After some time of traveling together and making some major money, Iris thought she would let him in on her little secret. One night, when they traveled to Maryland to connect with a grower for high-grade weed, Iris made a bet with him. She wanted to show him how curious and free women could be, even if they were straight. They went to a bar in Baltimore, and Iris engaged in many conversations with the opposite sex, but finally, she picked a group of women to talk to. First, she offered drinks to everyone, then conversed for a while. She quickly found out one of the women was bisexual, and the reminder of them were all straight. At the end of the night, she invited everyone back to the hotel room and offered more drinks and conversation. After the drinks flowed and the conversation got freaky, Rock was seduced into his first sexual experience with more than one woman.
Rock was shocked to know that he was the first guy to feel Iris’s tight flesh. From that day forth, he and Iris were more than just business partners. Their bond was tighter than what they led everyone around them to believe. Rock always had a girlfriend, and so did Iris, but when the two would get together, they were in their own world. He always answered her calls no matter what, and she did the same. They were real with each other.
But, Serenity was ultimately to blame for having taken him from her, so Iris put together a plan to get even with her. Iris vowed Serenity would pay for her life-changing decisions. She had figured once everything went down with Sadie, that Carla would need a new supplier. Carla wasn’t a big-time hustler, but her potential was there, and all Iris would have to do would be to push her into the right hands. Iris quickly picked up her phone and dialed a number. “Hey, you, how you been?”
“What up, mama? I’m always good when you call,” a low, deep male voice said.
“Well, that’s a good thing. Listen, I’ma be in your neck of the woods soon. Can we get together? I think I have something lined up for you,” Iris said in her sweetest voice.
“All good, baby. You have only brought me good fortune, so when you wanna meet?” the man asked.
“I’ma take a late flight on Thursday night. You think you can pick me up from the airport?” Iris asked.
“Not a thing, anything for my girl. Just hit me with the info and I’ll see you. Have you decided on your hotel?”
“Why? No, let me guess. I bet I could stay with you, right?” Iris laughed.
“Mama, you know it! But by your laughter I see you stick to your own kind. Look, you can’t knock a nigga for tryin’.” He laughed loudly.
“A’ight. I’ma send you the info. Talk to you soon.” Iris pressed the END button on her phone and smiled.
“Six, eight, ten ... fuck! That just ain’t gonna work. Fuck!” Carla screamed out loud, counting the stacks of money. Oh, just ain’t gonna make it. This bitch Iris better be straight up. I got half a brick left. I definitely ain’t trying to hustle that shit in these streets. If this chick is what I heard, then maybe, just maybe I could spin a little web and get her hooked like a fish, Carla thought as she placed the money and the coke in the safe in her closet.
Carla knew she had to do something to get a strong connect. Her only real connect was Shawn P and now, since all that had happened between Serenity and his sister, Sadie, Carla’s connects were weak. They came through sometimes, and other times just left a bitch standing there with bullshit talk when all they really wanted was her assets. She always came across that one nigga who thought he could make her go straight.
A few years back, she was introduced to Shawn P one night at a private party held in Detroit for some major playas. Shawn P was impressed with Carla’s swag with the ladies. He saw that Carla had game; a strong one. She moved through the room with confidence talking to only a select few females; then she would leave the party. As Shawn P watched, those who she talked to would leave with her. His interest piqued when one of those elite women was a gorgeous Latina he wanted to leave with. Carla, at that time, didn’t know how deep Shawn P was into his hustling. She later found out his connection with getting weight was a sure thing. After a few conversations and a few females she brought along for a good time, it became a secured connect. She would just make a trip to D.C. three times a month with a hottie or two, and her paper would build and multiply. It became comfortable, and then everything went up with a big bang.
This gotta work. It better fuckin’ work. The words repeated in Carla’s mind as she lay back on her bed and stared at the ceiling.
American 3998 @O’Hare International in 1 hr, Iris typed into her phone waiting to board her flight. A minute later a reply scrolled across her notification screen.
See you then
Her thoughts lay heavily on the outcome of her meeting. Hope this nigga can handle my request and come through. If I could get Carla hooked in, I could probably get a little closer to Serenity. It’s all about making money, and my cut comes straight off the top every time. Suddenly a female voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for flying with American Airlines today. At this time I would like to welcome all business and first-class members to board.”
“Hey, good looking. Can I give you a ride?” His light hazel eyes stared at her with a smile.
“You know you can,” Iris answered. “It’s been a minute since I saw you last.”
“Yeah, I know. Are you staying at the Ritz nearby?” He grabbed a Louis Vuitton Alizé travel bag and headed out of the airport to the parking lot. “Are you hungry? We can stop by my place and grab something if you like.”
“Cass, now you know I can’t stand that country food. Don’t take no offense, but that’s a heart attack on speed dial,” Iris laughed.
He opened the passenger-side door to his stark white Porsche Panamera, then placed her luggage into the trunk and got into the driver’s seat. “Come on, Iris, it ain’t that bad. The joint is packed ever since you hooked me up with some fresh faces and the lounge idea.”
“I told you if you continued with only food your crowd would be limited. Now, I bet you meet the most elite, young and old. I told you good things always come to those who wait,” Iris said.
“So, do you just want to check into the hotel and we can have something to eat there?” Cass asked.
“Yeah, that would be cool.” Iris leaned back and stared out of the window.
Cass glanced over at her. “What you doing on this side anyway? Is there a problem with the percentage?” His voice spoke with concern.
“Nah, I’m good with what I get for now. I actually have another ... another offer for you,” Iris replied.
“Well, you know I always like your offers. I always end up with fat pockets,” he said smiling.
“Look, let’s get it straight. This ain’t nothing for your lounges or your brothel,” Iris’s voice was firm.
“What you talking about?” Cass asked uneasy. He couldn’t help but think about the house he just recently purchased.
“Don’t act dumb, Cass. You know I can’t stand stupid, so cut the shit. I know about the whole setup in Gary with some of them girls I sent your way. I’m not here to negotiate my cut on that just yet”—she pointed her finger at him and smirked—“I’m here on some other shit. I believe you can help me out.”
They pulled into the hotel’s valet parking area. Cass stepped out of the car and told the valet attendant the bag was in the trunk. “You know I don’t really get down like that anymore. It caused me too many problems. Nowadays, I like to keep it easy—food, liquor, and women.”
“I see. Well, let me check in, and I’ll be back down in fifteen. Then I can change your mind,” Iris said with confidence.
Cass chuckled. “Damn, you sure is cocky, ain’t ya?” He headed to the bar to wait for her return. His iPhone began to vibrate. “Hey, you, what up?”
“Yo, I can’t come in tonight. I done won some NFL tickets for the preseason game against New England,” a female voice said.
“Ahh, come on. I told you I had some shit to do tonight.
How the fuck did you win tickets?” Cass looked at his watch, then took a drink.
“Why does that matter? Listen, I got ’em, and I’m going! Come on, whoever you with could probably use a drink and a little dancing hanging with your lame ass,” she said with a sassy attitude.
“Who you going with?” Cass asked curiously.
“I’m going with one of my girls,” she answered.
“Damn, when the fuck you gonna start talking about a dude? You always with them girls of yours involving yourself with they shit! You need some fucking dick in your life—”
“Whoa, brother, why you raising your voice? Listen, this is not the time. I got somewhere to go, and you already where you at. But you need to be at the restaurant by six ’cause the band wants their money up front. So, before my tongue gets to talking all types of cuss words, I’m saying good-bye.” Heaven hung up quickly.
Damn, this meeting gonna have to be short and sweet, he thought as he took a seat by the bar. Ever since she came back from college, my restaurant has truly been running smoothly thanks to her. My money from these streets hasn’t been washed any cleaner. I guess that business degree was the best investment I made. But I can’t help think why she can’t get no man. I only see her with them same bitches from the hood. Why? I keep telling her to stop fucking with them. They ain’t nothing but drama. Cass’s thoughts bounced around his head waiting for Iris’s return.
Chapter 4
The day Heaven Peters graduated from college was the happiest day of her life. She was so tired of being away from her brother and her friends. After her mother died, she solely depended on her brother. Heaven never knew her father, and Cass was the closest person to a father figure she had. Her childhood was tough living in Detroit; she dodged bullets as she walked to school, ate cheap-ass takeout, and moved from house to house because the police were looking for her brother or someone her brother was dealing with. But, no matter where she was, Cass made sure her education was a priority.
It was her senior year in high school when Cass told her she had four more years to go. She thought after high school she would just be part of her brother’s business, the restaurant. Heaven was surprised that her brother made her go to college. She didn’t want to. She was comfortable with what she had. Her brother always provided her with anything she wanted; clothes, shoes, sneakers, phones, and whatever else was a trend. It was a bittersweet moment when he told her that she also was moving to go to school.
Ever since their mom died, she was never allowed to hang unsupervised with anybody who was male. Her brother didn’t want her to be a victim to the drama. Heaven was grateful for her brother’s overprotectiveness since most of her friends were dropouts and teenage moms. However, her interest in sex had increased since Cass set her free when she finally went to college.
Heaven soon found out that plenty of chicks experimented sexually while in college. But her interest wasn’t always with males; it was women that got her juices flowing. All of that time around other beautiful black women could make you feel things you had never felt before. All different shapes of black women, sizes, scents, accents, hair colors, bald pussies, hairy ones ... It was all a daily temptation.
Heaven remembered the first time she had seen her college roommate Neisha naked. Her breasts were so perky, and her dark nipples much bigger than her own. Water had dripped from her body as she stepped out of the shower. Neisha caught Heaven looking and didn’t seem shy or bothered by it at all. Neisha even approached her that day and pinned her up against the bathroom door. Heaven was too reserved and shy to admit that she had felt moisture between her legs. Instead she mumbled, “I don’t get down like that.”
Neisha even put her hands underneath Heaven’s nightgown and rubbed her wet pussy.
“But it looks like you want me too,” she said.
Heaven was so nervous she thought that the entire dorm could hear her beating heart.
Neisha lifted her nightgown just above her waist, then pressed her naked body against Heaven’s. “All you got to do is rock, Heaven ... It’s easy, and it feels so good,” she said seductively. She began to rock her hips gently.
She was turning Heaven on because Heaven’s eyelids were closing. Her hips started grinding lightly before she knew it. Her clit was awakening, and her juices starting flowing.
“See, it feels good, don’t it?” Neisha whispered. “Nobody has to know. We can do this all the time, roomie,” she said. Neisha never stopped moving her wet box in rhythm as her soft voice went over Heaven’s ear.
Heaven swallowed a lump in her throat. “No, I mean ... stop. I told you I don’t get down like that,” Heaven repeated, uncomfortable.
Neisha shrugged and smiled devilishly. “Well, let me know if you ever want to finish. I love virgin pussy.”
“I’m not a virgin,” Heaven protested, embarrassed.
“You’ve never been with anyone... . Your pussy gets too wet at the thought of sex. So I know virgin pussy when I feel it,” Neisha schooled her.
That night, Heaven had her first sexual experience with a woman. The next day, she went to student housing and got switched to another dorm. All through college she avoided Neisha, but she always wanted more.
Her fear had held her back; she didn’t want anyone to know, even if it was okay. At the same time, Heaven didn’t know if she wanted a man, because she had never experienced one. She had one close call in high school, but it didn’t get far because her brother was always around, and she didn’t like the aggressiveness of the man. Finally, when she got into college, she got a taste of what she really liked—someone with soft skin and gentle hands.
Heaven was curious, yes, but to allow her brother to know about her wanting to be with women would not go down smoothly. College was supposed to be fun she remembered her brother telling her. He said this was the time to see who you really were as a person. But would he disown me if being with women is what I really want? she thought.
Heaven sat on her sofa contemplating how long she could keep her true feelings a secret. She shook her head trying to erase her growing problem. Heaven held the envelope with the tickets in her hand. When did I enter this contest? Well, I hope the shit is legit. I guess the only way to find out is to go. She stood up and grabbed her purse by the door and left.
Tootsie took her seat at Ford Field, section 106, row nine. Shawn P and Stuckey took their seats beside her. She was happy to be out of D.C. and hoped that turning tricks wasn’t Shawn P’s objective in getting her out to Detroit, risking her freedom. Tootsie wanted nothing more than to run like the wind, but she knew he would find her no matter where she went. She figured that he just paid off the parole officer. Her presumptions on why she was turning tricks back in D.C. became clearer. She sat back staring at the field. He didn’t want to lose any more paper. He done lost so much already with the trial he had to make some money back. Her thoughts flowed. Now that we’re here, it must be time to get down to business. That explains the new look I got the first day of my arrival. But he hasn’t said nothin’ ’bout it. Why?
“Yo, Stuckey, wave the chick over here,” Shawn P said looking around, scanning the crowd.
He wanted to make sure his special guest was in attendance. He found out through sources that Cass was seeing Serenity, and he was hoping she was a football fan. Maybe he would be able to use Cass’s sister to convince him that he had no choice but to help get Shawn what he wants.
“Yeah, yeah, I got you. I want a drink myself,” Stuckey added. The woman came over with a smile to take their drink order.
Tootsie placed her order and looked at Stuckey. She saw him in a different light. He was laughing, talking, and joking. He wasn’t usually like this around her. He hardly talked to her unless it was to ask her what she wanted to eat or drink. Since Shawn P told Tootsie she was leaving D.C., Stuckey had been with her every step of the way.
Stuckey was not the type of person to mix pleasure with business, but after spending a week with Tootsie, his manhood wa
s coming into question. Tootsie’s petite body was fine in every way. Her short auburn, blond-highlighted hair rested slightly below her earlobes. Her brown caramel skin was unblemished. Tootsie’s perky breasts and phat ass would drive any man crazy.
He knew that she liked women mainly, but on occasions she would fuck with a nigga. He didn’t care that she was trickin’. In his mind, she was just making her money the only way she could. After keeping an eye on her for the past week, Stuckey wanted to get at her in the worst way. He didn’t want Shawn P to know that his feelings were beginning to build so he always kept it cold as ice with her when Shawn P wasn’t around. He didn’t need her to blow anybody’s spot up because she wanted out of whatever deal she had with Shawn P.
Tootsie looked around the crowd. Her eyes landed on a beautiful heart-shaped ass. Her long black hair showed her team spirit with a bright blue streak down the middle. Tootsie’s eyes were glued. She couldn’t see her face until the woman stood up and walked out of the aisle toward the bathroom. Tootsie’s mouth watered looking at her smooth light skin as she walked by her.
Shawn P watched the entire scene unfold when Tootsie peeped Heaven. He definitely didn’t intend for Tootsie to be smitten with her, but this might just work in his benefit.
Tootsie looked at Shawn P. He sent her a look which surprised her. She understood but didn’t know why. To Tootsie, she was a random chick attending a football game. Her tight jeans and cutoff Lion’s football jersey made the men behind her whistle like she was prime rib. She smiled.
“Um, Stuckey, you better go with her. Son, don’t let her out your sight,” Shawn P spoke.
“Yeah, a’ight.” Stuckey stood up and looked at Tootsie, “Come on. Let’s make this quick. I don’t want to miss the kickoff,” he said with some annoyance in his voice.
Life After Sadie Page 3