by De'Kari
French didn’t know what just happened. All she was gone tell him was okay, she would do it. She wanted to laugh but the nigga had just threatened her. She was still French Tip, sister of Jason Voorheeze and he had her completely fucked up.
Just the thought started to piss her off, then she saw the size of his ass and it took all of her reserve not to burst out laughing.
“Damn, threatened by a bubble butt homosexual on your fashion premier. How fucked up is that!” French Tip turned around to see Cantelope looking like a million dollars in a pink and black body cat suit. Her black Chloe eyeglasses covered her eyes but French Tip knew they were sparkling with laughter.
Cantelope took her glasses off. The look on her face broke the dam and French Tip burst out with laughter.
“Oh my God! Did you hear that little mothafucka? Talking faster than Speedy Gonzales!” She was laughing so hard that a tear slid down her face.
Instead of replying, Cantelope mimicked the organizer saying every word and syllable just like he did. Her antics caused French Tip to erupt in more laughter. Cantelope followed.
They walked to the dressing room laughing and talking about the incident. They did more laughing than talking. There was no need to go to changing. She stayed ready and neva had to get ready. Inside of her dressing room were seven different extra outfits that she had on deck.
Fuck what they are talking bout, French Tip was Satin Doll. She was wearing a long pearl colored sheer spaghetti strapped dress, six-inch Louboutin’s heels. The sheer dress clung to her curves like painted on skin. She topped things off with a ten carat Paul Morelli four tier hanging diamond necklace with matching drop diamond earrings.
She finished getting her make up touched up and made it to the curtains leading to the stage, with twenty seconds to spare. Even the organizer had to stop and do a double take when he saw her.
“Whatever, Miss Thang! So, you clean up well. So, what? Come on and show the world the Queen.” Before she could respond, French Tip was ushered through the curtains and onto the stage.
As he ushered her he placed an earpiece into her ear. The bright lights were the first thing to hit her. She had to stop and blink her eyes until they adjusted to the light.
French gazed out into an ocean of smiling faces surrounding the stage. Flashes were going off all across the arena. Some people applauded, some whistled while others called out shouts and cheers.
“Good evening, French. There’s no need to get nervous. Just listen to my voice and I’ll guide you through everything. You’ll feel like a pro.” The voice in the earpiece told her as she smiled and turned towards everyone.
Looking at her, no-one who didn’t know her could tell that she was a stone-cold killer. Following the instructions given to her, she made her way to a throne that was sitting left of center stage. Smoke started covering the stage by the time she climbed on the throne.
“Ladies and gentlemen. No Kingdom has ever existed without a Queen, either to rule or to help rule. Many have existed and flourished at the hands of just a Queen with no King.
Some Queens have carried their kingdoms beyond the realm any King could ever dream of reaching. Satin Doll will be held in the likes such as these.” The music began to play in the background as the voice addressed the audience. The lights began to dim.
“Along with the interior design firm or our magazine, Satin Doll Fashionista, the Queen is creating and building regimes within her Kingdom so that her kingdom would be the cornerstone of her Empire. Satin Doll fashion is the first brick used to building her empire.”
Right on cue Alicia Keys voice came over the speakers as she sang out loud her song “Empire State of Mind.” The lyrics were specialized for the occasion. Instead of New York she sung out that she was from Men-lo.
The audience went crazy when the lights brightened back up. There, on opposite side of the stage in her very own throne was Alicia Keys herself.
Models begin walking out unto the stage and down the center of the stage doing her thang. It was beautiful. French Tip was breathless at the thought of Alicia Keys being that close to her.
“Look alive, love because this is a moment that’s only happens once in a lifetime.” She had forgotten about the earpiece in her ear.
“Look alive for what?”, she asked herself.
It wasn’t herself that answered the question though. It was the sound of Jay-Z’s voice coming through the speakers as he performed his verse. He came strolling down the center of the stage with a model on each arm. They dropped him off directly in front of the throne French Tip was sitting on.
The audience went bonkers when he reached his arm out to take her hand. He helped her stand and rapped to her. She was in a world all alone. It was magical.
As if things couldn’t get no better, he gave her a kiss on the cheek when he was done spitting and the house went Ape Shyt Crazy!
**** N. D. ****
Meanwhile
With a black nylon carrying bag strapped on her back. She made her way quickly and silently down the long dark corridor. Her black and gray fatigues concealing her shadowy form as she made her way. Only the very silent pitter-patter of her bare feet striking the floor could barely be heard.
She’d already picked through two locked and sealed doors. As she approached the third she slowed down. Controlling her breathing, she manipulated her heart beat as well and placed the cardio pulmonary listening device to the door.
The silicon encased, high frequency speaker within the device was designed to detect heart beats. Once confirmation was made, she quickly placed the listening device in her nylon and Velcro belt and retrieved the lock picking tools.
Silently she picked the lock. The pulmonary device picked up a single heart beat on the other side of the door. The door slowly swung open without a sound.
The target was standing less than six-feet in front of her, his back facing her. With the grace of a gazelle, she covered the distance in two strides while pulling out her fourteen-inch razor sharp blade.
She was so silent not even the friction of the fatigues made a sound. The nigga on security was clueless to the threat approaching. At the last moment before impact, his instincts from years in combat screamed out danger.
He spun around dropping to one knee while bringing his arms up. The left arm came up with the forearm horizontally in a knife block. His right arm came up powerfully, punching her in the midsection.
As powerful as it was, the blow was not strong enough to phase Kipaka. She retracted the knife while swinging a closed right over hand and connecting cleanly with his jaw. The speed in which the blow came and caught him off guard forced him to stumble backwards. She followed the blow up with a left knee to the solar plexus. It was over that quick! The moment he toppled over Kipaka, brought her right hand up like she was going to upper cut him.
Throwing her elbow up in the punch caused the knife swipe up in a perfect line of course with his jugular vein. For good measure, she brought the blade back down jamming it into the base of his skull. He was dead before the body dropped.
Quickly, she went about the business of wiping the blood off of her neck, changing her clothes and taking down the black wrap that she had covering her head.
The ocean blue, mid-thigh CoCo Chanel dress, matching heels and hand bag were quite the ensemble. When she let her hair loose, it hung down three inches past her shoulders, complementing the sleeveless dress.
The earrings, necklace and bracelet were all by David Webb. She put them on while walking to her destination. She also slipped in her earpiece.
“Alpha, Bravo, Charlie this is Echo requesting comms check”, she spoke into the hidden microphone just before reaching the last door.
“Loud and clear.” Echoed the members of the EGU.
“Echo, are you in position?” The voice of Alpha-one came over the earpiece.
The lock picked, Kipaka placed the pick set into her hand bag and got ready to open the door.
“Ten seconds out
, zero resistance ahead, four neutralized.” She told him as she stepped into one of the hallways that lead to the restrooms.
“Alright I want everybody to look alive and stay alert! All of us know the target so I don’t want no mistakes. There’s a price to pay for harming a Guerilla, and the dragon is here to collect.” No-one acknowledged Mtambo’s directive. There was no need to.
“Alpha. I am in position.” Even though she addressed Mtambo, Kipaka was talking to her entire team.
She’d made her way into the auditorium. It was jam packed and dark down in the audience, but she already knew where she was headed. They wouldn’t be elite if they weren’t the best that the organization had.
Mtambo was behind an HD Digital video recorder in another part of the auditorium. Also present were Scooter and Rell, blended nicely in the sea of bodies. Ndege was hidden away in a high vantage point, making sure that there were no problems during the exit.
This would be a risky move no doubt. Even for the best, it would prove to be difficult. However, military command decided that this would be the best strategic move. So, the order was sanctioned. Now, it was being carried out.
It was almost guaranteed that Clark would be here today. The beef had gone on for too long. Neva Die wasn’t a street gang or the Mafia. It was a branch of the family. The family were Guerillas, and Guerilla’s killed. They didn’t beef!
He would die here at the Satin Doll Fashion Show. Locating him was difficult, but they had done that. Killing him wouldn’t prove to be the problem. Doing so and not getting caught or having anything captured on video or by the thousands of cameras there, that was their problem. The matter was so sensitive that Zair himself, who was the General of the War Council was overseeing the operation.
The War Council wanted to avoid any contact or publicity that could lead back to the organization. With the feds already watching this Cadre, they couldn’t afford to be seen. Clandestine was the only way this operation could be carried out.
**** N. D. ****
Meanwhile
So far, the night had gone off without a hitch. The models were fabulous, the performances fantastic! So many big-name sponsors had approached her about backing the label. Even the promoter found time to come up to her and tell French Tip that she needed to do another immediate venue.
She literally was having the time of her life. Satin Doll was a huge success which would only take her higher in life. She would now have a purpose in life that wasn’t taking life.
What would she tell her brother? What would he say to her? They had always been there for one another; would he feel like she’d abandoned him?
These thoughts were quickly trying to steal her light and turn the night dark. French Tip had to catch herself by reminding herself that the time would come for her to deal with all of that. Now was not it.
When her name was announced, she walked thru the curtains and took center stage. The night was almost over. She had one last treat for every one who came out, before it came to an end.
“Good evening.” She waited while everyone applauded and cheered. “Thank you. Thank you. Honestly, from the bottom of my heart I need to thank each and every single one of you for coming out tonight and helping me share what has been so far the greatest night of my life. I’ve received a lot of positive feedback as well as potential investors and more.
“However, I could not have enjoyed the greatest night of my life unless my biggest supporter and best friend were here with me to enjoy it. Now I need you to give your greatest effort and help me welcome him to the stage. I give to you, ladies and gentlemen, my best friend,” she turned stretching her arm out towards the back curtains with a huge smile on her face.
The audience applauded and cheered on instinct. But the moment they laid eyes on French Tip’s best friend, the applause became genuine. The flashes of the cameras immediately went off the moment his Albino white and beige Mauri Alligators stepped on stage.
The vanilla crème colored tailor-made Armani suit dripped of new money. His freshly waxed bald head shined under the bright lights. 285lbs of pampered down and polished Guerilla strolled across the stage with enough confidence and swag to fill the entire auditorium and then some.
Once he reached her, he gave her the strongest, warmest hug that he could, along with an emotional filled kiss on the cheeks. After they exchanged words, he turned and swept his gaze across the crowd.
Everyone in attendance gawked at the giant of a man that stood center stage looking like the ‘God of Africa, waiting to hear his first words.
When the applause stopped he spoke, his voice a lot softer than expected.
“The only reason she called me her best friend is because she is my best friend.” “But everyone knows our cousin Cantelope is her best friend.” He turned his head and looked back at his little sister, “For years everyone including her wondered why I call her Booger, I would neva tell anyone why, not even her.”
“We’ve all heard the term, ‘cute as a booger.’ Well I used to wonder why people said that. I thought about it. Boogers are so nasty and disgusting and yet kids love them.” Murmurs went throughout the audience. “I know, I know. But you can tell a kid a thousand times not to dig in their nose or play with them. No matter what, they do. Kids just love boogers.” Everyone burst out laughing. He waited for the noise to die down before continuing.
“That’s some kind of love. A special love is what it takes to love something so gross, that everybody else hates. That is truly “unconditional love.” That’s the kind of love I have for my sister. That unbreakable, she can’t do nothing wrong, in my eyes, kind of love. That’s why she’s my Booger. It’s not that she’s disgusting, it’s that I love her no matter what!” There was not a full seat in the house, there were only standing ovations.
French Tip rushed into her brothers arms when he turned around. The hugged one another like they hadn’t seen each other in thirty years.
“I love you, brother!” She told him in his ear with tears rolling down her cheeks.
In the crowd, members of Neva Die were shocked to see their overseer out of his coma and on the stage. French Tip had stuck by her decision for no-one to know he was awake. Not even Clarkola, who was in attendance with his team, knew about it. Voorheeze agreed with secret because it gave him time to dissect the problems they faced and find the solutions at his own pace.
He broke their embrace and turned back towards the podium.
“Many of you don’t know this because you don’t know me. But, I’ve just spent the better part of the past year in a coma. That gap in time, the momentary suspension in nowhere showed me that I neva knew what was important. All my life I’ve chased the things that weren’t. Well, I’m don’t with that!
“The only other person whom I’ve always loved like this has neva even known. Lisa! I love you. I’ve always loved you. It’s time that you knew it because I’m coming for you!” With that said, together hand in hand, the siblings walked off the stage.
Shortly after Keri Hilson and Little Wayne took the stage and preformed their hit Turning Me On.
**** N. D. ****
Chapter XXIII
Meanwhile
The bottles of Rose were finally starting to make their self known. Clark and his team were definitely doing the most. At first, he was going to skip the event. French Tip told him that she’d invited the Neva Die Family and he didn’t want to be nowhere in the same vicinity as them bitch ass niggaz unless shit was popping.
His little sister had made sure to let the organizer know to seat the two groups on completely opposite sides if the auditorium. She knew if they bumped into one another, shit would pop off.
Jay-Z and Alicia Keyes did their thang hands down. But fuck the dumb shit, Clark was gone have to make his way back stage and snatch up one of them thick ass model chicks for the night. Shit if he ran into Alicia, she could get it too, with her thick ass. He didn’t want to get up, but he couldn’t take it any more. He had to piss like f
uck! When he stood up on wobbly legs Man-Man and Banga looked over his way.
“What it is, shorty? You straight?” Man-Man called over the music.
Back home he had partied some and even had his lil times he stunted, but he had neva experienced no shit like this. Neither of them had. There were celebrities all over the place.
“I’m Gucci, rogue. Just gotta piss like a mothafucka!” He called back,” You niggaz enjoy the show, I’ll be back.”
Clark wasn’t worried bout no problems, he had the cannon on his hip. He wished a mothafucka would. He’d light this bitch up, fuck some cameras. “Rather be judged by twelve then carried by six” was the motto he lived by.
With those thoughts on his mind, he smiled at a sexy little, fine ass, redbone as he passed her. If he didn’t have to piss so bad she probably could’a got hollered at.
**** N. D. ****
Meanwhile
“Echo-One this is Alpha. What’s your visualization like?” Everyone had been in position for twenty-minutes. Mtambo was only doing a check to make sure everybody was on point.
“It’s not perfect, but I do have a direct visual. I was thinking about possibly moving for a better angle.” She responded.
“No need Echo. Halo One is in position less then ten yards away. I got a direct visual from behind the target…” As Scooter was speaking, the target stood up. “Alpha-Team, we have movement. Target just stood up and is possibly on the move.”
“Considering how many bottles of that Rose they were popping, he’s more than likely heading toward the restrooms. Alpha-One request repositioning?” The voice of Rell filled the earpieces.
“Halo-Two I have to agree with your assessment. Relocate a course to intercept and eliminate if possible. Halo-One. Proceed course for rear tail. Should you acquire the ideal circumstances for elimination, proceed without prejudice and execute elimination. Charlie and Echo maintain positions.” Mtambo gave the orders to his cadre to carry out.