by KR Bankston
LaRon heard her in the shower. He wanted to go join her, but controlled his desire and instead waited on her to re-enter the room where he remained. Jaleesa emerged moments after he heard the water stop, wrapped in her towel, stopping in her tracks once she spotted him.
“Hey girl,” LaRon greeted her, looking her over.
“Hey Deuce,” Jaleesa returned calmly.
She hoped he wouldn’t force her to have sex right now. The thought nauseated her.
“Go ahead and get dressed, I just wanna talk,” he told her lighting a cigarette and relaxing on the chaise.
Jaleesa slipped on a pair of jogging pants and a tank, going over to the bed and sitting on it, waiting for him to speak again. LaRon continued to take her in quietly, his mind reeling. He knew she was still terrified of him and it hurt to think Jaleesa may never come around and love him again. Pushing the thought away he finally addressed her.
“So tell me about the last 7 years of your life,” he asked calmly.
Jaleesa swallowed hard and told him what he wanted to know, careful to leave out the various trysts and short term relationships she’d had in the interim. LaRon hissed slightly before speaking again.
“If I hadn’t beat you that night,” he began and Jaleesa tensed. “Would you still have killed my baby,” he asked and she finally saw the depth of hurt he had about the pregnancy.
Jaleesa took another deep breath and blew it out slowly before she answered him. “I dunno, Deuce,” she told him quietly, not looking at him.
“Hmph,” LaRon replied before speaking again. “You know four years in lockdown is a long time,” he began as Jaleesa listened without comment. “When you’re sitting alone in a cell you get a lot of time to reflect,” LaRon went on, looking deeply into her eyes. “I began to replay all the things that led to my being in that place, finally honestly seeing myself for the nothing that I was,” he went on as she continued to watch him. “I should never have hurt you like that Tweety. I apologize for every time I hit you, for every time I raped you, and most of all for taking away the two lives we’d created together,” he finished as she caught her breath.
Jaleesa had never told him about the first pregnancy. She’d miscarried right after he beat her again for nothing.
“How,” she managed to get out before he kissed her gently.
“I found the pregnancy test later, after you said you had your period,” he told her calmly as Jaleesa nodded slightly.
“I know you’re really finding it hard to believe me,” LaRon began again. “But all I can do is show you, I really have changed,” he finished kissing her deeply and then releasing her.
“Words are cheap Deuce,” Jaleesa told him, the pain in her voice evident. “I think about my baby almost every day,” she told him as the tears formed in her eyes.
Jaleesa wasn’t acting now. She was honestly hurt when she thought of the child he’d taken from her for no reason. “You were a spoiled, little mama’s boy,” she told him angrily, watching his reaction. “You treated me like shit and all I ever did was love you,” she finished as one of the tears spilled down her cheek.
She brushed it away angrily, glaring at him now. LaRon sighed again. He’d never known the depth of her pain until this very moment.
“Baby, you’re right, about everything,” he told her, still looking into her eyes. “I was a complete jackass, and I didn’t deserve you,” he went on. “I’ve gotten my life together, and I’ve gotten another chance at living it differently,” he continued. “I still love you, more today than I ever did,” LaRon admitted freely.
“I definitely don’t deserve it, but I want more than anything, to have your forgiveness, your friendship, and most of all your love, one more time,” he plunged ahead, as Jaleesa’s expression never changed. “Baby, give us another chance,” LaRon pleaded. “I know you’re scared, I know this whole situation is crazy,” he went on. “I can’t explain it to you right now, but I promise, in due time I will,” LaRon finished as he hugged her tightly, kissing her neck tenderly.
“Think about it Tweety,” he told her preparing to leave her presence. “Really think about us, about how we used to be, how much you used to love me,” LaRon tried. “Then let down your guard and give me another chance to make you happy,” he went on. “I promise this time, I won’t let you down,” he added kissing her cheek gently as he rose leaving the room, and Jaleesa’s mind in a tailspin.
*****
Kim was calmly enjoying her drink as the show began at Peppermint’s. Some assignments do have their perks, she thought smiling into the Margarita as she took another sip. Normally she didn’t frequent strip clubs, but this was where she was told to be, so she was here. Kim continued to glance around the club taking in the various fixtures and patrons. Most of the women were acting as if they hadn’t seen a living, breathing man in years. Looking at some of them she could understand the desperation. They weren’t attractive in the least and Kim was pretty sure the only sex they ever got was pity sex or drunken desperate sex. Chuckling to herself at that last thought her eyes fell on the sexy exotic dancer gracing the stage now. He reminded her slightly of Mook with his creamy skin and firm toned abs. Thinking about her new love gave Kim a warm feeling she hadn’t experienced in a long time. History hadn’t been very kind to her in the romance department. Kim was considered too hard by most of the guys she found interesting. They always turned out to be thin skinned, ego deprived morons who resented a strong, independent, outspoken woman who could and would hold her own. Sighing softly, Kim thought again about Mook and how her strength hadn’t deterred him in the least.
She spotted the first shadow and readied herself. Before the thought left her mind chaos ensued as the four masked gunmen entered the club, shutting down the DJ and discharging several warning rounds into the air.
“Don’t nobody act a fool and this will be over, fast,” Mook threw out to the terrified crowd of women.
The dancers were still standing on stage, naked. Kim smiled slightly as she continued to remain seated, eyes scanning the club. She watched wordlessly as Spider and DeNoah began barking orders at the women telling them to give up wallets, jewelry and cell phones. LaRon was at the bar holding the .10mm to Azi’s head and demanding all the cash receipts.
“Take me to the muthafuckin’ safe,” he barked as Azi immediately complied not wanting to get shot tonight.
“Welcome to the party bitches,” Mook threw out at the women who were rounded up from the bathroom by DeNoah.
Ordering them to contribute to the bootie, Mook continued to watch the crowd silently waiting for LaRon to return. Kim saw movement out of the corner of her eye. She pulled the.380 from her thigh holster and shot the man in the shoulder before he could react. Mook turned to the commotion seeing the man and Kim calmly sipping her drink again. Smiling slightly under the mask he spoke again.
“Anybody else wanna play hero tonight,” he asked gruffly.
All the women continued to whimper, some cry, as the dancers continued to stand fixated on the gunmen.
“Smart,” Mook said simply as LaRon returned with the money from the safe.
“We’re leaving now,” LaRon announced. “If we even think we see somebody stick their head outta this bitch in the next 10 minutes,” he went on. “We’re coming back, and trust and believe no one will live to tell that shit,” he finished as the women continued to cower in front of the men.
Backing their way to the entrance the men fled as the club patrons continued to sit stunned, praying they didn’t come back.
The wounded man was unconscious from the blood loss, as the patrons and dancers finally gathered the courage to use the house phone and call police reporting the robbery. Kim quietly and discreetly slipped out of the chaotic scene headed to the other side of town. She still had work to do and the night was young. Driving, her cell rang and she answered seeing Mook’s name on the ID.
“You straight,” he asked immediately.
Kim assured him she was f
ine. “I was like Casper,” she told him as he chuckled his approval.
“Good looking’ out earlier,” he told her about the armed man. “Can’t have you getting hurt just yet,” she told him calmly as Mook chuckled slightly.
“Yeah Miss Kim, I love you too,” he told her gently as Kim smiled to herself but said nothing. “Where you headed now,” he asked hearing the background noise. “Emperian,” she told him plainly of the nightclub. “Gotta watch the baby tonight,” she threw out as Mook chuckled again.
He knew this was her codename for the assignment she had.
“OK,” Mook returned. “I’ll see you at the suite later,” he added as Kim told him she’d be there.
“Meet you in the shower,” he returned sensuously as Kim blushed.
“Bye Mook,” she threw back flustered as he chuckled and disconnected.
Kim refocused her attention on her current task trying to calm her libido as it raced ahead to the sexy man she was falling head over heels for.
*****
Ian was furious. “What the fuck went down here,” he asked his house security. One of them had been shot in the melee and right now he was the only one not on Ian’s kill list.
“They blindsided us Ice,” Reggie told him.
He was Ian’s head of security here.
“How many were there,” Ian asked still regarding Reggie furiously.
The man answered his question as well as giving every detail of the disturbance.
“Somebody knows something,” Ian returned angrily. “I can’t have people scared to come to my damned club,” he added as Reggie stood contrite apologizing profusely. “Where are the other two,” Ian asked once more of the security.
He had a total of four men assigned to Peppermint so things like this wouldn’t happen. Tonight had been a disaster of major proportions as far as he was concerned and Ian wanted satisfaction. Kaitlyn was very much on his mind making his patience even shorter than usual. He still hadn’t heard another word from either the kidnappers or the defector.
“Um, they was,” Reggie began before Ian gave him another look.
“They were somewhere fuckin’ around is what you’re trying not to say,” he barked as Reggie flinched from the venom in his voice.
Pulling out his cell Ian made a call. “Yeah, 30 minutes,” Ian said simply as Reggie continued to regard him silently.
“Go to the hospital, find out how Carver is,” Ian barked referring to his wounded security.
“Sure Ice, no problem,” Reggie replied having a sinking feeling and thanking his fate silently not to be included in the festivities.
Ian asked for a drink, which Azi immediately supplied.
“How much did they get Azi,” he asked calmly sipping the Cognac.
“All the receipts,” Azi replied. “Almost 15K.”
Ian sighed deeply and said nothing more. Azi left him alone retreating to the other end of the bar, cleaning broken glass and trash from the floor. Fifteen minutes later, Azi noticed two men enter the club, dressed in black. They spoke briefly with Ian, nodding quietly before leaving his presence.
“Go home Azi,” Ian told him once again gaining eye contact. “Finish this tomorrow when you come in,” he added saying nothing more.
Azi hurriedly complied with his boss’s mandate having a very bad feeling after seeing the two men earlier.
Ian sat calmly as Red and Ike were ushered into the club, the two black clad gunmen at their back, guns placed firmly.
“Gentlemen,” Ian greeted them giving them a look. “Tonight I lost 15 thousand dollars,” he told them as he continued to sip his drink, not blinking. “I want you two to tell me why,” he said simply but both men knew the question was anything but.
Ike was sweating bullets. Red was trying to play it cool but he knew Ian was furious. “We only made a quick run Ice,” Red tried. “Just up to the Wendy’s to grab a burger.”
Ian nodded thoughtfully before turning to Ike.
“Is that so,” he asked giving the man a look.
Ike swallowed hard before answering in agreement with Red’s statement.
“Hmph,” Ian returned. “So while you two were enjoying a double stack, I was losing money, having my patrons threatened, and my reputation sullied,” he paused momentarily. “Is that about right,” he threw out as Ike again swallowed hard and continued to sweat.
“We ain’t think nothing like this was gonna happen Ice,” Red tried again. “I mean Peppermint’s is safe as hell,” he added as Ian again regarded him.
“Of course it is,” he spat his anger beginning to get the better of him. “Because that’s what the fuck I pay you fuckin’ morons good money to do, protect it,” he railed angrily finally rising from his bar stool.
“Your services are no longer required,” Ian told Red looking him directly in the eye.
Turning to Ike he saw the fear coming off the man in waves.
“Who drove,” he asked simply as Ike finally looked up at him and made eye contact.
“Red,” Ike answered simply.
“Go home and have your ass here tomorrow at 7:00 AM to help Azi get this shit cleaned up and the club open for business,” Ian told him as Ike nodded profusely and hurriedly left the men alone.
“These gentlemen are going to see to it you get where you need to go,” Ian told Red looking him in the eye as he spoke.
Swallowing hard Red knew this was the end of the road for him. He knew the only place he was going was a short trip to the morgue as the two men prompted him, guns drawn, to the outside of the club and eternal darkness.
*****
Role thought it odd to find the child outside so late, but not letting it bother him he called the boy over.
“You wanna make a quick $50,” he asked the kid seeing he was bit older than the first one.
“What I gotta do,” the kid asked warily eyeing the man in front of him.
Chuckling slightly Role told him he wasn’t a freak or anything like that.
“I just want you to take this envelope inside Mardi Gras,” he told the kid. “Give it Mr. Ice,” he went on. “Nobody else,” Role finished as the kid shrugged slightly and took the $20 offered.
“Once you come back, I’ll give you the other $30,” Role told him as the kid agreed and took package, heading inside the crowded club.
He continued to watch until the small figured disappeared among the bodies he could see from his vantage point outside in the parking lot. Lighting his cigarette and taking a deep drag, Role waited. He was ready for this thing to be over. There was still the matter of him finding out where they were keeping the woman now, but Role knew a simple phone call and few well placed questions to DeNoah would remedy that.
By the end of his cigarette he saw the small figure approaching him once again, empty handed.
“I gave it to him,” the kid said calmly as Role nodded slightly.
“What he look like,” he asked, wanting to be sure the kid did as he asked.
“Mean, with muscles,” the kid answered somewhat shakily.
Role almost laughed aloud. He supposed to a kid his age, Ice would look intimidating.
“Everybody said it was him,” the kid added as Role nodded believing him and giving him the rest of the money.
The child hurriedly left Role’s presence with his newfound wealth, leaving him alone once more. Sighing softly he got into his car and started it, intent on going home. You need to call DeNoah, his mind threw at him as he drove. Role knew that Ice would be calling soon and he’d better have some serious answers for him. If the man even suspected he was bluffing, Role knew the deal was off and he was stuck. Coming out of this broke as well as beaten was not what Role intended. Deciding that he would call DeNoah first thing tomorrow, he called his on again off again girl and asked if they could hook up. After a few minutes of pleading and promising, Role finally got a yes out of her. Chuckling to himself as he disconnected he jumped on I-20 west, singing along to the music as he drove.
*****
Mook, LaRon, and Tariq were sitting around the table discussing the night’s festivities. They were once again at yet another safe house.
“Things went smooth as silk,” LaRon reported as Mook agreed.
Tariq smiled slightly before speaking. “I would love to see the look on his face when he got that call,” he threw out as the other two men smiled in agreement.
“Things are going right according to plan,” Tariq began again.
They others once again agreed. They were working on phase two of their plan. They wanted to throw Ian off balance, send him problem after problem, until his empire began to implode and eventually collapse.
“Tomorrow night, Acquis,” Mook said as LaRon nodded.
They were targeting every club Ian owned.
“That should keep him busy for a minute,” Tariq replied.
“We need to keep Ryan’s ass in Louisiana too,” LaRon spoke, the edge evident in his voice.
Tariq cleared his throat slightly and told him he had that end covered.
“Seems he and Ice left some unhappy folks in Mississippi, who have cheerfully volunteered to help us out,” he replied as all three chuckled slightly.
Going on to tell them in great detail what was about to happen, Tariq outlined their strategy to keep the two brothers separated.
“Divided they fall,” Tariq said calmly as both Mook and LaRon agreed.
“We’ve already started the ball rolling,” he told LaRon looking him the eye.
There was something about the look that told him Tariq had something more to add, but would do it later, when they were alone.
“Hit me up tomorrow Mook,” Tariq told him as the man rose and bid them goodnight.
“No problem, Top,” Mook returned. “Peace,” he threw at LaRon as the man returned it and they watched him leave the house.
“I think Tweety might find these interesting,” Tariq told LaRon handing him the manila envelope.
Curiosity getting the better of him, LaRon opened it and began perusing the contents. The smile grew wider with each photo.
