RedBone (20 page)

Farah looked back at her and frowned. “Never.”

“What you talking about? You know you can’t afford that apartment by yourself. Ain’t that the reason you got caught up with Tank? Trying to get rent money? Not to mention your roommates keep on dying on your ass.”

“First off, Natasha never made it to roommate status and Zone was my man. Secondly, I can’t live with Ma, you know that. We’d probably kill each other.”

“Mamma ain’t strong like she use to be, Farah. She ain’t about all that fighting no more.”

When Farah’s phone rang she saw it was Randy and tried to hide the screen from Coconut before she saw his name. When she looked over at her, she was staring in her face. “What?” Farah frowned.

“If you fucking with that nigga again, you stupid.”

“What nigga she stupid for messing with, Coconut?” Mia asked.

“Mind your own, Coco,” Farah said.

“Fuck it, y’all ain’t gotta tell me shit,” Mia said. “I got problems of my own.”

Farah was supposed to meet Randy fifteen minutes ago but time flew by. She was starting to realize that as much as she hated him, when it came to a bind, he could easily get her out. She was reckless with money, spending it on everything but its intended purpose. Many times she tried to see him in the stories she wrote every day about the way she wanted her life to be, but his face never seemed to fit the picture quite right. “Look, I gotta be somewhere. I’ma get up with y’all later.”

“Ugh!” Coconut said, shaking her head. “I knew you were gonna be stupid. Watch that nigga finish what Tank started.”

Now Mia was really interested. “What she talking about? You in trouble outside of the Tank situation?”

“It’s nothing, Mia. I keep telling y’all I’m grown,” Farah snapped. “I’m not mousy Farah Cotton anymore.”

“Whatever,” Coconut said. “You just make sure you call me later. I wanna go to that new club in DC I was telling you about. It’s called E.A.T.”

“If we can get in. I hate when they don’t just take our fake IDs and keep it moving.”

“Well, I know somebody at the door this time. We gonna be good. I’ll call you when I’m ready.” Coconut eased out of the car.

“A’ight, li’l sis.” Mia leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek because she still felt guilty about what she said earlier. “I’ma get up with you later. I love you.”

“Love you too. If Shadow calls from prison, tell him I’ll write him soon. Daddy too.”

“Cool ... but you need to call Grandma. She’s fucked up that you and Chloe not talking to each other, for whatever reason. And she says you’ve been avoiding her too.”

“I’m tired of her preaching.”

“At least you got somebody who cares about you. You’ll appreciate that when the time is right. Later.”

When she left, Farah drove as fast as she could to Randy’s house out in Maryland. It did bother her that she didn’t have a bond with her grandmother the way she used to, but she was grown and no longer wanted to be told how to live her life. If Elise wanted to see or talk to her, it would be on Farah’s terms and times. She pushed the gas pedal harder because for every minute she was late, he would spend fifteen minutes complaining and asking her to give him a reason why he shouldn’t leave her alone. But at the end of every fight, he would give her enough cash to make her problems go away and she would do anything sexual he asked.

Randy had obsessed over Farah ever since he found her in the back of his truck when she was a kid. He never made a move because her body hadn’t matured enough for his taste. Really he preferred much-older women who would be obedient to his every command. Although she was young, she did listen when he put the pressure on her, so he felt he could mold her mind. Out of all of his girlfriends, Farah was the only one who could take dick and allowed him to do everything he wanted to her body, whether it hurt or not. Plus the fact that before his mother died, three years ago today, she wanted him to marry her, and that made him want to be with her even more, because he trusted his mother’s judgment. Losing his mother hurt and without her guidance he was lonely and unstable. He was trying to build a home, but he needed her.

His place was on a curving tree-lined street and all the homes in the neighborhood, including Randy’s, had ample lawn space. When she got to his house, she saw another car out front, which was rarely the case. So instead of exiting her warm car and knocking on the door, she decided to call first. “You got company?” she asked the moment she heard his voice. She checked her makeup in the mirror and then brushed her hair. “Because I thought you wanted to be alone with me.”

“First of all, I called your mothafuckin’ass ten times and you just getting back at me now? Why the fuck you ain’t answer the phone? You gonna make me not fuck with you no more, Farah.”

Then do it then, nigga!

“Then what the fuck you gonna do? Who gonna keep paper in your pockets?” He was so arrogant it was gross.

“Randy, I was busy with—”

“Get the fuck in here before I cut you off. You gotta learn to respect me.”

“I’m parking now.” Farah parked her Benz on the street to prevent blocking the other visitor. Then she grabbed her purse and moved through the snowy sidewalk to get to his house. When she got to the door she knocked twice.

“It’s open,” a man said. The moment she turned the knob, she wanted to run back outside. To her left was a dude she never saw before and when he saw the distressed look on her face, he slammed and locked the door to prevent her from leaving. But it was the person sitting on the sofa with the North Face coat that had her shaken the most.

There Tank was, glaring in her direction. Things were rolling around in her mind and she was feeling sick. Walking toward the sofa, she stopped in place when she heard scratching noises coming from the bathroom by the front door. “What’s going on, Randy?” she asked, breathing heavily. To the left of him sat a table with a bouquet of fresh red roses, which she felt were out of place. Her eyes alternated from the stranger to Randy and Tank. “I come at a bad time?”

“Get over here and sit down,” Randy said. She didn’t move and the man at the door pushed her toward the chair.

“Tank, I’m not gonna say nothing about what happened at your house! You see I ain’t tell the cops nothing even though they pressured me. Your secret is safe with me.”

“Farah, sit the fuck down,” Randy said. “You wasting everybody’s time. Farah walked over to a chair within the room across from Tank. He was ice grilling her.

Farah couldn’t read Randy’s expression because each look he gave meant different things at different times. Although Randy was a dangerous man, to look at him you’d never know. At the moment his smooth dark-chocolate face was emotionless as he ran his hand over his low haircut, which was riddled with waves. A pair of dark Versace shades hung on his nose and he pushed them back repeatedly out of habit.

“Can you tell me what’s going on?” She sat in the seat. When the scratching noise at the bottom of the bathroom door got louder she looked at it. When it stopped she faced Randy again. “I’m confused.”

“I’m settling your debt, Farah. That’s what’s going on.”

“Settling my debt?” She pointed at herself. “But I don’t owe anybody.”

“Sure you do, RedBone,” Randy said. “Whenever you ’cause problems, you owe the people it impacts. And we’re here to discuss what it would take to clean up your mess. When things are settled tonight, you owe me. Don’t worry, I got a payment plan for you.”

“But I never took anything from him.”

“That’s because you didn’t get a chance to. This nigga is on the run because he murdered somebody you brought in his house without him knowing. So yes, you owe him.”

Randy disappeared into the back of the house, leaving Farah alone with the men. While he was gone she turned around and examined the front door. If she used her track skills she could be outside in less than thirty seconds. Deciding to go for it, when she focused back on Tank, the nose of the .45 that killed her friend was staring in her direction. “You not gonna get away from me this time, RedBone.” Tank was sweating, even though the air was on. Needless to say Farah didn’t move.

Five minutes later, Randy returned with a book bag full of money. When he saw Tank’s gun he said, “Put that shit away.” Tank pulled up his coat and tucked the gun in his waistband. When he was done, his eyes found their way back on Farah. He hated her and it showed in the way his nostrils flared with every breath he took. Interrupting his gaze, he handed Tank the bag of money and Tank was about to look through it before Randy said, “Don’t insult my fucking intelligence. That’s one hundred grand. It’s all there.”

Finally speaking, Tank said, “It may be all there but it ain’t enough to start over.” He raised the bag. “I might not get farther than North Carolina with this shit.”

“But that’s what the fuck you asked for, and we both know that’s more money than you’ve ever seen in your life. You couldn’t have been making more than a thousand a week working for me on the blocks, if that.” Randy looked at his goon on the door who handled paydays. “What you think, Tornado?”

“Less than that for sure,” the goon said, speaking for the first time.

“See ... So for real you’re making out.”

“But now I’m on the run, boss,” Tank persisted. “Because of your fiancée. She fucked up my entire life. I can’t even enjoy this shit and be around my kid now.” Farah heard the word “fiancée” and thought he was confused.

“I ain’t giving you shit else, nigga,” Randy said evenly. “Now you can either take the money, or get your fat ass off my couch and get the fuck out my house.”

Tank scowled, stood up, and gripped the bag. Then he walked toward Farah. Just being in his presence intimidated her. Had she not been the gold-digging bitch that she was, none of this would’ve happened. To make matters worse, she wasn’t even good in the bedroom. Tank stood over her.

“Stand up, Farah,” Randy ordered.

She glared at him. “Huh? Why?”

Randy tilted his head and said, “Really? You gonna make me tell you again?”

She rose slowly and the moment she was eye level with Tank, he slammed his fist into her stomach. The potato chips she shared with her friends earlier came flying out like chunky balls and clung to his black North Face coat. She dropped to her knees and held on to her stomach. Tank dusted the mess off of his coat with the back of his hand and was about to hit her again when Randy said, “That’s it. Get the fuck out my house.”

Tank looked back at him and said, “I sure hope this bitch worth it.”

Randy laughed. “Don’t make me take back my good gestures. And, most of all, don’t make me lose patience. Now get the fuck out before you’re lying on the floor next to her with your eyes shut ... permanently.” Tank went out the door with Randy’s goon, whose mission was to see to it that he got lost for good.

Farah had a headache so strong it felt like someone was plucking her temples. Everything about what just happened confused her. She didn’t know Tank worked for Randy, and most of all she couldn’t believe she’d run from this dude all this time, only to be handed over to him by her ex-boyfriend. She felt betrayed in the worst way.

Randy grabbed a red rose from the bouquet and walked over to where she kneeled. Then he got on his knees and rubbed her back, as she balled up on the floor. “I can’t believe you would even fuck that dude. The nigga’s dirty.”

“It wasn’t even like that,” Farah said, looking at him through teary eyes.

“It couldn’t be.” Randy scowled. Then he put the rose to her nose. “I got something that will make you feel better. Smell this.”

“What?” She frowned, not wanting any part of the rose or Randy. “I don’t want to.”

“I said smell the fucking rose.”

Slowly she inhaled the buds and in her opinion it smelled ordinary. “It’s a rose, Randy.”

“Smell it again,” he ordered. “This time sniff harder.”

Farah closed her eyes, and sniffed the rose harder. This time a diamond ring scratched the surface of her nose. When she opened her eyes a five-carat ring sparkled in her direction. “Take it out.” Randy grinned. “It’s yours.” Farah slowly took the five-carat ring out of the rose, and knew immediately what it was. “You’re going to marry me in February of next year. This is what you owe me for putting out the hundred grand to save your life. That nigga was gonna kill you, Farah. I saved you, so you officially belong to me.” He put the ring on her finger. The scratching at the bottom of the bathroom door grew louder and Randy smiled. “Oh ... I almost forgot.” He got up and opened it. Out ran two tiny chocolate teacup yorkies. Since Farah was on the floor, they leaped on top of her and licked all over her face. They were far more excited about life than she was at the moment. “I got these for you as an engagement gift.”

“Why are you doing this to me, Randy? I don’t love you.”

“I’m sorry you see this as a punishment. But before my mother died, she wanted me to be happy and to have kids. She said it would be you ... Don’t you remember that?” She didn’t speak. “I been running the streets and could never find a chick more obedient than you. You’re young and you do what I ask.” He rubbed her hair. “The only problem I have is that I can’t keep my eyes on you at all times. That’s about to change too.”

Farah knew he wasn’t the one, she felt it in her heart. If she moved in with him, she’d never be free and he would dominate her life. Lying was the only way she saw out of this situation, even though she could hear her grandmother in the background warning her against it.

“Where have you been living since Zone died?” She could barely speak because she was in so much pain that she felt as if her bowels were pushed to the back because of Tank’s thunderous blow. “You gonna make me ask you again?” he said, holding one puppy while the other jumped all over her lap.

“I’m not trying to ignore you,” she said, “it’s just that my stomach hurts. That nigga just hit me hard as shit.”

Randy chuckled. “That blow wasn’t hard enough to do damage.” He grinned. “I mean ... it ain’t like we ain’t did
way
freakier shit than that before. Now where are you living?”

Realizing there was no way she could tell this fool she was trying to keep the apartment in Platinum Lofts she said, “I’m back home. I’m staying with my mother for now.”