by Jade Jones
Before the correction officers could even reach the two, Jerrell collapsed onto the floor. Dark red blood quickly pooled around his body. Darnell had exacted his revenge in the worst possible way imaginable, and unfortunately Jerrell didn’t even see the shit coming. Seconds later, his eyes glazed over…
***
“Do ya’ll have these in a size seven?” Cameron asked holding up a pair of six inch clear heels. They were sexy, simple, and not too high to dance in.
“Let me check,” the cashier smiled. “I love those. I have a pair at home.”
Ki Ki stood beside Cameron examining a pair of dominatrix looking leather boots with six inch heels. “How about these?” she held them up.
Cameron took the display shoe from Ki Ki and replaced it on its stand. “Girl, niggas be wanting to see some toes,” she said. “Why? Those feet look atrocious?” Cameron teased.
“Never that boo boo,” Ki Ki laughed.
Cameron and Ki Ki had used Cam’s only free day to go shopping for a couple outfits and dancing shoes at the Ambiance store located in the Southgate Plaza. They wanted to make sure they were on their A game for the private party that weekend. The better they looked, the more tips they’d be able to scrape in.
The bells above the store’s door chimed indicating that someone had just entered the store.
The cashier quickly re-emerged from the back room carrying a box of heels. “Hey Keisha,” she greeted cheerfully. “Don’t worry, I put those red heels in the back for you since I knew you’d be back to get them.”
Cameron’s gaze slowly wandered over towards the person who had just entered Ambiance. She did an automatic double take at the sight of Pure Seduction. As expected, her trusted sidekick Red was right in tow.
Pure Seduction wore a white fitted tank top and a pair of high waist black leather shorts. On her feet was a pair of cheetah print Christian Louboutins. She had that “I’m the shit and I know it” look on her face that instantly pissed Cameron off.
“Thanks girl,” Pure Seduction said. Her gaze then shifted to Cameron and a smile slowly crept across her face. “Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in,” she teased.
Red giggled.
Cameron shook her head in disbelief. Here we go, she thought. “Actually, you’re the one who just walked in. So wouldn’t you be the triflin’ ass cat?” she countered.
Pure Seduction frowned. Her gaze then wandered to the pair of stripper heels in Cameron’s hands. “Looks like somebody tryin’ to come out of retirement,” she joked. “Ya ass done got fired and now you pressed to get back on that pole, huh?”
Cameron waved her off. “Pure, I ain’t got time to be trying to entertain your childish ass right now. Come on Ki Ki lets pay for these shoes and get out of here.”
Ki Ki followed Cameron to the counter where they purchased the heels, and made their way out of the adult store.
Pure hurriedly purchased the heels she had come to pick out, and made it a mission to catch up to Cameron in the parking lot. She wasn’t letting Cameron get off that easily.
“Who is that? Your new lil’ friend?” Pure taunted behind Cameron’s back. “If it is, aye girl, be careful around that bitch. All of her friends mysteriously die!” Pure and Red broke into a fit of laughter after that comment.
Cameron instantly froze in mid-step.
“Come on. Let’s just go,” Ki Ki said. “Fuck them corny ass hoes.”
Cameron wasn’t trying to hear that shit though. Just hearing Pure Seduction make a comment about her deceased friends in the manner she had instantly set her off. Especially since she thought the shit was so amusing.
“Hold this,” Cameron said shoving her purse into Ki Ki’s hands.
Without another word, she quickly walked up towards Pure Seduction. She still had that stupid ass grin on her face.
“What the fuck you gon’ do bitch—”
WHAP!
Cameron punched Pure Seduction dead in the face shutting her ass up once and for all. Pure Seduction’s shopping bag dropped onto the pavement after her hands instinctively went up to grab her bloody nose.
Cameron, however, didn’t just stop after the first assault. She roughly grabbed Pure Seduction by her Malaysian weave and proceeded to beat the shit out of her right there in the Southgate Plaza parking lot.
“Bitch, I’m so sick of your ass!” Cameron screamed as she pounded her fist into Pure’s skull.
She helplessly dropped onto the ground, but Cameron refused to let up dragging her across the parking lot on her knees by her weave. Pure’s skin painfully peeled off her knee caps as she was mercilessly dragged across the pavement. She cried out in agony, but even her girl Red was too afraid to jump in, especially since she didn’t have a squad of several other dancers to back her up.
Ki Ki stood off to the side holding Cameron’s purse as instructed with a sneaky smile on her face. Secretly, she was getting hornier by the second watching Pure Seduction get her ass whupped. Something about violence turned her crazy ass on.
Cameron dragged Pure Seduction towards the nearest car which was a blue metallic Pontiac G6. Slamming her roughly against it, Cameron proceeded to stomp Pure against the vehicle. She was taking out all of her rage on Pure Seduction. All of the pent up anger and frustration Cameron had she was finally releasing on Pure, but she would be damned if she didn’t ask for that shit.
The heel of Cameron’s studded loafers smashed into Pure Seduction’s mouth instantly knocking a couple teeth out. Blood splattered all over her Laverna loafers but she didn’t give a damn. She was so sick of Pure Seduction’s ass trying her.
Pure fell over onto the ground and began sobbing hysterically. Cameron stared down at her in anger. “You knew better than to keep fucking with me, bitch!” she yelled. “You made me whup your ass again! You should’ve learned from the ass kicking at Smoove’s!”
Cameron’s chest heaved up and down as she slowly backed away from Pure Seduction. Several onlookers watched in the distance. Red looked terrified.
“The fuck you looking at hoe?!” Cameron snapped on her.
Red quickly looked away. She didn’t want any problems. Instead of retaliating she rushed over to her crying friend’s aid.
“Damn, girl,” Ki Ki said handing Cameron her purse. “You did that.”
“Let’s get the hell out of here before I turn around and stomp that hoe some more,” Cameron said. Her nostrils flared wildly, and as crazy as she looked she just didn’t care. She had lost two close friends, an ex, and the love of her life was behind bars. Aside from her financial issues she had finally had enough. Even the calmest person could snap under the right circumstances.
13
Jude patiently waited for his mother to accept his collect call. In the beginning, every attempt he had made, she’d declined. Jude knew his mother was disappointed in her sons and he couldn’t blame her. He had wasted his education, and degree only to be sucked back into a life of crime while running an illegal business.
Eventually she began to accept his calls. After all, she still loved and cared for her sons deeply regardless of the horrible mistakes they had made in life.
Jude was grateful when his mother finally accepted the call. Hearing her voice was music to his ears.
“Hello son,” she greeted. Her voice sounded weary and saddened.
“Hey ma…you sound sad,” Jude noted. “Is everything good?” he asked in a concerned tone.
His mother paused.
“Ma?” Jude called out. He was unsure if she was even still there.
“No, Jude,” she said in a low tone. “Everything is not good…”
“What is it, ma?” Jude asked. “What’s going on? You can tell me.”
His mother sighed dejectedly. “It’s Jerrell,” she said in an uneven tone. “It’s your brother…”
Jude’s stomach instantly knotted up. He was afraid to even ask what was wrong with his brother because he was unsure as to if he actually wanted to hear the answer. �
�Ma…what happened to Jerrell?” Jude asked.
He could hear the sound of her soft sniffles on the opposite end of the phone, and they instantly made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
“I started to write you…” Her voice cracked as she spoke. “But I just couldn’t work up the courage to…”
“Ma, what happened to my brother?” There was a hint of anger and excitement in Jude’s voice. He wished his mother would just come out, and tell him although he was fearful to actually hear the truth.
“Jerrell…he was killed a couple days ago—”
The receiver dropped out of Jude’s hand. Not bothering to pick up the telephone and resume his conversation with his mother, he instead decided to walk away. He couldn’t take hearing the shit. As a matter of fact, he didn’t even want to believe it.
Jude was escorted back to his prison tier where rec time was currently taking place. He seemed totally out of it as he walked through the sterile white room. Most of the inmates were either playing cards, rapping, or helping one another work out.
Jude didn’t seem to notice anything around him as he continued to replay his mother’s words over and over again in his mind. Jerrell was Jude’s only sibling, so the fact his mother had told him he was gone just seemed unrealistic. Almost as if it was some type of a cruel joke. Jude refused to accept it. He just couldn’t.
Jude slowly walked past White’s table and headed towards his cell. Fuck rec time. He needed to be alone for a minute. He had to allow the painful realization to sink in because right now he just couldn’t accept it.
White snorted. He hated the mere sight of Jude. Truthfully, he was just a racist prick who was angered to see a black man partaking in an operation that only consisted of whites and Mexicans.
“This nigga,” White said loud of enough for Jude to hear. The men sitting at the table with him snickered in response.
It was obvious that White simply wanted to get a rise out of Jude. Now, however, wasn’t the time for the bullshit.
Jude stopped in his tracks and turned around to face White. “What the fuck you just say?” he asked through gritted teeth.
White smirked, stood to his feet, and rounded the table. He expected everyone in the tier to fear him, but Jude was not that nigga.
He slowly made his way towards Jude and looked down at him disgust. His skin seemed unusually paler than normal. His narrow nostrils flared, and his dark eyes squinted. White was not hiding his blatant hate towards Jude.
“You heard me boy,” White said.
WHAP! WHAP!
Jude chin-checked his ass twice! White was so stunned, and shocked after the blow that he threw several uncoordinated punches which hit nothing but the air. He stumbled about like a drunken man fighting to keep his balance.
“What was all that shit you were talking?!” Jude barked. “Huh?” He quickly sent a devastating punch to White’s jaw before following that up with a right hook to his temple.
White was out for the count before he even hit the floor, landing awkwardly due to his unconsciousness.
Several correctional officers quickly rushed the scene before restraining Jude…
***
Cameron was disappointed when she tried to visit Jude in prison a day after her fight with Pure, but was told that his visitation privileges had been revoked due to disciplinary action. She was really looking forward to venting to him, and hearing some comforting words of wisdom. Her man always knew just the right thing to say to turn any bad situation around.
Jude was the only person in her corner that kept her level-headed, and in return she kept him on the straight and narrow. Jude was the decision-maker, and Cam was the advisor to the decision-maker. That’s just how their relationship worked. They balanced one another out.
On the way back to her way house, Cameron received a text message from Marcus that read: U busy today? Is it cool if I take u to lunch?
Cameron figured it wasn’t much harm in allowing Marcus to treat her to a bite to eat so she went ahead and agreed to it. After showering, and changing her clothes, Marcus picked her up and took her to Cedar Creek Grille. A popular, trendy restaurant located in Beachwood, Ohio.
“You ever been here before?” Marcus asked Cameron once they were seated in their booth.
“No. Never,” Cameron answered.
Marcus offered a proud smile. “Cool. I wasn’t tryin’ to take you nowhere you and ya man already done been,” he teased.
Cameron smiled in response.
“But for real though, all jokes aside. I’m really happy you agreed to let me take you to lunch,” Marcus said with a charming smile.
Cameron picked up her menu and surveyed it so that she wouldn’t get caught up staring into Marcus’s sexy eyes. “Well, that’s all it is,” she said. “Just lunch. Nothin’ more.”
Marcus scoffed. “Trust me, ain’t no engagement ring in my pockets,” he joked. “Real talk, I just love your company. I told you from the beginning, that I respect ya relationship…and I really do,” he stressed. “But I’m not gon’ front like I’m not diggin’ you either. I’m just not the type of nigga that’s gon’ force myself on a female,” he said. “I feel when you’re ready, you’ll come.” A smile crept across his thick lips. “And I know you’ll be ready…soon enough.”
Cameron looked up from her menu and smiled. “Soon enough, huh?” she laughed. “I wouldn’t bet on it.”
“I would,” Marcus said.
“Hmph. You’d lose,” she retorted.
“You are so damn pretty,” Marcus suddenly said.
Cameron lifted the menu over her face to conceal the fact that she was blushing. She tried to keep it casual wearing a pair of leather leggings, a white sleeveless dress top, and a pair of Alain Quilici wedges. Gold accessories made the outfit pop complemented by a dark red lipstick.
Their waitress suddenly approached their table, and Cameron was very fortunate. The interaction between the two was tensing up, and she had arrived in just the nick of time.
“Can I get you guys started with any beverages or appetizers?” Their waitress asked cheerfully.
“I’ll just take a glass of water for now,” Cameron ordered.
“Same for me,” Marcus said.
“Do you both need a minute to look over the menu?” she asked.
Cameron and Marcus said “Yes” in unison.
After the waitress walked over to fetch their drinks, Marcus resumed the conversation. “So I’m glad we finally got to step out together without me havin’ to drop a nigga,” he joked.
Cameron vividly remembered the horrible afternoon when Marcus had fought Wallace during their first so called outing together. Embarrassed seemed to be an understatement. Cameron was absolutely mortified. At least fifty percent of the drama in her life involved Wallace’s crazy ass.
“You ain’t been havin’ no problems with that dude again, have you?” Marcus asked in a concerned tone.
“No. I haven’t run into Wallace since the last time you saw us together,” Cameron answered. And she truly hoped that would be her last run in with him. She was sick and tired of him surfacing when she least expected it.
Marcus looked uncomfortable. “You say it like you know that nigga personally,” he noted.
Cameron looked down, and her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. Painful images flooded her mind of him shoving himself inside her against her will. “Trust me, it ain’t in the way you think,” she said.
Marcus looked relieved. “I was about to say,” he joked. “How many niggas I gotta steal you from?”
Cameron shook her head and laughed in amusement.
***
“You mind if I use your restroom?” Marcus asked as he pulled into the driveway of Cameron’s luxurious condo.
Cameron tossed him a knowing look. “Yeah…but don’t try to be slick,” she told him smiling.
Marcus laughed casually. “Me? Slick? Nah, never that,” he promised.
After allowing him entrance to
her home, Marcus anxiously took in the interior of her place. On the low, he was just trying to see how her man had her living and if he was able to compete. Marcus could be quite competitive even when there was no active competition. Needless to say, Marcus was thoroughly impressed.
“If you’re looking for the restroom, it’s at the end of the hallway,” Cameron said behind him. “Make a left.”
Marcus turned around to face Cameron. “Actually I was being slick,” he smiled.
Cameron grimaced and folded her arms beneath her breasts. “Why am I not surprised?” she asked.
Marcus suddenly bent down and stole a kiss. He was surprised when Cameron quickly pulled away from the brief kiss.
“Marcus…you know I can’t,” she whispered.
He ignored her hesitancy and stepped closer. Gently tilting her chin upward, Marcus leaned in for another kiss. Initially, Cameron fought the kiss placing her palms on Marcus’s chest in a weak attempt to push him away.
Eventually she gave in, and melted into his body as his warm tongue slid inside her mouth. Marcus slowly removed her hands from his chest, and wrapped her arms around his waist.
Their tongues danced in unison as they indulged in a passion-filled kiss. Suddenly, in one swift movement, Marcus lifted Cameron up. Her legs instinctively wrapped around his waist. Slowly, he walked over towards the nearest wall and gently pressed her back against it. Marcus’s rough hands explored the velvet skin of Cameron’s back as they sensuously nibbled and sucked on one another’s lips.
“Wait, no,” Cameron suddenly pulled away. “Marcus, I can’t,” she said. “I can’t do this.” Cameron slowly wiggled out of his embrace and onto her feet. “I can’t do this with you,” she whispered.
Marcus stared at Cameron for several seconds in silence. He was unsure of what her aim was. Was she feeling a nigga or not? Was she simply confused? Was she just afraid to date another male stripper after Silk?
