“What’s wrong?” His eyes opened.
“The feds are on their way here,” she said, panicked. “They’re coming, Boss.”
“How do you know?” He threw the covers off himself and stood up.
“Money just told me.” She shook her head as her eyes filled with tears. “I’m so sorry.”
Boss walked over to the huge walk-in closet, the silk pajama pants he wore twisted at his waist. It had been only a matter of time until Money turned on him. The envy between them was crystal clear. The way Money looked at Simone gave it away. Boss was anything but stupid.
Boss went to the safe hidden behind hanging clothes and opened the door. He grabbed a folder and a pair of keys from the back of the hollow safe and closed it. Sobbing from the entrance of the closet, Simone watched his every move.
Simone didn’t see a sign of worry on his face as he walked up to her and kissed her forehead. He handed her the keys and folder, then grabbed her face to look at her. She stood frozen as he walked by her, aware that her scent taunted his testosterone, his manhood.
“Boss?” She followed behind him as her hands shook like someone fighting Parkinson’s disease. “Tell me what to do and I’ll do it.”
“It’s simple.” He sat on the side of the bed. “Take Aphtan and get out of here.”
“What about you?” she asked between cries.
“I’m going to jail,” he said calmly.
“Boss!” she screamed. “This is serious. Tell me what I need to do.”
“Simone,” his voice bounced off the walls. “Don’t lose your head right now. It’s information in that folder on all the legit accounts I have that not even Money knows about. Those keys are to an unmarked car in the back. Go.”
“I’ll call the lawyer that we have on retainer.”
“I’ll handle everything. It’ll be okay.” He stood up and walked toward her.
“We can’t make it without you,” she whispered as she rubbed the dimple that creased his cheek. “I need you. Your daughter needs you, too.”
“Take care of my baby girl, Simone.” He kissed her lips for the last time. “Promise me two things.”
“Anything.” She put her hand in his. The hand with the folder and keys hit together from her nerves going crazy.
“Get off that shit, Simone.” He looked into her eyes. “It will destroy you eventually.”
“What is the second thing?” she asked without denial.
“Be free.” The coolness from his breath hit her nose. “Don’t come visit me. Don’t bring Aphtan to visit me. Y’all are free, and I don’t want you to worry about me and be restricted on living.”
“But—”
“Go,” he cut her off.
“I never meant to fuck over on you with Money.” She ran out of the room.
As she ran down the hallway with a determined look on her face, Simone’s long, silky hair swished from side to side past her small shoulders. She burst through Aphtan’s bedroom door. Her heartbeat pulsed throughout her body. The moonlight from the bay window teased her already red eyes as she walked over to the bed.
She grabbed Aphtan with her free hand as red-and-blue lights flashed in the window. Simone placed her hand over Aphtan’s mouth to tell her to be quiet as her eyes opened with a stare of fright.
“When I take my hand away from your mouth, we’re going to run. Don’t talk. I’m serious, Aphtan. I need you to run as fast as you can.”
Aphtan nodded her head as Simone lowered her hand. She grabbed her mother’s hand as they dashed for the hallway. It seemed as if the eyes from the pictures lining the hallway were looking at them as they ran for dear life. It was if a killer from a scary movie was after them, and they were the ones who lived at the end.
They made their way to the back door as Simone hit the alarm on the set of keys in the palm of her hand. Lights flashed rapidly from outside of the private gate as they rushed toward the lights. Simone put Aphtan in the backseat, got inside, and drove off in the night.
“Where’s Daddy?” Aphtan wiped her eyes. “Where are we going?”
“I’ll tell you later.” Simone looked through the rearview mirror so Aphtan could see her face. “Everything will be okay.”
Simone cringed at the lie she told. Her mind raced the whole ride to the projects that she thought they had escaped from. She didn’t want to go back. It was the last thing she wanted. She needed a plan, and this was part of it.
The tires screeched as she stopped and parked the car in front of the building next to the one they used to occupy. She grabbed the folder as she signaled for Aphtan to get out. They walked along the sidewalk, their bare feet stepping on a collage of rocks. They scurried up the stairs of the building, the breezeway darker than a country road at midnight. Simone knocked at the door unapologetically.
“Who is it?” a voice from the other side of the door asked.
“Simone and Aphtan.” She knocked again.
The door swung open as Tammy Franklin stood with a smirk on her face. She moved to the side to let them in before she closed the door. She scratched underneath the hair wrap on her head as she cut the floor lamp on.
“Go in there and get in the bed with Jamila.” Simone scooted Aphtan toward the hallway.
“Grab a blanket from the closet in the hallway,” Tammy yelled as she sat on the couch.
Everything was closing in on Simone. She could feel her breath beginning to shake, and then grow rapid. Blood pounded in the back of her head. She could feel the trembling. Her nails scratched the surface of the folder. Her hands clutched her sides. She was curling in on herself, her vision swimming. It was too much.
“What’s wrong?” Tammy turned her head to the side. “You’re barefooted and in a halter?” She pointed at her. “What in the hell is going on?”
“They got Boss.” Simone sat next to her. “It was Money’s doing.”
“Are you still fucking with him, Simone?” Tammy whispered as if someone were listening.
“No.” She looked at her. “He wanted me to leave Boss for him. I couldn’t do it. This is all my fault.”
“How are you going to get him out?”
“He sounded as if he wasn’t getting out once he goes. I didn’t stay to see any of it. He didn’t have shit in the house. I know that for sure.” She held the folder up. “He told me to take this and to get away.”
Tammy grabbed her to hug her. “Hopefully, whatever’s in that folder will be enough to get y’all by for a while.”
“I hope so,” she cried. “I just want things to go back to how they were.”
Tammy stood up and walked into the kitchen. “Y’all are welcome to crash here for as long as you need. I’ll talk to the landlord about the apartment across the breezeway. It’s empty. Maybe you and Aphtan can move over there until you figure your next move out.”
“Do that.” Simone stood up and went into the kitchen. “Do you have something to drink?”
“There’s soda in the icebox.”
“No.” Simone leaned against the stove. “I need something a little bit stronger.”
“Under the cabinet.” Tammy pointed.
Simone bent down to get the liquor. She opened up the top of the bottle and drank as much as she could in one gulp. Thoughts of how their life was about to change kept her brain busy. She had never struggled. She always had the best of everything, no matter what it was. She prayed that when she checked those accounts in the morning, there would be enough to hold them over. If not, she didn’t have a clue as to how they would survive.
CHAPTER 5
Simone sat in the uncomfortable blue chair as she folded the paperwork open and closed in her hand. She looked at the large clock on the eggshell-white walls as the lines leading up to the bank tellers grew with each minute that passed. She clicked the bottom of her heel impatiently onto the lines of the cream floor tile.
She reclined back in the seat as her hair dangled freely over the top of it. She thought about what life was go
ing to be like without Boss. It had only been half a night, but it felt like decades. She wanted to call his lawyer. She wanted to break into the jail and save him. He told her that he was going to handle it, so she decided to sit back and wait on him to contact her.
Trying to explain it to Aphtan when she got back to Tammy’s was going to be hard. She didn’t want to lie to her. She told herself that no matter what, she would tell her the truth at all cost. Years without her father would tear her up inside. She was a daddy’s girl. She did everything with her daddy. The thought of him not being around would be enough to break her heart into pieces.
She felt naked without her jewelry. It was the first time in years that she had been caught in public without a ring on every finger. The material of the dress she borrowed from Tammy made her skin itch. All of her belongings were in the house. She didn’t have a claim on Boss’s illegal money, and everything would have been seized in the raid. One of the police officers’ wives was going to get an early Christmas present on her dime.
“Mrs. Walker?” A lady stuck her head out of the clear glass office. “Please, come in.”
Simone eased out of the seat and fought the urge to scratch at the itchy material. She held her head high with elegance. She wanted to be sure that this woman in charge of personal accounts wouldn’t doubt that she could own whatever it was that was in them. She didn’t want her to have any reason to question it.
She walked through the office, nodding at the woman to greet her. She sat down at one of the two chairs in front of the large, cherrywood desk. The woman ignored her, typing into a keyboard connected to her computer. Minutes went by while the woman’s eyes were glued to the screen of the computer, not even acknowledging Simone.
“Excuse me?” Simone tapped on the desk. The woman stopped what she was doing to look at her. “Are you going to give me the information regarding these accounts?”
“I’m working on that now.” The woman got up to close the door. “I know Boss very well. None of these accounts are in your name or his.” The woman took off her glasses and set them on the desk. “Now, Mrs. Walker, do you want the five hundred thousand in cash?” She winked at her, using the name on the accounts.
“Yes please.” Simone closed her eyes and let out a sigh of relief.
The woman left out of the room as Simone sat patiently with her legs crossed. Boss wouldn’t have left them without some financial security. She felt bad for doubting him. He always took care of her and Aphtan.
The woman returned with a steel briefcase in each hand. She set them beside the seat that Simone occupied before returning to her desk. She grabbed a piece of paper from the top of her printer and set it in front of Simone with a pen.
“Sign here.” She pointed to a line.
“Is that it?” Simone set the pen on top of the piece of paper.
“That’s it, Mrs. Walker. The money is exactly how your husband brought it in.” She held out her hand.
“Thank you.” Simone shook her hand, grabbed the briefcases, and left the small office.
The sun’s rays beamed onto Simone’s face as she exited the bank. She walked down the sidewalk with a briefcase in each hand. Her feet made a rhythmic note against the pavement. She sped up once she noticed a black Suburban trailing along the sidewalk matching her pace.
She stopped at the end of the street as cars reacted to the changing of the light. She looked over to her right as two men dressed in all black got out of the Suburban after it parked. They started to walk toward her at a fast pace.
Simone dashed between the cars, praying they didn’t hit her. She maneuvered with swiftness until she made it to the other side. The Suburban accelerated to catch up to her. The men ran between the cars with full force to get to her.
Her running slowed down as the Suburban blocked off the street in front of her while the men chasing her caught up to her and grabbed her. The window of the truck rolled down as Money’s face appeared. “Come take a ride with me,” he demanded, never looking at her.
“Can I come meet you after I go check on Aphtan?” Simone shook her arms to get the two men’s hands off her.
“No.” The window slowly rose. “Just get in,” he ordered as the two men pushed her with force.
Simone entered the truck. The smoke inside irritated her eyes. She sat next to Money in the backseat and placed the briefcases on the floor. The men closed the door without getting in, and the truck accelerated into the traffic. She couldn’t help but look at Money, then the driver, and then Money again.
She swallowed hard, her tongue almost going down her throat with the small amount of spit that formed in her mouth repeatedly. She looked forward to avoid eye contact with him. It felt like death, and she was breathing it in fully.
“How’s the single life?” Money asked to break the ice.
“I’m still married,” she snapped as she looked around the backseat of the SUV.
“That’s just paper, sweetheart.” He grabbed her thigh. “That nigga will never be free again.”
“Don’t touch me.” She slapped his hand. “You ruined my fucking family.”
“No, sucking and riding my dick every chance you could ruined your family.”
“Fuck you.” She slapped him as hard as she could. “How fucking dare you.”
“Bitch,”—he grabbed her face and squeezed it roughly—“you better keep your hands to yourself.”
“Loon.” She pulled away from his grip. “You better think twice before you put your hands on me. I know it’s been years, but don’t forget what I used to do back in the day.”
“Don’t forget who used to hire you to do it.” He softened his voice. “I just want you to reconsider my proposition.”
“No.” She shook her head. “Never.”
“I love you, Simone,” he said truthfully with a grin.
She barely heard the words he spoke next. His grin was enough to stop her entire world. All she could see at that moment was how attractive he was. His brown eyes that lit up as he said those words, eager to get a reaction out of her. His t-shirt was loose across his chest but still showed his toned body underneath. Even his imperfections—the small gap between his teeth, the scar on his chin, the small patch of gray hair—were enough to make her heart beat like crazy. All she could think was how badly she wanted him.
Unable to contain herself, Simone got on top of him, straddling him with her legs on either side of his body. Her sweet, slow kiss cut him off mid-sentence. She kissed him again, and again, until his soft, warm hand lifted her chin to stop her.
“What’s this?” A smile formed on Money’s lips.
Simone smiled back, but only answered with another kiss. Longer this time, hungrier.
Money was getting into it now, too. Each kiss was harder and more intense than the last. He ran his hands over her face and through her hair, and then worked his way downward. Simone felt a shiver run through her spine as he slipped his hands beneath her dress. He gently pulled it off, leaving her in only a blue lace bra and panty set. She had picked it out especially to impress him one day, but she knew now that it was silly; anything she wore would be sexy to him.
Simone’s heart fluttered as Money reached back to unclasp her bra. She felt momentarily self-conscious at the exposure, until he pulled her up against his body and kissed her so sweetly. His strong arms wrapped around her. Never breaking the kiss, he sat up and flipped her around so that he was on top.
He kissed her mouth once again, then her neck, and then her breasts. He paused for a moment to take off his own shirt. She felt a rush of adrenaline as he ran his fingers beneath the elastic of her underwear before removing them as well.
Money’s hands and mouth suddenly seemed to be everywhere at once, touching every inch of her naked body. She could feel his breath come hot and fast. She gasped as his fingers did their work below her waist, moving slowly at first, then faster. She squeezed her eyes shut, squirming under his relentless rhythm. The pulse between her legs grew str
onger and stronger, unbearably strong, until he stopped.
“Don’t stop,” she moaned breathlessly. It felt too good for him to stop now. He only kissed her forehead, and then rolled off her to open the lips of her pussy.
“Not yet,” she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him back into the moment.
She rubbed her hands over the zipper of his jeans and pulled them down slowly. She reached down into his boxers to pull out his tool. It sprung up, eager for her touch. She ran her hands up and down, tentatively at first, until she gained confidence in her ability to touch him, pleasure him. She felt his body tense and leaned up to kiss him again. His erection felt hot on her stomach.
“How am I doing?” she whispered into his ear.
“As good as ever,” he whispered back. “You know what you’re doing.”
She breathed in the scent of him, feeling herself melt at his words. He then once again reached toward her box, and this time she let him.
“Ready?” he asked after he positioned his face in front of her identity. She simply nodded in reply.
He pulled her legs apart and put his tongue in, moving in and out, slowly at first and then faster. She moaned with pleasure. Was there really anything better than feeling Money inside her? She grabbed the back of his head, pulling him closer, and wrapped her legs up around his head, wanting him to go deeper. He grunted with effort, panting and sweating, until finally he climaxed.
After it was done, they lay together in the spacious backseat of the truck, his arms wrapped around her. There was no greater feeling than sex with him. The closeness she’d never had with another human being, the safety of his arms, the knowledge that he loved her and wanted her. She could stay in the moment forever.
“I love you,” she cooed.
“I did love you.” He reached over her to open the door.
She stared at him, his dark eyes like daggers staring straight back in hers. “Wait,” her voice came out as a squeak, “what are you doing?” A quick gasp of breath left her mouth.
“I’m opening the door for you.” He sounded completely smooth, sincere. He didn’t even seem disgusted by the insensitivity.
Pearl Tongue Page 4
