by Styles, T.
“So you don’t know.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “They found Tank a few weeks back in Virginia. He’s in prison, in the same cell as your Ashur.”
Chapter 69
“This your first time, so consider yourself a virgin tonight.”
—Slade
Slade was lying face to face with Farah in a hotel room on the bed. After the long day, they needed to be alone. When he looked into her eyes something whispered, leave her alone, but she was so alluring that he couldn’t walk away. “You know you remind me of my girlfriend back home.”
She raised her head off the pillow. “You got a girlfriend?”
“No ... she died.” She placed her head back down. “She was a fighter like you. Real bullheaded, too.” He chuckled. “Never listened to shit I said. I’d tell her to go left, and she’d go right. But later ... when I wasn’t looking, I would find out that she always took my advice, and followed my lead.”
“And you liked that about her? Because you got out on me when I talked back to you.”
“You called me gay,” he corrected her. “That’s questioning my manhood and I don’t play that shit.” He paused. “Anyway, I loved that about her. A woman with her own mind is attractive. Just like me, she always seemed like something was on her mind, and I could never tell where she was coming from. It kept me on my feet, and made the relationship interesting. Anyway, we got into a fight after I found out she lied to me. Keeping secrets and speaking your mind are two different things. You understand what I’m saying?” She nodded but remained silent. “When I found out she wasn’t who I thought she was, I ended the situation.” He turned on his back and looked up at the ceiling.
She put her head on his chest. “What happened?”
“I found out she was snorting coke and I couldn’t get past it. I was asleep and woke up to find her in the living room with a mirror on the table, sniffing shit into her nose.” He shook his head. “I walked over to her and crashed my fist into the wall, inches from her face.” Farah seemed nervous. “Don’t worry. I would never hit a female, because I know I would kill her instantly.” He looked into her eyes. “You know I didn’t even say shit to her. With my eyes, she knew how I felt. She was so hurt that she stormed out of my house, and drove away in the rain. We’d been together since we were kids, and I didn’t stop her. If I had, she would still be alive today.” He exhaled. “Anyway, the next morning I found out her car had been wrapped around a tree. And her head was severed from her body. That same feeling of loss came over me when I saw Juice’s picture on the news, because I knew you were with him. I realized then that I can’t let you go.” He got up to get another beer from the table across the room, and she followed like a shadow. “I should’ve gotten her help to get off the drugs, but I didn’t.” He pulled the tab off of his beer, and took a man-sized gulp.
“It wasn’t your fault, Slade.”
He placed the half-full beer down, and pulled her into his body. “I know, babes. It took me years to understand that, but I finally get it. It doesn’t stop me from feeling fucked up about it, even to this day. I was supposed to protect her, but I didn’t.” He looked into her eyes. “I told myself if I ever fell in love again, that I would never abandon her when she needed me the most. And, on my mother, that’s a vow I won’t break.” He raised her chin, snaked his tongue into her mouth, and kissed her passionately. “Let s get ready for bed. I gotta brush my teeth first.”
“Ugh, why you ain’t brush your teeth before kissing me!” She giggled, hitting his arm.
“Because I love you, girl.” They walked into the bathroom, and Slade took the toothbrushes out of the bag they bought from CVS earlier that evening. Farah grabbed the blue one and wet it before putting paste on the tip. “That’s mine, babes. You got the red one.”
She cut the cold water on. “I know who it belongs to.” She smiled. “But when you’re with me, I don’t want you to do anything I can’t do for you. And that includes brushing your teeth. Now open up.”
Slade opened his mouth, and looked down at Farah as she happily scrubbed his teeth. She was doing her best to make it known that she wanted to be his everything. In awe, he looked down at her and silently thanked God for bringing her into his life. “What you looking at, boy?” She looked up at him.
He put his hand under the faucet and rinsed his mouth. “You’re different now.”
She cleaned his toothbrush up and rinsed her own. “I’m the bitch who’s gonna take care of you for the rest of your life. Get used to seeing me.”
“I got to keep shit real with you. I met Willie, Randy’s father, the same night I saw he was with my brother. I was looking for Knox, but he wasn’t there. I must’ve missed him because later, I found out he went to Markee’s.” She appeared uneasy and he wondered why. “Anyway, Willie ended up being cool, and we planned to make moves together. Juice was in that meeting too. So later that night, when I saw you in the club, I wondered what was up. I knew we had plans to rob his stash house, because we had inside help with Juice.” He paused. “Randy was supposed to be out of town, but he wasn’t. It fucked me up to get you involved, by keeping him busy.”
She brushed her teeth and said, “It didn’t bother me.” She rinsed her mouth, and stroked his face once. “Your brother Major was outside, strapped and ready, and I was sick of Randy anyway. The nigga tried to kill me the night before! But I also knew if he really wanted me gone, I’d be dead already. So I knew our plan would work. I would do anything for you.” She rinsed her mouth again, to get rid of the paste taste. “Did I keep him busy long enough?”
“Yeah ... we hit his shop heavy and hard. It’s just fucked up that Juice is gone. We gave a little something to his peoples, though.”
“Do you think you can trust Willie? I mean, he is stealing from his own son.”
“Apparently it was his operation first.” He reached into his pocket, and handed her some cash. “That’s for you and your part in everything tonight.” The money made her beam. “That’s just the beginning.”
“Wait ... does this mean you’re staying in DC now?”
“Yes ... at least until I find Knox. I’m trying to prevent my mother from coming up here because if she does, it’s gonna be hell come to life.”
Farah wasn’t concerned with some old woman. “That’s the only reason you staying?”
“No. Because I can’t leave you.”
Farah’s warm, naked body covered the top of Slade’s. Staring into each other’s eyes, it was apparent that love had found them, and they didn’t want to let go. “I’m ready to make love to you.”
“You sure? Because you seemed real hesitant at first.”
“I need this. For me.”
Inspired by her desire, Slade placed his hands on her waist, and pushed his thickness into her pussy. It was difficult to enter at first, because she was dry and tense. Thinking she’d warm up soon, he pumped in and out of her slowly. Farah began to wildly move her head and shoulders, and Slade tried to guide her motions. When she started yelling sounds you’d hear in a cheap porno, as if she were possessed by the devil, he knew something was off. “Baby,” Slade said softly, as she continued to twist her neck as if it could pop off. “Farah, open your eyes and look at me.”
She finally heard his voice, and looked at him. “What’s wrong?” Tears started to form in the wells of her eyes. “You hate me,don’t you?” His dick was still in her body, but he was no longer fucking. “I’m gonna die! This is so embarrassing!”
“Calm down, Farah. Nothing is wrong.” He rubbed her hair. “Why you upset?” His voice was easy, patient, and loving. “This is supposed to be right. It’s our first time, babes, so I need you to look at me. Cool?”
“Okay,” she said, totally mortified. “I’m gonna look, I just don’t want you to dump me.”
He slapped her ass lightly, and because of his strength, it stung a little more than usual. Smiling he said, “Stop saying that shit. I’m not going anywhere. You’re not fucking me,
we’re fucking each other. So don’t be sad. Just look into my eyes and work that body.” Slade placed his hands on her hips and slowly pumped into her. Scared to do the wrong thing, Farah remained as stiff as a board. Fear of not being able to satisfy him forced her still.
“Farah, do you feel how much I care about you?” He continued to fuck her. “Can you see how fucking sexy I think you are? Look at me ... Can you see how much my body responds to yours? Can you remember the first day I saw you, and how I wanted to kill that mothafucka for scaring you?” Her pussy was warming up like an iron recently turned on, and it was starting to feel good. “Yeah ... you feel me. I see that pussy heating up.”
“I feel you, baby.” She kissed his lips and felt a trembling sensation throughout her body. If only she could trust her body and move, it would be so much better. “You feel so good.”
“Then move that pussy the way you feel about me.” Farah started crying. “Don’t be sad, Farah. This is the first time you made love.”
“But I’ve had sex ...”
“I don’t give a fuck about them other niggas. If any of them cared about you, you’d know how to fuck.” His seriousness caused her to shiver. “Now move your body like you love me.” Focusing on the man under her body, she started to slowly wind her hips. “That’s it, baby.” He bit his lip. “That’s my bitch right there.” Slade moved in and out of her until he could feel her slickness on his dick. “Damn, baby, you wet as shit now. That’s how I like it.”
Normally she would have to add spit, or Vaseline, while having sex so she said, “Am I? I never got wet before.”
“What I tell you? This your first time, so consider yourself a virgin tonight.” Slade kissed her passionately, and increased the speed one notch. As if Farah were a pro, she started fucking him back slower at first, before going a little faster. It wasn’t just about a man this time, the sex was about her too. Their bodies danced as they explored one another for the first time.
“Oh, my God!” Farah cried. “Baby ... I’m ... I’m about to ...” She stopped moving.
“What’s wrong?” He felt himself about to bust inside of her. He wanted them to reach at the same time.
“What is this feeling?” She got her rocks off with Coconut a few times, but never while having sex. She was starting to believe it wasn’t even possible. The feeling was so grand that she wanted to taste him. She imagined a stream of blood lying on his skin, and her tongue slowly licking it off. This caused her to get even more into the motion, as she bucked him with all her might.
“You’re about to cum. Me too! Keep it right there! Just like that, baby,” he ordered, as he released himself into her body. “Aww ... that was so fucking good!”
Her cum was being pulled as if it had a force of its own. Her toes spread, and she bit into his shoulder, hard at first, before she went lighter. Slade didn’t seem to be fazed one bit by the pain. Resting her head on his shoulder, Farah’s body let go as she clawed at his arms.
“I love you so much, Slade Baker.” Tears rolled out of her eyes, and ran down his arm.
“Then why you crying?”
“Because I hope when you find out about me, that you’ll love me the same.”
“Babes, there ain’t shit nobody can tell me about you that I won’t crack them in their fucking mouth for. Now get some sleep, we got a lot going on tomorrow.”
The next morning when Slade woke up, his phone was ringing. When he went to answer it, he realized the top of his finger was cut. He was so drunk the night before that he didn’t remember how it happened. Reaching for the phone, he was rattled by the sound of his brother’s voice. “What’s wrong, Major?”
“Audio ain’t come home last night, man!” he yelled. “Some niggas called and said they got him! And we got to come up with some bread or else he’s dead!”
Chapter 70
“No! This can’t be happening!”
—Farah
When Farah got to Markee’s house with Slade, she was surprised to see her sister and brother in attendance. “What’s going on?” She alternated her eyes between Mia and Shadow. She was immediately frightened. “What y’all doing here?” The door closed behind them, and Slade locked it.
“Somebody snatched Audio last night,” Major interjected.
“And your sister was with him,” Markee added.
“What?” she screamed, covering her mouth. “No! This can’t be happening!”
“Where the fuck were you, Farah?” Mia yelled. “I called you twenty times last night! So much shit happened, and you were nowhere to be found! It wasn’t until I went into your room and found your phone”—she raised Knox’s BlackBerry in the air—“That I realized you left it.”
Seeing Knox’s spiritual attempt to get her caught from the dead, Farah rushed over to Mia and snatched the phone out of her hand. The case made the phone unique, so she hoped the Baker Boys didn’t notice that it belonged to their brother. When she looked at them, they appeared unwise. “Why you do that shit?” Mia asked. She had no idea what she’d just done.
“I’m sorry. I just can’t believe somebody got Chloe. My baby sister is gone!”
Slade stood in the middle of the floor in a shock of his own. He couldn’t imagine all the drama circling his family at this time in his life. Maybe God was saying they had to grow up, and with two brothers missing, he heard Him loud and clear. When his mother found out, she was going to lose it, he was sure of it. Slade rubbed his bald head, trying to think of what to tell Della. “Markee, what do we know about this shit?”
“What happened to your finger?” Markee asked, because of the Band-Aid he was wearing.
“What difference do it make, bitch-ass nigga? I asked you a mothafuckin’question.”
When there was a knock at the door, Slade ignored him and opened it. Willie Gregory walked inside, and looked at the solemn look on the Baker boys faces.“I’m so sorry about this shit, young bloods. I knew my son could be a cruddy mothafucka, but I didn’t think he would stoop this low,” he said as Slade closed and locked the door.
“You think Randy know we ran up in his house?” Major asked. “I mean, why else would they want my brother?”
Willie looked at Markee and then Slade. “You sure we can speak around him?”
Slade looked at his cousin and said, “He good.”
He sighed. “Okay ... I don’t know how Randy would know that shit.” He rubbed his head. “Half of his men couldn’t wait for me to get out his jail, that’s why we didn’t have a problem recruiting Juice, God rest his soul. And I know everybody else involved would not have said shit. Randy just added things up and got me. The boy smart enough to know I was coming back for what’s rightfully mine. I’m not sure how he figured you fellas were involved, though. But I swear on my life, I’m gonna get your brother back.”
“What about my sister?” Mia asked from the couch.
When his eyes moved in the direction of the voice, he saw Farah sitting by her side. “Wait, what is she doing here? he asked, pointing at her. “I met her when she was no more than thirteen years old. Randy was obsessed with this girl!” He pointed. “This is probably how he knew right here!”
“You use to fuck with Randy?” Killa asked, gripping the .45 in his waist. “I knew he liked you, but I didn’t think it was that deep.”
On cue, the rest of the Baker Boys moved in like vultures, and Mia and Shadow stood on guard to protect Farah. “I know y’all betta back the fuck up away from my sister. Shadow pointed. “That nigga been chasing her for years, and she didn’t want nothing to do with him.”
Slade walked over to the altercation in motion, and said, “Back up, fellas.” When they didn’t do it he roared, “Now!” They dispersed like fog and Slade addressed Willie. “I don’t know about all that, but she with me now.”
“I don’t trust her. She use to fuck my son, I’m trying to tell you.”
“Maybe I should make myself clearer. This is my wife, and she’s also the one who kept Randy busy
while we ran up in his spot. She deserves a little more credit than that.”
Willie gave Farah and her siblings another look, and she wondered if Eleanor told him anything about the accident with Knox. “Whatever, son. I’m not gonna argue with you about what you want. It’s clear your mind is made up. Just know that I’m going to be combing the city looking for Audio.” He heard Shadow grunt. “I mean both of them.” He cleared his throat. “And that’s on my last name. I don’t know where Knox is either, but I’m sure Randy had something to do with this too.” Farah looked at Mia, and Killa caught the glance. “I knew the young man a short time, but he meant a lot to me.”
“And what if we can’t find them?” Major said.
“We’ll give them the half a mil they asking for,” Willie continued. “When I said we would do business, I meant good business. I could tell by being around your brother that he came from a solid breed. I need that type of man on my team, and it’s a shame it couldn’t be my son. But I’m gonna make him pay for everything if he harms one hair on their heads. Blood relative or not.”
Chapter 71
“I got this for my godson. I think he’s gonna love it.”
—Farah
Farah walked into the hospital to visit her friend and her new baby. She was beside herself when she heard about the horrible news. Walking into the room, holding a glass vase full of yellow roses and a bag, she set them on the table. Rhonda was lying on the bed, looking out of a window. She was in a hazy world all her own.
“Rhonda ... are you up?” Farah asked softly.
She turned around to look at her. There was a blank expression on her face, and she appeared neither happy nor sad. “Yeah ... I’m up.”
“I’m sorry about everything. I didn’t mean to hit you. That bitch sprayed some shit in my face, and I was trying to defend myself. I hope you know I would never do something like that on purpose. I’m sorry you went into labor early. Rhonda rolled her eyes. “I didn’t know about any of this until this morning.”
