RedBone (41 page)

“Believe it.” Farah picked up the menu and immediately knew what she wanted. Every now and again she’d think of Amico and how they disposed of his body. Most times she’d think about the other people she hurt, and how she didn’t seem to get enough. Her world had certainly changed for the eerie. “Lesa gonna leave my apartment whether she wants to or not.”

Across the way she saw two darker females with their boyfriends. The men kept eyeing her and Farah smiled. “You see that shit, girl?”

“What shit?” Rhonda asked without even looking up from her menu. She had a taste for their lemon cake but the sweet potato pie was good, too. “You always talking about something.”

“Look at them niggas over there.” She pointed.

Rhonda looked up and smiled. “Damn, they fine as shit.”

“Them niggas on red bones hard! I know it.”

Rhonda rolled her eyes and dropped the menu. “You sure they not just on pussy?” She sipped her ice water with lemon. “They are with dark-skinned chicks, so your theory seems to be flawed.”

Farah knew Rhonda needed her, so she decided to test the limits. “Please don’t tell me you really believe that. Farah laughed. “Think about it, how many rappers talk about red bones in their songs versus dark girls?” She stole another look at the dudes. “We run the world.”

Rhonda was trying desperately to bite her tongue. Invitations had gone out and she wanted as much stuff as she could get for her baby. “If you say so, Farah.”

“I do.”

“On some other shit, that video somebody took at the party of you slapping Coconut been going around. It’s kind of fucked up that people think you got out on her.”

“So what.” She shrugged. “Tell ’em it was a game.”

“I’m just saying it’s messed up, that’s all,” Rhonda continued. “That girl was drunk and every time somebody shows it, she gets angrier.”

“What you want us to do, play again or something? What about her having Nova come smack me?” Farah said, looking back over at the table. “I ain’t crying to nobody about that shit, am I?”

“I talked to Coconut, and she didn’t have anything to do with that shit.”

“Well, who was it, Shannon?” she said, rolling her neck. “Because the bitch said Coconut’s name first when she stepped to me.”

“I’m just telling you what she said. I don’t think she had nothing to do with it. I don’t think Shannon did either. Everybody knows that Nova don’t like you, so she probably made that move on her own.”

“You shouldn’t even care what she thinks, Coconut would fuck your nigga if you let her. I’m trying to tell you the truth so you can be careful.”

Before Rhonda could respond, the girl across from them looked over at Farah and said, “Bitch, you must got a problem with your eyeballs!” She stood up and approached Farah’s table. The cute dark-skinned girl with a black jacket hated light-skinned people believing that they were better. So Farah had met her hate-crime match. “You looking at my nigga like you wanna suck his dick or something!”

“Actually I
was
wondering how good it would taste. Maybe I should go see.” She looked at her man and licked her lips.

Rhonda didn’t want to fight, due to being pregnant, but she took off her earrings and put them in her purse. She’d been out with Farah before, and lost $500 worth of jewelry when they got into fights in the past. She wasn’t taking any chances.

The dude wearing a Red Hat, who was at the table, walked up to the girl with the black jacket and said, “Don’t pay them bitches no mind. We was having a good time! Why you gonna let them ruin it?”

Black Jacket shook him off. “I wanna know what this bitch’s problem is. I mean, damn, she don’t even know you.” She turned around to look at him. “Or do she?”

“Listen, bitch. If I want him he’d be gone,” Farah said. “Trust me.”

They were about to fight when Shadow, Mia, and Chloe walked through the restaurant’s doors. They decided to meet up with Farah and Rhonda after everybody got what was on their list to get Lesa out of the house. “Hold up,” the girl with the black jacket said to no one in particular, “is that Mia Cotton?”

Mia and Chloe, seeing the look on Farah’s face, stepped up, ready to snatch some weaves out. “Everything cool? Mia asked. Black Jacket got silent and took her seat.

Farah grinned. “Everything fine now.”

Mia, Chloe, and Shadow piled into the booth and grabbed the menus. But Shadow eyed Red Hat, who was still looking in their direction. He hadn’t been in a fight since he’d been home, and welcomed the battle. “You good, man?” Shadow asked. Red Hat raised his glass and proceeded to entertain his girlfriend. He looked at Farah and said, “That bitch put a lock on her door. Just wanted you to know before I forgot.”

“Who said she could do all of that? She gonna be leaving in two weeks anyway. If not sooner.”

“I know you didn’t know. That’s why I wanted to give you a heads-up.”

“What was that shit over there about?” Mia asked after making her meal selection. She was going with the smothered chicken and rice. “Them bitches seemed mad as shit at you before I walked in.”

“Them jealous bitches mad because I’m light skinned—”

“Oh, my God!” Chloe yelled, throwing her hands in the air. “I wish you stop that dumb shit! Don’t nobody give a fuck about all that bullshit but you! You talking about me ... Maybe you should grow up.”

“Whatever, Chloe. You just mad because I’m telling the truth.”

“You know what ... I wanna put this shit to the test right now!” Chloe said. “Order me the fried chicken salad, Shadow.”

He put the menu down and said, “Why you can’t do it yourself?”

’Cause for one, I got the money and for two, I’m about to make my sister eat her words.”

Farah frowned. “And how do you intend on doing that?”

Chloe scanned the restaurant and saw three dudes at the bar. “Over there ... you see them guys?”

“Yeah ... so what?”

“Let’s both walk over there and sit on separate ends of the bar. Like we don’t know each other.”

“What’s that gonna prove?” Farah was nervous because she hated to be wrong. “I don’t have to do no dumb shit just because you don’t believe what is true.”

“Whoever they try to holla at, that’s what it is.” Chloe smirked. “If it’s all about red bones, they shouldn’t pay me any attention. So you with it or not?”

Farah looked at everyone and decided to take her up on her offer. “Let’s go. But after I win this shit I don’t wanna hear nobody’s mouth when I talk about red bones being better for future reference. You all gotta say we better and that’s it.”

Farah and Chloe walked to the bar and sat down. After telling the waitress that she wanted water, Farah decided to get on a fake phone call to make noise, in the hopes of getting their attention, while Chloe gave the men eye contact. The men spotted the women and not even a minute passed before Chloe got first catch. Not only was the dude into her, he offered to buy her dinner. She was feeling Audio so she decided to pass, and just took his number instead. Besides, there was nothing else to say; her point was proven. Realizing Chloe won, Farah slogged back to the table where everybody, including Rhonda, was laughing hysterically.

“The only reason that dude hollered at her instead of me was because I was on the phone.” Everybody rolled their eyes, including Rhonda.

“You such a sore fucking loser, sis. Damn!” Chloe said.

“Right ... The rules were whoever lost couldn’t say shit else about the topic,” Mia said. “So that mean you, Farah.”

“Some niggas like red bones and that may be their preference, but the average dude like a sexy bitch. And that’s me. I don’t care how black my skin is, my pussy’s still pink and they love it.” Chloe pointed in her face. “Point proven.”

Embarrassed and irritated, she said, “Fuck all that ... Let’s talk about how we gonna get this bitch back.”

“Now you talking a language we all love,” Mia said. “Revenge!”

Chapter 42

“Randy, I can do some things too, if you get me wrong. I need you to know that.”

—Farah

Farah was thirsty because of the white sock stuffed in her mouth. She was lying on her stomach with her wrists and ankles bound together, as Randy circled the bed like a lunatic. She wasn’t scared because, for Randy, this was all normal; she just wanted it to be over quickly. Besides, war had been called in Platinum Lofts and she could only imagine what was happening now, since she wasn’t home.

“Don’t look so sad,” Randy said. “You came out of the house half dressed, with your ass hanging out of your clothes, so you must’ve wanted me to fuck you. Didn’t you?” Randy would make up these ambitious stories to get himself into the mood, and Farah always did a horrible job of playing the victim. Since she couldn’t talk because of the obstruction in her mouth, she nodded.

“Well, I’m going to do all kinds of things to you, because you deserve it.”

Then do it, mothafucka, and let’s get this over with. My mouth is dry as shit!

“I’m gonna give it to you nice and hard, Farah.” He was dragging things out, when all of a sudden her cell phone rang. Randy, knee-deep into her business, picked it up and answered. “Who’s this?” Farah was heated as he held her phone to his ear. She didn’t have a lot of people calling, but it really could be anybody. “Oh ... hold on.” He handed the phone to Farah. “It’s Chloe.”

Farah looked at him oddly. How could she answer when he had her limbs bound, and her mouth stuffed? Realizing his mistake, he laughed, untied her, and removed the sock. She rubbed her sore wrists, wet her tongue with spit, and placed the phone to her ear. “What’s up, Chloe?” She looked up at Randy from the bed. “Everything cool?”

“Can I have some of your apple juice? Your roommate is being a bitch as usual. If I touch her shit I’ma have to kill her.”

Farah sighed. She hated to be called for bullshit, and Chloe was famous for it. “Yes, girl.”

“Ugh ... Why you sounding all like that? You shouldn’t even be with Randy anyway. And why you let him answer your phone? Don’t you got a restraining order out on him or something?”

“Chloe, I gotta go.”

She laughed. “All right ... Oh, before I forget, I wanted to tell you that Slade got locked up tonight.”

Farah’s eyes widened. “What? Why?”

“He got into a fight at some club ... and they holding him in jail. Just thought you wanted to know since whether you know it or not, he belongs to you.”

“Is he okay?” She looked at Randy. He wondered who the “he” was she was talking about. If he found out she was even talking about Slade, he would kill her. “I mean, is she okay?”

“She?” Chloe repeated.

“Bitch, is she okay or not?”

“If the ‘she’ you talking about is Slade’s fine ass, I’d say no. He has a bail and his brothers can’t help him out right now. Markee ain’t been at home all day, so they can’t go to him either. I don’t know if you know, but Markee works for Randy. You better be careful.” Farah could hear juice being poured in the background. “Well ... I gotta go. I’ll see you when you get back.”

Farah got off the phone, slid off the bed, and put the cell in her purse. “Randy, I gotta leave early.”

She walked over to Randy, who was sitting at his desk. “How come?” He didn’t look at her.

“My sisters are fighting my roommate again.”

Randy spun around to face her in the chair. He was irritated and it showed all over his face. “Well, what your mother saying? It ain’t like it’s your house. Let her handle that shit.”

“I told you my mother is sick,” she said in a low voice. “She can’t stop them from ripping her apartment up if they in there fighting. If you want, I can come back later. I just gotta go now to see about things.”

Randy wanted to complain but he had shit to do also, so he said, “Okay ... What time you coming back?”

“The moment I’m done.” Farah put on her clothes, and Randy kept his eyes glued on her.

“You sure you being real with me? Because you know if you’re not, I will find out. Remember what I did to your animals, and that old bitch? Well, that will seem innocent compared to what I have in store for you if you fuck me over.”

“Randy, please don’t threaten me.”

“I haven’t threatened anybody since I was in grade school. Besides, you seen what I can do.” He put his grey sweatpants on. “So why would you think I’m anything but serious?”

“Randy, I’m being straight up with you. But sometimes I think you want me to lie so you can start a fight with me or something.”

“You sound stupid.” He slid into his slippers. “I just wanna take care of you and I’m ready for the games to stop.” Randy kissed her lips. “You still young, and you don’t know what it means to be with a real man. So I gotta show you.”

When Farah was dressed, she stopped short at the door. She still needed money for rent because the landlord had already begun eviction proceedings, and she spent up all her money on weed, smoke, and food. “Randy ... can you ...”

“I know ... you need money.” He reached in his drawer and handed her $2,500. “That should be enough, right?”

She hadn’t expected him to give her so much. “Yes ... this is perfect!”

“Good ...Now let me take a shower.” He walked toward the bathroom. “Take your key, because I expect you back later.” Farah was almost out of the room when he said, “If I ever find out you were lying to me, about anything, I don’t know what I would do.”

“Randy, I can do some things too, if you get me wrong. I need you to know that.” Her threat was deadly serious, but instead of heeding her warning, he was turned on.

Chapter 43

“He s still family.”

—Slade

Slade was just about to wrap his hands around the neck of one of his cellmates when an officer walked up to the cell and said, “Slade Baker, you made bail.” At first Slade thought it was a mistake because Markee was not home, and his brothers were dead broke. If they did bail him out, he hoped they didn’t do anything that would land them in jail right next to him. “You wanna leave or not, Big Country? the officer taunted as he unlocked the bars. “You moving slower than a bitch in a miniskirt.”