by Kiki Swinson
Cheaper to Keep Her
This is a work of fiction. Al of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are
either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Cheaper to Keep Her. Copyright
2010 by Unique. Al rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may
be used or reproduced in any form or by any means without written consent except in the case of
brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
Publisher’s address:
K.S. Publications
P.O. Box 68878
Virginia Beach, VA 23471
Website: www.kikiswinson.net
Email: [email protected]
ISBN-13: 978-0984529032
ISBN-10: 0-984529039
First Edition: December 2010
1098765
Editors: J. Wooden & Tenisha Oliphant
Interior & Cover Design: Davida Baldwin (OddBal dsgn.com)
Cover Photo: Davida Baldwin
KS Publications
www.kikiswinson.net
Don’t Miss Out On These Other Titles:
Wifey
I’m Stil Wifey
Life After Wifey
Stil Wifey Material
Wifey 4-Life
Mad Shambles
The Candy Shop
Stil Candy Shopping
A Sticky Situation
Sleeping with the Enemy (with Wahida Clark)
Heist (with De’nesha Diamond)
Playing Dirty
Notorious
Cheaper To Keep Her Unique
Prologue
“Bitch! You better open this fucking door!”
When I heard his voice, the banging and then the kicking on the door, my heart sank into the pit of
my stomach. A hot flash came over my body at the sound of his deep, baritone voice. I could tel he
was more than livid. I immediately started rushing through the luxury high-rise condominium I had been
living in for the past six months. Duke owned it. It was time to put my Plan B into motion. Quick, fast
and in a hurry.
“Damn, damn, shit!” I cursed as I gathered shit up. I didn’t know how I had let myself get caught
slipping. I planned to be the fuck out of dodge before Duke could get wind of my bad deeds. I had
definitely not planned my escape correctly.
“Lynise!” Duke’s voice boomed again with additional angry urgency. He started banging even
harder and jiggling the doorknob. I was scared too death, but I wasn’t shocked. I knew sooner or later
he would come. After al the shit I had done to him, I would’ve come after my ass too.
“Lynise! Open this fucking door now!” Duke continued to bark from the other side of the door. He
didn’t sound like the man I had met and fel in love with. He damn sure didn’t sound like he was about
to shower me with cash and gifts like he used to. Not after al the shit I had done . . . or undone, I
should say.
“Open the fucking door!” he screamed again.
I was shaking al over now. From the sound of his voice I could tel he wasn’t fucking around.
“Shit!” I whispered as I slung my bag of money over my shoulder and thought about my escape. I
whirled around aimlessly but soon realized that my Plan B didn’t include Duke being at the front door
of his fifth floor condo. There was nowhere for me to go. It was only one way in and one way out and I
damn sure wasn’t jumping off the balcony. If it was the second floor, maybe I would’ve taken a
chance but I wasn’t trying to die.
“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” I cursed as I saw my time running out. Duke was a six foot tal hunk of solid
muscle. I knew I had no wins.
“Bitch! I’m about to take this fucking door down!” Duke screamed. This time I could hear him hitting
the door hard. I couldn’t tel if he was kicking the door or putting his shoulder into it. Although it was his
condo, I had changed the locks to keep his ass out.
I spun around and around repeatedly, trying to get my thoughts together before the hinges gave in
to his brute power. Hiding the money I had stolen was paramount. My mind kept beating that thought
in my head. I raced into the master bedroom and rushed into the walk-in closet. I began frantical y
snatching clothes off the hangers. I needed to use them to hide my bag of cash.
Wham!
“Oh my God!” I blurted out when I heard the front door slam open with a clang. I threw the bag
onto the floor and covered it with piles of designer clothes. Things Duke and I had shopped for
together when shit was good between us.
“Bitch, you thought I was playing with you?” Duke’s powerful voice roared. “Didn’t I tel you, you
had to get the fuck out of my crib?”
He was up on me within seconds. I stood defenseless as he advanced on me so fast I didn’t
even have time to react. I threw my hands up, trying to shield myself from what I expected to come
when he reached out for me. But I was too late. He grabbed me around my neck so hard and tight I
could swear little pieces of my esophagus had crumbled.
“Duke, wait!” I said in a raspy voice as he squeezed my neck harder. I started scratching at his big
hands trying to free myself so I could breathe.
“What bitch? I told you if you ever fucked with me you wouldn’t like it!” he snarled. Tears
immediately rushed down my face as I fought for air. “Ain’t no use in crying now. You should’ve
thought ’bout that shit a long time ago.”
Duke final y released me with a shove. I went stumbling back and fel on my ass so hard it started
throbbing. I tried to scramble up off the floor, but before I could get my bearings I felt his hands on me
again. His strong hand was winding into my long hair.
“Ouch!” I wailed, bending my head to try to relieve some of the pressure he was putting on my
head.
Duke yanked me up by my hair. Sharp, stabbing pains shot through my scalp.
“Owww!” I cried out as he wrung me around by my hair. I tried to put my smal hands on top of his
huge, animal hands, but it was no use. Hands I had once loved, I now despised and wished would
just fal off.
“You thought it was al good right! You a fucking trifling ass bitch and I want you the fuck out of
here!” Duke gritted. Then he lifted his free hand and slapped me across my face with al his might.
“Pl-pl-pl-please!” I begged him for mercy. But Duke hit me again.
I was crying hysterical y. Partly from the pain of his abuse, but more so from our past. I would have
never thought our relationship would come to this. It had been a long road and al I wanted to do was
teach him a lesson when I did the shit I did. I never thought I would have been facing this type of
torment.
“I want al your shit out of here, you scandalous bitch! And don’t take nothing that I fucking bought!”
Duke roared, then he hit me again. This time I felt blood trickle from my nose. My ears were stil ringing
from the previous blow to my head. He hit me again. I was sure he had knocked one of my teeth
loose.
“Yo Ak, get this bitch shit and throw it the fuck out,” Duke cal ed out to one of his boys. He never
traveled anywher
e alone. There were always two dudes with him at al times. The one I knew as Chris
rushed into the closet and started scooping up my clothes and shoes.
“Wait!” I screamed, but it was for nothing.
“Shut the fuck up!” Duke screamed in response, slapping me again.
I could actual y feel my eyes starting to swel . I final y gave up. My spirit was broken, my body was
sore. I watched as Chris and another one of Duke’s boys slid back the glass balcony doors and
started tossing al my shit over. I doubled over crying. More and more shit went over and I was sure it
was raining down on the beautiful y manicured lawn below.
“Yeah . . . that’s enough. Don’t throw none of that jewelry or those furs outside. I got bitches I could
give that shit to,” Duke said maliciously. His words hurt. “A’ight bitch . . . ya time is up.”
I shrunk back thinking he was going to hit me again. But he didn’t. He grabbed me by the arm
roughly. “Oww!” I cried out.
Duke was squeezing my arm so hard the pain was crazy. “Let’s go,” he said, pul ing me towards
the door.
“Nooooo!” I screamed and then I dropped my body weight down towards the floor so he couldn’t
pul me.
“Oh bitch, you getting the fuck outta here,” Duke roared. He bent down, hoisted me over his
shoulder and started carrying me kicking and screaming towards the door.
“You can’t do this to me! You wil regret this Duke Carrington!!” I hol ered.
“Fuck you!” he spat in return, opening the condo door and tossing me out into the hal way like a
piece of discarded trash. I can’t even describe the feeling that came over me. It was a mixture of
hurt, shame and embarrassment al rol ed into one.
Duke slammed the door in my face and I yel ed for him to listen to me. My cries fel on deaf ears.
My shoulders slumped down in defeat. Duke had left me in the hal way with no shoes, a short
nightgown and nothing but my belongings on the lawn outside. I didn’t even have the key to my BMW
X6.
“Aggghhh!” I grunted in anger and frustration as I raked my hands through my tangled hair. I vowed
from that minute on that Duke Carrington would learn just what al men have been saying for years . . .
it’s cheaper to keep her.
As I limped down the hal way of the building, al of the memories of how I had gotten to this point
came rushing back.
Cheaper to Keep Her Unique
Chapter 1—Magic City
One Year Earlier.
I walked into the Magic City and was immediately disgusted by the crowd that was already hanging
around my post.
Same shit, different day , I thought to myself. I had been working at the wel known strip club for a
minute and it seemed like each passing month, more and more thirsty ass niggas showed up to
spend their hard earned money on a fantasy. I crinkled my face and looked at my watch just to make
sure I had the right time. It was only eight-thirty in the evening and niggas were already starting to pack
the club. I mean, damn, didn’t they have wives at home giving them some ass. Maybe not, judging
from how they came up in the club and made it rain almost every night.
I noticed a few of the regulars sitting around. Of course, the ones that were there early were the
older, more broke niggas that wanted to take advantage of the specials. The bal ers usual y rol ed in
after midnight and when they did al the girls who worked at the club would put their best foot forward
and try to get some of that bal er dough.
I scanned the bar area and rol ed my eyes as I headed for my post behind the bar. I wasn’t no
stripper chick. Bartending was my thing. I could mix the fuck out of a drink, but I wasn’t about to shake
my ass for dol ars. I didn’t know how the chicks up in the Magic City did it. Men touching them al over
their bodies for as little as a single dol ar bil . Hel naw! Not me. Al of those different hands al over
my body, I would be sick after that shit. Then al that ass shaking, pole hopping and these chicks may
or may not make a single dime. Not me, I needed guaranteed money. Even though these thirsty ass
dudes didn’t tip bartenders like they used to, they stil wanted to sit up in my face and try to spit game
my way. I probably turned down sixty niggas a night. I had so many of them tel ing me how beautiful I
was. Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard it al . One nigga even told me I looked like Jada Pinkett Smith. Wel , a few
people told me that. Maybe it’s true, maybe not. I did know that I was official. I kept my shit together:
hair, nails and clothes. Although money was definitely an issue, the package had to be presentable.
As a bartender, I had listened to every type of story about life there was, especial y the same old
story men told about their dry ass wives at home who didn’t give up the pussy. Yada, yada, yada. Al
that said, bartending at the club paid the bil s. At least until a better opportunity came along,
bartending was my gig.
I switched my ass past the early bird hounds who were already surrounding the bar trying to be
the first to get their seats at the stage. It was Thursday, which meant, their favorite stripper was about
to grace them with her presence.
Diamond was al the rage at the Magic City and she was also my best friend and roommate. She
had left for work before I did since she had to set up her look and her music. She was the club’s
Thursday night feature. A different stripper was featured each night of the week.
Needless to say, Thursdays were when the club was most packed. Al the men loved Diamond. I
mean, she was beautiful. She had a sweet baby face and the body of a video vixen.
I was almost to my post behind the bar when I felt a presence. I jumped.
“It’s about damn time you showed the hel up!” I heard the voice and then felt somebody grab my
arm.
“What the—” My statement was cut off. I was a bit thrown off.
“Lynise . . . I need a big favor,” Diamond said in a pleading voice. Her words rushed out of her
mouth like running water. She looked as if she had seen a damn ghost.
“Damn girl, you scared me grabbing on me like that,” I huffed, looking at Diamond as if she was
crazy. “What’s the matter with you?” I asked confused.
“I need to borrow some cash quick before Neeko gets here. I ain’t got the money to pay for my
sets tonight,” Diamond said, with urgency in her voice. She was rubbing her arms fanatical y. The
nervousness was written al over her face. I hated when she acted spooked and it had been
happening more often lately. I sucked my teeth at her.
“Why you need to borrow money Diamond? Didn’t you do a couple of sets last night? I saw
niggas making it rain al around you,” I said, frustrated. There was no reason Diamond didn’t have any
money when I was sure she had probably made over five hundred dol ars just the night before.
“I know but I had to loan some to Brian,” Diamond replied.
I threw my hands up in her face. I already knew she had given her no-good ass, wanna-be hustler
boyfriend her money. I despised Diamond’s boyfriend, Brian, but I tried to stay out of her business.
He looked and acted like a buster if you asked me. However, Diamond was madly in love with his
raggedy ass. He always had his hand out. I told her a mil ion times it was supposed to be the other
way around. Brian should’ve been taking care of her and tryin
g to get her the hel up out of the Magic
City . That’s the way I saw it anyway. But there was no turning Diamond against the slouch.
“How the fuck you keep giving that nigga al your money?” I barked at her. “He is a grown ass,
able bodied man! If he can’t hustle up money or go get a damn job then you need to leave his ass!
You a sucka for love or what?” I was fed up with Brian or better yet, I was fed up with Diamond fal ing
for his shit. He was always at our apartment, eating up our food and never lifting a finger or putting a
dime in the pot.
Diamond put her head down and wore a sad frown when I told her about herself and her man. I
knew I had hurt her feelings and I was immediately sorry. I loved Diamond. She was my road dog. We
had been through hel and back together. Neither one of us came from good homes and we had
been down for each other for years. I just wanted her to make better decisions and be smarter with
her money. I guess I should have been a little more sensitive. But I was too mad to be nice.
“Lynise, I wouldn’t ask you if I didn’t real y need this,” Diamond said somberly, shifting her weight
from one foot to the other as if she had ants in her damn pants. I noticed she was fidgety as hel .
“Yo, this is the last time I’m loaning you money Diamond. We both struggling to pay rent and bil s,
remember?” I chastised her, taking my bag off my shoulder and placing it on a barstool so I could get
my wal et. I dug into my purse and handed her a hundred dol ars. That was enough for her to pay
Neeko so she could do a few sets and make some money. That would lead to more sets. I knew she
hated doing lap dances, but I was sure she would be doing some tonight to get some extra money. It
was part of the game . And as much as we hated it, sometimes the game ruled us.
Diamond smiled and snatched the money from my hand. Then she threw her arms around my
neck and hugged me. “Thanks girl, you’re a lifesaver, that’s why I love you,” Diamond said, al of a
sudden in a cheery mood.
“Just go knock them dead tonight bitch, ‘cause we need to eat dammit,” I said jokingly. Diamond
smiled. She was so pretty when she smiled. I smiled back. I real y loved my best friend. I watched as
