“Roscoe, stop making this shit worse than it is! I will always love you, but having love and being in love are two different things. Just like love and infatuation. I ended this relationship not only for myself, but for your own good as well. I was just tired of living a lie,” Tori said as the tears welled up in her eyes.
“So you played me? Three and a half years you were just playing me like a sucka! Spending all my money and living the good life for free,” he said vehemently.
“No, I was fucking you whenever you wanted sex, sucking your dick, cleaning up behind you, ironing your clothes, and everything else you needed from me. So don’t even go there!” Tori retorted.
“So a nigga ain’t got nothing to do with you breaking up with me?” he questioned.
“Is that all you think about is niggas? Did I ever ask you about your cell phone blowing up all throughout the night, or you coming and going whenever you pleased?”
“You still ain’t answered me!” Roscoe said, seeing how she avoided the question.
“I told you already, and I’m not saying it again. No! Ain’t no nigga got nothing to do with us breaking up!” Tori said as she angrily got into the car and slammed the door.
She started the car up and sped off down the street, leaving Roscoe standing there on the sidewalk. He looked around and saw all the people smiling, laughing, coming and going. When he walked back over to his truck, he saw Ricky getting inside of his BMW with a beautiful Puerto Rican woman. When Ricky drove past Roscoe’s truck, he saw the painful look in Roscoe’s eyes. From inside the club, Ricky had watched Roscoe and Tori arguing. He stood there at the window until Tori and Malinda had gotten in their car and drove off down the street.
After getting inside his truck, Roscoe turned to Damon and said, “That bitch cheated on me! I could see it in her lying eyes!”
“So what we gonna do?” Damon asked.
“First, I have to be 100 percent positive that I’m right. So what we gonna do on Wednesday night is go make a surprise visit to see Malinda,” Roscoe said pulling off down the street.
“What if she won’t talk?” Damon asked, rolling up the blunt of Haze.
“Oh, she’ll talk. I guarantee that!” Roscoe said with an evil grin on his face.
* * *
Detective Hightower followed Flex to the Feather’s Nest Motel in New Jersey. A day earlier, he had followed the secret lovers to the End of the Dove Motel that was also located in New Jersey. Even though the state of New Jersey was out of his jurisdiction, he was determined to get all of the information he could get on Nancy and Flex. Big Nook had given Hightower three of the tapes back with hours of recordings. Bobby had given him hours of audio footage on Flex. But Hightower still hadn’t had any solid proof that Nancy played a part in her husband Richard‘s robbery and murder. So far, everything was all speculation.
Hightower watched as the skinny, white guy walked over to his car. He rolled down the window. The guy passed him a copy of the receipt for the room.
“She used her Platinum Visa credit card this time,” the guy informed him. Hightower passed the skinny white man a $100 bill.
“Did you hear anything up there?” Hightower asked.
“The same as last month, Detective; moaning, grunting, and headboard banging. I had to call up in the room once to tell them to keep the noise down,” the man said. “I don’t think they take a break.”
“Thanks, Smitty. I’m leaving now; call me tomorrow on my cell phone and let me know what time they clocked out,” Hightower said.
“Sure will, Detective,” Smitty said, putting the money in his pocket and walking back into the office.
Hightower backed his car out of the parking space and drove out of the parking lot. As he headed back to Philly, the thought of Nancy and Flex having sex in the motel room never left his mind.
* * *
After taking a nice warm shower, India dried herself off and walked into her cozy bedroom. She lotioned down her entire body, walked over to her wall stereo, and turned on the CD player. Crawling across her silk sheets, she lay there, inhaling the exotic aroma from the large scented candles she had placed all around her bedroom. Tears fell down from the corners of her eyes. Ricky had a lock on her heart that couldn’t be broken, and it was killing her softly to not be able to do anything about it. She reached under her pillow and grabbed her Jack Rabbit vibrator. She had named her sex toy, “Mr. Orgasm,” and began massaging her clit. With both eyes tightly shut, she let her wonderful sex toy do what it did best. India Arie’s classic song, “Ready for Love,” flowed out of the speakers. The combination of touching, smelling, and hearing was her aphrodisiac. As the powerful orgasm swept throughout her trembling body, she lay there in the tranquility of her cozy bedroom, yearning, craving, lusting, and crying.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The Scent of a Woman
Thursday evening
After Ricky and Thunder left the gym, Ricky got a call on his cell phone from Victoria. When he drove over to see her, she and her husband Tom were both smiling and waiting for him. One hour later, Ricky left the strange couple, sexually drained, and thousands of dollars richer. He drove over to his parents’ house and enjoyed some quality time with Asia. All she talked about was her new best friend India and how India would call her every day to check up on her. While at his parents’ house, Ricky enjoyed a delicious soul food meal with the whole family.
Afterward, he and Nicole walked outside and had a brief conversation. Nicole told Ricky about the B+ grade that Victoria had given her in psychology class. It was the first passing grade that she had received in the class.
After Ricky left the house, he drove over to the Executive Suites apartments on City Line Avenue, to go see his friend Carmen. When he got there, Carmen had surprised Ricky with a new pair of black alligator shoes, matching belt, and a cream-colored Versace mock neck sweater. They ordered a large Domino’s pizza and sat on the sofa and watched a movie on Netflix. When Ricky finally left the apartment, Carmen’s satisfied naked body was peacefully sleeping under her silk Gucci sheets.
When Ricky got home, he took a long, soothing, hot shower. After drying himself off, he put on his black Polo robe and slippers, then went into the cozy living room. He turned on his music and lay across the soft leather sofa. Once again, he thought about the cloudy direction of his young life. He couldn’t help but think about India . . . beautiful India, his daughter’s new best friend and role model. When the song “For you” by Kenny Lattimore flowed out of the speaker, Ricky smiled to himself. In the tranquility of his elegant home, he lay back thinking to himself while enjoying the music. The ringing of his cell phone interrupted his peaceful mood. For a second, he thought about not answering it; then, he changed his mind and picked it up.
“Hello,” he said softly.
“Hi, Ricky, it’s me, Tori.”
“Hey, pretty. Tomorrow I’m going by your mother’s house and dropping off that $1,000,” he said.
“Ricky, you don’t have to do that for me. I’ll just wait,” she said.
“Tori, I told you that I don’t mind giving you the money to move into a new apartment. I know you don’t want to be at your mother’s house.”
“But you don’t have to do it.”
“I want to do it. You’re my new friend, and I really enjoy our times together, and besides, what are friends for?”
“Are you this way with all your female friends?” she asked.
“I try to be. Like I told you before, I have a lot of female associates who I care for, and who feel the same way about me. Sex is only a part of who I am and what I stand for. A lot of men are good in bed but lack everything else. Many men are good with everything else and lack in bed. I try to balance myself out. I try to be great in all aspects. The physical and sexual don’t last forever, but respect, real friendships, and true love never fades,” he explained.
“I believe you came into my life for a reason, and it has nothing to do with sex,” Tori said. “If I ever do get
married, I now know the kind of man that I’m looking for.”
“I’m glad to be of some service,” he laughed.
“So what are you doing right now?” she said, changing the subject.
“Lying back on the sofa enjoying my music.”
“Do you mind having some company for a few hours?” she asked seductively.
“How soon can you get over here?”
“Walk to your front door.”
Ricky got up from off the sofa and walked over to the door. When he opened it, Tori was standing by her mother’s car. She was dressed in a long, black mink coat and a pair of strapped 3-inch heels. She stood there smiling, holding the cell phone to her ear. Ricky smiled and invited her inside the loft. She walked inside and shut the door behind her.
“You’re pretty bold,” he said, sitting down on the arm of the sofa.
“I didn’t know if you had company or not. I just figured you didn’t when you kept talking to me on the phone. But I promise you that I won’t make this a habit,” she said softly.
Ricky smiled. He actually liked her surprise visit.
“Well, since you’re here now, let’s sit back on the sofa and enjoy some good romantic R&B music,” he suggested.
“Fine with me,” Tori said, unbuttoning her mink coat and letting it slide down her shoulders and onto the carpeted floor. Ricky stared as Tori stood there in a red and black Victoria’s Secret lingerie set. She walked over and joined him on the sofa. Her body was smelling good. Tori cuddled up under his arms. When Ricky’s cell phone started ringing, he looked at the caller ID. It was the twins, Teri and Keri, from Trenton, New Jersey. He didn’t answer.
“One of your friends?” she asked.
“No. Two,” Ricky said, rubbing his hands across her arms and shoulders.
“Does this mean tonight I’ma have to make up for both of them?” she asked flirtatiously.
“Maybe,” Ricky laughed softly. “But how about for now, we just lie back and enjoy this wonderful soul music?”
“Fine with me.” As the smooth, soulful music filled the living room, they cuddled in each other’s arms. Tori sat there enjoying his sensual touch on her skin, while Ricky sat back, enjoying the scent of the beautiful woman in his arms.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
No Lie Lasts Forever
Wednesday afternoon
After Ricky woke up in the morning, he took a quick, warm shower and left the loft to go pick up Asia for school. After he dropped her off, he went to the bank to deposit some money. Then he drove over to the gym and worked out with his friends Thunder and Neo for an hour. While Ricky was on his way back home, he got a call from the attractive Puerto Rican woman that he had met at the club on Monday night. Her name was Sophia. She asked him if he could swing by her job to see her. Sophia was the assistant manager at the Marriott Hotel in Center City, Philadelphia.
When Ricky walked through the Marriott’s sliding glass door, Sophia spotted him right away. Tall, dark, and handsome. Bald with a goatee. Beautiful smile and sexy body. The perfect man, Sophia thought, as she approached him. They gave each other a hug, then walked into the elegant, spacious lobby. As they started hugging again, Sophia slipped a keycard inside his pocket.
“Room 312. It’s empty. I’ll be up there in one minute. That’s when my lunch break starts, and I have a whole hour,” she whispered in his ear. Ricky smiled, but before he released his hug on Sophia, he noticed a familiar face walking through the lobby.
“Don’t move!” Ricky whispered in her ear.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, tightening her grip around his waist.
“I see somebody I know,” he said, walking Sophia over to a secluded area. When Ricky released his hug, they both stood there watching Nancy walk through the lobby and straight out the large glass doors.
“That’s Mrs. Robinson, you know, the owner of Club Chances. She’s a regular here,” Sophia said. “She’s here at least once a week, sometimes twice. Every time she comes, she meets up with that dancer you work with,” Sophia said.
“What dancer? There’s nineteen other exotic dancers at the club,” Ricky said.
“The real cute one . . . Tall, light skinned, curly hair. The one who always dances before you,” Sophia said.
“Flex?” Ricky said in shock.
“Yeah, that’s his name,” Sophia said.
“Do you know how long they’ve been meeting here?” Ricky asked.
“For a while now, at least seven or eight months,” Sophia replied.
“What! Are you sure?” he asked, surprised.
“I’m the hotel’s assistant manager. There’s not too much I don’t know that goes on here at the Marriott. There goes the guy right there,” Sophia said pointing at Flex as he got off the elevator and rushed through the lobby. Ricky and Sophia both watched as Flex walked out the glass doors.
“Damn. I don’t believe it!” Ricky said, standing there shaking his head. Ricky didn’t want to believe it, but something inside of him was telling him that Nancy and Flex were behind her husband’s murder.
“Room 312, right?” he said.
“Right. I’ll be up there after I sign out for lunch,” Sophia said as she walked away.
* * *
When the school bell rang, all the students stood up with their books and started walking out of the crowded classroom. Before Nicole left the classroom, Victoria called her name.
“Nicole, do you have a second?” Victoria asked, sitting down at her desk.
“Yes, Mrs. Langston, what is it?” Nicole said as she approached the teacher’s desk.
“You did well today in class. I’m very proud of you,” Victoria said.
“Thank you, Mrs. Langston. Psychology is hard, but I’m not gonna give up so easy,” Nicole told her.
“Well, I just wanted to tell you that I appreciate what you did for me. Your brother Ricky is a wonderful man,” Victoria said blushing.
“Yeah, I heard,” Nicole said.
“Well, I just wanted to tell you to keep up the good work too. And if there is anything I can do to help you, don’t be afraid to ask.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Langston. I’ll definitely hold you to that,” Nicole said with a smile. “See you tomorrow, and I’ll make sure I put another good word in to Ricky. Bye,” Nicole said, walking out of the classroom. While Victoria sat in her chair daydreaming about the sex she had with Ricky, Nicole was walking down the crowded hallway.
Damn. Ricky must’ve rocked her world, Nicole thought to herself.
* * *
India stood by the window watching her mother park her Mercedes and rush from the car. When she walked into the club, India was standing there waiting for her.
“Mom, where have you been all morning? I had to open up, order the beverages for the bar, set the reservations for VIP tonight, and let all the workers and dancers in,” India said, in a frustrated tone.
“That’s your job when I ain’t around. I had a meeting at the bank this morning, and then I had a very important run to make after the meeting at the bank was over,” Nancy said, walking through the club. “Is everything ready for Ricky’s blind date with the contest winner?” she asked.
“Yes, Mom, everything is set.”
“Good. Since the contest was a success, I’m thinking about a contest for all the exotic dancers, since they all have their own group of fans. The contest is helping promote the club.”
While Nancy and India were talking, Flex walked through the door.
“Hi, Mrs. Robinson, hi, India,” he said, walking back toward the stage.
“Hi, Flex,” they said in unison.
“I’ll talk to you later. Tell Nook to meet me in my office,” Nancy said, walking into her office and shutting the door. When Big Nook walked out of the men’s room, India told him that her mother wanted to see him inside her office. Then she walked over to the empty table where her laptop computer was. Thirty minutes later, Ricky and Twist walked into the club.
Ricky
sat down in the empty chair beside India and said, “What have you done to my little sweetheart?”
“Why? What’s wrong?” India asked concerned.
“All she ever talks about now is her new best friend, India.”
“I showed her love,” India said.
Later that night
Ricky stood on the edge of the stage looking out at all the cheering female fans. His dark, muscular physique was covered in running sweat. While DJ Twist had the music blasting from the speakers, women in the boisterous crowd were filling the stage with money and panties. Ricky had turned the place out! The women were clapping and screaming out his name.
Ricky strolled across the stage looking for that lucky someone to give his special yellow rose to. Some women in the crowd were begging to be that special female he would take into one of the empty chitchat rooms. The large crowd was filled with familiar faces, and all eyes were on the famous “Mr. Orgasm.” An attractive, slim, dark-skinned woman standing in the middle of the crowd caught his eye. Ricky jumped off the stage and danced his way through the crowd. He stopped midway in the crowd and started grinding on a heavyset, brown-skinned woman. The excited woman grabbed his dick from behind. Ricky just smiled as the horny, heavyset woman got her feel on. Other women were pulling on his arms and squeezing his ass.
After Ricky finally made it through the crowd, he passed the beautiful brown-skinned female the yellow rose and whispered in her ear. Her smooth chocolate face lit up with a big smile. Ricky turned around and danced his way back through the crowd. Once again, the women pulled on his arms, grabbed his dick, and squeezed his ass. When Ricky finally made it to the private chitchat room located on the second floor, his chocolate kiss was already standing there eagerly waiting for him.
Standing in a secluded area in the club, India had to hold back the tears. When she eased out the side door and got inside her Range Rover, she couldn’t suppress the tears any longer.
* * *
When Roscoe and Damon watched all the women starting to pour out of the club, Roscoe started up his truck and sped off down the street.
Kiss the Girls and Make Them Cry Page 17