Cameron 6 (4 page)

6

“Who’s that?” Cameron asked before climbing out of the car. She used her right hand to shield her eyes from the sun as she strained to look at their uninvited guest.

“Go take Justin in the house,” Jude ordered. “I’ll be in there shortly.” He never broke his gaze from the cold, dark stare fixated upon him.

“What’s wrong?”

“Just do what I say.”

Cam, sensing something was up, quickly did as she was told. She’d heard the urgency in Jude’s tone and knew he meant business. After securing her son, she retrieved the loaded 9mm from her bedroom closet’s top shelf. Cameron had gone through her fair share of turmoil, so she knew better than to underestimate anyone.

Jude’s cousin, Aso, had raped Cameron the last time she’d done that. Cam would never make that mistake again. This was what her life had become, looking over her shoulder 24/7.

From the massive bay window, Cameron watched as Jude approached the older Hispanic gentleman. He was both clean cut and professional in an Armani suit, salmon dress shirt, and Ferragamo loafers. The Hermes belt buckle shined proudly on his waist.

Cameron instantly wondered what connection he had with Jude. He didn’t look like the type of cat her man would associate himself with. Besides, there were only a handful of close people who knew where they resided.

Stuffing his hands in the back pockets of his True Religion jeans, Jude cautiously approached his former prison mate, Stone Sanchez.

The stocky fifty-four year old was an intimidating looking man standing at six feet four inches. He was virtually tattooed on damn near every inch of his body, but the most prominent were the devil horns on his forehead. He was once a member of the infamous Mexican mafia, and still carried himself with the same pride and cockiness.

The last time Jude saw him, he was under the assumption that Stone had life. He almost couldn’t believe he was actually staring at him in the flesh. Stone was leaned casually against the shiny, black limousine with his arms folded as if he had a personal invite.

“What’chu doin’ here?” Jude asked. There was a humorless expression on his face as he waited on a response. He and Stone had history, but the motherfucker was still trespassing. Jude really didn’t appreciate that shit.

Stone smiled and ran a hand over his salt and pepper goatee. “Is that any way to greet an old friend?”

If the circumstances were different, perhaps Jude’s greeting would’ve been too. But this wasn’t prison. It was the real world. And in the real world, Jude didn’t rock with Stone like that to be popping up unannounced.

When Jude didn’t respond fast enough, Stone continued. “It’s funny how friends forget us when they don’t need any more favors.”

Jude quickly reflected on his prison days when Stone had looked out during his time of need. When no one else was in his corner, he blessed the young and eager inmate with a position in his profitable drug business. Back then Jude was slinging behind bars just to help his girl stay on her feet. He would’ve done anything to keep Cameron content. It was crazy how times had changed. He still didn’t know where the hell they went wrong.

“I never forget a favor,” Jude replied.

“Is that right?” Stone asked. He then turned around to look at Jude’s luxury estate before nodding his head in approval. The young boss was definitely living lavish, a total step up from where he was two years ago in life.

Jude wasn’t the least bit impressed by Stone’s boldness. As a matter of fact, he was rather insulted. “I’ma ask you again… what are you doin’ here?”

Stone cackled and finally unfolded his arms. “
Qué pasa, viejo amigo?
You don’t like seeing me?” he asked. “
Mierda dura.
You better get used to it, my friend. You’re going to be seeing a lot more of me, considering us being business partners and all—”

“Whoa, what the fuck is you talkin’ ‘bout?” Jude asked, clearly confused. He was flossy, but he tried his best to move under the radar. Most people didn’t know what he did for a living, other than those involved. And there, Stone was, a motherfucker from his prison days, demanding a piece of the pie. Although Jude appreciated everything Stone did for him, he wasn’t with him shooting in the gym. Jude had scraped and crawled for his position, and he owed that to no one but himself. “What’chu mean business partners?”

At that moment, Stone’s 6”8 enforcer climbed out of the limousine. He was a burly, Mexican guy dressed in all black from the Raybans on his face to the dress shoes on his feet. Tucked discreetly on his waist was a polished Beretta with a suppressor screwed on the end.

Suddenly, Jude understood exactly what the hell was going on. Stone wasn’t asking for a seat at his table; he was demanding one. It was obvious that he wasn’t taking no for an answer either.

“You know the funny thing about favors,” Stone began. “Most people return small ones, acknowledge medium ones, and repay greater ones, with ingratitude. Benjamin Franklin said that shit.” He chuckled. “You know in prison there ain’t nothin’ else to do but read.”

“And plot,” Jude added with a pointed look. The receipt of a favor could be oppressive.

Stone found that amusing. “That too, my friend,” he agreed.

Jude was confused, and tired of him stalling. “I really don’t see what’chu gettin’ at, bruh.”

Stone slowly made his way over towards him. The playful banter had come to a cease, and he was once again more serious than a heart attack. “Maybe… I feel like you owe me,
hermano
. Maybe I feel like I should get a fair cut of all profits.”

Jude’s temple throbbed as he listened to Stone stake his claim. He was trying to intimidate him, but he was doing a piss poor job at it. Little did Stone know, Jude wasn’t that same wide-eyed, guileless mothafucka from prison. He was a stone cold killer who had put his own cousin down. There was no limit to the shit he would do to Stone in order to protect himself, his household, and his operation.

“And what if I don’t wanna jump on board?” Jude asked curiously.

Stone shrugged his broad shoulders casually. “Well… then
maybe
I pay your beautiful wife and son a visit.” He turned towards the house and smiled directly at Cameron for good measure. “And I guarantee, I will be far less hospitable than you,” he warned.

Jude swallowed the dry lump that had formed in his throat. It took everything in him not to squeeze the life out of Stone. Had it not been for the giant standing next to him he would have gladly done so.

Stone’s threat sent chills down Jude’s spine. He didn’t take kindly to blackmail — especially when it was coming from a cat he once called a friend. Jude knew then that it was true what they said about the comeuppance. ‘Money can’t buy friends, but you can get a better class of enemy’. Jude’s longtime rival, Champion was long out of the picture, and now he had a whole other problem to deal with. Who would’ve known the problem would’ve been someone from his past?

Fuck the lawyers and legal team who helped this motherfucker walk free,
Jude thought.

“It’s your choice,” Stone said before opening the limo’s backdoor. “I trust you’ll make the right one. I’ll be in touch.”

In silence, Jude watched as he and his massive counterpart climbed in the vehicle. Together, they left as quickly as he’d dropped the ultimatum. Jude knew that Stone was a man of his word. He had connections statewide; there was no running from his wrath. Jude had no other choice but to make a decision and fast. The last thing he wanted was to jeopardize the safety of his loved ones.

7

After Cameron saw Stone pull off, she quickly put away the weapon and greeted Jude at the door with questions. “Who was that? What did he want?” she berated, the minute he walked in.

“He’s nobody,” Jude answered frustrated.

Cameron sucked her teeth and propped her hands on her wide hips. “Do you think I’m dumb?” she asked. “Ray Charles could see the tension between ya’ll two. I know that something’s up. Talk to me.”

Jude walked around Cameron and headed to the kitchen for a much needed drink. “I told you it’s nothin’, Cam. Stop digging.”

Cameron followed close behind him as she continued her rant. “You know, you used to tell me everything, Jude. Now you’re just a damn walking vessel for secrets.”

“Look, I’ma handle whatever it is, a'ight!” Jude snapped. “Get off my fucking back already!”

Cameron stopped in her tracks, obviously offended by Jude’s edginess. “We’re not even a fucking team anymore,” she said, shaking her head.

Jude poured himself a double of Jack before tossing it back straight no chaser. After wheezing dramatically, he poured himself a second. There was an uncomfortable period of silence between the two. Jude’s conscience was heavy after the ultimatum Stone had hit him with.

“Justin’s feeling a little better,” Cameron finally spoke up. “I think I’m going to take him and spend a little time away from—”

“You ain’t takin’ my mothafuckin’ son nowhere. And you ain’t finna go nowhere either, so kill all dat bullshit. I got enough on my mind, man. I ain’t tryin’ to hear dat sad ass song right now.”

“You know what? Fuck you, Jude,” Cameron spat before walking out of the kitchen.

Jude was just about to pour himself a third round when he heard drawers opening and slamming upstairs. It sounded like Cameron was packing her shit.

“I know this bitch ain’t deliberately goin’ against me,” he muttered. Abandoning the shot, Jude quickly made his way upstairs where he found Cam shoving clothes in a Louis Vuitton suitcase.

“Yo, what the fuck is you doin’?”

“You thought I was playing?” Cameron asked. “Jude, I’m done. I just can’t take this… whatever you and me are… I can’t do this shit no more. I just don’t have it in me.”

“What the fuck is you talkin’ ‘bout? You sound crazy,” he said. “So when shit get rocky, you cave under pressure?”

“Jude, when things get rocky that should only be temporary. This change with you has become permanent. I’ve held you down so long on this rocky road that my fucking tires are flat! I’m burnt out, Jude. I’m exhausted. I need a break. And I need time away from you, the drama, and the secrets.”

Jude quickly walked over to Cameron. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “So you givin’ up on me? Is that what you saying?”

“You gave up on us a long time ago,” Cameron told him.

Frustrated by her bullheadedness, Jude hauled off and smacked her suitcase off the bed. All of the clothes she’d neatly stacked up fell to the plush cream carpet.

“Real mature.”

“Mature?!”
he repeated sarcastically. “You my wife. You swore to hold me down through thick and thin.”

“That was before you fucking laid down and made a baby with a bitch you barely knew—”

“You stay tossin’ dat shit up like you ain’t fucked ole’ boy O’ Zone! And what about Jag? Don’t think I forgot just ‘cuz you have. I ain’t fuckin’ perfect. And I hate to bust ya bubble, but you a far cry from it too, baby girl.”

“You done?” Cameron asked, uninterested in whatever else he had to say. She knelt down to collect the suitcase, but Jude childishly kicked it from her reach.

“Fine then. Fuck it! I’ll buy new things,” Cameron said, turning to leave.

Jude followed Cameron to Justin’s bedroom. He practically lost it the minute her hand touched the doorknob. Mushing her in the temple, he said, “I just told yo’ hardheaded ass, you ain’t takin’ my son nowhere! What part of dat shit didn’t you understand?”

“We’re not staying here, Jude! Now get the hell out of my way!”

“Where da fuck else you gon’ go? Huh?” he yelled. “Bitch, I’m all you fuckin’ got! You ain’t ‘bout to walk away from that! What would you be without me? Answer dat. Shit, if it wasn’t for me yo’ ass would be still in these strip clubs fuckin’ off for chump change! I modified ya whole life! Upgraded ya ass! I did that! You should be givin’ a nigga appreciation instead of attitude all the fuckin’ time. I’m the one that saved yo’ ungrateful ass,” he bragged.

Tears pooled in Cameron’s eyes, but she would be damned if she let them fall. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing how much he’d hurt her. “You did not just say that to me, Jude.”

His chest rose and fell slowly as he fought to contain his anger. He was a little tipsy and loose-tongued, but they say ‘a drunk mind speaks a sober heart’.

“I cannot believe you just said that.” Before Jude could respond, Cameron pushed her way past him inside Justin’s bedroom. The toddler was resting in his bed when she scooped him up in her arms and prepared to leave.

Jude stood in the doorway with a villainous expression on his face. Cam had never actually tried to leave him. He barely knew how to take it. He couldn’t accept her walking away from him, and everything they’d built. “You not goin’ nowhere,” he said behind her.

Ignoring his meaningless words, Cam grabbed a duffel bag and tossed a few of Justin’s necessities inside. After zipping up the bag, she placed the strap over her shoulder and headed downstairs.

Cameron barely made it to the front door when Jude grabbed her arm and violently spun her around. He was so forceful that he caused Cam to accidentally drop their son. He landed with a hard thud before wailing hysterically.

“I just told yo’ fuckin’ ass you ain’t goin’ nowhere!” Jude was a loose cannon.

“Get the hell off me! You just made me drop Justin! What is your problem? Are you fucking crazy? You need to stop shoving that shit up your nose ‘cuz you fucking losing it!” She rushed to tend to Justin, but he quickly stopped her.

“You told me you would follow me anywhere, Cam. You don’t remember sayin’ that shit?! I believed in you. Now you reneging?”

“Jude, I’m tired!” Cameron screamed. “I’m so fucking tired of everything! You told me you’d always be the same, but you not! I’m done. Now let me go.” She tried to push him off, but he slammed her against the wall roughly. “What is wrong with you? Get off me! You’re hurting me.”

Cam attempted to run around him, but he grabbed her from behind and viciously swung her around. Jude was determined to make her stay, even if he had to do so forcefully. He was so upset by her hasty decision to leave him that he wasn’t even thinking straight.

“Get off me!”
Cameron screamed. She kicked off the wall, causing them to fall backwards on the hardwood floors. A ceramic vase fell off the accent table before shattering upon impact. Together, they tussled and wrestled in an attempt to overpower the other. It didn’t take long for Jude to get the upper hand — but Cameron quickly regained it after biting his wrist.

“Ah, shit!”
Jude yelped in pain. He quickly drew his hand back to slap her but caught himself in mid-strike. Cameron cringed and blocked her face when she thought he might actually hit her. It wasn’t until that moment that he realized he did in fact change. “Cam, I… I—”

“Get the fuck off me,” she cried, pushing him away.

Cameron ran to her crying son and grabbed him before rushing to leave the house. She wanted to get as far away from him as possible. Jude quickly followed after her. He was surprised, however, when he saw two squad cars stationed outside his wrought iron gates. Apparently, the neighbors had called the police after hearing all the ruckus.

Just fucking great.

The last thing Jude needed was twelve sniffing around. Cameron knew how he felt about law enforcement, but she still let the motherfuckers in. Jude had enough evidence in his home to put him away for life — but apparently, that slipped Cam’s mind. As soon as they parked and climbed out, they started firing off questions.

“Is everything okay?”

“Did he hit you?”

“Has the child been put in harm’s way?”

“All I need is to be escorted off the premises,” Cameron told them.

“Cam, are you fuckin’ kiddin’ me right now?” Jude asked in disbelief. He made a move to approach her, but was thwarted by the police officers.

“Sir, I’m gonna have to ask you to back up,” a female cop instructed.

“Cam! Talk to me!” he tried to push past her, but was apprehended by a second officer. “CAMERON!”

“I’m sorry, Jude. But this shit has been a long time coming.”

“Where are you taking my fucking son?! I need to know! ANSWER ME!”

“Sir, I’m gonna need you to calm down. I don’t wanna have to ask you again.”

“That’s my fuckin’ kid, yo!” Jude yelled.

Cameron ignored his pleas as she climbed inside her Audi Q7. It was the first possession Jude had ever purchased for her. She could still remember how excited she was when she came down from her dorm room and saw him parked inside of it. Back then things were so simple. Cameron wished it could go back to the way they used to be. Yet after everything they’d gone through, she knew nothing could ever be the same. It was simply wishful thinking.

Cameron had no other choice but to walk away. From him. From the money. From the business. From it all. Jude had lost himself to the fast life, and she was afraid of the same thing happening to her. Cameron had a son to think about now.

Tears blurred her vision as she started the ignition to her truck. From her peripheral, she could see Jude being restrained by law enforcement. If he didn’t chill, he was bound to be arrested for disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace. His fate wasn’t Cameron’s problem though. After today, nothing Jude did would be her problem. A wise person once told her ‘respect yourself enough to walk away from anything that no longer serves you, grows you, or makes you happy.’ Cam couldn’t have agreed more.