Street Fame

by Elliott, K.

  She hesitated. “I don’t know; I guess I’ve gotten comfortable with the living situation. That and the fact that I don’t want to be alone. I don’t know what you’re going to do. I don’t know if you’re just playing with my feelings or what. Tommy is kind of like a security blanket to me, and he’s not a bad guy… really he’s not. But he’s just not for me.”

  ***** The three Porsche Cayenne trucks were parked in front of a Charlotte night club. Women standing in line marveled at the trucks, wondering who the owners might be. Tommy, JoJo, and Twin were in VIP with six bottles of champagne and a herd of women, celebrating the arrival of more ecstasy. The whole town was going wild over the butterflies. Tommy couldn’t supply enough of them.

  Alicia came in the club wearing a tight white dress that clung to her every curve. Tommy was aroused immediately. He doubted very seriously that she had on any panties, and this made him even more aroused. Mario, the huge Italian bouncer, allowed her beyond the velvet rope.

  She hugged Tommy immediately.

  Twin and JoJo stared, their mouths agape.

  Tommy introduced Twin and JoJo then said, “These are my best

  friends in the whole world.” Alicia smiled, revealing beautiful teeth. She shook their hands, and then she and Tommy headed for a private corner.

  “Damn, you are looking delicious tonight.”

  “I know … you’re looking at me like I’m a steak or something.” She smiled.

  He rubbed her thigh.

  She slapped his hand. “Stop it before you get something started that you can’t handle.”

  “Oh, I can handle it. I can handle you.”

  She toyed with her hair. “Is that so?”

  He kissed her neck. His erection occasionally jumped.

  She rubbed his chest then hooked a leg behind one of his.

  She pulled his penis out and stroked it.

  He was enjoying himself until he saw a familiar face in the crowd.

  J-Black was looking over the velvet rope with a hard, cold stare.

  Tommy pushed Alicia aside, zipped his slacks, then walked over to JoJo and Twin. “That’s the guy that robbed me.”

  “Then that must be the muthafucka who broke into my sister’s house and stole my shit,” JoJo said. He walked toward the velvet rope.

  J-Black raised his shirt, revealing a chrome handgun.

  Tommy’s heart raced and nervousness set in. He rushed back to Alicia and ordered her to leave the club. Neither he nor his crew was armed. He flagged Mario and informed him that J-Black was carrying a gun. He felt kind of like a snitch for saying something, but he wanted to be smart. He knew that the man who had robbed him was serious, and that it was possible, too, that he would let off a couple of rounds in the club. Somebody could be seriously hurt.

  Mario came from behind and held J-Black with a half nelson hold, and one of the other bouncers kicked him then took the gun off him.

  J-Black screamed, “Somebody is going to get hurt bad in this bitch. I promise you!”

  When they got him to the front door, they tossed J-Black out head first.

  He slowly picked himself up and went to his car. He retrieved his sawed-off pump shotgun and opened fire in the direction of the club.

  The crowd ran for cover.

  Tommy, Twin, and JoJo remained in VIP. None of them wanted to go outside. They knew it was J-Black who had done the shooting.

  ***** When Tommy and his partners finally stepped outside the club, JBlack was in handcuffs. A police officer was pushing his head down, ordering him to get inside the squad car.

  “I’m glad they got that crazy muthafucka,” Tommy said. “I want the nigga dead,” JoJo said.

  “The police got his ass. Let’s keep making this money,” Twin said.

  He walked to his new Porsche Cayenne truck, got inside and fired it up. “See y’all tomorrow,” he said then pulled off. Tommy leaned against his own new truck. “I want him dead, too, but I got so much shit on my mind right now…”

  JoJo caught Tommy’s eyes and stared. “What’s wrong man?”

  Tommy looked away but didn’t say anything.

  “Come on, Fatboy, you can tell me what’s going on with you.”

  “I think Nia is fuckin around on me.”

  “You think so?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What about this new chick you been fucking around with?” Tommy turned and faced JoJo, and then smiled. “I like her a lot.” “So you shouldn’t give a fuck about Nia.”

  “I know, right? But it’s hard not to feel a certain way about a woman that I live with. I guess the fact that she’s getting over on me and I can’t do nothing about it makes me crazy.”

  “Why don’t you just make her leave?”

  “She won’t leave.”

  JoJo put his hands on Tommy’s shoulders. “You got some serious problems.”

  “I got a love-hate relationship with Nia.”

  “I know what ya mean.”

  “I still love that girl … I mean, we been through a lot, but I still like her in my bed near me. You know what I mean?”

  “Yeah… yeah. I know exactly what you mean.”

  “I don’t like to be alone. I mean, I’ve always had a woman in my life, and I like Nia living with me. Ever since Mama died, she’s kind of filled a void.”

  “I think you should get to know Alicia. Forget about Nia, ‘cause she will drive you to do something you might regret.”

  “I know. When she came in late the other night, it was about five in the morning. I know she’d been with somebody else.”

  “You think so?”

  Tommy’s voice was thick with emotion. “I know it, man. You know how sometimes you just get a gut feeling about something?”

  JoJo stared off into the dark sky.

  “JoJo, I could’ve killed me a muthafucka that night. I was just that mad.”

  “Tommy, it’s going to be alright.”

  “I just feel like I’m trapped. I know this girl is no good for me, and I know I like Alicia, but I don’t know what to do. It’s like Nia has a stronghold on me.”

  “You can make it, man. Don’t let this get you down. Just think … you’re about to be a millionaire in no time.”

  Tommy hugged JoJo. “Thanks for listening to me, man. It meant a lot.”

  *****

  When Twin arrived at his home it was three in the morning. He went to the kitchen for a glass of orange juice and found a note on the refrigerator.

  My Dearest Brandon, I have had some great times with you, and memories that I will probably carry with me for the rest of my life, but great times and memories don’t equal love. While I have loved you with my whole heart, I know you couldn’t have possibly loved me. If you did, you wouldn’t continue to put my life in danger; you wouldn’t continue to sell that poison; and you would have spent more time with me and not have taken my love for granted.

  In the past year we haven’t done anything together. No amusement park, no trips … except for your business trips. This thing, or relationship, or whatever you call it, had to come to an end, and I have decided it was best that I end it. I’ve packed all of my belongings. I’ve got my own place. I believe, when you really think about it, it will be best if we were apart, because we both are sick people. You’re sick for pushing the poison, and I’m sick because I’m a recreational user. Don’t attempt to call me, because I’ve changed my number.

  Love Jennifer Twin balled the letter up then slammed his fist against the wall. “I dare that bitch to say I’m pushing poison! I dare that bitch to say I’m sick! I dare the stankin ho to leave! Ain’t nobody leaving nobody! I will hunt her ass down and bring her back home. Ain’t nobody just going to kick me to the curb like that.”

  He climbed up in the attic and pulled out a huge green chest. He counted his money and discovered that eighteen thousand dollars was gone. He didn’t know where to begin to look for Jennifer. He thought about calling her parents. He hated them. They were a bunch
of rednecks.

  He didn’t want to call Barbara, but he had to. His money was gone and so was Jennifer. Twin dialed Barbara’s number.

  She answered it on the second ring. “Who the hell is calling me at this time of night?”

  Twin figured that old Barb had been hitting the bottle again. “I’m looking for Jennifer.”

  “Is this the nigger?”

  “Fuck you, Barbara. Where the hell is your daughter?”

  “If I knew I wouldn’t tell you, nigger.”

  “Have you seen her at all?”

  “No, I sure haven’t, nigger.”

  “Tell her to call me if you see her.”

  “I will not, nigger.”

  “Fuck you, you trailer trash.”

  “Nigger, nigger, nigger, nigger!”

  Twin ended the call. He would have to find Jennifer some other way.

  ***** Jennifer’s new apartment was downtown. She’d taken the eighteen thousand dollars, using a portion to furnish her place and pay the rent up for the entire year. She hated stealing Twin’s money, but she needed the money for a new start. Her plan was to become a dental assistant, relying on an eight-week course at Central Piedmont Community College. Then she would enroll to become a hygienist. She would dance only when she needed money badly. She would stay away from X and find herself a man who appreciated her, and they would get married and have a big family.

  Her biggest challenge, she knew, would be getting off the X. It had her and she craved it. It just made her feel absolutely amazing. It had been sixteen hours since her last pill, and she wanted to go at least a day. She lay in her bed with no entertainment. The cable wouldn’t be on until Monday, and the stereo system she had ordered wouldn’t arrive until next week.

  An hour passed before she decided she needed a pill. It had been seventeen hours and four minutes. She opened her drawer and pulled out the aluminum foil packet. There were six butterflies and one Mercedes. She contemplated then decided she would throw the pills away. The Mercedes pill was the first one to be flushed. This was easy because they weren’t the best. She threw five butterflies down the toilet but couldn’t bring herself to flush the last one. She swallowed the pill and an hour later she was lying on her bed naked with a vibrator and a glass of vodka and cranberry juice. She worked herself over with the vibrator. Then she called Agent Pratt.

  He picked his cell phone up on the second ring. “Hi.” “Hey, sexy! I need some company.”

  “What do you mean you need some company?”

  “I left him.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “Cut the talking. Just come see me. I live downtown at the Cotton

  Mill lofts. Come see me. I’m horny.”

  Mark Pratt held the phone but didn’t say anything.

  “Pratt … are you there?”

  “Yes. Yes.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t think this is a good idea.”

  “What? You don’t like pussy?”

  “Come on. Don’t ask me questions like that.”

  “Just come over. I want you to see my new place.”

  “I can’t.”

  “What? What the hell are you talking about, you can’t? First you

  tell me to leave him, and now you can’t come see me? What kind of shit is this?” Mark Pratt sighed as if he were thinking. Finally he said, “I’m on my way but I can’t stay long.”

  “Hey, I didn’t say you had to stay long; I just wanted to see you.”

  Chapter 21

  Jennifer greeted Mark at the door, naked. She extended her arms as if she wanted a hug.

  He walked around her.

  She closed the door then frowned. “What’s wrong, officer?”

  He didn’t respond. Instead, he examined her place. An expensive apartment with very high ceilings. He walked over to the window and looked out into the city. Excellent view of the skyline, he thought. Then he examined the furniture. Italian leather. “So, I see you’re still living the good life.”

  “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

  “Nothing. It’s just that if you’re serious about getting away from that lifestyle, you’re going to have to change your thinking.”

  She walked toward him slow and seductively. “So I guess you want me to live in a shack.”

  His eyes briefly focused on her breasts then her vagina. He said a silent prayer, asking God for strength. “No, I didn’t say that. But I thought you would have tried to budget your money so you can stop dancing.”

  “I did. I paid my rent up for a year, and I paid for my furniture, and I enrolled in community college ...”

  Mark smiled. “Smart girl.”

  She grabbed his penis print.

  “Stop it.”

  She unzipped his pants.

  He tried to pull away from her, but she had already slid his penis out, and seconds later her mouth had covered it.

  ***** Twin made his way to the Uptown Carousel and found Morgan. They walked to the back of the club and sat in a booth.

  “What the fuck is going on with your girl?”

  “I don’t know. What are you talking about?”

  “I want to know where the fuck she at, and where the fuck my

  money’s at?”

  Morgan looked shocked. “Jennifer ran off with your money?” “Hell yeah. And the bitch is going to pay when I find out where

  she at. I ain’t playing. I will fuck her up.” Morgan shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know where she’s at. I’ll tell her when I see her that you’re looking for her, but she hasn’t been at the club in a day or so.”

  “I don’t know what made her just up and leave like this. Did you have any idea that she was going to leave me?”

  “No! She never said anything to me; I mean, never! I think Jennifer will be back.”

  “Well, I hope so 'cause she took eighteen grand from me, and that’s enough for me to hurt a muthafucka. You know what I mean?”

  “Hell yeah.”

  “Hey, listen. If you can find her and let me know where she’s at, I’ll give you a little reward.”

  Morgan smiled. “What did you have in mind?”

  “A hundred dollars.”

  “I don’t need money. I need some pills. Give me ten butterflies and I’ll find her for you; I promise.”

  Twin looked at Morgan, disgusted. She was nothing but an X head, just like Jennifer. Someone he should have never involved himself with. “Okay, Morgan. If you find her I’ll give you some pills.”

  *****

  “What the hell is that on your neck?” Ken asked. “What are you talking about?” Mark pretended to study papers on his desk.

  “There’s a mark on your neck. You must have slept with a vampire last night or… let me guess … the stripper-slash-informant that I warned you about.”

  Mark pulled his collar up, trying to cover the mark. He couldn’t believe he had let the woman bite his neck. He couldn’t believe he had been exposed. He wanted to lie to Ken.

  “The stripper got to you, huh?”

  Mark made eye contact with Ken. “Shut up, man; will ya?”

  “Hey don’t get on my case. You need to talk to your little vampire woman. She’s the one that bit your neck.”

  Mark rose from his desk. “I think I’m going to get out of here before I hurt you.”

  “Hurt me? I’m just trying to help you, man. I don’t want you to be involved with a chick like that. You don’t need her, man.”

  “I don’t need your help. I don’t need anything from you.”

  “This chick is going to bring you down. She’s going to cause you to lose your job.”

  Mark opened the door and stepped out into the hallway.

  Ken followed. “So do you love her, Mark?”

  “What are you talking about?

  “Do you love Jennifer?”

  Mark turned and faced him. “I don’t know,” he said, almost inaudibly.

  ***** Jennifer ope
ned the door wearing a sequined dress that clung to her geometry. She met Mark with a kiss and immediately unbuttoned his shirt. He pulled away from her.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “I don’t know. I think I’m falling for you.”

  “And you’re saying that like it’s a bad thing.”

  He sat down on her sofa. “I told you from the start that I didn’t

  think it was a good idea that we be sleeping around together.” She walked across the room. “You’re the one that came to the club. You’re the one that sought me out, Mr. DEA. What was I? Some kind of sick fantasy of yours, and now that you’ve fucked me the fantasy no longer arouses you? Huh?”

  “No.”

  “What is it then? Why can’t I have you? Why can’t we be together?” Mark sighed. “I don’t know. I just don’t think it’s a good idea.” “What happened to all of this shit you were saying … that you

  were going to help me, and that I needed to get away from the lifestyle? What happened to that shit?”

  He stood and faced her. He looked at her breasts. Her waist was so damn tiny. He thought about the sex they’d had last night, and an erection was on the way.

  “So, I guess now that I left Twin, I’m on my own.” Mark looked away. He didn’t want to be tempted by her. He had to get his mind focused. “Yes. You have to take care of yourself.”

  “I don’t understand this shit, man. Last night you come over and we make passionate love, and now you leave me.”

  “I’m not leaving you. I’m going to be there for you. But not… sexually.”

  “I’m not good enough for you, huh?”

  “No. I didn’t say that.”

  “You don’t have to say that. I know what you mean.” Tears rolled down her cheeks.

  Before he realized it, he was holding her.

  She looked up at him then jerked away.

  “Jennifer, it’s not like that.”

  “You know what, Agent Pratt? I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself. How about you just get the hell out of my house, please.”

  Mark walked to the door and let himself out.

  ***** Tommy found him a nice apartment but spent most of his nights with Alicia. He had convinced himself that he wasn’t going back to Nia and that they weren’t meant for each other. He had started out spending the night, bringing a change of clothes. Now all of his things were in her extra closet. He would move all his things into his place by the end of the month because he could feel her getting attached, and he needed his space. He had just got out of the shower and was putting on his clothes, about to go deliver some butterflies on the west side of town.