by Jade Jones
I knew I should’ve never agreed to do this shit. Hot tears poured down Cameron’s cheeks, as she feared the worse.
Unable to defend herself, she desperately spat a mouthful of saliva in his face. Paul surprised Cam when he hocked a glob of spit back in hers. In horror, she watched as he unzipped his jeans and pulled out his ashy dick.
15
“All I want is a lil’ taste of dat hole,” Paul whispered in her ear. “I can look at you and tell that shit’s tighter than a muf—”
KNOCK!
KNOCK!
KNOCK!
Cameron let off a muffled scream before the door finally burst open. Cole looked from Cameron to Paul.
“Aye, what the fuck is you doin’?” Cole grilled. He didn’t give Paul a chance to answer before he grabbed him up and shoved him.
Paul tried his best to put away his poor excuse of a penis. He was more embarrassed that he’d been caught trying to rape a female. Cole fucked up his whole agenda when he stole his ass in the face.
Cameron jumped in shock after the unexpected blow. She didn’t think Cole would haul off and hit him. Though his reaction seemed extreme, Paul’s trifling ass deserved every bit of it.
All of a sudden, Juicy appeared in the doorway wearing a look of confusion. “What the fuck is going on in here?”
Paul held his swollen jaw. He wanted to retaliate but one look at the shiny glock on Cole’s hip made him reconsider.
Cameron quickly grabbed her shit and ran past Juicy. “I think I’m gonna call it an early night,” she said over her shoulder.
On the elevator, Cam quickly slipped into her jeans and t-shirt. She made it all the way out to the parking lot when she heard a familiar voice behind her.
“Aye, hol’ up.” Cole jogged over to Cameron. “Are you straight?” His concern seemed genuine, and she was more than grateful he’d come to her rescue.
Cam forced a smile in spite of still being shaken up. She could feel Paul’s saliva slowly drying up on her skin. She couldn’t wait to hop in a hot shower and scrub thoroughly. Paul’s ass deserved worst.
“Now that I’m out of there, yeah. Thanks,” Cam told him. “I appreciate you showin’ up when you did.”
“Oh, no doubt.”
Cameron’s gaze traveled to the piece tucked in his waistline. “Why do you carry a gun, Cole?” Her first thought was that he was a D-boy. He definitely had the swag of one.
“Shit, you know how it is. You just saw firsthand back in there. Plus, I got my CCL’s, I’m good,” he assured her. “Anyway, I just wanted to make sure you cool, and make sure you got to ya ride safely.”
Cameron opened her door and climbed inside. “Thank you,” she said.
Cole walked over towards her car and knelt down to remain eye-level. “I know I’m reachin’ after everything that happened today, but can I see you again? I promise I’ma lot less violent most times.”
Cameron laughed at the light-hearted comment. “I don’t know, Cole… You sure you ain’t into no shit?” she asked. There was a smile on her face, but she was dead ass. The last thing Cameron wanted was to deal with another criminal or psychopath. She’d already had enough of that type.
Cole chuckled. “Baby girl, I work a nine to five unloading at a warehouse. I make money doin’ an honest living, if that’s what you askin’. Why? You like bad boys?”
Cameron thought about her husband and the fact that she was still married. I probably shouldn’t even be going there, she told herself. Then she thought about Essence, the baby, and the possibility that Jude was probably doing him too. Fuck it, Cam convinced herself.
“Not really,” she admitted.
Cole smiled and it instantly warmed her heart. “Well, that’s good to hear,” he said. “’Cuz I’m actually a good guy.”
***
After moping around for over a week, Jude decided it was finally time to get off his ass and back to the paper chase. Time waited for no man and neither did money.
Essence had called and left every kind of voicemail she could subsequently following the miscarriage. She’d threatened to burn down his mansion and cars, and even claimed she was going to pay some men to hurt him. Jude didn’t have the energy to entertain her and her tomfoolery, so he left it alone. Besides, he had bigger problems to worry about like shipments, work orders, and the thorn in his side demanding half his percentage.
Stone hadn’t popped back up since his first visit, but Jude knew there was only a matter of time. Problems like him didn’t just go away. Instead, they festered and popped up at just the right moment. Wherever Stone was, he was watching and waiting.
***
Jag was posted in a patio chair with his feet propped up on a table, sipping brew. The weather was beautiful in San Juan. Too bad he’d have to leave it soon. Work was the only reason he was there. It was the only reason he traveled, period. Hell, it was the only reason he got by. Born with a natural killer’s instinct, Jag didn’t know what else he’d do to make a living. He had told himself years ago he’d never go back to standing on a corner. For now this what he had to do until he made a better investment. He didn’t love it, but he refused to complain — especially since he was paid handsomely for his services.
Scrolling through his feed, Jag suddenly noticed a familiar face. He only followed strippers, bad bitches, and twerkers. All he had to do was slide in somebody’s DM and voila; he had a chick for every city.
Jag had to swipe back down to be sure he wasn’t tripping. A slow smile spread across his lips. Well, I’ll be damned.
***
The familiar tune of her iPhone ringing woke up Cameron up the following morning. Justin was knocked out beside her, his little feet inches from her face. Cam laughed, turned over, and grabbed her phone. It was Juicy — also the only person she’d given her new number too...well, besides Cole.
Cameron quietly climbed out the bed and went in her bathroom. She wanted to cherish as much time as she could before Justin woke up. He could be quite the handful.
“Hello?”
“Girl, what the fuck happened last night?”
“Champagne’s perverted ass baby daddy. That’s what happened. Thank God you and Cole got there when ya’ll did. I don’t think I wanna do any more private parties.”
“I don’t blame you. Normally, I don’t either but T is my peoples so I thought shit would be good,” she said. “Anyway bump that gas money, I got something bigger and better planned for us tomorrow night.”
Cam didn’t know how she felt about that. She was still getting over everything that went down at Bingham. “Oh yeah? What’s that?”
“I was booked for this bash up at Noah’s Hall in Mentor, and peep this, it’s gon’ be some big money there. None of that hood shit. Just sweet, generous upper and middle class folks looking to share some of their income and have a good time. There’s going to be both male and female dancers. It’s one of them type of gatherings.”
Cameron thought about it. She still wasn’t quite sold. “I don’t know…”
“Come on. Just do it with me, Cam. The event ends at 11:30. We can go to Sin City afterwards and clean up,” Juicy said. “Plus, I already posted on my page that you and me are both gonna be there.”
Cameron wanted to tell Juicy to shove her page up her ass. But instead, she said, “Alright, alright. What time should I be ready?”
***
Roxie was cooking breakfast when her cellphone rang. Placing down the spatula, she walked over to the kitchen island and looked at the screen.
Tuh!
Roxie frowned when she saw Magyc’s name and number. She’d been ignoring his calls and texts for the last few days. He was dead wrong for bringing his drama in her life. If he had a girl, his ass should’ve never been in my face, she reasoned.
Suddenly, Magyc sent a text message. Roxie thought about ignoring it, but her curiosity got the best of her. She picked her phone up and read it:
You staring at the phone right now. I know you are…
Pick up, girl…
Magyc called again, and for some reason Roxie decided to answer. “Why you calling me? You girl must not be around.”
“Man, don’t start that,” he said.
“You started it. Now what do you want?”
“I wanna apologize for that shit at the restaurant,” Magyc told her. “I’m not an advocate for messiness.”
“I can’t tell,” Roxie sassed. “I can’t even believe that’s your type.”
“I didn’t call to talk about Briana. I called to talk about you, and see how you were.”
“I’m all good,” Roxie stubbornly replied. “We really ain’t got shit else to talk about, M. Thanks for the apology though.” She disconnected the call before he could respond.
***
Turn down for what!
Turn down for what!
Cameron stepped out the dressing room wearing a purple one piece with rhinestones and matching leggings. Lil Jon’s new club banger had the place live and everyone looked like they were having a good time.
Cam took in her surroundings from where she stood. Pure and Juicy were doubt teaming a table full of women fanning bills. In the center of the club were two male dancers. The place was a real freak show, but a come up was a come up no matter how it came.
Cameron found herself eyeballing the tallest of the duo. His body was perfection; his pecks were bulging and his abs well defined. He was a true sight to behold. She then stole a quick glance at his crotch region.
Homeboy was packing.
“Let me stop. I cannot with these niggas,” Cameron mumbled. Thoughts of her and Silk’s crazy relationship came to mind.
“Hey. Why you standing over here looking like you lost in the sauce?”
“Just checking the place out, I guess.”
“Well, survey ya ass over that way,” Juicy said, pointing to the section she’d just left. “They’re tipping good — but watch that light-skinned chick with the blonde hair. She kept trying to suck my titties.”
Cameron looked over Juicy’s shoulder and saw the two dancers from the stage approaching. She noticed their show had ended.
“Don’t act like you don’t like them titties sucked on,” the one Cam was checking out said. He’d caught the tail end of the conversation.
Lawd, don’t tell me I was checking out Juicy’s man, Cameron thought.
Juicy giggled, and he finally pulled his mask off…
In shock and disbelief, Cameron watched as they kissed passionately right in front of her. She could not believe who Juicy’s boyfriend was…
16
Marcus did an immediate double take when he noticed Cameron standing next to Juicy. He was rolling, and for a second he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. Marcus’ jaw tensed as he thought about whether or not he should say something. So this is Juicy’s new lil’ friend. He’d saw the little boy sitting on his floor in the living room, but he didn’t put two and two together. After all, Justin was just a baby when he went to prison.
Marcus wasn’t the only one whose voice was caught in his throat. Cameron was at a total loss for words as she stared at her ex-boyfriend. All of the memories from their past came rushing back. Suddenly, Cam didn’t feel so comfortable being there.
Juicy didn’t miss the awkward interaction between the two. Normally people would’ve greeted each other; but they just stood there staring strangely at one another. She had no idea that her home girl used to date her man.
“I’m — uh… I’m not feeling too well,” Cameron quickly said. “I think I’ma call it an early night. I’ll hit you up later.”
“What — Cam—”
She rushed off and headed to the dressing room to get the fuck out of there. Cameron knew then that she couldn’t return to the life she’d once led. If she continued with this lifestyle it’d only lead to more pain, misery, and faces she’d fought hard to forget.
Cameron pulled her every day clothes over her dancing wear, and left the building through the back. She didn’t even want to walk past Marcus again. As a matter of fact, she didn’t even want to look at him. At that moment, Cam realized why she’d moved in the first place. There wasn’t anything in Cleveland for her other than bad memories.
Cam couldn’t walk to her car fast enough. She’d almost reached her door when she heard the sound of footsteps behind her. Cameron quickly turned around and was shocked to find Marcus standing several feet from her. The motherfucker actually had time to dress.
“Damn. It’s like that?” he asked.
“What do you want from me, Marcus?” Cameron snapped. She could vividly remember the night he threw her out his truck for talking back. When they first got together, he was nothing short of perfection. But over time his true colors began to surface.
“A greeting at the very least. Damn. I mean, shit. We did spend a whole year and a half together—”
“And I take I take it Juicy don’t know about that year and a half — or about you being out here talking to me right now. What would she think—”
“Fuck what she think. We ain’t talkin’ ‘bout her right now,” Marcus said. “How’s lil’ man?”
“You don’t need to know how he’s doing—”
“Don’t be a bitch, Cam. I was his daddy before you ran off with that weak nigga. I deserve to know.”
“He’s fine, Marcus. He’s great,” Cameron said, opening her door. She went to climb in and close it, but he grabbed the door.
“How are you?”
“I think you need to go back inside.”
“Don’t tell me what I need to do, Cam. I’m right where I need to be… and, as fate would have it, so are you. Why you bein’ so cold to me?”
“Maybe its because of the way we crashed and burned. I just really ain’t trying to talk now.”
“Cam, that shit we went through… I’ll be thirty years old soon. Man, we were young then—”
“That’s no excuse.”
“Don’t pass judgment, Cam ‘cuz you weren’t perfect either. And what about ya nigga now? He ain’t about much of shit either if he still got you strippin’—”
“Nobody got me stripping,” Cameron corrected him. “And don’t worry about my nigga, me, or Justin. You just said so yourself you’re 30 years old, and you still out here shaking your dick for a couple dollars? Nigga, you’re a fucking joke. Worry about yaself and ya own priorities.”
Marcus narrowed his eyes after Cameron’s tongue-lashing. She was just as feisty and reckless as he’d remembered. It was clear no one had yet to put her in her place, but she had the right nigga.
Whap!
Cameron was totally caught off guard after he smacked the taste out her mouth. Her bottom lip instantly split open after the blow. That was the last reaction she expected.
“Bitch, you must’ve forgotten who the fuck I am!” he spat. “I’m him! Not them! Act like you know, Cam.”
Cameron grabbed her stinging cheek in shock. She couldn’t believe Marcus had actually put his hands on her. If the setting and circumstances were different, she would’ve had his bum ass touched. Apparently, he didn’t know who the hell he was dealing with.
Cameron quickly reached for her glove compartment. Inside was a loaded Taurus. All of a sudden, someone else beat her to the punch. She gasped when she saw someone grab him from behind and twist his arm.
“Ah!” Marcus yelped in pain.
Jag had his shit hemmed up at an awkward angle. It wouldn’t have taken any effort at all to snap his shit in two.
Slamming him against Cameron’s car, he applied more pressure. “What do you want me to do with this motherfucker, Cam? It’s your call.”
“Get the fuck off m—Ahhhhh!” Marcus cried out. Jag had just twisted his arm further back. He was in excruciating pain but it was clear Jag wasn’t going to let up.
Cameron had never been happier to see him.
“So wassup?” Jag asked. “What’chu wanna do?”
A look of fear flashed across Marcus
’ face. He’d quickly gone from bold to bitch. He pled with his eyes for her to have mercy. Cam almost did until she remembered the bruise on Juicy’s face, and the fact that he’d slapped her.
“Break it,” she said heartlessly.
***
“You know that I can take care of myself, Jag,” she said over I-Hop’s blueberry pancakes. “I don’t need you playing security for me.”
“I’m not gonna argue with you, Cam. I’m gonna pretend you know exactly what you doing for the sake of keeping peace. At the end of the day, you know what’s up.”
“How’d you find me?”
“Social media makes it hard for a person to fully vanish.”
“I’m deleting that shit tomorrow.”
“I would’ve found you regardless,” he said. Jag could’ve easily tracked her down if he wanted to. After all, that’s what was he was paid to.
“I wasn’t trying to run from you, Jag.”
“You were running from the situation,” he said. “Unfortunately though, I’m apart of that situation.”
“You’re not.”
“Then why didn’t you hit me up? I had to find out about you through a fuckin’ networking site. That’s not cool, Cam. And it’s not cool what you doing right now. You’ll never make progress by taking steps backwards. You’re better than that shit,” he said in regards to her stripping.
“I don’t need a lecturing, Jag.”
“Don’t do that.”
“Don’t do what?” Cameron asked.
“Shut me out. It’s clear you have some wall around you, but I ain’t the enemy, Cam. I never was.”
Cameron suddenly softened her disposition. Slowly, she reached over and placed her hand on top of Jag’s. It was surprisingly cold. “You’re right,” she said. “I’m sorry.”
Jag looked down at her hand covering his. It’d been months since they had any physical contact. He didn’t quite know how to take it at first so he moved his hand away. Jag loved Cam, but she intimidated him at the same time. She was the only person in the world who had control over him. He felt powerless with her.
