Scarlett 2

by Tiece

  “Let’s get this thang poppin’ then!” Tommy said as he pulled out his cigar and began to roll a blunt. In his mind, this would help them think better.

  A few minutes later, Tommy inhaled the blunt. He sucked in the smoke and blew the cloud in Ash’s direction.

  “Quit tryna be funny, Tommy.” She smirked. “Unless you’re giving me a shot gun, don’t blow this way.” Tommy had a thing for her and she knew it, but it was nothing wrong with playing hard to get. He pretty much knew that it was all an act, but he went along with it just to satisfy her.

  Tommy looked over at Ant. “So, boss, what’s the plan?”

  “Huh?” Anton asked. He’d been busy kissing on Breanne’s neck and making her laugh with little silly things he was whispering in her ear. He felt good at that moment, and wanted things to jump off with him and her. The heist was mentally being written in stone.

  “Look at you, your mind somewhere else and we’re sitting here tryna conduct business,” Ash coolly stated. “Bree, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. I need you to pay attention.”

  “Yeah, back to the business at hand,” Tommy said, clearing his throat as if he was the leader of their squad.

  Anton jumped right in. “Okay, so tomorrow night is when we need to hit this nigga up.”

  “I agree, because it’s not a better time than the present.” Tommy commented.

  Ash was confused. “So, how exactly are we going to work this thing out and on tomorrow night? I honestly think that that’s too soon. We can’t even focus for two minutes without getting caught up on something other than business. Troy is stupid in a sense of having all that shit at the place where he lays his head at, but let’s not get it twisted. He may look like just your average pretty boy, but he ain’t sitting where he’s at because of his looks. Plus, Slim rarely leaves his side, except for when he’s in the field scoping out the other do boys or just grinding for the hell of it.”

  “I see where you’re coming from with this, but I’ve thought about it and I want you to think about it too.” he said, giving her a glare that showed he meant business. “You have the key of getting us in and out of his place without ever being seen,” Anton informed Ash.

  Ash nervously bit her fingernails. “And how the hell do you figure that?”

  “I’ll explain only once, and I need y’all to listen carefully. Ash, you’re going over to his house and spend some time with him tonight,” Anton explained. “Bree, you’re gonna go with her.”

  “And why the hell do I have to go?”

  “Because we’re all in this shit together,” Tommy chimed in.

  “Well that, plus I need you there. You hold the biggest part of this plan in your hands.”

  “Talk about pressure,” she said, shooing away the blunt when Ash tried to pass it to her. “Now you know I don’t smoke that shit.”

  “Yeah, I forgot.” Ash stated, feeling that her nerves had kicked up about ten notches.

  “Okay, please explain to me why I need to go too for this mission.”

  “Listen good ladies,” Anton began.

  Tommy grinned. “This is a good one, boss,” he said, already remembering the hundreds of times during their talks that this was one of their more popular plots to set up.

  “Okay, so when y’all get over to that nigga’s house, I want y’all to relax as if y’all are gonna stay for a while. I know the nigga burn, so Ash, you need to burn with him. Make him feel like you got some shit on your mind and you need him to be there for you, to relax you, to make you feel better. This is where Bree steps in because she doesn’t smoke.”

  “True,” Tommy chimed in.

  “It’s very important that you make the nigga feel as comfortable as ever while you’re there. I want that nigga relaxed and shit. We don’t want him thinking sideways about nothing. You feel me?”

  “Yeah, I got you,” Ash confirmed because one thing she knew about Troy was that he was indeed a chimney smoker and would get so high with her till they would sometimes pass out right after smoking a few blunts of that gas.

  “Ash, your biggest task is going to be getting a hold of his house key. Don’t ask me how you’re going to do it, just make sure you get it off his key chain some kind of way. Once you have the key, then you need to pass it to Bree. Bree, you’re going to act as if you have to leave for some chaser, hell anything. I don’t care, be creative since you don’t smoke. But, make him feel like you want to feel just as good as they do, however smoking is going to be out of the question.

  “I see,” Bree commented.

  “Then, what you’re gonna do is take his key to the store with you and have a copy of it made. Put the copy in a safe spot somewhere safely in your purse, and make sure Ash gets the original key when you return, so that she can put it back on his key chain where she got it.”

  Breanne sat quietly for a moment as the plan replayed over again in her mind. “Hell, that should be easy,” she commented.

  “Okay, then what happens after that?” Ash questioned. “I mean how in the hell are y’all gonna get in his house?”

  “See, what needs to happen is that you need to get him to take you out. Tell him you’re feeling neglected, sad, hurt about something to make a nigga care that he wants you to feel better enough to take you out. Hopefully, this can happen tomorrow. Once that plan is set in motion and y’all have left his place, then you will alert Bree by a slick text message that the coast is clear. Bree will then alert me and Tommy that we can make our move.” Tommy smugly grinned. “We’re going to take all that nigga’s shit. He won’t even see it coming. There won’t be a break in or nothing. It’ll be like magic. One minute it’s there, the next it’s gone.”

  “Wala! magic, Wala! magic, Wala! magic,” Tommy sang as he jumped up off the sofa and did the Crip walk.

  “Oh, oh, oh,” Ash egged him on. “Hey, but I like that hot shit!” she exclaimed.

  “Hell yeah, Ash, me too,” Breanne agreed then kissed Anton on the cheek.

  Anton knew at some point he and Breanne had to talk. So while Ash and Tommy got their smoke on and clowned with each other, he’d take the opportunity now. “Hey babe, I need to holla at you for a second.”

  “Wanna go into my bedroom?” She offered.

  “Yeah, that’ll be good.” He said then looked over at Tommy and Ash. “Excuse us y’all. We have some things to discuss.”

  “Yeah, we know,” Ash laughed. “Well, I’ma call Troy so we can get over to his house tonight. I just hope that joker ain’t already into something, like another female.”

  Anton shook his head with a grin. “Yeah definitely check on that for us,” he advised.

  Tommy sat back and lit up another blunt. He was high and excited about the bold move they were about to make.

  Anton and Breanne stepped down the hallway and into her bedroom. He looked around. There was something about her room that made him see her in a different light. She was into drawing and it showed, because she’d painted the walls with her ideas and expressions. It all meshed well together and looked like a nice mural that was still in progress. Seeing that she was very talented turned him on more than ever as he smiled.

  “What’s that?” he asked, looking at a small painting of Cupid with an arrow shot through him. She already knew exactly what he was talking about.

  “Yeah, I think I’ve been hit,” she smiled.

  Anton blushed inside. “Is that right?” He kissed her.

  “Yep, that’s right. So, what’s on your mind?” she asked, thinking about the last time that they were together.

  “You and I have been on my mind a lot lately,” he answered.

  “Is that good or bad?” She was thinking about Samantha, because she knew how Anton felt about her.

  “It’s good, I can’t lie. It’s probably too good,” he murmured.

  “Huh?” Breanne questioned as if he had thrown her off.

  “I mean, you know that I’ve always kept you in the know when it came down to me and Samant
ha’s relationship.”

  “Yeah, and I appreciate your honesty,” she acknowledged. “And I’m sorry for throwing it back up in your face.”

  “That does piss me off, but at the time, I guess I deserve it.” Breanne quietly listened. “What I’m trying to say to you is that I’m falling for you.” She blushed with that big pretty smile on her face. “It’s just hard for me to commit to you now, because of uncertainties with Samantha and I don’t want to drag you in that mess.”

  “Are you trying to slow things down or break things off all together?” Breanne asked. His conversation seemed to be going in the right direction at first, but now it was heading downhill fast, and she was trying to catch it.

  “I never want to break things off with you, but I know what you’re looking for and I can’t give you that right now,” he admitted.

  “So, you want to break things off, huh?”

  “No, I didn’t say that. What I’m trying to tell you is that I don’t want to lose you, but it’s a possibility that I could, if I don’t handle things with Samantha the right way first.”

  “I understand,” she sadly commented. “I wanna be with you and hopefully that happens, but I won’t play second best, especially if you respect and love me enough to not want me in that position as well.”

  Anton smiled because she was a lot more understanding than Samantha was, at times.

  “Bree, come on let’s go!” Ash called out. “Troy is home and says that it’s cool if we come over.”

  Breanne looked at Anton and kissed him on the cheek. “Well, I don’t exactly want to leave you, but Ash and I have some work to do. Remember?”

  “How can I forget?” he said with a slight smile.

  “But, you know I’ll see you later if I can, or you can just call me whenever you get a chance.”

  Anton leaned in for a kiss on the lips. “I’ma call Samantha and see if we can talk sooner than later, because right now, she ain’t saying shit to me.”

  “I’m sure she’s not,” Breanne commented.

  “Are you mad?” he asked.

  “Do I look mad? I ain’t going nowhere but to college. I feel that we have something special and I’m not fleeing on that feeling for no one.” Anton felt relieved. “So, I’ll wait for you to call me,” she said, knowing he would definitely call to make sure that she had Troy’s key anyway.

  “I’ma get on outta here and get Tommy to take me home. I’ll holla at you later.”

  “Sure thang,” she responded.

  Anton walked out of the room and back into the living room with Tommy and Ash.

  “Come take me to the crib,” he said.

  “A’ight,” Tommy responded. “I ain’t forgetting about what you said.” he told Ash, causing her to smile.

  “I hope you don’t.” she responded. “I’ll call you later.”

  “I’ll be waiting.” He bumped Anton on the arm with his fist. “Let’s go, boss.” They exited the house, leaving Ash sitting on the couch.

  “Bree!” Ash shouted out. “Are you ready yet? Troy is waiting on us.”

  Breanne was a little quiet. Her thoughts had taken over for a moment.

  “Bree! Come on. What are you doing?” Ash called out again.

  “I’m coming, big mouth!” Breanne finally answered, walking out of her room and down the hallway. “Do you think this plan is going to work?” she nervously asked.

  “Hell, it better,” Ash stated. “I could then date one of my all time crushes,” she chuckled.

  “Who? Cuz?” Breanne asked, already knowing that they had a thing for each other.

  “Yep, what’s wrong with that?”

  “Why you gotta wait until he gets his hands on that money?”

  “You know I can’t be talking to no broke nigga. I ain’t saying he broke like that, but he’s mommy paid. That means he only gets money from his mama. He can’t go out and buy me boots that cost one hundred and fifty dollars without his mama knowing he’s spending unwisely with her money. I need a man who makes his own paper,” Ash explained.

  “You just like fast money,” Breanne joked.

  “If it ain’t fast, then it ain’t me.” They laughed.

  “Go figure,” Breanne stated as they walked out the door to the car and headed over to Troy’s house.

  Chapter 10

  Scarlett sat outside on the balcony of the immaculate wooden cabin overlooking the beautiful artwork of the forest that sat off in the distance on the mountains. It presented an amazing view. She could smell a sweet, fresh rain scent coming their way, and for some reason, an indescribable feeling came over her, and at the moment, she felt extremely blessed within. It was as if another angel, like Joanne, had stepped in to make sure that she was going to be all right. Sitting partly Indian style with one knee up to her chin, a smile came across her face.

  The three bedroom cabin they’d been cooped up in for the past two days was about to be a mere memory as she reminisced about their romantic moments. The home cooked breakfasts and dinners, as well as the room service calls for a personal massage anytime she needed one was more than just the icing on a cake. The steamy sex they had inside the hot Jacuzzi sent chills up her pussy, as the arousing thoughts held her captivated. Something about Luke made her feel like he would love her to the ends of the earth, over and over again.

  Her right arm twitched from the burning sensation she’d felt there which caused her to smile so big that her teeth showed. She gazed down at the artwork that spelled RED, surrounded by fancy hearts on her upper shoulder blade. It was a tattoo that she’d gotten the previous day, and probably the highlight of the whole weekend. This was her first tattoo in twenty-five years. Something that she considered to be very painful was also one of the best feelings ever, to have Luke there to hold her hand the entire time.

  Luke stepped to the balcony door. His chiseled muscles was a nice sight to see as he stood there wearing nothing but a navy New York fitted logo cap and a pair of pin striped yellow, white, and blue Haynes boxer shorts. She loved his confidence and the caring way he looked at her.

  “Mind if I join you?” he asked.

  “No,” she responded with a cute bat of her eyes. Luke walked out on the balcony and cuddled up beside Scarlett on the large round sofa sleeper. He propped himself up on the plush pillows, allowing her to rest her head on his shoulder.

  “We couldn’t have picked a better weekend to come here. The weather hasn’t been too hot or too cold, and this gentle breeze does something to me.” He said, taking hold of her hand.

  “The stars are beautiful.” She softly commented as they both stared in the sky. “This whole scene looks like something in a movie. I swear, it feels like I’m dreaming.” Her head continued to rest on his shoulder while she wished upon a star that this moment could last forever.

  “It’s just so hard to believe that you’ve not had the opportunity to experience nice things like this before.”

  She coolly grinned. “Well, believe it.”

  “How was life growing up for you? I mean for as long as we’ve been seeing each other, I hardly know anything about your life. I can tell from certain conversations or things I buy you, or even places we go, that you’re always humbly thankful.”

  “That’s because I am,” she softly responded, still holding his hand gently.

  “I just don’t understand how a man could date someone so beautiful on the outside and inside, and not spoil her.”

  “If only you knew.” she whispered.

  “Then tell me,” he pleaded.

  “I told you that I wasn’t always like this. I’m, I guess, what they would call an ugly duckling turned swan.” She shyly admitted.

  “I don’t know what’s up with this ugly duckling business, but look at you. Even on your worse day, I still see natural beauty.”

  “That’s because this is all you know.” She openly admitted.

  “Okay, if you say, but that’s why I want you to fill me in on some of your past, like your child
hood. I wanna know what growing up for you was like. I wanna get to know all of Scarlett, all of Red.”

  You wanna know a lil too much, she thought. Her thoughts reflected back to just wanting to make the most out of their weekend because the shit was sure to hit the fan once he saw that video of her.

  “Come on, tell me something. There must be something interesting.” h begged.

  “Some things are just best left alone,” she softy stated.

  “Don’t worry, I’m here for you and I’m not going anywhere.” He assured her.

  “What if you found out something ugly from my past, let’s say a month from now, next week, or even tomorrow for that matter? Would you stay with me?”

  “What is it that you want to tell me?” He directly asked as she dropped her head in an attempt not to look him in the eyes. “Is this about Jay?”

  Scarlett looked up at him. “Jay?” she inquired.

  “Yes, Jay.”

  “What does Jay have to do with this?” she questioned, feeling totally caught off guard.

  He tilted his head to the side with a light shrug of his shoulders. “Well, I didn’t want to say anything, but I heard you call his name Friday morning in a dream or something.”

  Scarlett’s big brown eyes flickered with a confused look. “What do you mean?” She said, mouth still partly open then nervously clearing her throat. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

  “I didn’t think it was that serious.” he stated, feeling confident on his end. “Honestly, I could tell that there was something between y’all the first time we all met up at Publix. Your whole demeanor changed when he walked up to us. He could hardly stand the fact that you were there with me, but he attempted to play it off.” She felt embarrassed, shying away from him by looking off into the wooded mountains.

  “I see it in the way he looks at you. Just like that day when I picked you up from work and he stopped you for a brief encounter to chat about something. I could tell that you just wanted to get away from him as quickly as possible, but not because he was getting on your nerves, but more so because you can’t hardly trust yourself around him.” He casually stated, causing her to unknowingly tighten her grip on his hand.