“That sounds good.” She turned around as the light from the night sky lit the color in her eyes. “That would be wonderful, Cole.”
He grabbed her hand. “This is our chance to start over, Aphtan. No Scooter, no drug business, and no looking over our shoulders watching our backs. It can be a clean, fresh start, with a brand-new life.”
“I want that, too, Cole.”
“Did you get everything together?”
“Yes.” Her voice trembled. “I just hate that I’m leaving Mila. Especially after Levi is gone.”
“Aphtan—”
“It’s fine,” she cut him off. “I know it will be okay.”
“I wouldn’t mind staying a few extra days, but if anything happens to you.” A hint of worry stole his face.
“Nothing will happen.” She grabbed his face. “I promise. I actually think I’m ready to get away, though.”
“That’s what I want to hear.” He kissed her passionately as her phone started to ring.
Aphtan answered the phone and put it to her ear. “Hello?”
“You dirty bitch,” Scooter screamed into the phone. “You think you’ll get away with stealing my money?”
“Huh?” Aphtan walked away from Cole. “What are you talking about, Scooter?”
“Don’t act innocent, bitch,” he continued to yell. “Where’s my fucking money?”
“Scooter, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Aphtan trailed through the cemetery as Cole followed close behind her.
“If you’re going to steal from me, at least be a woman and admit to it,” he continued to yell.
“You need to calm down, Scooter.” Aphtan remained calm. “I don’t know shit about any money. I’ve been with Cole tonight. I haven’t even heard anything about your money. We’re about to leave town.”
“Not if I can help it,” he threatened.
“Scooter—”
“Save that shit, Aphtan,” he cut her off. “You think you’re going to take my money and run off with the next nigga? You’re crazy as fuck. Save your lies. I don’t believe a fucking word from your mouth. I have eyes everywhere, and they have instructions to do whatever’s necessary.”
“What are you saying?” Aphtan stood at the door of the car as Cole held it open for her.
“I’m saying I’m coming for you two with everything I got.”
“Scooter,”—she got inside of the car—“I seriously don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You’ll learn.” He hung up the phone.
“What was that about?” Cole started the car after he got inside and closed the door behind himself.
“He said I took some money from him.” Aphtan put the phone between her legs. “I don’t know what he’s talking about.”
“What else did he say?”
“He said he’s coming for us with everything that he has.” She put her hands over her mouth and exhaled. “This shit is crazy. I don’t have a clue what he’s talking about.”
“Don’t sweat it.” Cole looked at his phone as it started to ring. “We’re about to be out of here. Yeah,” he answered the phone.
Aphtan checked her surroundings as Cole talked on the phone. Her hearing had become faint and her mouth dry. Scooter meant his words. He always did what he said when it came to threats. That in itself bothered her. It made her uncomfortable in her own skin. She felt like a pair of eyes was watching her.
“I’ll be right there.” Cole hung up the phone.
“What’s wrong?” Aphtan grabbed his knee.
“I just got hit.” He punched the steering wheel.
“What do you mean hit?”
“All of my spots got robbed.” He opened up the door. “That was the dough I was going to use to get us far away from here.” He got out of the car. “I need to take a walk.”
“Cole?” Aphtan called out to him as the door slammed in her face.
Aphtan exhausted her brain as she watched Cole pace back and forth in front of the car. The money that she had couldn’t take care of them. Verna was missing. There was no way to get any of the money her father had left her. They needed quick money to get away. If they didn’t, Scooter would have their heads on a platter.
A lightbulb went off on top of Aphtan’s head as she dialed a number in her phone. There was only one way she could make enough money to start them off wherever they were going. She didn’t want to, but one night at Pearl Tongue would take care of all of her money problems.
“Hello?” Mila answered the phone.
“Quick question?” Aphtan continued to watch Cole to make sure he wasn’t coming toward the car door. “Do you know who owns Pearl Tongue now?”
“It’s one of Levi’s homeboys. Why?” Mila asked.
“Can you call him and tell him Lotus is coming out of retirement for one night?”
“Aphtan,” Mila gasped. “Why are you trying to strip?”
“It’s a long story,” she whispered, in fear that Cole could maybe hear.
“If you need money—”
“Stop,” she cut her off. “You have two kids to think about, girl. I could never do that. Just call him. Tell him I’ll be there by midnight and to spread the word.”
“Are you sure about this?”
“I am.” She put the phone away from her head as she saw Cole coming. “Do it.”
CHAPTER 36
“Up next to the stage is your all-time favorite performer here at Pearl Tongue. After a hiatus, she’s back, and as fine as ever. Get the big faces out, because anything else will not do. Please welcome the beautiful, talented pole professional, Lotus.”
Aphtan’s heart beat ferociously in her chest as her lungs desperately begged for air. Her fingertips went numb as the long black trench coat she wore swept the marble floor underneath her now sweaty feet. Her butter-colored skin sparkled under the lights as her stomach thumped uncontrollably with mixed feelings.
“Fuck.” She took a triple shot of Ciroc to help calm her nerves. “You got this,” she told herself. “It’s like riding a bike. You got this.”
Aphtan slowly transformed into Lotus the closer she got to the door that led to the stage. The bass from the music boomed through her ears as a feeling of nostalgia took over her. She looked down at her red-bottomed heels as she leaned against the pale-blue door that separated her from her past.
She couldn’t believe that she was about to strip again. It had been six long years since she had been inside Pearl Tongue, which had been her only home at one point in time. It had been all she knew when she was seventeen, and although she hated to admit it, it felt good to be back.
Aphtan leaned her back against the door as the crowd’s roars intensified in anticipation. Her straight, red-hair wig hung gorgeously over her shoulders as she signaled for the DJ to play her signature song. She smiled as the familiar tune filled the building and brought back into her mind bittersweet memories that she had tried to forget.
All she could think about was Scooter as she opened the door and walked through it, strobe lights flashing in her eyes. The crowd went crazy once they saw her. The love in the room made her feel good, but making enough money stained her brain like bleach mixing with colored clothes in a washing machine.
She put her finger in the air, telling the DJ to run it back and to start the song over. The scratching of the turntable flushed away her thoughts as she focused on only the pole. She removed the trench coat, letting it fall to the ground, revealing her two-piece custom-made gear that she hadn’t worn in years and which complemented her small, well-built frame.
Money covered the stage seconds later. She knew she would give the crowd exactly what they came for. Aphtan grabbed the pole, swaying her body up and down against it as she made her ass cheeks clap to the beat. She released one hand’s grip, spun around slowly to build up speed with the other, and climbed the pole with ease until her head was at the very top, almost touching the ceiling.
She posed on the pole, using her upper body str
ength to change positions. Money kept flying onto the stage as the crowd’s cheers and praise competed with the volume of the music. Aphtan continued to make her ass cheeks clap as the door at the entrance of the club swung open wildly. A hint of worry stole over face. Her eyes grew to the size of golf balls as Scooter and his crew walked in.
“Oh, shit,” the DJ spat into the microphone. “Y’all get ready. Here’s Lotus’s signature move.”
Aphtan watched them slowly. Her eyes met Scooter’s. Fear immediately came over her. She could see the hate in his eyes; the desire to take her life. She positioned her hands, then her legs as they split in the air. She never stopped looking at Scooter as she slid all the way to the ground into a split on the floor.
Scooter stared at her from across the room. He just stared; nothing else. Aphtan could feel his pulse beating in her ears from across the room, blocking out all other sounds except the breath that was raggedly moving in and out of her mouth at regular, gasping intervals. If she could hear it from all the way across the room, she imagined it was deafening in his own ears. Their eyes locked, so now it was apparent that she too was staring.
Aphtan could not take her eyes away from the other set of eyes across the room that were staring her down. Nothing else mattered. The connection had to be held. If it broke, she would die. He would die. Maybe both of them would. Aphtan had never felt so certain of anything else in her life. Aphtan discerned that Scooter could no longer control his hands; they were shaking in an odd trembling rhythm as the color drained from his face. Yet still he stared. He looked as if he was willing himself not to run, willing the connection to hold.
“There it goes.” The DJ spun around, tangling himself into his headset. “That’s the move that has been imitated by many, but only Lotus does it right. She is the one and only Lotus.”
Aphtan eased herself off the ground. Scooter and his crew were now in the front of the crowd. All she wanted to do was get away. She put two fingers in the air to let the DJ know to end the song. She ignored the crowd’s disappointment as they yelled for their money back while she gathered the bills from the ground.
Grabbing her trench coat, she put it on and walked quickly off the stage. She could feel Scooter’s eyes follow her every move. She opened the door and rushed through it. She paced to the dressing room. Her feet sped up with each second that passed. She ran to her locker while shock consumed her body. Her heart beat inside her throat as she gathered all of her belongings. All of the strippers looked on with wonder as beads of sweat formed all over her face.
Aphtan hadn’t thought Scooter would come for her that quickly. It had only been a few hours since he’d accused her of something she had not done. She thought for sure that she could make a quick few grand and be on her way, but as the door closed behind her in the locker room, she knew that wasn’t going to happen. She was caught and there was nothing that she could say to save her life.
She turned around; the smell of his cologne confirmed that it was him before her eyes ever could. A loud ringing formed in her ears as he smiled at her. He winked at her, antagonizing her. A scarce stream of pee rushed out of Aphtan as Scooter removed the gun from his waist and pointed it at her.
“Ladies,” he yelled, getting the other dancers’ attention in the room. “May we have a moment?”
The dancers screamed as they ran like a herd of bulls at the rise of a red flag. The sight of Scooter meant something bad was about to go down, and they didn’t want any part of it. He walked over to Aphtan. Tears rushed down her face without a sound exiting her mouth. He rubbed the small dimple on her cheek while their eyes glared into each other’s. He pressed the gun into her chest as she closed her eyes, inviting her end.
“Why?” He pressed the gun as hard as he could into her bare flesh. “Why would you betray me? I gave you everything, Aphtan. I upgraded you. I took you out of this place.” He pointed around the room. “Still you betrayed me. I guess a bitch will always be a bitch.”
“I didn’t steal from you.” Aphtan shook her head.
“You don’t have to lie, my love.” He leaned over and kissed her.
“What do you want from me?” she screamed as she opened her eyes. “Stop playing with me. Kill me if you’re going to kill me.”
“Can I have a moment to remember you as you were?” He kissed her lips. “I do love you, despite this moment.”
“Then let me go,” she cried. “I’ll leave, and I won’t come back.”
“You know this game.” Scooter pulled the trigger and released a bullet into her chest. “I just can’t do that.”
As the sweat dripped down her forehead, she pleaded for her life. She pleaded, but her cries weren’t good enough. Before she’d even had a chance to pray, she’d heard the bullet scream out of the gun. The connection of metal and her skin was quick.
As the hard, cold, evil lump of metal penetrated her chest, she sighed. She sighed feelings of anger, anguish, and agony. She could feel the life being sucked out of her, and her eyes began to shut. Shut for good. Her life was over. And it didn’t even flash before her eyes. It was just gone. Finished. She was about to die.
Scooter caught her body as it was falling and fell onto the ground with her. He let her rest in his arms as blood gushed from her wound onto his freshly ironed button-up. She looked around the room, her eyes wide with fright; no, not fright, but wonder. Was she in the light? Could she see the light at the end of the tunnel?
Her skin turned a pale, opalescent color. Her hair stuck to her forehead. Laying her head down slowly, she looked above her, at the dull roof. And before she closed her eyes, she smiled and took her last breath in the arms of the man she once loved.
“No.” Cole stood in the doorway. “Is she dead?”
Scooter nodded his head up and down as he rubbed her cheek. “I didn’t have a choice.”
Cole walked closer to where Aphtan’s body rested. It was as if it took an eternity. His ears popped, like someone had shot a gun right next to his head. His heart paced and raced through his entire body.
Cole’s eyes were stuck. The only thing that they could look at was Aphtan in hope that she would move. He put his hands on his head, making his palms rest on his temples. His heart raced faster and faster as every minute passed. His anxiety was reaching a new level.
“You didn’t have to kill her, Chris. Come on, man. You didn’t have to do this,” Cole spoke softly.
Scooter didn’t say a word. His face twisted in odd ways, as if regret was eating at him like a disease attacking his whole being. His love for her hadn’t been tested until that moment. She was his entire world. Her death wasn’t like any other death he’d experienced. The fact that he couldn’t undo what he had done made his jaw clench tight with anger.
“Everything got out of control, Aphtan.” Scooter rocked her continuously.
“This is wrong, Chris. She didn’t have to die like this. She didn’t deserve this,” Cole spoke in a low tone.
“Shut the fuck up,” Scooter screamed. “You think I don’t know that?” He hit the center of his forehead between each word that he spoke. “Why are you even here?”
“The last thing Boss wanted me to do before he died was kill you.” Cole took out his gun and pointed it at him.
“Your own brother?” Scooter let go of Aphtan and gently laid her on the ground. “Your own brother, Cole?” He walked toward him as his emotions heightened.
“Brother.” Cole raised his voice. “You’ve taken too much from here, Chris.”
“What have I taken from you?” Scooter looked behind Cole as his workers pointed their guns at his back.
“Aphtan, for starters.” Cole looked at her body and shook his head. His teeth showed because of how angry he was. “She didn’t deserve this.”
“What did she deserve for betraying me? What did she deserve for fucking you behind my back?”
“She deserved a long life.” Cole shot him in his shoulder.
“Lower your fucking guns,” Scoot
er told his workers as he grabbed his shoulder. He applied as much pressure as he could. The pain intensified with each second that passed.
“She would have never worked in a fucking place like this if she was mine.” Cole kicked a pair of thongs on the ground in front of him. “She would be here. She would be alive.”
“Cole, listen to me. Put the gun down. If you don’t, one of us will die.”
“You think I give a fuck about your workers?”
“What do you give a fuck about?” Scooter took off his shirt and wrapped it around his shoulder.
“Nothing,” he answered coldly.
“What about mama?” Scooter’s eyes closed from the pain he was in. “Do you want mama to bury you? You know what that’ll do to her.”
“I would never want to do that to mama,” Cole said as he looked at Aphtan.
“Put the gun down and go home,” Scooter pleaded. “No matter what,” he screamed at his workers, “don’t shoot at my baby brother.”
“You can kill me any minute you want,” Cole yelled.
“I don’t want to, Cole. We are blood. We share the same blood.”
“I still have a job to do.”
“Boss is dead,” Scooter screamed. “Aphtan is dead. There is no job. If you want to kill me, then just say that.”
Cole put the butt of the gun to his chin. “Fuck.”
Commotion erupted from the hallway of the dressing room as Scooter’s workers all fell to their knees. Detective Stead and Detective Gomez rushed into the room with their guns ready. The small lightbulb that was the only source of light for the room flickered wildly. The faint smell of blood danced around.
“Get the fuck on the ground.” Detective Stead pointed her gun at Scooter.
“You, too.” Detective Gomez pointed his gun at Cole.
“He can go.” Detective Stead waved Cole off. “She may be dead, but we still made a deal with her.” She looked at Aphtan’s lifeless body.
“You heard her.” Detective Gomez pointed the gun from Cole to Scooter’s workers. “Get the fuck out of here.”
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