by T. Styles
“Because you haven’t wronged me or my brother.” He paused and gave him a serious stare. “Yet.”
“Make your point quicker,” Player #2 added.
Slade frowned at him. “I come in peace,” Slade warned Player #2. “Don’t make me change my mind and take a few niggas with me to the afterlife.”
“Shut the fuck up, man!” Quion said to Player #2 pointing at him. He focused back on Slade. “Continue. ‘Cause I have to know what inspired you to interrupt my game.”
Slade glared. “Lily sent us.”
Quion looked at him sideways. “Who that?”
Slade frowned and looked at the only bitch in the room, who stood so close to the wall she looked like a picture. “Her.” He pointed. “Ain’t that her name?”
“You mean my wife?” His nostrils flared.
Slade laughed. He knew she was scandalous. “I don’t know about who she is but I’m telling you that, that broad sent us to rob this game. Now I don’t know why but that’s what we’re here for. To take all ya’ll’s shit.”
“Do me a favor and kill these niggas!” Quion said, as Player #2, #3 and #4 aimed at them.
“Look at these fucking guns!” Slade yelled, standing in front of Killa who tried to get back on his side. Slade would give his life for his brother but Killa didn’t want to be protected; he wanted to fight arm and arm. “Look at our fucking guns!”
Quion raised his hand to stop his men from making the scene bloodier than need be. Slowly he rose, walked toward Slade and took the weapon from his hand. The mere fact that Slade let him at the gun, basically unarming himself, already gave Quion enough reason to trust him.
A little.
After further inspection Quion frowned. “This…this my hammer.” He turned around and looked at his wife. “April, what is this shit?”
So that’s her name. Slade thought.
“He’s lying, babe,” Lily peeled herself off the wall. “I would never—”
“But you did though,” Quion said cutting her off. “You did do this shit didn’t you? Gave them my guns and everything.”
“But…but I…” Pee rolled down her leg and dampened her pink espadrilles.
“All this because I didn’t want you at the pool party Saturday?” He paused. “And you thought I was fucking that bitch?” He yelled. “For some light shit you would do this to me? Possibly getting me killed?”
“Correction, I walked in on you fucking her, Quion!” She yelled, face blood red with rage. “But you didn’t see me or know I was there! You had her in our pool house, banging her from behind! With my family in the same house! What about our son?”
Quion, embarrassed beyond reason, wiped his hand down his face and took a deep breath. He walked over to the table, grabbed several stacks of cash equaling twenty thousand. He handed that money to Slade. “Take this…I’m buying my life back.”
Slade looked down at the money in his hand. “Thanks, man.”
“No problem. Not too often you find real niggas out here.” He gave him back the gun too. “So by law you gotta reward the shit when you see it. Ain’t enough of us no more. Ya’ll can keep the hammers.”
“Can I ask you for one more favor?” Slade said.
“I’m listening.” Quion crossed his arms over his chest.
“That’s your red Impala outside?”
Quion grinned.
****
Slade and Killa strolled toward the Impala and unlocked the car door. Twenty stacks heavier. “Wow, we really made it out of this shit alive.” Killa paused. “But why you ain’t let me in on the plan though?”
Slade smiled. “I changed it at the last minute.”
Killa nodded. “How you know he would give over the keys to his car?”
“We saved the nigga’s life. You heard him. ‘Cause of us, he got rid of that scandalous bitch.” Slade eased inside. “Giving us the car is probably light weight shit to him anyway. You saw all that money in the room. Trust me.”
Suddenly their was a female scream followed by gunfire and Killa looked at Slade before rushing into the car. “But let’s get out of here before his good graces go bad.”
Slade nodded. “You ain’t never lied. It’s off to D.C.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
MAYONI
“You’re a nosey fucker, you know that right?”
Mayoni walked into the bathroom where Cutie was on the floor scrubbing tiles with bleach, something she assigned her to do earlier for the party that was going on later. The bathroom was next to the pool area and she wanted it spotless. Plus it did her heart good to see Farah’s lackey get her hands dirty for a change. “Almost done? You been in here all day.” Mayoni asked crossing her arms over her chest.
Cutie looked at Mayoni and rolled her eyes.
Mayoni giggled. “No need in you being mad at me. Everybody in this house works in one-way or another. Why should your red ass get a free ride?”
Mayoni was about to leave when Cutie asked, “What happened to Mooney’s arm? And give me the truth.”
Mayoni turned around and glared. “You grown ain’t you? What I tell you ‘bout asking questions?”
“Did Farah cut it off?” She paused. “Or was it Bones?”
“You’re a nosey fucker, you know that right?”
“I gotta find out. I mean nobody talks to me around here. Everybody treats me like a kid. Even Farah.”
Mayoni leaned against the wall and observed Cutie. Something about the little girl she liked and it irritated her. Still, it felt good that Cutie came to her with a question she wanted to know instead of Farah. She exhaled deeply. “They both were responsible.”
“How?” Cutie sat the sponge down.
“Farah found out that Mooney was writing a book about our lives at Crescent and what we had going on here.”
“Crescent?” She was confused.
“Look, did you even read the book Mooney wrote?” She paused. “You know what, I’m done with story time, Farah gotta tell you the rest.” She threw her hands up in the air.
“Oh yeah, the crazy house. I remember reading that part now. Please finish.”
Mayoni frowned. “You trying to get slapped?”
“What I do now?” She shrugged.
“Calling it a crazy house disrespects my team.” She sighed. “Anyway Farah mentioned to Bones that Mooney was writing a book. But before he could approach her he caught Mooney going into his room trying to steal notes that Dr. Weil gave him. She’d already been thrown out at that time. Mad at the world he cut off her arm for stealing and Farah felt guilty about it so she helped her escape the Ice Box he threw Mooney in.”
“Wow.”
“I give you all that, and the only thing you can say is wow?” She paused. “Look, girl, just finish cleaning. We got celebrating to do. Shikar is back on?”
“Shikar?”
“The hunt!” Mayoni threw her hands up in annoyance. “I’m done with you! Finish cleaning.” Mayoni stormed out.”
****
ZASHAY
Zashay hustled down the hallway eager for dinner. Earlier Nicola and Eve had told her the chef was serving lobster with crab rice and she was hungry as fuck just thinking about it. She was almost in the dining room when Gregory stepped in front of her. “Hey, sexy, where you going?” He gripped his dick, something he’d done a lot lately.
“To eat.” She backed up a little. “Why?”
“Did you wanna play around some first?’ He removed his razor. “I cut and lick and then you do the same?” His eyes were glassed over and she knew the experience would not be enjoyable in the least. Out of all of them, he and Swanson needed their medication the most.
“But I’m—” He yanked her by the arm; squeezing her wrist so hard her fingertips went numb.
“Play with me. I just want a little taste. Dinner gonna be there.”
“Okay…okay, Gregory. But you’re hurting me.”
“Then stop playing hard to get.” He released.
; “Where are we going?”
“Your room is closer.” He grinned. “So move.”
Slowly she turned around and he followed. She trembled as she walked toward her room, doing her best not to show fear. Playing with Gregory lately had never been enjoyable but what could she do? She couldn’t shake him if she tried, especially since Bones knocked her down from grace.
When they made it to her room she closed the door and he whipped out his dick as if it were a gun. Sweat covered his forehead and his tongue hung out as if he hadn’t a thing to drink all day. “Get on the floor.”
“Gregory, I don’t want to have sex. Can’t we just drink?” She smiled.
“Why? You ain’t trying to fuck me or something? My dick ain’t no good.” He paused. “Bones is done with you. You might as well have some fun.”
“It’s just that last time you hurt me really bad.”
“Fuck all of that! Get on the floor.” He pointed in the corner.
The moment she sat down he stuffed his dick into her mouth roughly. And although her teeth scraped at the sides of his dick, he didn’t seem to care. When she looked down at his penis she saw many old scratches and believed he was used to women pawing at it to get away.
When he felt himself about to cum, he gripped her throat and squeezed tightly, cutting off all air circulation. The harder he squeezed the weaker she became until she passed out. And when she did, he continued to jerk off until he came into her mouth.
****
Eve was in the backyard setting fire to rats, something she did in her free time and what also led into her being in Crescent. Over the past few days she collected a few garden rats for the purpose of torture and like she had in the past, she just poured gasoline on one and set it on fire when suddenly it leapt up and ran. Afraid it would run into the house she gave chase.
The last thing she needed was it getting inside and setting something on fire, revoking her membership in The Fold. Although Dr. Weil was the one who said her habit had to stop or she’d be banned, she was certain that Bones would still uphold the law, especially if she burned everything down.
When she cornered the rat up against the wall, she stomped it hard and bent down to pick it up. The moment she did she peered into the window to see who had seen her and was shocked when she saw Zashay lying on the floor as if she were dead.
“What the fuck?”
****
Eve wiped cum and blood off Zashay’s face. When her eyes opened she breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh my God, Zashay. What happened?”
Zashay sat up slowly and pulled her legs toward her. “It was Gregory.” She felt so weak.
Eve frowned. “We have to do something about him.” She paused. “Maybe we should tell Bones.”
“No, he doesn’t care about me anymore. Or what the men do.”
“Then who should we go to?”
“Next in power. Farah.”
****
The weather was perfect and because of it The Fold decided to have an impromptu barbeque, in celebration of Shikar. The pool was crowded with the members partially dressed, drunk and loud and it was the best mood everyone had been in, in a long time.
Bones stood up against the inside of the pool while Farah was in front of him, her legs wrapped around his body as they waded in the warm water. Her red and gold bikini made her stand out from everyone wearing black swimsuits and it was just the way he loved it. “Damn you fine,” he said.
“Nobody can ever tell me you not feeling me.” She kissed his neck and one of the dreads fell free from the bun he was wearing on top of his head.
“When you want someone you gotta let them know.” He paused. “But are you really ready to be with me?” He asked looking into her eyes.
She smiled and touched the side of his face. “You think too deeply, Bones. Not everything need be so heavy.”
He nodded. “Then why do I feel like you have something planned?”
She shrugged. “Well, actually I did want to talk to you about something. There have been a lot of fights and weird situations breaking out in the house and I wanted to know, if I was able to get medication for the people who need it would you let me? That way—”
He grabbed her cheek and squeezed so hard her lips puckered. “Leave it alone. We don’t need no more fucking medicine.” He released her. “Drop it, Farah.” He slapped her ass. “Now go get me a drink.”
“No problem.” She eased off of him, removed her bikini top and tossed it in the water. Next she walked up the steps slowly leading outside of the pool, capturing Bones’ attention, and every man who wanted a taste of the forbidden vamp.
Once at the bar Zashay, who been watching them together, stomped toward her with a major attitude. “That’s mighty tasteless of you.” She nodded at Farah’s breasts.
“No it ain’t.” Farah winked. “The man likes what he likes. A show. So I’m giving it to him. If you tried it sometimes he might not have dumped you.” She focused on the bartender. “A bloody Henny with ice please.”
“You know he’s playing you right?” Zashay asked. Farah smiled at her as if she was totally irrelevant before focusing back on the bartender. “He wants to tear us apart.”
Farah thought the woman was goofy, especially since she’d recently said the same things to her and got knocked down.
“I’ll take a bloody martini too,” Farah said to the bartender, irritating Zashay beyond know end due to not responding.
Zashay grabbed her arm. “Can you talk to me? Please? I want to talk to you about something.”
Farah turned toward her and looked into her eyes. For a moment Zashay’s stare fell on her breasts before rolling up. Her body was perfect and that only added to Zashay’s fury. “What?”
“I’m sorry for—”
“You fucked up with me,” Farah said. I don’t want to hear much else.
“Excuse me?”
“I haven’t trusted a woman since my sister and I trusted you.” She pointed at her. “But what did you do, choose a man who treated you like shit over us. And now look…the nigga dumped you the moment I gave the word.” She paused. “And to think, I don’t even want him.”
Zashay frowned. “What does that mean?”
“Just what I said.”
“So you have plans to do something I don’t know about?”
“Even if I did, why would I tell you?”
Silence.
Zashay took a deep breath. “Look, we have to live together and—”
“We don’t have to do anything but stay out of each other’s way. And when the time comes, you will do everything in your power to convince me why I shouldn’t kill you for choosing the wrong side.” Farah picked up the drinks on the bar. “Oh, and don’t bother telling Bones about any of this. I’ll just lie my face off and cry. And trust me, he will believe me. He always does.” She walked away.
Breasts bouncing all the way.
****
Mad at the world, Mayoni sat on the lawn chair next to Carlton as she glared at Farah and Zashay from a far. “What do you think they were talking about? They looked awfully heated don’t you think?”
He looked over at them. “Who cares?”
“I care!” Slowly her head rotated toward him. “Why aren’t you ambitious?” She threw her hands up. “I mean really.”
He frowned.
“I’m serious, Carlton! Answer me! Why don’t you try to figure out how to make yourself indispensible to Bones? The way you moving now there’s no reason for you to stay around or be in his circle. In case you forgot Bones is it for The Fold and Dr. Weil is gone.”
He nodded his head. “You know what, you’re right. There is absolutely no reason for me to stay around. Goodbye, bitch.” He got up and walked over to Nicola.
The moment he walked toward her and tapped her on the shoulder Nicola lit up when she stared into his handsome face. He helped her to her feet and they held a great conversation.
Mayoni felt gut punched as she watched him laugh
with her so easily. Sure it was nothing for members to share in one another, but he was making her believe that they could be together if she acted right.
“You wanna play games, Carlton?” Mayoni said to herself. “Okay. We’ll play games.” With that she leaned back in her chair and sipped her blood red margarita as she thought of the best way to get revenge.
****
CUTIE
Cutie sat on Phoenix’ lap as he played dominoes with three other members of The Fold by the pool. There wasn’t a moment that didn’t go by that she didn’t think about leaving the mansion, but she was falling for Phoenix and he had her wanting to risk it all.
“Domino, bitch ass nigga!” Phoenix yelled as he slammed it down on the table.
“Fuck!” A few of the other members yelled.
“I think you be cheating, son.” One of them said, pointing his way.
“He be killing ya’ll for real.” Cutie laughed. “But I think he might be cheating too.” She kissed his cheek. “I mean how many times did you win, bae? Four?”
Phoenix looked at her sideways. “You serious? You believing what these niggas saying out here?”
“I mean I don’t know,” she said playfully. “It do seem suspect to me though.”
He looked at the members and shook his head. “Get up, Cutie.”
She rose slowly, noticing how his attitude changed instantly. “Wait…you mad at me? ‘Cause I was just playing.”
He stood up and stormed away from the table. She was about to follow him when one of the members said, “Don’t do it, Cutie. Just leave him be.”
But her youth and ambitious ways didn’t allow her to listen and so she followed him into the house anyway, begging him to talk to her the entire way. The moment they were in the confines of the mansion and the brightness from outdoors was replaced with the shade from inside, she was met with a blow to the mouth with a closed fist. Horrified she tried to run outside but he grabbed her by the hair and dragged her to his room. When the doors were locked he hit her again in the nose before striking her in the mouth.