Free When A Thug Loves A Woman by Charmanie Saquea Page B

today but I would if I had to.
    “Like I said, it's saying it's declined,” she said smartly.
    “You know what…” I had to stop and calm myself down. “Hold up, let me call and see what the problem is!” I rolled my eyes at her as I pulled my phone out to call Casino. I really didn't want to talk to his stupid ass right now since he wanted to be on some other shit but this was an emergency.
    “Yea, what's up?” he answered.
    Even though I was pissed at him, his sexy smooth voice still made my kitty jump. “Casino, something is wrong with my card. I'm trying to use it and it keeps saying that it's declined, so can you see—”
    “Ain't shit wrong with it, I cut it off,” he said.
    “You did what?!” I yelled, causing everyone in the store to look at me like I was crazy. “Casino, why the fuck would you do some shit like that?”
    “Why the fuck would you not allow me to see my daughter, China?” he threw back at me.
    “Nigga, are you serious right now? I told you that bitch attacked me and you automatically jumped on the Bambi bandwagon, thinking I started that shit, putting your hands on me! You damn right you can't see my daughter anytime you'll put another bitch before us!” I yelled.
    I couldn't believe Casino right now. This Bambi bitch had my baby daddy going against the fucking grain. Not only had Casino put his hands on me over her ass but he actually had the nerve to stick up and go hard for her. Now he was cutting off my cards and shit for no fucking reason.
    “Yea, alright, China. I'm not going to argue with you about this shit. Until you allow me to see my daughter, you're cut the fuck off and I mean that shit. You better get off your lazy, trifling ass and get a job because I'm not giving you no more money. That means for the bills, either.”
    “You got me all the way fucked up, Casimir! Don't forget who the fuck you're talking to. I have so much dirt on your ass, I can bury you alive. Fucking with me, you'll never see Casiyah or the light of day again!” I told him before hanging up.
    It wasn't until I hung up that I realized that I’d probably said too much. I knew better than anyone than to threaten Casino, especially when it came to his daughter or freedom and I had just did the ultimate by threatening both in one breath.
    My hands shook with fear as my phone rang and I saw that it was him calling back. I had a mind not to answer it and turn my phone off but I knew that would only make it worse.
    “Casino, I'm sorry. I didn’t mean—”
    “Bitch, if you ever threaten me like that again, a dive team will be fishing your body parts out of the fucking Detroit River. Do you understand me?” he said in a quiet but yet menacing tone.
    I nodded my head before realizing he couldn't see me. I swallowed the lump in my throat before I could verbally answer him. “Yes,” I said just above a whisper.
    “Now, my daughter be at my mama's house within the next hour. Try me if you think I'm playing,” he said before hanging up.
    I wasted no time heading out of Nordstrom to do as he said.
    “I guess you don’t want these after all!” the lady said.
    I glanced behind me at the smug look on her face and it was then that I realized I had drawn an audience. At this point, I really didn't give a damn because my fear of Casino trumped any other emotions I may have been feeling.

Fifteen – Bambi
    I stood over the stove as I fixed my and Majesty’s breakfast, trying to keep myself awake. Last night, Casino kept me up all night, talking about everything under the sun, literally. He told me what it was like growing up with his parents and how his dad often cheated on his mother, which resulted in her leaving him. He told me the story of how his brother Canaan just recently got out of prison for doing nine years on a drug charge. He was very open with me about aspects of his life and I really respected him for that.
    In return, I told him about the situation with Dutchess and Majesty. I told him how