For the Strength of You (17 page)

“Damn right I'm serious.”

“Do you know how fuckin' ridiculous you sound? You don't even know me,” he snapped, getting heated.

“I don't have to know you. All y'all niggas is alike.” Unique stood her ground. She didn't know it, but she was fuckin' with the wrong one. She couldn't talk that slick shit with Bigg and get away with it like she did with Tone. He was about to set her ass straight.

“Get the fuck outta here with that bullshit. You know you played yourself, ma, 'cause for a minute there I actually thought I saw something in you, but I guess I was wrong. You just like all of these other hoes in here who only want a nigga for what they got.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me. Kick rocks, ma. Beat it.”

“Nigga, please! Fuck you, wit' yo' broke ass.” Unique rolled her eyes and walked away.

“Who was that you was over there arguing wit'?” Zoë questioned.

“That was Cezar's punk-ass friend Bigg that just came home from jail.”

“Girl, you trippin. He fine as hell, lookin' like Young Buck. You better fuck him before I do.”

“Trust me, you can have him. He's a lame!” Unique yelled while looking over her shoulder, hoping that Bigg could hear her. He could, and he was staring right at her.

“Yeah, a'ight. Don't be mad when you call me and I say I can't talk 'cause he got his dick in my mouth,” Zoë joked.

“Girl, shut up. Let's go dance.”

* * *

Two hours later, the club was letting out and the party was over. Standing outside in front of the club, everyone was busy trying to think of where to go next. Unique hadn't been out clubbing in months, so kicking it until six in the morning was the only thing on her mind.

Running, Unique caught up with Cezar before he got into his truck, to see where he was going. Unbeknownst to her, one of her diamond earrings had fallen out of her ear.

“Where y'all getting ready to go?”

“We're heading over to the Pink Slip. Why?” Cezar replied.

“I thought we were going to hit up another club.”

“Nah, you know my man just coming home. We tryin' to see some ass and titties tonight.”

“Eww, whatever. I'ma holla at you later then.” Unique scrunched up her face, giving him a hug good-bye.

Disappointed with the change of events, Unique poked her bottom lip out and got into the car with Zoë and Kiara. Fifteen minutes later, they were pulling up to her building.

“A'ight, I'ma holla at y'all later,” Unique said, getting out of the car. Both Zoë and Kiara said good-bye.

Riding up the elevator, she reflected back on Bigg and how fine he was. Deep down she was disappointed at how things had turned out. Closing the door a little harder than usual, Unique startled her sister.

“Unique, is that you?” Patience asked as she entered the house.

“Yeah, did anybody call me?”

“Yeah,” Patience replied, coming down the steps. Staring at her li'l sister, Unique could only smile. She was the spitting image of their mother. Pretty, with caramel-colored skin, chinky eyes, and a bad shape, Patience had it going on. “How was the party?”

“It was cool.” Unique sighed, plopping down on the couch. She hated to admit it, but the girl was beat. “Did the money get here yet?”

“Yeah, it came while you were 'sleep earlier. Tone called you about ten times, too.”

“Fuck that nigga. He can keep calling, but enough about him. What's going on with you?”

“Nothing. I've just been having a lot of stuff on my mind lately.”

“Well, whatever it is, you know you can talk to me about it, right?”

“Yeah . . . it's just complicated, that's all.”

“I'm not going to pressure you, but whenever you're ready to talk, I'm here.”

“Okay. Are we going to see Mommy this weekend?”

“Yep.”

“I can't wait. I miss her.” Patience got up from the couch.

“Me too. Are you going to bed?”

“Yeah. I'm going to church tomorrow with Miss Mae.”

“That woman know she love you.”

“You're not going to bed?”

“Nah, not yet.”

“Well, all right. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

Looking around the room, Unique examined her spacious loft. The first time she had seen it, she knew she had to have it. She had never seen anything like it. The ceiling and floors were wooden, and the walls were painted a deep orange color, which gave off a sensual vibe. The cream-colored sectional, brown throw pillows, glass table, wooden ottoman, plants, and art set off the entire living room.

In front of the oversized windows, Unique stood and gazed over the city of St. Louis. Every night she thanked God for allowing them to live in a place as beautiful as their home, but she would trade it all in a second if she could have her mother back. Nobody knew how unhappy Unique was, except for Patience. Unique didn't confide in anyone about her true feelings, not even her cousins.

To them she had a perfect life, if you could call stealing cars and playing men for their money a perfect life. Unique had men that provided her and her sister with whatever they wanted without question. Women were dying to be in her position, and she would gladly give it up if she didn't have to support her little sister.

Checking her watch, Unique saw that it was going on three o'clock in the morning, so she decided to head upstairs for bed. Too tired to put on any pajamas, Unique peeled off her clothes and climbed into bed naked.

* * *

Over on the east side of St. Louis, Bigg sat with a drink in his hand and a stripper on his lap, but he couldn't get the thought of Unique out of his mind. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but something about her was very intriguing.

With her in mind, he pulled out the earring that had fallen from her ear back at the club. Bigg couldn't help but grin. Looking at it brought back their entire conversation. Unique's mouth was a little out of control, but he knew that with a little thug love, he could fix that problem.

She was the flyest chick he had ever seen. Even though her looks resembled that of your typical girl next door, there was a roughness about her that intrigued the hell out of him. He wanted to get to know her, see what was in her head.

Tired of the club scene, Bigg decided he was ready to go home, so he tossed the broad on his lap a twenty and told her to get up.

“Where you going?” Cezar questioned.

“I'm getting ready to burn out but, ah, where shorty live at?”

“Who?”

“Unique, nigga, that's who.”

“You just won't give up, will you?”

“It ain't even nothing like that. She dropped something back at the club, and I want to give it to her.”

“Yeah, right. She stay downtown on Washington in the Merchandise Mart building.”

Less than five minutes later, Bigg was on the highway headed back downtown.

* * *

Knocked out, dreaming of fucking Bigg, Unique was awakened by the sound of someone beating on her front door. Pissed off because she had been in a good sleep, Unique jumped out of bed, grabbed her robe, and headed for the stairs.

“Who is it?” she asked, sounding a little hoarse.

“Bigg.”

Startled, she stood shocked for a second. “How you know where I stay? You some kinda stalker or something?”

“Never that, sweetheart. Cezar told me where you stayed. Your earring fell out while we were standing outside the club, so I figured I'd bring it to you.”

Reaching up, Unique felt her ear; her earring was gone. Quickly she unlocked the door and came face to face with Bigg. She couldn't get over how fine he was. Bigg was the kind of nigga that you wanted to go half on a baby with.

“You know you got a smart-ass mouth.” He eyed her up and down lustfully.

“Take it or leave it. That's just how I am.” She snatched her earring from his hand.

“You're welcome,” he said sarcastically while staring at her body.

Bigg had never seen a body like Unique's. She was perfectly proportioned in all the right places. Her robe was short, so he had a perfect view of her thighs and legs. For a minute, he allowed himself to wonder how they would feel wrapped around him.

Just when he thought it couldn't get any better, the top of her robe slightly opened, revealing one of her honey-colored breasts. Her brown, round areola was staring him smack dab in the face and begging him to come suck it. It took everything in Bigg to control himself. His dick was harder than a muthafucka.

“Thank you.” Noticing his eyes on her chest, she realized that her robe was open. Embarrassed, she pulled it together again.

“If you're done staring at my breasts, I was asleep,” Unique stressed, standing back on one of her legs with her hand on her hip.

“What breasts? I know you ain't talkin' about those little bitty muthafuckas,” he joked.

“What you say?”

“Nothing. I'ma check you later, shorty.” Bigg laughed some.

“Yeah, whatever!” Unique slammed the door in his face.

Back upstairs in her bedroom, writhing in embarrassment over Bigg seeing her breast, Unique sat on the edge of the bed with her face in her hands. She couldn't get Bigg's eyes out of her mind. His eyes had shown more intensity and desire in just a split second than any other man she had ever known. Unique knew that she had to stay away from him before she ended up doing something she had no business doing.

* * *

A couple of weeks had passed since Bigg's party, and things in Unique's life had gotten back to normal. Business was booming, and she and the girls were in and out of town at least twice a month. Sitting on Cezar's couch, Unique flipped through the latest issue of
Us Weekly
magazine while chewing a piece of spearmint gum.

Over the years, she and Cezar had built a very close friendship. Unique proved herself to be a ride or die chick. Cezar respected her gangsta. He respected her so much that he gave her the keys to his house. Only she and his mother had a set. Looking around his crib, Unique had to admit Cezar was doing the damn thing.

His $565,ooo home in Chesterfield held a spacious living room, gourmet kitchen, three bathrooms, four bedrooms, a game room, and an outdoor pool. Sitting down on his Mesa leather sectional, Unique ran her hands across the butter-soft material. The Sanibel coffee table that she had picked out years before sat in the middle of the floor. On top of it was an exotic, apple-green vase filled with white calla lilies.

Irritated, she checked her watch and wondered what was taking him so long. Cezar had asked her to meet him at his house at two o'clock for a meeting. Looking at her watch, she saw that it was now going on three o'clock. If Unique had one pet peeve, it was when people were late and didn't bother to call. Hearing footsteps nearing the door, Unique continued to read the magazine, pissed off.

“Took you long enough!” she yelled over her shoulder without looking up.

“My bad. Me and Bigg lost track of time.”

Hearing his name caused Unique's heart to drop out of her chest. She didn't know what it was about him, but the nigga had her going. Playing it cool, she continued to act mad.

“Next time call. You know I hate to wait.”

Taking a seat across from her, Bigg scoped out Unique's physique while she pretended to ignore him. She looked fly as hell. Her all-black Gucci glasses shielded her eyes, but everything else on her was exposed for all to see. Her reddish blonde hair was flat-ironed bone-straight to the back, and MAC clear lip gloss adorned her lips.

She wore an all-black wife beater, which exposed her full breasts and read
Rich Bitch
, a pair of black 7 For All Mankind booty shorts that showcased her thick butterscotch thighs and legs, and on her feet were a pair of black patent leather Yves Saint Laurent stilettos. Bigg had to admit the chick was bad.

“You can't speak?” he asked.

“Hi,” she spoke dryly.

Bigg could only shake his head and laugh. Sitting in his favorite spot on the couch, Cezar leaned forward and began to speak.

“I got a job for you two.”

“What is it?” Unique asked, perplexed, taking off her glasses. She never did a job without the girls.

“I'm switching my supplier.”

“Why? What's wrong with Jose?”

“Jose be on some bullshit. All of sudden this nigga going up on his prices. Ain't no way in hell I'm gon' pay twenty five Gs a brick when I can get 'em for fifteen from my man Jackson down in Louisiana.”

“So, what you need me and Unique to do?”

“I need for y'all to go down there and set everything up. I have the car and hotel already set up for you. You'll be leaving Thursday night, and I expect you back by Sunday afternoon.”

“Why can't we be in and out? I ain't trying to be down there the entire weekend with this nigga.” Unique scrunched up her face, agitated.

“Yo, ma, what's the deal? You got a problem with me or something?” Bigg asked, heated. He had enough of her and her smart mouth.

“Yeah, I got a problem wit' you. I got my own li'l thing going on. I don't want to be bothered wit' yo' crazy-lookin' ass.”

“Check it, ma. I've been making moves since you was in a training bra. You and your li'l gang of car-thieving friends ain't seen half the dough I've seen, so don't get it twisted. You will show me some respect.”

Appalled, Unique sat quietly. She couldn't think of anything else to say. The only thing she could come up with to do was suck her teeth, roll her eyes, and say, “Whatever.”