Soul Ties, page 20
It would have been better for Chance if he never fucked with Yasmine at all. See now, everything was personal. In Yasmine’s mind, all Chance had to do was keep it real about Nina. Yet, he strung her along like a puppet master. What he didn’t know was that Yasmine was the bitch really pulling all the strings. His freedom rested in her hands.
By the time her shower ended, Yasmine had devised a plan. She would play coy and shy until the time was right. If and when Chance brought the situation to Yasmine, she would brush it off. She hadn’t gathered enough evidence on Chance yet. Besides, she wasn’t done fucking him.
When it’s all said and done, Chance and Nina will regret ever crossing a bitch like me, Yasmine thought.
Chapter Nine
Morning came quickly for Chance. Nina was still sleeping. The sunshine reflected on her brown skin. He didn’t bother to wake her as he slid off the California king bed.
Grabbing his iPhone and an authentic Cuban cigar out of a full box on the dresser, Chance stepped out onto his balcony overlooking the city. Miami was beautiful. Every aspect of life was lovely here for Chance. It wasn’t where he wanted to settle and raise a family, but he had a plan. Now that Nina and his son Nasim were back in his life, he had to grind even harder to execute it. He lit the cigar and pulled deeply. His phone vibrated, indicating a new message.
If it’s space you want, you got it. That’s all you had to say. I’ll hit you up later.
Yas 8:30 AM
Chance shook his head as he scrolled and saw all the missed phone calls and text messages from Yasmine. She was bugging with the all the notifications. At least she’s out of my hair now, he thought. All his efforts would be focused on getting things right with Nina. Chance hoped Yasmine would take the hint.
“Good morning.” Nina greeted him from behind, wrapping her arms around his exposed abdomen. “That’s ya girlfriend texting you?” she asked jokingly.
Chance turned around and kissed Nina’s forehead. She had his white silk robe covering her body, but the material did little to hide the curves. “You mean more like my distraction.” Chance grinned at Nina as he cupped her ass. “You dead-ass been my only girlfriend in my life. I’ve been with plenty of women, but none of them ever made me feel the way that you do.”
Nina blushed at the statement. She hadn’t been up but for five minutes and was still as beautiful as ever. That was something Chance loved about Nina. Her beauty was effortless. She could rock her gold hoop earrings with lip-gloss and kill any scene she was on. Period.
Nina pecked his lips softly. “You better let her know her place, because I don’t do second place.” She gave him a smirk as she traced the outlines of his lips with her forefinger. “If I can’t have all of you, I don’t want none of you at all.” Nina looked into his eyes to make sure he understood her seriousness.
Chance nodded his head. “I got you, Nina.” After all the years of history they shared, Chance knew Nina like a book. She was extremely loyal and lived by a code: family first. If you crossed her, she would reveal another side of herself. Nina could be as lethal as any killer or gangster. There was no telling what Nina would do to Yasmine if she came at her wrong. Chance knew the only way to keep the peace was by cutting Yasmine off.
“Good. I’ma go shower and make breakfast.” Nina turned around and opened the balcony door. She knew Chance was watching, so she put an extra sway in her walk.
* * *
The table was filled with pancakes, scrambled eggs with cheese, bacon and sausage, grits, and toast. Nasim and Chase were seated at the table, ready to dig in. Charlene fixed everyone’s plates. Nina was dressed for her nail date with Miami later. The only person they were waiting on was Chance.
“Boys, you can go ahead and eat.” She smiled at the two handsome boys. They both looked so much like each other and their father. You really couldn’t tell they had different mothers and a few months in age difference.
“Nasim, you know that Chase is your brother, right?” The little boy shrugged his shoulders as he ate a spoonful of eggs. Nina continued, “Well, you are brothers. And Chance is your dad.”
“No, he’s not!” Nasim interjected. The only dad he knew was Yasin. It hurt Nina knowing she had to confuse her son’s young mind, but he was smart and would eventually get used to the idea of Chance being his real father.
“I am your father, Nasim.” Chance’s deep baritone announced his presence.
“You’re my father, too!” Chase shouted cheerfully.
Chance kissed Charlene’s cheek, greeting her good morning. “That’s right, son. You are brothers. Do you know what that means?” he asked as he took a seat next to Nina. The boys looked at each other and chuckled. “It means you protect each other. Always have each other’s backs. You are your brother’s keeper. Never forget that.” Chance fed his sons wisdom. He was an only child growing up, so Quan was the closest thing he had to a brother. The bond they shared meant so much to him that he wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. There weren’t any parents in his household to raise him. His mother died when he was only three years old. As far as he knew, his father died along with his mother. Rose, Chance’s grandmother, raised him in her house until he graduated and decided it was time to become his own man. It was important that his kids were raised to value the strength of family because he never properly experienced it.
Nina smiled and nodded her head. “That’s right. Family is everything.”
“So, Mommy, are you Chase’s mom too?” Nasim asked.
“If he wants me to be.” Nina looked to Chase. “Can I be your mom, Chase?” she asked. Chase nodded shyly and smiled. Chance rubbed Nina’s thigh softly under the table.
Charlene finished the last bite of her food and stood up. “I think you all make a beautiful family.” She grabbed her plate and placed it in the sink. “Thanks for the breakfast, Nina. I’ll take care of all the dishes.” Charlene headed for her room.
“No problem,” Nina replied. She was used to doing everything around her house. Having Charlene there was a luxury most parents couldn’t afford. “I’m going out for a few. The boys good with you for a few hours?” she asked Chance as she stood up and rubbed his shoulders.
He nodded and smiled at the two boys as they talked. “That’s cool. As long as you’re back by five. I have a few moves to make before the party tonight. Me and the boys will find something to get into.”
Nina placed her empty plate in the sink and kissed each of her son’s cheeks. “Thank you.” She kissed Chance’s lips softly before exiting the condo.
* * *
“Hey, bitch.” Miami greeted Nina as she got into the passenger side of the Tesla. She sported a cream-colored Fendi crop top, an olive pair of biker shorts, and a pair of real fox fur Chanel slides.
“Wassup, girl. You look cute.” Nina complimented Miami.
Miami flipped her big, curly tresses over her shoulder. “I mean, it’s slight work, you know. You looking good too.” Most females who encountered Miami thought she was stuck up because of her demeanor. Nina never got that vibe from her, though. Maybe because girls thought she was bougie, too, but that was the furthest thing from the truth.
Nina was chilling in a pair of distressed American Eagle jean shorts with a red tube top and the Jordan 10s. A pair of oversized Tom Ford shades adorned her face. “Chill shit, you feel me?”
Miami and Nina laughed.
“I was lit up last night,” Miami exclaimed. She barely remembered her car ride home with Cassidy last night. All she remembered was sexing Cassidy before she went to sleep.
“It was the Hennessy,” Nina commented as she navigated the foreign car through the Miami streets.
“You were turnt yourself, too. You get some dick?” Miami asked. She didn’t even need an answer once she saw Nina’s mouth curl into a smile. Her brown skin was glowing. “I told you Chance wouldn’t be able to resist for long.”
Flashbacks of last night’s lovemaking sessions ran across Nina’s mind. The thought of it alone had her wanting more. “It’s like the universe is pushing us into each other’s arms. I feel like he needs me. I don’t trust that bitch Yasmine.” She rolled her eyes. Yasmine moved like she had ulterior motives, in Nina’s opinion.
“What’s the deal on shorty? Tell me you done your homework on her.” Miami cut her eyes at Nina.
“Nah, I don’t even be around her for that.” Nina dismissed the thought. She knew she would end up slapping fire from Yasmine if she stayed around her too long.
Sighing, Miami pulled out her phone. “You can’t be doing that.” She shook her head as her fingers typed a message.
Nina’s eyes peered over to Miami, then focused back on the road. “I mean, I know her name is Yasmine Alvarez. She’s from D.C. Nikko’s chick, Maya, is her friend.”
Miami nodded as she finished up her text message. “I just got a friend of mine to check into her. He’s a private investigator,” she explained. “I’m always extra careful about these broads ever since Cassidy got caught up in that shit.”
Miami’s right, Nina thought. She should have put her lurking skills to use after her first encounter with Yasmine. She couldn’t pinpoint where along the line she had lost faith in her intuitive nudges, but she intended on heeding its warnings again. “Everything better check out, or else I’ll end up fucking her up, on my son.”
* * *
Standing in the doorway of her walk-in closet, Nina contemplated the night’s fit. She wouldn’t go all out; she would wait until tomorrow to shit on bitches. Her nails, feet, hair, and makeup were already done to perfection. The long, wavy weave she sported had been replaced by a blunt bob. The hair was colored to a burgundy, reddish hue. It complemented her brown skin nicely.
Her ringing phone interrupted her search for an outfit. “Hello?” she answered, placing the iPhone on speaker.
“Bitch!” Miami yelled into the phone. “You’re not going to believe what I have to tell you!”
Nina looked at the phone curiously. “What?” A part of her knew the news had something to do with Yasmine.
“The private investigator just called me a few minutes ago with an update on shorty. Now, Cole is fucking great at what he does. If there is any dirt to be found on a person, that nigga will go lengths to dig all that shit up. I know that from experience.” Miami paused on the other end of the phone.
“And?” Nina asked, ready to hear the rest of the story.
“And the crazy thing is, he said he couldn’t find anything on a Yasmine Alvarez. No birth certificate, hospital records, tax information. Nada,” Miami explained. “So, me being thorough, I’m like, Cole, what about a national search? I sent him a picture of her that I got from her Instagram. Still nothing. He found other women with that name, but none fitting her description.”
The news made Nina take a seat on the bed. Who was Yasmine for real? What were her motives? Was she really feeling Chance, or was it just a front? How did she meet Maya? Could she be an enemy? These were all the questions running through Nina’s mind right now. “What the fuck?” she finally said. “We have to find out who this bitch is and what she wants.”
“Most definitely. I got Cole doing some more digging. He said he’ll hit me as soon as something comes up.”
“That’s a bet.” Nina nodded her head as her mind thought of possible scenarios to explain Yasmine’s unknown identity. One scenario included Yasmine up and changing her name and identity. However, the only people she knew who had done that were either trying to run from something or someone, or a person who was down with the Feds. “Keep this between us until we have more information.”
“I got you, sis. I’ll see you in a few.” Miami ended the call.
Nina had been off her square for a minute now. She hated to admit it, but becoming a mother had softened her up. Not that it was a bad thing; however, it made her realize how much of a secure lifestyle Yasin had offered her. Being with him, she had never needed her guard up. Now that he was out of her life, it was essential that she got back to the old Nina—the vigilant and on point Nina. She had always been a shooter, but with a family of her own now, she had to move smart. She should have sniffed Yasmine and her secrets out from the jump.
“You’re slipping, Nina,” she said aloud as she stared into the mirror. Taking a deep breath, Nina headed back into her closet to find an outfit for the night. She settled for a black bodysuit by Balenciaga with the brand’s name printed in white letters. Nina fingered through various pairs of jeans on hangers until she located her favorite pair of black Fashion Nova pants. It was like the pants were painted on every time she wore them. None of her designer jeans hugged her curves like the Fashion Nova did. Like Cardi B said, she could afford designer shit, but the Fashion Nova fits. Her outfit would be completed with a pair of thigh-high Balenciaga boots.
Everyone from their camp was expected to come out and show love this weekend. Nina prayed that everyone was on their best behavior as she got dressed. Anyone was liable to make an appearance, friend or foe.
Zidane had texted her earlier, expressing his hopes of seeing her tonight. His interest flattered her, but Nina would never be able to be more than a friend to him. Chance and Zidane were business associates, so that made him off limits. In another world, he was her caliber of a man and would definitely have a chance with her.
A FaceTime call from Chance interrupted Nina’s thoughts. She knew it was him because he had a personalized ringtone.
“What’s up, love?” he asked after Nina answered.
“Trying to finish getting ready. What you doing?” Nina saw that he was driving. They hadn’t gotten a chance to talk much since breakfast.
“I’m making a few money moves before the party starts. I just wanted to see your beautiful face.” He gave Nina a smile. “I like the hair, too. It looks good on you.” Chance always paid close attention to Nina, so it was easy to notice a change in her appearance. She usually wore her natural hair, and he loved that the most. It was nothing like seeing Nina in her organic essence, but he dug the weaves too. He loved whatever made her feel beautiful.
Blushing, Nina smiled into the camera. “Thank you. I wanted to try something new.” She paused as she slipped the jeans over her thighs. “Ol’ girl coming tonight?” Nina asked, referring to Yasmine. She tried not to arouse too much suspicion from Chance with her question.
“I haven’t talked to her, so I couldn’t tell you,” Chance replied nonchalantly.
“I guess we’ll see.” Nina slipped the long boots over her feet. “I have to finish getting ready. I’ll see you later.” Nina blew Chance a kiss before hanging up.
* * *
Chance, Cassidy, and Nikko all pulled into the back of Zidane’s restaurant at the same time. All three men looked more like business executives instead of drug traffickers in their designer suits. The naked eye would never guess how much dope these men were about to flood the streets with. They had a big shipment coming in that needed to be discussed with Zidane, who was their number one distributor in Miami. He got first dibs on the weight.
“Zidane, my man.” Chance greeted Zidane with a firm handshake after he exited his cocaine white S-class Mercedes Benz.
“Wa’gwaan.” Zidane replied in his thick Jamaican accent. He nodded his head to greet Cassidy and Nikko. “Come inside.” He held the doors open to his restaurant. “Feel free to grab a drink or bite to eat while we parlay.”
“We won’t be long,” Cassidy interjected with his hands crossed in front of him forming an X. “We’re here to discuss the expectations for the upcoming shipment. It’s been brought to our attention that you may not be quite clear on what we expect from you.” He pointed his finger at Zidane.
Nikko took a step closer to where Zidane was standing. “Your niggas on the east end came up short last month,” Nikko began. His usual wild and curly hair was neatly braided down. It gave him a less menacing appearance. “Now, Chance vouches for you. For that, I let your boys slide on that one.” Nikko adjusted his diamond cufflinks before making eye contact with Zidane. “But there won’t be a next time. You feel me?” He delivered a blanketed threat. Zidane had hitters on almost every perimeter of the restaurant, but Nikko wasn’t concerned with that. His only concern was to ensure Zidane understood his words.
Zidane looked to Chance, who had a straight face. He knew Nikko meant no harm, but he didn’t like how he went about it. Nikko was obviously asserting his power. Chance was the only nigga he dealt with when it came to his supply. He had heard about Nikko’s arrogance on the streets. Today, he had the pleasure of seeing it firsthand. “I feel you” Zidane replied coolly. He could have easily ended Nikko right then and there, but that wasn’t in the best interest of any of them. “We all just trying to eat out here.”
“That’s right. I’m the nigga that’s allowing you to be fed. Never forget that,” Nikko said before turning to exit the restaurant with Cassidy by his side.
Chance smirked as he rubbed his goatee lightly. Nikko was the hothead of their team. He was materialistic and flashy, but he ran his operation with no hiccups. His motto was that fear can rule the masses far longer than love can. That was his only flaw in Chance’s eyes. He would never become the big man with that thinking. A wise man once told Chance that the key to a king’s successful reign was neither fear nor love, but respect. And he lived by that.
“We’ll have those joints ready for you tomorrow night after the ball.” Chance looked into Zidane’s eyes to search for any sign of malice. “I know the type of cat you are. Don’t let them little niggas fuck up this money flow. Get them in line.” He attempted to ease some of the tension in the air.
“You coming through tonight, right?” Chance asked as he turned and started to walk away.
