The Sweetest Revenge-Part Two

[sexysmile]

An hour later the house was buzzing with police asking questions. Another set of police were at the park looking for clues and combing the neighborhood asking neighbors if they had seen anything.

“…next thing I knew Gotti was running up with her shoe in his mouth. Like he tried to help her.” Jenae was still in shock. Her mother-in-law did her best to console her and figure out what was going on.

“Jenae, sweetie, you said you think you know who did this? Baby who? I don’t think a fan would be that crazy to kidnap my grandbaby,” Mark’s mother said trying to hold back her own tears.

“It-it wasn’t a fan.” Jenae looked at her mother-in-law with pained eyes. “It was Sha’Kira…Na’Kima’s twin. She thinks we’re the ones who killed her sister. She threatened us. I wasn’t even thinking when I took her to the park that…that—“

Jenae broke down again this time screaming Maiesha’s name. Mama Carolyn led her from the room and down the hall to a guest bedroom. Mark stood in a corner of the living room unmoved by the mobs of police and detectives searching the house for any clues. They had questioned him already and he pleaded with them to make the case as low profile as possible. Being that they had a possible suspect he was promised that they would try their best.

“Mark, I came over as soon as I could,” James said running to his best friend. “What happened?”

“Maiesha…” he answered not even looking up. “We think Sha’Kira took her.”

“Damn!” he yelled in a whisper. “My aunt has no clue where she is either. Sha’Kira showed up missing in New Jersey a week ago. They found her car ditched on the side of the freeway two days ago.”

“The same time all of this s*** started,” Tamir added in. “Didn’t you say she pulled up on you in a black Lexus?”

Mark just slowly nodded yes.

“Where’s Jared?” James asked.

“He’s at my sister’s. I had a detective follow them to make sure they made it okay. I told her to call when they got there.”

“Mark, honey…Jenae took a pill and went to sleep. She’s upstairs, she should be fine. Have you heard from Renetta yet?”

“No, ma.” His mood was unchanged.

“They should have called by now. It’s been almost an hour.” Mark’s mother paced the floor a look of worry in her eyes.

“They’re fine, ma. I’m pretty sure of it.”

Mark was startled to his feet by the ringing of the telephone. He jumped over the white leather armchair and grabbed the receiver.

“Hello,” he answered out of breath.

“Daddy,” a little girl’s voice cried out on the other end.

“Maiesha…” Mark stumbled and fell onto the couch behind him. “Baby don’t cry…daddy’s here. Where are you?” Everyone in the room crowded around him clinging to his every word.

“With Auntie Netta and Jared and a scary lady. I want mommy!”

“Shh, it’s okay baby let me talk to Auntie Netta.”

“Mark we’re fine,” Renetta said her voice still shaky. I wish I knew where we were, it’s dark and I can’t see anything. “

“It’ll be okay…we’re gonna find you.”

“Somebody’s coming I gotta go—“

The phone went dead and Mark threw it into the wall. Everyone in the room was silent and the detectives confirmed what he already knew; that the call was placed from a cell phone and couldn’t be traced. Slowly Mark began to cry…then sob uncontrollably. Never had anyone seen this side of him, not even his own mother. The scene was heartbreaking to all who witnessed it and a feeling of helplessness circled the room.

“She has Renetta and Jared…” the words finally fell from his lips and then another set of tears started. Slowly he rose from the white leather sofa, left the room and went upstairs. Tamir waited quietly and minutes later he went upstairs to find his friend.

“What did she say?” Tamir asked leaning against the doorsill of the bathroom. Mark was on his knees with his head against the porcelain commode. The stress of the situation was making him ill.

“She said she’s with Netta and Jared and a scary lady. What happened for this s*** to go on?”

“I don’t know. Maybe she wants revenge, maybe she’s hurt by all of this and has to blame someone.”

“But why she gotta take my kids!” Mark yelled and rose to his feet. “f***…take me! Kill me but leave my kids alone! Leave my kids—“

Out of lack of nothing else to do Tamir just grabbed him and hugged him he broke down in a flood of tears again. Tamir looked up at himself in the mirror a look of hatred in his eyes. Someone had to pay for what Mark and Jenae were going through. And Tamir was going to make sure of it.

***************************************************************************

It had been two days since the children and Mark’s sister came up missing. With the exception of a cruiser patrolling the neighborhood and a detective monitoring the phones the police presence was now almost non-existent. Mark’s mother made her vigil a useful one, keeping the house clean and fixing meals. Tamir and James stayed at the house and Larry joined them as soon as he heard the news. Discussion of Jared and Maiesha was almost non-existent; the sound of their names caused Jenae to go into an almost unstoppable flow of tears. Their bedroom doors remained closed and all their toys were put away except for Maiesha’s favorite doll and Jared’s remote controlled car. They were left in the places the children last had them.

Jenae sat motionless after she heard that Jared and Renetta were kidnapped as well and they were in the company of a woman. She was in a dark corner of the family room clutching their picture. Mark was trying his best to be supportive for both of them, yet he was torn apart on the inside, forcing himself to eat and taking sleeping pills for the first time since his attempted murder in order to escape the nightmares and be able to function day to day.


“’Nae baby, you have to eat something,” Mark pleaded with her. “You’re gonna be sick.”

“I’m not hungry.” She whispered staring at her children’s picture.

“Baby, please. I don’t want anything to happen to you. Do it for me.”

“For you? Everything in my life has been for you the last few years, this marriage, the kids…everything. I stood by you even after Kima tried to kill the both of us, all the sleepless nights and counseling and now Sha’Kira has my kids and your sister and you want me to do something for you? Everything I have done was for you Mark Andrews—“

Suddenly her eyes began to roll back and she stumbled. Mark caught her as she fell to the floor.

“Jenae…talk to me baby. Nae…Nae!” Mark pleaded with her but there was no response. Tamir went next to the chair where she was sitting and noticed an empty medicine bottle on the floor. He picked up the phone and dialed 911.

~*~

“She tried to commit suicide, Mr. Andrews.” The doctor confirmed what he believed. Jenae had taken the remainder of the sleeping pills…all 25 of them hoping to slip away without anyone noticing until she was dead. “We’re going to keep her for a few days and evaluate her. Is there anything that would have caused her to want to end her life?”

“Their children and his sister were kidnapped a few days ago and they haven’t been found yet,” Larry answered for Mark who was at a loss for words. “I guess the stress is just too much for her to deal with.”

“Well like I said we’re going to keep her for observation and she is being guarded by hospital security and city police. If you would like to stay we’ll make accommodations for you?”

“That’s not necessary,” Mark finally spoke. “She hasn’t slept in a few days and she hasn’t eaten, she needs her rest, I’ll come back in the morning. Call me if there are any changes.”

He walked away without another word. He didn’t even want to see her right now. “How could she do this,” he thought to himself. Maybe all of this is too much for her to handle. But why would she want to die?”

“You sure you don’t want to stay here with Jenae?” Larry asked causing Mark to snap out of his thought.

“No I should go home. After all, she feels I’m responsible for all of this. Maybe she tried to kill herself to get away from me. So why should I be here?”

“Because she needs you. That’s why. You two need to talk and find out what’s going on in her head. Didn’t you say she flipped out when she found out about Sha’Kira and wanted her dead too?”

“Yeah, but we talked about it and she said she wasn’t thinking straight. Then she was sweeter than ever again. She makes me feel like that Jimmy Cozier song, you know?”

“Yeah, I know.” Larry chuckled. “Maybe you’re right she does need her rest. Too bad she had to do all of this to get it.”

“I love her and my kids. I can’t lose them…any of them. They’re my world.”

Mark and Larry walked to the car and went home. They had to wait there for word about Jared and Maiesha and Renetta, hoping they were found soon.

[sexysmile]

“Auntie Netta, I’m hungry,” Maiesha said laying in her aunt’s lap. Jared was asleep on the other side of her lap. They were huddled in a dark corner of a musty, humid room. The only light was the sunlight peeking through the beams of the ceiling.

“I know baby, me too.” She tried to comfort the twins as much as possible, playing games with them and rocking them to sleep hoping to keep their minds off of what they were going through, and hers too. “But we’ll be okay.”

A light shone brightly in Renetta’s eyes and she looked up as best she could but all she could hear were voices.

“Well, well, how are we today?” Sha’Kira smirked.

“I don’t care what you do to me,” Renetta said shielding the blinding light from her eyes. “Just let my niece and nephew go. What did they do to you?”

“You’re gonna shut your smart ass mouth!” Sha’Kira yelled. “You’re staying with me until I say it’s time to go. You see…I want your brother to suffer just like I did. Make him see what it feels like to lose someone he loves, someone close that can’t be replaced. Just like my sister was with replaced with that…that thing he calls a wife.”

“Mark didn’t kill your sister! Your sister tried to kill him and Jenae—“

“You ain’t gotta tell me the story I already know about it. So what if Kima did almost kill his sorry ass that’s what he deserves for being the dog that he is. I just came to bring you some food anyway.” She slid two McDonald’s bags across the floor and a gallon of water. “See I am nice, if I was a real b**** I’d let you starve. Oh, and by the way I heard your sister-in-law tried to kill herself, guess it was too much for her to handle. Good night.”

Sha’Kira bolted the door shut all the while laughing. Renetta began to cry, maybe she was lying to her about Jenae. But still she had to find out. She pulled her cell phone from her pocket and pressed “redial”

“Mark…we’re fine. Yes…No I don’t know where we are yet. I just wanted to let you know were okay. They’re asleep….I’ll kiss them for you. Take care of Jenae please…she told me…I don’t know how she knows…I have to go someone’s coming—“

“Who’s in here?” A male voice called out. “I hear you talking, who’s there?”

“Help us…” Renetta whispered.

A man emerged from the shadows with salt and pepper hair, wearing some worn-out overalls. She huddled the children close to her and prayed this man was here to help them and not put them in any more danger.

“Where did you come from?” the man asked.

“We were kidnapped and this woman is holding us here—“

“You’re the girl and the kids from the TV!” he said upon getting a closer look. “I’m gonna call someone for help just stay here everything will be okay.”

Just as quickly as the stranger appeared he was gone again. She hoped that they would be found soon. All she wanted now was for them to get home safely.

~*~

Mark had gone home with a feeling of regret. Was he the reason Jenae wanted to die? Had his lifestyle put that much pressure on her to want to end it all? He was torn with his feelings and not sure what to do. He walked into the kitchen and sat on a stool near the counter.

“Son, you scared me half to death!” his mother jumped. “How’s Jenae?”

“She tried to kill herself, ma. She blames me for all of this and I feel she’s right.”

“Oh honey, it’s not your fault,” she came from behind the counter and put her arm around her son. You didn’t cause all of this to happen no matter what anyone says about it. Just be there for her and focus on finding those babies and Netta and bringing them home.”

“I think she may leave me when all this is over, ma. I can’t let that happen. I love her too much.”

“Baby you have to see her through this. Just think about how much she’s seen you through and put up with over the last few years.”

Mark walked away without any other words being said. He walked out onto the patio to feed Gangsta and Gotti. They ran to him with the same adoration they always did, jumping at him and running circles around his feet. For the first time in days, his smile was unforced.

“Oh, what the hell,” Mark said running full speed while the dogs gave chase. He rolled around in the yard and played with them like the day he brought them home.

“When was the last time you had grass stains on your clothes like that?” Tamir asked coming into the yard and seeing his friend at play.

“Oh, yeah…those,” he laughed looking down at his jeans. “Not in a long time.”

Gangsta and Gotti ran up to Tamir and he leaned down to pet them. “You look like you’re in a good mood.”

“I had to do something to try and keep my mind off things, you know.”

“Mark, honey come quick!” his mother yelled through the open patio doors. He walked into the family room and saw his mother in a flood of tears. “Honey they found them…they’re bringing them home!”

***************************************************************************

Mark walked down the hall of County General Hospital toward room 6210, receiving smiles from all the nurses as he passed by. Some of them coming from their stations to kiss and hug the children he held in his arms.

Quietly he entered the room with Jared and Maiesha, Jenae lay sleeping before them. Her complexion was no longer pale her face had regained its former fullness her eyes no longer sunken in. She was as beautiful as the day they met again.

“Mommy,” Jared said touching her hand. “Mommy…it’s me.”

Jenae’s eyes blinked rapidly and opened. Her head turned toward the sound of her son’s voice and her vision cleared to see his wide brown eyes staring back at her.

“Oh my—“ Jenae reached over and scooped her son up from the floor hugging him tightly and crying uncontrollably. “Oh, my baby! Mama missed you so---Maiesha!” she jumped down from her father’s arms and ran to Jenae. She hugged her children showering their faces with kisses still in tears.

Mark stood across the room and cried himself all the while praying that his wife would come home to him. So far God was answering his prayers.

~*~

“How the hell could they get away?” Sha’Kira asked her self, staring at the empty corner where her hostages once sat. “s***!” she kicked the gallon of water spilling it onto the floor.

She thought her plan was so flawlessly executed right down to her inside source with the police department, she was wrong. Sha’Kira decided to leave the scene immediately realizing she might be seen. She got into her rental car and picked up her cell phone.

“What the f*** happened, Maurice?” she asked

“I hear she still had her cell phone when you locked her up in there. I thought you checked her pockets?”

“I thought you did, Maurice! I left her with you to tie them up, why weren’t they tied up Maurice?!”

“I wasn’t going to tie up those kids, they’re just babies!”

“Remind me next time I do some s*** like this not to involve you!”

“Is that a promise?” Maurice laughed and hung up the phone in Sha’Kira’s face.

~*~

“Mr. Andrews, your wife can go home tomorrow,” the doctor smiled. “Seeing her children made a big improvement in her condition.”

“Thank you,” he answered going into Jenae’s room. Knowing that she wouldn’t be home for long. They made arrangements for Jenae, Maiesha and Jared to go to an undisclosed location until all the madness died down.

“Hi.” She said lowly not even looking up from her book. “How are you?”

“I’m good. So you’re getting out of here tomorrow, huh?” he tried to make the best of a bad situation.

“Our plane leaves tomorrow evening.” She answered dryly.

“Jenae,” Mark took the book from her hands. “Promise me you’re going to come back home when all of this is over?”

“Mark, I don’t know. I just don’t know if I’ll be able to deal with this anymore.”

“Is that why you tried to kill yourself? Nae, you would rather die and leave me and your children here without you? I’m not going to let that happen. You mean too much to me.”

“We’ll be back, but I don’t know for how long.”

“I love you Jenae.” Mark hugged his wife tightly and kissed her cheek. “I’ll be back in the morning.”

He did his best to fight off the tears stinging his eyes. He drove home in complete silence thinking of the long road he had ahead of him. He went home thinking about the maddening silence that occupied his house the last two weeks. No children chasing dogs through the house. His wife’s laughter didn’t echo through the house…just his footsteps hitting the marble floors.

“What am I going to do without my family?” he asked Tamir who had come by to see him.

“I don’t know if it’s going to help any but me and the fellas got your back. We’ll help you however we can.”

“She may not be coming back.” He stared blankly at the wall. “I couldn’t protect her….twice. Now our kids are involved. Man, I can’t do this alone. The reason why it’s been so easy get through this is because of my children and my wife. To think that I may lose them—“

“Like I said, we’ve got your back, well…at least I do.” Tamir had a look of pure evil on his face that alarmed Mark.

“n****, promise me the same thing won’t happen. That can’t happen Noke.”

“I know that, I’m not stupid,” he let out an uneasy laugh. “That would be too easy. I’m going to make sure that your family is back where they belong sooner than you think.”

“You’re scaring me.” Mark replied.

“Just call me if you need anything. I got some things to do.”

[sweetgapeach]

CAN'T WAIT to read more, this is good

[sexysmile]

Mark sat in the house surrounded in silence. Tamir’s last words reverberated through his mind; your family will be back where they belong sooner than you think. Now knowing that he orchestrated Na’Kima’s gruesome murder left him knowing a different side of one of his closest friends.

Jenae and the children were gone two days now. She would call only from her cell phone so that he couldn’t trace the calls to try and locate her. It tore Mark up inside to have things be this way but he had no choice. Until Sha’Kira Barnes-Green was found dead or behind bars, his wife and kids had to remain hidden.

“How you holdin’ up little brother?” Donisha asked on the phone.

“I want my family back, Donisha.” Was all Mark could manage to say.

“All of this will be over soon. Until then just pray.” That was his big sister for him…always turned to prayer in a time of despair or crisis. “You know I’ll be praying for you. I’ll call you later.”

Mark ended the call without a goodbye. He sat on the leather chaise lounge in his living room and stared into the skylight. The smell of the fried chicken and garlic mashed potatoes his mom sent over with Larry sent his stomach rumbling. He didn’t know the last time he had eaten anything besides Doritos or drank anything other than Cristal the last two days. He barely managed to take a shower and change his clothes in the morning.

“I’m turning into a depressed alcoholic,” he said to himself as he picked up six empty bottles of Cristal from the floor and dropped them into the kitchen trash can. He went over to the two Tupperware containers on the small porcelain island in the middle of the kitchen and opened them slowly. Mark made himself a plate of food and stood at the kitchen counter and quickly devoured his first serving, licking his fingers while he prepared his second helping…then the phone rang.

“Hello?”

“So how does it feel to be alone?” the woman said on the other end.

Mark almost dropped his plate on the floor. “What do you want from me?”

“I want you to pay for what you did!” she yelled. “…and you will. I know where your wife and children are. They got away from me once, they won’t get away from me this time. Just make sure your mother has a black dress to wear at your funeral. I’ll be watching you.”

Mark threw the cordless phone into wall and it shattered into pieces. He paced the floor wondering what he should do. The sound of a car pulling up in the driveway sent him to the window. He opened the door when he realized it was James.

“n**** you look a mess.” James said walking past him.

“She just called here. She said she’s going to kill me and she’s going after Jenae and the kids again.”

“Kira’s all talk. Her bark is worse than her bite.”

“Who says she’s going to do it? She didn’t personally kidnap my kids and Renetta. She can get someone else to do it”

“Good point. So you want to get away too?”

“No,” he said staring at the wall. “If she wants me she’ll have to come and get me. I’m not running from the b****. I want to find Jenae and my children.”

“So that’s why the phone is in a million pieces on the floor?”

“You guessed right.”

“Hello?” James said into his cell phone.

“Hello cousin.” Sha’Kira said into the phone. “How are you?”

“How did you get this number?”

“Don’t worry about that. Just know more than you think I do.”

“Why are you doing this to Mark? It’s not like you and Kima were close anyway.”

“She’s still my sister! Obviously family comes second to your f***ed up ass friends.”

“Bye, Sha’Kira!” James said and flipped his cell phone closed. “I think she knows I’m here. I think it would be best if you went to your wife and kids.”

“I don’t know where they are even if I could get to them who’s to say that she won’t follow me there too.”

“I know where they are and me and Tamir got a plan to get you to them. You’ll be leaving tomorrow on a plane to be with your wife and kids again.”

“But how—“

“Just trust me.”

[aDRUfan4LiFe]

Good, Good, Good! ;D

[DruDiamond]

Good story! I'm lovin it