Cigar Bar (12 page)

“Sure thing!” the old man replied. “Hey, I’ll tell you what. How ’bout I join ya?”

The trio was walking out the bedroom when Tony realized that he wasn’t quite that strong yet. He stumbled, but before he could fall, pretty Becky caught him with the strength of a man. She held him steady. He smiled as he accepted her help.

Joe yelled downstairs, “Martha, cook us up something to eat! Our guest has arrived.”

Tony went into the bathroom. There was a toothbrush wrapped in plastic that Becky had bought him, along with fresh clothes. He was grateful to her for everything, and he felt just a little better after the quick wash. He headed to the

Martha said, “It’s good to see you up and moving. Whew, you had me scared there for a while.” As she spoke, Tony began to see flashes of the old lady wiping his forehead with a towel. She hugged him and he smiled. Tony felt like he did when he was in his grandmother’s kitchen as a little kid. “How ’bout I make you guys a Rueben?”

“Okay, Martha,” Joe replied.

“And what will you all be drinking?” the lady asked, walking behind the counter. “Not you, Joe! You’re having apple juice.”

The old man was about to protest, but then he threw his hands in the air, turned to the kids, and said, “After fifty-five years, what am I gonna say?”

Becky smiled and wished that she had a love this strong. Tony shivered just a little; it was just some residual sickness from the week past.

“Are you okay, son?” Joe asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Tony said, looking around the little restaurant. There were enough chairs to seat up to 40 people, and the counter could sit another 20 more.

“So, when does it get busy in here?” Tony inquired.

“Oh, I say around four or five in the morning,” said Joe, a huge smile on his face.

“Oh, cut it out,” Martha said. “Honey, my Joe is the only customer we’ve had for over ten years! Every once in a while, somebody might stop by and order a soda, but this is it.”

The old man smiled, looked around at the old building, and added, “Yeah, I’ve been trying to stay, but it’s become a burden for me and the missus. We tried selling it, but no one has bitten. I swear, if somebody gave me ten thousand dollars, I’d give them the whole damn building!”

Tony looked at the old man. “Why would you give your place away so cheap?”

“Because, for what I bought it for way back in sixty-seven, in today’s world, real estate is not too good.”

Martha walked over with the sandwiches and placed them down on the table in front of them. She sat next to her husband, and they all began to eat. She loved watching people eat her food.

As Tony ate, his mind wandered. He looked around.
Wow!
He thought that this place could really be something. “What’s the town like around here? How do the people act, Joe?”

“Well, I tell you something. A lot of bigwigs from the city reside out here. I mean, the people from City Hall. You know, the important folks. There’s the judge that lives just down the road here, but he’s a snobby SOB. We don’t care too much for him.” Tony and Becky laughed.

“Yeah, well, he’s always having some different events at his big house and making all kinds of noise,” Martha chimed in. “I thought he was a nice man, but I’ve seen some things…”

Tony looked at the old couple and said, “This food is wonderful!” He paused, got up, and went up the stairs.

The old couple and Becky looked at him strangely. They thought that perhaps he was headed upstairs to throw up; that’s all he’d been doing for the past week, and maybe the food hadn’t agreed with him.

Tony spotted the briefcase. He opened it up and counted out $50,000. He went back downstairs and dropped the money on the table.

The old couple looked at him, their eyes bulging. “What the hell is this?” Joe asked. He had a wondrous look on his face. Martha just covered her mouth with one hand while the second hand reached out to touch the money.

Tony responded, “You said you wanna sell. Well, here’s fifty thou! Now, you take this lovely lady here and go visit some family, take a trip. I would like to purchase your establishment.”

Joe jumped to his feet. “Gosh darned! I don’t have time to play games with you, young man! Well, I don’t know who you think I am or where in the hell you got all this money from, but I don’t want any part of it! Please, take your things and leave!” Then he pulled his wife’s chair out and said, “Martha, let’s go.” Martha protested. “Martha, I won’t say it again! I’m your husband!” he said with authority.

“Joe,” Tony interrupted, “how long have you been here?”

“We’ve been here for forty-seven years.”

“Don’t you think it’s time you and your wife relaxed a little and didn’t have to worry about any bills?” Tony paused, then said, “Just picture it…” He put his arm around the old man’s shoulder, “White, sandy beaches, lounge chairs overlooking the bluest ocean you’ve ever seen… And if you look into the distance, you say to yourself, ‘What the heck is that? No, it couldn’t be!’ But, Joe, there it is right in front of you: dolphins jumping up and down in the sunrise as you enjoy your house on the beach!”

Joe stared at Tony as he contemplated his words. Martha had a twinkle in her eye as Tony continued to entice the elderly couple into selling their restaurant.

“This is my plan. I’m going to turn this place into a very classy joint,” Tony said, looking around. “This is a new age.” Tony turned to the couple and said, “Picture it! The stage will be here, and I’ll have two small bars. Becky and I will stay upstairs, and we’ll transform this place into an exclusive cigar bar. Yeah,” Tony said as he visualized it.

“And here’s the best part, Joe: it’s gonna remain yours. Every month I’ll send you a check, depending on how well we do, of course. What I’m trying to tell you, Joe, is, I don’t know if you have children or not, but if you were my mom and pop, I’d love to come take over the business while you two retired to Florida! Go enjoy your beautiful wife and the sunshine! Go fishing! Hell, if I do well enough, then maybe you could buy a sailboat, one of those VanDutches. I hear they’re the best ones out there. All I ask for is your trust.”

With that, Tony rested his case. The old man looked at Tony, extended his hand, and said, “Martha, pack our stuff. We’re going to Fiji!”

Martha couldn’t believe what she heard. She didn’t know whether to grab the money from the table or run and pack. She was stumped and just stood there. She screamed, “Oh dear! Oh dear!”

Everyone began to laugh. They sat back down and finished their lunch as Tony laid out his plan.

CHAPTER 7

Sherry

• • •

Amber and Sherry had rented
a hotel room downtown. They had decided before they went out that they were going do a little heroin, but the
little
they did messed them up badly. The girls hadn’t moved for eight hours. They were laid out on the floor. The whole time they lay there, Sherry dreamed of Tony.

She saw him walk into the hotel room, watched him bend down, and felt him tease her pussy again. In slow motion, he not only licked her clit, but he tasted it. He sucked on her clit and lightly nibbled on it. She was going crazy. Then he stood in front of her, and his extra-blue eyes turned into the ocean. She found herself drowning. Then his hand pulled her back up and up and up until the ocean turned into the bluest sky. Sherry found herself lying on a cloud, her legs wide open, and he inserted himself in her tightness. She squealed with longing desire as he began to play around in her, hitting the walls with precise strikes. She squealed in ecstasy, reaching up to grab him, but he was not there.

When she opened her eyes and wiped the dribble from her face, she looked around the room and remembered that she and Amber were at the hotel. She looked to her left and saw Amber was out cold.

“Amber! Amber! Wake up!” Sherry shook her girlfriend.

“Oh shit! What time is it?” inquired Amber, blinking to clear her eyes and then staring at her phone. “Oh shit! It’s fuckin’ four o’clock! Damn! We must have gotten fucked up!
Shit!
Come on!” Amber said, trying to rush her.

“For what?” Sherry protested. “It’s fuckin’ four in the morning! What are we gonna get into out there at this time?”

“What, you’d rather stay here in this fuckin’ hotel room?? Amber asked.

“Why not? It’s paid for!” Sherry responded

“Okay, listen. I have a friend that has an apartment, and he usually has one of those hangout parties that lasts all the way through the day. It’s just a nonstop party. Let’s go hang out there for a minute, and if you’re not having fun, we’ll come back here, okay?”

“Well, okay,” Sherry replied. “Just as long as we got somewhere to go, girl. Should we bring this?” Sherry held up the bag of heroin.

“Sure, why not? Where we’re goin’, they might need more.”

“What about the money?” Sherry asked.

“Yeah, let’s take some of it just in case.” Amber counted out two thousand.

“Cool. First, let me take a quick shower,” Sherry said. “I feel sticky and shit.”

Before they checked into the hotel, the young girls had each bought a couple of outfits. They were prepared for the days ahead. As Sherry stepped into the shower, Amber got on the phone.

“Yo, Dre, what up, my man?” Amber had been creeping around with a young black guy, to whom she’d give anything, and she knew that he’d want Sherry. She hadn’t told Sherry yet. “I got a surprise for you, baby.”

“Fuck that! Where the fuck you been? I know you see I called your fuckin’ ass! You was supposed to be here a long fuckin’ time ago, yo!”

“Baby, I’m sorry, but I got something you are gonna love. I promise,” she said as she looked in the bathroom. She could see Sherry strip down, bend over, and turn the shower on. Amber bit her lip and added, “Oh, yeah, we’re both gonna enjoy this.”

“Well, hurry up!” The man hung up.

Amber put the phone down and turned to Sherry. “Can I take a shower with you?”

“Ew, no!” Sherry screamed. “I’ll be done in two seconds.”

“Come on, Sherry! You’re spoiling the fun!”

“Well, we can have fun later. Now let’s hurry up!”

“Okay,” Amber said as she got into the shower.

Sherry was standing in front of the mirror, blow-drying her hair and applying a bit of makeup. “So, Amber, are there gonna be a lot of men there?”

“I don’t know. Why? You don’t wanna meet anybody but Tony.” Amber said from the shower.

“No, that’s not it at all. I think I might wanna meet someone.”

“Oh, now you’re talking, girl,” Amber said, opening the curtain to give her a wet high five.

They laughed, finished getting dressed, and quickly made their exit. The pair drove down the Westside Highway. Amber put her blue tooth on and played Avant’s “Read Your Mind,” and then she began to gyrate to the music. Sherry joined her, squirming in her seat as the girls enjoyed the ride.

They made it up 117 Street and St. Nicholas Avenue. Sherry looked around and became really nervous. “Amber, are you sure two white girls should be out here in Harlem at this fuckin’ hour?”

Amber laughed. “Girl, please! I know a lot of people up here. We cool!”

“All right, if you say so.” Sherry was still a little apprehensive. They were driving along and made it to 118 Street and Madison Avenue.

Amber pulled over and parked. “Come on, girl; this my boy Dre. He has lots of friends but they’re all black.”

Sherry’s mind went back to an earlier time. She recalled seeing
a young
boy sitting among some older ladies, his extra-long dick hanging out. She said, “Oh, okay. I might be able to do something with a black guy.”

As they walked to the building, Dre was sitting on the ledge of a large window waiting. “Yo, what up?” he yelled down to them. Then he pushed the buzzer that allowed them entry into the building. They headed toward the stairs and went up. They had to climb two flights to reach Dre’s apartment.

Inside the house, slow jams were playing in the background. The smell of incense permeated the apartment. From the moment they walked in, the girls felt at peace. Mary J. Blige’s voice came through the stereo: “I never wanna live without you, baby. I want to be your lady.” The ambience was wonderful. As they entered the living room, Sherry spotted three black girls and four young black men sitting on a couch.

“Everybody, this is my people Amber, and that’s her girlfriend.” The young man introduced them to the group.

“Hi. Her name is Sherry,” Amber interjected. Sherry smiled and waved at the group.

In unison, the people responded, “What’s up?”

But two of the black girls saw Sherry and how beautiful she was. One said, “Oh, hell no!” Jealousy kicked right in. “Who the fuck are these two white bitches?”

“Shut the fuck up and fall back!” one of the other girls said.

Another yelled, “You always trying to start some shit with somebody! Shit, bitch!”

Sherry froze. She didn’t know if she should say something or if she should just keep her mouth quiet. But she didn’t need to say anything.

Amber said, “Excuse me, bitch? I really don’t think this is some shit you wanna get into! Don’t let the white skin fool you, bitch! I will get up in that ass! I’m from Queens!” Amber stared the black girl down.

“Oh no, this white bitch didn’t!” said the black girl as she began to rise and get belligerent. She snatched her earrings out and tried to jump up, but was stopped abruptly by the man sitting next to her.

He took hold of her arm hard and fast. “Sit the fuck down! Damn! Every fuckin’ time we go somewhere, your ass gotta prove how tough you are! Damn, we get how you like to fight and shit. Now can you fuckin’ relax and have a good time?!
Fuck!
”

The girl said nothing. She pouted and rolled her big eyes. The others in the room chuckled loudly.

“Fuck you, D! You supposed to be on my side, shit! They not giving you no pussy, I am! If you wanna fuck with these hoes, then be my guest!” The girl jumped up and stormed out the door, but not before turning around for a promise. “White bitch, I promise you, this shit ain’t over! I’m gonna see yo ass one day!” She opened, then slammed the door hard, knocking a couple of pictures of the wall.

“What the fuck?” Dre said, sprinting to the door. He opened the front door and caught the girl on the steps. He grabbed her by the neck and slammed her against the wall. “Bitch, slam my door like that again, and I will fuck you up!” Then he shoved her down three steps. The girl didn’t fall, but she hit the wall with force.

She was shocked. She never expected that to happen to her. Dre walked angrily back into the house, slamming his door. She pulled out her phone and dialed a number.

By the time she made it to the front door and exited the building, she was crying loudly. “Hello, Peanut?”

“What the fuck is wrong?” Peanut asked his baby sister.

Through her tears, she told him what had just happened. However, when she said the part about being thrown down the stairs, she made it seem as if Dre had thrown her down a flight of concrete steps. Her dramatic behavior made it seem like she was bleeding profusely and needed medical attention.

“What? Lil’ sis, sit tight! I’m on my way! Damn!” The man known as Peanut was another of the thugs who tried to make a name for himself. If there was ever an opportunity, Peanut never looked a gift horse in the mouth. He picked up his phone. “Yo, Slick, you and Tommy meet me downstairs! We got some work to do.”

“Nah, son!” Slick replied. “Nigga, I got that shorty with the big ass over, you know, from last night.”

Peanut shouted, “Nigga! Fuck that bitch! Tell her ass to chill while we get this money, nigga!! Fuck!”

“Cool, nigga, damn! Don’t have to have a fuckin’ heart attack.” He put the phone down. “Listen, baby girl, I gotta go meet up with my man and handle some business. I need you to stay right here, butt-ass naked in the bed, and I promise I will make it worth your while.”

He looked the girl up and down. She looked like a Cherokee Indian—beyond beautiful, with long, brown hair and light-brown eyes. She had the fattest ass that walked across the street. When they saw her in the club, everyone tried to holla at her; men
and
women.
She chose you, nigga!
Slick felt like a king but he continued to beg. “Please, Mama!”

She smiled as she thought about what he asked. Slick was cute, with his hazel eyes and rough exterior. What she liked the most about him was the five-inch-long scar on his face. It was obvious that somebody had tried to take him out, and that element of danger turned her on. Now here he was, asking her to stay in bed alone while he went out to do his thing.
Nigga, that shit makes my pussy pulsate.
But she couldn’t let him know that. He had to beg.

“Well, shit, I don’t know. I know a lot of niggas and bitches that would love to spend the night with this.” She got out of bed and reached for her pants.

He tucked his gun into the waist of his pants and ran to her. “Wait, baby, please. I promise. When I get back, I will take care of you and that body.”

Slick pushed her back onto the bed and dove facefirst into her. He pulled his gun out and placed it on the dresser. He lifted the girl’s legs above his shoulders and stuck his tongue deep into her crevice and slowly moved from side to side, making sure to feel every inch of her walls. Finally, he reached his destination. He flicked his tongue over and over the little knob in the back that he loved so much. India went crazy as he pleased her. Then he stopped, put his gun back in his pants, and left her leaking on the bed. “Please, baby, just wait here, and I promise, you will be very happy you did.” Then he pulled his dick out. It was at least ten inches long and about four inches around. He put it away. “And I promise you, it gets bigger.”

“Wow!” He left her lying on the bed, amazed. She touched her soaking essence and moaned, “I’ll be right here, baby, I promise.” Slick exited the apartment.

When he got downstairs, the boys were already there. They jumped into the car.

“So what up?” Tommy asked.

“Yo, this nigga violated my sister. He threw her down the stairs after choking her out, man! Yeah, she might have some broken bones and shit. We gonna go handle this nigga and check this shit out. That nigga, D, her man, he was standing over her laughing!”

“Oh shit! Word?” Slick asked. “Okay, no Q and A. Let’s rock!”

Tommy just cocked his gun and said nothing.

The men jumped onto the FDR Drive. They were Uptown, on 145 Street. Once they arrived on 125 Street, they pulled off the exit and made a left onto Seventh Avenue. They got out of the car on 117 and walked up from St. Nick to Madison by the park. They sparked up an L and got their puff on while they walked.

Back at the house, Big D decided to go ahead and push up on Amber’s friend to no avail. He got a little pissed when Sherry, Amber, and Dre went into the bedroom and locked the door.

Removing her jacket, Amber said, “Sherry, let me ask you a question.” Dre sat down on the bed and lit a blunt. He was only wearing shorts, so he didn’t have far to go to be completely undressed. “I’m gonna get right to the point, Sherry. You and I are gonna have some fun tonight.”

“What kind of fun?” Sherry asked, surprised.

“Well, we want you to have a threesome with us, girl. Don’t tell me you’re not horny. Shit, even though I was high, I saw you rubbing on your pussy like you were about to break it.” Sherry was ashamed when she heard that, and she blushed with embarrassment. Amber was good. She leaned in and gently placed her hand in the small of Sherry’s back. She whispered, “Don’t be ashamed. I was doing the same thing, and when I was doing it, I was picturing me eating your pussy.”

Then she kissed her neck, slowly moving her wet tongue down, leaving a slick trail. Sherry began to shutter. She looked in front of her and saw the front of the boy’s shorts had begun to rise. Her eyes went ballistic.

“Wait, wait,” she said to Amber, snatching herself away. “I don’t know about this. I need some more dope.”

“How do you do yours?” Dre asked Sherry.

“I sniff it, why?”

“Oh man,” he said to her. “This one is on me.” He walked to his dresser and brought back a tray with a needle on it. He prepared a shot of heroin and flicked the side of the needle. “Come here,” he said to Sherry.

“For what?”

“Listen,” Dre said, “If you’re gonna get high by just sniffing it, you’re wasting time and money. Mainline and you’ll feel a big difference.”

Sherry hesitated. “I don’t know about that.”

“Shoot, hit me up, Dre,” Amber said. He tied the girl’s arm and injected the liquid into her.

Amber fell back and nodded hard. She was in another world, then reached up, found Dre’s wood, and pulled it from his pants. She began to suck deep and hard.