Chapter 41: KYENNA - A Street King's Widow

Ididn’t go home after leaving Royal Flush. Not after sitting in my office for hours staring at proof that Shameek helped plan my husband’s murder and then finished the job himself. The thought of pulling through that gate and seeing his house sitting across the compound made my stomach turn. I also knew if I went home, he would eventually show up. Shameek didn’t understand distance unless it was forced, and right now, I wasn’t ready to look that man in his face without knowing exactly what I planned to do. So, I called the one person I knew wouldn’t ask ten questions before letting me through the door.

I didn’t tell him everything over the phone. I only told him I needed somewhere to stay for the night and I didn’t want anybody knowing where I was. Lloyd didn’t hesitate. The sun was setting when I pulled into his driveway. I sat in the car for a few minutes before getting out because my body felt heavy. Lloyd opened the door before I knocked. He looked at me, then took the overnight bag I went and bought from the store, with a few things out of my hand.

“I’m not going to ask you anything tonight unless you want to talk. The guest room is ready, and I ordered food because I figured you probably haven’t eaten.”

“Thank you. I really needed that.”

“I figured.”

He stepped aside and let me in. I had been to Lloyd’s house before, but never like this. Never with an overnight bag and my whole life feeling like it had been split open. He pointed towards the hallway.

“Guest room is the second door on the left. The bathroom is inside as well. I put towels out for you. The food should be here in about twenty minutes. If you want to sit with me, cool. If you want to close the door and pretend I don’t exist, that works too.”

“Thank you for accommodating me.”

“Of course. When my client calls and sounds like she wants to cry or commit another felony, I do what I can.”

“Don’t start,” I said, finally smiling.

I went into the guest room, sat the bag on the bed, and stared at the wall for a long time. My phone had been going off since I left Royal Flush. All of them were Shameek. I didn’t even tell Grif where I was going.

Meek: You good?

Meek: Call me when you get free

Meek: Ky stop ignoring me

Meek: Where are you?

Meek: Kyenna

I should’ve hated him immediately. Instead, all I could think about was waking up beside him that morning. Him standing in the kitchen talking about how good it felt to stop hiding. Him telling me he loved me before I left.

“How the fuck did I get here?”

A few minutes later, Lloyd knocked on the door softly.

“Food is here. You want me to bring yours in here?”

“No, I need to get out of this room before I start thinking too hard.”

We ate in silence for several minutes. I was trying not to spill the beans on what was going on with me and why I was hiding. He ass was probably trying not to pry. After a while, I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to tell someone. I put my fork down and crossed my fingers.

“I found out who killed Rah,” I said.

Lloyd stopped chewing. He immediately started asking questions.

“How sure are you?” He asked.

“Text messages, location records, and money trails. Nikki found it before she died and scheduled the files to be sent to me.”

“Who is it?” Lloyd sat back in his seat.

“Shameek.”

Lloyd coughed hysterically.

“Yeah, that was my reaction too.”

“Kyenna…”

“He helped plan the ambush with Q. Q’s men blocked the road and shot first. Shameek finished it.”

“Fuck!”

“He looked his own brother in the face and killed him.”

“I never suspected him. Do you know how close those two were?”

“Of course I do. I was there. That’s what’s making this so hard. I killed Q without thinking twice after he admitted his part. I’ve fallen in love with Shameek, and this is hard.”

“Love?”

“I was going to talk to you about that, then all this happened.”

“Hey, who am I to judge?”

“I’m going to shower and go to bed. This has been a lot today, and I need to try and get some sleep.”

“Okay, have a good night.”

“Please…if anyone calls you. You haven’t seen me.”

“No one knows where I live, and you don’t have to worry about me saying anything.”

By morning, I had a headache from hell and a stomach ache that felt worse. After I showered and got dressed, Lloyd was standing at his coffeemaker pouring himself some coffee.

“You’ve decided something?”

“I’m going to talk to him tonight.”

“I’m not going to tell you not to. You're going to do what you want anyway. What I am going to say is that you need to stop treating Shameek like the man you thought he was yesterday.”

“I get it.”

“I don’t think you do. You keep saying he loves you like that makes you safe. That doesn’t erase what he did to Nikki or his brother.:

“He won’t hurt me,” I said.

“I hope you're right. Keep your security close. And if anything feels wrong, leave. You don’t owe him a final speech.”

“I need one, though. I need to hear what he has to say.”

“Okay.” he threw his hands up.

“I’m going to Royal Flush first. I need to print everything and make copies.”

“Send copies to me as well.”

“If something happens–”

“Don’t,” Lloyd said, putting his hand up.

“Lloyd.”

“Kyenna, I said don’t. You’re going to come back.”

My day started at Royal Flush. I had only stopped by here because I needed to pick up some paperwork. What was supposed to be only a few minutes turned into two hours of me sorting things out because one of the managers had a family emergency. Then I had to wait for a manager to come in so I could leave. Once I was told everyone was on schedule, I grabbed what I came for and walked out without saying anything to anyone. After months of chasing the truth and having no answers, I had everything I needed.

Me: Meet me at the house at nine. We need to talk

Shameek’s response came instantly.

Meek: I’ve been worried about you

Me: I’m good

After a shower and a shot, I was ready to look him in the face and say what needed to be said. I wasn’t trying to get drunk. Just enough to get the edge of it and steady my nerves. At nine sharp, Shameek was walking up to the door.

“Fuck is wrong wit’ you?” He asked as soon as I opened the door.

I didn’t say anything. I closed the door and walked off.

“A nigga been calling and textin’ you,” he said, following behind me.

Still, I said nothing. Once I made it into the kitchen, I grabbed two glasses and poured us both a shot. Shameek was mad, and I mean rightfully so. He had told the family that he loved me and wanted to be with me. The secret was out, and we no longer had to hide. His parents weren’t fond of it. Jaharee already had an idea that we were fucking around. It was just good to come out and say it.

“Are you goin’ to say somethin’? You got me ‘round this bitch worried ‘bout you.”

“Why did you kill Nikki?” I asked, before taking my shot down.

“What?” He frowned.

He came clean and told me Nikki went into a jealous rage when he tried to break it off with her. I was the type of bitch that wanted to ask again to see if he kept the same lie. It got his brother caught up when he was messing with Raya. I wanted to see if it was a King thing to forget what lie was told.

“I told you what happened.”

I could see the beads of sweat forming on his nose. When he was frustrated, his nose was the first to sweat.

“Why did you kill Nikki?” I asked slowly so he could hear me clearly.

“She went to beatin’ on a nigga ‘cause I chose you over her.”

I poured another shot.

“You sure?”

“Man, what the fuck you on? Why all these questions? Yet, you haven’t answered where you were all day yesterday and today.

“I’ve been at Lloyd’s.”

Shameek glared at me before snatching his glass and swallowing his shot.

“So, you fuckin’ me and him? That’s what you called me over here for?”

“I called you over here to end things with you.”

He laughed. It wasn’t one of his laughs he would give me when we were joking. It was evil.

“Not only did I call you over here to break things off with you. I wanted to clear the air between us so we’re both clear on a few things.”

“Clear the air? Ain’t shit to clear, my nigga. You want a cornball ass nigga. My brother will rise from the dead and die again to see you wit’ his friend.”

“Oh, so he would be fine as long as it was you?”

“He would kno’ that I can protect you better.”

“Protect…hmm. Like you did him.”

Shameek’s eyes darted back over to me. “Fuck is you talkin’ ‘bout?”

“Q…you familiar with him, right? The one you had to come and clean out of my office.” I watched him. “Y’all worked closely together. Y’all made millions together. Am I correct?”

The sweat started forming on his forehead, and I knew I was getting close.

“I kno’ the nigga from ‘round the way. We ain’t never worked together.”

I gave him a cute smile because I knew he was lying. A lying nigga could never get past me. Nikki had helped me from her grave, and I owed her. I grabbed my phone and sent something to Shameek’s phone. He looked at me before he pulled his phone out of his pocket and looked at the document.

“You sure?” I asked.

“Ky, this is old, and I pulled from that investment.”

I sent him another document.

“Now what?”

Shameek stared at me after going over the document.

“Is this why you killed her? Because she knew you did some snake shit.”

Shameek pulled his gun out and sat it on the island. I cocked my head to the side and looked him dead in his eyes.

“Aight, do you want the truth? Yes, I killed that bitch ‘cause she was gonna ruin my whole life. I had never done anything to her beside started fuckin’ wit’ you.”

“I don’t give a fuck about Nikki anymore. I want to know why, Rah. Why my muthafuckin’ husband?”

Shameek leaned his head down like he was getting drowsy. I had laced the rim of his cup. He was starting to feel it.

“Why did you kill my husband, Meek? You took him away from his kids. For what!”

“That pussy nigga was ready to retire and end ties to all our shit. The information he was ‘bout to give up would have ended the King’s dynasty,” he slurred.

“So, you took out your blood brother for money?”

He looked up at me with low eyes. “I did it for my family.”

“No, you did it for you.”

“And what the fuck are you gonna do ‘bout it?” He asked, slowly reaching for his gun.

His reaction was too slow. I pulled my gun from under the island and pointed it at him. I shot him in the shoulder.

“Kyenna!” He yelled in disbelief. “What the fuck you doin’?” He fell back against the refrigerator.

“Is this how Rah felt?” I asked.

“Ky…it wasn’t personal. It was business.”

“Well, this is business too.”

I pointed the gun at his head and shot him twice. A piece of his face flew off. My hands and face were covered in his splattered blood. His huge body dropped to the floor. I thought my feelings for him would cloud my judgment. After the liquor, knowing that my husband took his last breath looking his brother in the eyes was all I needed. I had about five minutes before security came in, and I’m sure that Pops would be right behind them. It was time to lay all the shit out there so I could move on with my life.

Five minutes later, my door was kicked in as I sat there waiting for them to walk into the kitchen. Security guns were raised as I sipped from the liquor bottle. I wasn’t drunk, but it did help numb the pain. As I sat there with all the information on the table and Shameek’s blood and DNA on me, Pops walked in once security gave him the clearance that it was just me. Now he was without two sons. The reign was over, and I was free. I knew from the way he looked at me that he had questions.

“Where is Shameek?” He asked.

I nodded my head towards the kitchen. He nodded, telling the security to go into the kitchen.

“No need to check for a pulse. I’ve done it already. He’s dead,” I said loud enough for them to hear me. “And before you think you’re going to pull the trigger on me. I’m ready. But what you should know is that I’m carrying the next King legacy. Not only that, your son that’s lying in there dead is who killed my husband.”

For the most part, Pops and I had a great relationship. I know finding his son killed by me was going to leave a sour taste in his mouth. I was ready for however this was going to end. Did I want to die? Hell no! What I wanted was justice and peace. Now that I have it. The chips could fall where they may.

“Also, before you pull the trigger. You might want to take a look at all of this information that has already been sent out thanks to Nikki. You let your son kill my husband right under your nose for the sake of a fucking legacy. A legacy that you started, and Rah never wanted to be a part of, but you forced him. So, now we are here.”

Pops took a seat across the table from me before he pulled the first folder of evidence that I had printed when I went to Royal Flush. Not only did I print out everything. I also saved the email that Nikki had scheduled long before she was murdered. Under the table, my hand gripped the gun because I was not going to go out without a fight. What I did here tonight made me proud to be the wife of Rahmelo. The house was full of my security and some of Pops’ security. My security stood on my side, and Pops men stood on his side. I would hope that I went through the file carefully before he reacted to what I had done.

He finished one file and pulled the other. When he started, his face was emotionless. When he got to the second file, I could see his eyebrows shift. The second folder was text messages between Q and Shameek plotting the murder of my husband. Pops stayed on the second folder longer than the first. I watched his eyes move back and forth across the text messages.

“I knew Rah wanted out,” he finally said. “He wanted Royal Flush clean. Me and him argued about that shit plenty of times, but I didn’t know Meek took it this far.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better? Because it doesn’t. You created the environment where Shameek thought killing his own brother was protecting the family.”

“I created a lot of shit I should’ve left in the streets years ago. I ain’t gonna sit here and pretend I didn’t. But don’t put my son pulling the trigger on me.”

“You built something those boys were willing to die for.”

“I should’ve listened.”

“Yes, you should have.”

“And you’re the one who pulled the trigger on Q?” Pops asked, looking at me.

“I did. He admitted it was his men that blocked the road off. I mean, you read the text messages.”

“Shameek told me he killed Q.”

Another fuckling like from Shameek’s mouth.

“Anybody who had a hand in killing my husband is dead.”

“And what happens now?”

“This ends. The whole distribution.”

“You don’t run shit.”

“Shit, neither does Shameek now.”

“You think killing him gives you control over what generation of this family built?”

“No, I think Rah dying trying to get away from it should’ve been enough for all of y’all to understand it wasn’t worth it.”

“You know damn well that’s not how the streets work.”

“All you want is more money, power, and respect. And now look where that got you. Both of your sons are dead.”

His eyes finally watered. The truth was ugly, and I hated that it had to come to this. Pops wiped his hand down his face.

“You said earlier that you were carrying the next King legacy. Why are you drinking?”

“Because I don’t know if I want to keep it or not.”

“Did Meek know?”

“Nope. That would’ve only clouded my decision. I almost didn’t do it as is.”

“Do you plan on going to the police?”

I had two bodies on me. If I went to the police, it was only going to land me in jail.

“I don’t know yet. Just know there are plenty of copies out there if you plan on doing anything to me.”

“Kyenna, I will never. Had I known Shameek killed Rah, I probably would have killed that nigga myself. I’m angry as fuck though.”

“I understand.”

“I might be angry at you for a long fucking time.”

“I can live with that too.”

“You really thought you were going to shoot your way out of this house?” He asked.

“If I had to.”

He laughed. “That’s why I always liked you.”

“You’re free to go. I’m going to go see my son and break the news to my wife and daughter. Just give me some time before you start making decisions on the distribution.”

“I’m not asking your permission, Pops. I’m not raising another King around this shit.”

He didn’t say anything else. He nodded and walked in to see Shameek’s body. As I gathered my things to leave, I could hear Pops crying over yet another son. When I walked out, Grif pulled me in for a hug. He had really become a brother to me. I knew he was willing to die for me just like he would for Rah.