by T. Styles
“I asked you a question, what are you doing in here?” Nicola backed into her dresser.
Mayoni took a deep breath. “What was Farah talking to you about just now?”
Nicola smiled. “Oh…so that’s what this is about? My personal conversation with Farah?”
“Well I must say that I am curious.” Mayoni sat on her bed. “She held a meeting with everyone but me. Why is that? I’m starting to feel left out of this family.”
“You gotta go ask her.” Nicola shrugged. “But I do want to know what happened to my carpet! Why is a patch missing?”
Mayoni looked down at it and shrugged. “You asking me?” She pointed to herself. “I mean, maybe you can go ask Carlton since you fucking him so well?”
“You know what, that’s exactly what I’m gonna do.” She moved toward the door.
“Oh wait…I forgot,” Mayoni said pointing at her with her index finger. “Carlton left The Fold. And I hear it’s for good too.”
Nicola frowned. “No…no he didn’t. He wouldn’t—”
“Actually he did and he would.” Mayoni giggled. “You may have suckled his dick a few times but when it comes to knowing him inside out you are clueless, bitch.” She stood up. “I mean consider it for a minute. How do you think he reacted when I told him I refused to lay with him again after he’d been with you? The man was mad with sadness and left.”
“But he’d been with me before.”
“And that’s why he’s gone. He won’t do it again. Twice was far enough.”
Nicola placed her hand on her belly and gasped softly. After all this time she’d been trying to get with him. To get him to seriously look her way and now she was realizing she’d never have him the way she wanted. “But he said…he said he would let you know that he had chosen me for his right hand. So he couldn’t leave. He wouldn’t do that without saying goodbye.”
Mayoni glared. “Well he lied about that too, bitch! You will always be the next thing to a Giver and nothing more.”
Nicola looked at her long and hard. “I don’t believe you.”
“You don’t have—”
“I believe you did something to him.” She pointed in Mayoni’s face. “I saw how mad you were when you saw him with me.”
Mayoni moved closer. “Be careful about spreading lies though. They’re bad for your health.”
“It’s not a lie.” She breathed heavily. “I know about your record. And how you killed your last boyfriend.” She paused. “I might be almost like a Giver in your mind but I lived in Crescent too! I remember your file, Mayoni. Whenever you can’t get your way you attack.”
Mayoni cleared her throat. “So what you gonna do? Break a rule and call the police? Remember we are dead.”
She moved even closer.
So close their breasts touched.
“But imagine what would happen if what you said were true and I did kill him?” She paused. “What do you think I’d do to a person who had intentions on snitching on me?” She paused. “Be careful, lady. Be very, very careful.”
She stormed out.
****
FARAH
Farah walked into Cutie’s room where she was lying face up on the bed, Phoenix on top of her trying to pry between her yellow thighs. “Get out, Phoenix?” Farah said calmly. “It ain’t going down tonight.”
“Farah, don’t!” Cutie yelled.
“Bounce, Phoenix!”
He said, “Sorry, Farah I was—”
“Just get out!” Farah demanded again. “Now!”
“Yeah whatever. I’ll definitely be back.” He got out of bed, grabbed his robe, looked back at Cutie and smoothly walked out the door.
“What you doing, Cutie? Having sex in—” Farah squinted and looked at the bruises on her face. “Wait a minute. Did he hit you?” She walked up to her and touched her cheek, only for Cutie to smack her hand off.
Farah wanted to choke the bitch but held back.
“No! He didn’t.” She paused. “I was just—”
“You can’t even come up with a decent story.” Farah glared. “But let me help you. The usual lies when a nigga is kicking your ass is that you fell down the stairs. You ran into a wall or—”
“Just stop it! Stop it! Please!” She jumped out of bed and slipped into Phoenix’s t-shirt. “You don’t understand.”
Farah shook her head. “What happened to you? In your life? To make you think shit is sweet?”
“How you pointing the finger at me like Bones not beating you.”
Farah squinted. “But I got plans for that.”
“So now that you killed my foster mother you want to pretend to be my parent? Is that what this is?”
“I don’t want to be anything but my own person! And I didn’t kill your mother.” Farah said. “If anything your coming here killed her and complicated my life.”
Cutie walked to the mirror. “Then don’t bother me because I don’t want your help anyway. Me and Phoenix are about to get married and—”
“Marriage has no meaning in this house, Cutie. I told you that before. The only thing we do here is settle the flesh. Basically he’ll fuck the shit out of you and then leave you the moment you become boring. They all do.”
“You don’t know him.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I had a boyfriend just like him and it didn’t end good.”
Cutie looked down and cried. “You not talking about Slade are you?”
“No…he’s the only one who really gets me but we can never be together. That’s the way shit is when you’re with The Fold and I have to deal with it.”
Slowly Farah walked over to her and said, “I’m working out a plan to get you out of this house.”
“What about you?”
“I’m going too.”
“Can I go with you?”
“No. You’ll need to go to another home or maybe a family member.” She paused. “You don’t know it but everybody, with the exception of a few Givers, have mental issues. So you don’t know what happened to Phoenix or what circumstance he was born into and you don’t want to. So you have to leave.”
Farah said all of that and Cutie only heard one thing. “Getting me out of this house to live with strangers is your answer? Instead of staying with you? But why?”
“Because it’s not safe to be with me. I will always be trouble.”
Cutie backed away from her toward the door. “But I’m not leaving anywhere without you. And since you don’t want me I won’t live without him. I can’t be alone.”
“Are you insane?”
“I’m not going anywhere without Phoenix!” She screamed. “And you can’t make me!”
She stormed out of the room and Farah gave chase until she bumped into Bones. Before addressing Farah, he turned around and looked at Cutie running away. “What’s wrong with her?”
Farah cleared her throat. “Nothing.”
He glared. “Trust. Remember?”
Farah scratched her scalp. “I think her and Phoenix had a fight.” She shrugged. “Sometimes I wish you never hooked them up. They’re too intense together.”
He smiled, having received a believable answer. “Yeah…he has that effect on the ladies.” He looked down the hall again and back at her. “She’ll pull through and understand how things work here.”
“I’m serious, Bones. He’s messing with her head and did you see her face?” She forgot he hit her on the regular basis.
His brows rose. “Wait…he hit her?”
“Yes.”
Bones looked away, nodded and stared back into Farah’s eyes. He himself beat Farah all the time. “Sometimes you have to establish authority. Let these females know who was in charge. I’m sure that’s all he was up to.”
Farah bit her tongue because she had choice words for him that she decided to keep to herself. “Maybe.”
“By the way, I’ve been looking all over for Carlton. You seen him lately?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
; FARAH
“It’s been a long time and now we’re back!”
It was time for pre-hunt night.
They all stood in the front lawn, two black Mercedes Sprinters with tinted windows and opened doors in the driveway awaited them. Farah walked out of the mansion and up to the pack, her tight red pants and black top showcasing her figure. Bones came out behind her, his hand resting in the small of her back as he took her side.
“I won’t be going tonight,” Bones said to them. “But Farah will ensure that pre-hunt will be a successful one,”
Farah smiled at them all. “It’s been a long time and now we’re back!”
The crowd erupted in cheers.
“Although blood is the purpose we must be selective.” She looked at all of them. “This is still our home and we must be organized savages. Only invite those who are deserving or we’ll have to rid ourselves of them.” She looked at Cutie. “Where are the invitations?”
Cutie picked up the box and walked them to the center of the lawn. Farah removed one of the invitations, which were black cards with red embossed lettering that included an address. It would be the place that the guest would be picked up and brought back to the house for the party after they were drugged of course.
“These cards should be given to whom we select, but let’s make sure that we only choose top notch people. Let them be sexy but above all let them be worth their weight in blood.”
Bones smiled. “The Fold!”
Everyone raised a fist in the air.
“Let’s hunt!” Farah added.
When she saw Cutie try to ease into the bus she grabbed her by the collar and pulled her back. “Nah, you staying here. So don’t even try it.”
“But, Farah, I gotta see how they do it!” She paused. “Please.”
“Go back in the house!” Farah yelled. “Ain’t nobody paying with you. Now!”
Cutie rolled her eyes and stomped inside. When she was gone Farah focused on Bones. His facial expressions were starting to get colder and she felt she didn’t know what he would do from one moment to the next. It was like there was no soul behind his eyes. “Are you okay? You seem out of it.”
“Is this about Dr. Weil being gone again? And me needing medicine?”
“I’m worried about you.”
“Don’t be. Just play your position and the rest will fall into place.” He slapped her ass and walked into the house.
****
The Fold had been to three clubs that night looking for worthy victims and so far they were coming up short. All hope was mostly lost until they walked into Club Curtains, an upscale spot in D.C., which cost over ten million to build. Once inside it appeared that every sexy man and woman had made a unanimous decision to patronize the same spot.
“Now this is what I’m talking about,” Gregory said rubbing his palms together. He placed a hand on Farah’s shoulder. “Good decision.”
She looked down at his hand. “Get your fucking fingers off me.”
He chuckled and looked back at the men. “This is it, fellas. Let’s get to it.” Slowly he removed his hand, winked and walked inside.
The men of The Fold bopped forward, a stack of cards in their pockets and thoughts of bloodsucking and ass fucking in their minds.
Eve, Denny and Nicola walked behind Farah. For a minute they watched the men hand card after card to every halfway decent woman in sight. Throughout it all, not one man had received an invite.
“Okay, ladies,” Farah said. “Seems the fellas are trying to have this night unevenly matched. We need some dudes in the mix.”
Denny puckered her lips. “I’m on it.” She and Eve switched off and up to a pack of dope boys while Nicola hung behind.
“Why do I get the impression you’re leaving?” She asked Farah.
“What you mean?” Farah was shocked. “We just got here.”
“No, I mean permanently.” She paused. “You doing a lot and I think…I feel…” She moved closer. “Farah, please don’t leave if you’re thinking about it. We need you, you know that.”
“Nicola, everything will happen that needs to happen.” Farah smiled. “Now go get us some men for Blood Night. The girls need help.”
Nicola smiled sadly and walked off.
When the night trickled down the fellas retreated to the Sprinters, zero cards in hand. Gregory, however, held back and watched Farah who was overseeing the other girls. The possible Givers were in awe of the women dressed in black with red accents that were approaching them.
“You think it’s cool that they giving invites to so many dudes?” Gregory questioned. “If you ask me it’s too much and Mayoni would never have given so many access. It ain’t like ya’ll don’t like sucking from ladies too. Why have too many niggas if we don’t need ‘em?” He shrugged.
Farah laughed softly. “You talk to me as if I can forget.”
He cleared his throat. “What you talking about?”
“I remember everything you did to me. And when the time is right I’ll show you.”
He frowned. “Fuck that mean?”
She walked off.
****
The hallway within the mansion was dark as Farah tiptoed down it. Slowly she used the letter opener in her pocket to pop the lock of a door and push her way inside Dr. Weil’s office. It took almost five minutes and she still hadn’t found what she was looking for. She knew time was not on her side because not only was Bones always looking for her but lately his obsession with being in the office was borderline psychotic. So he was bound to come back at any second.
After locating the file she was on her way out when Bones walked inside and frowned. Quickly, she hid the file behind her back. “Hey, bae.”
“What you doing in here?” He paused and looked around. “And how did you get inside?”
Farah trembled as her mind raced about the best thing to say. “Gregory tried to rape me again,” she lied.
“What?”
“Ever since you gave them the okay to disrespect me they do it everyday!” She yelled.
“But—”
“Am I your rider or not?”
“What?” He paused. “Yeah!”
“Then let them niggas know that I belong to you! I’m not feeling safe in our own home and I thought you told me with you in charge I would.”
He remained still.
“Now, Bones! Please!”
He looked at her once more and walked out. Farah used the opportunity to escape with the files in her hand.
****
“No just ask him if he knows anybody who wants to make a little extra money.” Farah sat on the edge of her bed.
“Farah, why don’t you just leave that place?” Mia asked. “Why do all of this?”
“There’s nothing I want more than to bounce. But I gotta take care of them first.”
“But why?” Mia continued. “Because if the shoe were on the other foot they wouldn’t give a fuck about you.”
Farah sighed. “Mia, just call my white daddy and give him the file I faxed to you earlier. Ask if he can find everything I need on that list.” She paused. “Please.”
“Okay, Farah whatever.”
CLICK.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
FARAH
“It’s Pre-Shikar and you’re asking me about Carlton?
Pre-Shikar Night had arrived and everyone was excited.
Bones stood next to Farah as he looked out at the twenty-one members that made up The Fold. They were outside the door of the party room, in the hallway and most were more agitated than they had been in the past, under Dr. Weil’s leadership, but Farah was the only one who seemed to notice.
“Tonight we prepare for blood night!” Bones said out loud. “And, we have twenty-four Givers ready behind these doors! Make sure you interview those you’d like to stay and get rid of the others you don’t. Thank you to everyone.”
“Aren’t you going to thank me?” Mayoni asked, half drunk. She walked to the front of the crow
d. “After all, it was my idea.”
Bones nodded. “Yes…thanks to Mayoni.” He cleared his throat as Farah gave her a sinister smile. “Now…enjoy. Enjoy them hard. You deserve it.”
Farah pushed open the doors and the members piled inside. Once the doors opened they had their pick of the sexiest men and women imaginable. Mayoni, salty as fuck, was about to walk inside when Bones stopped her with a firm hand to the chest.
“What’s going on with you?” He closed the door to the room. “Why you acting like a bitch lately?”
She frowned. “What that supposed to mean?”
He looked her up and down. “Look at you, Mayoni. You look a mess and I can smell your pussy from here. Did you even wash your hair?”
She folded her arms across her body. “Wow. So now you disrespect me too.”
“Where is Carlton? I’ve been looking all over for him and nobody seems to have an answer.”
“I don’t know… why don’t you ask Farah.” She shrugged.
“Why would I ask Farah when I’m asking you? He’s your nigga.”
“Because I saw them in the room alone the other day.” She paused. “And it looked like they were having a pretty heated conversation too. Maybe she has more information, I don’t know. Just guessing.”
Bones threw his locks back and scratched his head. “Why would Farah be having a conversation with Carlton that’s heated? They don’t have anything in common.”
Mayoni shrugged before she moved closer to him. “I don’t know about that, Bones, but you know what I want to talk about?” She paused. “How you spend all your time looking at Farah and never considered me as your girl.”
“Considered you as my girl?’ He chuckled. “Are you okay?”
“And if I’m not? What exactly are you gonna do?”
He frowned. “You know what, I’m done talking to you.” He pointed in her face. “The first thing I want you to do is go get cleaned up. Looking how you do right now is a bad representation on The Fold.” She walked closer to him and he pushed her away. “Go wash your fucking ass! Now!”