Obsession 3

by Treasure Hernandez

  “And who do we have here?” the worker asked. He rubbed his hands together looking back and forth from Secret to Lucky. His eyes questioned Lucky as to why this new face was around and if it was okay to talk in front of her, or if he needed to filter the conversation.

  “Oh, this here is my girl,” Lucky said. He put his arm around Secret and pulled her in. He nodded to the guy. “This is Fonda. He works the front door. You know, makes sure we’re open for business from nine to five, just like our business hours are listed.” Lucky winked.

  “Yep, and if anybody tries to get in outside of business hours, I got that tool for them.” Fonda tapped the shiny red toolbox.

  It didn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that nine times out of ten he kept a gun hidden in the toolbox.

  “So this is your girl, huh?” Fonda snickered and shot Lucky a “yeah, right,” look.

  “Yeah, my girl,” Lucky confirmed with a stone face and stern voice. It wiped the snicker and smile right off of Fonda’s face. “Her name is Secret.”

  “Hello,” Secret said with a nod.

  The worker nodded back. He looked Secret up and down. “And just how long have you been keeping this Secret? And more importantly, does Secret know how to keep secrets?”

  Lucky shot dude a look and then said, “Come here for a minute.”

  Fonda gave Secret the side eye and then followed Lucky into an office that had a huge glass window. Lucky closed the door behind them then Secret immediately saw Lucky snatch dude up by the neck and slam him against the glass.

  “Motherfucker,” Secret could hear Lucky shout through the glass. It was muffled considering they were in the office, but she could still make out the words he was saying. “You questioning me in front of my bitch, because, nigga, I will—”

  Fonda put his hands up in defense. “No, no, man, it ain’t nothing like that. I just wanted to make sure—”

  “Nigga, you ain’t gotta make sure shit. All you have to do is make me my muthafuckin’ money and get paid in the process. Ya heard?”

  “Yeah, man. It’s all good. My bad.”

  Lucky released him and then straightened up dude’s shirt for him. “You trust me, Fonda?” Lucky asked.

  “Yeah, man, you already know.”

  “Then you trust the people I roll with, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’ve made a couple of bad judgment calls in my day, but haven’t you known me to handle muthafuckas?”

  Fonda nodded.

  “Right,” Lucky said. “And ain’t shit changed about me.”

  “All right, I hear you, man.”

  “Good. Then we won’t ever have to have this conversation again, right?” Lucky said.

  “Right.”

  “My nigga.” Lucky put his hand on Fonda’s shoulder and gave him a pat. He then walked him over to the door and opened it. “After you.”

  Fonda walked ahead of Lucky. The next thing Secret knew, Fonda was hitting the floor and she could see Lucky’s foot landing back on the ground from kicking Fonda to the ground.

  Secret threw her hand over her mouth. She felt so bad for the guy who had been caught off guard and had hit the ground face first. When he lifted his head up blood was seeping from his mouth. He spit out a tooth and used his hand to wipe the blood away as he sat up on the ground trying to catch his bearings.

  Secret had never seen this side of Lucky before. He’d just cold-bloodedly kicked this guy to the ground and then had practically stepped over him like a piece of trash on the sidewalk.

  “Now don’t make me have to put my foot in your ass again, literally,” Lucky said to Fonda as he approached Secret and offered her his elbow.

  Secret, still a little shocked, hesitated and then looped her arm through Lucky’s. He then escorted Secret by the arm down a hallway. Before walking away Secret had looked over her shoulder at the guy on the ground. He looked up at her, still wiping his mouth. The two locked eyes.

  Secret’s eyes were filled with pity for the guy. His eyes were filled with warning. This gave Secret pause.

  “You all right?” Lucky asked Secret.

  She turned her attention to the path ahead of them. Shaking off the scene that had just played out in front of her she replied, “Yes, I’m good.” Her voice was uneven.

  Sensing she was feeling a certain kind of way about what had just gone down, Lucky stopped in front of a door and took Secret’s hands into his. She flinched when he first raised his hands to touch hers.

  “Baby, come on,” Lucky said, confused and offended Secret would act as if he was going to put his hands on her in a harmful way. “Why you all jumpy?”

  Secret looked down.

  “That back there.” Lucky nodded toward the room they’d just left. “That wasn’t nothing. Just always have to let these cats know who the boss is. Otherwise they might try to try a nigga. I’m a nice dude, you know that. But niggas try to take my kindness for weakness. I can’t have that. You know what I’m saying?”

  Secret knew she had to quickly man up in order to be believable. Lucky had to think she really wanted to be a part of this life, his life. She’d have to recall and apply all the street smarts her best friend had showed and told her over the years. She knew eventually they’d all come in handy.

  “Oh, I get it one hundred percent,” Secret said. “I just thought he deserved worse for questioning you like that.” Secret leaned into Lucky and looked up at him. “In front of your girl and all.” She gave him the sexiest look she could muster up over the fear she was suppressing.

  He grinned, licked his lips, then looked up smiling. “How you gon’ get a nigga all hard before we go in here?” This time he nodded to the door in front of them.

  Secret smiled and followed suit by licking her lips. “Ummmm, we can go out to the car and take care of this.” She cupped his manhood. “Or certainly there’s some dirty little closet with cleaning supplies that we can go into and get our quickie on, like they do in movies.”

  “Where did this girl come from?” he said to Secret, closing his eyes and taking in the good feeling of the intimate massage Secret was giving his private parts through his pants.

  “She’s been in here, locked up inside trying to get out,” Secret replied.

  “I see when they let you out of jail, they freed your alter ego as well.”

  “You can say that,” Secret agreed. “So what do you say?” She squeezed his nuts playfully.

  Lucky shooed her hand away and laughed. “Girl, stop playing. We can’t mix business with pleasure.”

  “Oh, yeah, tell Jay-Z and Beyoncé that.” Secret crossed her arms like a pouty child.

  “Girl, come on in here.” Lucky untucked his shirt out of his pants to cover up his hard on.

  “I can’t believe you’re going to let that hard, stiff one go to waste.” Secret sucked her teeth and shook her head. “Oh, well. You’re the boss.” She extended her hand to the door. “After you, boss.”

  Lucky walked past Secret and in front of the door. She smacked him on the behind.

  “I’m ’bout to fire your ass before you even get started,” he said playfully.

  Secret raised her hands in defense. “All right already. I’m going to be a good girl now. I promise.” She pouted her lips then crossed her heart.

  “Damn, you so cute. I love you.” He looked up to the heavens. “God, how did I fall in love with an angel like her?” He shook his head and turned to open the door.

  Floored and stunned by his words, Secret just stood frozen. He’d never expressed his being in love with her ever in their entire relationship. His actions had shown that he definitely had loved her, but in love with her? Secret didn’t even really know how to feel about the words that had just been shot by Cupid. Now the question was would the arrow hit its intended mark and change the game?

  Chapter 24

  “Secret, what the . . .” Shawndiece’s words trailed off as she stood there staring at her best friend in the doorway. She’d g
reeted Lucky when she saw him come in. Secret had cleared the corner a few seconds after him, to Shawndiece’s surprise.

  Secret hadn’t seen her best friend in a grip, not since the day they were supposed to meet up at the grocery store. What she really wanted to do was to run over and give her friend a huge hug. Secret was feeling so emotional, like the real her was trapped inside of this bad ass she was portraying. Only Shawndiece would understand and know what a struggle it was for her. But this wasn’t the time. This wasn’t the place. With at least six other people in the room, all dudes, Secret definitely had to keep up the façade.

  “Hey, Shawn,” Secret said dryly. “Sup?” She gave a head nod.

  Shawndiece snapped her neck back. “Sup?” Shawndiece twisted up her face. “Since when don’t you speak proper English?”

  Lucky interrupted. “Hey, everybody. What’s up?”

  “Ain’t nothin’,” one guy said.

  The others responded verbally in one way or another as Lucky walked over and greeted them with a pound, dap, or five and slide.

  Shawndiece walked over to Secret and was all in her ear while the fellas greeted one another. “What the hell you doing here? This spot is off-limits with the exception for workers. No girlfriends, boyfriends, cousins, baby mommas, or whatever. Lucky don’t budge on that rule. He don’t even . . .” Shawndiece’s words trailed off as the reason why Secret was there began to set in. “Wait a minute, you’re not thinking about—”

  Lucky cut Shawndiece off when he walked over and threw his arm around Secret. “Everybody, this is Secret,” Lucky introduced her. “I’ve known her for over a year. Y’all know I like secret weapons right?” He looked down at Secret and kissed her on the forehead. “Well, this is one of ’em.” He winked at his crew.

  “Yo, Secret, what’s up?” a couple greeted her.

  “Hey,” Secret replied with a smile. She loved the way they were all showing her respect.

  “Secret, damn, you sure do look familiar,” said Major Pain as he came up the rear of all the crew members. Secret hadn’t spotted him at first, thanks to Shawndiece immediately stealing her attention.

  “So do you,” Secret played along, staring Major Pain right in the face. She was secretly taking a mental picture of all his features. Dina looked nothing like him. Nothing. A smile spread across Secret’s lips.

  “Trust me, I can guarantee you two don’t know each other,” Lucky interrupted. He then went to introduce Secret to another member of the crew. “Yo, this is my man TJ.”

  “Wasup, Secret?” TJ said with a head nod.

  “Yeah, Secret, what’s up?” Shawndiece snapped. The displeasure in her tone did not go unnoticed as all eyes landed on her, including Lucky’s.

  “Is there a problem?” Lucky asked Shawndiece with bass in his voice.

  Shawndiece quickly straightened up her attitude.

  “I thought you of all people would be happy to see your girl join the team,” Lucky said.

  “I . . . I am. I’m just so surprised to see her is all. We were supposed to connect and . . .” Shawndiece’s words trailed off. She had never been one to be fake, so it was very hard for her to play this role. She grabbed Secret by the arm. “Come on, girl. I’m so excited. Let’s go catch up.” Shawndiece led Secret to the door by her arm.

  “Don’t be long,” Lucky said to Secret. “It’s still training day.”

  Secret smiled and then walked out of the door with Shawndiece. That smile was flushed clear off her face when Shawndiece’s nice little grip turned into her yanking Secret by the arm and pulling her into her face.

  “Have you fucking lost your mind?” Shawndiece spat in a hard whisper, spittle splashing on Secret’s face.

  Secret snatched her arm away. “No, but clearly you have.” Secret rubbed her arm that was still throbbing somewhat from the grip Shawndiece had on it.

  “I’m sorry, it’s just that . . .” Shawndiece shook her head. “I can’t let you do this, Secret.”

  “Do what, the exact same thing you’re doing? What, you think you’re the only one who can make money? I’m supposed to just live and raise my child on welfare for the rest of my life?”

  “No, but not like this, Secret. You’re better than this. You’re better than me. I was doomed to this lifestyle, but not you. You never wanted any part of this while I, on the other hand, gravitated to it. This is my shit. This is my life. What can I say? I love thug niggas and I love the thug life, but you . . .” She pointed Secret up and down. “You ain’t built for this. Niggas trying to fuck you, rob you, rape you, and make you feel like shit just ’cause they see you as a helpless female.”

  “I don’t see you getting raped and robbed,” Secret shot back.

  “That’s ’cause mafuckas know better. I can hold my own, but you . . .” She sucked her teeth. “You ain’t hardly ’bout this life. And there ain’t no way I’m gon’ be able to concentrate on making money if I’m worried about your ass.”

  “Then don’t worry about me. After all, did you forget you are the one who taught me about hood life? What? Are you doubting your skills now?” Secret folded her arms as if she was challenging Shawndiece.

  “I taught you how to recognize game, not be a player in it.”

  “Not true, because you are the one who taught me how to handle a dude like Lucky in the first place.”

  “I taught you how to handle a dude like Lucky in the sheets, not in the streets.”

  “Same difference,” Secret begged to differ.

  Shawndiece shook her head. “Really it’s not. Trust me, you’re gonna see a totally different side of your little boyfriend.”

  Secret already knew that much to be true. But what she didn’t know was that she hadn’t seen nothing yet.

  “Y’all two bosom buddies done playing catch up yet?” Lucky asked as he stuck his head out the door and into the hallway where Secret and Shawndiece stood.

  “Yep, we’re finished out here,” Secret said and then walked over to Lucky.

  “For now we are,” Shawndiece said.

  “Come on then. There are some things I wanna go over with you with the crew,” Lucky said to Secret. “Then we have one more stop to make.”

  “Where to?” Secret asked.

  “You’ll see.” Lucky looked to Shawndiece knowingly while still addressing Secret. “You’ll see.”

  “Take off your clothes.”

  “Excuse me?” Secret said to Lucky as they stood on the back porch of a house. The porch was closed in with shades drawn.

  After going over a so-called “business plan” back at the garage, Lucky had driven Secret to a more upscale neighborhood. They’d driven up a private alley to the back of what looked to be about a 3,500-square foot home. Lucky had used a key to get them in the black security fence they had to go through in order to get to the back porch.

  As they walked up the walkway, Secret had noticed security cameras on the house. She looked around and saw a dog house with a huge dog bowl in front of it. Lucky had noticed her pause at the sight of the dog house.

  “Don’t worry. There’s no dog. We keep a big dog bowl of water on the front porch too. It’s more like a deterrence. Punk-ass niggas don’t wanna take the chance of being eaten alive by a dog while trying to break in. And if they do, we got somethin’ for that ass inside.”

  A chill went through Secret. This was the second time a gun had been alluded to. Secret wondered if Lucky had ever killed anybody and if he’d eventually expect her to kill. That was something she just would not do, so hopefully she’d be able to get Detective Davis exactly what he wanted and soon. Murder would be where she drew the line.

  After getting past the fear of the invisible dog, Secret had now found herself standing on the porch being told by Lucky to take her clothes off.

  “You’re joking right?” Secret chuckled.

  Keeping a straight face Lucky asked, “Do I look like I’m joking?”

  A chill went through Secret’s body. Lucky looked to be tra
nsforming right before her eyes. He had just spoken to her like he was speaking to someone on the streets. It was such a hard tone, and that look in his eyes . . . She couldn’t explain it, but it made her uncomfortable.

  Fear rose up inside Secret as Shawndiece’s words replayed in her head. “Trust me, you’re gonna see a totally different side of your little boyfriend.”

  Secret had seen what he’d done to Fonda; how in a matter of seconds he’d gone from this happy-go-lucky dude to kicking his friend down to the ground. Perhaps that’s where Secret was making her mistake, by thinking that was Lucky’s friend. When it came to business and money, maybe Lucky saw everyone as an enemy so that’s how he treated them. Secret didn’t want to take the chance of ending up face down with her teeth knocked out.

  Slowly, with a trembling hand, she removed her shoes. Next her socks. She looked at Lucky dead in the eyes as she took her pants off. She then lifted her shirt over her head and paused.

  “All your clothes,” Lucky said. “Bra and panties.”

  Secret was crying inside but kept on a brave face. Perhaps this was just a test, Lucky trying to figure out how good she was at taking orders. After all, she’d rather be ordered to take her clothes off than to kill somebody. On another note, this very well could have been Lucky’s house and he had something sexy and romantic waiting for her inside. Keeping that thought at the forefront of her mind, she removed every stitch of clothing she had on.

  “Now go find an empty drawer and place your stuff in there.” Lucky pointed toward the wicker patio furniture table that was surrounded by four matching chairs. The table looked to have drawer compartments on each side.

  Secret scooped up her clothing and walked over to the table. The first drawer she pulled out had a terry cloth hot pink romper in it with a pair of flip-flops. She closed it and opened the one next to it. It had a pair of jeans, T-shirt, bra, and canvas tennis shoes in it. It was apparent that Lucky didn’t have something planned exclusively for Secret. From what Secret could tell, there were at least two more buck-naked women inside that house. With several other drawers that could be full of female’s clothing, no telling how many more could be inside as well.