Childhood Sweethearts PT 5 Page 6

Javier sat on another sofa and was just as furious as the others. He was looking forward to fucking the shit out of China before Mario killed her. Now he had to wait until she slipped up again.

  “Mario, I will go after her myself,” Javier offered.

  “I can’t, Javier. You’re no longer infantry. You’re a leader. And leaders send out their troops to handle war, and their troops are supposed to do what, Marco?” Mario asked.

  “Their troops are supposed to bring the leader progress and victory,” Marco replied.

  It was one of the rules of being an M-13 gang member, and Marco knew it well. It was the reason that many other M-13 members died, just like Jr., who was unable to bring victory to his leader. Marco realized how lucky he was to be alive. He had survived the gunfight against the white man. Now he had to survive the war against Smooth’s retaliation.

  “Mario, I’m a bring you victory. Just give me time to let the block calm down,” Marco swore.

  “In two weeks, I want you to get back out there, and keep your eyes on the prize,” Mario ordered. “Do we understand each other?”

  “Yes, esé!” Marco replied.

  * * *

  When China came around, she found herself in a hospital bed hooked up to an IV machine. Her head was pounding, and she felt like it was about to explode. When she tried to get up, a hand landed on her chest to prevent her from moving. When she looked to her side, she saw Spencer and felt immediately comfortable.

  “Doctors don’t want you moving too much. By the way, welcome back,” Spencer said, with a smile on his face.

  “How long—” China cleared her throat to clear up her scratchy voice “—how long was I out?” she finished.

  “Today would make the same day, China. But you proved to be a soldier. You lost a lot of blood.”

  “How? Was I shot?” she asked.

  “No. I did all the shooting.”

  “Oh my gosh!” China exclaimed while feeling her now flat stomach.

  The little knot was no longer there, and it didn’t take China long to realize that her baby was gone. China began to shake badly as the realization continued to dawn on her that her baby was gone.

  Spencer had no idea how to put a bandage on someone’s hurt as China broke down, so he simply grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “I don’t know your pain, China, but I can assure you that I will not sleep until I catch Mario,” he said.

  China was touched by his words of support. She looked up at Spencer and threw her arms around his neck.

  “Thank you so much, Spencer!” China sobbed into his strong arms.

  Spencer felt someone else’s presence in the room, from behind. He turned around and saw the nurse walk in with her clipboard in her hands.

  “Sorry to interrupt. I’m Tara, and I’m back to check your vitals,” the nurse said.

  “She’s fine to me,” Spencer replied, causing a chuckle to arise between the nurse and China.

  “Awww shit!” China winced in pain after smiling too wide, which irritated the stitches on the bridge of her nose and upper lip.

  “I was just about to inform you of your condition,” the nurse said as she read from the clipboard. “You went through three operations successfully after removing the remains of your fetus from your womb. Thanks to your friend, you were rushed to our Jackson Memorial Hospital by an ambulance, which arrived and immediately took precautions with your miscarriage. You were losing a lot of blood, but you made it to us on time. The stitches you just felt on your face were to close up some deep gashes, which will take two weeks to heal,” the nurse explained.

  “Your sister stopped by, but she had to run back to the restaurant. She told me to call her when you woke up,” Spencer said, staring directly into China’s eyes.

  “Let me check your blood pressure real quick, and go get you some pain medication if you don’t mind,” the nurse said as she squeezed herself between Spencer to begin checking China’s blood pressure.

  While Tara took her vitals, Spencer called Roxy.

  “Perfect again. It’s 110 over 70. It’s like nothing ever happened to you,” the nurse said as she documented China’s vitals on her clipboard. “Now I know it may be a little difficult to eat, but is there anything you want from the kitchen?”

  “Ice. My throat is on fire!” China said.

  “Okay, I’ll order it right away,” the nurse said as she left the room.

  “Your sister and mom are on their way back up. I wish I could stay, but I can’t.”

  “You don’t have to run from my family,” China said, cutting him off. “You saved my life, and that scores big points in my book. Thanks, Spencer, for being there. Without you, I probably would have lost my life.”

  “They were trying to abduct you and bring you back to Mario,” Spencer informed her.

  “They killed my child. In two weeks, I’ll be happy to meet Mario myself. Oh, by the way, we’re still going to see Smooth.”

  “We can do that once you’re healed,” Spencer suggested.

  “Listen, Spencer. A couple stitches and my baby kicked out of me will not keep me down. I have a man to help get back on these streets. No time to grieve. Plus, I have a new personal enemy to meet. And until I find him, I’ma be a busy bitch!” she informed him.

  “Okay, Ms. Preston, here’s your ice,” Tara the nurse said, walking in with a tray of ice and beverages.

  “I thought you’d probably want something cold to drink as well. Water? Soda? Juice? What’s your pick?” she asked, pointing at each one individually.

  “When will I be able to leave?” China asked as she selected a cold Pepsi and a cup of ice.

  “The doctor prefers discharge no later than Sunday morning. So you’re looking at a day of bed rest,” the nurse informed China.

  “That’s perfect. Spencer, we’ll be leaving Sunday morning. Is my car still at the restaurant?”

  “Yes, next to mine. I rode over in the ambulance with you,” Spencer replied.

  “What time is it?”

  “Almost 9:00 p.m.,” Spencer answered.

  Damn! I’ve been out cold since this morning! she thought.

  “Get some rest. I’ll be back on Sunday,” Spencer said as he spun around on his heels.

  “Spencer!” China called out before he made it to the doorway.

  “What’s up?” he said, after turning around.

  Damn! I don’t want him to leave, but why? she thought. “Thank you again,” she said.

  “You’re welcome. I couldn’t let them hurt you.”

  “Why?” China asked.

  “Because! You’re Smooth’s girl,” he said as he winked at her and then stormed out of the room, leaving China speechless.

  Yeah. I’m Smooth’s girl! China thought.

  * * *

  “These Mexicans are getting too bold, my niggas!” Sue Rabbit said to more than a dozen of his ranked lieutenants and sergeants in their new meeting location. It was a new trap house on 56th that only the people who were present knew of.

  Sue Rabbit and Guru didn’t need Smooth’s words to begin his retaliation. China was the queen of their operation and the sister of Sue Rabbit’s queen in his life. Sue Rabbit pressed his comrades to spill Mexican blood on their turf. Sue looked over at Guru and nodded his head. Guru walked from behind the minibar and handed him a dro blunt.

  “We gonna hit up the Mexican joint on 127th and leave everything flatlined.” Guru gestured with his hands.

  The room exploded into ovation, ready to spill blood for China.

  “She is one of us, and we will not allow these Mexicans to get away with bringing harm to her. She was pregnant and lost her soldier—” Guru paused and gave the room a look over to search his lieutenants’ and sergeants’ faces “—so we take away many of their soldiers tonight!” Guru ordered, followed by the room exploding into another exhilarating ovation.

  “She’s the queen bee!” Guru shouted.

  “China! China! China!” the crowd began chanting.

&nbs
p; * * *

  After seeing the feed of Smooth’s men gathered together and planning to retaliate in her name, China had a new respect for Sue Rabbit and Guru. The entire meeting had been recorded by Sue Rabbit and forwarded to Roxy’s iPhone 7.

  China was amazed and deeply touched by their support.

  “Now I see why Smooth’s so adamant about not leaving his homeboys by themselves. They are too loyal,” China reflected.

  “So, what do you think?” Roxy asked.

  “I think Sue Rabbit and Guru are some real muthafuckas, Roxy!” China commented.

  “The both of them were upset when they learned what had happened,” Roxy explained.

  “All of Miami knows, huh?” China asked.

  “It’s all over the news, China. Police are still at my damn restaurant,” Roxy said.

  “And you’re sure Mom’s going to be alright?” China asked Roxy, concerned about GaGa’s recent high blood pressure attack from too much worry over her daughter.

  “She’ll be fine. She’ll be here tomorrow to see you. She just needs some rest,” Roxy assured her.

  “Smooth’s gonna flip out, especially when he finds out the baby is gone!” China said sadly.

  “Hey! You’re alive! Smooth will be grateful for that!” Roxy reminded China, which cheered her up a little bit.

  “Yeah, you’re right,” China said.

  “Excuse me, but visitation hours are now over. If you plan on staying all night, it’s fine. But if not, the doors to this unit will be locked,” an attending nurse informed China and Roxy.

  “Well, I’ll see you tomorrow,” Roxy said, looking at her new pink diamond embedded Rolex. “Sue will have a fit if he comes home and I’m not there.”

  “Damn! That nigga got big sis fucked up in the head,”

  China said.

  “Whatever!” Roxy said, blushing and rolling her eyes while gathering up her purse to leave. “He’s just a man who you can’t leave home alone, and I gotta be home when he comes home.”

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  “Goodnight. Now get you some rest. See you tomorrow,” Roxy said as she kissed China on her forehead. “Love you.”

  “Love you too, Roxy!” China said.

  When Roxy was gone, China adjusted her bed and turned up the volume on a breaking news report in Miami:

  “All day has been a steady disaster in the streets of Miami, of murder, attempted murder, and abductions, possibly stemming from this morning’s attempted abduction of China Preston. We’ve learned that she is in stable condition, but sadly, she’s suffered a miscarriage. Our latest breaking news is of the chilling murder scene on 127th here in Miami, where a Mexican strip club owned by the late Juan José Jr. was attacked. Police are trying to see if this is in retaliation for or in connection with the case of China Preston, whose abductors were members of a Mexican gang.”

  China changed the channel, with a smile on her face.

  Sue Rabbit and Guru said they were going to attack 127th, and they did, China realized. “Now I see why Smooth cares so much for his men,” she said quietly.

  China’s thoughts abruptly went back to the events of that morning and Spencer saving her life. She could still feel the kicks to her stomach that knocked the wind out of her, making it impossible for her to shrill in pain. But she could still feel the comfort that overtook her when she felt the blood of her attacker splatter onto her face. And she could still feel how safe she felt when she saw Spencer standing over her. China felt that she owed Spencer her life for backing her up. There was something more than the resemblance of his sister that China liked about him.

  He isn’t an ordinary white boy, China thought. He’s sweet, humble, and handsome.

  She then thought about her enemies, who were Smooth’s enemies.

  She was too caught up on seeking retaliation in her mind to notice the evil look on her face. By all means, she was ready to make Mario pay for what he had done to her life. She was very eager to become a mother, and now she was childless. I will make sure I make Mario pay, even in hell, when I send him there, China thought. She then closed her eyes, trying her best to prevent her tears from falling.

  * * *

  The Mexican man tied to the chair at the slaughter pad shook badly and was afraid of Spencer, who stood in front of him with a gasoline can.

  “Tic! Here! Give our man a nice shower, will you!” Spencer said to Tic as he handed him the can.

  “Hell yeah!” Tic said as he began pouring the gasoline all over the man.

  “Mario, amigo!” Spencer said and then whistled. “Where is he?”

  “No English, amigo!” the man said quietly.

  “So we’re on this no English shit again, huh?” Spencer said as he walked up to the fearful Mexican who was in his mid-forties.

  Around the man’s neck was a blue bandana soaked in gasoline as well.

  “So you want to lie to me, fucker?” Spencer shouted.

  Smack!

  Spencer backhanded the man, causing blood to trickle from his split lip.

  “No English, no English!” the man cried out.

  “Yeah, I know, fucker! No English!” Spencer shouted, and then pulled a pack of Newports from his pocket.

  He pulled out two cigarettes and tossed one over to Tic, who was sitting atop the gasoline can.

  “I think he believes that we are some stupid Americans, Tic. What do you think?” Spencer asked as he pulled out a Bic lighter and lit his cigarette.

  “Please, amigo!”

  “Awwww! Please is English, amigo. Come on, I know you have a good memory. What is it that your teacher taught you, huh?” Spencer asked as he tossed the lighter over to Tic.

  Tic sparked flame to the cigarette and then tossed the lighter back to Spencer, who had an evil look on his face.

  The Mexican wasn’t naive. He knew the mischief that was forming in his two abductors’ minds. At the moment, he hated Mario and his affiliation with the M-13 gang. Living up to the M-13 gang was all he had done for more than twenty years now. Dying by a bullet was more expected than being abducted and tortured.

  Fuck you, Mario! the Mexican named Angel thought.

  “My amigo, you’re really going to sit here and die for a man who doesn’t care about you at all, huh?” Spencer asked, circling Angel while smoking.

  “No English, no comprende!” Angel shouted.

  When Angel raised his voice, it stopped Spencer in his tracks. Spencer turned around and looked Angel in his fearful eyes.

  “Who the fuck are you screaming at, wetback?” Spencer shouted back as he took another pull from his cigarette.

  Tic got up, walked around, and stood next to Spencer.

  “Tic, do you like fried Mexicans?”

  “I love fried Mexicans!” Tic responded.

  Spencer looked at Tic and thought about China. Images of Jr. beating her came as a flash to him.

  “You’re gonna wish you knew English,” Spencer said as he flicked his burning cigarette onto Angel, instantly igniting him into a tremendous flame of fire.

  “Marioooo!” Angel shrilled in pain as the fire burned him, covering him in angry flames.

  “I knew he spoke it,” Tic said as he then flicked his cigarette on a burning Angel, who was still shrilling.

  “Call Johnson and Miller, and tell them to clean up this mess,” Spencer ordered Tic as he walked away.

  “Got you, boss,” Tic replied as he watched Angel burn to his bones.

  10

  AMANDA WAS AWARE of what was going on with China, but she didn’t know how to really feel about her other than envious. She hated China with a passion, but she would never tell Smooth even if he asked. China was an obstacle in her way and someone who had the heart of the man she loved and wanted in her life.

  It was 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, and Smooth hadn’t called her yet.

  He usually calls around this time, Amanda thought.

  She wasn’t sure if Smooth heard on the news about China or not. But she was
ready to give his ass the third degree for not informing her about China’s pregnancy.

  “I can’t believe he tried hiding that shit from me!” she said as she poured herself a glass of 100 percent orange juice.

  She was up early, and cooked herself a small breakfast of scrambled eggs, cheesy grits, bacon, and ham. It was a single serving, and she was having trouble eating with a peaceful mind. Every time she thought about Smooth hiding China’s pregnancy from her, she became disgusted. She hated liars with a passion, yet the man she loved had lied to her, even though he belonged to another woman.

  Since he wanted to lie, I will make him pay for it, Amanda considered.

  All she could think about was how Smooth had been about to leave her to be with his family. Now that was shut down, since China had lost the baby.

  “I can’t let him!” Amanda stopped short of speaking directly from her heart when her iPhone chimed on the table.

  When she picked up the phone and checked the caller ID, she saw that it was Smooth. She answered and then listened to the automated prompts.

  “This is a collect call from the Martin County Jail from an inmate named Smooth. To accept this call, please press zero. To refuse this call, please press the pound symbol,” said the automated voice.

  Amanda quickly pressed the pound button and then hung up the phone.

  As badly as she wanted to hear his voice first thing in the morning, she just couldn’t bring herself to listen to his lies and excuses. She wanted to make him sweat, and now was the best time to start it.

  “I will make sure you will think twice before you try to lie to me again,” Amanda said as she finished trying to eat her breakfast.

  It was hard for her to keep Smooth off her mind, but she promised herself that she would try her best. Smooth called back twice, and neither time did she bother to answer the phone.

  She finished her breakfast and then took a shower to get ready for her doctor’s appointment. She had a yearly checkup at 10:30 a.m. She loved her doctor and wished that she could have her for a mother. Dr. Rosa Mendoza was a sweet and one-of-a-kind fifty-six-year-old Puerto Rican who looked nothing like her age. Looking at Dr. Rosa, most would guess she was in her mid-thirties.