Street Chic

by Anthony Whyte

  “It’s almost time to meet with Dom’s partner,” Candace said when they sat down.

  “It is. Enough of this playing around.”

  Claire giggled as Sean held her and tickled her sides. “Wow. I had a great day too, Sean. Tell your friend about that the next time you call,” Claire laughed. “So we’re gonna meet the money man, huh sis?”

  “Yeah, let’s go look our finest,” Candace said, getting up and fetching her things.

  “What about me?”

  “What about you?” Candace turned and asked.

  “I mean I’m here and I thought…”

  “Your job is to get…”

  “Yeah I know. Tighten up your sister and ‘we’ll take care of you,’” Sean mocked. They left him at the poolside. Candace was sure he would make another call.

  That evening, as promised, the sisters were whisked away in a waiting limo courtesy of Dominique Bonelli. They were radiantly dressed in black silk Armani dresses and four inch Prada heels. Their necks were draped in pearl. Both were ravishing when they stepped out of the limo and sauntered through the doors held open by an obliging doorman.

  “Good evening ladies. The activities are on the main floor to your left,” he announced, bowing several times.

  “Thank you,” the sisters chorused.

  “This is real money,” Candace said.

  “You don’t say,” Claire said.

  The place was decorated with white orchids. A long table sat beneath a huge crystal chandelier. The guests were well dressed in evening suits and dresses.

  “I’m glad we came well dressed for this occasion,” Claire said, looking around the room.

  “Happy to see that you two could make it,” Dom greeted the sisters as they sauntered into the hall. All eyes were on them.

  “Good evening, Dom,” they both chorused.

  “This is great,” Dom said as he took their arms and led them to a bar filled with drinks. He poured three glasses of champagne and handed one to each sister.

  “Long live wealth,” he toasted and sipped.

  “Here, here,” the girls chorused and did likewise.

  “Your partner must be a real nice guy,” Candace said.

  “The best,” Dom said. “He’s building a huge bungalow on the beach. When it’s finished, all the parties will take place there,” Dom said, laughing and sipping.

  “Will we be invited?” the sisters asked, smiling.

  “At the very top of the list,” Dom smiled.

  They walked to the table where three men were seated, drinking and smoking cigars.

  “I want you fellas to meet two beautiful, talented young ladies who are destined to be our next stars. Gentlemen, meet Claire and Candace Osorio,” Dom said, waving his arms.

  The three men stood and applauded like fans. The girls smiled gracefully and bowed. When the men saw how fine they were, their applause grew louder.

  “Thank you very much,” Candace said.

  “I’m Mike Deberi,” one of the men said, kissing both girls. He was adorned in diamonds around his neck and wrists. A very colorful man, there was a lethal charm around him. His gold tooth was revealed when he unleashed a broad smile.

  “Huh!” Candace said when she felt his hand all over her ass.

  “Sensitive…” he smiled.

  “Why do they call you Goldie?” Claire asked, quickly coming to the aid of her sister.

  “I always wear them…”

  “I see,” Claire said, looking down and smiling.

  The other two men looked on disinterested. They were distracted by a man with slick black hair, sporting a pink Channel suit and matching Hermes shoes. He was loudly talking and snapping on everyone. He appeared tipsy.

  Claire and Candace sat next to Goldie and his men. The loud mouth and his entourage walked by the table.

  “Who is he?” Claire asked when she saw Dom running behind the man.

  “Are you talking about the big shot over there?”

  “Yeah…” Claire smiled as she spoke.

  The mood was light. The mobsters laughed and looked the sisters over again.

  “Was it something I said?”

  “I thought you recognized the host with the most, Mo Tines. That Jew has money and he’s financing that entertainment ring that your pal runs. He tends to be a drunken playboy. I’m sure he’s already sizing you two up.”

  The sisters watched Maurice Tines chatting up other men in dark suits. His uncontrolled gait spoke of his state. In an underworld of crime and power it seemed odd to the sisters that he was given a lot of respect. With Dom and two cronies hanging on, he finally staggered over to the sisters and sat down.

  Goldie and his crew stood. Before walking away, Goldie stopped and briefly spoke with Maurice Tines. Maurice Tines seemed to listen intently. He then brushed Goldie off.

  “So you two are the Osorio sisters,” he drawled. A crony lit the fat Cuban cigar dangling from his lips. “I want you girls on my team. You’re both indeed beautiful,” he said and kissed each sister’s hand. He chuckled.

  “Enlighten me here, please. Who is who?” he asked puffing. He waved his hand and another drink appeared.

  “That’s Claire and ah…” Dominique Bonelli started to break them down.

  “Dom, let me talk to the ladies, okay? Why don’t you go get a drink and leave this type of work to me, huh?” He waved, dismissing his business partner. Dom dutifully walked away and left the sisters with Maurice Tines.

  “Oh, don’t worry about us. We can handle ourselves.” Claire smiled.

  “I’m Candace and she’s my sister, Claire,” Candace said, moving closer.

  Maurice Tines talked freely about himself and his wealth. He started in the racketeering business fifteen years ago as an enforcer. He was a blue-collar man, who had risen up with a perfect accountant’s mind. Maurice Tines ran his organization with brains. Dominique was clearly the muscle. Mo Tines, as he was affectionately called, controlled six posh nightclubs all over Miami and Vegas. He wanted to be the center of attention. Then Maurice Tines bragged about feeling hate coming from one side of his own camp.

  “Now all I carry are my trusted friends,” he said. Maurice Tines pulled the suede bag out and produced two golf-ball sized, blue diamonds. They sparkled when he rubbed them.

  “Why do you carry those stones…?” Claire asked.

  “They have to be extremely expensive,” Candace surmised.

  “These diamonds, I’d rather keep real closer than any amount of cash. Why?” he asked, and then proceeded to answer his own question. “Because money is dirty,” he chuckled.

  “We never quite looked at it like that,” Claire said.

  “People are always chatting up their money,” Candace said.

  “Yeah, people shit on money, vomit on it. It’s dirty all the way round,” he said. The sisters feigned interest in his philosophy. “Cash belongs in banks. Diamonds are a guy’s best friend.” He glanced at the object of his desire and his eyes settled on the sisters.

  “That’s certainly good to know,” Candace said.

  “Listen, you two’s are fucking beautiful. Why don’t you both come to my clubs sometime?” he said. Then pulling the sisters closer to him, he continued. “I’ll take good care of you and if you like, then hey, you can take care of ol’ Mo,” he laughed and the sisters shared his joke.

  “We’ll take you up on that offer real soon,” Claire whispered in his ear.

  “I’ve been told that I have a legendary hard-on,” he laughed.

  “That makes it an invitation we can hardly turn down,” Candace said, playing along.

  “We wouldn’t miss it for the world, Mr. Maurice Tines,” Claire said.

  “Okay then ladies, it’s a done deal.”

  Maurice Tines departed with the assistance of two of his flunkies. He made his way across the room. Back at the bar, he held court. Goldie and a flunky watched him carefully. Claire and Candace sipped on drinks and listened as Goldie schemed.
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  “He’s ripe for the picking,” Goldie said. “Are the boys in place?”

  “Yes boss. We’ll hit that drunk as soon as he leaves the place.”

  “Good,” Goldie said.

  Two hit men walked outside and sat in the cool Miami air and waited. Dom left first and jumped into a car driven by one of his associates. Then Maurice Tines and four of his men walked out.

  They helped Mo Tines in his car and the other two men walked to another car. The shooting started when they got in the cars. Automatic weapons lit up the early morning skies. The two men shooting at the car occupied by Mo Tines cleared the streets.

  The car with Tines swerved and careened out of control, crashing wildly into a hydrant. It was deadly still for a minute. Then the hydrant exploded. Water sprayed all around. The driver was hit. A flunky jumped into the driver’s seat, backed the car out and floored the accelerator. Tires screeched and the drunken mob boss’s car spun out, disappearing down the road.

  Coming out of the club, Claire and Candace heard the commotion. They quickly ran to the waiting limo.

  “What happened?” Candace asked the chauffer, jumping inside.

  “I don’t know. I see Mr. Tines walking with his boys and then boom, fireworks like it was the Fourth of July.”

  “Mr. Tines…?” Claire asked with curiosity. “Are you sure?”

  “Si senoras… I’m very sure. He’s a popular man in Miami.”

  “Really…?” Candace asked.

  “He’s Ms. Melanie’s boyfriend.”

  “You don’t say?” Candace mused.

  “Well, we certainly learned a lot tonight,” Claire said.

  “Hmm, hmm, you can say that again.”

  CHAPTER 21

  The following evening, the sisters along with Sean, were carried by limousine to a posh nightclub on the strip. They were ushered in by beefy security guards and walked into a flamboyantly decorated place. The dress code was upscale and celebrities poured in. Candace walked in front while Sean and Claire made their way in. The place was jumping. A female rapper rocked the microphone. Sean and Claire joined the revelers who were setting it off on the crowded dance floor. The crowd was grooving and partygoers did their thing.

  After the rapper ended her show, house music pumped through the loud sound system. Candace was already dancing with Mo Tines when Claire and Sean caught up to her.

  “Hi, Mo,” Claire greeted the man wearing a green Armani linen suit. “You’re looking handsome.”

  Maurice Tines spun her around and took her in his arms. He kissed her deep. Sean was clearly taken back by this, and clenched his fist to prevent himself from lunging at Tines.

  “This is my friend, Sean,” Claire said, recovering from the passionate kiss.

  Sean hesitated but finally opened his fist and reluctantly accepted the handshake.

  “What’s up?” he said, pumping Tines’ arm.

  Drinks flowed abundantly and the sisters, Sean and Maurice Tines spent the night getting wet. During this time, the sisters found out that both Mo and Dominique were always together.

  Claire and Candace found out that they weren’t only kissing buddies but both were sexually involved with each other. The sisters were into the sweet-talking Mo Tines and were listening intently to his boasts.

  “I’m kinda tired. Why don’t we go back to the hotel and have our own private party?” Sean whispered in Claire’s ear, trying to steal some of her attention.

  The sisters were lavishing all their interest on Mo and his conquests. They were ignoring Sean, who was eager to receive some attention. He nibbled at Claire’s earlobe.

  “Claire honey, lets get outta here and—”

  “I’m not ready yet, Sean. If you want, you can be a good boy go back to the hotel and—”

  “I’m not leaving without you,” he snarled.

  “Temper, temper…”

  “You think I’m some cheesy ass nigga, don’t you?”

  “Why Sean… I never…”

  Claire seductively danced away. Two other guys suddenly joined in the fun. Sean danced embarrassingly by himself for a few beats. He watched with mouth wide open as both men got up and under Claire. She wore a smile of satisfaction. Sean watched for a minute and thought Claire was enjoying herself too much without him. One dancer clung to her long shapely legs while the other worked her ass. They were double teaming her.

  Sean watched with a half smile when Claire opened her eyes and glanced his way. His smile quickly turned to a frown when she looked away. Sean felt his anger boiling after two more songs. He felt played by the two dancers. Sean danced over and pushed the dancers away. The music was blasting when they tried to punch Sean. He caught the dancer in motion and Sean’s fist crashed against the dancer’s ribs, knocking him down. The security rushed to the sight of the melee, breaking it up.

  “You’re coming with me…” Sean was loud, out of control and grabbed Claire’s arm. She threw her drink in his face. Sean wiped his face and stood. “You bitches think you run the world, don’t you?”

  “Hey, hey, take it easy. What kind of ugly manners are you displaying around beautiful people?” Tines asked.

  “Muthafucka…”

  “Be very careful of what you do. You moolies from NYC are nothing but garbage dressed in pretty rags.”

  “You talk that shit and you’re liable to get your face smashed!”

  Maurice Tines’ henchmen moved in when he stood. Claire stepped in to break up the fracas but Candace held her back. There were three henchmen. They jumped on Sean as soon as he flexed. The henchmen had him on the floor stomping him. Then they dragged him out the club and tossed him to the pavement. The partying continued without missing a beat.

  “You gonna get yours, and that goes double for you Claire and Candace! Y’all two dirty-ass bitches will see!” Sean screamed.

  He was in pain and blood trickled from his mouth. Claire and Candace gathered themselves after the scuffle. Maurice Tines held them both and apologized.

  “I’m truly sorry about that. Sometimes we don’t know how our friends are gonna act,” he said.

  “We can’t agree with you more,” Candace said.

  He signaled and the busboy raced over, cleaning up in a flash. Next the waiter brought a bottle of champagne.

  “Let’s have a drink to your beauty,” he said, pouring the bubbly.

  Out on the strip Sean walked and chatted on his cellphone. Then he went to the hotel, picked up his bag and left. Before getting on the plane, he called Jacque from the airport.

  “This is Sean… Man your girls just fucked me over. Right now, they’re hanging with mobsters. Home-slice stood around watching about six o’ them muthafuckas throw me out the club… I’m fitt’n to hop on the plane back to NY… You gonna call them right now, and call me back? A’ight, I’ll wait for your call…”

  11:45 pm LaGuardia Airport, the flight from Miami landed and Sean quickly hopped off. Walking quickly through the terminal, he caught a cab and headed for Jacque’s. He was definitely in an angry mood and couldn’t wait to see Jacque after immediately arriving in New York City. He raced upstairs to the apartment and Jacque let him in. He was swallowing shots of Vodka while talking about the episode that happened in Miami. He was getting drunk, his fears surfaced and Sean started talking loosely.

  “They’re trying to pin those bodies all on me,” Sean said, beating on his chest. “Me, Jacque, me… There were at least five bodies back in North Carolina with that fat bitch and her peoples, man. If I go to jail, I won’t be coming back. Shit’s crazy!”

  “There weren’t that many bodies. You’re gonna get through this. Ain’t no one seen you shoot no one, so what’s the worry?”

  “My PO is itching to violate me. I’m headed back where I never wanted to go. Shit’s fucked up from fucking with ’em bitches!” Sean shouted, slammed his glass down, and walked out.

  Jacque pulled out his cellphone and dialed a friend. He wasn’t anticipating this type of reaction
from Sean, but he was prepared to handle it.

  “That nigga is too emotional,” he said aloud. Then he spoke on the cellphone. “Teresa baby, my man is coming through tomorrow. Check him out very carefully for me. All right, good looking…”

  Jacque hung up and went back to chilling. He was sipping Vodka while watching porn.

  CHAPTER 22

  The following day the girls got really friendly with Maurice Tines. He invited them to come and spend time on his yacht. The girls spent the day drinking and soaking up the sun on a large boat.

  “Riches come in different ways,” Claire said.

  “Riches without brains is nothing,” Maurice Tines said.

  “I want to take back this feeling of being there,” Candace smiled and stretched.

  Later that evening, the sisters were guests of Maurice Tines. He was holding court. The beautiful Osorio sisters were on each of his arms and he was going all out to impress them. All three were putting the finishing touches on another bottle of expensive champagne. Claire on one side and Candace on the next, he filled the ladies’ glasses. He hugged them and kissed their cheeks often. He giggled like a schoolboy whenever the sisters slapped his hands.

  Claire’s cell phone rang. She looked at the call and recognized Jacque’s number.

  “Got to take this…” she said, walking away. “What’s up…?”

  Candace stared in anticipation as Claire continued on the phone. Her expression went from a smile to frown. Candace knew it wasn’t good news.

  “Yes, Candace’s here… You wanna speak to her? Okay…”

  Claire handed the phone to Candace.

  “What’s popping?” she asked and listened. After a couple of minutes on the phone, her expression also turned sour. “Don’t worry, we’ll handle it,” she said. Candace glanced at Claire and continued listening. “She’ll get over that…” Candace clicked the phone closed. She stared at her sister in silence, until Maurice Tines opened his mouth.