Tony put his hands up in the air, but Rodney pushed Bunky’s arm down lowering his gun. “I can’t let you shoot a man right in front of my house, dawg.”
Tony breathed a sigh of relief, and started to lower his arms.
Rodney snatched the gun out of Bunky’s hand and hit Tony across the temple with it. Tony fell to his knees. “It’s okay for you to whoop his ass though.”
Bunky kicked Tony in the ribs, and then walked over to Amir and helped him up off the ground. Then they beat Tony until his blood stained the asphalt.
Chapter 17
Bradley Thompson sat on the edge of the queen sized bed in the Holiday Inn Express downtown. He was watching local police detectives and DEA agents fit a young girl with a wire and explain the ins and outs of a narcotic sting. It made him sick. He got up from the bed and walked over to the dresser. “You know, Begonia, it’s not too late for you to back out of this. You don’t have to go this far.”
Begonia frowned up at him. She was wearing a pair of blue jeans and a navy blue Bart Simpson t-shirt. Her wiretap ran around her bra and up the strap. Her hair was cut in a bob that swung just below her chin making her look much older than she was. “Have you seen my sister lately, Mr. Thompson?”
He shook his head no.
“Well she looks like warm dog shit, Mr. Marshal. They took her innocence without blinking an eye or missing a step. She wanted to be a teacher—a high school history teacher. You almost never saw my sister without a book in her hand. Yeah, she was a sweet little girl, and they just came along and ripped out her soul.” Begonia closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “She doesn’t belong in a cage, Mr. Thompson, they do, and I ain’t backing out of shit.”
A young black guy with a gun on his hip and a badge swinging around his neck came into the room and dropped a duffel bag on the bed. “That’s two hundred grand in small bills.” He turned to Begonia. “We’re about to start running sound checks from the van outside. Keep talking normally. The van will be parked a half a block away from you when we get back to North Philly, so we need to test the ranges.”
“You got it, youngin.” She smiled and turned to the senior agent in the room, an older white guy named Mark.
“I’d like to go over everything you want me to do again.”
***
Violet waited behind the shower wall with a white t-shirt rolled up in her hands like she was about to put it on. She held her breath when she heard the water stop running. Fear made her pulse jump, but it didn’t make her leave. Sammy made every day a living hell for Violet, like she woke up in the morning with the sole purpose of fucking with her. Violet was determined to take it until she saw Begonia. Everything changed inside of her after that. She did not know how long she would be locked up, but she knew she was done with being fucked with.
Pressing her back into the tiles, Violet raised the t-shirt up in the air. Time seemed to slow down and her sister’s words echoed in her head. Begonia was constantly giving Violet fighting tips. If a bitch needs another bitch to help her fight, Violet—then she can’t fight at all. You get her alone and then you make her regret that she ever saw your face.
Violet smiled at the memory. The fear was gone; it had been replaced by white-hot anger.
Sammy’s feet slapped the wet floor like gun shots.
Come on, bitch, Violet thought as she looked around, making sure the room was still clear. She knew she didn’t have a lot of time so she needed to be quick.
Violet wrapped the t-shirt around Sammy’s head the moment she exited the stall. “Guess who?” Violet said as she yanked her head down and kneed her in the gut.
Sammy hit the floor sputtering. Violet jumped on her back and ground her face into the cement. “My name is Violet Brown,” she said as she stuffed the t-shirt in her mouth to muffle her screams. She punched her in the ribs—they cracked on impact. Standing up, she kicked her in the stomach twice and once in the face. “I’m from North Philly.” She flipped Sammy’s limp form onto her back and spread her legs open. “And if you even look in my direction,” Violet kicked her in her pussy as hard as she could, “I’ll find you by yourself again, sweet pea, and I’ll fucking kill you.”
Violet left Sammy on the bathroom floor curled up in a ball, bleeding and crying. She walked to her cell trying to figure out how she was going to corner Sammy’s little friends. She knew it would take some time, but at the moment time was on her side.
***
Portia sat in the DA’s chair doing the crossword puzzle from the daily news, Honey was perched on his desk filing her nails, and Babygirl leafed through the law books on his shelf.
“Give me a four letter word for ‘warm greeting,’” Portia asked, tapping her pen on his desk.
“Hello,” Babygirl said brightly.
“That’s five letters, nimrod,” Honey shook her head. “We need to get her back in school, Portia.”
“Fuck you, Honey. How many letters is that?”
Honey stuck her middle finger up at Babygirl just as Richard walked in his office.
He closed the door quickly behind him. “What the hell is going on? Portia, what are you doing here? I thought I told you…”
Portia held up her hand and Richard stopped speaking mid-sentence. She rose smoothly from her chair and walked around his desk. “My poor little Ricky can’t seem to keep the hos in line. Tsk, tsk, tsk.” She shook her head and leaned against the desk next to Honey. “We just came by to talk to you, Ricky. You are not being very hospitable.”
Richard’s face look constipated.
Babygirl looked up from the book she was holding. “Why are all these books written so funny?”
Honey snatched the book from her and tossed it from the desk. “Don’t look at any more books, love. You might just hurt yourself.”
Portia cleared her throat. “Sit down, Richard,”
He walked over to his desk and took a seat.
“That’s a good boy. In a few moments I will let you speak, but first I want you to listen up and listen good. Do you understand?”
Sweat trailed down Richard’s forehead and the log in his pants began to stiffen and grow.
Portia looked down at Richard’s pants and smiled. “I’m gonna take that as a yes.” She nodded her head to Babygirl who pulled a VHS tape out of her pocketbook and placed it on the desk in front of Richard. Portia sat on his lap and wiggled around a bit. “You see, Ricky, this tape contains video footage of all our little games—all of our beatings, suckings, fuckings and druggings are all here—live and in color.” Richard whimpered and Portia rubbed his shoulder. “Oh don’t cry, Ricky, it’s okay. It’s our little secret. Nobody has to know.” Portia stood up, grabbed a tissue off the box on his desk and wiped his eyes. “My friend is about to walk into a real live drug dealer’s house with a wiretap and a bag of money. I want you to make sure she walks out again. I’m gonna need her sisters released to her care, both of them. I’m gonna need you to make good on their relocation, Ricky. They all get new names and new lives just like on TV, or everybody’s gonna know about our little secret and you can kiss your career and all of your dreams goodbye.” Portia picked up the tape and walked to the door, and nodded her head for Honey and Babygirl to follow. “Oh, you can talk now, Ricky.”
But he had nothing to say, he just put his head down on his desk and continued to cry
***
Lisa was on her stomach with her head buried in the pillow. Rodney had her ass up in the air, driving in and out of her twat like he was drilling for oil, but it didn’t feel good. The sight of Tony falling to the ground played over and over in her head. The look of betrayal on his face and the sound of heartbreak in his voice didn’t leave her. She knew that Tony would never forgive her and that killed her.
Rodney squeezed her hips, “Oh, shit,” he growled. “This is some good motherfucking pussy.” He pulled out of her and released on her back. “I can’t believe this is the last day I’ll get to tap this ass.” He smacked her on the ass be
fore collapsing on the bed beside her.
Lisa scooted off of the bed and limped towards the bathroom.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to take a shower. Begonia should be here soon.”
Rodney got up off of the bed and ran up behind Lisa. “I don’t know if I can let an ass this fine go.” He wrapped his arms around her waist. “What if I decided to keep you with me forever?”
Bile rose up in Lisa’s throat and she had to swallow hard to keep from throwing up on the carpet. She forced herself to smile, and turn to face Rodney, slipping her arms around his neck. “A deal is a deal, Rodney. Although I must admit it is a sweet deal. Maybe we can strike it again next semester.”
“Now that does sound good.” He squeezed her tight and nuzzled her neck. “Go ahead and take your shower. I don’t want you to be all sex funky when your girl shows up with my cash.”
Chapter 18
Ice slid through Begonia’s veins as she became completely removed from her emotions. She took one last puff of her cigarette and flicked it in the street before ringing the bell and leaning against the door jam. She looked up at the stars in the night sky knowing that this would probably be the last time that she ever saw them again. That knowledge didn’t stop her from walking in the door when Big Mike opened it. She dropped her bag and put her hands against the wall as Nate got up to pat her down. She nodded her head to him in greeting, and he smiled in return.
Most people said they would die for their family, but Begonia meant it. Her only concern going in was that Lisa made it out. She walked passed Amir sitting at the dining room table on her way to the basement; however, Big Mike stopped her before she could open the door.
“Hold up there now, speedy. Where are you going? Nobody said for you to go down there. Have a seat on the sofa and Rodney and ya girl will be down soon.”
Begonia thought about slicing Mike’s face open again, but she shrugged it off and sat on the sofa instead. She put the bag down between her feet, leaned over, and rested her arms on her knees. “You know, Mike, that scar really does look good on you.”
“Oh, really?” Big Mike said laughing. “You funny, Begonia, I always said that you was a funny little bitch.” He stopped laughing abruptly. “I’m glad you like this scar, because I’m going to give you one just like it real soon.”
“I’m really scared, Mike. You see me shakin’, don’t you?”
Mike rolled his eyes and flagged his hand at Begonia.
You’re such a pussy, Begonia thought, why the fuck they put you on the door is beyond me.
Lisa came down the steps first dressed in short black mini dress and matching heels. Her hair was pinned up in a bun, but her eyes had a sadness that tore at Begonia’s heart. Lisa carried a small gym bag of her own on her shoulder, although she dropped it when she spotted Begonia. She ran to her and hugged her tightly.
“Oh my God, Bee. I’m so glad this is over.”
“It’s not over yet, sweetie.” Begonia whispered in her ear while returning her hug just as tightly. “As soon as Rodney gives the word, you walk out the door and head to 22nd Street. Don’t wait for me, and don’t look back.”
Lisa didn’t like the sound of that. She squeezed Begonia tighter as her stomach twisted in fear. She kissed Begonia on the cheek, and walked over to the mirror by the front window, pretending to check her makeup.
Atta girl, Begonia thought as she sat back down. Stay close to the exit.
Rodney came down the steps followed by Bunky. Rodney sat in the chair in front of Begonia and Bunky stood off to his right. “Is that my money?” Rodney asked with a smile.
Begonia returned his smile. “Sure is.”
“Let’s have a peek.”
Begonia opened the bag revealing rubber band stacks of twenties, fives, tens, and hundreds.
“You know what?” Rodney said smiling broadly, “You are my kind of bitch.” He nodded to Bunky who snatched the bag from between Begonia’s legs and dumped it out on the table in front of Amir.
Begonia’s heart did the electric slide in her chest. She sat up straight and looked Rodney in the eye. “So we square, right, and my girl is free to go?”
Rodney looked at Amir, but spoke to Begonia. “If you have all my money, ya girl is free to go, however, I would like to have a little talk with you.”
“It’s all here.” Amir said simply.
Rodney shrugged and waved Lisa over to him. Lisa glanced at Begonia before walking over to Rodney. Her palms were sweating and goose bumps rose up on her skin. She stopped in front of him and he turned to Amir. “Toss me a stack.”
Amir grabbed a knot of money off the table and chucked it to Rodney who then handed it to Lisa. “This is a gift. I want you to know that I’m here for you. Call me whenever you need me.”
Lisa took the money and bent over to kiss Rodney softly on the lips. “Goodbye,” she said. Stuffing the money in her bag, she hefted it on her shoulder and walked out the door.
As soon as the door closed behind Lisa, Begonia’s heart settled into a normal rhythm. “You mind if I smoke?”
Rodney sat back and smiled. “It’s your lungs.”
Cute, Begonia thought as she pulled a soft pack of Newports from her pocket and knocked it on her fist. Nate walked over, lit her cigarette for her and handed her an ashtray.
“Thanks,” Begonia said taking a long drag. “What would you like to chat about?”
Rodney rubbed his chin. “You impress me, shawty.”
“How’d I do that?”
“First of all you’re sitting here talking to me. You should be dead.”
“I’m not following you.”
Rodney got up and walked over to his mini bar. “You want a drink?”
Begonia shook her head no.
Rodney poured himself three fingers of bourbon. “The last time I saw you, I said that girl would be dead in a week.” He pointed at Bunky. “Ask him. I said that young trick can’t even tell when she’s in over her head.” He sat back down. “Look at ya now, sitting in a den of killers smoking a Newport.” He shook his head and a deadly glint came to his eyes. “I need to know how you managed that.”
Begonia flicked her cigarette in the ashtray got up stretched and walked over to the table. She picked up a stack of hundreds and fanned through the cash with her thumb. “You know, Rodney, it wasn’t easy.” She tossed the money back on the pile. “But seeing you shoot a motherfucker right in front of me was one hell of a motivator.”
“I had to kill Kyle; he had become a liability, a very expensive mistake. I thought you would appreciate that after what he did to your sister. You know, they say you never really recover from a gang rape.”
“Is that right?” Begonia asked leaning against the wall that led to the kitchen. She let the comment about her sister slide off of her like water, her survival instincts were on high alert. Rodney had just hung himself with that confession and the boys in blue should be coming in any minute now. Taking a step back her eyes scanned every possible exit.
“Yeah, that’s right,” Rodney said putting his glass down on the table. “I need to know where you got all of this money.”
Begonia opened her mouth to respond, but the battering ram exploded through the door and DEA agents swarmed into the house. The party turned into a shit storm in the space of five seconds. Big Mike was knocked unconscious and Rodney hit the floor and covered his head like a little bitch. Nate shot an officer in the forehead and received two in the chest. Begonia didn’t know what happened to Bunky and Amir because she’d turned around and dove through the kitchen door just as a bullet blasted through her.
She was stretched out on the kitchen floor leaking blood and struggling to get a pack of cigarettes out of her pocket. As soon as she got a Newport free, she put it in her mouth and then realized she had no way to light it. “Oh, this day is just getting better and better.”
Police officers swept through the kitchen dressed in full body armor with their guns drawn.
Begonia looked up at the cops “Which one of you fuckers shot me?”
Mr. Thompson busted through the line of police and dropped down on the floor at Begonia’s side. “Dear God, I am so sorry. I never should have gone along with this.”
“Bradley, please shut the fuck up and light my cigarette. I’m sure I won’t die from a hole in the arm.”
EPILOGUE
Eight months later…
“If you don’t hold still, I swear I’ll jab this hairpin straight through your skull,” Lisa said while she tried to secure Tabitha’s wedding veil.
“Okay, I’ll try to stop moving around, but you do realize I’m about to get married today. Why am I the only one freaking out?”
“Because, you’re the only one who can’t tell that you are being blessed.” Lisa smoothed out Tabitha’s gown and smiled. Tears sprung to her eyes. “Look how beautiful you are. Everybody doesn’t get to love someone who’s good for them and to them. I am so happy for you.” Tabitha stood up and hugged Lisa just as Shanice walked into the room.
“I swear I can’t leave you two together for five minutes without y’all crying all over each other. Sheesh! Get it together because I’ve got a surprise for you both.” Shanice stepped to the side and Violet walked in the door followed by Begonia. Lisa and Tabitha rushed them.
Begonia was the first to pull away from their embrace, although she hung on Lisa’s shoulder. “We can’t stay for the ceremony but I couldn’t miss this day.”
Tabitha let go of Violet and fanned her face. “Where’s Daisy?”
Violet smiled. “She’s in the other room with your mother playing with Erica.”
“How did you guys get here?” Lisa asked, wiping her tears.
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