The Ex Factor: A Novel (32 page)

His arms were filled with her coats, pants, shirts, and dresses. He took his foot and kicked the air conditioner out of the window; it made a loud thud as it fell back on the fire escape. Imani put her hands to her head and started to scream, “What are you doing?” She grabbed the tail end of one of her coats but Walik yanked the coat so hard that she cracked the glass in the window as her shoulder slammed into it. Walik threw her clothes on the fire escape, some of them flying over the ledge and floating in the air like parachutes. He turned around and kicked Imani out of his way. He opened her dresser drawers and took out her bras, her panties, and all her other clothes, throwing them onto the fire escape. Once he was done he reached for the lighter fluid that Imani kept on the windowsill for when she and her girls grilled food.

“Walik,” Imani said, exasperated, “what are you doing?” She grabbed him by the arm. “Please stop.” He pushed her back and she fell onto the bed. He took the lighter fluid and shot it onto her clothes. He placed one foot on the window ledge so he could completely empty the bottle. Once he was done, he struck a match and set all her clothes on fire.

As he turned around, Imani took the folded metal chair that
she kept in her bedroom and slammed him across the head with it. Walik stumbled as he lost his vision. She hit him again, causing him to fall to the floor. She could see her clothes going up in a single stream of smoke before turning black and exploding into flames.

“Imani?” Sabrena and Tasha knocked on the door. “What the hell is going on in there?”

Imani slammed the chair against Walik's head again. Blood was everywhere. As she began to take another swing, he charged toward her, knocked her on the bed, and punched her in the face with a closed fist.

The room smelled of fire as the flames snuck in through the cracked windowpane. Quickly the curtains caught on fire, causing the bedspread to ignite. Walik yanked Imani off the bed, pulled her into the living room, and left her lying on the floor.

Walik knocked Tasha over as he ran out the door. Immediately Tasha and Sabrena ran in and spotted Imani on the floor, drifting in and out of consciousness.

“Imani,” Sabrena cried.

“We gotta,” Imani struggled to say, “get outta here…”

“Sabrena!” Tasha screamed, pointing to Imani's bedroom where flames were soaring out. “Let's go!”

Tasha and Sabrena each picked Imani up by an arm and ran out the door with her.

Before they could think to call for help they could hear the sirens blaring outside. People were everywhere as they exited the building. Imani started coughing. She could barely see as Sabrena and Tasha carried her toward the EMT workers. Once the workers spotted Imani they lifted her out of the girls' arms and placed her on the stretcher.

“I'ma kill that niggah,” Sabrena said to Tasha.

… … …

“MAN,” KREE SAID as he and Jamal walked around the corner to Imani's building, “your mother is gon' be so mad that I kept you
out this late …” Kree's speech started to slow down as he looked to see the building on fire. He looked around for Imani but didn't see her. Once he spotted Sabrena, he grabbed Jamal's hands and rushed toward her. “Where's Imani?”

“Walik.” Sabrena started crying. “I left them downstairs and some shit jumped off.”

“Where is she?” Kree panicked.

“In the ambulance. We gotta go with her, they're getting ready to leave.”

“What's wrong with my Imani?” Jamal said, crying.

“It's gon' be all right,” Kree assured him. He looked at Sabrena. “Can you drive?”

“Tasha can.” She pointed.

Kree tossed his keys to Tasha. “My truck's around the corner, meet me at the hospital and take Jamal with you.” He jumped in the ambulance with Imani. The sirens started blaring as they took off.

B
BETTY WHITE'S
Tonight Is the Night
flowed softly from the Bose speakers in Starr and Red's bedroom ceiling, as the disco ball, which doubled as a light fixture, sent metallic streaks across the room.

The black leather chaps that Red wore hugged his thick thighs, while the spiked leather suspenders enhanced the tiny balls of salt and pepper hairs on his chest. He snorted and licked his lips, “Is ya ready for Pa-pa Red, girl.”

“What you say, Daddy?” Starr growled, wearing a crotchless red leather leotard, while cracking her whip and stretching her legs out as if she was doing a warm-up exercise. “Ask me again,” Starr said, as she did a ballerina spin into Red's arms.

“Girl.” Red looked into Starr's eyes. “I want you to spank Pa-pa Red good.”

“Well she ain't gon' have to spank you,” Mama Byrd yelled through the door, “ 'cause in a minute I'ma kick ya ass. I been listening to you growl, snort, and crack them whips all night long and I'm tired. Now instead of fuckin', you need to be answering this damn phone that won't stop goddamn ringin'. Old lady can't even shit in peace… dumb-ass, dry-ass pussy li'l dick bitch!”

“All right, Mama,” Red said.

“I got yo all right, motherfucker. And the next time I feed Chocolate Thunder some recharged Duracell, don't y'all knock on the bathroom door! Jack ass! Now answer that damn phone 'cause it's ringing again…show off!”

Starr rolled her eyes at Red. “I'ma ignore her, so just let me answer the phone. Hello?” she said into the receiver.

“Ms. Starr!” Tasha screamed in panic.

“Who is this?” Starr asked. She looked at her clock and saw that it was midnight. She turned to Red, “You ain't give this number to no groupies, did you?”

Before Red could answer, Tasha said, “This Tasha, Ms. Starr,” she started to cry, “Imani's in the hospital.”

“What?”

“Yes, Kings County.”

“What happened to my baby?”

“Walik. Walik beat her and set her apartment on fire.”

Starr threw the phone across the bed. “I got to go!” She looked at Red. “My baby, Imani, my baby's in the hospital! Walik beat her and set her apartment on fire!”

“Oh no!” Red jumped up and started to panic. He fumbled around the dresser for his car keys. Afterward, he and Starr, still dressed in their leather bondage outfits, flew down the stairs.

Mama Bryd was on her porta-potty in the living room as Starr and Red stormed past her, “Well damn, Red, I ain't never seen so many bubbles in one ass!” Mama Byrd screamed behind them.

… … …

STARR STARTED TO hyperventilate once she got to the hospital and Tasha and Sabrena recapped for her what happened. Jamal was crying so bad that his eyes were swollen. People passing by were staring at Red and Starr, but nobody in their immediate circle had noticed because they were so upset.

“I got to see my baby,” Starr cried.

Kree, who'd been in the emergency exam room with Imani, walked into the lobby. Instantly he spotted Starr and Red and couldn't believe his eyes.
What kinda nasty shit?!
Kree walked over to them. Before he could whisper to them about their clothing the doctor walked over. “Just want you to know, she has a broken arm and collarbone. She has serious brusing around her neck and across her face, all of which will heal. I will need to keep her for a few days, though. She's sleeping right now, and that's what I want her to do. You can see her for a few minutes, but just so you know, her hair is pulled out in a couple of places.”

“Is my Imani gon' die?” Jamal cried.

“No, young man.” The doctor squatted down to face him. “Not at all.” He stood up again. “The police are over there,” he pointed, “and they would like to get a statement from everyone.”

“To hell with the police,” Starr said, “I need to see my baby.”

“Right this way.” The doctor pointed.

“Well, I'm tellin' it all,” Sabrena said, wiping her eyes, “every bit of it. I didn't see him beat her but I know he did it and I know for a fact he set that damn apartment on fire.”

Kree didn't say much. He stood with his arms folded. “Yo,” he said, “watch my li'l man real quick. I need to go take care of some business. Call me if Imani needs anything before I come back.” And he took off.

“
K
AYLA
!
” MONICA SCREAMED
.
“How many damn times have I told you that when you're on your period you have to turn around and look at the toilet seat for blood? Stop being so fuckin' nasty!” Monica wanted to slap Kayla upside her head. She understood that Kayla was young and had to learn to care for herself when her period was on, but damn, how many times did she have to keep telling her the same thing?

Monica rubbed the sides of her stomach. She'd been feeling pain all day, but tried to dismiss it as normal uterine cramps. She didn't have enough energy to sit down and figure out why it hurt so bad; she just prayed she wasn't in labor. Monica barely had any money to buy the few supplies she had. And she wanted desperately to hold on a little longer until her disability kicked in. Then maybe keeping money wouldn't be so difficult.

Ever since the girls moved in, her house had been turned upside down … and now that the honeymoon of visiting Aunty Monica versus living with Aunty Monica was over, the girls became more consumed with where their mother was and when she was coming back. Not to mention, Monica was starting to feel resentful.
She was having her own baby and
Is it too selfish
, she wondered,
to want to keep it that way? Is it too much to ask that my child be afforded the privilege of being the only one, instead of one among many?
Besides, these were her nieces and not her daughters. They were Celeste's and Sharief's responsibility, and it seemed that neither one of them wanted to do shit.

“Monica,” Sharief said, walking into the kitchen and feeling Monica on the ass, “I'ma get some tonight?” He rubbed his nose into the side of her neck, something that used to drive her wild.

She looked at him and rolled her eyes. “If you don't get the fuck out my face!”

“Goddamn.” Sharief smirked. “What's wrong?”

“I'm tired and I'm ready for your children to go home to their mother.”

“As far as I can see, you're their mama now and this is their home.”

“No!” She pointed her finger. “Their home is in New Jersey. And when are you going back to work?”

“Once Celeste's charges are dropped, I can go back.”

“And until then, what?”

“Look, baby.” Sharief grabbed Monica by the waist. “I know this is hard. And it seems like everything is on you. But I love you and we fought for this. Everything will work out.”

“Sharief, we need some money.” She looked at him and sniffed. Thinking she smelled alcohol, her nose started to twitch. “Why can't you sell that damn house you and Celeste were living in? At least sell it before they foreclose on it, I know the mortgage hasn't been paid.”

“I have unemployment insurance on my house. It defers the mortgage for six months.”

“So what's stopping you from selling the place?”

“I can't sell it without Celeste.”

“Why not?”

“I just can't.” He turned to walk away.

“Where the hell are you going?” She pulled him by his shoulder. “I'm talking to you!”

“The fuckin' house isn't in my name! Okay? I can't sell the house because it's not in my name! And in case you forgot, I have no money because somehow Celeste cleared my bank accounts.”

“Well, if you changed your goddamn codes and used more than zero-four-one-one she wouldn't have guessed it! Shit!” Monica slammed her fist.

“That was my wife. I didn't care if she had my codes.”

“Your wife? But you were married to my pussy, niggah, so get the hell out my face with that! I'm you're fuckin' wife for all intents and purposes and I ain't staying around for better or worse. So either you get a job or you leave.”

“Get a job? Leave? And do what?”

“I don't give a damn. Get a side hustle, deliver newspapers, QuickChek, McDonald's, be a Moonie and sell flowers on the side of the street, I don't give a damn, but I can't keep living like this.”

“Well, guess what? I ain't doing any of that and all I got right now is me and my children. And if we're not good enough for you, Ms. Monica, then I don't know what the fuck to tell you.”

Monica stared at Sharief's face. She wanted to slap him in the mouth. As she thought about how she could backhand him, she noticed slob sliding out the side of his lips; his eyes appeared to be hellfire red and more slanted than usual. She walked up close to him. “You're drunk?”

“I'm not drunk! Just leave me the fuck alone. Call Listra or one of your li'l friends so you can talk about me. A man's down on his luck and all of sudden you can't shut the fuck up. If I knew it was gon' be all of this I'da stayed with my wife.” And he walked out of the kitchen, leaving her there alone.

“Aunty! Aunty!” Kori came running in. “Are you a tramp-ass ho?”

“And ask her if she's a slut too!” Kai said, running behind her sister.

Monica spun around to face them, stunned. “What? What did you say to me?”

“Are you a tramp-ass ho?” Kori repeated innocently.

“And a slut?” Kai chimed in. “Don't forget that.”

“Where did you get that from?”

“Kayla,” Kai said. “Aunty, she on the phone with her friend Ronneasha talkin' about Mommy, and you, and Daddy. She said that Daddy is pimpin' both of y'all bitches!”

“My sister said,” Kori joined in, with a hand on her hip, “that the reason my mommy ran away is because you and Daddy were fucking each other. And she said that that baby in your stomach is a basket.” Kori folded her arms across her chest. “How could a baby be a basket, Aunty?”

“Where's Kayla?” Monica was fuming, and tears started to fill her eyes. Living with Kayla felt like living with Celeste all over again.

“Kayla's on the phone,” Kai said.

Monica marched out of the kitchen with the twins following close behind. They walked up the stairs to what used to be Monica's home office but now doubled as the girls' bedroom. Monica could hear Kayla's conversation as she approached the room. “Although I miss my mother, I'm real pissed off with her,” Kayla was huffing to her girlfriend on the phone. “She just up and left us here with this low-life prostitute. And my daddy—that niggah— you know he ain't even my real father. They think I don't know, but I can read and I saw my birth certificate, so you know I ain't doin' shit this niggah say—”