20
Judas kiss
College Park, GA
NIKKI
After my talk with Jasmine, I was happy she was onboard and ready to help us take down Malachi. Jayson was sitting a few tables away from us, pretending to read a book, and he had heard most of what was said. When Jasmine left, Jayson came over to my table, and I confirmed everything that we had talked about.
Now it was time for phase two of our plan. I had to give Polo the story we cooked up and make him believe it. Dre hated this part and didn’t want me anywhere near him. I didn’t want to be in the same room with that bitch-ass nigga, but this had to be done, and I was the only one that could do it. After finally convincing Dre that I would be safe around Polo, Jayson agreed to be nearby if anything went left.
I left from midtown and went back to my house in College Park. I called Polo and told him to come over. A few minutes later, Polo was ringing my doorbell.
I took a deep breath and walked to the door. “Hey, Polo.”
“What’s up, Nikki?” Polo replied and came inside and sat on my couch.
I closed the door and joined him on the couch.
“So you said on the phone you had something important to tell me about Malachi?”
“Yeah, you told me I should tell you if I overheard something important.”
He nodded. “Yeah, what is it?”
I looked him in the eyes, and I could see the eagerness. Snake-ass nigga, I thought.
“Well, I was with Malachi last night.”
Polo frowned. “You were with him?”
“Not like that. I was in his office when he got a phone call.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“I really couldn’t hear what the other person on the other end was saying, but Malachi was stressing that he needs the shipment in on Saturday night. He said he was going to be there himself to make sure nothing went wrong.”
“Shipment,” Polo said aloud. “He found a new supplier?”
“That’s what I thought.”
“Did he say where this drop was going down at?”
“He said something about a warehouse in Hapeville, four o’clock in the morning. He said Airport Loop Road and Forrest Ave., the old storage warehouse. I wish I knew more details.”
Polo smiled. “Don’t worry about it, Nikki. You’ve given me all the information I need. I promise you I’m gonna kill that nigga for what he did to Dre.”
The hairs on the back of my neck rose when I heard him say that.
For what he did to Dre? You dirty-ass mutherfucka! You shot Dre! You betrayed your best friend! You want to take me away from the father of my child, you bitch-ass nigga! I screamed in my head.
It took all my self-control not to take the razor blade out of my pocket and cut his throat, but I held on to my rage and I smiled.
“Thank you, Polo. I don’t know what I would do if you weren’t here for me.”
He took my hand. “Like I told you, Nikki, I’m always going to be there for you, and I hope soon you let me take care of you for real.”
I think I threw up a little in my mouth. “You don’t know what it means to hear you say that to me, Polo.”
Polo leaned in to kiss me, and I wanted to turn my head, but I let him kiss me. He made me sick, and I pulled away from him.
“I know it’s too soon for you, but I can’t help myself.”
“I promise you, Polo, once you take care of Malachi, you’ll get everything you ever wanted plus more,” I said seductively, and Polo smiled.
I got up off the couch and walked to the door. Polo followed behind me, and then he did the unthinkable. This grimy nigga grabbed my ass. I wanted to slap the shit outta him.
“I hope this is part of the plus more,” he whispered in my ear.
I turned around and faced him. “You’ll find out very soon.”
Polo grinned like an ugly little monkey. I opened the door, and Polo walked out. I closed the door and locked it.
The only thing you’re going to get is the same thing you gave Dre: a bullet in your ass!
JASMINE
After the workout Chauncey had given me the night before, I was surprised I could walk straight. My pussy was sore, that much was for sure, but it felt so good.
I couldn’t believe how fast I was falling for this man. Hell, any man. I loved women, and I thought if I had any kind of relationship in the future, it would be with one, but along came Nurse Good Dick, and I was begging for that old thing back like a fiend.
Chauncey had left an hour ago, and I dragged myself out of bed and into the shower. I pulled on my robe and walked out to the kitchen and saw Kandi cooking breakfast. She gave me a mischievous grin.
“I heard someone sing a new song last night. Ooohhh, Chauncey, do it to me like that, baby! You blowing my back, baby. Your dick’s at my G-spot. You making my bed rock,” Kandi sang, remixing the lyrics from “Bed Rock.”
“Shut up.” I smiled. “I was not that loud. You must’ve had your ear to my door,” I accused her. “I can’t believe you were watching us fuck last night.”
“How was I supposed to know you would be getting busy on the couch?” Kandi handed me a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon. “So you really like him, huh?”
I smiled and took a forkful of eggs. “Maybe.”
“Bullshit! Nurse Chauncey got you open and you know it.”
“Whatever. I enjoy his company. We click together.”
She gave me a sly smile. “I know. I saw you two clicking hard last night.”
“Shut up. I don’t know. It’s more than just a physical thing.” I put my fork down. “He understands me. He doesn’t judge me. I’ve never met a man like him before.”
“I can feel the love in the air,” Kandi crooned.
I couldn’t even argue with her on that one. I was not going to force anything to happen between us. I was just going to wait and see what happened between us.
Thoughts of what Nikki had told me the day before still played in my head. This was the night to set things into motion. It was a risky move, but I really wanted to get rid of Malachi. He’d been doing too much dirt to everybody not to get his in return.
“Kandi, I want you to know you can stay here as long as you want, rent free. Just as long as you get back in school and make something of yourself. I don’t want you ever setting foot in a strip club to work again.”
Kandi looked at me. “I will, Jasmine. I can never thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me.”
“Just you succeeding in life is thanks enough for me.”
Kandi got up and hugged me.
* * *
Later that night, I went to work at The Pink Palace, and as I was walking the club floor, I spotted Hester and Jade. I hadn’t seen those chicks since the night Kandi got in trouble. I blamed them, but the truth was, they didn’t make Kandi get high. They didn’t make her get in the car with Chaz. I just needed somebody to blame, and they were there.
I walked over to them, and Hester looked like she was ready to fight first and ask questions later.
“Chill. I ain’t here to fight you,” I said to her.
Hester looked me up and down. “What do you want then?”
“I just wanted to make it clear that there’s no beef between us—unless that’s what you want?” I paused and looked at both of them and they didn’t respond.
“Good. I was upset about what happened to Kandi, but that was no excuse for me to blame y’all for her actions.”
Hester’s facial expression softened. “We heard what happened to her. We didn’t mean for that to happen to her. I mean, we’re not anybody’s babysitter, but we wouldn’t set her up like that.”
“That’s good to know, but you both know what shit can happen working here, especially to young girls fresh up in here. If we don’t look out for each other, these niggas certainly won’t.”
Hester nodded. “I hear you. Is Kandi coming back?”
“No. She’s going back to colle
ge. I’m make sure she stays on track this time.”
She smiled. “Good for her. You’re a good person, Jasmine. Too bad we all don’t have you looking out for us,” Hester said and walked away with Jade.
For some reason, it felt good hearing her say that to me. Shit, she was like the fourth person to call me a good person that week. I wondered if they all were seeing something I was not. All this time I’d been trying my best to be “that bitch,” and I ended up growing a heart instead. How the hell did that happen?
The club closed at two thirty a.m. that night, so I decide to make my move up to Malachi’s office. Bump of course stopped me at the steps.
“Wussup, Jasmine?”
“Wussup, Bump. Is Malachi up in his office?”
“Yep.”
“I need to see him.”
“About what?” he asked.
I smiled. “Business.”
Bump smirked back. He knew exactly what I meant. Half the time I thought he had his ear to the door, listening to Malachi and me “conduct business” when I was up in there.
He picked up the phone on the wall and called Malachi in his office. After telling him I wanted to see him, Bump hung up.
“C’mon,” he said, and I followed him.
Bump opened the door, and I saw Malachi in his chair, smoking a cigar as usual. Bump left and closed the door behind him.
“Jasmine, if you ain’t here to fuck me, then I can’t be bothered,” Malachi said, still pissed I guess about the shit I had said to him last time.
“Well then, I guess I’ll leave and keep this information I got about Don P to myself,” I said and turned around.
“Wait. What information?”
I turned back around and had a seat in the chair in front of his desk. “I found out from a very reliable source who this Don P is and where he is.”
“From who?” Malachi questioned.
“Nikki,” I said and smiled.
Malachi frowned. “Nikki? What did she tell you?”
“Well, before we discuss that, we need to discuss how much this information is worth to you.”
“Hmph. Depending if it’s good, it could be very profitable for you.”
“Profitable as in $100,000?”
Malachi scowls. “Don’t try and run game on me. I’ll give you $50,000. If it’s true. Do we have a deal?”
I smiled. “That sounds good to me. Where’s the cash?”
Malachi sighed as he leaned to his left and opened the safe in his desk. Then he pulled out a couple of stacks and threw them on the desk in front of me. I recognized the band colors that held the money.
“Got a bag?” I asked. He got up and got a small black luggage bag out of his closet and tossed it to me. I quickly put the money in the bag, but then I realized it’s only half. “Malachi, this is only twenty-five Gs.”
“Half now. The other half after I verify what you’re saying to me is true. Now, what did Nikki say to you?”
It would have to be enough for now. “Well, you know me and Nikki have gotten very close these past couple of weeks,” I implied purposely.
“You have? And why haven’t you told me about that?”
“I never kiss and tell. Well, unless I’m getting paid to.”
“Hmph. Continue.”
“Well, first of all, Nikki really hates you.” Malachi scowled at me. “She trying to find any way she can to get away from you, and she thinks she has. Couple of nights ago, after we got done . . . making each other feel good, she shared with me just how she plans to do that.”
“What does this have to do with Don P?”
“I’m getting to that part. She tells me that she wants me to kick it with her and her new man, Don P. So, of course, I’m shocked by this, but I don’t just get down with any nigga, especially niggas beefing with you. Nikki tells me he’s going to take you out, and they’ll be running shit after you’re dead.”
Malachi looked at me suspiciously. “So why would you tell me this? Why not go with them and kill me?”
“I’m not gonna lie. It sounded tempting, but then she told me that the man that’s supposed to take you out and make this miracle come up is really that lame nigga Polo, going by the name Don P. I like the way things are now. I make lots of money being with you, and it’s better to deal with a devil I know than one I don’t.”
“Polo!” Malachi yelled angrily. “That nigga that’s been trying to get down with my crew is the same nigga trying to blood clot kill me!” Malachi slammed his fist on the desk, and it felt like he almost cracked the thing in two. “You sure about this?”
“Yes. Polo was Dre’s best friend. He’s always wanted Nikki for himself, and he hates you for killing Dre. Personally, I think you done him a favor, ’cause now he’s fucking Nikki day and night.”
Malachi got up and slammed his fist down on his filing cabinet. I’d never seen him this pissed before. I didn’t know he wanted Nikki this bad.
“No wonder she decided to get brave and cuss me out. Her and Polo trying to kill me. Pussyholes.” He turned and glared at me, and for the first time I’m afraid for myself. Maybe this wasn’t as simple as I thought it would be. “Where are they?”
“I don’t exactly know where they’re held up at. Nikki been ghost the past couple of days, but she did tell me that Polo has a big deal going down tonight in Hapeville off of Airport Loop Road and Forrest Ave., the old storage warehouse, around four a.m. Something about finding an out of state connect.”
“Pussyholes,” he mumbled. “They want to blood clot play with me.” Malachi picked up his phone. “Get Ricky and Reggie up here now,” he ordered Bump and hung up.
I sat nervously in the chair, trying not to turn Malachi’s wrath toward me. I could literally see the veins in his head protrude as he paced his office.
A few seconds later, Bump opened the door, with Ricky and Reggie behind him. Reggie had bandages on his head from the ass kicking Malachi gave him a few days ago.
“What’s up, Malachi?” Ricky asked.
“I just found out who this pussyhole Don P is.” He looked at Reggie. “Polo.”
“What? Naw, that’s not possible,” Reggie said, scared to death. “I mean, how could he be?”
Malachi backhanded him across the face. “You dummy. He’s been using you to get close to me. If you weren’t such a fucking idiot, you would have realized it.”
He held his face. “But, Mal, he was the one that shot Dre for you,” Reggie explained.
“The nigga I told you to kill!” Malachi screamed. “He shot Dre because he wanted Nikki, and now that pussyhole wants to take my spot. Ricky, get the niggas ready for war now. We’re going to Hapeville to pay Polo a visit.”
“Right away,” Ricky replied and walked out. Reggie turned to follow him.
“Where the fuck you think you’re going?” Malachi yelled at him.
“I . . . I was going with Rick.”
“You ain’t going anywhere! I got other things for you to do!”
“Okay, okay,” Reggie timidly replied.
“You’re going to stay here and watch her.” Malachi pointed to me.
I crinkled my eyebrows. “What? I got things to do.”
Malachi turned and grabbed the sides of the chair I was in and got in my face. His breath was hot, and the look in his eyes was that of pure rage. “You don’t got shit to do until I come back here with Polo’s blood on my shoes. Then you’ll get paid the rest of your money. And if you’re lying, I’ll put you in a hole right next to that bitch Nikki when I catch her ass.”
He turned and walked up on Reggie. “Watch her. If she tries to leave, shoot her in the leg.” He put his finger in his face. “Don’t fuck this up.”
“Yeah, Mal, I got you,” Reggie mumbled.
Malachi looked at Bump. “Let’s go.”
Malachi marched out the door with Bump behind him and left Reggie to stand guard over me in his office.
Great. This was not how this was supposed to go. I could only
pray now that Polo killed Malachi, because if he didn’t, Malachi would kill Nikki, and maybe me too, for the hell of it.
21
I’m going in (and I’ma go hard)
Hapeville, GA
MALACHI
You try and murder me, but I will murder you.
Finding out that that little pussyhole Polo was the one behind trying to murder me wasn’t surprising. I didn’t trust any nigga. But to find out Nikki had been fucking him all this time was unacceptable and disrespectful.
This info coming from Jasmine was a bit suspicious, but Reggie confirming the fact that Polo was the one who shot Dre validated her claim—for now. I knew firsthand that Nikki’s pussy was good enough to kill for.
Jasmine had no loyalty to no one except money. That was why I left Reggie behind to watch her. If she was telling the truth, then I’d pay her. If not, I had a bullet with her name on it.
In less than thirty minutes, Ricky had gotten together a group of niggas twenty deep, ready for war. I was going to oversee this shit myself so no mistakes would be made. I wanted to kill that pussyhole Polo myself, but before I did, I wanted to find out where Nikki was. I had special plans for her. She was going to feel my dick one last time before I murdered her.
I rode in a custom armored black Hummer, armed with my Mac 11 and .45 Magnum cocked and ready to murder. Bump was driving, and Ricky was in the car right behind us.
I’d done business in Hapeville in the past, and I knew the perfect spot was over by Airport Loop Road. There were a few secluded areas where you could do business.
As we pulled up in the area, I didn’t see anything. We parked outside of the warehouse, and I motioned for Ricky to go check it out.
Ricky and Chaz got out of their car and ran up to the warehouse with guns in hand and checked it out. I sat in the passenger side of the Hummer next to Bump, watching them move around the building. Then Ricky and Chaz headed back, and Ricky shook his head, letting me know the spot was empty.
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