Skeezers 2 (The Cartel Publications Presents)

by Shay Hunter

  She stood up. “I know, Killer. We always have—”

  “Then why would you try to kill me?” He paused. Suddenly his apologetic tone evaporated and his mood grew dark. “And why would you have my brother sent back to prison when you know how much he meant to me? Then I just got word today that he shanked a nigga and now he gonna be locked up for years. FOR YEARS! All because you called the police!” He paused, his breaths heavy. “Foul, Catalina. Foul.”

  Her eyes widened and she shifted in her seat. “How did you know I sent him back?” She swallowed the lump in her throat.

  In all of the drama she forgot about telling Cupid.

  “Does it make a difference?” She moved closer and he yelled, “Sit down. Now.” He pointed at the seat. “I’m not gonna tell you again.”

  She exhaled and sat down. “I did call the parole officer on Scholar because he—”

  “You ever wondered what happened to your father?” He interrupted. “Why he seemed to disappear off the face of the earth?”

  She sighed. “No, because I don’t give a fuck about him.” she paused. “After what he did to me as a child…and how he ruined my life all I wanted was to never see him again.”

  “I told my brother how he raped you and gave you HIV. My brother was the biggest fan of our relationship. Even got mad because I didn’t marry you yet when you came home. So when he got word that you were infected he killed him. The nigga not in your life fucking with you no more because of him. And what do you do? Call the cops to have him sent back inside.”

  Catalina was consumed with guilt upon learning the new information. “But…I…I mean…”

  “There’s nothing you can say that will make sense.” He paused and wiped the single tear that fell from his eye. She’d never seen Killer cry a day in his life, until that moment. “And what else do you do?” He paused. “You try to have me killed.”

  Sprinkles looked as if she saw a ghost. She never considered her world could come crashing down in this way and she never considered she would be called out on her shit. “You know what, I don’t know what you talking about but I’m out of here. I got better shit to do.”

  Killer snapped his finger and a few chicks she knew from other strip clubs walked on stage, from behind the curtain. “I’m not going to kill you because that would be too easy. But what I am going to do is destroy that pretty face of yours.” He looked at the girls. “Make her unrecognizable but don’t kill her.”

  Sprinkles tried to run but they caught her and the first knife went into the flesh of her right cheek. She screamed and tried to wiggle out of their grasps but she was unsuccessful.

  When they were done they left her squirming and bleeding on the floor.

  In the end she was so cut up that if it hadn’t been for her feminine outfit the paramedics wouldn’t know if she was male or female.

  “What the fuck is going on with this club?” the shorter paramedic asked as he and another one slid the stretcher into the emergency vehicle. “They need to burn this place down. It’s cursed.”

  “You telling me something I already know. I just hope they do it soon.”

  ****

  Levine walked into her house only to see Killer and two men she didn’t recognize. When she tried to run away she was grabbed by another man and pushed over to Killer like a bag of trash.

  “You dirty, old bitch,” Killer yelled. “Do you know how many people died while I tried to figure out who was after me?” he stepped closer. “Do you have any idea? I had Bryson’s body dumped fucking with you. Thinking that this nigga was after me and the whole time it was you? A crack whore!”

  She smiled awkwardly trying to lighten the mood. “Killer, please, let me explain I—” One of the men walked up to her and stole her in the stomach, forcing all of the food she’d eaten earlier out onto the floor.

  “I know why you did it, Levine. And for real I don’t even blame you. I had no business making moves with a junkie even if it was a front. But thanks to you I’m done with the club and I’m done with you too.”

  “Killer, please don’t do this.” She cried. People make mistakes and I made a huge one. I…I’ll give you whatever you want. I’ll…do whatever you want.” She tried to be seductive.

  He laughed. “And what could a crack addicted whore give me? Huh? What could you offer that has any value?”

  “There’s a deal that’s going down with a man who’s interested in buying the club.” She said excitedly. “We can make a lot of money if—”

  Killer laughed. “Oh you mean, Mr. Walker, who wants to purchase Skeezers? Because I already made that deal with him. As a matter of fact I’m signing the contract tomorrow. I’m realizing that club is bad for business. And so are you.”

  He raised his hand to one of his men. “Kill her and dump her in the river next to Bryson.”

  ****

  “I think you’ll like it here,” Killer said to Mr. Walker as he handed him the keys to Skeezers. He had the placed cleaned and scrubbed to remove the scent of death and the past strippers. “I’ve had a lot of good memories. Almost hate to give it up.”

  Mr. Walker laughed. “No need to soften me up, Mr. Floyd. You already have the check.” He paused. “Besides, I have my own vision for this club and I’m quite aware of the reputation it has. I plan to change it for the better.”

  Killer smiled because he assumed the man was green. But Mr. Walker was a multi-millionaire who had everything he wanted in life except a strip club. None of his investors wanted to touch the idea and they all considered the concept sleazy. But he had plans to prove them wrong. “Thanks again for selling. And I’m sorry to hear about your partner. Looks like she must have gotten someone really wrong in order to suffer such a violent death.”

  Killer nodded. “It be’s that way sometimes.” Killer looked at the stage. He hadn’t been in the club since Sprinkles face was ruined and he heard she was doing poorly. Having her beauty stolen was worse than death to her, which is why he wanted it done. “So what are you going to call the club now?”

  Mr. Walker frowned. “Skeezers…why would I change the name even if my vision is different?” He paused. “I plan on making this club better than ever.” He looked at the pole on the stage. “Just you wait and see.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY- THREE

  ONE YEAR LATER

  CUPID

  I sat on my bed in the dark talking to Jodie on the phone. We weren’t cool but since I didn’t have any friends and she was the only one who remembered how I use to live back in the day, it was good to talk to her sometimes.

  My window was halfway open and the night air pushed my white curtains around and the moonlight shined against my face. It was open because I was waiting for Killer to come home after being out all night.

  Again.

  Even though he’s home now, and in the bathroom getting clean, I could only imagine where he’d been.

  My baby girl, Logan, was in my arms peacefully sleeping. I hadn’t planned on my life being this way but I had to get over it. I was no longer a dancer or single. I was a mother with a healthy baby girl, a man and HIV. Killer was the biological father and when it came to his daughter he doted hard.

  But with me it was different.

  We made love but the spice was gone and I wanted it back.

  I finally managed to get a hold of Jodie because I called her several times and my call went straight to voicemail. I heard that Skeezers was sold and that management had changed and I wanted more details. It’s not even like it had anything to do with me. But boredom caused me to look for excitement in every one else’s life but my own.

  Maybe I missed the club and wanted to go back.

  Being Killer’s side chick was way more fun than being the main bitch. There was no more sneaking around and I knew he needed that excitement for stimulation. If he wasn’t getting it from me I’m sure it would be someone else.

  “So is it that much different?” I asked as I placed Logan on her belly. The light from the bath
room shined inside of my dark room. “Because niggas are saying he poured millions into the spot.”

  “Girl, yes. Mr. Walker dumped all kinds of cash in here and brought in new girls.” She paused. “Everybody has their private area in the group dressing room and he redid all of the bathrooms. It looks like a top line Vegas spot now!” She was so excited.

  “So who got the private dressing room?”

  “Well he tried to give it to me and Orange Pop but we passed. Seems like every chick that takes that room ends up dead or fucked up. Some white girl they call ‘The Lou’ got it now. I wish her luck.” She giggled.

  I laughed. “So what the new chicks look like?” I shuffled a little on the bed. “Because I heard hood niggas not happy about the change.”

  “Let’s just say that me and Orange Pop the only black girls in here. He’s focused on bringing a whole new type of clientele and I’m not sure if it will work. But hey, it’s his club not mine.”

  “I would love to see it but Killer would murder me if I stepped back in there.” I sighed. “I never get to have any fun, Jodie. I’m dying over here. Don’t get me wrong, he takes care of me but that’s about it. I feel like I need more.”

  “I’m sorry, girl. But at least you have a family. The rest of us gotta make it how we see fit. In my opinion you’re the lucky one. He chose you.” She paused. “Speaking of Killer did you know that Sprinkles got with that janitor who opened that body shop?”

  My eyebrows rose. “You talking about Stephen? She finally got with him after all this time?”

  “Yes, girl.” She laughed. “And from what I hear I think they may be married. Although I can’t verify that yet. But he loves her to pieces. They even—”

  When the phone cut off because my battery went dead I was angry. I knew she was about to serve me more information so I did something I normally wouldn’t do. I picked up Killer’s cell phone that was charging across the room on the floor. I needed to know what she was about to tell me.

  “Hey, baby,” Jodie’s voice was seductive. “Why you calling? You ‘bout to come back over to get some more of this wet pussy?”

  “Hello…” I said as my eyes widened and my jaw dropped.

  “Killer? It’s you right?” Jodie asked.

  I hung up and stood in the middle of the room. Tears rolled down my face as I thought about what happened. He was sleeping with her! That’s where he was. Not only was he fucking around on me, which I knew would happen, but he was also doing it with one of my friends. I know I did it to Sprinkles too but this was different. I had his baby and he got me sick so wasn’t he supposed to do right by me?

  The shower door opened and he came out. “Hey, sexy. You okay?”

  I was about to tell him how I felt about him cheating again. I can’t take this shit! I wanted him to know how much I hated him in that moment. I wanted him to feel my pain. But then I realized that this was going to be my life. If I wanted him, which I did, it would be just like this and there was nothing I could do about it but get use to it.

  Maybe it was my karma.

  “I’m okay…” I forced a smile and swallowed my pain. “Just not feeling too good that’s all.”

  He walked up to me and kissed me on the forehead. “Then maybe when the baby sleep I’ll give you a little something to make you feel better. I know you’ll like that.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  SPRINKLES

  It was a year ago today and I sat in my bed staring out of my bedroom window, remembering it all. The world was going on without me and I wasn’t sure if I could handle not being the center of attention. I tried to look on the bright side but it wasn’t working. I realized that thanks to the guilt money Killer dropped on me that my face was repaired but I’ll never look the same. I knew I had a beautiful little girl who was HIV negative and Stephen, my loving husband. We slipped up and had unprotected sex once but he wasn’t infected and I was grateful.

  But when was I going to get the revenge due to me?

  “Are you hungry, sweetheart?” Stephen asked walking into the room. “I made pizza from scratch. The pineapple and peperoni one you like. Want me to bring you a slice?”

  “No, Stephen.” I snapped. “I told you that the last time you came in here that I was okay. I just want to be alone. I’ll be out in a minute.”

  He sighed. “Sprinkles, you can’t stay in your room forever. At some point you have to come out and live. Mercy wants her mother and I want my wife.”

  “What are you talking about? I’m here.” I paused. “You act like I’m ripping and running the streets. Ease up because you’re playing me too close.”

  “You may be here but you not living.”

  I knew he was right…about me needing to live my life and all but my question to him was this…what life? We buried Kitten and Marvin the other day and seeing her in that casket brought back memories from Skeezers. I think I miss the club. A lot. Nobody knows who murdered them but I was positive Killer was involved.

  “I’m living, Stephen. Just not in the way you want.” I paused. “This is me and you gonna have to let me fucking deal with things the best way I know how.”

  “Watch how you talk to me, Catalina. I’m still your husband.”

  “Then stop pretending that I will be who I’m not. You already know how I feel about my life right now. Just let me grieve! That’s all I’m saying.” I was in no mood for anything else.

  As much as I hated to admit it he was right. Crying about my life was something I wasn’t going to do anymore. I’d done it for a year and nothing has changed. Flashbacks of all of the stories I told Cupid in private about my love life with Killer made me sick to my stomach. I made a mistake that I wouldn’t soon make again.

  You can’t trust bitches around your man.

  And then she had the nerve to walk in a popular club with her 4-carat ring knowing it would come back to me. How fucking cold and heartless can you be? I know they are probably both laughing at me right now.

  But I had to pull myself together otherwise this hate would eat me a live and I couldn’t do that either.

  “Sprinkles,” Stephen interrupted, walking into the room again. “Curtis is here. He said you texted him to come over. That true?”

  “Yes...” I sighed.

  He frowned. “Why you cool with this nigga? He had just as much to do with what happened to you a year ago as Cupid and Killer. He was the one who got the girls together to slice you up for Killer. Did you forget that shit?”

  “He didn’t know what was going to happen. Plus he’s just checking on me.” I stood up and looked at myself in the mirror. “You may not understand but some people worry about me. Even after all this time.”

  He shook his head. “This nigga got five minutes to be in my house. A second more and I’m dumping him.”

  I shrugged. “Well hurry up and send him back here. Since you got us on a clock and shit.”

  When Curtis walked into my room I could smell the weed on his clothes and knew he was already high. “What up, Sprinkles!” He sat on the floor in the corner, even though a chair was available. “What you need that you couldn’t say over the phone?”

  “I’m gonna call it off…the thing I asked you to do.”

  His eyebrows rose. “But you had me do a lot of work already.”

  “Curtis, don’t act like you found out the information I needed.” I paused. “I asked you two weeks ago to tell me where they lived and you never gave me the address.”

  “I got you, Sprinkles! You just gotta trust me.”

  “It’s okay…I said never mind.”

  He frowned. “Well what’s in it for me?” He stood up. “Just because you don’t want anything done anymore doesn’t mean I don’t deserve to be paid.”

  “I got what I said I was giving you when we first talked. Fifty bucks.”

  He laughed. “Well what if I tell you the price has gone up or Killer may find out you’ve been trying to get his address?” He paused. “You know him and Cupi
d off the map and not everybody has access to his location. But I do.”

  He was so thirsty I started laughing. People told me he was on something else other than weed and I didn’t want to believe them. It was a big mistake involving him in my business. Even though I laughed, I knew if he threatened me again he’d have more to worry about than just my jokes. If I even thought he would tell Killer that I was looking for where he laid his head I would snap so quick.

  Then I would tell Stephen, knowing full well that Curtis would be dead by the end of the night. You see Stephen loved me but he was still a killer. Which is what I love about him.

  “What’s so funny, bitch?”

  “You so dumb that you don’t even realize when someone is giving you a blessing. I said the job is over. Now either take the fifty bucks and get out of my house or I’ll tell my husband you just threatened me.” I stepped closer. “And if you think you know what my husband does because you see him working in an auto body shop think again. Because I can arrange a private visit. Then you’ll learn up close how 50% of the niggas who go in never come out alive.”

  His eyes widened and he ran out the door without his money.

  When he was gone I flopped on the edge of my bed and sighed. Two minutes later Stephen came into the room. “So what happened? You put him on Killer and Cupid didn’t you?”

  I shook my head no. “I’m done with it, Stephen.”

  He moved closer. “Bae, are you serious?”

  I nodded. “I am.”

  “But what changed your mind?”

  I shrugged. “I got a feeling that everything they’re due is gonna come on it’s own. And I don’t need anybody in the mix for that to happen. I gotta focus on my life and my family. It may not be easy but I’m willing to try.”