Hope Is Love

by Hubbard, Sylvia

  “I haven't gotten an honest compliment in a long time James,” she said.” I might have to help you out.”

  James knew she spoke truthful and he sighed in gratefulness. He also noticed how she had carefully manipulated the conversation. “What's your name?” he questioned.

  "I'm Nevada. My sister Paris and I are good friends of Shadow. That's how we met Jona.”

  "So you'll tell me how I can find her?” He asked removing his hands from her shoulders.

  She stood up and sat next to him in another chair. "I'll do you one better, James Black. I'll tell you how you can also keep her around.”

  “Oh hell naw!” A voice similar to Nevada's said at a door that led from the stage. The beauty was drenched in sweat with glitter all over her body, in costume. This was the woman on stage, but they weren't twins. James could see that Nevada was more beautiful and Paris had this sort of innocence about her with a bit more cruel exotic eyes. He stood up out of respect.

  “This is my sister, James Black,” Nevada introduced with humor dripping from her voice. “Paris.”

  “Didn't we just talk about you being too nice, Nevada?” Paris asked.

  “I'm not too nice, but he loves her,” Nevada implored.

  “Dogs love hydrants, but that doesn't mean I appreciate the attention they give them,” Paris snarled. “We promised Jona we'd distract him and make him forget her. Obviously your seduction tactics are getting old, sister, if he's still talking about her.”

  “You're a mean bitch, Paris,” Nevada said. “And I can make any man question his own heart, but I can't change someone who’s truly in love. He loves her and Jona needs to know he's not attracted to just any black woman like we all assumed. He was aroused, but never took advantage what was offered. He’s true, Paris and I won’t get in the way of love.”

  Paris had the nerve to look at him as if he were some oddity. “Are you crazy, Mister? My sister is drop dead gorgeous. How can you still even think about another woman?”

  "He doesn't need any other woman when he has a woman like Jona, Paris," Nevada teased, giving James a secret wink hugging her sister. "My sister is bitchy because she has had to go on stage more than twice in a row."

  James looked confused.

  Nevada decided to explain. "The scary guy in the corner, you were speaking to. Who is he?"

  Paris sighed in exasperation. "He wouldn't know, Nevada."

  "Actually I do,” James admitted, willing to give them whatever information they needed if it would help him get closer to Jona.

  Paris looked surprised.

  James continued, "His name is Mandingo.”

  Paris and her sister looked at each other in shock. "Mandingo Heart?! He's supposed to be dead!"

  "He was well and alive, just not pretty. When did his death occur?"

  "Years ago," Paris answered looking at her sister worriedly. “Decades according to rumor.”

  Nevada looked completely saddened. “After what was done to him, he should have died.” She shivered. “He still scares me.”

  They seem to have this silent communication going on and then Nevada looked away with a very worried look on her extraordinary beautiful face. James wished he could say something to assuage their fears, but he had met Mandingo and though the man looked like he had fought death, he was very much alive.

  "What happened to his face?"

  "He had a conversation with five pit bulls and two wolfhounds bent on tearing all his flesh off his body. If he really did survive, it's got to be from those massively brick fists of his," Paris said.

  Both women shivered together and Nevada came over to James. "I'll take you to Jona and then I must leave before he sneaks back here."

  "Or worse,” Paris said fearfully.

  The sisters did more silent communication with their eyes.

  “Please hurry," Paris said, taking a peak out of the door. "Onyx Heart is heading in this direction. I'll detain her as long as possible. You can use the dancer's entrance to the upstairs private area." She snapped her fingers and pointed hurriedly to where they needed to exit because James had a feeling Onyx was probably coming to look for him and it seemed imperative from the grip Nevada had on his arm she needed to get out of there as soon as possible.

  Nevada grabbed a cap off a table and then they went up some narrow steps. The beauty kept him close to talk low while they walked. "She came over with us this afternoon. Shadow was trying to give her ideas on how to make a couple of hundred so she could get out of town quickly."

  "How quickly?" James questioned.

  Nevada stopped in her tracks and looked back at him. "Like yesterday fast. She was visibly upset."

  James was still a little overwhelmed by her beauty, but could look unaffected now that he had been around her for a while. The man who would have Nevada would have to be very damn confident and had to sincerely capture her heart in order to keep her all to himself. All in all, James knew he did not want to be that man. "Was she scared?"

  Shaking her head, "Oh no, never scared, but purely frustrated and angry."

  "At me?" he asked worriedly.

  "Angry she had to leave and angry at your world, but not at you James. She really thought if we seduced you, you'd forget about her."

  Irritable, he snide, "Any black woman would do? Was that her thinking?"

  Placing a hand on his chest to calm his upset. "Please James, understand that my sister and I are not just any black women." Leaning close to him, James knew she was using her skillful seductress powers to enthrall him and make him forget how insulted he should be. “First, our parents are African-American, Samoan, Asian and Indian mixed. Secondly, Jona only wanted your heartbreak from her to be assuaged by something better." Winking playfully, she said, "Now you can show her that no other woman will do."

  She started to walk away, but James gently grabbed her arm and pulled her back to him. "How do I get her to stay, Nevada?"

  She smiled wickedly. "James you already know the answer to that?"

  Confused, he asked, "I do?"

  "You're gifted in the art of seducing women away from their men and you don't think you can seduce one woman away from the streets? It's the same philosophy. Give her something the streets can never give her."

  "What?"

  "Your heart. Tell her how you feel, James. Tell her until she can't take it any more but believes and trust that no matter what, she will always have something the streets can never give her and that is you. Let her know you will always be by her side, love her, protect her and give her whatever she desires. I know a man of your sexual intelligence and charm can break that fear she has built up. I know you can."

  James took a deep breath hoping he could. They started down a long hall and he knew they were going over the crowded club floor to the back. Everything was lowly lit and he needed to keep hold of Nevada in order to know where he was going.

  "Why do you and your sister do this? You could have any man you want?"

  This question made Nevada stop and turn around to him. "We are here because we don't want men to find us. We are in the last place men would look to find a woman they've been looking for their whole life."

  Confused, James asked, "But any man not in love would treat you like a queen."

  She rolled her eyes. "He would, but he would never work for my heart and that's the problem with a pretty face like mine. Wrapping a man's heart around my finger is simple." She snapped her fingers to show how quickly she could work and James didn't doubt that. "But a man wrapping me around his, would take a whole lot of work. I'm hard to get and harder to keep. I don't do that on purpose, but sometimes when God gives you a gift, you have to spend time examining what to do with this gift."

  "And have you found out what to do with yours?"

  She smiled mischievously. "Currently, driving the men of Metro Detroit insane has been working." She covered her mouth in a giggle. "But this is just a temporary solution until Paris can figure out what to do."

  "Why
Paris?"

  "Our father sold us to pay off some debts. I left before they got a look at me and Paris stayed because she was too young to run off like I did. I regretted that decision until she found me, but with the one who wants to collect on our father's debt hot on her trail, Detroit is the only safe place for us, but he's powerful, mean and vicious and would do anything to get Paris." She looked very disturbed. "There's really no where to hide with a face like this except out in the open. When we're not working, I'm usually disguised as a not so pretty old woman. It works and Paris has done the same thing. I taught her the dance and we switch out since we're almost similar in looks. Yet, lately Mandingo Heart has been snooping around. I happen to bump into him at a friend's place, because I didn't know he was working on some case that has to do with another friend and since then he's been trying to find me."

  "Who’s this guy looking for Paris?"

  Nevada shrugged. "Paris doesn’t even like to say his name or talk about him. I don't know and I don't want to find out, but I'm not going to lead him to my sister. I'm not going to fail her ever again and I’m willing to do anything to protect her."

  She started walking again and firmly held his hand until they came upon several rooms that had dark curtains as doors. Leaning even closer, she whispered, "The only way we knew how to make Jona some fast money was to hook her up with clients who asked for private dances up in these rooms by the owner. These men paid exclusively to have a lap dance with Heaven. Usually we do them in the dark or really low light and the guys don't even know that it could be one of the other girls with a wig, make up and costume just like Heaven. It's great money though and we taught Jona how to do it a while ago, but she’s never actually done it until now."

  Jealously, James asked, "She has never done this before?"

  "No, never," Nevada reiterated smiling. "But she's familiar with all this. She maybe innocent, but she's seen a lot and she's a fast learner. We told her we'd send her in when a client paid and she's waiting in another room down the hall." Guiding him in a room, she sat him down on a leather-like couch. "She won't see your face as good," Nevada said, blowing out two of the candles that lit the room. "That will be perfect. Keep your voice a whisper if you have to speak. How much money do you have on you?”

  “Are you going to rob me?” he questioned warily.

  She chuckled. “If I was going to take your wallet, James Black, I wouldn’t ask.”

  “Five hundred give or take,” he answered.

  “Give me three and put the rest out for her when she dances.”

  “I think I know how to get a lap dance, Nevada,” he reprimanded giving her the money.

  She giggled and then tried to say sternly, “Stay here and do what you do best, James Black."

  "And what is that?" he questioned curious as to what she knew of him in so short of time.

  "Seduce. I can tell how you’re a man who’s gotten hundreds of woman to leave their husbands. I think you can make one woman leave the streets for you." Kissing his cheek fondly and handing him the hat she’d grabbed out the dressing room, she whispered, "I bet you really are a good kisser. Don't think I could make you change your mind, do you?"

  James had to blush knowing Nevada was still trying to seduce him. "Are you a sore loser?"

  "Yes!" she exclaimed.

  He chuckled putting the hat on low over his face, shaking his head and she whimpered her disappointment before she left out of the room.

  Chapter 32

  Jona paced, cried, sobbed, fell out on the floor, got back up and paced some more. This was a repetitive process for over three hours until she went back down to the dancer's dressing room where Paris was getting dressed and Nevada was being the lookout.

  "Your nervousness is going to drive me insane," Paris said who had very little patience.

  Nevada motioned for Jona to come over to the door. "It's a nice size crowd, sister, isn't it Jona?"

  Jona looked out the crack and nodded. "Is this usual?"

  "Yes," both sisters said.

  "Heaven has been a staple here at this place for while," Nevada explained. "But most customers know it's not the same woman because she'd be an old woman by now. It's more or less a very sensual dance that's been passed down for decades by the owner's grandmother who was a real gypsy."

  "And now you're Heaven?" Jona asked Nevada.

  "Yes, for now, but we're gleaning someone else to replace me. The owner makes enough to shut down for three months and then re-open again soon."

  Jona looked at Paris, who was rolling her eyes in exasperation. "Don't believe my sister, she loves the attention she gets on stage."

  "And you don't?" Jona questioned suspiciously seeing how elaborately and carefully Paris put on the make up.

  "It's a great cover and it's where HE won't find me."

  Jona already knew whom Paris was referring to and knew this was not a subject neither sister wanted to discuss. Most of their lives they'd spent running from HIM and Jona was one of the very rare people who understood their fear. Shadow had only heard of him, even though she came from Chicago with Nevada, but she had never met HIM. Shaking off the cold chill that always seem to overwhelm her when she thought of King Heart, Jona asked, "Are you sure doing this will actually fool anyone?"

  Nevada said assuredly, "It’s fooled hundreds of them. It'll just be up to you, if you really want to do this, Jona."

  Paris even turned around from the mirror to see Jona's response.

  Taking a deep breath, Jona nodded first and then pushed the words out slowly, "I can do this."

  "And James. If he shows up?" Nevada asked.

  Jona needed to take another breath before answering. "Do what you have to do to make him forget me, Nevada?"

  "Are you sure?" Nevada asked looking back out into the crowd. "Because he just showed up and I think I’m looking at the most handsome guy… oh shit!”

  Jona and Paris came to the door to look at what had made Nevada curse.

  “Who is she?” Jona asked seeing the smaller dangerous looking woman dressed all in black from head to toe.

  “Onyx Heart, a bitch of all bitches,” Paris answered.

  “Queen of Bitches if you ask me,” Nevada sneered.

  “No, she’s got two other cousins that can certainly beat her at being bitchy,” Paris refuted.

  “They’re not bitchy, they’re just downright crazy. There’s a big difference.”

  Jona saw the woman they were speaking about very clearly walking with James, who couldn’t have been any taller than Jona. “She walks like she’s seven feet tall.”

  “Kicks ass like she’s twenty,” Paris said knowingly.

  Nevada said, “Now back to tall, white and handsome. Are you positive, because I could certainly do some things with a man that fine, Jona.”

  Biting her lip to hold off her jealousy, Jona said, “I’m sure.” She moved away so she wouldn’t have to look at him anymore. “I’m very sure.”

  The sisters looked at each other as if able to speak with their eyes.

  “I’ll take her to the room and you get on stage,” Nevada said to Paris. “Jona, let’s go.”

  Jona followed Nevada up the stairs, down a long hallway to back rooms where V.I.P. members could rent and hold private parties. On many of nights, Jona knew really wealthy men paid top dollar for the pleasure of some company and the owner had no shame in reserving these rooms for the right price.

  “And this part of your plan?” Nevada asked. “Are you sure you can do this? All the other times, you’ve never wanted to.”

  “I have to get out of town, Nevada,” Jona said. “And this is the only way to get more money.”

  Nevada sighed. “Fine, Jona, but know that I’ll be keeping an eye on you and the moment you don’t want to be there, you just let me know, okay?”

  When Jona nodded, Nevada hugged her.

  “I promised Shadow I’d take good care of you and I will do anything I have to do to help you.”

  “Th
ank you Nevada.”

  Nevada shrugged as if it were nothing. “Your outfit is over there. Get dressed and I’ll be back shortly.” She handed Jona a makeup bag before leaving out.

  The sisters were the same and different. While Paris seemed harder and meaner, she was actually more approachable than the drop dead gorgeous Nevada who only used her beauty to get what she wanted and hid it when she didn’t want anything to do with someone. Most of the time she was hiding how she looked with makeup and wigs, because she believed her looks were a curse to her and all who were around.

  Jona wouldn’t have wanted to look that beautiful living on the streets.

  Once she was dressed and still alone, Jona wanted to run away and never come back, yet her feet stayed rooted to the ground. Getting a large amount of money to get on her feet in another city so she wouldn’t have to be on the streets made perfect sense to her – even though Shadow disputed Jona could get on her feet out of Detroit.

  Yet, Jona knew he wouldn’t stop looking for her if she stayed here and there would be a time when Jona would long to see him again if she stayed here. Getting as far away from Detroit as possible would be the best decision for her because there would be no temptation.

  But letting another man touch her?

  Maybe this would be her stepping stone to move her emotions away from him. Jona was upset she’d ever gotten them involved in the first place.

  Going over to the soft creamy peach outfit, when she picked it up she noticed the material was light as a feather and almost sheer as a glass. There were matching underwear and a skimpy bra, which was two sizes too small for her, yet she put everything on, wrapping the outfit around her body and seeing where there were snaps she could pull pieces off to reveal parts of her body. She had her hair wrapped already and it was just a matter of taking off the scarf and combing through it. Jona remembered how she was taught to put on makeup by Cleo and had to smile fondly at Nicole’s help in teaching her how to take care of herself.

  The room gave her too much time to think about things and Jona flip-flopped on her feelings for James repeatedly until she was in a tizzy. About half an hour passed before Nevada appeared again with three hundred dollars.