Real As It Gets

by ReShonda Tate Billingsley

  I almost fell over when I noticed Sammy coming down the stairs.

  “Man, where you been?” Travis looked so relieved.

  “I told you I was on my way. I was trying to take care of that.”

  “Trying, does that mean you didn’t?” Travis was panicked again.

  “What did your guy say?” Sammy asked.

  Travis just shook his head. Fear covered his face.

  “You got the money?” the stocky guy repeated.

  Sammy turned to the guy. “Look ...”

  The man started shaking his head. “Naw, naw, wrong answer, bruh. That’s a yes-or-no question.” He stepped closer. “Do you have the money?”

  “Not yet,” Sammy said hesitantly.

  “That sounds like a no to me. You and your boy here running game on me?”

  “Nah, it’s not even like that.”

  I couldn’t hold it anymore. I needed to get my cousin—and my man—out of here. “Sammy?” I said, popping up from my hiding spot.

  Both Travis and Sammy turned toward me. Travis spoke first. “Maya! What the—”

  I cut him off as I stepped in Sammy’s face. “I can’t believe this!” I told Sammy. I probably should’ve been afraid but I think I was too mad to even think about it. “So you’re a drug dealer, too? Are you the one that got my cousin caught up in this stuff?”

  Sammy looked flustered and freaked out. “Maya, it’s not even like that. I just didn’t want to get you caught up in my business. I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you, but I didn’t want to involve you.”

  “Unh-unh, don’t be trying to make excuses,” I said, waving my finger in his face. I spun on Travis. “And you fixed me up with a freakin’ drug dealer? Have you lost your mind?”

  “Maya, did you follow me?” Travis asked.

  I ignored him and refocused my wrath on Sammy. “You listened to me cry about my cousin and you were the one who got him all involved in this all along.”

  “Maya, please go. We can talk about this later,” Sammy whispered as he tried to push me toward the stairs.

  I jerked away from him. “Don’t touch me, you liar!”

  But before anyone could say another word, the door swung open and a short, thuggish-looking man in a linen button-down shirt and matching pants stood there. He had tiny dreads and a gold tooth.

  “See, this is that mess I’m talking about. Y’all bring this to my doorstep?” he said, angrily.

  It was then that I noticed the small chrome pistol that the bodyguard near the door was pointing at us.

  “Tell you what. Why don’t you all bring this little family reunion inside and tell Papa Nico what’s really going on?”

  Chapter 34

  “This has nothing to do with her. Let her go,” Travis said as the three of us sat side by side on the plush leather sofa inside the luxurious apartment. You’d never know from outside the building that something like this was inside. This apartment was fiyah!

  “Yes, she didn’t have anything to do with this,” Sammy added.

  Nico shook his head. “Sorry, pretty lady. When you stick your nose in other people’s business, then you have something to do with this.”

  “Look, Nino,” I began.

  He shot me a crazy look. “Nino?”

  “Like Nino, from that drug movie, New Jack City.”

  “Nico, the name is Nico.”

  “Okay, Mr. Nico. I was just here to grab my cousin. If I could just get him and my boyfriend”—I glared at Sammy—“I mean, my ex-boyfriend, we’ll be out. I don’t want any trouble.”

  Nico burst out laughing, then turned to the guy who had been by the door. “You hear that, Lex? She wants to just get her cousin and her man and they gon’ be out. That’s all she wants.”

  Sammy stood up. “Come on, Nico. This is just between us.”

  Nico lost his smile and held up his hand. “You would not want to talk to me, son. Unless you’re sayin’ to me, ‘I got your money,’ there’s nothin’ you need to be saying to me.” Sammy slid back into his seat as Nico took a deep breath to calm himself before turning back to me. “What’s your name, doll baby?”

  I frowned at him. “It sure isn’t doll baby.”

  “Maya, chill,” Travis hissed in my direction.

  I mean, don’t get me wrong, I was scared, but he still needed to get my name right.

  “Do you know who I am?” I said, thinking maybe if Nico knew whom he was dealing with, he’d let us go.

  “No, enlighten me.”

  Travis grabbed my arm as if he was trying to shut me up. I ignored him and continued. “I’m Maya Morgan.”

  “Oooooh, snap,” Nico said. “That makes all the difference in the world. Why didn’t you tell me that’s who you were?” He stopped and stared at me. “Who in world is Maya Morgan?”

  “She does a gossip show on TV.” We all turned toward the feminine voice coming from the doorway I looked up to see a leggy woman in a super tight miniskirt, her blond hair hanging down her back. She was smacking on a piece of gum like she had been a cow in a former life.

  I nodded. “That’s me.”

  “How old are you?” Nico asked.

  “Eighteen.”

  “She’s seventeen,” Travis said. “And she isn’t in this.”

  “You told me you weren’t in it either,” I snapped.

  “Maya . . . ,” Sammy said.

  I gave him the hand. “I’m with Nico. You don’t need to be talking to me. You were just playing me when all along— you’re the one got him selling these drugs. Are you even a record producer?”

  The way he lowered his eyes answered my question.

  “What? You took me to your studio.”

  Nico laughed. “Jax told me you brought some chick over there to impress her, acting like you was running stuff. Boy, you got game.”

  I was horrified. “That was lie? You were just pretending? Oh my God. I can’t believe you.” I actually hit him on the shoulder as I jumped up from my seat.

  Nico turned and looked at Lex. “Is this really going on? I run a multimillion-dollar business and I got a crazy cousin, a lying boyfriend, and a baby mama going at it in my living room. Like for real?”

  “Oh, hold on,” I screamed. “I am not anyone’s baby mama!”

  “This not your baby’s mama?” he asked Sammy.

  I spun on to Sammy. “You got a baby mama?”

  He let out a long sigh. “Maya, I wanted to tell you, but ...”

  “Oh, my, God, I can’t believe this!” I shouted. “Is your name even Sammy?” I punched him again. “You are such a freaking liar!” Then, I turned and punched Travis. “And how are you gonna have me hooking up with someone like this!”

  Travis grabbed his arm. “I told you not to get serious. He was just somebody to kick it with.”

  I hit Travis again. “You are out of order for fixing me up with him in the first place! I can’t believe this!”

  “I can’t believe none of this,” Nico said, shaking his head.

  I snapped my head in Nico’s direction and gave him the hand. “Shhh. I will get with you in a minute.” I turned back to Sammy. I knew I wasn’t thinking straight to be talking to a drug kingpin like that, but I couldn’t believe all of Sammy’s lies. “Do you or do you not have a baby mama?” I asked him.

  “Did she just shush me?” Nico asked in disbelief.

  Lex laughed. “Yeah, boss. I think she did.”

  “You know, all of this Young and the Restless stuff, yeah, not feeling it.” Nico stepped toward me and I stopped going off. For now. But I glared at him. We stood eye to eye until he finally said, “I like you.” He leaned in to my ear. “That feistiness turns me on.” His breath smelled like old cigars. “You need to leave these boys alone and come play with the big dogs. I can buy you whatever you want.” He motioned to the ghetto girl in the corner. “Ask her.”

  My hands went to my hips. “I can buy me whatever I want.”

  Nico started laughing. It was at that point whe
n I noticed the hoochie standing off in the corner was getting mad. She stood with her arms folded across her chest. “Really, Nico?”

  “Come on, Margarita. Don’t start trippin’. Go on upstairs and wait on me.”

  She glared at him, shot me an ugly look, then turned and bounced back up the stairs.

  Nico didn’t pay her any more attention as he turned back to us. “Look, I’m about tired of all of this,” he said.

  “Cool. We’ll just get out of here then,” Sammy said, standing up and trying to take my hand. Of course, I snatched it away. “I’ll get your money by tomorrow,” Sammy said.

  “I know you gon’ get my money,” Nico said, grabbing my arm and jerking me toward him. “And I’m gonna hold on to your little girlfriend until you do.”

  “What?” I said, trying to snatch my arm away from him, too. But his grip was tight and I couldn’t get my arm back. “Are you crazy? I’m not staying here. Let go of me.”

  He shook me. “Look, little girl, I’m tired of playing with you. It was cute at first, but now you’re just working my nerves. And since you want to stick your nose all up in my business, I’m gonna keep you around for collateral.”

  The look in his eyes told me he was serious and it was time out for joking.

  Travis actually charged in his direction, but Lex immediately stepped up and pointed a pistol at his head, stopping him in his tracks.

  The other bodyguard, who had come to the door with Nico, and who’d been standing quietly in the back this whole time, pulled out his gun as well. Travis quickly retreated.

  Nico’s grip on me tightened as he laughed. “Ah, ah, ah. I wouldn’t do that if I were you. My man gets trigger-happy when someone gets too close to me.” He pulled me in front of him in a bear hug. “And I’d hate to have him splatter your blood all over this pretty lady’s outfit.”

  Now, I was for-real shaking.

  “Sammy, you’d better tell your boy here what happened to the last little dude that tried to run up on me,” Nico said.

  Sammy didn’t say a word, but grabbed Travis’s arm and pulled him back.

  “Please, Mr. Nico. Let me go,” I cried.

  He put his hand over my mouth to shut me up, which scared me even more.

  “Come on, man, please?” I could see the fear in Travis’s eyes. “I told you she has nothing to do with this!”

  “Give me my money and this is all over,” Nico calmly said as he removed his hand from my mouth.

  “Just give him the money back,” I told Sammy when neither of them moved. He and Travis exchanged looks.

  “We don’t have it,” Sammy finally said.

  “What do you mean you don’t have it?”

  “We got robbed,” Sammy said.

  “Now that sounds like a personal problem,” Nico replied.

  “Look, Mr. Nico. I got plenty of money. How much do they owe you?” I reached in my bag that was strapped around my body. “I have an American Express black card and you can just charge whatever they owe.”

  Nico looked at Lex and they both just burst out laughing. “I’m sorry, our credit card machine is down today,” Nico said.

  “Yeah,” Lex added. “We need our two hundred and fifty in cash?”

  “Two hundred and fifty?” Sammy exclaimed.

  “Yeah,” Lex replied, “that includes interest.”

  “Why didn’t you just say that?” I said, reaching in my purse again. “Here, do you have change?” I said, handing him three one-hundred-dollar bills.

  They busted out laughing again. “Girl, you funny.” Nico laughed, then lost his smile. “Two hundred and fifty G’s.”

  “What?” I screamed. “Travis, what were you doing messing around with that kind of money?”

  “It wasn’t but a hundred and fifty worth of drugs,” Sammy protested.

  “Hey, compounded interest,” Nico said. “You were supposed to have my money yesterday. You didn’t, so now you gotta pay the interest.” He shrugged.

  “Come on, man,” Sammy pleaded. “You said we were partners.”

  Nico laughed. “And you believed me?” He smiled like he was really proud of himself. “You young bucks really are stupid. But look here, I’m tired of talking. Get my money.”

  “I told you, we were robbed,” Sammy said.

  “And I told you, not my problem. I ain’t playing around. You want me to believe somebody robbed you? Please. So, here’s how it’s going to work.” He grabbed my arm and pulled me toward him. “I’m gonna hold on to shorty here while the two of you go get my money.”

  “No, I’m leaving!” I squirmed, trying to get away.

  “Nah, I don’t think so,” Nico said. He kissed my neck. I wanted to throw up. “Now, I’m not gonna hurt you, yet,” he said. “But I’m gonna keep you here until these fellas come back with my money.” He narrowed his eyes in their direction. “And if you go to the cops, I’m gonna make sure she dies,” he said, squeezing me tighter. “Then I’m gonna make sure your real baby mama and your baby die,” he said, looking at Sammy. “And you,” he added, turning to Travis, “I’m gonna get someone up in Brooklyn to take care of that fine mama of yours.”

  How does he know about Aunt Bev? It was at that moment when I realized Travis really was in this thing deep. And now, it looked like I was, too.

  “My ... my friend is outside,” I stammered, suddenly remembering Sheridan. “She’s probably calling the cops right now.”

  Nico studied me like he was trying to see if I was telling the truth.

  “Joe, go handle that,” he finally said to the bodyguard in the corner.

  I grimaced, hoping he didn’t hurt her.

  “Okay, but let Travis and Maya go. I’m the one that was robbed. I’ll handle it,” Sammy said.

  “Lil dude, I’m done talking,” Nico replied.

  “But ...”

  “But nothing. Be gone,” he said, waving them off.

  “No!” I screamed. I actually was able to squirm out of his grip, but he grabbed me by my hair and tossed me down in a chair.

  “Chill out, little girl. Make yourself comfortable. You gon’ be here a minute.”

  “And lil G,” he said, pointing at Travis, “don’t be stupid. You get five-o involved, I’m just gonna have to put a bullet in her pretty little head.” He stroked my hair.

  I swallowed hard and fought to keep the tears back. I don’t think I’d ever been as scared as I was at that very moment.

  “It’s okay, cuz,” Travis said, his voice shaking. “I’ll get the money.”

  “Babe, we’re coming back. I promise,” Sammy said.

  I didn’t want to talk to either one of them, but I was so scared, all I could do was say, “Just hurry.” I looked at Travis. “And please, check on Sheridan. Make sure that guy didn’t do anything to her.”

  “Let’s go,” Lex said, pushing them out the door. I just prayed that wasn’t my last time seeing them.

  Chapter 35

  This was a bad dream. A really, really bad dream. That was the only thing I could think as I sat trying to figure out how I had ended up here. All I’d wanted to do was keep my cousin out of danger. I never imagined I’d end up in the middle of danger right there with him.

  But my mind couldn’t even process all of that because I was absolutely floored about Sammy. Now that I thought about it, I should’ve known. He was too well-connected. Him and his private singers who didn’t want people around. My never being able to go to his house. The crackhead uncle who blamed him. The ex-girlfriend who asked if I knew what he did. He probably lived with his baby mama.

  I just couldn’t believe this. Maya Morgan dating a drug dealer? Ugh. It made my skin crawl. And so did the drug dealer of all drug dealers sitting in front of me.

  “Why you staring at me like that, baby girl?” Nico asked.

  “Maya. The name is Maya.”

  “You sure got a lot of balls, little girl.” He looked at Lex. “Okay, I get she didn’t know who I was in the beginning, but even w
hen I told her, it was like she wasn’t backing down.”

  Lex chuckled, as did the quiet bodyguard. I was starting to wonder why he was even here. He’d barely uttered two words and it was like he stayed in the background.

  “So, I guess you’re not scared of me?” Nico asked.

  “Oh no, trust, you terrify me,” I said calmly. “But that still doesn’t mean I’m going to let you disrespect me.”

  Nico smiled, like he was proud of me or something. “I like a woman that’s feisty.”

  Margarita, who was sitting in the corner flipping through a magazine, looked up and scowled. I was beginning to wonder why she was with this guy. He treated her like crap and completely disrespected her in front of everybody. She was decent-looking, so it couldn’t have been a self-esteem issue. It had to be the money. She dressed like new money. Real new, like “I won the lotto yesterday.”

  “Margarita, you can take some lessons from her,” Nico said.

  She clicked her teeth and wiggled her head. “I don’t need to take no lessons from nobody. And I tell you about yourself all the time.”

  “Yeah, you do.” Nico laughed as he turned to Lex. “But all I gotta do is toss a hundred at her, and she’ll be like a dang lapdog.”

  Margarita continued glaring at Nico as he and Lex continued laughing.

  “Well, you can throw all the money at me you want, but you will still respect me.” I folded my arms. I was done talking to him.

  “What you do again?” he asked me.

  I just glared at him. I wanted to tell him it was none of his business, but I decided to just stay quiet.

  “Oh, so now you not talking to me?” he said. When I didn’t answer, he picked his gun up. “I’m gonna repeat, what do you do?”

  I may have been feisty, but I wasn’t stupid. “I’m in school.”

  “Oooh, a smart girl, too. Beauty and brains. Where you go to college?”

  “Not college. High school.”

  He looked shocked. “Dang. You still in high school?” His eyes ran up and down my body. “Man, you some serious jail bait. You gonna get some dudes locked up.”

  I rolled my eyes. “How long do you plan on keeping me here?”

  He leaned back, turning serious. “You heard. Til your boys get back here with my money.”