Trap Goddess

by Sasha Ravae

  “Well, you tell me what’s going on.”

  “I met a few people before I left for Miami, and we got to talking. Being that Ron used to do everything for me, I thought that I would hire like a bodyguard or something, so he wouldn’t have to anymore. Not really for my day-to-day stuff but when I go out of town, you know? I mean look at you. You had to leave, so it’s not like you can be around me twenty-four seven, and I wouldn’t ask you to be. I really want everyone to stop treating me like this fragile little girl. I’m not gonna break. I can take care of myself.”

  “Why didn’t you just tell me you were looking for somebody? I could’ve set you up with security.”

  “I know you could have, Omari, but you don’t have to be around this person, I do. Can you just trust me please?”

  “So you looking for two?”

  “No, the one I was interviewing came with his friend and his girl matter of fact,” Trina lied, “He has a lot of experience, and plus him and his girl live in Sac, so I took it as a sign. I didn’t think that it affected you guys directly, so I didn’t think twice about it.”

  “Well, you should’ve. You can hire who you want, Trina, but you gotta introduce him to Franco first. Whoever is with you is with us. If you’re sure about this dude…what’s his name?”

  “Los,” Trina said swallowing a little. She hated lying, but she had to cover her tracks. She wasn’t trying to get either of them hurt.

  “Young Los,” Omari repeated, “If you’re serious about hiring him, I’ll let Franco know. He’s coming to Sac in the next few days, and I think that it would be a perfect time for them to meet, and for Los to get a lay of the land.”

  “Sounds good,” Trina said twirling her phone in her hand, “Just let me know the time and place.”

  “Yeah, I’ll call you with the details.” Omari said getting up, “Oh, before I forget, make sure he brings his girl. Franco loves it when he recruits family men. It strengthens us, you know?”

  “No problem,” she said walking him out, “I’ll see you later, and please tell Renee that I’ma have the kids’ stuff sent to them, so she doesn’t need to stop by my house unannounced anymore just to spread more rumors about me fucking the world.”

  “You know how she is, man.”

  “It doesn’t make it right though. Bye,” she said before closing the door.

  After making sure that Omari had finally left, Trina turned around and slid down to the floor. She didn’t know why she felt so compelled to lie to Omari, but she knew where he stood. She had blindly bounded herself to him, Franco, Jonah, Reko, and Ron, and she knew what her fate would be if she went against the grain. Omari knew Trina was lying right to his face, and he was ready to call her bluff, so she had no choice. She stood up and walked back into the kitchen. If he wanted to see security, she was going to let him see it.

  “Hello?” Los asked with sleep in his voice.

  “Hey.”

  “What’s up? Why you didn’t call me last night?”

  “You seemed like you were feeling some kinda way when you left, and I didn’t want to add to that. Why didn’t you call me?”

  “Me and Malachi got caught up with some shit last night. That’s my bad. I was thinking about you though.”

  “What were you thinking about?”

  “You. Me. Us. I want us to start over, Trina. We met when we were only 13-years old. We had no idea what life was or what love meant. I didn’t appreciate you then cause I didn’t know anything else, but now at almost 28, I can say that I’m not that same guy anymore. I’m a man now. We’ve both grown up so much, and we’re both different people. I just want you to give me the chance to know you inside and out again. Even though I didn’t know if we were gonna see each other again, I never stopped loving you.”

  “Los, I…”

  “I know that I can never compare to some dead boss nigga. He probably was good you and treated you better than I ever could back then, and he should have. You deserve nothing less than that, Trina, but please don’t forget that you loved me first, and I know you love me now.”

  “Can I say something please?”

  “Go head.”

  “Los, I do love you. When I ran into you that night at the club, I felt like I was in a dream, but when we talked, you brought me right back to reality. Like you said, we work together on paper, but I don’t know if we could work out now. We are such different people, and my life is really complicated. I don’t need to complicate it any further.”

  “Why is your life so complicated? I mean I know it was probably hard losing someone so close to you…”

  “You have no idea,” Trina snapped.

  “Well, why don’t you enlighten me?”

  “I was engaged to Jonah for only one night before he died. He was murdered right in front of me and the same people who watched him grow up as a child. I sat covered in his blood for hours because I couldn’t let him go. He had been snatched from me so fast, and I was lost. Everyone was looking at me like a money hungry hoe or a set-up artist, instead of looking at me like the future Mrs. Lee,” she said trying to wipe the tears that suddenly fell, “Anyway, after he died, his best friend Reko stepped up and announced that he was going to be taking Jonah’s place. I didn’t agree with it. To keep it solid, the nigga was a clown, so you can imagine how hot he was when Jonah’s boss suggested that I step up and take his place. I knew his operations better than anybody, so it only made sense, and that’s what I did. The Rich Gang is ran by me.”

  “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh,” Los said laughing into the phone.

  “Are you fucking kidding me right now?” Trina asked feeling herself getting angry, “I tell you some shit like that, and you laugh at me?”

  “I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” he said trying to catch his breath, “Wooooo, I’m sorry. It was like you just told me that you’re really Cat Woman or something.”

  “Fuck you, Los, I gotta go.”

  “Wait, wait,” he said right before she hung up, “You’re serious?”

  “Yes, I mean I’m obviously not out there busting at people or no shit like that, but all the behind the scenes stuff is me.”

  “I don’t know what to say.”

  “I need you to say that you’ll do me a favor.”

  “Of course, you know I would do anything for you.”

  “Because I was with Jonah, it’s like I now have to live in his shadows. Even as the unica diosa…”

  “Sorry, the unica who?”

  “Unica Diosa, it mean Only Goddess. It’s something the Franco calls me because I am the only woman in the organization, but that means that I’m forbidden to be with another man like I was with Jonah. Even though he’s dead, they still worship him, and that means that I have to act accordingly.”

  “Trina, honestly, I didn’t know. I mean how could I? But if you really want me to fall back, I will. The last thing I want to do is disrespect you or get you hurt or some crazy shit like that.”

  “That’s what I’m trying to say. I love you, Los, and I want to be with you, but if we are gonna be together then I need to know that you’re gonna be okay with not being able to be out in the open all like that.”

  “I’d be lying if I said I would be. Trina, as my woman, I want to show you off, not have to hide you from the world.”

  “I don’t really have a choice in the matter at this point. It’s either you can accept this side of me, or you can’t accept me at all.”

  Los got quiet on the phone. Trina’s words were like music to his ears. She had something he wanted, and he had her right where he needed her to be.

  “What’s the favor?”

  “What?’ Trina asked caught off guard by his silence.

  “The favor. You said you needed me to do you a favor. What is it?”

  “It doesn’t matter now.”

  “Trina.”

  “Because I’m a woman, they don’t want me on the frontline, so I have a partner. We’re like ying and yang. He handles everything I can’t and
vice versa, but we work together as one. Omari, that’s his name, he knows that stupid white bitch that just popped up last night.”

  “Who was that again?”

  “Jonah’s baby mama,” she said rolling her eyes. The words still burned her tongue. “She called Omari last night and told him that I had niggas running wild all up and through here. Obviously, I couldn’t tell him, ‘Oh, hey, by the way, I’m just over here rekindling shit with my first love, but don’t mind me.’ I think he would snipe my ass and probably you too.”

  “So what you tell him?”

  “I told him that I was hiring you.”

  “Hiring me? Hiring me for what?”

  “Security. One of Jonah’s friends used to do it for me,” Trina said thinking about Ron, “But he stopped, so that was the only thing I could think of.”

  “So that’s the favor? You need me to do security for you?”

  “No, I need you to pretend to do security for me just for one night. The boss is coming into town, and Omari is making it his mission to inform him of my new recruit.”

  “And that’s me.”

  “That’s you.”

  “This sounds crazy as fuck. I can’t even front.”

  “There’s more.”

  “Look, I’m not dressing up like a rent-a-cop. I’ll be there though.”

  “No, nothing like that. I just need you to bring a date.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Renee told Omari that there were two guys and one girl here, and just so he didn’t say anything, I told him that the girl was your girlfriend.”

  “But I don’t have a girlfriend.”

  “Well, you better get one.”

  “You better be glad I love you.”

  “So is that a yes?” Trina asked crossing her fingers.

  “You know it’s a yes. If all I gotta do is go to some party to spend more time with you then that’s what I gotta do.”

  “Los, you do know that you won’t be actually working for me, right?”

  “Oh, I know,” he said laughing.

  “So who you gonna bring?”

  “I think I should be able to round up one of these respectable looking hoes.”

  “How that sound?”

  “What, you want her to be classy, right?”

  “Please don’t embarrass me, Los.”

  “Everything I’m doing is for us, okay? Remember that.”

  . . .

  A Week Later…

  Ding. Dong. Ding Dong.

  Omari opened the door already knowing who was on the other side.

  “Trina, blood, why must you be late for everything?”

  “I’m sorry. When you texted me to come dressy, I went to get my hair done.

  Omari stared at the sea of golden curls that covered her head. “You need to plan your time better,” he said unwilling to pump up her head any more than it already was, but she looked gorgeous.

  “Is Franco already here?”

  “Of course he is. Franco and his whole team is in there. We were all waiting on you.”

  “I’m here now,” she said walking through the door. Servers whizzed around Omari’s estate serving all of Franco’s guests whom were in attendance.

  “Miss?” a young waitress wearing a white button down shirt and black bowtie asked extending a tray of half-filled champagne flutes.

  “Thank you,” Trina said taking a glass hoping to blend in.

  “We’re in here,” Omari said lightly placing his hand around her waist as he led her into the study.

  “Diosa,” she heard Franco say as soon as she entered the room, “You look amazing as always, mami.” He admired the silver, Swarovski crystal embedded gown she sashayed in wearing.

  “Thank you, Franco, I appreciate you meeting me here.”

  “No thanks needed. You know I never need a reason to get together with my loved ones,” he said kissing her on the cheek, “Now, let’s get down to business, so we can all get back to enjoying the night. Trina, I would like to introduce you to the Council.”

  Five unknown men dressed in all black suits stood behind him. Their hands were crossed in front of each of them, and they never took their eyes off Trina.

  “Nice to meet you all,” she said nervously.

  “Diosa, do not be nervous. You are not on trial. We are all family here. The purpose of the Council is to determine the true intentions of any outsiders. You do intend to include an outsider into our sacred organization, don’t you, Trina?”

  “Yes, Franco, with Ron no longer being with us. I just thought it would be smart for me to secure myself with someone else. Please do not take this as disrespect being that this person is a man. I mean there would be no point in hiring a woman, but while I’m traveling, and when you or Omari are not around, it would be nice to have that extra security. Our schedules are already so crazy and fragmented, I just took the initiative.”

  “That’s one of the things that draws me to you, mami,” he said before placing two ice cubes in a scotch glass filling it with the brown liquid, “You know what you want, and I trust your instincts. You have yet to let me down. You’ve proven that you’re loyal to this organization, so I’m ready to meet the man you think so highly of. Now where is he?”

  “He should have been here by now,” Trina said looking up at the clock that sat high on the wall, “Will you guys excuse me for a minute?”

  She walked out of the study and back into the party, and she felt like she finally got her breath back. The air in the room was so thick, but she knew they could see right through her.

  “Come on, Los,” she said walking through the waiters and waitresses who were now serving trays and trays of mini appetizers. Trina never knew Omari was so sophisticated. Even though she had learned so much about him over the time they spent together, she was impressed.

  Just as she pulled her phone out of the black, sparkly wristlet that hung off her wrist, she saw Los coming through the door. He looked flawless. The gray Balmain suit he had on looked like it was especially made for him. The low-cut haircut and shave only made her remember why she was risking it all. She had been in love with that face for almost fifteen years. It was so easy to reminisce on all the bad times, but she was ready to start over and create new ones. As much as Jonah still and forever would pull on her heart strings, he was never coming back. His touch, his love, his spirit was lost to her forever, but Los was there right in front of her. She was ready to live in the now.

  “I told you to be here at 8:00 p.m.,” Trina said pulling him to her; she drowned in his scent.

  “Chill, it’s only 8:15 p.m. I’m here looking dapper and GQ than a mufucka. I’m ready,” he smiled.

  “Um, excuse me,” a big booty redhead chick said stepping in front of Los, “Aren’t you gonna introduce me?”

  The sound of her gum popping through her bright red lips instantly sent Trina up a wall.

  “Monique, this is Trina. Trina, baby, this is my girlfriend for the night Monique.”

  “Nice to meet you,” she said trying to hide her disdain. Monique was typical. If Los’ type was one person, it would be her. “The Council is waiting.” Trina walked back towards Omari’s study hoping that she could mask the disgust on her face in front of the group. It had been years since she had seen him with another girl, but it still felt the same.

  “Maybe you could go get a drink or something to eat,” she said turning around stopping Monique in her tracks, “He’ll just be a minute. It’s business. You understand, right?”

  “Uh, yeah,” she said looking at Los, but he kept quiet, “I’ll be right out here, bae.”

  “Bae?” Trina asked rolling her eyes.

  “You told me to get a bitch; I gotta bitch,” he said through his teeth as he entered the room following behind her.

  “Franco, this is Los Marshall. Los, this is Franco, and standing behind him is the Council,” Trina said quickly going to stand beside Omari leaving Los standing alone in the middle of the room.<
br />
  “Nice to meet you, young man. Now Trina tells us that she wishes to hire you as some sort of security.”

  “Yes, sir, I believe solely for travel purposes.”

  “And your schedule can accommodate this type of work? Being gone for weeks at a time?”

  “Yes, sir, I have prior personal security experience, and I have provided Ms. Mitchell with a few references.”

  “Diosa,” Franco said taking a sip of scotch.

  “Excuse me?” Los asked looking around the room. Trina just kept her eyes down on the floor.

  “Diosa, Goddess, from here on out that is how you will refer to Ms. Mitchell as you called her.”

  “Understood.”

  “Continue.”

  “I let Diosa know of my qualifications and my current schedule…”

  “Do you have any prior knowledge of the Rich Gang?”

  “I mean yeah, things I’ve heard on the streets.”

  “But the goddess there has never divulged her position or the intentions of this organization?”

  “No, sir, and I don’t expect her too. If my job is to provide security then I would rather just focus on that unless more is needed from me of course.”

  “Good man,” Franco said raising his glass, “Now, I hope this didn’t come across as an interview, Los. We just had to take the proper precautions. You have been being followed ever since Omari made me aware of the situation.

  Trina’s heart dropped as the words left his mouth. She looked over at Los, but he never broke a sweat.

  “Well, I’m more than sure that everything checked out then, Mr. Franco, sir.”

  “Are you asking me, Los?”

  “No.”

  “I like your confidence, son. Me and you are gonna get along just fine,” he said getting up extending his hand toward him, “If Diosa has vouched for you that is more than enough for me. Plus, if you were a cop, or a rat, anything like that, you would be laying there in a pool of your own blood by now. The Council is very perceptive.” Still they said nothing.

  “So that means I have your blessing, Franco?” Trina asked finally able to speak up.

  “Yes, mami, you may hire your security guard. She is such a diva now,” he said laughing motioning toward Los, “but that’s usually what this kind of money does to someone. Now let’s celebrate and welcome Los to the team.”