by Nicety
He didn’t even look in our direction as he climbed into his jet black Benz with peanut butter interior. His gold chain glistened in the sun as he checked his rearview mirrors and then focused his attention on his cell phone. I wanted to look away but I felt like I would miss something. He was a beautiful specimen if I had ever seen one. I felt heart palpitations increasing within me. I wanted to say something, anything to him to let him know that I was actually interested in him but I was frozen in time. Quince pulled off still focused on his phone not paying either of us no mind as he smashed his front end right into the back of my car.
“What the fuck?” I questioned angrily snapping me out of my lustful gaze.
“Oh shit. My bad baby,” he replied ending his call as he quickly exited the car.
“Um, yeah…you hit my car.” Why the fuck was I nervous? He was nobody, a simple dude whom I couldn’t bring myself to fully like and yet, I was nervous. “That’s why they say don’t use your phone and drive.”
“You’re right and I wasn’t even paying no damn attention either,” he puffed examining the damage. “It doesn’t look bad but I know a spot that can bang that little ding out for you in no time.”
“Ugh, I don’t have time for this today. I have to go apply for graduate school before it’s too late.”
“Chill Daisy. He said he would fix it and I know for a fact you have all week to apply for graduate school.” Embry placed her hand on my shoulder like she actually gave a damn.
“It’s very competitive and you know that, Embry. Not everyone gets a chance.” I turned staring back at Embry pissed and thinking that I should’ve planted a punch dead in her face.
“Graduate school, huh? Well we’re peeling back the layers of the onion slowly aren’t we?” Quince leered.
“Yeah, we both just graduated from Chicago State,” Embry giggled pulling me in for a sideways hug.
"Well first off, congratulations ladies," he paused. “But again I’m sorry about this and I will pay any and all costs for you.”
"Yeah…and what else?" I countered audaciously.
"What else?” He asked smiling at me with dreamy eyes.
Embry tugged on my arm, nipping here and there trying to get me to back down. I jilted away each time. She was really starting to wreck my nerves but I was so engrossed in the way Quince's deep tone penetrated my eardrum that I could hardly even focus on her amateurish attitude. She rubbed her dark flattened hair in the back of her head as she leaned in further, damn near climbing on top of him just to gain his attention. I almost let him get away before. If I stalled this time, we would never get together. If I wanted him, the time to act was now.
"I don’t know you tell me," I beamed as sweet as could be.
"Well, what did you have in mind ma?" He asked mimicking the cuteness in my voice but putting his own manly spin on it.
“Um, hello—“ Embry looked back and forth and the both of us distraughtly but was ignored.
"Oh, um I don't know, Quince. I probably shouldn't—"
"Shouldn't what? Go out with a nigga you don't know? Shit I know we’re past that now right,” Quince laughed sucking his teeth in the process. “My car banged your car so now we’re in laws.”
“Cute,” I giggled becoming even more intrigued with him.
“So what do you say, baby?” His voice seemed like it had gotten even sexier since before. It melted me. “You coming to fuck with a nigga for a little while or not?”
“Maybe just for a little while but only because yesterday was your birthday,” I replied not wanting to sound too anxious.
“Um, what? What the hell just happened here?” Embry asked with the ugliest look on her face.
“You’ll be good right girl?” I asked as he held out his hand for mine. I obliged as he escorted me to his Benz holding the car door open for me.
I composed my excitement long enough to catch a glimpse of Embry standing there with a dumbfounded expression on her face. It was priceless. She stood there staring at us bewildered, confused as Quince climbed in the driver’s side and took off. The whole scene was something out of a movie. I just wanted to yell out of the window like bye bitch, we won’t miss you. I knew at the end of the day, regardless of her fucked up ways, she was still my friend. But today was about me.
Chapter 7
Quince
Thirty Minutes Later
“Um, Quince. Why are we at the airport?” Daisy looked like she was about to sweat bullets. “Is this where you work or something?”
“Naw baby. I’ve gotta handle some business. I thought you were kicking it with me for a while. Like you said, it was my birthday.” A grin filled my face.
I exited the car and hustled around to the other side to open hers. She stepped out looking like a model out of a Vibe magazine. The all white dress she wore made me want to snatch her up right there in the Benz, lick the shit out of her pussy and make her scream my fucking name until her eyes popped out of her head. I had never said that about any female before but Daisy had me open and it was becoming more intense the more I remained in her presence. Never had I put my mouth on any of those other chicks. But Daisy…Daisy’s thick ass could get it.
“What? You scared to fly or something?” I asked heading to the trunk to get my large rollaway bag.
“No, I’m not. I’ve flown before. It’s just that—“
“It’s me.”
She shook her head in agreement. “Where are you trying to take me?”
“I’ve gotta fly to Santa Marta to handle some business. We’ll only be gone for a few days.”
“I’m sorry. Did you say Santa Marta? As in…what country?” Her voice rose out of nervousness.
“Colombia, baby.”
“Quince, I can’t go to Colombia with you. I barely even know you. I don’t even know your last name. I haven’t even told my momma that I’m gone. Hell, I don’t even have any clothes.” Panic had begun to set in. Her hands were trembling.
“Would you feel better if you had the answers to all of those questions or would those things really make a difference?” He paused. “Besides, they’ve got clothes in Santa Marta.”
“Honestly, Quince,” she paused bowing her head as if she was about to say something she really didn’t want to say. “I really don’t—“
“I got you baby. When you with me, you ain’t gotta worry about shit. Ever. You feel me?” I assured her.
“I can take care of myself, thank you very much.” She gawked at me letting me know that her pride wouldn’t let her admit that she probably didn’t have the cash to take a trip like this.
“Alright Ms. Independent. I see you can do your thang,” I said making her chuck her chin up to the sky before whispering in her ear. “But I still got you though.”
She blushed. I hoped my words soaked her panties. We headed for the airport entrance hand in hand. I couldn’t help but feel like someone was watching me but in an airport damn near everybody is watching somebody. Her palms grew sweaty in mine. I held onto it refusing to let it go no matter how moist it got. After checking in and heading to our gate, she squeezed my hand even tighter. I never let it go.
“Honestly this will be my first time on a plane,” Daisy leaned over to whisper. “Sorry, I lied to you about it before. I just didn’t want to seem like a scary cat.”
“Is that right? It’s cool ma. Well you can hold on to me for the entire flight.” I kissed her temporal lobe gently. “Alright?”
“How long is this flight? It’s 8:30am in the morning,” she crooned.
“Flight leaves in fifteen minutes. We’ll be there tonight at about 9pm.”
“Oh my God. I’ve gotta call my momma—“
“Tell her when you get back. That way she’ll never have to worry.” I winked my eye.
Her smile let me know she was becoming more and more comfortable with me by the second. I appreciated that. If she only knew how I was feeling about her. I just wish I knew what she was feeling. She seemed like the type
of woman that could be the Bonnie to my Clyde even though I wasn’t even in the market for one at first. I was sure I would get her entire story by the end of this trip. It was fucked up that I didn’t know if I could give her the same.
“So you’ve basically answered all of my previous questions except for one. Are you going to answer that one or am I going to have to wait until you let your guard down for that one as well?” She began the conversation as the plane took off.
“McCarter. My last name is McCarter.” I looked over at her moving in slowly pressing my lips to hers.
I could feel her breathing hard as I inserted my tongue into her mouth tickling her tongue with mine. She grabbed the back of my head pulling me further into her sending the signal that she was officially into me. Her tongue felt like silk. Our saliva intertwined as she pressed her hand against my chest gently. I knew she wanted me to back down but little did she know I was never a man to ever do so. I pulled away gazing deep into her eyes. Yeah, shorty had me open but she would never know that though.
Twelve hours later we landed. We took a taxi to the La Casa Amarilla, Manuel’s private vacation home. Even though we had slept on the plane we were still tired as fuck. The beautiful ocean view and private white sandy beach killed those feelings. Manuel didn’t take me as someone who would own such a beautiful place and still have money problems. But that’s why I was here, to help him cure those issues. I checked the clock realizing his cousin would be here any minute.
“Hey baby. I’m gonna go handle that business in a few minutes. You’ll be good here by yourself right?” I asked walking in to see her checking out one of the large bathrooms.
“Yeah, I guess I can find something to do in this big beautiful house.” Daisy moved closer to me. “So what is it that you do, Quince, or is that a secret too?”
Our eyes locked. I grabbed her waist pulling her close pressing our bodies together. She was so gorgeous and so innocent. I didn’t want to do shit but protect her and always make her smile. I wanted her to be my everything forever. The shit was actually a little scary but as I placed my lips to hers, those insecurities quickly flew away. I wanted this woman more than words could say. When our skin touched it was like igniting fire for the very first time, each time.
“I’ll be back, aight?” My hand tapped her ass lightheartedly.
“Alright, baby. Good luck.” Daisy pecked my lips headed down the hall. “By the way, I’ve got dibs on the biggest room.”
I couldn’t do shit but laugh. I had a feeling she was going to pull the whole separate room thing. As bad as I wanted her, I knew I had to respect her. She was more of a woman than those other chicks I fucked with. It was hard not to recognize her as a real woman, a pearl to be cherished. Outside a horn beeped short twice. I headed towards the door picking up the large duffle bag I had taken out of my luggage and sat there.
“I know. You’re gone. Have fun,” Daisy called into the room.
“Thanks.”
****
His fist beat the skinny dude's face in like it was kneading dough. I was still fucked up from the long ass flight so to walk into this threw me for a loop. It was another thirty minutes to this place and I really wasn’t in the mood for this shit. Gore, Manuel’s cousin and I walked into Raul’s luxury Penthouse suite at the TOWER 360. We had obviously interrupted somebody being taught one hell of a lesson. Raul was one of those dirt rich goon niggas who grew from nothing.
At just forty years old, he was known in Colombia as the bloodiest man to ever rule the cartel. His average build six-foot stature intimidated everyone he came across. He kept a scruffy beard but his hair remained short and slicked back. Raul was known to only be seen in the finest suits money could buy and would always have them hand tailored. He even switched up his cars every few months to keep the haters guessing just in case someone tried to monitor his every move and take his throne.
If they did he would most definitely go down fighting though. Murderer was an understatement when it came to this nigga. What he did was more like a blood bath. Even if it was only one person he made sure to spill their blood in every inch of the room to show their loved ones just how ruthless he could be. It was always up close and personal on some slick and quick shit with him. That’s how he let the poor bastard know before they died that he meant business. It was always business with him even when it came down to his two year old twin girls. Raul Santiago was much like my original connect, Mata Amigos except Mata was more ruthless than Al Capone.
Gore took a seat on the long curvy leather couch in the corner of the room as I made my way up to his huge custom made mahogany wood desk. The city night lights were mesmerizing through all of the bay windows in the room. Raul had brass knuckles on his right hand like he was kneading dough in the nigga’s face on the floor in front of him.
He shouted Spanish obscenities that made everyone in the room cringe for a minute until he stopped to gaze out of the window. The nigga was beating somebody’s ass to the point of death on his marble dining room floor and yet he had all the shades pulled wide open like he didn’t give a fuck who saw.
"Ah, my soon to be protégé. I’ve been expecting you." Raul shot his gaze over to me smiling as he straightened his steel shaded Armani suit. “My cousin tells me you are the man in your city.”
“I don’t play no games. I’m your man. I can double your profits in a month,” I replied staring down at the blood on the marble floor. “Mata makes more money off me than anybody he fucks with.”
He didn’t even give a shit about fucking up the walls or floors in his own place. Spending money was something that came natural to him since he had been doing it all of his life. He first joined the cartel back when he was only ten years old. He started out as a little soldier and quickly climbed the ranks to hit man. He made a name for himself by coming up with creative ways to kill traitors and leave a long lasting message. From that his success grew and so did his fascination with the lifestyle, power, and money. The most important thing to him though, was making sure he did it with loyalty and respect as his mantra.
“Quince, I see you. You’ve been out here doing good work. I’m very proud of you,” Raul spoke, grabbing my shoulder firmly as he leaned in towards my ear. “But getting in bed with you means possibly going to war with Mata. Now as much as I like what my cousin has told me about you, why should I take a chance on going to war?”
“First of all, fucking with you I’m going to rebrand my business. Your shit is way purer than Mata’s, which will move more product. Secondly, I was told you motherfuckas ain’t scared of nobody. So what does it matter what Mata thinks?” I patted his chest to assure him then stuck my hands back in my pants pockets. “I don’t want to be a mediocre mover forever. I’m trying to live as large as you.”
“My man,” he smiled. “You remind me of myself when I used to think like that. Then I ended up starting my family and look at me. Trapped in the game.”
“Yeah well, I’m looking to make enough money to make it one day work for me. You know what I mean?”
“Oh yeah. The level side. Yeah, I feel you,” Raul spat walking back to his desk, waving his hand ordering his goons to scrape dude up off the floor and remove him from the room. He extended his hand offering me a seat. “And get my fucking money from that clown!”
“Anyway, Mata is a good man but he’s old news and it’s time to move on to bigger and better pastures,” I continued ignoring the body being dragged out the room, remaining standing.
“Yes, my friend. I understand. But as you know, this business loves no one but the money it makes,” he informed. “I’m sure my cousin filled you in on my background.”
“Indeed he has.”
I could tell Raul had trust issues. Manuel told me all about Raul because he was the type of person who liked when people he dealt with knew just who they were dealing with. I made it my business to focus on every little detail that Manuel told me about Raul. He would know that I was a man of thoroughness who kept m
y eye on everyone around me.
Two half naked tan skinned females with coconut derrieres and long jet black hair strolled past in nothing but high heels and thongs winking their eyes and giggling at me. They caught my eye but there was nothing there for me. For the first time in a long time, I was good. Raul had been introduced to the prostitution game early. See, his dad found his demise by a sniveling little gold digger, just five years after he was born. They had set his dad up so his right hand man could take over his empire. His dad had hoes all over Colombia in expensive high rises having none of them ever work the streets.
His dad felt that the streets got you killed. But because he was so focused on the not being in the streets, he forgot to keep a close eye on the ones he thought had his back. So when he wasn’t looking, his best friend stabbed him in the back, literally. His mom rode for him even in death, slitting the traitors’ throats from ear to ear then stood there watching as they bled out gasping for air. His mom used to tell him the story everyday before she died of a sexually transmitted disease just ten years later. Since then he vowed never to turn a blind eye to anyone.
“I’m just trying to secure the future of my future kids,” I told him playing on the fact that he was a father.
“Yeah, I hear you bro. Just know that if we ever have to go to war, we will go. No ifs, ands, or buts and we kill them motherfuckas dead. Ya understand?” He was snarling at me like an angry dog. I hated when people did that shit. It pissed me off to my core. “We don’t back down from shit if we do this. Ya understand?”
“No doubt Raul. I feel you on that shit.” I turned signaling for Gore to bring the duffle bag full of rubber band cash that I had brought with me. “And, until I’m able to go all the way legit, it’s business as usual.”
“Aye,” Raul called out while the cleaning crew stepped in dropping to their hands and knees to clean the bloody mess on the floor. “I respect you, son. I respect you so much that…I support your decision. Whenever you’re ready to get out, just give me three months in advance notice and we’re good.”
