Back 2 Business (Candy Shop 2) Read online

  “Yeah…yeah no problem.” Skid responded.

  “Huuugh.” Amy placed her hand over her mouth to stifle her vomit.

  “What’s wrong with this one, eh?” The woman pointed angrily.

  Danger grabbed her shoulders and pulled her back hoping Amy didn’t let one drop of it touch the floor. “No, no. It’s okay. She’s just pregnant.”

  “Hmph. I need the cash now then.” The woman demanded walking over to the table radioing in to someone on her walkie-talkie. “Get them.”

  Danger's ears bled when she said that. He was wondering what she meant by “them”. They hadn’t done anything wrong and had sealed the deal so he couldn’t understand why she was betraying them. Skid stood there shaking his head at Danger and Amy knowing she had no business coming there with them. It sickened him that he couldn’t keep his broad in check. He turned back to the woman as she placed her ski mask back over her head and slipped her massive gloves back over her small hands. She revved up the chainsaw once more forcing Danger and Amy to jump back in terror.

  “Mover! Mover!” Two men walked in yelling in Spanish ordering them to move out of the way as they brought in one of the bodies and tossed it on the ground like it was nothing.

  The Stew Maker went back to work on her current victim without another word uttered to them. Skid knew the drill with her and signaled for Danger and Amy to get the fuck up and out of there. They quickly moved towards the back exit passing the next transport of carcass and were relieved to see daylight again. They made it to the car with one body left for the men to remove.

  “Hey! Hey! Dinero, bro!” One of the masked men said knocking on the driver’s side window with the AK in his hand.

  “Oh yeah.” Skid said reaching into his glove compartment and snatching out three of the five neatly wrapped stacks inside. “Here ya go.”

  The man flicked his thumb across the paper loving the sound it made as it slapped together. He nodded his head and bounced to the back of the truck helping his counterpart remove the last body from the back. The guard at the gate waited until the men were inside and shut their door before he opened the gate for them to leave.

  “Hey, güey. You might wanna close your fucking trunk, eh.” The guard laughed as they exited the yard slowly while he slammed the trunk door down for them.

  “Ay, yeah, bro. Thanks.” Skid waved back peeling out like a bat out of hell as he wiped droplets of sweat from his forehead. “Shit them Mexican Cartel motherfuckas ain’t shit to fuck with.”

  Chapter 2

  Oh Baby

  “Agh! Aggghhh!” Braze screamed at the top of her lungs.

  She really wasn’t in pain at all but she figured she would need to keep up appearances. Not only was it working but also she was commanding all of Messiah’s attention, which had her grinning from ear to ear inside. Braze rubbed her protruding belly with one hand and caressed his arm with the other. Her constant sounds of agony distracted him from anything else she was doing as he struggled to drown out everything in order to speed past cars unscathed.

  “Oh, Braze. Don’t you think you may be over reacting just a bit bitch?” Red snapped rolling her eyes and folding her arms.

  “When you go into labor then you will be able to talk to me about overreacting. Otherwise just shut the fuck…up, please.” Braze countered lifting her head to yell towards the back seat.

  “Ok, I’m gonna need the both of you to shut the fuck up since I am the one weaving in and out of traffic, here.” Messiah bellowed raising his hand up halting the argument.

  They finally pulled up in the Emergency driveway of Christ Hospital. It was the closest to the Candy Shop. They all exited the car with Messiah carefully securing Braze’s arm in his hand, escorting her as she waddled into the sliding glass doors. Red followed close behind disgusted by her very presence. It was hard for her to just let what she did go simply because she was pregnant and in labor. She had no remorse or sympathy for her whatsoever.

  “Ma’am. Ma’am, she’s in labor. Can you help us?” Messiah asked helping her into a wheel chair that one of the orderlies immediately scooted towards them.

  “Okay, sir. We are going to admit her and start a drip but while we do that I’m going to need you to fill out some papers for me. Okay?” The nurse said handing him a pen and a clipboard with thick set of papers attached.

  “Uh…what?” He stared down at the papers like they adorned foreign words upon them. “Ma’am, I don’t think I should be doing this.”

  “Aren’t you her husband?”

  “What? God no!” Red replied snatching the papers out of the nurse’s hands.

  The very short and thin Asian nurse hawked at Red like she had the plague but quickly turned her attention towards her new patient. Her coworker had already begun Braze’s IV and left to prep a doctor on her condition. The nurse tucked her cropped cut hair behind both of her ears then leaned in to check her vitals. Once they checked out, she went to grab a fetal monitor to hook up to her belly.

  “I’m writing your name on all of these papers, just to let you know.” Red said crossing her legs as she scratched on the paper.

  “I don’t care. This hospital knows me very well anyway.” Messiah replied.

  “Oh yeah that’s right. Isn’t your fucking wife upstairs somewhere?”

  Messiah sighed heavily. He didn’t like for her to speak about Alexis since it only aroused resentment within him and anger within her. Even though it pained him to think about what he had done to Alexis, he still couldn’t shake his love for Red. She was his no matter what and there was no way in hell he would allow her to walk out of his life because of his whore of a wife. The guilt of what he had done and his vows were the only think still bounding him to Alexis, though, but he knew Red wouldn’t wait forever. He was torn between doing the right thing and loving the right person, which seemed to affect him more now then ever seeing that Braze was having his baby.

  “Yeah…she’s up there.” He replied in a low solemn voice.

  “Wow…” Red mumbled as she completed the paper work, slamming it down on her lap.

  Braze watched from a few seats down as Messiah and Red gazed at each other lovingly. It made her sick to her stomach watching the spectacle as if they were actually a couple. Her lips were as dry as sand as she licked them hoping to relieve the crusty feeling they were giving. She ruffled her ponytail trying to clean herself up to look more presentable for Messiah. The more she looked over at them the more vomit rose in the back of her throat.

  “Huuuuuugh!” Braze released pinkish brown chunks onto the floor.

  The feeling was no longer just a mere thought, it was reality. Braze wiped her mouth with the back of her hand as a fleet of nurses rushed over to her aid. Messiah sat there with his head hanging down pissed that he was in this predicament. He couldn’t bring his self to show his care for her with Red sitting right next to him. He was weak for her and it showed.

  “I’m going to need to move her to a room right now!” The head nurse yelled to her subordinates.

  “What’s wrong with her?” Messiah bellowed above the crowd.

  “Yes, what’s wrong with me?” Braze asked worriedly.

  “The baby’s vitals aren’t showing up on the monitor and you are shading pale. The baby may be in distress so we need to go in right away.” The nurse replied helping the staff load her onto the gurney. “Alright people let’s move!”

  “Wait I need to go!” Messiah yelled as he moved with the crowd.

  “No sir. She needs you here. When we’ve calmed everything down we will send for you.” One of the staff nurse’s stopped, pushing him back as they continued to hurriedly wheel Braze out of sight.

  “Damn!” He exhaled beating his fist against the counter.

  “Come on, baby. She’ll be all right. They’ll take good care of her.” Red reassured him as she caressed his broad back.

  Her touch sent chills throughout his body. He turned wanting to embrace her soft caress but as he gazed i
nto her eyes he knew it was neither the time nor place. The buzzing sound in his pocket interrupted their sweet solstice stare, pissing him off once again. It was hard for him to ignore it this last time, since it had been going off for some time now, seemingly back to back. He eyed down at the caller ID realizing that he had about thirty missed calls from the morning alone. As he scrolled through the log, it buzzed wildly again.

  “Yes!” He said turning away, making sure not to yell in Red’s face.

  “Uh, yes Mr. Torres?”

  “Who is this?”

  “Mr. Torres, I’ve called to tell you the status of your wife's condition. I thought you'd might like to know that your wife, she’s awake sir.”

  Messiah paused breathing heavily into the phone. His soul damn near fell through his feet and on to Hell as he pressed the phone even closer to his ear. It was as if he were dreaming the doctor’s words but he knew he had heard them loud and clear.

  “Sir?”

  “Yes…I’m here. I’ll be there shortly.” Messiah replied hanging up quickly before anything else could be uttered.

  “Who was that?” Red crossed her arms as he turned staring deeply into her big beautiful brown eyes.

  “The doctor.”

  “Are you really going to make me dig for information here, baby?” She said side eyeing him.

  “Alexis…she’s…she’s awake.” He sighed holding his head high as if to show no weakness.

  “Ah, now that wasn’t so hard to say now was it? Well, aren’t you going to go see her? I mean, you’re right here.” Red spat.

  “I don’t have time for this right now. I have to check on Braze and the baby.” He said walking over towards the desk.

  “No, Braze and the baby will be fine. Let’s go see how wifey’s doing.” Red smiled.

  “Huh? You wanna go?”

  “Of course baby. I’m just a concerned employee. Remember, Meech?” Sarcasm rang through her voice.

  “Eh, baby maybe you should stay here. I’m going to run up there real quick and see was crackin’ then I’ll be right back. Okay? Just stay here.” He said grabbing her hips trying to convince her not to move.

  “Oh no baby. I’m going with you. You ain’t that slick.” Red smiled fiddling with his short goatee. “But nice try.”

  He was convinced of one thing, that she would go up to the room and start some bullshit with his weak wife. He wasn’t prepared to go through that but he knew once he snapped back at Red she would surely leave and possibly disappear off the face of the Earth. He didn’t want to leap any bounds trying to track her down when he could just keep her right by his side. He swallowed the lump in his throat and took her by the hand shooting her a sly smile.

  “Alright, baby doll. We’ll play it your way.” He said leading her towards the elevator.

  It was a response she wasn’t prepared for. She knew he would fight her to the death to remain behind. She hadn’t anticipated that he would be willing to do anything to keep her including out his love for her in front of his ailing wife. The elevator dinged and opened allowing them to step on. Messiah pushed the button for the 4th floor then stuck his hand in his pocket as the doors closed. Every minute of the ride made Red’s stomach flutter. She felt that since she had never even laid an eye on Alexis this would be one hell of a way to do it.

  They exited the elevator. Messiah seemed to be taking extra large steps in his shiny patent leather shoes. Her small frame struggled to keep up as he squeezed tightly to her hand, sweaty palms and all. He would prove to her once and for all that you truly get what you ask for. He walked right up to the big glass paned room door, room 425. He stared at it hesitant but knew it was now or never. Red stared up at him wondering what he was waiting for. He reached out for the handle and walked in.

  “Wait.” Red said pulling him back and roughly yanking his arm. “I can’t do this. I’m sorry. I…I just can’t right now.”

  It was almost a dollar short but it came right on time in his eyes. “I understand. Wait right here. I won’t be long.”

  He smiled at her gently kissing the top of her head then headed in the room. It seemed that whole moment Red was holding her breath wondering if she would pass out before they got to the room but she never did. She couldn’t bring herself to boldly walk into the woman’s hospital room and make her presence known like that. It was rude, and tacky, and just plain ridiculous in her mind. If Alexis would find out about his love for her it wouldn’t be on her sick bed and it wouldn’t be from her. It was his duty to tell her what was going on between them. He’d fucking better. She thought. When she’s well enough to handle it.

  But curiosity did kill her sweet little cat as she died to know what kind of woman she was. She was intrigued by the thought of her, this woman who once held his heart bound so tightly. She had to know what she looked like, how she carried herself, and what they were like together. She needed to know how she wore her hair, moved her lips, and batted her eyes. Red slowly walked over to the door peeking around cautiously to see if she could catch a small glimpse of her face. Even if she could see nothing but her skin color she just needed to know something about her. Her eyes caught her face turning to him as he walked over to sit beside her. His body blocked her view as she bobbed her head to get around him. And then he moved. Red’s eyes widened as wide as the sea as she covered her mouth releasing a slight gasp.

  Chapter 3

  There Goes My Baby

  “Argh!!!!” Braze screamed out in complete and utter anguish.

  She gripped the side of the bed clenching the sheets in between her fingers strongly. Her eyes focused on the pink scrubs that the small Asian nurse who brought her into the room was wearing. It was a pretty soothing color to her eyes and helped her to concentrate on something other than the excruciating pain penetrating through her belly. The pain kicked in tenfold once they found out the baby was in distress. She lay back on the table praying for some sort of relief.

  “Ok, Braze we are going to give you some pain medicine in your IV. You can’t get an epidural because we need to find out what’s wrong with the baby first.” The nurse said sticking a needle in the skinny tube hanging from the drip bag.

  "What? What's wrong with my baby?" Braze asked.

  "We don't exactly know yet but we are about to find out." The white-coated doctor interrupted.

  "What do you mean you don't know exactly? Doc, don't let my baby die! Don't let my baby die!" Braze cried allowing both of her hands to swallow her face.

  "Just calm down. We're going to do all that we can. Okay?" The doctor responded nonchalantly.

  His tone did not soothe Braze’s sobbing. She didn’t feel like she could trust him. He gave off a distasteful persona that she didn’t care for one bit. She prayed like hell that Messiah would come bursting through the door, wrap his big bulky arms around her and assure her that everything would be okay. The clock on the wall above the under lit baby cleaning table, displayed the time but no matter how hard she squinted the numbers remained blurry.

  “Someone call my baby’s daddy. Please!” She shouted from the top of her lungs with tears flowing freely from her reddened eyes.

  The nurse shook her head in disgust at the young girl who obviously was focused on nothing but her man. A nurse prepped her for the doctor’s examination but Braze’s screams only made them not want to touch her. The small nurse walked out of the room allowing the other nurses and doctor to continuously hook her up to machines and exam her.

  “Alright ma’am. You’re just going to feel a slight tug and pinch but nothing major. I just need to manually see if the baby is choking from the cord.” The doctor said as he reached his hand down digging deep inside of Braze’s opening. “We need to get this baby out now. Okay prepare for delivery.” He signaled to one of the nurses.

  “Please just tell me what’s going on!” Braze cried out, her face drenched in tears.

  “Braze, I’m going to need you to take a deep breath and push okay. Whenever you feel a contra
ction just push into the pain, like you’re taking a dump.” The doctor responded.

  Something inside of her knew that whatever was going on with her she would never find out until the very end. She knew something was wrong with the baby but they were hiding it from her for some reason. If they were trying not to stress her out they were doing a horrible job. Braze pushed with all of her might as sweat droplets dripped from her forehead. She released an angry torrent from her dry cracked lips as she gripped the side metal bed rails. The nurses locked her feet into the stirrups so she could not move and all the while she could only wonder where the hell was Messiah. Braze huffed and puffed repeatedly, anticipating the next contraction.

  “Can someone find my fucking baby’s daddy please?” Braze begged loudly to the orderlies again. “Aghhhhh!”

  “Ma’am, someone is going to find your kid’s dad okay? Just calm down and focus on getting your baby out safe.” The doctor requested sternly.

  ****

  Red couldn’t believe what her eyes were seeing. She instantly remembered where she had seen Alexis’ face before and it shocked her to no end. The last time she had seen Alexis she was walking out of her apartment with Danger following close behind.

  “Baby, I missed you so much. The only person I could think to ask for was you.” Alexis smiled rubbing Messiah’s forearm seductively.

  "Alexis, let's not act like we haven't been having problems. I mean, I'm glad that you are alright and all but we can't put on this front." He said slowly removing his arm from her tantalizing touch.

  “Having problems? What kind of problems baby? Whatever I did I’m so sorry but you are my husband and I love you.” Alexis replied with worry in her eyes.

  “Huh? You mean you don’t…awe damn.” Messiah lowered his head in disbelief.

  “I don’t remember much but I remember you babe. Just marrying the greatest guy in the world. I love you. Whatever happened between us we can fix it.” She pleaded with him caressing the underbelly of his chin.