“I don’t want things to change when we get back,” she whispered in his ear as she kissed him repeatedly, gently.
“They won’t. You’re mine, ma. Nothing in the world can change that. Not after everything we’ve done this week. I’m selfish and I want you to myself.”
As soon as Raegan stepped foot inside her home her cell phone rang back to back, first with Gucci blowing her up then with Chanel calling.
“Hey?” she answered. “What’s up? I just got home,” she said.
“Look outside, bitch,” Chanel yelled excitedly.
Raegan went to her window and dropped the phone when she saw her girls lined up outside in a parade of foreign whips.
“No, they didn’t!” she yelled excitedly as she slipped into her UGGs and threw on a peacoat before rushing outside.
“Bitch!” she shouted.
“You like ’em?” Gucci asked.
“Of course. I’m about to cop me one today!” Raegan said. Lisa came up and shook her head. She tossed her the key to the car that she had driven over there.
“No need to,” Lisa said. “You know I can’t afford a Benz. It’s yours.” She laughed as Raegan jumped up and down like a kid on Christmas.
They all hopped into their cars, Lisa riding shotgun with Raegan as they skirted out with no destination, stunting around the city.
When Nahvid returned home he called Nita repeatedly but she wouldn’t answer his calls. He looked at the roomful of new furniture and clothes that he had purchased for her, shaking his head. He should have known that she would disappoint him ... this had become a routine. She would get his hopes up only to shatter them when she chose to hug a crack pipe instead of her baby boy. Nahvid was a ruler and everything in him wanted to control his mother. He wanted to lock her away and hide the key until her body was clean, but of all the things he had a hold over, Nita had never been one of them. He was disappointed that Nita had stood him up. She had a monkey on her back that trumped any and everything. Today she hadn’t been ready to come home, but one day, when she was ready ... he knew she would come and that room would be waiting for her.
Chapter Twelve
The girls popped bottles in the club. Cristal and Louis XIII flowed freely at their table as Raegan, Gucci, and Chanel partied like socialites. Everything about them rang new money. Lisa couldn’t believe the way that her friends had grinded to the top. As she sat partying at their expense she silently wished that she had gotten down from the beginning. They had come up in a major way. Well into their sixth heist, the girls were getting paid. Raegan had $250,000 put up on her own and she barely touched it thanks to Nahvid’s generosity.
Easy money.
Dirty money.
More money.
Was their thought process ... now that they had taken their first hit of the fast life they had become indulged by it. Mega shopping sprees filled their days and they spent frivolously because they knew that it could be easily replenished. The girls were in a circle on the dance floor, dancing their asses off, feeling like rock stars for the night. As Nahvid and his crew sat back, he admired his lady from afar. She was definitely the bell of the ball and he loved how she stole the show. Raegan blew him a kiss and smiled sexily as she wound her body while staring him in the eyes. He was completely satisfied with Raegan.
Reason leaned into his man’s ear and whispered, “Yo, I’m not feeling your girl, Nah. Her and her girls are flossing a whole lot of paper. You know them bitches that been going around robbing stash spots ... From the looks of it, that’s them and your girl is shining like the ring leader.”
Nahvid shot Reason a look that would have bodied him where he stood if looks could kill. “She don’t got to rob nobody, fam. I’m taking care of that. Don’t come out your mouth reckless about her,” Nahvid said in a low, controlled tone. The last thing he wanted to do was beef out with his man over Raegan, but he had to make it known that she belonged to him now.
Reason’s temple throbbed in anger. This ol’ pussy whipped-ass nigga. I’ma have to watch that bitch. Closely, Reason thought. He didn’t think Nahvid could see through the trance of a beautiful woman, but nothing was more attractive than his paper and Reason wasn’t about to let Raegan or anyone else eat off his plate.
“No disrespect, Nah. You my man a hundred grand. I just don’t want some broad to interrupt the paper flow, nah mean?” Reason asked.
“Has anything ever stopped me from getting money? Nigga, have I ever stopped you from eating? Everybody eats, but let me tell you something, fam ... it’s nothing if you don’t have somebody to share it with. All them square feet I’m living in is pointless if I’m in it by myself. I want a wife and some kids, fam. It’s time and she’s it,” Nahvid said seriously.
Reason nodded and tapped his Remy glass against his man’s to show support, but in the back of his head his skepticism ate away at him. He didn’t trust Raegan ... point blank and would keep an eye on her. It took more than a happy face and a magnificent ass to catch him slipping.
The girls finally made their way off the dance floor and returned to their table. Raegan and Nahvid had been on each other all night. Their eyes never left one another as they flirted across the room. Raegan didn’t crowd him in the club and he loved that. Even when other chicks approached Nahvid, Raegan never flipped. She just sat in the cut with amusement in her eyes as she watched Nahvid turn hoes down. The night was full of good-hearted fun but she was ready to put in personal time with her man. Nahvid nodded to her, summoning her to him and as she arose from her seat, Chanel leaned into her ear to whisper over the music.
“Gucci and I need to talk to you,” she said to Raegan as she grabbed her hand, pulling her through the crowd.
“Guch!” Raegan shouted and nodded her head toward the bathroom to tell her to follow. The three girls left Lisa at their table to watch their handbags as they made their way to the back of the club. Lisa knew how they got down, but they never cut her in on any of the details. She didn’t need to know the when’s and where’s. It was better for all of them that she remained untainted.
Nahvid stopped her just before she entered the restroom.
“You coming home with me tonight, ma?” he asked as he pinned her body against the wall.
“I’ve barely slept one night in my place since we got back,” she whispered. She wanted to tell him no, but they both knew whose bed she would end up in tonight. He trapped her words in a kiss and grabbed her aggressively behind the neck to devour her tongue, teasing her and making her love button pulse.
“I’ve got a surprise for you, ma. Let’s bounce,” he said.
She grabbed the hand that caressed her face and kissed his wrist. “Okay. Meet me at the car in fifteen minutes. I need to talk to my girls real fast and settle our bar bill,” she said.
He gave her a knowing look and said, “You know I already took care of you. Just holler at your people and meet me outside.”
As soon as she walked inside Raegan could see that Chanel and Gucci had a lot on their minds. They stopped talking as soon as she stepped foot inside the restroom. “What’s up?” Raegan asked.
“Gucci and I think it’s time to hit another lick,” Chanel said.
“You and Gucci? Or just you, Chanel?” Raegan asked.
“B ... both of us think it’s time,” Gucci spoke up, stammering nervously.
Raegan shook her head in disbelief. They were lucky to have kept a low profile this long. Hustlers all over the city were talking about the group of chicks who were sticking up dope houses. They had a schedule and Raegan was sticking to it.
“I’m not for it. We need to lay low and take a month off,” Raegan advised. “Niggas are on edge all over the city. It’s best if we just fall back and then start up again in thirty days,” Raegan said.
“I don’t know about you but I can’t wait thirty days, Raegan,” Chanel said.
“Me neither,” Gucci added.
“Fuck is you bitches playing broke for? I know how much y’all
getting cuz I’m getting it the same way ... the same amount. We’re falling back. That’s the smartest thing to do right now,” Raegan said.
“Smart for who, Raegan?” Chanel countered. “Everybody ain’t fucking with a rich nigga like you. These diamonds, the clothes, the shoes, the cars ... it all costs and it’s coming out of my pocket. Homeboy out there got your head in the clouds. We need to hit a lick ... like tomorrow.”
“I’m strapped right now too, Raegan. It is time. Putting my mama in that home is a big expense. I can’t miss no money. Thirty days is too long,” Gucci admitted.
“I’m out of here. Y’all tripping and you’re getting risky,” Raegan said as she headed for the door. Chanel rushed and pushed the door closed, then grabbed Raegan’s hand to make her face them.
“We’re doing it. Tomorrow,” Chanel said sternly.
“Don’t get fucking greedy, bitch, just stick to the plan. We hit one spot every month. That’s how we been doing it. That’s how we should keep doing it,” Raegan whispered harshly as she snapped at her friends as they stood inside of the marble-tiled bathroom in the plush, upscale nightclub. The three ladies were dressed to kill as they discussed business in an unconventional setting. They heard the toilet flush behind one of the stall doors and Raegan’s eyes bugged out in disbelief. “You bitches didn’t clear this mu’fucka out?” she asked incredulously. “You must want to get caught the fuck up?” She stormed over to the stall and banged on the door with a flat hand. “Hurry the hell up, bitch. Time’s up.”
The stall door opened and a girl frowned as she stared Raegan down. “Excuse me?” she asked.
“You deaf or something? Get out!” she shouted harshly as she pushed the girl toward the door. There wasn’t a scary bone in Raegan’s body and it was nothing for her to strong-arm the girl out of the restroom. Once they were alone Raegan pushed open the other stall doors to make sure there was no one else inside. The last thing she needed was some ear-hustling-ass bitch blowing up her spot.
“Why are you so paranoid? I know Sunny Rae ain’t scared?” Chanel asked with an accusing stare.
“Ain’t a damn thing about me scared, bitch. I’m smart and I’m not down for hitting another spot a few days after we just wrapped up the last job. That’s what we agreed to. Hit one stash house a month. If we do it right we don’t need to go back in every other week looking for more. That’s just greedy. Our luck is sure to run out if we play this thing the wrong way. Shit has been lovely. I don’t know about y’all but I’m sitting on more cash than I can spend. Why press our luck?” Raegan argued.
“Look, Raegan, you’re lucky. You get to stack your paper because you have a good man who takes care of business. We gotta live the best way we know how and this is how we eat. You’re going soft, Raegan,” Gucci shot at her. She pulled a small compact mirror out of her Hermes bag and removed a small bag filled with white powder. The substance was so pure that it sparkled slightly under the dim bathroom light. She quickly set herself up and hit two fat lines of cocaine. It was a habit she picked up by being around so much coke. The girls hadn’t found any buyers for the product they stole so Gucci sampled it from time to time ... a recreational high.
“I’m not going soft, Gucci. I just don’t want to change things up. If it ain’t broke why fix it?” Raegan argued. “And since when you hitting blow? Fuck are you doing?”
“I’m a big girl, Raegan,” Gucci said as she sniffed and cleared the extra powder from her nose.
“Look, Raegan, I’m broke and my pocketbook needs fixing,” Chanel said as she stared challengingly at Raegan.
Their friendship was new, but they were extremely loyal to each other. They had become thick as thieves. They each had been groomed for the game. Treachery was bred within them ... larceny their religion ... money their motivation.
“I’m out. This is not a negotiation. We are not doing this,” Raegan concluded.
“We are doing it. I’ve already scoped the spot and everything. It’s out in Trinidad. You’re acting real brand new but it’s fine ... we’ll do it without you,” Chanel spat as she walked past Raegan, her Louboutin stiletto boots stabbing the floor as she walked out.
Raegan looked at Gucci desperately for support, but Gucci just shook her head in disappointment. “We would never leave you hanging like that, Raegan. You know we need you out there,” she said before following after Chanel. Raegan went back to the table and air kissed Lisa good-bye before grabbing her handbag and leaving the club.
Chapter Thirteen
Lying underneath the crumpled satin sheets Raegan’s head spun out of guilt. She tossed and turned, feeling guilty for not riding with her girls. Restless, she crawled out of bed and wrapped Nahvid’s robe around her shoulders. The moon was full and although it was freezing outside, she needed to clear her head. She stepped out onto his balcony and stared up at the night sky. The crisp air hit her instantly, refreshing her as she stared out on to the sparkling snow.
She heard the sliding door open behind her and she closed her eyes as she felt Nahvid’s lips grace her neck.
“It’s freezing out here, ma,” he whispered. “Come back to bed.”
“It’s beautiful though. It’s so still at night,” she said.
“You wanna talk about it?” he asked, thinking that she missed her son. He hated to see her sad. He could tell by her tense shoulder and the heaviness in her tone that her heart was burdened.
She shook her head and turned around to kiss his lips. “No, not really. I just want to be with you. When I’m with you everything in my world seems right. I forget all of the bad,” she whispered.
“Me too, ma. Me too,” he whispered. “You’re my get right.”
He led her back inside and lay down in his bed, wrapping his arms around her. “I feel like I want to take things to the next level with you. You’re my Sunny Rae. I’d like you to meet somebody,” he said.
“Who?” she asked.
“My mother,” Nahvid answered. “You’re the only woman who I have ever cared for besides my moms. I would like for the two of you to meet. I called her when you fell asleep to see if she was available.” Nahvid waited for her to respond. “I’ve arranged a dinner at the restaurant tomorrow night. Is that okay?” he asked. He wanted Raegan to know where he came from and to meet the woman who had birthed him and the one who he had let break his heart repeatedly.
“Of course,” she answered. “I’d love to meet her, baby.” As she thought about her girls she feared that they may be right. She didn’t want to let them down just because Nahvid had chosen to upgrade her lifestyle. I have to be there for them. I have to do this, she thought. She turned to Nahvid and added, “I just have to go get pampered in the morning. I’ll have to meet you there. I want to make a good impression on her.”
Raegan had the best Brazilian blowout in town and she was always well maintained. Pampering herself was the last thing on her mind, but using it as an excuse was the perfect lie to give herself enough time to hit the lick with her girls before the dinner. She cared about Nahvid and she gave herself to him like no other man before, but she owed this to her girls. When he wasn’t in the picture they were all that I had. I can’t let them down.
Raegan hesitantly came out of her sleep, wishing that she could live in her dreams forever. Her son was always available to her in her dreams and as she opened her eyes she could still hear his coos in her head. She crawled out of bed and did her morning beauty regimen before making her way downstairs.
“Nahvid!” she called as she descended the stairs. He met her at the bottom and lifted her off of her feet as he kissed her lips.
“Good morning, beautiful,” he complimented. “I need you to be quiet though. My homeboy is asleep in there on the couch.”
“What?” she questioned in confusion.
“Go take a look. I’m about to make breakfast. Wake him and see if he’s hungry for me?” Nahvid asked.
Raegan frowned in confusion as she made her way into the living area.
She stopped mid-step and her hand shot over her mouth as tears came to her eyes. Her son lay comfortably on the couch with his thumb in his mouth. It had been so long since she had seen him. He was seven months old. “How did you? When did? Oh my God,” she whispered in disbelief. “How long do I have with him?”
“A lifetime, ma. Your baby’s father and I had a talk. He sees things much clearer now and he sends his sincere apologies,” Nahvid said seriously as he wiped the tears from her face. “He’s all yours.”
Raegan ran to her baby and woke him up with hugs and kisses. Her heart swelled so much that it hurt. It was the greatest gift that Nahvid could have ever given her ... It was one that she would never forget.
She played with her son for hours, wearing him out with laughter and love. She was relieved that he seemed to recognize her and she did all that she could to make sure that she showed him how much she had missed him. As time slowly ticked by she wished that she didn’t have to leave him, but she had to take care of one thing ... one lick with her girls. Nahvid came over and took her son, cradling him as if it were his own child. “Let’s put your mommy out so she can get ready for tonight, li’l homie,” Nahvid said. Baby Micah seemed to take to Nahvid and as Raegan looked up at the two of them she realized that she loved Nahvid. He was her man ... they were built for one another. After today I’m done with this. I have enough money put up to last at least a couple years if I live modestly, she thought. As she stood, sadness filled her eyes.
“He’ll be here when you get back. Go ahead. Take whatever you need out of the knot on the kitchen counter. Enjoy yourself and li’l man and I will meet you here at eight P.M.”
Raegan nodded and then kissed her son before heading out to meet Gucci and Chanel. Whether they liked it or not, this would be the last time she put her life on the line.
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