𝘗𝘖𝘝 𝘔𝘌𝘋𝘡᯽

I was hanging on to my composure by a thread. I stared at Kronazz and fight the urge to drag him across the table and punch him mercilessly.

"Of all the pussyclaat time fi yuh pull shit it affi b tonight!" I growled glaring at him.

I placed the full shot glass back on the table where he was asleep. He was too far gone under the drunken influence of the many sweet cherry shots he had to care about my anger.

I wanted to remain angry at him but it was no use, breaking it off with Debbie and hearing about what went down with Simone and her men friends push him into a big mess of emotional turmoil.

My phone rang in the back pocket of my jean and I slide it out and answer.

"Hey, Manley."

"Yuh find him?"

"Yeah man, but him nuh in a no condition fi lock e place tonight."

I look at Kronazz who was now fast asleep his mouth wide open and snoring heavily.

Four friggin hours of driving up and down visiting bars and clubs around the vicinity of the hotel he was staying at and calling people to see if they knew his whereabouts had me hoping for a good result of the situation, but I knew it was just wishful thinking.

On the heights of a splendid day spend with Patrice I wanted it to remain thus but the news of Soljie fucking up Simone and DD followed by Ritchie calling to inform me that Kronazz had left the hotel and no one knew where he went quickly brought to my attention that my fun time was over.

"Mi a guh mek Zindi fill in fi him."

I felt my body stiffen and it took me a good minute before I reply with indifference I did not feel.

"Your ting enuh Manley duh way yuh muss."

"See you in a few."

"Mhmm."

I hung up. I had no intention of being in the same place as my ex-wife if it was not necessary and with Kronazz no longer playing at the bar opening I had no reason to be present. I was here for business and with that not falling through I best stick to pleasure.

I smiled despite it all. Thinking about Patrice was a pleasure, being with her is a pleasure.

"Yow help my bring dah bredda yah a mi car," I said to one of the guys who was standing at the bar chatting up an uninterested bartender.

He frowned at me looking very disgusted at my interruption but relented when the bartender smiled at him and told him to help me out.

I smiled at her as I see her sigh with relief at getting him out of her hair. If only he knew that I was doing him a favor. He had no luck there.

When we were at my car and the stranger was holding onto a still snoring Kronazz I heard my phone ringing again. I received it from the pocket of my leather jacket where I had placed it and looked at the unfamiliar number.

"Hello."

I unlock the car and instructed the guy to place Kronazz in the passenger seat.

"Kip yuh gyal away far mi man yuh ere mi!"

I furrowed my brows and stared over at the man who was struggling to get Kronazz in the car. It took me a second to realize what the unfamiliar voice said.

I remained silent as I open the driver's door got in and made to hang up but the sight of the brown Manila envelope on the passenger seat got my attention.
I look at the guy about to dump Kronazz on it and quickly snatch it up just as he got Kronazz in.

My eyes were on Kronazz oddly positioned in my passenger seat, my subconscious on the contents of the envelope, and my consciousness on the unfamiliar caller.

"Mi mek sure warn r arehdi but mi a tell yuh to. If Patrice guh near OD mi a fuck up ar pretty face!"

My mind at the outright mention of Patrice sent everything pummeling into discord. I felt words build in my mind but they became lodged in my throat as I open up my mouth to speak.

"Yow yuh alright dawg?"

The sound of the guy still standing by the car's passenger door voice broke through the disarray of my current situation.

Not being able to deal with the contents of the envelope as planned due to Kronazz's disappearing act and having to spend hours searching for him had set back my plan of getting it out of the way. The sooner it was dealt with the better.

"Yeah man," I nod. "Thanks."

He nod in return and strode back into the bar his fruitless pursuit his priority.

I closed the passenger door after buckling Kronazz in and within seconds I was buckled in too. With a sigh, I turn my attention to getting my keys starting up the car, and driving away.

I returned my phone to my pocket when I realize the caller was no longer on the line.

Another set of fucked up events to add to the lousy turn of events in my day.

My mind went back to the call and I felt my shoulders tense. It seems the person was upset because OD had it in his intention to get Patrice back in his life, it was this that caused the animosity. A clear-cut case of 'hell got no fury as a woman scorned.'

I knew nothing in life was always easy and seldom do things fall in place like 123, for me I had a few 2.5 then my three fell in place.

I however had hoped that finally being with Patrice was the beginning of my 123 but it was clear to see that I was stuck in another 2.5.

"Fuck!"

Maybe I shouldn't have taken Patrice with me and just focus on the main reasons I came to Ochi. I should have ensured I cleaned shop before I ventured into being with her but I could not starve myself of her presence in my life.

I was never a man to waste opportunities. I strived on using opportunities to my advantage but it seemed I might have been a little too hasty.

I should have encouraged Patrice to stick to working out what was left weighing in the balance with her and OD but I was too scared of losing her when I barely just got her.

Her feelings for me were not concrete then as it was now and I was afraid the little sparks would be doused by the embers that still burned for OD.

Dem seh old fire stick easy fi ketch.

The only fire I want burning is the one I want to ignite with Patrice. I might have manipulated the situation by bringing up the possibility of her being pregnant but babies don't cement relationships anymore but desires and feelings.

If Patrice had not felt something towards me I would not have stood a chance. I capitalized on the situation thinking I had played my cards right but it was clear now that I had left out a valuable player, the joker in OD's pack.

It was obvious that OD had someone willing to play dirty to keep him away from Patrice indicating that OD was still holding onto the Queen of Hearts.

Who was this jester?

I needed to find out.

I pulled up to the guest house that Kronazz had checked into and parked in the spacious parking lot. It was punctuated by lawn torches whose soft glow pierced the night that shrouded the expanse of the walkway leading up to the guest house entrance. I fished my phone from my pocket and made a call.

"Ritchie I need you to find something out fi mi."

"Yes, boss."

I told him what I needed him to do.

"Also pick Patrice up from the hotel mi a sort out Kronazz before mi come a d bar."

"Ok, boss."

It took me twenty minutes to get Kronazz from my car into the lobby of the guest house.

The unconscious drunk weighed a ton! I was relieved when I got him settled in his room and left him a note written on a thousand-dollar bill.

When I drove away from the guest house I called Patrice. I hoped I did not let my selfishness cause me the one thing I needed most.

It took me another twenty minutes to make it to the bar. I was walking up the flight of stairs my hand gliding up the silver handrail when my phone chimed.

I lean against the wall the handrail pressing hard into my back as I stared down at the SMS.

"If yuh want your happy ending ensure I get mine."

✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰
Please👇

Nuff love 🇯🇲