Still The Baddest Bitch Read online

  Contents

  Copyrighyt

  Dedication

  Aaliyah

  Precious

  Aaliyah

  Precious

  Aaliyah

  Precious

  Aaliyah

  Precious

  Aaliyah

  Precious

  Aaliyah

  Precious

  Aaliyah

  Precious

  Aaliyah

  Precious

  Aaliyah

  Precious

  Aaliyah

  Precious

  Aaliyah

  Precious

  Aaliyah

  Precious

  Aaliyah

  Drake: Prologue

  Mafia Princess Part 5: Prologue

  Power: Chapter 1 Underground King

  Still The Baddest Bitch

  A Novel

  Joy Deja King

  This novel is a work of fiction. Any references to real people, events, establishments, or locales are intended only to give the fiction a sense of reality and authenticity. Other names, characters, and incidents occurring in the work are either the product of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously, as those fictionalized events and incidents that involve real persons. Any character that happens to share the name of a person who is an acquaintance of the author, past or present, is purely coincidental and in no way intended to be an actual account involving that person.

  ISBN 13: 978-0986004544

  ISBN 10: 0986004545

  Cover concept by Joy Deja King

  Cover layout and graphic design by www.MarionDesigns.com

  Typesetting: Keith Saunders

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data;

  A King Production, King, Deja Joy

  Still The Baddest Bitch: a series/by Joy Deja King

  For complete Library of Congress Copyright info visit;

  www.joydejaking.com Twitter: @joydejaking

  A King Production

  P.O. Box 912, Collierville, TN 38027

  A King Production and the above portrayal log are trademarks of A King Production LLC

  Copyright © 2013 by Joy Deja King. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, in any form, without the permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passage to be printed in a newspaper or magazine.

  This Book is Dedicated To My:

  Family, Readers, and Supporters.

  I LOVE you guys, so much. Please, believe that!!

  Still The Baddest Bitch

  “Flyer Than A Piece Of Paper Bearin’ My Name/ Got The Hottest Chick In The Game Wearin’ My Chain…”

  Jay Z—Public Service Announcement Interlude

  Aaliyah

  “Mommy…Mommy…wake up! Pleaaaase, Mommy, wake up! You can’t die. Dear god, I beg you, please, don’t let my mother die!” During the ride in the ambulance, those words I pleaded to god, as I watched my dad hold my mother’s lifeless body in his arms, kept replaying in my head. I seemed to be trapped in somebody else’s nightmare, but the more I witnessed the paramedic and emergency medical technician doing everything they could to keep my mother alive, I had to accept this nightmare was my reality.

  “Daddy, she can’t die…not like this,” my voice trailed off as I held on to my father’s hand tightly, hoping it would somehow bring me strength.

  “I’ve done this before. When does it stop? I guess never.” When my father said those words, it took a minute for them to sink in.

  “What do you mean you’ve done this before?”

  “Your mother almost died in my arms years ago. Before you were born. She was shot, just like she was today, and lost our baby. That was the worst day of my life and now this is the second.”

  This was the first time I heard anything about this. Before I could ask my father to further elaborate, we had arrived at the hospital. In an instant, the pace went into overdrive. They rushed my mother into surgery and all we could do was pray. I grabbed onto my dad’s arm and held it tightly.

  “Please, move aside,” a male voice barked at us as.

  “Omigoodness, that’s Genesis,” and then I noticed my dad. “Daddy!” I yelled out when I saw them being brought in on stretchers. Right behind them was Amir. “Amir, what happened? Is it bad?”

  I was so caught up with what happened to my mother, I had no idea Genesis and my dad had also been hurt. I prayed they weren’t on the brink of death, like my mother. This nightmare was getting worse and worse with each second.

  “They’ve both been shot, but the injuries aren’t life threatening. It’s not bad.”

  “Thank goodness. There’s only so much more of this I can take.”

  “How’s your mom?”

  “Not good,” I said, putting my head down, now wanting the tears to start pouring all over again.

  “Aaliyah, I’m sorry,” Amir said, holding me closely.

  “I don’t know what I’ll do if she doesn’t make it.”

  “I got here as soon as I heard. How’s Precious?” I looked up and saw Lorenzo standing in front of us. Instead of answering Lorenzo’s question, I continued to cry.

  “It’s not looking good,” Amir said, answering for me.

  “No, not Precious,” Lorenzo kept repeating, with his voice breaking up. He put his hands up and repeatedly shook his head, as if in denial. He then walked off and I saw him talking to a triage nurse. I guess Lorenzo was searching for the same answers we all wanted.

  Amir and I went to sit down next to my dad. We all remained silent, as if scared to speak. This went on for what felt like forever and the silence made me feel like my head was going to explode.

  “Aaliyah, do you want anything? I’ma go get something to drink.”

  “I’ll take anything with caffeine, since I’ll be up all night.”

  “What about you, Supreme. Can I get you something?”

  “I’m dad.”

  “Dad, you sure you don’t want anything?”

  “Yes,” he said, and walked off. I knew my mother’s condition was eating him up; hell, I was barely keeping it together, but I hated seeing him so broken up. So many thoughts were going through my head and as I began to get lost in them, from a distance I noticed Lorenzo. I decided to go speak to him and see if the triage nurse had told him anything we didn’t already know. I seriously doubted it, but I was grasping for any sign of optimism at this point.

  As I got closer, I realized Lorenzo was on the phone. He was in a deep conversation. I decided to get close enough where I could hear what he was saying, but he didn’t notice me.

  “Dior, I can’t come to L.A. right now. Someone very close to me is in the hospital. Yes, it’s a woman. Why are you asking me that?”

  Damn, I wish I could hear what this Dior chick is saying, I thought to myself.

  “Yes, I love her.” There was a long pause before Lorenzo continued, “and I do love you, too,” he said, in an almost frustrated tone. “I don’t want to get into a discussion about my feelings for you or Precious, right now. I have to go. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  When Lorenzo got off the phone he turned around and I could see the surprise on his face when he saw me. “Aaliyah, I didn’t realize you were standing over here.”

  “I’m sure you didn’t, being that you were so deep into your conversation,” I said sarcastically.

  “I’m assuming you were listening.”

  “Of course I was. You claim to care so much about my mother, bu
t you were on the phone with some chick named Dior. You are such the quintessential player.”

  “It’s not like that, Aaliyah.”

  “So says the man that’s on the phone proclaiming his love to another woman, while my mother is fighting for her life.”

  “Your mother knows all about Dior. She was a woman I was engaged to before I ever met Precious. I thought she was dead. During my relationship with your mother, I found out Dior was alive. That’s why Precious broke things off with me, but I never stopped loving her. Honestly, when I heard that she might die, I realized how in love with her I am. I want to be right by your mother’s side when she wakes up.”

  “So, you think she’s gonna make it?”

  “I have to believe that and so do you. I can’t consider anything else. Aaliyah, I know you never really cared for me.”

  “It’s not that. It’s just that…”

  “You blamed me for breaking up your mother and father,” Lorenzo said, finishing my thought.

  “I did blame you initially, but like I told you before, I realized their marriage was already over before you came into her life. I will admit, I always wanted them back together and felt you were in the way.”

  “I get that. Please know your mother is very important to me. After Dior, I didn’t believe I could ever fall in love with another woman again. Precious proved me wrong.”

  “She has that affect on men,” I smiled. “I do believe you love her, Lorenzo, and I’m glad you’re here. My mother needs everyone’s support right now, including yours.”

  I glanced over at my dad and then back at Lorenzo. Both men loved her and so many other people did, too, but none more than me. If my mother didn’t survive, all of our lives would change and nothing would ever be the same again.

  Precious

  “Clear the area! Prepare this patient for emergency surgery!” that was the last thing I heard, before I completely lost all consciousness and went to another place. This brought back so many memories, but this time was different.

  Not this again. Dear god, I was here once before. Fighting for my life and the life of my unborn child. I survived, but my baby didn’t. The child I shared with Supreme was taken away from me, without even having a chance to hold our baby. I want to live, but I feel so weak.

  It’s not like when I got shot the first time. Back then, deep down inside I could feel I was alive and would survive. This time I felt death lingering over me. I wanted to go back to my family and be with my children, but voices and noises were sounding further and further away, ‘til I heard nothing at all. My vision had faded to black, but it wasn’t scary: there was this peaceful calmness that had come over me.

  “My baby, are you sure you’re ready to join me?”

  “Mother, is that you?”

  “Of course it’s me. I’ve been waiting to be with you again, but I didn’t think it would be so soon.”

  “Am I dead?”

  “I can’t answer that question, but I can show you the way.”

  Years Earlier…

  “Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to Precious, happy birthday to you! Now, blow out the candles!”

  I took a deep breath and blew as hard as I could, until I had blown out all seven candles.

  “Yeah,” my mom clapped. “Here, open your present.”

  “Mommy, what did you get me?”

  “You have to open it and see.”

  I ripped open the Hello Kitty wrapping paper. Inside was the beautiful black doll I had seen a few weeks ago, when my mom and I were walking down the Ave.

  “I can’t believe you got this for me! I love you so much, Mommy!”

  “I love you, too, baby,” she said, holding me tightly. “Now, let’s eat some cake and ice cream.”

  Knock…knock…knock

  “You get the bowls and I’ll get the door, okay baby?”

  “Okay, Mommy.”

  “Nathan, what are you doing here?”

  “I came to see my favorite girl.”

  “I’m busy. I told you before that today is my daughter’s birthday. Now, please leave.”

  “Hey there, pretty girl. Uncle Nathan brought you something for your birthday,” the man said, handing me a present.

  “I don’t want it,” I said, rolling my eyes at the man. I didn’t like him. Every time he came around my mother, she acted different and in a bad way, not good.

  “That’s no way to talk to your Uncle Nathan, is it,” he said, rubbing my head like I was his pet dog or something.

  “Nathan, I have to go. We’re about to cut the birthday cake.” As my mother was shutting the door, Nathan put his foot in the entrance to keep it from closing. He then pushed it back open.

  “I ain’t going nowhere. I need you back to work.”

  “I told you I’m done wit’ that. I’m cleaning up my life. Being a better mother for my child. Now, leave!”

  “Ho, I own you. You don’t tell me when to leave. Now get dressed, you going to fuckin’ work!” he barked, grabbing my mother around her throat.

  “Leave my mother alone!” I screamed, throwing the bowl I was holding at the man.

  “Shut up, little girl! Yo’ mama comin’ wit’ me. She got work to do,” he said, taking out a needle and a bag of dope, forcing my mother to shoot up.

  “Why won’t you let my mommy get better? Please, leave her alone,” I cried, holding on to the doll my mother got me for my birthday. All I could do was watch as the man got my mother dressed and dragged her out of the apartment, leaving me alone.

  I sat on the couch and picked up the phone, still in tears. “Mrs. Duncan, it’s me, Precious. Can you come upstairs and get me? My mommy had to go out and work for that mean man again.”

  Present…

  Why did I have to go back to that day? It was one of the saddest of my life. For a brief moment, I felt how wonderful it was to spend quality time with my mother, but after that day I never saw her being drug free again. She got worse; there was no coming back. When you never know how something feels, you can’t miss it; once you do, you always want it back.

  I would give anything to turn back time and have my mother again. We both deserved a second chance. If I was unable to go back, then maybe I would finally join her. I felt so torn. I could see my mother’s beautiful and peaceful face, but I could also hear noises and voices surrounding me.

  “We’re losing her. She’s flat lining. No heartbeat and no pulse. Start cardiopulmonary resuscitation. If we can’t get her heart back beating, she’s going to die.

  Aaliyah

  “Grandfather, I’m so happy you’re here,” I said, giving him a hug. I was so relieved to see him that I tolerated the fact he brought Maya.

  “How is she?”

  Before I could answer grandfather’s question, I heard my father yelling, trying to barge through the emergency room doors. I ran towards him to see what was going on.

  “Daddy, what’s wrong?”

  “They’re saying Precious didn’t make it.”

  “What…” my voice cracked. “You must’ve misunderstood them.”

  “We’ve done everything we can.”

  “Then do some more. You can’t let my mother die. She can’t die!” before I stood there listening to another word, I ran past everybody towards the room they were operating on mother.

  “Aaliyah!” I heard my grandfather call out but I kept running, not looking back.

  I burst into the room screaming, “You can’t let my mother die!”

  “Get her out of here,” I heard one of the nurse’s say.

  “You better save my mother! I swear, if she doesn’t make it, everyone in this room will die,” I threatened.

  “Get her out of here now, or she’ll be arrested.”

  “Aaliyah, don’t make things worse,” my gr
andfather said, trying to calm me down. He was holding me closely, but all I could do was focus on what was going on in the room my mother was in. I saw them giving her chest compressions, but her monitor remained the same.

  “Let’s try the electric shocks one last time,” I heard someone say.

  I was tempted to run up on them again demanding they save my mother’s life, but then something told me to start praying harder than I ever had in my entire life. So, I did. I laid my hands on the glass window and I could see my mother perfectly. She looked so at peace, it almost seemed like she was glowing.

  It’s not time for you to go mommy. Come back to us. We need you. Xavier needs his mother and so do I. Please, don’t leave us. God, don’t take my mother home with you, we need her here with us.

  “Come on, Aaliyah, let’s go back out to the waiting area. They’re doing all they can.”

  “No, grandfather, you go ‘head. I have to stay right here. I know you’re going to think this sounds crazy, but my mother can feel my presence. She needs to in order to come back to us. I can’t move. I have to stay right here.”

  “Then I’ll stay here with you.” Grandfather put his hands on my shoulders. I knew he stayed because he was worried I was about to completely lose it.

  “Grandfather, look,” I said, pointing towards mother. “Whatever they’re doing must be working.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Didn’t you see? She just moved,” I said, stepping back into the room. I knew I wasn’t supposed to be in there, but I didn’t care, I had to be as close as possible to my mother.

  “Give her another electric shock, it’s beginning to stimulate her heart. It’s causing muscles in her chest and neck to spasm.”

  Within a few moments, my mother was gagging and coughing. She started reaching for the breathing tube in her throat.

  “She’s back,” they all said, looking at the heart monitor that was no longer flat lining. I exited the room discreetly with a smile on my face.

  “I think she’s going to be okay,” I beamed to my grandfather and dad, who were both standing right outside the door.