Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang

by Ashley Snell

  “Excuse me, ladies. The owner told me to tell you that your meal is on the house, and he asked me to give you this note.” The waiter placed a napkin on the table, and Sparkle reached for it.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, miss, but the note is for your friend,” he said. He handed it directly to Six, who frowned in confusion.

  “For me?” she asked.

  “Yes, miss, he told me to hand it to you,” the waiter replied. “Can I get you anything else?”

  Six shook her head, and Sparkle rudely flicked her hand to shoo him away.

  “What does the note say?” Sparkle asked nosily.

  Six opened the napkin and read:

  I thought I had everything a man could want, until I saw you.

  If you can spare a moment of your time, I’d like to get to know you.

  Britain

  Six’s cheeks flushed, and her caramel skin looked as if it had been kissed by roses as she balled the note up in her hand.

  “What do I do?” Six asked.

  “I don’t know, but you better figure it out fast because he’s walking over here,” Sparkle said.

  Six looked up just as Britain approached their table. He pulled a chair up and took a seat at the edge, seating himself between the two women.

  “This is the second time I’ve seen you in the past week,” Britain stated as he stared her in the eyes. His prestige usually intimidated people, but Six’s demeanor was sophisticated, almost arrogant as if she was too good to respond.

  “I can’t say I recall seeing you the first time,” she stated as she continued to eat her food. “What brought you all the way across the restaurant to our table?” she asked.

  “A familiar face,” he stated. “You don’t remember me, but I know you.”

  Six shook her head and replied, “Nah. You don’t know me, but since you’re here and you’re paying for breakfast, you may as well join us. This is my friend Sparkle, and I’m Six.”

  Six raised her eyebrows to Sparkle, signaling for her to cut in anytime. Then she stood from the table and dismissed herself. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to the ladies’ room,” she said. Six walked away from the table. She had tried to be as rude as possible to Britain so that it would be easier for Sparkle to charm him. She would give them a minute to converse before rejoining them.

  As she walked down the stairs to the bottom level where the restrooms were located, she heard footsteps approach her from behind. She turned around to see Free. He put his hand to his lips and led her to the bathroom where he locked them inside.

  “What did he say to you?” Free asked.

  “Nothing much… just kicking game to me, but that’s why I introduced him to Sparkle and left the table. By the time I get back, she should have his full attention,” Six explained.

  Free shook his head and caressed her face with one hand. “I hope you right, ma, ’cuz from what it looks like, he has his eyes on you.”

  “She’ll get it done…. Don’t worry. Sparkle knows what she is doing,” Six assured. She kissed Free on the lips softly, slowly. “I’m all yours, Free. You’ll never have to share,” she whispered as he moved from her lips to her neck, his hands roaming all over her body. Her nipples hardened as he continued to kiss her, moving to her shoulders and then her arms. He slipped his hands underneath her dress and found the moisture that was building in between her legs.

  “Boy, stop,” Six whispered as she squirmed from his touch, a naughty smile spreading across her gorgeous face.

  Free got on his knees and lifted her dress, pulling her thong to the side to reveal her juicy pearl. He sucked it into his mouth as if he were sucking on a nipple and molested her jewel with his tongue. Her head fell back, and she closed her eyes. Right there in the bathroom of a crowded restaurant he introduced his woman to ecstasy, bringing her to a quick orgasm.

  Afterward, he took a paper towel and cleaned her up. He kissed her cat one last time before pulling down her dress. Then he patted her on the behind and gave her a smile as he waltzed out of the bathroom.

  Six took a minute to catch her breath before returning to her table.

  “I thought you got lost,” Britain said with a smile as he stood up and pulled out her chair.

  “Actually, we’ve got to get going,” Six said.

  “Is there a way that I can reach you?” Britain asked.

  “You don’t need to reach me,” Six replied with a wink. “Thanks for breakfast, Britain.”

  She and Sparkle walked out, leaving Britain intrigued. Their plan had backfired. Britain had no interest in Sparkle. He could smell a gold digger from a mile away, but Six he found fascinating. Her entire attitude appealed to him and it was evident to everyone in the room, including Free, that he was checking for her.

  “Look, I pulled out all the stops on this one…. The nigga must be gay because he wasn’t feeling me,” Sparkle stated as she paced back and forth in the small living room in Six’s apartment. Her ego was crushed, and a twinge of jealousy filled her because she knew that Britain was more attracted to Six.

  Free, Big Lou, Six, and Sparkle sat in the living room trying to come up with a way to infiltrate Britain’s circle. He had showed absolutely no love for Sparkle, so they knew it would be pointless to try that approach again.

  Free looked at Six, who sat in deep thought across from him. He was well aware that she had snagged Britain’s attention, and he knew that he could use that to his advantage. His mental wheels began turning as he formulated a plan.

  “The nigga feeling you, Six. You’re our way in,” Free said in a matter-of-fact tone as he stared intensely at her.

  “What?” she asked, surprised. She shook her head in defense. “I wouldn’t say all that, Free. He can have any girl in this city. He’s not worried about me, and I for damn sure ain’t thinking about him. Sparkle is our way in,” Six stated firmly.

  “Come on, Six. I saw the way that he was looking at you. I need you to come off the bench on this one, ma. Get close to the nigga. Make him trust you. Any nigga would be crazy not to want to wife you,” Free said.

  “Wife me?” Six exclaimed as she looked at Free like he was insane. “Free, I’m not about to share a bed with a nigga like I’m a cheap bitch! Are you crazy?”

  “I’m desperate, ma. You know what’s going to happen if I don’t come up with this loot. It’s all or nothing.”

  “Why me?” Six asked. “Why do I have to be the one to do it? Why can’t we just stick to the plan? I’m sure he will warm up to Sparkle eventually.”

  Big Lou spoke up. “Because the nigga see something in you that he want. You’re wifey material. Wifey always has access to the money…. If you become that then we’re in. All you have to do is play the role.”

  Tears formed in Six’s eyes. She wasn’t beyond putting in work, but to rent herself out to another man felt wrong, but then she remembered the Russian men who had invaded her home. She shivered as she remembered the gun that had been placed to her head. She closed her eyes, blinked away the tears, and sighed heavily.

  “Please, ma. I need you on this one,” Free whispered as he pulled her off the couch, forcing her to sit on his lap. Placing his hand behind her neck, he drew her near for a soft kiss. “I love you, ma. I know you can do this. Do this for me.”

  “Fine… I’ll do it,” she agreed reluctantly. “What do I have to do?”

  “Do the exact same thing that you did to make me love you. You do all that you can to make this nigga trust you, but don’t give away what’s mine. Don’t fuck the nigga, Six. If it takes all that, it’s not worth it,” Free instructed.

  “Do you really think you have to tell me that?” Six asked. She couldn’t believe that she was agreeing to this. It seemed like she was the one who was sacrificing in order to make the money. There was no doubt in her mind that she could get it done, but the fact that Free was asking her to go to such extreme measures bothered her. Just do it, she told herself. After all of this is over with, we can move on with our lives toge
ther.

  “How am I supposed to even get at him? I wouldn’t even know how to find him again,” Six stated.

  “The nigga ain’t hard to find. He owns a club downtown too,” Big Lou revealed.

  Six smacked her lips and shook her head in protest. “A nigga like Britain don’t want no club-hopping chicken in his face. Y’all said you wanted me to become wifey…well, niggas don’t meet wifey in the club,” she stated.

  “I met you in the club,” Free countered in irritation. He was frustrated because Six was being too critical of their plan.

  “Ha-ha, Free…you know what I’m talking about. I didn’t come at you on no lovey-dovey–type shit in a club. We met by chance. Y’all niggas know that if a bitch come at you in a club, you probably gon’ fuck her that night and never call her again. I can’t approach him like that. It’ll make me look like a ho, and he’ll handle me like one. That’s not the way to get to his safe.”

  Big Lou smirked because he knew Six was right. Most chicks didn’t understand the game like she did. She had just laid out the average dude’s mental, which is why she would be perfect for the task at hand. She understood how men thought and could use it to her advantage to get Britain to trust her.

  Sparkle stood to leave. “Why don’t you just go back to the restaurant tomorrow? I’m sure you’ll be able to find him there.”

  Free nodded and looked at Six. “What do you think?” he asked.

  She stood to her feet. “Does it really matter what I think?” she asked and began to walk out of the room.

  “Where you going, ma? We’ve still got a lot to talk about,” Free said.

  “I’m going to lie down. I’m tired…we can discuss the details later. I’m in… I’ll do it…for you,” Six conceded. Free heard the disheartened tone of her voice and could see the worry in her eyes, but he forced himself to ignore it.

  This is the only way, he thought as he watched her disappear into the bedroom.

  When Six was out of sight, Big Lou leaned forward on the couch, resting his elbows on his knees. He lowered his voice and looked behind him before saying, “You sure you want to do this? This whole thing could blow up in your face…you’re feeding your main chick to the wolves.”

  “Think about it, fam…do I really have a choice?” Free responded.

  “I guess not,” Big Lou stated. He slapped hands with Free and then departed with Sparkle, leaving his man to think about what he had just committed his woman to do.

  Free knew the risks that were associated with the type of lick he was attempting to pull off. If Britain found out, there was no telling what he would do to Six, but that was the least of Free’s worries. When Britain took Six’s bait, he would undoubtedly fall for her charm. Free only hoped that Six would hold him down and remain loyal while she was behind enemy lines.

  Free joined Six in the bedroom to find that she had already fallen asleep. He sat down beside her and stroked her hair as he watched her chest rise and fall. She was everything to him, and the fact that he was getting ready to loan her to another man made his gut hollow. Just the fact that she had agreed to do it proved her loyalty to him. He kneeled on the floor beside her bed and grabbed her hand in his, planting it with soft kisses. “I love you, ma,” he whispered. After everything that they had been through together, he was sure that they could withstand this one last test.

  As soon as Six stepped inside the restaurant the next day butterflies began to flutter in her stomach. The stakes were raised for her. Her entire life rested on her own shoulders. If she didn’t pull this off, then she could kiss Free good-bye. Her skintight True Religion jeans and red-and-black plaid shirt were meant to be casual, but on a frame like Six’s everything seemed provocative. As she waited to be greeted by the host, she shifted her weight from foot to foot, making her behind sway from side to side.

  “Table for one, miss?” the host greeted.

  She nodded and was led to a table in the rear of the restaurant. Her stilettos made music on the hardwood floor as she walked with the stride of a seasoned model. She sat down, facing the door so that she could see who was coming in and out.

  “Is the owner here?” she asked the host before he walked away.

  “Yes, he is—is there a problem?” the host asked.

  “No, not at all…. Could you tell him I would like to speak with him?” Six asked sweetly.

  Within minutes, Britain was coming down the wraparound stairs that led to the second level of the establishment. His Usher cologne introduced him before she even saw his face. She fidgeted with her clothes and took a deep breath as he approached her. He was clad in gray slacks and a polo sweater with a gray shirt and tie. From his distinguished apparel, one would think that he was bred from money, but the diamond studs in his ear revealed his gangster, and his confident stature told a story of power. She could also see the imprint of a pistol on his hip.

  Yeah, you a hood nigga, she thought as he approached her.

  “This hardly seems fair. You know how to find me, but I can’t even get a number to reach you,” Britain said charmingly with a handsome smile as he took a seat across from her. His dark skin was flawless, and he had a slight scar above his right eye, but the imperfection only added to his appearance. His low-cut caasar was fresh, and his large brown eyes were magnetic as she matched his gaze.

  “I don’t want to become another notch on your belt. I’m not even going to set myself up to fall for you,” Six replied, taking Britain by surprise.

  “I’m not like that. Why don’t you let me take you to dinner so you can find out,” Britain stated.

  “Dinner?” Six asked sarcastically.

  “Yeah, you eat, don’t you?” he stated with a laugh.

  “Yeah, nigga, I eat. I’ve heard about you, though. I don’t know if I’m trying to mess with somebody like you.”

  “See, you fucking up already. How are we supposed to build something together if you listening to what you hearing in the street?” Britain stated charismatically as he put his hand to his heart as if he was hurt by her quick judge of character.

  “You saying what I’ve heard all on the news and all in the streets ain’t true?” Six asked seriously as she looked at him across the table.

  “Everything ain’t what it seems, you know?”

  “Yeah, I hear you,” She responded skeptically. “So why are you so persistent on taking me out? I know you got these hoes going crazy out here.”

  “Because me and you we got history,” Britain responded slyly.

  “History?”

  “You really don’t remember me, huh?” he asked her.

  “Am I supposed to?” Six asked as her arched eyebrows rose in confusion.

  “I remember when you were walking around all bowlegged and snaggletoothed. You done filled out quite nicely, though.”

  “What are you talking about? I’m not even from here. I’m from—”

  “New York… Bed-Stuy to be exact,” Britain finished her sentence for her, causing her to put down her martini glass. She didn’t know what type of games the nigga was playing, but she wasn’t comfortable with him knowing her background, especially when she had not divulged the information to him herself.

  “Don’t look at me like I’m stalking you,” Britain stated with a laugh. “Our pops used to run together back in the day. We used to play together when we were younger. You used to come to Detroit every summer to stay with him. You stopped coming when you were six years old.”

  “Oh my God!” she exclaimed, putting her hands over her mouth in disbelief as she recalled what he was saying. It had been so long, and he had changed so much that time had erased all memories of him. “I can’t believe I didn’t remember you,” Six stated in disbelief.

  “Don’t worry about it—it was a long time ago. I remember you, though…vividly. You’re not all knees and elbows any more. You filled out quite nicely,” he complimented.

  She laughed and rolled her eyes at his blatant flirtation. “I was so rude to you.
You talking about me filling out! I remember your little bean-head ass. You used to terrorize me.”

  “Only because I liked you.” Britain smiled as he stared at Six.

  “So this is all you?” Six asked as she looked around the popular downtown restaurant.

  “Just a little business endeavor,” he replied. “So can we go somewhere a bit more private?”

  “I really shouldn’t,” Six replied. “I’ve heard a lot of fucked-up things about you,” she admitted honestly.

  “Six, I would never hurt you or put you in harm’s way,” Britain stated sincerely as he stood and held his hand out for her.

  She relented and nodded her head before taking his hand and following him up the spiral stairs and into his office. It was modern with leather couches, a mahogany desk, and a flat-screen television. She was impressed as she looked around. His eyes followed her all over the room until she turned to catch him admiring her features.

  “You staring at my ass like you’ve never seen one before,” she commented and smiled.

  He rubbed his goatee and motioned for her to sit down. She took a seat behind his desk and crossed her hands on top as if the place belonged to her.

  “So what is all this that I hear about you? The streets got you pegged as a boss,” Six stated.

  “The streets just don’t understand me. I’m not all bad, Six. I’m still that same kid you knew,” Britain stated.

  “That was a long time ago,” she said in a low tone.

  “Too long,” Britain replied. “It’s good seeing you again. Last time I checked you were fucking with that cat Free before he got locked up.” Britain removed a bottle of champagne from the refrigerator and poured two flutes. He handed one to Six.

  “So you were checking on me, huh?” she asked.

  “I still fuck with your pops. That’s where I saw you earlier this week. You were coming out of his house when I was pulling up. He had a picture of you and your dude,” Britain explained. “You still in that situation?”