by Styles, T.
“Good ... Now how’s business?”
“Everything is smooth. Busier than ever.”
Farah saw a box full of Independence Cards, which were used for food stamps, on a table by the door. Randy saw where she was looking and said, “We take them if customers can’t pay up. Sometimes for a few months, and then we let them come back to get them. But it depends on how much they owe. That’s why they’re right here by the door.”
He stepped inside with Farah on his heels, while Juice locked the door. In the middle of the large, open space were eight tables with bags of cocaine on top of them, in various packaging. Workers stood around the stations naked, with masks over their mouths and noses. In between doing their jobs, a few would sneak looks at Randy, and it was obvious they were frightened. The grey floor beneath the table was covered in powder, and Farah saw it get sprinkled with sweat, which came from an older woman’s body. She was so nervous, she was perspiring heavily and it was obvious that everyone feared him.
“Nobody should be looking at me! Get back to fucking work!” When Farah saw Randy slip a small package of coke into his pocket from one of the tables, she wondered why he was stealing from himself. “Come in the back room with me, Farah.”
She followed him into a room that resembled a coat locker. Her puppies licked her knuckles as she held on to them tightly. There were fifty hooks on the walls, and they all held the workersclothing. Randy walked up to one of the hooks, took the small coke bag out of his pocket, and stuffed it into a woman’s royal blue coat. When he was done, Randy walked back into the distribution area, wearing a scowl on his face, as Farah followed.
“I need everybody to stop what the fuck they are doing,” he said. Everyone ceased all actions, as they froze in place. “It’s been brought to my attention that somebody in this room has been stealing from me.”
A few women whimpered, and Farah even saw one of the male workers shed a tear. It was obvious that he’d done this type of devious behavior before. Now she saw how badly lying could hurt people, although she doubted she could stop. “Before I murder everybody in this room, I’m giving you a chance to come clean.” He looked at everyone. “Now ... who was it?”
Silence.
Juice hung in the corner with a disgusted look on his face. Randy wasn’t suited for power and, although Randy didn’t know it, he had plans to take him down.
“Okay, since nobody wants to ’fess up we gonna do this a different way.” He looked at his partner. “Juice, go back there and check every coat in the room. If you find something, bring the dope and the coat to me.”
“Man, what’s this shit about? I been here all day, and I didn’t even see anybody leaving the table, let alone going back there.”
“So you gonna go against your partner? In front of all these people? Now I said somebody was stealing ... Go check.”
Juice glanced at him, then at Farah, and walked slowly into the room. He didn’t care if he caught him looking at her this time or not. He was back there for fifteen minutes before returning empty-handed. “I ... I didn’t find anything, Randy.” Everyone exhaled but Farah’s heart thumped wildly in her chest. She knew for a fact that one of the coats held the drugs, because she’d seen Randy stash it. “I looked a few times.”
“Fuck you mean you looked a few times? Either it’s there or it’s not. If you checked it right, there’s no reason to double up. Fuck it, I’ll do it myself.” He went into the room and returned less than a minute later, holding the royal blue coat. He held it in the air and it dangled under his grasp. “Who does this belong to?”
Everyone looked at an older woman with grey hair, the same one who sweated heavily when he first entered the room. “I had a dream I would die today.”
“So you’re admitting your guilt?”
“No ... I didn’t do it.” She sobbed, shaking her head from left to right. “I promise. Somebody framed me.”
He dropped the coat and walked up to her. “You know the consequences of stealing from me, yet you do it anyway.”
“Please don’t kill me.” She cried harder, backing into the wall. “I have six grandkids and their father and mother were murdered a year ago. I’m all they got, and I have been loyal to you for many years.”
“Randy, she’s our best worker, man,” Juice interrupted. “She wouldn’t do no shit like this. It ain’t her MO.”
“Is that why you lied to me when I asked you to go check? Because you think she’s not capable?”
“If you wanna pull this stupid-ass shit, you do it on your own. I’m out,” Juice roared.
“Fuck that nigga,” he said after he slammed the door.
Turning back to the woman, he removed his gun from his waist, and shot her in the throat. When she dropped, he hit her again in the forehead. Farah’s puppies barked wildly, before she softly rocked them silent. “Clean this mess up and get back to work,” he said to one of his men. Looking back at Farah he said, “Let’s go.”
She followed him up some stairs and to a doorway. Randy pushed it open and the brightness from the roof hit her in the face. She couldn’t be in the sun long, so for a moment, she hesitated. “Come out the door, we not gonna be here too long.”
She looked up at the sky. “Randy, I don’t want to.”
“Don’t make me tell you again. I’m getting real tired of repeating myself.” Farah slowly walked out onto the roof, and stood in the middle, away from the edge. “I own everything you see, Farah. Everything.” He walked to the edge. “Come closer ... I want you to share this with me.”
She walked over to him and he said, “I sacrificed the woman in that house for you. There’s no greater love than someone who murders in your honor. But if you do me wrong again, I won’t be so nice.” Then he took her puppies from her hand, and flung them off the roof. Farah screamed out as she watched her animals splatter on the ground.
“Why did you do that?” she screamed. “You gave them to me!”
“I want you to know how far I’ll go to get to you. Stay away from Slade. I saw how he looked at me when I mentioned your name. Let this be your final warning.”
Chapter 41
“Fuck all that ... let s talk about how we gonna get this bitch back.”
—Farah
Farah and Rhonda just finished shopping for the war of the red bones that was going on at her apartment. Farah bought everything she needed to make Lesa’s life miserable, and she couldn’t wait for the games to begin. Although things hadn’t been the same between Farah and Rhonda, she was hoping that their beef would completely blow over, especially since Lesa didn’t turn out to be the friend she thought she wanted. Although Rhonda was cool, it was Coconut who she missed the most. After shopping, they decided to get something to eat at Mamma’s Kitchen.
“Girl, I’m tired as shit!” Rhonda said, rubbing her belly. “Plus my feet hurt.”
“I be glad when you pop that baby out that black-ass pussy. You complain too much now.”
“My pussy pinker than yours. Trust me,” she said. “Look, I wanted to tell you that I’m so happy you still throwing my shower. It means a lot to me and a lot of people are coming.”
Farah was sure she was only befriending her because she wanted her to do something. But since she was friendless, for the moment she’d have to do.
“I still can’t believe all that shit popping off at your crib. Lesa seemed so cool.”
“Believe it.” Farah picked up the menu and immediately knew what she wanted. Every now and again she’d think of Amico and how they disposed of his body. Most times she’d think about the other people she hurt, and how she didn’t seem to get enough. Her world had certainly changed for the eerie. “Lesa gonna leave my apartment whether she wants to or not.”
Across the way she saw two darker females with their boyfriends. The men kept eyeing her and Farah smiled. “You see that shit, girl?”
“What shit?” Rhonda asked without even looking up from her menu. She had a taste for their lemon cake but the s
weet potato pie was good, too. “You always talking about something.”
“Look at them niggas over there.” She pointed.
Rhonda looked up and smiled. “Damn, they fine as shit.”
“Them niggas on red bones hard! I know it.”
Rhonda rolled her eyes and dropped the menu. “You sure they not just on pussy?” She sipped her ice water with lemon. “They are with dark-skinned chicks, so your theory seems to be flawed.”
Farah knew Rhonda needed her, so she decided to test the limits. “Please don’t tell me you really believe that. Farah laughed. “Think about it, how many rappers talk about red bones in their songs versus dark girls?” She stole another look at the dudes. “We run the world.”
Rhonda was trying desperately to bite her tongue. Invitations had gone out and she wanted as much stuff as she could get for her baby. “If you say so, Farah.”
“I do.”
“On some other shit, that video somebody took at the party of you slapping Coconut been going around. It’s kind of fucked up that people think you got out on her.”
“So what.” She shrugged. “Tell ’em it was a game.”
“I’m just saying it’s messed up, that’s all,” Rhonda continued. “That girl was drunk and every time somebody shows it, she gets angrier.”
“What you want us to do, play again or something? What about her having Nova come smack me?” Farah said, looking back over at the table. “I ain’t crying to nobody about that shit, am I?”
“I talked to Coconut, and she didn’t have anything to do with that shit.”
“Well, who was it, Shannon?” she said, rolling her neck. “Because the bitch said Coconut’s name first when she stepped to me.”
“I’m just telling you what she said. I don’t think she had nothing to do with it. I don’t think Shannon did either. Everybody knows that Nova don’t like you, so she probably made that move on her own.”
“You shouldn’t even care what she thinks, Coconut would fuck your nigga if you let her. I’m trying to tell you the truth so you can be careful.”
Before Rhonda could respond, the girl across from them looked over at Farah and said, “Bitch, you must got a problem with your eyeballs!” She stood up and approached Farah’s table. The cute dark-skinned girl with a black jacket hated light-skinned people believing that they were better. So Farah had met her hate-crime match. “You looking at my nigga like you wanna suck his dick or something!”
“Actually I was wondering how good it would taste. Maybe I should go see.” She looked at her man and licked her lips.
Rhonda didn’t want to fight, due to being pregnant, but she took off her earrings and put them in her purse. She’d been out with Farah before, and lost $500 worth of jewelry when they got into fights in the past. She wasn’t taking any chances.
The dude wearing a Red Hat, who was at the table, walked up to the girl with the black jacket and said, “Don’t pay them bitches no mind. We was having a good time! Why you gonna let them ruin it?”
Black Jacket shook him off. “I wanna know what this bitch’s problem is. I mean, damn, she don’t even know you.” She turned around to look at him. “Or do she?”
“Listen, bitch. If I want him he’d be gone,” Farah said. “Trust me.”
They were about to fight when Shadow, Mia, and Chloe walked through the restaurant’s doors. They decided to meet up with Farah and Rhonda after everybody got what was on their list to get Lesa out of the house. “Hold up,” the girl with the black jacket said to no one in particular, “is that Mia Cotton?”
Mia and Chloe, seeing the look on Farah’s face, stepped up, ready to snatch some weaves out. “Everything cool? Mia asked. Black Jacket got silent and took her seat.
Farah grinned. “Everything fine now.”
Mia, Chloe, and Shadow piled into the booth and grabbed the menus. But Shadow eyed Red Hat, who was still looking in their direction. He hadn’t been in a fight since he’d been home, and welcomed the battle. “You good, man?” Shadow asked. Red Hat raised his glass and proceeded to entertain his girlfriend. He looked at Farah and said, “That bitch put a lock on her door. Just wanted you to know before I forgot.”
“Who said she could do all of that? She gonna be leaving in two weeks anyway. If not sooner.”
“I know you didn’t know. That’s why I wanted to give you a heads-up.”
“What was that shit over there about?” Mia asked after making her meal selection. She was going with the smothered chicken and rice. “Them bitches seemed mad as shit at you before I walked in.”
“Them jealous bitches mad because I’m light skinned—”
“Oh, my God!” Chloe yelled, throwing her hands in the air. “I wish you stop that dumb shit! Don’t nobody give a fuck about all that bullshit but you! You talking about me ... Maybe you should grow up.”
“Whatever, Chloe. You just mad because I’m telling the truth.”
“You know what ... I wanna put this shit to the test right now!” Chloe said. “Order me the fried chicken salad, Shadow.”
He put the menu down and said, “Why you can’t do it yourself?”
’Cause for one, I got the money and for two, I’m about to make my sister eat her words.”
Farah frowned. “And how do you intend on doing that?”
Chloe scanned the restaurant and saw three dudes at the bar. “Over there ... you see them guys?”
“Yeah ... so what?”
“Let’s both walk over there and sit on separate ends of the bar. Like we don’t know each other.”
“What’s that gonna prove?” Farah was nervous because she hated to be wrong. “I don’t have to do no dumb shit just because you don’t believe what is true.”
“Whoever they try to holla at, that’s what it is.” Chloe smirked. “If it’s all about red bones, they shouldn’t pay me any attention. So you with it or not?”
Farah looked at everyone and decided to take her up on her offer. “Let’s go. But after I win this shit I don’t wanna hear nobody’s mouth when I talk about red bones being better for future reference. You all gotta say we better and that’s it.”
Farah and Chloe walked to the bar and sat down. After telling the waitress that she wanted water, Farah decided to get on a fake phone call to make noise, in the hopes of getting their attention, while Chloe gave the men eye contact. The men spotted the women and not even a minute passed before Chloe got first catch. Not only was the dude into her, he offered to buy her dinner. She was feeling Audio so she decided to pass, and just took his number instead. Besides, there was nothing else to say; her point was proven. Realizing Chloe won, Farah slogged back to the table where everybody, including Rhonda, was laughing hysterically.
“The only reason that dude hollered at her instead of me was because I was on the phone.” Everybody rolled their eyes, including Rhonda.
“You such a sore fucking loser, sis. Damn!” Chloe said.
“Right ... The rules were whoever lost couldn’t say shit else about the topic,” Mia said. “So that mean you, Farah.”
“Some niggas like red bones and that may be their preference, but the average dude like a sexy bitch. And that’s me. I don’t care how black my skin is, my pussy’s still pink and they love it.” Chloe pointed in her face. “Point proven.”
Embarrassed and irritated, she said, “Fuck all that ... Let’s talk about how we gonna get this bitch back.”
“Now you talking a language we all love,” Mia said. “Revenge!”
Chapter 42
“Randy, I can do some things too, if you get me wrong. I need you to know that.”
—Farah
Farah was thirsty because of the white sock stuffed in her mouth. She was lying on her stomach with her wrists and ankles bound together, as Randy circled the bed like a lunatic. She wasn’t scared because, for Randy, this was all normal; she just wanted it to be over quickly. Besides, war had been called in Platinum Lofts and she could only imagine what was happening
now, since she wasn’t home.
“Don’t look so sad,” Randy said. “You came out of the house half dressed, with your ass hanging out of your clothes, so you must’ve wanted me to fuck you. Didn’t you?” Randy would make up these ambitious stories to get himself into the mood, and Farah always did a horrible job of playing the victim. Since she couldn’t talk because of the obstruction in her mouth, she nodded.
“Well, I’m going to do all kinds of things to you, because you deserve it.”
Then do it, mothafucka, and let’s get this over with. My mouth is dry as shit!
“I’m gonna give it to you nice and hard, Farah.” He was dragging things out, when all of a sudden her cell phone rang. Randy, knee-deep into her business, picked it up and answered. “Who’s this?” Farah was heated as he held her phone to his ear. She didn’t have a lot of people calling, but it really could be anybody. “Oh ... hold on.” He handed the phone to Farah. “It’s Chloe.”
Farah looked at him oddly. How could she answer when he had her limbs bound, and her mouth stuffed? Realizing his mistake, he laughed, untied her, and removed the sock. She rubbed her sore wrists, wet her tongue with spit, and placed the phone to her ear. “What’s up, Chloe?” She looked up at Randy from the bed. “Everything cool?”
“Can I have some of your apple juice? Your roommate is being a bitch as usual. If I touch her shit I’ma have to kill her.”
Farah sighed. She hated to be called for bullshit, and Chloe was famous for it. “Yes, girl.”
“Ugh ... Why you sounding all like that? You shouldn’t even be with Randy anyway. And why you let him answer your phone? Don’t you got a restraining order out on him or something?”
“Chloe, I gotta go.”
She laughed. “All right ... Oh, before I forget, I wanted to tell you that Slade got locked up tonight.”
Farah’s eyes widened. “What? Why?”
“He got into a fight at some club ... and they holding him in jail. Just thought you wanted to know since whether you know it or not, he belongs to you.”
