Love Don't Live Here Read online

  Love Don’t Live Here

  Charmanie Saquea

  Copyright © 2015 Charmanie Saquea

  All rights reserved. No Part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the author/publisher

  Acknowledgements

  First I would like to thank God for blessing me with the talent of being an author. Here I am on book number 14, none of this would have been possible without him.

  To my mommy Sheree, who has been by my side since day one, you told me I could be anything I wanted to be if I put my mind to it. You have always been my backbone, and I would not have made it this far without you. Also my Grammy, you‘ve been there every step of the way, and I can‘t thank you two enough.

  S/O to my wonderful bosses Raymond and Envy for giving me a chance. Also David for putting people in a position to go after their dreams.

  Much love to the whole #TBRS family.

  I definitely can‘t thank all the loyal fans who have been riding with me since Official Girl. You guys have been my motivation to keep going and busting my pen. All the inboxes, comments, and wall post have never gone unnoticed, and I appreciate them and you more than you will ever know.

  I definitely have to give a big shout out to my first friend I made in the writing game, Treasure. You welcomed me with open arms since the beginning, and we‘ve been tight ever since. I appreciate all the help, feedback, and even the yelling because it helped me out a lot. No matter how many times I wanted to give up, you pushed me harder. I love you lots!

  Last but never least, my Angels in heaven, Cora (Mom), Romney (Riggz) and Marisa, Uncle Tyrone (Big Shep), and Dad. I pray that you continue to watch over me. I can‘t forget my cousin Tyrein, keep your head up baby, 2034 will be here before you know it.

  -1-

  Nadia reached over and hit silence button on her alarm clock. She had a long night last night and wanted to sleep in, but she knew that was out of the question. She climbed out of her bed and went straight down the hall to her mother‘s room. She knocked lightly on the door before entering.

  “Hey ma,” she greeted her mother before going to the bathroom to grab her mother‘s medicine. She walked over to the mini fridge and grabbed a bottle of water. She handed everything to her mother and stood there to make sure she did what she was supposed to.

  “Nadi, I already told yo lil self to stop babying me.” Her mother had laughed before it turned into an uncontrollable cough.

  “I‘m not babying you Ma, I just know that if I don‘t stand here and watch you, you won‘t do it,” Nadia smiled at her mother. Nicole Freeman was as feisty as they came and as stubborn as an old mule. Nadia inherited those traits honestly from her.

  “Nadi, I already told you that if it‘s my time to go these pills not gone stop it from happening,” Nicole said taking the pills anyway because she knew how her daughter could be.

  “Ma please, I already told you not to talk like that. You are not going anywhere,” Nadia said with sad eyes. Four months ago her mother had been diagnosed with HIV, but in the last two months she had developed full-blown AIDS. She didn‘t get it from being on drugs, sharing needles or unprotected sex. She got it from an unsanitary needle at the hospital when she went in for blood work. Everyone tried to get Nicole to sue the hospital, but she refused, saying it was all a part of the plan that God had for her.

  “Nadi quit fussing and go get your brother ready.” Nicole waved her off.

  Nadia just shook her head and walked out of her mother‘s room because she knew there was no point in arguing with her. When she reached her brother Nyzir‘s room, he was already up with the clothes on she had picked out for him. He looked up and smiled at his sister. “Look Nadi, I did it myself,” he said referring to putting his own clothes on.

  “I see baby boy,” she said fixing his shirt and untucking it from his pants. Nyzir is only two years younger than Nadia. He’s 16 years old, but he suffers from what the doctors call an intellectual disability. When he was born, the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck, and he wasn‘t getting enough oxygen. If had been in there any longer, he probably would not have been here today.

  Every morning she wakes up an hour and a half early to get him ready for school and fix him breakfast to keep him preoccupied while she gets dressed. Nyzir has trouble doing things that normal teens would do, so Nadia picks out his clothes for him, makes sure he brushes his teeth, takes showers, and eats.

  Since her mother is sick and her oldest brother, Neeman, is locked up for selling drugs, Nadia felt like she was the one that was supposed to be holding the house down. When she turned sixteen, she got a job at the mall to help pay the bills even though her mother protested. Neeman tried to do it, but his way ended up putting him behind bars.

  “What do you want for breakfast Zir?” She asked leading him to the kitchen. He shook his head no letting her know that he didn‘t want anything. Nadia sighed, she damn near had to fight with him every morning to eat. “You have to eat Nyzir.”

  “No, Nadi.” He shook his head again.

  “Please Zir, for me?” She begged.

  “Okay Nadi, I eat for you. Me want bacon,” Nyzir replied.

  “Thanks, baby boy and it‘s I want, not me,” she said walking to the fridge to get him some bacon. She figured that was better than him not eating anything at all.

  After fixing her brother something to eat, she went to get herself ready for school. She picked out a pair of ripped jeans, a purple V-neck t-shirt and her Grape J’s. Nadia was a very simple female. She didn‘t have time to keep up with the latest trends or make sure she looked good. Every penny she got from working, either went to her mother‘s medicine or to Nyzir. As long as those two were straight, she was straight.

  After her shower, she got dressed and threw her hair up in a messy bun. She went back to her mother‘s room to kiss her goodbye. “You need me to bring you anything?” Nadia asked.

  “No baby, I‘m good.” Nicole smiled at her daughter.

  “Alright…Nyzir!” She called out to her brother. “Give Ma a kiss, and tell her you‘ll see her later,” Nadia instructed when he walked in the room.

  After everyone said their goodbyes, Nadia and Nyzir headed to school. Nicole let Nadia drive her car because she said there was no use in her driving it anymore. They pulled up to Sheepshead Bay High school and hopped out.

  Nadia walked Nyzir to his class and kissed his cheek. “I have to work today so you coming with me or you staying with Coach and the boys?” She asked. The football coach who just so happens to be his special ed teacher, always lets Nyzir stay after and watch the boys practice whenever Nadia had to work and sometimes when she didn‘t.

  “I stay,” answered Nyzir.

  “Alright, tell coach I said hi,” she said before walking away to head to her class. On the way to her class, she met up with her best friend since birth, Marisa. Their mothers were best friends growing up, so it was only right that it trickled down to them. “What‘s up Marisa Nicole?” Nadia greeted her.

  “Not shit Nadia Raelynn.” Marisa smiled. That‘s how they greeted each other to pay homage to the fact that they were named after each other‘s mothers. “How my boo doing?” She asked referring to Nyzir.

  “Being Zir, like always,” Nadia laughed.

  “I love that boy,” Marisa laughed with her. Nyzir was like a little brother to her and just like Nadia, she’s very protective of him.

  “You and me both.”

  They walked into their chemistry class and were stopped immediately by Derek, the school flirt. “What‘s up Nadia, when you gone stop playing and marry a nigga?” He asked.

  “When pigs fly baby.” Nadia laughed. “Besides you wouldn‘t even be able to handle
me.” She blew him a kiss before walking to her seat.

  “That‘s okay, I still love you.” He smiled.

  ___

  Mario was chilling in the barbershop when he got a call from his little brother‘s school telling him his brother had been in an altercation. He was always telling his brother to learn how to control his anger, but it seemed to go in one ear and out the other. He pulled up to the school and was about to get out, but he forgot he had his heat on him. “Almost got caught up,” he said before putting it in the glove compartment.

  He laughed to himself thinking about how he and his boys use to walk these same halls and terrorize the school. When he got to the office, his brother Marquise and two other boys were sitting in there. Marquise looked pissed while the boy sitting next to him looked scared. Marquise‘s football coach was also in there, and he didn‘t look too pleased.

  “Sorry to bother you Mr. Lewis, but Marquise and this gentleman over here,” she pointed in the opposite side of the room, “got into a physical altercation. Neither of them wants to say what it was over.”

  “I already told you I’d talk when Nadia gets down here,” Marquise said.

  “Who is Nadia?” Mario asked.

  “That would be me,” Nadia said walking in the office. “Zir and Quise what happened?” She asked.

  Mario was caught off guard when Nadia stepped in the room. Some would say she looked like a plain Jane, but she still looked good to him. She had beautiful doe eyes, she was a little on the short side and was a little on the thick side. He had to snap out of it and remember why he was there in the first place.

  “Dude over there...” Marquise started, but Nyzir cut him off.

  “No Quise, you get in trouble,” Nyzir said not wanting anyone to get in trouble because of him.

  Nadia kneeled down in front of her brother and lifted his head, so he was looking at her. “Look baby boy, let Marquise tell us what happened because coach doesn‘t look too happy right now, and you know how he gets when he‘s mad, right?” That got a laugh from everyone including coach.

  “Kevin saw Nyzir walking down the hall and started messing with him like he always does when Zir is by himself. He was throwing stuff at him and pushing him, so I went and told him to leave him alone because Zir looked scared. Kevin shoved him, and Zir fell, so I snapped and beat the shit out of him and I‘ll do it again if he ever puts his hands on Nyzir again,” Marquise said.

  “Chill out Marquise, how many times do I have to tell you about that temper?” Mario asked.

  “Man, Rio I been trying, but he took it too far. He shouldn’t have been messing with Nyzir,” Marquise protested.

  “Quise, you know I love you, and I really appreciate you for sticking up for Nyzir, but I don’t want you getting yourself into trouble. You know all you had to do was come get me, and I would have handled it,” Nadia said glaring at Kevin.

  “No worries Nadia, Kevin will be suspended for two weeks. There will be no punishment for Nyzir, and since Marquise was sticking up for him he will just receive in-house suspension which he will serve with me,” Coach said. “But Nyzir here is a little shook up and I think it would be best for him to go home for the rest of the day. It will be excused.”

  “Thanks, coach,” Nadia said as she grabbed her brother’s hand. “Oh, Kevin, you owe my brother an apology.”

  “Sorry,” Kevin mumbled.

  “And if you ever, and I do mean ever put our hands on my brother again. You won’t have to worry about Marquise or anyone else because I’ll beat yo ass myself,” Nadia said before leading Nyzir out of the office.

  “Well, it looks like this meeting is adjourned,” Principle Harris said.

  “Come on scrub, you better be glad you have practice today or else I would be dragging you home too,” Mario said as he mushed his little brother.

  Nadia decided to take the rest of the day off also so her mom wouldn’t have to watch Nyzir by herself. She was standing outside leaning up against her car, texting Marisa and waiting for Nyzir to finish talking to coach when Mario walked out the door.

  Mario walked over in Nadia’s direction and stood directly in front of her. Nadia looked up from her phone. She didn’t realize how tall he was when they were in the office.

  “I hope you’re not mad at Marquise. I know he was wrong for swinging on Kevin, but I really do appreciate him for sticking up for my little brother.”

  Mario smiled at her. “Nah, I’m not mad. My lil bro just has a big heart.”

  “I know,” she said.

  Nyzir walked out of the school and headed towards their direction. “Hey lil man, you alright?” Mario asked him.

  Nyzir shook his head up and down without looking at Mario. Nadia knew her brother was shy when meeting new people and he got like that when people he didn’t know tried to talk to him. “Hold your head up Nyzir, it’s alright.”

  Nyzir looked up at Mario and smiled before turning back to his sister. “Sorry Nadi,” he said before getting in the car. Nadia smiled at Mario before climbing in the car behind her brother.

  -2-

  Mario sat in his Chevy Impala with his right-hand man and cousin Jax, All Black by Plies playing low. The song fit the occasion perfectly. He sat in the car watching his prey as they got ready to make their move. Some would say that Mario and Jax were stick up kids, and some say they were hit men. To them, it all depended on what day of the week it was.

  “Let’s move,” Mario said as he pulled his black bandana out of his pocket. Jax did the same and tied it around his face, so the only thing that was showing were his eyes. When they were set, they hopped out of the car.

  They had been watching this cat named Sully for three days. Sully called himself trying to rob Jax, but he didn’t succeed, so they were going to show him how to get the job done. They walked up to his door, and Mario knocked while Jax put his finger over the peephole. They already had their guns drawn and ready to shoot.

  “Who is it?” Sully yelled. Neither of them said anything so he opened the door like he had no worries in the world which would be the wrong move on his behalf. As soon as he opened the door, they put their guns on him and ambushed him. Mario didn’t even give him a chance to think before he put a hole in his head.

  They weren’t worried about anyone hearing gunshots because they had silencers on their guns. Jax ran further into the house and went to search the house for the money. They already had the info on Jax and knew he ran an underground gambling spot in his basement, so that’s where they headed. He didn’t have any kids or a wife, so they weren’t worried about anyone else being in the house. They came up with 20g’s which they planned to split evenly down the middle.

  ___

  It was a Saturday, and Mario didn’t have anything to do, so he and Jax decided to take Marquise to spend some money at Kings Plaza. Mario did everything in his power to make sure his mom and little brother were straight and didn’t want for anything. His dad died four years ago from getting hit by a drunk driver, so that left Mario to be the man of the house.

  “Mario, let’s hit up Champs. These new J’s came out and you know I gotta have ‘em,” Marquise said.

  “Let’s go then,” Mario said as he led the way.

  Nadia was in the back looking for some shoes for a customer. She had been at work all day since it was a Saturday, and she was really tired. Nicole had a real bad coughing spell last night, so she stayed up late with her to make sure she was okay. Her mom was too stubborn to go to the hospital. Sometimes Nadia felt like her mom was giving up, and it hurt her to the core.

  Right when she came out the back, she noticed Marquise and the guy that was up at the school with him walk in. She shook her head because they had a whole conversation and not one time did she get his name nor did he get hers.

  “I got this. You go help them,” her co-worker, Calvin, said.

  She nodded her head and walked in their direction. “What’s up Quise, what you looking for today with ya fly ass,” she joked. She kn
ew he was coming in there to spend money because he always stayed with a fresh pair of J’s on his feet.

  “You know me Nadi, I gotta stay fly. I’m just shocked that you noticed. That means I must really be a fly nigga,” Marquise said while grabbing his heart like he was touched.

  “Whatever loser,” Nadia laughed.

  “No, but for real, I need those new legendary blue 11’s in a size eight.”

  Nadia nodded. “What about you two?” She asked Mario and Jax.

  “Well Ms. Nadia, for starters, I’ll take your number then we can go from there,” Mario flirted.

  Nadia blushed. She would be lying if she said she didn’t find him very attractive. He had a cinnamon complexion, low cut curly hair, broad shoulders, almond colored eyes, juicy lips, and a pretty smile. She estimated that he stood about 6’2, and he was dressed in all black Tru’s, a black V-neck, and black Timbs. He had a sexy swag to him, but Nadia hadn’t given a dude a second look since her ex Jaron got locked up with her brother.

  “What’s your name?” Nadia asked.

  “Casanova wannabe,” Marquise said and it caused the four of them to laugh.

  Mario slapped his brother in the back of the head before speaking. “Mario,” he answered.

  “Well Mario, besides my number, is there anything else I can get you?” Nadia smiled.

  “I’ll take those same shoes in a size thirteen lil mama.” He smiled back.

  “Gotcha!” Nadia winked as she went to the back to get the shoes.

  “Yo, who the fuck is that?” Jax asked his cousins.

  “That’s Nadia, one of the baddest females at school,” Marquise said.

  “No lie, shorty is bad, but she look young as hell,” Jax said.

  “She’s eighteen and she graduates in June,” Marquise spoke up. “She cool as hell though.”

  All eyes traveled back to Nadia as she came from the back with the two shoeboxes. She raised her eyebrow because she could tell that they were talking about her. She gave Mario and Marquise their shoeboxes. “You sure you don’t want anything?” She asked Jax.