Queen Bitch: Part 4 (Bitch Series) (21 page)

"That feels good," he mumbled, barely able to use his
mouth to speak.

That's when I went in for the kill. I pulled out my
syringe and filled it to the very top from the bottle of
Potassium Chloride I had gotten earlier in the day. "Baby,
it will all be over soon," I giggled as I plunged the needle
in Devon's upper left shoulder. His body flinched but his
muscles were too relaxed to react.

"What the fuck..." he stuttered.

I sat on the ledge of the Jacuzzi watching the anguish in
Devon's eyes. "Devon, sweetie, you're having a heart attack.
I know it's painful but soon you'll be in a more peaceful
place. Better than that, after your dead and the coroner
performs an autopsy they'll think your big ass died of natural
causes."

Devon tried to lift up his arm and reach for my neck but
it was a no go. He was entirely too weak at this point.

"Gotta go, and I won't be missing you or that little dick of
yours." With the swiftness I gathered all my shit but made sure
not to leave a clue that would lead to me.

"You brought this on yourself," I revealed, giving Devon
a kiss goodbye on the forehead, leaving him for dead.
"You thought this was your show to run. You left me no
choice but to prove you wrong."

"You're starting to look like your old self again," Nico
said, standing in the doorway.

"Maybe on the outside but not on the inside." I stood in
front of the mirror over the dresser able to truly see all my
features and recognize my face for the first time in weeks.
"Who knew that it took so long for bruises to heal after
getting your ass beat?"

"But they're healed, that's the important thing. How is
your rib?"

"Much better. Still some slight pain when I move, but
at least I can walk without feeling as if I'm about to pass
out. Thank you for nursing me back to health."

"Remember that, in case I ever need for you to do the
same for me."

"Nico, I can promise you that if you ever need me, I'll
be there no matter what."

"I believe you."

"It's the truth. I put that on everything."

"Precious, you don't have to convince me, I know your
heart. Most people are fooled by that tough exterior but I
know you."

"Then you also know I want to go home. I was too
weak before but I need to be with my family."

"Are you sure you're ready?"

"Yes. I have to take care of a few things here, but after
that I have to go straighten shit out with Supreme and see
my daughter."

"Do you want to call him?"

"I thought about it so many times, but I have to handle
this face to face. Then that letter Maya had me write..."

"What letter?"

"I was so busy telling you about the torture Maya put
me through that I forgot to mention that bullshit letter the
heifer had me pen."

"What did the letter say?"

"Basically she had me tell Supreme that I left him and I
didn't want to be with him anymore."

"Word? I know he's fucked up behind that."

"Yeah, I'm sure Maya has taken full advantage, filling
his head with all sorts of ridiculous shit."

"You mean shit about us?"

"Huh?"

"You don't have to `huh' me, Precious. I know it was
Supreme that put that hit out on me. You know, the one
you came to New York to warn me about."

I let out a deep sigh and walked over to the bed to sit
down. I was torn, but felt Nico deserved for me to be honest
with him about a few things. "I guess I shouldn't ask how
you found out."

"The same way I found Mike. I can find out pretty much
anything if I ask the right questions to the right people."

"How long have you known?"

"It's been awhile now. When you gave me the warning, I
put my sources on it and a few weeks later I got the info."

"You have to understand why I couldn't tell you who
it was."

"He's your husband, I get that, which is the only reason
I didn't try to retaliate against him. That, and I learned he
pressed the pause button on the hit. But my question to
you is, why did he want me killed?"

"Originally, I figured he harbored a lot of animosity for you
trying to take my life which caused me to lose our baby. But I
learned the real answer a few weeks ago."

"But you were on lock down a few weeks ago."

"Yeah, Maya was more than thrilled to inform me what
Supreme had confided to her."

"Which was?"

"That he found out we had sex during the time I thought
he was dead. I assumed it was our secret. Never did I think
he would ever find out, but he did. That's what happens
when the feds start recording your phone conversations."

"Leave it up to them motherfuckers to expose some
bullshit that has nothing to do with them. Now I see where
the Maya thing fits in. You figure she's telling him you ran
off with me."

"Exactly. And with me being MIA and our history, I can't blame him. I have to look him in his eyes so he
knows I'm telling the truth. I also don't want him to give
Maya any type of warning so she can plot and scheme
her way out this bullshit she created."

"You think Supreme would get caught up in her lies?"

"One thing I've learned the hard way is to never underestimate
that bitch."

"I feel you. So when are we breaking out?"

"We?"

"Yeah, we. I know you don't think I'm letting you go
back to Cali by yourself."

"Nico, I can't bring you back to Cali with me. That
would only further feed into the paranoia Supreme has
about our relationship."

"Look, it ain't safe there for you. I ain't gonna let you
walk into a danger zone by yourself."

"I won't be walking into a danger zone. Maya thinks
I'm dead. She's probably dancing on top of a makeshift
grave she created in my honor. When I make my presence
known she will be caught totally off guard."

"Sony, baby girl, I'm not willing to take that chance. Either
we go together or you'll have to call Supreme and have him
come meet you here. You need protection by someone you
can trust, and that's me."

"I get it. But if you're going back to Cali with me, we have
to do it my way."

"Don't we always have to do it your way?" Nico grinned.

"Whatever! But before we break out, I have to pay an
old friend a visit, then we outta here."

"Who is that?"

"Nobody you know."

"Hi, welcome to Atomic Records. May I help you?" the
middle aged, attractive receptionist asked.

"Yes, I'm here to see Jamal Crawford."

"Is he expecting you? Because he's in a meeting right
now."

"No, he's not expecting me, but let him know that
Precious Mills is here... now!" I gave the lady a half-ass
smile and sat down on the typical black leather couch
that all record companies seemed to have.

When I sat down, I noticed the receptionist staring at me
but not picking up the phone. I was confused and annoyed
by her hold up. "Excuse me, but is there a reason why you're
not getting Jamal on the phone?"

"Well, Miss..."

"It's Mrs.," I interrupted.

"Mrs.," the lady sighed. "As I said, Mr. Crawford is in a
meeting and I've been directed not to interrupt."

"I'm directing you to interrupt, and quite honestly it's
not negotiable. Now call Jamal."

"I simply can't do that. I work for Atomic Records and Mr.
Crawford. I have to follow his rules, not yours."

I chuckled out loud not in the mood to deal with the
bullshit. Although my face had pretty much healed and
with makeup on you couldn't see a flaw, my mind,
spirit and body were still fucked up. This chick sitting
behind the desk was blocking on some `this is my multimillion dollar company', when in all actuality she was
just another employee. I had no time for this shit and was
done playing with her.

"Listen," I began as I walked up on her. "This right here," I motioned my hands with the back and forth
movement. "It's stopping right now. I don't have time to
be playing paddy-cake with you. Get Jamal on the phone
now, before I bust it over your head!"

The lady's mouth dropped, stunned by my threat, but
I wasn't sure if she understood it was more than that. It
was about to become her reality if she didn't speed up
the tempo with her actions. I stood with my arms folded,
staring the chick down, not flinching once. I counted to
three in my head, and when she continued to act as if
she was deaf, dumb and blind I bent over and seized
her phone. "Now, are you going to call Jamal or are you
going to be carried out this motherfucker in a stretcher?"

"I'm calling security right now!"

"You do that, but by the time they get here I would've
busted your ass, spoke to Jamal and broke the fuck out.
So like I said, what we doing?"

The lady picked up the phone slowly, and I wasn't
sure what option she chose until she said, "Mr. Crawford,
a Precious Mills is here to see you." She waited a few
seconds and then hung up the phone. "Mr. Crawford said
he would be right out."

"Now, was that so hard?" I grinned, flashing all thirty-two's.

I didn't even bother to sit back down. I began to walk
back and forth waiting for Jamal, and by the time I got
to my second turn back, Jamal had appeared. I instantly
recognized the tall, reddish-skinned handsome man in the
tailored coal gray suit. But no matter how distinguished
Jamal grew up to be, in my mind he was still the bona
fide hood genius from the projects I grew up in who
popped my cherry.

"Precious, I'm surprised to see you," Jamal said, dryly.
For some reason I was expecting a different greeting.
There didn't have to be firecrackers and explosions, but
at least a warm smile.

"Surprised or disappointed? I mean by the look on your
face it definitely ain't happiness."

"Follow me. Let's go somewhere in private where we
can talk."

I turned my head around and noticed the receptionist
damn near falling out her chair trying to hear the words
being exchanged between us. I rolled my eyes and picked
up my pace so I could get down to it with Jamal. He led
me to a conference room and we sat down across from
each other at a table that could seat at least forty people.

"How have you been doing?" I asked, with a pleasant
smile. I cared, but then I didn't care about the answer to
that question. I had so much shit on my plate, but truth
was I needed Jamal's help. And though I was itching to
get right to it, I tried to play nice first.

"I doubt you care," he said, not trying to hide his true
feelings. But this is how you play your game right?"

Okay, clearly Jamal was putting me on Front Street,
airing my tactics out on the table. I was relieved, because
again I was in no mood to dance around the topic. "You're
right, Jamal, I don't care. From the looks of you, you're
doing just fine. Maybe if my life wasn't so fucked up I
would care, but that's not my circumstances."

"Yeah, last I heard you were missing. No one had
spoken to you, not even your husband, Supreme."

"Jamal, I know who my husband is. You don't have to
tell me his name," I said, becoming defensive. For the first time I looked down at Jamal's hand and saw that he was
wearing a wedding ring. "Congratulations. I see you took
the plunge."

He eyed down at the platinum band. "Yep, I'm a married
man, and this time my fiancee didn't leave me at the altar,
but then my first one technically didn't either. She was
being murdered."

"Is that what the chip on your shoulder is about, Nina?"

"Of course! I know that you murdered her, Precious, and
when the cops make their case, you're going to jail."

"Oh really? You're so sure about that?"

"Damn straight! I spoke to Detective Moore."

"Jamal, I'm not gonna even lie to you. I've done a lot
of fucked up things in my life and I'm sure I'll do a lot
more. But on everything I love, I didn't kill Nina. But let's
be clear, she did deserve to die."