by Pace, Pepper
“I don’t want you there. Its a party where they try to get people interested in this crack cocaine that I told you about.”
“But-“
“People are going to be getting high and rowdy, but worse is that they’re going to be smoking that shit.” He thought about Phonso’s reference to the movie Invasion of the Body Snatchers. It hit home because he’d also had a similar feeling about the drug.
“Scotty, I’ve been around drug use before.”
He reached for her and pulled her into his grip. She came reluctantly.
“I know you’ve seen it. But this crack cocaine is something different. It’s causing trouble and I’m worried about G.”
Vanessa looked at him in concern. “G is hooked on it?”
Scotty nodded. “Apparently from what Phonso told me. I don’t want him in over his head and be too busted up to know.”
“I still want to go.”
“Vanessa …” he released her and headed for the bedroom so that he could get ready.
“Scotty I’m worried about G, too, and Phonso.”
“Not much we can do about other people, but I’ll know how bad G is in by being there. As for us, we can hit other parties where we can actually enjoy ourselves. Babe, I got to get showered.”
Scotty stripped out of his clothes and dumped them into the laundry basket and then headed for the bathroom to shower.
Again Vanessa was struck dumb. Did Scotty just end the conversation like she was five and asked to stay up past her bedtime?
Once he got out of the shower Vanessa continued the discussion.
“The reason that I want to go is because I’m a grown ass woman that make my own decisions, Scotty.” Scotty could hear that Vanessa’s voice was still calm but she was pissed at him.
He glanced at her as he pulled on boxers and confirmed that she’d had time to allow her emotions to simmer to the boiling point. Now he had to diffuse this because the last thing he wanted was to actually have a real fight with the woman he loved.
“Vanessa, my past is dangerous and I’m not talking about petty little disagreements. When it comes to money, addicts and greed the combination is bad. And I will hurt someone who tries to hurt someone I care about. So what I called a party is more like a chessboard. I’m playing my part.”
“If it’s what you say and you go to that party without me, G is going to know the real reason you’re there. You’ll never get to see what you’re going for. I’m the distraction.”
He didn’t immediately respond because she was probably right. G knew that the only reason he went to the drug parties was to sell and to make connections. He wouldn’t be able to justify a reason for showing up.
“Alright. You have a good point.” He rubbed his damp hair and gave her a worried look. “One of the biggest reasons that I’ll never get back into dealing drugs is because I don’t want you anywhere near my past. I’m … ashamed, I guess. But I guess since you know what I was and you still love me, I can’t really shield you.”
Vanessa’s anger diffused and she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him.
“I love you Scotty. I loved you then and I love you now. I loved you when we were kids even though everyone else said you were trash and a thief. I know who you really are, so I can love you regardless of any of the things you’ve had to do.”
His arms held her against his body and he kissed the top of her head.
“Vanessa, you are everything to me. I just want to make sure you are always safe.”
“I know baby. I want the same thing for you.”
Chapter Four
When Scott and Vanessa walked into the party, it was already well under way. Super Freak by Rick James was playing loudly throughout the apartment. It seemed to Vanessa that everyone in Cincinnati was there and each person had to come up to Scotty, shake his hand, smack his back or talk slyly in his ear only to have him shake his head and send them over to talk to his brother Phonso.
Vanessa felt a little awkward being stuck to his side and not knowing anyone while they looked at her curiously.
But Scotty never introduced her.
Finally Phonso reached them, which at least gave Scotty an opportunity to stop being treated as a rock star.
The younger Tremont was holding two unopened beers and he thrust them to Scotty and Vanessa and then clasped his brother’s hand and gave him a half hug as if he hadn’t just seen him earlier that day.
“Yo, bro.” But Vanessa caught that while the two brothers were hugged up Phonso had rapidly whispered something to Scotty who only gave a slight nod of his head.
Phonso placed his arm around Vanessa’s shoulders and then gave her a brief kiss on the cheek. “Hey, soon to be sister-in-law.”
Vanessa chuckled. “That’s right, you’re about to gain another sister. How are you Phonso?”
“I can’t complain, sis.” Phonso wore a broad smile, which softened and then fell away to be replaced by a brief expression of … what she didn’t know.
“Help my brother to have some fun. He’s too serious sometimes.”
Scotty was already drinking his beer and he raised a brow as if to say, ‘Hey, what can I say?’
Scotty took Vanessa’s hand and led her to where everyone was dancing. Outstanding by The Gap Band was playing and she was surprised when Scotty began to twirl her around the dance floor.
She wasn’t the type that fell under any misconceptions that race dictated ones abilities. She’d gone to a performing arts school so regardless of being white or black, everyone was talented when it came to dancing, acting or singing—even if that wasn’t the case when you first showed up.
But Scotty’s abilities on the dance floor surprised Vanessa because to her, dancing was a reaction to the feel of the bass, horns, singing and Scotty was a closed fist that didn’t allow his emotions to guide him. But what she saw was that Scotty moved better than most.
Her smile broadened when he spun and continued into a cha-cha step. He winked at her.
“I’ve had to come to too many parties not to know how to dance, babe. Don’t look so surprised.”
“You are a man of many surprises Scotty Tremont. You will just have to accept that.”
For a while Vanessa forgot about the reason for being at the party as she and Scotty danced to some of the top songs that played on the radio as well as some that she had never heard.
A song with an electric beat began playing and suddenly people started to go wild and the dancing became fast and frantic. Scotty said the song was called Trans Europe Express and it was by a German group called Kraftwerk.
Vanessa was grooving to the beat, getting a feel for it. The bodies dancing near her, the acrid smell of marijuana in the air, the laughter and conversation that drifted to her on the air of the loud music sent her to ‘her place’.
Vanessa’s place is where, for instance a song struck such a chord within her that she not only heard it she felt it. And when she was able to feel such a thing she expressed herself in the same way it made her feel. Vanessa had a gift. For when she expressed the way she felt in dance or song, then people felt her as well.
It had happened when she had performed Dream Girls during her last year at the School for Performing Arts. Her desire for the lead was so strong that despite not fitting the type cast, she had gotten the part of Effie White.
It happened when she heard songs from her favorite artists playing over the radio as her voice joined and then sometimes surpassed theirs. And this is what happened when she danced to the sound of the trance-like techno beat.
Vanessa moved unconsciously the way she had been taught in modern dance class—although the steps she did now were never taught to her in class. Vanessa knew how to stretch and extend her body the way she had been taught by professional dancers turned teachers. Yet she also knew the dance steps of her generation and she popped, dropped and shook her body parts expertly as if her moves were choreographed.
Vanessa had a distant idea that
she was being watched now, that even Scotty had slowed his dancing to a few steps in order to watch her movements. But it didn’t matter because she was now in her own little world.
Scotty had nearly stopped dancing when he saw the way Vanessa moved. He had always known that she was a talented singer, but he had never seen her dance or act; had never seen her do anything like this.
He loved to hear her sing, but especially when she did it for herself and not because he asked her to. Then he would be a witness to her joy and love and her talent. He had never thought that she expressed that same talent in dance. The idea that he’d missed seeing her do this burned inside of him like more regret.
But now that he knew the extent of Vanessa’s abilities, Scotty vowed to encourage her to pursue her dreams. And by the looks of the people watching her, he would have to be at every performance.
One person watching the dancing young woman was Donald Miller. He leaned against the wall leading to the stairs where more of the party-goers were getting a taste of the crack cocaine.
His eyes lingered bitterly on the liquid way that Vanessa White’s body moved. She was still beautiful—more beautiful than he’d ever thought back in the past when she acted like a stuck up bitch that was too good to give him the time of day.
Donald’s cock began to stir at the way her top clung to her body. She wore a pink tank top that had worked its way lose of skintight white pants. Her long hair was parted down the middle and she wore a headband across her forehead, Indian style. In high heels, Vanessa White danced better than some girls could walk.
She looked stone cold serious when she rocked her hips rhythmically only to freeze, arch her back and pop her ass suggestively. Donald Miller frowned when his eyes settled on Scotty.
The white boy had stolen her attention back when they were teens. Once when he had tried to rap to her, Scotty had jumped in the way, blocking his flow. Donald didn’t remember that in truth he had been terrorizing Jalissa and when Vanessa stepped up to protect her cousin he had turned his aggression on her. He would have grabbed her and showed her—given her something to think about had Scotty not stepped in front of them both and put a stop to it.
Donald wasn’t jealous of Scotty, because he had no desire to be a white boy, but it pissed him off that Scotty was so much taller than him. And the white boy was in tiptop shape. He’d played basketball enough times with him to know that he was as strong as he looked. Scotty also knew how to use his fist. Donald did too, but he’d seen the shit that the dude’s older brother could do and it wasn’t worth it.
But Tino hadn’t been around in years. Someone had seen him and said that his face had been messed up in some kind of accident and he was no longer ‘right in the head’.
Donald hadn’t been afraid of Tino either, but he wasn’t stupid enough to go up against two crazy white boys. So he had backed down that day. The memory of it still caused a lingering anger that had endured after ten long years.
He tipped back his Dixie Cup, draining the last of his Hennessy and Coke and then went upstairs.
G was in a room crammed with people sucking on pipes or sprawled out enjoying their high.
Garry James was doing just that. He was reclining in a lounger with his new girl. His baby’s mama had kicked him out which surprisingly didn’t bother him much. The move meant that he wouldn’t have to deal with her constant complaints about the amount of time he spent getting high.
His new girl was a little older, white or Hispanic—he was unsure of which, but as long as he shared with her, she never complained about the amount of crack he smoked.
“Yo, G. Your boy’s here.”
G’s eyes moved to Donald Miller who was standing in front of him. G was surprised that he hadn’t even seen the young man before he’d called out his name.
“My boy?” G frowned.
“Scotty.”
G’s scowl was replaced by confusion.
“Scotty’s here?”
“Yeah. With his girl, Vanessa.”
G came to his feet and stumbled pitifully. Donald was in constant amusement by G. Back in the day the bigger guy always reminded him of an old guerilla. He was black as pitch, big as an ox and even at sixteen he looked like a pro-football player.
Back in the day, G was one of the cool cats on the block. No one wanted to mess with him and it wasn’t just his looks but it was also the people he knew. Years later, G had become an important, well-respected player in the game.
And now look at him! Donald hid his amusement. The fool was no different than the junkies that he peddled his wares to.
It was made all the worse because G was in control of a lucrative drug trade and had no idea that Donald and a few others had been skimming from him almost since they’d come to work for him.
Dante had heard the name Vanessa and he looked at G and Donald uneasily. He’d figured out that his Vanessa wasn’t the same as Scotty’s because his Vanessa had just had a baby.
But Dante knew that he had been the recipient of some kind of treachery that both Vanessa’s had been a part of. Because of his injured pride, Dante had not looked back at the girl that had delivered his firstborn child.
G tried to walk straight. He stopped and rubbed his face as if that would revive him and then he left the bedroom and went down the stairs with Donald following behind him.
The DJ had expertly mixed in Afrika Bambaataa’s Planet Rock at the end of Trans Europe Express and Vanessa was amazed that someone had taken the beat from the electronic German song and pumped it up until it was perfect for break dancing.
She and Scotty eased off the dance floor to make room for some guys that were doing an impromptu dance off.
“Damn Scotty, where you been hiding your girl?” A guy slapped hands with Scotty while looking at her.
She didn’t know if she should thank him since he hadn’t spoken to her directly. Scotty’s arm went around her waist protectively and Vanessa suddenly realized that Scotty would not have wanted any guy here to speak to her. It was some man thing, apparently and the people at the party must all be in on those rules because plenty of them looked but no one approached her.
Phonso appeared out of nowhere with more cans of beer for the both of them. They accepted them gratefully. She never drank much but it was summer, hot and she had danced hard.
“Sis,” Phonso said in admiration, “You and me should start a group, do some singing and dancing. We could make some big money!”
Vanessa grinned, thinking of her favorite movie Sparkle. “Why do you think I went to the School of Performing Arts? I intend to be a singing sensation,” she joked. But Phonso was nodding seriously.
“Yo, Scotty!” Came G’s voice from behind them.
Scotty was thinking that he was actually having fun when he heard his best friend’s voice. He turned and was immediately struck by how much weight his friend had lost. G had always been a big guy—and he still was, but he no longer looked healthy.
G was wearing a big smile. They shook and gave each other half hugs. Scotty’s nose was assaulted by the sour smell of sweat and something funky. It was as if the crack now oozed from the man’s pores.
“What’s up, my brother?” Scotty said, while masking his expression.
“My prick but that’s always up,” G joked before turning his attention to Vanessa.
“Hello Vanessa. You are looking good, mami.”
Vanessa smiled. “Thanks G. This is a really good party.”
“I’m happy that you’re having a good time.” He looked around as if surprised that people were partying. “I guess I should mingle.”
“When you get a sec I want to talk to you about something,” Scotty said.
G’s brow went up hopefully.
“Sure. We can do that now.” G looked at Vanessa remembering how she used to always show up and overstay her welcome. He hoped she wouldn’t tag along. He wanted Scotty back in the crew. If Scotty didn’t come back … well he was unsure how things would turn out.
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Scotty gave Phonso a quick look and his brother nodded once and Scotty leaned in to speak quietly in Vanessa’s ear.
“G and I are going to talk. I want you to stay with Phonso. Don’t let him out of your sight and don’t eat or drink anything unless Phonso gives it to you.
Vanessa gave him a curious look but didn’t question him. She nodded her head.
He gave her a quick peck on the lips. “I won’t be long. The two friends retreated and Phonso stepped forward and offered his arm in a gentlemanly fashion.
She accepted it with a smile. “Where is your girlfriend?”
His face twisted into a scowl. “I’ve had two girlfriends since Angelique.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Vanessa said.
“I’m not. Women can be treacherous. Not you, of course.” He gave her a winning smile which she returned.
“Men can be, too. Not you, of course. But some men are.”
“You won’t have to worry about that when it comes to Scotty. Now let’s dance. You rested yet?”
Vanessa grinned. “Yep.”
As they hit the dance floor, Vanessa considered how strange her life was. Phonso felt like a brother to her and the man that she was engaged to was her half brother’s half brother.
Juan Carlos Tremont had fathered a number of children—she and Tino among them. He’d raised Scotty and Phonso as his own but they had fathers that they didn’t actually know.
It was weird that she’d never met her own father who had raised these two young men.
Scotty said that he was in the state pen and would be there for some years to come.
Apparently one of the women he pimped out wasn’t exactly eighteen. Scotty had asked if she wanted to visit him but she didn’t—wouldn’t know what to say to the man. He’d played her mother for a sucker and if he had ever thought two seconds about her he’d never made it known to her.
It didn’t matter to her anymore. She had a brother who had been the scariest person in the ghetto back when she was a child. When she’d discovered that her real father wasn’t a black man that had died unexpectedly like her mother had said—but a Hispanic pimp, Vanessa had incorrectly assumed that both Scotty and Tino were her brothers.