by Jade Jones
Chapter 11
Poca quickly started the car up just as Stanley pulled open the passenger door. Without deliberation, I reached for a shard of glass and jammed it into Stanley’s jaw. He howled in pain but did not release the vice grip he had around my throat.
Poca quickly yanked her car into reverse and backed up, causing the passenger door to scrape the side of Stanley’s truck. She hurriedly switched the gears into Drive and Stanley tried his hardest to keep up with the car.
My vision blurred and I feared the end was near...until Poca executed a sharp left turn out the apartment’s parking lot. Stanley’s hand finally released my throat right before he crashed into the pavement taking a large chunk of my hair with him.
I quickly slammed the passenger door shut as Poca zoomed up Clarkwood Avenue. Suddenly, she did the one thing I had not expected her to do at a time like this. This bitch burst out laughing.
Everything in me begged to curse her ass out and blame her, but I couldn’t speak just yet. Instead, I wheezed and coughed as I fought to gain control of my breathing.
“That shit was crazy!” Poca laughed. “Some straight shit out of the movies!” She yelled excitedly.
When I finally gained control of my breathing, I yelled, “It ain’t fucking funny! That motherfucker could’ve killed me! All because you were being greedy as usual!” I pointed to her broken window. “Now look at your fucking window! It’s broken! Now you tell me was it worth it?!”
I could not believe she found the shit comical. “I’ll just use that nigga’s money to fix the shit,” she said in between laughs.
***
“What the fuck happened to your neck?” Silk hollered. “You been giving my mothafuckin’ pussy away, haven’t you? That’s why you wasn’t tryin’ to give a nigga none the other day!”
I was outside my dorm, sitting inside Silk’s white 2011 Denali, when he noticed the prominent marks on my neck. Instinctively, I opened my mouth to defend myself but Silk quickly grabbed the sides of my face with one hand. He yanked my head to the side so he could survey the damage.
“You know I got every right to fuck you up, Cameron--”
“Would you let me explain?” I knew the red marks on my neck looked suspicious as hell but Silk had no idea.
“You better have a good ass mothafuckin’ explanation.”
“It all started yesterday when Poca--”
“You still runnin’ with that hoe?” Silk asked. “What did I tell you about hanging with that bitch?”
Silk was ten years older than me, at twenty-nine and oftentimes he felt the need to chastise me much like a father would do his daughter. I figured our obvious age gap was the cause of his dominant-like attitude.
“She’s my friend,” I defended.
Silk twisted his mouth up. “Whatever. Birds of the same feather flock together.”
I looked at him and rolled my eyes. “Don’t even go there.”
Suddenly, Silk’s cell phone chimed indicating he had an incoming text message. After surveying the message, he stuffed his cell inside his jacket pocket and looked over at me. “So, you coming home with me tonight?”
I sighed heavily. “I don’t know, baby. I really gotta study. And you know I got class in the morning.”
“What time is your first class?” he asked.
“8:30.”
“Well, I’ll have you back well before then,” he promised. “You know I’m going with Klimaxxx to Chicago tomorrow for a show, right?”
“Yeah, I know.” He had already informed me last week.
He leaned over closer to me and whispered, “So you gotta give yo’ man something to remember while he’s gone.” His warm breath tickled my skin and my nipples immediately stood at attention underneath the cotton t-shirt I was wearing.
Knowing Silk, if I didn‘t give him what he wanted he‘d just get it from somewhere else and that was the last thing I wanted. “Well at least let me get my books so I can study.”
Silk pinched an erect nipple and smiled. “Now you know when we get to the crib, studying is gone be the last thing on yo’ mind.”
***
Silk and I arrived in Willoughby Hills thirty minutes later. He owned a three bedroom, two bathroom home on Cambridge Circle. My man worked hard for his money and it was apparent that he wanted the finer things in life.
After parking the truck in the garage, I followed him inside. Once he flicked the light switch on, I was able to get a good look at him. “Well, well, well,” I smiled. “I see you’re wearing the Gucci scarf I bought you.”
He took a few steps closer to me and smiled. After pulling the scarf from around his neck he wrapped it around my head and gently pulled me close. “You know a nigga crazy about you, right?”
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I slowly pulled him close and brushed a gentle kiss over his lips. It was moments like this that made me realize just how much I really loved Silk. Most couldn’t understand why I chose to be with a man of his caliber. But it was certain things he said...certain things he did that kept me inclined to loving him. Even after an entire year, I still got butterflies in my stomach whenever I was in his presence.
I could remember the day we met like it was yesterday. Tiffany and I were strolling though Tower City Mall in downtown Cleveland, when a deep voice called out to me from behind. His words exactly had been, “Hey, baby girl in the red, let me holla at you.” It was so funny, because Tiffany and I were both wearing the same color that day. Instinctively, we both turned in his direction but Silk had his eyes fastened directly on me. He was walking with two other fine brothers.
After I stopped in my tracks, Silk jogged over towards me. He was dressed casually that day wearing a pair of red and black basketball shorts, a black beater, and a pair of red, white, and black Jordans. Normally, I wouldn’t have given him the time of the day but his swag was undeniable. The minute he opened his mouth, he had my interest.
Later that day, Silk took me out for dinner. We quickly learned that we both were entertainers and the rest was history. We were the Bonnie and Clyde of our hustle. And I really loved the fact that he footed my tuition once he found out that I was a student. At first I was a little hesitant about him taking care of my college finances but he insisted after he saw how driven and goal oriented I was. Silk was nowhere near perfect, but nevertheless, he kept me happy and more than satisfied.
Suddenly, Silk broke into my profound thoughts as his hands cupped my butt. “Let me go freshen up,” I giggled.
He gave my ass a nice, firm slap as I walked away. After I stepped into the bathroom, I used the toilet then proceeded to take a shower--but was instantly caught off guard by the long strands of wavy jet black hair in the bathtub drain. Removing the small clog of hair, I examined it closely.
Pure Seduction instantly came to mind and I wondered if that ass whupping was not enough to get through to her.
“Terrence!” I hollered, referring to Silk by his government name.
Seconds later he entered the bathroom with an irritated expression on his face. He absolutely hated when I raised my voice at him, and he hated when I called him by his real name even more.
With one hand propped on my hip and the other holding up the strands of hair, I raised a perfectly arched eyebrow and asked, “What the hell is this? I found this in the bathtub.”
His expression quickly fluctuated into surprise as his mouth fell open. “Uh...um...that...”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” I said walking around him, but he quickly blocked my path.
“Baby, gimme a minute to explain--”
“You mean give you a minute to lie?” I retorted.
“My little sister was over here the other night,” he said. “You know her and her dude be falling out all the time. She be coming over here once in a while to blow some steam.”
I held the hair up for him to see. “So you telling me this nappy ass weave is Tamika’s?”
“I swear to God. I ain’t have no hoes
up in here.”
“Whatever, Silk.”
“Baby, I swear on everything I love, I ain’t have no women in my house. I ain’t been on that trash lately. You gotta believe a nigga, Cameron.”
He leaned closer to me and bent down. I was pissed as hell at him, but I didn’t fight the passionate kiss he gave me. His tongue eagerly slid into my mouth and within seconds all my anger had quickly dissipated. As pitiful as it was, Silk had that affect on me.
After flushing the hair and all its mysteriousness down the toilet, Silk and I climbed into the shower together. We sensually washed one another up and for the time being, I decided to push my suspicions to the back of my mind.
Once the steamy shower ended, Silk carried me into the bedroom and gently laid me down on his plush California King size bed. Softly climbing on top of me, he showered my neck with kisses before working his way downward. I ran my fingers over his soft waves as he placed wet kisses on my toned tummy.
I gasped as his warm, wet tongue flicked across my clit. If eating pussy was a college major, he would’ve graduated with a Master’s degree. Oral sex was an art for him and he took it very serious. Shivers ran throughout my body as his tongue danced on my pearl.
I had to admit Silk’s head and dick game were the primary reasons why I stayed with him, aside from the fact that I was crazy in love with him.
Climbing back on top of me, he glided two fingers inside me, readying me for the pipe game he was preparing to lay down.
Suddenly, in one swift movement, he flipped me onto my stomach and lifted my waist upward so that my ass was pointed in the air. His favorite position.
“You ain’t been giving my pussy to none of them tricks at the club, have you?” he asked positioning himself behind me.
“You know I haven’t, baby,” I cooed.
His stiff dick pressed against my inner thigh. “Mmmhmm. I hear you. We gone find out right now,” he said.
I gasped upon his entrance, and rocked my hips just a little too fit all his thickness inside me. He gripped my waist firmly as he shoved his length in further.
“Damn,” he whispered. “Tight and wet just like I like it.”
“I love you, baby,” I whimpered.
He sped his pace up as he fucked me from the back. “Yeah, you better.”
Chapter 12
“You want to try something different tonight?” Poca asked as she continued to drive along Superior Avenue. It was obvious that The Shakedown was not the destination we were headed to.
“It depends,” I said unenthusiastically.
“I was thinking about going to this club on the west side tonight. Juicy said it be rockin’ hard on Mondays. She works at both spots.”
My mouth fell open. “What? She’s dancing at two clubs? She better hope Ahmad don’t find out.”
It was a strict no-no to dance at two strip clubs. Ahmad didn’t play that shit. After-hours it was cool to dance at because the club was closed. At The Shakedown you had to work certain days of the week if you wanted to work on the weekends, and working at two clubs could conflict with your schedule and ultimately conflict with Ahmad making his money.
Poca sucked her teeth. “Bitch, you act like Ahmad our pimp or some shit. He don’t control how we make our money.”
“Yeah, but if he finds out we’re dancing at another club, he’ll fire our ass.”
Poca shrugged. “So? The Shakedown ain’t the only strip club in Cleveland.”
“Yeah but its definitely the most popular. And after a year of building up my clientele, I’ll be damned if I call another club home.”
“Anyway,” Poca sarcastically said, “The club is called Tops and Bottoms. Juicy say its money to be made. And since its Monday, I figure what the hell? What do we got to lose? The Shakedown gone be dead. We might as well.”
“Is Juicy gonna be there?” I asked.
“Yeah, but she said she ain’t gone get there ‘til like midnight. She’ll pay that high ass tip out if she knows its money to be made.”
The later you arrived at a club to work, the higher the tip out payment was to the owner. So if a dancer expected to stroll in around midnight, she’d have to cough up at least seventy-five dollars.
The clear plastic bag, in place of the passenger window, rattled in my ear as Poca made her way onto the freeway.
Twenty minutes later, she pulled into the parking lot of a run down, brick club located on West 44th street.
Raising an eyebrow in skepticism, I asked, “This is supposed to be the big money makin’ club, huh?”
Poca killed the engine and climbed out. “Girl, at least give it a chance. We ain’t even stepped foot inside yet.”
Automatically, I was not feeling the vibe as soon we entered Tops and Bottoms...and it wasn’t just because of the envious stares we received from the dancers. I knew how it worked. Poca and I were new girls--essentially a threat--and women did not like other women stepping into their territory. I smelled drama in the air along with the scent of cheap perfume and musk.
Poca was obviously oblivious to the tension as she sashayed to the bar. After speaking to the bartender briefly we were instructed to go in the back and get dressed.
I followed Poca through the small, dark bar. The minute she pushed the tall wooden door open that led to the dressing room, it felt like all the blood in my face had drained.
Pure Seduction was seated at the vanity applying a thick coat of light pink lipstick. Her eyes instantly darted in my direction through the mirror. She quickly turned around in her seat to look at me as though her eyes might’ve been deceiving her.
So this was the new strip club she was working at since she left The Shakedown.
“Aye, Red, you remember the bitch I was telling you about the other day? The one I fought at Smoove’s?” Pure Seduction asked with a sadistic grin.
A thick light skinned female sitting on Pure Seduction’s left looked in me and Poca’s direction. She was a little on the heavy side to be stripping and the minute I looked at her, I saw trouble written all over her face.
I knew some shit was about to pop off, but I still walked further into the dressing room and placed my belongings at a vanity.
“Yeah,” Red said.
“Yeah that’s the bitch,” Pure taunted. “Hoe was mad ‘cause her nigga be blowing down on me every chance he get. Maybe if the bitch ain’t have that trash ass pussy, she wouldn’t have to worry about her nigga straying!”
Several dancers began laughing at Pure Seduction’s crude remark.
My face quickly flushed in anger as I felt my temper surfacing. “I hope you told her about that ass whupping too!” I yelled. “Oh, by the way...how is that nose?”
Pure Seduction craned her neck to look at me. She opened her mouth to say something but Red quickly jumped in. “Hold up, bitch we don’t know you to be comin’ up in here startin’ no shit. You may’ve walked ya’ ass up in here but bitch, you can get tossed out with a quickness.”
There were no security guards on duty so I knew she was threatening me personally. I expected Poca to have my back much like Red had Pure’s but Poca was as silent as a church mouse. The quietest I had ever known her to be. It was obvious that I was all alone on this battle. “First off, ya’ girl came at me disrespecting me--”
“Aye, Hypnotic, how my pussy juices taste?” Pure Seduction laughed. “Every time before ya’ nigga hit it, he made sure to clean this pussy with his tongue first!”
Now that was the last straw!
I quickly ran full speed at Pure Seduction and launched my fist right into the side of her head. But before I was able to get in another blow, Red jumped up and snatched me by my hair. Pure Seduction lunged at me before I could get a chance to defend myself against Red. Immediately, a chain reaction set off as several other dancers rushed me, kicking, punching, and slapping me until I had no choice but to fall to the ground. From the corner of my eye, I saw Poca flee from the dressing room without looking back.
“Yeah
, bitch, talk that shit now!” Pure Seduction screamed before delivering a fierce kick to my rib cage.
I cried out in agony and curled into a ball at the excruciating pain. Soon after, my entire body was met with the brutal kicking and stomping of six inch heels.
Blood spurted from my mouth as I experienced the worst pain imaginable. I was completely defenseless against five angry strippers and the only thing I could do was shield my face in hopes that they wouldn’t impale my eye with a heel.
“Tell Silk I said come fuck with a real bitch,” Pure Seduction said before stepping on my bandaged hand.
Tears streamed from my eyes as I screamed out in utter pain. I could feel my bone cracking underneath the weight of her body. After she finally removed her foot, I felt myself losing consciousness fast.
“Check that bitch’s shit and see is she got any money, Red,” Pure instructed. “Yeah, hoe, I remember how you stole my shit.”
A few strippers continued to kick me in the back but my now I was numb to the pain.
“Here you go,” Red said tossing Pure my drawstring money bag.
I quickly felt myself slipping in and out of consciousness, and the last thought that came to mind was the possibility that Pocahontas had set me up for this to happen.
Chapter 13
Internal bleeding, two fractured ribs, and a broken hand. I felt pathetic as ever as I sat in the hospital bed staring blankly at the television screen. Leaving the club as soon as I saw Pure Seduction was the better alternative but I just had to prove myself. Maybe it was the pride in me. Maybe it was the fact that I didn’t like the idea of backing down. Whatever the case may be had cost me greatly. I had gotten the shit beat out of me over a nigga that didn’t respect me enough to keep his dick in his pants.
My thoughts were immediately interrupted after someone tapped softly on the hospital door. To my dismay, the last person I wanted to see sauntered into the room.