Page 22 of Desperate Measures
“Not today, you not.” Jahsir reiterated.
“That’smybaby,” Que said louder, now catching the eyes of everyone around him.
“Wrong, that's my daughter.”
“Oh really? Were you there when I had Crimson spread eagle making her cream? Naw, you ran, remember?”
Jahsir balled his fingers into a fist and bit the inside of his cheek, while my cheeks were flushed red with embarrassment. “You real tough for a nigga with target on his back. Don’t let the safety and comfort of this place get to your head. You gotta live outside this shit, remember that.”
“Enough!” I whispered, my voice slicing through the tension. “Que, this isn’t the time nor the place. Please.”
“Or what? You gon call the police to have me removed? Remember, if they come for me, Jahsir goes too.”
“And that’s a risk I’m willing to take.” Jahsir chimed in.
“I’m here to support you, Crimson, and see the baby.” Que smiled devilishly.
“You can leave now, or I can remove you.” Jahsir stepped to him. “By the time the police get here, it will be to cover your ass with a white sheet. Fuck with me, you know I got it.”
“Is that supposed to scare me?”
“It’s not fear I'm after, nigga, it’s clarity,” Jah added as he stepped closer to Que, completely closing the space between them. “You can leave willingly on your feet, or you can leave in a body bag. It’s simple.”
“Que, just please go. We can talk about Scarlett later.”
“Ain’t shit to talk about, Red. Get this nigga out of here before I do it. I’m losing patience.” Jahsir stated, clasping his hands together.
“Que, please. Please just go.” He nodded, heeding Jahsir’s promise. Next, I turned to Venus and handed her the flowers back.
“You knew exactly what you were doing, bringing them cameras in here. I don’t need that kind of support.”
Venus blinked, caught between her performance and her pride. “I was just trying to?—”
“Be vindictive,” I added, cutting her off. “I said goodbye once, Venus. Don’t make me say it again.” A huge smile spread across Venus’s face, then she strutted away with her ass switch behind her.
The second the door shut, I exhaled. Jahsir came up behind me, wrapping an arm around my waist. I leaned into him, just for a second. .
“You okay?” he asked.
“No. I just wanted this day to be about me.”
“And it is. Que tried to corner you, but you took care of it. I’m planning to take care of the rest.”
“What are you going to do, bae?”
“Well, right now I'm gonna watch your sexy ass continue to command your new shop. Whatever I do afterwards is not for you to worry about.”
I looked around the room. Zahara straightened a crooked sign. Jemma rocked Scarlett gently, her lips pressed to her forehead. The people who mattered were still here.
Yeah.
This was mine.
And I wasn’t letting anyone take it again.
jahsir
. . .
