My Ward My Woman

“Go on.”

“Well anyway, we uh, you know. It went on for a few days and then nothing.”

“When was this?”

“A few weeks ago, maybe a little over a month.” Just about the time I took Alexandra out to dinner that first time.

“That doesn’t tell me how she got you to write up a fake pregnancy.”

“She came back a few days later and told me I had to or she’d go to my wife. She had pictures, audio. I didn’t want my wife to know. It was just one time. I never cheated before.” I’m his fucking therapist now?

“I hope you have a backup plan because I’m about to have your license revoked. You’re about to lose a whole lot more than your wife. I will take everything you own.”

My lawyers were working on that shit as we speak.

“But why? You know the truth now no harm done.” I’d like to slit his fucking throat where he sit.

“Someone I love very much was hurt by your lie. Be thankful I’m letting you live.” I got up and left, shutting my conscience off. His pleas for the welfare of his kids didn’t mean shit to me. He was the one responsible for them, he should’ve thought of them before he made an alliance with evil. My only concern was for the one I was responsible for. Everyone else in this equation was fucked.

24

Solomon

I made my next stop at the pawn broker’s. He sized me up as soon as I walked in but the look on my face stopped him mid-spiel. I threw the receipt my men had brought me on the counter in front of him. “I want every dime that they paid you.”

“What, what are you talking about?”

“That ring belongs to me. Those men work for me. I already paid for that ring once, I’m not paying for it again.”

“Look, like I told them, I bought that ring fair and square.”

“Oh really, where’s the bill of sale? Aren’t your customers supposed to show you proof of ownership before you can accept their goods?” Now he started to sweat.

“I want the ten grand they gave you in cash right now or my next call will be to the cops. I hear there’s a stiff penalty for selling stolen goods. They may even close you down.”

He wasn’t happy but he got me what I asked for. “I’d find a good lawyer if I were you. I lied. I already turned you in to the cops for accepting stolen goods. You have only your greed to blame. Next time be more careful.”

I had to prepare myself for what came next. Mom’s words wouldn’t give me peace. Though I wouldn’t think twice about killing Jessica, it was no more than she deserved, I didn’t want that between Alexandra and I.

What would I tell her if she asked somewhere down the line? But I can’t let that bitch live either. She needs to pay for what she did. How was I to know that she wouldn’t try something like this again?

I got to her place ten minutes later. I’d been gone for little more than an hour and a half. She’d be up soon. I have to make this quick.

She opened the door looking a little flustered. She stepped back once she saw it was me at the door. There was none of the bravado of the last few meets.

“Hello Jessica.”

“What are you doing here? Where’s your shadow?”

“Let’s not pretend you don’t know why I’m here shall we. It’s insulting.” I closed the door behind me and advanced on her.

“I came here to wring your neck and dump your body on the sidewalk you had her waiting on. You know the one where you set her up to be beaten, or worse.” Her eyes opened wide and she looked for an escape.

“Don’t worry, I’m not going to kill you. What I am going to do is send you to jail for a very long time. You see; that contract you signed is extortion.”

“But I never took a dime…”

“Yes, but you signed a contract to that affect knowing that there was no baby. And since the amount exceeds five grand this state has a stiff penalty for that. I think the minimum is ten years.” She swallowed hard and I could see the fear gathering in her eyes.

“Along with that, I have you selling a ring that’s worth a little more than a million dollars. Yes, the security cameras there are better than the ones in the store where you attacked her. The good thing is you’re wearing the same wig and clothes, so that’s a nice tie-in. Put that all together and I’ll say you’re looking at a good twenty-five years behind bars.”

“You can’t do that. This was all your fault. You strung me along for a year when all the while you were fucking your ward.” There’s your real face. It was ugly and full of hate. I slept with this shit.