Playing With Fire: Loyalty Demolished

by Charlee Renea

  “Hi, daddy’s princess!” He pinched her cheeks.

  “You ain’t my daddy!”

  Chris’ eyes turned red. “You’d better watch who you’re talking to! I am your daddy!”

  Brittany looked at Ashley with tears in her eyes. Chris turned his head towards Ashley.

  “Make sure you have this house clean and dinner cooked before I get home.”

  She nodded her head yes and he walked out the door.

  She was relieved as she took a deep breath and blew it out. She finished folding his clothes quickly so she could play with Brittany. Before, that was something she’d neglected. She’d spent most of her time chasing after Ray. She kicked the table, mad at how she’d messed up things with Ray and how her game hadn’t been strong enough to keep him locked down. She thought she’d put all her good love into him and had done for him what no other female would do. She didn’t believe Bella loved him like she did and she hated her even more. She started plotting a plan to get rid of Chris and Bella so she could be back with the man she loved deeply.

  ~ ~

  Later that night, back in New Jersey . . .

  There was a full moon in the dark sky on that warm summer night. Bella grabbed her white Michael Kors purse off the backseat of the blue Navigator truck and hopped down slowly to keep from falling in her white wedges. She hit the lock button and walked up to the old building. A short, slim, bald-head African American man, dressed in black jogging pants and a black T‑shirt, awaited her.

  “Hello.” He greeted with one arm out and kissed her on the cheek.

  “Hey; how are you?” She hugged him back.

  “Fine, but let’s talk inside.” They headed in for privacy.

  Inside the building, it looked nice compared to the outside, but it wasn’t much—only a desk, a couple of chairs, and TV monitors filled the room. Bella took a seat, crossed her leg, and placed her purse in the other chair. He sat across from her.

  “Okay, I have some good news!” he said excitedly.

  “Spill it!”

  “I visited Chyna’s old residence; she broke her lease eight months ago and didn’t let the leasing office know.”

  “Oh, really?”

  “Yes; a week later, a man went to turn her keys in and paid the remaining balance.”

  “Who was the man?”

  “I showed the manager a picture of Ray and she said it was him. Actually, the manager said he’d been staying there, and she hadn’t had any problems out of them.”

  “Um, really? He caught feelings for her! Now the question is, where is she now? They both knew it was a possibility I was getting out, so she decided to disappear. Can you check flights around that time?”

  “Yes, I did, and nothing came up. I even checked the Greyhound. If she left, chances are she drove so she wouldn’t be traceable.”

  Bella shifted in the chair. “So she’s hiding? She has to be involved in the shooting at the club! They both are; I know it.”

  “I'm going to keep looking and asking questions. We’re going to find her!”

  “Thank you; I appreciate that. Him and that bitch have some explaining to do!”

  “What are you going to do when you find out the truth?”

  The question caught her off-guard. She hadn’t thought of the after-plan. She had just focused on finding out the truth. “I’m not sure. I guess I hadn’t thought that far.”

  Tone was a private investigator Bella had hired to search for Chyna. She was going against what Ray had said about not hiring a P.I. She needed answers since Ray wasn’t being honest with her. Plus, she had a funny feeling Ray wasn’t telling her everything.

  The first day Tone met her, he’d admired her beauty. He felt she was too much of a woman to go through this. If she had to go as deep as hiring a P.I., she didn’t need whoever she was dealing with.

  “You’re a beautiful woman. If he can’t love just you, maybe you shouldn’t be with him. Don’t waste your money on what you already know.”

  The only thing Bella knew was he hadn’t been there for her when she was in prison like he’d claimed he was going to be. The information the P.I. told her wasn’t news. She’d sensed Tone was attracted to her beauty.

  “You don’t understand. This situation is bigger than what you’re expecting it to be!”

  “Okay, my bad! I just want you to be happy.”

  “Once this is all over and done, I should be.”

  “If you don’t mind, I’d like to take you out one day. Think about it and tell me how you feel after all this is over with.”

  Tone was a couple years younger than her, single, and his kids were grown. He missed the love and affection of a woman. After his messy divorce, he’d proclaimed he was never going to marry again because of his lack of trust. His ex-wife had cheated with his ex-best-friend. He’d fathered her last child, who he’d thought was his. Now he just rather date because he was a man with needs.

  “I’ll think about it, but I can’t promise you anything!”

  “That’s fair; I’ll accept that.” He walked her outside.

  ~ ~

  Hot and Juicy Strip Club . . .

  Music was playing and the lights were dim inside the strip club. Tonight the crowd was laid back and a lot of return customers were in the building. A skinny stripper walked towards the back room where the private dance sessions took place. The security guard had closed the private dance room and the stripper was mad.

  “Wassup? I have a customer!”

  “The room is closed for the night.”

  “That fast? It was just opened when I got to work!”

  “Well, it’s closed now, so you can excuse yourself, bitch!”

  The security guard was tired of how this particular stripper acted and treated everybody so badly. She looked down on everybody like she was better than the next, when everybody was on the same mission —making money.

  “Bitch? Fuck you, you ol’ potbelly, fat-ass pussy! That’s why you can’t get no pussy!”

  This was the same security guard who tried to talk to all the strippers, but no one gave him any play. She figured he was in his feelings and keeping her from making some extra money, but she wasn’t about to let him stop her hustle. She grabbed her client’s hand and went to a VIP table that was empty. The woman sat down, holding ones in her hand, and the stripper started to give her a show.

  Meanwhile, behind the doors of the private dance room, action was taking place. The owner had had the room shut off for the night from the other strippers.

  “Damn, girl, you’re smelling good.”

  “I can be everything you need and more.”

  “Don’t tell me that! You’re gonna make me put more money in your pockets.”

  “It'll be worth it.”

  Nicole started blowing in his ear as she straddled his lap. They were the only ones in the private room. He’d seen her on the pole making her cheeks clap in her black-and-white polka-dot, two-piece swimsuit. He knew he had to have a lap dance. Ben was a regular customer who always kept his eyes on her.

  “What are you doing after you leave here?” he asked her.

  “Going home.”

  “Where’s that? Do you want any company?”

  “Naw; I have children, and I don’t do extra after work.”

  “You should.” He flashed ten one-hundred-dollar bills in her face.

  “I’m good, but thank you.”

  “You should let me take you out.”

  “I usually don’t date my customers.”

  He was really starting to annoy her. She got off his lap, but he pulled her back down.

  “Where are you going?”

  “I’m finished, sir. Would you let me go, please?”

  He put his hand over her mouth and pulled a gun out of his pocket. Her eyes got big.

  “If you scream, I’ll blow your brains out and won’t think twice about it. You’re going no-fuckin’-where! We’re leaving this bitch together!”

&nb
sp; She did as he said. They got up and headed towards the door. He peeked outside in the hallway and nobody was around except the security guard. He grabbed her hand and headed out the back door. The security guard closed the door behind them and radioed the owner the mission was complete. The owner let the strippers back into the room so she could benefit off the pay.

  ~ ~

  Ben had been plotting to kidnap her from the club ever since the owner had told him she worked there. He threw her in the backseat of the parked car waiting outside then got in on the driver’s side.

  “What do you want from me?” she asked him.

  He turned around and punched her in the face. She fell back onto the seat, passed out as blood dripped from her nose.

  “To shut the fuck up!”

  . . . 5

  A few days later . . .

  Her painted, white French-tip toes in her leopard-print heels walked into U.S. Bank in Los Angeles, California. She removed the oversized shades from her eyes and looked around until she found a teller who was open. She approached the window with a smile.

  “How are you today?” the young female teller greeted her with a smile.

  “I’m doing just good and yourself?”

  “I’m great as well. What can I do for you today?”

  “I’d like to open an account, please.”

  “Okay. One of those ladies sitting over there can help you.” She pointed towards them.

  “Okay; thank you!”

  Bella took a seat and waited for one of the ladies. She took her phone out her purse and saw she’d a missed text message from Ray.

  Ray: Call me baby and let me know you made it safely.

  Bella: I did. At the bank now.

  Ray: Ok

  The man walked toward the main doors holding money bags in his hands. Bella couldn’t keep her eyes off his tall, muscularly-built, sexy, tan frame. She wasn’t aware he would be this fine! She jumped up and followed behind him.

  “Hey, sir, can I ask you a question?”

  He stopped and turned around to face the beautiful woman standing before him.

  “Yes, go ahead.”

  “I know you're in a rush, so I’ll make it quick. I’m from out of town and I’m trying to get to Hollywood, but I’m unsure what highway to take.”

  “Hollywood? I can help you. Come outside.”

  She followed behind him and waited until he came back from dropping the money bags in the truck. She was smiling, and he smiled back, revealing his dimples.

  “Yeah, I’m from overseas and I’ve always wanted to visit Hollywood since I was a kid.” She tried talking with an accent.

  “Overseas? I’ve never meet anyone from another country. What’s your name, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  “Bella and yours?”

  “Jacob. Welcome to the states, Bella! Are you here alone?”

  “Yes, I’m just here for a couple days. This may sound crazy, but I came to purchase a purse.”

  “Hey, if you have the ability to do so, why not! If you like, I could show you around Hollywood. I’m about to be off.”

  “That would be fine.”

  “What’s your number?”

  They exchanged numbers and Bella caught a cab back to her room at the Hilton to get ready.

  Jacob was a successful, single man who worked at Brink’s and had a business of his own. He lived in a two-story condo in Hollywood. He enjoyed meeting women and having fun with them, but never took it to the next level.

  When he got off work, he drove his Corvette home to get ready to impress Bella. He opened the door to an empty condo. After a long day at work, it would be nice to come home to dinner cooked by a beautiful wife with their children running around. He knew the player’s life had to come to an end.

  ~ ~

  The rope was tied tightly around both of her wrists and the other end of the rope was tied to a pole. The sound of crickets was heard throughout the room. She wriggled trying to loosen the rope, but she wasn’t strong enough. The door opened and heavy shoes walked down the stairs. She couldn’t see through the darkness. He pulled a lighter out his pocket and flicked it.

  “Hey, sexy!”

  “What? What do you want?”

  He ran his fingers through her curly hair. Nicole jumped in fear of what he might do. He turned the lamp on to get a better view of her naked, yellow, thick body lying on the queen-size mattress in the basement.

  “I want you, pretty. I don’t like seeing you down here.”

  “Where am I and who are you?”

  Nicole remembered Ben pulling the gun on her at the strip club and making her leave with him. When they got to the car, he’d knocked her out and she didn’t remember anything after that. She woke up tied to a pole.

  “You’re here with me. Don’t you like it?” He grabbed the stool, pulled a cigarette out, and lit it.

  “No; I don’t even know you!”

  “Just think about it then. We have plenty of time.” He got up and flicked his ashes on her. “You have a bad-ass body! I can’t wait!”

  Nicole tried to think of where she knew him from, but nothing came to mind other than he came to the strip club on the regular. Sweat dripped down her face from it being so hot. He started rubbing on her body and she closed her eyes to hold back the tears trying to fall.

  “I just know you from the club.”

  “But that’s not where we met.” He kissed her neck and tried her lips, but she turned her head. “Don’t be acting funny now. You weren’t like this before!”

  He forcefully turned her head back towards him and successfully kissed her, putting his tongue down her throat. She bit down hard. He tried pulling it out, but her grip was too strong. He put his hand around her neck, choking her, and she let go.

  “Stupid bitch!” He slapped her in the face. “Don’t you ever do that shit again!”

  ~ ~

  Bella looked at herself in the full-length mirror, making sure everything was in place. The cheetah-print dress hugged her curves, stopping above her knees, royal-blue, open-toed Chanel heels matched the royal-blue Chanel clutch, and her medium-length hair was straight with Chinese bangs. She was loving the blonde highlights in her hair. She checked her clutch, making sure everything she needed was inside. Bella called him and told him she was ready.

  “You’re a bad bitch!” she told herself in the mirror.

  He picked her up in his 2014 Corvette and they headed to Hollywood to a club named Tru. Bella was loving the beautiful sight with palm trees everywhere and the Hollywood stars on the sidewalk with the names of different celebrities printed on them. Jacob pulled up to the door to valet park. Jacob went around to the passenger side, opening her door.

  “You’re beautiful,” he said when he opened her door and she got out.

  “You’re looking handsome yourself!” she complemented.

  He grabbed her hand and they walked to the VIP line. It didn’t take long to get in and be seated. This was Bella’s first time in California and she was enjoying it so far.

  The waitress brought them a bucket filled with ice and a bottle of Ciroc. He thanked her, tipped her ten dollars, then poured them a glass.

  “How long are you in town?” he asked her.

  “As long as I want. I’m my own boss!”

  “Impressive. Um . . . by yourself, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “I want you to enjoy your stay. If you like, I could show you around.”

  “I wouldn’t want to take up too much of your time, especially since you work and have a family.”

  “I work hard every day but don’t you worry your beautiful self. I’m devoted to make time for you! I’m a single man.” He flashed his empty ring finger in her face.

  “That’s a plus!” She reached into her clutch to get her lip gloss.

  “Do you have any children?”

  “One, a son. He’s twenty. I had him very young.”

  “I’m not here to judge you.�
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  “No problem.” Her phone started vibrating, indicating she had a text. She leaned away from Jacob so he wouldn’t see.

  Tone: I located Chyna. She’s in St. Thomas.

  She started smiling. That was a joy to her heart. Jacob saw her cheerful grin and wondered if it was her man texting. He noticed how she hid her phone so he couldn’t see. He wasn’t tripping about it though and didn’t say anything. This situation just made her look bad and reminded him why he didn’t date women of her caliber.

  “You wanna dance?” he said in her ear.

  “Yes!” She grabbed her clutch, and he took her by the hand and led her to the dance floor.

  ~ ~

  The next morning . . .

  Ray asked Chyna to look for a reasonable and decent house for his family to stay in. He also wired her some more money. She was nervous because she hadn’t seen Ray’s parents in a while and wondered about their reaction to the children. Her mother wasn’t pleased with Ray’s short visit. After he left, Tara had talked about how he wasn’t changing and tried to convince Chyna to move on. Chyna wasn’t giving up on her family so she kept Ray’s family coming in town a secret!