Bitch Reloaded (17 page)

"You don't, but I'm telling you it is. It's up to you. So what you want to do?"

"Let's do this." I hung up the phone and noticed the girl disappear into a deli near the drop-off location.

Then I turned to Maya. Homegirl might've been telling the truth, but this shit was too important to gamble on. I needed to sit the bitch down and get to the bottom of some things. "Maya, you always wanna be so down, I got a task for you that can earn you some stripes."

Maya's eyes lit up real bright. "What is it?"

"First, twist your hair in a bun, and I want you to put on my baseball cap," I directed as I took off my hat. Luckily Maya and I were about the same complexion and fairly the same build. With the hat on, no one could tell for sure if it was me or not, assuming that the woman knew what I looked like.

Maya did what I asked and began getting excited at the thought of being down with my scheme.

"Now what, Precious?"

"Take this bag and drop it in that garbage right there," I said, pointing to the corner where the trashcan was. "But before you do so, make sure you get the envelope from underneath the phone booth. Do you understand?" I asked slowly and precisely.

"Yes. Get the envelope from under the phone booth and then leave this duffel bag in the trashcan," she repeated.

"Exactly. When you're done, I want you to wait for me in that drug store across the street. You got your cell?" Maya nodded her head yes. "Okay, I'll call you when it's time for you to come out the store. It's imperative that you follow my exact instructions."

"I promise I won't let you down."

I watched as Maya walked across the street with the duffel bag in tow. She went directly to the phone booth, patted her hand under the bottom and ripped off the envelope. She then dropped the bag in the trash and proceeded towards the drug store as instructed. With Maya in place, I slowly drove my car directly across the street where the trashcan was on my left-hand side. I eagerly waited for the woman to come out, because I was positioned much closer to where the bag was located and would retrieve it before she ever had a chance. I already had my 9mm resting underneath a jacket, and the second I noticed the woman walking towards the trashcan I swung into action. I reached the duffel bag in what seemed to be one leap.

"Excuse me miss, that's mine!" She screamed out, not realizing who I was.

We were now face-to-face, and before she could say another word or run for safety I had my piece rubbed up against her ribs. "Now I can either drop you right here on 42nd Street, or you can take a ride wit' me. It's up to you.

The woman's whole body was shaking. This must have been the first time she ever felt steel that shot bullets. "Please don't shoot me!" she said with her voice trembling.

"I guess that means you'll take that ride wit' me. I'm sure you can drive, so get in the driver's seat."

"I'm not really comfortable driving a Range Rover."

"Well, bitch, get comfortable, `cause you only working wit' two choices. Drive or die."

As the woman started up the truck, I kept the gun to her side as I called Maya.

"Hi, Precious. How did I do?" she asked with a sound of pride in her voice.

"Excellent. You still got that envelope?"

"Yes, I'm guarding it tightly."

"Cool. Can you stay there for about ten more minutes?"

"Yeah, that's no problem."

"Good. I'll call you back shortly."

"I could've sworn I saw you drop off the duffel bag and take the envelope," said the girl with tears streaming down her face. "I even waited a few minutes and watched you leave."

"Nah, your eyes were playing tricks on you, but this gun is the real deal. Now pull right over there in that abandoned parking lot."

"Are you going to kill me?"

"That's up to you. I definitely don't have a problem killing you, but it depends if you gonna answer my questions truthfully, or if you're gonna lie."

"What do you want to know?" The high-yellow heifer had beads of sweat coating her forehead. She couldn't even hide her fear.

"Who the fuck gave you my number, and who the fuck sent you after me? Answer those questions and you might have a chance of seeing another day."

The girl swallowed hard. She didn't look any older than twenty three, and I wondered how she got involved in this bullshit. I could still smell the Similac on her breath.

"Listen to me. I'm about to tell you the truth," she said, twisting in her seat as she prepared to spit her story. "This girl that I'm cool with called me like a few weeks ago asking me did I want to make some easy money. And of course I was down for it `cause I'm in school and I do little bullshit videos and stuff on the side to make a couple of dollars. So, I was like, as long as I don't end up in jail or dead I'm down for whatever."

The girl then looked down, eyeing my gun as if pleading, Please don't kill me!

"So the girl promised me that the job was real easy. All I had to do was call this chick up and say x, y and z, collect some money, and I'm good."

"Yo, your story sounds like some bullshit."

"I swear! Look in my purse and you'll see the notes she gave me.

I kept my gun purposely aimed at the girl and grabbed her purse that was sitting on her lap.

"There it is, right there," she gestured with her finger, pointing to a manila envelope.

I opened it and saw what appeared to be a highly specific script. It even had the comment Nico made in reference to death before he shot me. I studied every word on the script, looking for a clue. "I don't see anything on here about how much money you were supposed to ask me for in order to get the information on Nico."

"She never gave me one. That's why the first time I spoke to you I had to cut our conversation short, because I wanted to find out what amount of money to say. The girl told me to ask for whatever I wanted, because more than likely you would pay. Plus, she said your paper was like that. She did tell me to ask you for a cute amount, and give her twenty-five percent since she put me on. The deal I made with you was going to pay for my tuition, and I wouldn't have to do videos no damn more. I get tired of having to fuck bum-ass rappers and their boys all the time. I couldn't believe it when you agreed to the amount, but now I see why you planned on snatching me up regardless."

"So, did the girl show you a picture of me?"

"Nope."

"Did she tell you who she was working for?"

"Nope, she kept everything real simple. It's like a bunch of us that all run in the video girl circuit, and she was just putting me on to some quick dough."

"What's her name?"

"Who's name?"

"Bitch, the chick that set this shit up?"

"Oh, her name, LeeLee."

"What was the next move you were supposed to make after I picked up the envelope and you got the money?"

"She told me to call her and let her know you picked up the envelope and I got the money. That was it."

"Well then, that's what you gonna do. What's yo' name, Ma?"

"Vita."

"Night, here," I said, handing Vita her phone. "Call that chick, LeeLee and tell her that I must've changed my mind `cause I never showed up. Tell her you've been waiting for over an hour, and when you tried to call me I didn't pick up my phone. You understand?"

"Yeah," Vita nodded her head.

"But yo, don't play no clue games wit' your homegirl. `Cause sweetheart, I would hate to have your brains splattered in my Range Rover, but if that's what has to be done, then than so be it."

"No, I won't try nothing, I-I-I promise," Vita stuttered. "If I knew it was going to be all this drama I would've said forget it.

"What type of shit did you think you were being a part of when you were calling me, demanding money, and throwing faulty shit around about a nigga that tried to kill me?" I questioned.

"Honestly, I didn't want to know. Some easy money was the only thing on my mind."

"Huh, I guess nobody schooled you that all money ain't good money. Now make that call."

As Vita dialed LeeLee's number, I unzipped a bag full of goodies I brought for today's mission. I listened intently as she let her friend know the deal never went down. I could hear the frustration in the girl's voice as she asked Vita a million questions. Finally, I motioned my hand letting her know to wrap up the conversation. When she hung up I made my next move.

"Are you going to let me go now?" A naive Vita asked.

"Do you know what information is in that envelope my partner picked up?" I asked her, ignoring the bogus question she hit me with.

"I assume the address to where the guy Nico is. I already told you that."

I hope it is the correct address, because there's nothing like the element of surprise. If Nico and whoever is helping him thinks I never picked up the envelope, then they won't be expecting me to show up. Fucked up for them, but great for me, I thought to myself. "Just checking, making sure your story is legit. Now put your hands behind your back." Vita looked down strangely at the handcuffs I was holding. "What, you ain't neva seen no handcuffs before?"

"Why, you want me to put these on?"

I chuckled for a minute, wondering why dumb broads get themselves involved in shit that's way out of their league. She is playing with her life over greed, and she wasn't even a warrior. "Vita, don't ask me no questions just make things easier on yourself and do as I say," I told her calmly.

"Are you going to kill me?" Her eyes were filled with tears and fear.

"If I wanted you dead, you would be. So just cooperate and we good."

She breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly complied with my request. I then pulled out my rope, tied her feet up, and then put duct tape over her mouth. I pushed the seats in the back down and directed her to get in the trunk. As she lay with her feet facing me, I tied her legs up. Without saying a word, I used the butt of my gun to pound her in the back of her head, and she was out like a light. I hoped she would remain unconscious until I finished handling my business. I covered her up with blankets and pushed the seats back up.

My next stop was to scoop Maya up. I called her, and right when I pulled up to the drug store she came outside. "Is everything cool?" she asked after closing the door.

"Yeah, you did real good. Now let me have that envelope."

Maya pulled the envelope out of her pocket and I ripped it open. Nico's name was written at the top with an address underneath. I knew this had to be a setup. They were expecting me to drop the money, pick up the envelope, go to the address and then be ambushed. The shit might've worked if I hadn't snatched up Vita, but now I hoped that I had turned the tables and I would ambush they're asses.

I pulled up to the address on the paper, and I couldn't help but think the area seemed so familiar. I didn't come to Chelsea often, but I knew I had been in this area recently. I looked around trying to see a landmark, but then my cell rang, bringing me out of my thoughts. I saw that it was Jamal calling. I eyed the clock and realized it was two o'clock.

"Hi, Jamal," I said with ease.

"Precious, where are you and where is Nina?"

"Nina? She hasn't gotten to the hotel yet?"

"No. I figured she was with you. She's not picking up her phone and nobody seems to know where she is."

"No, Nina isn't with me. I got caught up in some drama with Mike's little sister, and now I'm stuck in traffic, but I should be there shortly. Nina probably left her phone someplace and is stuck in traffic too. When's the last time you spoke to her?"

"Last night before she left to stay at one of her girlfriends' houses. She didn't want me to see her again until she walked down the aisle."

"Jamal, I'm sure Nina will be there any minute. There's nothing that can keep her from marrying you. Just hold tight, I'll be there shortly."

"You're right, but hurry up. I want you to be here," Jamal said, sounding much calmer.

"I will."

I glanced at Maya, and she was giving me the lips poked out look. "What?" I asked her after hanging up with Jamal.

"Some drama came up with `Mike's sister'? How you gon' blame your tardiness on me?"

"You claim you wanna be down, so let's call you taking the blame on that earning your stripes."

"Well, if you put it like that, I'm cool," Maya said, smacking her lips like she was `bout it `bout it.

I refocused on my surroundings. I was parked a few buildings down from the address on the paper. I was checking to see if any familiar faces went in or came out, mainly Nico's. I wasn't expecting to see him, but then again, anything was possible. I eyed the clock again and time was definitely not on my side. If Nico was in there, then I needed to handle my business and be out.

"Maya, I want you to sit tight. I have to run up in that building, and hopefully I won't be gone too long. If an emergency comes up, call my cell, if I don't pick up, here." I handed her two hundred dollars. "Take a cab over to the hotel where the wedding is. But no matter what, don't tell anybody about what went down this afternoon. If anybody asks, just say I dropped you off at the hotel and said I'd be back shortly. You understand?"

"I understand, but you are coming back, right?" She reached over and gave me a hug. My eyes locked with hers, and I saw traces of panic and genuine concern.