She looked at her friend who slept soundly in her bed swaddled like a baby and resisted the urge to shake her awake and ask her who she was fucking. Portia rolled her eyes at her own pettiness and backed out of Honey’s room. She smiled and closed the door. My girl deserves a free nut, she thought with a little smile. She just walked through hell and her draws are probably still smoking. She turned around and saw her brother coming up the steps. Peanut looked at her and then at Honey’s room door and back again. Portia’s smile fell off of her face. She stood there staring at her brother as if he were a stranger. No, she thought as her heart sank into her stomach. You didn’t, Peanut, tell me you didn’t.
He watched his sister’s face crumble. He rushed up the last few steps and opened his mouth to say something but Portia cut him off. “It would be best if you didn’t say shit to me until this party is over.”
“But Portia.”
“I mean it, Peanut. You know the fucking rules. My girls are off limits.” She spoke hissed between her teeth. “You know the fucking rules.” She walked into her bedroom and slammed the door.
Peanut leaned against the wall. “But I love her, Portia.”
Chapter Fourteen
Bunky drove down Interstate 76 with nothing but revenge on his mind. He hated Portia with a passion and every time he thought about her ass roaming through the streets of North Philly while he was exiled to Coatesville, his blood boiled. He spent his days dreaming about putting hot lead in her pretty ass and fucking her corpse. He spendt his nights reliving the raid on Rodney’s house after that bitch Begonia set them up. He knew beyond all doubt that the whole thing was orchestrated by Portia and her crew of sluts. The streets had buzzed about it for months, whispers of rumors that most people dismissed as nonsense but he knew was truth. He could see his twin brother Nate’s body jerk as DEA agents pumped holes in his chest.
Turning his black fitted cap to the back, he mashed on the gas. He had rolled on Rodney to get his revenge and it was coming tonight via Mookie’s junkie ass. After he let her Hoover her fill of cocaine, she sang like a canary and he let his boys pull a train on her after she told him what he needed to know. A year ago he would have joined in, however, he learned that pussy could be a nigga’s downfall and he became more selective with who he slid the dick to. He gave Mookie a speed ball and jerked off while he watched her service his young boys. When she was done, he made sure she had plenty to eat and got a lot of rest before he sent her home. Before she left she told him about the little party Portia was planning.
He grabbed a few of his boys drove into the city. Portia was going to die tonight and he was about to come in his pants in anticipation. They headed straight for airport. He wanted to avoid the old neighborhood at all costs. He wasn’t prepared to go to war for rolling over on Rodney. All he wanted was Portia’s head on a platter for setting them up, and he would use one of her hoes to accomplish that.
One of the hooded figures in the back seat tapped his shoulder. “Yo, dawg, we got to chill in a parking lot, though?”
Bunky nodded. “Yup. Until that junkie bitch gives us a location, we sittin’ right here.”
Mookie pushed a chair up to her door and stuck a cut-off straw into the eight ball. She told herself she wasn’t going to use anything before the party, but she knew that she wasn’t going to make it through the night without a hit. The coke electrified her system. She breathed in deeply and wiped her nose. “Oh, that’s some good shit,” she mumbled. She twisted the baggie back up and stuffed it in her bra. She grabbed a wash cloth and wiped her face, paying close attention to her nostrils. Pulling the chair from the door, she walked over to the mirror to make sure she’d wiped herself clean of white powder. Satisfied she pulled on the cat suit that Portia bought her from Dallas’ place. She brushed her hair up into a bun and put on the pair of diamond studs Honey had bought her last Christmas. I’m going to miss Honey, she thought with a sigh. But a bitch can’t remain a slave forever. I have to break free of this place and everyone in it.
Two stretch limos pulled up in front of Portia’s. “Our ride is here,” Babygirl hollered up the steps.
“Okay,” Portia said, coming out of her bedroom. “Mookie,” she shouted up the steps, “the limos are here.”
“I’m coming,” Mookie said. “I’m putting on my shoes.”
Peanut sat on the top of the steps waiting for Portia to come out of her room. He stood up when her door opened and grabbed her arm when she walked by.
Portia looked down at his hand and back up into his eyes and Peanut let her go.
“If you could just let me explain…”
Portia continued down the steps. “What part of after the party are you having a problem with understanding?”
Peanut’s tempered flared but he bottled it up quickly and followed his sister down the steps and out the door. One limo was for the girls from Club Blaze and the other was for the Fornication fam that felt more than light without April and Honey-Dip. Peanut sat in the seat furthest from Portia and seethed silently.
Babygirl frowned. “Damn, are we going to a funeral or a party? Shit, it’s bad enough that we’re all dressed in black.”
Mookie opened the minibar. “I think we’re dressed appropriately. Fornication is looking pretty bleak right now. One of us went AWOL.” She poured a corner of brandy into a glass. “One of us is bedridden.” She raised her glass to salute Portia. “And well, shit, one of us likes to get high.”
Portia crossed her legs and sat up. “You sure you want to continue on the road you walking down? I mean, you being real reckless with your mouth. You got a problem you want me to handle?”
Mookie laughed. “Oh, I wouldn’t dream of starting anything with the great Portia, she’s the baddest pimp in the game.” She sipped her drink and sat back with a satisfied smile. For now, she thought, because you’re about to be the deadest bitch.
Portia closed her eyes and tried to relax for the remainder of the ride. She wasn’t going to take the bait that Mookie cast. She focused on the money that she was going to pull in tonight. Everything else would have to wait.
Chapter Fifteen
Portia walked into the Riverview Hotel and was greeted by the manager. “Ah, Ms. Portia, we’ve been expecting you.” He handed her two keys cards to the penthouse suite. “The concierge has your guest list and we’ve dedicated an entire crew to attend to your needs.” He waved to a small white man with a chiseled face and steel blue eyes. The man ran over and took Portia’s arm.
“Hello, Ms. Portia, my name is Thomas. I am the hotel concierge.” They walked her and her crew to the elevator. “The penthouse suite features a master bedroom with a four-poster canopy king-sized bed, a master bathroom with a double vanity, marble shower and a Jacuzzi tub. The parlor has twenty-foot cathedral ceilings, three couches, two easy chairs and a fully stocked wet bar in the dining area. The glass table that seats ten has been removed as per Ms. Honey’s instructions.”
Portia smiled at him and handed one of the key cards to Babygirl. “Thank you, Thomas. I think we will be okay from here. Please see that our guests receive all the privacy and discretion you can afford them in their respective suites and I’ll expect a courtesy call when each arrives.”
“Yes, of course, ma’am. Is there anything else?”
“Nothing at the moment.” She smiled and followed Mookie and Peanut to the elevator.
The elevator was straight from a scene in an old movie with glossy wood panels, plush red carpet and a cushioned bench against the back wall. Mookie sat down and stared at the back of Portia’s head. Bitch is watching me like a fucking hawk, she thought, crossing her legs. I can’t wait ‘til Bunky puts her to sleep.
Peanut hadn’t said a word since he left the house. He didn’t want to be there, but no matter how mad he got at his sister, he wouldn’t leave her when she needed him. He just hoped that she would lis
ten to him after the party. He loved Honey with all of his heart and didn’t know what he would do if he had to choose. He walked into the penthouse suite behind his sisters and was floored by the place. The whole place was lit by candles. Soft jazz sifted through the air, and five waiters in white waistcoats stood by the kitchen with trays of hors d'oeuvres and glasses of Champagne. Peanut flopped down on one of the couches and pulled out his phone to call his boys up to the room.
Portia walked over to a waiter and took a glass of Champagne. “You all look so good in those uniforms,” she said, smiling. “But you can put your trays down on the counter and go back down to the restaurant because we will no longer need your services.” She sipped from her glass and walked to the master bedroom where the girls from the club changed into their evening clothes.
Mookie waited for the door of the master bedroom to close before slipping out the front door. She pushed the elevator button three times. “Come on,” she said, looking at the numbers light up on the wall beside the buttons. She pulled out her cell phone and looked for Bunky’s number in her call log.
She dipped inside the elevator as soon as the doors open and called Bunky.
“Hello,” he said gruffly “Took you long enough. Thought you forgot about a nigga.”
“No, never that,” Mookie said, bouncing from foot to foot. “Look, we’re at Riverview Hotel, penthouse, I’m about to add your name to the guest list. Peanut has some of his goons on security, but if you give it about two hours, I’ll make sure they’re too fucked up to be any problem for you.”
Bunky grunted. “I’m not stuntin’ those fools Peanut roll with.” He laughed but Mookie could tell it was forced.
She rolled her eyes. “I know you can handle yourself, Bunky. I’m just trying to make sure that this goes smoothly for you. Besides, the girls settle up in a couple hours after they book their first dates. You can make a quick come up.”
Mookie walked over to the concierge’s desk and waited for Thomas to finish helping another customer. She stared at her finger nails and then leaned on the desk. This can’t be over fast enough, she thought.
Thomas frowned at her and cleared his throat. “May I help you, ma’am?”
Mookie gave him a seductive smile, “In more ways than one.”
Thomas blushed and looked around nervously.
“I need you to add a few more names to the guest list for the fundraiser in the penthouse suite.” She handed him a napkin with the aliases Bunky told her to use.
April parked her silver Camry in the airport parking lot and walked over to the guard rail to toss her keys over the side. “That’ll be the last time I drive average shit,” she said while pulling her compact out of her purse and checking her make-up. “Fuck you very much, Portia, and all your bullshit rules about keeping a low profile.” She applied a little more lip gloss and sidled down to the elevator. Her flight didn’t leave for a couple more hours but she was anxious to get busy with her new life. She hit the down button, put on her sunglasses, and smiled as she thought of how her luck had changed. A familiar male voice caught her attention and she lowered her glasses to peer over the rim.
“I’ll be damned,” she mumbled under her breath as she saw Bunky whip his dick out to take a piss by one of the cement pylons in the garage. She moved to the side of the elevator so he wouldn’t see her and pushed the street level button. “Come on.” She sighed in relief when the doors finally closed. Rooting around in her pocketbook, her fingers folded around her cell phone and she quickly pulled it out and flipped it open. “I bet you Queen Bitch doesn’t know her old friend is inside the city limits.” She started to dial Portia and then stopped. April closed her phone and dropped it into her bag. “Looks like I’m not the only one shit out of luck.” She smiled as she stepped out of the elevator and walked across the street into the airport. “Fornication is no longer my fucking problem.”
Honey woke up tired and a little dazed. She could still feel Peanut inside of her, filling her. She smelled his scent on her sheets and her skin still tingled from his touch. A tear fell from her eye and traveled slowly down her cheek. She knew that she loved him more than she’d ever loved anyone.
She sat up, pulled her legs close to her chest, and rested her head on her knees. “How the fuck am I supposed to explain this to Portia?”
Her chest hurt. Her heart ripped itself in two and sunk into her stomach as sobs rocked her body. She had betrayed her only friend by sleeping with her brother. “There ain’t no coming back from that, Honey. Ain’t no way in hell you can make this right.”
She wiped her face on her knees and hopped out of the bed. Looking at the tears on her hands, she sighed. “I don’t cry,” she mumbled while wiping her hands on her night shirt. Crying doesn’t do shit but make your face wet, she thought as she grabbed her jeans from the floor and slipped them on. She pulled her gym bag from out of her closet and threw some clothes into it. The pain was deep and gut-wrenching. Honey had to take deep breaths to prevent the tears from falling again. “I can’t do this,” she said as she hefted her bag on her shoulders and slipped into her sneakers. “You really fucked things up now, Honey.” She ran down the steps and dropped her keys on the table before heading out the front door. “I can’t fix this, but maybe I can start over.” She looked up at the beat-up house she had called home for the past eleven years. Images of everyone’s smiling faces floated from her mind into her chest and stabbed at her heart. She stuffed her hands in her pocket and walked down the street. Portia’s voice played over and over in her head. It was the speech she’d given to April when she became a member of Fornication…
“I’m not going to beat you over the head with a list of do’s and don’ts. Trickin’ ain’t rocket science,” Portia smiled. “Some of the things you shouldn’t do are obvious, others may need some explaining. If you’re not sure about anything just ask me or anybody at this table.”
April smiled at everybody and they returned her smile in kind. Peanut smiled a little too hard and Portia hit him upside the back of his head. “There is only one rule that I won’t forgive if broken: my young brother here is off limits to everybody.”
Honey laughed as the smile fell off of Peanut’s face.
Portia looked around the room to make sure she had everyone’s attention. “I am serious, ladies. There are dicks galore outside of this house. Go against me on this and consider yourself on my shit list.” Portia lit a cigarette. “That’s not a list anyone survives.”
Honey got on the 29th Street bus and headed for the women’s shelter downtown. She really didn’t think Portia would kill her for sleeping with Peanut, but she knew for a fact that she wouldn’t be forgiven.
Portia stood at the bar sipping on a vodka and cranberry cocktail, swaying to the music. The place was packed. Professional men and women filled the room with money, and that was just the way she liked it. She watched as the girls Honey chose worked the room. Her blood boiled as her thoughts turned towards her friend and she clamped down hard on her feelings. Keep it together, Portia, she thought while swigging the last of her drink and placing it down on the counter. She walked over to the master bedroom and checked the knob to make sure the door was locked. Satisfied, she moved on to the smaller bedroom door and jiggled its knob as well. Portia had a strict no fucking in the penthouse policy that she maintained at every hotel they frequented at all costs. She was successful at selling pussy because she’d learned how to make it look like she didn’t do it at all. Her pick up parties looked like regular happy hour mixers.
Her cell phone rang on her hip. “Hello.”
“Senator Byron has checked in at room 215.”
“Thank you, Thomas,” Portia said, smiling. She made her way over to Babygirl who was dancing with a doctor from Cooper Hospital. She tapped a girl in red on the shoulder. “I need y
ou to dance with the good doctor.” The girl looked at the tall Italian man trying to wrap himself around Babygirl, and a gold-digging twinkle lit her eye. “Okay,” she said easily. She pressed her breasts against his back and snaked her arms around his waist. He turned to look at the girl’s pretty face and was distracted just enough for Portia to gently pull Babygirl away.
She followed Portia back to the bar, weaving her way through the crowded room. She plopped down on a stool and fanned herself. “Woo, ol’ boy can cut a rug.” She looked over her shoulder at him and sighed. “Why’d you give him to her, Portia? I think I could tolerate him for a little while.”
Portia smirked and fixed them two shots. “You said that about the last dude I fixed you up with and then you left him bleeding in a bathtub.”
Babygirl knocked the shot back and banged the glass on the table. “Why you bringing up old shit? I leave one dude bleeding and you hold it over my head forever.”
Portia held up three fingers. “Three dudes, BG. Three.”
Babygirl shrugged. “Who do you have for me—name and room number please? I don’t have time to play the-remember-all-the-niggas-I-cut-up game with you. I gots bread to bake.”
Portia poured another shot.
Babygirl frowned at the drink but said nothing.
“Get your money first. Call me when you leave. The senator’s name is Byron. The fee is pre-arranged and the room number is 215.”
Babygirl took the shot from Portia and downed it. She smiled and put the glass on the counter. “I’m going to give the good senator a lovely night, and make you a proud little madam.” Her eyebrows stitched together. “Hold up a second, I know that name. I saw it on TV. Senator Byron is a woman. I don’t fucking do women.”
Fornication Volume One (Honey Dip) Page 11