by Shay Hunter
My stomach rumbled and I turned around to her. “How the fuck it’s been going around when the only one I told was you?”
“Are you sure you didn’t say anything while Kitten was in the club? Because she be faking like she’s gone but her ears be glued to the door when it’s closed.
I couldn’t remember if Kitten was there the day I told Cupid or not. And the worst part is she was right. Kitten once sold some information she heard about one of the stripper’s boyfriends to a customer. That customer used the information to rob and kill the nigga later that night. Kitten was the most dangerous cunt in the club.
“So what did Ohio say exactly?” I asked.
“Just something about me hanging with fake bitches who would do anything to keep their nigga away from family.” She paused. “When I asked her to clarify she didn’t so I snatched her face off. And if I was wrong for that then you gotta forgive me.”
I held my head down. “I’m sorry, Cupid. I thought—”
“That’s why I told her to keep it moving outside of the precinct,” she continued. “You gotta be careful though, Sprinkles. She’s on to you for real so if I were you I’d steer clear of her. When you see her go the other way. Avoid that bitch at all costs.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CUPID
I was getting dressed in the group room at Skeezers when Levine slid inside trying to get me to talk to a customer I knew was gay. Since she was coming hard about it I figured she was making a few bucks if she got me to swing his way but she had another thing coming. She was on my shit list after trying to fire me.
Besides, my time was not about to get held up with no faggy when I needed to get over $3,000. One thousand was to pay Sprinkles back and the other money was for my cosmetic procedures. Killer wasn’t talking to me, probably because of whatever Ohio said so I had to get the paper on my own. If I got pinned up with a nigga she taxed already I’d be messing up my dough.
“I don’t fuck with them type of dudes,” I said as I slid my red thong on. “Everybody gets to pick the Georges they want to deal with and he’s not my type.”
“What you talking about, Cupid? He’s a regular customer and he’s handsome.” She was smiling and being fake and it made my skin crawl. I preferred when she cursed me out because at least I knew it was real.
I laughed. “You and me both know he’s gay. The last time he came up to the club he was wearing a pair of blue jeans tighter than the ones you wearing now.” I opened my locker and pulled out a black wig. “What straight man you know wears shit like that?”
“That’s just the fashion! All the young niggas dressing like that these days.” she yelled, her breath smelling like a pot of dank. “Since when have you cared what a man does in his spare time anyway?”
“Don’t even try it with me today, Levine! I gotta get my paper up in a major way and I’m not in the mood. I already told you. I’m trying to do too many things to be listening to this shit.”
“So you won’t even give him a chance, Cupid?” She asked as her arms moved dramatically. “When you just said you trying to get up the money?” she paused. “Tell the truth…the only reason you won’t do it is to get back at me. You are still angry with me over firing you and now you’re taking it out on yourself.”
“Did you hear me? I’m…not…interested.”
“I don’t care what you say. You gonna meet with him tonight.” She paused and sat on the bench while I got dressed. “I’m your boss…not the other way around.”
“Bitch, you not my boss.” I laughed as I walked over to the full-length mirror to adjust my wig. “If you had it your way I wouldn’t be here remember? Killer saved me.”
She squinted. “Is that why you like him so much?”
I looked at her through the mirror. “Be careful about the rumors you choose to start. Because I can start throwing some around too. Except mine will be more dangerous and could mean your life.”
“What you talking about?”
I laughed. “I paid Kitten for a little information on one of the strippers.” I really kicked her a few bucks to tell me where Ohio lived but she ended up giving me her address and so much more. “And imagine my surprise when I learned that this club is about to be sold. That’s a reason to kill him isn’t it? So you could get all the money?”
She grabbed me by the forearm and I pushed her down, causing her to knock her head on the bench. “Bitch, don’t put your paws on me!” I yelled. “You might be old but you do that shit again and I’ll stomp you like you a bitch my age. I’m begging you. Please do it again.”
She got up. “You better watch what you say around here, Cupid. I’m serious.” She paused. “Because you’re not the only one with a few secrets. You’re not the only one who know some things.”
“All I want you to do is leave me alone,” I warned, not phased by anything she said. “Before I get to talking too.”
“All you got is a bunch of lies from a junkie. But what’s gonna happen when Sprinkles finds out you’re dealing with Killer?” She stepped closer forcing me to smell her breath even more. “I’ll tell you what will happen. She’s gonna slice your ass! And I know you don’t want that. Them Latinas are crazy.”
“She already found out about that rumor and she don’t believe it,” I lied. “So it doesn’t matter what you say to her.” I was hoping that my bluff would work because if she told Sprinkles that would be the end of our friendship and Killer would cut me off. That much I believed.
“Yeah right.” She frowned. “We’ll see about that once I let her know.”
“What you have to understand is this…me and Sprinkles been friends since I started working in this shit box. She would never believe anything you or anybody else has to say about me. So I advise you to back off before I do some things to you that could ruin your life. Starting with telling Killer about my belief that you were involved with the hit. You don’t want to fuck with me…I promise you.”
****
I had finished my set and was working the floor for additional tips. I could tell by the weight of my bag that I collected a few hundred but it definitely wasn’t enough to pay off Sprinkles and get my procedure. All day I’d been thinking about Ohio and if she would snitch or not. It had me so nervous that sometimes I felt like throwing up. If she told Sprinkles that I fucked her because she knew about Killer and me I would lose him and her forever.
I was willing to part with Sprinkles if I had to but losing him was off limits.
I was just about to go home when Sprinkles came rushing up to me. “Girl, Mayzon in here tonight!” she grabbed both of my hands and jumped up and down. “I can’t believe this shit! She popped up! Didn’t even know she was in D.C.!”
Just hearing Mayzon’s name got me geeked. She was a drug dealer who lived in Chicago and only came into town on business. Not only was she cute to look at with her boy looking self but she also tipped big. Females on duty while Mayzon was in the building got five thousand dollars easily. This was my big night; the only problem was I had already finished my set and was only working the floor.
“Well, have fun,” I pouted trying to hide my jealousy. “Glad to see somebody about to make a major come up. Just wish it was me.”
“I got an idea.” Her eyes were wide with excitement. “And before you say no hear me out.”
“I’m listening.”
“Let’s do girl on girl, like I did with Ohio that time. We do that shit and we gonna clean up, Cupid. I promise! You already know I own the stage. Let’s get this money together.”
I frowned. “Ewe…you like my sister. What I look like connecting pussies with you?”
She frowned. “I’m telling you Mayzon loves that shit. You do that and you’d have enough money to pay me off plus interest. Come on, girl. What you trying to do? Stay broke? I’m throwing you a lifeline! Catch it!”
I never understood why Sprinkles danced so hard anyway. Killer would take care of her if she wanted and all she had to do was ask. I once broug
ht it up to her and she said, “Killer’s money is his and mine is mine. If that nigga leaves me I’m not about to show up broke.”
I didn’t want to dance with her on stage because we would have to bump pussies but I needed the cash. And if we did this right I would be set for weeks. I looked her in the eyes and said, “Fuck it! Let’s give that dyke a show!”
CHAPTER TWELVE
SPRINKLES
We were sitting in my private dressing room with a floor full of bills all around us. I made some money before in the club but this had to be the biggest payout from one source. Cupid’s eyes widened and she grabbed my hands as we jumped up and down.
“We gonna be all night counting this shit,” I said happily. “I mean…oh my, gawd! It’s like Mayzon went to the ATM six times. Look at all this fucking money!”
“Bitch, you did that tonight!” she smiled. “You fucked me so good on that stage I was about to bust. And I’m not even lying. You and Ohio did the show the one time but there wasn’t a lot of passion in it. I’m just being honest. But you and me worked. I think we had Mayzon goosing!”
I laughed and waved her off. “It wasn’t all that serious. I was just trying to make it believable so she would spend that paper. And she did. This is some team work for real.”
“Yes it is.” Cupid tossed her towel down and sat on top of it. I did the same as we grouped the bills in fives and tens. There wasn’t a one-dollar bill in site. “You were so good you had me believing you went both ways. Did you see the other bitches in the club? They were so salty that you didn’t pick them.”
I shrugged. “I just know when she’s in the building she comes to play. A nigga try robbing her after she leaves and he’ll come up short because I have all her paper.” I laughed. “But did you see Ohio frowning at me?” I paused. “I think she thought I would use her like last time. That bitch wasn’t even supposed to be here today.”
“Well, luckily for her she knows better than to fuck with me. Because the next time I’m going two, to the jugular. Not even playing Sprinkles.”
“Girl, please,” I laughed. “Ya’ll had one fight and now she’s afraid of you? Yeah right.” I chuckled harder. “It wasn’t that deep and you should sincerely let it go.”
“Don’t be fooled by her show, sweetie,” she responded. “Ohio knows what time it is and I have no problem giving her a reminder. I was about to go to the snap out zone on her if the cops hadn’t come. She’s lucky she’s alive. You said it yourself when you got me from the jail.”
“Whatever,” I responded waving her off again. “As long as she stays away from me I’m good. The last thing I need is Killer hearing about the stories she likes to tell.”
“And I feel the same way,” she said before focusing back on the money.
Somebody tried to open the door but we locked it so their access was denied. I didn’t trust bitches when I made payouts this big and never left my dressing room without Killer or a guard. Chicks have gotten jumped for less and they weren’t about to catch me slipping. “Who is it?”
“Ohio, can I come in?”
Cupid’s eyes widened. “Don’t let that bitch in here, Sprinkles,” she whispered. “She just trying to start shit. Or trying to rob us. Either way she’s bad news.”
“You telling me shit I already know,” I said in a low voice. I cleared my throat and focused on the door. “I’m busy right now, Ohio! Come back later!”
“I wanted to talk to you about something. It won’t take but a moment.”
“Make her go away,” Cupid said more forcefully. I thought her behavior was off but she could be that way sometimes. “I don’t want her in here.”
What had her so scared? I was the one whose life was being threatened. If Killer got the news that I was behind his brother going back to prison, life, as I knew it was over.
“Ohio, I’m with Cupid now…I’ll get up with you later.”
She was quiet for a moment and then I could hear her walking off.
“I wouldn’t have even told her that I was here,” Cupid said shaking her head. “She just needed to kick rocks because you told her. No reasons necessary.”
“It doesn’t matter because she’s gone now.” I refocused on the floor full of money. “She sounded like she wanted to cry. Maybe she really was hurt I didn’t invite her to the stage.”
“I almost forgot.” She grabbed a stack of bills. “Did you know she got feelings for Stephen?”
I squinted. “I never heard him say anything about her.”
“That’s because he’s feeling you. Would never step to you because of Killer.” Cupid continued. “I also think it’s hilarious how he can kick my business but don’t tell you how he feels.”
I didn’t know if it was true or not but I wasn’t thinking about it. Stephen was cool but he didn’t have enough money for me. “I know he’s crushing but how you know she likes him?”
“Because she stay going down the barbershop he be at. Some chick in there does eyebrows and Ohio done got hers all snatched off just to see him. She’s up there every week.”
“I wondered how that happened.” I laughed.
“One of my customers said she even went as far as to tell him he could fuck her in the ass behind Skeezers!” she giggled. “I think he passed on it because she wasn’t his type.”
I shook my head and focused on the cash. Whether she got with him or not was not my concern. The only thing I cared about was this money right now. When we finished adding up the stacks there was over ten thousand dollars. My jaw dropped. “Can you believe this shit?”
“Fuck yeah! I’m looking at it.” She placed her hand over her mouth. “You can just give me four thousand and keep the rest. Because if you didn’t get me I wouldn’t have anything.”
I tilted my head. “Four thousand?” I paused. “What you talking about?”
She frowned. “What I’m talking about? We earned that money together so I’m supposed to get half. If you playing right now I’m not in the mood, Sprinkles. Because in my mind I already spent that money. Every last dollar.”
“Cupid, you were done with your set. You said it yourself. I grabbed you to get on mine but I was going to get over half of this myself. Without you in the picture. So I’m not giving you a half of my cut so I’d come up short.”
“Sprinkles, I know you not about to do me dirty. Whenever two strippers take the stage the money is always split evenly. Why you being greedy?”
“I’m gonna say something that you won’t like, nobody coming to see you dance, Cupid. Nobody lining up around the stage to get a look at your pussy. This here is my money and the most I’m giving you is $1,000. And because you helped I’ll wash away the money you owe me for the bail too.”
She frowned. “You not about to fuck me out of my cash, Sprinkles. I love you like a sister but if you don’t say I’m playing soon things are about to get real.”
“Well we about to get real then. Because outside of this thousand.” I tossed a stack already wrapped in a rubber band at her. She caught it in mid air. “The rest of this money is mine.”
“Sprinkles, if you do this shit our friendship is ruined. I’ll never fuck with you again in life. Is that what you want?”
“And if you think you’re getting more than this it already is.” I paused. “Mayzon likes Latino and white women. That means you’re out.” I paused. “So trust me when I say she wasn’t there for you.”
Her jaw trembled. “She may not have been but I know who is. Killer.”
“Wha…what you just say?”
“I said Killer stay licking on this black, dark, chocolate pussy.” She laughed. “So all that shit you spitting don’t mean shit to me. The whole thing about it is I’ve been waiting to burst your bubble and now I don’t give a fuck anymore.”
I moved closer, every vein in my body seemed to pulsate with energy. “Are you telling me that you fucked my man? Are you telling me that the one person I told everything too stabbed me in the back? Is that what the fu
ck you saying, snake?”
“I’m telling you that I fucked him and sucked him and in return he sucked me better.” She put her hands on her hips. “And it was good. And if you hadn’t fucked up his head by sending his brother away he would be sucking this thing right now.”
I was so angry tears started to stream down my face. I couldn’t believe this was happening. I couldn’t believe she was saying these evil things to me. We were friends and I loved her like a sister and she does me like this?
Wanting her to pay I grabbed a switchblade from my bag and decided to carve this bitch up. And I wouldn’t let her out until I was done.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CUPID
I was back at Skeezers after being stabbed in my thigh by Sprinkles four days ago. I wanted to kill that bitch and if Kitten didn’t kick the door in and help I probably would’ve died. Sprinkles wanted me dead and I wanted her gone too but she had the weapon.
Not only was I in too much pain to dance but every time Killer called I dodged him afraid he would confront me about exposing our relationship.
I would’ve still been home if I didn’t hear from Jodie that Killer was out of town. “I can’t believe Sprinkles stabbed you.” Jodie said as she brushed her weave for her set later. “What did Killer do when he found out?”
I shrugged and eased into my thongs, careful not to brush my sore thigh. It wasn’t as bad as it looked but it wasn’t pretty either. “I don’t know but I guess I’m gonna find out.”
She shook her head like she was disgusted. “I think Sprinkles get too much favoritism since her man is part owner. I don’t see how you put up with her that long.”
“That’s her business as long as she stays out mine.” I rolled my eyes. I wanted this bug away from me because she was fishing hard. “All I’m worrying about is doing me.”
“Somebody told me she was fucking Stephen.” She was talking like I was a willing participant in this conversation. I didn’t want a new friend. I wanted to be alone. “Don’t know if it’s true or not but I believe it. What you think, Cupid?”
