The more I stared at her, the more motivation I had to make a move. In a matter of seconds, any thoughts of Duke were out the door.
“Fuck that nigga, Duke. He needs to see the flip side of the game. He wants to play hardball; well I'm 'bout to pitch!” I said to myself then sipped my drink, still watching BJ's every move.
I planned to make her mistress material. Duke had played his last joker card on me. I was 'bout to make that nigga really feel the wrath. I swallowed the rest of my drink in a hurry so I could meet her halfway, but before I could move, she was already headed in another direction. Ironically, she was headed toward that same Jamaican cat that C was trying to get at earlier in the night.
This nigga must really be doing it! I thought as I watched him and BJ chat away. I knew my li'l soldier was putting down for shortie, so she wasn't hurting for no money. And shit, from the way things had been looking, I thought shortie was head over heels for my li'l man. Guess she heard about that HI incident with C after all.
I watched as she laughed and drank with dude. She seemed to really be enjoying herself, so I decided to lay off her. That was the best choice anyway. For one second, reality had begun to set in. That was Duke's girl. What the fuck was I thinking?
Hell, I knew exactly what I was thinking. I was thinking that nigga keep testing me. That nigga didn't listen. That nigga was fucking C, li'l shortie, and now on the verge of fucking my girl too. Phone sex was just the first step. I recognized the game 'cause I taught it to him. Danielle was vulnerable right now, seeking attention, trying to get a reaction out of me. What better way to do it than to feed into Duke's bullshit passes? She was falling right into the trap. He was feeding off her weak ass. If I wasn't in my right mind, I'd punish both of their sorry asses.
“Hey, Snake?” an excited voice said, interrupting my thoughts.
“Oh, damn. What's up, li'l shortie? You looking real good tonight,” I said while eyeballing BJ from head to toe.
“Thank you,” she said so innocently. She still had that young girl innocence, and it was turning me on.
“Would you like a drink?” I asked as I watched her dance to the reggae music.
“No thanks. I've had enough. This is my song!” she said, moving in a motion that was real familiar to me.
The more I watched, the more it registered. She moved just like that conniving bitch Ceazia. Oddly, instead of turning me off, it turned me on even more. I knew I had to make a move. She was way too innocent to accept a proposition, so I knew I had to come at her in another direction.
“Yo, I'm 'bout to get out of here. You need anything? You all right?”
“Yeah, I'm fine.”
“Well, take down my number just in case something arises. You in the family since you fuck with my li'l soldier, so I gotta make sure you well taken care of.”
She screwed her face up at the mention of Duke, but without hesitation, she popped her cell phone open and took the number.
“A'ight, li'l shortie,” I said before walking off.
I patted myself on the back as I headed home. It felt good to know my game was still on point. BJ fell right into the trap and gave me all the right signs. The screwed-up face was a crystal-clear sign that she wasn't feeling Duke. But I was careful not to acknowledge it, or it could be used as a motive for me to holla at her, since I knew she wasn't feeling him. Next thing I did was offer my number instead of getting hers. This still kept me in the clear, because now she had to be the aggressor. But I only did this because I was confident she would call. I knew she depended on Duke for loot, and since she wasn't feeling him, I knew she wasn't coming at him on no needy shit. The time was going to come real soon when she was going to need some money. And I specifically told her to call me if she needed anything, so when her pockets got low, I was going to be her lifeline. A guaranteed call, baby!
I pulled up to the house, reluctant to even walk in. I didn't want to be nowhere near Danielle's stupid ass. I was liable to smack the shit out of her at any moment I had a flashback. As I walked to the bedroom and saw her in bed sleeping soundly, I wondered how the fuck she'd gotten in the house. I didn't bother waking her. I just jumped in the shower, threw on some boxers and headed to the kitchen for my nightly ritual. That's when I realized exactly how she'd gotten in. That ignorant bitch threw the patio chair through the French doors. I simply shook my head in disbelief and continued with my nightly ritual.
I poured a shot of Hennessey then took a Goody's Powder to help me sleep. Since being shot, dreams had been haunting me every night. To this day, I didn't know who the shooter was at the Coliseum that day, and it still had me shook. At times, I would have liked to just rule it out and say all the bullets were meant for Ray-Ray and I just got in the crossfire, but I couldn't even think of anyone that would want that li'l nigga dead besides Duke. I'd run every possible nigga through my head, but still no one fit. Just like with Vegas's death, until that shit was figured out, I was not going to rest.
CHAPTER 21
A STAB IN THE BACK
CEAZIA
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It had been several days since I'd last talked to my li'l sis, BJ. I knew she'd been through a lot with the loss of her best friend, Gina, so I'd been giving her some time to herself. But after seeing her out last night, it was apparent that she was doing just fine. Besides, I needed to know just how close she and Judah were as well as she and Snake. I wasted no time calling her up.
“Hello.” BJ answered the phone in a flat tone.
“Hey, Li'l Momma! How are you?” I asked, hoping she was in the mood for chatting.
“I'm good. I'm feeling a lot better.”
“I know. That's why I called. I heard you went out to The Mango Tree last night. So, how was it?” I asked in an attempt to get her to tell me some much-needed information.
“It was nice. I needed to get out the house, so I decided to go see Judah.”
“Oh, so what do you think about him? Are y'all like talking or something?” I quickly began my interrogation, and she readily gave up the info.
“Well, we talk on the phone, but nothing really major. He seems like a really nice guy. I'm feeling him, and it looks like he's feeling me the same.”
“Oh, okay. But what about Duke?” I asked. I threw out Duke's name in an effort to get BJ to change her feelings about Judah. Judah was my fish, and there was no way I would let BJ come in and steal my catch.
“What about him? Aren't you the one who always told me I deserve better?”
BJ was right. I did tell her that on a regular basis, but that was when I was trying to steal Duke from underneath her nose. I couldn't just take back all the negative things I'd said about Duke. Now my words were coming back to haunt me. How was I going to fix this one? I had to think fast, and a fast thinker I was.
“Yeah, you're right. I just don't want you rushing into anything too soon. I mean, do you even know anything about Judah?” I quizzed.
“Well, we've rapped quite a bit, and I know enough to know that he is potentially a good catch,” BJ responded confidently.
From BJ's cocky response, I knew that this was going to be a task, but I planned to do all I could to change her mind about Judah. Even if I didn't convince her in one night, I knew with time I could definitely change her mind. This would only be the beginning.
I was determined to find out what BJ knew. Whatever Judah told her, I could turn it into a negative and convince her that he was not telling her the truth. Once the trust was ruined, any thoughts she had of hooking up with him would be out the door.
I could use the fact that I knew how BJ had been hurt by Duke and she didn't want to go down that same path, to my advantage. I began plotting how I could use this information to work against her if need be. I'd make her feel like she was getting herself right back into the same situation. I went forth with my dirty work.
“Well, did Judah tell you what he does for a living?” I inquired as I began the first step toward character destruction.
“Yes, he did. He explained to me that he plays music. He has a sound in several places, and he travels to different places to play music at clubs or for different events.”
“Oh, really. I guess he left out the fact that his sound is just a cover-up for what he really does,” I stated, knowing BJ would inquire more.
“What do you mean, what he really does?” she asked, falling for the trap.
“He runs a huge drug ring, BJ. And those areas where he has a sound are places where he has shop set up. I know you haven't been able to tell, but Judah's a very dangerous man, BJ. Haven't you noticed how much respect he gets in the club?” I didn't let BJ respond before I continued to speak. “That's because he's a rude boy, a bad man. It's not safe to be around him. Who knows when someone is going to get the balls to step up to him and take him out? And I know you don't want to relive another death by shooting.”
I hated to have to pull the death card on her, but I felt I had to come strong and hit home to convince her. BJ sat silently for a while before she responded.
“I had no idea about any of this you're telling me. You're right. Judah does get lots of respect. I noticed that from the first day we met. And no, I don't want to relive another death. I don't think I could. Maybe I'll ask him about it. He seems to be very honest. Maybe he doesn't know me well enough to tell me such things just yet.”
I quickly came to realize that this little girl wasn't as naive as I had thought. I decided to take another shot at deceiving her.
“Oh, and another thing I think I should point out. Did you notice me and all my girls knew him? And did you notice he referred to me as Cinnamon?”
“Yeah, so, he's already told me he knows you all from the strip club. I have no problem with that. He's even invited me to come with him. In fact, I just may take him up on that offer and go tonight. You gon' dance tonight?” BJ asked abruptly, seemingly trying to get me off the subject of Judah.
I didn't fall for her trick. I stuck with the subject instead. “BJ ... BJ ... BJ. Yeah, he does know us from the strip club, but it goes a little further than that. Judah is a big gambler, and he has these card parties where he invites over strippers. And those strippers are me and my girls.”
“Oh, really. So, what exactly goes on at those parties; just stripping or a little more than that?” she asked, starting to sound a little concerned.
My plan was beginning to work, so I came at BJ even stronger. “At those parties, anything goes. Unlike the strip club, there are no rules at a private party. If you got money to pay, then we play,” I said in an effort to persuade her that Judah took part in these sex-escapades even though he would never leave the gambling area.
“Wow. That's a hard pill to swallow. That just really doesn't seem like Judah. I'm not going to give up on him just yet, though. I still would like to get to know him a little better. Things may not be as they seem. If they are, who knows, maybe he's willing to change for me.”
I was beginning to get upset with this bitch's consistency. So, I had to go for the gusto.
“Look, BJ. I didn't want to come right out and tell you this, but he's fucking my girl, Storm, and he's been fucking her for three years now. He keeps her laced. And she's pregnant with his child as we speak.”
Again the phone became silent. I was certain my last comments had gotten the best of BJ. I spoke to break the silence.
“I'm sorry, BJ. I hope you're not hurt. I tried to change your mind about him without saying that, but you just wasn't trying to hear me,” I said with a phony sincerity.
“That's okay, C. Thanks for telling me. Niggas will be niggas, I guess. Well, with that news, I guess I'll call it a night and head to bed.”
“Mission accomplished!” I said aloud after hanging up the phone.
I spent so much time convincing BJ to leave Judah, I didn't have time to question her about Snake. But I didn't sweat it because I knew there was going to be plenty of time for that. I sat gloating over the fact that I was knocking them out, one by one, and then thought. Speaking of Snake, I sure could use some Jackson dick right about now. Of course, I'll have to settle for Duke since Snake is on some shit right now. But it won't be long before I have him back where I want him.
I hit Duke on the Nextel alert. “What's up, C?” he yelled through the speaker of the phone.
“I want to see you,” I said in my most seductive tone.
“A'ight, you can come through. I'll be home in about thirty minutes.”
“See you then,” I said before disconnecting.
It was always simple to get whatever I wanted from Duke. The sex was pretty good for a young buck, so I didn't mind fucking him at all. Besides, every time I came over, he hit me off with some money. That was a win-win situation for me. I'd be crazy to drop that fool!
An hour later, I was at Duke's crib. I could smell the stench of Hennessey and Hypnotiq screaming from Duke's breath as he walked near me. He was obviously drunk.
“Want a drink?” The words slurred from his mouth.
“Yeah, just give me a shot of Hennessey.”
I figured I'd better have something in my system, or I would be leaving soon. I would definitely need a drink just so I could tolerate Duke's drunken-ass. There was nothing worse than being sober around a drunken fool. That was one of the most irritating feelings one could have, in my opinion.
Duke brought me the Hennessey and I threw it back, taking it all in one gulp. I exhaled as the liquor burned, leaving a flaming path down my chest. Duke walked toward me, grabbed the back of my head with one hand and my ass cheek with the other, then stuck his warm tongue in my mouth, kissing me softly. This was much different from the wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am sex I was accustomed to. My body actually shivered with excitement as he kissed me passionately. Before I knew it, I was completely submissive and taken by his obsession.
Duke began to rip my clothes off piece by piece as we stumbled up the stairs toward his bedroom. Once at the top of the stairs, we busted through his bedroom doors, still indulged in passion, and landed on the dresser. He bent my naked body over and squeezed my hips tight as he inserted his penis forcefully.
“Ah! Ah! Aaaaah!” My erotic yells rang out, turning him on even more.
My body ached as Duke pounded me from the back. I continued to yell with each stroke. My ass shook and breasts bounced with each brush.
“You like that?” I could hear Duke whisper in my ear.
“Yes,” I responded to a phrase that was much too familiar to me. In fact, every touch, each kiss, each stroke was all too familiar to me. Duke must have noticed my mind drifting, because he grabbed me by my hair and forced my head back.
“Whose pussy is this?” he asked while gently biting on my ear then passionately kissing me.
I looked at his reflection in the mirror. I didn't know what Duke put in that shot of Hennessy, but it really had me bugging. The image in the mirror just wasn't what I thought I should be seeing.
When I looked in the mirror, the reflection I originally saw was Duke, who then changed to Snake then to Vegas. I put my head down and closed my eyes, hoping the hallucination would disappear. Duke noticed how distracted I became, then demanded my attention.
“Whose pussy is this?” Duke asked again, pulling my hair, forcing me to look in the mirror once again.
“It's yours, Duke. It's yours.” I closed my eyes and forced the words out of my mouth. “Open your eyes and look in the mirror. Watch me fuck my pussy then, bitch!”
I slowly opened my eyes and looked at the mirror, this time focusing on my reflection. That's when the truth settled. While watching the image of me in the mirror, I realized everything I really wanted at that moment. The touch I'd felt were the hands of Vegas, the kiss I'd felt were the lips of Vegas, and the passion I'd felt was the hunger of Vegas. This took me back to the memorable moments of the sweet love Vegas and I shared. Vegas and I used to make love like we were all that mattered to each other. Like my life before my eyes, each scene flashed before me in the mirror.
The memory of our anniversary night on the cruise was vivid. I could almost feel the cool air around me as I thought of Vegas secretly sexing me from behind in the night air. Then there was the spontaneous moment we shared together on the weight bench in our home.
“Whose pussy is this?” Duke asked again, interrupting my thoughts like a flick of the remote.
My mind was now on Snake. The familiar words “You like that? Whose pussy is this?” were the words of Snake. I thought of the rough sex we'd shared at the hotel. As I thought back to the multitude of bruises I had the next day, I could only wonder why the sex we shared was so different from the passionate lovemaking I was quite sure he'd made with Mickie, time and time again. As I looked in the mirror and stared into the eyes of the young Duke, it was apparent that these three men shared something a little more powerful than a last name. It was an uncontrollable attraction that brewed a combined lust I had for each of them.