The Pussy Trap 3 Read online

  sized man asked from his huge chair.

  “It’s all good. Is everything okay here?” Kayson asked as he took a seat on the light gray suede couch across from him.

  “Yes, the show went on,” he said, giving Kayson’s reaction his full attention

  “Good.” Kayson gave a quick response. “Did you accomplish what you set out to?” “Not really. I went to see my wife.”

  “How did she take death arriving at her door?”

  Kayson chuckled. “Besides the fact that she tried to kill me, it went well.”

  Mr. Odoo returned the chuckle, but then the mood got serious. “Do you think it was worth it? I mean, the reality of putting her and your son in danger?”

  “They were in danger anyway.”

  “But now the shit has risen to a whole other level.” Mr.

  Odoo folded his hands and laid them on his chest.

  “That picture outside your door. It’s there because it reminds you of something. It sits right at the entrance to a room where you sit and prepare to make the future prosperous for that woman and the children she blessed you with.” Kayson paused. “Well, I feel the same way. I gave that woman my word. I made her a promise I got to keep.”

  “Understood, but I hope you can live with the decision you made.”

  “I don’t have an option. Because what I can’t live with is knowing that I have a wife and a son out there alone fighting for their life and spot in the world while I just walked away,” he stated as his chest tightened up at the mere thought.

  Mr. Odoo nodded in agreement. “Well, I got your back.

  This is your home and your family.”

  “Thank you. And thank you for saving my life.”

  “No thanks needed. You are a son to me, and your loyalty will live on the pages in my mind forever.”

  Kayson nodded.

  “So, when do I get to meet the lovely Mrs. Wells?” “Real soon. I gotta put her with Yuri.”

  “We must be very careful. My daughter is a very proud and powerful woman.”

  “That’s true. And my wife is a killer.” Kayson rose to his feet. “Let me soothe that beast within, and then we will put them together.” Kayson walked over to Mr. Odoo, shook his hand, and then prepared to leave.

  “I trust you, Kayson.”

  “I know. And I will never cross you.” He turned and walked out, thinking about the reality of putting those two powerful women in the room together. His allegiance to Mr. Odoo was airtight, but KoKo didn’t hold that same respect. And until he could get to her and explain why he made the choices he made, everyone who he came in contact with while gone would be marked.

  Ground Control

  Back in New York

  “I thought we agreed that Boa would handle me from here forward.” Alejandro sat up in his chair, apparently aggravated with KoKo’s news.

  “Well, the nigga had to take some time off,” she smugly stated while seated at her desk at the Lion’s Den.

  “Time off?”

  “Yeah, he has a headache.” KoKo sat across from Alejandro and leaned forward with an intense look.

  “Well, I think we need to put everything on hold until he is feeling better.” He stood to leave, and his men started to follow.

  “Hold the fuck up!” KoKo stood up. “We are in business. I got people depending on me. I am the one who makes the decisions in this organization.”

  “Yes, that may be true, but I am in charge of this one. Boa gave me a quote, and we have an agreement, and I will not move forward without him.”

  “Nigga, you a bitch. Fuck outta here . . . And take your bitch ass crew with you.”

  Alejandro turned and walked back to where KoKo stood. Night and Baseem got in position to air his ass out.

  With gritted teeth and a wrinkled nose, he leaned in and stated, “All the business that we have conducted, and you speak to me this way. You think that you can go around intimidating people with all that mouth you have? Only a weak man folds for pussy.” He paused and chuckled. “I love to eat pussy, but I do it standing, so I never have to bow to it.”

  “That’s cool. Because you’ll never get close to my pussy, but you can damn sure kiss my ass. And take whatever deal we had and shove it up yours.”

  “You just made the biggest mistake of your life.” “Muthafucka, you threatening her?” Baseem stepped forward.

  KoKo put her hand up.

  “I don’t make threats,” he said as he turned to walk away. “Me either. Guard ya grill, muthafucka,” KoKo spat as she watched them exit.

  “You know we gotta come for him first?” Baseem angrily stated.

  “They’ll never make it home,” KoKo said just as smooth.

  The rules of the game had changed. In fact, they no longer existed. Everything was subject to change. Now that Kayson was back, KoKo felt like she had grown a new pair of balls, and she damn sure was going to use them.

  - 5 -

  Mommy Time

  With everything going on, and the major turn of events that had taken place, KoKo figured she needed to head to the islands to check on Quran and

  Keisha. When she stepped off her jet, the sun and serenity were a welcomed change from all the mental and emotional gymnastics her body had endured over the last couple days. She stood for a moment and just took it all in. The sweat now rolling from her skin was quenching her troubled spirit. She wiped her brow and headed to her driver.

  “Good afternoon, Mrs. KoKo?” her driver said, opening the door for her. His smiling face and bright eyes were like life support to a dying woman. It was comforting and just what she needed.

  “Good afternoon.” She smiled back, also something she had not done in days.

  As the door closed, KoKo reflected on what Kayson had said about seeing Quran, and wondered if he would show up while she was there. She quickly looked out the window in every direction with hopes of seeing him emerge from the shadows.

  With slight disappointment, she settled into her seat, comforted by knowing she would soon have Quran in her arms.

  When she arrived at her estate, the guards jumped to post. They welcomed her as she drove up with a slight salute. The gates opened. It was good to see everyone on point. Having the same staff come with her from Dubai was a must. Not only had they been trained personally by Kayson and Night, but they were all that Quran knew. And she wanted to make sure with the major move that he had some sort of consistency.

  As the vehicle pulled up to the door, she barely let the car come to a stop before she opened the door and jumped out.

  “Wait, Mrs. KoKo! Please, let me,” her driver said as he shifted the car in park and attempted to get to the door before her. “Don’t worry. I got it,” she said, closing it behind her. “As you wish.” He bowed as she headed inside.

  Once within her sanctum, she breathed in heavy, inhaling all the fresh flowers that adorned the rooms. She walked over to the kitchen and looked out the window to see if Quran was playing outside, and yes he was. KoKo watched his nanny toss the ball and Quran attempt to catch it. She had to laugh. Quran was acting like he was really doing something.

  Scanning the yard, she spotted Keisha in a hammock lying back wearing a large straw hat and sunglasses. KoKo just shook her head. She could see that her mom had settled into the idea of being the queen of the palace.

  KoKo moved to her room to take a quick shower and change her clothes. She figured she would allow Quran to finish his playtime and then be ready for him when he came in for lunch.

  Once KoKo was done with her hot shower, she oiled her skin and slipped into a thin bright yellow sundress. Pulling her hair back into a ponytail, her thoughts again drifted to Kayson. All she could do was question his motives and wonder what he would reveal about his whereabouts and if she could fully forgive him. Pushing the thoughts from her mind, she threw on her flip-flops and headed out the room. As she came down the hall, she could hear Quran running into the house and his nanny right on his heels.

  �
�You must wash your hands first,” she said in her soft accent, attending to him as if he was her own.

  “I’m thirsty,” he said, heading to the refrigerator.

  “I know, young one, but your little hands are dirty.” She took him by the waist and brought him to the sink.

  KoKo watched her wash his hands and kiss his cheeks. He squirmed and giggled. Then he reached out, grabbing a handful of grapes from the counter.

  “Want some?” he asked as he tried to stuff them in her mouth.

  “No, I am going to eat and so are you. Just have a few.” “Mommy wants some,” KoKo said with a smile on her

  face.

  Quran’s head turned slightly as he slid out of Maryam’s arms, dropping his grapes on the counter and taking off. “Mommy!” he squealed as he jumped into KoKo’s arms.

  Holding her face and kissing all over her, KoKo pretended to be overwhelmed and backed up to the couch and fell backward with him tight in her arms. “Mommy, Mommy, Mommy,” Quran sang as he continued to kiss and rub her face.

  “You missed your mommy, huh?” “Yes, yes, yes,” he continued to sing.

  Maryam looked on as she began to prepare Quran’s lunch. “When did you arrive, Mrs. KoKo?” she asked as she moved throughout the kitchen.

  “I just got here,” KoKo answered as Quran rubbed his nose on hers.

  “Are you hungry, madam?”

  “I will eat whatever you fix him. I’m just glad to be home.”

  KoKo squeezed him tight and then began to tickle him all over.

  Quran laughed out loud as he kicked and wiggled around.

  His laughter was music to her ears.

  When he was tired out, she stood up and threw him on her hip. “Wow! You getting so big,” KoKo said to Quran, who had gotten solid and tall, a trait he inherited from his dad.

  “So how is my mother doing?” KoKo asked Maryam as she approached the counter.

  “She has her days. The medication does good some days, and then some days not so good. But she has been mentioning names and asking about people I don’t know. So, I humor her and let her speak freely.”

  “What names? What has she said?” KoKo went into investigation mode. “Quran, go get mommy your school papers, so I can see what you have been up to.” She smiled and let him down.

  “Okay.” Quran took off running to his room. “Continue,” KoKo requested.

  “She says things like, ‘I told Nine’ and Monique is her only friend. Now, I know Mrs. Mo no longer here, but I don’t say that. I just nod and smile. But I don’t know Nine or Fred.”

  “Fred?”

  “Yes, she says Fred knows. Fred knows everything. I say okay, and then I try to get her mind to something else. You know like you said ‘no stress’.” Maryam put the sliced turkey sandwiches on the plate, and then cut up fresh pineapple and papaya. “One thing I worry about though.” She paused. “Sometimes she seems as if her memories are real. She comes into the room talking like she has just spoken to these people. You know?” she asked, turning to rinse off the carrot sticks. Maryam placed them on the plate with ranch dressing and a few potato chips.

  “Are you encouraging her to write things down like I asked you?”

  “Yes. And she holds onto that book for dear life. She say ‘this is for my daughter’. She don’t even let the nurse see,” Maryam stated as she set the plates and fruit on the table.

  When KoKo got ready to make her next statement, Quran zoomed back into the kitchen with both hands filled with drawings. “We will talk later,” she said as she watched Quran fumble around.

  “See, Mommy. Here, here,” he said, shoving his papers into KoKo’s hands.

  “Awww . . . Let’s see what you did,” KoKo said, trying to organize them.

  “See, I did a good job.” He beamed with pride.

  “Yes, you did.” She leaned down and kissed his lips. KoKo shuffled through the pages until she got to a picture he drew of what appeared to be three people.

  “Who is this, Quran?” KoKo asked, awaiting his explanation.

  “This is Mommy. This is Daddy, and this is me. Right there.” He pointed hard at the figure that was supposed to be him.

  “And that’s your daddy?” KoKo pointed at the taller figure. “Yup,” he said, moving fast to the table, hopping up in the

  chair, and grabbing his food.”

  “He talks about his father all the time. Like he has seen him yesterday,” Maryam said as she pushed his chair in and placed his juice cup next to him.

  “Is that right?” KoKo sat across from him and stared into his face. She wanted to ask him some questions, but she thought it would be better to let things flow naturally.

  Maryam’s revelations had KoKo’s mind all over the place.

  She was fixated in thought when the sliding doors opened and in walked Keisha.

  “My baby,” she said as soon as her eyes met with KoKo’s. “Where have you been, baby? You said you were going to the store.” Keisha walked over to her and pulled her head into her chest and hugged her tight.

  “I just got back.”

  “Did you get my things I asked for?”

  “Yes, they are in my room. Let me get them for you.” KoKo rose to her feet.

  When KoKo returned, she stopped and watched Quran sit on Keisha’s lap and play with the charm on the necklace.

  “See, Mommy. That’s you.” He pointed at the baby on the charm.

  KoKo smiled and walked over to them. She kneeled in front of them and placed two Nina Simone CDs on Keisha’s lap.

  Keisha took them into her hands. “Thank you, baby.” She held the CDs to her chest. “This is real music.” She smiled.

  “Anything for you,” KoKo responded as she looked at her mother’s beautiful smile.

  KoKo didn’t know what time would reveal, but she knew one thing for certain. She needed to find out who was behind all of these secrets and make them pay without her mother and son becoming casualties in the process.

  For the remainder of the day, Quran wore KoKo out. He wanted to play, run, color, and go outside. He tried to cram a week’s worth of fun into one day. Quran had learned early that Mommy traveled a lot, and her time with him was short. Every time she came home, he wanted to do everything possible with her before she was gone again. KoKo, too, had been picking up on the fact that he was getting older and needing her more.

  She had already decided she needed to spend more time with him.

  After giving Quran his bath and reading a dozen books to him, KoKo lay next to him in her bed until he was fast asleep. Inching slowly away from his warm body, she got out of bed, put on her robe, and headed to her mother’s room. To her surprise, Kiesha was sitting up in the bed and writing in the small leather covered journal that KoKo had given her.

  “I see you’re still awake,” KoKo called out as she walked to the bed and took a seat.

  “Yes, I want to sleep, but my mind won’t let me.”

  “What you writing?” KoKo asked, hoping she would reveal some needed information.

  “Just a few memories. You know this mind of mine is tricky. I have to get it as it comes.” She smiled.

  “Can I see?”

  “No, not yet. You are not ready yet.” She closed it up and tucked it under her pillow.

  KoKo just smiled and rubbed her leg. “Okay. Get some rest. I will see you in the morning.”

  Keisha didn’t answer. She smiled and watched her get up and head to the door.

  As KoKo began to pull the door shut, Keisha said aloud, “KoKo.”

  KoKo stuck her head back in the door to see Keisha wearing a serious look. “Always stay one step ahead of them. That way they can never fool you. Sleep well.” Keisha eased down into her huge, soft, goose down pillows and closed her eyes.

  Although Keisha’s awkward comments required an instant question, KoKo hit the light and closed the door instead. On her way back to her room, the strange interaction she just had with her mother made her uncomfortable. She
needed to get her hands on that book. Whatever it was that Kiesha knew was haunting her spirit, and the sooner KoKo knew what it was, the closer she would be to solving all the mysteries that haunted her.

  - 6 -

  New Blood

  Within three days mommy time was over and KoKo was back to business. She knew she could not leave the crew for too many days. As soon as her feet

  touched the New York concrete, she called Night and Baseem for a meeting at one of her favorite spots in West Village.

  She sat in the back of the Hudson Clearwater restaurant waiting for Night and Baseem to arrive. She sipped her drink, watching the warm afternoon sun dance on the moving vehicles as different characters passed by in their array of dress and hairstyles. If you wanted to see weird and absurd, just sit and watch the sea of New Yorkers moving about their day. Entertaining is an understatement.

  When she saw Night and Baseem pull up and hop out of a cab, she went right into boss mode. She kept her eyes focused on the door until they walked in and toward the table.

  “Why you all the way back here? You on punishment?” Night asked as he approached, throwing the New York Post on the table.

  Baseem sat down next to him with a solemn look on his face.

  KoKo quickly read over the caption under the photo of several police cars and fire trucks, which stated that a car blew up near the docks in Manhattan just last night and the four bodies found were burned beyond recognition. KoKo folded the paper up and looked over at Baseem. The deed had been handled. They had to move on the Columbians before they moved on them.

  “Why this nigga looking like his cat is stuck in a tree?” KoKo asked as she reached up and grabbed her drink.

  Night chuckled, looking back and forth between Baseem and KoKo.

  “Go ‘head with all that. I had a rough night.” He paused and looked around for the waitress. Locating her, he waved her over. “So, what is the next step?” he asked as the waitress approached the table.

  “Yes, how may I help you?” the waitress asked, smiling big at both men.

  “Let me have two Jack Daniels on the rocks,” Baseem said, and then looked over at Night. “You want something?”