Misunderstood (Toussaint Mafia #4)

Chapter 12

“ L et this be the last time. I can’t do this with you anymore and I’m not playing,” Maxine grumbled pulling her car up to the building on her side of town. She pulled through the private entrance of the establishment, reserved for the clients that wanted true exclusivity and cut her eyes at her child.

Maxine wasn’t sure where she went wrong with the girl. She’d given Tallulah everything a girl could want as a child. Even as an adult, it was Maxine who funded her lavish lifestyle, yet it wasn’t enough. Her daughter still felt the need to run the streets and display whorish behavior. So much so that no one seemed to want to marry her which was embarrassing to say the least. Maxine knew for damn sure if Jazmine aggressive ass daughters could find men then surely her princess could bag a husband.

The time for games were no more so Maxine had a plan. One that would change Tallulah’s image in the eyes of the mafia bosses and finally get her the husband they both so desperately needed for her.

“Will you go in with me?” Tallulah asked, eyes filled with fear as she peered over at Maxine.

Maxine relaxed in her seat and pressed her thin lips together in disdain.

“Was I present when you were giving your body to these men? If not, then surely you can get this procedure done by yourself. Plus, it’s not your first time, but it will be your last. I’m tired of being the laughing stock of my circle because of your looseness,” she frowned. “No longer will you parade yourself around like a lady who doesn’t care about her morals. All of that shit ends today. Now go get your procedure so I can set you on the straight path, like I should have done when I saw you had no regard for your image. Go on, girl,” Maxine shooed Tallulah out of the car.

Tallulah huffed like a petulant child before exiting the vehicle. Maxine sat in the dark parking garage, pondering what new procedure she could get done when her cellphone rang. She pulled it from her Kelly bag, and when her eyes landed on the number she hadn’t seen in so long, she sighed.

When someone coined the term "the devil always collects," they weren’t lying. Maxine had lain in bed with the devil years ago, and in her heart, she knew he was coming to collect her soul. Because that’s just what his trifling ass did.

“How can I help you, Carlos?” she frowned, feeling bile rise in her throat at the mere mention of his name. She hated him that much, yet at one time in her life, she had loved him fiercely. It was scary how quickly that love had turned to hate. After seeing how Carlos never planned on leaving Jazmine, she knew. Maxine realized in her heart that she was nothing more than one of his conquests, and she felt played. “Are you there?”

“You know I am, Maxine. How are my girls? Is your sons being good to them?”

Maxine rolled her eyes.

“Carlos, please. Let’s not pretend you care about those girls. You only care about yourself.”

Carlos chuckled on the other end of the line. “I used to care about you, Maxine. You remember that? Remember when you told me I was all you had in this world?” he mused.

Maxine shifted in her seat, making a disgusted face.

“I do and I regret everything I ever said and did with you. I hate your black ass and that will never change. However, it does give me joy to know that Jazmine is back and she’s here with Davido. You know when I asked you years ago, if she was really gone your answer told me all I needed to know. I knew in my soul she was alive and to know she’s still with your brother makes me laugh. God it does,” Maxine sneered with glee.

Carlos breathed heavily into the phone and his silence delighted Maxine. It made her feel good to bring the prideful Carlos down a notch.

“I’ll laugh when I tell your sons how you would suck my dick while their father was asleep in his office. Or how you let me put it in any hole even while you was carrying them. How would you feel to have your kids look at you and see you for the dirty ass whore you really are. Or how would you feel if I told them that when your husband died it was me who rocked you to sleep with this dick? Huh, are you laughing now?” he retorted making the inside of the Maybach truck grow especially warm.

Maxine turned on the AC quickly as she felt her nerves began to go haywire. So maybe she did know where Tallulah got her looseness from. When Maxine was younger she was out there in a discreet manner. Her husband wasn’t faithful, so she saw no reason to be as well. He had hoes and she had men. It was as simple as that, but it worked for them. Now that she was older she wished she would have valued love and her body more. Especially after seeing how her sons loved their women. It made Maxine wish she had that with their late father Patrick or even a better man than him.

“What the hell do you want Carlos? Money?” she asked, knowing it was a reason why he was calling and disrupting her peace.

“Glad you care enough to ask Maxine. I actually do need money. You can take $100,000 to my estate and Fred will be there tonight waiting on you at eight. However, I need something else from you as well. I’m sending you to the spa and I want you to invite Jazz. It’ll be a spa day to remember.”

Maxine’s thoughts raced with questions at his request.

“Carlos I’m a lot of things but I am not a killer or accessory to it. I won’t help you harm her.”

“Cut the shit. You’ve hated Jazmine from the moment you met her. I know it because I read your old diaries. I also know that if you don’t do this I will out you to your sons. Fred has very damaging evidence on you that could ruin your relationship with them. Including the paperwork that shows we were on that boat the day you miscarried my child from the hospital. It has both of our information and enough evidence to spark their curiosity. Even if Peace lets it go, will Promise? We both know he’s gonna look into it,” Carlos spoke confidently, jarring Maxine into a moment of silence. “Maxine are you there, sweetheart? Dick got your tongue? Remember you used to like playing that game,” he laughed.

Maxine closed her eyes in shame. She knew at that moment that he had her by the neck. She could never let her kids, especially her sons know about her affair with Carlos. They would never forgive her and that would break her heart into the tiniest of pieces.

“You didn’t even want that baby and was gonna make me get rid of it,” she whispered in a heavy breathed reply filled with emotion. “Why won’t you leave us all alone? Haven’t you caused enough hell and pain?”

Carlos chuckled.

“I’m just getting started. You thought it was bad after they shot me and left me for dead. Well wait until you see how this one plays out. Now have Jazmine go with you to the spa in Luxor off Conner Ave. I’ll have Fred give you the passes with the dates on them. All I need from you is that and the money and I’m out of your hair.”

Maxine rolled her eyes.

“Until you want something else,” she mumbled, knowing how that game went.

“Exactly, good talking to you.”

Carlos ended the call and Maxine dropped her phone onto her lap. Her eyes misted over as she realized that the only way to stop Carlos and his madness was to kill him. But could she was the question?