Queen Diamonds

by Noire

  Both men fell to the lobby’s floor gasping in pain. It took a moment for them to gather their senses as they got ready to go in for the kill again.

  Ricky was fucked up. Blood was flowing from his stomach and his right thigh was spurting a stream and painting the lobby red with every beat of his heart.

  Slick was on his knees gasping for air as he tried to shake off the effects of near unconsciousness.

  Ricky started to crawl towards the 9 millimeter that was still on the floor. Slick hurled himself over and kicked the gun further across the lobby. Still breathing heavily, he pulled himself up and stood over Ricky’s bleeding body.

  “Goody is gonna get yo ass for this, boy,” Ricky looked up at Slick and vowed as he bled out through his gut and an artery in his thigh. “Yeah, muthafucka…Handgun is gonna eat yo food when he catches you!” Ricky gagged as he started choking on the blood that bubbled up from his stomach and filled his mouth. “Nigga he’s gonna eat yo fuckin food! That’s my word!”

  Slick nodded. “That’s cool, big man. I hope he’s keeping my plate nice and hot ’cause I’ma take a bite outta Goody’s ass soon enough too. But right now I got a table reserved for you in hell and I would hate for you to be late for the entertainment.”

  With that, Slick dropped to one knee, and in a single deadly motion he slit Ricky’s carotid artery.

  Hot blood spurted in the air and landed everywhere, including all over Slick. He made no attempt to avoid it. He didn’t mind the up-close-and-dirty action. His murks weren’t usually this messy, but right now he was good with the gore. The whole damn lobby looked like a butcher shop, but it made Slick feel real good to know that at least for now, on this dark and dangerous night, everyone he cared about was safe.

  CHAPTER 18

  Day Dreams and Nightmares

  Snuggled up next to her sleeping man, Ayesha was caught up in a dream that was more like a nightmare. A thunderous scream split the air, and she took off running as fast as she could toward the sound. She knew that voice. Even though she had never heard it in her real life, gripped in the throes of her dream she knew that voice very well.

  It was Noodles. And he was screaming her name.

  He sounded like he was in great pain, and Ayesha could barely stand the sound of his blood-curdling cries for help. As she sprinted as fast as she could towards his screams in the darkness, her greatest fear was that she wouldn’t make it to him in time.

  Noodles was more than the love of her life. He was the love of her everything. He was her savior and her knight in shining armor who had rescued her from a life that had almost killed her. Noodles was the man who had stepped up to the plate to be a father to her kids. He was her light at the end of the tunnel, and right now she was running and crashing through the woods like a crazed bear, all for him.

  But when she finally stumbled into a clearing and came upon her king, Ayesha saw that it was much too late. His head had been detached from his body and the life had faded from his eyes. The grass around him was soaked with blood. Ayesha dove on top his body and snapped. She screamed at the top of her lungs, pounding her fists and wailing out her agony. And that’s when Noodles reached up and grabbed her.

  Making small smacking sounds with his lips, he held her by the shoulders and shook her gently. His eyes were a bright question mark in the darkness as he pulled her into his arms.

  Ayesha gasped, her eyes darting around the room in fear. Noodles was holding her by her shoulders with a look of utter confusion on his face, and suddenly she realized that it had all been just a nightmare.

  Noodles kissed her forehead and held her closely. He wiped the sweat from her face as she trembled in the safety of his huge arms.

  “Oh baby I was so fucking scared,” Ayesha said as her voice cracked. “I was dreaming and it seemed so real…I ran as fast as I could but I couldn’t get to you in time. I tried to get there. I swear to God, I tried Noodles.”

  Calm down sweetheart, Noodles signed to her. It was just a bad dream my love. I’m right here, and I’m fine. Chill, baby. I promise you it was just a dream.

  “No, you don’t understand Noodles,” Ayesha insisted as she grabbed his hands. “I come from a family of dreamers and I take shit like this real serious! For real, Noodles. Not once since you brought me here have I asked you anything about what you do out there in the street! Your work is your work, and I’m not tryna probe for nothing you don’t wanna tell me. But I swear, Noodles. Whatever you do I need you to get away from it. Just fuckin stop it and walk away! You can do something else. Please find another hustle baby, because me and the kids need you. We won’t make it out here without you!”

  Baby, what’s up? Noodles signed to her and sat straight up in the bed. All this just because of a lil bad dream? Everything is chill, Ayesha. Trust me, I have a plan and it’s all gonna work out. Don’t worry, I been stackin my money and one day soon you’re gonna get everything you been dreaming of. It won’t be too much longer now. I’m gonna make sure my moms is straight and then me and you are gonna take the kids and get the hell outta this city. We’ll go someplace real nice, he gathered her closer in his arms and started dream-building with her for the future. Someplace warm, okay? We’re gonna have us a real big house, a fancy car, and take plenty of vacations. There’s a lotta love and life waiting for us, Ayesha. Just hold on, baby. I’m almost at the finish line and then they’ll be no more need for me to work. Just trust me. I got us, baby. It’s gonna be us and the kids forever.

  “How much longer before you’re out?” Ayesha pleaded. “Six months? A year?”

  Noodles shook his head and signed, Less than that. Two months, tops. Okay?

  Ayesha nodded, finally satisfied. Noodles helped her lay back down and get comfortable. She cuddled in his arms with her face pressed against his chest, listening to his heart beat. After a while Ayesha dozed off and her breathing became heavy, but Noodles stayed wide awake. He wasn’t worried about her dream not one damn bit. Ayesha didn’t know it, but he had already picked out her wedding ring and stashed it with Slick. He was gonna ask her to marry him, and he had a plot of land waiting in Guatemala and she was gonna be able to build her any kind of house she wanted.

  He had already been planning to get outta the game, and he knew it would happen in due time. Nobody stayed on top forever. He was gonna get on this unfinished business he needed to handle, and then he would get out for good. Noodles started to wake Ayesha up and tell her the whole shit right then and there. He started to tell her about the trip to Guatemala, the engagement ring, the new house, everything. But hey, he thought as she snored and snuggled deeper in his arms, why ruin the surprise?

  CHAPTER 19

  Underhanded Situations

  Text Message From Akeem: Flight delay, change of plans. Will arrive at the Boatel an hour late. Business associate is willing to pay same price as last time.

  Akeem? Cucci stared down at the message on her cell phone with a look of bewilderment on her face. She was at the gym working out on the elliptical and sweating like a pig, and for a second she thought some idiot hater was tryna play head games with her. Akeem. As her leg movements slowed, Cucci’s mind raced up and down the block and all around the corner.

  Akeem was a big African dude who used to be one of Joel Samuelson’s top clients. Akeem purchased stolen diamonds in the states so he could trade them dirt-cheap on the black-market all over England. When Honore first got on deck at the New York Diamond and Jewelry Exchange, Joel had handed Akeem to Cucci and Honore as a tester. He became their solo client, sorta as a get your feet wet and pop-ya-cherry type of thang.

  Akeem specialized in buying small diamonds for crushed ice, and him and Cucci and Honore had hooked up back and forth on a couple of deals here and there. But they hadn’t done business together in a good minute now, since way before Joel got bodied. So why in the hell his big black ass was texting her outta the blue about some mysterious meeting at the Boatel was anybody’s guess. And who was his business associate? Wh
at damn prices was he talking about from last time? Last time when?

  What you want, Akeem? Cucci texted. What meeting?

  In just a moment he texted her back. Is this Honore?

  Cucci frowned. This cat thought he was texting Honore!

  Her fingers flew across the phone. Yeah. This is her. What you got for me?

  50K. Same as last time.

  Cucci narrowed her eyes. Last time? So them sneaky bitches had done some transacting together for fifty grand and didn’t tell her nothing about it? And they were planning on doing some more under-the-covers fucking again today?

  As she climbed down off the elliptical and grabbed her towel the truth of the matter washed over Cucci like a cold wave and she started catching killer vapors. Honore must think she was real stupid. Yeah, that trick thought she was a punk. That thief-ass bitch was tryna play her like a fucking sucka! Flinging her towel over her shoulder, Cucci’s fingers flew again.

  What time at the Boatel?

  Six.

  She typed, Bet.

  Cucci nodded and started heading toward the locker room as a plan of action began to form in her brain. She thought about the bag of stolen diamonds that her and Honore had in their lil secret sista stockpile. They had agreed not to tell nobody else about their emergency shit-hit-the-fan stash, but if Honore was planning on selling off some crushed ice to Akeem, then that meant she was planning on stealing that shit from Cucci because that ice belonged to her too!

  Cucci grabbed her gym bag outta the locker and rushed outside to her car. She plopped down behind the steering wheel and lit a tree. She inhaled that shit deeply as she drove home with her thinking cap on, trying to come up with a way to catch Honore in the act and catch her ass out there at the same damn time.

  Cucci got home and stretched out on her sofa in her sweaty gym clothes. It took her two more trees and a shot of Henny, but finally she had it. Cucci was gonna cold bust Honore and yap that greedy bitch! Just like that greedy bitch was trying to yap her!

  $$$$$

  Honore had a whole lotta shit to fit into her day, and messing around with Cucci wasn’t hardly on her agenda.

  “Sorry,” she told her cousin when Cucci popped up at her crib asking if she wanted to go get a Brazilian wax and a facial at five o’clock that evening. Waxing was something they always did together, but Honore was tryna find a way to get her money up so she was going to the Boatel at five to hook up with an African client that her and Cucci used to sell diamonds to.

  “I got a date with an old friend,” Honore told her, “and then after that I’m gonna chill with Sly at the Boatel for the night, you know, just so I can relax.”

  “Um, old friend, who?” Cucci demanded, ignoring the Boatel remark. “I thought I was ya damn friend! You know what, heffa? Never mind. Lately I been feeling like I don’t even know you no more. Every time I ask you to do something with me you always got something better to do. So now you curving me for some nigga, huh? Well who is he? That petty-ass thief again? What’s his name, Slick?”

  “Hell no,” Honore laughed. “I ain’t going out with him. Besides, he’s a new friend, not an old one. And don’t even start talking no crazy shit either! You know I don’t be tryna brush you off or nothing, Cucci. You know you my day-one cuzzo and I love you girl. It’s just that I already made plans and it’s too late to change them. Next weekend, okay? Next weekend it’s gonna be all about me and you. I promise.”

  Cucci gave Honore a puppy-dog look that was designed to make her feel guilty, and then her face brightened up slightly. “Okay,” she relented. “But what about tomorrow night? You still going to the Sunday Nite Oldies, right?”

  “Hell yeah!” Honore said with a smile. “I wouldn’t miss it. Blondie’s House of Hair is hosting it this weekend. She’s gonna put a perm in my hair so I’ll definitely be there.”

  “Good,” Cucci said, her face glowing as her heart hardened. “You go ahead and enjoy your Saturday night without me,” she said as she flounced outta Honore’s apartment. It’s all good. I’ll catch up with you on Sunday, cuzzo. Deuces bitch!”

  CHAPTER 20

  The Hand Off

  It was close to six-thirty and Honore was sitting at the bar on a small Boatel that floated at Marina 59 near Far Rockaway, Queens. Music could be heard playing outside and several people were laughing and splashing as they swam and kayaked in the mild inlet waters off Jamaica Bay.

  The Boatel belonged to Sly McFly, and it was really just a tiny two-room cabin in a very small boat, but it was also a sanctuary where they could kick back and scheme and strategize.

  Way back in the day Sly McFly had gotten down with the owners and invested some cash in the marina to make it a more diverse environment that catered to the local people of different backgrounds. He had introduced Honore to the scene a while back, and she had immediately fallen in love with the place.

  As usual, the marina was crowded with a mixture of hipsters and musicians who came around just to hang out and express their artistic talents. But the private space that Sly McFly owned was on the side of the harbor that was off-limits to the general public. It was where the serene waters blended best into the open bay.

  Sly, being the crafty nigga that he was, understood the importance of having a low-key get-away spot at all times. Right now he was sippin and pimpin as Honore and her two foreign business associates sat at the bar conducting a cash transaction for some crushed ice that she was selling.

  The African men expertly analyzed the merchandise they were being offered as Sly took care of collecting their cool crisp doe. He had two straps in the closet and he felt safe and secure while Honore and the Africans poured glasses of rose and toasted each other to deal successfully completed.

  Although Sly and Honore were playing it off and looked blase and indifferent on the outside, they were desperate to make this sale. They needed to get their pockets up to pay back that sweet money Honore owed, and every dollar helped.

  There wasn’t a whole lotta cash involved with this transaction but Honore was selling off some low-grade diamonds that her and Cucci had stashed away for a rainy day. The diamonds were too flawed to flip on the international market, but they could be dished off here in the states for a quick twenty-five grand a piece and Cucci wouldn’t be getting a dime of it.

  Honore sighed as she flashed a phony smile at one of the Africans. She loved reigning as the Queen of Diamonds, aka boss-bitch of the jewelry underworld, but right now all she wanted to do was get paid and get those investor muthafuckas off her back.

  Between her piggy bank and Sly McFly’s, they now had about half of what they needed in the stash. But that meant they were still half of what they needed in the hole, and with the end of the month coming it was getting real hard not to start panicking and shitting bricks.

  “I wanna thank you both for coming,” Sly McFly said to their African guests as they were wrapping up the transaction. “And even though y’all fuckers kept us waiting for over an hour, it was a pleasure doing business with you gentlemen and the Queen looks forward to cashing out again with you in the future.”

  Sly flashed that killer smile of his and added, “The Queen also highly appreciates your discretion and your professionalism, which of course means—y’all niggas better keep ya goddamn mouths closed!

  “Now, good day, my Nigerian brothers,” he laughed. “It’s time for you to go. Head back outside and climb up on your camels.”

  Honore rose from her stool and shook hands with the traders, and Sly McFly did the same before watching the two men leave the Boatel.

  “Okay, now,” Sly said, locking the door as soon as they were gone. “We ain’t make out too bad, now did we sugar?” he asked as he ran stacks of hundred dollar bills through the money counting machine and then quickly banded them and tossed them into a leather carrying bag.

  “True,” Honore answered. “Now all we gotta do is get the rest of the money up and maybe my ass can stay alive.”

  “We still have
a little more time to come up with something,” Sly soothed her. “Don’t worry. I don’t trust those Jewish kikes as far as I can throw their asses, but I ain’t gonna never let nothing happen to you. We gonna come up with the rest of the sweet money and get that fuckin diamond back and sell it too.”

  Sly McFly said that shit with such assuredness and conviction that Honore truly believed him. Matter fact, she had believed every word that had come outta his mouth for the past twenty-something years of her life. Sly had always been there for her. He had always protected her from anything that could harm her. It was Sly who had made Honore believe that with the right amount of intelligence, muscle, and power they could live large and do just about anything they wanted to do. He had made Honore envision a life beyond the project buildings that had condemned so many of the people she’d grown up with.

  Fuck that, Honore said as she went over to the table to help him count the stacks. There would be no sucking dick for pennies or flipping burgers, or letting poverty chain her to the brick project tomb that she was raised in. She was gonna get her money up and find that diamond because she was determined to live like a Queen for the rest of her life. Anything less would be the death of her.

  She had just inserted a stack of hundred dollar bills into the machine when the unmistakable thunder of gunfire erupted outside. She heard somebody yelling frantically as male voices squealed and shrieked like they had been hit with something hot.

  Sly and Honore stared at each other as immediate thoughts of a double-cross flew through both of their minds.