The Shot Callers

By Lakesha Singletary

Shonta Rice spent her life living by her mother's #1 rule: TO NEVER TRUST A MAN!

Bitter by the hurt that her father left when he abandoned them, she manipulated, deceived and used men for her own gain. She and her friends form a pact that can never be broken and that's to make destiny happen for themselves. That is until both Scott and Terrance enter her life.

Will she give up the values her mother taught her to find out what love's really about or will she continue her spiral of man eating destruction???

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 20, 2013
• ISBN: 9781468560992

Lakesha Singletary

Lakesha Singletary was born and raised in Newark, NJ. Her passion for writing grew when her creativity was pointed out by her siblings and peers while entering and winning contest throughout NJ and surrounding cities. She later studied English at Bloomfield College where she continued to enter contest to express her writing abilities. She currently resides in Richmond, VA where she is the Pastor of New Mercy International Ministries. Lakesha is known as dedicated Pastor, supportive sister and loyal friend.

Book preview

© 2013 by Lakesha Singletary. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 03/16/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4685-6101-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4685-6099-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012904379

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Shonta

Angel

Only At Zar’s

To Visit The Sick

Never Felt This Way

True to His Game

Monday’s A New Day

Here’s To Me

If Only You Knew

The Doctor Knows Best

Dinner for Two

Exercise Does Your Body Good

Let’s Get Together Soon

Don’t Hate the Player

My News, Your News

Oh Happy Day

Not a moment sooner

Oh the Bricks

Never Can Say Goodbye

Dead Man Walking

Where My Girls At

It’s Only Dinner

Better Time than Any

It’s a Reunion

So Happy Together

So We Meet Again

Nowhere in Sight

Face to Face

Entry #1

Entry #2

Entry# 3

To Mom and Pop . . . Thank you for allowing me to be me!

Shonta

I’m pregnant, I said as I watched him quietly go over the file of one of his patients. He was always so calm about everything. I wanted to know what his reaction would be to this. He couldn’t get his throat together but managed to get out, Eeexcuse me you’re what?

We’re pregnant.

I sat back slowly in the large leather chair the opposite of his desk waiting for a complete response.

Shoni how could this happen? We were both so careful. I, I can’t have a baby right now.

I watched him quietly as he fumbled to talk. He was actually trying to hold back tears. How can I explain a baby to my wife? She would definitely want a divorce. This is something I don’t need right now. I’m a prestigious doctor. If something like this got out it would ruin me. Ruin my family. I have a wife and two daughters.

You selfish bastard! How dare you sit there and whine about your life, your family. What about me? You knew what you got yourself into from the beginning.

Shonta please lower your voice.

I’m not going to lower anything!

I got so excited it brought a chill over my body. There was a knock at the door.

Doctor Williams is everything alright?

Running to the door before she could enter he answered, Yes Delores. Everything’s fine. Can you setup the next patient? Thank you.

By the time he got back to me my eyes were watery.

Shoni, Shonta. My mind was blown. We were off the nicknames already. Baby listen. I’m sorry. I mean, how did expect me to react? We were both so careful right? Or were we?

I sat in shock not believing my ears.

Or were we? Or were we? How could you stand there and say such things to me?

I began to let the tears flow. Oh God I was such a performer!

I thought you’d be happy that I was having your child. Our child! Now you stand here giving me a lecture about your family. We’ll see how you feel when the world knows about our family.

Shonta what are you saying? I can’t tell my wif…

I gathered my things to leave.

You don’t have to tell her I will. Damn I need an Oscar!

Shonta, Shoni. You can’t do this to me. Not now.

Oh so we’re back to nicknames. Men like him make me sick. He walked over to hold me but I stepped back.

So what am I supposed to do Donovan? It’s not like I was happy with this either. You know how I feel about my body. Am I supposed to just get an abortion?

Well it is an option.

You know, I knew it was a mistake getting involved with you. This is how it ends up. You don’t have to worry about seeing me again.

I grabbed my purse and everything fell out. I was sobbing by now.

Shoni I can’t let you leave like this. Sit down. Let’s talk a minute. Excuse me for a second. As he left the room I got myself together. My eyes were really getting puffy. I took a tissue to fix my makeup. I was starting to look a mess. I pulled out my mirror to fix my hair. Maybe I should get more highlights. With all that crying I still looked great. My phone started to vibrate so I answered fast.

What’s up Angel? I can’t talk now. I’ll have to call you back.

Just as I hung up he walked back in.

I’m sorry baby. Are you okay?

I said nothing.

I just want you to see things from my end. This is a very difficult situation for me right now.

I know, and I came here to see what I should do. I’ll just get the abortion.

His eyes almost lit up. The bastard! He may as well dance on top of his desk.

Are you sure this is something you want?

Like he really cared.

Yeah, I’m sure. I’m sorry Donovan.

He grabbed my hands and said, No don’t be sorry it was the both of us. I know someone that can take care of the procedure.

No! I mean no. I’ll go to the doctor Angel went to. I’d rather go there so this won’t get out.

He walked behind his desk. Pulling out his checkbook he said, I’ll pay for everything. He wrote me a check for $10,000.

I’m sorry it has to end this way D. This could have really worked.

I gave him a long hug.

I’m sorry too Shoni. If there’s anything you need, you know where to find me.

Alright, I’ll call when the procedure is done.

I walked from his office and it was almost as if his nurse and receptionist were at the door and ran back to their places in the waiting area. It didn’t matter. I got what I came for.

Have a nice day, they both said at the same time as if it were rehearsed.

You too.

I gave them my phoniest smile. I couldn’t stand either of them. They both wanted Donovan. Oh well they can have him since I’m all done. As I walked to my car I pulled out my phone.

Hey Angel meet me at Gucci in an hour.

Angel

Girl you are crazy. You told him you were pregnant? She picked up a cute little signature bag.

Why not Angel? I didn’t want to be bothered with him anymore anyway. Why not scare the hell out of him and get paid at the same time. Can I see these in a size seven? Thank you. Besides, I knew he wouldn’t want his wife to know and he did just what I said he’d do: Panic. Girl when I saw that check I flew to the bank. It was only right. Do you want a pair of these shades?

Of course I do. Are we still on to go to Zar’s tonight because I got a hot dress to wear from L&L Boutique?

Zar’s was a nice little spot uptown. You could meet the finest guys at there. And when I say fine I mean the total package.

I haven’t been to L&L in a while. Let’s go there after this. As far as Zar’s is concerned you know I’m down.

I felt my phone vibrating. What’s up Lisa? Angel and I are at Gucci.

Angel ran to phone. So did she tell you what happened?

I turned my back to her. Yeah, we’ll talk at Zar’s. Oh Rachel’s with you. Where are you? How long have you been there? Okay we’ll meet you there.

Angel came over with a different bag. What’s up? Where are they?

They’re at L&L so I told them to wait. Are you ready?

I will be just as soon as I get the manager’s number!

L & L was a cute little boutique owned by three sisters. They had the hottest outfits and accessories that you’d hardly see anyone with. It was one of those one of kind spots. The hottest celebrities went there. We’ve run into the likes of the Kardashians, Beyonce’ and my girl Rihanna. They even did custom designed outfits. When we pulled up I saw Lisa’s candy apple CLS500. That girl loved red. As soon as we walked in my eyes went for an Egyptian style earring. We were welcomed by one of the boutique owners Linda.

Well how are we today ladies? I haven’t seen you in awhile. Wait someone’s missing.

Usually when we came to the boutique the five of us would come together.

I walked over to give her a hug. Hi Linda. Yes, Toni is missing. As a matter of fact I know she’ll be upset we came without her. I’ll get her something to make up for it.

You’ll love the new pieces we just got in, she said as she walked toward the back of the store. I followed her into the next room where I found Lisa, Angel and Rachel talking. What’s up girls?

Question is what’s up with you? I’m surprised to see you shopping seeing you just had a devastating morning and all, Rachel said with a smirk on her face. Lisa and Angel start laughing.

What’s up with me are those Gucci pieces in my trunk. You know how the SC does it, I said as I walked over to a gold sequined halter. Did anybody hear from Toni? I asked while sizing the halter up to my body. Hello?" I turned around and saw that Lisa, Angel and Rachel’s attention was turned toward the entrance of the door. I walked over to see who coming in but Charles Prince shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers. He walked in someone who looked anorexic with serious overbite. It was as if everyone stopped what they were doing and all eyes were on them.

I have to have him. Rachel said as she gave him a seductive glance as he walked by.

I say you go jump on him, Lisa said as she went back to looking at what I had in my hands. Lisa was the coolest white girl I ever met. We’ve been friends since elementary school. I couldn’t stand her when we first met. She was the only one who stood up to me and with no regrets. Her father, the most handsome Italian man I’ve ever seen, has his own multimillion-dollar media communications firm. He’s a cool guy too. Before he bought Lisa her own condo he used to let us have all of our pool parties at his home. I met quite a few of his million dollar colleagues there. Lisa was his pride though. She was his only daughter and her mom died while she was just a baby. Her dad wouldn’t let another woman raise her so with the help of both her grandmothers he took care of her himself.

Girls, I asked if anyone has heard from Toni.

Lisa turned to me. Yeah, she called me earlier and told me she wouldn’t be meeting us. She said she forgot about a doctor’s appointment and would catch us later.

Oh okay. I thought that was strange. Toni usually says when she’s not feeling well. I guess I’ll give her a call when I’m done. Hey Lisa are you going to Zar’s?

I wouldn’t miss it for anything. I looked over and saw Rachel talking to Charles while Angel walked toward us with a beautiful black dress.

What you think about this?

It was more beautiful up close.

Angel that dress is you girl! I could see her in it before she even tried it on. Angel was a very beautiful woman. Her name just about fits her description. She has a very angelic face with a honey brown complexion and brown almond shaped eyes. And her body was maintained by one of the biggest fitness centers due to her sleeping with her trainer. A lot of people think we’re sisters because we have a lot of the same features. We’re both alike yet so different. Her aunt and grandmother raised her where just my mother raised me. Her family surrounding was Christian based and mine was money based. Her grandmother taught her that the man upstairs was all she needed where mine taught that a man was all I need. When we met it was the summer of going to our freshman year of high school. My mother decided she wanted to send me to camp for the summer while she traveled with her new rich lawyer boyfriend. I met Angel and her cousin Sandra there. Sandra was more on the quiet side where Angel was the more outgoing one. We clicked as soon as we met. She shared with me how both her parents died in a car accident when she was just five. How she had to go and live with her grandmother. She was cool about everything though to be so young. I told her how it’s always been my mother and me. How she taught me everything I