by T. Styles
Luckily for him she brought tools.
Embarrassed, he tossed the dull razor in the sink. “Why’d you come in here?” He frowned. “You’re evading my privacy.”
She moved in closer, his body language told her she was allowed. “Trouble in your relationship?”
“Trouble in my marriage,” he corrected.
Farah eased in front of him so that her back was against the cool white sink. Removing the blade from her bra she smiled and looked up at him. The golden razor she was holding appeared to bling when it hit the light. “I can help you with that but first I have a question.”
She was intriguing and he was all in. “I’m listening.”
“Can I make you famous?”
He kissed her soft lips. “Sexy, I’m already a star.”
Pussy juiced up, and without asking, she made the first slice across the tattoo and licked the blood as it oozed out. The man didn’t wince but his dick pulsated and he wondered why it felt so good. Since he hadn’t stopped her she lanced him again, and again, until five slices covered the tattoo in criss cross fashion. Her tongue slurping his crimson fluid.
Under her spell, Rasim lifted her up and placed her on the edge of the sink. He pushed her legs apart and eased into her tight pussy. Once inside he felt the need to make things clear. Gazing down at her pretty face he said, “We fight hard but I will never leave my wife.”
She smiled. “And I will never leave him.” She kissed him allowing him to savor his own salty fluid from her tongue.
Covered in blood, he fucked her viciously in the bathroom. It was one of the best sexual experiences she’d ever had.
And for that she left him alive.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
SHADOW
“We Gonna Do The Plan Or Not?”
The new apartment Shadow and Mia moved into was tucked into a small town in Baltimore County, ten miles away from the old digs Della discovered. They were careful wanting to ensure nobody was following so they didn’t relocate until 3:00 am in the morning, during whore hours.
Within the pitch black of the apartment, with only the moon shining inside to offer light, Shadow approached Farah. “You got it right, sis? Because everything has to play perfectly if this is going to work.”
“Why you keep asking me like I’m a child?” She whispered. “We went over it five times already. I’m clear on my part.” She paused. “You act like you don’t trust me or something.”
He was about to respond until Mia grabbed her hand. “Listen, there’s a possibility this could go wrong and you could end up in the hands of the Bakers. If that happens I can assure you that it won’t be without a fight. But it don’t mean you won’t get hurt. Do you understand?”
“At least I know this will all be over if they get me. So yes.” Farah separated from Mia, trudged to the couch and flopped down, boxes of clothes and dishes sat at her feet because they hadn’t unpacked. “I don’t want nobody else getting hurt.”
“We can’t worry about nobody but us, Farah,” Mia said grabbing her hand. “We’re at the point where we can only access bullets and moves.”
She sighed. “I wish I never killed…”
“I don’t want to know the details of what you did,” Mia interrupted. “Whether you killed Knox or not is not a concern for the Cottons. We’re family and we’re going to see this thing through.”
“So we gonna do the plan or not?” Shadow asked.
“Shadow, I will be there,” Farah said. “If not this thing will go on forever.”
Within the darkness Shadow gazed at Mia. “Then it’s settled, we move tomorrow.”
Farah picked up the duffle bag on the floor. “What’s in there?” Mia asked.
“A little something that will help an old friend.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
SLADE
“Nobody You Need To Be Concerned About.”
Slade lie face up as he stared at the metal rods on the bunk above his head. His frame, too large for the mattress, caused his limbs to spill over the sides, making it difficult to capture a good night’s rest. He was about to dose off for a much needed nap when the bars came sliding open, rattling loudly.
“Baker,” the Correctional Officer yelled. “You have a visitor.”
Slade sat up and rubbed his tired eyes. “Who is it?”
“Nigga, get the fuck up and see for yourself. I ain’t your wife.”
Slade moved slowly toward the C.O. until he was upon him. Words were not said but his intimidating height as he stood over the officer had the official feeling unsafe. Now he realized it wasn’t smart to use so much word play before and as a result he feared for his life. Clearing his throat he said, “Can you turn around please?”
Oh now he wanted to be polite.
Slade eyed him a little closer before rotating, the handcuffs clamping over his large wrists. When he was done he was led out of the cell to see who was waiting.
****
He had cold blue eyes and a mustache that covered his top lip. Down south Slade would stay clear of a man with similar features and yet this character claimed to come in peace.
Slade situated his muscular body in the chair as he stared across the table at high-powered attorney Ben Richards, a man claiming to work for him. “Do you understand everything I’ve said, Mr. Baker? Because I’m happy to answer any questions you may have.”
“Let me see your business card.”
Mr. Richards slid it across the table and Slade examined it fully. “I assure you, I’m as good as it gets.”
Slade eyed the white card with blue words from the attorney once more. “So what does what you said mean for me? Because I was told this case was open and shut and that I would be doing time.”
“And who told you that?”
“The first public defender. The incompetent one I fired.”
Mr. Richards smiled arrogantly and shook his head. “Exactly, Mr. Baker. The only thing Public Defenders care about is checking off cases on their lists. Every now and again you’re blessed with a serious attorney but most of them just want the job done.” He exhaled. “I’ve even heard of PD’s and Prosecuting attorney’s working together to seal a defendant’s fate. Luckily for you none of that matters because you have me in your corner.”
Slade looked at the card again as if he could read the lawyer’s past. “So who hired you?”
The attorney sat back in his seat. “A beautiful woman…her name is Farah Cotton. She asked me not to tell you but if you’re my client I feel you have the right to know.”
“How could she afford you?”
“Not my problem. She entered my law office with a bunch of one hundred dollar bills and I handed her a receipt. I let her know I would be visiting you the same day and here I am.” He entered a code to his dark chocolate briefcase and it flew open, revealing its contents. “Who is she anyway?”
Slade considered the question, trying to suppress the gratitude he had for her in that moment. She was his sworn enemy and it was important that he remember, no matter what she did for him in the instant. “She’s nobody you need to be concerned about.”
“Well that nobody paid a lot of money to see this thing through. Although after reviewing your case I feel bad.” He removed a manila folder from his briefcase marked with Baker in a black Sharpie. “Had I known it would’ve been so easy I might not have charged her so much.”
“Why you say that?” He frowned.
“You’re here because the prosecution obtained a video in Platinum Lofts of you engaged in a fight with a Warren Farmer. In the beginning the tape looks consistent but the rest is pieced together.” He chuckled. “Better than a Hollywood movie. Timeframes don’t match and the whole thing appears doctored. With my skills there’s no reason I shouldn’t be able to get you out before your trial next month.”
Slade’s eyes widened. “So I can be…I can be…”
“A free man.”
Slade was excited but buckled down as skepticism cover
ed his hopes. “How do I know I can trust you?”
“Whether you do or not is up to you. The bill has already been paid. You just sit tight and stay out of trouble.” He pointed at him. “We don’t need you giving them a reason to keep you.”
Now Slade was nervous and figured he might as well come clean. “I already…I mean there was this one incident.”
“I’m aware of it.” He waved his hand. “But make sure it’s your last infraction or I’m out. Bill paid or not.”
****
Later that day Slade walked into the visiting hall again only to see Farah. He shook his head and picked up the phone, doing his best not to look into her beautiful eyes. “What you doing here?”
“I wanted to see you, Slade.” She paused. “Nothing more and nothing less.”
“Well you shouldn’t be here.” He looked at her and then away again. Damn she was beautiful. Since he’d been in prison she’d done more for him than anyone and he hated and loved her for it. “Thanks for the lawyer though. I appreciate it.”
She grinned. “No need to thank me.”
“I have to. Unlike the situation with my brother, I’m in here on my own accord and you didn’t have to help a nigga but you did.”
She smiled. “It’s because I love you, Slade. I told you that already.”
“Stop it, Farah.”
“I miss you.”
“Stop fucking around or I’m walking out of the visit,” he promised.
“Well how about this, I miss your fat dick, baby,” She whispered causing him to stiffen instantly. “And how you felt deep inside my warm pussy.”
It had been so long since he had that type of attention, especially from someone he adored and taught how to fuck. Her sexual talk combined with the hate he felt drove him insane. His dick was pulsating and he rested his hand in his lap as she continued to speak dirty. Before he knew it he came inside his pants, his nut against his skin.
“That’s fucked up,” he said angrily looking around to see who was watching. “Now I gotta go back with a stain on my pants and shit.”
She giggled. “It’s good to know I can still bring out the best in you.”
He shook his head. “You think I’m a soft nigga and that’s a mistake.” He frowned. “When I get out of here I’m—”
She grew serious. “Today I’m going to see your family, Slade. It’s over. All of it.”
Slade’s eyes widened. “What you talking about?”
“I’m going to give them the justice they wanted so this will be the last time I see you. Ever. I paid for you to have an attorney not to get back with you but so that you can be with your family after they kill me.”
“Farah, don’t do that shit. Let me—”
“It’s done already, Slade and I’m sorry for everything I did to you. I’m sorry for hurting you. And I’m sorry for coming into your life.” She placed her hand against the glass and put the phone on the table.
“Farah!” he screamed into it. “Farah, stop!
It was too late.
She was gone.
Farah exited the prison with tears running down her cheek. She was about to get into her rental when she was snatched by Bones and pulled to his car.
****
Farah’s wrists throbbed because the blood circulation had been cut off from the ropes tied on her arms. Bones had her restrained in the basement next to an old water heater and she was beyond uncomfortable. Not only had he struck her several times, but he fed her heroin on the regular causing her thoughts to alternate from hate to lust respectively.
The feeling was bewitching.
She wanted it to stop so that she could think clearly and yet the drug made things easier to cope with.
After he shot her up with another dose he plopped in the chair in front of her. Even while high she was beautiful. “Why do you insist on breaking my heart, Farah? Huh? What did I ever do to you but help?”
“Bones, please, my brother, I have to, I have to meet him,” she said nodding off. “I’m…I’m begging you not too—”
“Fuck your brother!” he yelled. “Do you hear me? Fuck him! That nigga lied on my name to get at them Bakers and it got back to me.”
Her eyes widened because she didn’t think he was aware Shadow used his name. Why would he be? As far as she knew he didn’t have access to the Baker family. “How did you…?”
“Know?” He finished her sentence. “Let’s just say Zashay ran into Willie again and he told me all about the upcoming plan. That nigga lied on my name, Farah. What should a man with as much power as me do about that?”
“Bones, I’m…I’m…” Slob hung along the sides of her mouth and she could no longer talk.
He exhaled and wiped it away with his dry thumb. “You’re mine, Farah Cotton. In all of your evilness. And I’m going to keep pumping you with this good shit until you realize it.” He swung a cellophane bag filled with dark cream dope and grinned.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
SHADOW
“Let’s Roll.”
Shadow paced in circles in the living room of his apartment with his hands folded over his chest. “I knew she was gonna do this shit, Mia,” He yelled. “You were telling me I was doing too much and look what happened. Everything is in line and we coming up short because she’s not here. I should—”
“She’s probably still coming, Shadow.” She sighed looking out the window. “Let’s give it a few minutes before you forge opinions.”
“Why do you keep taking up for her? Look what time it is.” He showed her the screen of his cell phone and stuffed it back in his pocket before she could even see it. “If she was coming she would’ve been here by now. I saw in her eyes she wasn’t ready for this and I was right. Fuck!”
“What if something’s wrong, Shadow? You out here blaming her and thinking the worse but what if something happened to your sister?”
He waved her off. “Nothing happened to that bitch. Not with that nigga following her everywhere she goes. She just let us down once again.”
“I want to tell you something and you probably won’t believe me.” She paused. “But Farah wasn’t afraid. I have a feeling she was going to give herself up for real. Without the plan.”
“How you figure?”
“I saw it in her eyes. I think she was going to do it to save us and for Slade.”
Shadow waved her off. He was not a believer. “Well we’ll never get to find out now will we?” When his cell rang he pulled it out of his pocket and answered. “Hello…” He paused. “Okay, we’re on our way out now.” He stuffed it back into his pocket. “They’re outside. Let’s roll.”
****
Shadow and Mia rushed outside where six of their cousins on their mother’s side jumped out of a red pickup truck. All of them had deep dark chocolate skin without flaws, just like them. Shadow and Mia hadn’t seen this side of the family since they were kids and it was Ashur, their father, who placed the call to bring them together. As children he isolated his family so much that they lost contact with their cousins so this was his way of making amends.
Considering the drama it could not have come at a better time.
Shadow and Mia hugged their family members and then Juicy, the oldest handed Shadow the phone. “It’s your father. He wants to rap to you right quick.”
While Shadow was on the phone Mia chopped it up with her family. “Hey, Dad, how you holding up?” He leaned against the truck.
“I’ll be better if things work out today,” he said. “But I got the books and money you and Mia sent so thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank us. It’s what we do.”
“Son, what’s happening with Farah?” He sighed. “Why did you need so many of your cousins?”
Shadow looked down at the concrete and kicked an empty soda can. “Nothing you should worry about, pops.”
“Son, I asked a question.”
He rolled his eyes and sighed. “Dad, you know I can’t talk on the phone even if I w
anted to. Let’s just say I’m doing all I can to handle a situation that’s been brewing for a year. Like you would’ve done if you were home. You gotta leave it at that.”
Ashur chuckled. “I keep forgetting you a man now.” He paused. “I just worry so much in here because I can’t help or protect you.” He sighed. “Listen, how are you guys holding up with Elise being gone?”
“The best we can. I’m not gonna lie her murder keeps fucking me up and I won’t rest anytime soon.” Shadow focused on his cousins who were all smiles and laughing it up with Mia. If a person drove by they would not be able to tell they were preparing for war. “With time things will be good I guess.”
“Okay, I’m gonna let you go but let me say this. Take care of each other, Shadow. Remember that at the end of the day if you don’t have family you don’t have shit.”
“I hear you loud and clear, chief.”
After he ended the call he handed Juicy back her phone. “So what now?” She asked. “And where’s Farah?” She looked around. “I thought she was in on this plan.”
“She couldn’t make it”, he said disappointedly. “But I got another idea.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CUTIE
PRESENT DAY
Cutie slammed the diary closed, sat back and exhaled. She realized that after she finished a few more sections she would be done and she didn’t want the narrative to end. Instead of completing the story right away, she opened the box and looked at the newspaper clippings inside. Running her fingers over the paper she relished the smoothness.
Everything about Farah and The Fold captivated her.
After reading all of the clippings she opened another blue book that was full of addresses. Her finger rolled down the pages until she found an entry that read Mama’s house. Her eyes lit up as she realized this could possibly be where Mooney lived. Cutie recalled Mooney saying how she inherited the house despite living in the projects.