Soul Ties, page 13
Feeling indebted to Yasin, Rodrigo made it his business to find Yoda’s killer, and he did just that. It didn’t take long, with Rodrigo’s connections, to trace Yoda’s murder back to Nino. Rodrigo delivered the news and a three-million-dollar check to Yasin for his years of loyalty.
Yasin shook his head as the memories, good and bad, flashed through his head. His heart ached as Marissa’s distinct smile appeared in his mind. Loving Nina was the closest thing to the love Yasin had for his mother. Nina possessed the same alluring innocence as Marissa. It was easy to understand why men fell captive to Nina’s essence, just like Marissa. Yasin regretted the role he played in all the suffering Nina had endured. She deserved the truth, and Yasin was finally ready to give Nina the full story. He just hoped she wouldn’t look at him differently.
* * *
The nurse informed Nina that she was already four centimeters dilated. There was nothing more to do but wait for baby Nasim to make his grand entrance. Quan and Chance sat in the room with her, even though Quan claimed he would pass out if he watched her give birth. It was only then that Nina realized Yasin was missing.
“I have to call Yasin.”
Chance rolled his eyes at the mention of Yasin, but he knew Nina would be asking for him sooner or later. “I’m not leaving you here by yourself. So, until he gets here, I’ll be here.” He wanted to see the look on Yasin’s face when he walked in and saw him at Nina’s side.
Nina nodded as she dialed Yasin’s number. “It’s time,” she said into the phone.
“What?” he exclaimed. “Send your location. I’m on my way right now. What happened? You good?”
Taking a deep breath, Nina prepared herself for his response. “Chance brought me.”
“Why the fuck that nigga bring you? Nah, don’t even worry about that. Just send your location,” Yasin said before disconnecting the call.
* * *
Walking calmly through the hospital hallways, Yasin made his way to the maternity ward. He coached himself on maintaining his composure when he arrived. His love for Nina was the only reason Chance remained breathing. He knew that Chance would always hold a spot in Nina’s heart, but that didn’t intimidate him. His confidence in his and Nina’s relationship left him with no worries.
Slowly pushing the door open to room 2612, Yasin saw Nina sitting in the middle of the room, bouncing on a huge ball, breathing in and out rhythmically. The sight amused him. “Ain’t you supposed to be in the bed?” He kissed Nina’s lips softly. “How you feel?”
“I’m trying to stay strong and not get the epidural.” Nina inhaled deeply as her midwife massaged her lower back.
Yasin nodded, and his attention turned to Chance and Quan sitting on the other side of the room. A slight scowl appeared across his handsome face. Taking the high road, Yasin held out his hand for Chance to shake. His hand lingered in the air for a few seconds with no returning gesture from Chance. Yasin pulled his hand back and brushed his nose lightly with his thumb.
“If it’s like that, then y’all niggas can bounce. Ya presence ain’t needed here any longer,” he spat.
Nina’s midwife lifted her head with wide eyes. It wasn’t the first time she’d seen drama unfold in a delivery room. Amber, the brunette, assumed Chance to be the father, but she could tell she was wrong when Yasin walked in. She understood why a pretty girl like Nina was stuck between two men. They were both fine as hell. Must be nice, Amber thought.
Quan stood up and walked over to Nina. “Sis, I love you too much to bring any bad vibes right now. You already know how I get down.” He kissed her forehead before giving Yasin a menacing stare. “So, I’ma bounce. I’ll check up on you later.” Yasin had tainted the energy as soon as he stepped into the room. Quan recognized the difference, and it made him uneasy.
“Thank you.” Nina smiled as she turned her attention to the two men she loved. “Can you excuse us, Amber? If I need you, I’ll ring you.” Nina never stopped bouncing on the ball. She was determined to deliver her son naturally. After being shot, she knew she could handle childbirth.
“I don’t want any problems in here,” Nina said through gritted teeth once the door closed behind Amber. “I’m so tired of this shit. I have to choose. I understand that now.” Nina’s heart churned as she glanced between her two lovers. She was torn.
“Chance.” Nina groaned as a contraction hit her. “You’re my best friend. I wouldn’t be half the woman I am today without you. I love you so much. That’s something that will never change.”
Chance smiled, knowing that Nina’s heart belonged to him. “I feel the same way. We got too much history.”
Yasin rolled his eyes and snorted. He adjusted the jacket to his suit and dropped his head.
“But that’s exactly what it is, Chance. History.” A tear rolled down Nina’s face. “I love you, but I’m not in love with you anymore.” As the words left Nina’s mouth, a part of her heart broke. She felt guilty for being in love with Yasin after all Chance had done for her. He had saved her from her abusive dad when she was just a teenager and protected her with his life. He provided for her and catered to her, but his decisions led to their downfall.
The look on Chance’s face said it all. He was hurt. For the last couple of months, he’d been hanging on to the idea that he hadn’t completely lost Nina. “She will come around,” he would tell Quan. There was no way she would throw away all the years they had together over a couple of hiccups down the line. But he was wrong. Chance’s decision to fake his death ultimately led Nina into Yasin’s arms. It would be a mistake he would regret for the rest of his life.
“I think you’re making a mistake, but it’s your life.” Chance grabbed his keys off the table next to the bed. “I can’t live it for you. I’m always gon’ be here for you no matter what. I love you enough to let you go.”
Nina dropped her head so Chance couldn’t see her face. Those words were almost enough to make her regret her decision. But her mind was already made up. She wanted to be with Yasin. In her mind, the crazy-ass events that she had been through in the last year had happened just to bring her to Yasin. It was as if the universe had led them to each other.
“We can be friends.”
“Yo, Nina, fuck all of that respectfully. I can’t be your friend.” Chance waved his hand in dismissal. “Like I said, I’ll never turn my back on you. Call me when this nigga fucks up, because trust me, he will.” Chance spoke out of bitterness. His pride was bruised. The only woman he ever loved was in love with another man. “I wish you the best.” With that, Chance exited the room.
Yasin placed his index finger under Nina’s chin and lifted her head. “I got you, Nina. You, me, and Nasim.”
Amber knocked lightly on the door to the room before entering, followed by the head OBGYN. “Okay, Nina, we think it’s about that time. I’m going to check you and see how much you’ve dilated.”
Helping Nina to her feet, Yasin lifted her body and placed her on the bed. He stood by her side as Amber placed her hand inside Nina. “That doesn’t hurt?” he whispered to her.
“A little uncomfortable, but nothing I can’t handle.” Nina chuckled softly.
Amber removed the gloves from her hands and beamed. “It’s time.” She clapped her hands.
* * *
“You need to go ahead and take Chase to Chance. We got moves to be made,” Naomi snapped as she strapped up her stiletto heels.
Tiana entered the living room, carrying Chase in one arm and his baby bag in the other. “Girl, I’m so damn tired of this crying-ass little boy.” She wiped the sleep from her eyes. Dark circles rested under her eyes, and her weave was pulled into a messy ponytail. Dried baby spit-up stained her clothing. “I think you’re right. We can’t get Chance and Yasin if I’m carrying around a baby all day.”
“So, you’re sure this woman said she has the information that’ll bring Yasin and Chance down? I’m not sure if we can trust this bitch,” Tiana asked as she checked the time. Payback was what she wanted, but Tiana didn’t trust Naomi’s plan. She didn’t know if she wanted Chance behind bars. Her son needed a stable home, and she couldn’t provide that.
“Bitch, I’m sure. She says she works with the Feds. We ain’t got to give her much information. Just enough to get us paid.” Naomi’s devious mind schemed. She wanted payback on Yasin and Chance, and she wouldn’t stop until she got it.
* * *
Nina was so in love as she lay with her baby boy on her chest. The feeling she had holding Nasim, with his heart beating against her chest, was the most unexplainable thing ever. She instantly fell in love. She knew she would do anything in her power and beyond to protect his little soul. Nasim had slick black hair like Yasin’s and a rich brown complexion like Nina’s. However, it wasn’t hard to tell that he was his mother’s twin. They had created an angel.
Yasin looked at the sight before him in amazement. Never had he imagined being a parent, but this was his chance to finish what his father couldn’t.
“Nina, I have to talk to you.”
Nina peered at him reluctantly. “Look, Yasin, whatever happened before, I just want to move on. I don’t care about any of it.” She stopped him before he could say something that made her regret her decision to choose him. Nothing good ever followed those words, and she didn’t have the capacity to receive any bad news.
“You deserve to know everything, ma. If I’m the one you really want to be with, you need to know.”
Nina sighed as she rubbed her baby boy’s head softly, shaping it. “Okay. But not today, all right?” She didn’t want to ruin this precious moment.
Chapter Six
6 months later...
Chance leaned off the railing of the yacht, smoking a Cuban cigar, the finest Miami had to offer. His dark Tom Ford shades covered his eyes. A white silk Gucci button-down shirt graced his smooth chocolate skin. The sun was shining bright on the clear blue ocean, and Chance was enjoying the scenery. Women in bathing suits pranced around the huge boat, dancing, drinking, and smoking. The women came in all shapes, sizes, and ethnicities. There was a flavor for every desire: the African supermodels, black and Latina video vixens, and high-class executives. Everyone on the boat kicked back, vibing, while Chance was in his own world.
The yacht belonged to Chance’s newfound business partner, Nikko. After ending things with Nina, Chance had decided that Atlanta was a place he could never live again. Life didn’t feel the same without Nina there. Without her in his life, he felt incomplete. The only solution he could think of for that was to start over somewhere fresh, and as a rich young man, what better place to start over than Miami? He put Atlanta in his rearview mirror along with Nina.
“You want some company?” a curvaceous brown beauty asked sweetly.
Chance gave the girl a once over. Her thick thighs and perky breasts immediately caught his attention. Unlike some of the chicks he’d run into in Miami, who were extremely thick but average in the face, the woman in front of him was naturally attractive. She stood an average height, about five feet five inches if Chance had to guess, and she wore a Burberry bathing suit with a sheer white mini skirt tied around her waist. One dimple appeared in her left cheek. The relations he’d had with women in Miami were strictly sexual. Chance wasn’t looking for love or commitment. Feelings were something of his past, and he kind of hated it for the next woman who fell for him. She would ask him for something that he couldn’t provide to her—his heart.
“I’ll take your company any day, gorgeous.” Chance smiled slightly, licking his lips. “What’s your name?”
“I’m Yasmine. And you’re Chance, right?” She licked her tongue out lightly, rolling it across her teeth, and smiled. This was Yasmine’s second time seeing Chance, and she’d made it her business to find out who was the new baller in town. It wasn’t hard to tell that Chance had a long bankroll. He wasn’t flashy, but Yasmine could always spot a wealthy person. Not to say she was a gold digger, but in Miami, it was best to know how to decipher the posers from the real. Her best friend, Maiya, was Nikko’s current girlfriend. In return, Yasmine enjoyed all the lavish festivities Nikko hosted.
“Right. Nice to meet you, Yasmine.” Chance removed his shades to get a better look at Yasmine. She obviously wasn’t lacking in physical appearance. Yet, Chance bagged enough “bad bitches” in his lifetime. Those things didn’t impress him. He needed a woman who could stimulate his mind and grind alongside him. He needed a woman who could motivate him all while staying ten toes down with whatever endeavors she had going on in her own life. He needed a solid woman. He needed a woman like . . . Nina. Chance shook his head as his thoughts drifted to Nina. It seemed as if he wasn’t allowing himself to open up to another woman because he kept comparing them all to Nina.
“You good?” Yasmine asked as she noticed a faraway look in Chance’s eyes. “Who hurt you?” she asked softly. That was a look she was all too familiar with. A faraway sadness beyond the depth of the eyes. Anyone who’d been a part of the heartbreak club could relate to it.
Chance chuckled at Yasmine’s concern. “That’s a story for another day, shorty. What’s up with you?” He licked his lips, pushing Nina to the back of his mind and giving Yasmine his undivided attention.
“I want to get to know you.” Yasmine inched closer to Chance. “I’ve been watching you. Not on no stalker shit.” Yasmine laughed, trying to find the right words. Chance made her nervous for some reason. Maybe it was the intense way his dark eyes stared down at her. “I like how you move. But, if you have someone you’re stuck on, I don’t want any part of you. Hurt people, hurt people. So, when you think you’re ready, ask Nikko to get you in touch with me.” Yasmine winked at Chance and walked away. She was sure she would be getting a call from Chance soon.
Shaking his head, Chance threw his Cuban cigar into the ocean and went to find Nikko. His connections to Nikko came through Quan, Nikko’s cousin. Nikko was plugged in with the Puerto Rican mafia, run by the infamous Don Carlos. Nikko and his camp earned a million dollars on an easy day. They were at the top of the food chain, and Chance wanted a piece of the pie. Although Chance’s pockets were laced, without Nina he decided to leverage his most profitable skill: moving weight.
* * *
Nina sat at the vanity and applied her makeup. Today marked Nina and Yasin’s official six-month anniversary. They were celebrating by vacationing at Yasin’s second property in Miami. Nasim was back in Atlanta with Yasin’s grandmother, Diane. This weekend was all about Yasin showering Nina with his appreciation. The couple had a romantic candlelit dinner earlier. Now, their next stop was at a party being hosted by one of Yasin’s associates at King of Diamonds.
This would make the first night Nina had really stepped out after giving birth to her son. She would use this as an opportunity to get sexy and show out for her man. Bringing out a recent purchase of an all-white bodysuit, Nina knew her new thickness would accentuate the outfit. Nasim had blessed Nina with wider hips and thicker thighs, plus her booty got bigger. Her natural curls were sewn under her $400 twenty-two-inch Brazilian curly bundles. Becoming a mother proved to be a full-time job that rarely left her with much free time. Protective styles such as weaves, wigs, and braids became Nina’s best friend.
Adding the finishing touches to her makeup, Nina slipped into the snug bodysuit. Nina smiled at her hourglass figure in the mirror, turning around to get a view of her ass from the back. She wasn’t as thick as the video vixens, but she had just enough of everything for any man to lust over. In a world where women laid on doctors’ tables, enduring hours of pain to achieve the perfect body, Nina thanked God for her natural curves.
“If you aren’t the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, I don’t know who is.” Yasin’s voice called out behind Nina. He stood in the doorway with a bouquet full of red and white roses. “For my lovely lady.”
“Thank you, baby.” Nina kissed Yasin’s lips softly. She pulled back so she could admire her man. His hair was freshly lined up, even down to the mustache above his top lip. “You ready?” Nina locked her arms with Yasin as they headed out of the home.
* * *
Bottles and women flowed freely throughout the club. Nikko sat to the left of Chance with his girlfriend, Maiya, and their entourage in the VIP section. They overlooked the entire club from their position. The liquor in Chance’s system had him looking at Yasmine with lustful eyes.
“You feeling her, my nigga?” Nikko asked, picking up on the flirtatious vibes between Chance and Yasmine.
“She straight,” Chance answered modestly, never taking his eyes off Yasmine.
Nikko nodded as he patted Chance’s back. “She’s a good look, yo. I wouldn’t let any regular female around my chick. They know how to compliment a nigga, ya feel me?” Nikko only invited a certain caliber of woman into his bed. He only fucked with women who had something to lose. Someone with nothing to lose would risk sinking a ship quicker than someone who had a lot to lose. Nikko didn’t need any sinking ships around him.
Chance laughed lightly as his attention now shifted to a crowd forming around the entrance of the club. He figured it was probably another rapper coming in. However, he recognized two of the last faces he wanted to run into. Yasin and Nina. Nina looked a little different in appearance. Her once slim figure had filled out in her midsection. Her wide hips were accented by her small waist and set of perky breasts. Chance assumed the extra weight came from childbirth and frankly, it looked good on her. The couple headed to the VIP section, and Chance shook his head at his luck. He still couldn’t stand the fact that Nina was happy with Yasin.
“Now, she bad,” Nikko commented lightly as Yasin and Nina headed in the opposite direction of the VIP section.
Taking a shot to the head, Chance diverted his attention back to Yasmine. “What you on?”
* * *
Nina sat back and sipped her glass of Remy Martin. The music in the club blared as strippers danced on stage, making their money. Of course, Yasin had their own private booth in the VIP section. Nina expected no less out of him. Her man had very lavish taste. After months of shopping on Yasin’s dime, she had learned that he enjoyed flashy luxuries. She had no problem with it, though. His money was completely legit, so Nina didn’t spend her days looking over her shoulders for cops or enemies. That was a big difference between Yasin and Chance. Although Chance never lacked in providing for Nina, he couldn’t protect her like she needed. The one time he thought he was protecting her, he had only pushed her further away. Sometimes she asked herself where she would be now if Chance had never faked his death almost two years ago. Maybe their circumstances would be different.
