Murderville

by Ashley

  “Right. That’s how I see it too,” Baron said.

  “So let’s get down to business. I know you didn’t fly across the country to shoot the shit, my friend,” Samad stated.

  “Indeed,” Baron said as he clasped his hands and leaned forward, interested in what was about to be said.

  “Coke is your game, right? I will give you kilos of the purest fish scale in the country for sixteen a key,” Samad said as he rubbed his rubble light beard. Baron immediately liked the sound of the price because he had been paying sixteen-five with Bonzi for years. Being the businessman that he was, Baron still attempted to negotiate so that he could get the best price possible.

  “How about fifteen a key, and we will buy one hundred per month… consistently?”

  “I can’t do that. That’s too low.” Samad said as rubbed his hands together. “I can go fifteen-five, but that’s the lowest I can go.”

  Baron liked the sound of that price and just as he was about to answer, A’shai sat up and stepped in. “We are going to pass but thanks for your time,” he said with a no-nonsense expression on his face. He extended his hand for Samad and stood up. What the fuck are you doing? Baron thought as he scolded his son in his head. He was silently cursing A’shai but Baron’s facial expression never changed. He also stood up as he wondered what his son had up his sleeve. Samad shook his hand and then Baron’s as they ended the meeting abruptly. A’shai turned to head out and Baron followed. “I don’t what the hell you’re doing, but it better work,” Baron whispered as they headed to the door. Baron was totally taken off guard as he thought about the great price Samad had just given them.

  “Trust me, Pops. We won’t make it to the door,” A’shai whispered back as he put his business skills on full display for his father. A’shai thought about the fact that Samad needed them and not the other way around. A’shai thought about how Samad had gotten in touch with Baron as soon as he heard about Bonzi’s death. He also thought about how Samad had flown them out just to have a sit-down with him. A’shai’s business savvy was beginning to peak its head and A’shai hoped like hell that his plan would work.

  “Hold up!” Samad yelled as he thought about how much money he was potentially letting walk away. “Deal!” he yelled as he smiled, knowing that A’shai was a young shark. A’shai smiled and winked at his father as they turned around. A’shai approached Samad with his hand out and they shook.

  “I want it for fourteen-five,” A’shai said knowing that he had Samad wrapped around his finger.

  “Deal. You have a shark for a son. The two of you have to come back out and join me at The Gentleman’s Ball. It’ll be a great way to kick off this business friendship,” Samad said as he looked at Baron and shook his hand. Baron smiled and looked on at his protégé. Baron hadn’t been to The Gentleman’s Ball in years and he figured it would be a great way to introduce his son to the heads of the underworld.

  “We’ll be there,” Baron replied. It was the perfect rite of passage for A’shai, and he would establish many contacts at the exclusive event. He knew at that moment that A’shai was built for this game and was on his way to being the boss of all bosses in due time.

  TEN

  LIBERTY PULLED HER AUDI A8 UP TO the Geisha House sushi bar in Hollywood and stepped out of the car. It had been two months and life was obviously good. She was in high demand at the brothel and had quickly stacked enough money to live comfortably. The first thing she had purchased was a brand new vehicle. She paid the foreign whip off in full… not even realizing that she didn’t know how to drive it until it was time for her to pull it off the lot. She quickly learned with the help of Abia, and the vehicle became her most prized possession. She had a fetish for the finer things. Because she had never had anything, now that she could afford it… she wanted to buy everything and as she walked into the popular restaurant she felt accomplished and as if no one could touch her.

  She gave her name to the hostess, knowing that her date was already seated and awaiting her presence. As she walked across the room, most heads couldn’t help but to turn her way. She was killing the dress she wore… the fabric fitting her curvaceous body like a glove. She spotted her date and gave him a smile as he stood to welcome her. He pulled out her chair for her and she pecked him on the cheek before she sat down.

  “Good evening, handsome,” she greeted.

  “You look beautiful, Liberty,” he replied.

  “Flattery will get you everywhere, your honor,” she whispered over the candle-lit table.

  Judge Collin Bridges had presided over the federal district in L.A. for the past twenty years. A 60-year-old gentleman, he was quite attractive with his salt-and-pepper beard that he wore neatly trimmed. Everything about him was distinguished and there was nothing more attractive to Liberty than established money. Judge Bridges radiated confidence and power. A widower and father of two adult children, he lived a lonely life. The women at the brothel had become the companions that he chose to keep time with. Liberty had been instructed to treat him very well. He had requested her in particular because after seeing her portfolio, she had sparked his interest.

  “So how much is a night with someone like you going to cost me?” he asked.

  “$5,000,” Liberty answered. “I’m worth every penny though.”

  The judge smiled and sat back as he took her all in. He had been with many women in his day, but Liberty was a rare beauty. There was something about her that stood out amongst the masses. It was more in the way that she carried herself than in her actual looks. He watched as she picked up her champagne flute… so graceful as if she were a prima ballerina and life was her stage.

  “I’m sure you are,” he replied. “So where are you from?” he asked.

  Liberty could tell that the judge was there for companionship. She had learned to read her clients and to provide them with whatever void they were missing in their lives. Whether it be a night of mind-blowing sex or just a listening ear, Liberty could provide her men with all that their hearts desired as long as the price was right.

  Liberty no longer felt like a two-bit whore. She was clocking a salary that rivaled that of physicians and attorneys. Instead of hating what she had become, she embraced it. There was no point in dwelling on the things she couldn’t change so instead she buried her past, vowing to never think about it again. With Abia’s help Liberty was given a new life. The right palms had been greased to make Liberty’s presence in the states as legal as if she had really been birthed there. All of her paperwork was legit. With a phony social security card and birth certificate she had all the makings of a new life, and it was up to her to make the most of it. Instead of chasing an education or developing a trade, she was living the fast life. It was all she knew. Seduction was the only skill that she had ever developed and with connected friends like Abia, she was going to let it take her straight to the top.

  Her past was not something that she ever spoke about so instead of answering the judge’s question she replied, “I’m really not in the mood to talk, Collin. I could think of some other things that we could be doing right now.”

  She smiled sexily as the judge moved his chair closer to hers and she slid her hand in the seat of his crotch, massaging his stiffening manhood. A job that she used to hate had become one that she appreciated. She loved the power that she held over her clients. Instead of being the one that was taken advantage of, she felt like the manipulator… the black widow that trapped men in her web. She could see the lust in his eyes and it gave her a natural high because she knew that all of the cards were in her hands.

  “Let’s get out of here,” he whispered.

  Liberty rose from her seat and grabbed the judge’s necktie and held onto it as she walked out of the restaurant, dragging him playfully behind her as he became hypnotized by the natural sway of her hips. He was in for a long night. It was his first time requesting her company, but Liberty knew how to hook a man. After she put her thing down on him he would become just another
regular on her rotation.

  Liberty entered the mansion just before dawn. She crept inside to avoid waking the other ladies. She hadn’t made many friends in her time there, but it didn’t bother her. She was there to make the money… fuck the bitch standing beside her. The way she saw it, they were her competition. Her cut-throat mentality was a direct result of her sordid past. Everyone she had ever let into her heart was always ripped away from her so she had closed and locked it to avoid losing someone else she cared for. She didn’t even give anyone the opportunity to get close to her.

  “Long night?” Abia’s voice cut through the pitch black mansion, causing Liberty to gasp unexpectedly as she dropped her handbag, spilling the contents of it onto the floor. Abia flicked on the light and bent down to help Liberty pick her things up. She noticed the white powder that dusted the floor and then she looked up to notice that Liberty was high. Abia wasn’t naïve to the fact that most of the girls in her stable indulged in one drug or the other, but Liberty went hard on narcotics like a true addict. The last thing Abia needed was a junkie bitch. She was known for having a high quality operation. She wasn’t about to allow Liberty to ruin the reputation of a brothel she had worked years to establish. Her clients didn’t pay to be around the likes of base heads, crack heads, or dope heads and if Liberty didn’t tread lightly she could easily become one.

  “You might want to slow down on this stuff, Liberty. You’re not working the streets anymore. You don’t need this to cope. I can help you wean off this shit if you want,” Abia suggested as she handed Liberty her bag. Both women stood and Liberty shook her head.

  “No, I’m good. I can handle it,” she replied. She was only nineteen years old, but had been snorting heroin since the tender age of ten. She noticed the sympathetic look on Abia’s face. “Don’t judge me, Abia. You gave me this habit… people like you led me down this road. You don’t get to look at me like that,” Liberty spat as she snatched her clutch.

  Abia knew that Liberty was right, but she had been in the business long enough to notice when one of her girls was headed towards self-destruction. Liberty had only been at the brothel for a couple of months and already she was bringing in more money than even the most experienced girl. Liberty was going on two, sometimes three dates a day, making her the highest earner out of the group. It was good money, but she was going so hard that she would eventually burn out. Most days Liberty only came home to shower before darting right back out the door to meet another client. Her body and mind needed a break. It took a lot of drugs to keep a person flying non-stop the way that Liberty was doing, and Abia could tell from Liberty’s constantly running nose that she had graduated to snorting cocaine. It was Abia’s job to keep the inventory in good condition and Liberty was no exception.

  “I’m not judging you, hun, but you need to slow down. The Gentleman’s Ball is coming up soon, and I need you to be at your best for that Liberty,” Abia replied.

  “The Gentleman’s what?” Liberty asked in irritation. All she wanted to do was sleep at this point. She hadn’t known that Abia was going to be watching her every move, and she wasn’t feeling the authority that Abia was trying to put on her.

  “The ball, Liberty. I’ve been telling you ladies about this since you stepped foot inside this house. It’s the most important event of the year. The men who come to this event make our regular clients look like blue-collar workers. It’s like an auction. Girls get sold to the highest bidder,” Abia explained.

  “Like slaves,” Liberty said dismally.

  “Like rarities,” Abia shot back. “Some men pay for one night… they fly out and leave their wives at home so that they can enjoy a single night of pleasure… but some of the men pay to keep you long term. Those men are so rich that you won’t have to lie on your back another day of your life. They spend big money, and I can’t have you walking in there with bags under your eyes from these sleepless, drug-filled rendezvous. So like I said… slow down before you crash and burn.”

  ELEVEN

  WILLOW SAT IN THE LARGE STADIUM AND tears of joy filled her eyes as she looked at the sea of square hats. It was a significant day in her life… it was the day that her son, A’shai, would receive his degree. Her heart swelled with pride as she blew him a kiss. A’shai gave her a charming wink and then held up his hand giving her a sign that only the two of them shared… a hand gesture that meant ‘I Love You’.

  “I am so proud of that boy,” Willow stated to Baron who sat to her right.

  “Me too. Today is a big day… it’s his day,” Baron replied.

  The prestigious couple held hands as they admired their son for his tenacity and drive. Willow knew that A’shai would do something great with his life. She had connected with him from the very first time she lay eyes on him. She was well aware of the life that he had come from because they shared a common past; that made this day even more joyous. A’shai had done quite alright for himself. He had defied the odds.

  When his name was called, Willow stood to her feet excitedly, clapping and smiling with class.

  A’shai accepted his honor and then walked over to his mother to plant a kiss on her cheek. “This is for both of us,” he whispered in her ear. Willow had urged him to pursue an education more than anyone else in his life and had helped him see it through until the end. She was his biggest supporter and he paid homage to her by sharing his greatest accomplishment with her.

  She gripped his face and kissed his cheek before he walked back to his seat.

  After the ceremony Willow and Baron greeted their son with love. A’shai was beaming from ear to ear. His usual serious demeanor was overshadowed by the triumph he felt.

  “Congratulations, son,” Baron stated as he gave A’shai a firm handshake.

  “Let me get a picture with my baby,” Willow said as she pulled him close and fixed his silk neck tie.

  Baron chuckled as he shook his head. “Come on, Will, you’re embarrassing him,” he said.

  A’shai was not really one for picture taking, but he would do anything to please Willow. He pulled her close, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and posed for the shot.

  “Get one of me and my favorite girl,” he said, making Willow feel like the love of his life.

  “I think me and a few of the fellas are going to go out to celebrate,” A’shai said as he removed the cap from his head.

  “What? Oh no! I made you a big dinner. I thought you could celebrate at home with us,” Willow said.

  Seeing the disappointment on his mother’s face A’shai kissed her cheek and said, “Dinner sounds like the perfect way to celebrate, ma.”

  They took a few snapshots and then headed home. A’shai walked into the house and was shocked when he heard…

  “SURPRISE!”

  He smiled as he recognized all of his closest associates and classmates. Even the hood had come out to show him love.

  “Congrats, son!” Baron shouted as he patted A’shai on the back.

  He turned to Willow and Baron. “Dinner huh?” he said with a chuckle.

  “I had to get you back here somehow,” Willow said. “I’ve been planning this for weeks. I want you to have a ball and live it up. You deserve it!”

  Willow walked away to play hostess to her son’s friends while A’shai stood next to Baron, completely taken aback by how many people had shown up. He knew that he had love in the streets but this was like a real live block party.

  “Enjoy yourself tonight, Shai. This is your gift from your mother. I have a different surprise for you tomorrow. I love you, young man,” Baron stated.

  “I love you too, Pop.”

  An old Teena Marie slow jam came on and A’shai immediately recognized Willow’s favorite song. He went and found her and then pulled her onto the dance floor.

  “Boy, what are you doing? There are plenty of fresh tail little girls here for you to dance with,” Willow said as she threw her head back as they two-stepped.

  “Nope I don’t see nothing but the
most beautiful lady in the room,” A’shai replied. They danced the night away and although normally A’shai wasn’t the dancing type he indulged his mother, showing her the time of her life. He truly shared his big night with only her, turning down girl after girl who tried to steal his attention away. “Thanks for this, ma. Thank you for everything,” A’shai stated, knowing that he would be nowhere if it had not been for her generous and kind heart all those years ago. She had pulled him from the trenches and changed his entire life.

  “You don’t ever have to thank me. You are my son, and you mean the world to me.”

  Baron smiled as he looked over at his son, A’shai, who sat across from him. A’shai had just graduated the day before in Michigan and already they were across the coast in L.A.

  They sat in the back of the luxury stretch limo, sipping champagne while waiting on the “special call.” They both wore black tuxedos accented with silk bowties and diamond cufflinks. Presidential would be an understated way to describe the way the two men looked on that night. It was a special night and both of them could feel the electricity in the air. It was the night of The Gentleman’s Ball, the single most exclusive ball of the year. Only politicians, millionaires, and bosses attended the private affair. The location of the event was kept secret for up to twenty minutes prior to the start time. Each man or entourage was told that they would receive a phone call to notify them of the location and only people on the guest list would be allowed to enter. It was very private and Baron had the pleasure of attending the same ball a few years back. He thought bringing A’shai was a great way to celebrate his accomplishment. He also knew that it was a good way to get A’shai’s feet wet in the corporate black market.

  “You know, your mother was very proud of you yesterday,” Baron said as he poured champagne into the flute. A’shai smiled and nodded his head as he remained silent. They sat in parking lot of the Hilton that they were staying in and like clockwork, the phone rang exactly twenty minutes before 10 P.M. Baron picked up his phone and pushed the talk button.