Real As It Gets

by ReShonda Tate Billingsley

  “I didn’t have anything to do with your money.”

  “Yeah, but you ever heard of collateral damage?”

  I sighed heavily. “I work in television. I’m supposed to go to work tomorrow. My boss will be looking for me. And if I don’t come home, my mom will have the SWAT team out looking for me.”

  Nico leaned in. “Little girl, don’t try to run game on me.”

  I paused. My mom had actually left yesterday for a shopping trip to Argentina, but I needed him to think someone would be looking for me. “My parents check in with me every night.”

  Nico was thinking. I was hoping that would help him come to his senses.

  “Plus, my friend Sheridan knows where I was,” I added.

  “Oh, was that the chick outside?” he asked Joe, who nodded. Nico turned back to me. “Oh, we got Sheridan taken care of.”

  My eyes widened. What did that mean? Oh my God, if something had happened to Sheridan ...

  Joe must’ve read the look on my face because he said, “Chill, she a’ight. She’s gonna keep her mouth closed.”

  Nico shot him a look, and he stepped back like he shouldn’t have said anything.

  I could only imagine the terror Sheridan was going through right now.

  “But you know, you got a point, baby girl.” He handed me his cell phone. “Call your mama and tell her you won’t be home tonight.”

  “You definitely don’t know my mom. That’s not gonna fly.”

  “Just do it,” Nico hissed. I could tell he was no longer playing around so I slowly took the phone. “Tell her you’re about to turn in for the night. Hopefully, you’ll be home safe and sound before she gets back in town. Then, you call your job and tell them you’re sick and won’t be in or some other lie. You lie for a living.”

  “I don’t lie!”

  “Rumors, lies, it’s all the same. Make the call.”

  “Really, Nico? The number will show up if she uses your phone,” Margarita huffed like he hadn’t thought this through.

  Nico looked over at her, then at Lex. “See, this is why I keep her around, because she thinks of things I’m obviously too dumb to think about.” He spun back to Margarita. “Keep your nose out of my business. Like I’m gonna let someone use my phone if my number would show up. You dumb broad, I don’t need your input. Just sit over there and shut up and try to look cute.” He looked at her in disgust. “You don’t even do that anymore.”

  Margarita glared at him as her eyes filled with tears.

  I took the phone and slowly dialed my mom’s number.

  “Put it on speakerphone,” Nico said.

  I did as he said, and waited while it rang. “Hey, Mom?” I said when she answered.

  “How are you, sweetie? Argentina is beautiful. I should’ve brought you so we could go shopping together. Your dad gave me the black card.” She giggled.

  I wanted to scream. I’m being kidnapped and you’re talking about shopping in Argentina!

  I sighed as Nico gave me the sign to wrap up. “Well, I was just checking in. I’m going to bed. You know, in case you decided to call.”

  “Okay, honey.”

  “I mean, I just wanted to tell you if you call, you won’t be able to get me,” I continued. I couldn’t believe this. Wasn’t there supposed to be some kind of mental mother-daughter bond that could tell her when I was in trouble?

  “Okay, sweet dreams. Gotta go,” my mom said. “My tour guide is here. Don’t tell your father, but he is so fabulous. Love you.” She hung the phone up and I swear, I wanted to cry.

  “Dang, sounds like moms is a piece of work,” Nico said. “Now, call your job.”

  I dialed Tamara’s personal cell phone. I was sick when it went to her voice mail.

  “Leave a message,” Nico mouthed.

  “Hey Tamara, it’s Maya,” I slowly began. “I’m not feeling well. I won’t be in today....”

  “Or tomorrow,” he whispered.

  “Or tomorrow,” I repeated. “Okay. Bye.”

  I hoped that she recognized how strange this message was. At this point, I just didn’t know. At this point, I didn’t know anything, including whether I’d even make it out alive.

  Chapter 36

  I couldn’t make out the look on Travis’s face. All I knew was this wasn’t looking good. And I couldn’t figure out why my cousin was here by himself. If Sammy had gotten him into this mess, Sammy needed to be here with him.

  “You got my money?”

  “Look, Nico.” Travis nervously sighed. “We didn’t get it all.”

  “Then why are you here?” He slowly lit his cigar.

  Travis tossed a small duffel bag at Nico’s feet. “Here’s ten grand. I just need one more day.”

  Nico snatched the bag up and pulled out a stack of bills. “Ten thousand dollars? I blow my nose with this.”

  “Come on, Nico, man,” Travis pleaded.

  Nico slowly inhaled, then blew a ring of smoke. “Where’s your partner at?”

  “He’s working to get the rest of the money. We just wanted to show you that we are serious. Can you please let my cousin go?”

  “Now, you know that’s not gonna happen, young bruh.” Nico glanced down at the money, over at me, then back at Travis. “But since I am in a giving mood”—he stuffed some of the money in his pocket—”I’m going to go ahead and give you another twenty-four hours. But after that, it’s bye-bye, Betty.” He motioned in my direction.

  “My name is Maya,” I snapped.

  “Can somebody get a muzzle for this chick?” he said like he was irritated with me.

  “If I’m getting on your nerves, I’d be happy to leave,” I couldn’t help but say.

  That made him laugh as he walked over and squeezed my chin so tight it hurt. “Your feistiness ain’t cute no more. And right now, you easing onto my bad side.” He pushed me down on the sofa by my chin. “So sit down and shut up! You ain’t goin’ nowhere ’til I get my money.” He turned back to Travis. “All of it.”

  I tried to get up, but Travis gave me a “please chill” look.

  “Yo, Nico. Can I talk to my cousin just for a minute? She’s really scared. I’ll calm her down.”

  Nico glared at me but didn’t respond.

  “Come on, Nico,” Margarita said, stepping up. I didn’t even know that she’d come into the room. “You can let them talk. It’s not like either of them is dumb enough to try anything with all these bodyguards around. She’s just a kid.”

  I wanted to ask Margarita who she was calling a kid, but I figured now wasn’t the time.

  “Fine. All this mushy crap getting on my nerves.”

  He went and sat in the big recliner in the corner and continued smoking his cigar.

  Travis helped me up off the sofa and pulled me to the side. “How you doin’, Maya?” he gently asked.

  “I’m having a great day, Travis. How do you think I’m doin’?” I snapped. Tears actually started forming in my eyes.

  “Did you find Sheridan?”

  Travis nodded. “Joe, Nico’s bodyguard, made her leave. He told her to wait to hear from me but not to call the police. She was scared to death, but she did as he said. Now, she’s freaking out with worry.”

  “Yeah, me too.”

  “This will be over soon.” He hugged me.

  I wish I could say that I felt safe in his arms, but I wouldn’t feel safe until I was out of this place. “Where did you get the money from?” I asked.

  “I sold my father’s watch.”

  My heart dropped. “What? But that meant the world to you.”

  “You mean more to me, Maya. I’m so, so sorry I got you caught up in this.”

  I no longer felt like beating him up. I just wanted to get out of there. “Travis, look. Just go ask my dad for the money.”

  He shook his head like that wasn’t an option. “What do you think Uncle Myles is gonna do? Do you think he’s going to pay up?”

  “You know he will give it to you.”

>   “No, he won’t. He’s gonna go straight to the cops. And for real, Nico doesn’t play. If he even thinks some cops are involved, he’s killin’ everybody. I can’t take that chance.”

  I couldn’t help but wonder if this was more about him than me. Travis wouldn’t want to tell my dad because my dad would kill him first, then go to the cops. “Well, I have some money in my savings. It’s not two hundred and fifty thousand, but it’ll help.”

  “And how am I supposed to get that?”

  “Maybe he’ll let me go get the money and come back.” Even as I said it, I knew Nico wasn’t going to go for that.

  “Just hang tight, okay? Sammy had some money stashed and he’s using that and he has a lead on the guys who robbed him.”

  We stopped talking as Nico headed our way. “A’ight, enough.” He pulled me back toward him again. “Go get the rest of my money, and this time, don’t come back here without it.”

  Chapter 37

  My mind was wandering. I wondered if Tamara was looking for me. I knew she’d been calling me, even though Nico had my phone. Tamara wasn’t the type to buy that “I’m sick” story without suspecting something. I wondered if she would try to call my parents. I wondered what Travis was doing. How he was going to get the money. I hoped he didn’t steal anything from my dad, but if he did, I wouldn’t blame him. At this point he needed to do whatever he needed to do to get me out of this situation.

  “Margarita, keep her entertained,” Nico said, sliding a gun across the table to her.

  I looked at the hoochie sitting across the room and glaring at me like I wanted to be here or something.

  “What you looking at?” she said, wiggling her neck.

  “Is your name really Margarita?” I asked.

  “Yeah, and?”

  “And, no reason really.” I paused. “I mean, that’s like the name you born with? Like your mom took one look at you and said, ‘Oooh, she look like a Margarita.’ ”

  Nico burst out laughing again. “I love this chick. I need someone like her in my life,” he added before disappearing up the stairs.

  Margarita, meanwhile, didn’t see anything funny.

  I watched the TV for a few minutes. Maury was on. Even though the volume was muted, I could tell by the way some woman was sobbing as she ran off the stage that the man next to her was not the father.

  I couldn’t believe Margarita was really into this mess.

  Finally, I couldn’t take the silence anymore. “So are you Nico’s girlfriend?”

  “I sure am,” she answered with an attitude. “And don’t come up in here trying to get with my man.”

  Is she for real? I couldn’t help but look at her like she was crazy. “Yeah, you don’t have to worry about me. I just want to get out of here.” I glanced around the room. “Look, if you let me go, I promise I won’t say anything.”

  “Girl, you got me messed up,” she said. “Do you see this fly outfit I got on?” I swear, although she was pretty, she sounded just like Sheneneh from the show Martin. “This is Chanel, baby,” she added as she ran her hands up and down her too-tight outfit.

  I didn’t know Chanel made hoochie.

  “And do you see these earrings?” She pointed to her ears. “Diamonds, boo boo. So if Nico say you gon’ sit here, you gon’ sit here.”

  I considered charging her, but since she was sitting there with her hand on the pistol—not to mention she looked like she was straight out of the hood—I didn’t even want to chance it.

  “What you doing around here anyway?” she asked.

  “I was just following my cousin,” I said. “I knew he was up to something and I was trying to find out what was going on.”

  “Ummm-hmmm,” Margarita said. “That’s why you need to be minding your own business. That’s what my mama always said, at least before she got locked up.”

  “Is that what you do with Nico, mind your own business?” I asked.

  “I sure do,” she replied. “Ain’t no shame in my game. As long as he takes care of me, he can handle his business.”

  “Wow. Do you mind if ask how old you are?”

  “You so nosey,” she said.

  I shrugged and gave her a “what can I say?” look.

  “I’m twenty-two,” she replied.

  “And you don’t want more in life?”

  “What more is there to want?” She waved around the apartment. “I got it all.”

  “Okay, if you say so.”

  “Why you ask so many questions?”

  “I just do. Seriously, you like the way he treats you?”

  I don’t know why I was getting all up in her business, but I needed something to pass the time. If I sat here just thinking, I’d start planning my demise, and I didn’t need to be thinking about that.

  “Nico buys me nice stuff.”

  “I didn’t ask you what he buys you.”

  “Don’t worry about the way Nico treats me.”

  “Cool.” I swallowed hard as I struggled to say what I wanted to say next. “It’s just, if I was as pretty as you, I’d be having dudes crawling at my feet, not the other way around.”

  She stopped and looked at me. “You think I’m pretty?”

  “Yeah, you’re gorgeous. And I don’t mean that in a freaky sort of way,” I felt the need to add.

  She sat like she was thinking. “I told Nico if he didn’t start treating me better, I was going to find someone who would.”

  “You should,” I said, trying to egg her on. “You remind me of those trophy chicks professional athletes have on their arms. They treat them well and shower them with gifts because they know if they don’t, another dude will.” I wanted to gas her up in hopes that I could get her to help me escape. “That’s the life you should have.”

  She nodded like she couldn’t agree more. “That’s what I’m talking about.” She paused like she was thinking. “Nico used to be nice, back when he was trying to get with me.”

  “What happened?”

  She shrugged. “He started working for this big-time dude, who pumped even more money in his pocket and he got the big head.”

  That made me sit up and take notice as I suddenly remembered that phone call I’d gotten at the station.

  “Oh, yeah, I heard about that guy.”

  Her eyes widened. “You have?”

  “Yeah, I know he’s the one behind the whole operation.”

  Margarita looked over her shoulder, toward the door, then back at me. “Shhh, girl. You betta not let Nico hear you say that. He guards Donovan like he’s Jesus or something.”

  Donovan? Donovan? OMG, no way was she talking about Donovan Davis. He was one of Hollywood’s hottest stars back in the nineties, but he’d fallen off and hadn’t been doing much lately—just like the caller had said. That had to be who she was talking about because Donovan lived in Miami. I’d heard rumors he was involved with drugs, but I would’ve never taken him for the kingpin of it all.

  I lowered my voice. “Good looking out. I just was trippin’ over why Donovan would be dealing. I mean, he’s loaded from all those movies he made.”

  “He also lost a lot of money from gambling. Then, apparently, he hooked up with someone in South America that set him up with some drugs and he got caught up in the money.” She looked sad for a minute. “We all did, I guess.”

  “Yeah, but it’s not right that he’s sitting back and playing his Hollywood role and he got Nico doing all the dirty work.”

  Margarita slapped the table. “That’s what I’ve been telling Nico.”

  “Maybe you can get through to him,” I said.

  “Please, Nico don’t listen to nobody.”

  Just then, her phone chirped. She picked it up, read the text message, and frowned. “This trick right here ...,” she mumbled, tossing the phone back on the table.

  “What’s wrong?”

  She hesitated, like she wasn’t sure if she should be telling me. “That’s Nico’s baby mama. I can’t stand that tramp. She
just sent me a text, talking about Nico on his way to see her.”

  I reached across the table and touched Margarita’s hand. “Girl, you deserve better.” I no longer was gassing her up. I didn’t know Margarita, but she definitely deserved better.

  Margarita looked like she was thinking, but then quickly snatched her hand away when Nico walked back in the room.

  Nico eyed me suspiciously. “What y’all doing?”

  “Nothing,” she said, nervously. “I’m just watching her like you told me to.”

  “Well, watch her for a little while longer. Bull is upstairs, so if you need anything just holler. Joe and Lex are going with me.”

  “Where you goin’?” Margarita asked.

  He looked irritated, like he didn’t like being questioned. “Out.”

  “Out where?”

  He blew a frustrated breath. “Dang, girl, who you think you are questioning me?”

  Margarita stood up, and I could see her eyes watering up. “You’re going over Shebrina’s house, aren’t you?”

  Nico glared at her for a minute. I just knew he was going to keep denying it, but he said. “Okay, and so what? I want to see my son.”

  “Did you forget? Your son ain’t even there. He’s with Shebrina’s father.” She poked her lips out like she was really mad.

  “What, you keeping tabs on my kids now?”

  I couldn’t believe I was sitting here watching this mess like it was some kind of ghetto reality show.

  “Nico, the last time you went over there, you spent the night.”

  He waved her off and headed toward the door. She followed him and grabbed his arm. “Please don’t go.” I wanted to grab Margarita and shake some sense into her. I couldn’t believe she was begging a guy.

  Nico pushed her so hard she fell to the ground. “I told you about putting your hands on me!” Then, while Margarita lay on the ground, he took his right foot and kicked her in the side. “I told your behind to stop being such a nag!”

  Margarita screamed as he kicked her again. I grimaced in horror. Joe stepped up. “Yo, boss, let’s roll.”

  Nico looked down at Margarita and shook his head. “Shoot, on the real, you might need to be taking some lessons from Shebrina on how to be a real woman.”