I’m safe.
I knew he wouldn’t respond, so I turned my phone off.
Mentally exhausted, I didn’t want to deal with Quincey and more of his false promises to handle his shit.