I rolled my eyes. “Save your threats for someone who gives a damn. You come after me, and I got something for that ass, nigga! So go eat a dick and stay the hell away from me,” I yelled and hung up on his ass.
Dre smiled and clapped his hands. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.”
19
A common enemy
Midtown Atlanta, GA
JASMINE
After my chat with Malachi, I had lost all respect for that nigga. I’d always had a certain level of respect for him more than anybody else there. After all, he was the head nigga in charge. I understood that he was a gangster and not a gentleman, especially when it came to our business transactions. He paid me top dollar to dance at The Pink Palace and for sex. We never pretended it was anything other than that. But that bullshit he said about not giving a damn about any bitch in his club really pissed me off. At that moment, he became another trick in my eyes, and I was done fucking with him. I could go dance at Magic City, Strokers, or The Pink Pony South and make just as much money, if not more.
I was glad I had told him what his nasty little brother was trying to do to Nikki. He needed his ass kicked.
I was surprised to get a call from Nikki, asking me to meet her at the bookstore in midtown. I knew whatever it was she wanted to discuss had to be important. I’d been dying for months to know what was going on between Malachi and her, and I just might find out.
I walked into the bookstore and saw folks browsing around. I even spotted the new Eric Jerome Dickey novel in his Gideon series that I wanted to read. I would have to remember to pick it up on the way out. I then spotted Nikki sitting by herself at a table in the Seattle Coffee section, waiting for me. She was sipping on a coffee when I walked over to her.
“I hope you weren’t waiting long for me,” I said and had a seat at the table.
“Naw, I just got here a few minutes ago myself. I love the coffee here. By the way, how’s Kandi?”
“She’s actually doing much better. I moved her in with me a few days ago.”
Nikki’s eyebrows rose. “Really? I guess you were serious about trying to be a friend to her.”
“Yeah, she needs good people around her now. I’m not exactly sure if I’m that person, but I’m all she got. Her days of dancing at The Pink Palace are done. I’m going to make sure she gets back in Clark and finish her education.”
“I have a feeling Kandi is in good hands,” Nikki confirmed.
“So what’s up, Nikki? Why do you need to speak to me?”
Nikki took another sip of her coffee and then put it on the table. “Well, I have a serious problem with Malachi, and I need your help to solve it.”
I folded my legs under the table and leaned back in my chair. “I know there’s something going on between you two, but you’ve never wanted to talk about it before. Why now?”
“Things have change for me. I’ve found a way from up under his thumb permanently,” Nikki said seriously.
“Okay, I need you to explain it to me. Everything.”
Nikki sighed and looked at the table then back at me. “All right. If I’m going to ask you for your help, I might as well tell you the truth.” She paused momentarily and gathered her thoughts. “My fiancé, the father of my child, Dre, used to do business with Malachi a few years ago. This was before Malachi owned The Pink Palace.”
“Back in the day when you used to dance there?”
“Correct. Dre was getting his supply from Malachi, but when he got arrested, the police took his supply and he took a big loss. Fortunately, Dre had some great lawyers on his case, and he was able to beat a lot of the charges he was facing and only did a year in prison.
“When he got out, he was done with the drug game, and I was done with my life at The Pink Palace, and we had a son together. Unfortunately, Dre still owed Malachi a lot of money, but Dre was able to make a deal to pay him back his money over a period of time.”
“Let me guess. Once Dre paid him back what he owed him, Malachi still wanted more,” I presumed.
“Yeah, he wanted more, but Dre wasn’t going to pay him. So Malachi had Dre shot right in front of my baby and me,” Nikki said.
“Damn. I’m sorry, Nikki.”
“It’s okay. Dre didn’t die. He fell into a coma, and by this time, I was desperate to do anything to stop Malachi from finishing the job he had already started. So I went to him and made a deal.”
“That was the night I saw you walk up in the club and head straight for his office. I was wondering who the hell you were and why Malachi let you in,” I said and chuckled to myself.
“Yeah . . . that night. That dirty muthafucka said that if I danced in The Pink Palace, I could ‘work’ off the debt Dre owed him. But I knew this sick bastard just wanted me up in there for his enjoyment.”
“That explains so much, like why you never wanted to be there.”
She nodded her head.
“So what’s changed now?” I asked.
Nikki sighed. “Dre’s awake now. He’s been awake for weeks now, getting better, and I’ve been lying to Malachi, saying that he’s dead.”
“Shit. That’s a dangerous game you’re playing, Nikki. So why don’t you all just get the fuck outta town?”
“’Cause there’s another problem. The nigga who shot Dre was also his best friend, Polo.”
My mind searched my memory banks instantly. “Polo, that nigga that’s always with Reggie? That’s Dre’s best friend? Why would he stab his boy in the back like that?”
“Because of me. Polo said that he’s been in love with me for years. I guess he saw his chance to get rid of Dre and get at me.”
I smiled. “Well, aren’t you just little Miss Popular? Does Polo know Dre’s alive?”
“No. He’s held up somewhere safe right now.”
“This is a hell of a shithole you got yourself into, Nikki, but I don’t see how I can help you.”
Nikki leaned in closer to the table. “Would you help me?”
“If I could, yeah.”
“Why?”
“Because I can’t stand Malachi’s ass,” I said frankly.
“Wow, I kinda thought you two had something going on.”
I rolled my eyes. “That was strictly business, and I’m done fucking with his ass on that tip. After what happened to Kandi and him telling me he didn’t give a shit, that just told me it’s time to move the fuck on.”
“I could’ve told you that a long time ago,” she said and laughed.
“Yeah . . . so why do you feel like you can trust me all of a sudden?”
Nikki looked into my eyes. “I don’t know. Maybe because I feel like in some ways when I look at you, I see a lot of myself. I think you see that too.”
“I hate to admit it, but I do too. I see you, and I wonder what my future is going to be. It’s just weird.”
“Jasmine, your future is whatever you want it to be. Besides, where you are with your game, I never was. You have a business mind like I’ve never seen in a bitch,” Nikki joked.
“Why, thank you,” I said with a smile. “But getting back to my question: What makes you think I can help you?”
“Well, you know this beef that Malachi is having with this Don P nigga?”
“Yeah, Malachi is so uptight about it, he ain’t going nowhere unless he’s thirty deep.”
Nikki picked up her coffee and sipped it. “What if I told you I know who that nigga Don P is? How much money do you think Malachi will pay for that information?”
I uncrossed my legs and leaned forward on the table. “A nice penny or two. You’re saying you know who he is? But how does that help you with your situation?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Because that foul-ass nigga Polo is Don P.”
“What!”
“Yep. So we have a plan to set them fools up. We just need somebody who Malachi would trust to deliver that info.”
I grinned. “Oh, I get it. So they can take each other out for you. That is brilliant.
”
“And it can also be profitable for you. Malachi would pay top dollar to find this shit out,” she said.
“Yes, he would. But you know what?”
“What?”
“I would do it for free if it meant getting rid of Malachi.”
Nikki laughed and took my hand. “But the cash is just an extra motivator!”
“Exactly,” I confirmed and laughed with her. “So what do you need me to do?”
* * *
After Nikki explained the plan Dre and her had come up with to eliminate both Malachi and Polo, we parted ways and I headed home. This was a dangerous game I was about to play, but it was also worth it. I couldn’t believe the story Nikki told me about what that foul-ass nigga Malachi had done to her, and I was even more shocked about what she said about that lame-ass nigga Polo. I’d always seen him around Reggie, hanging out at The Pink Palace looking shifty. He always gave me a bad vibe, and now I knew why. That snake shot his own best friend to get at his woman. How foul can you get?
The plan that Nikki came up with was airtight, and we were going to set it off that Saturday night. I just needed to get Malachi to believe my story, and I would get paid in the meantime. Maybe a cool $25,000 or even $50,000. He would pay for what I knew. Even if things went bad and Malachi survived the setup, I would still be in the clear with the money. I just hoped he caught a hot one between his eyes for all the pain he’d caused Nikki and her family.
I was also excited about that night as well. Chauncey was coming over to my place for dinner. It was the first time I’d ever brought a man back to my condo.
I didn’t know what it was, but there was something about him I found simply irresistible, not to mention arousing! This was the first time in a long time I’d found myself so drawn to a man. He excited me not only physically but mentally too. I couldn’t believe out of all the niggas I’d fucked with—ballers, athletes, and gangsters—that I was dating a male nurse, of all people. This was crazy for me.
I soon reached home. I looked at my watch and it was 5:30 p.m. Chauncey said he’d be over at 8:00, so that gave me just under three hours to cook and get ready for dinner.
I went inside and saw that Kandi had already started dinner for me. She was such a sweet girl.
“Hey, Jasmine! You’re running behind schedule for your date,” she noted.
“I know. Thanks for starting dinner for me.”
Kandi giggled. “No problemo! Besides, I’m glad you hit it off with Nurse Chauncey,” she teased.
I walked into the kitchen and opened the oven. The beef flanks were cooking very well. “Don’t call him that when he gets here.”
“Okay! I just can’t believe you two are on a second date. He must have really put it on you the other night,” Kandi said and put her finger in her mouth seductively.
I couldn’t help but smile at her sexy ass. If I wasn’t feeling Chauncey so much, I might have had to seduce her again. “Yes, he did. And he’s gonna put it on me again tonight!”
“Ooohhh, mind if I watch?” Kandi inquired playfully.
“You know me. I don’t give a damn. ’Cause I know you gonna hear some moaning and groaning tonight,” I insisted.
Kandi laughed hard, and so did I, ’cause we both knew I wasn’t lying.
I headed to my room and picked out my clothes for dinner. I was going to wear a blue mini wrap dress by Michael Kors and matching blue Chanel shoes. I wanted to feel sexy that night, so I went and ran the water in my tub for a Tokyo Milk bubble bath.
After an hour of soaking my body in the soothing bath solution, I got up and got dressed. I decided to wear my hair up to show off my neck. Chauncey loved sucking on it, so I wanted to tease him all night. By the time I got done fixing my hair and applying my makeup, I heard my doorbell chime. It was 8:00 on the dot. Chauncey was prompt.
I heard Kandi open the door for him, and he was happy to see her. I stepped out of my room looking fierce, and once again his eyes lit up when he saw me.
“Wow, I feel underdressed now,” Chauncey said referring to his red Avirex shirt and matching black jeans.
“Not at all. I just wanted to look good for you tonight,” I said to him.
“I don’t think you couldn’t,” Chauncey droned and walked over to me.
Kandi winked at me and licked her lips behind his back, letting me know Chauncey looked fine as fuck. I winked back, acknowledging her.
“Are you hungry?”
Chauncey grinned and looked me up and down “Very.”
“For food,” I smirked and clarified.
“Yeah, whatever that is you got in there smells good.”
“Why, thank you,” Kandi said.
I cut my eyes at her. I wanted him to think I cooked it.
Chauncey laughed. “So you didn’t cook, huh?”
“I was running late, and Kandi was nice enough to start it for me.”
“And finish it,” he added.
I rolled my eyes. “Details.”
I led him to the living room, and he had a seat.
“This is a real nice place you got here, Jasmine. Like something outta MTV Cribs,” he joked.
“It cozy.”
“Well, I’ll put dinner on the table for you and give you two some privacy,” Kandi told us.
“Thank you,” I said, and she disappeared into the kitchen.
“I’m glad to see she’s doing better. I knew you would take good care of her,” Chauncey affirmed.
“I’m trying,” I sat down next to him. “I’m glad you came over. I don’t normally invite men over here.”
“Then I feel special to be the first.”
“You should,” I joked, and Chauncey leaned over and kissed me. Damn, I could feel myself getting so wet. What was this man doing to me?
We heard Kandi clear her throat. “Dinner is on the table, y’all.”
“Thank you, Kandi.”
“I’ll be in my room,” she crooned and bounced off.
We both moved to the dining room and had a seat. Damn, Kandi did her thing. Beef flank, roasted potatoes, and collard greens sat on the table in front of us. If I knew she could cook like this, I would have moved her in a long time ago!
Chauncey picked up the bottle of Moscato and the corkscrew. He opened the bottle and poured us both a glass into the champagne flutes.
“Can I make a toast?” he asked.
“Sure.”
“To getting to know each other even better,” he said and we drank to that.
We both dug into our food, and man, it was good. Kandi should have become a chef instead of a stripper.
After dinner we went to the couch, and I turned on the stereo. R. Kelly and Keri Hilson’s “Number One Sex” started to play in the background.
“Let me ask you something, Jasmine. Where do you see yourself in five years?”
I thought about that. “I want to own a business, something in the entertainment field. I haven’t really mapped it out yet.”
“Maybe you should start,” he replied.
“I got a question for you.”
He smiled. “Shoot.”
“Why are you still dating me after I told you what my lifestyle is like?”
“I like you. A lot.”
“Seriously. I’m not the type of girl you bring home to your momma.”
“My momma is dead, remember?” he said.
“Sorry.” I shook my head. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
“Relax. Listen, I don’t like to judge people until I get to know them. And from what I’ve learned from being around you, you’re a funny, sexy, smart, and caring woman. All the things I like in a woman, Jasmine,” he said and touched my face.
“Jacqueline. My real name is Jacqueline.” I didn’t know why I just told him that. It just felt right.
“Jacqueline? I like that,” he said and kissed my lips.
I couldn’t believe it. I might have been falling for this guy. How the hell did that happen? One day I was “Mone
y Over Niggas,” the next thing I knew I was dating the night nurse. Whatever, this felt right, and so did the way he was touching my leg.
His hands traveled further up my thick chocolate thigh, until he was under my dress and he touched my fire.
He pulled away. “You’re not wearing any panties.”
“Hmmm, I must have forgot to put them on,” I said and smiled.
Chauncey kissed me again and put his thumb on my swollen clit and rubbed me the right way.
“Aahh,” I moaned, and it felt like a river flowing between my thighs.
Chauncey inserted his index finger into my tight hole, and I grinded on his fingers. My hand caressed his dick in his jeans, and he was harder than a brick. I unzipped his fly and pulled out his beautiful, long dick and gripped it and rubbed it up and down.
Chauncey groaned as I stroked his manhood. I couldn’t take anymore, and I decided to straddle him right there on the couch. Chauncey let out a lustful hiss as I slid down his meaty shaft. My dress was bunched up around my waist, exposing my fat ass as I ponied up and down his dick, driving him crazy.
R. Kelly’s “Echo” was providing the soundtrack to our lust. As we were getting our freak on, I spied Kandi poking her head out of her room down the hall, with a shit-eating grin on her face, watching us! Chauncey’s head was tilted back with his eyes closed, unaware of our audience.
I mouthed the words “Go away,” and she stuck her tongue out and mouthed back “No,” and covered her mouth, giggling.
I shook my head and refocused my attention on Chauncey. He pulled off his shirt and then lifted my dress up over my head, leaving only my Gucci shoes on me. Then he wrapped his arm around my waist and stood up while his dick was still deep in me.
“Where’s your bedroom?” He grunted lustfully.
“That way.” I pointed down the hall.
Kandi quickly darted back in her room before she could be spotted by Chauncey.
Chauncey carried me down the hallway while I was still riding his dick. He pushed the door open and walked in, and I made sure I grabbed the door and slammed it shut. Kandi’s little nasty self wasn’t going to watch the rest of our private show.
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