Hard Betrayal (Michelle Angelique Avenging Angel Series 2)

by Jason Stanley

  “Trevon’s setting up the trust and banking information for the corporation,” Nikky said.

  “How will that work?” G-Baby asked. “You can’t incorporate street sex.”

  “You’re right, you can’t incorporate turning tricks,” Nikky said. “What can be incorporated are things like online sex call centers, professional escort services, a massage parlor, and a childcare center. They’re part of the business model Trevon’s helping me put together.”

  “Not that we’ll start with everything,” Michelle said. “We’ll start with the women and the childcare center.”

  “What do you mean, a daycare center?” Baby-Sister asked. “Are your girls taking care of business in the day?”

  “No,” Nikky said. “Well, yes, of course our girls work in the day. Lots of horny men in the afternoon. But no, I didn’t say daycare. I said childcare. The center is for our girl’s kids. We’re staffed to operate mostly at night. It was one of the things that helped a bunch of them decide to join us.”

  “Childcare, and Michelle kicking homegirl’s butt twice in a row, right in front of everyone,” Deja added.

  “You got that shit right!” Nikky agreed.

  “Not to change the subject but . . . I’m glad you’re finally rid of Jerome,” G-Baby said.

  “Yes, hallelujah, thank you, Jesus,” Michelle said. “Trevon’s bodyguard took him out in the big shoot-out last week.”

  “I also heard a new guy came up from Long Beach. Rumor has it he’s pretty much filled in the gap left by Jackson and Lewis.”

  “I heard the same thing,” Trevon said.

  “Well, I’m not in his line of work,” G-Baby said, “but if he ever needs a day off the books or a good haircut, I can help out.”

  “Uncle G, Trevon doesn’t know about our Vietnamese friends down in Orange County, but you’re right.” Michelle turned to Trevon. “If you ever need time where your presence is absolutely not where some folk, like the police, think it is, let Uncle G know. He can make some magic happen.”

  Trevon raised one eyebrow slightly and, cocking his head, looked over at G-Baby. “Good to know. Seems this family is full of surprises.”

  Michelle regarded Trevon, quietly questioning her feelings. She was attracted to him on so many levels, she hadn’t fully identified all of them. Yet she held back, and wasn’t quite sure why. She hated what he did. Was that it? Was selling drugs worse than what she did? No. She couldn’t rationalize assassination as better than pushing drugs — even if the guy deserved it. But hopefully that was behind her.

  She was now in the business of running prostitutes and it didn’t matter how good she treated them, they still worked on their backs. Did something deep inside make her afraid to commit to anyone? She really didn’t know. But until she sorted out her feelings, she’d keep her safety barrier with Daryl as GFB and see other men when she felt like it.

  No doubt her life was changing — and so was she.

  Helen, the morning waitress, arrived with a row of plates balanced on her arm. “Here we go, big breakfast specials all around, tall stack in the middle, with four types of syrup. Can I bring anyone anything else?”

  “No, I think we’re more than covered,” Michelle said.

  “Given the current events,” Trevon said. “I agree; we’re more than covered.”

  .

  Thirty-Four: GFB

  WHAP!

  Michelle slapped him on the ass.

  It was their special game — see who could wake up first and slap the other’s bottom. They only had one rule. You had to be out of the bed for at least one minute before slapping the sleeping beauty.

  “Fair enough, you got me,” Daryl said, “but damn, couldn’t you wait another minute? I was having a hot sex dream with a golden goddess.”

  “She’d better be a goddess with a short afro, standing about five-foot-five.”

  “No other goddess is worth dreaming about.”

  “Good answer. I’m beginning to believe you’re the best GFB ever. I mean, you say the most wonderful things, and your talents have talents.”

  “My talents have talents?”

  “Yup. That’s what I said, and I meant it. My friend, Keisha, talks about how her boyfriend makes her come like a freight train, but that earthbound shit doesn’t have anything on what you do for me. Last night you just about took me through the roof.”

  “Girl, you’ve got it going on yourself. You know that, right?”

  “I was wondering . . . if I had room service bring us some breakfast, would you be rested enough to give a girl a little lift-off this morning?”

  “Are you saying you need breakfast before we get to business?”

  Michelle snuggled back into bed, rolled over on top of him. “Forget it, mister. You missed your chance for sustenance. Now, it’s time for some of your special stratospheric sex.”

  “Strato-what sex . . .? How about I just fuck you real good?”

  “That’ll do.”

  Thank you for reading Hard Betrayal, the second book in the Michelle Angelique series.

  The hood is getting settled. It didn’t come cheep, but the war is over. Trevon as the lawyer-gangster is positioned to take over the streets, that rat-bastard, Jerome, is permanently taken care of, and Sugar’s girls will finally get a break. Is it enough? What about the ax man, Ascia? Will he let go or will he try again to regain the control he lost when Michelle killed his men Jackson and Lewis. Then there is Trevon as lawyer-lover. Will he move into Michelle’s life? Is he “the one”?

  Continue reading for a peek into Michelle’s next book, Hard Win where those and other questions are answered.

  HARD WIN

  ***********************

  One: Good Morning

  WHAP!

  “Holy Shit!” Michelle bolted upright. Heart thumping, eyes wild, she whipped her head around . . .

  Daryl stood back from the bed, laughing. “Morning, sleepyhead.”

  She sat in her own bed, safe and sound. Michelle cut her eyes over to Daryl, lay back down into the soft pillows, yawned, and stretched. Blinking a few times, she rolled over onto her stomach, rubbed the smooth, naked skin on her ass where he slapped her, and smiled. “Good morning.”

  Daryl, her GFB, good fucking buddy, had won. They had a playful, private morning game, where whoever was out of bed for at least a full minute could swat the other on the ass. Daryl almost always lost. Today he won.

  “I can’t believe I was so sound asleep,” Michelle said. “I didn’t even feel you get up.”

  “Yeah, you were doing a real Sleeping Beauty this morning. Well, you nailed the sleeping part, but with your hair sticking out wild on the side of your head, I’m not so sure about the beauty part.”

  Michelle gave him a go-to-hell look and flipped him off. “I’m sorry? You had best immediately make some serious amends if you think you might ever want to come back into this bed.”

  They weren’t a serious couple, not even a couple really, but their sex was seriously delightful.

  Naked, Daryl picked up a pillow and hid his face, peeked around the edge and grinned. “Oh, no, you completely misunderstand. What I meant was, with your natural beauty and deep sensuous style, you can wear your hair any way and it’ll be a trend-setting fashion statement.”

  “You’re so full of shit,” she said.

  “I try.”

  “Well, now you have me up, what’re you going to do with me?”

  “Since you put it that way, a little morning delight sounds pretty good.” Daryl pulled the sheet back, cocked an eyebrow, tilted his head, and with the touch of an impish smile on his lips, studied her finely sculptured body.

  More athletic than voluptuous with beautifully chiseled legs, an amazing round ass and small, pert breasts, the view had immediate and obvious impact.

  “You know, the trend you set just may be the death of me,” he said.

  “What a way to go,” she replied.

  After an appreciative second in
spection, he threw the covers on the floor.

  * * *

  A couple of hours later and several neighborhoods away, Michelle and Deja sat at the wrong table in Blanche’s, waiting to be served in the busy café. Two men sat at their favorite table and talked over coffee after finishing their breakfasts.

  An older waitress, with her hands full of breakfast platters, walked by their table and caught Michelle’s eye. “Be with you in a minute.”

  The clatter of dishes shoved into a bus tray, hubbub of conversations, and two waitresses hustling between prep and serving was perhaps a bit more than normal for this hour, but not unusual at the Anglewatts landmark cafe. Sometimes there was a line waiting to be seated; at this hour there wasn’t.

  The familiar smell of sautéed onions and bell peppers mixed in hash brown potatoes never failed to bring back childhood memories of the many times Michelle’s dad brought her and her brother in for special occasions. Most often, the special occasion was the three of them giving her mother some time off from the family chores. Her dad had been one of the good guys.

  “They’re leaving,” Michelle said, “Let’s grab our table before someone else takes it.”

  The friends stacked and bused the dishes on the vacated table. For them, it was the best spot in the modest café. Not because the table was better than any of the other mismatched tables and chairs that filled the place. They preferred it because it sat in front of the large picture window looking out onto the street.

  “Here, let me help you with that.” The waitress took the last of the dishes. “You girls want some coffee?”

  “Yeah, bring three cups.” Michelle said.

  “Is Nikky joining you?” the waitress asked.

  “Um huh,” Deja said, “she’s parking her car. She’ll be right in.”

  Nikky came in carrying her soft sided leather brief case. “Good going, coffee and the captain’s table. You guys are all snaps this morning.”

  Nikky looked at Michelle. “You’re already all smiling and shit and I’m barely awake. What’s got you so happy this early in the morning?”

  “Christ girl,” Deja chimed in, “I’m with Nikky, tone down your smile. I can’t hardly see yet. You’re cheesing like you’re the cat that ate the canary or some stupid bird.”

  “Don’t be a hater because you’re not getting any.” Michelle said. “You’d be all grins too if you’d been that canary this morning”

  “Who said I wasn’t getting any?” Deja asked. “I get as much as I want, any time I want.”

  “Then why are you being Miss Grumpy?” Michelle teased.

  “What about Nikky?” Deja asked. “She’s sitting right here too.”

  “Hey,” Nikky said, “my name’s Bess, keep me outta your mess. Besides, I left Omar sound asleep in my bed to come meet with you.”

  “That’s not fair! Am I the only one slept alone last night?” Deja turned to Michelle. “Did Daryl spend the night?”

  Michelle made an ‘O’ with her mouth and raised her eyebrows over wide open eyes.

  “Shit,” Deja said. “Seems the whole world got their swerve on last night—everyone but me. It’s just not right.”

  “I know you have plenty of men after you,” Michelle said. “But still, something’s not working if you’re this grumpy in the morning. How about I tell you the big secret to finding a super lover who’ll take you to the moon?”

  Deja looked at Nikky with eyelids at half mast, “I know I’ll regret this.” She turned to Michelle. “Oh wise one, do tell us your secret.”

  “All you need to do is pick a likely candidate, look him in the eye.” Michelle did a quick drum roll with her fingers on the table. “Then saaayyy . . .” yes. They’re men—they’re all dogs. At least when it comes to sex, every last one is nothing but a horny dog. I’m serious. All a beautiful woman like you has to do is say yes.”

  “That’s it? That’s your big secret to great sex?”

  “Half of it. I’ll give you the other half without you even asking. The rest is saaayyyiiing,” Michelle looked at Nikky. “Drum roll please.”

  “You’re such a drama queen.” Nikky did five beat drum roll.

  “Here it is. Say no. You have to learn to kick any trifling, selfish lover out of your bed as soon as he shows his true self. Catch and release, Deja, catch and release. Throw the bad ones back immediately.”

  Michelle nodded to Nikky. “Do you agree?”

  “Remember, my name is Bess. I’m still out of your mess. But yeah, I agree.”

  “Okay, Deja, look. I’m not saying it’ll always work,” Michelle said. “Hell, I’ve had my share of losers. But I dump him the moment I know he’s a toad. I don’t mess around. If a jerk wants me to give him a blow job, or just fuck me quick and then says some shit about how he’ll do better next time, fuck that! I kick his sorry ass out of my bed and out of my crib right then.”

  “Serious? You kick him out in the middle of the night?” Deja asked.

  “Hell yes! If he doesn’t take care of me then what’s the reason for putting up with him. We’ve all done it. Lay there in your own bed, awake, pissed, and frus+trated while his lump ass is snoring away. What kind of night is that? Oh hell no, he’s got to go.”

  Nikky joined in, “Yeah, I agree. If a guy only wants to get his rocks off, he can pay one of our girls.”

  The waitress walked up. “What can I bring you for your celebration this morning?”

  “Side order of hash browns with gravy for me,” Nikky said.

  “Grits and whole wheat toast,” Deja said.

  “Just the coffee, I already ate breakfast,” Michelle said.

  “Not fair! You got laid and had breakfast already?” Nikky asked.

  Michelle repeated the same ‘O’ face she gave them earlier.

  A Mercedes SLK pulled up to the curb outside the window. An attractive woman in an expensive looking evening dress, matching bag and heels pulled herself up out of the low setting car before it drove off.

  The woman walked into the café and approached the friends’ table and nodded to Michelle. “Sup Michelle.” Then she looked at Nikky. “Hey. Here ya’ go.” She handed Nikky an envelope.

  “Hey, Little-T, how’d it go? Everything okay?” Nikky asked.

  “Yeah, the whole night worked out pretty good.”

  “You look great in that dress. The color sets off your skin really well,” Deja said.

  “Thanks Deja.”

  “Wasn’t that the third time with this guy?” Nikky asked.

  “Yeah, I think he might become a regular,” Little-T said.

  “Good. Regulars pay the bills,” Nikky said.

  “God, I’d be good with the regular money. That ass Jimmy always kept me broke. Worry about making the rent had me more worn out than working all night. My life is so much better since you guys took over the streets. If I wasn’t so damned tired I’d kiss all three of you. But my guy is one horny dude. We stayed up all night and my ass is dragging. My mom’s gonna pick me up in a few minutes on the way to take Briana to school.”

  “Briana’s in school now?” Deja asked.

  “She’s seven and in second grade,” Little-T said. “She is so grown up it scares me. Seems like only last week all of us were still in high school.

  “I can’t believe she is already seven,” Deja said.

  “Oh, you can believe it. If you have any doubts she’ll tell you how big she is!” Little-T laughed and shook her head. “I’m going outside and wait for them. See you tonight.”

  Little-T was a year behind Michelle in school; they knew each other from early childhood. Through the years, if not close friends, they had always been friendly. They were truly sisters in the hood. Now, Michelle, Nikky and Deja were her employers, so were responsible for her general well-being. As her protector, Michelle felt the most responsibility for Little-T’s safety.

  Michelle, Nikky and Deja, lifelong friends, were as different in their looks as they were in their history and personality. D
eja, tall, voluptuous, loudly proud to be ghetto fabulous, ready smile and a bit ditzy was the complete counterpart to Nikky.

  With curly hair and creamy skin, the older folks called Nikky creole. At barely five feet tall, Nikky had a compact, but full woman’s figure, on a petite frame. Quiet with always alert eyes, she could be an enigma.

  From the time of her late childhood, Nikky had dreamed of getting even with her father. His being long dead from a drunken knife fight didn’t change anything. She still hated him for his abusive behavior that marked her childhood. Opposite from Nikky, Deja came from an intact family and knew and loved her father. She spent time with her family as often as she could.

  Michelle had been orphaned at sixteen when her parents were killed in an automobile wreck. Her older brother, Michael, stepped in and took care of her. He became her protector and support. Two years later, when he was murdered, her life irrevocably changed. She became absorbed on avenging his death.

  With her mission of revenge accomplished, and following unexpected, even surprising paths she focused on how to shoulder the new responsibility each challenge brought with it. She had become mature far beyond her short twenty-four years.

  The differences between the three friends were nothing compared to the one single thing that would never change. They were row dogs. No matter what happened they would always side with their friends and have each other’s backs.

  Michelle listened to the Deja and Nikky talk. She was proud of how well they had taken to their roles in their rather unique organization. Speaking to Nikky she said, “Look at you, all business-like, doing the books and tracking who pays what. Keep that up and you’ll be paying taxes like a legitimate business woman.”

  “Yeah, my mom’s been calling me her baby-business-baby. When does that stuff ever stop?” Nikky asked.

  “Well, you are her baby,” Michelle said. “Also, you have to admit, we are pretty young handling all this shit. Sure, you grow up fast in the hood. But not like this. Look, you’re taking care of the money and management, Deja’s handling beauty, health, and childcare. Who else do you know our age that comes even close to this?”