by T. Styles
Laverne raised her hand. “Call me Mooney. I’ve always liked that name.”
“Call me Mayoni,” Giovanna said. “No particular reason.”
Dr. Weil looked around. “Okay…anyone else?”
“Call me Jasmine,” Courtney said.
“Nah…I hate that name,” Porter interjected. “Used to fuck with a bitch with the same name and I wanted her dead every day of her life.” He paused. “But you can call me Gregory though.”
“Okayyyy,” she said a little freaked out. “Call me Zashay then.” She shrugged.
Dr. Weil nodded.
“Call me Carlton,” Lewis said.
One by one they went around the room giving their monikers, which the doctor with his good memory memorized instantly. “So we have Mayoni, Carlton, Zashay, Nicola, Denny, Phoenix, Wesley, Gregory, Swanson, Vivica, Eve and Lootz.” He looked at Morton. “Hold up, you didn’t tell me what your name is yet.”
“Oh…I can’t think of a good one. So for now just call me Bones.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
SLADE
“The nigga ain’t coming so it’s a done deal.”
“I still don’t think we have enough people,” Lily said pacing the floor of her motel room. “I mean, why did you tell Audio to stay behind because it’s not smart? This type of job needs as many hands as possible.” Her skin was reddening and he could tell she was scared.
Slade wiped his hand down his face. “Look, if this ‘bout money who cares who’s with us?” Slade asked. “Me and my brother ready and we got this. So take us and stop worrying about Audio. The nigga ain’t coming so it’s a done deal.”
“Exactly,” Killa added. “We did this type shit before. We know what we doing.”
She blew a raspberry. “I hear all that but there will be a lot of people who may be armed there tonight. Trust me, if I thought both of you would be enough I wouldn’t say anything.” She paused. “I’m sorry but I don’t think you’ll be able to handle it. Maybe some other time.”
“There you go again trying to make assumptions on what our lives have been about.” Slade glared. “When I tell you me and my brother got it that’s the fuck what I mean.” He paused. “What we really should be asking is who got you so fucked up that you would pull something like this? Because I know you know these dudes.”
She sighed and flopped on the edge of the bed. “My business is my business just like yours is yours.” She fell backwards on the thin mattress. “And I’m sorry about me keep pressing the issue about Audio. Guess I just wanted him there that’s all.”
Slade looked at Killa.
Once again his instincts told him that she was scandalous but the need for money blinded him at the moment. Sure he could’ve had Killa take eyes off Memory and his son whom was named Deal Baker to bring them some money since they didn’t have an ID for Western Union. But he was afraid that if Memory had an opportunity, she’d hurt the kid again.
Then there was the clan of Bakers, who would’ve dropped everything to be involved in a score with their cousins if Slade made a call. The problem with extended family was they talked too much and he was certain that with time and the way they ran their mouths, The Fold would know their plans to get at Farah before they reached their destination.
“Tell me again who these people are,” Slade asked her.
She sighed. “Well Quion is the main one. He sets up the games and the people who he trusts sends out word on the location. So it starts around noon but I’ve seen them play up to midnight sometimes if the pot is right.”
“How many people do you think be there?” Killa questioned. “I mean, how do we know it’ll be worth it?”
“I can’t tell you how many people because the players change. But I will say they start with a minimum bid of twenty thousand, enough income to make it worthwhile.” She looked at both of them. “So you tell me if it’s worth your time.”
Slade nodded. “If I find out this a set up I’ll kill you.” He pointed at her. “With my bare hands. Just so you know.”
She frowned. “Wait a minute. I’m the one who brought you in on this. How you gonna—”
“Do you hear me?” Slade continued moving closer. “If I get an idea that anything is wrong I’ma knock your chin off your shoulders. Just letting you know where I’m coming from.”
She folded her arms across her chest tightly and poked out her lips. “So much for hospitality.” She stormed to the bathroom and slammed the door.
Killa walked up to his brother. “What you thinking, Slade?”
“That we got a fifty/fifty chance of dying.”
Killa nodded. “For some reason it’s a chance I’m willing to take.”
“Guess we going then.” Slade looked at him and they both broke out into laughter.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
FARAH
“We are about Blood, Sex and Pain. ”
Farah was seated on the edge of the bed looking outward when the door opened and Nicola walked inside. “You okay? Because you been moping around the house all day.” She asked. “And I was so worried about you and being with Gregory alone.”
“I’m fine.” Farah paused. “Just thinking about a few things.”
“I wanted to ask you for a courtesy.”
Farah didn’t have time for many favors but Nicola had always been good to her so she humored her for the moment. “What is it?”
“Carlton…he…”
Farah sighed. “You still crushing on him?”
“Kinda.” She sat next to her.
“Carlton loves Mayoni. You know he’ll never—“
“I know, I know.” She looked down. “I just…” Nicola shook her head, unable to say much more. Turning toward her she said, “I wanted him first you know? On the day Dr. Weil rescued us from Crescent. But Mayoni always had a thing for whoever was in charge at the time and powerful men love her back. During that time, when we first got here, me and Carlton spent a lot of time together. Made love a few times and everything. But then Mayoni saw how close he was with Dr. Weil and how much he was letting him do for our family and he left me for her. She assured him that she could make him next in charge, except it was Bones instead. I don’t think Dr. Weil ever liked her.” She exhaled. “Always the brides panties never the dress.”
Farah frowned. “Don’t think that’s how the saying goes.”
“But that’s how I feel.”
Farah nodded.
“So me and Lootz got together but he never really did it for me.” Nicola shook her head. “And now look, Porter’s dead and—”
Nicola, I don’t mean to be rude but—”
“Have you drank recently?” She paused. “I’m talking about blood? Your face is really bruised and flushed. You need to refresh.”
“No.”
Nicola stood up and walked in front of Farah and pushed her back on the bed. Next she crawled on top of her easing a blade from the pocket on her bra. Looking down at Farah she said, “Damn you’re sexy. You wanna do the honors?” She extended the razor.
Farah removed the gold blade from her fingertips and sliced into Nicola’s shoulder. When the blood appeared she sucked it lightly, savoring the salty flavor oozing on her tongue. And after a few more slits Farah’s mind was right and she was ready for the world.
****
Farah smoothed out the silky black dress she was wearing and stood in the mirror to look at herself. Although sometimes she preferred to dress down, she did appreciate that The Fold’s motto was glamour over everything. Besides, it felt good to have the smooth Versace designer dress against her skin and in all truth she was killing it. Cutie stood next to her and admired Farah’s reflection through the mirror. “You look different today.” She paused. “Why?”
Farah looked over at her. “I am different.”
Cutie smiled. “I wanna be just like you.”
“What does that mean?”
“A vamp!”
Farah giggled. “I’m more than just that,
Cutie. And I keep trying to stress that in this house everything is not what it seems.” She took a deep breath. “Besides, there was a long road for me to become who I am, and I’m still not done.” She ran her hands down her hips. “Not even close.”
Cutie looked at the door as she had several times that day.
“Who you waiting on?”
Cutie grinned. “Phoenix.”
Farah nodded. “Fuck him yet?”
“Ewww! Gross!”
“I know you’ve had sex, Cutie so cut the games. And the other men can smell it on you. I won’t tell you how I feel about Phoenix because D.C. knows how I used to get down back in the day. But still…be careful with him.”
Cutie frowned. “Why you say that?”
Cutie walked away and Farah looked at her from the mirror. “This house was created to satisfy the flesh. Don’t get me wrong, I love most of the people here but I’m never under any illusions that it’s anything different. We are about Blood, Sex and Pain. ”
“I don’t understand.”
“That’s why you don’t belong here.”
The door opened and the youngest member of The Fold, Phoenix walked inside without knocking, something that burned Farah up about him every time. Outside of his good looks he also brought with him a scent of cologne and Farah already knew he was about to lay the pipe on her hard. “Hi, Farah.” He waved and then looked at Cutie. “You ready?”
She smiled and walked toward him, looking back at Farah once before following him out, closing the door behind herself.
Farah wasn’t dumb.
She knew Phoenix was a plant to keep Cutie happy in the house by Bones, since for whatever reason Farah had grown to care for the girl. The more reasons he had for her to stay the better. But Farah could not be distracted. Besides, after speaking with her sister she’d come up with a plan to escape The Fold and go on with her life and she was putting it into action. Although it would take some work she was up to the challenge.
****
Zashay stood at the foot of the bed while staring at Bones whose dick was at a partial thickness as he looked at her curvaceous body. He was stroking briskly to get it at full attention.
She looked over at him and grinned. “Ready for me yet?”
“Give me a second,” he said biting his bottom lip. “I just want to stare at you for a moment.”
She smiled and ran her hand down the curves of her body. “Soon you’re going to be calling me Mrs. Bones.” She grinned harder thinking about the day. “And I’m gonna love it too.”
He chuckled. “Is that right?”
“Dead ass. Do you realize how long it took me to get to this moment? To this day? Since we’ve come here the only thing I wanted was you.” He tried to keep a straight face even though she reminded him incessantly about her obsession over him and in all honestly it was getting boring. “And now—”
The door opened slowly and Farah strutted inside. She picked up Zashay’s robe and stuffed it in her hands. “Get out, Zashay. The games are over.”
Zashay frowned. “Fuck you doing in here?”
“You really want me to say it again?” Farah said calmly. “Bounce!”
“What…you…” Zashay looked at Bones for help. “Can you tell her to leave before I have to scratch her face off?”
As Zashay rambled Farah noticed that Bones’ dick was now rock hard. “Aye, Zashay, let me holla at Farah for a minute. I’ll get up with you later.”
“Bones!” Zashay cried. “But you promised! You promised you would never do this to—”
“Get the fuck out!” He yelled. “Now!”
Zashay took several breaths, slipped on her robe and tied it tightly. Quickly she walked out, closing the door behind her.
“You know you just set her off right?” Bones asked. “She gonna be mad as fuck about it too.”
“And we gonna fake like you really care? She eased toward the bed, crawled on top of it and stood over his body. “And we gonna fake like everything you did wasn’t to get my attention? ‘Cause I can go get her now if you want her in here instead of me.”
“Stop playing and get down here.”
Slowly she eased her body down and raised her dress, until his dick was tucked inside of her like a gun in a holster. “Wow, you feel like you miss me.”
He grabbed her waist and pumped in and out of her until his body trembled. “I ain’t saying shit else to swell up your head. You already know what it is with me and you.” He paused. “The question is are you done fighting with me or not?”
“I’m done. How can I fight a man who always wins?”
She placed her palms on his chest and rode him until she could feel him pulsating. “You gonna tell everybody who the real boss is right? And who really stands at your side?” He nodded. “That means Mayoni too?”
“You know I will.” His tongue hung out the side of his mouth.
“Let me hear you say it.”
“You’re the queen.” He paused, gripping her waist harder. “I did all of this crazy shit for you, sexy,” he moaned. “I just wanted you to notice me. Sorry I had to fuck up your face. You still pretty though.”
She smiled as he reveled in the softness of her silky pocket. Weak ass nigga. She thought to herself. And you wonder why I could never fuck with you.
****
After showering in her room, Farah placed her black velvet sweat suit on for comfort. When she walked back into the bathroom she was surprised that Swanson was standing there, watching her. “What the fuck?” She yelled, touching her chest. “You almost…killed me!”
“How you doing?”
“What you doing in my bathroom?” She paused. “As a matter of fact! Just get out!” She pointed at the door.
****
Farah limped out of her room and into the hallway, blood smeared all on her face and chest. Confused, Bones walked up on her just as Swanson came out. “What’s going on?” He glared.
“I…he…,” Farah ran back into the room, leaving Bones and Swanson alone. He approached Swanson and observed the blood on his hands. “I was just fooling around with her some.” He paused. “Sorry, man.” He cleared his throat. “I guess she wasn’t feeling it.”
“Off limits,” Bones said.
I know, man. I was just—”
“Don’t tell me that you know and then give me an excuse.” He shoved him into the wall. “She’s mine and what I allowed to happen that day was then. This is now.”
“Never again, man.”
Bones glared at him once more and walked away.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
SLADE
“You haven’t wronged me or my brother. Yet”
Slade, Killa and Lily were crouched behind the trailer where they already knocked out two men who were on guard to protect the game. They were doing a bad job too because they were two soldiers short. Needing to see inside, slowly Slade rose and peered into the window. When he saw what he wanted he lowered. “They playing now.”
“How many you see?” Killa asked.
“About five or six,” he paused. “But we can take them.”
Lily grinned. “Good, I’m gonna go in and try to throw them off our plan.” She rose up and dusted off her clothing. “When I scratch my head come inside. I’ll pick up whatever I can find and help when the time comes.”
Yeah right, dirty bitch. Slade thought.
When Lily disappeared, they both cocked the weapons she gave them earlier. They were .45s with gold handles and they were unique. “You sure this will work?” Killa asked.
“Nah…but we gonna take a chance. Besides,” he paused. “Didn’t you say you wanted a little adventure?”
“Nah…that was Audio.”
Slade laughed. “Well that time has come.”
****
Quion slid several stacks of one hundred dollar bills onto the poker table after making his bid, when the door opened and Lily waltzed inside he smiled at her. “Wow, you finished acting like a brat already?�
� He scratched through one of the bushy cornrows on his head. “If so this a record. It normally takes a few days for you to come around.”
Everyone laughed.
“Guess I got tired of fighting with you.” Lily flopped on his lap despite irritating the fuck out of the players due to being too close to the cards. “Just wanted a little attention that’s all. Maybe you should give it to me.”
“Well now you—”
Suddenly the door flew open and Slade and Killa busted inside, guns in the air. To let folks know they weren’t playing they sounded a bullet off into the ceiling and then aimed at the men who were caught off guard. Most everyone was strapped at the game but one false move and Slade would’ve reacted quicker than they could’ve grabbed their weapons.
Lily on the other hand wanted to shit on her thong because she hadn’t expected the country boys to be aggressive so soon. Not only had Slade’s presence seemed bigger than it had when she first pulled up on him, but she had yet to give him the sign to enter.
So what was he doing there?
“I don’t know who you are, but you came in on the wrong game.” Quion warned. “So I suggest you turn back while you still can.”
“I’ma do all that but first I got something you want.”
Quion frowned. “And what the fuck is that?”
“Information.”
Quion sat back in his seat and Lily rose, easing slowly back into the wall. This didn’t look good for her.
“You got the floor.” He raised his hands and they dropped at his sides. “So let me hear it.” He crossed his arms over his chest.
“Now I could’ve come in here and robbed the game as planned,” he looked around the room. “But I’m not gonna do that.”
“And why not?” He gritted his teeth.