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Precious

  “Nico, you finally came,” I sighed, as I slowly started coming out of a deep sleep. “I’m ready for you to take me home.” I stared at him for a moment and he seemed a little different to me, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I didn’t know if all the drugs they had pumped in my system had me hallucinating or what.

  “Precious, where is home?”

  “What sort of silly question is that and how long have I been in this hospital?”

  “Why do you ask?”

  “You still look extremely good, but you seem older for some reason. I mean, I know you’ve always been a few years older than me, but do I see some gray hairs?” I asked, squinting my eyes trying to get a better look.

  “Ha, ha, ha,” Nico chuckled.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “You are. I needed that laugh, though, but to answer your question, yes, you do see some gray hairs.”

  “I mean, your line of work is a hundred times more stressful than the average persons; so, I shouldn’t be surprised you started getting gray hair at such a young age, but I like it. It makes you look very distinguished.”

  “Glad you approve. Listen, I’m going to bring your doctor in here. There are some things he needs to discuss with you.”

  “Things like what? I’m not paralyzed or something?” I questioned, starting to get alarmed. I immediately tried to get up out the bed to make sure my legs were still working properly and I could walk.

  “Precious, lay back down,” Nico said, taking my hand. “You’re not paralyzed, but there are some things you need to know.”

  “Is it my face? Did something happen to my face?” I began rubbing my hands over my skin, making sure my features felt the same. “You’re scaring me, Nico. What’s wrong with me?”

  “Calm down,” he said, sitting down next to me. “Everything will be fine.”

  “You promise?”

  “Of course.”

  “For some reason, I feel like I need you now more than ever before,” I said, wrapping my arms around Nico and holding him tightly.

  “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be here for you, as long as you need me.”

  “Did you call my mother and let her know I was in the hospital?”

  “No.”

  “What, she went missing again? Probably on one of her drug binges,” I said rolling my eyes. “I’m not giving up on her, though. I really believe in my heart she’s going to get clean and stay clean one day.”

  “My beautiful Precious,” Nico stroked my face so lovingly, “through all the tragedies, you never seem to age.”

  “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “Like what?”

  “Like you’re worried about me. And all what tragedies are you talking about? Yeah, I had a rough childhood, but damn, you make it sound like I’m not supposed to be alive.”

  I saw Nico’s eyes scroll down to my chest. I began patting my gown and could feel the bandages underneath.

  “Are you in pain?”

  “No. Was I shot?” Nico nodded his head yes. “Was it bad?”

  “Very.”

  “Did I almost die?”

  “Yes.”

  “No wonder you’re looking at me like I’m some sort of miracle child. I’m supposed to be dead.”

  “Let me go get the doctor.” Right when Nico was standing up, the doctor walked in.

  “Precious, I’m glad to see you up and alert. How are you feeling?”

  “Physically I feel fine, but my fiancé has me worried. Fuck, where’s my ring,” I yelled, looking down at my finger. “Nico, somebody took my engagement ring.”

  “Nobody took your ring. I have it.”

  “Oh, good. I was about to wreck havoc up in this hospital.”

  “Nico, have you explained to Precious what happened?”

  “I told her she was shot and almost died, but nothing else.”

  “Precious, have you begun to remember anything?”

  “Not really. It’s weird. I remember my childhood clearly, but only bits and pieces of the last few years. Like, I remember that Nico and I got engaged, but I can’t remember where he proposed. That can’t be normal.”

  “You suffered severe injuries and your heart also stopped for an extended period of time, so having brain trauma isn’t uncommon.”

  “How much brain trauma did I suffer?”

  “The doctor looked over at Nico, then at me, then back at Nico.”

  “Why the hell you keep looking at Nico? I’m the one with the brain injury. You need to explain this shit to me.”

  “Precious, relax.”

  “I won’t relax until the doctor tells me what is going on. You’ve been acting strange since I woke up and now the doctor acting strange. Tell me what the deal is. Whatever it is, I can handle it.”

  “Ms. Cummings, you have lost your memory. I’m not talking bits and pieces; I’m talking many, many years.”

  “How many?”

  “Precious, we share a daughter who is in her early twenties.”

  My mouth dropped. I had to catch my breath. “No wonder you have all that gray hair.” Both the doctor and Nico laughed, but the shit wasn’t funny to me at all. “Is that the only child we have?”

  “Yes, but you also have a younger son with Supreme.”

  “Who is Supreme?”

  “Your ex-husband.”

  “So, I married somebody else besides you?”

  “We never got married.”

  “Huh? How can that be?”

  “It’s a long, complicated story.”

  I laid my head back on the pillow. I didn’t understand how I could feel one way, but I was actually somebody else. I was no longer the young teenage crazy girl who was engaged to her first love. I was a grown woman, with two children and an ex-husband.

  “Doctor, will I get my memory back?”

  “We’re running some tests, but honestly, I don’t know. Only time will tell.”

  “I want to see my kids. Where are they?”

  “Are you sure you’re up to it?” Nico asked.

  “Of course. They’re my blood. I want to see them.”

  “Aaliyah’s right outside. If I’m not mistaken, Xavier is with Supreme’s parents.”

  “I see. Doctor, can you have my daughter come in.”

  “Sure, I’ll be right back.”

  “Precious, you don’t have to push yourself.”

  “I’m fine. I may not remember them, but trust me I need my kids. You and them are what’s gonna get me through this. I know you said we never married, does that mean you married somebody else?”

  “No, I’ve never been married.”

  “What happened between us? Forget it, I don’t want to know. All I need to know is if you’re going to stay by my side through this, because in my heart, what I remember is still being very much in love with you.”

  Nico reached over and put his hand on top of mine. “I told you I wasn’t going anywhere. We’ll get through this together, I promise.”

  “Mom, how are you?” Nico and I both turned towards the door at the same time.

  “You must be Aaliyah,” I smiled. “You were here earlier with that man. I thought they were friends of yours, Nico. I’m so sorry for brushing you off.”

  “You don’t have to apologize. I’m just so happy to see you. Can I give you a hug?”

  “Of course, you’re my daughter and what a beautiful daughter you are,” I said, squeezing her tightly.

  “I know you don’t remember me, but I have enough love for the both of us,” Aaliyah said, with tears in her eyes.

  “I do love you. You have my mother’s name and her eyes. She must adore you.”

  Aaliyah looked over at Nico then back at me. “I’ve never met my grandmother.”

&n
bsp; “My mother. Is she dead?” Aaliyah’s and Nico’s silence gave me my answer. So many things had changed and the only good things seemed to be my children. I wondered what all had happened in these last twenty something years. Maybe losing my memory was a blessing in disguise. This could be a new beginning for me, to right the wrongs of my past and begin a new journey. At the moment, I was filled with confusion. The only thing I was confident about was that as long as I had my kids and Nico by my side, I would come through this stronger and better than before.

  Aaliyah

  “Come in.” As I stood face to face with Dale, I wondered if this would be the last time I’d see him alive, but all of that simply depended on him.

  “You haven’t seen me in weeks and this is the greeting I get? Where’s my hug and kiss?”

  Seeing Dale again had taken longer than I planned, which was due to Amir. When I asked him to assist me with finding out if Dale was working with Emory to bring my family down, Amir thought what I needed him to do would only take a few days to get done. But after calling me to say everything was a go, he realized there was a slight problem and he needed more time. I then had to call Dale and postpone him coming to New York, but with my mother getting out the hospital, that was easy to justify. Now that Amir was finally able to get what I needed done, it was do or die time for Dale.

  “Honestly, after what I found out I don’t think I’ll ever be able to kiss you again,” I said, skipping the kiss, but giving Dale a half ass hug. The only reason I hugged him was to check to see if he was carrying a weapon, which he wasn’t. Since he was coming to see me, Dale probably left his gun in the car, thinking it would be a love fest between us, but he was sorely mistaken.

  After my dry hug, Dale leaned his head back as if sizing me up before responding. “Are you joking or are you serious? I can’t really tell right now.”

  “I’m very serious. Come, have a seat. Can I get you anything to drink?”

  “No, I’m good. I’m more interested in finding out where all this coldness is coming from.”

  Once Dale was comfortably seated, I sat down on the chair across from him. I had my gun under one of the pillows, in case I had to shoot him right on the spot. I was hoping it wouldn’t come to that, mainly because I didn’t want to ruin my brand new furniture with his blood, but that could always be replaced. If my plan played out the way I suspected, Dale wouldn’t be killed until after he left my place, which was ideal.

  “Have you spoken to Tori?”

  “So, that’s what this is about. How did you find out?”

  “She told me. So, it’s true,” I said, reaching under the pillow to retrieve my gun, ready to start blasting without the conversation having to go any further.

  “You talk to Tori? When? We can’t get in touch with her.”

  “Oh, so, what did you mean ‘that’s what this is about?’” I asked, easing up on the trigger.

  “You found out Tori is missing and you’re upset that I didn’t inform you. Don’t be mad. I knew you were going crazy over your mother and I didn’t want you stressing about business. Wait, you saying you spoke Tori?”

  “Yes, I did.”

  “When?”

  “The day my family was ambushed and my mother almost died.”

  “That was weeks ago. You haven’t spoken to her since?”

  “No. Tori told me she was going on the run. She needed to disappear.”

  “Why and why are you just telling me this? Or is this what you needed to speak with me about?”

  “Yes. Tori informed me that your brother hired her to infiltrate my family, so he could take them down. Instead of her seducing the Dominican kingpin, she actually seduced my father, Nico Carter. It worked because they got engaged. She explained that she actually fell in love with him and wanted me to know the truth, before she left town.”

  “What in the fuck!”

  “And the only reason you’re not dead already is because Tori wasn’t sure if you knew what your brother was up to.”

  “So, wait, you think I had something to do with the hit on your people,” Dale said, rising up.

  “Sit down,” I ordered, but I didn’t show my weapon yet. I wasn’t ready for him to know there was a possibility he was about to die.

  “Aaliyah, don’t do this,” Dale said, as if sensing time was running out for him.

  “Sit down!”

  “I understand you’re pissed the fuck off. I would be too, but on everything I hold dear to me, which includes you, I had absolutely nothing to do with what happened to your family.”

  “Then call Emory right now.”

  “Huh?”

  “You heard me. Get on your phone and call Emory. Put it on speaker. Don’t let him know you’re with me.”

  “And say what?”

  “Tell him that you believe I spoke to Tori and she told me everything. You want to know how he thinks I should be dealt with.”

  Dale looked down at the Macassar Ebony hardwood floor completely mute. He lifted his arms, resting his elbows on his upper legs, before folding his hands and placing them under his chin. His thoughts had taken him elsewhere.

  “What’s the hesitation, Dale? Are you placing the call or not?”

  “There are a couple of reasons for the hesitation. Besides you believing I’m your enemy, there might be a chance my brother is and that concerns me.”

  “I know for a fact that Emory is behind this bullshit, now I just need to know if you are, too.”

  “You know for a fact based on something Tori told you? How the fuck you know she ain’t lying?”

  “It is no secret how your brother feels about me. It would be classic Emory to use me to train the woman who is going to fuck my father.”

  “Yeah, Emory may have his issues with you, but he respects business and more importantly, he respects me. My brother knows how I feel about you. I don’t believe he would cross me like that.”

  “But you’re not sure. Just like I’m not sure if this whole spill you’re giving me is some bullshit. So, are you going to call your brother or not?”

  Without saying another word, Dale took out his cell and called Emory. He put the call on speaker and we both listened as the phone rang. Emory answered on the fourth ring.

  “What up bruh.”

  “We have a situation.”

  “What the fuck happened now?”

  “It’s Tori.”

  “Don’t tell me she ended up on a dead end street.”

  “Not that I know of.”

  “Then what?” Dale paused for a second and glanced over at me. I nodded my head letting him know to speak that shit.

  “I believe Tori spoke to Aaliyah and told her everything.”

  “Everything like what?”

  “About you setting her family up. Using Tori to get next to Aaliyah’s pops.”

  “Yo, what the fuck are you talkin’ ‘bout?”

  “Don’t act like you don’t know what’s up. Tori told Aaliyah that you had her get next to her father, so you could bring down her family.”

  “That’s some straight bullshit, but yo’ let me call you back.”

  “Why? Let’s finish this up now.”

  “ Just let me call you back.”

  “How long?”

  “Give me twenty minutes.”

  “Okay.”

  “Are you satisfied,” Dale said, once he ended the call.

  “Hell no.”

  “You still believe I had something to do with this?”

  “I’m not one hundred percent sure you didn’t.”

  “I’m telling you I didn’t and after that conversation with my brother, I don’t believe Emory did, either. I know when he’s lying and he was telling me the truth.”

  “That’s not good enough.”

  “Damn, I swear I tho
ught we were better than this,” Dale said, punching his fist in the palm of his hand. “Listen, just give me a little time.”

  “What you mean.”

  “Let me try to clear my name and my brother’s name.”

  “How you plan on doing that?”

  “Finding out who really set your family up, because it damn sure wasn’t me and it wasn’t my brother, either.”

  “Why shouldn’t I just kill you now?”

  “Because if you do, you’ll never find out the truth.”

  “Fine, but I think you better go, before I change my mind.”

  “So, it’s like that?”

  “For now, yes. Let’s just hope it doesn’t get worse. Goodbye, Dale.”

  “I’ma prove you wrong. Not only ‘cause we business partners, but also because I have real feelings for you. If I can’t earn your trust, then we have nothing.”

  “Just go.”

  In the back of Dale’s mind, I knew he had to be wondering why I let him go. He probably thought it was because I had love for him and although I did, that wasn’t the reason. If I truly believed Dale was in on my family’s hit, I would’ve killed him right on the spot, but I still wasn’t sure, though I would know very soon. See, the reason Emory wanted to call Dale back was because he had another phone he used that nobody really knew about, but I did and it was because of Amir.

  Amir had an inside connect that could place a phone tap if he had certain information on the person. I gave Amir both phone numbers I had on Emory but when one of his workers did some deep digging, he realized Emory had another phone he used primarily to discuss the most critical issues when it came to business. It took some time and maneuvering to get that number, which caused a delay with my plan.

  I was positive Emory would be calling Dale back on that phone and I would be able to hear all the details. That conversation would either save Dale’s life or have both brothers ending up in body bags.

  Precious

  For the last couple of weeks, Nico’s home had become like Grand Central Terminal. People were constantly coming in and out, and it was mostly to visit me and see how I was doing. Initially, Nico was limiting my visitors, but I was feeling stronger with each passing day, and I was ready to deal with everybody that had played a role in my life, before the accident. That’s why when I heard Nico and Quentin arguing about me, I decided to listen, before making my presence known.