Free Beautiful Liar by Kevin Bullock Page A

He
almost laughed aloud when he saw Lindsey run towards him with her
small pistol. It was slightly larger than his black card and no
louder than the champagne corks that he popped. He never realized
the true threat until he tasted the gun powder and felt the burn.
It was then that he tried to emulate Ray by running, but it was too
late. Lindsey was already upon him with her small, barely audible,
deadly gun.

Chapter 13
    “ You’re not going to believe what
happened, Ra!” Vicky reported excitedly over the phone.
    “What?”
    “Tracey just called me. She was
hysterical.”
    “I know she’s still not wilding out over the
sorry ass little boy.”
    “Yeah, but check it. Some chick just blew his
ass away!”
    “Get the fuck out of here!”
    “No lie. I’m on my way to the hospital to
meet Tracey.”
    “Whoa! Who was the chick?”
    “I really didn’t get a lot of details yet.
All I know, whoever it was, she wasn’t playing with his ass. She
shot him three times.”
    “Damn! Where at?”
    “At work.”
    “Nah, I’m talking about on his body. Did
Tracey say?”
    “Oh, yeah. She said ‘all over.’”
    “What did I tell you? I told you that he was
going to dog the wrong woman one day.”
    “You said it.”
    “Is he going to make it?”
    “The way Tracey was crying, it doesn’t seem
like it.”
    “Who told her about it?”
    “Nobody. She was there when it happened.”
    “What! She fell back weak for him?”
    “No. She’s real cool with his father, Terry.
Evidently, she was over there seeing him…I’m assuming.”
    Rasheeda started laughing. “That’s what his
ass gets! But look, my man is on the other line. Call me back when
you get some more scoop.”
    “I will. Bye.”
    “Bye.”
    Vicky ended the call just as she was nearing
Grady Memorial Hospital. She hated hospitals at all costs, but knew
Tracey needed her right now. Ever since they had fallen out over
Cairo six months ago, she had promised herself when they mended
things she would only uplift her niece. And if that meant going
through the motions of a situation she didn’t approve of, then she
would.
    She got off the elevator on the floor that
Tracey had given her, and saw her niece sitting beside a man
crying. Vicky looked at the man’s features and immediately knew he
was Cairo’s father. She guessed him to be in his late fifties or
early sixties.
    Tracey saw her aunt and got up to embrace
her. “Thank you so much for coming. I know how much you hate
hospitals.”
    “Never mind me, how are you doing?”
    “I’m doing. Trying to stay strong for Terry
and myself.”
    Vicky glanced briefly at Terry, who was
staring blankly at the wall.
    “How’s Cairo?”
    “They just stabilized him, but…”
    “But what, baby?”
    “One of the bullets pierced his genitals, and
the doctor said he won’t be able to have any more children.”
    Vicky pursed her lips, and Tracey perceived
she was disturbed by the news.
    “Terry took it bad, too.”
    “When was the last time you had some sleep?
You look tired.”
    “It’s been a minute. I don’t have any time
for sleep, Cairo needs me.”
    Vicky once more glanced at Terry and pulled
Tracey out of earshot. “I understand you’re cool with Terry and
Cairo is your baby’s father, but you mustn’t forget what kind of
relation you two have.”
    “I haven’t I just…I’m not going to front, V.
I love him. And maybe after this he’ll realize it and change. It’ll
be so much better for the baby if we’re together."
    Vicky remembered the promise she made to
herself, so she humbled herself with great difficulty. She then
took a deep breath and forced a smile. “I understand. I just don’t
want you to get hurt again.”
    “I won’t. It’ll be different now, I know
it.”
    “Are you okay?” Debbie asked.
    “I’m trying to be. I’m just shaken.” Ray
said, with his back to her.
    “It’ll be okay. Just try not to think about
it so much.”
    He turned over. “I can’t help it. Now that